The Guide Unto True Blessedness, Section 12 – Section 18
SECT. XII. Of the Application of the Couenant of Grace, and firſt of our vnion with the perſon of Chriſt.
Q. HItherto of the Foundation of the Couenant of Grace, viz. the Mediator: what is the Application of it?
A. The communicating thereof for ſaluation to eueryevery one of Gods Elect, giuing himaHeb 3.14 part in Chriſt the Mediator, and all his benefits.
Q. What part hath eueryevery Elect in Chriſt hereby?
A.
1. Vniō with Chriſts perſon.
2. Communion.
Q. How are the Elect vnited to Chriſt his perſon?
A. They are incorporated, & madebEph. 5.30 members of the myſtical body whereof Chriſt is head; which the Scripture figureth, as by other reſemblances, ſo eſpecially vnderunder theaEpheſ. 5.2. Item Cautic. the whole ho…ke. ſimilitude of mariage.
Q. How may we conceiue of this our mariage with Chriſt?
A. We are to conceiue therein as in outward mariage,
1. The conſent of parents and parties.
2. The maner of coniunction.
Q. What conſent of parents is there in this mariage?
A. Only Gods donation, who being the alone parent of both parties (as in thebGen. 2.22. mariage of the firſt Adam) giueth,
1.cIohn 3 16. Iohn 17.6. Chriſt to vsus, as a Sauiour.
2.dHeb. 2.13. VsUs to Chriſt, as a people to be ſaued.
Q. What conſent of parties is there?
A.
1. Chriſt conſenteth to take vsus as his own ſpouſe, which he witneſſed eſpecially by takingeHeb. 2.14. our fleſh vponupon him, that he might be ourfMatt. 1.23. Immanuel, or God with vsus.
2. We beinggIohn 6.44. drawne of God, andh2. Cor. 11.2 prepared by the friends of the Bridegroome, doaCant. 7.10. conſent to take Chriſt as our Lord and Husband, as wee profeſſe by taking hisbEſay 44.5. name andcMat. 11.29. yoke vponupon vsus.
Q. What is the maner of this our coniunction?
A. Mysticall, that is to ſay:
Real, in reſpect of the things conioined, our very nature, body and ſoule, being coupled to the body and ſoule of Chriſt, (ſo that we aredEphe. 5.30 members of his body, of his fleſh and of his bones) and therby alſo to thee1. Cor. 1.30 diuine nature: yet not corporall, but
Spirituall, in regard of the means, whereby this coniunction is wrought.
Q. What are the meanes of this ſpirituall coniunction?
A. On Chriſts part, his holyf1. Ioh. 4.15. Rom. 8.9. Spirit, gGal. 4.6. 1. Iohn 3.24. & 4.13.giuen by him vntounto euerie member of his body, in the very moment of regeneration, as thehGal 5.25. 1. Cor. 15 45. ſoule of ſpirituall life, and fountaine of ſupernaturall grace; in which reſpect,i1. Cor. 6.17 he that is ioyned to the Lord, is ſaid to be one ſpirit.
Q. What is the ſpirit of Chriſt?
A. The holya1 Cor. 3.16 Ghoſt, truly reſiding, and powerfullybRom. 5.5. working in all thoſe that are Chriſts,cRom. 8.2. deriued vntounto them from him, andd1. Cor. 12.13 Eph 2.18. & 4.4. knitting them inſeparably vntounto him.
Q. Is the Holy Ghoſt giuen to none, but ſuch as are thus ioined vntounto Chriſt?
A. The Holy Ghoſt is conſidered three waies;
1. As the Author of all excellencie, euen in common gifts of nature and reaſon, aseJud. 14.6. ſtrength and courage,fExod. 31.3 Arts and Sciences,g1. Sam. 11.6 Policie and Gouernement, &c. In which ſenſe he is giuen to many that neuer heard of Chriſt.
2. As the Author ofh1. Cor. 12.1.4. ſpirituall gifts, ſo called, becauſe being ſanctified, they are meanes of edification, as the power of working miracles, healing, languages, &c. yea aiHeb. 6.4 5. taſte of the heauenly gift, and of the good word of God, and of the powers of the world to come. In which ſence, he is giuen to ſundry reprobates, that are called, as hath been ſhewed.
3. As the Author of the perpetuall, effectuall, andaIoh. 6.63. vitall influence of ſauing grace from Chriſt the head, to eueryevery true member of his body. In which ſence,bIoh. 14.17 the world cannot receiue or know him, but he is beſtowed on thec1. Pet. 1.2. Elect only, and thoſe truly regenerated, and conuerted vntounto the Lord.
Q. But on our parts, what meanes is there of this coniunction?
A. Only faith; which yet isdEph. 2.8. not of our ſelues, but the gift of God, and of all other the firſt, and moſt generall effect and inſtrument of thee2. Cor. 4.13. Gal. 5 5. ſpirit of Chriſt,fEph. 3.16.17 diſpoſing and inabling vsus, ſo to imbrace and cleaue vntounto him, as
1. TogRom. 5.2. receiue from God by him, whatſoeuer benefits and graces.
2. TohCol 2.7. Gal. 5.6 returne to God in him, all holy and thankful obedience.
SECT. XIII. Of our Communion with Chriſt, in regard of his Propheticall office, by the Reuelation of the Couenant of Grace; and of the firſt outward meanes of Reuelation; viz. the Goſpell preached.
Q. VVHat is our communion with Chriſt?
A. It is our participation with him in the benefits, flowing from his ſeueral offices. For being made one with him, we are therebyaReu. 2.28. Col. 2.10. poſſeſſed of all things that are his, as the wife of the wealth of her husband, thebJohn 15.5. branch of the ſap of the roote, and thecEph. 4.15, 16. members of ſenſe and motion from the head. In which regard the whole Church is called alſod1. Co. 12.12. Galat. 3.16. Chriſt, and the ſeuerall memberseActs 11.26. Chriſtians.
Q. What are the benefits which wee partake with Chriſt flowing from his offices?
A. They are the fruits of his Propheticall, Prieſtly, & Kingly functions, whereby, as he isa1. Cor. 1.30 made to vsus of God, wiſdome, righteouſneſſe, ſanctification, and redemption, ſo we alſo by him after a ſort, becomebAct. 2.17.18 Prophets, c1. Pet. 2.9. Reuel. 5.10,Prieſts and Kings.
Q. What fruit receiue we by the Propheticall function of Chriſt, to make vsus Prophets?
A. ThedMat. 11.27. & 16.17. John 14.21. Pſal. 25 14. Reuelation of Gods couenant of grace, whereby Chriſt is made vntounto vsus of God, wiſdome, and wee2. Tim. 3.15 1. Iohn 5.20 wiſe for our owne and others ſaluation.
Q. Touching this reuelation, what are we to conſider?
A. Three things, viz. the
Meanes whereby, it is imparted.
Maner how, it is imparted.
Subiects to whom, it is imparted.
Q. What are the meanes whereby God reuealeth his couenant?
A. They are of two ſorts:
1. outward, viz.
1. the Word, and
2. the Sacraments.
2. inward.
Q. What is here meant by the Word, the firſt outward meanes?
A. The Goſpell preached, called theaRom. 10.8. word of faith, and of bAct. 20.32grace; containing (cPro. 3.18 as a ſecond tree of life) the promiſe of dIoh. 6.68. 2. Tim. 1.10.life and ſaluation, by Chriſt the Mediator, which is the ſubſtance of the Couenant of grace.
Q. In what part of the Scripture is the Goſpell contained?
A. eHeb. 13 8. Rom. 10.6Both in the old and the new Teſtament: in the former, more ſparingly and darkly, vnderunderfGen. 3.15. & 49 10 obſcure promiſes andgHeb. 10 1. ſhadowes of legall ceremonies, proper to the Iewes; but in the latter, moſthRom. 16.25 26 plainly and plentifully, in the cleere declaration both of the truth and fruit of Chriſt, already exhibited to all nations. In which regard eſpecially, it is termed aiHeb. 9.15. & 8.8. &c. new Couenant or Teſtament.
Q. To what part of Gods word is the Goſpell oppoſed?
A. To the LaW, which containing thekGal. 3.10 tenor of the fore-mentioned Couenant of works, is notwithſtanding this latter Couenant of grace, often vrged in theaRom. 1.18. Deut. 27.26. Ez. 18 4, 5. &c Leuit. 18.5. Scriptures, eſpecially of the old Teſtament.
Q. What vſe is there of the Law, the Goſpell being publiſhed?
A. Not as of abGal. 1.12. cauſe, properly working faith and grace, (for that belongeth only to thecAct. 20.24. Epheſ. 1.13. Goſpell) but yet as of a needfull preparatiue thereunto, that beingdRom. 8.15. humbled by the Law, ſeeing our ſelues noteGal. 3.11. capable of ſaluation by the couenant of works, we may be forced tofMatt. 11.28. …lie to the remedy; offered vntounto vsus in the grace of the Goſpell.
Q. What need is there of the preaching of the Goſpell, ſeeing we may reade it?
A. Becauſe, thoughg1 Cor. 1.21 fooliſhneſſe to the world, it is thehDeu. 18.17, &c. ordinance of God, and hisiRom. 1.16. power to ſaluation: and wee hauehave need to hauehave the word not only propounded in groſſe, but alſokRom. 10.14 Gal. 3.2. Act. 8.30.31. 2 Tim. 2.15. expounded, diuided, and applied by the miniſtry, for that end by Chriſt ordained.
SECT. XIIII. Of the ſecond outward meanes, viz. the Sacraments.
Q. TO proceed to the other outward meanes: What are Sacraments?
A. aRom. 4.11.Seales annexedb1. Cor. 21.23 by God, to the word of the Couenant of Grace, to inſtruct, aſſure, &cGal. 3.27. poſſeſſe vsus of our part in Chriſt, and his benefits, & to binde vsus in all thankfull obedience vntounto God in him.
Q. How doth God by the Sacraments aſſure vsus of his mercies in Chriſt?
A. By exhibiting to the worthy receiuer, by ſuch outward ſignes, whether elements, or actions, as himſelfe for reliefe of our weaknes hath preſcribed, whole d1. Cor. 10.4Chriſt, God and man, with all his benefits; in e2. Cor. 1.20.whom all the promiſes of God are, Yea and Amen.
Q. How do they binde vsus vntounto God?
A. We receiuing them as pledges of his infinite louelove in Chriſt, doe thereby profeſſe our ſeluesaCol. 2.6, 7. bound to expreſſe our thankfulnes, by all duties to his Maieſtie; and for his ſakebEph. 4.3, 4, 5 one to another.
Q. What Sacraments be there of the Couenant of Grace?
A. They be of two ſorts: viz.
1. Some of the old Teſtament, before Chriſts comming.
2. Other of the new, vnderunder Chriſt.
Q. What Sacraments were there of the old Testament?
A. Beſides diuersc1. Pet. 3.20, 21. 1. Cor. 10 1, 2, 3, 4. extraordinarily giuen, & ſeruing but for a ſeaſon, there were two of ordinary and perpetuall vſe, from their inſtitution vntill the comming of Chriſt, (to which thoſe other may be referred) viz.
1.dGen. 17.10, &c. Deut. 30.6. Circumciſion, for entrance into the Couenant.
2.eExod. 12.3, &c. 1. Cor. 5.7. The Paſſeouer, for continuance and confirmation therein.
Q. What Sacraments be there of the new Testament?
A. OnelyOnly two: to wit,
1. Baptiſme, ſucceeding in the place of Circumciſion.
2. The Supper of the Lord, anſwering to the Paſſeouer.
Q. How doe theſe Sacraments of the new Testament differ from thoſe of the old?
A. In reſpect,
aRom. 4.11. 1. Cor. 10.2.3, 4.Not of the Author, God, the ſubſtance, Chriſt, or the receiuers, the people of God, which are in both the ſame:
But ofbMat. 28.19, 20. continuance, c1. Cor. 11.26euidence, eaſie performance, and efficacie: in all which,d2. Cor. 3.9. theſe of the new Teſtament hauehave great preeminence.
SECT. XV. Of Baptiſme.
Q. VVHat is Baptiſme?
A. The former Sacrament of the new Teſtament, by theaEph 5.26 waſhing of water, repreſenting the powerfullb1 Cor 6.11. Heb. 10.22. waſhing of the bloud, and ſpirit of Chriſt; and ſo ſealing ouraJohn 3.5. Tit. 3.5. new birth, and entrance into the Couenant of grace.
Q. How was this Sacrament ordained and brought into the Church, in the place of Circumciſion?
A. At thebIohn 1.33. commandement of God, by the miniſtery firſt ofcMatth. 3.1. Iohn, therefore called the Baptiſt: after, ſanctified and confirmed by our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe, beingdMatt. 3.13. baptized by Iohn, and giuingeMat. 28.18. commiſsion to his Apostles and Ministers, to continue the ſame in his Church vntounto the end.
Q. What are the neceſſary and eſſentiall parts of this Sacrament?
A. Two: viz.
1. The outward element offIohn 1.31. water, together with the actiō ofgEph. 5.26. Act. 8.36, &c. & 2.41. waſhing, that is, dipping or ſprinkling the party baptized,hMat. 28.19. In the name of the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoſt.
2. The ſpiritual thing ſignified, viz. theiHeb. ….14. bloud &k1. Cor 6.11. ſpirit of Chriſt, waſhing away both thelAct. 2.38. guilt andmEze. 36.25 filthineſſe of ſinne.
Q. Doth this ſpiritual waſhing alwaies accompany the outward action?
A. No: for howſoeuer God for his part, doe eueraEzek. 24.13 offer it at the preſent vntounto all, yet doe theb1. Pet. 1.2 Elect onelyonly effectually partake the ſpirituall benefit; and thatcGal. 3.27. then firſt, when by the ſpirit and faith they are vnited vntounto Chriſt: from which time, baptiſme once receiued, remaineth adZech. 13.1. fountain alwaies open for ſinne and for vncleanneſſe.
Q. How farre forth doth Baptiſme cleanſe the elect from ſinne?
A. Frome1. Cor. 6.9.10, 11. 1. John 1.7. Pſal. 51 7. all ſins, as well actuall as originall, as wel committed after Baptiſme, as before: and thatfEſay 1.18. perfectly, in reſpect of the guilt, althoughgIoh. 13.10 Pſal. 51.2. imperfectly, & by degrees, in reſpect of the pollution and power of ſinne.
Q. Who are to be admitted to this Sacrament?
A. Whoſoeuer are outwardly comprehended in the Couenant: whether th y be,
1. of riper yeareshActs 8.37. cōuerted to the profeſsion of the faith: or,
2.i1 Cor. 7.14 children borne of Chriſtian parents.
SECT. XVI. Of the Lords Supper.
Q. VVHat is the Lords Supper?
A It is the other Sacrament of the new Teſtament, wherein God by the ſignes of bread and wine, ſignifieth, ſealeth, and exhibiteth to eueryevery faithfull receiuer, the body and bloud of Chriſt for his ſpirituall nouriſhment and growth in Chriſt, & ſo confirmeth him in the Couenant of Grace.
Q. How was this Sacrament inſtituted in ſtead of the Paſſeouer?
A. Our Lord Ieſus Chriſta1. Cor. 11.23 in the night that he was betraied, bMatth. 26.26, &c.immediatly after hee had eaten the Paſſeouer with his Diſciples, did both himſelfe with them celebrate this holy Sacrament, and withallc1. Cor. 11.24, 25, 26. giuegive charge for continuance of the ſame in the Church vntill his ſecond comming: in which regard it is called the d1. Cor. 11.20.Lords Supper.
Q. What are the eſſentiall parts of this Sacrament?
A. As of all other Sacraments, two: to wit,
1. The outward ſignes, viz. theaMat. 26.26, 27. elemēts of bread & wine, together with the actions of bleſsing & diſtributing, taking & communicating, according to our Sauiours firſt inſtitution.
2. The ſpiritualbIbid. things ſignified, viz. the body & bloud of Chriſt, ſanctified andcIoh. 6.50, 51 giuen vsus by God, and by faith receiued of vsus, for the nouriſhing and preſeruing of our ſoules and bodies vntounto eternall life.
Q. Is Chriſts body and bloud, together with the outward elements, receiued of all Communicants?
A. No: for howſoeuer they bedMat. 26.26. offred by God to all, yet are they receiued by ſuch alone, as hauehave the hand of faith to lay hold on Chriſt. As for thoſe that come without faith, they receiuee1. Cor. 11.27. onelyonly the outward elements, and that vntountofVerſ. 29. condemnation.
Q. Who are to be partakers of this Sacrament?
A. All baptized, who are of yeeres & ſound iudgement to diſcerne the Lords body, ought to repaire to this Sacrament: but thoſe onelyonly come worthily, who profeſsing the true faith, hauehave dulya1. Cor. 11.28 examined & prepared thēſelues.
Q. How ought eueryevery Chriſtian comming to this Sacramēt, to examin & prepare himſelfe that he may come worthily?
A. By due ſearch & triall of himſelf, whether he hauehave in him the conditions, by God required in worthy Communicants, viz.
b2. Cor. 13.5. 1. Tim. 1.15.Faith, groūded vpō knowledge both of Gods will in generall, & this holy Sacrament in particular.
cHeb. 10.22. Iames 48.Repentāce of ſins paſt, attēded with truedZech. 12.10. l…ue of God, & of his e1. Cor. 16.14.brethren.
Q. How ought eueryevery Chriſtian thus prepared, to demeane himſelfe in receiuing, and after?
A.
1. In the preſent actiō, with reuerēce, intention & thankſgiuing, f1. Cor. 11.26.cōmemorating the Lords death, for the cō fort & refreſhing of his ſoul, &gRom. 12.1. ofring vp himſelfe ſoule & body as a ſacrifice of thanks: in which regard it is called the Euchariſt.
2. Afterward, cōtinually indeuoring to finde anhCol. 2.6, 7. increaſe of his faith in Chriſt, louelove to God & all his ſaints, power to ſubdue ſinne, and practiſe obedience, with all other*2. Pet. 3.18 ſauing and ſanctifying graces.
SECT. XVII. Of the inward meanes of reuealing the Couenant of Grace, viz. the Spirit, and Faith.
Q. VVHat are the inward meanes whereby God reuealeth his Couenant of Grace?
A. They are 2. Viz.
1. The Spirit.
2. Faith.
Q. What is here meant by the Spirit?
A. A ſpeciall effect of the Spirit of Chriſt before-mentioned, dwelling in our hearts, teſtifying, on Gods part, his free louelove, and gracious purpoſe touching our ſaluation inaPſal. 35.3 particular, bearing bRom. 8.16witneſſe with our ſpirits that we are, in Chriſt, his Children, and hee our Father, & withall guiding vsus to thecPſal. 16.7 Ioh. 14.26 knowledge of the whole will of God, reuealed in his word; called therefore thedEpheſ. 1.17 ſpirit of wiſedome or Reuelation.
Q. Doth the Spirit alwaies witneſſe the louelove of God vntounto vsus?
A. The witneſſe of the ſpirit isaRom. 5.5. Epheſ. 2.13.14. continuall, yet it isbPſal. 51.10 & ver. 7.8 not alwaies with like feeling and comfort apprehended, becauſe neither are our hearts alwaies alike purged, humbled and enlarged to receiue it, nor the ſweet promiſes of the Goſpell (cEſay 59.21. whereon the ſpirit groundeth this teſtimonie) with like care attended on, and meditated.
Q. How may wee diſcerne betweene the perſwaſion of Gods Spirit, and the preſumption of our owne hearts?
A. Among other, by theſe three differences. Viz. that
1. Preſumption giuethdDeu. 29.19 libertie to continue in ſinne, but Gods ſpiriteIoh. 16.8 rebuketh vsus for eueryevery ſinne.
2. PreſumptionfJer 3.4, 5 relyeth on Gods louelove; not louing him, but Gods ſpirit maketh vsusgCant. 8.6. 1. Ioh. 4.19 louelove him becauſe hee hath loued vsus firſt.
3. Proſumptiō is ioined with ſelf-louelove, but Gods ſpirit, reuealing his mercy to vsus, maketh vsushIob 42.5, 6. Ezek. 16.63. & 36.31 abhor our ſelues.
Q. What meane you here by Faith?
A. That ſpeciall act of faith, whereby wea1. Ioh. 5.10. giuegive credit to the report of the word and ſpirit of Chriſt, touching our ſaluation in particular, and ſobIoh. 3.33 ſet to our ſeale that God is true.
Q. How are we brought to giuegive credit to the word and ſpirit?
A. By thecRom. 10.17. ministerie of the ſame word, with the Sacraments annexed, and the power of the ſame ſpirit; by which onelyonly meanes God worketh, and ſetteth on worke, this grace of faith, in the hearts of his Children, from the generall promiſes of the Goſpell,d1. Tim. 1.15. Ioh. 20.28 particularly, andeIob 19.25 1. Pet. 1.13. vndoubtedly to conclude their owne ſaluation.
Q. Can all that hauehave faith, particularly, and vndoubtedly reſolue of their ſaluation?
A.
1. Many for a time reſt ſecure in a flirting perſwaſion, which may appeare not to be true faith, in that itfAct. 15.9 purgeth not the heart.
2. The Elect hauing true faith, gLuk. 22.32 Rom. 11.29neuer failing, and working in them ſound aſſurance, muſt yet ordinarily hMar 9.24 Luc. 17.5ſtriue againſt doubting, and mayiPſal. 51.12 & 31 22. & 42.5. at times, (falling into ſin, or ſome ſpirituall affliction) looſe for a ſeaſon, the ioy and feeling of this aſſurance.
SECT. XVIII. Of the manner of reuealing the Couenant of Grace, viz. Vocation.
Q. THus much of the meanes: now what is the manner of reuealing the Couenant of Grace?
A. It isaRom. 8.30 Heb. 3.1. Vocation, or Calling; when God by the meanes aforeſaid, acquainting men with his gracious purpoſe of ſaluation by Chriſt,bHoſ. 2.14 inuiteth them to come vntounto him.
Q. Are there not different kindes of Calling?
A. Yes: there is two fold calling.
1. Effectuall, peculiar to thoſe few that are Elect, whereby God (become in Chriſt their Father) doth not onelyonly outwardly by his word inuite, buteGen. 9.27 Pſal. 65.4 & 25.14 Ioel. 2.32 Acts 2.39 inwardly alſo & powerfully, by his ſpirit, allure and winne their hearts to cleaue to him inſeparably vntounto ſaluation.
2.aEſay 48.12 Outward onelyonly; and ineffectuall, wherebybMat. 22.14 many are called, who are not choſen; as hath been ſhewed.
Q. How doth this latter differ from the former calling?
A. Howſoeuer wee are toc1. Cor. 1.2 iudge charitably of all outwardly called, becauſe who among them are alſo inwardly called is onelyonlyd2. Tim. 2.19 knowne to God; yet doth this outward calling differ from the former.
1. In that it is wrought onelyonly byeHeb. 4.2. outward meanes and common illumination without thefIud. v. 19. ſpirit of regeneration, or any portion ofgLuk. 8.13 ſauing faith.
2. In that they are admitted onelyonly to an outward andhAct. 8.13 Rom. 9.4.5 temporarie league of formall profeſſion,i1. Ioh. 2.19. 1. Cor. 1.8.9 not to that entire fellowſhip with Chriſt, required vntounto ſaluation.