The Guide Unto True Blessedness, Section 8 – Section 11
SECT. VIII. Of the Conſequents of the Fall: and firſt of Sinne.
Q. WHat is the effect of this fall?
A. That which in Scripture is called thebGen. 5.3. & 6.3 image of Adam, thecEpheſ 4.22 old man, the dJoh. 3.6fleſh. &c.
Viz. theeRom. 5.12. ſtate
1. Of ſinne:
2 By, & for ſinne of death.
Q. What is Sinne?
A. Af1. Ioh. 3.4 ſweruing from the law of God, making the ſinnergGen. 4.7 guiltie before God, and liable to the curſe of the law.
Q. How is mankinde in the ſtate of ſinne, ſince the fall?
A. EueryEvery one, naturally deſcending from Adam, beſides the guilt of that firſt ſinne committed in Paradiſe,
1. IsaPſal. 51.5 conceiued and borne in originall corruption:
2. Liuing in this world, ſinneth alſobGen. 6.5 Eſa. 48.8. actually; yea of himſelfecJer 13.23 Mat. 7.18. can doe nothing but ſinne;dTit. 1.15 neither is any thing pure vntounto him.
Q. What is originall corruption?
A. It is the defacing of Gods image, conſiſting chiefely in wiſedome and holineſſe, and the impreſsion of the contrarie eIoh. 8.41. &c.image of Satan, calledfRom. 7.7 Jam. 1.14 Concupiſcence, conſiſting
1. In an vttergRom. 7.18 diſabilitie, andh& 8.7. enmitie vntounto that which is good:
2. IniRom. 7.14 proneneſſe vntounto all manner euill.
Q. In what part of our nature doth it abide?
A. In the whole man and eueryevery part.
1.kEph. 4.17 18, 19. Darkening orlEſay 44.20 miſleading the vnderſtanding:
2mTit 1 15 Epheſ. 4.19 Benumming ornMar. 10.20 1. Cor. 8.7 abuſing the conſcience:
3aRom. 7.23 Rom 6.10 Enthralling andbEpheſ 4.18 hardening the will:
4.cIam. 4.1 Gal. 5.17 Iob 15.16. Diſturbing and diſordering the affections:
5. Finally making the bodily ſences and members, Either
1. AsdMat 5.29, 30 Porters to let in ſinne, or
2. AseRo. 6.12, 13 & 3.13. &c. Inſtruments to execute it.
Q. Is the image of God then wholly defaced in man?
A. No. For hefIam. 3.9 remaineth ſtill a creature reaſonable and capable of grace, hauing the ſame parts, and faculties he had before, and in them ſome reliques of Gods image: as in the vnderſtandinggJoh. 1.9. ſome light; in the conſcience ſometimeshRom 2.15. right iudgement; in the will,iRom. 2.14 ſome libertie to good and euill, in naturall and ciuill actions, and freedome in all things from compulſion &c.
Q. What is actuall ſinne?
A. It is ſinne committedkRom. 5.14 after the manner of Adams tranſgreſsion, to wit, a particular breach of Gods law, leauing aaIer. 13.23 ſtaine in the ſoule, which polluteth the ſinner, and diſpoſeth him to further euill.
Q. How is ſuch ſinne committed?
A. Two wayes, Viz. by
1. Omiſsion of duety required:
2. Commiſsion of euill forbidden.
whether it be
1. Inwardly, in thebGen. 6.5. Mat. 15.19 vnderſtanding, will, or affections, or
2. Outwardly, incEſay 3 8. word or deed.
Q. By what degrees doe men proceed in the committing of actuall ſinne?
A. d2. Sam. 11.2Temptation offered,ePſal. 7.14 Jam. 1.14.15 concupiſcence taking liking conceiueth, wherevpon enſueth the committing, or birth of ſinne: by cuſtome and continuance wherein, the heart finally isfHeb. 3 13 hardened.
Q. What are the different kindes of actuall ſinne?
A. They are many, but wee may reduce them to theſe fiue. Viz.
1.gEſay 6.5 Partaking with others ſinnes:
2.hPſal 19.12 Sinnes of ignorance, or of ani1. Cor. 8.7 erring conſcience.
3.aRom. 7.19. Sinnes of knowledge, through infirmitie:
4.bPſal. 19.13 & 50.21. Eccle. 8.11. Sinnes of Preſumption and obſtinacie:
5.cHeb. 6.4.5, 6 & 10.29 Mar. 3.29, 30. The impardonable ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt.
Q. Doe all naturall men alike commit all theſe kindes of ſinne?
A. No; for thoughdRom. 7.14. all are alike diſpoſed vntounto all manner euill, hauing in their corrupt nature the ſeedes of eueryevery ſinne, yet doth God, for the good of humane ſocietie, reſtraine many from notorious crimes, byeRo. 13.3.4.5 feare of ſhame and puniſhment, deſire of honour and reward. &c.
Q. How doth God employ men in this ſtate of ſinne?
A.
1. Hee guideth them, partly by thefRo 2.14.13 Joh. 1.9. light of nature, and partly, bygEſay. 44.28. common graces of the Spirit, vntounto many actions, profitable for humane ſocietie, and for the outward ſeruice of God.
2. HeehAct. 3.18 & 4 27.28 ouer-ruleth their euill and ſinfull actions, ſo that thereby they bring to paſſe nothing, but what his hand and counſell had before determined for his owne glorie.
SECT. IX. Of the ſecond Conſequent of the Fall, viz. Death: and of the Leauing of Reprobates in this fearefull ſtate.
Q. HOw is man by ſinne in the ſtate of death?
A. By the iuſt ſentence of God, deliuering himaRom. 5.12 for ſinne, into the power both of corporall and eternall death; ſignified bybGe. 3.22. &c expelling our parents out of Paradiſe, and debarring them of the Sacramentall tree of Life.
Q. What are we to vnderſtand by corporall death?
A. ThecGen. 3.19 Eccl. 12.7 ſeparation of the ſoule, and bodie, with all euils that attend thereon, or make way thereto, asdDeut. 28.15. &c. ſorrow ſickneſſe, ſhame, ſeruitude, penurie, &c. yea euencMal. 3.2 Pſal. 69.22 bleſsings are curſed, andaPſal. 69.22 proſperitie cauſeth ruine.
Q. What is eternall death?
A. It is the finallb2. Theſ 1.9. ſeparation of the whole man in hell for euer, from Gods fauourable preſence and fellowſhip; together with preſentc2. Tim. 2.26 Epheſ. 2.2. bondage vnderunder Satan,dHeb. 10 27 Eſay 33.14 helliſh horrors, and ſuch like fore-runners of damnation.
Q. By what law doth God proceede in this puniſhment?
A. By the law of workes, firſt written in the heart of Adam, and vttered to his eare, in Paradiſe, and ſince more ſolemnely publiſhed, and fully expreſſed by Moſes and the Prophets, eDeu. 29.…6 Rom. 1.31. & 3 20.for the diſcouerie of ſinne, and the puniſhment due thereto.
Q. How commeth it to paſſe, that the reprobate abide; without recouerie in this ſtate of ſinne and death?
A. BecauſefAct. 17.30 & 14.16. the Lord doth not grant vntounto them the benefite of Redemption, and grace of faith and repentance vntounto life, but ſuffereth them to runne on in ſinne deſeruedly vntounto condemnation.
Q. How doth God ſuffer them ſo to runne into condemnation?
A. In a diuers manner:
Some reprobates dying infants;
Others of riper yeares: of which later ſort,
1. Some are not called,
2. Others called.
Q. How doth God deale with reprobates dying infants?
A. Being once conceiued, they are in theaRom. 5.14 ſtate of death, by reaſon of the ſinne of Adam imputed, and of originall corruption cleauing to their nature, wherein alſo dying, they periſh; as (for inſtance) the children of Heathen parents; for touching theb2. Cor. 7.14 children of Chriſtians, we are taught to account them holy.
Q. How doth God deale with thoſe of riper yeeres vncalled?
A. Being naturally poſſeſſedcEpheſ. 4.18.19. with ignorance and vanitie, hedRo. 1.26.28 giueth them vp to their owne luſts, to commit ſin without remorſe, with greedineſſe, in a reprobate mind, vntill theeGen. 15.16. Pſal. 69.27. meaſure of ſinne being fulfilled, they are cut off.
Q. How doth God deale with ſuch reprobates as are called?
A. He vouchſafeth them the outward aHeb. 4.1, 2 2. Cor. 10.1, 2, &c.meanes of ſaluation, giuing farther to ſome of them YomobHeb. 6.4, 5. illumination, acAct. 8.13. temporarie faith, ſome outward holineſſe, & taſt of heauen; whom yet he ſuffereth to fall away, and the meanes of grace to become ad2. Cor. 2.16 ſauour of death vntounto them; yea ſome of thoſe doeeHeb. 6.6. fall, euen to the ſinne vnpardonable.
SECT. X. Of the ſtate of Redemption by the Couenant of Grace: and of the foundation thereof, viz. the Mediator.
Q. TO come to the ſtate of Redemption, how doth God recouer his Elect out of the ſtate of ſinne and death?
A. ByfRom. 3.23, 24. the new Couenant of Grace.
Q. What is the Couenant of Grace?
A. GodsaGal. 3.21, 22. ſecond contract with mankind, after the fall, for the reſtoring of him into his fauour, & to the ſtate of happineſſe, by the meanes of a Mediator.
Q. How doth this couenant differ from that of workes?
A. In this chiefly, that the Couenant of workes requireth of eueryevery man, in his owne perſon, bDeut. 27.26perfect obedience, & in default, forcEzek. 18, 14 Gal, 3.10.11. ſatisfaction, euerlaſting puniſhment: but the Couenant of grace dIbid. ver. 13, 14.admitteth paiment, and performance, by another, in behalfe of ſo many as receiue it. Thus this CouenanteRom. 3.31 & 10.4 aboliſheth not, but is the accompliſhment, and eſtabliſhment of the former.
Q. When was this Couenant of grace firſt plighted betweene God and man?
A. Immediately after the fall, in Paradiſe, in thatfGen. 3.15 promiſe giuen concerning the womans ſeede; God in vnſpeakeable mercy propounding the remedy, before he pronounced ſentence of iudgement.
Q. What are wee to conſider in this couenant of grace?
A. Two things, to wit,
1. The foundation, which is the Mediator:
2. The application thereof, for ſaluation, vntounto the Elect.
Q. What need was there of a Mediator?
A. Betweene parties ſo diſagreeing, the one of finite nature offending, the other of infinite nature offended, the one vtterly diſabled toa2. Cor. 3.5 doe any the leaſt good, orbJob 9.3 ſatisfie for the leaſt ſinne, the other requiring perfect cDeut. 27.26obedience anddMat. 18.34. ſatisfaction, e1. Sam. 2.25what agreement could there be without a Mediator?
Q. In this caſe, what was the Mediator then to doe?
A
1. TofEſay 53.5.6 Job 33.24 pay all our debt, and ſatisfie Gods iuſtice, by ag1. Tim. 2.6 price of infinite valew:
2. To purchaſe, and merit for vsus GodshEpheſ. 1.6. fauour, and kingdome, by a moſtiRom. 5.19 abſolute and perfect obedience.
Q. What an one muſt he be, that ſhould vndertake this mediation?
A. He muſt be
1. Man, of kinne to our nature offending, thataRom. 8.3. 1. Cor. 15.21 Heb. 2.14, 15, 16. in the ſame, he might ſatisfie; and withall,b1. Joh. 3.5. perfectly iuſt without exception.
2.cAct. 20.28 God, that hee might giuegive worth and efficacie to his ſatisfaction and obedience; and withalldHeb. 2.10 the Sonne to make vsus children vntounto his heauenly Father.
Q. How many Mediators are there?
A. OnelyOnlye1. Tim. 2.5 one: for thoughfDeut. 5.31 Gal. 4 19 other are ſo called, yet are they onelyonlyg2. Cor. 5.19 Iob 33.23. Miniſters of the word, not Authors of the worke of reconciliation.
Q. When was the Mediator giuen?
A.
1. If wee regard Gods decree, hEpheſ. 1.4.from all eternitie:
2. If the vertue and efficacie of his mediation, as ſoone as need was eueniReu. 13.8 from the beginning of the world.
3. If his manifeſtation in the fleſh, in thekGal. 4.4. 1. Tim. 2.6 fulneſſe of time; from whence we now reckon more then 1600. yeeares.
Q. Who is this Mediator betweene God and man?
A. aLuk. 2.11 1. Tim. 2.5Ieſus, the ſonne of the Virgin Mary, the promiſed Meſsiah or Chriſt, whom thebIoh. 1.45 & 8.56. Fathers expected, the Prophets foretold, whoſec1. Joh. 1.1 Act. 1.1 life, death, reſurrection and aſcenſion, the Euangeliſts deſcribe, whoſed1. Tim. 3.16 2. Cor. 10.4.5 word preached, vntounto this day, ſubdueth the world; finally whom weeeAct. 10.45 looke for from heauen to be the Iudge of quick and dead.
Q. Is there no need of any other Mediator for vsus vntounto Chriſt?
A. No. For hee isfIob 19.25 next of kinne, moſtgHeb. 2.17. mercifull, moſt faithfull, andh& 7.25 able perfectly to ſaue all thoſe that come to God through him.
SECT. XI. Of Ieſus Chriſt, his Perſon, Offices, and twofold eſtate, of Humiliation, and Exaltation.
Q. VVHat doe the Scriptures teach vsus touching Chriſt?
A. Two things
1. His perſon;
2. His office.
Q. What are wee taught touching the perſon of Chriſt?
A.
1. His two natures Viz
The Godhead,
And manhood:
2. The hypoſtaticall, or perſoſonall vnion of both, into one Immanuel.
Q. How How is the Godhead of Chriſt proued?
A. Not onelyonly by aboundantaEſay 7.14 & 9.6. &c. teſtimonies of ſcripture, but alſo by his miracles, eſpecially thebRom. 1.4 raiſing of himſelfe from death, together with thecAct 5.39 continuance and conqueſt of the Goſpell, and thatdZech. 4… not by carnall power or policie, but onelyonly by the power of his ſpirit, andeReu. 12.11 patient ſuffering of his Saints.
Q. How doth it appeare that Chriſt was man?
A. Beſides manifoldfGen. 3 15 1. Tim. 2.5. &c. predictions, and cleare teſtimonies, it is aboundantly proued by plentifull experiments, eſpecially by hisg1. Pet. 3.18 Heb. 2.14 partaking of humane infirmities, and ſuffering of death.
Q. Being very man, how could hee be without ſinne?
A. Becauſe he was not begotten, after the ordinarie courſe, by man, butaLu. 1.34.35 formed of the onelyonly ſubſtance of the Virgin, and that ſubſtance, in the conception, ſanctified by the holy Ghoſt.
Q. What is the perſonall vnion of theſe two natures?
A. ThebIoh. 1.14 Heb. 2.16 aſſuming of the humane nature (hauing no ſubſiſtence in it ſelfe) into the perſon of the Sonne of God, and in that perſon vniting it to the Godhead; ſo making one Chriſt,cMat. 1.2 3 God and man.
Q. What is the office of Chriſt?
A. Thed1. Tim. 2.5 Mediator-ſhip, which being one, hath yet three denominations from three ſeuerall functions: Viz.
Propheticall
Prieſtly
Kingly.
Q. What is his Prophetical Office?
A. The office ofeEſay 61.1 Mat. 23.8.10. inſtructing his Church: which hee did and doth performe two waies viz.
1. Outwardly, asfMath. 23.37 1. Pet. 3.19. before his incarnation by the Prophets, Prieſts, and Scribes of the Old Teſtament, and in the dayes of his fleſh in hisaHeb. 2.3 owne perſon, as abRom. 15.8 Miniſter of the Circumciſion, (but with thecMat 7.29 authoritie of the Law-giuer) ſo ſince vntounto the worlds endd2. Cor. 4.6 & 5.19, 20 by his Apoſtles, and Miniſters, eEpheſ. 4.11called and fitted by him for that purpoſe:
2. Inwardly by thefLuk. 24.49. Act. 16 14 ioynt operation of his holy ſpirit.
Q. What is the Prieſtly function of Chriſt?
A. It is that whereby heegHeb. 5.1, 5. &c. appeaſeth and reconcileth God to his Elect.
1. Performing for them abſolutehRom. 5.19 obediēce to the whole law of God.
2. Offering himſelfe vntounto his Father,i2. Cor. 5.21 a ſacrifice propitiatorie for all their ſinnes.
3.kHeb 9.24 1. Ioh. 2.1, 2 Rom. 8.34 Heb. 12.24 Appearing euer at the right hand of God to make interceſsion for them.
Q. What is the kingly office of Chriſt?
A. It is the exerciſe of thatlPſal. 110.1 power giuen him by God ouer all, andmMat. 28.…8 Pſal. 2.8. &c. poſſeſsion of all, for thenEſay 9 7. ſpirituall gouernement, and ſaluation of his Elect, and for theaEſay 9.7. deſtruction of his & their enemies.
Q. In what ſtate did Chriſt God and man performe this threefold office?
A. In a two-fold eſtate. Viz. of
1. Humiliation and
2. Exaltation.
Q. What was his ſtate of humiliation?
A. It was thebPſal. 45.5 baſe condition of a ſeruant whereto hee humbled himſelfe from his conception to his croſſe, and ſo vntill the time of his reſurrection.
Q. What is his eſtate of Exaltation?
A. HiscPhil. 2.7.8 glorious condition, beginning at the inſtant of hisdPhil 2.9 Heb. 2.9 reſurrection, and comprehending hiseAct. 2.24 Aſcenſion, fEpheſ. 4.8ſitting at the right hand of God, andg1. Pet. 3.22 ſecond comming in glorie to iudge the world.hMa. 15.31