The Sick Mans Catechism, Chapter 3 – Chapter 5
The third Chapter.
1. The doctrine of faith.
2. The infinite and vnmeasurable mercies of God.
Ques. When the sicke person hath thus applied Gods law to himselfe, arraigned himselfe before the barre of Gods iudgement, and made a true confession of his sinnes, and hath béene brought to true contrition, what is in the second place required of him?
An. Hée must by a firme faith be persivaded of Gods gratious presence and euerlasting louelove towards him, that his sinnes are pardonable, and that Christ hath by his sufferings, fréed and deliuered vsus from the power of satan, slauery of sinne, feare of death and condemnation, and that he also hath by his actuall obedience, imputed vntounto vsus and apprehended by faith purchased vntounto vsus and prepared for vsus euerlasting glory and happinesse.
Obiect. But how can the sicke-man be perswaded of Gods fauor and mercy, séeing that his sinnes are so great and so innumerable?
Ans. Albeit his and our sinnes quoad nos, in regard of our selues be heynous yea and vncountable: yet compared with GODS endlesse and vnmeasurable mercies in Christ they are but few and finite.
For his mercies are infinite his compassions faile not, and with him Lam. 3. ver. 22.is ple…teous redemption, in so much (as we may sée in Manasses, the lost Psal. 130. 6.sonne, Paul, Mary Magda…ene and diuers others) …here sin hath abounded, Rom. 5. ve. 20.grace hath a …ounded more.
Questi. What further reasons hauehave you to euince and demonstrate the …nitenesse of Gods mercy?
Answ. First, Gods purpose in giuing and sending his Sonne to cure and redéeme the world; and in giuing his Apostles commission and commandement to preach repentance and forgiuenesse of sinnes to all nations, can neuer his voide and fru… rate.
Secondly, the natiuitie: life, doctrine, miracles, obedience, death, resurrection and ascension and intercession of Christ, yea and the sacraments, of baptisme and the Lords supper, which are onelyonly in…nded and effectuall for the calling, conuersion and saluation of GODS elect, can neuer want their scope and proper end.
Q. What conclude you hence?
A. Though one man had committed all the sinnes that be in the world (the sinne onelyonly committed against the holy Ghost, whereof no man can possibly repent, and which no elect can possibly commit, being excepted) hée must not despaire of Gods mercy, but repent him of his sinnes from the bottome of his heart, and turne to the Lord, and then …. …. v. 18though they were as Crimson, they shall be made as whit… as Snowe: and though they were redde like Scarlet, they shall be as wooll.
Q. But not-with-standing all that hath béene said, many doubts, difficulties, imperfections and transgressions so trouble my minde, that I cannot bée perswaded of the infinite extent of Gods mercies.
A. Propound your doubts and scruples, and I will doe my best endeuour to remooue them.
The Sick-man. I feare, that the world being so wicked, and men (generally) so vngodly, prophane, and irreligious, that I shall fare the worse for their sake.
Minister.
Thou hast no cause to feare, for the Gen. 7. …. &c.impenitencie of the whole world, could not preiudice the saluation of Noah and Gen. 8. v. 1his family, nor the horrible sinnes of the Sodomites depriue Lot of Gods fauour and protection.
Secondly, the godly are to answer for their owne sinnes onelyonly, which are all pardoned in Christ, and they liue by their owne faith. Gal. 2. 20. Rom. 1. 17.
Thirdly, as h…e that wilfully closeth his eyes, that hée may not behold the Simile.sunne-light, cannot depriue him of the light of the sunne who openeth his eyes: so another mans vnworthinesse and wilfulnesse, cannot hinder thée (if thou be prepared by the spirit of God) from beholding and enioying Gods bottomlesse mercies.
2. Obiection. But I finde and féele in my selfe many wants, errours, imperfections, ye… and grose offenses.
Minister:
A. Déere brother, be not discouraged, duplicate page duplicate page thou hast more cause of triumph then of terrour. For first thou committest not that shine (namely of desperate malice against God) and the knowne principles of Christian faith) vntounto death.
Secondly, thou féelest, yea and art grieued for thy sinne, which is no worke of nature, but of grace & regeneration.
Thirdly, the séed and roote of grace in Gods elect, is neuer wholy taken away, for Gods gifts are without repentance, and Christs int…rcession, for their encrease and preseruation in grace, is alwayes effectuall Ioh. 11. v. 42.
The Sick-man. But my faith is often-times dead, and without all life and motion, how … can I be assured of Gods mercy?
The Minister.
Thy faith is not extinct, but only for the time ouer-clowded with the mist of …sal. 30. v. 7. 8. & 9,sinne, and couered vnderunder the ashes of infirmitie: it is like to a trée, which in … winter season, albeit it bring foorth neither …, flowre, nor fruite, yet it hath life and s…ppe at the roote, which … the spring time will ascend vp and appeare.
Secondly, God respecteth rather the qualitie of faith then the quantitie; if it be a true faith though as little as a graine of Mustard séede, God accepteth of it: for one drop and dramme of faith, 1. Ioh. ….is of m…e force to saue then an Ocean sea of sinne and corruption to condemne.
Thirdly and lastly, faith without present ioy and feeling, is more forcible and preuailing then faith with it, for it onelyonly relyeth vponupon Gods power, truth and promises, yea, when God sheweth himselfe an enemie to vsus, and séemeth to kill vsus, we by it beléeue in God, and by faith waite on him, whereas it is an easie matter for a man in the apprehension Iob. 13, 1… Mat. 15, v. 23. ad 29.of sensible comfort and ioy, to beléeue.
The fourth obiection, The sick-man. But the fearfull iudgments of God, such as of late years hauehave bin that most inf…tious and destroying pestilence, the horrible and vn-matchable Gunnepowder treason: the vnheard of breach of the sea, and inundation of waters, the late extreame and killing frost, this present pinching and vnexpected dearth; vnseasonable wether, and many other publike and priuate iudgements vponupon Church and common-wealth, which I sée and heare of, doe much dismay mée, and cause me to doubt of Gods mercy.
Minister.
A. True it is, that these and diuerse other punishments hauehave béene executed vponupon vsus, for the neglect, yea contempt of the blessed word of God, and the powerfull ministerie of it, for our want of zeale against the enimies of the truth, for prophanation of the Sabboth, for oppression of the poore, for blasphemie, for hypocrisie, and for licentious liuing, &c. But notwithstanding, if there Gen. 7. 1,be but one good man in a generation, hée shall not for the multitude of transgressors be depriued of Gods mercies, but finde comfort in the greatest plagues and punishments whatsoeuer.
Secondly, though being once by faith ingrafted and incorporated into Christ, yea and maried vntounto Christ the author and fountaine of life and happinesse, thou canst neuer miscarry nor perish. For euen as the Disciples in the ship, Mat. …. … & 28.when a mighty storme for their triall and demonstration of Christs power, was raised vp, could not possibly perish, the Lord of glory being there present in the ship: so hauing Christ the Lord of glory dwelling in thine heart by his spirit, how canst thou do amisse? or why should thou doubt of Gods mercifull prouidence, who ordereth all things for thy good?
The fift Obiection The sick man. But my great vnworthinesse and vnthankfulnesse, maketh me to suspect and feare that God will not performe that hée hath promised, nor finish the good worke that he hath begun in me.
Minister.
A. This is indéed a gréeuous temptation, Rom. 3. v. 3yea the sorest of all others, but this cannot hinder God from performing his promises. For as the making of his couenant of grace with vsus, and the offer of his sauing promises vntounto vsus, procéeded onelyonly from his frée goodnesse and méere merciemercy, without any respect to our workes, or worthinesse: so the accomplishing of his promises is to be onelyonly ascribed to the same grace and goodnesse.
Thirdly (as hath before bin particularized) not the greatest …rmers and offenders in the old and new Testament, hauehave euer, by reason of their owne vnworthinesse, bin denyed or depriued of Gods mercies: but vponupon confession of their sinnes, desire of pardon, and the purpose and beginning of amendment of life, were pardoned and receiued into Gods euerlasting fauour.
Q. Is it necessarily then required of vsus, that we confesse and acknowledge our owne vnworthinesse?
A. Yes without question, for hereby we are made capable of Gods mercies and blessings. God doth depresse the proud, and exalt the humble, & he filleth the hungry soule with goodnesse, but the rich (in their owne conceit onelyonly) hée sendeth away emptie, Luke. 1. 52. & 15. and Christ was sent not to call the righteous, (in their owne opinion) but sinners Luk. 5, 31.(in their owne sense and confession) to repentance.
Q. Séeing that God doth not simply forsake or cast off any for his vnworthinesse, what vse make you of this point?
A. We must learne hence neuer to call Gods mercy, truth, and goodnesse into question: but we must make it the Vse.foundation of our confidence and hope, for it is vnchangeable, infinite, and euerlasting: and thus dooing we shall hauehave no cause to feare euill, but to looke to finde all good things in Christ our treasure, husband, and head.
The fourth Chapter. Of Death, and the cause of it.
Question. VVHen the sick person is once perswaded of the pardon of his sinnes, for the time past and present, what further duty remaineth to be performed?
A. He is to be prepared and armed, against the feare of death, the assaults of Satan, and the …errour of the last iudgement, ….
Q. Now that hée may bée prepared and armed against death, what points are to be considered?
A. Seauen points specially. I. what death is: II. The certainty of it. III. The causes and kindes of it. IV. The exceptions that are taken against it. V. The benefits of it. VI. The preparation and furniture against it. And VII. what disposition and behauiour is required in death it selfe. Of these in order.
Chapter the fift, Of death, his causes and kindes.
Question. VVHat is death?
A. It is the taking away of life, or the dissolution and separation of the soule from the body, ordeined of God, and for the punishment of sinne imposed vponupon Adam and all his posteritie. Rom. 6. 23. 1. Cor. 15. 21. & Col. 2. 13.Phil. 1, 23 Gen 2, 17 Heb. 9, 27 Rom. 5, 12
Q Doth God yet impose death as a punishment?
A. Yes, for eueryevery man sinneth and the very infante is not without originall corruption, and therefore all must of necessity, (no persons, order, or degrée excepted,) at length die the temporall death. Eccle. 3. ve. 3. Psal. 49. v. 10. Heb 9. 27.
Q. What is the procuring and deseruing cause of death?
Ans. Sinne, whereby man brake Gods commandement.
Q. How was sinne first brought into the world?
A. Satan in the forme of a serpent perswaded Eue to eate of the forbidden Rom. 5, 1… Psa. 96, v. … et 10 … 1. Ioh. 3. … Gen. 3. v. 6 Rom. 8. 1… 1 Tim. 2. 14.aple, Eue assenting to satan, did eate of it and gaue it to Adam who harkned to her,: and thus they both of them sinned and brought death vponupon themselues and all their posterity.
Q Why then were not Adam and Eue, immediately after their fall, put to death?
An. First, because the threatning of death was not absolute, but included a condition of faith in Christ, that was to be borne, and that should breake the serpents head.
Secondly, Adam and Eue incontinently vponupon their fall became mortall in their bodies, and accursed in their soules.
Thirdly, God by his clemency and indulgence towards them, would make a way to make knowne his merciemercy.
Quest. If all men by reason of sinne must néedes die, why did not Enoch and Elias in the time of the old Testament die the death of all, but were rapt aliue into heauen?
Ans. First, their translation was extraordinary, and proper to themselues onelyonly.
Secondly they were figures and tipes of the generall resurrection.
Thirdly, their translation was nothing els but an extraordinary death, for they were changed in a moment from mortality to immortality.
Obiect. But at the day of iudgement many shalbe found aliue, howe then can all men bee said to die?
Answ. All the elect at the sound of the trumpet, shall in a moment, bée 1 Thes. 4, 14.changed from corruption to incorruption, 1 Cor. 15. 51.and from mortality to immortality which is a kinde of death.
Qu. Now seeing that sinne is the cause of death, what vse are we to make of it?
Ans. Wee must bée mooued hereby, to take notice of, and acknowledge Gods seuere wr…th against sinne, and (by consequence) we must learne to hate and shun all kind of sinne.