A Form of Catechizing, Part 3
Hitherto of the means of deliuerance God hath vouchſafed to man from his miſerable condition. Now to the fourth Principle,4. Principle. concerning the vſe and application of thoſe meanes. Namely; What we are to know and beleeue concerning our participation of Chriſt and his benefits, and how we are made partakers of them.
Q. How is Chriſt and his benefits auailable to vsus?
A. By being made ours. For as other mens riches auaile nothing to helpe vsus being in debt vnleſſe they become ours: ſo Chriſt and his benefits, vnleſſe they become ours, profit vsus nothing though he be abundantly rich.
Q. How may Chriſt and his benefits be made ours?
A. If we be mad one with Chriſt, by the benefit of our vnion with Chriſt,Ioh. 6.53.56. Philip. 3 9. we are made partakers of Chriſt and of all his benefits.
Q. How are wee vnited to Chriſt and made one with him?
A. As many as are vnited to Chriſt, are incorporated and made members of that myſticall body whereof Chriſt is the head,Eph. 4.15.16. & cap. 5.30. which the Scriptures ſet foorth vnderunder the ſimilitude of marriage.
Q. What maner of vnion is it whereby we are made one with Chriſt?
A. It is a myſticall vnion, our incorporation into Chriſt and vnion with him is a great myſtery.Epheſ 5.32.
Q. How are wee to conceiue of that our myſticall vnion with Chriſt.
A. Thus: That our myſticall vnion with him is a moſt néere and reall vnion.1. Cor. 12.12. That our whole perſon body and ſoule are vnited to the body & ſoule of Chriſt;Eph. 5.30. 1. Cor. 6.15. ſo that we are members of his body and of his fleſh and bones. And by his fleſh we are alſo ioyned to his God-head, to his diuine nature; For that whereby we hauehave fellowſhip with God, ioynes vsus to God.Heb. 10.20. Now by the fleſh of Chriſt we hauehave our fellowſhip with God.
Therfore the fleſh of Chriſt doth ioyne vsus to God.
Q. What kinde of vnion is it whereby we are ioyned to Chriſt?
A. It is not a corporall vnion by touching, mixture, or the like,1. Cor. 6.17. but a ſpirituall vnion, 1. Cor. 6.17.
Q. What are the meanes by which we are vnited to Chriſt ſpiritually?
A. They are two.
Firſt, the Spirit of Chriſt,1. Cor. 12.13. 1. Ioh. 3.24. and cap 4.13. one and the ſame Spirit being both in Chriſt and in vsus. Firſt in Chriſt and then in vsus.
Secondly, faith,Ioh, 1.12. for faith alſo knits vsus to Chriſt, and by faith wee receiue Chriſt and his benefits offered vntounto vsus.
Q. What is faith?
A. Faith is a ſpeciall gift and grace of God beſtowed on his choſen & wroght in their hearts,Eph. 2.8. Coloſſ. 2.12. Tit. 1.1. Ioh. 1.12. Rom. 5.17. Gal. 3.27. by the power of his Spirit, whereby they doe apprehend and apply Chriſt and all his benefits to themſelues particularly.
Q. How doth a man apply Chriſt to himſelfe ſeeing Chriſt is now in heauen & he heere on earth?
A. The applying of Chriſt is by an inward perſwaſion of the heart,Pſal. 35.3. a man being verily and particularly perſwaded by the effectual perſwaſion of Gods Spirit, that his ſinnes are forgiuen,Rom. 8.16. 1. Cor. 2.12. and that God is his gracious and merciful Father in Ieſus Chriſt.
Q. How ſhall a man know that he is ſo perſwaded by the perſwaſion of the Spirit of God?
A. By theſe two notes eſpecially.
Firſt, if he finde in himſelfe a louelove to God becauſe of Gods louelove to him, and that he loues God, becauſe God hath loued him firſt.1. Ioh. 4.19.
Secondly if he finde himſelfe inwardly rebuked for eueryevery known ſinne, and that he giues himſelfe no liberty to continue in any knowen ſinne.Ioh. 16.8.
Q. How are Gods choſen brought truely to beleeue in Chriſt?
A. God doth firſt prepare their harts, that they may be fit to receiue faith; and then he worketh faith in them.
Q. How doth God make their hearts fit to receiue faith?
A. By mollifying, ſoftning, and bruiſing of their hearts.Ezech. 11.19. Hoſ. 6.1.
Q. How is the heart of man mollified and ſoftned?
A. By being humbled and caſt downe.
Q. How doth God humble and caſt downe the heart.
A. By working in man a knowledge and ſight of his ſinnes both originall and actuall and a true ſorrow for them.
Q. How comes a man to hauehave a knowledge and ſight of his ſinnes?
A. By the morall law of God, Rom. 3.20. and Rom. 7.7.
Q. What is the morall law of God.
A. It is that law that was firſt written in the heart of Adam in the time of his innocency, and ſince that; in tables of ſtone in the daies of Moſes, Exod. 34.28. Deut. 4.13. & chap. 10.4.and ſo publiſhed and committed to the Church for all ages, commonly called the decalogue or ten commandements.
Q. Where finde we the morall Law of God publiſhed and ſet downe?
A. The ſumme of it (namely) the ten Commandements we finde written Exo. 20 from the 3. verſe at the beginning of it, to the end of the 17. verſe, but expounded in many places of Scripture. For ſo often as the Prophets and Apoſtles entreat of vertues and vices, they bee the true Interpreters of the Law, & Chriſt himſelfe expounds ſome of the Commanmandements, Matth. 5.21.22.
You ſee now I am come to the Commandements, but I purpoſe not to ſtand on them at large; heereafter God willing I will entreat more at large on them, only now I will ſhew in generall what ſinnes a man may find in himſelfe by the ten Commandements in order.
Q. What be the ſinnes in generall that a man may finde in himſelfe by the firſt Commandement?
A. Firſt, his deniall of God, his thinking there is no God at all, Pſalm. 14.1. Pſal. 14.1.Pſalm. 10 4.Pſal. 10.4.
Secondly, his acknowledging of ſome thing to be his God,Iſa. 51.12.13. Philip. 3.19. Epheſ. 5.5. Coloſſ. 3.5. Ier. 17.5. which indéede is not God, ſetting his affection on it, fearing it, louing it, putting his truſt and confidence in it.
Q. What be the ſinnes in generall that a man may finde in himſelfe by the ſecond Commandement?
Ezek. 8.10.12 16.A. Firſt, his worſhipping of a falſe God.Rom. 1.23. 2. King. 16.10 Coloſſ. 2.23.
Secondly, his worſhipping of the true God after a falſe manner.
Q. What be the ſinnes in generall that a man may finde in himſelfe by the third Commandement?
A. Mal. 1.6.12. Math. 4.6. 1. C… ▪ …0.31.Euen all thoſe wrongs and indignities that are offered by him to the name and glory of God by abuſing his titles, word and workes.
Q. What be the ſinnes in generall that a man may finde in himſelf by the fourth Commandement?
A. His prophaning of the Sabbath any way,Iſa. 58.13. Nehe: 13.15. as by doing any thing on that day that ought not to be done: whether it be a worke of his calling, or a worke of the fleſh.
Or by leauing vndone the workes of the Sabbath, which ought to be done.
Q. What be the ſinnes in generall that a man may finde in himſelfe by the fifth Commandement?
A. His thinking, ſpeaking,Pro: 30.11. Iude. verſ. 8. Rom: ….30. or doing of any thing againſt the dignitie God hath beſtowed on others in reſpect of age, place, or gifts.
Q. What bee the ſinnes in generall that a man may finde in himſelfe by the ſixth Commandement?
A. His thinking, willing, ſpeaking or doing any thing that may tend to the hurt or hinderance,Gen: 9.5, 6. either of his owne life or the life of another.
Q. What be the ſinnes in generall that a man may finde in himſelfe by the 7. Commandement?
A. His thinking, willing, ſpeaking or doing any thing,2 Cor: 7.1. 1 Theſ. 4.3, 4. to the hurt or hinderance either of his owne chaſtitie or the chaſtitie of another.
Q. What be the ſinnes in generall that a man may finde in himſelfe by the eight Commandement?
… His hurting or hindering by any v… …full way,1 Tim: 5.8. 2 Pet: 2 14. 1 Theſſ. 4 6. the wealth or outward g… …tate either of himſelf or of another.
Q. What be the ſinnes in generall that a man may finde in himſelfe by the ninth Commandement?
A. His hurting or hindering of the good name either of himſelfe or of another,Math: 7.1. Phil: 4.8. 1. Cor: 13.…. by any vntrue and vniuſt opinion or report.
Q. What be the ſinnes in generall that a man may finde in himſelfe by the tenth Commandement?
A. All his euill luſts both originall & actuall,Ier: 4.14. Math: 15.19. Iam: 1.14. euen all thoſe euill thoughts and motions that are ſtirring in his heart contrary to charitie & the louelove of others, though he giuegive no liking nor conſent to them. Ier. 4.14. Math: 15.19. Iam: 1.14.
Q. How is a man brought to a true ſorrow for his ſinnes?
A. By the fearefull and terrible curſe of the law of God.
Q. What is the curſe of the law?
A. Both temporall iudgment and eternal damnation denounced for the leaſt diſobedience and breach but of one commandement of God,Deut: 27.26. Gal: 3.10. 2 Cor: 3.7. though it be but once in all a mans life, and that … one thought, without offering any hope of pardon.
Q. What is true ſorrow for ſinne?
A. A true touch of conſcience, or compunction of heart,Luk: 15.21. Ezra 9.6, 7. with a liuely féeling of Gods diſpleaſure for ſin, in ſuch ſort, as a man, vtterly deſpaires of ſaluation in regard of any thing in himſelfe,Dan: 9.7, 8. Act: 2.37. and acknowledgeth that he hath deſerued euerlaſting confuſion.
Q. When a man is thus brought to a ſight of his ſinnes, and a true ſorrow for them, and ſo made fit to receiue faith, how doth God worke faith in him?
A. By working certaine inward motions in his heart as the ſéedes of faith, out of which faith bréedeth.
Q. What is the firſt of thoſe motions?
A. When a man being humbled, and caſt downe vponupon the ſight of his ſins, and with true ſorrow for them, doth feele and acknowledge that he ſtands in great need of Chriſt and Gods mercy in Chriſt. Luk: 1.5…. Luk: 1.53.Math: 11.28. Math. 11.28.Luk. 15.7.Luk. 15.7.
Q. What is the ſecond of thoſe motions?
A. An hungring deſire of that grace that is offered in Chriſt,Math: 5.6. Ioh. 7 37. Reuel. 21.6. and a longing to be made partaker of it, as a man hungers and thirſts after meat and drinke.
Q. Wha… is the …h…d of thoſe motions?
Gal. 3.24. Heb. 4.16.A. A ſlying from the ſentence and terror of the Law and an approching to the throne of grace.
Q How doth a man being humbled and ſorrowing for his ſinne, approach to the throne of grace?
A. Two waies: firſt, by an humble confeſſion of his ſins before God,Pſalm: 32.5. 2 Sam. 12.13. Luk. 15.18. particularly, if they be knowne, and generally, if they be vnknowne.
Secondly, by crauing pardon of his ſins with vnſpeakable ſighes & groanes,Hoſea 14.2, 3. Rom. 8.26. Pſalm: 51.1. and ſending vp loude cryes to heauen for Gods mercy in Chriſt, neuer ceaſing ſo to do till the deſire of his hart be granted.
Q. What followes after theſe motions?
A. After theſe motions, God according to his owne gracious promiſe, imprints in the heart of a poore ſinner,Iſai. 65.24. Iob 33.26. Matth: 7.7. 1 Tim. 1.15.16. by the worke of his holy ſpirit, a ſpeciall & particular perſwaſion of his louelove toward him in Chriſt, and that his ſins are forgiuen him for Chriſt his ſake, and this ſpeciall and particular perfwaſion is a true and a liuely faith.
Q. Is eueryevery true beleeuer, in like meaſure and degree perſwaded of Gods louelove towards him in Chriſt, and of the pardon of his ſins?
A. No:Rom. 1.17. Luk. 17.5. there be different degrées and meaſures of faith.
Q. What is the ſmalleſt meaſure of true faith?
A. It is a perſwaſion in the heart of one truly humbled for his ſins, that his ſins are pardonable, and therefore deſireth the pardon of them,Mat. 8.26. and with his heart euen with ſighes prayeth to God, for the pardon of them, and this is called little faith or weake faith, which is like ſmoaking flax,Iſai: 42 3. Mat: 17.20. and like a graine of muſtard ſéede.
Q. What is the greateſt meaſure of true faith?
A. It is a full perſwaſion of the heart, whereby a Chriſtian makes full account that God loues him in Chriſt particularly,Rom: 4.20.21 &c. 8.38.39. and will beſtow on him in particular Chriſt and all his graces that pertaine to eternall life.
Q. When comes a Chriſtian to this full perſwaſion?
Pſal: 23.1, 2, 3, 4, 6 2 Tim: 4 7, 8.A. Not at the firſt, but after the ſenſe, obſeruation, & long experience of Gods louelove towards him in Chriſt.
Q. How may a man know that his faith is true and vnfaigned?
A. By the fruits of it which are good works. Galat: 5.6. 1. Tim: 1.5. Iam: 2.18.
Q. What are the benefits that a true beleeuer receiues by his faith in Chriſt?
A. Perfect reconciliation with God,Rom: 3.25. 1. Cor: 1.…0. Act. 15.9. iuſtification in the ſight of God, and ſanctification.
Q. What is it to bee iuſtified before GOD?
A It is to be accounted iuſt in the ſight of God through the obedience of Chriſt.Rom: 5.19. & cap. 10.4. 2 Cor: 5.21.
Q. Wherein ſtands our iuſtification in the ſight of God?
A. In two things:
Firſt, in the remiſſion of our ſins.
And ſecondly, in hauing Chriſts righteouſnes imputed to vsus.
Q. What is the remiſſion of our ſins?
A. It is our diſcharge and fréedome from the guiltineſſe and puniſhment due to our ſinnes by the merits of Chriſt his death and ſufferings.Col. 1.21, 22 1 Pet. 2.14. 1 Ioh: 1.7.
Q. What is it to hauehave Chriſt his righteouſnes imputed to vsus?
A. It is to be accepted before the iudgment ſeat of God,Philip, 3.8, … Rom. 4. man… verſes. 2 Cor: 5.21. and to be accounted worthy of eternall life, by the merits of Chriſt his righteouſnes.
Q. Doe not the good workes of true beleeuers make them worthy of eternall life?
A. No: they doe not.
Q. Why ſo?
A. Becauſe they are not perfectly good,Pſal. 143.2. Iſai. 64.6. Gal: 5.17. but ſtained with ſin, and imperfect through that corruption of nature, that remaines in true beléeuers.
Q. To what vſe then ſerue good workes?
A. They ſerue to theſe thrée purpoſes.
Mat: 5.16. 1. Pet. 2.12.Firſt, to glorifie God.
1. Pet. 1.10.Secondly, to make our calling and election ſure to our ſelues. and
1. Cor. 10.23, 24.Thirdly, to the profit and good of our brethren.
Q. What followeth on iuſtification in the ſight of God?
A. Adoption is euer annexed to it, which is a power and priuiledge to bée actually accounted the children of God,Epheſ. 1.5. Ioh 1.12. Galat. 4.5. by Chriſt.
Q. What is it to be ſanctified?
Tit 3.5. 2 Cor. 3.18. Epheſ. 4.24.A. It is to be inwardly changed, and renued in nature according to the image of God, in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe.
Q. How is ſanctification wrought?
A. By the power & vertue of Chriſt his death and reſurrection,Rom. 6 4.5. Coloſſ. 2.12.13. being made effectuall to ſuch as are iuſtified by the diuine power and working of the holy Ghoſt, hee thereby creating holineſſe in their hearts.
Q. Wherein ſtands the worke of ſanctification?
A. In two things. In mortification or dying to ſinne, and in viuification or quickning to newneſſe of life.
Q. What is mortification or dying to ſinne.
A. It is a part of ſanctification, wherby the power, tyrannie and ſtrength of naturall corruption is weakned,Rom 6.6. 1. Pet. 4.1. and by little and little aboliſhed by vertue of Chriſt his death.
Q. What is viuification or quickning to newneſſe of life?
A. It is another part of ſanctification,Epheſ 2.1. 1 Cor. 15.45. Philip. 3.10. wherby inherent holineſſe, being begun, is ſtill increaſed more and more by the vertue of Chriſt his reſurrection.
Q. In what part of man iuſtified is ſanctification wrought?
A. In eueryevery power and faculty of his ſoule,1. Theſſ. 5.23. and in eueryevery part and member of his body.
Q. Is ſanctification wrought in all true beleeuers equally and at all times alike?
A. No: it is wrought in true beléeuers differently and by degrées, and it is wrought in them in this life, only in part, and ſhall not be perfected in them,Rom 8.23. 1. Cor. 13.9. 2. Pet 3.18. before the end of this life.
Q. What is the effect or exerciſe of ſanctification?
A. It is repentance. For no man can or will truly repent, except he be iuſtified and endued with true faith. Though repentance doe firſt ſhew it ſelfe in ſuch as be truely conuerted, yet in the order of nature it followeth faith & ſanctification.
Q. What is Repentance?
A. It is a turning from ſinne to God, or a thorow change of the purpoſe of the heart and courſe of life from euill to good.Iſai. 1.16.17. Ezech: 33.11. Acts 26.20.
Q. Whence coms this thorow change?
2. Cor 7.9.10.A. From a godly ſorrow, or a ſorrow according to God.
Q. What is a godly ſorrow?
A. It is a ſorrow for ſinne, whereby a man is greeued for no other cauſe, but onelyonly for this, that by his ſinnes, he hath diſpleaſed God, who hath beene to him a gracious and mercifull Father. Thus it was withaPſal: 51.14. Dauid, & thus it was withbMat. 26.75. Peter, and thus it was with thecLuk. 7.44. compared with 47, Woman.
Q. What be the things that follow Repentance?
A. Theſe two: Firſt, a continuall ſtriuing againſt ſinne, a reſiſting of all motions and temptations to ſin,Heb. 12.4. Epheſ. 4.27. Iam 4.7. 1 Pet. 5.9. whether comming from our owne corruption, or from the ſuggeſtion of Sathan, or from the enticements of the world, euen to bloud if need require.
Secondly,Matth: 3.8. 1 Pet: 3 10.11 a bringing foorth of new fruits, worthy amendment of life.
Q. How ſhall a man know that his repentance is true and vnfained?
A. By the generality of it in theſe two reſpects: Firſt,Pſalm. 119, … verſ: 128. Pſal. 139.24. if it extend to the abhorring and ſhunning of all knowen ſins. Secondly, if it reach to the practiſe of all good duties that concerne him according to his meaſure of grace and ſtrength giuen him.Palm: 119.6.128.
Q. When is Repentance to bee practiſed?
A. The practiſe of it ought to bee continuall, euen to day before to morrow, and continually.Heb. 3 7.13. 1 Pet 4.2. Yet at ſometimes there ought to be more ſpeciall practiſe, and renuing of it;Pſal. 51.1 &c. as after great and gréeuous ſinnes committed: In feare of ſome iudgment hanging ouer our heads for our ſins.Amos 4 12. Or when wee would fit our ſelues for receiuing of ſpeciall mercies.Gen. 35.1.2.3 &c. Thus it was with Iacob.
Q. What are the ſignes of renued repentance after great fals?
A. They are ſeauen, ſet downe 2. Cor. 7.11.
Firſt, a care to leaue ſinne into which a man hath fallen.
Secondly, a cléering of our ſelues, that is, an vtter condemning of our ſelues for the ſame, and a crauing pardon for that ſinne.
Thirdly, an holy anger and indignation againſt our ſelues for our careleſneſſe in falling into ſinne.
Fourthly, a feare, leſt wee fall into it againe.
Fifthly, a deſire euer after to pleaſe God.
Sixthly, a zeale to that purpoſe, ſeconding our deſire to walke with God, and to feare and pleaſe him.
Seuenthly, puniſhment and an holy reuenge vponupon our ſelues, for that ſin.