A Light from Christ Leading Unto Christ, Classis 23
The three and twentieth Claſsis, or company of Queſtions.
1 Queſtion.
HOw may a Chriſtian man or woman enliven the knowledge of himſelf, that he or ſhe may come fitly to the holy Sacrament?
Anſ. Having in the ſame manner, firſt, made choice of fit time: And ſecondly, place, or at the ſame time and place: Thirdly, he or ſhe may by the power of Chriſt, examine his knowledge of himſelf, and mankinde.Gen. 1.27 and 1.31 and 28. Eccl. 7.29.
Firſt, in reſpect of his eſtate by creation, righteous, and good.
Secondly, of his ſtate of corruption, ſin and death by Adams fall,Gen. 6.5. Eccl. 7.29. Eph. 2.1, 2, 3. Col. 1.12, 13, 14. and 2.6, 7. Mat. 5.8. and 19.29 Luk. 22.9, 22.30. Rev. 7.14, &. and his or her miſery and bondage under it, a woful eſtate.
Thirdly, of his ſtate of Grace, and bringing ſome to God in Chriſt, in his effectual vocation or calling, from the thraldom of ſin and death, by the Goſpel and ſpirit of Chriſt.
Fourthly, of ſtate of glory, looked for in Heaven.
Queſt. 2. What is the fourth means, or how in the next place, is this knowledge of a mans ſelf to be quickened?
Anſ. By meditation and thinking of this fourfold eſtate, Firſt, of Creation, Secondly, of the Fall: Thirdly, of Grace: And fourthly, of glory, until my heart be truly and rightly affected with the conſideration of it, by the power of Chriſt and his ſpirit.
Firſt, till I can lament my fall and loſſe of Gods Image in my ſoul.
Pſal. 51.1, &c. Rom. 10.7, 8. Eph. 2.1, 2, 3. Mat. 5, 2 8 6 5 2,Secondly, till I can ſee and feel in my heart, my natural corruption and bondage under ſin and Satan, yea, my ſubjection by ſin, to the wrath of God, and damnation for ſin, and my extreme need of Chriſt, both for my redemption and repair of the Image of God in my ſoul
Thirdly,Rom. 8.12. Phil. 4.11, &c. Eph. 5. i, 2. 1 Cor. 2.9. 2 Theſ. 2.13. 2 Cor. 5.1, &c. Phil.1.20, &c. 2 Pet. 1.10, 11. Gen 1.27, 31. Eccl. 7.29. Eph. 2.3. Mark 9.44. till I be affected with the ſtate of Grace, as a happy condition, being freed from the condemning and commanding power of ſin and death, and enjoying a lively power from Chriſt, to walk thankfully in grace and holineſſe, towards glory.
Fourthly, till my heart be affected and raviſhed with thoughts of Heaven, longing and labouring for the aſſurance of that moſt glorious and bleſſed ſtate of glory, and all this not by any ſtrength of my own, but by the vertue and power of Chriſt in my ſoul.
Queſt. 3. What is the fifth means of enlivening this knowledge in your own ſoul in ſpecial for your joyful meeting Chriſt in this Ordinance?
Anſ. Application of my knowledge of every ſtate and condition, to my own ſoul in particular.
Firſt, that I was made holy, and happy in Gods own Image, very good.
Secondly, that I loſt that happy eſtate and became moſt miſerable under the bondage of ſin and Satan, and ſubject to the wrath of God and Hell fire for ever.
Thirdly, that I redeemed from this miſerable bondage under ſin and death by my Lord Ieſus Chriſt,1 Pet. 1.18, 19. Gal. 2.20. 1 Pet. 1.3, &c. Eph. 1.10, &c. Phil. 1.20. &c. Tim. 4.7, 8. Mat. 25.34. who loved me, and gave himſelf for me.
Fourthly, that I am perſwaded there is a glorious inheritance in Heaven, which God hath prepared, and Chriſt hath purchaſed for me; and that when I have fought my fight and finiſhed my courſe, the Lord ſhall then give it me in my ſoul, when I ſhall be diſſolved and be with Chriſt, which is far better; and at the reſurrection of the juſt and unjuſt, I ſhall a riſe, and in ſoul and body poſſeſſe that Kingdom of Glory for ever.
Queſt. 4. How or by what means may your knowledge of Chriſt be enlivened?
Anſ. Firſt, in a time fitly choſen. And ſecondly, a place for this work. Thirdly, examine and catechize my ſoul, in the knowledge of Chriſt, as he is ſet forth unto me in this or the like catechiſm, or as the Lord hath revealed this knowledge of Chriſt unto me.
Firſt, in his natures Divine, and humane.
Secondly, In this perſonal union of both natures in one perſon.
Thirdly, In his offices of mediatorſhip, Prieſt Prophet, and King of his Church.
Fourthly,Ioh. 1.14 Iſa. 9.6. Pſa. 110.1 Iſa. 61.1, 2, 3. Rom. 8.29, 30. Luke 1.31. Gal. 4.2, 3, 4. in his benefits and graces communicated, as of Election, Redemption, Calling, Juſtification, Sanctification, and Adoption to glory, and the like. All proved and noted before.
Queſt. 5. What is a fourth help in which you may wait on Chriſt for your enlivening your divine knowledge of the Lord Ieſus, and what light from Chriſt for this?
Anſwer. Meditation of Chriſt according to my knowledge in all theſe untill I ſee Chriſts glory, and rejoyce in Chriſt,Pſal. 104 33, 34. Ioh. 8.56 Iſa. 61.10 Can. 5.1, 2, 3, 4. Cant. 1.2, 3, 4. Cant. 1.1, 2, 3, 4. Cant. 5.8, 9, 10. Iohn 20.27, 28, 29. Rom. 8.9 Rom. 9.38, 39. Galat. 2.20. and fall in love, and be raviſhed with divine longing after a more full union and enjoyment of Chriſt and his rich graces and benefits in my ſoul.
Fifthly, in application of Chriſt, and his vertue and efficacy of his grace in his whole office of mediatorſhip, as high Prieſt, Prophet, and King, untill I ſee I live and feel the life-blood of grace and vertue from Chriſt, in aſſurance of Chriſts love ſpringing in my ſoul, as I ſometimes feel my life-blood ſpringing in my body.
Queſt. 6. What is a ſixt and laſt help of enlivening the knowledge of Chriſt in you?
Anſwer. Waiting upon God in faithfull and fervent prayers to God in the name of Chriſt; untill I gain an anſwer of grace,Pſal. 85.8, 9. Gen. 41.16. Pſal. 42.1, 2, 3. and finde and feel life from Chriſt to quicken graces in me, that I may come with more longing to meet Chriſt in the Sacrament & walk with Chriſt in my life.
Queſt. 7. How or by what means may you enliven your knowledge of the Sacrament?
Anſwer. By the ſame meanes I may wait upon Chriſt as before.
Firſt, chooſe a fit time.
Secondly, a fit place.
Thirdly, examine my knowledge of the Sacraments, eſpecially of the Lords Supper in the ſeverall particulars as is expreſſed in the Catechiſme before, or in the Scripture of truth of author, matter, form, and end, and the like.
Queſt. 8. What is the fourth help?
Fourthly, to meditate of the Sacrament and Chriſt communicating himſelfe to prepared ſouls, untill my heart be filled with ſpirituall hunger, and longing to meet Chriſt in that holy ordinance, as David to come into Gods preſence. Pſal. 63.1, 2, 3, 4. 5. or as Iſrael longed after the Lord, 1 Sam. 7.1, 2.
Queſt. 9. What is the fifth help?
Anſw. Application of the Sacrament to my ſelf as a ſeal of the covenant of grace,1 Cor. 10 16, 17. Rom. 4.11. Gal. 2.20. Rom. 9.23, 24. and of my confirmation in the faith and love of God to me as my God and Father reconciled to me in Chriſt, untill I prize it as a rich treaſure and part of the riches of Chriſts kingdome of grace, for my preparing to glory.
Queſt. 10. What is the ſixth and laſt help?
Anſw. Prayer to God with faith in the name of Chriſt, zeal and conſtancy, and humble waiting, untill I can underſtand by the help of Chriſts Spirit,Ioſ. 16.23. Iam. 1.6. Iam. 5.16 1 Cor. 10 1, 2, 3, 4. 1 Cor. 10 16 Cant. 5.8 G…n. 30.1 Eſther 5.13. Luke 22.20. 1 Cor. 11 25. the excellency of this ordinance, and that glorious union and communion which a prepared, humble, faithfull ſoul enjoyes with Chriſt; feeding on Chriſt ſpi…itually, and feaſting with him at the Lords Table: and untill my ſoul be ſo far ſick of love for Chriſt, that I can truly ſay as Rachel did of children, O my God, give me the holy Sacrament, and to feaſt with Chriſt in it, or elſe I dye. Or as Haman did of all his riches and honours, and of Heſters banquet in another kinde: what is all this, ſo long as I enjoy not Chriſt, and banquet not with Chriſt at the Supper of my Lord.
Queſt. 11. You have declared how you conceive the grace of knowledge, both of God and of our ſelves, and of Chriſt, and of the Sacrament may be enlivened, waiting on Chriſt in theſe or the like helps: now how do you conceive the grace of faith may be enlivened by the power of Chriſt, ſo as you may come with greater comfort to the Lords Table. What light from Chriſt to enlighten in this work of grace?
Anſw. Firſt time, and ſecondly place being obſerved, as before. Thirdly I conceive I may wait on Chriſt in a ſerious examination of my faith, as it is held forth before in this catechiſme. Firſt, diſtinguiſhing this lively faith from all other kindes. Secondly, examining and trying my faith:
1. In the nature of it, an entertaining, receiving, applying faith.
2. In the means diſpoſing my heart to believe.
3. In the heavenly author or efficient and inſtrumentall cauſes of faith, the word of promiſe and ſpirit of Chriſt.2 Cor. 4.13.
4. In the matter and object of faith.
5. In the form and life of faith.
6. In the effects and fruits of faith, all proved and ſet forth already.
Fourthly, I may enliven my faith, by waiting upon Chriſt in ſelf-application of all thoſe rules of tryall to my own heart, to ſee how the truth of this grace is in my ſoul.
Fifthly, I may wait on Chriſt in a ſolid and devout meditation of the grace of ſaith in my heart of the promiſes of Free-grace in Chriſt, and eſpecially the ſacramentall promiſes now to be looked upon in the Sacrament: This is my body, Mat. 26.26, 27.this is my blood, which is given, which is ſhed for you, untill my ſoul findes and feeleth that it believes more firmely, receiveth and reſts on Chriſt for ſalvation more fully.
Sixthly, wait on Chriſt in prayer to God the Father in the name of Chriſt.Iſa. 11.10 Iſa. 66.11 1 Cor. 10 21. That I may ſuck and be ſatisfied with the breaſts of conſolation and feed with joy at the Lords Table.
Queſt. 12. How or in what manner may you wait on Chriſt, to quicken and renew your Evangelical Repentance, or daily turning more and more from ſin to God, in minde, will, affection, and converſation, that you may with more comfort come to the Lords Supper? What light is there from Chriſt to lead you to Chriſt in this grace and duty?
Anſ. Firſt, Time.
Secondly, Place, obſerved as before.
Thirdly, I am to ſet my ſelf as in Gods preſence; and examine,
Ier. 31.18 19.Firſt, My firſt converſion to God, to finde evidence of the truth of that, by conſidering,
1. The meritorious cauſe Chriſt:
2. The Nature.
3. Author. And,
4. Means of working this grace in my ſoul, as far as I can diſcern.
5. The matter of it; the whole man ſoul and body.
6. The manner. And,
7. The end and effects of this converſion and repentance, as in this Catechiſm is held forth; or a I finde in other Catethiſms or word from Chriſt.
Ezek. 36.31. Pſal. 51.10. Mat. 26.57.Secondly, To examine the progreſſe and growth of it daily in my ſoule; not only loathing, but turning from ſinne to God, and lamenting my f…ling with ſorrow, if I have fallen as David, Peter or other Saints of God, and ungratefully forgotten the love of my Saviou….
Fourthly, meditating of my ſinnes and vile ingratitude, againſt ſo good a God, to me in Chriſt.
Fifthly, a right application all to my own ſoul in particular.Pſa. 51.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Iſa. 2.1, 2, 3. Pſal. 122 1, 2, 3, 4. Cant. 1.7, 8.
And laſtly, prayer to God, in the name of Chriſt, untill I finde an increaſe of power over my ſinfull corruptions and a more ful aſſurance of my pardon, & new heart and ſpirit-reſtored joy; which that it may better be communicated from Chriſt to my ſoule, I long to meet Chriſt in his ordinances.
Queſt. 13. But what help and light from Chriſt have you to finde out not only your originall ſin and ſinfull nature in generall before your repentance and converſion to God; but you daily actuall ſals an A failings by which you do diſhonour God, grieve the Spirit of Chriſt, and wound your own conſcience, and make your ſelf more unfit to come to the holy Sacrament?
Anſw. I conceive I may wait on Chriſt and his Spirit looking for light from Chriſt into a threefold glaſſe or book which reveils ſins to my ſoul by the power and light of Chriſts Spirit.
Queſt. 14. What is the firſt?
Anſw. The firſt is the book of the law or commanding part of Gods will or Word, revealed by Chriſt, & held forth in the ten Commandements in particular,Iſa. 8.21. and in the whole Scriptures of God in generall.
Queſt. 15. What is the ſecond glaſſe?
Ioh. 3.17▪ 18, 19, 20. Ioh. 16, 8, 9. Hebr. 2.2, 3. Mat. 22.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. & 9, 10, 11, 12. Mat. 25.19, &c.Anſw. Secondly, the book ot the Goſpel or gracious promiſing part of Gods Word, againſt which I have ſinned by unbelief & too little regard of the tender of grace to improve my talent of faith, & other graces communicated to Saints, and to my ſoul in and by Chriſt Ieſus.
Queſt. 16. What is the third glaſſe or light from Chriſt to ſee this truth?
Anſw. The book of my own conſcience enlightned, which as & Regiſter recordeth my ſins, and will upon ſearch by the help of Chriſts Spirit and light from Chriſt, ſet my ſins before my face, with the circumſtances,Rom. 2.14, 15. Rom. 9.1, 2. Gen. 42.21. Iohn 3.16 Iohn 15.5. Rom. 8.37. Coloſ. 1.10. Rev. 1.4, 5. order, and ſeverall aggravations of them, by which I may more ſee my own vileneſſe, and admire Gods goodneſſe in giving Chriſt whom I ſtand daily in need of: not only for more aſſurance of pardon, but for increaſe of power, to overcome temptations, and walk more thankfully to God, who hath ſo freely loved me in Ieſus Chriſt. For if naturall conſcience do this, much more conſcience enlightned by the Spirit of Chriſt.
Queſt. 17. How can you finde all your ſins and failings by the glaſſe of the law or ten Commandements?
Anſw. Firſt, reading and obſerving the Commandements as they are recorded in the 20 Chapter of Exodus, with the expoſition and explication of them by the Prophets in the Old Teſtament,Mat. 5.6, &c. and by Chriſt himſelf … the fifth, ſixth & ſeventh Chapters of the Goſpel according to S. Matthew, and by the Apoſtles in the New Teſtament.
Secondly, by queſtioning my conſcience upon intergatories drawn both from the affirmative and negative part of every Commandement, as I hope I ſhall be able to declare more fully in the next part of this Catechiſme;Luke 10 25, &c. as Chriſt did Catechize the Phariſee.
Queſt. 19. But is repentance of every ſin, originall and actuall, required in that man or woman who will come with comfort to the Lords Table?
Anſw. Certainly that ſoul that lives ſenſeleſly and ſecurely, either in the ſtate of nature unregenerate, or in any known actuall ſin, as Atheiſm, wilfull affected ignorance, or unbelief and prophaneneſſe againſt the firſt Commandement. Or ſuperſtitious will-worſhip or neglect of love againſt the ſecond Commandement. Or blaſphemy, curſing, ſwearing, againſt the third Commandement. Or irreligious prophaneneſſe of the Lords day, and neglect of Gods Ordinances againſt the fourth. Or in wilfull, careleſſe, omiſſion of duty, or commiſſion of ſins againſt ſuperiours, as Parents, Magiſtrates, Miniſters, againſt inferiours or equals, as children, ſervants, brethren or neighbours, againſt the fifth Commandement.Gen. 4.5 1 Cor. 10 1, 2, &c. Tit. 1.15 16. Ier. 7.8, 9, &c. Ier. 1, 10, &c. Ezek. 14.1, 2, &c. Iſa. 1.12, &c. Matth. 5.20, &c. 1 Cor. 11 17.20. Mat. 22.11, &c. Iſa. 66.2, &c. Or in malice, envie, murther, whoredom, theft, oppreſſion, cozening, ſacriledge, drunkenneſſe, lying, ſlandering, or in any other grievous crime: yea, or in wicked deſires and unlawfull covetings againſt the ten or any other commands, ſuch cannot finde comfort in coming to the Lords Table, except the Lord firſt give them repenting hearts for their ſins; faithfull and longing hearts after Chriſt, for aſſurance of pardon, and for power to repent more and more, with a reſolution by the grace of God in Chriſt to walk in newneſſe of life; becauſe without this repentance, faith, and other needfull graces, they come not for the better, but for the worſe, and eat judgement to themſelves, and their ſervice is abominable.
Queſt. 20. How can you finde out your ſins againſt the Goſpell?
Anſw. Eſpecially by getting a Catalogue of the promiſes, and finding out the unbelief of my own heart, and great ingratitude to doubt of Gods love,2 Cor. 7.1. Heb. 3.12 Heb. 11.6. 2 Pet. 1, 3, 4. 2 Cor. 1.20. 2 Tim. 1 12. or not to confide in God through Chriſt, and walk thankfully towards thee, the Lord having given ſo many rich and precious promiſes, which are all yea and Amen in Chriſt Ieſus.
Queſt. 21. By what helps may you wait on Chriſt for the quickning and enlivening of the grace of Chriſtian love and charity? What light from Chriſt for exerciſe and quickning of this grace of love?
Anſw. Time and place being kept as before.
I may wait on Chriſt with examination of my love.
Firſt, to God in Chriſt.
Secondly, to my ſelf.
Thirdly to my neighbour.
1. How I love God in his holy nature, perſon, properties, word, and works.
2. How I love Chriſt in his perſon, Name, in his Ordinances, Church, and Children.
3. How I love my ſelf, not with a ſelf-love, but as in and for God, and Gods glory in Chriſt, as well as my own good in an inferiour reſpect.
4. How I love my neighbour, yea my very enemy to doe him good, for Gods glory,2 Cor. 8.1, &c. Mat. 22.37, &c. Iohn 14.21. Iohn 15.9, &c. 1 Cor. 16 22. Mat 16.24. Tit. 1.7. 1 Cor. 11.28. 2 Tim 3, &c. Eph. 5.28, 29. Pro. 19.8 Rom. 13 8, &c. Pro. 25.21. Rom. 12 20. Rom. 12.13. 1 Cor. 4.4. 2 Cor. 5.14, 15. that I may appear to be one of the children of my heavenly Father.
5. How I pitty poor Saints, to relieve them for Chriſts ſake.
6. How I do, and deſire, and endeavour to doe all this, not to be juſtified thereby before God, or to ſatisfie for my ſins, or to procure my peace, all which is done by Chriſt; but to witneſſe my thankfulneſſe to God in Chriſt, for his free love to me, and the great invaluable gift of his Sonne Chriſt, who loved me and gave himſelf for me.
Queſt. 22. What further meant is there to quicken this love?
Anſw. Fourthly, by the power of Chriſts ſpirit to meditate and think of all this love, with the author and worker of it in my ſoul, the ſame holy ſpirit, by whom it is ſpread abroad in my heart, and the object of this love, my God reconciled to me in and by Chriſt, and Gods word and people.
And fifthly, to wait on Chriſt in a ſpeciall application of this to my own ſoul.
And ſixthly, to wait in earneſt prayer, by the help of the ſpirit of prayer (who proceeds from the father,Iohn 4.16, &c. Iohn 16.23. 1 Iohn 5.13, &c. Rom. 8.35, &c. Luke 10.27. Cant. 5.5, &c. and the Son) untill my heart be inſeparably enflamed with all this true love of God, my neighbour, and my ſelf, and my ſoul filled with unſatisfied longing, to meet Chriſt, and ſee his glorious face in his Ordinances, that I may tell him I am ſick of love to enjoy him more fully, and his ſoul-ſatiſfying refreſhments in his gracious vertue, and preſence in my ſoule.