A Light from Christ Leading Unto Christ, Classis 3
The third Claſsis, or Company of Queſtions.
1 Queſtion.
YOu ſay God is a Spirit or Spirituall ſubſtance: What is a Spirit or Spirituall ſubſtance?
Gen. 2.7 Luk. 24.39, 40. Prov. 20.27. Heb. 12.9. Iob. 11.7, 8, 9.Anſ. A Spirit is an inviſible, living, or moſt pure ſubſtance, (more pure then the clear light, or moſt pure Air or wind,) with life and motion not to be ſeen or felt with humane ſenſes, as the Air, or wind, or light, or a body with fleſh & bones is; yea, a Divine ſpark, candle or lamp, intelligent, and indued with wonderfull excellencies: But God is the Father of Spirits, whoſe infinite excellency cannot by ſearching be found out to perfection.
Queſt. 2. Do you believe that there is ſuch a God?
Anſ. Yes: For there is no Nation in the world but hath ſome way confeſſed, that there is a God, though multitudes do not know the true God: And beſides not only Gods word, and works, and ſpirit, but the very conſciences of men will witneſſe that there is ſuch a God, Gen. 31.35. Jonah 1.5.6. Joſh. 24.15. Acts 11.13, 14, &c. 1 Kings 11.33. Acts 17.23, 24. Gen. 1.1, 2. and 14.19, 20. Joſh. 1.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Joh. 1.1. Gen, 3.10, 11, Dan, 5.5, 6. Acts 24.25.
Queſt. 3. How doth it appear that there are ſuch eſſentiall Properties and Divine Attributes in this great God: Or that God is ſuch a God?
Anſ. By an evident demonſtration of all theſe,Pſ. 19.1. Prov. 8.2, 12, 15. Rom. 1.19, 20. held forth unto us in the word and works of God.
Queſt. 4. Wherein do theſe ſhine forth in Gods word and works?
Anſ, Iob 11.7, 8, 9. & 26.6, 7, 8, &c. Gen. 1.31. Rom. 1.19, 20. & 11.33.By the ſurpaſſing excellency of wiſdom, beauty, power and infinite perfection of God, which is to be ſeen in Gods word and works, and firſtly and fountainly in God himſelf.
Queſt. 5. What light is there held forth in the works and word of God, to manifeſt this truth, that there is a God, and ſuch a God of ſuch infinite wiſdom, power and perfections?
Anſ. There is a threefold light: Firſt, Of nature. Secondly, Of Grace. Thirdly, Of glory,1 Cor. 13.9, 10. 1 Iob. 3.2 by which the excellency of this God, is now in part, and ſhall be more fully manifeſted to the children of God in glory.
Queſt. 6. Wherein doth the light of nature ſhine forth, declaring this God?
Anſ. In the book of nature, or of the works of God.
Queſt. 7. In what particular doth this light appear?
Anſ. Firſt, in the underſanding, by that ſpark or light of reaſon, left in the mindes of men and women ſince the fall of Adam, Rom. 1.18, &c. Acts 17.24, &c.by which from the viſible things which are and are ſeen, and the natures order and government of them; they may, and have argued and attained to the knowledge of an inviſible God, which muſt of neceſſity be the being of beings, the incomprehenſible nature, that gives nature to nature it ſelf, and is that firſt cauſe and ruler of all things; and this light ſhining ſo far as to make all men without excuſe.
Queſt. 8. If there be ſuch a light of reaſon, What was the cauſe then that divers naturall Heathen men did deny or doubt, whether there was ſuch a God?
Anſ. That ignorance and Atheiſme did not ariſe from any principle in pure nature, but from nature corrupted, and that Idolatry and blinde ſuperſtition of the Gentiles, who having loſt the knowledge of true God,Ier. 44.17, 18. Rom. 2.15. Rom. 1.19, 20. Rom. 1.19, &c. Pſal. 14. Wiſd. 13. & 14. c. wandred in the ſeeking out and ſetting up ſo many falſe Gods, creatures and images, and imaginations; ſo that blinde men ſeeing the vanity and falſhood of theſe, were tempted and drawn like the fooliſh man, to think in their hearts, and ſometimes to ſay, there was no God at all.
Queſt. 9. How doth this appear further?
Anſ. Becauſe however ſome particular men have doubted,Exod. 31.30, 33. Exo. 32.4, 5. Deu. 7.4. 2 Kin. 18.33, &c. Acts 17.23. yet no Nation under heaven but have confeſſed a God, though they did not lightly know the true God.
Queſt. 10. What other light is there from the book of nature?
Anſ. The world and creatures themſelves, which could not be from all Eternity, but muſt have a beginning;Rom. 1.10. Pſ. 19.1, 2 & 102.25, 26. pro. 16.4. Acts 17.18. Pſal. 8.1, 2, &c. Iob 38. & 39. & 40. nor could the creatures make themſelves, and beſides nature, order and uſe of the creatures in heaven and earth, ſome without life, as earth and light, and heat and rain, nouriſhing graſſe and herbs, which have a growing life; and graſſe and herbs nouriſhing beaſts and cattell, which have a ſenſitive life; and all theſe ſerving men, which have a reaſonable life: and whom ſhould men ſerve and honour but their firſt maker, who is the cauſe of all things, and giveth life and being unto all, and who muſt of neceſſity be God, and none but God.
Queſt. 11. But doth not the preſervation of the Creatures, and right ordering of times and ſeaſons, Summer and Winter witneſſe God?
Anſ. Yes verely: If we conſider, Firſt,Acts 14.17. Deut. 32.39. Ier. 14.22. Pſa. 14 P. 1, 2, &c. 2 Kin. 5.6.7. Deu. 8.3. Mat. 5.45. & 6.25, &c. & 10.29, &c. the wonderfull preſervation of the Creatures in their kindes, and the continuance of them in all Ages. Secondly, the variety of herbs and plants by vertue of the earth and rain, and warmth of the Sun, not as of themſelves, but from God. Thirdly, the admirable generation, breeding and forming of the Bird in the egge of the ſilk worm, and Phoenix, and ſuch like. Fourthly, the variety of the forms of men and beaſts, and the faſhioning of man and all his parts before he is born. Fifthly, the giving of life and quickning power of life, which man nor any Creature can give. Sixthly, the forming of the Spirit of man within him.Zach. 12.1. Seventhly, the giving vertue to our cloathes to warm us, and our meat which is without life, to nouriſh life in us: All this muſt needs hold forth a Divine living, being, which muſt needs be God, ordering all by his power and wiſe Providence.
Queſt. 12. What further teſtimony is there in the Book of Nature, of the Divine being, as of a great, mighty, everliving and powerfull God?
Anſ. Even the conſcience of man within him, which is an act of the whole ſoul, reflecting upon it ſelf.
Firſt, In the memory as a Regiſter recording,Rom. 2.14, 15. and when God awakens accuſing or excuſing, and witneſſing thoughts, words or actions, good or evil.
Secondly, In the underſtandinding,Gen. 42.22. a Iudge giving ſentence to condemne or to acquit, according to that light, rule or Law with which it is enlightned.
Thirdly, In the hearts,Gen. 4.13, 14. Mat. 26.75. will and affections; an Executioner to puniſh or reward with joy or grief, with boldneſſe or terror, according to the nature of the fact, or feeling of it.Rom. 2.15. Gen. 42.21, 22. Iudg. 1.7. Dan. 5.5.6. Ier. 10.4. Act. 24.15. Gē. 4.14.
Fourthly, And all this with trembling in wicked men, and joy in good: As a Coroners inqueſt or verdict preparing for the Judge of Aſſize or Seſſions; ſo doth the conſcience in reference to ſome higher power and divine Iudge, to whom account muſt be given in the end, which Iudge muſt needs be God, Mat. 27.3, 4, 15. 2 Tim. 4.7, 8.
Queſt. 13. You have given good evidence from the light and book of nature: What is there from the light of Grace, and Book of the Scripture, witneſſing this Divine eſſence, and Eternall being of ſuch a God?
Anſ. There are many evidences revealed in Scripture of God, and his Divine, eternall, infinite wiſdom, power and incomprehenſible nature, filling heaven and earth, and in a wonderfull manner creating and governing all things.
Queſt. 14. What is the firſt Evidence?
Anſ. His wonderfull voice from heaven, without beholding any ſimilitude or likeneſſe at all, Exod. 19.19. & 20.1, 18, 19. Heb. 11.18, 19, &c, Deut. 4.12, 15. & 5.22, 23, 24. 1 King. 19.8. to 18. Mat. 3.17. & 17.5. 2 Pet. 1.16, 17, 18.
Queſt. 15. What is the ſecond evidence?
Anſ. His wonderfull Promiſes and Prophecies made ſo many hundred years before, and fulfilled in time, Gen. 3.15. Gal. 4.1, 2, 3. Gen. 15.13, 14, 15. Exod. 12.40, 41. Ier. 25.11, 12. Dan. 9.1, 2. 2 Chron. 36.21, 22, 23. Ezra 8.31, 32, &c.
Queſt. 16. What is the third Evidence?
Anſ. Gods dreadfull judgements upon wicked men for their ſins, Gen. 6.3. and 7.11, 12, 21. and 11.7, 8. and 19.24, 25. Dan. 6.24. Acts 12.23.
Queſt. 17. What is the fourth Evidence?
Anſ. His miracles and miraculous deliverance of his Children in times of danger, Exod. 14.21. to 31. Ioſh. 10.12, 13. Iſa. 28.1. 2 King. 10.11. and 5.14. Dan. 3.24. and 6.22, 23. and 4.33, 34, 35, 36. Matth. 11.4, 5, 6.
Queſt. 18. What is the fifth Evidence?
Anſ. Gods admirable revealing of ſecrets to the convincing even of Pagans themſelves who knew not God, Gen. 4.8.9, 10. Ioſh. 7.18, 19 &c. 1 Sam. 23.11, 12. 2 King. 6.8, 9, &c. Dan. 2.46, 47. Ioſh. 1.48 49. 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. Heb. 2.4, 12.
Queſt. 19. What is the ſixth Evidence?
A…ſ. The wonderfull converſion of men and women, to believe and confeſſe a God, to believe in Chriſt, to repent and become new Creatures, for the manifeſtation of Gods wiſdom, power, and unſpeakable goodnes to the ſons and daughters of men, Exod. 18.11. 2 King. 5.14. 2 Chron. 14.11. & 20.12, 13. Luk. 19.6, &c. Act. 2.22. and 9.1, &c. 20, 21. 1 Tim. 1.11. Eph. 1.17, &c. 2 Cor. 6.9, 10. Hebrews 11. the whole Chapter.
Queſt. 20. What Evidence is there from the light of glory?Exo. 34.29, 30. Iſa. 6.1, 2, 3, &. 2 Cor. 12.3, 4. 1 Cor. 13.9.10, Iohn. 3.1, 2, 3. 1 Theſ. 4.17.
Anſ. That beginning and part-light of glory, which God hath cauſed to ſhine in or upon his Children in this life, and the fulneſſe of which the Lord aſſureth them they ſhall ſee, and injoy in Heaven for ever.
Queſt. 21. What profit or comfort is this knowledge what God is, and what a one he is to you?
Anſ. Great cauſe of rejoycing, that Jehovah this Lord God,Iſa. 43.1, 2, 3. Pſa. 52.1, 2, 10. Dan. 3.17, 18, 25. Ioh. 20.28. is my God in Chriſt, infinite, able and willing, and wiſe, and alwayes preſent to preſerve, protect, and do me good in this life, and that life to come, even for ever and ever, Amen.