A Light from Christ Leading Unto Christ, Classis 7
The ſeventh Claſsis, or Company of Queſtions.
1 Queſtion.
YOu have declared Gods Providence concerning Spirits, Angels and Devils: Now what ſhould a faithfull receiver known of the creation, and of Gods Providence concerning man, and concerning himſelf in particular?
Anſ. A fourfold knowledge is requiſite to a comfortable meeting of Chriſt in the Sacrament.
Queſt. 2. What is this fourfold knowledge?
Anſ. Firſt, what we were by Creation before Adams fall. Secondly, what was our condition in nature corrupted after the fall. Thirdly, what it is in the ſtate of Grace. And fourthly, what it ſhall be in the ſtate of glory.
Queſt. 3. What was the ſtate and condition of man by Creation?
Anſ. He was created in the Image of God, his ſoul in ſome degrees like God in nature, a Spirituall, inviſible, living ſubſtance, indued with underſtandings, will and memory, and immortality, the whole man bleſſed with knowled…e, righteouſneſſe, and true holineſſe, graced with a communion with God, as their Father, with an outward Majeſty and Dominion over all inferior creatures, without all ſin and miſery, having a freedome of will, and a promiſe if he would obey, to perſevere in happineſſe for ever, Gen. 26.27. and 2.7. Eccleſ. 12.7. Zach. 12.1. Luke 16.22. and 23.43. Heb. 12.9. Eccleſ. 7.29. Pſal. 8.3, 4, 5.6. Eph. 4.23, 24. Gen. 1.28, &c. and 2.18, &c.
Queſt. 4. What ground of aſſurance was there that Adam might have continued in that happy eſtate if he would?
Anſ. Gods promiſe in that Covenant of works made with our firſt Parents before their fall,Gen. 1.26, 27. & 2.16, 17. aſſuring life upon condition of perſevering in obedience; and threatning death if they break the Covenant, or that command of triall given them.
Queſt. 5. Should Adam have enjoyed heaven for the merit of of his works, if he had continued obedient and kept the Covenant with God his Maker, or fulfilled the pleaſure of Gods will ſo revealed therein?
Gen. 2.17. 1 Cor. 4.7.Anſ. Certainly no: the creature could not merit any thing at the hand of the Creator, having received both his being and well being from God; but he was to live for ever, and receive heaven by vertue of the free Covenant, and Gods free Promiſe, as the end and free reward of his obedience and faithfulneſſe in the Covenant of God.
Queſt. 6. What Evidence is there of this truth?
Anſ. Beſides what is rehearſed, this hath been the judgement of holy men in the Church of God, after the opinion of our Rabines of bleſſed Memory, ſaith an Hebrew, If Adam had not ſinned, he had never dyed, but the breath which he was inſpired with of the moſt high bleſſed God, ſhould have given life for ever; and the good will of God which he had in his creation, had cleaved unto him continually, and kept him alive for evermore.
Queſt. 7. How was this Covenant held forth to our firſt Parents before their fall?
Anſ. By thoſe two Sacraments (as ſome call them) of the Tree of Life, and of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil;Gen. 2.9.17. Rom. 2.14. the firſt ſignifying and ſealing life eternall, if they kept the Covenant: The ſecond threatning death, and the wofull knowledge of good and evil, if they break that command of triall given, and ſo walked contrary to the Morall Law, or rule of life written in their hearts, or that holy nature infuſed into them by God in their creation.
Queſt. 8. Did Adam and Eve keep that precept of tryall and Law written in their hearts; Or walk according to that holy nature in which thty were Created?
Anſ. No:Gen. 3.1, &c. they did eat of the forbidden Tree, and obeyed Satans temptations rather then the command of God their Maker.
Queſt. 9. What was the eſtate of Mankinde, after this fall of our firſt Parents, and their rebellion againſt God their Creator?
Anſ. Man loſt the Image of God, wherein he was made, became a rebell like Satan in word and deed; a ſlave to the world, the fleſh and the Devil: polluted with Originall corruption, and Actuall tranſgreſſion, liable to the wrath of God, and all curſes Spirituall and corporall, in this life and eternall torments with the Devils in Hell fire for ever, Eccleſ. 7.29. Gen. 3.7. and 6.5. Pſal. 53.1, &c. 2 Tim. 2.26. Luke 11.21. Joh. 3.36. Rom. 2.8, 9, 12, 14. and 7.18, 20. Gen. 17, 18, 19. Act. 28.27. Rom. 1.24, &c. Pſal. 9.17. Iſa. 30.33. Mat. 25, 41.
Queſt, 10. Is every Childe of Adam in this wofull eſtate by nature?
Rom. 3.9, &c. Eph. 2.1.2, 3.Anſ. Yes. There is none righteous, no not one; for all have ſinned, and are come ſhort of the glory of God, and were all by nature the children of wrath as well as others.
Queſt. 11. But how could the guilt of Adams ſin and puniſhment, be juſtly charged upon us their Poſterity?
Rom. 5.12, &c. & 11.16. So contrary, Luk. 13.26, 27. Rev. 21.27. Gen. 3.22. &c.Anſ. Becauſe Adam and Eve ſinned as the common Parents of all Mankinde, all being then in their loynes, as the branches in the ſtock, the ſtreams in the Fountain, and ſo the corruption and guilt of ſins in them, was juſtly derived and imputed to all Mankinde, and all ſubject to be excluded heaven and Gods gracious preſence, as Adam and Eve were caſt out of Paradiſe.
Queſt. 15. Could not our firſt Parents, or Mankinde ſince the fall Redeem themſelves from this damnable eſtate, by being ſorrowfull, and doing penance for their ſin, or by gold or ſilver, or good works, make God amends again, and ſo recover their loſt eſtate, and get heaven by vertue of the firſt Covenant, Do and live?
Anſ. No:Ier. 10.23. Ezek. 37.1, &c. Ioh. 11.39. Pſal. 49.6, &c. 1 Pet. 1.18, 19. Eph. 2.1. as 1 Tim. 5.6. It was and is altogether impoſſible, as much as for the dead bones to raiſe themſelves to life, or Lazarus to get out of his grave by his own ſtrength, after he had been dead four dayes, and ſtinking in the grave by corruption.
Queſt. 13. How can this be, ſince the dead bones, and Lazarus in the grave had no life at all, but man by his fall is only half dead, as our Saviour ſeemeth to intimate, Luke 10.30.
Anſ. If we conſider the life of nature in man that is half dead,Gen. 2.17 & 3.16, &c. Luk. 15.32. Eph 2.1: 1 Cor. 2.14. Eph. 4.17, &c. 1 Cor. 44. 2 Cor. 3.5 as being ſince the fall ſubject to mortality, ſorrows, weakneſſe, ſickneſſe, pains, death of body, and outward miſeries, beſides imbecilities of underſtanding, will and memory: But if we look to the life of grace, and power to pleaſe and walk with God, that is wholly dead, and every one totally unable to recover himſelf, or gain happineſſe by that firſt Covenant,Luke 10.31.32. Do and live.
Queſt. 14. But did not the underſtanding, will, conſcience, and inferior appetite, remain in man after the fall?
Anſ. Yes. The naturall faculty of the Ʋnderſtanding did remain, but darkned: and ſo of th Will, but corrupted: of the Memory, but wounded: of the Conſcience, but defiled: and of inferior Appetite, but vitiated and deprived of Originall purity, the clear light of the underſtanding, rectitude of the will and conſcience, and conformity of appetite with right reaſon, or light of that light which man had by creation being loſt; and ſo Man altogether unable to think or act any thing pleaſing to God, whileſt his guilty perſon, like Cains, is not accepted; but as Cains, ſo every naturall mans perſon, actions, ſervice and ſacrifice, are abominable before God, Gen. 6.5. Eph. 4.18, 19. 1 Tim. 6.15. Rom. 8.7. Deut. 6.12. Judg. 3.7. Job 8.13. Pſal. 9.17. 1 Tit. 1.15. Col. 3.5, 6. Gen. 4.4, 5. Prov. 21.4. and 28.9. Iſa. 13, 14.
Queſt. 15. But are not unregenerate mens naturall actions, as to eat, drink, plow, perform works of callings, and their well meanings, acceptable to God, and helps to get Gods favour again that was loſt by Adams ſin?
Anſ. No certainly,Prov. 21.4. & 15.8. Iſa. 66.3. 2 Sam 6.6. Zach. 7.5, 6. Iam. 4.3. for although mens naturall actions are good in themſelves, as they are Gods Ordinance in wayes of his Providence and commands, and ſo to be done, yet as acted by ignorant, unbelieving, unregenerate men, they are defiled, ſinfull and odious, men ſeeking themſelves, not Gods glory; and ſo their well meaning, plowing and prayer is ſin.
Queſt. 16. Cannot a naturall or civill honeſt man, by good uſe of his naturall parts, doing no man harm to his knowledge, performing works of charity, hearing of Gods ſervice, pleaſe God, prepare himſelf for Grace, repent and convert himſelf to God, and ſo walk according to the rule of Gods Law and be ſaved?
Anſ. No verily:Ier. 10.14.23. Mat. 10.14, 15. & 11.20, &c. Ier. 31.18, &c. It is not in man to direct his ſteps, or come unto God, and turn to the Lord from ſin; and though walking civilly, he may have leſſe torments in Hell, then ſome notorious wicked men; yet ſince Adams fall, the Covenant of works was not renewed, nor is there any getting that way into the Kingdom of Heaven.