A Light from Christ Leading Unto Christ, Classis 9
The ninth Claſsis, or Company of Queſtions.
1 Queſtion.
YEt once again, Exo. 20.1. to 20. Lev. 18.5. & 2.6. Deut. 28. Ezek. 20.21. Iſa, 8.20. Luke 10.25, &c.if man by naturall ſtrength, or by good works, cannot redeem himſelf, nor gain heaven: To what end then did God hold forth the ten Commandements, though not by way of any Covenant of works, yet as the matter or Articles of the Law (or firſt Covenant, as ſome call them) on Mount Sinai, and ſince that in divers places of the Old and New Teſtament, as if it were a repetition of the Covenant of works, with Promiſes of life upon obedience, and threatnings of death if the Law be broken?
Anſ. There are divers Anſwers may be given to ſatisfie this doubt: Chiefly theſe following may ſuffice.
Queſt. 2. What is the firſt?
Anſ. Firſt, The old carnall Iſraelites, part of the Poſterity of Abraham in Aegypt, as all naturall men, in whom the ſpark of conſcience, or light of the Law of nature, accuſing or excuſing is awakened, had is ſtill ſuch have ſome thoughts of ſaving themſelves by the way of the firſt Covenant,Gal. 2.16. Acts. 13.39. Rom, 10.…. or Rule of life to Adam in Paradiſe, Do and live; Therefore God repeats the matter of the Law as to ſhew ſin, ſo as a rule of a Chriſtians life, not to juſtifie, but to convince them of their error, and ſhew they could not have life or juſtification by any works of the Law, as ſuch Phariſees dream.
Queſt. 3. But how can this be, ſince the Lord declares himſelf to be their Lord and God in Chriſt, who had brought them by Chriſt from the Aegypt of ſin, as he had brought them by Moſes out of Egypts Bondage?
Anſ. Though God did this, yet he delivers the Articles or matter of the Law,Rom. 10.1, &c. & 2.14, 15. Exod. 19.1, to 25. & 20.1, &c. Gal. 3.17, &c. or rule of life written in the heart of Adam in Creation, (and blotted by the fall,) and now written again in the tables of ſtone, and delivered with Thunders and Lightnings, and terrors, which they were not able to abide: not to hold forth life in that way, or to renew the Covenant of works, but that they might ſee their own ſin, weaknes and miſery, and ſeek out for a Mediator Chriſt to come; as they did for Moſes then preſent, that ſo the Law or Rule of doing might be their Schoolmaſter, revealing ſin and miſery, to bring them unto Chriſt, and to ſeek Salvation in the Goſpel, the Rule of Faith.
Queſt. 4. But how doth it appear that the Lord did declare himſelf to them as their God in Chriſt: Or in the Wilderneſſe hold forth Chriſt, and the Covenant of grace to his people?
Anſ. This is evident,Exo. 20.1, 2, 3. & 12. Lev. 16.7, &c. as by the Preface of the ten Commandments of the Morall Law, or Rule of manners and obedience, I am the Lord thy God in Chriſt: So by the Ceremoniall Law clearly, in which by their Sacrifices,Num. 21.6, &c. Gal. 2.24. and Types, and Figures of the Paſchall Lamb, the ſcape Goat, the Brazen Serpent, and other myſteries, Chriſt was ſweetly Preached and held forth, as the only Way and means of Salvation: This Ceremoniall Law in this reſpect, as well as the Morall Law in another, noted before, being alſo a School-maſter to bring them to Chriſt.
Queſt. 5. But wherefore doth Chriſt and his Apoſtles in the New Teſtament, hold forth the Law, or Covenant of works, if there be no Iuſtification by the Law, nor Salvation by a mans own works?
Anſ. The Lord Chriſt and his Apoſtles do not hold forth the Law,Iohn 14.6. or ſpeak of it to renew the Covenant of works, or ſet it up as a way of Iuſtification and life; for he declares himſelf the way, the truth, and the life: But Chriſt repeats and expounds the Law for divers other uſes.
Queſt. 6. What is the firſt?
Anſ. Firſt, To ſhew what man could not do by the Law, that is, not be Iuſtified by it, rather then that he could keep the Law,Luk. 17.7, &c. or gain life and Salvation by his own power, or by any works of the Law.
Queſt. 7. What is a ſecond?
Anſ. Secondly,Mat. 5.1, &c. & 5.17, &c. to vindicate the Law from the falſe gloſſes of the Scribes and Phariſees, who Interpreted the Law according to the Letter only, and outward acts of obedience, and as if it had been a way of life, Chriſt holding forth that ſtrictneſſe of obedience which man is not able to perform.
Queſt. 8. What is a third?
Anſ. To ſhew the inward and perfect obedience which the Law requireth,Mat. 5.17, &c. & 19.16, &c. Gal. 2.17. Iam. 2.8, &c. if a man do bat look upon a woman to luſt after her, he hath committed Adultery with her in his heart; if he be but angry with his Brother unadviſedly, he is a Murderer; if he break the Law but in one point, he is guilty of all; ſo no life or Salvation but in Chriſt.
Queſt. 9. What is a fourth?
Anſ. That men being enlightned by the Spirit of Chriſt in the Word,Rom. 7.7 Ioh. 16.7, &c. Rom. 8.15. Acts 2.37. & 16.29, &c. to ſee their own weaknes and inability to keep the Law, or be ſaved by it, they may be convinced of their ſin and miſery, finde their bondage, deſpair in themſelves, as not knowing what to do, and be drawn by the Goſpel and ſame ſpirit of Chriſt, to come into Chriſt, believe and receive Chriſt and be ſaved.
Queſt. 10. But will not the Goſpel ſhew mans miſery without the Law?
Anſ. Yes, The Goſpel doth ſhew our miſery implicitely, by way of inference, as 2 Cor. 5.14, 15. But Gods Spirit is pleaſed to make uſe of both at his pleaſure, and both Law and Goſpel may be Preached in the Church in a true and right manner, as Luke 10.34. So Law and Goſpel, 1 Theſ. 1.8. Acts 2.37, &c. and 13.
Queſt. 13. But is there no other uſe of the Law?
Pſal. 119.1, &c. Mat. 5.16. Iſa. 8.20. Iohn 14.21, &c. & 15.12, &c. Phil. 31.27. & 3.17, &c. & 4.8, 2.Anſ. Yes, The Law, Commandment, or Iudgement, Statute, Teſtimony, Precept, Word or way of God, (for it hath all theſe names and ſuch like in Scripture) as it was, ſo it is, and may be held forth as a rule and way of our life and converſation, in which through Faith, and the power and vertue of Chriſt, and his quickning and ſanctifying Spirit, the Children of God may, and ought to walk, offering up themſelves and all their endeavors fruitfully; in all good works, as Spirituall Sacrifices of Praiſe, acceptable to God in Chriſt, as we ſhall ſhew further in the laſt part.
Queſt. 12. What profit is it to know ſo much of mans naturall condition, weakneſſe and miſery ſince Adams fall?
Anſ. That men and women may be throughly convinced of their death in ſin, and miſery in a naturall condition,Eph. 2.1, Acts 28.23, &c. Mat. 16.24. Rom. 1.4, 5. Phil. 3.4, &c. and inability to believe or repent, and be wholly brought to deny themſelves, their own wiſdom, righteouſneſſe, and ſtrength to recover, and ſo truly and more earneſtly ſeek out to be ſaved by another, even by Ieſus Chriſt, and prize Chriſt Ieſus, in whom alone there is hope of Salvation for poor ſinners.
Queſt. 13. But if a man can do nothing of himſelf, neither repent, nor believe the Goſpel; and that without Faith and Repentance, there is no Salvation to any man or woman; then what difference, or what profit is there in the New Covenant, more then in the Old, ſince in neither, man hath power of himſelf to ſave himſelf, or make a right uſe of thoſe means of grace which tend to Salvation?
Anſ. Yea,Eccleſ. 7.29. Gen. 1.27. & 3.3, 4, 5. certainly there is great difference between the Covenant of works, & the Covenant of grace: for in the firſt Covenant, although God gave our firſt Parents a holy nature and ability, if they would,Iſa. 42.6, 7. Acts 5.31. Ier. 31.33. Heb. 8.10. 2 Cor. 3.8. to keep the Covenant and be happy: Yet did not God give them a grace and confirmed will, to perſevere in that holineſſe, or be preſerved from falling: But in the Covenant of Grace, the Lord gives Chriſt for a Covenant, and in and by Chriſt, his Spirit, knowledge, Faith, Repentance, love, a new heart, freedom from dominion and damning power of ſin, and perſeverance in grace, and all things that pertain to life and godlineſſe; God writes the Law, not in Tables of ſtone, as on Mount Sinai, but in the heart; and as he requireth Faith, as with an empty hand to receive Chriſt, ſo he giveth Faith,Phil. 1.29 1 Pet. 1.3, 4. and works it by his word and Spirit, keeping the Saints by his power, through Faith unto Salvation.
Gen. 3.15 & 17.17. Iſa. 5.3. Gen. 2.17, 18. Ma.. 1.21. Luke 2.10, &c. Ioh. 1.14 1 Ioh. 3.14, &c. Mat. 17.5 1 Tim. 1.1 5.Queſt. 14. What is the Covenant of grace?
Anſ. The Covenant of grace is that Covenant which God made with our firſt Parents in Paradice after their fall, promiſing Chriſt the ſeed of the woman, to break the Serpents head, and in Chriſt, life Eternall freely: This Covenant renewed to Abraham, held forth before Chriſt, more darkly, in Types and Figures; but more fully ſince Chriſt, in the glorious and clear Sun-ſhine of the Goſpel.
Queſt. 15. You have explained what man was in the ſtate of Creation, and how miſerable by nature after the fall: Now what is mans condition by Grace, and in the ſtate of Grace, when God hath drawn him to come into Chriſt, and to ſeek Chriſt alone for Salvation, by vertue of this Covenant?
Anſ. Man who could deſtroy,Hoſ. 13.9.14. 1 Pet. 1.18, 19. 2 Cor. 5.18, 19. Phil. 1.29. Act. 5.31 Rom. 5.1. & 8.30. & 8.17. Gal. 5.4, 5. but not ſave himſelf, nor be Redeemed by ſilver and gold, or by any other creature, is now, according to this Covenant of grace, a Redeemed one by Chriſt, reconciled to God in Chriſt, called, enabled to believe and Repent, Iuſtified, Sanctified, Adopted to be a childe of God, and in Chriſt an Heir of glory.
Queſt. 16. Are all men in this happy condition who live under the Goſpel, and hear the Preaching of this Covenant of Grace by Gods faithfull Miniſters?
Anſ. No certainly, not any in the ordinary way who are of years of diſcretion, but only thoſe who firſt, waiting on Chriſt in his Ordinances, in ſome meaſure by his Word and Spirit, according to the working of Gods mighty power, have their eyes opened.
Secondly, Are made ſenſible of ſin, and miſery by ſin.
Thirdly, Enabled to deny themſelves.
Fourthly, And by faith to apprehend & apply Chriſt as their ſurety and redeemer.
Fifthly, To reſt on Chriſt alone for Salvation. And
Sixthly, Declare their thankfulneſſe, by ſerving God in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe all the dayes of their lives, 2 Chron. 34.19, &c. Iſa. 66.2. Acts 2.37, 38. and 16.17, 18. Eph. 1.17, &c. Rom. 7.23, 24. Mat. 16.24. John 1.11, 12. Mat. 11.28, 29. Rom. 12.1, 2. Luke 1.73. &c.
Queſt. 17. You have held forth and profeſſed what you believe concerning the Providence of God in the ſtate of man by Creation, and his moſt miſerable condition by the fall, and declared in part what Gods Children are in the ſtate of grace: Now let me hear in brief what you believe concerning the Children of God in the ſtate of glory; And what is Gods works of Providence, and government in the Heavenly Kingdom?
Anſ. Firſt, For the preſent, Bleſſed are the dead that die in the Lord, even ſo faith the Spirit, they reſt from their labours, their immortall ſouls return to God that gave them; and being diſſolved from their bodies, they are with their th…ir heavenly husband Chriſt Ieſus in glory, Revelation 14.13. Eccleſiaſtes 12.7. Phil. 1.21, &c. Luke 23.43. Rev. 19.6, &c.
Secondly, At the day of Iudgement their bodies being raiſed from the dead,1 Cor. 15.19. &c. Mar. 25.34. Rev. 21.4 Mat. 5.8. 1 Iohn 3.1, 2, 3. & 17.20, &c. 1 Theſ. 4 13. to 18. Ioh. 10.27, to 30. Mat. 25.46. Rev. 4.8, &c. & 5.11, &c. & 7.10, &c. their ſouls and bodies re-united by the power of Chriſt, the ſentence of bleſſedneſſe ſhall be pronounced to them. And
Thirdly, there ſhall be no more death, but all tears ſhall be wiped away from their eyes, God ſhall be all in all to them.
Fourthly, They ſhall enjoy the viſion of God in glory, and by union and communion with God in Chriſt, remain happy with the Lord in that Kingdom of glory in life everlaſting, praiſing and glorifying of God for ever and ever.
Queſt. 18. What ſhall become of unbelievers, impenitent, and wicked men and women, who neglect Chriſt and Salvation tendred in the Goſpel of grace, and follow the courſe of this world, and their own ſinfull luſts, ignorantly or preſumptuouſly to their ends? What is Gods government concerning them?
Anſ. When they die, their ſouls deſend preſently to miſery, and the bodies ſhall be raiſed again at the laſt day by the power of God, and appear before the Iudgement ſeat of Chriſt, to receive that direfull ſentence of condemnation, Go ye curſed, and be excluded Heaven, and caſt into the fire of Hell, to be tormented with the Devil and his Angels in darkneſſe for evermore, Luke 16.22, 23. Heb. 2.2, 3. Joh. 3.18, 19, 30. John 4.28, 29. and 12.48. Acts 13.46. and 18.5, 6. Rom. 2.8, 9, 12. 1 Cor. 6.9. Gal, 5.19, &c. Eph. 5.24, 36. Phil. 3.18, 19. Mat. 22.12, 13. and 25.41. Rev. 21.15.
Queſt. 19. But who ſhall be Judge of believers and unbelievers at that great Day, to ſeparate the precious from the vile, the Wheat from the Tares, the righteous from the wicked, and to reward every man and woman according to their works?
Ioh. 1.12. Mat. 24.30. Iohn 5.22, 23. Act. 10.42. Mat. 25.31, &c. 1 Theſ. 1.9, &c.Anſ. The Lord Ieſus Chriſt, who is the only begotten Son of God, who ſtiled himſelfe alſo as he is, the Son of Man, to whom God the Father hath committed all Iudgement, and ordained him to be the Iudge of quick and dead: He ſhall come in glory of his Father with his Angels, and ſhall ſeparate the ſheep from the goats, believers from unbelievers, and pronounce the ſentence of bleſſedneſſe to the one, and of the curſe and damnation to the other, according to their works, and the juſt rule of truth and righteouſneſſe.
Queſt. 20. But ſhall all, both quick and dead, good and bad, be brought before Chriſt, to receive their Judgement at that Day?
Anſ. Yes,1 Theſ. 4.14, &c. 1 Cor. 15.51, 52 none excepted or priviledged; but when the Trumpet ſhall ſound, and the voyce of the Archangel ſhall call, the dead ſhall ariſe incorruptible, the living ſhall be changed,Rev. 20.12. and all ſhall appear before the Lord Chriſt to receive their ſentence according to their works.
Queſt. 21. How ſhall the unbelievers and all wicked impenitent ones, who have been enemies to the Lord Chriſt, and to his wiſdom, holineſſe, and government, ſtand affected at that Day?
Anſ. They ſhall tremble with horror,Mat. 24.33. Rev. 1.7. 2 Pet. 3.10. Rev. 3. 12, &c. amazement, and unſpeakable ſorrows, when they ſhall ſee the Son of man, the Lord Chriſt, come in ſuch glorious and terrible Majeſty; and though they cry to the Mountains to fall on them, and to hide them, yet they ſhall not eſcape the wrath of the then angry Lamb.
Queſt. 22. How ſhall believers and the Saints of the moſt High, be affected at the preſence of Chriſt?
Luke. 21.28 Act. 3.19. Mat. 1.21. Rev. 1.5.Anſ. They ſhall be affected with joy unſpeakable, at that day of Reſurrection, when they ſhall behold him to be their Iudge, who is their Lord and Saviour, and who hath waſhed them from all their ſin in his own Blood.
Queſt. 23. What are or ought to be the affections of Saints towards Chriſt coming to Judgement?
Rom. 5.2 Heb. 9.28. 1 Theſ. 1.10.Anſ. They ſhould rejoyce in hope, and look and wait daily for Chriſt, who hath ſaved us from wrath to come.
Queſt. 24. Are not Gods Children then in a moſt happy condition above all other in the world, being freely delivered from this damnable eſtate of the wicked, and made Heirs of the grace of life Eternall?
Anſ. Yes verily, the righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour,Prov. 12.23. Iſa. 64.4. i Cor. 2.9. as it is written, for the eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither have entred into the hearts or men, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him both in grace and glory.
Queſt. 25. By whom are we thus Redeemed from ſin, death, and Eternall damnation, and made partakers of life Eternall, and to be Citizens in that Kingdom of glory?
Anſ. Only by Ieſus Chriſt, the Author and finiſher of our Faith, in whom God the Father is well pleaſed with us, Acts 4.12. 1 Pet. 1.11, 19. Heb. 12. Matth. 17.5.