A Fiery Pillar of Heavenly Truth, Chapter 1
A FIERY PILLAR OF HEAVENLY TRUTH: SHEWING, The Way to a Blessed Life.
Composed by way of Catechisme, for the preservation of GODS people from the spreading evills, and pernicious Inchantments of Papisme, and other errors; for the Detection of every mans condition, for the Consolation of afflicted people, and for the Direction of all sorts of persons to Life Eternall.
2 COR. 10.4, 5.
The weapons of our warfare are not carnall, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds, &c.
1 COR. 1.27.
God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, &c.
Omnia dicta tanti existimantur, quantus est ipse qui dixit, & qui segunt non tam considerent quid legant, quam cujus legant, &c. Salvian. contra Avarit. lib. 1.
Sufficiunt nobis hac in parte Sanctorum sensus & Iudicia, &c. Salv. cont. Avar. lib. 4.
LONDON: Printed for John Bartlett, and are to be sold at the signe of the Gilt Cup, neere St. Augustines gate. 1641.
A FIERY PILLAR OF HEAVENLY TRUTH: SHEWING, The way to a blessed Life.
CHAP. I.
Question.
WHat is the most needfull and comfortable thing for every man to know?
Answer. To know himselfe to be the childe of God. Luk. 10.42. Ioh. 17.3. Phil. 3.8. 2 Cor. 13.5.
Quest. Why is this Knowledge the most needfull, and most comfortable?
Ans. Because God doth chiefly require it, and our happinesse, dignitie, peace, and safety doth principally con…t in it. Hos. 6.6. Iere. 9.23, 24. 2 Pet. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Quest. How may a man attaine this knowledge?
Answ. By the preaching of the Word. 1 Pet. 1.23. Acts 26.15, 16, 17, 18.
Quest. How doth the Preaching of the Word work this knowledge in us?
Ans. By two things:
1. By bringing us to a cleere sight, and lively feeling of our misery by sinne: Ro. 7.7.9. Acts. 2.37.
2. By bringing us to the knowledge of our Redemption out of that estate by Christ. Luk. 3.3. Luk. 24.47.
Quest. Wherein doth our wretchednesse consist?
Ans. In two things: First in the losse of happinesse. Gen. 3.17.23. Secondly in the gaine of misery. Psal. 14.3.
Quest. Wherein stood that happinesse, which by him we have now lost?
Ans. In being like God in holinesse, and true righteousnesse without corruption. Gen. 1.27. and in being conformable to the law of God in sound obedience without imperfection. Eccles. 7.29.
Quest. What is it that maketh our estate now so miserable?
Ans. Sinne, and the curse due to sinne? Ia. 1.14, 15. Gal. 3.10. Psal. 38.3, 4.
Quest. Wherein standeth our sinfulnesse?
Ans. In two things: First in that we are guilty of Adams sinne, because we were in his loines. Ro. 5.13. Secondly, In that all the powers of our soules, and members of our bodies, are now by nature corrupted. Ephes. 2.1. Ro. 6.19. Tit. 1.15.16. Ia. 3.15.
Qu. How doth this sinfulnesse make us miserable?
Ans. Seven wayes:
1 In abolishing Gods image. Gen. 3.7. Gen. 6.5.
2 In filling our whole man with corruption. Psal. 53.
3 In making us vassalls unto sinne and Satan. Ro. 7.14. Ephes. 2.3. 2 Tim. 2.26.
4 In disabling us to understand the will, and observe the Commandments of the Lord. Ioh. 1.5. Ephe. 4.18, 19.
5 In causing us to lose our right unto, and Soveraignty over the creatures. Rom. 8.20, 21, 22. Tit. 1 15.
6 In making our persons, and actions unacceptable unto God. Prov. 15.8, 9. Ioh 9.31.
7 In casting us out of Gods favour, and in making us liable unto death eternall. Isa. 59.1, 2, 3. Iere. 5.25. Mat. 25.41.
Quest. Cannot man, being in this estate, turne himself unto God?
Ans. No; For,
1 He is altogether indisposed unto any good. 2 Cor. 3 5. Ephes, 2.1. Mat. 7.17, 18.
2 He is strongly bent, and inclined unto what is evill, Iere. 17.9. Ro. 8 7. Acts. 7.51.
3 He is a very enemie against God. Col. 1.21. Rom 8.7.
4 He hath a base estimation of the meanes appointed to convert him, 1 Cor. 1.23. Iob. 21.14, 15. Acts 17.18 Psal. 58 5, Mat. 22.5, 6.
5 The deceitfull proffers of sinne are very pleasing to him. Pro. 9.17. Prov. 10.23.
6 The waies of God, and they who walke in them, seem base, and of no account with him. Ioh. 7.48. Isa. 8.18. 1 Cor. 4.13. Mal. 3.13, 14, 15.
Quest. Wherein standeth the cursednesse of man?
Ans. In being subject to all the plagues of this life, and of the life to come. Ro. 6.23.
Quest. What are the plagues whereunto he is subject here in this life?
Ans. To grievous changes in his estate, loathsome diseases in his body, vile lusts, and raigning corruptions in his soule. Levit. 26.15, 16, 17. Deu. 28.16, 17. Rom. 1.25.26, 27, 28, 29.
Quest. What are the plagues he is subject to in the life to come?
Ans. They are endlesse, easelesse, and remedilesse torments. Mar. 9.45, 46.
Quest. What ought the consideration of this sinfull and cursed estate worke in us?
Ans. Deep and serious humiliation, with an uncessant care to get forth of the same. Ro. 7.24. Iob. 42.6. Acts 2.37.