A Scripture Catechism, Chapter 11 – Chapter 14
Chap. 11. Of Faith, and Repentance, a holy life, and aſſurance of Salvation.
Q. IS faith in Chriſt required of thoſe who ſhall be ſaved?
A. Act. 16.31. Believe on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and thou ſhalt be ſaved, and thine houſe. Joh. 3.16, 36. For God ſo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. He that believeth on the Son hath everlaſting life, and he that believeth not the Son ſhall not ſee life.
Q. What is that great truth to which the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt bear witneſſe?
A. 1 Joh. 5.11. And this is the record that God hath given to us eternall life, and this life is in his Sonne.
Q. Is it neceſſary that we ſhould repent of our ſinnes, and reforme or amend our lives, and forſake our ſinnes, if we will have mercy?
A. Act. 3.19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your ſinnes may be blotted out, when the times of refreſhing ſhall come from the preſence of the Lord.
Q. Are any ſo predeſtinated, or did our Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſo lay down his life for any particular Perſons, that although they live and dye in impenitency and unbeliefe, yet they ſhall ſurely be ſaved?
A. Rom. 8.1, 13, 30. There is therefore now no condemnation to thē which are in Chriſt Jeſus, who walke not after the fleſh, but after the Spirit. For if ye live after the fleſh ye ſhall dye; but if ye through the Spirit doe mortify the deeds of the body, ye ſhall live. Moreover, whom he did predeſtinate them he alſo called, and whom he called them he alſo juſtified, &c.
Q. Doth the Scriptures hold out any ſuch preterition, or Non-election, or ſo hold forth the death of Chriſt, that ſome perſons although they believe with all their heart, and repent, and forſake all their ſins, yet ſhall not be ſaved?
A. Joh. 3.36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlaſting life, and he that believeth not the Son ſhall not ſee life. Act. 10.34, 35, 43. Of a truth I perceive, God is no reſpecter of perſons, but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteouſneſſe is accepted with him. To him give all the Prophets witneſſe, that through his name whoſoever believeth in him ſhall receive remiſſion of Sinnes.
Q. May we be ſure if we believe, that we were ordained to eternall life?
A. Act. 13.48. And as many as were ordained to eternall life believed. 2 Theſ. 2.13. But we are bound to give thanks to God alway for you brethren, beloved of the Lord, becauſe God hath from the beginning choſen you to Salvation, through Sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth.
Q. What manner of Perſons are thoſe, living and dying, who were of old ordained unto condemnation?
A. Jude. 4. For there are certaine men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into laſciviouſneſſe, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Q. May our Election be known?
A. 2 Pet. 1.10. Wherefore the rather brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election ſure, for if ye doe theſe things ye ſhall never fall. 2 Theſ. 1.4. Knowing brethren, beloved, your election of God.
Q. Doth God elect or chuſe men out of Grace, and that they might he holy?
A. Rom. 11.4, 5, 6. There is a remnant according to the Election of Grace. And if by Grace, then is it no more of works, otherwiſe grace is no more Grace. Eph. 1.4. According as he hath choſen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we ſhould be holy, and without blame before him in love. 2 Theſ. 2.13. God hath from the beginning choſen you to ſalvation, through ſanctification of the ſpirit, and belief of the truth.
Q. Are we commanded to believe in the name of the Lord Chriſt?
A. 1 Joh. 3.23. And this is his commandement, that we ſhould believe on the name of his Son Jeſus Chriſt. Joh. 6.29. Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto them, This is the word of God, that ye believe on him, whom he hath ſent.
Q. Have we power of our ſelves to believe, and to doe good works?
A. Eph. 2.8. For by grace are ye ſaved, through faith, and that not of your ſelves, it is the gift of God. Phil. 1.29. For unto you it is given in the behalfe of Chriſt, not only to believe on him, but alſo to ſuffer for his ſake.
Q. Who is the Author and finiſher of our Faith?
A. Heb. 12.2. Looking unto Jeſus, the Author and finiſher of our Faith, &c. Mar. 9.24. Lord I believe, help thou mine unbeliefe.
Q. Seeing we cannot believe and doe good works by our own power, may we be exhorted to both?
A. Phil. 2.12, 13. Wherefore my beloved, as you have alwaies obeyed, &c. Worke out your own Salvation with feare and trembling; For it is God which worketh in you both to will & to doe of his good pleaſure.
Q. Is there an Almighty power put forth to make us believe?
A. Eph. 1.19. And what is the exceeding greatneſſe of his power to usward, who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.
Q. Is it our duty to convert and turne to God, &c.?
A. Iſa. 1.16, 17. Waſh ye, make you cleane, put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes, ceaſe to doe evill, learne to doe well, ſeek judgment, relieve the opreſſed, judg the fatherleſſe, plead for the widdow. Act. 3.19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your ſinnes may be blotted out. Joel. 2.12. Turne ye even to me ſaith the Lord with all your heart, and with faſting, and with weeping, and with mourning.
Q. Are we able of our ſelves to turne, or muſt we pray unto God to turne us?
A. Pſal. 85.4. Turne us O God of our Salvation, and cauſe thine anger towards us to ceaſe. Jer. 31.18. Turn thou me and I ſhall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God. 2 Cor. 3.5. Not that we are ſufficient of our ſelves to think any thing as of our ſelves: but our ſufficiency is of God.
Q. Is the word of God a means or inſtrument which God uſeth to convert men?
A. 1 Theſ. 1.5, 6. For our Goſpel came not unto you in word only, but in power alſo, and in the Holy Ghoſt, and in much aſſurance: and ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghoſt. So v. 9. For they themſelves ſhew of us what manner of entring in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from Idols, to ſerve the living and true God.
Q. Is the word a means to work Faith?
A. Rom. 10.17. So then Faith commeth by hearing, & hearing by the word of God.
Q. Is a man juſtified partly by Faith, and partly by works?
A. Rom. 3.28. Therefore we conclude, that a man is juſtified by Faith, without the deeds of the Law.
Q. How is that of James chap. 2.24. to be underſtood?
A. Jam. 2.17, 18. Even ſo Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone, yea a man may ſay, Thou haſt faith, & I have works: ſhew me thy Faith without thy works, & I will ſhew thee my faith by my works, i.e. Faith, that doth not ſhew it ſelfe by good works to be alive, is a dead faith.
Q. Shall any that are elected, juſtified, & ſanctified, ever fall wholy, and finally from Grace?
A. Math. 24.24. For there ſhall ariſe falſe Chriſts, and falſe Prophets, &c. and ſhall ſhew great ſignes and wonders, inſomuch that (if it were poſſible) they ſhall deceive the very Elect. 1 Pet. 1.5. Who are kept by the power of God, through Faith, unto Salvation. Joh. 10.28, 29. I give unto them eternall life, and they ſhall never periſh, neither ſhall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all: and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Q. Shall any regenerate perſon, any child of God, continue in ſin, allow himſelfe to goe on cuſtomarily in any way of ſinne and wickedneſſe?
A. 1 Joh. 3.9. Whatſoever is borne of God doth not commit ſinne; for his ſeed remaineth in him, and he cannot ſin, becauſe he is borne of God. Pſal. 139.23, 24. Search me O God, and know my heart, try me, & know my thoughts, and ſee if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlaſting.
Q. Did our Lord Chriſt dye that ſinners being juſtified, might live as they liſt, or that they ſhould live holily, &c.?
A. 1 Joh. 3.8. He that committeth ſinne is of the Divel; for the Devill ſinneth from the beginning: For this purpoſe the Son of God was manifeſted, that he might deſtroy the workes of the Devil. Act. 3.26. Unto you firſt, God having raiſed up his Son Jeſus, ſent him to bleſſe you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. Luk. 1.74, 75. That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might ſerve him without feare, in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe before him all the dayes of our life.
Q. Is the Goſpel, or the Doctrine of ſalvation, as 'tis taught in the Scriptures, a Doctrine according to Godlineſſe?
A. 1 Tim. 6.3. If a man teach otherwiſe, and conſent not to wholſome words, even the words of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and to the Doctrine which is according to godlineſſe. 1 Tim. 3.16. And without controverſy great is the myſtery of godlineſſe. Tit. 2.11, 12. For the grace of God, that bringeth Salvation, hath appeared to all men, teaching us, that denying ungodlineſſe and worldly luſts, we ſhould live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world.
Q. Is any man in this life ſo perfect, that he is without all ſin?
A. 1 Joh. 1.8, 10. If we ſay that we have no ſinne, we deceive our ſelves, and the truth is not in us. If we ſay that we have not ſinned, we make him a lyar, and his word is not in us. 1 Kin. 8.46. If they ſinne againſt thee, for there is no man that ſinneth not, &c. Prov. 20.9. Who can ſay I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my ſinne? Eccleſ. 7.20. For there is not a juſt man upon earth that doth good, and ſinneth not. Jam. 3.2. For in many things we offend all.
Q. May we know, that if a man prove an Apoſtate, and fall wholy, and for ever away, that he was never truly juſtified and regenerated?
A. 1 Joh. 2.19. They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifeſt, that they were not all of us. Mat. 7.24, 25. Whoſoever heareth theſe ſayings of mine, and doth them, I will liken him unto a wiſe man, which built his houſe upon a rocke; and the raine deſcended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the houſe, and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.
Q. Can any man come to Chriſt except the Father draw him?
A. Joh. 6.44. No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath ſent me, draw him, and I will raiſe him up at the Laſt day.
Q. May we pray to God to draw us?
A. Cant. 1.4. Draw me, we will run after thee: the King hath brought me into his chambers.
Q. What Scripture grounds have men to liſten after, to prize, to be in love with the Goſpel, and to eſteem it as worthy of all acceptation, and ſo to hunger and thirſt after the good things contained in it?
A. Joh. 3.16. For God ſo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. 1 Tim. 1.15, 16. This is a faithfull ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chriſt Jeſus came into the world to ſave ſinners, of whom I am chief: Howbeit for this cauſe I obtained mercy, that in me firſt Jeſus Chriſt might ſhew forth all long-ſuffering, for a paterne to them which ſhould hereafter believe on him to life everlaſting. chap. 4.10. For therefore we both labour and ſuffer reproach, becauſe we truſt in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, ſpecially of thoſe that believe. Joh. 6.37. And him that cometh to me I will in no wiſe caſt out. He. 7.25. Wherefore he is able to ſave them to the uttermoſt, that come unto God by him, ſeeing he ever liveth, &c.
Q. If a man really hunger and thirſt after Chriſt to be his Saviour, and to be his Soveraigne, is he then under any conditionall promiſe?
A. Mat. 5.6. Bleſſed are they which doe hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſſe, for they ſhall be filled.
Q. If any man hearing of the God of Iſrael, that he is a mercifull God, and that he will ſave ſome of the chiefeſt of ſinners, and all that being weary and heavy laden with the burden of their ſins, coming unto him, doe thereupon come, and lay himſelfe as a beggar at a rich mans door, and wait there as the Cripple at the Pool of Betheſda, and aske, and ſeek, and knock for mercy and grace, hath he then any promiſe of being heard?
A. Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt. chap. 7.7. Aske, and it ſhall be given you; ſeek, and ye ſhall find; knock, and it ſhall be opened unto you. Iſ. 55.1, 3. Ho! every one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eate, yea come, buy wine and milke without money and without price. Incline your eare and come unto me; hear, and your ſoule ſhall live; and I will make an everlaſting Covenant with you, even the ſure mercies of David. Deut. 4.29. But if from thence thou ſhalt ſeek the Lord thy God, thou ſhalt find him; if thou ſeek him with all thine heart, and with all thy ſoul. Rev. 22.17. and the Spirit and the bride ſay come, and let him that heareth ſay come, and let him that is a thirſt come, and whoſoever will let him take of the water of life freely.
Q. May we pore upon predeſtination, and look, to ſee our names written in the book of life, before we ſet our faces and hearts to look after a Saviour, the Lord Chriſt?
A. Deut. 29.29. The ſecret things belong unto the Lord our God, but thoſe things which are revealed belong unto us, and to our children for ever, that we may doe all the words of this Law. 1 Joh. 3.23. And this is his commandement that we ſhould believe on the name of his Son Jeſus Chriſt.
Q. Is there any ground to ſtay the ſoul upon, if it ſeek after the true knowledge and feare of God, that it ſhall find it?
A. Prov. 2.3, 4.5. Yea if thou cryeſt after knowledge, and lifteſt up thy voice for underſtanding. If thou ſeekeſt her as ſilver, and ſearcheſt for her as for hid treaſures. Then ſhalt thou underſtand the feare of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
Q. If Judas had repented and believed ſhould he have been ſaved?
A. Joh. 3.16. For God ſo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that, whoſoever believeth in him ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life.
Q. If Peter had never repented and believed, ſhould he have been ſaved?
A. Joh. 3.18.—But he that believeth not is condemned already, becauſe he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. verſ. 36. He that believeth not the Son ſhall not ſee life: but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Q. What if a man had a revelation from heaven that he ſhould be ſaved, might we ſay, that Except he believed, and repented, and walked holily, he could not be ſaved? what ſaith the Scripture?
A. Act. 27.31. Except theſe abide in the ſhip ye cannot be ſaved compared with verſ. 23, 24. There ſtood by me this night the Angell of God—ſaying, fear not Paul, thou muſt be brought before Caeſar, and lo! God hath given thee all them that ſail with thee.
Q. What if a Prophet ſhould come and tell thee, yet 10, or 20, or 40 dayes and thou ſhouldeſt dye, and be damned; if thou ſhouldeſt thereupon turne unto the Lord with all thy heart, and believe in the Lord Chriſt, ſhouldeſt thou be ſaved?
A. Jer. 18.7, 8. At what inſtant I ſhall ſpeak concerning a Nation, and concerning a Kingdome, to pluck up, and pull down, and to deſtroy it. If that nation, againſt whom I have pronounced, turne from their evill; I will repent of the evill that I thought to doe unto them. Matth. 11.23. If the mighty workes that have been done in thee, had been done in Sodome, it would have remained untill this day. Iſ. 38.1, 2, 5.—Thus ſaith the Lord, Set thine houſe in order: for thou ſhalt dye, and not live. Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord; Goe and ſay to Hezekiah, thus ſaith the Lord, the God of David thy Father, I have heard thy prayer, I have ſeen thy teares: Behold I will adde unto thy dayes 15 yeers. Jonah. 3.4, 10.
Q. Shall any man be condemned at the laſt day becauſe he could not, or becauſe he would not come unto Chriſt, but put the Goſpel away from him?
A. Mat. 23.37. O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, thou that killeſt the Prophets, and ſtoneſt them which are ſent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not. Joh. 5.40. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
Q. May a man be fully aſſured of his Salvation?
A. 2 Cor. 5.1. For we know, that if our earthly houſe of this tabernacle were diſſolved, we have a building of God, an houſe not made with hands, eternall in the Heavens.
Q. Will Aſſurance make Saints Libertines in their lives?
A. Luk. 7.47. Her ſins which are many are forgiven, for ſhe loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the ſame loveth little. 2 Cor. 5.14, 15.
Q. Is Aſſurance inconſiſtent with a filiall, reverentiall, obedientiall feare of the divine majeſty?
A. Phil. 2.12. Worke out your own ſalvation with feare and trembling. Pſal. 2.11. Serve the Lord with feare, and rejoyce with trembling.
Q. What is the true meaning of that place. 1 Joh. 4.18?
A. Either perfect love caſteth out all ſlaviſh baſe feare, or if we love Chriſt in ſincerity, and with all our ſoules, we ſhall not through feare deny him, but confeſſe him before men, although they perſecute us for his names ſake.
Q. May true Faith conſiſt with ſome doubting?
A. Mat. 14.31. O thou of little Faith, wherefore did'ſt thou doubt?
Q. Ought not Chriſtians ſo to rejoyce alwaies in God, as yet to be ſorry for their ſinnes, and to weep with them that weep? Are theſe things inconſiſtent, Sorrow and Joy?
A. 2 Cor. 6.10. As ſorrowfull, yet alway rejoycing. So chap. 7.9. Now I rejoyce, not that ye were made ſorry, but that ye ſorrowed to Repentance: for ye were made ſorry after a godly manner. Rom. 12.15. Rejoyce with them that doe rejoyce, and weep with them that weep.
Q. Shall men who live in groſſe ſins without Repentance & Reformation ever come to heaven?
A. 1 Cor. 6.9, 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous ſhal not inherit the Kingdome of God, &c. And ſuch were ſome of you, but ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, but ye are juſtified in the name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the ſpirit of our God.
Q. Are we commanded to make us a new heart, and a new Spirit?
A. Ezek. 18.31, 32. Caſt away from you all your tranſgreſſions, whereby ye have tranſgreſſed, and make you a new heart, and a new ſpirit: for why will ye dye O houſe of Iſrael? for I have no pleaſure in the death of him that dyeth, ſaith the Lord God: wherefore turne your ſelves, and live yee.
Q. Hath God any where promiſed that he will doe this for us?
A. Jer. 24.7. And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord, and they ſhall be my people, and I will be their God: For they ſhall returne unto me with their whole heart. Ezek. 36.26, 27. A new heart alſo will I give you, and a new ſpirit will I put within you, and I will take away the ſtony heart out of your fleſh, and I will give you an heart of fleſh, and I will put my ſpirit within you, and cauſe you to walke in my Statutes, and ye ſhall keep my judgments and doe them.
Cap. 12. Of Prayer.
Q. IS prayer a meanes to obtaine theſe ſpirituall bleſſings at God's hands?
A. Pſal. 51.10. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right ſpirit within me. Ezek. 36.37. Thus ſaith the Lord God, I will yet for this be enquired of by the houſe of Iſrael to doe it for them.
Q. May we call upon an unregenerate man to repent and pray?
A. Act. 8.22, 23. Repent therefore of this thy wickedneſſe, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee: For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterneſſe, and in the bond of iniquity.
Q. Is there any hopes that God will heare the prayer of an unregenerate man, can you give an inſtance in Scripture of God's hearing an unregenerate man's prayer?
A. 2 King. 13.2, 4. And he did that which was evill in the ſight of the Lord, and followed the ſinnes of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat, which made Iſrael to ſin, he departed not therefrom. And Jehoahaz beſought the Lord, and the Lord hearkened unto him: For he ſaw the oppreſſion of Iſrael, becauſe the King of Syria oppreſſed them.
Q. What means then John. 9.31?
A. By a ſinner may here be underſtood a grievous Sinner, ſuch as an Impoſtor and open Sabbath-breaker: compare that text with Luk. 7.37, 39. If a man be an Atheiſticall, notorious, profane wretch or an Impoſtor, and goe on to ſinne preſumtuouſly, ſaying, God is with him, God uſeth not to heare ſuch an one, ſo as to worke miracles at his prayer or intreaty, ſo as to cure one that was born blind: But yet he that heareth the cry of the young Ravens, & is found of thoſe men ſometimes that ſeek him not; may if he pleaſe, and ſometimes doth hear and anſwer the prayer of an unregenerate perſon.
I no where read that 'tis an abominatiō to God for an unregenerate man to pray for Grace: the ſacrifice of the wicked is ſaid indeed to be an abomination to the Lord, as foreign, but if God put it into a man's heart, if he prepare his heart to pray for peace with God and ſanctifying or regenerating grace from God, I think 'tis not impoſſible he ſhould prepare his eare to heare: he hath not ſaid, he would not heare, 'tis not neceſſary he ſhould ſtop his eares to ſuch prayers. And as for Prov. 28.9. I ſay it proves, God wil not ordinarily hear profane, obſtinate & preſumtuous Sinners when they are in neceſſity or diſtreſſe, but yet he may notwithſtanding heare the prayer of an Unregenerate Perſon when he prayes to have his law written in his heart, he may not hear one that hath no grace when he prayes for gold, but yet may heare him when he prayes for Grace.
Chap. 13. Of Marriage.
Q. ARE the Lawes formerly delivered by Moſes concerning Marriage, ſo aboliſhed, that now a man may marry to his neer kindred?
A. Mat. 14.3, 4. For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in priſon, for Herodias ſake, his brother Philip's wife. For John ſaid unto him, It is not lawfull for thee to have her.
Q. In what caſe is divorce lawfull?
A. Mat. 5.32. Whoſoever ſhall put away his wife, ſaving for the cauſe of Fornication, cauſeth her to commit Adultery. Rom. 7.2. For the woman, which hath an Husband, is bound by the law to her husband, ſo long as he liveth.
Q. Are ſecond Marriages lawfull?
A. Rom. 7.3.—But if her Husband be dead, ſhe is free from that Law, ſo that ſhe is no Adultereſſe, though ſhe be married to another man.
Chap. 14. Of Mothers nurſing their own children.
Q. DID good women of old time nurſe their own children?
A. Pſal. 131.2. Surely I have behaved and quieted my ſelfe as a child, that is weaned of his Mother. Gen. 21.7. And he ſaid, who would have ſaid unto Abraham, that Sarah ſhould have given children ſuck?
Q. Did ever any Queen or Noble perſon nurſe her own child?
A. Can. 8.1. compared with chap. 1.1. The ſong of ſongs, which is Solomons. O that thou wert as my Brother, …at ſucked the breſts of my mother. 1 Kin. 11.20. And the Siſter of Tahpenes bare him Jenubath his Son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's houſe. Gen. 23.6. compared with 21.7. Heare us my Lord, thou art a mighty Prince amongſt us. And he ſaid, who would have ſaid unto Abraham, that Sarah ſhould have given children ſuck?
Q. Was it reputed a curſe or puniſhment for women to have dry breſts?
A. Hoſea. 9.14. Give them, O Lord: what wilt thou give? give them a miſcarrying womb, and dry breſts.
Q. Shall a mother who is a nurſe be diſpenſed with all, from ſome outward acts of piety, from doing of which ſhe is hindred by that means or occaſion?
A. 1 Sam. 1.21, 22, 23. And the man Elkanah and all his houſe, went up to offer unto the Lord the early ſacrifice and his vow: But Hanah went not up; for ſhe ſaid unto her husband, I will not goe up untill the child be weaned, and then I will bring him that he may appeare before the Lord, and there abide for ever. And Elkanah her husband ſaid unto her, Doe what ſeemeth thee good, tarry untill thou have weaned him, only the Lord eſtabliſh his word: ſo the woman abode, and gave her Son ſuck untill ſhe weaned him.