A Help to the Willing Soul, Title page – To the reader
A HELPE TO THE WILLING SOƲL, OR The Communicants Counſellor. BEING A plaine and familiar Diſcourſe upon ſundry maine Truths, both Doctrinall and Practicall, requiſite to be known, underſtood and obſerved by every Chriſtian, before his approach to the Lords Table. Compoſed moſtly in reference to the Rules and Directions concerning Sacramentall knowledge; laid down in an Ordinance of both Houſes of PARLIAMENT of the 20 of October, 1645.
By HENRY SEARLE.
For the benefit and edification of the Inhabitants of Aldeburgb in Suffolk.
Happy is the man that findeth Wiſdome, and the man that getteth underſtanding,
Prov. 3. 13.
London, Printed by R. C. for John Bellamy at the three golden Lions in Cornhill, near the Royall Exchange, 1647.
The reaſonable Requeſt of the AƲTHOR.
Friendly Reader,
KNow aſſuredly, that had it not been to ſpare the Purſe and Pains of the poorer ſort of that people (amongſt whom Gods diſpoſing-hand hath for the preſent caſt mee) in procuring written Copies hereof, this Catechiſticall Diſcourſe ſhould not have troubled the buiſie Preſſe. But ſeeing it is now printed, whoever thou art, be requeſted theſe four things.
1 To beware, leſt any ſubtle Factors for Satan, doe, by their ſmooth ptetences, ſlie inſinuations, or poiſonous perſwaſions, hinder thee in, or take thee off from beſtowing thy time and pains to get underſtanding in ſpirituall things, by the help of this or other ſuch like Books. Anſwer ſuch cunning Jugglers thus; True indeed, though I get much knowledge, yet I may periſh; But if I deſpiſe knowledge, then I muſt periſh.
2 So often to peruſe, diſcourſe, and meditate upon the Truths enſuing, as that (when juſtly required) thou maiſt be able to give a good account of the ſenſe and meaning thereof, and to beare the ſubſtance in thy memory, though thou ſhouldſt not attain to the ſet-form of words.
3 Seriouſly upon every occaſion to follow whatſoever Practicall inſtructions thou meeteſt withall, eſpecially thoſe about ſelf-examination and preparation before thou commeſt to the Lords Table.
4 And laſtly, to ſeek for a ſpeciall Bleſſing from heaven upon thy own and my endeavours for the welfare of thy ſoule.
A Helpe to the willing SOƲL, OR, The Communicants Counſellor.
Qu. WHat is God?
Anſw. God is an uncreated Spirit, Joh. 4. 24. moſt wiſe, Rom. 16. 27. moſt holy, Exod. 15. 11. eternall and infinite, Pſal. 147. 5. Maker of heaven and earth, the ſea, and all that in them is, Exod. 20. 11. Eſa. 42. 5. Preſerver and governor of all things and creatures whatſoever, Nehem. 9. 6. Acts 17. 26.
Qu. What mean you by calling God a Spirit?
Anſ. When I call God a Spirit, I mean, that he hath no body at all; and therefore muſt not be thought like to any things which may be ſeen by the eye of man, Deut. 4. 15. &c. Rom. 1. 22, 23.
Qu. How many Gods be there?
Anſ. Though there be three in Perſon, yet in Divine Eſſence there is but one onelyonly true God, Deut. 6. 4. 1 Joh. 5. 7. Epbeſ. 4. 5, 6.
Qu. Which be the three Perſons in the Godhead?
Anſ. The three Perſons in the God-head, are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghoſt, Mat. 28. 19.
Qu. What is the property of God the Father?
Anſ. The property of God the Father is, to be of himſelf, and to beget the Son, Joh. 1. 18. Joh. 3. 16.
Qu. What is the property of God the Son?
Anſ. The property of God the Son, is, to be begotten of the Father, Joh. 3. 18.
Qu. What is the property of God the Holy Ghost?
An. The property of God the holy Ghoſt, is, to proceed from the Father, Joh. 15. 26. and the Son, Rom. 8. 9. Gal. 4. 6.
Qu. Are any of the three Perſons in the Godhead greater then other?
Anſ. None of the three Perſons in the God-head are greater or leſſe then another, but they are all equally God, Phil. 2. 6. 1 Joh. 5. 7.
Qu. WHat was the State of Man by Creation?
Anſ. God created man after his own image, Gen. 1. 26. Gen. 5. 1. that is to ſay, God created man in a reſemblance of that knowledge, Col. 3. 10. righteouſneſſe, and true holineſſe, Epheſ. 4. 24. Eccleſ. 7. 29. which was and is in himſelf: and in theſe the image of God was principally ſeen.
Qu. If God made us ſo holy and happy at firſt, how come we now to be ſinfull and miſerable?
Anſ. Wee are become ſinfull and miſerable, Epheſ. 2. 1, 3. by reaſon of Adams firſt tranſgreſſion in eating of the forbidden fruit, Gen. 2. 17. Gen. 3. 6.
Qu. But foraſmuch as that firſt tranſgreſſion was committed in Paradiſe above five thouſand years before we were born; how come we to be guilty of it?
Anſ. Adam was a publick perſon, Eccleſ. 7. 29. and the common Father of us all: and becauſe we were in his loyns, therefore his ſin was ours, and ſo we were all ſinners in his offence, Rom. 5. 12. 19.
Qu. Beſides the guilt of Adams firſt ſin, are we not ſinners in other reſpects alſo?
Anſ. Yes, beſides our being guilty of Adams firſt ſin we have both originall and actuall ſin.
Qu. What is originall ſin?
Anſ. Originall ſin conſiſts of two parts; namely; Firſt, in a backwardneſſe to all good; Secondly, in an aptneſſe to all evill, Jer. 4. 22. Gen. 6. 5.
Qu. Why doe you call it originall ſin?
Anſ. I call it originall ſin, becauſe we took our very firſt beginning in it. For ſo ſoon as ever we began to bee conceived in our Mothers wombe, Gen. 5. 3. Pſal. 51. 5. ſinfull diſpoſitions and inclinations began to cleave unto us.
Qu. What is actuall ſin?
Anſ. Actuall ſin is a breach of the law of God, 1 Joh. 3. 4. by thinking, Jer. 4. 14. deſiring, Ma…. 5. 28. deviſing, Prov. 24. 8. purpoſing, Pſal. 28. 3. Pſal. 140. 4. ſpeaking, Col. 3. 8, 9. Epheſ. 5. 4. or acting, 1 Sam. 15. 24. 2 Sam. 24. 10. thoſe things which God hath forbidden; or by leaving undone thoſe things which God hath commanded, Rom. 7. 19.
Qu. What is the fruit of Sin?
Anſ. The fruit of all ſin, is all woe and miſery both here and hereafter. Deut. 28. 15, 16, &c. Rom. 6. 21. Eſa. 6. 9, &c. Rom. 11. 8. Mat. 27. 3, 4, 5. Exod. 5. 2. Exod. 7. 3. Rom. 1. 28. 2 Theſſ. 2. 11. Rom. 6. 23. 2 Theſſ. 1. 7, 8, 9.
Qu. Is there no way to avoyd this miſery?
Anſ. There is no way to avoyd this miſery, but onelyonly by Jeſus Chriſt, Acts 4. 12.
Qu. Was Jeſus Chriſt God, or Man?
Anſ. Jeſus Chriſt was God from all eternity before the world, or any thing was made, Joh 1. 1, 2, 3. Joh. 8. 58. and he was made man about four thouſand years after the world was made, Gal. 4. 4.
Qu. How was Chriſt made man?
Anſ. Chriſt was conceived by the holy Ghoſt, Luke 1. 35. born of the Virgin Mary, Eſay 7. 14. & 11. 1. and ſo was made a holy man without all ſin, Luke 1. 35. John 3. 6.
Qu. But did Chriſt ceaſe to be God, when hee was made Man?
Anſ. No, Chriſt did not ceaſe to be God, when he was made man, but was from that time forth, is now, Heb. 13. 8. and ever ſhall be both God and Man, Ioh. 11. 14. Rom. 9. 5. in one perſon, 1 Cor. 8. 6.
Qu. Why was Chriſt both God and Man?
Anſ. Chriſt was both God and Man, that he might be a fit Mediator betwixt God and men; and bee able both to doe and ſuffer all things that were to be done and ſuffered on our behalf, Gal. 4. 4, 5. Heb. 2. 11, 14. & 4. 15, 16.
Qu. Is there any other Mediator between God and men beſides Jeſus Chriſt?
Anſ. No, there is but one Mediator betwixt God and men, namely, the Man Chriſt Jeſus, 1 Tim. 2. 5. who having died upon the croſſe Phil. 2. 8. to ſave his people from their ſinnes, roſe again from the dead, and aſcended into heaven, where he now fits at Gods right hand and makes continuall interceſſion for them, Acts 1. 9, 10, 11. Rom. 8. 34.
Qu. What hath Chriſt done for ſuch of us as belong to Gods election?
Anſ. Firſt, Chriſt hath fulfilled the Law, Mat. 5. 17, 18. which we ought to have exactly kept, Rom. 10. 5. Secondly, he hath merited a crown of righteouſneſſe for us, by fulfilling that Law, Phil. 2. 8, 9. Heb. 2. 9. & 12. 2.
Qu. What benefit have we by Chriſts doings?
Anſ. We have this benefit by Chriſts doings: Firſt, God will impute Chriſts righteouſneſſe to us in his fulfilling the Law, Rom. 5. 10. Rom. 10. 5. Secondly, he will give us the crown of glory which his Son Chriſt hath merited by his righteouſneſſe, John 17. 22. Col. 3. 4. Heb. 9. 24. John 1. 23.
Qu. What hath Christ ſuffered for us?
Anſ. Chriſt Jeſus hath ſuffered for us thus; Firſt, he hath born our ſins, 1 Pet. 2. 24. Heb. 9. 28. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Secondly, he hath ſuffered the wrath of God due to us for ſin, 1 Pet. 3. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 3.
Qu. What benefit have we by Chriſts ſufferings for us?
Anſ. If we be indeed the people of God, our benefit by Chriſts ſufferings is very great. For firſt, God will not impute thoſe ſins to us which Chriſt hath born, 2 Cor. 5. 19. And ſecondly, God will not lay that wrath and vengeance upon us which Chriſt hath ſuffered and undergone, Rom. 5. 9. 1 Theſſ. 1. 10. but on the contrary he will give us through Chriſt all things good for us, both here and hereafter, Mat. 7. 10. Pſal. 84. 11.
Qu. Seeing Chriſt hath both fulfilled the Law for us, and ſatisfied Gods wrath, we may caſt away care, becauſe there's nothing left for us to doe or ſuffer; is there?
Anſ. In a way of merit, or ſo as to rest upon our doings or ſufferings for juſtification or ſalvation, wee neither can nor may doe or ſuffer any thing, Eſay 64. 6. Phil. 3. 7, 8, 9. Luke 17. 10. But in a way of obedience we are bound both to doe and ſuffer whatſoever the will of God in his Word requires of us, as a token of our ſubmiſſiveneſſe and thankfulneſſe to God, 1 Cor. 6. 19, 20. Phil. 1. 20.
Qu. How can wee doe any thing that is good, ſeeing we have no power naturally of our ſelves?
Anſ. Firſt, even unbeleevers have ſo much naturall power of themſelves, as to uſe ſuch outward meanes both in publick and private, as are appointed of God (through the aſſiſtance of his Spirit) to work a power in them to pleaſe God; and therefore they muſt not be idle, and ſay they have no power of themſelves, but up and bee doing in the uſe of meanes, Acts 9. 6. Luk. 13. 24. Phil. 2. 12.
Secondly, unfeigned beleevers, who have ſome ſupernaturall power derived upon them from Chriſt, Joh. 1. 16. muſt improve, 2 Tim. 1. 6. Rev. 3. 2. that power alſo in the practiſe of duties of holineſs towards God, and duties of righteouſneſſe toward men all the dayes of their life, Luke 1. 74, 75. Acts 24. 16. For though wee ſhall not bee ſaved for our good works, yet wee ſhall never bee ſaved without good works, Heb. 12. 14. Jam. 2. 14, 26.
Qu. How are Chriſtians made partakers of Chriſt and his benefits?
Anſ. Chriſtians are made partakers of Chriſt and his benefits, onelyonly by faith apprehending and applying them, Epheſ. 3. 17. Mat. 21. 22.
Qu. What is Faith?
Anſ. Faith is a perſwaſion of the heart, Rom. 10. 10. grounded upon the promiſes, Pſal. 119. 49, 50. of God rightly underſtood and applyed, a Pet. 3. 16. Mat. 4. 6. comp. with Pſalm 91. 11. whereby I beleeve that Jeſus Chriſt died for me, Gal. 2. 20. as well as for any other.
Qu. Is this ſaving. Faith in our own power, or can we beleeve when we will?
Anſ. No, we have not faith of our ſelves, Epheſ. 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. neither is it in our own power to beleeve when we will: but faith is the gift of God, wrought in the heart of Gods elect by the Word, Rom. 10. 17. and by the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 3. 6, 7. and therefore we muſt uſe the meanes to get it.
Qu. Cannot we be ſaved without Faith?
Anſ. No, wee cannot bee ſaved without faith; for he that believeth not on the Son of God, ſhall not ſee life, but ſhall periſh eternally, Joh. 3. 36. Mar. 16. 16. Gal. 3. 11.
Qu. Is there any true faith in that ſoule that doth not unfeignedly repent?
Anſ. There is no true faith in that ſoule that doth not often act forth unfained repentance for his ſins; becauſe, every one that beleeves in Chriſt, hath the ſpirit of Chriſt, Gal. 4. 6. Rom. 8. 9. but now true repentance is a ſaving grace, iſſuing from Chriſts ſpirit, 2 Tim. 2. 25. Zech. 12. 10. as well as faith.
Qu. What is true repentance?
Anſ. True repentance is an inward diſlike, hatred and ſorrow, 2 Cor. 7. 9, 10. for all ſinne, Pſal. 119. 104. and a turning from it to God, Jer. 3. 13. Jam. 4. 9, 10. 1 Pet. 5. 6. Eſay 1. 16, 17. 1 Pet. 2. 11, 12. 1 Tim. 6. 12. Prov. 8. 13. Pſal. …7. 10. Prov. 13. 5. chiefly upon this ground, becauſe every ſin, as it is ſin, is contrary to the holy nature, Gen. 6. 6. Gen. 39. 9. and ſacred will of God, 1 Theſſ. 4. 7.
Q. What becomes of the ſouls of men after death?
Anſ. The ſoules of all that die in the true and unfeigned faith of Chriſt, immediately goe to live with Chriſt in bleſſedneſſe, Luk. 23. 43. Phil. 1. 23. and the ſoules of the wicked, Luke 16. 23. goe immediately into hell torments.
Qu. Whether ſhall mens bodies riſe again at the …aſt day, or no?
Anſ. Yes, the bodies both of the godly and ungodly ſhall riſe again at the laſt day of …udgment, and at that time all ſhall appear before the judgment ſeat of Chriſt, to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether it be good or evil, 2 Cor. 5. 10. and the righteous ſhall goe into life eternall, and the wicked into everlaſting puniſhment, Mat. 25. 34, 41.