The Mystery of the Gospel Vindicated and Socinianism Examined, Commentary on text · Conclusion
TO close this whole Discourse I shall present M. Biddles Catechumens with a shorter Catechisme then either of his, collected out of their Masters Questions, with some few inferences, naturally flowing from them; and it is as followes.
1. What is God?
Ans. God is a Spirit, that hath a Body, shape, eyes, eares, hands, feet like to us.
2. Where is this God?
Ans. In a certaine place in Heaven, upon a throne, where a man may see from his right hand to his left.
3. Doth he ever move out of that place?
Ans. I cannot tell what he doth ordinarily, but he hath formerly come down sometimes upon the earth.
4. What doth he do there in that place?
Ans. Among other things, he conjectures at what men will doe here below.
5. Doth he then not know what we do?
Ans. He doth what we have done, but not what we will do.
6. What frame is he in, upon his knowledge and Conjecture?
Ans. Sometimes he is afraid, sometimes grieved, sometimes joyfull, and sometimes troubled.
7. What peaee and comfort can I have in committing my selfe to his Providence, if he knowes not what will befall me to morrow?
Ans. What is that to me, see you to that.
8. Is Jesus Christ God?
Ans. He is dignifyed with the title of God, but he is not God?
9. Why then was he called the only begotten Sonne of God?
Ans. Because he was borne of the Virgin Mary.
10. Was He Christ the Lord then when he was borne?
Ans. No, he became the Lord afterwards.
11. Hath he still in Heaven an humane body?
Ans. No, but he is made a Spirit, So that being not God but man, he was made a God, and being made a God, he is a spirit, and not a man.
12. What is the Holy Ghost?
Ans. A principall Angell.
13. Did death enter by sin, or was mortallity actually caused by sinne?
Ans. No.
14. Why is Christ called a Saviour?
Ans. Because at the Resurrection he shall change our vile bodyes.
15. On what other account?
Ans. None that I know of.
16. How then shall I be saved from sinne and wrath?
Ans. Keep the Commandements, that thou maiest have a right to eternall Life.
17. Was Christ the Eternall Sonne of God in his bosome revealing his minde from thence, or was he taken up into Heaven, and there taught the Truths of God, as Mahomet pretended?
Ans. He ascended into Heaven, and talked with God, before he came and shewed himselfe to the world.
18. What did Christ doe as a Prophet?
Ans. He gave a new Law.
19. Wherein?
Ans. He corrected the Law of Moses.
20 Who was it that said of old, thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy?
Ans. God in the Law of Moses, which Christ corrects.
21. Is Christ to be worshipped because he is God?
Ans. No, but because he redeemed us.
22. May one that is a meer Creature be worshipped with Divine or Religious worship?
Ans. Yes.
23. How can Christ being a meer man, and now so farre removed from the earth, understand and heare all the prayers and desires of the hearts of men, that are put up to him all the world over?
Ans. I cannot tell, for God himselfe doth not know that there are such actions, as our free actions are, but upon enquiry.
24. Did Christ give himselfe for an offering and Sacrifice to God in his Death?
Ans. No, for he was not then a Priest.
25. Did Christ by his death make reconciliation for our sinnes, the sinnes of his people, beare their iniquities that they might have peace with God?
A. No, but only dyed that they might turne themselves to God.
26. Did he so undergoe the curse of the Law and was so made sinne for us; were our inquities so laid on him, that he made satisfaction to God for our sinnes?
A. No, there is no such thing in the Scripture.
27. Did he merit or procure Eternall life for us by his Obedience and suffering?
A. No, this is a fiction of the Generality of Christians.
28. Did he redeeme us properly with the price of his blood, that we should be saved from wrath, death, and Hell?
A. No, there is no such use or fruit of his death and blood-shedding.
29. If he neither suffered in our stead, nor unde… went the Curse of the Law for us, nor satisfyed Justice by making reconciliation for our sinnes, nor redeemed us by the price of his blood, what did he do for us? on what account is the our Saviour?
A. He taught us the way to Heaven, and dyed to leave us an example.
30. How then did he save them, or was he their Saviour, who dyed before his teaching and dying?
A. He did not save them, nor was their Saviour, nor did they aske any thing in his name, or received any thing on his account.
31. Did Christ raise himselfe according as he spake of the temple of his body, destroy this temple and the third day I will raise it againe?
A. No, he raised not himselfe at all.
32. Hath God from eternity loved some even before they did any good, & elected them to life and Salvation to be obtained by Jesus Chrsst?
A. No, but he loved all alike.
33. Did God in the sending of Christ ayme at the Salvation of a certaine number of his Elect?
A. No, but at the Salvation of men in generall whether ever any be Saved or no.
34. Are all those Saved for whom Christ dyed?
A. The least part of them are Saved.
35. Is faith wrought in us by the Spirit of God, or are we converted by the efficacy of his Grace?
A. No, but of our selves we believe and are converted, and then we are made partakers of the Spirit and his grace.
36. Are all true Beeeeeeeeievers preserved by the power of God unto Salvation?
A. No, many of them fall away and perish.
37. Is the Righteousnesse of Christ imputed to us for our Justification?
A. No, but our own Faith and workes.
38. Are we to receive or apprehend Christ and his Righteousnesse by Faith, that we may be justifyed through him?
A. NO, but believe on him that raised him from the dead, and without that, it suffices.
39. Are we able to keep all Gods Commandements?
A. Yes.
40. Perhaps in our sincere endeavours? but can we do it absolutely and perfectly?
A. Yes, we can keep them perfectly.
41. What need a man then to apprehend Christs righteousnesse and apply it to himselfe by Faith?
A. None at all, for there is no such thing required.
42. What shall become of wicked men after the Resurrection?
A. They shall be so consumed body and soul, as not at all to remaine on torments.