A Candle Lighted at the Lamp of Sacred Scripture, Part 1
The firſt part conteining the grounds of Faith.
WHere may wee learne that knowledge which will make a man wiſe to his ſalvation.
Anſwer. In the holy ſcripture.2. Tim. 3. 15, 16. 17. Iohn 5. 37.
Queſt. How was all Scripture of the old and new Teſtament given?
A. By inſpiration of God: for the 2 tim. 3. 16 2 Pet. 1, 20 21.holy men of God ſpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoſt.
Q. Hath God revealed all things therein neceſſary to ſalvation?
A. Yes: no man may adde thereto, Deut. 12 32. Prou. 30. 6.or take there from.
Q. May a ſimple man learne ſo much by them?Pſal. 119, 130. 2. Cor. 4. 4.
A. The entrance into Gods word giueth light, it giueth vnderſtanding vntounto the ſimple.
Q. Seeing they are ſo plaine in all neceſſary truthes, tell me what they teach you concerning God?
A. That there is but one God: an Idol is nothing in the world.1 Cor. 8. 4.
Q. What elſe?
A. That their are three that beare record in heaven, the Father, the word 1 Ioh. 5. 7.and the Holy Ghoſt, and theſe three are one.
Q What is this one God who is three in perſons?
A. He is a Spirit, whoſe name is, Ioh. 4. 24. Exod. 3. 14 1 Tim. 1 17 Gen. 17. 1 Mat. 19. 17I AM, the eternall, the Almighty, the only wiſe and good.
Q. Wherein did God manifeſt his wiſdome power & goodnes?
A. In that he made the world and Gen. 1 Heb. 11. 3. Rom. 1. 20.all things therein in the beginning, of nothing, and all very good.
Q. How did he make man?
A. Male & Female, after his owne Gen. 1. 27.image.
Q. What was this image chiefly?
A. Knowledge, righteouſnes and true holines.Ephe. 4. 24 Col. 3. 10.
Q Did man remaine thus righteous?
A. No: they ſought out many inventions.Eccle. 7. 29
Q▪ How did they fall?
A. Adam and Eue did eate of that Gen. 3. 1. 6▪fruite of which God had ſaid yee ſhall not eate of it, Eve firſt was beguiled by the Serpen…, then gaue to her husband, and he did eate.
Q But that they ſinned and fell, what is that to vsus?
A. By one man ſinne entred into Rom. 5. 12the world, and death by ſinne, and ſo death paſſed on all men, in whom all hauehave ſinned.
Q. What is our estate then by nature?
A. All men are borne in ſinne & Rom. 3. 23 Pſa. 51, 5, Iob, 11. 12 &, 15. 14. Gen. 8. 21, 1, Ioh. 3. 4liue therein from their youth vp.
Q. What is ſinne?
A. The tranſgreſſion of Gods Law.
Q What is the wages of ſinn?
A. Death.
Q When God had made the world. Rom. 6. 32doth he leaue it without regard?
A. Not ſo: he ſeeth and vpholdth Pro. 15. 3, Heb, 1, 3all by the word of his power.
Q. Doth this his prouidence reach to all?
A. Yea to the Sparrowe lightning Mat, 10, 29 30,on the ground, and the numbring of the haires of our head.
Q. He ſaueth then both man & beaſt?Pſa, 39, 6 1 Cor, 9. 9▪ 10, 1 Tim. 4, 10,
A. True, but his care is generall over all; but more eſpecially towards them that beleeue
Q. Yet many miſeries befall men?
A. The Lord doth it.Amos 3. 6.
Q. But if the Lord guide all, how cometh ſinne into the world, is he the author of ſinne?
A. No; yet he hath made all things for himſelfe even the wicked for the pſal 5. 4, 5. Pro. 16. 4.day of evill.
Q. God is holy then, when we are wicked: what ſhall be come of man?
A. He muſt periſh for euer but for the Chriſt of God.Hoſ 13. 9. Mat. 16. 26
Q. Who is the Chriſt, the Sonne of God that was promiſed ſhould come into the world?
A. Ieſus of Nazareth.Ioh 11. 27. & 8. 24,
Q. What was his office?
A. To ſaue his people from their Mat. 1. 21.ſinnes, and therefore called Ieſus the Sauiour.
Q. Did any helpe in this worke?
A. Not any; there is but one mediator 1 Tim. 2. 5.betweene God and man.
Q. Were our workes or ought in vsus, the cauſe of this ſalvation?
A. Wee are ſaued according to Gods grace i… Chriſt Ieſus, and not according to our workes or ought in vsus.2 Tim. 1. 9.
Q. How then are we ſaued by Christ?
A. A new couenant or agreement Ier. 31. 31▪ 32. 33. 34. Ioh. 3. 16 1. Ioh. 2. 25is giuen to vsus in him, wherein God promiſeth to bee our God and to giuegive forgiueneſſe of ſins and life euerlaſting to eueryevery one that beleiueth in Chriſt.
Q. How came we to vnderſtand this?Act. 3. 22. 23. Iohn 118. & 17. 26.
A. Chriſt Ieſus is the great Prophet, and hath revealed the whole councell of his father.
Q. When?
A. By the Prophets and Apoſtles, and in theſe laſt dayes by himſelfe here Heb. 1. 1.on earth.
Q. But our ſins ſeparat God & vsus?
A. He is a Prieſt for euer after the Heb. 6. 20. & 2. 17. pſal. 110. 4order of Melchiſedech to make reconciliation for our ſins.
Q. But the enemies of our ſaluation, he fleſh the world & the diuel are mighty?
A. He is our King and Lawgiuer.Eſa. 33. 22. 24.
Q. What kind of Kingdome is his?
A. His kingdome is not of this Ioh 18. 36. Rom. 14. 1……orld, neither conſiſteth in meate and …rinke, but in righteouſneſſe, peace, …nd ioy in the Holy Ghoſt▪
Q. Who may be ſubiects … this king…ome?
A. Any of all Nations.Pſal. 2. 8.
Q. How long laſteth it?
A. For euer.Luke, 1. 33 Dan, 2, 44.
Q. When was he ordained of God to this great worke?
A. From before the foundation of 1 Pet, 1, 20the world.
Q. When was he manifeſted?
A. In theſe laſt times, the fulnes Gal, 4, 4of time.
Q. How?
A. The ſonne of God tooke on him the ſeed of Abraham, and was in Heb, 2, 16, & 4, 15all things like vsus, ſin only excepted.
Q. How did he become fleſh?
A. He was conceiued by the Holy Luke, 1, 35 Mat, 1, 18. 23,Ghoſt and borne of the virgine Mary.
Q. He was not then ſinfull as we are?
A. He did not ſinne, neither was guile found in his mouth.1 Pet, 2. 22
Q. That he is righteous, what is that to vsus?
A. Hee is the end of the Law for Rom, 10, 4 5. 6, 7, 8, 9,righteouſneſſe, to evety one that beleeveth.
Q. What elſe did he for vsus and for our ſaluation?
A. He humbled himſelfe and became obedient to the death, even the Phil, 2, 6. 7. 8,death of the croſſe.
Q. That was an accurſſed death?
A. He was made a curſe for vsus.Gal, 3, 13,
Q, Did he ſuffer any thing elſe?
A. He was buryed and layd three 1 Cor, 5, 4dayes and three nights in the heart of the earth.Mat, 12, 40
Q: Was n…thing here to be conſidered but the mallice of the Iewes▪
A. Yes chiefly we muſt note he was Act, 4, 27▪ 28delivered therevnto, by the determined counſell of God.
Q Why was the Lord pleaſed thus to bru…ſ… him?
A. He was our ſuretie & was woū ded Heb, 7. 22, Eſa, 53, 5, 6for our tranſgreſſions, and on him was the chaſtiſement of our peace; for the Lord layd on him the iniquities of us all.
Q. What benefite reape we thereby?1 Pet, 2, 24 Eph, 2, 14, 16 Col, 1, 20, 21 Act, 2, 24, 1 Cor, 1…, 4,
A. Our peace is made with God & with his ſtripes we are healed.
Q. Was he holden downe of death?
A. It was impoſſible he ſhould, he roſe againe the third day, according to the ſcriptures.
Q. What followed after his reſurrection▪
A. Hee aſcended vp on high and Pſa, 68. 18, Ephe, 4, 8▪led captivity captine: and gaue gifts to men, euen to the religious that the Lord might dwell among them.
Q. What is that glory the father hath beſtowed on him?Pſal 110. 1. Heb, 8. 1.
A. Hee ſitteth on the right hand of the Throne of Maieſtie in Heauen.
Q. How long muſt he thus ſit?
A, He muſt raigne till the Father 1. Cor. 15. 15.hath put all his enemies vnderunder his feet.
Q. What is his ſpeciall worke now at the right hand of his Father?
A. He euer liueth there to make Heb. 7. 25. 26.requeſt for us.
Q. For whom maketh he requeſt?
A. Not for the world, but the elect Ioh, 17, 9.only.
Q. Doe not Angels and Saints make interceſſion for vsus?
A. Abraham is ignorant of vsus and Iſraell knoweth vsus not.Eſa, 63, 16,
Q. How long muſt the heauens receiue our Sauiour?
A. Vntill the time of the reſtitution of all things.Act, 3, 21.
Q. When ſhall that be?
A. At the day of iudgment?
Q. Shall their be ſuch a day?
A. Yea: God hath appointed a day in the which hee will judge the world Act, 17, 31in righteouſneſſe:
Q. When ſhall this be?
A. Of that day and houre knoweth no man, but it ſhall be in the end Mar, 13▪ 32 Mat, 13, 40 Ioh, 6, 44. Rev. 10, 6.of the world, at the laſt day, in the laſt time; when time ſhall be no more.
Q. Who ſhall be iudge?
A. Ieſus Chriſt as he is the ſonne of man, whō we ſhall ſee come in like Ioh, 5, 22. 27. Act, 1, 11.manner as the diſciples ſaw him goe vp into Heauen.
Q. Who ſhall be iudged?
A. All both iuſt and vniuſt, ſmall 2 Tim, 4, 1, Reu, 20. 12, 13. Rome 14 12.and great, quicke and dead, eueryevery one ſhall giuegive account of himſelfe to God.
Q. Of what ſhall they be iudged?
A. Of all they hauehave done in their bodyes, that is while they liued in 2 Cor 5. 10. Eccleſ. 12, 14, Mat, 10. 36,their bodies, euen eueryevery ſecret thing, eueryevery idle word, the hid things of darkeneſſe and the counſell of their harts.
Q. How ſhall men receiue their iudgment?
A. According to that they hauehave done, whether good or bad.2 Cor. 5, 10.
Q. Well is it with them that are in Christ, for to them is no condemnation: who are in him?
A. They that hauehave the Spirit of Rom. 81. 9.Chriſt.
Q. What is this Spirit?
A. The Holy Ghoſt, who proceedeth Ioh. 15. 26. Act. 5. 3▪ 4. Mar. 3. 19.from the Father & the Sonne and is God equall with the father and the Sonne.
Q. Where might wee pertake of this ſpirit?
A. In the word whereby he worketh ſtill, as once he ſpake by the Prophets Eſa. 59. 21.and Apoſtles.
Q. What is his ſpeciall and peculiar worke in them that ſhall be ſaued?
A. The new birth, for hee is the ſanctifier of the Church.Io…. 3. 5.
Q. What elſe doth he?
A, Hee preſerueth vsus in the eſtate of ho…ines for euer.
Q. How?
A. By leading vsus into all trueth, by Ioh. 14. 26. 1 Ioh. 2. 27 Rom 8. 14▪ Z… 12. 10. Ephe. 4. 30.bringing all things to our rememb…ance, by being in vsus a ſpirit of adoption, of prayer, of counſell, of truth, & ſealing vsus▪ vp to the day of redemption.
Q. What is ſanct…fication?
A. To die to …in and to riſe againe Rom▪ 6. 4. & 8. 10 1 per 2. 24.to newn…ſſe of life.
Q. Is this of abſolute neceſſity?
A. Elſe we ſhall neuer ſee God.Heb 12, 14 Math. 5. 8.
Q. Are any perfectly holy in this life?
A. Noe: we know in part, and beleeue 1 Cor, 13. 9. 10.in part.
Q. May one then hauehave a good hart to God who is of an euill life?
A. Thoſe that are ſanctified, are 1 Theſ. 5. 23.ſanctified throughout both in ſoule and body and ſpirit.
Q. Can ſuch ſinne to death?
A. He that is borne of God cannot 1 Ioh. 3. 9. & 5. 16. 17. 18.ſinne, becauſe his ſeed abideth in him.
Q: What is the chiefe grace of the ſpirit in our new birth?
A. Faith which purifieth the heart, 2 Cor. 4. 13. Act 15. 9. Gal 5. 6.and worketh by louelove.
Q. What is faith?
A. The beleife of the truth, or the 2 The 2. 13 Iohn 1. 12.receiuing of Chriſt as he is offered in the promiſes of the goſpell.
Q. How doth the Holy Ghoſt work this faith in vsus?
A. By hearing the word preached.Rom 10. 14
Q. In whom is this ſanctification of the ſpirit and beleife of the truth wrought?
A. In thoſe only whom God hath from the beginning choſen to ſaluation. 2 The 2. 13 Act 13. 48.And praedeſtinated to the adoption of children by Ieſus chriſt to himſelfe.Eph. 1. 4, 5.
Q. Is faith a common guift?
A. No; all men hath not faith therfore it is called the faith of Gods elect.2 Theſ. …. 2. Tit. 1. 1.
Q. What moued God to chuſe ſome & paſſe by others?
A. The good pleaſure of his owne Ephe. 1. 5. 6.will, to the praiſe of the glorie of his grace.
Q. How doth he bring his choſen to ſaluation?
A. Whome he foreknew, them he predeſtinated to be conformed to the Rom. 8. 29 30.image of his ſonne, whom he predeſtinated, them he calleth, whom he calleth them he iuſtifieth, and whom he iuſtifieth, them he glorifieth.
Q. What are thoſe his choſen called?
A. The Church, becauſe they are Ioh. 17. 14.a company called out of the world by the voyce of Gods cryers, his miniſters.
Q. Was there euer a church of God vponupon earth, and ſhall there bee ſo to the end?
A. Yes, the foundation of Gods election remaineth ſure, and Chriſt 2 Tim. 2. 19.is the rocke on which it is builded ſo that the gates of hell ſhall not preuaile Mat. 16. 1….againſt it.
Q. How is this Church noted out?
A. Shee is holy.Ephe. 5. 2…, 27.
Q. How elſe?
A. Shee is catholique for in euerie Act. 10. 34. 35.nation he that feareth God and worketh righteouſnes is accepted of him.
Q. Who is the head of this Church?
A. Ieſus Chriſt alone.Ephe. 1. 22. 23. Col. 1. 18.
Q. What is the condition of the Church in this life?
A. Shee is militant, ſubiect to croſſes, Mat. 16. 24. 25. Ephe. 6. 12.afflictions, temptations and perſecutions of all ſorts.
Q. Doth the benefit of Chriſt death & reſurrection belong to all?
A. No, they belong onelyonly to the Ephe. 5. 25.Church.
Q. Where is this Church to be found?
A. Where the word of God is ſencerely preached, and embraced, and Ephe. 5. 26. Mat. 28. 19, 20.the Sacraments according to Chriſts inſtitution adminiſtred, there the Lord hath his Church.
Q. What is the ſigne of a true viſible Church?
A. That ſhee bee Apoſtolique, that is built on the foundation of the Prophets Ephe. 2. 19, 20, 22.and Apoſtles doctrine.
Q. Is there not vnity in the Church?
A. There is but one body, one ſpirit, one hope of your calling, one Ephe 4. 4. 5. 6.Lord, one faith, one Baptiſme, one God and Father of all, who is aboue all, through all, and in them all.
Q. What ariſeth hence?
A. The communion and fellowſhip of all the Saints who are copartners 1 Cor. 12. 14. 25. 26. 27.in all good things.
Q. What ſpeciall benefit is purchaſed by Chriſt, and conferred on his Church in this life.
A. Forgiuenes of ſinnes.Ephe. 1. 7.
Q. But the Church is holy?
A. True, but by vertue of forgiuneſſe of ſinnes, for ſeeing in this life none is without ſinne, therefore the Pſal. 32. 1.Church cannot conſiſt here, without forgiuenes, every day.
Q. Muſt every member of the Church know that he is a ſinner?
A. Every one muſt feelingly know what neede he hath of forgiuenes, in 1, Iohn 1. 8 10. Pſal, 32. 3. 4. 5. Pſal. 18. 23.reſpect both of his corruption of nature, tranſgreſſions of heart and life, and the perſonall ſinnes to which he is more inclined.
Q. What is this forgiuenes?
A. It is, when the Lord eſteemeth Pſal. 32. 1 Mic. 7. 18. 19.our ſinnes as if they had never beene comitted, ſo that he will neither puniſh vsus for them in this world, nor the world to come.
Q. May theſe that hauehave their ſinnes forgiuen, liue as they liſt?
A. No indeed, forgiuenes is granted Luke 13. 3only to them that truely repent & bring forth fruits worthy amendment of life.
Q. What is in man to moue God to forgiue?
A. It is only Gods free grace, and Rom. 3. 24.nothing in man.
Q. Can this ſtand with his iuſtice, to account a ſinner righteous he being yet a ſinner?
A. Chriſts righteouſnes is given of 1 Cor. 1. 30▪ 2 Cor. 5. 21.God to be ours, and our ſinnes are forgiven through the death and bloud ſhedding of Chriſt, wherby the iuſtice of God is fully ſatisfied.
Q. How are we made partakers of this righteouſnes of Chriſt?
A. By faith only.Rom. 3. 25 28.
Q. Doth not God iuſtifie vsus for our works?
A. By the works of the Law, no fleſh can be iuſtified in the ſight of God.Rom. 3. 20.
Q. What is the fruite of this iuſtification by faith?
A. Being iuſtified by faith we hauehave Rom. 5. 1.peace with God.
Q Who are appoynted of God to diſpenſe this grace?
A. The Miniſters of the goſpell: ſo that whoſe ſinnes ſoever they remitt Ioh. 20. 23. Mat. 16. 18.according to this word, they are remitted, and whoſe ſinnes they retaine according to the ſame goſpell, they are retayned.
Q. What benefite do we beleeue we ſhall receiue from Chriſt in another world?
A. The reſurrection of our bodies now layd in the duſt: in which reſurrection Iob. 19. 25, 26, 2…. Act. 24. 15. Ioh. 5. 28, 29.both iuſt & vniuſt ſhall be raiſed, thoſe that hauehave done evill to the Reſurrection of condemnation, and thoſe that hauehave done well, to the Reſurrection of life.
Q. Is life eternall the wages of righteouſnes: as death is the wages of ſinne?
A. Noe, it is the end of an holy life, but altogether the guift of God Rom. 6. 22. 23.through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord.
Q. How hath God confirmed to vsus this mercy and redemption wrought by Ieſus Chriſt, for the ſtrengthning of our faith?
A. By word, by oath, and by his Heb. 6. 17, 18.ſeales.
Q. What are thoſe Seales?
A. His two Sacraments, Baptiſme, and the Lords ſupper.
Q. What is a Sacrament?
A. A ſigne giuen of God to bee a Rom. 4. 11.Seale of rhe righteouſneſſe of faith.
Q. What is this righteouſneſſe of faith?
A. The righteouſneſſe of Ieſus Chriſt, brought in by his obedience to the death, which is made ours by faith onelyonly.
Q. How are the Sacraments to be vſed by vsus.
A. As bonds and vowes, and ſolemne profeſſions of our deſires and Rom. 6. 3.indeauors after the beginning and finiſhing of our faith and repentance.
Q. What is the outward ſigne in Baptiſme?
A. The miniſters waſhing or ſprinkling Mat. 28. 19.the beleeuer with wa…er in the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the Holy Ghoſt.
Q. What is ſignifyed and ſealed hereby to the beleeuing penitent?
A. The waſhing of the new birth Tit▪ 3. 5. Heb. 9. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 2.by the ſpirit of Chriſt, and the purging of the conſcience from dead workes, by the ſprinkling of Chriſts blood thereupon by the ſame ſpirit of faith.
Q. What elſe doth baptiſme aſſure vsus of?
A. Of our adoption, our ingrafting Gal. 3. 27. Col. 2. 11. 12. Rom. 6. 5. Math. 3. 7. 1 Pet. 3. 17 18. Gal. 3 27. 1 Cor. 12. 13. & 15. 29. Rom. 6. 8.into Chriſt, our deliuer…nce from Gods wrath, the forgiueneſſe of our ſins, the communion with the ſaints, and the reſurrection of our bodies to life eternall.
Q. What is the outward ſigne in the Lordes ſupper?
A. Bread and wine, bleſſed, broken, Mat. 26. 26, 27.powred out, and giuen by the miniſter, and receiued, eaten and drunke by the faithfull.
Q. What is ſignifyed & ſealed hereby?
A. The body and blood of Chriſt crucifyed and ſhed on the Croſſe for 1. Cor. 11. 24, 25.the remiſſion of our ſinnes: which is offered by Chriſt in the word of promiſe, and verely and indeed, receiued by the beleeuer in this ſacrament.
Q. Is it enough to receiue the bread and wine?
A. No, for we may eate and drinke 1. Cor. 11. 27. 29.our owne damnation, if wee diſcerne not the Lords body.
Q. What is then to be done before we come?
A. We muſt examine our ſelues, and iudge our ſelues for our ſins, and foreign 1 Cor. 11. 28. 31. 1. Cor. 5. 7.muſt purge out the old leauen of hypocriſy, falſe doctrine, malice, and wickedneſſe.
Q. And what are you to do in receiuing?
A. To keepe a ſolemne rememberance of Chriſts death for my ſinnes, and to eate this Lambe with the ſower 1 Cor. 11. 25. 26. Exod 12. 8.hearbs of godly ſorrow.
Q. How ought you to bee affected towards the godly?
A. With the affections of brotherly louelove, as being one bread and one body, cleauing to their fellowſhip and forſaking all idolatrous and wicked ſocietie.1 Cor. 10. 16. 17. 21. Pſal. 26. 4. 5 6.
Q. What is to be done after you hauehave receiued?
A. To liue all our dayes in holy ioy, keeping the feaſt in vnleauened bread of ſincerity and truth, and neuer to entertaine the leauen of our former 1. Cor. 5. ….ſinnes.
Q. How muſt our thirſt after this Sacrament bee raiſed in vsus?
A. By weighing the multitude of our ſinnes, and the neceſſity of being 1 Tim. 1. 15. Ioh, 6. 53.made partakers of Chriſts death, that they might be forgiuen vsus, together with the force of this ordinance to make vsus partakers thereof.
Q. What is the force of it?
A. In the right vſe of it, it is the communion of Chriſts body & blood, 1 Cor. 10. 16. Mat. 26. 26. 28.it is his body and blood crucified on the Croſſe for vsus.
Q. What els might excite this thirstin vsus?
A. The command of Chriſt who ſaith, do this in remembrance of me: & 1 Cor. 11. 24, 25.the weakenes of Gods graces in vsus.