Q. 6. Wherein elfe doth it confist? A. In turning from Sin as well as grieving for it, Ifa. lv. 7. Let the wicked forfake his Way, and the unrighteous Man his Thoughts, &c. Prov. xxviii. 13. He that covereth his Sins, fhall not profper, but whofo confeffeth and forfaketh them, fhall have Mercy. Q7. Is turning from Sin fufficient? A. No, that is but the negative Part of Religion, there must be also a fincere turning to God, Pfal. cxix. 59. I thought on my Ways, and turned my Feet unto thy Teftimonies, Acts xi. 23. And exhorted them all that with Purpose of Heart, they would cleave uuto the Lord. Q. 8. Is all Sorrow for Sin faving? A. No, there is a Repentance that doth no good, Matth. xxvii. 3. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he faw that he was condemned, repented himself, &c. And a Repentance unto Life, Acts xi. 18.-Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted Repentance unto Life. Q9. What are the Signs of true Repentance? A. Fear of Sin, Care to preferve ourselves from it, and Zeal to honour God by new Obedience, 2 Cor. vii. 11. For behold, this felf fame Thing that ye forrowed after a godly Sort, what Carefulness is wrought in you, yea, what clearing of your felves, yea, what Indignation, yea, what Fear, yea, what vehement Defire, yea, what Zeal, yea, what Revenge? in all Things you have approved yourselves to be clear in this Matter. Q. 10. Is there a Neceffity of Repentance in order to forgiveness? A. Yes, there is, and they are therefore conjoined in Scripture, Acts v. 31.-For to give Repentance to Ifrael, and forgiveness of Sins. And deftrruction threatned to the Impenitent, Luke xiii. 3. — Except ye repent, ye shall all likewife perish. Q. 11. What is the first Inference hence? A. That it is a falfe Doctrine which teaches us that Sins are actually forgiven from Eternity, and therefore no Need either of Repentance or Prayer, fave only for the Manifeftation of Pardon. Q. 12. What is the fecond Inference hence? A. That A. That an hard Heart is a dreadful Sign of a loft State of Soul, Rom. ii. 5. But after thy hardness and impenitent Heart, treafureft up unto thyfelf Wrath against the Day of Wrath, and Revelation of the righteous Judgment of God. Q. 13. What is the laft Inference hence ? A. That there is no Cause to despair of the vileft Sinner, feeing there is Power enough in the Spirit of God to break the hardest Heart, Ezek. xxxvi. 26. — I will take away the fony Heart out of your Flesh, and I will give you an Heart of Flefb. Quest. 88. Of Chrift's Ordinances. W of Redemption? HAT are the outward Means whereby A. The outward and ordinary Means whereby Chrift communicateth to us the Benefits of Redemption, are his Ordinances, efpecially the Word, Sacraments and Prayer, all which are made effectual to the Elect for Salvation. Q. 1. What makes any Thing become a Divine Ordi nance ? A. The Inflitution or Appointment of God, is that alone which makes a Divine Ordinance, Matth. xxviii. 20. Teaching them to obferve all Things whatsoever I have commanded you, &c. Q. z. Are the Inftitutions of all Ordinances alike clear in Scripture. more clear A. No, fome are more explicitly and clearly revealed in Scripture than others; as the Lord's Supper than Baptifm, but whatever hath Scripture Warrant in the Words or Confequence, is of divine Appointment. Q3. May not Men inftitute Ordinances of Divine Worship > ? A. No, this in Scripture is condemned as Will-worship, Col. ii. 20, 22, 23. Wherefore if ye be dead with Chrift from the Rudiments of the World, why, as though living in the World are ye fubject to Ordinances? &c. Which Things bave a Shew of Wisdom in Will-worship, &c. Q4. Why cannot Man institute a Divine Ordinance? indeed A. He A. He cannot do it, because it is the Prerogative belonging to Chrift's Kingly Office, Matth. xxviii. 20. Teaching them to obferve all Things whatsoever I have commanded you. Q5. For what other Reafon cannot Man do it? A. Because he cannot blefs them, and make them effectual to their Ends, but they will be in vain, Matth. xv. 9. But in vain do they work ip me, teaching for Doctrines, the Commandments of Men. Q. 6. Why are the Ordinances called Means of Salvation? A. Because by and through them, the Spirit of the Lord conveys Spiritual Graces into Mens Souls, 1 Cor. i. 21.It pleafed God by the foolishness of preaching to fave them that believe, 2 Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are fufficient of ourselves to think any Thing as of ourselves: but our Sufficiency is of God. Q. 7. Whence is the Virtue of Ordinances? A. It is not in and from themselves, or the Gifts and Abi lities of him that adminifters them, but from the Bledling and Spirit of the Lord, 1 Cor. iii. 7.-Neither is he that planteth any Thing, neither be that watereth, but God that giv eth the Increase. Q. 8. Do all God's Ordinances attain their End? A. Yes, there is none of them in vain, but do attain their End, in the Salvation or Damnation of all that come under them, Ifa. lv, 10, 11. For as the Rain cometh down, and the Snow from Heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the Earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give Seed to the Sower and Bread to the eater: So fhall my Word be that goeth forth out of my Mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall profper in the Thing whereto I fend it, 2 Cor. 2. 15, 16. we are unto God a feet Savour of Chrift, in them that are faved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the Savour of Death unto Death, and to the other the Savour of Life unto Life, &c. For Q. 9. Are inftituted Ordinances the only Means of Sal vation? A. They are not the only Means; for God Men to Chrift without them, A&ts. ix. 4, 5. the Earth, and heard a Voice, Saying unto him, Q can convert And he fell to Saul, Saul, why hy perfecuteft thou me? And he said, who art thou, Lord! And the Lord faid, I am Jefus whom thou perfecuteft : It is hard for thee to kick against the Pricks. But they are the ordinary ftanding Means, Rom. x. 14, 15. How then fell thy cull on him in swhom they have not believed: and how all they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? and how shall they bear without a Preacher? and how shall they preachexcept they be fent? &c. Q 10. To whom are the Ordinances made effectual to Salvation? A. To all God's Elect they are effectual to Salvation, and to them only, Acts xiii. 48.-As many as were ordained to eternal Life, believed, John x. 26. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my Sheep, &c. Q. 11. What is the first Inftruction from hence? A. That great Freparation is due to all the Ordinances before we engage in them, Job xi. 13, 14. If thou prepare thine Heart, and ftretch out thy Hand towards him. If Iniquity be in thine Hand, put it far away, and let not Wickedness dwell in thy Tabernacles, 1 Chron. xxix. 18. And prepare their Heart unto thee. Q. 12. What is the fecond Inference from hence? A. That great Reverence is due to God's: Ordinances, when we are actually engaged in the Ufe of them, Pfal. lxxxix. 7. God is greatly to be feared in the Affembly of the Saints: and to be had in Reverence of all them that are about him.. Q. 13. What is the third Inference from hence? A. That thofe People that want Ordinances, are in a sad and deplorable Condition, Eph. ii. 11, 12. Wherefore remember that ye being in Time paffed Gentiles in the Flesh, who are called uncircumcifion by that which is called the Circumcifion in the Flesh made by Hands; that at that Time ye were without Chrift, being aliens from the Common-wealth of Ifrael, and Strangers from the Covenants of Promife, having no Hope, and without God in the World. Q. 14. What is the laft Inftruction hence? A. That thofe that perish in the midst of Ordinances, Means of Salvation, will perish with aggravated perdition, Matth. xi, 23. And thou Capernaum, which art exalted unto Heaven, fali le brought down to Hell; for if the mighty Works, M 2 which which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this Day. Of the Word read and heard. Quest. 89. H OW is the Word made effectual to Salvation ? A. The Spirit of God maketh the Reading, but efpecially the Preaching of the Word, an effectual Means of convincing and converting Sinners; and building them up in Holiness and Comfort, through Faith unto Salvation? Q. 1. What mean you by the Word? A. By the Word is meant the Word of God, configned to Writing in the Books of the Old and New Testament, which though it be miniftred by Men, yet it is no other than the very Word of God, and as fuch to be received, 1 Theff. ii. 13. For this Caufe alfo thank we God without ceafing, because when ye received the Word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the Word of Men: but (as it is in Truth) the Word of God, &c. Q. 2. Whence is the Efficacy of this Word? A. It is wholly from the Spirit of God that it becomes effectual to any Man's Salvation, 1 Cor. iii. 6. I have planted, and Apollo watered, but God gave the Increafe. So then neither is he that planteth any Thing, neither he that watereth'; but God that giveth the Increase. Q3. Is the reading of the Scripture an Ordinance of God for Mens Salvation? A. Yes, it is, Deut. xvii. 19. And it shall be with him, and he jhall read therein all the Days of his Life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the Words of this Law, and thefe Statutes to do them. And in reading of it, God fometimes comes in by his Spirit to Mens Conversion, A&s viii. 27, 28, 29. And he arofe and went, and behold a Man of Ethiopia, an Eunuch of great Authority under Candace Queen of the Ethiopians, who had the Charge of all her Treafure, and had come to Jerufalem for to worship, was returning, and fitting in bis Chariot, read Ifaias the Prophet. Then the Spirit faid to Philip, go near, and join thyself to his Chariot, &c. Q4. Is the hearing of the Word a Means of Salvation? |