Luke

42.

their peace, which afterwards may be hid from

them?

A. And when he was come near, he be19. 41, held the city, and wept over it, faying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes.

Mat.

23 37 13. 34.

Luke

Mat.

33, 34.

Q. Is there any other fcripture proof of the Lord's willingness to gather a people who would not, and therefore were condemned?

A. O Jerufalem, Jerufalem! thou that killeft the prophets, and ftoneft them which are fent 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?

Then his lord, after that he had called 18. 32, him, faid unto him, O thou wicked fervant! I forgave thee all the debt, because thou defiredft me: Shouldeft not thou alfo have had compaffion on thy fellow-fervant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

Acts

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, 13.46. and faid, It was neceffary that the word of God fhould firft have been spoken to you; but feeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlafting life, lo we turn to the Gentiles.

Becaufe

I.

25, 26,

Because I have called, and ye refused; Prov. I have ftretched out my hand, and no man 1:24. regarded: but ye have fet at nought all my counfel, and would none of my reproof; I alfo will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh.

10.

And at what inftant I fhall fpeak con- Jer. cerning a nation, and concerning a kingking- 18.9, dom, to build and to plant it; if it do evil in my fight, that it obey not my voice, then will I repent of the good wherewith I faid I would benefit them.

Q. Doth God's Spirit Arive then for a feafon, and afterwards forbear?

A. And the Lord faid, My Spirit fhall Gen. not always ftrive with man.

Q. May it then be refified?

6. 3.

7.5.

A. Ye ftiff-necked and uncircumcifed in Acts heart and ears, ye do always refift the Holy Ghoft; as your fathers did, fo do ye.

I. 18.

For the wrath of God is revealed from Rom. heaven against all ungodliness and unright eousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteoufnefs.

Q. Hath God manifefted to man that which may be known of himself?

A. That which may be known of God, Rom. is manifeft in them; for God hath fhewed 1. 19. it unto them.

Q. Is then this light or feed fown in the bearts of evil men?

D 3

A. And

Mat.13.

3, 4. 5.7.

Mat.

19.

A. And he fpake many things to them in parables: Behold, a fower went forth to fow, and when he fowed, fome feeds fell by the way-fide, &c. fome fell among ftony places, &c. and fome fell among thorns, &c.

Q. Are thefe places, where the feed is faid to have fallen, underfood of the hearts of men?

A. Hear ye therefore the parable of the 13. 18, fower, When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was fown in his heart; this is he which received the feed by the way-fide, &c.

Mat.

Q. Is this feed fmall in its firft appearance? A. The kingdom of heaven is like to a 13:31, grain of muftard-feed, which a man took and fowed in his field, which indeed is the leaft of all feeds.

32.

I Cor.

Q. Forafmuch as many understand not this, under the notion and appellation of light or feed, it being quite another dialect than the common; though I must needs confefs, it is the very language of the fcriptures: is there a faving manifeftation of the Spirit given unto all?

A. The manifeftation of the Spirit is 12.7. given to every man to profit withal.

Q. Sure, if it be to profit withal, it must be in order to fave; for were it not useful, nor yet fufficient to fave, what profit could it be of? But in regard fome Speak of a grace that

is common, and of a grace that is Javing, is there fuch a grace common unto all, as brings Salvation?

A. The grace of God that brings falva- Tit. tion, hath appeared unto all men.

Q. That which brings falvation must needs be faving; what doth that grace teach us?

2. II.

2. 12.

A. Teaching us, that denying ungodli- Tit. nefs and worldly lufts, we should live foberly, righteously, and godly, in this prefent world.

Q. Certainly that which teacheth both righteousness and godliness must be fufficient; for therein confifteth the whole duty of man: what faith the apostle elsewhere of this inStructor?

28. 32.

A. And now, brethren, I commend you Ad to God, and to the word of his grace; which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all thofe that are fanctified.

Q. What is the word of God?

A. The word of God is quick and Heb. 4. powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 12, 13.. fword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of foul and fpirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a difcerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifeft in his fight, but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Q. Ought

2 Pet.

Ought we not to take heed to this word?

A. We have alfo a more fure word of 1. 19. prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-ftar arife in your hearts.

Rom.

7, 8.

I perceive the fcriptures are very clear, both concerning the univerfality and fufficiency of this light, feed, grace, and word of God; but is this word nigh or afar off, inward or outward?

A. Say not in thine heart, Who fhall 10. 6, afcend into heaven? (that is, to bring Chrift down from above) Or, who fhall defcend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Chrift again from the dead) But what faith it? The word is nigh, in thy mouth and in thy heart; that is the word of faith which we preach.

2 Cor.

Q. That is clear, as to the word; is there any fcripture Speaks of the Light's being inward?

A. God, who commanded the light to 4.6,7. fhine out of darknefs, hath fhined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jefus Chrift. But we have this treasure in earthen veffels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Q. But feeing it is alfo called the feed of the kingdom, is the kingdom of God alfo within? A. The