time, but the eternal enjoyment of the eternal God, Pfalm xxiii. 6. and Ixxiii. 26. and xlviii. 14.

2. QUEST. What rule bath God given to direct us, how we may glorify and enjoy him?

ANSW. The word of God, which is contained in the fcriptures of the Old and New Testament, is the only rule to direct us, how we may glorify and enjoy him.

Queft. 1. What neceffity is there of a rule to direct us how to glorify and enjoy God?

Anfw. It is neceffary, because fince God will be glorified by the reafonable creature, nothing can be a perfect rule for that end, but his own revealed will, Rom. xii. 2.

Queft. 2. Since man, by his fall in the first Adam, has come hort of the glory of God, and the enjoy ment of him, can he ever recover it by any power or wifdom of his own?

Anfw. No his wisdom and knowledge, in the things of God, are become folly and ignorance; and his power, to do good, is turned into utter impotency, Job xi. 12. 1 Cor. ii, 14. Rom. viii. 7.

Queft. 3. Where has God revealed the way how man may recover the end of his creation?

Anfw. In the fcriptures of the Old and New Tef. tament. John v. 39. Micah vi. 8.

Queft. 4. How do you know the fcriptures of the Old and New Teftament to be the word of God?

Anfw. By the print of God that is evidently to be feen upon them: for, as none works, fo none fpeaks like God. Isaiah xliii. 13. John vii. 46. Quest. 5.

Queft. 5. What do you understand by the print or imprefs of God that you fay is in the Scriptures?

Anfw. That majefty, holiness, light, life, and efficacy that is in the word itfelf. Rom. i. 16. Pfalm xix. 7. and cxix. 9.

Queft. 6. What may be faid of thefe that do not fee that print of God in the word though they read it? Anfw. It may be faid, the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, 2 Cor. iv. 4. Queft. 7. Since all men are spiritually blind by nature, is it not in vain for them to read the fcriptures? Anfw. No it is the will of God that they should read and search the fcriptures, John v. 39; and the enterance of his word gives light, and sight to them that are blind, Pfalm cxix. 130.

Queft. 8. What Should a man do that the Bible may not remain a fealed book unto him?

Anfw. When ever he looks into the word of God, he fhould look up to God, the author of it, faying, Lord, open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law, Pfalm cxix. 18. O fend out thy light and thy truth, let them lead me, Pfalm xliii. 3.

Queft. 9. By what arguments may we perfuade men, that are Infidels, to receive the fcriptures as the word of God?

Anfw. We may deal with them by rational arguments drawn from their antiquity; the heavenlinefs of the matter; the majefty of the ftile; the harmony of all the parts, though written in dif ferent ages; the exact accomplishment of prophecies; the fublimity of the mysteries and matters contained in the word; the efficacy and power of it, in the conviction and converfion of multitudes; the scope of the whole, to guide men to attain their chief end, the glory of God in their own falvátion; and the many miracles wrought for the confirmation of the truth of the doctrines contained in them. Queft. 10.

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Queft. 10. Can thefe, or the like rational arguments, ever produce a divine faith?

Anfw. No: for rational arguments can only produce a mere rational faith, founded on reason; but a divine and faving faith can only reft upon the divine teftimony, inherent in the word itself, or upon a Thus faith the Lord.

Queft. 11. How is this inherent teftimony difcovered?

Anfw. By the fame Spirit of God that dictated the word, who is an Interpreter, one among a thousand, 2 Pet. i. 21. John xvi. 13.

Queft. 12. What is it that will fully perfuade and affure a perfon that the fcriptures are indeed the word of God?

Anfw. The Spirit of God bearing witness by, and with the fcriptures upon our hearts, John xvi. 13, 14. 1 John ii, 27.

Queft. 13. Whether does the authority of the scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, depend upon the testimony of the church, or wholly upon God?

Anfw. Wholly upon God, who is truth itself, and the author of the fcriptures; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the word of God, 1 John v. 9.

Queft. 14. Why cannot the authority of the fcriptures depend upon the church?

Anfw. Because the true church of Christ depends, in its very being, on the scriptures; and therefore the fcriptures cannot depend upon it, as their authority, Eph. ii. 22.

Queft. 15. Are not the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence, fufficient to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy God?

Anfw. Thefe do fo far manifeft the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, as to leave men inexcufable, Rom. i. 19, 20. and xi, 14, 15 ; yet they

are

ar e altogether infufficient to guide and direct fallen man to his chief end.

Queft. 16. What makes a further revelation, than nature's light, necessary?

Anfw. The glory of the divine perfections; particularly his mercy, grace, love, and faithfulness; the grofs ignorance and degeneracy of mankind; the fublimeness of the things revealed, which otherwife had never been known by men or angels: it is alfo neceffary for trying the spirits and doctrines of men, and for unmasking the impostures of the devil.

Quest. 17. How doth it appear that the fcriptures are not an impofition upon mankind?

Anfw. If the penmen of the fcriptures had inclined to deceive, they would have accommodated themselves to the difpofitions of the people with whom they converfed, and connived at their lufts; but, on the contrary, we find they faithfully expofed the errors and vices of men, and impartially set themselves against every thing that corrupt nature is fond of, and that, though they were laid open to the greatest hardships and fufferings for fo doing. Queft. 18. Why is the word of God called the fcriptures ?

Anfw. It is fo called by way of eminence, because God has written to us the great things of his law and covenant therein.

Queft. 19. Why was the word of God committed to writing?

Anfw. For the better preferving and propagating of the truth; and for the more fure eftablishment and comfort of the church, against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and the world, Luke i. 3, 4. Ifa. viii. 20.

Quest. 20. How was the will of God difpenfed to the church, before the writing of the fcriptures? Anfw. By immediate revelations, frequent appearances

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pearances of the fon of God, delighting beforehand to appear in the likeness of man, and by the miniftry of the holy angels and patriarchs, Gen. iii. 15. and vi. 3. and xii. 13. and xviii. 2. and xxviii. 15. Heb. i. 1.

Queft. 21. Why are the fcriptures called the word of God?

Anfw. Because they are from the immediate infpiration of the Spirit of God, who indited them, 2 Tim. iii. 16. 2 Pet. i. 21.

Queft, 22. Why is the written word called the Bible?

Anfw. Because it is the best of all books, being the word of God.

Quest. 23. Why is it called a testament?

Anfw. Because of the great legacies therein bequeathed to us, in the form of a teftamentary deed, in view of the death of a fecond Adam, whereby they were all purchased, and his teftament confirmed.

Quest. 24. Why are the writings of Mofes and the Prophets called the Old Teftament?

Anfw. Because the will of the Teftator Chrift was vailed, legally difpenfed, and typically fealed by the blood of facrificed beafts; upon which account it is called comparatively faulty, Heb. viii. 7, 8; and was therefore to vanish away, ver. 13.

Quelt. 25. 70 whom were the oracles of God, under the Old Teftament, committed?

Anfw. To the church of the Jews, Rom. iii. 2. and ix. 4, 5.

Queft. 26. Why are the fcriptures, from Matthew to the end of the Revelation, called the New Teftament ?

Anfw. Because they contain the moft clear and full revelation, and actual ratification of the covenant of promife, by the death of Chrift the Teftator who is alfo the living Executor of his own tefta

ment,