Theologicall questions, dogmaticall observations, and evangelicall essays, vpon the Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Wherein, about two thousand six hundred and fifty necessary, and profitable questions are discussed; and five hundred and eighty speciall points of doctrine noted; and five hundred and fifty errours confuted, or objections answered: together with divers arguments, whereby divers truths, and true tenents are confirmed. By Richard VVard, sometimes student in the famous vniversities of Cambridge in England: St. Andrews in Scotland: and Master of Arts of both the kingdoms; and now a preacher in the famous city of London.

* 1.1VERS. 24. Then said Iesus unto his Disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himselfe, and take up his Crosse, and follow me.

[Sect. 1] §. 1. Whosoever would be my Disciple.

[Observ.] Quicunque, whosoever, is as much, as Si quis: If any will be my Disciple, to teach us:

That there is but one way for al men to come unto Christ; or whosoever would come unto Christ, must come by one, & the sameway; for one man must not come by one way, and another by another, Marke 8.34. Acts 10.35. and 13.26.

[Quest.] Why must all come unto Christ, by one, and the same way?

[Answ. 1] First, because hee is no respecter of persons, Act. 10.34. Colos 3.11. Galath 3.28. Ephes. 6.8.

[Answ. 2] Secondly, because we are all members of one, and the same body, 1 Cor. 12.13.

[Answ. 3] Thirdly, because God hath given but one Law, and rule for all to walke by; and there is but one way unto heaven.

[Sect. 2] §. 2. Let him deny himselfe.

[Observ. 1] Our Saviour would hence teach us: That those who would be his, must deny themselves.

[Quest. 1] Why must wee deny our selves, and our own wils?

[Answ. 1] First, because our wils naturally are corrup∣ted, and hinder us from obedience, Galath. 5.17. Phil. 2.13.

[Answ. 2] Secondly, because our wils draw us aside unto sinne, Iames 1.14. and 1 Pet. 2.11. Iosh. 7.21.

[Answ. 3] Thirdly, because wee can neither approve our selves to have faith, nor to be regenerated, untill wee deny our owne wils, Iohn 1.12, 13.

[Answ. 4] Fourthly, because wee are but servants, and children, and wives, and therefore must not follow our owne wils, and wayes, but be obedi∣ent, and subject to the will of our Father, and Master, and Lord.

[Quest. 2] How must wee deny our selves; or wherein; or in what things doth selfe-deniall consist?

[Answ. 1] First, Gregory (Hom. 32. in Evang.) answers: Wee are one thing, being fallen through sinne, and another thing by nature, or by our first crea∣tion: and then doe wee deny our selves, when as wee shun, and desire to bee freed from that e∣state, and condition wherein now wee are, and to bee made partakers of that estate of grace, wherein first wee were. That is; wee deny our selves, when we desire and endeavour to put off the old man, which is pleasing to corrupt nature; and labour to put on the new, which is contrary thereunto.

[Answ. 2] Secondly, Gregory (Hom. 10. in Ezech.) saith, hee denieth himselfe, who is changed to better, beginning to be that, which hee was not; and ceasing to be that, which he was.

[Answ. 3] Thirdly, Gregory (lib. Mor. 23.) saith, hee de∣nieth himselfe, who treading pride under foot, sheweth himselfe to be estranged from himselfe.

[Answ. 4] Fourthly, there is a double deniall of our selves, viz.

I. Negatio meriti, a deniall of our merits; or an humble confession, and acknowledgement, that no good thing belongs unto us by desert, or merit. This deniall belongs unto faith; and is necessary, but is not here spoken of; and there∣fore I wil omit it.

II. Negatio placiti, a denying of our selves in those things, which are pleasing to our natures; not seeking those things, which are delightfull unto us: And this deniall belongs unto service, and is that which is here spoken of: Whence we learne.

That wee cannot serve both Christ and our [Observ. 2] selves; or wee cannot submit our selves as wee ought to the will of Christ, untill wee deny our owne wils: And therefore wee must not seeke or serve our selves, but our Lord and Master Christ Jesus, Matth. 6.24. Hence then we learne, that true selfe-deniall includes foure things; namely,

First, Obedience, and this included three things; to wit:

I. A deniall of our selves, and our own wils; because our will and nature, will leade us aside from the obedience of Christ.

II. A deniall of the world, and of men, though great and potent; for God must bee our Lord and King. Now this is not to be understood A∣nabaptistically, as though we denied obedience to Magistrates, and those who are over us; but only if there bee an opposition betweene their will, and Gods. Wee must confesse our selves onely to be the Lords servants, and not obey any in those things, which are contrary to his will.

III. An absolute, universall, and constant o∣bedience of God: wee must so deny our selves, and submit our selves unto Gods service, that we must labour to obey him in all things, whatsoe∣ver he commands, & continue in that obedience, all the dayes of our lives. For this Deniall in∣cludes this Obedience.

Secondly, true selfe-deniall includes Honour, we must not arrogate any thing unto our selves; but wee must ascribe all glory, and honour unto the Lord onely: yea, as servants honour, and reverence our Lord, Malach. 1.6.

Thirdly, true selfe-deniall includes Obligation, for wee must serve the Lord, Liberè non liberè: for the understanding hereof observe, that there are three sorts of men: to wit,

I. Some who serve the Lord, but it is by com∣pulsion, and constraint: for if they were left unto themselves, they would not doe any thing, which hee commands at all.

II. Some there are, who serve the Lord, and that without coaction, but yet they thinke not themselves bound so to doe. They doe many things which God requires, but in the manner of a free-will offering.

III. Some there are, who labour to obey God in all things that hee commands, and that wil∣lingly, and cheerfully; but yet they confesse, that they doe no more, then is their dutie to do: yea, (in their best performances) come far short of what they ought to doe. Now this is the nature of true selfe-denial, and acceptable service.

Fourthly, this service, and selfe-deniall in∣cludes

Dependance upon God: for those who de∣ny themselves, and give themselves wholly up to the service of the Lord, must, and will depend upon him, for whatsoever they stand in need of, Luke 12.30. Matth. 6.

[Sect. 3] §. 3. Let him take up his Crosse.

[Quest. 1] How many wayes doth a man take up his Crosse?

These: namely,

• ... [Answ.] First, when hee afflicteth his body by ab∣stinence.
• Secondly, when he afflicteth his mind by compassion towards his neighbour. Now because abstinence is subject to the infection of vaine glory, and compassion to the in∣fection of false piety. Christ subjoyneth: Let him take up his Crosse, and follow me, Greg. hom. 32. in Evang.
• Thirdly, when hee doth patiently beare, whatsoever affliction, adversity, and evill is laid upon him for Christs sake. But of this in the next Question.

[Quest. 2] Whether is there any difference between these phrases, Ferat crucem, & tollat crucem: Let him beare his Crosse, and take up his Crosse?

The differ, and that thus; to wit,

[Answ.] First, Ferre crucem, to beare the Crosse, is simply to beare it, or to suffer any adversity, although against the mind and will: Many have burdens imposed upon them, which they must beare, and which they cannot shake off; and therefore beare them; but they wish that their shoulders were eased of them. Now this is, To beare the Crosse.

Secondly, Tollere crucem, To take up the Crosse, is to beare willingly, and cheerfully, and conten∣tedly, whatsoever the Lord layeth upon us, or is imposed, or inflicted upon us for the Lords sake. Reade for the proofe hereof these places: Rejoyce when yee suffer for my names sake, Matth. 5. And the Apostles went away rejoycing, that they were thought worthy to suffer for the Lords sake, Act. 5. Yee were imitaters of the Lord, and of us, receiving the word with much tribulation, and joy in the Holy Ghost, 1 Thess. 1. They endured the losse of their goods with joy, Heb. 10. and divers the like places.

[Sect. 4] §. 4. And follow me.

That Christ is to be followed, and how hee is to be followed, we have shewed before, (Chap. 4.19. and 8.22. and 9.9. One question therefore only I here adde, namely;

[Quest.] What must we follow in the Crosse of Christ? or what must wee learne to imitate in Christs bearing of his Crosse?

[Answ. 1] First, as hee was obedient unto the will of his Father, and that unto death: yea, even unto the death of the Crosse (Philip. 2.) so must we be rea∣dy, and willing, even to die for Christ, if the Lord shall call us thereunto, or require it at our hands.

[Answ. 2] Secondly, as Christ died not for any fault of his owne, but was innocent; yea, a Lambe with∣out spot (1 Pet. 2.) so wee must take heed, that we suffer not as Malefactors, but for well doing, af∣ter the example of Christ.

Thirdly, as Christ did not curse, nor reproach [Answ. 3] those, who persecuted him, although they pro∣secuted him with hatred without cause, (1 Pe∣ter 2) so although wee be punished, as evill do∣ers, for righteousnesse sake; yet we must not re∣vile, nor curse our Persecutors, nor avenge our selves of them.

Fourthly, as Christ prayed for his persecutors, [Answ. 4] (Father lay not this sinne unto their charge.) So must wee doe, Mat. 5.

Fifthly, as Christ laid downe his life for us, so [Answ. 5] should wee doe one for another, 1 Iohn 3.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ʋers. 24.