A brief and excellent treatise containing the doctrine of godliness, or living unto God.: Wherein the body of divinity is substantially proposed, and methodically digested, by way of question and answer. And, wherein sundry difficult points, much controverted in these times, are briefly and solidly determined, by that reverend and learned divine, Mr. John Norton, teacher of the church of God at Ipswich in New-England. Feb. 4. 1647. Imprimatur Joseph Caryl.

CHAP. IX. Hitherto of the Subject to which Redemption is applyed:* 1.1 now follow The external means by which Redemption is applyed to the end of the world.

Q. VVHat are the external means by which Redemption is applyed to the Church.

A. There are four:

• 1 By the Ministery of the word; which word being contained in the Scriptures, order calls to speak of them in this place.
• 2. By Prayer.
• 3. By the Ministery of the Sacraments.
• 4. By Discipline.

Q. What are the Scriptures?

A. The Scriptures are the revealed wil of God contained in the books of the old & new Testa∣ment written by holy men,* 1.2 as they were moved by the spirit of God, to remain a constant, real, and unalterable rule of Faith, and maners un∣to the end of the world.

Q. What are you to consider concerning the Scriptures?* 1.3

A. Six things,

• Authority.
• Necessity.
• Edition or Translation.
• Interpretation.
• Reading and Plainness.
• Perfection.

Of the second means of the Application of Redemption.

Q. What is Prayer?

A. It is an act of worship,* 1.4 wherein we do religiously represent our desires unto God in the name of Christ.

Q. Where have you the substance of things to be desired?

A. In the Lords prayer.* 1.5

Q. How many parts are there of Prayer?

A. Three,* 1.6 Confession, Petition, Thanksgiving.

Q. What other acts of worship may fall out here sometimes?

A. A Vow, an Oath, a Lot.* 1.7

The third means of Application of Redemption.

Q. What is a Sacrament?

A. It is an ordinance instituted by the Lord Jesus, wherein by certain visible figures duely administred and received, he doth signi∣fie to the receiver, though unworthy; signifie, apply & confirm unto the worthy, all the good of the Covenant of Grace, and receiveth a re∣ciprocal seal from the receivers of their cove∣nant with God in him.

Q. What is the efficient cause of a Sacrament?

A. The institution of the Lord Jesus.

Q. What is the matter?

A.

• External, viz. the element, as bread and wine.
• Internal, all the good of the Covenant of Grace.

Q. What is the form?

A. It is twofold; External, viz. That maner of administration, both of the Ministers and re∣ceivers part, which is prescribed in the word.

Internal;* 1.8 viz. The relative union between the element and the grace signified.

Q. What is the end of a Sacrament?

A. It hath two special ends: Gods renewing and sealing covenant with us. 2. Our renew∣ing and sealing covenant with him.

Q. Whether do the unbelivers and unworthy receive the Sacrament?

A. They receive the Sacrament as an ex∣ternal ordinance, but they receive not the good of the Sacrament; they receive the external, but not the internal part of it.

Q. How many Sacraments are there in the new Testament?

A. Two: Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord.

Q. What is Baptism?

A. The first Sacrament of the Gospel,* 1.9 wherein by water duly applied and received, the baptized receive a seal of their ingrafting into Christ, and of the whole good of the Co∣venant of Grace seasonably to be applied, and renew their covenant with God in Christ Jesus.

Q. What is the efficient cause thereof?

A. The Lord Jesus.* 1.10

Q. What is the Matter?

A. Twofold,* 1.11

• Eternal; viz. Water.
• Internal; The good of the Covenant of Grace.

Q. What is the form?

A. Twofold:* 1.12

• 1. External, viz. The out∣ward action of the Minister and the person baptized.
• 2 Internal; the union between the sign and the thing signified; i. e. The water and the grace of the covenant.

Q. What is the end?

A. To seal unto the baptized their ingraft∣ing

into Christ, together with the whole good of the Covenant of Grace, partly being alrea∣dy, the rest in Gods time and way to be wholly conferred upon them.

2. To take a pledge of the baptized persons renewing Covenant with God.

Q. Who is to be baptized?

A. A believer, who is a member of a visible Church.

Q. What is the Supper of the Lord?

A. The second Sacrament of the New Testa∣ment instituted by the Lord Jesus,* 1.13 wherein by bread and wine duly administred and received, he doth offer and signifie unto the receiver, though unworthy: offer, signifie and apply un∣unto the worthy receiver, all the good of the Covenant of Grace, for the sealing of him up in the safety and growth of the same, and re∣ceiveth a reciprocal seal from the receiver of the covenant with God in him.

Q. What is the efficient cause thereof?

A. The institution of the Lord Jesus Christ.* 1.14

Q. What is the matter?

A. Tis twofold,

• External; viz. bread and wine.* 1.15
• Internal, is the good of the Covenant of Grace.

Q. What is the form?

A. Tis twofold; External, viz. The whole outward action of the Minister and receiver,

prescribed in the Word. Internal, the union between the elements, viz. bread and wine: and the thing signified, viz. The good of the Co∣venant of Grace, called the Sacramental union.

Q. What is the end of the Supper?

A. Tis chiefly twofold:* 1.16

• 1. The sealing un∣to the receiver his safety and growth in the Covenant of Grace.
• 2. The renewing of the covenant on our parts with God in Christ Jesus, and in him one with another.

Of Discipline, the fourth means, &c.

Q. What is discipline?

A. A personal application of the correction and censures of the Church in case of offence,* 1.17 according to the rule of the Gospel.

Q. After what order is this discipline to be exercised.

A. In private offences,* 1.18 according to the rule prescribed.

Q. Are we in the exercise of discipline, bound to observe the order prescribed, Matth. 18.

A. Yes, Except the offence be publique,* 1.19 then the proceeding is to be publique.

Q. After all the good of Redemption applied,* 1.20 which God intended his Elect in this life in the use of outward means, what do you further be∣lieve?

A. The Resurrection of the dead, and the last Judgement.

Q. What do you believe concerning the last Judgement?* 1.21

A. That Jesus Christ shall come in person to judge both quick and dead, according to their deeds, when the wicked shall go into ever∣lasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.

Q. When shall these things be?

A. At the end of the world.* 1.22

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Cor. 3.5. Rom. 10.17. Dan. 10.21. Matth. 28.19. 1 Cor. 11.25, 26. Mat. 7.7. Matth. 21.22. Matt. 18.15, 16. 1 Cor. 5.5.
• * 1.2

  Rev. 22.18. 2 Pet. 1.19. Isa. 8.20. Ioh. 5.39 Deu. 4.2.
• * 1.3

  Gal. 6.16 2 Tim. 3.16. Iob 33.12. Iohn 20.30. Mat. 5.18 Rev. 1.3. Neh. 8.8 1 Cor. 14.19. Ioh. 5.39. Col. 3.16. Psal. 19.7. 2 Tim. 3.16, 17.
• * 1.4

  Rom. 8.23, 26. Iohn 14.13, 14.
• * 1.5

  Matth. 6.9.
• * 1.6

  Neh. 9.3 Dan. 9.20. Phil. 4 6.
• * 1.7

  Ps. 76.11 Heb. 6.15, 16. Act. 1.26 Matth. 21.25. Matth. 28.19. 1 Cor. 11.23. Matth. 3.11. 1 Cor. 10.16. Rom. 4.11. Matth. 26.26. 1 Cor. 11.23. Matth. 26.26. & 26.29 Matth. 26.28. 1 Cor. 11.23.
• * 1.8

  Matth. 26.26, 28. 1 Cor. 10.16. Rom. 4.11. with Gen. 17.9.
• * 1.9

  Matth. 28.19. Rom. 4.11. with Col. 2.11, 12.
• * 1.10

  Iohn 1.33.
• * 1.11

  Matth. 3.11.
• * 1.12

  Matth. 28 16, 18, 19.
• * 1.13

  Mat. 28.19. Ioh. 4.1. Gen. 17. Mat. 26.26. Mar. 14.22, 23. Luk. 22.17, 19. Matt. 26.28.
• * 1.14

  1 Cor. 11.23.
• * 1.15

  Matt. 26.26, 27, 28. Luk. 22.20. 1 Cor. 11.23, 24, 25.
• * 1.16

  Matt. 26.28. 1 Cor. 11.25.
• * 1.17

  Matt. 16.19. Matt. 18.15, 16.
• * 1.18

  Matt. 18.15, 16, 17.
• * 1.19

  1 Tim. 5.20.
• * 1.20

  2 Cor. 5.10. Dan i2.2. Heb. 10.35. Iohn 5.28, 29.
• * 1.21

  Rom. 2.16. 2 Cor 5.10 Matt. 25.46.
• * 1.22

  Matt. 13.40.