The Farmers CATECHIZE, OR A Religious parley between the Father and the Son.  
Being a profitable and pleasing Discourse running through the whole Scripture, and it is Dedicated to all those honest Families that desires Christ may dwell in their hearts.  
Written by William black, May 1. 1657.  
LONDON, Printed, and are to be sold by Mr. Butler in Lincolns-Inn-fields, near the Three-Tun Tavern, by the Market-place, 1657.   

The Farmers CATECHIZE.  
Father.  
COme Sirrah, if you will be a good boy, learn your Catechize, and then teach your Brothers and Sisters, I will give you a farthing.  
Son. Well, Sir, do you ask and I will answer.  
Father. Quest. Who was the first man God mad?  
Son. Answ. Adam.  
Q. What did he make him of?  
A. Dust.  
Q. And what did he make Eve of?  
A. A Rib of his side, and she sided with the Serpent, and so brought death upon him and all his posterity.  
Q. What did God do then?  
A. Promise Jesus Christ, and said that he should break the Serpents head, Gen. 3.15. that is the power and Kingdom of the Devil.  
Q. Who was Abrahams Son?  
A. Isaac.  
Q. And who Isaac's?  
A. Jacob.  
Q. And who Jacobs?  
A. Joseph, mat. 1.2.  
Q. And who Josephs?  
A. Ephraim, and Manasseth.  
Q. What did God say by Moses?  
A. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up like unto me, him shall you hear in all things; and it shall come to pass, that him that will not hear him, shall be cut off from this People, Deut. 18.15.  
Q. And who was this Prophet?  
A. Christ.  
Q. And what is Christ?  
A. The Son of the living God, and Saviour of the world, John 1.29.  
Q. What did Samuel say?  
A. Speak Lord for thy servant hears, and thought it was Ely, when indeed it was the Lord that called him, 1 Sam. 30.10.  
Q. What did Joshua say?  
A. I and my house will serve the Lord, and a good thing it is for Families so to do; and in the mean time cursed are all those that call not on him, jer. 10.25.  
Q. What did good Nehemiah say?  
A. Remember O Lord I have walked before thee with an upright heart, 2 Kin. 20.3. a good life and a good death always goes together, and God will give that man an endless life that liveth unto him, and daily dieth unto sin.  
Q. What did job say?  
A. Naked came I out of my mothers womb, and naked shall I return, the Lord gives, and the Lord takes, and blessed be his holy name; in the mean time I know that my Redeemer lives, and I shall see him with these eyes.  
Q. And if a man die shall he live again?  
A. Yes, all the daies of my life will I wait, till my change come, job 14.14.  
Q. What did David say?  
A. Thy servant Lord, thy servant, and yet a King of the East; man walks in a vainsh dow, and gets riches; Lord teach me to number my daies, that I may apply my heart unto wisdom.  
Q. What did Solomon say?  
A. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, Eccles. 1.2. and this is as much as any thing to set thy heart upon that which is not, or to choose a present good before a future, which abides for ever and ever: Riches have wings and fly away, Prov. 23.5. the world daily passeth away, and good daies, and bad that are past, are much at one.  
Q. But what doth he say in Eccles. the last, vers. 1?  
A. Remember thy Creator in the daies of thy youth; before death or the evil day comes, and it is usually so long before we begin to be wise, or mind what we should, and then it is hard to mind as we should, or do any thing else, but gasp and die.  
Q. What is that you call the Song of Songs?  
A. Solomons Songs, the Canticles.  
Q. What is the burden of that Song?  
A. Love, love, Christs love to the Church,& the Churches love to Christ, Cant. 1.2.  
Q. What doth Christ say of his Church?  
A. Thou art all fair my Sister, my Spouse.  
Q. What doth the Church say of Christ?  
A. Thou art white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousard, Cant. 5.10.  
Q. Why is Christ said to be white and ruddy?  
A. In respect of his Humanity and Divinity, his suffering and innocency; he was God-Man, perfect God and perfect Man, born of a Virgin and suffered with a thief.  
Q. Whath doth Isaiah say concerning Christ?  
A. Surely he hath born our griefs, the chastisement of our peace was upon his shoulders, and we like sheep have gone astray, and thou hast laid upon him the iniquity of us all, Isa. 53.4. There's a good boy, learn this Chapter and remember it well.  
Q. What did jeremy wish?  
A. O that his head were a fountain of tears, that he might weep for the slain of the Daughter of his People, jer. 9.1. the Jews in captivity; and the whole Lamentation is a sad complaint of the Prophet for the afflictions of the Jews, the people of God under the Babylonian Captivity.  
Q. What doth the Church say in the midst of her afflictions?  
A. Thou art my portion saith my soul, Lam. 3.24. and my souls delight is in God, saith David; and Gods delight is in them that excel in virtue, especially faith, love, and humility; and precious in his sight is the death of all his holy ones, Psal. 116.15. what ever men do deem.  
Q. But what doth Eezekiel say concerning God?  
A. First, that he desires not the death of a sinner, but that he may live and never die, Ezek. 18.21. and he that lives and believes in me shall never die saith Christ, John 11.26. yet those that live and believe not that he is he, shal die in their sins, John 8.21. But Ezekiel tells us, that he loved and washed us when we were in our blood, and pitied us then, when no eye pitied us to do us any good. ye then was the time of love, and that was love indeed, and a loving God was he to look upon us then.  
Q. What doth Daniel say?  
A. In the daies of those Kings shall the God of heaven set up a Kingdom, that shall never be taken or pass away, Dan: 2.44.  
Q. But what Kingdom was that?  
A. Christ.  
Q. And what kingdoms were those that were to be destroyed and pass away?  
A. All but his in conclusion.  
Q. Who shall be chief in that Kingdom?  
A. He himself, and at last God shall be all in all, 1 Cor: 15: 28.  
Q. What doth Hosea say concerning Christ?  
A. Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously, so will we render the calves of our lips, Hos. 14.3.  
Q. What doth he say concerning death?  
A. O death I will be thy death, O grave I will be thy destruction, repentance is hide from mine eyes, Hos: 13: 14. and it is Christ alone that has destroyed sin, death, hell, and the grave, 1 Cor: 15: 55.  
Q. What doth God speak by his Prophet Ioel?  
A. It shall come to pass in those daies saith the Lord, meaning those times which we are near, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, Ioel 2.28. and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; a text Ministers seldom preach on, yet saith Paul covet the best gifts, especially that you may prophesy, 1 Cor. 14.1. that is open Scripture sayings and tell them unto others. All other Prophesies are ceased above this thousand years, and Ministers know no more than others, unless the Lord reveal it; and the secrets of the Lord, are most with them that fear him most, Psal. 34. be they what they will of this or that or t'other calling.  
Q. What doth the Prophet Amos say?  
A. In chap. 5. vers. 6. Seek ye me and ye shall live, and a living God is to be sought before a dying World: And in finding of God there is a heaven, and a heaven; first a heaven in the soul of them that seek him in his Son, and grace revealed by his Son: And secondly, there is a heaven for the souls of those that seek him, where God and Christ▪ and all the saved creatures are.  
Q. What doth Obadiah say?  
A. Though thou exaltest thyself as the Eagle, and settest thy nest among the Stars, yet from thence will I bring thee down; and the right way down hill, and down to hell is pride; but a saviour shall come to Mount Zion, and judge the Mount of Esay; a sweet Scripture, vers. 21.  
Q. What doth jonah say?  
A. Out of the belly of Hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice, all the billows, and thy waves compassed me, the Weeds were wrapped about my head, yet will I look again towards thine holy Temple, jonah 2: 4.  
Q. What doth the Prophet Micah say?  
A. Who is a God like unto our God, that pardoneth iniquity transgression& sin, yea all iniquity transgression and sin, for his own sake, his Names sake, his Sons sake, his promise sake, Micah 7: 18.  
Q. What doth the Prophet Nahum say?  
A. Behold upon the Mountains the feet of them that bring good tidings, and publish peace, keep thy feasts and perform thy vows O Judah, Nahum 1: 15.  
Q. What doth Habakkuk say?  
A. I will rejoice in God, and I will joy in the God of my salvation, although the Fig-tree shall not blossom, the Vine, the Olive, the Flock and the herds of the Stall be cut off, yet will I rejoice in the God of my Salvation, who makes me to walk on high places, that is, to live in his high discoveries; and the high discoveries of God in any affliction, will make a man sing like the Nightingale as long as they last, Hab. 3: 17.  
Q. What doth Zephaniah say?  
A. I will turn to the people a pure language, and they shall all call on the Name of the Lord, and serve him with one consent; and this is a Gospel promise indeed; in the mean time I will leave among you a poor and an afflicted People, and they shal trust in my Name, Zep: 3: 9, 12. and saith Christ, it is the poor that receive the Gospel, Luke 7: 12. the great ones come to nought, 1 Cor. 1.18. and experience tells us, that it is the spiritual poor, and middle sort of people, for the most part, that mind any thing of good; for Beggars are vile, and Lords are base and vicious.  
Q. What doth Haggai in the 2. and the 6. say?  
A. The desire of all Nations shall come; and when Christ comes he satisfies the souls of all men, and a thousand Worlds without Christ will never do it to any purpose, for they that love Silver shall never be satisfied.  
Q. What doth Zechariah say in the 13. and 1?  
A. In that day there shall be a fountain open for Judah and Jerusalem to wash in, for sin and uncleanness.  
Q. Who is this Fountain?  
A. Christ, and a living, loving, lasting, flowing Fountain is he; yea he ever lives and loves to have sinners come and wash, and the worst that washeth here, shall be whiter than the snow in the eyes of God, Psal. 51.7.  
Q. What doth Malachi in the 4. and 1. say?  
A. Unto you that fear my Name shal the son of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings.  
Who is this Son of Righteousness?  
A. Christ, and a thousand beams of love and grace are ever in him, and shining from him, which are indeed the light and life of the world, more influential to the soul, than is the Sun to the Flowers, Plants, and Trees.  
Q. But what are these Wings?  
A. Nothing but the leaves of this three of life, whose leaves are for the healing of the Nations, Rev. 22.2. but the wings and the leaves are both growing on him, and flowing from him; one denotes his nearness, and the other his sweetness and swiftness; yea his leaves are always fresh and green, and his fruit bears every month, eat and drink a bundantly; O taste and see the Lord is gracious, blessed is the man that lives upon this bread of life, and life giving bread, which came down from heaven, joh: 6: 50, 58. once was and yet ever is in heaven, and will give a thousand heavens to them that wait for him; yea, eye hath not seen, nor ear hath not heard, nor have men known since the World stood, that which thou O God hast prepared for them that wait for thee, faith the Prophet, Isaiah 64.4. and a heavenly Prophet was he; but remember the Law of Moses my servant, saith the last of all the Prophets in the last words.  
Q. But where did God give this Law?  
A. On Mount Sinai, the thundering Mount, which no man durst come nigh.  
Q. And where the Saviour?  
A. From Mount Sion the blessed Mount, or Mount of blessings, which every man might come unto, and see the crucified Christ on Calverie; and Christ upon a hil is as a Beaken to the Nations, or an Ensign to the World: but Mount Olive was the praying Mount, whilst Sion is the praising, and Jerusalem above the mother of us all: Shout O Inhabitants of the Earth, for great is the holy One in the midst of thee, Isa. 12.6. and if I forget thee let my right hand forget his cunning; yea, if I prefer not Jerusalem before my chiefest joy, then let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, Psal. 137.5. but behold how he comes meek and lowly riding on an ass, the Colt and Poal of an ass, having Salvation in his wings; wherefore rejoice greatly for thy King O Virgin daughter Sion, and when Sion heard this thing, they cut down boughs and branches, saying Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest, whilst others spread their garments, for this high and holy, low and humble self-denying Christ.  
Q. Well, but where was he born?  
A. In Bethelem saith Matthew 2.8. and he was one of the four Evangalists; yea, in judah a little Town in Bethelem, and he is the lion of the Tribe of judah, which will tear his enemies in pieces, whilst, he everlastingly embraceth the worst of sinners that come unto him; and the wise men that came to worship him, brought the best things in all their Country, namely, Gold, frankincense, and Myrrh, to offer unto him, vers. 10. and he offered himself for his a sweet smelling Sacrifice acceptable to the Father, bore our sins in his own body on the three, died and rose for our justification, and ever lives to make intercession.  
Q. But who destroyed all the Male Children under three years old?  
A. Herod.  
Q. But how destroyed he them?  
A. He sent Souldiers, and most Souldiers will go upon any design for money, and such men to the Devil that have no conscience in them; then was the saying good, In Ramah was a voice heard, Rachel weeping for her children, mat. 2.18. and every heart is Ramah and a Wilderness, where there is nothing but the howling of cursed lusts and nature.  
Q. But why would Herod have put Christ to the death?  
A. Because he was the born King of the Jews, and himself but an Usurper, and this was a damnable plot indeed, to put a true King to death for his Crown yea the King of Kings.  
Q What doth Mark say in the 13. and the 34?  
A. Watch, watch, watch, for the coming of the Son of Man, for he comes as a thief, that is, stealingly upon the world, and blessed is he that Waits, and keeps his garment undefiled, Rev. 16: 15.  
Q. What did the Angel say to Zechariah?  
A. That Elizabeth his wife should have a Son, and his name should be called John, and he should neither drink wine nor strong drink, but his heart should be filled with the Holy Ghost, and many of the Children of Israels hearts should he turn to the Lord his God.  
Q. What did the Angel say to Mary?  
A. All hail Mary, blessed among women shalt thou be, for thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a Son, and his name shall be called Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins; and God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David, and he shal reign over the House of jacob for ever; and of his Kingdom there shall be no end, Luke 1.33.  
Q And what did Mary say to this?  
A. She wondered how it should be, and the Angel said by the power of the most high; and the Holy Ghost overshadowing her.  
Q. And what did the Angel say unto the shepherds?  
A. Behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy that shall be unto all Nations, for to you is born a Saviour, and his name shall be called Jesus, Luk: 2: 11. for be shall save his people from their sins.  
Q. What did the Shepherds hear when the Angels were gone?  
A. A Multitude of heavenly Hosts, saying, Glory to God in the highest, peace and good will to men on Earth.  
Q. What did old Simeon say when he saw Christ?  
A. Let me now thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, vers. 31.  
Q. What did John say?  
A. Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World, John: 1: 35.  
Q. What did Christ say to Philip? and what did Philip say to Nathaniel?  
A. We have found him of whom Moses and the Prophets writ: and Jesus said behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile: and Nathaniel said thou art the Son of God, the King of Israel, vers. 49.  
Q. What is that you call the Acts?  
A. Nothing but a true History of Christ and his Apostles; and in it we have Paul's carriage before Felix; Peter and Stephen before the Jews, their stoning, whipping, stripping, and imprisoning of them and the rest; notwithstanding which the Church did mightily increase.  
Q. Who writ the Epistle to the Romans?  
A. Paul, and Paul was an honest man, and as brave as bold, Christ-magnifying, loving Saint as ever lived, and Rome as true a Church, yet now the Mother of Harlots, Rev. 18.2. and the sink of sin, and cage of every unclean beast, where Zim, and Ohim, and Devils dwell; and happy shall he be that may dash the brains of her brats in the streets, this or the next Generation may live to see it for all this; in mean time cursed be they that hinder, or do the work of the Lord negligently, jer: 48: 10.  
Q Who writ this first and second Epistles to the Corinthians?  
A. Paul, and Paul boasts and glories saying; We are fools yet are we wise in Christ, we are poor and make many rich, 2 Cor. 6.10. we are counted as the off-scouring of the world, and the world is not worthy of us; and whilst we possess nothing, we enjoy all things. 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 how is he counted among the children of God, and his portion among the Saints; and what hath pride profited us, Wisdom: 5.4.  
Q. Who writ the Philipians?  
A. Paul, and Paul complains, saying, they sought their own things, and no man sought the things of Christ, ch: 2: v: 21. and a sad complaint it was that none should mind a living, loving, crucified Christ, who minded us from eternity, and has saved us to eternity, from sin, death, hell, and eternal burnings; and we are sure that whilst he was on earth, he made it all his business, to seek and to save lost sinners; Did you see any of the lost sheep of the house of Israel, Mat. 15.24. Nay did you see saith the Saviour, and pipes, and weeps, and mourns; O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thee, Luk: 13: 34. but you will not come unto me that you might have life, joh: 5: 43. Neither will the Saints now a daies either love or live, or do for Christ, in any measure as they should; O blessed Paul. O blessed Saint, that did as much, and writ as much, and denied as much for Christ as ever man, and yet all that he did he still denied and counted it all but as loss and dung for Christ and the Righteousness of Christ, Phil: 3: 8, 9.  
Q. Who writ the Epistle to the Collossions?  
A. Paul, and there he makes Christ to be all in all, ch: 3: 11. and indeed he is so, and there is neither bond nor free, high nor low, nor life nor death, but Christ is all in all, yea, he will be all in all, both in life, death, and eternity, justification, sanctification& glorification, as I said before; O unhappy man that forgetteth or forgeth him for a moments lust, or listeth not to live to him, until it be too late.  
Q. Who writ the first and second Epistles to the Thessalonians?  
A. Paul, and in that he exhorts them to pray continually, and in every thing to give thanks; comfort the feeble, and strengthen the weak, 1 Thes: 5: 16. and to beware of being deceived about the coming of Christ, for that day shall not come till Anti-christ be revealed and destroyed by the Spirit of Christ, the brightness of his coming, 2 Thes: 2: 8. yet the Sword shall certainly make some way, and when he comes it shall be in flaming fire, to render vengeance upon all that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,& shall punish them with everlasting destruction from his presence, when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints, and marvellous in the eyes of all them that do believe, 2 Thes: 1: 8, 9, 10. in the mean time let all believers rejoice in this Text, and let the ignorant World tremble, for he that made them will not save them, as they use to say, if they despise his Gospel and his Son, the delight of his soul, our ever dear and glorious Redeemer, yea how shall we escape if we neglect so great, so free, and full Salvation, Heb: 2: 3. Yea, what shall the end of all them be that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, which if any man will not love, let him be Anathema Maran-atha, 1 Cor: 16: 22. or acursed till the Lord come, so saith Paul.  
Q. Who writ the first of Timothy?  
A. Paul, and in the 1. and the 17. he says, Unto the King, everlasting, immortal, invisible, onely wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever Amen.  
Q. Who writ the second of Timothy?  
A. Paul, and there he charges Timothy to beware of Covetousness and the love of Money, 1 Thes: 6: 9. which is Idolatry. O man of God, fly these things saith he; unto the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Potentate, and King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, who onely hath immortality in his hands, and dwelleth in that light which is unaccessable, whom no man hath seen, nor can see in his full glory, 1 Tim: 6: 8: 10, 16. and in the fourth Chapter of the second Epistle, and the first verse, he chargeth him before God and our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and dead at the appearing of his Kingdom, that he preach the Word in season and out of season: and many charge us who are private Christians for preaching the Word, when God is our witness, we do it in sincerity; yet Ministers will be angry, and Magistrates scarce give leave, yet by your leave, without your leave, say I, to all the Powers in the World; what men are forbid they may not do, but what they are commanded they may and must do. Uzza was forbid to touch the Ark, but we are bid to prophesy, and build up one another, 1 Cor: 14: 1, 39. 1 Pet: 4: 10. Yea, in a thousand places more; but the Sons of Greece make a nose of wax of many an honest Text against the Sons of Sion; yet will I set them against them, Zecha. 9: v: 13. and the quarrel will never be ended, for if one sink the other swims, and yet they are held up by the chin; but the Lord help us, we have no confidence in the arm of flesh.  
Q. Who writ the Epistle to Titus?  
A. Paul, and in chap: 2: vers: 11. he tells us, the grace of God which bringeth salvation to all mens doors, ears, and hearts if they will accept it, teacheth us to deny all ungodly and worldly lusts, and to live soberly and godly in this present world, looking for the hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, vers. 13. and Paul writ one Chapter to Philemon, and that was altogether about the forgiving of Onesimus, Philemons Servant, which once run away from him, afterwards was converted and sent back by Paul, as a Brother to both; this should teach us to forget and forgive, especially when we see the work of Christ upon their hearts, which have formerly done us the greatest injury.  
Q. Who writ the Hebrews?  
A. Paul( I think) and he tells us in the first verse of the first chapter, That God who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake unto the Fathers by the Prophets, hath in these last daies spoken unto us by his Son from heaven, whom he hath appointed to be heir of all things, by whom also the world was made; saying, Thy Throne is for ever; and a sceptre of Righteousness is the sceptre of thy Kingdom, thou lovest Righteousness and hatest Iniquity, therfore thy God hath anointed thee above thy fellows; all thy garments smell of Myrrh: and let all the Angels of God Worship him, sitting at the right hand of God, till his enemies be made his footstool, vers. 6, 9, 12. And in chap. 11. he tells us what the worthies of the world did by faith; and by faith we stand when we fall, live when we die, and possess all things when we enjoy little or nothing of this worlds goods.  
Q. Who writ the Epistle of James?  
A. He himself, and he tells us that, that man is blessed that endures temptation, for he shall receive a Crown of life, Iam: 1: 12. But woe be unto the rich if they be ungodly, yea let them weep and howl for that misery that shal come upon them, Chap: 5: 1. and faith without works are dead, Chap: 2: v: 20. and the truth is works justify us before men, and faith justifies us in our conscience, and gives us to see our justification by Christ; whilst he alone and none but he justifies us before God, without our faith or works; for our faith being imperfect needs him to justify that, and that without him can justify none, whilst none can see their justification without it; and this is a riddle that the blind Papists, and bulk of Protestants can never hit; the Ministers do so bungle in and about this point; many of them distinguish between Law and Gospel, Covenant and Covenant, or else you do nothing to any purpose.  
Q. Who writ the first and second Epistle of Peter?  
A. He himself, and in that he tells us of the lasciviousness of Christ, 1 Pet: 2: 6. and indeed to them that believe he is a precious Christ; yea to them he is precious in his Name, in his Nature, in his Person, in his Promise, to look to, to lean on, to hope in, and to follow after; he is altogether precious: and what manner of people ought we to be that look for this Christ, a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness, 2 Pet: 3: 13. and then the old heavens and the old earth shall pass away; the righteousness of man, the works and forms of men, wherein they place their happiness, yea the Gospel Ordinances I think shall then be done away, when that sweet Scripture is made good, Isa. 60. v: 22. where there is a clear distinction made between the Son and thy Son; observe it well: And saith John, speaking of the new Jerusalem, there was no Temple in it; and yet again he tells us, that the Lord God and the Lamb, were the Temple of it: compare this and the 21: of Rev: together, from the 21: vers: to the 26. and sure this must needs be spoken of a State Militant rather than triumphant; where the Kings need not bring their glory, as the Prophet Isaiah has it; nor shall the wicked come bowing to their feet there, Isaiah 60.14.  
Q. Who writ the first Epistle of John?  
A. He himself:& in the third chapter and the first verse he tells us of the love of God, saying, Behold what maner of love is this? How free, how full, how sweet, how easy to be had, and much to be admired, that we should now be called the ●ons of God? And indeed we are so by election before time, contract or covenant in time, vocation and calling, purchase of the blood of Christ, union with the person of Christ, and faith in the receiving of Christ; in all which respects we are now the sons of God, 1 John 1.12. Now to be the sons of such a Father, and heir of such a God; yea, and all things else besides. God must needs be sweet indeed. O you sons of God, know yourselves, show yourselves, and humble yourselves for your unworthiness, unfruitfulness, unthankfulness to this loving living God and father, who is ever giving one good thing or other to us, and how can he deny us any thing that has given us himself? O God, thou art mine, saith a Saint, and I will not let thee go for a thousand worlds, and yet one world would steal away a thousand hearts.  
Q. But who writ the second and third of John?  
A. He: yea he writ all three, and all that he writ was Love, and a loving God was Christ, to let this humble sinning Saint and sinner, lie so long in that living loving bosom of his, John 13.23. the bosom of Abraham, or Abrahams bosom, Luke 16.22. where he dipped his soul and his quill, his heart and his pen in the love of Christ,& strews all his Epistles with that alone, which is from the fountain of love, leading men from the lusts of this world to that love and light which is better than this World a thousand times; but one of a thousand scarce lives in that love which he is exhorted unto, or up to that light which he himself is the possessor of.  
Q But who writ the Epistle of judas?  
A. He himself, and he tells us of the coming of Christ with ten thousands of his Saints, and ten thousand Saints will make a gallant show, when every one shall shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father, Matth. 13.43. and yet Christ shall out-shine them all ten thousand times over and over. O happy day! O happy Christ! O happy Sinner! that shall for ever shine with Christ in this same glory! And what will the wicked do, that must be banished in that same day for ever and ever? Well may it be said, Ill tide the time, and cursed be the day that ever such were born, who must burn for million and millions and millions of years for their refusing and abusing this Christ a few dayes.  
Q Who writ the Revelations?  
A. John the Divine and a Divine Mystery is this Book of God, yet he tells us, that they are blessed who red or hear this blessed prophesy. But cursed are all those that add or diminish from the true sayings thereof, Rev. 1. v. 3. Chap. 22. v. 19. In the mean time the Spirit and the Bride say come, and let him that thirsteth say come. And who ever will, let them come and take of the Water of life freely; for he ever lives to give, and loves to give more freely to the worst of sinners, than parents do bread to their children; and he that test●fieth these sayings, saith, I come quickly. Amen, even so come Lord Jesus Christ, last and last verse. Well Sirra, now tell me the whole Bible, and how the books lie in order, and you shall be a good Boy.  
Ans. First Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deu●eronomy, Ioshua, Iudges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ilb, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecelesiastes, The Song of Solomon, Isaiah, I●remiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel Daniel, Hosea, Ioel, Amos, Obadih, jonah, Micah, Nahum, Hab●kkuk, Zephania, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.  
2. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, The Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, james, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Iude, Revelation.  
There's a good Boy now, and if you will perfectly learn these without book, you shal be a good Boy indeed, and they will make you so ready to go to any Book that the Minister shall quote, that you will find it in a trice; whereas some fellows lie licking their thumbs, and turn the Bible half over before they find the text, or proof. But Father, I mind the matter, and never turn after the proofs. That's well, but it's good to look for the proofs and mind the matter also: Yet I would not stand turning to every Text in preaching or hearing, and do not go a wide rambling way, gathering up I know not what, whi●st others go a wool-gathering in their hearing. Zealous preaching, tent hearing and fervent praying is the right way my son. I truly, Sir, I believe so too. Now tel me some other good things and you shal be a good Boy stil. But Sir, your Catechize is something long. I Sirra, and some body else was as long a making, and cost more a great deal. But what is the best posture a man can be in? Upon his knees praying in the sense of Gods love: for that will melt the soul, and lay the soul as low as hell in his own apprehensions, and raise up among the Angels in his humble bold request. And when is a man most fit to die? When he has lived to Christ a little while, and died to sin a great deal. Yet a man may strive a great deal against some corruptions before he get the Masterdome,( especially if he goes forth in his own strength.) O my son, take the shield of Faith, and the hope of salvation( Ephes. 6.16.) for an helmet. But which is it best to be a poor sneak, an humble Christian, or a young Gallant, that minds little or nothing else but his pleasure? A Christian a thousand times, if he be a true one; but many say they are and are not, for if a man do not know Christ, and enjoy some commnmunion with Christ, as the Branch with the Vine, the Member with the Body, or the Wife with the Husband, he can never be a Christian, John 15.5. Rom. 8. v. 9. But it is better to be a Paul than a Felix, a John than a Herod, or an old woman in a Pigstie than a spotted Lady in a Coach with a painted face; yea, I had rather be a Lazarus than a Dives, a Toad than a common never-repenting sinner: yet let me feed upon the spawn of them, and live and die under a ston, rather than want Christ, or be in the condition of some men that drink well, and fare well, and go well every day, and there is no day but we should sin as much as any if God did not keep us. Therefore it's good to pray, and if any man will pray, I dare say God will help him mend& 'tis better once than never so to do. But what is the worst condition in this life a man can be in? To be merrily sinning and singing going to hel, and never think nothing, for th●n a man drops in before he is ware. Should not a man pity such a man? Yes, it will make a wise man weep to see a mad man laugh, and to hear a man sing and say, Care away; or to see a man feast for a week, a month, or a day, that must fast for a thousand years. I had rather be poor than reprobate, or want a silken stocking than have gouty leg, a golden cap than have a rending head; yea a skin to cover my bones, than want the righteousness of Christ, which any man may, have to cover my soul, Rev. 3.18. Isai. 55.1. But every one is for new Clothes, and the old truths of Christ are almost forgotten. Yet the old Puritan for my money, provided he be not too legal, for the white devil is the worst of all. While some men want every thing, others want nothing. A poor man with twenty afflictions on his back, and a poor woman with two or three children in her lap, and never a bit of bread in the Cupboard,( Rem. Habak 3.17.) is well enough when she can say, The Lord is my portion; and no man living can be worse than to have gold in his purse, heath in his b●dy, wealth in the world, with honor and esteem amongst men, and to be near the day of darkness and not ware. Thou fool, this night shal thy soul be taken from thee, Luke 12 20. and to be taken from a good condition to a bad, is to be taken from the bed to the worms, from the world to the devil, from the pasture to the slaughter. I saw a Butcher one time drive an Ox so fu●iously, and the devil hurries some I know not whither; yet they of all are most to be pitied, who are civil and good natured people, yet perish for want of knowledge; and a man knows nothing if he doth not know his own heart. When a wretched poor afflicted sinner dies, the fish leaps from the frying p●n to the fire: and when a p●osperous, rich and great man dies, the Sun everlastingly sets, as it were, in a dismal, black and melancholy cloud. But when a good man dies, the Angels say, All hail again, which was the salutation of the Virgin Mary, Luke 1.28.  
Q Well Sirra, what are you resolved to be a good man or a bad? I am resolved to be the s●rvant of Christ. That's a good Boy indeed. And what do you love best? Him. And why Him? Because he hath loved me most, and washed me in his own blood, Rev. 1.5.  
But what did you love when you were two or three years old? First, I loved my Bubb and my Baby, and then I loved a Top, a Whip, and a Gigg, a Cart, a Horse, yea, I loved twenty things more than my Book. I love my father and my mother, my brothers and my sisters; yea I love every body, and myself too. Do you not love the world? Yes, a little, and most professors do too much: but I love my soul better than the world a thousand times, and Christ better than my soul, twice as many more, or at least wise should. Doth every body do so? No, some love their hawks and their Hounds, their Horses; yea, a great many Farmers love their pigs better than Christ, see the Text, Mark 5.17. and it is better to be a pig than that mans soul that doth not mind his soul. If a man should serve h●s Cat and his dog every day, and should starve his onely child, it were a most unnatural thing, and it is worse a thousand times to neglect, as most country folks and others do, the everliving and immortal soul, which is worth a thousand worlds, upon every slight occasion. I saw a Woman one time serve her pig, her Chicken, her Duck, and her turkey, and then she went about her Cheese, but she forgot her soul and her prayers that morning. And it is as good so as to say on, on, and not mind what we say. Have poor folks any souls? Yes, and rich as well as them, and a rich mans soul is worth as much as a poor, and a poor mans soul will last as long as a rich. Indeed every body has a soul, and God has a place for every mans soul to go unto. Yet a rich man has a long hel for a little heaven, if he goes I know not where: and Christ shal one day say, Come ye blessed, or, Go ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his Angels, because you did not do this or that, Mat. 25.41. Why shal a man be damned for not doing good? I, child, as soon as for any thing in the world. There be many ways to go to the wood, and many ways to go to the devil and be damned, unbeliving is the great way, John 3.36. Error is the by-way, delight is the pleasant way, swearing is the mad way, lying is the right way, and whoring is the next way, see that Text, Prov. 2.18. soul-carelesness is another, and many fools go for thinking nothing, or for want of thinking whither they are going; a man may be in a pit, and in Hell before he is ware, if his life be but a vapour, as it is, and he that goes to hell in a way of working for heaven, goes round, round about the wood to the devil. Poor Papists, poor Protestants, how are they to be pitied, that do not know the vast difference between the two Covenants, nor these two Texts, Do this and live, Believe and live. Why must not a man do as much as he can if he doth bel●eve? Yes, and more than that man th●t doth beli●ve: Faith makes a man as strong as samson, and as nimble as David, who could leap over any difficulty: yea, it will make him run as Iehesah the way of Gods Commandements; but without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6. And if a man could carry Pauls, and do more than a thousand Saints, without faith it were to no purpose, nay it were, as said before, but to go round ●bout to the devil, when poor swe●rers, drunkards, whores and harlots, moral men and careless civil sinners, go some one way, and some another. Well child, I hope you will go to heaven. And I hope you will go too Sir, or else it had been better you had never been born. ●f a mans wife goes,& not the husband, or if a husband goes& not the wife, a father and not the child, or the son and not the f●ther, then is the saying made good, Two shall be in one bed, one taken and the other left, Luke 17.34. two shall be in the field, one taken and the other left; two shal be at the M●ll, one taken and the other left. He that works for life,& under the new Covenant shall be taken, when as he that works for life, and remains under th● old, shall be left. Poor Hagars children c●uld not inherit with the freewomans children, but must be cast out, Gal 4.23,& 31. Mind that Text well, and how will you weep saith Christ, when you see Abraham, Isaac and jacob in the Kingdom of heaven,& you your selv●s thrust, ou●. Luk 13.28. yea this will be th● doom of thousands, not onely to be left and damned in the bed of lust and ease, the field of pleasures and delights, as well as at the Mill of Popish legal works,& then former near and dear relations shal cry out and say, O Husband, O Wife, O Father, you must not go with me, yea, in a disclaiming way shal thousands be shaken off at the last day, not onely by Christ, S●ints and Angels, but by their former near and dear relations in a scorning way, and be left to Legions of Divel●, with cursed routs of howling spirits and damned sinners to weep and wail in burning flames for evermore. But Father, do you think if I should see one of my little brothers damned and left in such a condition, I should not cry? No child, nor I, for the children shal rejoice to see their parents damned, and parents their children if they live and die enemies to Christ and his ways. Besides, the ransomed of the Lord shal be swallowed up with everlasting joys, and forget all former things so as to grieve, Isai. 35.10. But Father, our happiness lies in this, we shal both go to Heaven; and others unhappiness that they shal go to hel when they have lived a little longer,& sinned a little more: yea, when men have sinned as long as they can, God will damn them presently, that is a truth, for all creatures men and women are liable to the greatest happiness or unhappiness: the Angels happiness lies in the certainty of their standing; and the misery of the fallen ones in the impossibilities of their rising. And as every man fal●s, so the three lies for ever, Eccles. 11.3. For after death comes judgement, Heb. 9.27. Yea, in that very moment that a man dies shall he be unchangeably placed in bliss or misery. Now while a wicked man is here, if he be afflicted with a thousand afflictions, yet such afflictions are but like the dropping of a little water from the Eves of a house after a great rain, or like the leeking of the sluices, which will let a little out though you shut them never so close; but at death then seas upon seas of sorrow, sin, guilt, shane, wrath and misery breaks in upon the soul everlastingly, world without end; and then the damned Divels and sinners, that now sleep, eat and drink good veal, Beef, and Mutton, will be everlastingly stated in one and the same unchangeable conditition with the damned spirits. Now the wickedest man in the whole world is in a better condition than the Divels, there may be faith& repentance wrought in the very last moment of time. This night shalt thou be with me in paradise, satih Christ to the penitent Thief; but that is rare, for scarce one of a thousand that neglects to repent now, but forgets to repent then, or wants a heart to do it as he should; and it would be very uncomfortable for one friend to tell another ween he goes to see him in his sickness, that he is in danger to be damned to morrow, or to die and go to the devil this night after three or four stumbers more, and yet it cannot be unsafe, but the best way to preach Christ at such a time: for if the devil were pulling one leg, I would pull the other; yea, I would save him by the tip of the ear as it were, from the roaring Lion in the last moment; yet how great must their fears needs be, that are over head and ears in fears, and tumbling down to hell by despair, distrustfulness and doubts, and yet are haling back again by promises; but when the poor soul cannot lay hold of one free grace promise in all the Book of God, then the devil pulls hard indeed, and he is as good as gone: Three or four gasps usually carries one away, and the last despair leaves a man to his devil, and if his devil were with him on his back, running to his fraternity with a thousand damned Furies, yet if this man could look back& see one little glimpse of a crucified Saviour, it would fetch him back again, and a thousand Divels, Hells, Deaths and Chains, could never hold him. See the case of jonas, Chap. 2. v. 4. But this last moments time of Faith and Repentance being lost, Divels, and sinners are both alike miserable to a tittle. O dear, this makes my heart to ache. But Father, I used to think when I was a little Boy, a man might scramble, or make a shift to get out of Hel one way or another, if he should go there, and that God was so merciful that he would not let a poor Boy, nor any body else, lie long there, if they should beg and cry unto him. I child, 'tis good thinking on the mercy of God, and trusting to it, for we have nothing else to hope in whilst we live, and trust in when we die, but the free grace and mercy of God: but it is a foolish thing for a man to think that he shall ever clamber out when once in: a man may tumble about, but he can never scramble out; yea, he may tumble out of one Hel into another, for there be many Hels, some within and some without. Tophet, where Rivers of Brimstone run with piles of wood, is that place, which Death, Hell, Divels, damned men and sinne's shal be cast into, Isai, 30.30.33. When King Jesus, that sweet Saviour shall say, Go ye cursed unbelieving Reprobates into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his Angel, where there shall be weeping, wai●ing, and gnashing of teeth, Matth 25 41. Luke 13.28 But besides this mat●riall Hel there is a H●l in the soul, a hell in conscience, a Hel in the thoughts. When a man hath two dangers h● hat● two fears, if apprehended and for two losses double sorrow, and in many stings much vexa●i●n; if a man shake off his clothes, yet he cannot his kin:& there be many Hels within that; yea within t●e b●wels thoughts& mind of a man th●re b● many hels and yet if there should be nothing but the letting loose of conscience, ●hich we daily see drag some men out of one Hell ●nto another, by laying vi●lent hand●, yet that would muster up a thousand Hels about his ears; Conscience will tel a thou●and truths and some sins, a thousand and a th●usand times over and over, and some careless unbelievers, that now despise Christ and th● Gospel, may come to he●r oftener of it than there be stones in London Bridge, or drops of water in the Thamas Now to hear of this sin, and to think of that one loss of losses, namely God and Christ, o● God with Christ in his arms, which is more than a thousand Rainbous, is a Hel beyond the tongue of Men and Angels to express.  
I truly, Father, I think so too; for I remember ye would give a thing and I would not have it, and then again, I have longed and cried my heart fore, and you would not give it. And as Christ tells the Jews they should long for one of the days of the Son of Man, and should not have it, Luke 17.22. which an old Priest said was Christmas day. so I am persuaded sinners in Hell shal long and long a thousand millions of years for one dram of that sweet mercy and Christ that they so frequently refuse, and therefore, Father, I will believe in Christ, and live to Christ, and love him more, than my Sheep, the Colt, and all the fine things ever you gave me in all my dayes; yea, I will love him more than my mother and my brother and myself too, should I not? Yes Child, and he that loves Father, Mother, Wife or Children in comparison of Christ, is not worthy of him, Mat. 10 37. much more Name, famed, Crowns or Kingdoms in comparison of his interest in the World.  
Q. But was Christ an old man, or a young?  
A. In respect of his God head he was the ancient of daies, the everlasting Father, the Alpha and Omega, or the first and the last, Revel. 1.8. but in respect of his Man hood, he was as young as Solomon, but more loving and lovely, yea wiser a thousand times, yet he died for us at three and thirty years of age, and lives, and ever loves, to make intercession for us, when we do or cannot, yea, whether we pray, sin, live, or die, he always makes intercession for us, Heb. 7.25. yet you must say your prayers frequently for all that; so I do Sir, I went, before I would eat one bite to day, into your Chamber, and shut the door, and there kneeled down and said my Prayers from my heart.  
Q. Well, and what did you say?  
A. I said, pray Lord Jesus Christ forgive me all my sins, pray Lord Jesus Christ make me thy servant whilst I live, and pray Lord Jesus Christ take me to heaven when I die, and I will praise thy Name for ever and ever.  
Q. Well Sirrah, but why did you not say the Lords prayer?  
A. I do sometimes.  
But that is a Rule to pray by, rather thana set form of words to say over, the ten Commandements is a Rule to walk by, the Belief, that some good men made a Rule, how and who we hope to be saved by; and as a man may work, when the Rule is not in his hand, so he may pray by the Lords Prayer, when the very words are not in his mouth; but every man must be a Believer, that saith that prayer, or else he cannot call God Father, but as Parots prate, and Papists pray, so many Protestants mind as little what they say, as if they were praying to a wooden God, rather than an alseeing God, that will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth, John 4.23. abhorring from his soul all forms and worships whatsoever that comes not from the heart; and I wonder what is become of their hearts, that use to preach and fast and pray so much in the late wars, truly I think a great many had been better they had never prayed nor fasted neither, for things are worse than ever, and Profession is much questioned to be but a mere piece of dissimulation, for the world will never trust the Saints again they are so false; in the mean time St. james Fields is a building in all hast, yea, every Saint is a building, when St. Peter and St. Paul were not worth a groat, and every one a Pilgrim then, and I am sure a true one should be a piece of one now; but they loose their love, their zeal, their faith and their prayer, yea the spirit of faith and life in prayer, is much gone from many, and O that this loss were a little considered in our daies especially, by those Souldiers and Officers, who have got so much by Christ and his Cause, as they use to call it, the liberty of the gifted Christian, of which thousands might be found, that would not preach a factious point, a thing of greater consequence, than any thing we fought or suffered for: 'tis honor enough to be a Magistrate; and if a Commissioner of the Peace will freely give his time and pains to reconcile men to men; I wonder no rich Ministers nor Magistrates will do the like to reconcile God and Men, or give them leave that would preach the Word of Reconciliation without money, or trying by them, which will never like unless you take it up as a trade; but the old proverb is still good, No penny no Pater-Noster; and some hath scarce for their penny that is worth the hearing; and though I love& hear them that be good myself, yet I think in my conscience there are more gifted, well able, sanctified, blameless Christians, than of all that are called Ministers in England,& yet I think, three to one of the bulk of them are but Civilisers of the Nation, the Keepers up of Form in opposition to power, under which most perish, and that which Christ will one day abundantly abominate, see the ●●x, Rev. 3.16. in the mean time they are paid for State-policy, more than any thing else, as a great States-man once said, calling them our chaplains.  
Q. But Sir pray you answer me this Question, doth love ascend or descend?  
A. It descends, for God loves sinners and Parents Children, more than they do them,& my L. Protector would be a great deal more be loved than be is, if he goes on indeed to deny the Crown so importunat●y pressed on him, and bend all his force against Anti-christ and strength of Anti-christ, the onely Son of the Beast, or Christian King, as Papists call the Son of perdition, the King of Spain, whose destruction is certainly near: But what did Balaam wish to die the death of the righteous, Numb. 23.10. and most men will sometimes sigh and say, O that God, O that Christ, O that Heaven were mine, O that I might live a little longer, that I had done this or that, or never done what I did, I would give for Heaven so much; but what shall it profit a man to gain the World, if he lose his soul, nothing saith Christ; mat. 16.26. for thats immortal, ever living, and shall never die.  
Q. What is meant by the soul?  
A. Sometimes the inward, sometimes the outward, sometimes the whole man, and nothing is more precious than the soul, but God and Christ; who would lose all and a heaven for a moment lust, which will be a home when all is done, as we use to say, and there is no home like to heaven: But Swearers, Drunkards, Whores and Harlots, with Hypocrites and worldlings forego this heaven for a hell, and will go to the Devil for their hell, or lusts which leads them on to hell; and money will to money in marriage as long as the world stands, and Saints and Devils couple together, rather than lose a little honour, the off-spring of such who are the best and worst of men in the nation.  
Q. But whether do good men go?  
A. To Abraham, and Isaac, to God, and to Angels: and the bosom of Abraham is Isaac, Luke 16, 26. and the bosom of Isaac is Christ; yea, he is the bosom of all, Joh. 1.18. and he leads all to the bosom of the Father, that will come unto him. O show us this bosom, and it sufficeth saith Thomas unto Christ, Joh. 14.8.  
Q. But is there any heaven indeed?  
A. Yes, in this bosom, and no where else, unless it be in the soul of a heavenly-minded Saint, and there is a heaven also; peace, joy, and communion with God, in which much of the heaven of heavens lies, in a way of meditation and contemplation of God and his goodness: O how great is that saith David Psal. 31 19.  
Q But what is God?  
A. A Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in Spirit and in Truth, Joh. 4.24. who is that eternal Being, that gives breath and being to all things whatsoever; yea, every thing has his being from him, and shall be disposed by him; he makes fire, hail, ice, snow, Psal. 147.16.17 and the Wind to blow when and where he pleaseth, and whilst he flings down one part of the morning stars or Angels, Job 38.7. unto the lowest d●ns of darkness, he raiseth up another part of man into the highest thrones of Glory.  
Q. But Fat●er, What be those dens?  
A. The D●vi●s holes.  
Q. And what do the Devils do in those dens?  
A. Nothing but drag sinners from one holt unto another.  
Q. And what do the sinners do in those holes?  
A. Nothing but move like Serpents from one hole to another, seeking death and cannot find it, Mic 7.17.  
Q. And what is Christ compared to?  
A. Every thing that is useful, precious, sweet, or excellent; and he is more excelling than all thing, or things, a thousand times, he is compared to the Bread of life, Joh. 6.50, 58. the three of life, Rev. 22.2. the Well of life, the Water of life, and that living water which he that drinks shall never thirst, Joh. 4.14. he is compared to a lily and a Rose; the Rose of Sharon, the lily of the Valleys, Cant. 2.1. to a Vine, to an Apple-tree, and Olive-tree, the fruitful Vine, the fatting Olive, and that three whose fruit is sweet indeed; and shadow much delighting, Cant. 2.3. He is compared to a Treasure, and a Pearl, Mat. 16.46. and a precious Pearl and raiment is he, Rev. 3 18. 1 Pet. 2 6 to a Rock, yea the Rock of Ages, and that Rock alone upon which the Church of God stands, and the Gates of Hell shall never prevail, Mat. 16.18. In the mean time he is as the shadow of a Rock in a weary Land, Isa. 32.2. where milk and hony ever flows, Psal. 81.16. for a thirsty sinner; Come, O my beloved, eat and drink abundantly, yea, make hast and come away, Cant. 2, 10, 11, yea, he is that good shepherd that lays down his life for his sheep, Joh. 10.11. and was lead as a sheep to the slaughter: Behold the Lamb of God( saith John) that taketh away the sins of the world, Joh. 1.29.  
Q. Well. But how many Fathers have most Children?  
A. Some two, and some three, that are called so; and some never a one, and that is sad indeed: I had rather have one God, than a thousand Fathers, or Grandfathers, when I come to die he can do me most good, and whilst I live, and therefore they are fools indeed, that do not live to him, nor think upon him till they be old and ugly, yea, and scarce than: when as Solomon would have none to stand before him but such as were young and comely: and saith God, Carry the halt and lame to the Princes, and see whether he will except it; how much more shall I your decrepid services, saith the Lord by Micah, Mic 1.13.  
Q But what Mothers have you?  
A. I have Mother Earth, and Mother Eve, Mother bare me, and Sion the Mother of us all, if we be the faithful Children of God: but if we be not, then there is Mother Sin, and Mother Sinai, Mother Death, and Mother Hell to take us all; yea, sin and sorrow that is brought forth by Sin, shall set down, and lay down upon the heads, hearts, and souls of all that will not harken unto me, saith Christ, Prov. 8.32.  
Q. But how many Children have some men?  
A. Too many a great deal: for it is better a great deal to get never an one, than to get three or four for the Devil: other creatures die but once, but wicked men twice; once when they go from men to the grave, and once when they go from God to the Devil: yet some go in more state a great deal than others; and 'tis a foolish thing to gaze much upon that man who lead a wicked life; or to cry, There is a brave Funeral indeed, when he lead a vicious one: but Lord keep me from that second Death, which is that death of deaths, Rev. 20.14. though I want a grave for my bed, or a skin for my bones: Young men are fools, old men are wise; yet I seldom know any of them converted, or doth the world by all its wisdom find out God, 1 Cor. 2 6 7, 8 9, or the true knowledge of God. O Lord open my eyes, that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law, saith David, Psal 1●9 and a thousand Laws should never keep a man from his God, or doing that thing that lies in his power to honor God.  
Q. Who denied Christ?  
A. Peter John 18, 17.  
Q. And who confessed him?  
A. Thomas wh●n he cried, My Lord and my God, John 20 28.  
Q. Who persecuted Christ?  
A. Paul, Acts 9.4 and preached him more than any man; so that the worst sinner makes the best Saint sometimes.  
Q. Who murdered his brother?  
A. Cain, and every one is a Murderer of his brother that hateth his brother in his heart, as Christ expounds the Law, Matth. 5 22.28  
Q. But who is your true Brother?  
A. Christ, and he that believes in Christ; we are all brethren in the purpose of God, the merits of Christ, union with Christ, or visible profession of Christ, I know no other Gospel-brotherhood than this: there is a hollish brotherhood between Whores and H●rlots, knots of Drunkards, Thieves and Cheaters go all together; yet more are damned for mere civilty, and having nothing else but civility, than al● the open sins in the world.  
Q. But what must you do if you will be savea?  
A. I must fast and pray, love mercy, and do justly, live uprightly, and walk honestly, a●d yet believe; for that ●s ●ore than all in order to salvation. For if a man should fast and pray, and c●y, Lord have mercy upon me, Lord have merc● upon me, and ye● should not roll his soul upon that mercy that is from everlasting to everlasting, 'twere to no purpose. Some men cannot believe, and some men shal not whilst they live, if they strive for qualifications, they must be so and so before they can bel●eve. Some would be no sinner before they would be a Saint, or believ● and lay hold on the promise of eternal life: But Sai●t and Sinner go together, and dwell together in one and the same skin, and a grain must be allowed to the best man I know in all the world, and the best skin is the Righteousness of Christ, and I had rather be in that than mine own a thousand times: Christs active and Christs passive obedience, is that righteousness wherein the Father justifies the Son, and the Sun justifies us: For you know he did all, and suffered all in our behalf in his nature on the three, from all hands especially the Fathers.  
Q. What did God do then wh●n he made him cry out, My God, My God?  
A. Nothing but kill him, and let him go,  
Q Why did God kill him?  
A. Because he could not be a Sacrifice nor a Testator of the new Covenant else.  
Q. What doth the new Covenant say?  
A. Believe and live, or rather live and believe. But the old is, Do, Do, and requires nothing but doing till it breaketh the poor heart with endeavouring what we can never do.  
Q. Can you build a House?  
A. Yes, and sooner go to Rome than keep one of the ten commandments as I should. Do you think I can look upon