Ans. First the corruption of nature called originall sinne derived by continuall discent from Father to Sonne wherewith all the powers of the soule and body are infected and that in all men equally and then actuall sin ariseth from hence Shew how the principall powers of the soule are defiled by this corruption of our nature Ans. First the understanding is blinded with ignorance and infidelity Secondly the memory is prone to forget the good things which the understanding hath conceived Thirdly the will is disobedient unto the will of God understood and remembred by us the freedome and holinesse which it had at the first being lost and is now wholly bent to sin Fourthly the affections are ready to overrule the wil and are subject to all disorder Lastly the conscience it selfe is distempered and polluted In what sort is the conscience thus distempered Ans. The duties therof being two especially to give direction in things to be done and to give both witnesse and judgement in things done for the first it sometimes giveth no direction at all and thereupon maketh a man to sin in doing of an action otherwise good and lawfull sometimes it giveth a direction but a wrong one and so becommeth a blind guide forbidding to doe things which God alloweth and commanding to doe things which God forbiddeth For the second it sometimes giveth no judgement at all nor checking the offender as it should but being benummed and as it were seared with an hot yron It sometimes giveth judgement but falsly condemning where it should excuse and excusing where it should condemne thereby filling the mind with false fears or feeding it with vaine comforts and somtimes giveth true judgement but uncomfortable and fearfull tormenting the guilty soule as it were with the flashes of hell-fire What are the kinds of actuall sinn◠Ans. Such as are inward in the thoughts of the mind and lusts of the heart or outward in word or deed whereby the things are done which should be omitted and those things omitted which should be done What is the death which all men are subject unto by reason of these sinnes Ans. The curse of God both upon the things that belong unto them such as are their Wife and Children honour possessions use of Gods Creatures and upon their own persons in life and death What are the curses they are subject to in this life Ans. All temporall calamities both in body which is subject unto infinite miseries and in soule which is plagued somtime with madnesse sometime with the terrour of a guilty conscience sometimes with a benummed and seared conscience sometime with hardnesse of heart which cannot repent and finally a spirituall slavery under the power of the world and the devill What is the death that followeth this miserable life Ans. First a separation of the soule from the body and then an everlasting seperation of the whole man from the presence of God with unspeakable torment in hell-fire never to be ended which is the second death If all mankind be subject to this damnation how then shall any man be saved Ans. Surely by this first Covenant of the Law no flesh can be saved but every one must receive in himselfe the sentence of condemnation yet the Lord being a God of mercy hath not left us here but entred into a second Covenant with mankind What is the second Covenant A. The Gospel or the Covenant of grace wherby God promiseth everlasting life unto man upon condition that he be reconciled to him in Christ for as the cōdition of the 1. was the continuance of that justice which was to be found in mans own person so the condition of the second is the obtaining of that justice which is found without himselfe in the person of the Mediator Jesus Christ. What are we to consider in Christ our Mediator Ans. Two things his nature and his office How many natures be there in Christ Ans. Two the God-head and the Manhood remaining still distinct in their substance properties and actions How many persons hath he Ans. Only one which is the person of the Son of God for the second person in the Trinity tooke upon him not the person but the nature of man to wit a body and a reasonable soule which doe not subsist alone as we see in all other men but are wholly sustained in the person of the Son of God What is the use of this wonderfull union of the two natures in one Person Ans. Our nature being received into the Union of the Person of the Son of God the sufferings and the obedience which it performed became of infinite value as being the sufferings of him who was God equal with the Father What is the Office of Christ Ans. To be a Mediator betwixt God and Man What par◠of his Office did he exercise concerning God Ans. His Priesthood What are the parts of his Priestly Office Ans. The satisfaction of Gods justice and his intercession What is required of Christ for the satisfaction of Gods justice Ans. The paying of the price which was due for the breach of the Law committed by mankinde and the performance of that righteousnesse which man by the Law was bound unto but unable to accomplish How was Christ to pay the price which was due for the sinne of mankind Ans. By that wonderful humiliation wherby he that was equall with God made himselfe of no reputation and became obedient unto the death sustaining both in body and soule the curse that was due to the transgression of the Law What righteousnes was there required of Christ in our behalfe Ans. Both originall which he had from His conception being conceived by the Holy-Ghost in all purenesse and holinesse of nature and actual which he performed by yeelding perfect obedience in the whole course of His life unto all the precepts of Gods Law What is the Intercession of Christ Ans. That part of His Priesthood whereby He maketh request unto His Father for us and presenteth unto Him both our Persons and our imperfect obedience making both of them however in themselves polluted by the merit of His satisfaction to be acceptable in Gods sight Thus much of that part of the office of the Mediatour which is exercised in things concerning God how doth He exercise himselfe in things concerning man Ans. By communicating unto man that grace and redemption which he hath purchased from His Father What parts of His Office doth He exercise here An. His Propheticall and Kingly Office What is His Propheticall Office Ans. That whereby He informeth us of the benefits of our redemption and revealeth the whole will of His Father unto us both by the outward meanes which He hath provided for the instruction of His Church and by inward enlightning of our mindes by His Holy Spirit What is the Kingly office Ans. That whereby He ruleth His Subjects and confoundeth all his enemies
Ministerie w ch coÌ„sisteth in the delivery of doctrine What is a Sacrament Ans. A Sacrament is a visible signe ordeined by God to bee a Seale for confirmation of the promises of the Gospell unto the true members in Christ. VVhat are the SacrameÌ„ts ordained by Christ in the New Testament Ans. Baptisme and the Lords Supper What is Baptisme Ans. The Sacrament of our admission into the Church sealing unto us our new birth by the communion which wee have with Christ Iesus What doth the elements of water in Baptisme represent unto us Ans. The bloud and merits of Iesus Christ our Lord. What doth the clensing of the body â—epresent Ans. The clensing of the Soule by the for givenesse of sinne and imputation of Christs righteousnesse What doth the being under the water aad the freeing from it againe represent Ans. Our dying unto sinne by the force of Christs death and living againe unto righteousnesse through His Resurrection What is the Lords Supper Ans. A Sacrament of our preservation in the Church sealing unto us our spirituall nourishment and continuall increase in CHRIST What doth the elements of Bread and Wine in the Lords supper represent unto us Ans. The Body and Bloud of Christ. What doth the breaking of the Bread and powring out of the Wine represent Ans. The sufferings whereby our Saviour was broken for our iniquities the shedding of His precious bloud and powring out of His Soule unto death VVhat doth the râ—ceiving of the Bread and VVine represent Ans The receiving of Chrâ—st by faith VVhat doth the nourishmrnt which our body receiveth by vertue of this outward meat seal uÌ„to us Ans. The perfect nourishment and continuall increase of strength w ch the inward man injoyeth by vertue of the Communion with Iesus Christ after the course of this life is ended VVhat shall bee the state of man in the world to come Ans. Every one to be rewarded according to the life which hee hath lead How many kindes bee there of this judgement Ans. Two the one particular the other generall VVhat call you the particular judgement Ans. That which is given upon the Soule of every man as soone as it is departed from the body What is the state of the Soule of man as soone as hee departeth out of this life Ans. The Soules of Gods Children bee presenâ—ly received into heaven there to injoy unspeakeable Comforts the soules of the wicked are sent into hel there to endure endles tormeÌ„nts VVhat call you the generall judgement Ans. That which Christ shall in a solemne manner give upon all men at once when hee shal come at the last day with the glory of his father and all men that ever have beâ—n from the beginning of the world untill that day shall â—ppeare â—ogether before him boâ—h in body and soule whether they bee quiâ—ke or dead How shâ—ll the dead appeare before the judgement seate of Christ Ans. The Bodyes which they had in their life time shâ—ll by the Almighty power of God be restored againe and quickned with their soules and so there shall bee a Resurrection from the dead How shall the quicke appeare Ans. Such aâ— then remaine alâ—ve shâ—ll bee changed in the twinkling of an eye which shall bee to them in stead of death What sentence shall Christ pronounce upon the righteous Ans. Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world What sentence shall hee pronounce upon the wicked Ans. Depart from me yee cursed into everlasting fire which is prepared for the Devill and his Angels VVhat shall follow this Ans. Christ shall deliver up the kingdome to His FATHER and GOD shall bee all in all A Briefe Method OF Christian Religion WITH A more particular Declaration of some perticular heads of Doctrine which for more plainesse sake were shortly touched in the former Summe Heb. 6.1 Therefore leaving the Doctrine of the bâ—ginning of Christ. c. By Iames Vsher Bish. of Armagh London Printed for Geo. Badger 1646. THE Method of the Doctrine OF Christian Religion Question WHat certaine rule have we left us for our direction in the knowledge of the true Religion whereby we must be saved Ans. The holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament which God delivered unto us by the Ministerie of his servants the Prophets and Apostles to informe us perfectly in all things that are needfull for us to know in matters of Religion What be the generall heads of Religion which in these holy writings are delivered unto us Ans. The knowledge of Gods nature and kingdome What are we to consider in Gods nature Ans. First his Essence or being which is but one and then the persons which are three in number What doe you consider in Gods Essence or being Ans. His Perfection and Life How are we to conceive of God in regard of his Perfection Ans. That he is a Spirit most single and infinite having his being from himself and having need of nothing which is without himselfe Why doe you call God a Spirit Ans. To declare his being to be such as hath no body and is not subject to our outward senses that we admit not any base conceit of his Majesty in thinking him to be like unto any thing which can be seen by the eye of man What understand you by this singlenesse or simplicity of Gods nature Ans. That he hath no parts nor qualities in him but whatsoever is in him is God and Gods whole Essence What gather you of this that God hath no parts nor qualities Ans. That he neither can bee divided nor changed but remaineth alwayes in the same state without any alteration at all In what respect doe you call Gods Essence infinite Ans. In that it is free from all measure both of time and place How is God free from all measure of time Ans. In that he is eternall without beginning and without ending never elder nor younger and hath all things present unto him neither former or later past or to come How is God infinite in regard of place Ans. In that he filleth all things and places both within and without the world present every where contained no where How is he present every where hath he one part of himselfe here and another there Ans. No for he hath no parts at all whereby he might be divided and therefore must be wholly wheresoever he is What doe you call the life of God Ans. That by which the divine nature is in perpetuall action most simply and infinitely moving it self in respect whereof the Scripture calleth him the Living GOD. What gather you of the comparing this infinitenes and simplicity or singlenesse of Gods nature with his life and motion Answ. That when strength justice and mercy are attributed unto God we must conceive that
of Doctrine and this is the ordinary instrument which God useth in begetting Faith What order is there used in the delivery of the Word for the begetting of Faith Ans. First the Covenant of the Law is urged to make sin and the punishment therof knowne wherupon the sting of conscience pricketh the heart with a sense of Gods wrath and maketh man utterly to despaire of any ability in himselfe to obtain everlasting life after this preparation the mercies of the Gospell are propounded wherupon the sinner resuming hope of pardon sueth unto God for mercy and particularly applyeth unto his own soul those comfortable promises and hath wrought in him by the Spirit of God an earnest desire at the least to beleeve and repent What is a Sacrament Ans. A visible signe ordained by God to be a seal for confirmation of the promises of the Gospel unto those who perform the conditions required in the same How is this done by a Sacrament A. By a fit similitude between the signe and the things signified the benefit of the Gospell is represented unto the eye and the assurance of enjoying the same confirmed to such as are within the Covenant Wherefore as the preaching of the word is the ordinary meanes of begetting Faith so both it and the holy use of the Sacraments bee the instruments of the Holy-Ghost to increase and confirme the same How many kindes of Sacraments be there Ans. Two the first of Admission of Gods children into the Church there to be pertakers of an everlasting communion with them the second of his preservation or nourishment therin to assure him of his continual increase in Christ in which respect the former is once the latâ—er often to be administred What doe you understand by Censures Ans. The Ordinance which God hath appointed for the confirmation of the threatnings of the Gospell against the disobedient How are these Censures exercised Ans. First by the word alone by admonition Secondly by afflicting a penaltie either by shutting up the offender in the Lords prison till such time as he shew tokens of repentance or by cutting off the rotten member from the rest of the body Hath this administration of the Gospell been alwayes after the same manner Ans. For substance it hath alwayes bin the same but in regard of the mâ—nner proper to certaine times it is distinguished into two kinds the old and the new What call you the old Ministry A. That which was delivered unto the Fathers to continue until the fulnesse of time wherein by the comming of Christ it was to be reformed What were the Properties of this Ministry Ans. First the Commandements of the Law were more largely and the promises of Christ more sparingly and darkly propounded these laâ—ter being so much the more generally and obscurely delivered as the manifesting of them was further off Secondly these promises of things to come were shadowes with a similitude of Types and Figures which when the truth should be exhibited were to vanish away What were the chiefe States and Periods of this old Ministry Ans. The first from Adam to Abraham the second from Abraham to Christ. What were the speciall Properties of the latter of these two Periods Ans. First it was more especially restrained unto a certain Family and Nation Secondly it had joyned with it a solemne repetition and declaration of the first Covenant of the Law Thirdly besides the Ceremonies which were greatly inlarged under Moses it had Sacraments also added unto it What were the ordinary Sacraments of this Ministry Ans. The Sacrament of Admission in the Church was Circumcision instituted in the dayes of Abraham The other of continual preservation and nourishment the Paschall Lambe instituted in the time of Moses What is the new Administration of the Gospell Ans. That which is delivered unto us by Christ to continue unto the end of the world What are the Properties thereof Ans. First it is indifferently propounded unto all people whether they be Jewes or Gentiles and in that respect is Catholique or Universall Secondly it is full of grace and truth bringing joyfull tydings unto mankinde that whatsoever was formerly promised of Christ is now accomplished and so in stead of the ancient types and shadowes exhibited the things themselves with a large declaration of all the benefits of the Gospell What be the principall points of the word of this Ministery Ans. That Christ our Saviour whom God by his Prophets had promised to send into the World is come in the flesh and hath accomplished the worke of our redemption That he was conceived by the Holy-Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified and dyed upon the Crosse That Body and Soule being thus separated his body was laid in the grave and remained under the power of death and his soule went into the place appointed for the soules of the righteous namely Paradise the Seat of the Blessed That the third day body and soule being joyned together againe he rose from the dead and afterwards ascended up into Heaven where he sitteth at the right hand of His Father until such time as He shall come unto the last Judgement What are the Sacraments of this Ministry Ans. The Sacrament of Admission into the Church is Bâ—ptisme which sealeth unto us our Spirituall Birth the other Sacrament of our continuall preservation is the Lords Supper which sealeth unto us our continuall nourishment FINIS 2 Pet. 1.19 2 Tim. 3.15 â— Pet. 2.21 2 Tim. 3.16 Lu. 16.29 Gal. 1.8 Esay 8.20 2 Tim. 3.16.17 a Deut. 31 11.12 Iosh. 8.35 Ioh. 5.39 b Acts 17.11 1 Cor. 4.6 2 Principle a Iohn 4 24 b Apoc. 1.8 Act. 17.24 25. c Pro. 8.14 1 Tim. 1.17 Iob 9 1â—.13 Iâ—r 10.12 Exo. 34.6 7 Psal. 147.17 Col. 1.15 Rom. 1.23 Deut. 4.12 ver 12.16 1 Tim. 1.17 Eph. 4 5 6 1 Cor. 8.4 Deu. 4.35 39 Mat. 28.19 1 Ioh. 5 7. d Heb. 1.3 5 e Heb. 1.5 Heb. 1.6 Ioh. 1.14 Ioh 85.26 Gal. 4 6. 3 Principle Acts 2 22. cap. 15.18 Psal. 33.11 Gen. 1.1 Heb. 11.3 Exod. 20.11 Rev. 4.11 Heb. 1.7.14 Gen. 2.7 Heb. 12 9. Gen. 2.7 Gen. 3.19 Eccl. 12.7 Ma. 10 28. Rev. 6.9 2 Cor. 5.8 Gen. 1.26.27 cap 9.6 Col. 3.10 Eph. 4.24 Eccl 7.29 Gen. 1.26.27 Gen. 2.18 Act. 17 26 1 Tim. 2.13 4 Principle Ioh. 5.17 Neh. 9.6 Psa. 119.91 Heb. 1.3.11 Act 17.26 28 Mat. 20 30 Pro. 16.33 Mat. 25.31 ver 41. Iude 6. Ioh. 8 44. 1 Joh. 3.8 Mat 15.32 41 Ioh. 8 4◠〈◊〉 3.8 1 Tim. 5.21 Mat. 18.10 Lu. 20.36 2 â—et 2.4 Iude 6. Mat. 25.41 Rev. 20.10 Mal. 2.10 Gen. 2.17 Rom. 2.15 Luke 10.26.27 Rom. 7.7.12.14 Gal. 3 10.12 2 Tim. 3.5 Gal. 3.12 Lu. 10·25 26.27.28 Rom. 7 10 cap. 10.5 Gen. 2.17 Gal. 3·10 â—ev 26.26.14.15 Deu. 28.15.16 â—8 19.20 5 Principle Gen. 3.1.6 Eccl. 7 29. Ioâ—n 8 44 Rom. 5.14 15 Rom.
How doth He rule His Subjects Ans. By making the Redemption which He hath wrought effectuall in the Elect calling those whom by His Prophetical office He hath taught to embrace the benefits offered unto them and governing them being called both by these outward Ordinances which He hath instituted in the Church and by the inward operation of His blessed Spirit Having thus declared the Natures and Office of Christ the Mediator of the New Covenant What are you now to consider in the condition of mankinde which hold by Him Ans. Two things the perticipation of the grace of Christ effectually communicated by the operation of Gods Spirit unto the Catholike Church which is the Body and Spouse of Christ out of which there is no salvation and the outward meanes ordained for the offering and effecting of the same vouchsafed unto the Visible Church How is the Grace of God effectually communicated to the Elect of whom the Catholike Church doth consist Ans. By that wonderfull Union whereby Christ and His Church are made one so that all the Elect being ingrafted into him grow together into one Misticall Body whereof He is the Head What is the bond of this union Ans. The communion of Gods Spirit which being derived from that Man Christ Jesus upon all the Elect as from the Head unto the Members giveth unto them Spirituall life and maketh them pertakers of Christ with all His benefits What are the benefits which arise to Gods children from hence Ans. Reconciliation and Sanctification What is Reconciliation A. That grace wherby we are freed from Gods curse and restored unto His Fatherly favour What are the branches of this Reconciliation Ans. Justification and Adoption What is Iustification Ans. That Grace whereby we are freed from the gilt of sinne and accounted righteous in Christ Jesus our Redeemer How then must sinfull man looke to be justified in the sight of God Ans. By the mercy of God alone whereby he freely bestoweth His Sonne upon him imputing mans sinnes unto Christ and Christs Righteousnes unto man whereby the sinner being possessed of Jesus Christ obtaineth of God remission of sinnes and imputation of Righteousnesse What is Adoption Ans. That grace wherby we are not only made friends with God but also His Sons and heires with Christ. What is Sanctificaâ—â—â—n A. That grace wherby we are freed from that bondage of sin remaining in us and restored unto the freedome of Righteousnesse What be parts of Sanctification Ans. Mortification whereby our naturall corruption is subdued and vivification or quickning whereby inherent holinesse is renewed in us Is there no distinction to be made among them that thus receive Christ Ans. Yes for some are not capable of knowledge as Infants and such as we terme Naturals Othersome are of discretion in the former sort we are not to proceed further then Gods election and the secret operation of the Holy-Ghost In the other there is further required a lively faith bringing forth fruit of true holines Is it in mans power to attaine this Faith and Holinesse Ans. No but God worketh them in his children according to that measure which he in his children seeth fit What doe you understand by Faith Ans. A gift of God whereby man being perswaded not only of the truth of Gods Word in generall but also of the promises of the Gospell in particular applieth Christ with all his benefits unto the comfort of his owne soule How are we said to be justified by Faith Ans. Not as though we were just for the worthinesse of this vertue for in such respect Christ alone is our righteousnesse but because faith and faith only is the instrument fit to apprehend and receive not to worke or procure our justification and so to knit us unto Christ that we may be made perâ—akers of all his benefits What is that holinesse which accompanieth this justifying faith Ans. A gift of God whereby the heart of the beleever is withdrawne from evill and converted unto newnes of life Wherein doth this vertue shew it selfe Ans. First in unfained repentance and then in cheerfull obedience springing from the same What are the parts of repentance Ans. Two a true griefe wrought in the heart of the beleever for offending so gracious a God by his former transgressions And a conversion unto God againe with full purpose of heart ever after to cleave unto him and to refraine from that which shall be displeasing in his sight What is the direction of that obedience which God requireth of man A. The morall Law whereof the ten Commandements are an abridgement What is the summe of the Law Ans. Love What bee the parts thereof Ans. The love which wee owe unto God coÌ„manded in the first and the love which we owe unto our Neighbours commanded in the second Table How do you distinguish the foure Commandements which belong unto the first Table Ans. They doe either respect the conforming of the inward powers of the soule to the acknowledgement of the true God as the first Commandement or the holy use of the outward meanes of Gods worship as in the three following What are the duties which concerne the outward means of Gods worship Ans. They are either such as are to be performed every day as occasion shall require or such as are appointed for a certaine day What Commandements do belong unto the first kinde Ans. The second concerning the solemne worship of Religion and the third concerning that respect which we are to have of Gods honour in the common carriage of our life What Commandement belongeth to the second kinde Ans. The fourth injoyning the speciall sanctification of the Sabbath day How doe you distinguish the six Commandements belonging to the second Table Ans. The first five doe ordaine such actions as are injoyned with consent of the mind at least The last respecteth the first motions that arise in the heart before any consent be given What are the duties â—ppertaining to the first kinde Ans. They are either due unto certaine persons in regard of some speciall bonds or to all men in generall by a certaine rite the first sort is set down in the first Commandement the other in the foure next What is the outward meanes whereby the Gospell is offered unto mankinde A. The Ministry of the Gospell which is exercised in the visible Church of Christ. Of whom doth the visible Church consâ—st Ans. Of publike Officers ordained to be Ministers of Christ and disposers of Heavenly things according to the Prescript of the Lord and the rest of the Saints who with obedience are to subject themselves to the Ordinance of God What are the parts of the outward Ministry Ans. The administration of the Word and of the Ordinances exercised thereunto which are especially Sacraments and Censures What is the Word Ans. That part of the outward Ministry which consisteth in the delivery