Selected quad for the lemma: book_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A26345
|
The main principles of Christian religion in a 107 short articles or aphorisms, generally receiv'd as being prov'd from scripture : now further cleared and confirm'd by the consonant doctrine recorded in the articles and homilies of the Church of England ... / by Tho. Adams ...
|
Adams, Thomas, fl. 1612-1653.
|
1675
(1675)
|
Wing A493; ESTC R32695
|
131,046
|
217
|
Petitions I. A. 101. II. A. 102. III. A. 103. IV. A. 104. V. A. 105. VI. A. 106. Conclusion A. 107. Principles of Christian Religion in an 107 Articles with a short and easie Explanation CHAP. I. Of things to be believed comprehended in the Apostles Creed Or a brief Sum of Christian Doctrine which ought to be received or believed Articles of Religion 1562. Artic. 8. For they may be proved by most certain warrant of Holy Scripture A. 1. MAns chief End is to glorifie God and to enjoy him for ever Homil. 3. Of Salvation Above all things and in all things to advance the glory of God of whom only we have our sanctification justification salvation and redemption Expl. 1. In which A. there are these four things to be explain'd 1. What we are to understand by a mans end And the Answer is That by a mans end we mean that which a man doth intend or aim at in all his actions or that which he does propose to himself as the reason of what he does ex gr when you see a man buâ—lding a House if you ask him the reason why he builds a House or what he intends in so doing his answer will be to dwell in it And here his dwelling in his House when he hath built it is his end in building his House So again when you see a man going to Church if you ask him what he goes to Church for he 'll presently tell you to hear a Sermon Now this being that which he does design in going to Church sc. to hear a Sermon it may very well be called his end in going to Church But then 2 dly It is next to be explained what is meant by a mans chief end Now a mans chief end is that which he doth principally aim at in all his actions As to keep to the last instance though it be a mans end in going to Church to hear a Sermon yet that is but a lower end and that which he does only design in order to his chief end which is to glorifie God and to enjoy Communion with God by hearing his word This Question therefore What is the chief end of man is q. d. what is mans chief errand into the world or what did God make man for or what is the great business that should take up the greatest part of a mans time thoughts cares affections and endeavours whilst he lives in the world or what is it that a man is principally to drive at in all his words thoughts and actions in all his duties both to God and man and in all his dealings with the world Now this is that which should be his general drift in all sc. To glorifie God and to enjoy God both in this world and a better And this is the plain meaning of those Scriptures which are here made use of as proofs But alas is it not sadly to be lamented that the corrupt generality of people have quite forgotten what errand they were sent about into the world whilst some make worldly honours and preferments their chief end as the ambitious others make worldly gain and profit their chief end and that which they mainly drive at as the covetous and others do make their carnal pleasures delights sports and pastimes their chief end as if God had put them into the world as the Psalmist reports of the Leviathans being put into water to play therein and this is the case of the younger sort generally of vain and wicked people who either do not know or will not consider that the end of their Creation was to honour and enjoy their Creator both here and hereafter 3 dly What it is to glorifie God may be thus explained namely it is to live according to his will revealed in his word or it is to think speak and do according to the Rule of his word 1. We glorifie God in our thoughts or in our hearts when we dare not allow our selves to think any thing that is not stampt with Gods authority and allowance and more particularly when our thoughts of God of his works words and all that relates to him are such as do become his excellent Greatness So when we fear love admire trust and desire him above all 2. We glorifie him in our words when our speech is not corrupt vain and idle but seasoned with grace 3. In our actions when we make his word our rule and his glory our great and general end in all our actions 4 thly What it is to enjoy God we may best conceive of it by what it is to enjoy a friend Now this is we know to have his presence company and converse and to take delight in his society So to enjoy God it is to converse with God to be well-pleased with his gracious presence and not only to have him to be our Friend or Father but to entertain this King of glory in our hearts and affections Or as wicked men do look upon the greatest part of their enjoyment to consist in that which they miscall good-fellowship so the Christians enjoying of God is to have fellowship with him Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ. And to maintain and keep up this fellowship with God for ever it is to enjoy him for ever which in reference to a Christians enjoyment of God in glory is called a being for ever with the Lord 1 Thes. 4.17 A 2. The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament is the only Rule to direct us how we may glorifie and enjoy him Artic. vi In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament of whose Authority was never any doubt in the Church Homil. 1. Unto a Christian man there can be nothing either more necessary or profitable than the knowledg of holy Scripture for as much as in it is contained Gods true Word setting forth his glory and also mans duty As many as be desirous to enter into the right and perfect way unto God must apply their minds to know holy Scripture without the which they can neither sufficiently know God and his Will neither their office and duty Let us willingly search for the well of life in the Books of the Old and New Testament and not run to the stinking Puddles of mens Traditions devised by mens imagination for our justification and salvation Expl. 2. When the written Word of God is here called a Rule we may understand it thus That as an Artificer suppose a Mason or Bricklayer in raising a Wall or a Carpenter in squaring a piece of Timber makes use of his Rule and by applying this to his work comes to know whether it be streight or crooked So the Christian who would order his spiritual Building or Conversation aright so as to glorifie and enjoy God he must lay every stone in this spiritual
the Spirit of God doth highly commend the practice according to it as that wherein he much delighteth and therefore makes it necessary to us who should be solicitous to please him yea in the Families wherein we live as well as in the Congregation as a part of that solemn service he hath appointed in his word with Prayers and Praises Unless persons learn the Principles of Christian Doctrine they will not be able to hear Sermons with profit nor understand clearly and distinctly the nature of Faith Repentance Iustification c. nor to give a reason of the hope that is in them which they are required to do And the rather that they may withstand fundamental errors as well as resist evil practices which was memorably seen in the very Children of Merindol who made a solemn Confession of their Faith from Scripture amazing and confounding their persecuting adversaries That shining Star Luther in the dawning of the Reformation used to say his Catechism was parva Biblia the little Bible meaning a short sum of that heavenly Doctrine which the very Son of God did publish from the bosom of his eternal Father and which the Holy Spirit did reveal by the Prophets and Apostles for the salvation of our souls This might move him reforming the Church from the dregs of Idolatry and Superstition to carry his Catechism always along with him to read and peruse it almost every day as he did affirming seriously that he always learned something from it which he did not at least so practically know before Agreeable whereunto in our age said laborious holy and zealous Mr. Ioseph Alleine concerning Catechism If any think themselves above it 't is from their pride or ignorance for my part I account my self a learner And therefore a Sum of Christian Principles methodically digested and explain'd ought to be sought after and embrac'd by us as a precious treasure yea for the elder to have recourse to but more especially for the younger who almost from their very Cradles may learn something of it as the Apostle speaks that as new-born Babes they may receive the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby Upon this account I earnestly intreat you who can justly claim a superiority in your own houses that you would bethink your selves what an authority you are entrusted with from God who requires you to exercise it with an holy zeal and maintain it with all Christian prudence without Lordliness and rigour endeavour to be well skill'd in the Scripture consult the several tempers of those within your doors allot fit and stated seasons for the getting of these Principles by heart and watch over them daily with care both as to their set task and practice answerable to these Principles keeping them seriously to mind both the business of Religion in their general Calling and of their distinct worldly employments in their particular Callings Suffer not your selves and houses to go hurrying to Hell by opposing Gods most wise government of the world which he carries on orderly for the safety and comfort of his Servants by well-instructed Families such as Abrahams was who became instrumental to carry down the knowledg of God in all peaceableness to posterity so as to leave an expectation of Gods blessing upon them whose welfare Nature it self doth move us to promote The truth is My Friends if we did but remember our selves as we are Christians dedicated to God by Baptism expecting benefit by the purchase of Christ we should consider we are not our own but bought with a price under the greatest obligation to live to him that hath bought us and should take all possible care that we and ours might be His. Do then I beseech you all you can to save your selves and others Oh! pity their poor souls defiled by sin and expos'd to misery Oh! let them not perish through your carelesness lest any of them say in Hell as Cyprian brings in Children saying their Parents were their Murderers 'T is long of you that we lye in easeless torments Bewail the corrupted sad estate of your Children as descending and deriving pollution from you Let them timely know the only remedy bring them to reverence the holy God and read his word with greatest awe shewing them the danger of breaking his Commandments the benefit of ordering their lives according to his mind that they may truly glorifie and enjoy him Charge them to take heed they be not carryed away with an inordinate love to the profits pleasures and honours of this life but learn the great lessons of self-denial and cleaving to the Lord Jesus with full purpose of heart bearing patiently whatever he is pleas'd to try them with And be sure you neglect not seasonably and duly to admonish and correct them that their iniquities be not their ruine Do you who are Inferiours willingly submit Oh! take heed of refusing instruction or opposing the means which is used to bring you acquainted with God and your selves lest you be found guilty of shutting out the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God that it may not shine into your hearts II. Concerning the import and usefulness of this small Book I do here put into your hands and houses praying the spiritual matter of it may reach to and abide in your hearts You see here be under four chief Heads or Chapters an 107 short Articles which also are Answers to the Questions in the Margin now generally received These A.'s are as so many entire Sentences or distinct Propositions and Aphorisms the Commandments are Ten of them without depending for their sense upon any Question containing the fundamentals of Christian knowledg and practice so that the Learner may by committing them to memory lay up in his heart the Sum of Christianity and make a profession confession or repetition of it when call'd in a continued speech or else answer to any part of it particularly when the Questions in the Margin are used by another making enquiry into his knowledg These several Articles you find have plain proofs from Scripture at large to shew that these necessary matters of Faith and Obedience are surely founded upon the never-failing word of God whose supream authority should be of force to awe our consciences and engage our hearts to the practise of those things which do appear to be our indispensable duties Unto Divine warrant for further illustration and confirmation here are the Testimonies brought from the authentick Records of Reformed Religion amongst us I mean the Articles and Homilies of the Church of England as agreeing with and clearing or strengthening of the several Propositions yea and very consonant to the main body of the materials in the short Catechism which is in the Common Prayer Book to be learn'd by every Child before he be confirm'd or admitted to receive the Holy Communion For the four chief heads there are the Creed or things to be