who come to the House of Prayer Q. Why is the Time generally in the Night A. The first Christians were forced so to Bury and later Ages imitated them only adding divers Lights to shew their Hope of the Party 's being gone to Light everlasting Q. Why do Friends follow the Corps to the Grave A. To mind them that they must shortly follow the deceased in the same Path of Death Q. Why doth the Priest meet at the Church gate in his Surplice A. To allay the Sorrow which naturally seizeth on us when we follow a dear Friend to the Grave the Priest meets us in white the Colour of Joy in imitation of the Angels who go out in white Garments to receive the Soul so doth he to receive the body of the faithful A. 2. This is the Attire which is appointed for the Minister in the Performance of all his Publick offices Q. Why are those Sentences said in the Way A. To excite the Company to Faith Patience and Thankfulness Q. Why is the Body brought into the Church A. To shew the Party died in the Communion thereof Q. What is the meaning of those words in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to Eternal Life A. This is not spoken of the Party deceased but of the belief of the Standers by of this Article themselves and therefore we say afterward who shall change our vile body and not of the Party deceased Q. Why are Prayers said at the Grave A. Since the sight of that Place and of the Corps now ready to be put into it is wont to make great Impressions on us the Church takes this occasion to fit us with Devotions at the Grave 2. To shew the peculiar hope of the Church of the Resurrection of the Dead In the manner of dumb Funerals what one thing is there whereby the World may perceive we are Christians there being in those dumb Shows nothing but what Heathens and Pagans do Of the Churching of Women Quest WHY is the Woman ordered to come to Church and offer up her publick Praises Answ The Birth of Man is little less than a Miracle and lest the Frequency should diminish our Sense of it the Woman who hath received this wonderful Mercy is ordered to come to Church and offer up her publick Praises Q. What Reason for this Command of the Church A. The Original is from the Law of Moses Levit. 12. which commands all Women after they had born a Child to come to the House of God within a certain number of days and with a Sacrifice to praise God for this great Mercy and although the Ceremonial Reason be ceased yet the Obligation to make a publick Acknowledgment of so eminent a Favour remains still and in all Ages Christian Mothers have observed this holy Rite Q. Why is the Church the Place appointed to do this in A. It must be done thus publickly 1. For God's Honour 2. To satisfy the Womans Duty who is bound to let God's Goodness be shewed forth that others may learn to trust in him 3. By this means many are brought to join in God's Praises for so publick a Mercy and therefore to do this in a private House is absurd and contrary to the main end of the Office Of the Commination Quest WHAT was the Reason and Occasion of composing this Office A. To supply the want of Primitive Discipline that every Man may judge himself since the Church now judgeth so few Offenders Q. Why are those Sentences of God's Cursing against impenitent Sinners read A. In Imitation of the Jews who were appointed by God yearly to observe this Office Q. Doth not he that says Amen wish a Curse to himself A. It is no Adverb of Wishing it signifies no more than an Assent to the truth of that to which it is added Q. What Vse may we make of this Office A. It may be useful to make us flee such Vices and repent of them which here are mentioned since we acknowledge the Curse and Vengeance of God doth deservedly follow such Sins and Sinners Q. What Days in the Week are set apart for Publick Worship throughout the World A. Sunday or the Lord's Day is observ'd by Christians Monday by the Grecians Tuesday by the Persians Wednesday by the Assyrians Thursday by the Egyptians Friday by the Turks Saturday by the Jews An Account of the Titles of all the Books of the Old and New Testament and why they are stil'd Canonical and the meaning of the Word Apocryphal which Title is given to those Books which are not Received into the Canon Of the Old Testament or Covenant THE Books in Holy Scripture are call'd Canonical because according to Rule and Order they have been received into the Canon that is into the Number of those Writings which are unquestionably acknowledged to be the Writings of the Prophets and Holy Men inspired in the Old Testament or Covenant And of the Apostles and Disciples of Christ in the New Testament or Covenant The Word in Greek which is translated Testament signifies both a Covenant and a Testament Both the Words in the Title of the Holy Bible may be used 1. That of Covenant as being most agreeable to the use of the Word in the Sacred Dialect and most agreeable to the Nature of the Gospel which is the Law of Faith 2. That Word of a Testament also wherein the Christian's Inheritance is sealed to him as to a Son and Heir of God's and wherein the Death of Christ as of a Testator is set down at large by way of Story and as it is applicable to our Benefit Of the Pentateuch THE Five first Books in the beginning of the Holy Bible viz. Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy were Penned by Moses and called the Pentateuch which word signifies a Volume of Five Books Of Genesis This First Book of Moses contains the History of the Creation of the World particularly of the Making of Man with which it begins and the Genealogy of the Patriarchs down to the Death of Joseph where it ends with relation whereunto it is very fitly called Genesis that Greek word very properly expressing the Original or first Formation of these things It comprehends an History of 2369 Years or thereabout in the Judgment of many Learned Writers Exodus This Book hath its Name from the Principal Subject of it viz. The Departure of the Children of Israel out of Egypt For so the Greek word signifies Going out or Departing from one place to another It contains an History of about 145 Years from the Death of Joseph to the Building of the Tabernacle for it treats of several things which went before their departure and which followed after it but they all Relate to that and depend upon it Leviticus Levi was the Third Son of Jacob from him his Posterity had the Name of Levites Aaron who with his Sons was called to the Priesthood was from him called a Levite and the Priesthood that was setled in that
Babylon to which he was carried Captive Daniel This Book is Historical to the Seventh Chapter and Prophetical in the rest Daniel lived at the End of the Babylonish Captivity Hosea Hosea a Prophet sent to the Ten Tribes chiefly composed this Prophecy Joel Joel Prophesied about the same time with Hosea to the Two Tribes chiefly Amos. Amos Prophesied at the same time with Hosea and to the same Persons viz. To the Ten Tribes chiefly Obadiah Obadiah foretelleth the Destruction of the Idumeans who came of Esau Jacob's Brother Jonah Jonah was a Prophet in Israel in the days of Jeroboam the Second but was sent to Nineveh the chief City of the Assyrians Micah Micah Prophesied at the same time with Isaiah and are alike in the Subject Matter and Stile he declares the Destruction of Israel and Judah by the Assyrians and by the Chaldaeans Nahum Nahum Prophesied of the Destruction of the Assyrians by the Chaldaeans and Medes Habakkuk Habakkuk Prophesied of the Destruction of Israel and Judah by the Chaldaeans as also of the Punishment on the Chaldaeans or Babylonians Zephaniah Zephaniah Prophesied but a few Years before the Captivity of Babylon and threatneth Jerusalem and Judah with utter Desolation Haggai Haggai Prophesied after the 70 Years Captivity of the Jews return from Babylon and exhorts them to Rebuild the Temple Zechariah Zechariah was sent to confirm the Doctrine of Haggai and to help on the Work of the Building the Temple but his Style is more Sublime and Mysterious He Prophesied in the Reign of Darius in whose Sixth Year the Temple was finished Malachy Malachy Prophesied after the Re-edifying of the Temple and endeth the Prophets Apochryphal Books The word Apocryphal signifies that which is hidden unknown or doubtful Those Books which carry that Title and are bound up in our Bibles are so called because it is doubted whether they be True Scripture or not certainly known to be so for so the word in the Greek signifies They are not in the Hebrew yet most of them are of much worth containing many worthy Documents and especially the History of the Maccabees is of singular Use for the Interpretation of the two last Chapters of Daniel and part of the Second Seventh and Eighth Chapters of that Prophet The New Testament or Covenant THE word in Greek which is translated Testament signifies both a Covenant and a Testament a Covenant as may appear by the Adjunct New which notes the opposition of This to the Old so that this Book is what the Old was not a Testament to which Death is supposed necessary but a Covenant or Stipulation betwixt God and his People the Jews promising Mercies and requiring Duties of them The Gospel according to St. Matthew THE Word Gospel comes from a Saxon word which is compounded of God and Spell and is in English good Tidings and by Euphony that is for better Sound sake we pronounce it Gospel delivered here in History of the Birth Life Actions Precepts Promises Death Resurrection and Ascension of Christ The Writers of this History are commonly called Evangelists which may in general signifie any Preacher of the Gospel but is more peculiarly applied to those that wrote the History of Christ's Life and Death c. viz. St. Matthew St. Mark St. Luke St. John The meaning of that Phrase according to St. Matthew is no more than that He compiled and set down that Gospel or good and Gladsom Word St. Mark St. Mark 's Gospel was dictated by St. Peter whose Disciple Amanuensis or Scribe St. Mark was St. Luke St. Luke was the Disciple and Follower of St. Paul who wrote this Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles St. John St. John the beloved Apostle wrote this Gospel The Epistles The Epistles were written by those that bear their Name viz. St. Paul St. Peter St. James St. Jude and St. John the Apostle by whom the Apocalypse or the Revelation was wrote also Epistle to the Hebrews Whether the Epistle to the Hebrews was written by St. Paul hath not only of Late but Anciently been doubted And as the Title which is in our Copy pretending not to be a part of the Epistle is not sufficient to conclude any more Than that it was in that time when this Title was prefix'd believed to be St. Paul's So there is no doubt but that it went without any Superscription or Known Author more Anciently and so has left some place to Variety of Conjectures who the Author should be Some Father it on St. Barnabas some on Clemens Romanus others on St. Luke the latter very Learned Men contend for from the Observation of the Stile and Idiom But all that can be said can amount to no higher than to Probable or Conjectural And 't is not Matter of any weight or Necessity that it be defined who the Author was whether St. Paul or St. Luke a constant Companion of his for many Years and the Author of two other Books of the Sacred Canon FINIS
Penitential Psalms A. Psalm the 6. 32. 38. 51. 102. 130. 143. Q. Why is Glory to the Father c. used at the end of every Psalm A. 1. Because we do not only glorifie the Holy Trinity which Mystery is more explicitly revealed to us under the Gospel than it was under the Law and by it we signifie that we believe the same God was worshipped by them as by us the same God that is glorified in the Psalms having been from the beginning Father Son and Holy Ghost 2. But we also six as it were this part of the Old Testament for the Service of God under the Gospel and make them Evangelical Offices Q. Why are two Lessons read one out of the Old Testament and another out of the New A. To shew the Harmony and Agreement of both what was foretold in the one is fulfilled in the other 2. This Method of Reading doth tend or fitly serve that from the smaller things the Mind may go forward to the Knowledge of greater Q. What is Holy Scripture A. A perfect Revelation of God's Will as far as is necessary to our Salvation and a compleat Rule both for our Faith and Manners Q. Why are any Chapters omitted to be read A. Because they are such as have been read already as the Chronicles being for the most part the same with the Kings or else full of Genealogies 2. The more profitable Chapters are read the difficulter being not so properly said to be omitted as to be remitted to private Consideration Q. Why are the Apocryphal appointed to be read A. Not as any Rule of Faith but because they are excellent Instructions of Life and Conversation and accounted nearest to Divine of any Writings and therefore may be read publickly with Profit and more safely than Sermons can be ordinarily preached there Q. Why are those Books call'd Apocryphal A. Because it is doubted whether they be true Scripture or not certainly known to be so for so the Greek word signifies Q. That we may profit by hearing the Old Testament pray inform us what the Moral Part of the Law will teach us A. It will teach us what is Sin together with the Blessings and Cursings expressed in Phrases relating to things temporal but we may spiritually apply them Q. What doth the History of Holy Scripture serve for A. To confirm our Faith in God's Providence and comfort us in Affliction and to warn us against Sin Q. What Directions do the Poetick Books of Holy Scripture give us viz. the Songs Hymns and Psalms A. Principally to magnify God's Power and Wisdom and to render him thanks for Mercies received and Deliverances wrought and to act prudently in all Estates and Conditions and furnish us with excellent Proofs of that great Truth viz. That it is the wisest thing in the World to be a good Man Q. What do the Prophecies serve for A. To excite us to admire the Foresight and Truth of God and teach us to trust in him for that which is not yet accomplished and particularly they abundantly prove that Jesus is the Messiah and Saviour of the World Q. What may we learn by hearing the New Testament A. In the Gospels we may see God's Love to us and the great Things which Jesus did and suffered for us whose Doctrine is the perfect Rule and his Practice the compleat Example of all Piety and Vertue and God hath so set him that we might follow his Steps 2. Out of the Epistles we may learn the higher Mysteries of Faith and the more peculiar duties of our Religion and the Privileges and Rewards of Christians Of the Hymns Quest WHY are the Hymns appointed to be read after the first and second Lesson A. Besides Antiquity there is great Reason for this Interposition of Hymns for by this variety People are secured against Weariness and Distraction But the chief Reason is in respect to the great benefit we receive from the Word of God for which we do daily praise him Q. Why are they sung standing A. Musick makes the Service of God more easie and Singing enkindles a holy Flame in the Mind and Affections And by the Posture of Standing we fitly express the lifting up of our Hearts in Joy and it is a Reverend Posture in our Addresses to God Q. Why are the Hymns call'd the Te Deum the Magnificat c. A. Because these are the first words in the Hymns in Latin as Te Deum Laudamus Q. Who composed the Te Deum and what doth it contain A. St. Ambrose composed it and it contains three Particulars 1. An Act of Praise a Confession of Faith and a Supplication Q. Why is not Glory to the Father c. annex'd to the Te Deum as well as to the other Hymns A. Because Te Deum is a kind of Creed express'd in the fashion of a Glory be to the Father c. Q. Pray give an account of the other Hymns appointed to be said after the first and second Lessons Of the Benedicite THIS Hymn the Song of the three Children is sometimes used after the First Lesson which although it be not Canonical Scripture yet it is an exact Paraphrase on the 148 Psalm and so like thereto in Words and Sense that whoever despiseth this reproacheth that part of the sacred Canon As for the matter of it it is an elegant Summons to all God's Works to praise him intimating that they all set out his Glory and invite us who have the benefit of them to praise and magnifie his Name for them or it is as if they had said the Lord is to be praised by or in these things when the Lesson treats of the Creation or any wonderful act of God's Providence then it is very proper to use this Hymn Of the Benedictus THIS Hymn was composed by holy Zachary upon the first notice that God had sent a Saviour to Mankind and is one of the first Evangelical Hymns indicted by God's Spirit upon this occasion and its fitness for this place is unquestionable Of the C Psalm THIS Psalm was first composed for a Form of Publick Thanksgiving to be sung by course at the Oblation of the Peace-Offering and so may well be used by us after we have heard the Gospel of Peace Of the Magnificat THIS Hymn was indicted by the Blessed Virgin and when we hear in the Lessons like Examples of God's Mercy and are told of those Prophecies and Promises which are now fulfill'd in Christ's Birth we may be expected to rejoice with her in the same Words Of the XCVIII Psalm THERE is a great Similitude between this Psalm and the Magnificat only the 98th Psalm seems more proper when the Evening first Lesson mentions some great and eminent Deliverance of God's People Of the Nunc dimittis AFter the second Evening Lesson out of the Epistles of the Holy Apostles the Nunc dimittis is most commonly used A Hymn composed by Simeon The occasion of it was his meeting Christ
Family is call'd Levitical The Law relating to the discharge of the Priests Office is called the Levitical Law and upon that account That Book of Moses which more especially treats of the Holy Rites and Services in which these Priests were by their Office imployed is very fitly from the Subject Matter of it call'd Leviticus Numbers This Book is call'd Numbers from the Subject Matter which it begins withal viz. An Account of the Number of the People of Israel Deuteronomy This Book is very fitly called Deuteronomy which in the Greek Tongue imports a Repetition of the Law There being in this Divine Book a Repetition not only of many Facts which had passed before but of many Laws also which were mentioned before Joshua This Book is so called because it containeth the History of His Acts in his Government Conquests dividing the Land and setling of the State and Commonwealth of Israel and because as it is most probable it was Penned by Joshua following here in the Example of Moses his Predecessor Howsoever some Passages could not be Penned by himself as containing some thinks which were done after his Death but were afterward inserted by some Holy Men of God inspired by the Spirit Judges This Book which seemeth to have been gathered by some Prophet out of the Publick Records containeth the History of the chief things which happened to the People of God after the Death of Joshua until the days of Eli the High Priest Ruth This Book is an Addition to the Book of Judges and is call'd the Book of Ruth because she is the chief Subject of this Story the main Scope is to continue and declare the Genealogy of our Saviour Christ descended of Boaz a Jew and of Ruth a Moabitish Gentile to shew that He should bring Salvation to all of every Nation I. Samuel This Book was entituled with the Name of Samuel not that he was the Author of it but because the first Eight Chapters chiefly respect him and the things done under his Government and was written by one of his Disciples a Son of the Prophets who in honour of his Master call'd it by his Name And it is called The First Book of the Kings because it containeth a Relation of such things as happened under the first King's Government II. Samuel This Book is a Continuation of the History of God's People from Saul's Death to the End of David's Reign and is the History of 40 Years I. Kings This Book was made by one or more Prophets and continueth the Sacred History of Kings from the End of David's Reign to the End of Jehosaphat's Reign The Division of the Twelve Tribes into Two Kingdoms The Reign of the first Four Kings of Judah and Eight of Israel after the Division II. Kings This Book continueth the History of the Kings of Israel and Judah to the Captivity of them both These Two Books of the Kings are distinguished not as if they contained Histories of different Matters but because if all the History of both Books had been Compiled in one Book it would have seemed too great a Volume I. Chronicles This word Chronicle is a Register of Acts done time after time These Two Books were of old Compiled in One and contain an History of 3457 Years at least from Adam to the Return of the Israelites from the Babylonish Captivity 2 Chr. 36. 22. And the Genealogy of David's Posterity 1 Chr. 2. 19. The Penman of these Two Books the same with that of Ezra by which it appears they were Penned after the Captivity The Greek Title is Remainders which has relation to the Book of Kings as if These had gathered up what They had left out In the Book of Kings there are References to the Book of Chronicles But These Sacred Books of Chronicles cannot be there meant because They were not then Penned and many things referred to the Books of Chronicles are not found in these Books Ezra This Book is called Ezra either because a great part of it contains Memorable Acts of His or as is supposed Ezra the Priest was the Penman after the Babylonish Captivity Nehemiah This Book is called Nehemiah because He and his Acts are the chief Subject of the Book and as is supposed Penned by Ezra Esther This Title of Esther is given to this Book in Memory of that Prudent and Pious Queen who was an Instrument of great good to the Church of God yet throughout the whole Book not one Tittle of God is once set down Job In the time of the Ancient Patriarchs before the giving of the Law of Moses there lived in Arabia a Person of great Eminence whose Name was Job The Scope of the Book is to establish the great Article of Providence and thereby to preserve us from Errour in thinking that God's Knowledge or his Intention Providence and Government is like ours which Foundation being laid nothing will seem hard to a Man whatsoever happens Psalms The Book of Psalms or Praises so call'd from the Major part and they are called David's Psalms because he made most of them for there were several other Authors by whom some of them were composed Proverbs King Solomon was the Author of this Book The word Proverbs in the Hebrew denotes only any acute and excellent Saying which is as worthy to be known by all and to be in every ones Mouth as common Proverbs are And in Holy Scripture the word is used for an eloquent Speech or a pithy Sentence in a few words expressing much Sense A Profitable Instruction Ecclesiastes The word Ecclesiastes signifies the Preacher and this Book which bears this Name was written by King Solomon in his declining Age to signifie his Repentance The Song of Songs This Book is called the Canticles which signifies a Song and was composed by King Solomon in the beginning of his Reign Of the Prophets These Holy Men inspired by God are so termed because they did foretel future Events by Divine Revelation and These whose Monuments we have severally booked in Holy Scripture are Sixteen whereof the Four former are called the Greater in regard of the largeness of their Prophecies The latter Twelve are called the Lesser in regard of the shortness of their Prophecies Isaiah This name Isaiah is taken from the Hebrew but our Ancient Versions speaking in English forms to English ears following the Greek do not amiss render it Esay the word signifies God's Salvation no unfit Title for him who so clearly and largely prophesied of Christ This Prophet as in Place and Rank so in order of time is without question the First of the four Larger or great Prophets He is by the Ancients not undeservedly term'd An Evangelical Prophet Jeremiah Jeremiah was a Priest which some of the other Prophets were not before his entrance upon this extraordinary Employment of Prophecy Lamentations This Book was composed by Jeremiah in the time of the Babylonian Captivity Ezekiel Ezekiel of the Priestly Race composed this Prophecy in