His Sufferings for sin to be of infinite value and merit satisfactory and sufficient for the Redemption of Man Q. VVhy is it necessary that Christ should be Man A. 1. That He might dye 2. That Satisfaction might be made in the same that is Mans Nature that offended 3. That He might be a Merciful High-Priest touched with Mans Infirmity Q. Why was it necessary that he should be both God and Man in one Person A. That He might be a fit Mediator between God and Man having an interest in both Q. How is Christs Passion set down in the fourth Article A. 1. Generally that He suffered 2. Particularly that He suffered at such a time by such a death and in such a manner Q. Did Christ suffer any thing before His Death A. Yes His whole Life was a suffering Q. What was the time of Christs suffering A. In the days of Pontius Pilate Q. Who was Pontius Pilate A. Roman Deputy Governor of the Land of Jury under Teberius the Emperor of Rome Q. What was the End or Consummation of Christs suffering A. Death Q. What was the manner of Christs Death A. He was Crucified that is to say He was put to death upon a Cross which was amongst the Romans the most shameful ignominious and worst kind of death and cursed by the Law of God Deut. 21.23 Q. Was not this a great Scandal to the Christian Profession that our Saviour Christ should suffer this Death upon the Cross A. Yes To them that perish it is foolishness but to us that are saved it is the power of God 1 Cor. 1.18 At the first both the Jews and the Ethnicks derided both the Apostles and Christians for Preaching and Believing in Him that was Crucified upon the Cross Yet both Apostles and Christians were so far from being discouraged from their Profession by the ignominie of the Cross as that they rather rejoyced and triumphed in it insomuch as that they used the sign of it in all their actions thereby making an outward shew and profession even to the astonishment of the Jews that they were not ashamed to acknowledge Him for their Lord and Saviour who died for them upon the Cross And they did not only use the sign of the Cross themselves in a kind of glorying when they met with any Jews but also they signed therewith their children when they were Christened to dedicate them by that badge to His service whose benefits bestowed upon them in Baptism the name of the Cross did represent And this use of the sign of the Cross in Baptism was held in the Primitive Church as well by the Greeks as Latins with one consent and great applause at what time if any had opposed themselves against it they would certainly have been censured as enemies of the name of the Cross and consequently of Christs Merits the sign whereof they could no better endure This continual and general use of the sign of the Cross is evident in many ancient Fathers And doubtless the name figure sign and memory of the Cross must needs be held in reverend esteem of all them that rightly consider the benefits of Christs Death Q. Why was Christ put to so ill a Death A. That He submitting Himself unto the worst kind of death that could be inflicted upon him Him might deliver us from the worst kind of death that should have been executed upon us Q. How do you prove that Christ was dead upon the Cross A. Because He was buried which was not done to any but to dead men Q. Was this the only reason why this word buried was put into the Creed to prove His Death A. Perhaps it might be added to shew the greater Miracle of His Resurrection For if He had died only and not been buried they might have thought that He recovered life as many have done but being buried sheweth both the certainty of His death and also the wonder of His Resurrection Q. What was the cause of Death A. Sin Q. If there had been no Sin should there have been no Death A. No. But all men at their several times should have been translated from Earth to Heaven had they not sinned as the Scriptures say Enoch and Elias were Q. What Death was caused by Sin A. 1. The Natural death of the Body 2. The Spiritual death of the Soul 3. The Eternal death both of Body and Soul Q. What is Natural death A. A separation of the Soul from the Body Q. What is Spiritual death A. A separation of the Soul from God in this world Q. What is Eternal death A. A separation of both Body and Soul from God in the world to come Q. In what doth Eternal death consist A. In the Absence Privation Loss and Wanting of all good things as the Beatifical Vision and full fruition of God the company of Saints and blessed Angels the joys and happiness of Heaven Secondly In the Presence Sence Feeling and Enduring all evil things even the Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Q. Did Christ suffer all these Deaths A. No. He suffered only the Natural death of the Body Q. Did He not suffer in his Soul too A. Yes The suffering of the death of the body could not be without suffering in the Soul But we must in no wise say that Christ suffered the death of the Soul Q. But was not Man condemned to all those Deaths for Sin A. Yes Q. And is not Man delivered from all these deaths by the Death of Christ A. Yes Q. Then how doth Christs bodily death alone deliver Man not only from this but also from the other kinds of death too A. This cometh to pass by reason of the worthiness and innocency of Christs Person The death of His Humane body being united in one person with the Godhead being pure without sin is of such infinite value and merit that it is worthy and able to purchase Redemption for Man both from the bodily deaths and the other deaths that he otherwise should or could have suffered Q. But could Sin then be the cause of Christs Death A. Yes Q. But is not Christ said to be without sin A. Yes He in Himself was holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners Heb. 7.26 1 St. Pet. 2.22 St. Mat. 27.4 19 24. St Luke 23.4 Q. How came He to suffer for sin who committed none A. Because He was a sinner by imputation being numbred with Transgressors and bearing the sins of many Isa 53.12 For surely He hath born our griefes and carryed our sorrows c. v. 4 5 6. Q. Do you mean then that Man was the sinner and that Christ was the sufferer A. Yes Q. But how came Man to be a sinner was he so from the beginning A. No. In the beginning God created Man in His own likeness after His own image of an understanding mind able to know what he was to do and of a conformable will ready to do what he knew But Man found
a common Foundation a Communion in unity of Faith in consent of Doctrine in conformable use of Sacraments in Common-prayers Thanksgiving made mutually one for another in a true serious and faithful endeavour for the Peace and Unity of the Church amongst all the dissentions errors and divisions of Hereticks and Schismaticks and out of this Church and without this Communion there is no Salvation Q. But do you then exclude from Salvation all Vnbelievers and Misbelievers Infidels Hereticks Schismaticks Excommunicate Persons c. A. Yes Infidels Jews Turks c. that never were in the Church Hereticks that have forsaken or corrupted the Faith that was once delivered to the Saints Schismaticks that have divided themselves and Excommunicate Persons that are cut off from the Communion of the Church without Reconciliation cannot be saved For most certain is that Rule of St. Cyprian de simp prae and of St. Augustine de symb ad Cate. cap. 13. He shall not have God to be his Father that will not have the Church to be his Mother Q. VVhat do you think of Hypocrites and wicked persons that are within the Church A. I may say of them that to God they are not of the Church and if their folly shall once be made manifest they ought not to be in the Church Yet so long as their hypocrisie and wickedness lieth hid to us and they partake with us in the outward Profession of Faith and Communion of the Church we must in the judgment of Charity take all things in the best sense and esteem them as Members of the Church and if they stand or fall let it be to their own Master Q. What is the first priviledge of the Church A. Remission of Sins Q. How many kinds of Sins are there A. Sin is 1. Original 2. Actual Q. What is Original Sin A. Original Sin is the corruption and naughtiness of Nature derived from Adam to all his Children and so by propagation brought down to us by which we come to be born in Sin drawn from our Parents that were Sinners And this naughtiness of Nature first depriveth us of Original Righteousness then it maketh us to break forth into Actual Sin causing us as Naturally prone to transgress the Law of God to become by our own Act Sinners of our selves in our own persons Q. Who was the cause of Original Sin A. Adam and Eve our first Parents Q. What was their first sin A. The pride of their hearts in desiring to be as God and the disobedience of their actions in eating the forbidden fruit contrary to Gods commandment Q. Do you mean then that Adams Actual sin was the cause of our Original sin A. Yes For Adam being the whole species of Man and all Mankind in one person sinned not as a single Man only but as all Mankind and so by his one act made all his posterity guilty of that sin Q. What is Actual sin A Actual sin is the transgression of the Law Q. How many kinds are there of Actual sins A. Actual sin is distinguished by a two-fold difference 1. In respect of the guilt crime offence or fault some are lesser and some are greater sins 2. In respect of the Actors or persons that commit them some are our own and some are aliene and other mens sins Q. What do you mean by lesser sin A. Some call them Venial yet they bring a guilt upon us and danger of punishment too though that guilt be not much and the pardon of it may be easily obtained at Gods hand Q. But are there any sins that are Venial A. No. None are Venial in their own nature but the very least sin in strictness of Justice is worthy of death Onely I say there are some that are lesser sins for which God of His great patience and mercy is not always chiding us as Psal 103.9 but is willing to pass them over upon our general repentance and our performance of good works of Alms Prayer Fasting and other works of Corporal and Spiritual Mercy Such are the sins of ignorance inadvertency inconsideration sudden irreption c. Q. What do you call the greater sins A. The greater sins are such as separate us from God and are cause of eternal death Q. How many kinds are there of greater sins A. Of these there be three kinds 1. The seven Capital sins commonly called Deadly sins 2. The four Crying sins 3. The six sins against the Holy Ghost Q. Which are the seven Capital on Deadly sins A. 1. Pride 2. Coveteousness 3. Lechery or Lust 4. Envy 5. Gluttony 6. Anger 7. Sloath. And to these there are opposed seven contrary virtues 1. Humility 2. Liberality 3. Chastity 4. Meekness 5. Abstinence 6. Patience 7. Devotion or Godly Diligence Q VVhy are they called Capital sins A. Because they are every one of them the Heads and Fountains of other sins springing from them and contained in them Q. VVhat are the sins of Pride A. Presumption Pertinacy or Stubbornness Hypocrisie Boasting Ingratitude Scorn or contempt of others Disobedience Ambition Curiosity Q. VVhat are the sins of Coveteousness A. Treachery Fraud Deceit Unquietness Perjury Sacriledge Theft Usury Simonie Violence Inhumanity or Unmercifulness Hardness of heart Q. VVhat are the sins of Lechery or Lusts A. Fornication Adultery Rape Incest Sodomie Uncleanness Wantonness Filthy Communication c. Q. VVhat are the sins of envy A. Detraction Discord Hatred Whispering Back-biting Repining at another mans prosperity Rejoycing at another mans Adversity Malice Rancour c. Q. VVhat are the sins of Gluttony A. Surfetting Drunkenness Dulness Drousiness Rudeness Scurrility Prodigality Loquacity Q. VVhat are the sins of Anger A. Impatience Cursing Blasphemy Reproaching Swelling Quarrelling Brawling Clamouring Revenge Despair c. Q. VVhat are the sins of Sloath A. Slackness and sadness about Spiritual matters Weariness Dulness Idleness in doing Duties of Religion Negligence Omission or leaving undone those things which ought to be done Pusillanimity or Faintheartedness Lukewarmness Unsetledness Wandering of the mind Weakness Coldness Diffidence Desparation Q. VVhich be the four Crying sins A. 1. Wilful Murder 2. Oppression of the Widdows and Fatherless and Strangers 3. The sin of Sodom 4. Defrauding the Labourers of their Wages Q. VVhat are the six sins against the Holy Ghost A. 1. Presumption of Gods Mercy 2. Despair 3. Impugning known Truth more freely to sin 4. Envying another mans Spiritual good 5. Obstinacy in sin 6. To die without Repentance Q. VVhat do you mean by Aliene or other mens sins A. Those sins which one man commits and another Man is guilty of by being accessary some way or other to it Q. How can one man be guilty of another mans sins A. Nine ways As 1. By Counsel 2. By Commanding 3. By Consent 4. By Provocation 5. By Praising or Flattery 7. By By Silence 7. By Indulgence or winking at it 8. By partaking in the fault 9. By wicked defending and maintaining of the same Q. Is there Remission of these
to be delivered from under the guilt and punishment of sin Q. What do you mean by a new birth unto righteousness A. A new birth or living again unto righteousness is contrary to living unto sin and a consequent of death unto sin As dying unto sin was getting from under the Tyranny and cruelty of sin so a new birth or living unto righteousness is a power or strength to do the works of righteousness and a right to receive the reward of righteousness It is Gods giving me ability to walk righteously and means to obtain His favour and so His regenerating or begetting me again to a twofold righteousness that I may be made the child of Grace both of Sanctification whereby I am become the servant of righteousness Rom. 6.18 and of Justification whereby I am made free from sin And all this is conveyed sealed and assured unto us in the Sacrament of Baptism as wrought for us and in us by the Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ Q. What resemblance or comparison is there between the outward action by water in Baptism this inward Spiritual Grace A. Very much For first Dipping in Water and taking up again which is the manner of Baptising in hotter Countries signifieth the Death and Resurrection of our Saviour which was the cause of the good that is wrought in us and for us Then again the death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness that is the cleansing of our souls from sin by the Grace of God Justifying and Sanctifying us is very apt to be signifyed by Dipping Washing in Water in which there is a putting away of the filth of the flesh 1 St. Pet. 3.21 So Baptism may be called the fountain opened for sin and uncleaness Zach. 13.1 Q. Do you think that Dipping or Washing in Water at Baptism cleanseth the soul A. If there were not more but the outward Washing it would not cleanse the soul But it cleanseth as it is one part of the Sacrament that hath Gods Grace annexed to it as the other part and both make up one Sacrament For We are Washed we are Sanctified and so we are Justifyed in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 When we draw neer with a pure heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water Heb. 10.22 and with that blood of sprinkling which speak better things than the blood of Abel Heb. 12.24 even with the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanseth us from all sin 1 St. John 1.7 But this Washing Sanctifying Sprinkling and Cleansing is conveyed applyed and sealed unto us by the outward Element and action in the Sacrament of Baptism Q. Do you then attribute any more to the outward Washing in Water than to be a bare Sign or Figure of the Spiritual Washing in the Blood of Christ A. I so take it to be a Sign or Figure as that I say it hath the Truth also annexed unto it For as God is not mocked so He mocketh not us when He maketh us His Promise of Grace Therefore we may all know assuredly that Pardon and Remission of Sins is truly offered of God and received of us in the Sacrament of Baptism and that thereby Christ doth Sanctify and cleanse us in the washing of water by His Word that He may present us to Himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that we should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5.26 27. Q. But hath the Grace of God this effect indifferently in all without exception A. Nay There be some that fail of the Grace of God by their own putting a bar of unbelief and hardness of heart So that the fruit of the Sacrament cometh only unto the Faithful and Penitent and yet the Nature of the Sacrament loseth nothing of being the means of Grace For it is the means of Grace not absolutely as though God would save us thereby against our wills but upon Condition of our concurring with God and doing our duties otherwise we may receive the Sacrament to our farther Condemnation Q. But what is required of them that come to be Baptised that they may receive the fruit and benefit of this Sacrament A. 1. Repentance whereby they forsake Sin the World the Devil and all their works 2. Faith whereby they believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith and particularly all the Promises of God made unto us in that Sacrament 3. Resolution and endeavour to keep the Commandments of God and to walk in the same all the days of their lives Q. Are all they then that receive the Sacrament of Baptism and perform the Conditions of Repentance and Faith and Obedience partakers of the Grace of Salvation A. Yes If they put not a bar against themselves but truly perform the Condition when they receive the outward Sign they receive also the inward Spiritual Grace by which they are made the Members of Christ the Children of God the Heirs and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven being clearly freed from all Sin both Original and Actual if they have committed any sin before Baptism Q. But can none be admitted unto the Sacrament of Baptism but upon these Conditions A. No. For as Circumcision was to the Jews the Seal of the Covenant and mutual Stipulation that was between God and them so Baptism is to us And no man can have interest in the precious Promises contained therein without signing the Indenture back again and undertaking the Condition of the Covenant Q. Why then are Infants Baptised who cannot undertake nor perform these Condition A. The truth is that these Conditions are actually required of all and Infants do actually and really undertake them not by themselves but by their Sureties who promise them in their Names and so bind them to perform and make them good or else to make all the grace void that is passed unto them in that Sacrament upon those Conditions So that when Infants come to age they may have their own option or choice whether they will make their Promise giveen by their Sureties in Baptism good or no and if they do they have interest in the Grace but if they do not it they make Gods guift of Grace to be void and of none effect Q. Why was the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Ordained A. To continue the remembrance of the Sacrifice of Christs death and the benefits that we receive thereby Q. Why is the Sacrament called the Lords Supper A. 1. Because it was instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ at the time of His last Supper when He did eat the Passover which was a Sacrament of the Old Testament 2. Because it not only signifies but also exhibiteth and giveth unto us our Lords Body Q. Why did our Saviour Christ institute this Sacrament at Supper time A. Because He would thereby teach His Church that the Old Sacrament of