was no other person that could bring to pass this great work of mans Redemption Q. Could none of the glorious Angels or blessed Saints have come down from Heaven to mannage this charitable design A. It was not in the power of any Angel or Saint nay not of all the Saints and Angels to Redeem lost Man Q. Why what was the reason A. In regard none of them was able to sustain so great a burden as the sins of the whole world He who was infinite in power as the Son of God was was only able to bear up under so heavy a load besides man by reason of sin was condemned to infinite torments and therefore no less than an infinite God could rescue man from those eternal torments Q. If none but the Son of God could effect this work why did he not bring it to pass by vertue of that Almighty power which appertained to his Godhead without taking any other nature A. The Godhead is of that infinite perfection that it cannot possibly be subject to any passion he therefore that had no other nature but the Godhead could not pay such a debt as this the discharge whereof consisted in suffering and dying Q. Why did he not then take some more excellent nature than that of mans A. Because it was fit that God's justice should be satisfied in the same nature that had offended Man onely had sinned and therefore it was but just that the same nature which had offended should suffer before it could be restored Q. Did not the fallen Angels Sin A. Yes they sinned but for them Christ died not and therefore they are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness Q. How comes it to pass that they an exempted from receiving benefit by his gracious sufferings A. In regard they beheld the utmost of their own blessedness but notwithstanding they fell from that glory and happiness into a rebellion against their Creator without the least provocation or temptation either from any outward assault or inward frailty Q. What was it that moved God 〈◊〉 send and his Son so willingly to come from Heaven for the sake of lost undone ma◠A. It was their infinite love an◠never failing mercies God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to dye for it and Christ Jesus had such a tender compassion for the sinful off-spring of Adam that he came down from his everlasting habitation of glory to open the eyes of the blind to call them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan into his own most blessed kingdome Q. Did man contribute nothing towards the deserving so great a favour A. No far otherwise he was then in an open rebellion against the King of Heaven and instead of meriting his favour in strict justice he deserveb the utmost of his fury and displeasure Q. How did Christ bring to pass this great designe A. By suffering the punishment that was due unto us for sin and by conquering and subduing all our spiritual enemies Q. How did he undergoe this punishment A. By his humiliation He took upon him our nature was born of a pure Virgin suffered under Pontius Pilate by being crucified on a Cross where his hands and his feet were pierced with Nailes and his side with a Spear And by this his infinite condescention and humiliation he offered himself a Sacrifice for the sins of the whole world Q. How did he conquer all our spiritual enemies A. By his exaltation he arose again the third day a compleat conquerour over Hell and Death and all the powers of the grave and ascended into the highest Heavens where he ever liveth to make intercession for us Q. Do you believe then that Christ dyed for the whole world A. Yes I do believe that the eternal Son of God hath redeemed me and all mankind Q. How comes it to pass then that the greatest part of mankind shall perish A. Because they are preverse and obstinate they will not go unto him that they may have life nor embrace those conditions that he offers in his Holy Gospel Q. In which Articles do you learn to believe in God the Holy Ghost who sanctifieth you and all the elect people of God A. In this Article I believe in the Holy Ghost Q. What do you believe that the holy Ghost is A. I believe that he is very God the Third Person in the holy Trinity proceeding from the Father and the Son Q. What is the office of the Holy Ghost A. It is to sanctifie all the elect people of God Q. Why is he stiled the sanctifyer of all the elect people of God A. In regard he is the Author of all holiness and purity in them all our inward gifts and embellishments proceed from him he is the Lord and giver of life namely of that spiritual life which is requisite to actuate and enform every Christian Q. How doth he perform this his Office A. Both outwardly and inwardly Q. How doth he perform it outwardly A. By revealing the Will of God to the Prophets Evangelists and Apostles who by his assistance and inspiration have made it known to the world wherein is contained all things appertaining both to life and Godliness Q. How doth he perform it inwardly A. By renewing of us in all the parts and faculties of our soules working heavenly dispositions in them whereas before they were enclined to all manner of sin and wickedness As also by fearing directing and governing of us in our actions and conversations so that we may actually perform those things that are acceptable in the sight of our heavenly Father Q. Is there nothing else which the Creed propounds to you as the subject of your belief A. It also teacheth me to believe something concerning those persons that with true Faith and obedience worship the undivided Trinity Q. What doth it teach you to believe concerning these A. It teacheth me first to believe that there is a Church Holy and Catholick Q. What do you believe this Holy Catholick Church to be A. By the Holy Catholick Church I mean the whole congregation of Christian people professing one and the same Faith far and wide dispersed over the face of the whole earth Q. Who is the supream head and governour of this Church A. Christ Jesus the eternal Son of God he is the governour thereof the Rock whereupon it is built his holy Spirit is the preserver and sanctifier of it and his blessed Apostles and Evangelists together with those Bishops and Pastors that succeed them do keep and maintain it in the profession of the true Christian faith and religion Q. What number is there of these Churches A. There is but one holy Catholick Church Q. How 〈◊〉 that he when as in the Scripture we read of several Churches as the Church of Rome the Church of Corinth the Church of Ephesus with divers others A. These several congregations every one of which is in some sense a Church and may be
so called are properly but one Church in regard they are all subject to one and the same Governour they are all built upon the same Rock all profess the same Faith all receive the same Sacralments all perform the same Devotions which although divers congregations yet may they very aptly be reputed members of the same Church Q. But besides these several Churches we also read of a Church Militant and a Church Triumphant how say you then there is but one Church A. These are but the different state and conditions of the Holy Catholick Church and not two Churches In this world it is the Church Militant and it is so termed because alwayes in a posture of War continually fighting against the World the Flesh and the Devil And in the world to come it shall be Triumphant for then it shall take possession of that heavenly Kingdome which the Lord Christ Jesus hath purchased for it where it's warfare shall be ended and it shall gloriously triumph over all its enemies Q. How long shall this Church continue A. To the end of the world Christ from the beginning had and the end shall have a Church against which all the powers of Hell shall not be able to prevail in regard he hath promised to be with them always even unto the end of the world and then he shall receive the true members of it up into glory to reign with him in his everlasting kingdom to eternal Ages Q. Why do you call this a Holy Church A. For divers reasons as first because it is called by Christ Jesus and therefore seperated from the rest of the world by a Holy calling Secondly in regard all her offices administrations and powers are ordained to produce holiness the Religion she professeth is Holy the laws by which she is governed are holy and good the offices she performs are Divine Thirdly because whosoever is called to profess the Faith in Christ is hereby ingaged to holiness of life Fourthly in regard the end of constituting a Church was for the purchasing an holy and peculiar people to God zealous of good works Q. Why do you call this Church Catholick A. Catholick signifies universal or whole under which term the largeness of the Church is comprehended it being extended to all places and to all persons In former time the Jews only were the Church of God but now the partition-wall is broken down and all Nations and all Persons in all Nations have a capacity to be of the Church of Christ Q. What benefits do those receive who are members of his Holy Cathotholick Church A. There are four mentioned in this confession of Faith the communion of Saints the forgiveness of Sins the resurrection of the Body and the life Everlasting Q. Who do you mean by these Saints A. By the Saints I mean such persons as are called by a holy calling and are obedient to it such as are endowed with a holy Faith and purified there by such as are sanctified by the Spirit of God and by vertue thereof do lead an holy and unblameable life such persons are truly and indeed Saints Q. What is that Communion or wherein doth it consist that these holy Persons enjoy A. The Saints on Earth enjoy Communion either with those who are not of the same nature with them as men or with those that are of the same nature with them Q. What persons are those that are not of the same nature with whom the Saints have Communion and wherein doth that Communion consist A. First they have Communion with God the Father they are of his Family they are his Servants his Sons and therefore they may with boldness sue to him for his favours who is as dear and tender over them as a Father is over the fruits of his own Loins Secondly that Saints living in the Church of God have Communion with the Son of God he is our elder Brother our Intercessor and Advocate all our requests are put up to the Father in his Name who by presenting of them before the Throne of Grace makes them available for such things as we beg Thirdly the Saints in the Church of Christ have Communion with the Holy Ghost they become Saints and holy men by partaking of this Divine Spirit of life and by being sanctifyed by him he inhabits in them enlivens and actuates them to the performance of every good and Religious Duty Fourthly The Saints in the Church of Christ have Communion with the blessed Angels these are those Ministring Spirits who are sent abroad to Minister for their sakes who are heirs of Salvation yea the holy Jesus hath assur'd us that they have a particular sense of our condition enforming of us that there is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth Q. What Persons are those that are of the same nature with the Saints with whom they enjoy fellowship and what Communion is it A. These are of two sorts Q. which is the first sort with whom they Communicate A. With those who partake not of the same holiness with them There was a Judas amongst the holy Apostles and there ever was and will be to the end of the World some Hypocrites in the Church of God the Tares must must grow up with the Wheat least by plucking up the one they destroy the other Q. What Communion have they with these A. They communicate in the same Water being both externally baptized they communicate in the same Creed both making the same open confession of Faith both agree in the acknowledgement of the same Principles of Religion both communicate in the same word both hear the same Doctrine preached they communicate at the same Table both eat the same Bread and drink of the same Cup which Christ hath appointed to be received Q. If then the Saint and the Hypocrite communicate in the same benefits how then doth the Saint differ from a Hypocrite or what priviledges doth the one enjoy more that the other A. Although the Hypocrite doth communicate in the same externals with the Saint yet he doth not communicate with him in the same saving Grace nor in the same Faith working by love nor in the same renovation of mind and spirit Q. Are there no other matters wherein they do not communicate A. They do not communicate with the Hypocrite in the same sins in the same accursed infidelity in the same barrenness under the means of Grace in the same false pretence and empty form of Godliness Q. What are the other sort of persons of the same nature with whom they communicate A. The Saints of God living in the Church have communion one with another Q. Wherein doth this Communion consist A. They all communicate of the same Ordinances all partake of the same promises are all endowed with the Graces of the same mutual love and affection keeping the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace all engrafted into the same Stock and all receive
the Cross as a Sacrifice to make explation and satisfaction for the sins of the World Q. How is this Sacrament a remembrance of this Sacrifice A. In regard in this Sacrament we have as it were Christ crucified before our eyes represented lively before us on the Cross when the bread is broken it calls to mind how his sacred body was broken with the Crown of Thorns the scourges the nails the spear and when the wine is poured out it remembers us how his precious blood issued forth out of his hands feet head and side Q. What other end was thereof Christs instituting this holy Sacrament A. For the remembrance of those benefits we receive by the sacrifice of his death and passion that is that we should continually that is frequently remember and commemorate with joy and thanksgiving before God and man those benefits purchased by his death Q. What is the outward part or sign of the Lords Supper A. Bread and Wine which the Lord hath commanded to be received Q. Why are these two Elements rather than any other used in this Sacrament A. Because these do very fitly represent the inward spiritual grace which is the body and blood of Christ As Bread and Wine is the cheif nourishment of our Bodies the great preservatives of life and health so the Body and Blood of Christ is the onely food of our Soules which must hourish them to life eternal Q. Where hath the Lord commanded these elements to be received A. At his first institution of it he gave this command to his holy Apostles and in them to his whole Church when he had broke the bread he gave it unto them and said take eat this is my body and when he had blessed the cup he gave it them saying drink ye all of this Q. What is the inward part or thing signified in this Sacrament A. The Body and Blood of Christ which are verily and indeed taken and received by the Faithful in the Lords Supper Q. How can it possibly be that the very body and blood of Christ can be received in the Lord Supper A. In this Sacrament there is a true and real participation of Christ for as verily as every worthy communicant eats the Bread and drinks the Wine so verily God in heaven bestows on him and communicates unto him the body and blood of his Saviour and also makes over unto him all the benefits and advantages that proceed from the sufferings of his body and the effusion of his Blood Q. By whom is it that the body and blood of Christ are verily and indeed received in this holy Sacrament A. It is onely by the faithful that is such as worthily prepare themselves before they adventure to present themselves that behave themselves devoutly and reverently in the time of the administration of it and also after the receiving of it walk as becometh such who are united to Christ by so near a tye Q. Do not all then that come receive his body and blood A. This holy Sacrament is offered to all that judge themselves worthy of it but those onely receive benefit from it who are worthy in deed and in truth Q. But suppose others do adventure to come who are unworthy what do they receive A. They receive their own destruction being guilty of the body and blood of Christ Q. Certainly then it is far better to abstain from this sacred banquet A. There is a necessity lyes upon all Christians to come as also to come prepared in regard this is the food of our soules without which nourishment they will starve and perish and also by neglecting this weighty concern we shall disobey the command of our dear Saviour who hath solemnly enjoyned us to keep this feast in remembrance of him Q. What are the benefits whereof we partake by receiving the Lords Supper A. The strengthning and refreshing of our souls by the body and blood of Christ as our bodies are by the Bread and Wine Q. How many are these benefits in number A. They are two first to strengthen and secondly to refresh our Soules Q. In what measure are soules hereby strengthned A. In the very same degree as out bodies are by bread for as bread is the staffe of life without which the body is not able to subsist but grows feeble and weak and at length drops into the grave even so the body of Christ doth nourish and strengthen our soules enable them to the performance of good works without which they have no power to decline the ways of sin and death Q. In what measure are our soules refreshed in this Sacrament A. In the same degree as our bodies are refreshed by Wine for as Wine refreshes the body not only when it is thirstly but also when it is faint and feeble so doth the blood of Christ refresh our Souls wash them from the guilt of Sin which exposed them to the wrath of God which is the greatest refreshment the most powerfull cordial that can be administred to them Q. But how is it possible for so small a piece of Bread or one spoonful of Wine to produce such rare effects A. These proceed not from these outward elemens but from the will and power of Christ who was pleased to ordain these Elements as means and instruments to conveigh these graces unto us Q. What is required of those that come to the Lords Supper A. To examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former fins stedfastly purposing to lead a new life to have a lively faith in Gods mercy through Christ with a thenkfull remembrance of his death and to be in charity with all men Q. What is the general duty here required A. Examination which is not only enjoyned by the Catechism but the very same duty St. Paul requires of every one that come to this Table let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that Cup. Q. What are those matters about which every Christian is not enquioe or examine himself before this Feast A. They are principally four Repentance Faith Thankfulness Charity Q. What is the first thing his examination must spend it self upon A. The first matter must be Repentance Q. What kind of repentance must a man find in himself before he partakes of these Viands A. It must consist of these two parts First there must be an entire renouncing and forsaking of sin of every evil way and Secondly a stedfast purpose and resolution by Gods grace and assistance for the time to come to lead a new and innocent life Q. What is the second matter he must bring under examination A. His Faith Q. How must this Faith be qualified A. It must be a lively Faith which life it must show forth by well doing and it must also be a Faith in Gods mercy through Christ that is stedfastly believing that it is God alone who through the merits and sufferings of his Son hath given to mankind
of it we have then great need to be confirmed in those holy resolutions and good purposes and also strengthened against those fierce batteries and desperate assaults that will be made upon us We are now actually to renounce the Devil the VVorld and the Flesh to bid a bold and open defiance to all the works of Hell and Satan and therefore we must receive the assistance of the good Spirit of God which is the design and proper work of Confirmation And this doth evidently manifest not only the lawfulness but likewise the necessity of this Divine Rite in imitation of the excellent pattern of our Saviour Christ who is the head of the Church he entred this way upon his Duty and Work not being thereto urg'd by necessity but only to point out to us which is the most proper and compendious way to gain a competency of strength and power to enable us to perform our Christian duty him whom we are strictly charged to follow as dear Children was over shadowed with the Holy Ghost just when he was entring upon the performance of that weighty work about which he came down from Heaven Neither is this useful ministry only warranted unto us by the president of the Holy Jesus the great exemplar to all succeeding ages but also we find it diligently observed and duly practised in the first and purest ages of Christianity The blessed Apostles in imitation of their great Lord and Master and by vertue of that Authority they received from him confirm their converts after that by Baptism they are admited into the number of Christs Flock After the Disciples were endowed with power from on high by being miraculously inspired with the gifts of the Holy Ghost they communicate of the same Spirit to their Proselytes to help their imperfections and for this we have the plain express words of Scripture the relation whereof is recorded Acts 8.14 15 16 17. when the Disciples that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God they sent unto them Peter and John who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost for as yet he was fallen upon none of them only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost Now if we do but duly observe these words they give us a clear and full account of the whole order of this Divine Ritual 1. Here are the Persons that are capable of this ministry those that are baptized and it is to such only that the great blessing of the Holy Spirit doth belong it is only those that through the Gate of Baptism are received into the number of Christs flock upon whom he will power down the gifts and graces of his holy Spirit by the ministration of his Embassadors 2. Here is the time when this Apostolick Rite is administred after Baptism When by this holy Sacrament they had engaged themselves in the practise of the true Christian Religion then was the season that the holy Apostles by the laying on of hands communicated unto them a larger measure of the holy Spirit to strengthen them in the performance of those Solemn engagements they then made 3. Here was the manner how Confirmation was by these devout Persons administred it was by Prayer and laying on of hands 4. Here are the only Ministers of this Rite two of the select Apostles Peter and John Philip the Evangelist who converted and baptized them gave not the Holy Ghost for he had not power so to do for this gift was proper only to the Apostles to none of the inferiour Pastors or Teachers And this very order doth the Church of England punctually observe in the administration of this Primitive Discipline she confirms none but those that are baptized and the time when she administers it is after baptisme and here indeed she something varies from the primitive practise who confirmed their converts presently after Baptism but she not until a considerable time afterwards until the baptized are grown to years of discretion to understand their Baptismal vow but there is very good reason for it in regard those Heathens which in the beginning were converted to the Christian Faith were at age when baptized to understand that promise they then made and so were in a fit capacity to be confirmed at that very instant She likewise administers this Rite by prayer and the laying on of hands as also the Administers hereof are the Bishops who succeed in the place and ordinary office of the Apostles So that the same thing that is now done in imposition of hands is no other than what was done by the first publishers of the Gospel such as were inspired and miraculously assisted by an infallible Spirit all deriving from the very same Authority Our Church doth no more than what was practised in the first and purest ages of Christianity even by those whose president is a very good Authority in this case And now I am not able to conjecture what can be said against the lawfulness of confirmation unless it should be objected that it was only ordained for a time viz. for the Apostles time and after it was to expire But if I can prove that this ministry was not temporary and relative only to the Apostles time but was to descend to the Church and to continue with it for ever and hereby to become a perpetual and never-ceasing Ministry I cannot then conceive what there is farther to be objected against the justness and lawfulness of this Rite And first in order to this performance let it be observed that confirmation is established and passed by St. Paul if he may be supposed to be the Author or the Epistle to the Hebrewes into a Christian doctrine in that very Epistle we shall find the Apostle to make imposition of hands namely that which is the Ceremony in Confirmation by which it was usually known a fundamental point Heb. 6.1 2. I shall set downe the very words as tending very much to my present purpose Therefore leaving the principles of the Doctrine of Christ let us go on unto perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of Faith towards God of the Doctrine of Baptism and of laying on of hands and of the Resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment Here are six fundamental points of St. Pauls Catechism which he laid as the foundation or beginning of the institution of Christianity and amongst these imposition of hands is reckoned as a part of the foundation and it appears very plaine to me that the Apostle intends the very same imposition of hands as was used in confirming the baptized in regard it is placed immediately after baptism as being a discipline which was to follow upon it in order to the building up of a Christian now this being a ground work of Christianity it must of necessity follow that it must have
the very same continuance with it the shallowest capacity easily apprehending that when the foundation is rooted up the whole Fabrick must be thrown down But then again this Ministry will appear to be of a larger continuance than the Apostles time in regard that blessing which by this Ministry is conferred is to abide with the Church for ever viz. The benigne influence and assistance of the Holy Ghost When Our Saviour made this gracious promise at the first to his Disciples to give them the comforter he was to abide with them to the end of the world John 14.16 And I will pray the Father and he shall send you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth And we shall find that when this gift was so miraculously bestowed upon the holy Apostles at the day of Penticost insomuch that those who were Eye-witnesses were strangly amazed and marvelled to hear them speaking in divers languages at that very same time St. Peter to take off the strangeness of the wonder and the envy of the power tels them in plain terms that upon condition they would Repent and be baptized they should every one of them receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost not the meanest the most inconsiderable amongst them but should receive that great thing which they observed in them and not only themselves but their Children also For the promise is to you and to your Children and to all that are afar off even to as many as the Lord our God shall call Acts 2.38 39. Now it is very unreasonable to suppose that the Rite which is partly moral and partly ceremonial the first is prayer the other is laying on of hands that this should be transient only for a short time when as the promise it selfe is to continue for ever It cannot but seem very strange that a solemn Rite annexed to a perpetual promise should be transient and temporary The promise is of a blessing to endure for ever the Ceremony or Rite was annexed to the promise and therefore this also must be for ever And as this Ministry was to continue for ever so was it duly observed and actually practised by the succeeding Ages of the Church as the Reverent Bishop of Down in his Treatise upon this subject hath very learnedly proved And certainly next after the plain words of Scripture the universal tradition of the Church is the best argument for the probation of Rituals And what I have hitherto discoursed of the lawfulness of this Rite is certainly sufficient to satisfie every reasonable person of the necessity of it for that which is Authorized by no meaner a Person than the Eternal Son of God which was practised by the Holy Apostles was observed in the purest ages of Christianity and is a never-ceasing Ministry must of necessity both be lawful to be done and very meet and convenient to be retained in practise But in regard there is nothing more powerfully prevailes with mankind than their interests I shall in the last place in order to the proving the necessity of this wholsom Discipline and to encourage all to the due observation of it endeavour to manifest those great graces and excellent priviledges which are consequent to the worthy reception and due Ministry of it When Confirmation is rightly performed and worthily received it will be highly advantagious to us and will greatly promote the Spiritual good and interest of every Christian and therefore ought not by any means to be neglected And in this respect the Scripture hath spoken so fully plainly as is abundantly sufficient to prove that great blessing that waits upon us It is recorded by St. Luke in the Acts of the Holy Apostles that at the first ministration of this Rite they received the Holy Ghost that is according to the expression of the Holy Jesus to his Disciples when he commanded them to tarry at Jerusalem in expectation of the accomplishment of his glorious promise they are endowed with vertue from on high that is with strength to perform their duty to persevere in their Christian profession notwithstanding all the opposition of Satan and his accursed instruments So that this power from on high which is the proper blessing of Confirmation was expressed not only with speaking of Tongues and doing Miracles but it was effected in spiritual and inward strengths They were not only enabled for the service of the Church to speak in a languages for the benefit of all nations and to do mighty works to convince Gain-sayers but also they were endowed with courage and wisdom and Christian fortitude and boldness openly to confess the faith of Christ crucified and manfully to fight under his Banner against Sin the World and the Devil and to continue Christs faithful Servants and Souldiers to their lives end And if we do but duly consider how apt we are to erre out of the way of Gods Commandments to start aside like a broken Bow and what great opposition we meet with in running the Race that is set before us we shall find abundance of reason to make use of all lawful means to gain a greater measure and assistance of Gods good Spirit That Body of death which St. Paul so earnestly desired to be delivered from that old man of Sin our Rebellious Wills and Affections do fatally resist all good motions and inclinations within us This Law in our members is continually warring against the Law in our minds and bringing us into captivity to the law of sin that is in our members but when this Allmighty Spirit descends upon us he supplies us with such a measure of strength as enables us to mortifie all our earthly Members to keep them under subjection to vanquish all those proud lusts of the flesh which lead us Captive to the committance of evil But besides these inward we have also outward enemies the Devil and his accursed Retinue which bandy together their Forces to overcome us and draw us into their snares and Vassalage these exercise all their malice and cunning to provoke us to renounce our solemn Baptismal engagements and to walk in a down-right opposition to that duty our Maker expects from us When we are once engaged in a holy profession and have faithfully covenanted to forsake every evil practise that is unworthy this our high calling then is the time that our grand adversary fearing that he shall lose a prosellyte will violently oppose us he will make us promises as large as heart can either wish or desire nay he will not stand out for any thing rather than lose a Disciple he will out of design court us at an exceeding high rate telling us as he did our Saviour that all the kingdoms of the world with their glory are at his disposal so that nothing shall be wanting to compleat our desires that this world can afford will we but throw off the yoak of our dear Saviour and list our selves under his accursed banner