not this Pontius Pilate a Governour of the Country where Christ lived when he was on Earth Yes Was there any Sin or Fault in Christ No. Was he not accused by the Jews out of meer Malice Yes Was he not crucified that is nailed to a Cross till he was dead Yes That is were not his Hands and Feet nailed to a piece of Wood till he died Yes Was he content to suffer all this for our Salvation Yes Did not Christ by his Death satisfie God's Justice for our Sins if we repent of them and leave them Yes Shall any partake of the Benefits of Christ's Death but the true pernitent Sinner No. Before Christ was crucified was he not buffeted and spit on scourged and spightfully used Yes Did Christ give up the Ghost and really die upon the Cross Yes When he was dead was he not put into the grave and buried as other dead Men are Yes Did he not continue in the State of the dead for a time Yes When Christ descended into Hell did he suffer any Pains or Torments there No. Did he only descend to triumph over the Devil in his own Kingdom Yes Did he not suffer all this for our Sakes that we might be saved Yes And have we not infinite reason to love and obey him Yes ARTICLE V. The third day he rose again from the dead THough Christ were buried in the Grave does he continue in it to this Day No. Did not Christ come alive again the third day and rise out of the grave by his power Yes Did he not rise again out of it for our Justification Yes That is did he not by his coming out of the Prison of the grave shew that he had paid our debt that God's Justice was satisfied and he acquitted upon our Faith and Repentance Yes And can we ever cease to love and obey him No. ARTICLE VI. He ascended into Heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty DID not Jesus Christ about forty days after he came alive again ascend up to Heaven Yes Was he not carried up to Heaven in a Cloud Yes Is not Jesus now at this present at God's right Hand making Intercession for us Yes You say at the right hand of God why Is not God a Spirit Yes Has a Spirit any hands as we have No. When we say that Christ sitteth at the right hand of God do we not mean that he is exalted to the greatest power and glory Yes Is he not there our Advocate to intercede and plead for us Yes And can we for this pay him less than Love and Obedience No. ARTICLE VII From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead DO you believe there shall be a Day of Judgment Yes Shall not Christ come in that day to judge the World and all Men Yes Shall any Man escape the Judgment of Christ No. Shall he not then turn the wicked into Hell Yes Shall he in that day of Judgment place all good Men in Heaven Yes And should we not prepare our selves for that Judgment Yes Must we not then give an account of what we have done here Yes Must we give an account of our Thoughts Words and Actions Yes Shall any Man be able to hide his Sins from this Judge No. Is there any thing that we do which this Judge sees not No. Is there any thing that we think which Judge hears not No. Is there any thing that we think which this Judge knows not No. What does he see and know our very Thoughts Yes But will he not be a merciful Judge to all truly reformed Penitents Yes And for that reason should you not love and obey him Yes ARTICLE VIII I believe in the holy Ghost DO you believe in the holy Ghost or Spirit Yes Is there any Difference between these words Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit No. Is not the Holy Ghost God Yes Doth not this good and Holy Spirit convert us sanctifie us and comfort us Yes Is not this good and Holy Spirit ready by his Grace to assist us in doing our Duties Yes Is he not said to be grieved when we do not make use of the Grace and Strength afforded us Yes And should we grieve this Holy Spirit by a careless and disobedient Life No. Is it not this holy Spirit that puts into your mind good Desires Yes And should we refuse or neglect to perform them No. ARTICLE IX The Holy Catholick Church The Communion of Saints DO you believe that the whole Company or general Family of true Believers professing the Gospel under Christ their head are the Catholick Church Yes Is not Catholick Church as much as to say Universal Church Yes Are not the preaching of the Word and the due Administration of the Sacraments under Bishops and Pastors lawfully called are not these the Marks of it Yes Is it not Catholick in respect of Persons and Place Time and Doctrine Yes Are all the Believers of this Catholick Church holy by their Calling and Profession Yes Should you ever cease to bless God for being a Member of this Catholick Church No. Were you received into this number of Believers when you were baptized Yes Do you firmly believe the particular Church of England to be a sound part of the Catholick Church Yes Of the Catholick Church is not part on Earth and part in Heaven Yes Is not that part of it which is on Earth called the Church Militant Yes And is not that part of it which is in Heaven called the Church Triumphant Yes Do you believe that there is and ought to be a Communion of Saints Yes Is not this Communion of Saints a Communion one with another in all holy things Yes That is to say are we not to keep a Communion one with another in Faith in Love in Charity in Prayer in hearing the Word and receiving the Sacraments Yes May we forsake or withdraw our selves from the Communion or Fellowship of Christians in holy things No. Do you believe that while the Saints or true Believers on Earth do keep up their Communion with each other in all holy things that they have a Fellowship or Communion with the Blessed Trinity the Angels and the Saints departed Yes ARTICLE X. The Forgiveness of Sins DO you believe there is Forgiveness of Sins to be had in the Church of Christ Yes Can this Forgiveness be had unless we believe in Jesus Christ and repent of them and reform them No. If we do believe in Christ and repent of our Sins and leave them and live a new and Christian life shall we be forgiven Yes Is not Repentance this A turning from Sin to God a lasting durable State of new Life and Reformation Yes If the Sinner then have chosen amiss should he not speedily turn to God and chuse better Yes Is he wise or safe if he neglect to do it one day No. ARTICLE XI The Resurrection of the Body DO you believe that the Bodies of them that
in the sight of them all carried him through the Air into Heaven where he now sits to prepare a place for us and intercedes to God for all faithful penitent Sinners I believe he sits at God's right hand that is that he is there exalted to the greatest Power and Glory Not that God has Hands as we have for God is a Spirit and a Spirit has no Hands as we have But as with us the right Hand is a Place of Honour so I am fully perswaded that Jesus Christ is exalted in Heaven to the greatest Honour Power and Glory and there pleads and mediates with God for all those that believe in him repent of their Disobediences and live a New and Christian Life And thus I believe that he ascended in Heaven and sitteth at the right Hand of God VII ARTICLE From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead THE meaning is I do freely and fully assent to this as an undoubted Truth That Jesus Christ who is both God and Man at the End of the World shall certainly come again with Power and great Glory from the same Heaven into which he ascended attended by his Holy Angels to Judge all Mankind according as they have lived here That every Eye shall see him and they that pierced his Hands and Feet shall behold his Majesty his Terror and his Glory I believe that the World being dissolved and the Earth and all things thereon being burnt up the Lord Jesus shall sit in the Air in a Glorious Throne and shall judge the quick that is all those that shall be alive at his Coming and the dead that is all those that were dead before since the World began That the Records of their Conscience shall be laid open that is all that ever they thought or spake or did shall be brought to their Memory I believe firmly That he will judge them Righteously and them that have lived unholily irreligiously and died impenitently he shall sentence to eternal Darkness But them that have believed in him repented of and reformed their Sins and lived holy and good lives he shall adjudge to dwell with him in Heaven and Happiness for ever And thus I believe he shall come to judge the quick and the dead VIII ARTICLE I believe in the Holy Ghost THE meaning is I firmly believe That the Third Person in the adorable Trinity the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is God as well as the Father and the Son I believe him to be a Person distinct from both the Father and the Son eternally proceeding from both and equally sent by both and joint Author with both of our Salvation That though these are Three Persons yet are they but One God and though this cannot be fully understood in this World yet I believe it firmly I believe That as God the Father created me and God the Son redeemed me so this God the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit sanctifies me offers me his Grace and Assistance to do the Will of God is my Comforter and always 't is he that puts into my Mind good Desires and pious Purposes So that I believe intirely that he is not only of perfect Holiness in himself but also that he is the immediate Cause of all Holiness in us that by him all the Servants of God are enabled to do all things necessary to Salvation which by the force of Nature they cannot do That 't is he who enlightens our Understandings sanctifies our Will orders and commands our Affections that 't is by his Assistances imparted to us that we speak or do any thing of our Duty Thus I believe God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost not to be Three Gods but Three Persons and but One God And though I shall never in this Life fully comprehend this Mystery of the Trinity yet I firmly believe it And thus I believe in the Holy Ghost IX ARTICLE I believe in the Holy Catholick Church The Communion of Saints THE meaning is I do freely profess to believe That Jesus Christ did by the Preaching of the Apostles gather unto himself a Church consisting of Thousands of beliving Persons to which he daily added such as should be saved and will successively and daily add to the same to the End of the World That this Catholick that is Universal Church is the Corporation or general Family of all true Believers Or that Body or Society of Persons that profess Christ and his Gospel and is governed and continued under Bishops and Pastors lawfully called to that Office by whom the Word and Sacraments are duly Preached and administer'd under Christ their Head I firmly believe this Church of Christ to be One Holy and Catholick One in respect of our Faith One in respect of the Sacraments One in respect of being guided and directed by the same Spirit One in respect of One and the same Head Christ Jesus and One in respect of the same Hope of Glory and Immortality Holy in respect of its Head the Holy Jesus Holy by baptismal Dedication Holy in respect of its Design and End Holy in respect of the Holy Offices performed in it all which tend to produce Holiness and Holy in respect of its Calling Profession and Hope Catholick in respect of that Catholick Faith Truth and Doctrine which it teaches Catholick or Universal in respect of that Universal Obedience which it obligeth all Men to Catholick in respect of time that is it shall universally be continued to all Ages to the End of the World Catholick or Universal because 't is made up of all the particular Churches in the World Catholick in respect of that universal War which it always is to hold against all its Ghostly Enemies Catholick or Universal in this Sense that it is not limitted or confined to one Nation as the Church of the Jews was but by the Command and Appointment of Christ to be spread abroad and gathered from all Nations under Heaven I believe That of this Catholick Church part is on Earth and part in Heaven that is the Saints departed are the triumphant part of the Church and all true Believers Lovers and Obeyers of Jesus are the Church Militant And as I ever desire to be a Member of this Holy Catholick Church so I believe there is and ought to be a Communion of the Saints in it that is a Society or Fellowship one with another in all Holy Things As all Saints on Earth or all true Believers have in common One God One Christ One Holy Spirit One Lord One Faith One Baptism So I believe they ever did and ought to keep up a Holy Fellowship or Society with each other in all the common Christian offices and duties in Faith in professing the Gospel in hearing the Word in receiving the Sacraments in Charity and doing good to each other and in all common Christian offices of Piety and Devotion And I fully am perswaded that while the Saints or true Believers on Earth
and stick to if they hope to receive and enjoy the benefits of their Baptism As we shall see presently Question Why then are Infants baptized when by reason of c. Answer Because they promise them both by their Sureties c. THE meaning is They promise this Repentance and this Faith which is to be shewn by a holy Obedience by their Sureties by their Mouths which Promise if they will themselves faithfully stand to and take upon themselves when they come to Knowledge they shall receive all the Benefits that can be conveyed by the Holy Sacrament of Baptism Their Baptism shall be as effectual or in as full Power Force and Vertue as any advantageous Bargain which was or could be made for them by their Trustees or Guardians when they were under Age And if they persevere in this Faith and this Obedience shall not fail to receive their Crown and Kingdom But yet notwithstanding all this this is the great Objection made by the Anabaptists against baptizing Infants That they do not believe can understand nothing of the Christian Religion nor promise Faith or Repentance or Obedience for the future I shall therefore in a word or two as we pass along shew that Infants are to be Baptized from Scripture although it be not commanded there in express Words from the Practice of the Church of Christ and from Reason 1. As to Scripture That command given to the Apostles to baptize all Nations who are no where forbidden to baptize the Children of Christian Parents seems to look favourably enough this way Thus when we read of a whole City as Samaria or a Family as the Jaylor's and Crispus's and Stephanas's baptized though none be expressed to be baptized but those that believed yet what other can be thought but that even the Children also of these Believers if they had any in their Town or Family were baptized Since it was agreeable with the Jewish Baptism wherein our Saviour's was founded and from which in that particular it is never said in the least to have differed to receive to Prospelytism by Baptism the Infants of those that were converted and baptized as well as the Converts themselves 2. The Scripture seems rather to command it St. Mark x. 14. Suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God Which intimates that their coming to him was for entrance into that Kingdom and to be made Members of his Church And what shall we forbid these to be brought to Christ to come to him whom he calls God forbid 3. 'T is said Acts ij 38 39. That Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of Sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost For the Promise is unto you and your Children When he here bad the Parents be baptized for the Remission of Sins can it be thought his meaning was That the Children should rather go without Remission than have Baptism as if he had some compassion indeed for the Parents but none for the Children Ay but he bids them Repent which Children could not do 'T is hard-heartedness indeed and that to a high degree for want of that Duty which they have not need nor ability to perform to deprive them of that Benefit which they have need of and capability to receive to deny them the means of being made partakers of the Holy Ghost who as they do not act Repentance so they need not to repent and need not to repent because they act no Sin 4. To mention among others but one Scripture more 1 Cor. vij 14. For the unbelieving Husband is sanctified by the Wife and the unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Husband else were your Children unclean but now are they holy If Children of a believing Parent are Holy surely then they have a right to Baptism For none can be said to be Holy without the Merits of Christ and Baptism is the way to apply and convey Christ's Merits to us Now that Infants of Christian Parents should have a right to Christ's Merits and Holiness and yet no right to the means of conveying them is not to be supposed As for what the Anabaptists object from St. Matthew xxviij 19 20. that 't is said Teach all Nations and baptize them it makes little or nothing for them but rather against them For 1. the word Teach is after the word Baptizing as well as before it and that makes the Case even But 2. the exact rendring of the place is this Go ye therefore and make Disciples of all Nations baptizing them In the name c. teaching them to observe all things c. Now 't is certain there were Three things formerly in Use in the Jewish Church for the admitting of Disciples viz. Circumcision Sacrifice and Baptism and our Saviour did lay aside the Two former Circumcision and Sacrifice and did think fit only to continue the latter namely Baptism Now put the Case he had continued Circumcision to be the only Ceremony to be used in his Church for the admitting of Disciples and had laid aside Sacrifice and Baptism See Walker's Modest Plea for Infants Baptism cap. 30. §. 15. and that instead of saying Go ye therefore and make Disciples of all Nations baptizing them c. he had said Go ye therefore and make Disciples of all Nations circumcising them c. who then remembred that Infants as well as others had usually in that Case been circumcised would ever have interpreted his Words to the excluding of Infants from Circumcision or ever have once imagined or phansied any other but that Children should now and henceforth as well as formerly be circumcised Even so now our Saviour having discontinued Circumcision and Sacrifice and continued Baptism alone to be the Sacrament of the initiation of Disciples into his Church who that remembers that it was the use before our Saviour's time to admit Infants into the Church by Baptism can imagine any other but that his mind was they should still be so admitted or but rationally phansie that in saying Make Disciples of all Nations baptizing them he meant to exclude Infants from Baptism II. As to the Practice of the Catholick Church 'T is now above Sixteen hundred and fifty Years ago since our Saviour after he had wrought out our Redemption ascended up to Heaven And in every Age of the Church home to the very Age wherein the Apostles lived Church-Histories tell us it was the Practice of the Church of Christ to Baptize the Children of Christian Parents which has been continued to this Day So that this Custom is Catholick or Universal in point of Time And no less Universal or Catholick is it in point of Place For all Parts of the Church Militant on Earth excepting the few Anabaptists of this and the last Age ever did and still do Baptize their Infants All Parts both of the Eastern and
Lord Jesus Christ and through Christ of all the Faithful did make Heaven and Earth the World and all things in it seen and unseen out of nothing and by his Word only And thus I believe in God II. ARTICLE And in Iesus Christ his only Son our Lord. THE meaning is I do solemnly profess to believe firmly Jesus Christ my Lord to be the Son of God to be both God and Man That he is the Son of God by eternal Generation who did from Eternity derive his Godhead from the Father As Man he is the Son of God being conceived by the Spirit of God alone So that as he was God from all Ages so being born of a Woman he was made Man for me and my Salvation I believe there is no other Name under Heaven by which we must be saved but Jesus Christ Who though he be Lord of all things by right of the First Creation and constant preservation of them yet he is more peculiarly the Lord of us who by Faith are consecrated to his Service That as God by the work of Creation he is the Lord that made me That as God and Man by the work of Redemption he is the Lord that bought me That he came from Heaven to visit us in great Humility and died to satisfie God's Justice for our Sins I do believe this Holy Jesus who is both God and Man to be and do in all humility and thankfulness love and obedience take him for my Saviour my Advocate my Redeemer and my Lord. And thus I believe in Jesus Christ III. ARTICLE Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary THE meaning is I do declare that I stedfastly believe That this holy Jesus my Saviour when he was pleased to become Man for me was not conceived as other Men are but after a miraculous manner by the immediate and only Power of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit of God was conceived in the Womb of a vertuous and holy blessed and pure Virgin known by the name of Mary Who being espoused to Joseph of Nazareth was yet before and after her Espousals a pure and unspotted Virgin Who after the natural Time of other Women brought forth the holy Infant the only begotten Son of God who was still God as well as an Infant His holy Mother still a most pure and immaculate Virgin A Virgin who was of the House and Lineage of David he being therefore called the Son of David And I Adore the infinite Wisdom of God who caused him to be born without the least shadow of Original Corruption who was to deliver us from the guilt of Sin I Adore the infinite Wisdom of God who caused his Conception and Nativity to be perfectly Immaculate that so being without Sin himself he might be a fit Sacrifice to atone for us Sinners And I Adore the infinite Wisdom of God who was pleased to order that he should be both God and Man who was to be the Mediator between God and Man and to reconcile God and Man And thus I believe he was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary IV. ARTICLE Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell THE meaning is I do declare that I do assent to this as an undoubted Truth and firmly believe that Jesus Christ my Saviour who was both God and Man having published his Gospel among the Jews he was accused by them out of meer Malice and brought before a Man called Pontius Pilate who was the Roman Governor of the Country where Christ lived which was Judea With Grief and Love I profess to believe that they the Jews tumultuously prevailed with Pilate to sentence him to Death though he declared he found no fault in him The Death which he sentenced him to was that most shameful painful and accursed Death on the Cross Before that Sentence was executed the Jewish Rabble and the Roman Souldiers mocked spit upon buffetted scourged and most vilely abused him I declare with Grief and Love that I believe this my Saviour was Crucified for me that is that his Hands and Feet were nailed to a Cross till he died I believe firmly that he Died as other Men and the reason of it was that he might reconcile the World to his Father and become a Sacrifice for all our Sins or that he might reconcile the Divine Justice and Mercy together that as Man he was to die to suffer in our stead as God he was to merit and make Satisfaction for our Sins and thus he became an infinite Satisfaction to an infinite Justice I entirely believe that when he had given up the Ghost and was dead that his dead Body was by Joseph of Arimathea wrapped in fine Linen and buried in a new Tomb I believe that he being dead and his Soul separated from his Body that he continued in the State of Separation or in the State of the Dead for a time and though between the time that he died and the third Day on which he rose again he did descend into Hell 't was not to suffer any thing there but to triumph over the Devil in his own Kingdom and Quarters and to shew him the Victory he had got over him To break the Iron Bars of these lower Prisons that they might open and shut for ever after only at his Command And thus I believe That he suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified dead and buried and descended into Hell V. ARTICLE The third Day he rose again from the dead THE meaning is I do solemnly profess That I assent to this as an undoubted Truth that Jesus Christ our Saviour though he was crucified and died for our Sins and by his Death had overcome Death did not continue long in the State of Death for his Soul was separated from his Body and his Body lay in the Grave but till the Third Day Upon the Third Day after he was buried reckoning that very Day on which he was buried for the First he by his own infinite Power as he was God did revive and raise himself by uniting the same Soul to the same Body and opened his Grave and came out of it and openly shewed himself alive for he conversed with his Disciples for the space of Forty Days after he arose from the Grave till he went away to Heaven And thus I believe that the Third Day he rose again from the Dead VI. ARTICLE He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty THE meaning is I do firmly believe that our dearest Lord after he rose out of the Grave stayed on Earth for the space of Forty Days In which time he ordered his Disciples how they should preach the Gospel and govern the Church and promised them the Holy Ghost At the End of the Forty Days he walks with them a Mile or Two out of the City of Jerusalem and when he had blessed them there comes down a Cloud and
dangers Ghostly and Bodily when we say Lead us not into Temptation We request him to keep us from all Sin and Wickedness from our Ghostly Enemy and from Everlasting Death when we say Deliver us from Evil. And this upon our faithful Industry and sincere endeavour and labour and our constant petitioning and begging his Grace we are to trust he will do for us This we know he can do for his Kingdom and Power is infinite And this we trust he will do for the glory of his Mercy and Goodness Amen SECT V. Of the Sacraments Question HOW many Sacraments hath Christ ordained c. Answer Two only as generally necessary to Salvation c. THE meaning is A Sacrament signifies a Holy Rite or Ordinance used in the Service of God Now Christ when he was upon Earth ordered that two Sacraments only should be necessary to be received by all Men in general that would attain Salvation Now as all Mankind are first Born and then grow up to full Stature So by the first Sacrament of Baptism we are new Born and are received into Christ's Church And by the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper we are nourished to Salvation Again we are Born but once but we are nourished daily So in this case we are baptized but once Born anew but once but we receive the other Sacrament of the Lord's Supper frequently as we have frequent need of Nourishment Two Sacraments then Christ ordained as the Seals of that Gracious Covenant which through him was made between God and us and as the means by which his Merits should be conveyed and made over to us and to all Believers to the end of the World And therefore necessary to all Believers in general 'T is true God can save if he please without them But seeing these are the Seals of the Covenant of Grace and what that is we shall see presently and the ordinary instrumental means of Salvation willfully to neglect them or want them when they may be had is to neglect God's Ordinance to disobey his Command and a manifest hazard of our own Salvation Some there are that have five Sacraments more as Confirmation Confession Ordination Marriage and Extream Unction Now although our Church retains of all these as much as is necessary or useful and truly primitive yet these two Baptism and the Lord's Supper only were by Christ made necessary for all Men in general to Salvation Question What meanest thou by this Word Sacrament Answer I mean an outward visible Sign of an inward and c. THE meaning is A Sacrament is an outward Sign of an inward Grace and Favour Thus for Instance in the Sacrament of Baptism the baptizing the Person with Water in the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost that is the outward Sign But then the inward and spiritual Grace and Favour is this That we receive pardon of Sin and Grace or Strength to do our duty and are made God's Children and have a right to Glory Which we shall not fail of if we sincerely perform the Conditions that are required on our part So that a Sacrament I say is an outward Sign of an inward Favour bestown on us And not only so but 't is also a means and instrument of conveying that favour to us and besides that 't is a Pledge or Token of assurance that God has admitted us to his Favour and his Love and received us into the Covenant of Grace Of which Covenant if we perform our part God will most surely perform his Question How many parts are there in a Sacrament Answer Two The outward visible Sign and the inward Spiritual Grace THE meaning is In both these Sacraments as we said before there is an outward part or sign to be seen by the Eye and an inward Grace and Favour to be received by Faith Thus as we said for instance in Baptism the outward part to be seen by the Eye is the washing with Water in the name of the Father c. The inward Favour is this That we are made Heirs of Christ's Kingdom and received into the Covenant Grace Which Covenant of Grace is God promises Pardon of Sin Grace here and Glory hereafter if we perform our Conditions of the Covenant which are Faith Repentance and a sincere Obedience Question What is the outward visible Sign or Form in Baptism Answer Water Wherein the Person is baptized In the c. THE meaning is plain That the outward sign in Baptism to be seen by the Eye is Water with which according to Christ's Command Matth. 28.19 we are baptized in the name of the Father c. And being so baptized we are then made Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven The guilt of original Sin is washed away We are received into the Family of our Saviour and if while we continue in that Family we believe firmly in Christ repent of our Sins and obey him we shall not miss of that Inheritance to which we were then Intituled Question What is the inward and spiritual Grace Answer A death unto Sin and a new birth unto Righteousness c. THE meaning is Before Baptism we were guilty of Original Sin and liable to the Wrath of God But by Baptism the guilt of Original Sin is pardoned we are dead to Sin and we receive a new Birth unto Righteousness That is we are endued with strength and ability to live righteously if we will diligently and faithfully make use of the Grace of God given us and humbly beg for more we are restored and admitted to God's Favour and have a title given us to glory in Heaven This is the benefit of our Baptism this is the inward and Spiritual Grace The Guilt I say it again of Original Sin is pardoned and done away we receive Strength and Power to live righteously in acceptable and evangelical degrees and measures we are admitted into the Covenant of Grace and are intitled to the Kingdom of Glory But then there is something to be performed on our part and that follows in the next Question and Answer Question What is required of Persons to be baptized Answer Repentance whereby they forsake sin and Faith c. THE meaning is That Persons to be baptized are to promise to discharge their Conditions of the Covenant of Grace which are Faith and Repentance Faith or a firm Belief of Christ and his Gospel so as to live in a holy Obedience to it And Repentance that is of renouncing and forsaking all Sin and Vice Now Persons of Age and years of Discretion are to declare this Faith in Jesus and this Repentance themselves when they are baptized and to declare their purposes and resolutions of obeying Christ Which seeing Infants are not able to do themselves it is very fit it should be done for them by the Mouth of others even those who bring them to Baptism Which Promise nevertheless when they come to Age and Knowledge they are to take upon themselves and are bound to perform
when he raised him from the Dead and set him at his own Right-Hand in the Heavenly Places Far above all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion and every name that is named not only in this World but also in that which is to come And hath put all things under his Feet Prove that he shall come to judge the quick and the dead Acts 17.31 Because he hath appointed a Day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness Acts 10.42 It is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of the quick and the dead Prove that you are to believe in the Holy-Ghost or Holy Spirit 1 Joh. 5.7 There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost and these three are one 1 Thes 4.8 God who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit Matth. 12.32 Whosoever speaketh against the Holy-Ghost it shall not be forgiven him Prove that Christ hath a Church upon Earth Acts 2.47 And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be Saved Prove that this Church of Christ is Holy Eph. 5.27 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy Heb. 12.14 Follow Peace with all Men and Holiness without which none shall see the Lord. Prove that this Church is Catholick that is Vniversal or to consist of People of all Nations And not limited to one Nation as the Jewish Church was Matth. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father c. Rev. 5.9 For thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation Prove that there is and ought to be a Communion of Saints or fellowship one with another in all holy things 1 Joh. 1.7 But if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another Eph. 4.4 5. There is one Body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism 2 Cor. 13.14 The Communion of the Holy-Ghost be with you all 1 Cor. 10.17 We being many are one Head and one Body for we are all partakers of one Bread Prove that we must not forsake the Communion of Saints in holy things Heb. 10.25 Not forsaking the assembling your selves together as the manner of some is Rom. 15.6 That ye may with one Mind and one Mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Prove that there is forgiveness of Sins to be had upon Repentance in the Church Acts 3 19. Repent ye therefore and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out Acts 13.38 Be it known unto you therefore Men and Brethren that through this Man is preached unto you forgiveness of Sins 1 Joh. 1.1 2. If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the propitation for our Sins Prove that there shall be a Resurrection of the Body 1 Cor. 15.21 22. For since by Man came death by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead For as is Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive Acts 24.15 There shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Unjust Prove that there is an Everlasting Life after Death Matth. 25.46 And these shall go away into Everlasting Punishment but the Righteous into Life Eternal Joh. 5.28 29. The hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Question What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy Belief Answer First I learn to believe in God the Father who hath made me and all the World Secondly in God the Son who hath redeemed me and all Mankind Thirdly in God the Holy-Ghost who sanctifieth me and all the Elect People of God Prove that God made you and all the World Acts 17.24 God that made the World and all things therein seeing he is the Lord of Heaven and Earth Acts 17.28 In him we live move and have our being Prove that God the Son redeemed you Luke 1.68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his People Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law Prove that he did redeem you and all Mankind Heb. 2.9 But we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the Angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour that he by the Grace of God should taste death for every Man Prove that God the Holy-Ghost or holy Spirit sanctifieth you and all the Elect People of God 2 Thes 2.13 But we are bound to give Thanks alway to God for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Prove or shew where you find the Ten Commandments Exod. 20.2 to the 18th I am the Lord c. Question What is thy Duty towards God Answer My Duty towards God is to believe in him to c. Question What is thy Duty towards thy Neighbour Answer My Duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as my self and to do c. Prove that you are to perform your Duty towards God and towards your Neighbour Matth. 22.37 38 39. Thou salt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind This is the first and great Commandment And the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Prove that you are to believe in God 2 Chron. 20.20 Believe in the Lord you God so shall you be established Prove that you are to fear God Eccl. 12.13 Fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole duty of Man Prove that you are to love him with all your Heart Soul Strength and Mind Luke 10.27 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Strength and with all thy Mind Prove that you are to worship God Matth. 4.10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Prove that you are to give him Thanks 1 Thes 5.18 In every thing give thanks for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you Prove that you are to put your whole Trust in him Psal 62.8 Trust in him at all times ye People pour out your Heart before him God is a Refuge for us Prove that you are to call upon him Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt
Western Church the Church of England the Church of Rome the Greek Church all that vast number of Christians that now inhabit in or near that Country where our Saviour was pleased to live when he was here on Earth all those of Russia and Moscovy who as themselves say received their Religion from St. Andrew all those of India who were converted to Christianity by the Preaching of St. Thomas all that sort of Christians called Jacobites who inhabit in Syria Mesopotamia Babylon and Palaestine and under other Titles are said to be spread abroad in Forty Kingdoms all the Cophti or Christians in Aegypt where Religion was planted in the Apostles Days all the Habustine Christians inhabiting the Midland of Africa all the Armenian Christians spread in Multitudes over the Turkish Empire the Maronites a Sort of Christians inhabiting Aleppo Damascus and Mount Libanus and elsewhere all consent for the baptizing their Infants To which I might add nearer Home all the Protestant Churches as appears by the Harmony of the Confessions of Helvetia Bohemia Belgia Auspurge Sweveland Wittemberg Saxony and the French Confession all unanimously declaring for Baptizing Infants Thus much for the Practice of the Church III. A word or Two from Reason Infants of Old in the Church of the Jews which was the true Church before Christ's coming were in Covenant with God which was a blessed Privilege and Favour And what have we lost any Privilege by Christ's coming any Favour by our Redeemer any Mercy by the coming of the Holy Jesus the great lover of Souls 'T is Blasphemy to say it when we have got so many They were by Circumcision in Covenant with God at Eight Days old and are we such losers by Christ's coming that our Infants shall not be received into Covenant with God Is it to be imagined that our Saviour took away this Privilege No surely Besides St. Paul's Answer in a Controversie once was this 1 Cor. xi 16. If any Man seem to be contentious we have no such custom neither the Churches of God So may we very fitly say in this Case If any that name the Name of Christ refuse to Baptize their Infants and seem to be contentious we have no such Custom neither the Churches of God Again it may very rationally be asked What have Infants of Christian Parents no Privileges at all above the Infants of Heathens Must our Infants be Strangers to the Covenant of Promise till they enter by choice and disputation as the Children of Heathens may No surely St. Paul says Else were your Children unclean but now are they holy And St. Peter says Acts ij The Promise is to you and your Children And therefore if they have a Right to the Covenant of Promise surely they must have a Right to the Seal of that Covenant which is Baptism Lastly we may reasonably ask What are there no Babes in Christ Are all strong Men Can the Blood of Christ do Infants no good Is there in them no Original Sin to be cleansed Or cannot the Blood of Christ cleanse it God forbid What no Lambs in Christ's Flock Are all old Sheep that make up the Fold of which he is Shepherd All this is unreasonable to suppose But thus much in few words touching infant Baptism from Scripture from the Practice of the Church and from Reason But to return Well then the first of the Two Sacraments ordained by Christ and by him made necessary for all Men in general to Salvation is the Sacrament of Baptism In this Sacrament there is an outward visible Sign and that is the washing the Person with Water In the Name of the Father c. The inward Grace and Favour is that the Guilt of Original Sin is washed away We have Grace that is Power and Strength given us to live the new Life of Righteousness in acceptable degrees and measures We are restored to God's Favour are received into the Covenant of Grace made Members of Christ Children of God and Heirs to Glory And all this upon condition that we do afterward sincerely and conscionably perform our part of that Covenant which is Faith Repentance and Obedience to the Will of God Now although this was promised in our Name by others when we were baptized because we could then promise nothing our selves yet being now come to knowledge we are thankfully to take these advantageous Terms upon our selves and perform these Conditions of Faith Repentance and a holy Love and Obedience Then according to God's Promise we shall not fail of the Benefit of Baptism But if we persevere in this Faith and Obedience to the end of our Life we shall through Christ find that we were truly made Heirs of his Kingdom in Baptism and from his Kingdom of Grace here pass to his Kingdom of Glory for all futurity And thus much of the Holy Sacrament of Baptism Of the Lord's Supper Question WHY was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained Answer For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice c. THE meaning is Our Blessed Saviour besides the Sacrament of Baptism was pleased to institute One Sacrament more which is necessary to Salvation for all Men in general where it can be had By the Sacrament of Baptism we are entred into Christ's Church and admitted to his Favour We are born again of Water and of the Holy Ghost By the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper we are nourished up in our Christian Faith we commemorate the Death and Sufferings of our Saviour we receive his Body and Blood to all intents and purposes whatever to which he did speak them so to be and to which he meant them and designed them to us In the Sacrament of Baptism we were first admitted into the Covenant of Grace with God before we knew it In the Sacrament now of the Lord's Supper we our selves in our own Persons ratifie and confirm this gracious Covenant being come to knowledge And as since our Baptism we have too often broken our part of that Covenant so we come humbly here to renew it with our God and Saviour The Sacrament therefore of Baptism is to be administred as we said but once this being our New-birth and we are born but once But then the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is administred often because we have need of constant Nourishment though we are born but once We are admitted into the Covenant of Grace but once solemnly and that is in our Baptism but then as we break it often too often so we have need to renew it often and that is done if we come aright in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Well them Two things this other Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was ordained for 1. For a continual remembrance of the Sacrifice of Christ's Death That as our Saviour offered up himself upon the Cross a Sacrifice for the Sins of the World so in this Sacrament we shew forth this his death till he come we have a lively representation of that Sacrifice and he