and in his glorious Ascension rightly and religiously and on these and such benefits spiritually feeding by beleeuing are nourished with the benefits of his bodie and bloud effectually Q. What must we consider and beleeue in Christ his Incarnation A. A Christian must consider the cause of Christ his Incarnation to proceede from Gods loue for mans restauration or restoring againe into the fauour of God for the benefite of all that truely beleeue And must constantly be perswaded that beleeuing in the Sonne of God by this his faith he shall liue eternally and shall neuer perish Q. What must a Christian man consider and beleeue of Christ his Passion A. A Christian must consider that Christ in his passion did suffer all things requisite for remission of the sinnes of all faithfull beleeuers And must beleeue that Christ redeemed his by his passion from all manner of sinne both concerning Adams sinfull transgression and also concerning his daily sinfull corruption and vaine conuersation Q. What must a Christian consider and beleeue in Christ his powerfull Resurrection A. A Christian must consider that as Christ Iesus dyed for the saluation of the faithfull he namely a Christian must fully be perswaded that thereby he is effectually risen and shall thereby eternally both in bodie soule be saued Q. Nowe concerning Christ his glorious Ascension shew me what must bee a Christians consideration faithfull beleife and full perswasion A. First a Christian must consider Christ Iesus being heyre of all things and hauing shewed all power in heauen and earth to be giuen vnto him and hauing led Captiuitie captiue is ascended into heauen to take reall and royall possession of heauen in his holy humane soule and bodie And secondly a Christian must beleeue that where Christ is euery beleeuer shall be and also bee fully perswaded that from the right hand of God where Christ nowe sitteth in glory Celestiall Iesus Christ shall come to Iudgement and after a ioyfull sentence sounded all that beleeue in Christ shall ascend with him to receiue the fulnesse of ioy and peace perpetuall Q. You haue shewed me what consideration and examination is fit before and at the feeding in the Lords supper Expresse vnto me now what becommeth a Communicant to consider of after hee hath receiued the bodie and bloud of Christ A. That which a Christian must consider after hee hath receiued the Supper of the Lord is a right spirituall disgestion of that spirituall foode Q. What meane you by a spirituall disgestion A. First I meane a feeling of Gods fauour Motion in Christ when the will is so bent by force of the loue of God in sending his owne Sonne that those which beleeue in Christ should not perish That he will with the Prophet say I will loue the Lord which hath deliuered my soule from a second death Mine eyes from wayling in the lake of eternall death and my feete from finall falling into the endlesse damnation of them which taste the torments of a second death Q. What is the second opperation of spirituall disgestion A. The second is a diuine apprehension of Inclination Gods spirit moouing the minde to an holy inclination by desiring and louing of that which may most here on earth please Gods Maiestie And aboue all things earthly to bend and set our affections on thinges heauenly and to say I desire to bee with my Sauiour of whose sweets sauour I haue in this banquet tasted by faith Q. What further feeling of diuine fauors is in spirituall disgestion of these holy misteries A. The third opperation of holy disgestion Hope of fruition is a liuely hope of full and firme fruition of these heauenly thinges that by holy defires a true Christian member hath set his affection vppon and by this liuely hope he is fully assured that when Christ which is our life shall appeare in glory hée shall by his bodie full of glory so powerfully rayse our mortall bodies from death that both body and soule of the faithfull shall receiue life immortall and glory eternall Q. Are there any farther comforts to bee found or felt by spirituall disgestion A. The celestiall comforts that the faithfull doe finde in disgesting these diuine graces daintie dishes and purified wine of Christ his bodie and bloud are vnaccountable I will conclude with a fourth disgestion and although set last yet is it not the least for thereof this banquet hath of the disgestion and opperation a true right title and denomination Q. What name hath this feast by opperation of the same A. This feast by famous Fathers of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Church was named by a word that signifieth a feast of thankesgiuing in the gréeke tongue Q. What is signified by that denomination A. Thereby is expressed a fourth spirituall and holy disgestion when the feeling of Gods grace filleth the soule with such fulnesse of true gratuitie that as with Marrow and fatnesse of meate the bones and bodie are filled so with prayse and heartie thankesgiuing the minde and mouth of the faithfull are filled and thereby forced to prayse God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost by feeding on that spirituall sustentation and drinking of the cup of saluation in remembrance of Christ This grace of thankesgiuing is giuen to all the faithfull Q. You doe meane by the faithfull all the members of the true Church which are entertained into the loue of God by effectuall Baptisme and freed with the Sonne of God spiritually in the Lords supper here on earth Tell me what are their triumphs in Heauen A. I confesse my powers are vnable to apprehend the least part but this the Scriptures testifieth with faithfull Abraham Isacke and Iacob euery faithfull member of the Church militant shall rest and with the triumphant Church triumphantly raigne in heauenly tranquilitie in eternall felicitie and in vnspeakeable glory shine as the starres in heauen And sing with the Angels of heauen that holy and heauenly song of triumph Aleluiah all honour glorie and prayse be to God world without ende Amen ⸫ FINIS A Prayer to be sayd at the end of this third part O Lord our God and gratious Creator which of thy loue before the worlde or man was created diddest in thy sacred secret decree appoynt and ordaine out of mankinde a holy Church and chosen Congregation eternally to be saued in Iesus Christ and with him and by him to be made Co-heires in thine euerlasting kingdome The testimonie of which thine eternall loue being left by thy deare Sonne to his members generally he vouchsafed in Sacraments as perpetuall pledges to ordaine and institute publikely of which holy ordinance we bee nowe made partakers we humblie beseech thy blessed Maiestie to grant vs participation of all those sauing graces and promised blessinges which appertaine to faithfull receiuers by spirituall receiuing those holy pledges so that by our faithfull feeding on him thy deare Sonne we may feele the fruites of his In carnation the benefits of his bitter Passion the power of his glorious Resurrection and receiue by faith assurance of the Celestiall possession that hee hath obtained by his Ascension And after this life is ended with him we may enjoy celestiall triumph and triumphantly with his victorious Church in heart triumph when sinne and Sathan are conquered we may euerlastingly with the Crowne of eternall life bee Crowned by and through Christ our Captaine and blessed Conquerour Amen ⸫ FINIS Printed at London by Thomas Dawson dwelling neere the three Cranes in the Vine-tree and are there to be solde 1617.
obediēce of one namely of Christ from all that be members of Christ and ordayned to saluation Q. Are not all men as well as some partakers of that benefite by the perfect obedience of Christ A. None haue this benefite by Christ but the regenerate onely Q. What meane you by regeneration A. Regeneration is a sauing grace in Baptisme pertaining to the regenerate onely for it is not sufficient for children to be dipped into the water but to bee also buryed with Christ in Baptisme and to be borne anew by the power of the holy Ghost Q. How doth this appeare in the regenerate A. As many as spiritually receiue the son of God by faith to be their Sauiour they receiue priueledge and power to bee the sonnes of God which is the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ and father of all the faithfull Q. Shew me this priuiledge of them which beleeue and how they be borne anew and made the sonnes of God A. They are not begotten of flesh bloud nor conceiued of the will of the flesh nor borne of the will of man but of God Q. How commeth it to passe that in the regenerate the blemish of sin doth remaine being borne of God A. God doth suffer some sinne to be found and in the best to remaine but neuer suffereth it to raigne it remaineth for their good and Gods glory Q. Can the remaining of sinne in the children of God turne to their good and Gods glory A. It can and doth appeare for many purposes to be so by the word of God Q. Shew me some and such proofes as you finde to be approued A. First the faithfull finde that feeling sinne and finding their owne corruption therby God worketh in the faithfull a true humiliation Secondly when the faithfull finde they haue strong combates with corruption In such strong conflicts the faithfull flye more feruently to seeke succour of God by feruent prayer and earnest inuocation Thirdly the faithfull finding the power of Gods spirit to support their weakenesse and to preserue them safely in all perils are prouoked to praise God daily for their safetie and preseruation Fourthly God often times appoynteth that the best and most perfectest shall haue strongest battaile with corruption That when the victorie is gained as victors and valiant Souldiers of Christ a greater waight of glory may be prouided and with more glorious Crownes of immortall glory shall such be crowned and glorified Q. Doe you conclude then that all the elect shal be glorified which liue on earth to Gods glory and such as most glorifie God before men shall receiue greatest glorie in heauen A. It must be so concluded as it is by testimonie of Christ himselfe conclnded to the comfort and incouragement of all godly faithfull members of his true Church which according as they couenant in Baptisme be faithfull vnto death Q. What is the dutie of Christians which are partakers of the Sacrament of Baptisme A. Those things ought to be in Christians baptised which were found to bee in Abraham both when he was Circumcised and after he had receiued Circumcision Q. What was found in Abraham before Circumcision A. First Abrahams obedience appeared by obeying the voyce of God when God called him from parents and patrimonie from kindred and countrey Secondly Abrahams constant beleife did appeare in beleeuing and by faith depending on Gods promises The third grace found in him before Circumsion was his willing minde both to receiue the couenants made by Gods Maiestie and to make couenants of dutifull seruice vnto God againe Q. How can Children in infancie Baptised take any couenants from God or make any couenants to God A. Although Infants Baptised cannot themselues yet their suerties do enter into couenants for them and it is their duties when they come to knowledge to performe those couenants And as they hope to haue God to be their Father by Christ so to keepe Christian couenants Q. What are those couenants you meane A. I meane a Christian is first bound to imbrace the Christian faith with all his whole heart Secondly to loue God with his whole heart Thirdly to endeuour to serue and please God in true holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of his life and fourthly to expresse such obedience in this life as his couenants hee made in Baptisme bind him to performe Q. You doe approue that euen very Infants receiuing Baptisme are bound by couenants to performe holy duties Shew me now the dutie of Elders of Parents and of Masters which are Christians and by faith hope to be saued A. As Abraham father of the faithfull after Circumcision when he had entered into couenant with God according to that couenant himselfe his seede and his seruants by his instructions did walke according to that holy and heauenly vocation in beleeuing Gods promises liuing vertuously to the vttermost of his power obeyed Gods Commaundements So in like manner by vertue of their couenant in Baptisme all Christians are bound to performe such duties of obedience Q. What doth Abrahams faith and obedience teach vs A. As Abraham walked so faithfull Christians must walke and endeuour to follow his steppes in faith and obedience and become such faithfull Fathers as may approue them not onely to shewe a dutie of Parents in bringing their Children to the holy Sacrament of Baptisme see them Baptised but also after Baptisme parents must and are bound to see their Children seruants instructed educated from their infancie to liue holily religiously whereby Gods name who hath called them may bee glorified in them their Children and familie Q. I doe vnderstand what you meane by the Church of Christ and likewise the benefites of Baptisme and dutie of Christians in Baptisme which hope to bee saued shew mee nowe a reason why the faithfull freed from eternall death doe die a bodily death A. The benefits of bodily death are many to the faithfull and death of body bringeth aduantage to Christes members both in bodie and soule Q. What benefites bringeth bodily death to the faithfull A. First by bodily death all rebellious affections in the flesh are vtterly killed and all sinfull affections vtterly quenched Secondly as the dead bodie is buryed so all carnall affections are perfectly mortified And euery part by perfect mortification made more fit to receiue glory in the day of the resurrection Q. Are both the laying into graue and rifing from graue benefits to the faithfull A. The graue hath euer beene a chamber of safetie to the faithfull But now sithence the blessed bodie of Christ was layd into the graue it is made the bedde of sweete spycerie to the godly Q. If the very graue bee beneficiall shew me what benefits doth rising from graue bring to the buryed bodies of Christians A. The bodies of Christians which are buryed in Seas or Land are sowne in corruption in dishonour in weakenesse in estate mortall they rise in incoruption in honour in power and in immortall
Q. Shew me how and whereby Christians may behold this Christian faith A. The twelue Apostles in a cleare cristall glasie hath described it plainely Q. Kehearse the first Article and shew me what you learne by it A. I beleeue in God the father Almightie c. First I learne hereby God on whom I doe beleeue is my Father and I am his childe by faith in Christ Iohn 1. 12. Gal. 3. Secondly I learne I am one of them to whom God sayth I will be their God and they shall be my sonnes daughters sayeth the Almightie Iere. 33. 1. Thirdly I learne that my almightie Father will so sustaine me that I shall lacke nothing Psal 23. And so defend me that the gate of hell shall not preuaile against me Math. 16. Q. Rehearse the second Article and shew me what you learne by it A. And in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lord. First I learne the name and nature of Iesus doth assure me that he is my Sauiuiour Mat. 2. By the second title of his name which is Christ and signifieth aunoynted I am taught that as the oyntment on Aarons head did descend to all his garments so on me and all Christians the oyle of grace descendeth from Christ vnto vs. The third as he is the onely sonne of God from euerlasting so he bringeth many children to God euerlastingly to be saued Fourthly I learne That he is my Lord both by right of redemption and my Lord and husband by right of coniunction Hos 2. 19. Q. Rehearse the third Article and shew me what you learne by it A. Which was conceiued by the holy Gost borne of the virgin Mary whereby I learne first that he is free from sinne and altogether pure and vnspotted Heb. 9. Secondly I learne that by his diuine nature and power hee is able to performe what soeuer tendeth to the conquest of mans foes Col. 3. Thirdly it doth assure me that hee being borne of a woman is a perfect man and in his person and manhood indured the wrath of God for the sinnes of mankinde and to free the faithfull by his satisfaction from all their sinne and transgression Esay 53. Q. Rehearse the fourth Article and shew me what you learne thereby A. Suffered vnder Poncius Pilate was crucified dead and buryed he descended into hell First I learne that vnder Poncius Pilate the Iudge he suffered on the Crosse to worke out my Redemption Math. 27. Gal. 3. 14. Secondly his descending into hell signifieth the humbling of his soule to suffer the torments of hell for my sake Psal 22. Q. Rehearse the fixt Article and what you learne out of it A. He rose againe from the dead Hereby I learne that his resurrection doth assure me of my iustification 1. Cor. 15. 17. Secondly I learne that risting from sinne and delighting in righteousnes doth assure me that I am a chosen member of his body Rom. 6. 4. Thirdly I am taught that I rising with him should set my affections on heauenly things where he is Col. 3. 1. Fourthly the rising of his body from the graue so gloriously doth assure me that my body shall arise to enjoy with him eternall glory 1. Cor. 15. 18. Q. Rehearse the fixt Article and what you learne by it A. He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God c. First I learne by his ascension into heauen that hee hath taken possession for me all his members of the heauenly Mansion Secondly That he is seated on the right hand of God in maiestie doth assure me that he is aboue all Angels placed in a secondary dignitie to the father to whom in his humane nature hee maketh intercession for his members continually Thirdly he there placed in glory assureth me and euery member of his body there to be placed with him in euerlasting glory Q. Rehearse the seauenth Article what you learne by it A. From thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead Wherin first I learne to my comfort that my Sauieur shall come to be my Iudge Iob 19. 25. Secondly I learne that his second comming shall bee with great glory when hee commeth to Iudgement Mat. 25. 41. Thirdly I learne as he shal be glorified in giuing glory to his faithfull members so he shall also be glorified in rendring vengeance in flaming fire to the faithlesse that haue contemned the faithfull and disobeyed the Gospell 1. Thes 2. 8. Q. Rehearse the eyght Article and shew me what you learne out of it A. I beleeue in the holy Ghost wherein first I learne the holy spirit being very God doth certifie my soule and my spirite that I and all faithfull Christians are the children of God and coheires with Christ of his glorious kingdome Rom. 8. 16. Secondly I learne that the spirituall power of the holy spirit mollifieth sinne in mee and maketh all holy desires to take place in my soule and indueth me with true holinesse of life Ephe. 4 23. Q. Rehearse the ninth Article and what you learne therein A. I beleeue the catholike Church whereby I learne that God hath on earth and throughout the world a holy Chuch and sanctified Congregation of people Math. 8. 10. Act. 10. 34. Secondly I learne That in this holy societie there is a Communion of Saints of which number by faith I am assured through thy fauour to be one Ephe. 5. 26. Q. Rehearse the tenth Article and what you learne by it A. I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes by which Article first I learne and stedfastly beleeue although I am a sinner yet Christ making satisfaction for my sinnes and for the sinnes of the whole world my sinnes shall neyther to me be imputed nor to my confusion remembred Ier. 33. 34. Psal 32. 1. Q. Rehearse the eleauenth Article and what you learne by it A. I beleeue the resurrection of the Bodie Whereby I learne that when the trumpet of God thall blow and the Arch-angels sound out this powerfull sentence Rise you dead my body shall be raised from the dust and so raised shall raigne with Christ for euer 1. Thes 4. 17. Secondly I learne I shall bee clothed with Christ his bodie and in my resurrection my vile body shall be glorious 1. Cor. 15. 42. Q. Rehearse the twelfth Article and shew me what you learne thereby A. I beleeue the life euerlasting Wherein first I learne to my comfort that after death I shall be placed in the throne of life and crowned in the kingdome of life Reu. 2. 10. 1. Tim. 4. Secondly I learne the life which I and euery faithfull member of Christ shall receiue shall neuer ende but bee euerlasting Psal 21. Thirdly I learne that of all these graces and fauours of God to mee and to all the faithfull commeth of the free gift of God to me to all the whole Christian Church through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour to whom with the Father and holy spirit I all the faithfull are
bound to render all honor and glory world without end Amen ⸫ A Prayer briefly to be repeated at the end of this first part GRatious holy and heauenly Father which of thy loue hast of clay created vs to thine owne Image by thy deare son redeemed vs from bondage and by the holy Ghost doest sanctifie and preserue vs in holinesse to serue thee Grant vs wee beseech thee that as by thy holy word we are taught the duties of Christianitie so we may without hypocrisie sincerely serue thee in such sort as may tend most to the setting forth of thy glory in our pilgrimage of this life present And may also most directly guide vs to the attaining the eternall felicitie prouided for vs all thine elect in thy celestiall Paradize in the life to come And powerfull Lord wee pray thee by the rule of thy Law so religiously gouerne our hearts that we neyther stray after our owne Imaginations nor deceiue our selues by any vaine ostentations and bring vs by imbracing the doctrines of thy holy Scriptures to account and esteeme them the holy and cleare Cristall wherein thy loue is reueiled and thy law for direction of our liues plainely described To true obedience of which thy law good Father so incline forme and frame our hearts wee beseech thee that vnfainedly aboue all things we may loue thy holy Maiestie and by proceeding in the rules wee practise by an holy christian charity we may performe our loue one to another with pure hearts vnfainedly And finally by a true and vnfained faith obtaine the promises of grace to serue thee in true holinesse and righteousnesse of life and after this true sanctification and grace present we may raigne with thee in euerlasting glory world without end through Iesus Christ our blessed Sauiour and Redeemer Amen ⸫ Here followeth the second part of the Cristall of Christianitie wherein the Sacrament of Baptisme is discussed very plainely and very familiarly Question TO that end that all Christians may vnderstande what the true Church of Christ is shew me whom and what you do call the true Church of Christe here on earth Answere The name of Church by signification signifieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Calling And all Christian people that professe the faith of Christ are named by the name of the Church visible generally Q. Who are more effectually and truely called the Church A. They truely in this world are called the true and inuisible Church of Christ whom God elected to saluation before the beginning of the world And which in receiuing Christ by faith doe beleeue in Christ alone to be saued eternally Q. What is the condition and estate of them which be true members of the church and doe beleeue in Christ effectually A. Although it doth not to men alwayes so appeare yet it is apparant that the true members of the Church are replenished with true happinesse holinesse and endued with diuine and sauing graces Q. How are they which are members of Christ his true Church made happie A. The true Church and euery member are blessed made happie by Christ which taketh away the curse and wrath of God due for sinne from them and bestoweth his righteousnesse on them Q. How are Christ his members made holy A. Through his holy spirit which sanctifieth all the elect in Christ with true holinesse Q. How are they replenished here on earth with heauenly graces A. As the Sunne-beames are made pertakers of the Sunnes glory and brightnesse So the true Chruch is replenished and euery part made pertakers of such heauenly vertues and diuine graces wherby God our heauenly Father is glorifyed by his grace giuen to the members of the Church in this life present Q. Doe you conclude then that all Christians which truely beleeue in the Sonne of God which are sanctified by the spirite of God and through his grace expresse in this life the glory of God are effectually called into the true Church and they are rightly called the true Church of Christ A. This is my conclusion that all faithfull people elected before the foundation of the world in Christ gathered throughout the world vniuersally which are iustified sanctified and ordained to be glorified are the true Church of Christ of whom Christ is the Lord and head and are therefore called the true Christian Church rightly Q. What assurance hath the Church here on earth of Christes loue A. Christ hath appoynted the preaching of Gods blessed Word and the holy Sacraments as testimonies thereof Q. How many Sacraments hath Christs ordayned in his Church necessary for the saluation of his Church A. Christ hath ordayned and in his church instituted the Sacrament of Baptisme to receiue and entertaine them which are his members into the fauour of God by his loue Q. What other Sacrament was by Christ instituted A. The holy feast and banquet of his most blessed body and bloud to feede them and sustaine them by and with full assurance of his loue Q. What meane you by this word Sacraments A. Sacraments are outward signes that doe represent all those spirituall inwarde sauing graces which the faithfull receiue from God through Iesus Christ Q. What is the outward signe in Baptisme A. Water wherein the Childe is dipped or sprinkled with and it doth represent the two properties of Water which doth both clense and comfort Q. How doth the propertie of clensing agrée with the inward graces represented in Baptisme A. The propertie of clensing representeth the clensing of our sinnes by the precious and pure bloud of Christ which was shed on the Crosse for our sinnes Q. How doth Water in Baptisme represent comfort to vs A. As Baptisme is instituted in stead of Circumcision which was a seale of righteousnesse by faith so the faithfull are sealed and comforted by faith in Christ to bee saued Q. Doth Baptisme both signifie clensing from sinne and sealing vnto righteousnes A. Our clensing from sinne euen from the infection of the Leprosie which came by Adams disobedience And the essentiall righteousnesse which commeth by Christ is represented by Baptisme Q. What is the cause you compare originall sinne to the infectious disease of the Leprosie A. The word doth declare originall sinne Gezar or Gazar to be full of euill to flow with euill and to ouerflow all men naturally with corruption tending to damnation Q. Doth that daungerous disease bring daunger of damnation naturally on all men A. In one significant word the Apostle doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shew that the infection doth so infect all mans affections and partes with disobedience that the will of the naturall man will not obey the will of God for the which rebellion the wrath of God commeth ouer all the children of disobedience to condemnation Q. How are the faithfull freed from this infectious sin of Leprosie proceeding from Adams disobedience A. As it came by disobedience of one vpon all men to condemnation So it is taken away by the perfect