vnfainedly wee shal condemn our selues the more the Lord will iustifie vs. 2 The due triall and examination of a mans selfe and the iudging condemning of a mans selfe doe one necessarily follow vpon another Otherwise there is no good coherence of these words with the former He thē that shal carefully conscionably examine himselfe shall be sure to finde matter enough in himselfe to iudge and condemne himselfe for So that hee doth most worthily eat and drinke this Sacrament that shall discerne in himselfe most matter of iudgement condemnation and none more vnworthy receiuers thereof then those which can finde nothing in themselues to iudge condemne themselues for Hee shewes secondly the Mercy of God towards them herein That these iudgements vnto them that can make right vse of them are but fatherly and louing chastisements and instructions to keepe them from the common condemnation of the world But saith he whilst wee are iudged wee are chastened or nurtured and instructed of the Lord because wee should not be condemned with the world As if hee should haue said You are notwithstanding to behold Gods mercie towards you shining in this Iustice of his For he doth not this out of any hatred hee beares to any of you that are humbled vnder this hand of his can make a good vse thereof But as a louing and deare father chasteneth and correcteth his childe when he sees him in any fault not that hee might bee auenged of him but only thereby to terrifie him and keepe him from such courses as might bring him to the gibbet or gallowes or any other such shamefull end So God exerciseth you with these temporall chastisements that thereby hee might keep and restrain you from following such courses as might bring you with the rest of the wicked world to eternall damnation The consideration hereof should not embolden vs to be the lesse carefull of the former duties but rather to make more conscience of them For howsoeuer those who receiue this Sacrament vnworthily doe not so eat and drinke their own damnation that there is no meanes or hope of mercy left vnto thē being fallen into this sinne and though these temporall iudgements which God inflicts as signes and tokens that therein they eat and drinke their own damnation are to some persons the effects of Gods loue the meanes to saue them from that damnation Yet cursed and desperate must their state needs be that shall in such a manner abuse so great a mercy loue of God yea these temporary iudgements doe so farre forth onely proceed from his loue as they are sanctified vnto vs and made holy instruments in and thorow them to see and behold what an odious and damnable sin it is to receiue vnworthily and so they become a good meanes to make vs repent of it and forsake that sinne In others they are but the forerunners of eternall punishment Thus much for our helpe and direction that we may bee worthy and fruitfull receiuers of this Sacrament The Lord for his mercy sake pardon our former wants herein and moue our hearts to the carefull performance of all these duties that so we may not onely auoid the iudgements which vnworthy receiuers are in danger to fall into but that wee receiuing these Mysteries worthily may in and by them receiue the assurance of that grace and mercy which is shadowed and represented by them euen the full and perfect Redemption of our bodies and soules through the sacrifice of Christs body and his most precious bloud shed vpon the Crosse Amen FINIS A Briefe forme of Examination Containing occasionally the maine Principles of Religion I. Question WHat is a Sacramēt A. A mysticall signe ordained of God to represent and seale to the worthy receiuer saluation by Christ Iesus Mat. 28.19 1 Cor. 11 23. Gen. 17 7. Ro. 4 11. Q. Who is Christ Iesus A. The eternall and onely begotten Sonne of God our only Sauior Matt. 3 17. Rom. 1 3. Iohn 1 14. 1 Tim. 2.5 Heb. 2 17. The Questions thus marked with a star may in thy Examination bee vsed or omitted as time or ability of the Person requireth * Q. What is God A. An infinite and eternall Maiesty the Creator and Gouernor of the world Psa 139 7 1 Kings 8 27. Esa 44 6 Psal 90.2 Gen. 1.1 Psalm 19. Zach. 9 10. Prou. 15.3 * Q. How many Gods are there A. Onely one in three Persons Ioh. 17 3. Ex. 20 2. 1 Cor. 8 32. 1 Iohn 5.7 * Q. Which bee those three Persons A. God the Father God the Sonne God the holy Ghost Matth. 28 19. II. Q. How is Christ our Sauiour A. By redeeming vs from hell purchasing heauen for vs Mat. 20.28 Iohn 3 14 15. Q. What is heauen A. A place of euerlasting ioy glory Mat. 25 34. Luk. 16 22. 1 Cor. 2 9. Reu. 21 23 22.1.2 Q. What is hell A. A place of euerlasting torment Luk. 16 23. Reu. 20.10 Matth. 25.46 Esa 30 33. III. Q. How came wee in danger of hell A. By sinne Rom. 5.10 Gen. 2 17. Ro. 5 12. Q. What is sinne A. A breach of Gods Commandements 1 Ioh. 3 4. Rom. 7 7. Gal. 3 10. Q. What are those Commandements A. God spake c. Q. Haue all men broken these Cōmandements A. Yea all without exception Rom. 3 9 10. Rom. 3.23 Gal. 3.22 Q. Doth euery breach of these Commandements deserue euerlasting torment in hell A. Yea verily Rom. 6.23 Gal. 3 10. Deut. 27 26. IIII. * Q. How many sorts of sinne are there A. Two Originall and Actuall * Q. What is Originall sinne A. A corruption of nature whereby we are inclined to the breach of all GODs Commandements Psal 51.5 Rom. 7 18. 8 7. 7 14. * Q. Is this corruption in all A. Yea Gen. 8 21. Rom. 5 12. * Q. How came we to the same A. By the fall of Adam our first father Rom. 5 12. 1 Cor. 15 22. * Q. How did he fall A. By eating of the fruit of a tree that God had forbidden vpon pain of death Gen. 3 6. * Q. What is Actuall sinne A. A particular breach of Gods Commaundements in thought word and deed arising from Original corruption Ge. 6 5. Gal. 5 19. Eph. 2 3. Rom. 3 13. V Q. By what meanes hath Christ redeemed vs from hell and purchased heauen for vs A. By fulfilling the Law and dying for vs Phil. 2 8. Mat. 5 17. v. 3.15 Reuel 5 9 1. Heb 9 15. * Q. How could the Sonne of God being God performe this A. Hee tooke vpon him our nature so became God and man in one Person Ioh. 1 14. Rom. 9 5. * Q. How did hee take our nature vpon him A. Hee was miraculously conceiued by the holy Ghost in the wombe of a Virgin Esa 7 14. Matt. 1 20. Luk. 1 35. Iohn 1.14 Q. What death did hee die for vs A. An accursed death vpon the Crosse Matt. 27 35.
of God If we can finde these properties in our soules then haue wee found in our selues so many infallible signes and tokens that our Faith hath a true and sound ground CHAP. IIII. Of the triall of our Faith by the Obiect or matter thereof SEcondly wee are to try and examine our Faith in Christ whether it bee true and liuely no or yea by the obiect and matter thereof The obiect and matter of true Faith is That diuine truth which God in his Word hath reuealed vnto vs. For if the testimony of GOD in his Word be the ground of our Faith then that truth which is reuealed in the Word must needes bee the obiect and matter therof Now forasmuch as there was neuer any one man that could euer atttaine vnto the knowledge of all euery particular truth reuealed in the word of God the readiest meanes heerein to try our Faith is by such maine fundamentall truths therein contained and plainely taught vpon which all other truths doe in some sort depend and vnto which they are to be reduced And therefore let vs examine our consciences in these points 1 VVhether doe wee vnfainedly beleeue the the Mysterie of the Trinitie the Creation of the world the fall of Adam the Incarnation death resurrection and ascension of Iesus Christ That there shall bee a rising againe of all flesh from death to life a generall day of Iudgement that there is a heauen a hell an euerlasting life for some and an eternall death for othersome after this life And such other grounds of Religion euidently contained in the word of God and collected and proued by the same in our ordinary confessions of Faith and Catechismes 2 More specially whether we beleeue that the Law of God the a Mat. 22 4 sum whereof is contained in the ten Cōmandements is a b Ro. 7.12 9 14 15 16 holy perfect and iust Law And such a Law as God may iustly binde euery man to the obedience of euery Commandement therein contained And Psal 19 7 Deut. 6.2 4 5 whether we beleeue that hee that perfectly keepeth this Law is d Deut. 28 15 Gal. 3.10 Rom. 6.23 2 Thes 1.9 is a blessed and happy man 3 VVhether wee beleeue That e the breach of this Law deserueth euerlasting death condemnation And that God in f Rom. 9 13 14 his iustice may punish euerlastingly in hell fire the breakers thereof 4 VVhether we beleeue That g Rom. 3 10 11 12 20 23 5 12 Prou. 20 8 all men liuing vpon earth since the fall of Adam haue broken this Law and so are guiltie of euerlasting death and that no man by reason of the corruption of his will h Gē 8.11 Ro. 7.7 27 is now since the said fall able to keepe this Law 5 VVhether wee beleeue ps 51.3 4 5 Neh. 1.7 Dan. 9.5 12 Psa 40 12 32 4 Ezra 9.6 That our selues in particular are grieuous sinners and haue deserued by our sinnes euerlasting death and condemnation And that it is a great misery to bee a sinner and a happinesse to be free from sinne 6 VVhether wee beleeue Luk. 19.23 12 34 Mat. 7 13 Rom. 9 27 Prou. 16.4 That God will punish euerlastingly in hell fire a great part of the world for their sin And that to the praise of his glorious Iustice 7 VVhether wee beleeue That neither our selues Rom. 3 23 5 6 12 7 18 19 20 nor any man else by his owne power strength or merit is able to free himselfe from this condemnation And therefore if there be no meanes out of our selues to saue vs that wee also shall be in the number of those that shal be euerlastingly condemned 8 VVhether wee beleeue Iohn 17 9 Dan. 9 7 Ro. 15 14 9 22 23 Heb. 4 6 that God wil shew grace and mercy to some sinners freely sauing pardoning and forgiuing them without the least merit and desert on their part 9 VVhether wee beleeue that all that are saued pardoned of their sinnes Rom. 8.1 7 24 25 5 1 12 3 28 Mat. 1.21 are partakers of this mercy only through the merits of Iesus Christ God and man And that hee merited the same by his death bloud-shedding vpon the Crosse 10 VVhether we beleeue Iohn 1.12 6 35 Mat. 9 2 Ro. 7.24.25 Esa 1.18 Heb. 9.4 that the merits of Christ are sufficient for the pardon and forgiuenesse of our owne sinnes in particular 11 VVhether wee beleeue that all that are saued by Iesus Christ Ro. 8.30.31 1 Cor. 1.30 Ioh. 15 19 17 6 20 21 shall in this life if they liue till they come to yeeres of discretion haue the Mysterie of Redemption reuealed vnto them in the preaching of the Gospell by meanes whereof they shall effectually bee called out of the world Eph. 5.30 Iohn 15.1 Ez. 11.19 Acts 16 14 Iohn 1 12 2 Pet. 1.5 to Faith and repentance And that they shall testifie the same by sorrow vnfained for their sinnes past an endeuor carefully to lead a new life euer after and in a readines to do Iesus Christ faithfull seruice in his Church according to his wil reuealed in his word Mat. 29 34 Reuel 22 1 2 3 2 Tim. 4 8 And whether wee beleeue that after this life all such shall raigne with Christ Iesus in all blisse and glory in heauen for euer and euer 12 VVhether we beleeue that all such as do beleeue and vnfainedly repent them of their sins and haue a constant purpose to lead a new life according to the will word of God Iohn 3.36 1 Ioh. 5 10 are in the number of them that shal bee saued euerlastingly And whether wee iudge and beleeue that it is a sin for any such person Iohn 3 18 36 to despaire of the mercy of God not to repose trust and confidence therein 13 VVhether we beleeue that all those persons are most vile and miserable that are not called to Faith and Repentance and that they most of all other are most vile and wicked persons that contemne dispise Mat. 11.21 25 Heb. 2.3 or care not to vse those meanes that God hath ordained to bring them thereunto 14 VVhether we beleeue that we are bound to vse all the meanes we can Mat. 7.7 8 21 22 Mar. 11.24 2 Tim. 4 7 8 Luk. 2 29 Iob 19 25 for attaining Faith and Repentance And whether we beleeue that in vsing the meanes wee shall attaine them And lastly Mar. 9 24 Luke 17 5 Mat. 5 6 Reu. 21 6 whether when we feele that wee haue in some measure obtained these graces we doe beleeue that our selues in particular are of that number that shall bee saued Or whether we doe vse all indeuour at the least and vnfainedly desire to beleeue the same In these seueral points consists the substance matter of the true Christian Faith euery one of which
saluation thereby that if they had no other sinne that should be sinne enough to pull vpon their heads eternall condemnation If God should turne these Elements of bread and wine being vnworworthily receiued vnto a bodily bane poyson vnto vs would it not make vs feare tremble how we receiued them and to try and examine our selues thorowly before wee presumed to receiue the same Surely if vpon our vnworthy receiuing our bowels and entrailes should bee in danger to rot within vs yet if no more euil then that shold follow it were nothing so fearefull a matter as this is to eat and drinke our owne damnation As therfore we hate and abhorre the damnation of our soules wee should hate and abhorre the vnworthy receiuing of this Sacrament and loue imbrace those means by which wee may become worthy receiuers thereof The ground of the curse is because such doe not discerne the Body of Christ that is make no difference betweene that food and those dainties which God prepareth offereth in this Sacrament euen the precious Body and bloud of our Sauiour Christ and other ordinary meats and drinkes eating and deuouring the bread and wine neuer looking after nor regarding to eat and drinke the body and bloud of Christ exhibited thereby What is this but to contemne Christ and his merits and to offer a foule indignitie to God that prepares this feast And how can they but indanger themselues to perish eternally that discerne not nor looke not after that food by which they should liue eternally CHAP. X. Of the speciall signes and tokens of the aforesaid curse in the Church of Corinth THe Apostle more specially shewes the curse aforesaid by certaine speciall signes and tokens thereof in the Church of Corinth viz. Certaine speciall iudgements of God that at that time were inflicted vpon diuers persons in and of that Church These iudgements were bodily afflictions of diuers sorts and degrees Some were smitten with one kinde of infirmitie and some with another and some with death it selfe For this cause saith the Apostle many of you are weake sicke and many sleepe verse 30. Hence we learne 1 That we ought in a speciall manner to reuerence and religiously vse those ordinances of God the profanation wherof hee markes and brands with particular visible iudgements Gods meere threatnings of death after this life should bee enough to terrifie Christians from the abuse of any of his ordinances Much more then should they moue vs when as so many seales Sacraments thereof hee shall annex thereunto sensible plagues punishments in this life We cānot but see that many plagues iudgements are gone forth from the Throne of God into the world yea into the Church yea into many of our houses and vpon our owne persons Neither doe we see the iudgements only but we might see also if wee did not wilfully shut our eyes for what particular sins GOD infflicteth many of them Who is it that cannot see that so many so many plagues and vengeances haue fallen and doe yet lie vpon such and such men for their murthers thefts adulteries treasons periuries drunkennesse c. And yet neither the sight of these iudgements no nor the sense and feeling of some of them in our owne persons will serue to restrain vs from those sinnes But in the midst of so many iudgements these sinnes abound and as it were triumph ouer them 2 We may learne that the vnworthy profane receiuers of this Sacrament doe not onely eat and drinke therein a spiritual iudgement which hypocrites and carnall men do not so much care for but euen bodily iudgements also so that it may proue in the end effect no bette rthen a very bane poyson vnto our bodies a means of many grieuousiseases yea and of vntimely death For so it proued we see to some of these Corinthians and we can pleade no speciall priuiledge The more therefore that wee may loue our bodily liues health the more let vs make conscience of the former duties These kind of iudgements here mentioned are no strangers amongst vs yea the hand of God in this kind hath lien a long time heauy vpon vs and though we cannot precisely say as the Apostle heere doth That for this very cause some of vs are afflicted with this disease some with that and so many with the pestilence c. yet hauing such a president set before vs in the Word of God of such a sin punished with such iudgements it being too apparant that not onely the same sin doth raigne amongst vs but that also the same iudgements lie in great weight and measure vpon vs wee haue iust cause to feare that amongst others this very sinne is one cause thereof And therefore in seeking to remoue these iudgements let vs haue a speciall care amongst other sinnes to reforme this 3 So oft as any of vs are guiltie vnto our selues of vnreuerent and vnworthy receiuing of this Sacrament and the more free we haue been withall from any of these iudgements in the greater danger we shold feare our selues to bee For wee are indebted so many deaths and sicknesses to the Lord which except wee preuent betimes with true Repentance we shall be sure to pay with the interest either in this life or in another For the Lord as much hates this sinne in vs as in the Corinthians and will be sure at some time or other by one meanes or other to punish it seuerely And the more hee deferres to punish it the more seuerely he will doe it when hee takes the rod once into his hands Let vs then in the feare of God take heed how in this case wee too much abuse the patience and long suffering of God patience wounded becomes fury For the further inforcing of this the Apostle shewes First the Iustice of God in this curse of his Secondly his Mercy His Iustice in that he had not thus sharpely iudged them if they had iudged themselues For saith hee if wee would iudge our selues we should not be iudged v. 31. As though hee should say Wee may thanke our selues for these and such like iudgements that lie vpon vs and can no way blame God for them For it is iust with him the best of vs being so sinfull as we are that when wee will not iudge and condemne our selues we should be in such a manner iudged and condemned by him Hence we may learne 1 That the best means to preuent any iudgement of God whether temporall or eternall is to accuse arraigne iudge condemne our selues and contrarily the surest way to pull downe all sorts of iudgements vpon our selues is to iustifie our selues and to glory in the merits of our owne righteousnesse Would wee then in most effectuall manner preuent sicknesse shame death Let vs examine our selues and search what sinnes are in vs and passe the seuerest sentence of condemnation against our selues that may be The more if it be done
Gal. 3 13. Q. Was there no other meanes to saue vs A. No verily Acts 4.12 Rom. 7.23 24. * Q. Doth our Sauiour Christ then continue still vnder death A. No but hee rose againe the third day and ascended into heauen there sitteth in all glory at the right hand of his Father making intercession for vs Ioh. 20 Mat. 28. Acts 1. Acts 2 31. 1 Cor. 15. Mark 16.19 VI. Q. Shall all men bee saued by Christ A. No but such only if they be of yeeres as by Faith and Repentance become new men Eph. 3 17. Col. 2 12. Ioh. 3 16. 1 12. Act. 13 39. Mar. 1 4 15. Acts 20.21 Ioh. 6 35. Q. What is Faith A. A confidence in the merits of Christ onely for saluation Act. 16 31. Iohn 1 12. Q. What is Repentance A. An vnfained hatred of all sin for Christs sake Acts 3 19. 2 Cor. 7 10 11. Mat. 3 7 8 10. VII Q. By what meanes do we attaine vnto Faith and Repentance ordinarily A. By the preaching of Gods Word Ephes 1.31 Rom. 10.17 Q. What is Gods Word Answ His reuealed will contained in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles 2 Tim. 3.15 16. 2 Pet. 1.20 Luk. 24.27 2 Pet. 3.2 Q. What were those Prophets and Apostles A. Men that writ by diuine inspiration 2 Ti. 3.16 2 Pet. 1.21 * Q. What be the parts of Gods Word A. The Law and the Gospell * Q. What is the Law A. That part of Gods word which sheweth the cursed estate that all men are in by reason of sinne Galath 3.19 Rom. 3.20 * Q. What is the Gospell A. That part of Gods word which sheweth how wee are freed from that curse by Iesus Christ Act. 16.30 Iohn 3.16 Mar. 1.1 VIII * Q. Where is Gods Word ordinarily preached A. In the Churches of Christ * Q. What are the Churches of Christ A. Holy Assemblies ioining ordinarily and orderly together in the worship of God 1. Cor. 1.2 and 2. 2 Cor. 1.1 Tit. 1.5 * Q. Wherein consists the worship of God A. In hearing the Word receiuing the Sacraments and Prayer Mat. 28.18 9. Act. 15.21 1 Tim. 2.1 1 Corin. 11.23 IX * Q. By whom is the Word of God preached A. By the Ministers of Christ Eph. 4.11 12. * Q. Who are the Ministers of Christ A. Such as hauing gifts giuen them of God are set a part by the Church to preach the Word admininister the Sacraments and to bee the mouth of the people vnto God in prayer Heb. 5.4 Rom. 10.15 Rom. 1.20 X * Q. Doe all attaine vnto Faith Repentance vnto whom the Word is preached A. No but those onely in whom God of his speciall grace works the same by his owne Spirit Act. 16 14. Eph. 2.8 Rom. 10.17 * Q. Who are those A. His Elect. Acts 13 48. * Q. What are they A. Such as from all eternitie he hath purposed to saue by Iesus Christ Rom. 9 22.23 1 Thes 5 9. * Q. Is there any thing in them aboue others that moueth God hereunto A. Nothing in the world but his owne meere good will pleasure Eph. 1.4 5 11. Rom. 9 18-22 * Q. Why doth hee vouchsafe this grace to some A. For the praise of his glorious Mercy Ro. 9 23. * Q. Why doth he deny this grace to other some A. For the praise of his glorious Iustice Rom. 9.22 XI * Q. What shall be the estate of those that attaine vnto Faith Repentance A. They shall in this life daily grow and increase therein Psa 1 3. * Q. by what speciall means shall they grow and increase therein A. By the due vse of the Word Sacraments and Prayer * Q. But what shall their estate bee after this life A. There sonles shall goe to heauen and there remaine till the last day and then both body and soule shall bee vnited againe and both shal continue with Christ in all glory in heauen for euer and euer * Q. What is the last day A. A day of generall Iudgement wherein all flesh shall be raised from death and receiue finall sentence from God for that which they haue done in this life Matth. 25 31 c. * Q. VVhat sentence shall passe vpon those that repent and beleeue in Christ A. They shall bee acquit from all their sins and receiued into euerlasting glory Mat. 25 24. * Q. What sentence shall passe vpon the rest A. All their sinnes shall bee discouered and laid to their charges and they shall bee cast body and soule into hell fire Mat. 25.41 c. XII Q. How many Sacraments are there A. Two Baptisme and the Lords Supper Mat. 28 19. 1 Cor. 11 23 c. * Q. What is Baptisme A. A mysticall washing with water in the name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost Tit. 3 5. Mat. 28 1â— * Q. What doth water specially signifie A. The bloud of Christ Eph. 5.25 * Q. What doth the washing signifie A. That we are freed from the guilt of sinne and sanctified by the merits of Christ especially by his death and bloud-shedding Ephes 5.26 Mar. 1.4 Act. 2.38 Tit. 3.5 1 Cor. 6.11 * Q. Who are to be admitted to Baptisme A. All that truely professe Faith and Repentance and their Infants Act. 2.38 39. Act. 8.37 Gen. 17.7 1. Cor. 7 14. * Q. VVho are those A. Such as doe nothing that is manifestly contrary therunto in the knowledge of men or if they haue done any thing giue good signes of special repentance for the same * Q. How oft are they to be baptised A. Onely once * Q. When are they to be Baptised A. Assoon as they can be admitted thereto by the Church where they are called to liue Act. 2.41 8 36. 10.7 XIII Q. VVhat is the Supper of the Lord A. A mysticall communion in breaking and eating of bread and drinking of wine in speciall remembrance of Christ Matth. 26.26 1 Cor. 10.16 Q. What doth the bread and wine signifie A. The Body bloud of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 Q. What doth the breaking of the bread signifie A. Those paines hee indured in soule and body for our saluation especially vpon the Crosse 1 Cor. 11 24. Q. What doth the eating of the bread and drinking of the wine signifie A. That by the vertue of his merits especially of his death and bloud-shedding applied to vs by Faith we are not only freed from eternall death in hell but shall liue with him in heauen for euer and euer Q. Who are to bee admitted to the receiuing of this Sacrament A. All that hauing beene baptised continue in the true profession of Faith and Repentance 1 Cor. 11.27 28 29. Q. How oft are they to receiue the same A. As oft as it may conueniently bee administred in that Church in which they haue calling to liue Act. 2.42 20.7 XIIII Q. VVho are woorthy Receiuers of this Sacrament A. Such as bring a holy appetite therevnto Mat. 5.6 Q. What is that appetite A. A spiritual