against it in our Baptism and made a fast and Solemn Vow to cease to do evil and learn to do good and to live in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of our lives Q. What think ye then of such men as having been Christned or Baptized live in Impenitency or Vnbelief A. They forfeit all the benefits of their Baptism and Gods Covenant of Grace and Forgiveness nay it shall aggravate their Condemnation Catechist This is One great Aggravation of the sins of all impenitent sinners even Perjury or a breach of their Baptismal Vow and Covenant Hear what Solomon saith Eccl. 5.4 When thou vowest a vow defer not to pay it for God hath no pleasure in fools pay that which thou hast vowed Better it is thou shouldest not vow than that thou shouldst vow and not pay This holds good in any sort of Religious lawful vow much more in this It had been much better for us that we had never been Baptized than if having been so we break our Baptismal Vow and Covenant by a wicked and sinful course of life With which sad Reflection I conclude what I shall teach you of the first Sacrament That of Baptism I ask you then in the next place Q. What is the other Seal of the Covenant of Grace besides Baptism A. The Lords Supper wherein we renew our Covenant with God which we made in Baptism and are nourished in as we are by Baptism admitted into the Church Catechist Christ himself calls this Sacrament Matth. 26.28 The blood of the new Testament And S. Paul Heb. 10.29 calls it The blood of the Covenant For he there speaks of their great guilt who count the blood of the Covenant an Vnholy thing In short as it was the Blood of Christ shed upon the Cross that ratified the Covenant of Redemption and forgiveness to mankind so in this Sacrament representing and exhibiting that blood of Christ for remission of sins to all worthy Receivers we have God sealing His part of his Covenant and assuring us thereof and we for our parts do renew Our Vow to God Consecrating and devoting ourselves again here to his Service and Obedience Let us hear then what your Catechism teacheth you of this Blessed Sacrament Q. For what end was the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ordained A. For the continual remembrance of the Sacrifice of the death of Christ and the benesits which we receive thereby Catechist We are not to drop one word in this answer and to the end therefore you may take due notice of every one I pray you answer me these Inquiries Q. What is the great and chief end of the Lords Supper A. To keep Christs death in continual memory and the benefits thereby purchased for us Catechist It is a plain Text for this 1 Cor. 11.25 26. At the Institution of this Sacrament Our Saviour bad his Disciples Do this that is all that I have done in your sight in remembrance of me For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew forth the Lords death till he come The Bread broken and the Wine poured out do apparently and evidently shew forth in sensible signs the death of Christ how his body was broken rent and torn by the thorns and scourges and nails and spear and how his blood was shed in streams from his wounded head and hands and feet and side on the Cross Gal. 3.1 They evidently set forth Christ crucified before our eyes amongst us Q. For what end did Christ die A. To be a Sacrifice of propitiation for our sins to his Father Catechist Mark well those words the Sacrifice of the death of Christ 2 Cor. 3.21 He was made sin for us who knew no sin that is He was made a Sacrifice for them Isaiah 53.10 He made his Soul that is his life an offering for sin Eph. 5.2 He gave himself a Sacrifice unto God for a sweet smelling Savour c. 1 Joh. 2.1 If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the propitiation or a propitiatory Sacrifice for our sins and not for our sins only but also for the sins of the whole world By all which Texts it is manifest such is the nature of Christs death It was in a full sence a Sacrifice a Sacrifice of propitiation or Atonement For Col. 1.20 He made peace through the blood of the Cross So that Rom. 5.1 Being justified by Faith we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Q. Is Christ then offered up as a Sacrifice in the Lords Supper A. No But therein is a lively Representation or Commemoration of that Sacrifice which Christ once for all offered for all upon the Cross Catechist I would desire you to mind this well to arm you against the Papists abominable Mass for therein they will have Christ to be daily offered up as a Sacrifice for the quick and the dead And of this they boast that it is done daily in their Church as if Christs offering up himself once for all upon the Cross was not sufficient to satisfie Gods justice for our sins But in opposition to this great Abomination of the Romish Church agreeable to the language of Holy Scripture and of the primitive Fathers we hold the Lords Supper to be only a Commemoration of that one Sacrifice once offered upon the Cross and for proof hereof we appeal to the Apostle Heb. 9.25 26. He was not our Apostle saith to offer himself often as the High priest entred into the most Holy place every year with the blood of others For then must he have often suffered since the Foundation of the world But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself And again ver 28. He saith Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and again chap. 10.14 By one offering hath he for ever perfected them that are Sanctified Q. How often is the Lords Supper to be Administred and received A. So often that we may have Christs death in continual remembrance Catechist The Apostle saith 1 Cor. 11.28 As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup c. plainly intimating that the Christians of Corinth did it often And doubtless so often ought all Christians to do it that Christs death may be had in continual remembrance Mark the words in your Answer for the continual remembrance of the Sacrifice of the death of Christ It is hard to conceive that they can have Christs death in continual remembrance who seldom Communicate perhaps never all the year long but at Easter And quite contrary did the first Christians whose pattern we ought to follow as near as we can they certainly communicated every day or at least every first day of the week every Lords day It was one part of their constant publick and Solemn Service Act 2.41 They continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship and in
of the Serpent the Devil who hating God and envying the happiness of man belied God saying they should not die but only God forbad this fruit lest they should be as Gods knowing good and evil and to him they hearkned and so fell from God and from that state of innocency wherein he created them by sinning against him Q. How can Adams fall concern his posterity A. The Covenant being made with Adam not only for himself but also for his posterity therefore all Mankind descending from him by Ordinary Generation sinned in him and fell with him in his first Transgression Q. What Covenant spake you of now A. The old Covenant of works made with Adam before his Fall as a publick person representing all mankind that should descend of his Loyns Q. Christ Jesus descended from Adam Did he then fall in him A. No for he descended from Adam by an extraordinary Generation and so took our nature without the sinfulness and corruption of our nature Catechist I pray mark that expression well all mankind that descended from Adam by ordinary Generation for this is purposely intended to except Christ who was conceived in the Virgins Womb in an extraordinary manner by the power of the Holy ghost and born of her being still a pure Virgin having no Knowledge of man so that taking our nature in an extraordinary way of Generation he received our nature free from and Untainted with the sinfulness and corruption of our nature But all others descending from Adam in an ordinary way of Generation are inwrapped in his Guilt as their common parent Head and Representative So that Psal 14.2 Amongst all mankind There is not one Righteous no not one for Ps 51.7 All are conceived in sin and born in iniquity Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passeth upon all men in that all have sinned i. e. By him in whom as it is in the Margent all have sinned Ver. 18. By the offence of one judgment came upon all to Condemnation Q. In what estate then are all men besides Jesus Christ that are born of Adam since the fall A. Guilty of sin and prone to all sin Catechist Guilty of Sin For Rom. 5.19 By one mans Disobedience many are made sinners And then which is that corruption of nature I spake of they are prone to all sin and I add averse to all good For Adam begat sons and daughters after his own Image The Image of Corruption A corrupt Tree will have corrupt fruit Hence that unanswerable question of Job 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Not one Q. What Dangers are we liable to by reason of this Original Guilt and proneness to sin in our nature and the actual sins of our lives A. To all Gods judgments in this Life and Eternal torments in that to come Catechist For Eph. 2.3 We are children of Wrath one as well as the other And Rom. 6.23 The Wages of sin is Death Death Temporal Death Spiritual and Death Eternal And this Death as the Apostle saith in the forequoted Text hath passed upon all men for that all have sinned And as it is Rom. 3.23 and come short of the glory of God Q What means have we to be delivered from these sins and Dangers to which for sin we are liable A. Only by our Saviour and Redeemer the second person in the Blessed Trinity Catechist Thus are we orderly led to what the Creed teaches us to believe concerning him Ps 89.19 God laid help upon one that is mighty and exalted one chosen out of the people And this One so chosen Mighty to save so loved the world that he freely and willingly undertook it saying Psal 40.7 Lo I come it is written of me I come to do thy will O God And from hence is he called The Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 For he came to found and establish a new Covenant betwixt God and man and to work a reconciliation to found a remedying Covenant after the former was broken and abolished and so became he a Saviour of men The Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 Q. What is the name of our Saviour A. Jesus Christ Q. What do those names signifie A. Jesus is a Hebrew name signifying as much as Saviour and Christ is Greek and signifies as the word Messiah doth a person Anointed to the threefold office of Prophet Priest and King Catechist The Angel appointed him his Name Jesus to Joseph and Mary at the Annunciation Mat. 1.20 His name shall be called Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins And then they When the eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child so called him being Sir named by the Angel before he was conceived in the Womb Luk. 2.21 As for his other name Christ or in Hebrew Messiah it is equivalent to our Sirnames and signifies his Office being in English as much as The Anointed one For God Anointed him with the Holy ghost the oyl of gladness above his Fellows Ps 45.7 And as it was proper to three sorts of persons to be Anointed Kings and Priests and Prophets so was he anointed King Ps 2.6 Yet have I set my King upon my Holy Hill of Sion And Priest Heb. 6.20 He was made High Priest after the order of Melchizedek And Prophet for of him Moses spake Acts 2.45 A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren like unto me Him shall ye hear And in fullfilling these offices of making Atonement for our sins by the sacrifice of himself upon the Cross and continual intercession for us as a Priest teaching us his Fathers Will for our Salvation as a Prophet and ruling and protecting us as a King consists that great Salvation which he as our Jesus wrought and workt for us and which is offered to us in his Holy Gospel Now being thus set forth to us by his Names next he is described to us in the Creed by his Natures Q. What is Jesus Christ for his person God only or Man only or both God and man A. Both God and man Man that he might be capable of suffering in the same nature wherein we had sinned and God that he might be able to give full satisfaction for our sins Catechist It is written that without shedding of blood there can be no remission Heb. 9.22 For so had God threatned Gen. 2.17 In the day thou sinnest thou shalt dye the death As therefore God would be true to his Word it was necessary for our Redeemer to be man that he might be capable of suffering death for our sins in the same nature wherein they were committed And as necessary it was for him to be God that he might be able to satisfie That his death and sufferings might by the Dignity of his person be of infinite value to satisfie the infinite debt of our sins to Gods justice
nothing was foretold which was not exactly fulfilled in Christ therefore he was certainly the true Christ or Messiah which was to come into the world Thus have you what your Creed teacheth you to believe of your Saviours Names and Natures Now see and learn what his work of Salvation and Redemption was which he wrought or the manner of his working it Q. How did Christ effect the great work of our Redemption A. By his lowly Humiliation wherein he shewed the Truth of his Manhood and by his Glorious Exaltation wherein did shine the bright raies of his Godhead Catechist You have both these in one notable Text of St. Pauls Phil. 2.6 7 8 9. Being in the form of God He thought it no robbery to be equal with God But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man He humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him t. Q. Wherein consists Christs lowly Humiliation A. In that he suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified dead and buried and descended into Hell for us Q. Wherein consists Christs Glorious Exaltation A. In that he by his own power rose again the third day from the dead ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right Hand of God the Father Almighty and from thence shall come again to judge all both quick and dead Q. When did Christ suffer A. It was when Pontius Pilate the Roman Emperours Deputy was Governour of Judea Catechist Matth. 27.1 2. The Chief Priests and the Elders of the people took councel together to put him to death And when they had bound him they led him away and delivered him to Pentius Pilate the Governour Q. Why is this expressed in the Creed A. To shew it was now the set time foretold for the Messiah's coming The Scepter was now according to Jacobs Prophecy departed from Judah Catechist The Jews had now been Sixty years subject to the Roman Emperour and his Governours or Deputies so that Jacobs Prophecy concerning the time of the Shilo's coming was now exactly fulfilled Q. Was it necessary for Christ to suffer and to suffer death A. Yes Both Types and Prophecies foretold it and our sins deserved it and he must die to destroy death and to satisfie the Justice of God for our sins Catechist The killing of the Sacrifices under the Law and the Paschal Lamb slain were Eminent Types of Christs death The Prophet Isaiah clearly foretold His being cut off out of the land of the Living and all the Prophets wrote that the Son of man should suffer many things 1 Pet. 1.11 Our sins deserved death the wages of sin being death Rom. 6.23 He therefore must die for them as a sacrifice to Gods Justice who undertook for us 2 Cor. 5.21 He who knew no sin became sin for us i. e. a Sacrifice for sin and no other way but by death could He destroy death and him that hath the power of death the Devil Heb. 2.13 Q. What manner of Death did Christ suffer A. The accursed death of the Cross To free us from the Curse He became a Curse for us Catechist Isaac's bearing the Wood for the Sacrifice and the Brazen Serpent being lifted up upon the Pole were Types of this sort of death and not a Bone of the Paschal Lamb to be broken when it was slain and the Prophecies of piercing his hands and his feet plainly pointed at the manner how Christ was to die even by Crucifying for these were circumstances usual therein And lastly let us always remember that of the Apostle Gal. 3.13 that it being an accursed death for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree Deut. 21.23 He thereby redeemed us from the Curse by being made a curse for us Q. Why was Christ buried A. To sweeten the Grave for us and to Conquer death in his own proper place and Dominion Catechist So was it foretold Hos 13.14 I will ransome them from the power of the Grave I will redeem them from death O death I will be thy plague O Grave I will be thy Destruction And hence the Apostle's Triumph 1 Cor. 15.56 57. O Death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy Victory The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law but thanks be to God who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Q. How did Christ descend into Hell A. All men grant he continued in the state of the dead for a time both as to his body and as to his Soul and did so descend into Hell as to free me and all Believers from Hell Catechist Of this the Psalmist spake in the Spirit of Prophecy most clearly saying Psal 16.10 Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell and the Apostle Act. 2.31 quotes it and applies it to Christ so that it is certain he descended into Hell but for the manner how there have been great Controversies about it and the safest resolution is to adhere to what all grant till God shall clearly reveal it to us Q. What use must we make of Christs sufferings and his death A. To hate sin which caused Christs death in so cruel a manner to admire Christs Love in thus dying that we may live and to die to sin as Christ dyed for sin Catechist We must as the Prophet Zachary teacheth chap. 12.10 Look upon him whom we have peirced i. e. by our sins for they were Christs Murderers His enemies but the Instruments thereof We must therefore look upon him with tears of unfeigned repentance for them and wo be to them who by repeating their sins and a continued Impenitency therein crucifie the son of God afresh Heb. 6.6 On the contrary therefore Let us consider and admire Christs love in dying for us for John 15.13 Greater Love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friend But Rom. 5.8 God commended his love to us that while we were yet sinners and so his enemies Christ died for us And O! therefore as he died for sin so let us die unto sin and no longer live therein Rom. 6.11 Let us reckon ourselves to be dead unto sin but alive unto righteousness For 1 Pet. 2.24 He his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead unto sin should live unto righteousness And thus by his stripes we shall be healed Thus have you now the doctrine of Christs lowly Humiliation Now I pray consider well also the several steps of his Glorious Exaltation Q. Did Christ being dead remain under the power of Death A. No he rose again from the dead Catechist Psal 16.10 God did not suffer his Holy one to see corruption Rom. 6.9 Death could have no Dominion over him at least not keep it but he Conquered it in its proper hold the Grave and as
A. Carefully to practice Holiness ourselves and by all means to take heed of Schisms Divisions and Separations from Gods Church for thereby we shall lose all visible Hopes of Salvation Catechist I therefore a prisoner of the Lord saith the Apostle Eph. 4.1 beseech you that ye walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowliness and meekness endeavoring to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of peace that is Unity in Spiritual things For as he goes on argumentatively There is one Body and one Spirit one Faith one Lord one Baptism One God and Father of all All which Ones the Apostle argueth should oblige us to be One to keep fast the Unity and by no means to separate from the one Body the Church And indeed to divide from the one Church and fall into Schisms is a sort of renouncing this Article of our Creed I Believe the one Catholick Church We cannot verily heartily believe this unless we follow the Apostles Rule Rom. 16.17 I beseech you Brethren Mark them which cause Divisions among you and avoid them And need we had to do so for there is great Truth in the old saying Out of the Church no Salvation for it is Gods way to add to the Church not to divide from it those that shall be saved Act. 2.47 Now after the Church let us consider the priviledges and promises wherewith this Church is enriched Q. What are the Churches grand priviledges A. Two in This life and two in the life To come Q. Which be those two in This Life A. The Communion of Saints The Forgiveness of sins Q. Which be those two in the Life To come A. The Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting Catechist And surely it hugely concerns you to understand each of these things well and distinctly To which purpose for the Communion of Saints in the first place I ask you Q. What do you mean by Saints A. The members of Christs Church who being in part holy here shall be perfect Saints hereafter in heavenly glory Catechist Saints is as much as Holy Ones And all the members of the Church called to be Saints Rom. 1.7 For they are called unto Holiness 1 Thes 4.7 It is their duty and profession to follow Holiness Heb. 12.14 and to go on to perfect Holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 For being redeemed by Christ and delivered from the hands of their enemies it is that they may serve God without fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of their lives Luk. 1.75 Q. With whom have those Saints Communion A. With the Blessed Trinity as Sons of God by Faith and prayer and with one another in all Ordinances of piety and all Offices of Charity as Brethren Catechist That which we have heard and seen saith S. John 1 Ep. 1.3 We declare unto you that ye may have fellowship with us and truly Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ With these the Saints have fellowship and Communion by all Acts of Faith and Love and all Holy affections and in Gods Holy Ordinances as in divers instances so particularly in that God and Christ Communicates to them the riches of his Blessings Mercies and Consolations through the merits of Christ and they acquaint him with all their wants and troubles and necessities trusting in him And as for that fellowship they have with one another it consists in divers particulars as to name some They Sympathize with and have a fellow feeling of one anothers miseries sufferings and afflictions as fellow members one of another 1 Cor. 12.26 Whether one member suffer all the members suffer with it or one member be honoured all the members rejoyce with it Rom. 12.15 They rejoyce with them that rejoyce and weep with them that weep They pray continually and praise God for each others welfare saying Our Father c. And what Gifts and Blessings any one enjoyeth He readily and willingly imployes and Communicates them for supply relief and helping others that want them whether Wisdom Wealth or Power Q. What is our duty as Believers of this Communion of Saints A. To hold fast this Communion that we may receive and impart the Benefits of Gods Mercies and each others Gifts and to take heed of all causeless separations from Gods Church or one another in matters of Faith Worship and Charity Catechist I beseech you good Children learn these lessons and lay them up in your hearts that you may walk steadily and not waver in your Holy Religion to your lives end If you truly believe the Communion of Saints you must follow the Apostles Exhortation closely 1 Cor. 1.10 I beseech you Brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ That ye all speak the same things and that there be no Divisions amongst you but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgment Phil. 2.1 2. If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord and of one mind Let nothing be done through strife c. Take heed of all Breaches of this Communion and of all that would withdraw you from it Rom. 16.17 Mark them that are for making of Schisms and Breaches in Christs Body the Church that cause divisions amongst us and follow them not but avoid them for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ whatever they pretend but their own bellies and with good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple To the next Article then Q. What is it to believe the Forgiveness of sins A. That Gods justice is satisfied through the Merits of Christs blood and through them there is mercy and pardon may be obtained for all our sins if we do but heartily repent and forsake them Catechist Psal 130.4 There is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared How comes this to pass through Christ Act. 13.38 Through this man is preached to you forgiveness of sins Upon what account because Matth. 20.28 He gave his life a ransome for us 1 Cor. 15.4 He died for our sins according to the Scriptures He was made sin for us who knew no sin 2 Cor. 5.21 that is a Sacrifice to suffer death for our sins in our stead So hath he purchased a pardon for all sinners that will but accept of it upon the condition upon which it is offered them which I shall choose to express in the words of the Evangelical Prophet Isaiah 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the Vnrighteous man his imaginations and return unto the Lord for he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Q. Who then is it that forgives sins A. God only Catechist A truth directly contrary to the Popish Priests presumption in taking this
that if God should be extreme to mark what we do amiss in them O Lord who may abide it Psal 130.3 And 3 all we have and do is Gods Gift it is he that worketh in us both to will and to do Phil. 2.13 and we give him but his own Nor be it never so good can it 4 bear any proportion to that recompence of reward which God promiseth us Not our greatest suffering much less our good deeds Rom. 8.18 The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us 2 Cor. 4.17 They are but light Afflictions and but for a moment but they work for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory Well doth the Apostle therefore conclude Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is death but eternal life is the Gift no Merit of ours but the â—ree gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Q. What Vse must we make hereof A. To be constant unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that our labour will not be in vain in the Lord. Catechist This is the use that St. Paul makes of this great Doctrine of Christianity 1 Cor. 15.58 and elsewhere he exhorts thus upon account hereof 2 Cor. 4.18 Let us not therefore look at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen For the things which are seen are Temporal but the things which are not seen are Eternal Q. Why do you say Amen after the Greed and why stand you up when it is rehearsed A. To declare my stedfast believing it and my resolution to live in and die for it if God should call me to that Honour Catechist Let us therefore make it our continual prayer that God whose Gift Faith is would encrease and strengthen this our Faith more and more and enable us so to live in Faith and so to dye in Faith that at last we may attain the end of our Faith even the salvation of our Souls through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.9 Thus have you had the Rule and Summary of the Christian Faith in the Creed Now having often taught you that there is no true Faith without Obedience I pray Q. What is the Great Rule of your Obedience A. The Moral Law contained in the Commandments Catechist You remember Brethren I hope that you promised in your Baptism as to believe all the Articles of Christian Faith so to keep Gods Holy Will and Commandments Q. How many Commandments are there A. Ten. Catechist These Ten Commandments contain that which we call the Moral Law and it is so called because it orders our Manners and our whole lives and conversations both towards God and towards men Concerning which I would only teach you in opposition to the Antinomian Errors that this Moral Law contained in the Ten Commandments is still in force to us and as it was the Rule of life and manners and Obedience to Gods ancient people the Jews so is it still to us Christians For whatever moral duties God Commanded the Jews being his chosen people under the Old Testament the same doth Christ command us Christians under the Gospel and that while the world lasts for he said expressly Matth. 5.17 He came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it and reciting several Commandments He abrogated none but which shews their obligation on us sufficiently shewed their true and Spiritual meaning against the corrupt glosses the Pharisees had put upon them thereby making them of no effect It was said of old time saith he Thou shalt not kill but I say unto you Whosoever is angry with his Brother without a cause is in danger of the judgment Again ver 27. It was said of old time Thou shalt not commit adultery But I say unto you Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her in his heart Committeth Adultery with her And thus doth He there Explain other Commandments but Repeals none of them and in short St James saith chap. 2.8 of all the rest If ye fulfil the Royal Law of Liberty Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self ye shall do well Nor is the number of the Commandments impertinent to be observed it being so precisely noted by the Holy Ghost Deut. 4.13 Ten and no more which puzzles them of the Romish Communion to make them so while they leave out the second in their Catechism because it so apparently condemns their Image worship and then for a mere shift they would divide the last Commandment making two of one And now before we close with the Commandments we must not neglect the Preface to them God spake these words and said I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of Bondage which what it imports you may learn by the next Question and Answer Q. What are those motives God himself used when he gave those Commandments to engage his people's Obedience A. First His Sovereignty For he is the Lord. 2 His near Relation to his people for He is the Lord Our God 3 His delivering the Israelites from the Egyptian Bondage which was a Type of our Greater deliverance even from our spiritual Bonddage to sin and Satan Catechist The like arguments to Obedience we have in other Scriptures to name but one to the Israelites Deut. 27.9 10. Take heed and hearken O Israel This day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God and do all his Commandments and statutes which I command thee this day And that of Zacharias in his song Luk. 1.74 75. urgeth the same Obedience upon us upon account of our greater deliverance That being delivered from the hands of our enemies we should serve Him without fear in Holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives Now I pray Q. How many Tables are there in the Decalogue or Ten Commandments A. Two Q. How many Commandments are there in the first Table A. The four first Commandments Q. What sort of Duties doth the first Table teach you A. My Duties towards God Catechist And as the second Table teaches you your duties towards your neighbour so let me tell you by the way that our Saviour Himself divides the Law after this manner even according to the twofold Object of Love God and our Neighbours Matth. 22.37 Thou shalt 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 on these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets For as S. Paul saith Rom. 13.10 Love is the fulfilling of the Law Now for explaining the Questions and Answers in your Church Catechism concerning the duties contained in these two Tables I conceive the chief task is to let you see to which Commandment each clause in them is to be
imploy their Talents for his Honour and others good and always reckoning that they must at last give an account of their Stewardship Luk. 16.2 Q. What doth God promise to them that keep and threaten to them that transgress this Commandment A. To the One he promiseth long life and prosperity and threatens the other to shorten their days upon Earth Catechist It is S. Pauls observation Eph. 6.2 that this is the first Commandment with promise that is the first of those that shew our duties towards men having an express promise of long life annexed to it and in this promise is implied a threatning to all disobedient Children and so to all other transgressors of this Law of shortning their days and cutting them off as an ear of corn untimely before it be ripe And especially let the Wise mans Comminations against all Rebellious Subjects be in our remembrance always Prov. 24.21 My Son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change For who knows the destruction of them both both the ringleaders and their followers And for all other sinners against this Commandment in special Memorable is that in Prov. 10.27 The fear of the Lord prolongeth days but the years of the wicked shall be shortned So have you a comperent account of the duties required and the sins forbidden in the fifth Commandment and let it be all our prayer always Lord have mercy upon us to pardon our past transgressions and henceforth and for ever encline our hearts to keep this Law Q. What duties doth the sixth Commandment Thou shalt not kill require A. All lawful endeavours to preserve mine own life and the lives of others Catechist Therefore must we Gal. 6.10 do good to all men that is towards preserving their lives or rendring them more Comfortable Upon which account we must Rom. 12.18 as much as in us lieth live peaceably with all men And our Saviour propounds the good Samaritan for our example Luk. 10.34 Who finding the Man wounded by thieves bound up his wounds and poured in oil and wine unto them and took care of his recovery to which purpose are the precepts of feeding the hungry and clothing the naked and visiting the sick and them in prison Matth. 25.35 All which are required by this Commandment for if any man starve for hunger He that knew it and could but would not feed him is guilty of his death Q. What sins doth this Commandment forbid according to your Catechism A. Hurting any body by word or deed Bearing any Malice or Hatred in my heart Catechist It is written Rom. 12.19 20. Dearly Beloved avenge not yourselves that is by hurting even him that hath hurt thee For Vengeance is mine I will recompence saith the Lord. And therefore our Saviours precept is Matth. 5.38.39 Ye have heard that it hath been said An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth But I say unto you that ye resist not evil but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek turn to him the other also And his Apostle Rom. 12.20 teacheth doing good instead of doing evil if thine enemy hunger feed him if he thirst give him drink for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head that is melt him into friendship and kindness Ver. 21. Be not overcome with evil but overcome evil with good Nor is it only hurting and extreme violence or murdering that is forbidden whereof it is said Gen. 9.6 Whoso sheddeth mans blood by man shall his blood be shed but also any lesser hurt as wounding or maiming or doing any thing to the prejudice of his health and wellbeing nay even hatred and malice occasioning or exciting to these in the heart 1 Joh. 3.15 Whoso hates his brother is a Murderer and no Murderer hath Eternal life abiding in him Q. What think you of rash or immoderate Anger and desire of revenge A. They are degrees of and provoke to Murder and so are also sins against this Commandment Catechist It is enough to say that this is our Saviours Doctrine in his Sermon on the Mount Matth. 5.21 22. Ye have heard that it hath been said to them of old time Thou shalt not kill and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment But I say unto you whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment and whosoever shall say unto his brother Racha shall be in danger of the councel but whosoever shall say thou Fool shall be in danger of hell fire Anger causeless and Anger immoderate such as breaks out into intemperate railing speeches both are great fins against this Commandment according to our Saviours exposition of it who therefore goes on there to injoyn a reconciling of such differences as arise from anger to all Christians before they offer their Holy Services to God if they will be accepted of God Ver. 23.24 Therefore if you bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee Leave there thy gift before the Altar and go thy way first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift And so much for the Sixth Commandment Q. What duties doth the seventh Commandment require of you according to your Catechism Thou shalt not commit Adultery A. To keep my Body in Temperance Soberness and Chastity Q. Which of these is chiefly required here A. Chastity to wit in thought speech and behaviour and Temperance and Soberness in order to Chastity Catechist I pray you mark In your Catechism the Negative the Sins forbidden in most of the other Commandments is expressed and the Contrary duties are implied therein But the duties in the Affirmative is here expressed the duties injoyned in this Commandment and the Negative the sins forbidden are implied in them Now learn these Scripture Texts concerning them 1 Thes 4.3 4 5. This is the Will of God even your Sanctification that ye should abstain from Fornication that every one of you know how to possess his Vessel that is his body in Sanctification and Honour not in the lust of Concupiscence as the Gentiles that know not God For God hath called us not to Vncleanness but unto Holiness To the contrary therefore it is threatned 1 Cor. 3.17 If any man defile the Temple of God Him will God destroy Q What are the sins forbidden in this Commandment A. All gross Acts of Uncleanness Fornication or Adultery nay the lest signs or degrees thereof as filthy thoughts desires or Concupiscences wanton glances or any obscene talk Catechist Gal. 5.19 The works of the flesh are manifest Adultery Fornication Vncleanness Lasciviousness Fornication therefore and all Vncleanness Let it not saith the Apostle Eph. 5.3 be once named amongst you as becometh Saints And Col. 3.5 Mortifie your Members which are upon Earth Fornication Vncleanness inordinate affection or Concupiscence O! that you young people would learn these Texts and store
their spiritual food not our Bodies with the sensual provisions as the Prophet Isaiah saith 25.6 The Word and Sacraments are feasts of fat things for our souls provided for us in Gods Holy mountain in the Churches or Congregations of his people In this mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things a feast of wine on the lees fat things full of marrow of wine on the lees well refined Q. How are our Souls fed in the Lords Supper A. They are strengthened refreshed or comforted with Christs Body and Blood as truly and really as our Bodies are strengthened and refreshed by Bread and Wine Q. How are our souls so truly and really strengthned in the Lords Supper A. As it assures us of Gods love in Christ the pardon of our sins through the Merits of Christs Death the Grace and Comforts of his Holy Spirit Peace and Union with God and a title to his Eternal Glory Catechist Bread and Wine you know are two chief creatures of God provided for our bodily sustenance Bread to be the staff of Life to strengthen the body Psal 104.15 And Wine to make glad the heart of man to cheer him up as it is expressed Judg. 9.19 whence that of Solomons Mother Prov. 31.6 Give strong drink unto him that is weary and wine unto those that are heavy of heart Now those great benefits we have in the Lords Supper in our Souls in the inner man if we be worthy Receivers For from Christs Body and Blood therein given unto us we have strength that fortifies our Souls against all our spiritual enemies How is that Thus Meditating on Christs dying for us we must think it monstrously Ungrateful and very abominable if we yeild ourselves slaves to those sins which crucified our Dear Saviour Besides we have Gods Holy Spirit hereby as by a Conduit pipe conveyed to our Souls and the graces thereof quickned and increased in us so that we shall be able to do all things all our Duties through Christ strengthning us Phil. 4.13 And then for Refreshment being weary and heavy laden with and deeply sorrowful for our sins as we ought always to be when we come to the Lords Supper Being oppressed under their burdens as too heavy for us to bear Psal 38.4 and the deep sence of Gods wrath and displeasure for them we are in this Blessed Sacrament refreshed with Gods sealing his Covenant and assuring us of their pardon and Remission according to those sweet words of our Saviour Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will refresh you For certainly it is here if any where that we may justly hope to find this Refreshment This cup as our Saviour saith Matth. 26.28 being the blood of the New Testament or of the new Covenant which was shed for many for the Remission of sins And besides In this Sacrament all the promises all the benefits of the new Covenant are ratified and confirmed to us in Christs Blood here represented all the Benefits I say of the Covenant of Grace Justification and Sanctification Grace and pardon and peace Union with God and Christ or with God by Christ Mercy and Salvation These with whatever benefits Christ hath purchased for us by his Death and Passion are here conveyed and made over to all worthy Receivers and therefore well may we say that to partake hereof is for the strengthning and refreshing of our Souls by the Body and Blood of Christ as our bodies are strengthned and refreshed by the Bread and Wine To the last Question then in your Catechism there is nothing more requisite to assure us of all these great benefits but only our being rightly qualified for it I therefore ask you first in the words of your Catechism and then desire a more particular account from you of the several lessons taught you in it Q. What is required of them that come to the Lords Supper A. To examine themselves whether they truly repent them of their sins stedfastly purposing to lead a new life to have a lively Faith in Gods mercy through Christ with a thankful remembrance of Christs death and to be in charity with all men Q. Shall all receive those great benefits that come to the Lords Supper A. Only those that are duly prepared and receive it worthily Catechist This is but a further explanation of what you learnt before that it is the faithful only that do verily and indeed receive Christs body and blood Now here you learn that no promise of Grace or Mercy Remission or Salvation is here made sure to any other but prepared and worthy Receivers Nay to all others as I have said to all that are impenitent in their sins there is threatned not only temporal judgments but also Eternal damnation for for this cause saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 11.30 Many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep that is are stricken with death for this cause that is for eating and drinking unworthily nay ver 29. He that eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body Q. How then must you prepare yourselves for the Lords Supper A. By self examination before we come Catechist St. Paul's Text is very plain 1 Cor. 11.28 where he prescribes this remedy to prevent Gods temporal judgments and Eternal damnation by eating and drinking unworthily Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. Let him prove that is and try himself in what estate he â—s towards God as a man tries gold by the touchstone Q. What things must we especially examine ourselves of A. Of the truth and sincerity of our Repentance new Obedience Faith Thankfulness and Charity Q. May any notorious Customary sinners come to the Lords Supper A. No not without Unfeigned Repentance answerable to their sins Catechist All are invited to come but withall all are directed also to prepare themselves before they come The most wicked wretch is bidden but it is with this caution that he puts on his wedding garment Matth. 22.12 that is of true repentance and all other Graces befitting this Holy Solemnity And he that hath not on him this Wedding garment required by God in Holy Scripture can expect no better entertainment than the Kings challenge of him in the Parable there of the Marriage of his son Friend how camest thou in hither not having a Wedding garment and you should remember that he being speechless that is inexcusable The King commanded his servants saying Bind him hand and foot and cast him into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Q. Will that then excuse mens coming to the Lords Supper that they are not prepared or have not repented A. No it rather aggravates than excuses their sin of not comming while they never endeavour to fit and prepare themselves Catechist Mind Their not Preparing is a sin and their not Coming
of Life indeed allowed in Scripture but have not the nature of Sacraments to be ordinary means of Salvation And these altogether with Confirmation have no visible signs or Ceremonies ordained of God as Baptism and the Lords Supper have Let the Adversaries shew any of these if they can by the Scriptures but they can do no such thing which therefore can by no means be counted in the number of the Sacraments strictly so called ordinary means necessary for all to receive for their Salvation but the most that can be said is that some of them may be esteemed Holy Rites and Ceremonies in their due place For the two Sacraments then I ask you Q. How are these two generally necessary to Salvation A. They are necessary to be used if they can be had and whosoever slight or willfully neglect them they highly offend God and endanger their own Salvation Catechist These two thus instituted by Christ must necessarily be used by all Christians all that will own their Christianity and obey Christ and his Gospel For Christs Commandment to his Apostles was positive that as they should teach or disciple as the word signifies so baptize all Nations they came to and who can choose but see him urging a necessity of Baptism upon all that would become members of his Church which he expresseth by entring into his Kingdom in that forequoted Text Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born again of water and of the Spirit He can in no wise enter into the Kingdom of God except mark the word And for the Lords Supper it is to any Apprehension as strict a Commandment as any in the Scriptures That his Ministers take the bread and cup and give them and that the people eat and drink thereof in remembrance of him and that for this end the shewing forth the Lords death and that for so long a continuance till he come Do this is the word and therefore there is nothing more to be inquired but whether it be done or not done to shew our Obedience or Disobedience to his plain Commandment in short wilfully to neglect either of those Sacraments whereof too many God knows are notoriously-guilty among us is to contemn Christs own Ordinance and Appointment and what man can hope to be saved but in the way appointed by Christ Jesus himself the Saviour of men Now let me instruct you more distinctly first in the nature of a Sacrament in general and then of the two Sacraments apart Q. What meanest thou by the word Sacrament A. I mean an outward visible sign of an inward spiritual Grace given unto us ordained by Christ himself as a means whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof Q. How many parts are there in a Sacrament A. Two an Outward visible sign and an inward spiritual Grace Catechist That you may understand these more clearly I ask you Q. What is that you call the outward sign in a Sacrament A. That which we see with our Bodily eyes Q. What is that you call the inward Spiritual Grace A. That which the eye of Faith discerns in the visible signs Catechist You see water in Baptism and Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper with your eyes They are set before you and you see them and so they are Signs both outward and visible in the Holy Sacraments But what is signified and conferred by these outward visible things to your Souls this is no object of nor can be discerned by your bodily eyes for it is the Soul alone that can discern them there by the eye of Faith upon the account of Christs promise to his own Ordinance and Institution the Grace signified and conveyed therefore is wholly inward and spiritual Tell me then Q. For what uses are these Outward Signs or parts in the Sacraments Ordained and Instituted A. To be Signs signifying and means conveying and pledges assuring the Graces signified to Beleivers Catechist They are Signs signifying or representing the spiritual Grace for Example Water in Baptism signifies and represents The Holy Spirits cleansing the Soul polluted by Original sin in and through the blood of Christ And in the Lords Supper The Bread broken signifies and represents Christs Body bruised and torn and crucified and the Wine poured out signifies and represents his blood shed upon the Cross for Remission of sins And thus as the Apostle saith Gal. 3.2 Christ Crucified is set before our eyes in visible Types and Signs and Representations and they are also means or Instruments or as it were Conduit pipes ordained by Christ to convey the Graces and Benefits signified to the worthy Receivers Yea and pledges to assure us thereof Seals of the Covenant of Grace as our Seals are of Bonds or Evidences or as Circumcision was to Abraham Rom. 4.11 He received the Sign of circumcison a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith As sure as we receive the One so sure shall we receive and be made partakers of the other if the fault be not in ourselves All those will be much more clear in Questions and Answers upon each Sacrament First then of Baptism And first let me hear you answer out of the Church Catechism Q. What is the outward part or sign in Baptism A. Water wherein the person is baptized in the Name of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost Q. What is the inward and spiritual Grace A. A death unto sin and a new birth unto Righteousness for being by nature children of wrath we are hereby made the children of Grace Q. What is required of persons to be baptized A. Repentance whereby they forsake sin and Faith whereby they stedfastly believe the promises made to them in that Sacrament Q. Why then are Infants baptized when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them A. Because they promise them both by their sureties which promise when they come to age themselves are bound to perform Catechist Let us look over these again carefully and break them into other plain and short Inquiries Q. What thing did Christ ordain to be the outward Sign to be used in Baptism A. Water only Catechist Observe Water and Water only Our Wild Quakers speak most scornfully and Contemptibly of Water-Baptism But it is plain Our Saviour himself was Baptized in the River Jordan And all besides him we read of in the Scriptures that were either baptized by John the Baptist or by Christ's Apostles were baptized with water and Christs promise Matth. 28.19 20. Was to be with his Ministers so baptizing to the worlds end The Text is well known once and again before quoted Joh. 3.5 Verily Verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again of water and of the Spirit mark of water as well as of the Spirit He cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And as this is necessary to teach you the necessity of water to arm you Children against the Quakers error So do I express the answer thus water only to exclude the
Apostles and therefore it is presumption and Sacriledge in the Popish Priests to take the Cup from the Laity Catechist It is necessary to teach you this to arm you against Popery The words of the Institution are express Mat. 26.27 Drink ye all of this And S. Mark saith chap. 14.23 They all drank of it Here is both precept and practice against the Church of Romes presumptuous and Sacrilegious robbing the Laity of the Cup. And I may argue with the Apostle Gal. 3.15 Brethren I speak after the manner of men though it be but a mans Testament no man disannulleth or diminisheth or addeth thereto after it be confirmed by his Death And how then dare any mutilate this Sacrament which is the new Testament in Christs blood Now both fully to arm you against the other great Popish Error that of Transubstantiation and also clearly to explain the truth to you I think it needful to offer you these following Questions Q. Is the Substance of Bread and Wine changed by Consecration into the Substance of Christs Body and Blood A. No for we evidently see the Substance of Bread and Wine to remain after Consecration Catechist I told you this before and I must tell you it again that you may take due notice of it They are called Bread and Wine after as well as before Consecration in the Scriptures And our senses tell us plainly and assure us they are still bread and wine that is We see and feel and smell and tast them to be no other but bread and wine and therefore to say they are changed Substantially that is into the Substance of Christs body and blood is as well to bely our sences as the Scriptures Know this therefore what change there is made of or in the Elements by Consecration it is wholly Sacramental not in Substance but in their Use Q. But do not we then feed on Christs body and blood in the Lords Supper A. Yes as truly and really as we do on the Bread and Wine Catechist So your Catechism teacheth you they are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lords Supper and therefore though we Protestants deny the corporeal we yet do not the Real presence of Christs Body and Blood Real it is though spiritual and not at all the less real for its being wholly spiritual And for proof hereof I need but mind you of the Apostles negative questions which hath the force of the strongest Affirmation 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ and the bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ Is it not that is it certainly is so We do here as certainly Communicate of Christs body and blood as we do of the bread and wine if we be worthy Receivers I say if we be worthy Receivers for mark the words of your Church Catechism and out of it answer me the next question Q. Do all that receive the bread and wine feed on Christs body and blood A. No but the faithful only Catechist Your Catechism so expresseth it they are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful If Unbelievers and wicked men do with Judas receive the Signs yet do they receive them only not the things signified by them either Christs body or blood or their saving benefits that is the Remission of their sins increase of Grace or assurance of their Eternal Salvation Matth. 16.25 It is not meet to take the childrens bread and cast it to the dogs Such pearls belong not to Swine nay alas coming unpreparedly and eating and drinking unworthily the Apostle tells them what it is that they verily and indeed receive 1 Cor. 11.29 They eat and drink damnation to themselves not discerning the Lords body Therefore saith Holy Church in her warning to the Communicants excellently If any of you be a blasphemer of God an hinderer or slanderer of his word an Adulterer or be in envy or malice or any other grievous crime Repent ye of your sins or else come not to the Holy Table lest after the taking this Holy Sacrament The Devil enter into you as be entred into Judas and fill you full of all Iniquity and bring you to destruction both of body and of Soul It is then the Faithful only that receive real benefit of this Sacrament and really feed on Christs body and blood Now I ask you Q. Do the faithful feed on Christs body and blood carnally A. No it is after a spiritual manner only Catechist I told you this before and now call upon you to speak it yourselves that it may take deeper impression on you And I prove it by one Text Joh. 6.63 when the Disciples were offended at our Saviours telling them of eating his flesh and drinking his blood He thus explained himself The flesh profiteth nothing it is the spirit that quickneth The words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are life that is they have a spiritual and not a litteral or carnal sence and meaning And when I have asked you one question more I must needs think you have attained a competent understanding of the doctrine of this Sacrament as it is thus far taught you in your Catechism Q. Since we see nothing but bread and wine and since our hands handle and feel and our Tast perceives nothing but bread and wine how can we be sure that we do verily and indeed feed on Christs Body and Blood A. By Faith in the promise of Christ for he called the Bread his body and the Wine his Blood and therefore will undoubtedly with the Signs give the things signified Catechist And this I conceive is the great thing assured us by Christs saying Matth. 26.26 28. This is my Body and This is my Blood the Blood of the New Testament not that the Bread and Wine are at all Transubstantiated into Christs Body and Blood or that the Body and Blood are corporally or carnally in or under the Bread and Wine which is the Lutherans Consubstantiation but we are here assured by our Saviour that with the one God will certainly give the other to all worthy Receivers Christs word will be made good to us if the fault be not in ourselves It is Faith in his word and promise who if he speak the word can create a new world that assures us thereof Of receiving and feeding upon Christs Body and Blood and all the benefits of the Blessed Sacrament Q. What then are the benefits you receive thereby A. The strengthening and refreshing of our Souls by the Body and Blood of Christ as our Bodies are by the Bread and Wine Catechist Consider well this answer and then tell me Q. Do we feed our bodies in the Lords Supper A. No it is a spiritual feast for our Souls only Catechist This is no trifling question but needful as experience shews It is our Souls we come to feed here with