here are forbidden those only wherto the hart doth not consent VVhence doe these motions arise Eyther of our owne corruption or else are offered by Sathan or else by men Are all these sinnes in vs. All that arise of our own corruption are but those which the deuill or men offer vnto vs are not vnlesse wee be infected with them How are we infected by them When we take pleasure in them when we be intangled by them or when wee suffer theÌ„ to tary in our minds although our harts do not giue consent How is this commaundement broken 1 When euill motions arise of corruption moouing vs to hurt our neighbour 2 When we be infected with those euil motions which sathan or euill men put into our minds 3 When we doe not with like affection desire the good of our neighbour as we doe our owne VVhat is commaunded To loue my neighbour as my selfe Who is your neighbour Euerie one that is neere me and standeth in need of my helpe and it lyeth me tâ—â—elpe him though he be a stranger or my foe Why iudge you so Because of the image of God in him and that he is mine owne flesh in respect of our first parents Doth the law of God prescribe the perfect rule of righteousnes Yea For there is no good thing in déed word or thought but it is heer coÌ„manded likewise no euil but heerâ—it is forbidden Can euerie one keepe the Lawe perfectly They that are not borne againe of God cannot keep it at all in any point as pleasing God therby in respect of themselues For except he be borne againe of God he cannot sée the kingdome of God nor enter therein much lesse keepe the commaundements of God Moreouer all men by nature being borne and conceiued in sinne are not onely vtterly insufficient to any good thing but also disposed and ready to all sin wickednes What punishment is due to the breakers of Gods law In this life the curse of God and death with manifold miseries of bodie soule or both And where this curse is not taken away euerlasting death and damnation of bodie and soule in hell But God is mercifull Yea and God is iust righteous which righteousnes must fully be discharged or else we cannot be pertakers of his mercy And cannot we by ourselues make satisfaction for our sinnes No But rather from day to day increase our debt But doth not God wrong to man to require of him that which he is not able to performe No For God made man so that he might haue performed it but he by his sinne spoyled himself and his posteritie of those godly gifts Can any creature in heauen or earth which is onely a creature satisfie his righteousnes None at all for 1 God will not punish that in another creature which is due to be paid by man. 2 None that is onely a creature can abide the wrath of God against sinne and deliuer other from the same What manner of man is to be sought out to be our Mediator and deliuerer Hée which is indeed a verie right man and perfectly righteous more mighty then all creatures beside that is hee which also is God. Why must he be man and perfectly righteous Because the righteousnes of God requireth that the same nature which had sinned should pray and make amendes for sinne Why must he be God withall That by his godly power he may abide the burthen of Gods wrath in his flesh and may get againe and restore to vs the righteousnes and life which we in Adam lost Who is that Mediatour which is verie God and very man and perfectly righteous withall Our Lord Iesus Christ who is made vnto vs wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption What is the vse of all which hath hitherto beene taught To bring vs to a sound perswasion and féeling of our sinnes because they haue deserued so grieuous punishment as eyther the death of the Sonne of God or hell fire Are they deliuered from the curse of the Law and made partakers of Christs merits that are truly humbled Yea For heauen and earth shal passe but one tote or tittle of Gods lawe shall not faile till all be fulfilled How is the truth of Gods law fulfilled Both in Gods children and in the wicked In them because it bringeth them to be truly humbled in themselues for their sinnes and then sendeth them to Christ who doth quite fulfil it In these because it declareth to them their iust confusion when to the ende they eyther perseuere or dispaire Is sorrow for sinne sufficient to bring vs to saluation No But wée must also haue a true faith which is a true perswasion of the mereies of God merited by our Sauiour Iesus Christ. How shall we attaine to this true faith By the spirit of God giuing vs the true vnderstanding and perswasion of the Gopell VVhere is the Gospell declared vnto vs. It is generally declared vnto vs in the holy Scriptures but the Church of God hath gathered out of them a certaine sum thereof which is the articles of our Christian faith commonly called the Creed Rehearse those articles I beleeue in God the Father almightie c. How many parts are ther in these articles There are two 1 Touching our faith in God. 2 Of our faith concerning the Church What beleeue you in the first part I declare that I beléeue in God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost Why say you I beleeue in God and not in Gods For that there is but one onely true God vpoÌ„ whom my faith is wholy staied If there be but one God why name you three the father the son the holy ghost Because God hath so opened himselfe in his word that these thrée sundry persons are but one true euerlasting God. Why say you I beleeue in God and not rather that there is a God. By saying I beléeue in God I declare that I put my whole trust assurance in God whereas the deuils wicked men beleeuing that there is a God yet cannot put their whole trust confidence in him vvhy say you I beleeue not we beleeue Because I must be saued by my owne faith and not by the faith of another Why call you God Father Because he is the Creator of heauen and earth so the father of all creatures Why say you Creator and not Maker of heauen c. Because he created all things of nothing but to make is to make somthing of that which was before Why call you him Almightie Because as he created all things of nothing so he doth preserue guid theÌ„ by his mighty power wisdom iustice mercy What comfort hence do we receiue 1 That al the good angels of god shal watch ouer me pitch their tents about me 2 That neither the deuil nor men shal haue any power to hurt me but when and so farre as God will permit them 3 That I shal haue a
mine and other mens vnder an earthly Iudge I shall be discharged by the heauenly Iudge vvhat is meant by this that he was crucified That he died not only a common death but such an one as was accursed both of God and man. vvhat comfort haue you by this This That I am deliuered from the curse which I haue deserued by the breath of the law and shall obtaine the blessing ▪ due vnto him ▪ for keeping the same ▪ vvhat meaneth this that he died That his soule was separated from his bodie so that he died a corporall death VVhy was it requisite that he should die Because by sinne came death into the world so that the iustice of God could not be satisfied for our sinnes vnlesse death had béene ioyned with his suffrings VVhy is it further sayd that He was buried To assure vs more truly that he was surely dead VVhat comfort haue you by his death and buriall 1 This is my first comfort that my sinnes are fréely discharged in his death and so buried that they shall neuer come in remembrance 2 Besides my comfort is the more because by the virtue of his death and buriall sinne shall be killed in mée and buried so that henceforth it shall haue no power to raigne in me 3 I néede not feare death séeing that sinne which is the sting of death is taken away by the death of Christ and that death is now made to me an entrance into life What meanes this He descended into hell That my Sauiour Christ did not onely suffer in bodie but also in soule did abide most miserable vexations griefes and painefull troubles and feare of minde into which both before and most of all when he hanged vpon the crosse he was cast VVhat comfort haue you heereby That in all my grieuous temptations and assaults I may stay and make sure my selfe by this that Christ hath deliuered me from the sorrowfull paines and griefes of hel What beleeuest thou in this article He rose againe I beleeue that Christ which in his manhood had suffered for me did on the third day rise by his owne power from the dead Wherin doth this article minister comfort vnto thee 1 In thrée things 1 His resurrection assureth me that his righteousnes shall be imputed to me for my perfect iustification 2 Because it rayseth me vp from day to day to righteousnes and newnes of life in this world 3 It ministreth vnto me a comfortable hope that I shall rise againe in the last day from bodily death What beleeuest thou in this article He ascended into heauen I beléeue that Christ in mans nature the Apostles looking on ascended into heauen What comfort haue you thereby 1 I am comforted in this that Christ hath prepared a place for me in the heauens which now I féele by faith and héereafter I shall fully inioy 2 I am comforted by his intercession to the father for me What fruit haue you thereby 1 It doth reconcile me to the Father for those sins which I daily commit 2 Being reconciled to him I can pray to God with boldnes and cal him father What meaneth that Hee sitteth at the right hand of God c. That Christ in his mans nature was aduanced by the father vnto that hie authoritie whereby he ruleth all things in heauen and earth What comfort reape you heereby 1 Because I shall receiue from him all things néedfull for me vnder his gracious gouernment 2 By his power all mine enemies shal be subdued and troden vnder my feet What beleeue you in this article From thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead That Christ shal come in his maiestie to pronounce sentence vpon all those that were dead before and that shall be found aliue What comfort haue you by this 1 I am comforted in my greatest miserie knowing that Christ will come one day to rid me out of all 2 I am sure he will giue sentence on my side and take me to glory with him VVhy say you I beleeue in the holy Ghost Because he is God equal with the Father and the Sonne Why call you him holy Because he is the author and worker of all holines What fruit haue you by this 1 He doth assure me that I am that child of god by making me cal him Abba Father 2 He assureth me that by the death and resurrection of Christ sinne dieth in me and I am raised vp to holines of life 3 He leadeth me into all truth needfull to Gods glory and my saluation 4 He comforteth me in all troubles and in death assureth me of a better life in this same bodie and soule What meaneth this article I beleeue the holy Catholike Church That there is a Church of God though it cannot alwaies be seene with the eyes of men Why call you the Church holy For that although in this life in it selfe it is sinfull yet in Christ the head it is holy and in the life to come shall be brought to the true perfection of holines Why doe you call it Catholike Because God at all times and in all places and of all sorts of men hath an holy Church What meaneth this article The communion of Saints That the whole Church communicate with Christ euery member one with another VVhat comfort haue you by this 1 I am comforted for that I am iustified by that faith whereby Adam and Abraham were iustified which is tyed to no time nor place and excludeth no person 2 Because I am made pertaker of Christ and all his merits by faith and all the blessings of the Church by loue VVhat beleeuest thou by this article I beleeue the forgiuenes of sinnes That God for Christs sake doth fréely forgiue not onely my sinnes but also the punishment which I haue thereby deserued vvhy say you I beleeue the forgiuenes of sinnes Because no reason can perswade mee but the holy Ghost must worke the assurance thereof in my hart onely vvhat comfort haue you thereby 1 Because all the sinnes I daily commit shall neuer be laid to my charge 2 Because the weaknes and wants of all my duties are couered and supplied in Christ. 3 For that God will heare me praying for other that they may haue faith to féele the forgiuenes of sinnes vvhat meane you by this article The resurrection of the bodie into life euerlasting That this bodie after it shall be dissolued into dust shall be raised vp againe at the last day and my soule shall liue in euerlasting glory VVhat comfort reape you thereby 1 I am made cheerefull in well doing séeing my labour is not in vaine 2 I am made to dispise the pleasures and glory of this word and with patience to suffer all the troubles of this life 3 It comforteth me ouer the death of my friends and maketh me to be chéerefull in death knowing I shal haue a part in the resurrection of the iust What fruit haue
you by beleeuing all these articles The drift of all this that being iustified by faith I am made righteous before God. Which be the seuerall fruits 1 I am at peace with God although in my selfe for my outward sins which I daily commit and my inward conception which remaineth I am accused 2 I get strength to fight against my outward sinnes to subdue my outwarde corruption to do outward good works and to delight in the law of God in my inner man. 3 I haue an interest in all Gods creatures so that the vse and want of them shal turn to the furtherance of my saluatioÌ„ 4 I am assured of the glorification of my soule and bodie in the heauens because I am made an heire of euerlasting life Why is this giuen wholy only to faith Not because faith doth deserue it but because the merits of Christ can be laid hold on and applied to my selfe by no other meanes but by faith alone Cannot good works in some part iustisie vs. No For righteousnes which is able to stand before God must be perfect Are not our workes so No For many waies we sinne all besides the best works we do are defiled with sinne and therefore can deserue nothing at the hand of God. vvhy then doth God promise a reward to them That is not for the desert of works but of Gods grace and mercy Then this doctrine will make men carelesse for well doing No For they that be ingrafied into Christ must néeds bring forth good works vvhy is it needful they should doe good works 1 That wee may by them shew our selues thankefull to God for all his benefits 2 That we be assured of faith and election by good works 3 That by them we may ediffe others and that will be 1. By incouraging and strengthening those that are good 2 By winning those that are not yet come to God. 3 By stopping the mouthes of the wicked 4 That God may be glorified therby Are good works so needful that we cannot be saued without them Yea For although they worke not our saluation in any part yet for that they that are iustified are also sanctified they that doe no good works declare they are neyther iustified nor sanctified and therefore cannot be saued Then they must much more be condemned which commit sinne and lie in it Yea For such are not onely pronounced accursed by the law but also the Gospell hath denounced that they shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen Can euerie one doe good workes No None but such as are borne againe that is that they haue receiued Christ as he is offered to vs of God the Father to be our wisedome holines righteousnes and redemption vvho then doe good works They that are thus borne againe and carry in them the image of God haue repentance wrought in them from whence good works do procéede What is repentance It is a turning of our selues to God whereby we crucifie and kill the corruption of our nature reforme our selues in the inner man according to Gods will. What is it to crucifie the corruption of nature It is truly and with all my hart to be sory that I haue offended God with it and my other sinnes and euery day more and more to hate it and them and flie from them How is this sorrow wrought Partly by the threatnings of the law and the feare of Gods iudgements but especially increased by séeing Christs death wherby I haue power to hate sinne and llâ—aue it How is this reformation of our selues wrought in vs. Onely by the promises of the Gospell whereby we feele the fruit of the rising againe of Christ. What insueth hereof Héerby we are raysed vp into a new life hauing the Law written in our hearts and so reforme our selues Heereby it appeareth that none can repent of themselues or when they will. True For it was said before that it is the gift of God giuen vnto them that are borne againe By this also it is euident that Gods children stand in need of repentance so long as they liue Yea For there is none of the Saints of God but carrying alwaies this corruption about them sometime fall and are farre from that perfection of godlines which the Lord requireth Why then saith our Sauiour Christ that the Angels of God reioyce more ouer one sinner that repenteth then ouer 99. who need no repentance Our Sauiour speaketh of repentance from dead works and grosse sins whereof the righteous doe not stand in néed and yet they are daily to repent of their errours and infirmities Seeing it was said before that good works proceed from repentance what properties are required of works 1 That they be such as God hath commaunded in his law 2 That they which doe them be ingrafted into Christ and doe continue in him What say you then of their good works which are not in Christ. They doe no good works because they neyther are as yet members of Christ neyther do they offer them in his name 3 That they be done to glorifie God and assure vs of saluation Is it not lawfull to seeke our owne praise or merit by our good works No For all our good works are imperfect and saluation is onely merited by the death of Christ. VVe haue heard that the Law worketh knowledge of our sinnes and feeling of our miserie what meanes hath God ordained to worke faith in vs. These fiue The Gospell Prayer Sacraments discipline and affliction How many kinds of faith be there 1 Two Generall whereby I beléeue God to be true in all his words 2 Special whereby eyther I beléeue God to be iust in his threatnings and so am made penitent or else whereby I beléeue that he is mercifull in his promises and so come to repentance vvhat difference is there betweene penitence and repentance Penitence is a sorrow for sin wrought by the Law. Repentance is a remoouing our selues from sinne wrought by the Gospell Is there such difference betweene the Law and the Gospell Yea They differ in foure things 1 The Law reueileth sinne rebuketh vs for it and leaueth vs in it The Gospell reueileth vnto vs the remission of sinnes and freeth from the punishments belonging thereunto 2 The Law commaundeth to do good and giueth no strength but the Gospell inableth vs to doe good the holy Ghost writing the Law in our harts and assuring vs of the promise 3 The Law is the ministerie of wrath death and condemnation but the Gospell is the ministerie of grace iustification and life 4 In many poynts the Law may be conceiued by reason but the Gospell cannot being far aboue mans reason vvherein doe they agree In this that they be both of God and declare one kinde of righteousnes though they differ in offering it vnto vs. What is that one kinde of righteousnesse The perfect loue of God and of our neighbour What insueth heereof That the seuere Law pronounceth all the faithfull righteous because they
haue in Christ all that the Law requireth But yet they remayne transgressors of the Law. They are transgressors in themselues and yet righteous in Christ and in their inner man they loue righteousnesse and hate sinne VVhat then is the state of the faithfull in this life They are sure in Christ and yet fight against sinne VVhat fight haue they 1 Within they haue the battaile of the flesh against the spirit 2 Without the temptations of sathan and of the world How shall they ouercome By a liuely faith in Iesus Christ. VVhat call you the flesh The corruption of our nature wherein we were borne and conceiued Doth that remaine after regeneration Yea it dwelleth in vs and cleaueth fast vnto vs so long as we carry the outward flesh about vs. How doth the flesh fight against the spirit By continuall lusting against it and that is two waies 1 By hindering or corrupting vs in the good motions works deeds of the spirit 2 By continuall moouing vs to euill motions words and déeds What call you the spirit The holy spirit which God in Christ hath giuen vs wherby we are begottē againe Doe wee not receiue the spirit in full measure and in perfection at the first No But first wee receiue the first fruits afterward daily increases of the same vnto the end if that fault be not in vs. How doth the spirit fight in vs. By lusting against the flesh and that is also two waies 1 Partly by rebuking and partly by restrayning in vs the euill motions and déeds of the flesh 2 By continuall inlightening vs affecting vs with thoughts words déeds agreeable to Gods will. What call you the world The corrupt state condition of men and the rest of the creatures How doth the world fight against vs. By alluring and drawing vs to the corruptions thereof and the meanes it vseth héerein are two 1 Oft times by false pleasures profit and glory of this world from our obedience to God. 2 Oft times it draweth vs by paines and losses and reproches to distrust Gods promises How shall we ouercome the pleasures profit and glory of this world 1 By a true faith in Iesus Christ who desposed all these things to work our saluation and to make vs able to ouercome them 2 By a faith in Gods word that feareth vs from doing any thing that is against his will. How shall we ouercome the paines losses and reproches of this world 1 By a liuely faith in Iesus Christ who suffered all these things to worke our saluation and inableth vs to suffer them 2 By a stedfast faith in Gods prouidence that we shall want no good thing and that all things soeming hurtful shall be turned to the furtherance of our saluation What call you sathan The aduersarie and enemie of God and his people How doth he fight against vs 1 By subtilty alluring vs to sinne and therefore he is called a tempter and a Serpent 2 By laying fearfully to our charge our sinnes committed and therefore he is called the deuill that is an accuser 3 By séeking by manifold inward terrors and outward troubles to swallow vs vp and therefore hee is called a roaring Lyon. How shall we fight against him and his temptations 1 By faith in Iesus Christ who ouercame all his temptations in his owne person to the end we might ouerthrow him 2 By resisting the inward motiens and outward occasions of sinne How shall we doe that By beleeuing that we are baptised into the death and resurrection of Christ. How shall we ouercome sathan and his accusations 1 By faith in Iesus Christ who hath iustified vs for all the sinne for the which he can accuse vs. 2 By all those comfortable promises of the forgiuenes of sins which in Christs name is made vnto vs. How shall we ouercome him in our terrors and troubles 1 By faith in Iesus Christ who was heard in all his terrors and troubles to giue vs an assurance that we shall not be ouercome by them 2 By faith in Gods prouidence wherby we knowe that he can doe no more vnto vs then the Lord doth direct for our good VVe haue hard that the word is the first chiefe means not only to beget but also to strengthen and increase faith in vs what is the next principall meanes That is Prayer chiefly seruing for the strengthning and increasing of faith vvhat is Prayer Prayer is a lifting vp of the minde and a powring out of the hart before God. Is there any prescript rule of Prayer left vs in the Scriptures Yea euen that which our Sauiour Christ taught his disciples called the Lords Prayer Is it lawfull to vse no other manner of words Yea we may vse an other forme but we must pray for the same things and with like affection as are prescribed ther. How is that Prayer deuided Into three parts 1 The preface or enterance thereto 2 The prayer it selfe 3 The cōclusion or shutting vp of that same vvhich is the Preface Our Father which art in heauen vvhat doth this put vs in minde of 1 Of him to whom we pray 2 Of our owne estate in prayer To whom doe we pray To God the Father the Sonne and the the holy Ghost vvhy doe you heare name the father Because discerning the persons wee pray vnto the father secretly vnderstanding that wee doe so in the mediation of his sonne by the working of the holy Ghost vvhy must we pray to the father in the mediation of Christ his Sonne Because God beeing displeased for sinne we can haue no dealing with him but only by the meanes of his sonne in whom he is well pleased vvhy must we pray by the working of the holy Ghost Because the holy ghost assureth vs that God is our Father whereas we know not what to pray nor how he teacheth vs. vvhat must we be perswaded of our owne estate in prayer Partly concerning our selues and partlie concerning others VVhat perswasion must wee haue touching our selues We must be truly humbled and withall haue a certaine confidence that wee shall be hard How shall we be truly humbled 1 With a perswasion of our sinfull miserie and vnworthines to be holpen 2 With a most certaine perswasion of the most glorious Maiestie of God in heauen that must helpe vs. How shal we be assured that we shall be heard 1 By being perswaded that God loueth vs as his own children in our Lord Iesus Christ. 2 By faith being perswaded that God our Father is able to doe whatsoeuer he will in heauen and earth What must wee be perswaded concerning other 1 That all Gods people pray for vs. 2 We must be perswaded that it is our bounded dutie to pray for other as well as for our selues How are the petitions duided 1 We make our requests for those things which concerne Gods Maiestie 2 For those things which concerne our owne welfare Which be those that concerne Gods Maiestie The thrée first 1 Hallowed be thy name 2 Thy kingdome come 3 Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen What is meant by the name of God. 1 The names and titles of God as Iehoua the Lord of Lords c. 2 The wisedome power mercy goodnes truth righteousnes and the eternitie of God. Why be these called the names of God. Because as names serue to discerne things by so by these things GOD is knowne to be God. What is meant by this word sanctified We pray that God as he is glorious in himselfe so he may be declared and made knowne to men How shall Gods name be declared to be holy and glorious 1 We pray that his wisedome power mercy c. may more and more be imparted into vs and other of Gods people 2 We pray that according as wee know these things so the fruits of them may appeare in ours all Gods peoples liues that so Gods name may be honoured and praised What doe we pray against in his petion 1 Against all ignorance of the holy things we should know and want of good workes whereby God wants of his glory 2 Against all false religion wickednes and vngodlines by which Gods name is dishonoured FINIS Com. 1. Com. 2. Com. 3. Com. 4. Com. 6. Com. 7. Com. 8. Com. 9. Com. 10. The Beleefe 1. Cor. 15 20. Act. 1. 2. 9. Heb. 9. 15. 1. Pet. 3. 22. Math. 6. 26. c. 1. Cor. 15. 51. 52. Reue. 22. 20 Rom. 8. 1.