care it hath been almost euer since Constantines time to magnifie their owne Church and themselues and to suppresse their aduersaries Q. But is it possible that the Roman Church being once a true Church should fall seeing God hath promised his Spirit to his Church to be alwaies present leading it into all truth A. The Lord tyeth not his Spirit to any place for then the famous Churches in Asia should still haue beene true Churches but the Spirit is alwaies present to the faithfull in all places of the world Q. Hauing found out the true Church are wee to beleeue in it as in God A. No for then we should sometime beleeue errours seeing the best men which are the Church may erre Q. What is it then to beleeue the Church A. To beleeue the doctrine of the Church wherin it followeth Christ the Prophets and Apostles the only sure pillars and ground of truth Q. What is that which followeth in these Articles viz. The communion of Saints the forgiuenesse of sinnes c. A. They be certaine speciall benesits belonging to the Church and to euery member thereof Q. What is the Communion of Saints A. Ephes 4. Iohn 15. Gal. 3.28 Reuel 6.11 Heb. 10.24 That holy and swéet followship which all the meÌ„bers of Christs Church haue one with another in forrowing reioycing praying and praising God for and with one another Q. What is the forgiuenesse of sinnes A. That wonderful grace of God in Iesus Christ whereby hee passeth ouer our transgressions as if they had neuer béen committed and releaseth the punishment due to them Q What is the Resurrection of the body A. The raising of the body againe at the last day by Gods power Math. 22.31 Dan. 12.2 Iob 19.25 1 Cor. 15. that being ioyned to the soule it may stand before Gods iudgement Seat to giue account of all that it hath done whether good or euill and bee rewarded accordingly Q. What manner of bodies shall we haue in the Resurrection A. The very same which now we haue only whereas they be now naturall 1 Cor. 15. 35 43. Iob 19.25 they shall rise againe spirituall not subiect to death any more nor sustained by naturall meanes of meates and drinkes and sleepe and the like Q. Among those that die some are crooked through age some tender infants some blind and some lame shall their bodies at the resurrection then bee the same A. No for all these are weakenesses which shall be done away to the faithfull and strength perfection and comelinesse shall be to euery one of them Q. What is the Life euerlasting A. Psal 16.11 Esay 6.1 Reuel 21. Esay 66.23 1 Cor. 2.9 All that euer enduring happines all those ioyes which the Lord imparteth to al his elect in the world to come which are so great as that the eye hath not séene nor the eare heard neither can the heart conceiue throughly Q. Thou saydst that thou wert bound by vow in thy Baptisme to kéepe Gods holy will and Commandements tell me therefore how many Commandements are there A. Ten. God spake these words and said I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thée out of the â—and of Egypt out of the house of bondage Thou shalt haue none other Gods but me Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image nor the likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath or in the water vnder the earth Thou shalt not vow downe to them nor worship them for I the Lord thy God am a iealous God and visite the sinnes of the Fathers vpon the Children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mercy vnto thousands in them that loue me and kéepe my Commandements Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold him guiltles that taketh his name in vaine Remember that thou kéepe holy the Sabbath day Sixe dayes thou shalt labour and doe all that thou hast to doe but the seauenth day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt doe no manner of worke thou and thy sonne and thy daughter thy manseruant and thy maidsernant thy cattell the stranger that is within thy gates For in six dayes the Lord made heauen and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seauenth day wherefore the Lord blessed the seauenth day and hallowed it Honour thy Father and Mother that thy dayes may bee long in the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee Thou shalt doe no murther Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not steale Thou shalt not beare false witesse against thy neighbour Thou shalt not couet thy neighâ—ours house thou shalt not couet thy â—eighbors wife nor his seruant nor â—â—s mayd nor his oxe nor his asse or any thing that is his Q. What doest thou learne out 〈◊〉 these commandements A. Two things my dutie toâ—ards God and my dutie towards â—y neighbour Q. What is thy dutie towards â—od A. My dutie towards God is to â—â—léeue in him to feare him and to â—â—ue him with all my heart with all â—y mind with all my soule and with 〈◊〉 my strength to worship him to â—â—ue him thanks to put my whole â—â—ust in him to call vpon him to â—â—nour his holy name and his word â—â—d to serue him truely all the dayes 〈◊〉 my life Q. What is thy dutie towards thy neighbour A. My dutie towards my neighbour is to loue him as my selfe anâ— to doe to all men as I would the should do to me to loue honour anâ— succour my father and mother 〈◊〉 honour and obey the King and hiâ— Ministers to submit my selfe to aâ—â— my Gouernours Teachers spiritâ—all Pastors and Masters to ordeâ— my selfe lowly and reuerently to aâ—â— my betters To hurt no body bâ— word nor déed to be true and iust iâ— all my dealings to beare no malicâ— nor hatred in my heart to kéepe mâ— hands from picking and stealing anâ— my tongue from euill speaking lâ—â—ing and flaundering to kéepe mâ— body in temperance sobernesse anâ— chastitie not to couet nor desire â—ther mens goods but learne and lâ—bour truly to get mine owne liuinâ— and to doe my dutie in that state 〈◊〉 life vnto the which is shall pleaâ—â— God to call me Q. How were these Commauâ—dements giuen A. Written with Gods own hand in two Tables of stone Q. In which Table do you learne â—our dutie towards God A. In the first containing the foure â—â—rmer Commandements Q. How many bee the parts of â—â—ery of these Commandements A. Two the Commandement it â—ife and the reason of it Q. Rehearse the first Commandement A. I am the Lord thy God c. Q. In which words is the Comandement contained A. The Commaundement is â—hou shalt haue none other Gods â—ut me Q. What are wee heere comanded A. To haue the Lord for our God that is to loue him aboue all Deut. 6.45 Mal.
If no man can perfectly kéepe the Law wherefore then serueth it A. First to humble vs Rom. 7.9.24 Ro. 7.12.22 Mat. 19.17 Rom. 13.8 in regard of our miserable estate hereby discouered Secondly to bée a rule of good life vnto vs. Thirdly to set vs a worke dayly to pray and cry to the Lord for mercy and for strength to liue according to his Lawes Q. What is prayer A. It is a lifting vp of the heart to God onely in the name of Iesus Christ according to his will in full assurance to be heard and accepted at his gracious hands Q. What néed is there that the faithfull pray séeing God of his owne goodnesse and not for their prayers will doe whatsoeuer is néedfull for them A. There is great néed that all faithfull people should pray vnto God for thrée speciall reasons Q. Which is the first A. Because it is a duty that wée owe vnto God Q. Which is the second A. To renew our assurance of the pardon of sinne daily renewed through our great weakenesse and to increase our loue patience and humility Q. Which is the third A. That we may be fit to receiue the gifts and blessings of the Lord. Q. What times are specially to be spent in prayer A. The speciall times of prayer are sixe Q. Which is the first A. The present time without deferring till sicknesse or old age Q. Which is the second A. The time of publike meeting to the worship of God Q. Which is the third A. Exod. 29.39 Euery morning and euening Q. Which is the fourth A. 1. Tim. 4.5 1. Sam. 9.13 Sitting downe and rising vp from our meat Q. Which is the fift A. Psal 50.14 Iam. 5.13 The time of trouble and aduersity when we ought more often and instantly to pray Q. Which is the sixt A. All the dayes of our Life through which we must hold out in diligent prayer according to that of the Apostle Pray continually 1 Thes 5.17 Q. If we obserue these times of prayer shall we be saued from all our sinnes A. Yes vndoubtedly Acts 2.21 for whosoeuer calleth vpon the name of the Lord shall be saued Q. Is there nothing else required then vnto saluation but to pray A. Yes for wee must be indued with these properties which the Lord requireth in those that pray or else we shall pray in vaine Q. How many are those properties A. Three Q. Which is the first A. Obedience for not euery one that saith Lord Lord Math. 7.21 shall enter into heauen but he that doth the wil of my Father which is in heauen Q. Which is the second A. Humilitie Iam. 4.6 for God resisteth the proud and giueth grace to the humble Q. Which is the third A. Iam. 5 16. Feruency for the prayer of the righteous preuay leth much if it be feruent Q. What more particular direction is there to be folowed in praying A. That most excellent prayer which Christ himselfe framed for vs rightly therfore called the Lords Prayer Q. Rehearse the Lords Prayer A. Our Father which art in heauen hallowed bee thy Name Thy kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this day our daily bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs And leade vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euill Amen Q. Is this the onely Prayer which we are to vse in calling vpon God A. No but we must bee guided by it as by a rule both for manner and matter in all our prayers Q. May wee not vse it then as a Prayer A. Yes doubtlesse we may and ought to vse it most often as the chiefe of all prayers but with great deliberation not placing confidence in the words but in the sense vnderstood and affected in the saying thereof Q. It seemeth then that a set prayer is lawfull A. It is not onely lawfull Num. 10.36 Psal 92 but most expedient that there should be a set forme of praying in the Congregation and to helpe the deuotion of the ignorant in priuate Q. What is to be thought of conceiued prayer may any man vse that A. The Spirit of God is not tyed to wordes and phrases but doth at times suddenly minister matter to the seruants of God so that they can and doe pray effectually without a set forme both publikely and priuately Q. In what manner ought wee to pray according to this rule of the Lords prayer A. First Math. 67. to pray in this manner is briefely and pithily Q. What secondly A. Propounding Gods glory as the marke whereat wée ayme in all our praying Mat. 6.5 and not our owne vaine glory Q. What thirdly A. First and chiefly séeking after heauenly things Mat. 6.33 then after earthly Q. What fourthly A. In all things submitting our wils Mat. 26.39 and desires to the will of God Q. What be the parts of this prayer A. Thrée the Preface Our Father which are in heauen the Petitions Hollowed be thy name c. and the Conclusion For thine is the Kingdome c. Q. In the Preface why call you God Father A. Luk. 11.11 Heb. 4.16 Gen. 3◠26 Because he is ready as a louing Father to heare mée calling vpon his name wherefore I learne with boldnesse and confidence to come vnto him in prayer Q. But may euery man come before God as his Father A. No wicked man that goeth on impenitently in sinne can call God Father Ioh. 8.44 Rom. 6.16 because he is the deuils childe and not Gods Q. Cannot a wicked man pray then A. No Prou. 15.8 Esa 1.12 he cannot pray with any comfort for the prayer of the wicked is abomination to the Lord. Q. Why doe you say Our Father and not my Father A. 1 Tim 2.2 Matth. 5.44 Because I ought to pray for all other the children of God aswell as for my selfe Q. Why adde you in the preface Which art in heauen A. Not for that I beléeue God to be in heauen only for he is euery where Q Why then A. 1 Kin. 8.27 Psal 19.1 Luke 18. Luke 1.53 Esay 66.2 Because to bée in heauen is an Argument of great glory therefore I learne with reuerence to pray vnto him béeing my Father most glorious Q. What dost thou aske of God in this prayer A. I desire my Lord God our heauenly Father who is the giuer of all goodnesse to send his grace vnto me and to all people that we may worship him serue him and obey him as wee ought to doe And I pray vnto God that hee will send vs all things that hée néedfull both for our soules and bodies and that hee will be mercifull vnto vs and forgiue vs our sinnes And that it will please him to saue and defend vs from all dangers ghostly and bodily and that hée will kéepe vs from all sinne and wickednesse and from our ghostly enemy and from
euerlasting death And this I trust hée will doe of his mercy and goodnesse through our Lord Iesus Christ And therefore I say Amen So be it Q. Tell me more particularly how many be the Petitions of this prayer A. Six whereof the thrée former concerne Gods glory the thrée latter concerne our selues Q. Which he those thrée concer-Gods glory A. First Hallowed by thy name secondly thy Kingdome come thirdly thy will be done on earth as it is in heauen Q. In the first of these what desire you A. Prou. 16.1 1. Cor. 10.31 Rom. 11.36 That the name of God may be glorified in the vse of his titles word and all his workes Q. In the second petition what desire you A. Psal 48.2 Psal 93.1 Mat. 13. ◠Mat. 9.38 Eph. 6.19 That the number of true beléeuers may be daily increased that Gods Kingdome of Grace being inlarged his Kingdome of glory may be hastened Q. What pray you for in the third petition A. Ps 119.34 1. Thes 4.3 Ephes 4.24 Eph. 1.16 17 That I and all the people of God vpon earth may as readily obey Gods will as the Angels and Saints in heauen Q. Which be the thrée petitions concerning our selues A. The first Giue vs this day our daily bread secondly forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs thirdly Lead vs not into tēptation but deliuer vs from euill Q What pray you for in the first of these Petitions A. For all things necessary for this present life Prou. 20.8 Gen. 28.20 Mat. 6.34 and therefore wee aske but for bread and but for this day Q. What pray you for in the second of these Petitions A. That God would forgiue vs all our sinnes Mat 18.26 Luke 18.10 Psal 39.8 Mat 5.23 as wée doe from our hearts forgiue the offences of men against vs. Q. What pray you for in the third of these Petitions A. That the Lord would not suffer vs to be carried away by the temptations of the world flesh or deuill 2. Cor. 12.8 Eph. 6.18 Mat. 26.21 to the committing of sin but that he would deliuer vs from the euill of all temptation both sinne and damnation Q. Wherefore serueth the conclusion For thine is the Kingdome c. A. It is added as a reason of all the Petitions to strengthen our faith Q. What is this reason A. Math 6.8 Mark 9.23 Psal 19.1 Ephes 1.6 That God being both able and willing doth certainly yéeld to those our requests therefore wee adde a note of confidence and say Amen Q. Hath the Lord made any certaine promise to heare vs that wee may with so great confidence expect a graunt of our petitions A. Hee hath both promised Psal 50.14 Math. 7.7 9 and brgeth vs to beléeue from the example of an earthly Father Q. But God is in heauen and inuisible neither can we sée or heare him speaking vnto vs what visible and sensible meanes therefore hath he giuen vs whereby we may be assured of his promise A. Iohn 20.31 Mar. 16.16 1 Cor. 10.16 He hath giuen vs his written word wherein his promises are set foorth and the holy Sacraments as seales for our further assurance Q. What is the word of God A. 2 Tim. 3.16 Gal. 1.8 All the Bookes of the Old and New Testament and not any other bookes or Writings whatsoeuer Q. How many and which are these Bookes A. The Books of the Old Testament are seuen and twentie Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers Deuteronomy Ioshua Iudges Ruth the first second of Samuel the first and second of Kings the first and second of the Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Ester Iob Psalmes Prouerbes Ecclesiastes Canticles Esay Ieremiah Ezechiel Daniel and the 12. small Prophets The Bookes of the new Testament are seuen and twentie Matthew Marke Luke Iohn the Actes of the Apostles the Epistle to the Romans first and second to the Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians two to the Thessalonians and two to Timothy to Titus to Philemon to the Hebrews the Epistle of Iames and two of Peter three of Iohn of Iude and the Reuelation of Iohn Q. Are not the Apocryphall Books part of the word of God A. They are not neither haue bin euer so accounted in the Church of God but are annexed as being ful of good Instructions and Histories declaring Gods wonderfull prouidence ouer his people Israel Q. How is it proued that these Testaments are the word of God A. It is prooued by their Antiquity some of them being before all other bookes 2 Tim. 3.16 2 Pet. 1.20 1 Thes 2.13 sundry times oppugned and sought to bee burnt vp by persecutors and yet wonderfully preserued and by myracle from heauen confirmed which shewes that they came from heauen and are not of mans inuention Q. Are the Bookes of the Old and New Testament sufficient to saluation without any other A. Yes doubtlesse and it is dangerous to adde any other as necessary to bee likewise receiued Reu. 22.18 Deut. 4.2 for to doe thus is to incurre the danger of Gods curse Q. Hauing this Word written is it not sufficient for our saluation without any helpe by preaching A. It is not sufficient 1 Cor. 1.18 but it must also be set foorth by preaching that the hard places may be rightly vnderstood Rom. 10.14 2 Tim. 4.2 Actes 8.31 wee may be kept from errors and haue our dull hearts stirred vp to embrace it Q. How many bee the Sacraments of the New Testament A. Two onely as generally necessary to saluation that is to say Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. Q. What meanest thou by this word Sacrament A. I meane an outward and visible signe of an inward and sprituall grace giuen vnto vs ordained by Christ himselfe as a meanes whereby we receiue the same as a pledge to assure vs thereof Q. How many parts be there in a Sacrament A. Two the outward visible signe the inward spirituall grace Q. What is the outward visible signe or forme in Baptisme A. Water wherein the person baptized is dipped or sprinkled with it In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy ghost Q. What is the inward and spirituall grace A. A death vnto sinne and a new birth vnto righteousnes for being by nature borne in sin and the children of wrath wee are hereby made the children of Grace Q. What is required of persons to be baptized A. Repentance wherby they forsake sinne and Faith whereby they stedfastly beleeue the promises of God made to them in that Sacrament Q. Why then are Infants baptized when by reason of their tender age they cannot performe them A. Yes they doe performe them by their sureties who promise and vow thē both in their names which when they come to age themselues are bound to performe Q. Why was the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ordained A. For the continuall remembrance of the Sacrifice of the death of Christ
thy Sacrament I may put off the old man which is corruption according to the lusts of errour and be renewed in the spirit of my mind and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnes holinesse of truth and though by nature I cannot liue without spots of sinne yet so blesse me that I may neuer willingly offend thee but altogether depend vpon thy goodnes and as a true penitent sinner repenting of my sinnes I may approach to thy heauenly Supper Grant mercifull Father that I may alwayes worthily receiue this blessed Sacrament memoriall of thy death according to thy holy ordinance that it may increase in me all goodnes Be thou the buckler and perpetual defence of my soule and body that I may come vnto thy kingdome where I shall behold thee face to face whither Lord for thy mercies sake bring me Amen A Thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the holy Communion ALmighty God which hast vouchsafed spiritually to giue me these holy mysteries of thy body and bloud mortifie whatsoeuer is euil in me and garnish me with thy graces and vertues renew my spirit my soule and my body with thy excellent grace frame me after thy owne hearts desire and grant that I may think speak doe and desire all things that may please thee purge my conscience from dead works to serue thee the liuing God I thank thee with all reuerence of mind for bidding mee a miserable sinner vnto the participation of thy holy Supper and the receiuing of all celestial riches wherby thou bestowest on me particularly all the merits and good things which by thy death thou hast purchased for mee that I may be a partaker and fellow heyre of eternall blessednes Raise vp in me by this blessed Sacrament a continuall remembrance of thy bitter passion make mee retaine it in my mind as a sufficien ransome of my Redemption let mee neuer doubt of the forgiuenesse of my sins and as often as Sathan assayleth mee with his deadly temptations giue me grace to run to this Sanctuary as to a strong armor of defence so that no tribulation anguish persecution life nor death separate mee from Christ my Head whereupon being made fast by thy holy Sacrament receiued I as a liuing member depend and let mee know that I am fed and refreshed by thy body and precious blood that washed therewith I giue not my selfe hereafter to carnall pleasures but liue in all sinceritie and truth as it becometh those that eat af the immaculat Paschall Lamb. Giue me grace that laying aside all maliciousnesse and enuy I may forgiue euery one as thou hast forgiuen me giue mee grace that participating of the bread of eternall life I may bee replenished with the fruition of thy blessed sight in thy celestiall Paradise for euer and at my resurrection from death appoynt mee a place O mercifull Lord at thy heauenly Table where I may taste the new wine in the kingdome of thy Father abiding with thine elect Angels blessed Saints for euermore Amen Grace before Meat O Lord blesse vnto our vse thy Creatures at this time prouided for our sustenance that being preserued hereby and comforted wee may doe thee more laudible seruice vnto thy glory who art the Authour of all good vnto vs through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Grace after Meate COntinuall praise be vnto thee O Lord who doest continually prouide so graciously for the feeding of our feeble bodies Leade vs heereby to a taste of our spirituall food so that by the helpe of both wee may growe vp in thy seruice both in body and soule till at the last we attaine thy heauenly kingdome and be for euer glorified both in soule and body through Christ our Lord Amen Grace before Meat O GOD who hast iustly cursed the earth and all things therein for the sinne of man pardon our sinnes turne away thy curse vouchsafe thy blessing vpon these thy gifts which we are now to receiue that we vsing them with temperance and thankfulnesse may obtaine by them refreshing and nourishment through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Grace after Meat MErcifull Father who neuer ceasest to doe good vnto vs though we neuer cease offending thee and now more especially hast renewed thy bountie in feeding vs with thy blessings Let not the common fruition of thy benefites make vs commonly or lightly to esteeme of them neither when we are fed let vs wax wanton against thee abusing our strength to the seruice of sinne But let thy perseuerance in goodnesse worke in vs perseuerance in all dutifull obedience to our liues end through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen FINIS