Nay Inheritors thereof even of his Kingdom of Grace in this life and shall in due time be fully possessed of that Glory in the Life to come All which is made good by several great Texts 1 Pet. 1.3 He hath begotten us again to a lively hope even of an inheritance incorruptible undefiled and which fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for us Tit. 3.5 7. According to his mercy he saved us by the Laver and washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost That being justified by his Grace we should be made heirs of eternal Life Rom. 8.16 17. The Spirit beareth witness that we are the children of God and if children then heirs Heirs with God joynt heirs with Christ if we suffer with him we shall also reign with him Q. How doth the new Covenant The Covenant of Grace made with Adam after his fall differ from the old Covenant the Covenant of works made with Adam before his fall A. The old Covenant of Works did not promise Forgiveness of Sins nor accepted of Repentance but required perfect Unsinning Obedience But this new Covenant of Grace doth promise forgiveness of sins upon repentance and only requires sincere Obedience Catechist The tenour of the old Covenant was Do this and live requiring such an Obedience as not to sin But that of the new covenant is If thou believe with all thy heart Thou shalt be saved accepting of sincere though imperfect Obedience Such then is Gods part of the Covenant What Ours is you must learn by the third question in the Church Catechism Q. What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you A. They did promise and vow three things in my name c. Questions and Answers explaining this follow Q. Are these great Benefits of the new Covenant which is sealed in Baptism conferred upon all that are Baptized A. Yes but not absolutely but upon condition they perform their part of the Covenant Q. What is our part of the Covenant A. Repentance Faith and Obedience Catechist I pray you good children learn this great Lesson and always bear it in mind That you can make no claim to any promise of God in his covenant unless you be faithful in performing the condition of Gods promises For the Covenant and promises of God are mutual and it cannot be imagined that God can be bound and we free and at liberty to live as we list And then mark how this explication of our part of the Covenant agrees with what the latter end of your Catechism teaches you to be the Grace signified by Baptism for our Baptismal Covenant engageth us to a death unto sin as we therein promise to renounce the devil the world and the flesh by Repentance and unto a life unto Righteousness as we therein promise constancy in the true faith and answerable obedience to Gods Holy will in our conversations I ask you then Q. How doth your Catechism express these Repentance Faith and Obedience A. Renouncing the Devil and all his works the pomps and vanities of this wicked world and all the finful lusts of the flesh Believing all the Articles of the Christian Faith and Keeping Gods Holy Will and Commandments and walking in the same all the days of my life Q. What is meant by renouncing the Devil A. Renouncing all familiarity and making Contracts with the Devil whereof Witches Conjurers and such as resort to them for help are guilty and all doing homage or worship to the Devil as do all Idolaters Catechist That there is such a sin as Witchcraft is plain in that Gods law forbids and condemns it Edod 21.18 Deut. 18.10 Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live and all know it was Sauls sin that he went for councel to the Witch at Ender And were there no such sin as some in this age too boldly affirm how comes St. Paul to reckon it amongst the works of the flesh Gal. 5.20 And that all Idolaters do really worship the Devil is manifest by what the same Apostle saith 1 Cor. 10.20 I say the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to Devils and not to God Q. What is meant by renouncing the works of the Devil and what are these works A. All sins are works of the Devil especially pride lying discord murder envy and malice now in Baptism we engage to resist all the Devils Temptations to any sin whatsoever and especially these and to watch against them Catechist This brand the Scriptures fix upon those sins especially for by pride as the Apostle hints 1 Tim. 3.6 the Devil fell into condemnation For Murder John 8.44 â—e is a Murderer from the begining For Lying the same Text tells you When the Devil speaks a lye he speaks it of himself for he is a lyar and the father of lyes And how much all envy is from him is evident as by what St. James saith chap. 3.14 15. If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts such wâ—sâ—om is earthly sensual Devilish so by this being one of his odious Titles the envyous man And so is all Malice from him and all hatred being a degree and fountain of Murder For 1 John 1.15 He that hateth his brother is a marderer and whosoever I add tempts and enticeth another to sin acts the Devils part who is the Tempter and doth his work for Him for that is another of his odious Titles Math. 4.3 and in a word for this cause must we avoid all sin because all sins are works of the Devil For so spake our Saviour to the wicked Jews John 8.44 ye are of your Father the Devil because his works you do It is good for you children to mind these and the like plain texts in Scripture and to treasure them up in your hearts This then is one part and a great part of our Baptismal engagement even in all things as St. James exhorts chap. 4.5 to resist the Devil and to maintain continual war against him Q. What is meant by renouncing the world A. We engage in Baptism to resist all Temptations arising from the men and thingâ— of the world Riches pleasures or honoursâ— Q. What is meant by renouncing the pompâ— and vanities of this wicked world A. We promise in Baptism not to set ouâ— hearts on any thing in this world nor to follow its sinful ways customs or fashionsâ— and to avoid all wicked Company Catechist All this worlds Temptations are either from the Men or things thereof as the former of these Answers teaches you And as for the men thereof iâ— we would avoid and resist all Temptations from them The most general direction that can be given is this That we take heed of all evil company and I believe there is hardly any better or more useful lesson can be instilled into young and tender minds than this For thousands are undone by falling into bad and loose company and what considering person is there who laments not this to see how many of good natures and excellent
honour to themselves which belongs to God alone and I shall content my self with citing the Pharisees question only which indeed is unanswerable however they mist it in the application because they would not believe Christ to be God or the Son of God Mark 2.7 Who can forgive sins but God only Q. How come any to be damned then if there be such forgiveness with God A. It is because they go on wilfully in their sins and will not be drawn to repentance but live in sin and at last either die without any sence of their sins or deceive themselves with a false and feigned repentance Catechist From hence it is that these two are so closely enjoyned and may not be parted for Luk. 24.47 Through his name are repentance and remission of sins preached For in order to their being forgiven he now commands all men every where to repent Act. 17.30 And to bring forth fruits meet for repentance Matth. 3.8 And thus they must indispensibly do that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by Faith which is in Christ Jesus Act. 26.18 To the next Article then the Resurrection of the Body To understand which I ask you Q. After Death what becomes of the Souls of men A. They return to God to receive the sentence of Absolution or Condemnation Q. And what becomes then of their Bodies A. Being laid up in the Grave they shall at last be raised up to be again inseparably United to their Souls Catechist What becomes of mens Souls Solomon tells you plainly Eccl. 12.7 When the Dust i.e. the Body returns to the Earth as it was The spirit i.e. the Soul returns to God who gave it i. e to be judged by him An instance whereof you have in Luk. 16.22 23. The Rich man died and immediately went into hell-torments and Lazarus died also and was carried by the Angles into Abrahams Bosome And even so Heb. 9.27 It is appointed to all men once to die and after that the judgemen i. e. the judgment of their Souls by either Absolution or Condemnation And then for the bodies rising from the dead at the last day the Prophet Daniel had a clear foresight thereof chap. 12.2 Many of them which sleep in the dust shall rise again some to everlasting life and some to shame and perpetual contempt Nay Christ saith All shall rise John 5.28 The hour cometh in the which all that are in the Grave shall hear the voice of the Son of God and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation Now this is a great matter and you had need have good grounds to believe it Q. What is it then that assures you hereof A. Christs being risen and God being our God the God of the Body as well as of the Soul the God of the whole man Catechist The 15 chap. of the first Epistle to the Corinthians discourses of the Resurrection of the body throughout and hath divers arguments to prove it and this for one ver 20. Christ is risen from the dead the first fruits of them that slept As therefore the first fruits was a pledge of the ensuing Harvest so was Christs rising from the dead of ours And by Gods being the God of Believers Christ convinced the Sadduces who denied the Resurrection Luk. 20.37 That the dead are raised up saith he even Moses shewed at the Bush when he called him the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob for he is not a God of the dead but the living They must therefore rise again that God may be their God and that for ever Q. What use must you make of this Doctrine of the Resurrection A. To reverence my Body and not to prostitute it to be an Instrument of sin or filthiness and neither to fear death my self nor to mourn immoderately for the death of my Friends Catechist Great cause have we to bear reverence to our own bodies so as not to abuse them to be instruments of sin or filthiness by overcharging them with surfeting or drunkenness or by fulfilling our fleshly lusts in fornication or beastly living seeing they are at present Temples of the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us 1 Cor. 6.19 And shall at last be raised up spiritual Bodies glerious incorruptible immortal 1 Cor. 15.42 43. And this may very much abate all fear of death seeing we shall rise again from the dead and then shall these our vile Bodies be fashioned like to Christs glorious Body according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Phil. 3.21 And the Apostle teacheth us hence 1 Thes 4.1 not to mourn immoderately upon the departure of our dearest friends like the Heathens that are without this hope Q. Shall our Bodies being risen ever die again A. No the life to come is Everlasting Catechist After this Resurrection There shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying neither any more pain for the former things are passed away Rev. 21.4 The last enemy shall be destroyed even death 1 Cor. 15.26 Q. In what estate must all men live everlastingly A. Some in unconceivable Bliss others in torments intolerable Every man according to his works in this life good or evil Catechist You have it clear in Matth. 25.32 33. The sheep shall be separated from the goats And he shall set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left Then will he say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the World But ver 41. To them on his left hand will he say Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels And ver 4. â— These shall go into everlasting punishment but the Righteous into Life eternal Q. Do the Godly Merit or deserve that Bliss as the wicked do that punishment and Torments A. No Our best good works are due debt and but imperfect and Gods Gift and bears no proportion to the reward and therefore though death be the wages of sin yet Eternal Life is the Gift of God Catechist If you mark these particulars you will easily discern the Papists Doctrine of Good works being Meritorious to be presumptiously proud and utterly groundless Our best good works cannot merit any good thing of God for they are but due debt as our Saviour teacheth Luk. 17.10 When we have done all we must say we are unprofitable servants We have but done that which was our duty to do And 2. Our best good works are imperfect tainted with many sins and infirmities so that they themselves stand in need of Gods pardon Isaiah 64.6 7. We are all as an unclean thing All our Righteousness is but as filthy rags and as a menstruous cloth and great are the iniquities of our most Holy things So
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
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
wits are utterly perverted into an extreme and Atheistical wickedness hereby Of this therefore the Holy Scriptures warn all men and especially the younger sort in innumerable Texts Ps 1.1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the councel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful Prov. 1.10 My son if sinners entice thee consent thou not If they say come with us let us lay wait for blood c. Cast in thy lot among us my son walk not thou in the way with them refrain thy foot from their paths see the Text at large And chap. 2.10 c. he tells you how great a lesson of Wisdom this is i.e. of Religion When Wisdom entreth into thine heart c. Discretion shall preserve thee Vnderstanding shall keep thee to â—eliver thee from the way of the evil man from the man â—hat speaketh froward things who leave the paths of Righteâ—usness to walk in the ways of darkness Who rejoyce to â—o evil and delight in the frowardness of the wicked Whose ways are wicked and they froward in their paths To â—eliver thee from the strange woman even from the stranger â—hat flattereth with her words For her house enclineth unto â—eath and her paths unto the dead None that go unto her return again neither take they hold of the paths of life And in innumerable other places doth the wise man â—nculcate and urge this too many to repeat here I must content my self with St. Pauls injunctions to all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 5.9 not to keep comâ—any with fornicators and v. 11. nor with covetous nor with â—dolaters nor railers nor extortioners nor with any broâ—her that walketh disorderly as it is 2 Thes 3.6 Concerning whom he commandeth in the name of the Lord Jesus that we withdraw ourselves from them And in a word he exhorts Ephes 5.11 that we have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them which must be by refusing all familiarity with them as well as by verbal reprehending them As for the things of this world S. John tells us 1 Ep. 2.16 they may be all reduced to these three the lusts of the flesh the lusts of â—he eye and the pride of life i. e. Riches pleasures and honours And for resisting all Temptations from them I shall content my self with commending to your daily â—emembrance that one Text of his chap. 3.15 Love not â—he world nor the things of this world for if any man love the world the love of the father is not in him And for avoiding all sinful customs or fashions I shall only mind you of that general precept in Gods law Erod 23.2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil For thus shall ye as St. Peter saith 2 Ep. 2.20 escape the pollutions of this world and to all these you are bound by your Baptismal vow to be Christs faithful servants and souldiers For as our Saviour saith Math. 6.24 Ye cannoâ— both serve God and Mammon God and the world oâ— the lusts thereof no nor your fleshly lusts as the nexâ— Answer teacheth you Q. What is meant by renouncing all the sinful lusts of the flesh A. In Baptism we promise to mortifie the flesh by fasting and prayer and not to suffer our fleshly lusts to reign in us so as to live in Gluttony drunkenness or any moral uncleanness Catechist As St. Paul expresses it Gal. 5.10 We must walk in the Spirit and not fulfil the lusts of the flesh 1 Cor. 5.17 we must follow his example in keeping the body under and bringing it in subjection that it should not rebel against the Spirit Gal. â— 24 if we be Christs as we all profess and promise to be in Baptism we must thus shew it by Crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts We must as St. Peter exhorts 1 Ep. 2.20 As Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the Soul For this I beseech you young men and maids to think of you cannot fulfil your fleshly lusts falling into either drunkenness or fornication whether simple fornication or that before Marriage or by any other wretched wicked manner of life but you 'l thereby become eminently guilty of a direct Breach of your Baptismal Vow and Covenant with God And in short I wish you with all my heart to bear that text of St. Pauls continually in your minds Rom. 8.13 If ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live So here is Life and death set before you and put to your choice Q. What is the life of a Christian in respect of all these A. It is an holy Spiritual Warfare for we are in Baptism listed Souldiers under Christs banner continually to fight against these our spiritual enemies Catechist 1 Tim. 1.18 We must war a good warfare holding faith and a good Conscience 1 Tim. 6.12 We must fight the good fight of Faith whereunto we are called having in Baptism professed this good profession before many witnesses even in the presence of God and in the face of the Congregation Q. By what means may we fight this good fight and warfare so as to overcome A. By the continual use of prayer fasting faith and watchfulness over our hearts and senses and constant care to walk according to Gods word Catechist To all these Gods H. Word directs us with the greatest plainness To prayer with fasting 1 Thes 5.17 pray without ceasing or continually For this Devil of fleshly lusts Christ saith Math. 17.21 goeth not out but by fasting and prayer By these it is that the flesh is mortified and kept under Gal. 5.16 This I say therefore Walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh For the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other But therefore Gal. 24. They that are Christs indeed do crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts And to these of fasting and prayer S. John adds Faith 1 Ep. 5.4 Whesoever is born of God over cometh the world and this is our victory that overcometh the world even our Faith And our Saviour adds Watchfulness Matth. 26.41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation Luk 21.32 33. Take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeting and drunkenness and the cares of this life and that day come upon you unawares 36. Watch ye therefore and pray always Mark 13.37 And what I say unto you I say unto all watch And lastly O! that young people would often Meditate upon what David directs them to even circumspect walking according to Gods word Psal 119.9 Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his ways even by taking heed thereto according to Gods word These particulars make up that Repentance that you promised in Baptism
For Heb. 10.4 It was not possible that the bloud of Bulls and Goats offered in sacrifice should take away sins But all the vertue they had was as Types and Figures of the pretious Blood of Christ the Son of God as of a Lamb without spot and without blemish 1 Pet. 1.18 So God he must be whosoever will undertake to satisfie for our sins by suffering for them and God he was who purchased his Church with his own blood Act. 20.28 Q. How prove you by your Creed then that Jesus Christ is true God A. I believe Him to be His to wit Gods only Son our Lord. Catechist The Son of God must needs be God God of God very God of very God Now God owned him for his Son by a voice from heaven at his Baptism Matth. 3.17 This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased Now to anticipate an Objection the next Question and Answer shews how our being Gods Sons differs from His being so And thereof the Apostle Heb. 1.1 compared with chap. 2.1 3. gives a very remarkable application Q. Are not we also Sons of God and how then is he Gods only Son or how doth his being Gods Son prove him to be God A. We are only Sons of God by Adoption in Christ but Christ is Gods Son by eternal Generation He is Gods only begotten Son very God of very God as really God of the substance of the Father begotten before the World as he was Man of the substance of his Mother born in the World Catechist 2 Tim. 1.13 Let us hold fast this form of sound words in Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus and always carry in mind the Apostles inference from it in the forequoted place God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past to the Fathers by the Prophets Hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son as the Great Mediator between Him and us Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things we hear lest at any time we let them slip For if the word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by them that heard him Let us pass on then to the other proof of Christs Divinity Q. How did Christ become our Lord A. He both made us and redeemed us with his pretious blood and we have in Baptism given up ourselves to him to be his Servants Catechist Ps 100.3 He made us and not we ourselves So is he our Lord as we are his Creatures For John 1.3 All things were made by him and without him was nothing made that was made And being lost he also redeemed us so that he is our Lord by right of purchase 1 Cor. 6.20 He bought us with a price therefore we are not our own but his therefore is he our Lord. And being so our Lord he is certainly God for who but God is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 1.6 and who but God can be called by that incommunicable Name of God Jehova and so is Christ Hos 1.7 I will have mercy upon them and will save them by the Lord Jehova and not by how or sheild O what cause have we then to own him for our Lord by devoting our selves to his Service Cast we then our eyes upon the other Nature of his Q. How prove you by your Creed that Jesus Christ is true man A. I believe him to be Conceived in the Womb by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary Catechist An answer containing what the Apostle 1 Tim. 3.16 Calls the great Mystery of Godliness God manifested in the flesh Nay John 1.14 The Word made flesh and thus runs the Argument to prove Christs Manhood He had an Human Conception and Human Birth was conceived like other men and was born of a woman as other men are and therefore he was Man For further understanding of all its particulars I ask you Q. Had Christ any natural Father as Man A. No. Q. By what power then was he Conceived in and born of a woman A. By the power of the Holy ghost Catechist Of this we are assured by the Angel which said unto Mary Luk. 1.31 Thou shalt conceive and bear a Son c. and when she demanded How can this be seeing I know not a man he answered her ver 35. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee Therefore that Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God So by the Blessed Virgins protestation it is evident she knew not a man therefore had her Son no natural Father Q. What do you learn from that A. That taking our nature of her substance in such an extraordinary way the Holy Ghost purifying it He took it without sin being to suffer for our sins Catechist For Heb. 7.26 Such must our High Priest be Holy harmless and undefiled separate from sinners He must have no sin of his own who undertook to satisfie Gods Justice for our sins Q. Who was this Virgin Mary A. She was of the tribe of Judah of which Tribe the Messiah was to come Catechist That she was of that Tribe appears by Christs pedegree or Genealogy Mat. 1. and Luk. 3. as also by Joseph's and Mary's going to be taxed at Bethlehem Judah for this very reason because they were of that Tribe Luk. 2.3 4. Q. How then do you prove Christ to be the true Messiah A. All the Prophecies were exactly fulfilled in him as to his Tribe parents place and time of Birth and his manner of Life and Death and Resurrection Catechist The Messiah the Saviour of the world was foretold to come of the Tribe of Judah of the root of Jesse and house of David Luk. 1.27 to be conceived of a Virgin Isa 7.14 Behold a Virgin shall conceive c. and for the place to be born in Bethlehem Micah 5.2 And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah art not the least of the Princes of Judah for out of thee shall come a Governour that shall rule my people Israel And for the Time to come as Shile when the Scepter should be departed from Judah Gen 49.10 And after the Seventy weeks was determined by Daniel ch 9.24 and while the second Temple stood by the Prophet Haggai chap. 2.9 which within Fourty years after Christ was demolished so that not one stone was left upon another And the purity of his life and the cruelty and violence offered him in his death are clearly spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah chap. 53. throughout And his Resurrection by the Psalmist Ps 16.11 So that all things came to pass according to the Prophecy Learn this argument therefore against all Jews and Infidels Nothing befel Christ which was not foretold and
the Lord. Catechist I shall reduce this Question and Answer to these that follow for your better understanding their importance Q. What are the ordinary means of Grace and Salvation A. The Word Prayer and Sacraments Catechist Hence we call them Ordinances Now for the word of God read or preacht or the Reading and Preaching thereof by lawful Mininisters set apart and ordained to this Holy Function by those that have Authority in the Church to send forth labourers into the Vineyard for these I say being Gods Ordinances or ordinary means of mens Salvation it is plainly proved by divers Texts particularly that of the Apostle Rom. 1.16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to Salvation to every one that believeth whether Jew or Gentile Therefore he told the Jews Act. 13.26 That to them the word of this Salvation is sent And by the Gospels being published to the Gentiles he saith Rom. 11.11 That Salvation was come to the Gentiles And hence his charge to his Son Timothy 1 Ep. 4.16 Take heed to thy self and to thy doctrine continue in them for in so doing thou shalt save thy self and them that hear thee And it is an excellent place in S. James 1.21 Lay apart all filthiness and superfluity os naughtiness and receive with meekness the ingrafted word which is able to save your Souls And for both the Word and Prayer being such ordinances for mens Salvation there seems to be no less than a Demonstration in Rom. 10.13 14. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved But how shall they call on him in whom they have not believed or how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher And to shew that we can have no grounds to hope for Salvation by hearing any but lawfully ordained Ministers it follows How shall they preach unless they be sent Lastly for the Sacraments being ordinary means of mens Salvation what can be more express than our Saviours words for Baptism John 3.5 Verily verily I say unto you except a man be born again of water and of the spirit be cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved For the Apostle saith Gal. 3.27 As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ And he calls it therefore Tit. 3.5 The Laver or washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost And St. Peter saith expresly 1 Ep. 3.21 The like Figure whereunto speaking of Noahs Ark wherein he with Eight Souls was saved in the Deluge even Baptism doth now save us and for the Lords Supper being an Ordinance for mens Salvation as it is evident by the Rule of Contraries for if He that eats and drinks unworthily not discerning the Lords Body eats and drinks his own damnation 1 Cor. 11.29 then he that eats and drinks worthily discerning the Lords body eats and drinks his Salvation so Our Saviour spake punctually hereof Joh. 6.53 54. Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of God and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my Blood hath eternal Life and I will raise him up at the last day I have been the larger in proving all these to be Gods ordinances to save mens Souls that you may see good Children what cause you have to abhor the Quakers Sect as damnable Hereticks who utterly reject nay even make a mock at them especially both the Sacraments Know therefore in doing so they reject and despise the manifest Ordinances of God and certain it is that as for us Ministers in the Dispensation of the Word and Prayer and Sacraments consists that whole Ministration which we have received of the Lord for the Salvation of men so for you the people I speak in the Apostles words Heb. 2.3 How shall ye escape if ye neglect so great Salvation which at first began to be spoken by the Lord himself and was confirmed to the world by them that heard him and by them whom they Commissioned for it such as Timothy and Titus it was Committed to other faithful men from age to age successively able to teach others also 2 Tim. 2.2 Let us then go on Q. Who ordained the Sacraments A. Jesus Christ Catechist It is not in the Churches power to ordain new Sacraments it belongs only to God and his Son Christ Jesus For the Covenant is Gods and therefore it is his Prerogative to ordain Sacraments to be Seals of the Covenant And who but he can either give the Grace signified by the outward Signs or Elements or can punish the unworthy Receivers of them or such as be unfaithful to their part of the Covenant made and renewed in them Q. How many Sacraments then did Christ ordain A. Two only as generally necessary to Salvation Q. Why do you hold two Sacraments and no more A. Those other five which the Papists account Sacraments viz. Orders Confirmation Extreme Unction Penance and Matrimony answer not the Definition of a Sacrament for they neither were all ordained by Christ nor have they any visible sign representing some Spiritual Grace nor any promise to make them Seals of Grace and pardon unto us Catechist It is apparent Christ ordained two Sacraments Matth. 28.19 Go teach and baptize all nations in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and that his mind was that this should continue always in his Church is manifest from his promise and Loe I will be with you and your Successors so teaching and baptizing alway to the end of the world And for the Lords Supper Christs Institution thereof is to be seen in the Holy Gospel and it is as fully recited by St. Paul 1 Cor. 11. as by any of them ver 23. What I have received of the Lord that have I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night that he was betrayed took bread and brake it and gave it to them all saying ver 25. This do in remembrance of me in like manner he took the Cup c. and that it was his mind that this also should be a standing perpetual Memorial of himself in his Church appears ver 26. As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew forth the Lords death till he come that is to Judgement even till the end of the world These are plain Texts against the Anabaptists Catabaptists and Quakers who clearly abolish both these Sacraments But no apperance of any such Texts is there for the other five added to these two in the Romish Church I need but give you an abstract of what the Article of our Church saith that for Penance as the Papists use it and Extreme Unction they are no better than cortupt imitations of the Apostles without any shew of warrant for so-doing And others of them as Orders and Matrimony are states
breaking of bread and in prayers And it is said ver 46. They continued daily with one accord in the Temple that is joyning with Gods people the Jews in prayers there and in their Temple Service and breaking bread from house to house that is in the Upper room where they as Christian Professors met together and joyned together in other worship proper to them as Christians particularly Communicating together in this Sacrament of breaking of bread as it is often called in the Acts whence that in ch 20.7 Vpon the first day of the week the Disciples came together to break bread that is the Sacramental Bread which by the figure Synecdoche means the whole Sacrament So now let us consider the parts thereof Q. What is the Outward part or sign in the Lords Supper A. Bread and Wine which the Lord hath commanded to be received Q. What is the inward part or thing signified A. The Body and Blood of Christ which are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lords Supper Catechist Let us again reduce these Answers into more particular ones for your fuller knowledge of the Instructions contained in them Q. What is it that you see with your bodily Eyes in the Lords Supper A. Bread and Wine Catechist Mark it well we Protestants do in opposition to the Papists gross Errour of Transubstantiation or the Bread and Wines being turned into the Substance of Christs Body and blood hold that they remain Bread and Wine still as well after their Consecration as they were before that there is no Substantial change of them but only a Sacramental one as to their Use And enough it is to tell you here for proof hereof that in all the Scriptures I have cited you may observe they are constantly called so by the names of bread and wine and we know by our sences they are so Q. Will it avail men to look or gaze on these Elements A. No unless they withall receive them that is eat and drink them Catechist I have received of the Lord saith S. Paul 1 Cor. 11.23 that which I have delivered unto you how that the Lord Jesus the same night that he was betrayed and so was shortly to dye for us took bread and when he had given thanks he brake it and he said Take eat c After the same manner ver 25. He took the cup and said drink ye all of this Matth. 26.27 This do ye as often as ye drink it in remembrance of me 1 Cor. 11.25 For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup c. So to eat and drink are absolutely required by Christs Institution So that you must learn to answer the next question in opposition to the custom of the Romish Church wherein many are present when the Lords Supper is Administred who do not receive it and in their Mass the Priest alone Communicates the people are spectators only gazing upon the Host Q. Who Commanded these then to be received A. Our Lord Jesus and that the same night wherein he was betrayed Catechist You have heard his express Commandment Take eat and drink Do this So that it can be no Sacrament which is of Christs Institution or according to his Commandment where these are not done But being rightly Administred as Christ Instituted and Commanded it to be done it should make us in love with this Sacrament that he Instituted and ordained the celebration thereof just the same night wherein he was betrayed that is a little before his death when he was shortly to give his life a ransome for us so that he left it as a token of his dying love and what man will not highly value his friends gift and token when he dyed much more if he laid down his life for his sake Q. What think ye then of those that will not receive the Sacrament A. They reject Christs own Commandment and so in effect disown their being his Disciples or him being their Lord. Catechist Which are so plain by what I have said already that I need say no more but only mind you of what Christ himself said Joh. 14.15 If ye love me keep my Commandments Now here you have heard Christs positive Commandment and therefore by his own Rule they shew they love him not that observe it not Matth. 7.21 It is in vain to say Lord Lord or to pretend any love to Christ or yourselves to be Christians if ye reject his Ordinance and utterly neglect what he himself Commanded Q. What do the Bread and Wine which you see with your bodily eyes signifie and represent to the eye of Faith A. The Body and Blood of Christ Catechist They are called Christs very Body and Blood Mat. 26.26 This is my Body and This is my Blood that is Sacramentally so as the Rock was Christ 1 Cor. 10.4 because the Bread and Wine signifie and represent and convey his very body and blood to the worthy Receiver and observe every Ministerial Action hath its proper signification Q. What doth the Consecrating or setting apart the Bread and Wine signifie A. Christs Separation or Consecration for the Work of our Redemption Catechist That is When God laid help upon him that is mighty and exalted him as One chosen out of the people Psal 89.19 And when Christ voluntarily undertook this great work to redeem us saying Psal 40.7 Loe I come to do thy will O God Q. What do the breaking of bread and pouring out the Wine signifie A. Breaking the Bread represents the tearing Christs body on the Cross and pouring out the Wine shews the shedding of his Blood Catechist For thus as I have often said we do in these signs and in using these significant Rites Ceremonies and Actions shew forth the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 11.26 Q. What doth our eating and drinking them signifie A. Our receiving Christ and Union with him Catechist Even as our bodily food being taken into our mouth and chewed with our teeth and digested in our stomach becomes incorporated into our bodily Substance flesh and blood so are we as Members of Christ United to him by eating him Spititually as the bread of Life Joh. 6.35 Christs flesh is meat indeed and his blood is drink indeed Whoso eateth my flesh said he himself and drinketh my blood hath Eternal Life and I will raise him up at the last day ver 55. And again he saith ver 54 56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him And ver 57. He that eateth me shall live by me And ver 58. that for ever Upon such good ground and warrant is it so expressed in the Communion Office that hereby he becomes One with Us and We One with Him and we shall evermore dwell in him and he in us But Q. May not one of these Elements be sufficient for these great ends A. No Both are expressly required by the Command and practice of Christ and his