Ans. First the corruption of nature called originall sinne derived by continuall discent from Father to Sonne wherewith all the powers of the soule and body are infected and that in all men equally and then actuall sin ariseth from hence Shew how the principall powers of the soule are defiled by this corruption of our nature Ans. First the understanding is blinded with ignorance and infidelity Secondly the memory is prone to forget the good things which the understanding hath conceived Thirdly the will is disobedient unto the will of God understood and remembred by us the freedome and holinesse which it had at the first being lost and is now wholly bent to sin Fourthly the affections are ready to overrule the wil and are subject to all disorder Lastly the conscience it selfe is distempered and polluted In what sort is the conscience thus distempered Ans. The duties therof being two especially to give direction in things to be done and to give both witnesse and judgement in things done for the first it sometimes giveth no direction at all and thereupon maketh a man to sin in doing of an action otherwise good and lawfull sometimes it giveth a direction but a wrong one and so becommeth a blind guide forbidding to doe things which God alloweth and commanding to doe things which God forbiddeth For the second it sometimes giveth no judgement at all nor checking the offender as it should but being benummed and as it were seared with an hot yron It sometimes giveth judgement but falsly condemning where it should excuse and excusing where it should condemne thereby filling the mind with false fears or feeding it with vaine comforts and somtimes giveth true judgement but uncomfortable and fearfull tormenting the guilty soule as it were with the flashes of hell-fire What are the kinds of actuall sinn◠Ans. Such as are inward in the thoughts of the mind and lusts of the heart or outward in word or deed whereby the things are done which should be omitted and those things omitted which should be done What is the death which all men are subject unto by reason of these sinnes Ans. The curse of God both upon the things that belong unto them such as are their Wife and Children honour possessions use of Gods Creatures and upon their own persons in life and death What are the curses they are subject to in this life Ans. All temporall calamities both in body which is subject unto infinite miseries and in soule which is plagued somtime with madnesse sometime with the terrour of a guilty conscience sometimes with a benummed and seared conscience sometime with hardnesse of heart which cannot repent and finally a spirituall slavery under the power of the world and the devill What is the death that followeth this miserable life Ans. First a separation of the soule from the body and then an everlasting seperation of the whole man from the presence of God with unspeakable torment in hell-fire never to be ended which is the second death If all mankind be subject to this damnation how then shall any man be saved Ans. Surely by this first Covenant of the Law no flesh can be saved but every one must receive in himselfe the sentence of condemnation yet the Lord being a God of mercy hath not left us here but entred into a second Covenant with mankind What is the second Covenant A. The Gospel or the Covenant of grace wherby God promiseth everlasting life unto man upon condition that he be reconciled to him in Christ for as the cōdition of the 1. was the continuance of that justice which was to be found in mans own person so the condition of the second is the obtaining of that justice which is found without himselfe in the person of the Mediator Jesus Christ. What are we to consider in Christ our Mediator Ans. Two things his nature and his office How many natures be there in Christ Ans. Two the God-head and the Manhood remaining still distinct in their substance properties and actions How many persons hath he Ans. Only one which is the person of the Son of God for the second person in the Trinity tooke upon him not the person but the nature of man to wit a body and a reasonable soule which doe not subsist alone as we see in all other men but are wholly sustained in the person of the Son of God What is the use of this wonderfull union of the two natures in one Person Ans. Our nature being received into the Union of the Person of the Son of God the sufferings and the obedience which it performed became of infinite value as being the sufferings of him who was God equal with the Father What is the Office of Christ Ans. To be a Mediator betwixt God and Man What par◠of his Office did he exercise concerning God Ans. His Priesthood What are the parts of his Priestly Office Ans. The satisfaction of Gods justice and his intercession What is required of Christ for the satisfaction of Gods justice Ans. The paying of the price which was due for the breach of the Law committed by mankinde and the performance of that righteousnesse which man by the Law was bound unto but unable to accomplish How was Christ to pay the price which was due for the sinne of mankind Ans. By that wonderful humiliation wherby he that was equall with God made himselfe of no reputation and became obedient unto the death sustaining both in body and soule the curse that was due to the transgression of the Law What righteousnes was there required of Christ in our behalfe Ans. Both originall which he had from His conception being conceived by the Holy-Ghost in all purenesse and holinesse of nature and actual which he performed by yeelding perfect obedience in the whole course of His life unto all the precepts of Gods Law What is the Intercession of Christ Ans. That part of His Priesthood whereby He maketh request unto His Father for us and presenteth unto Him both our Persons and our imperfect obedience making both of them however in themselves polluted by the merit of His satisfaction to be acceptable in Gods sight Thus much of that part of the office of the Mediatour which is exercised in things concerning God how doth He exercise himselfe in things concerning man Ans. By communicating unto man that grace and redemption which he hath purchased from His Father What parts of His Office doth He exercise here An. His Propheticall and Kingly Office What is His Propheticall Office Ans. That whereby He informeth us of the benefits of our redemption and revealeth the whole will of His Father unto us both by the outward meanes which He hath provided for the instruction of His Church and by inward enlightning of our mindes by His Holy Spirit What is the Kingly office Ans. That whereby He ruleth His Subjects and confoundeth all his enemies
was to undeâ—goe and to raise us up from the death of sinne by sending his holy Spirit into our hearts VVhy must Christ bee man Ans. Because the God-head could not suffer and it was further requisite that the same nature which had offended should suffer for the offence and that our nature which was corrupted in the first ADAM should be restored to his integrity in the second Adam Christ Iesus our Lord. What is the Office of Christ Ans To be a Mediator betwixt God man What was required of Christ for making peace reconcilation betwixt God and man Ans. That he should satisfie the first covenant wherunto man was tyed Wherein was Christ to make satisfaction to the first couenant Ans. In performing that righteousnes which the Law of God did require of man in bearing the punishment which was due unto man for breakiÌ„g of the same law How did Christ perform that righteousnesse which Gods law requireth of maÌ„ Ans. In that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost without all spot of originall corruption and lived most holy all the days of his life without all actuall sin How did he beare the punishment which was due unto man for breaking Gods Law A. In that he willingly for maÌ„â— sake made himselfe subject to the curse of the Law both in body and soule and humbling himselfe even unto the death offered up unto his Father a perfect sacrifice for all the sinne of Gods children VVhat is required of man for obtaining the benefits of the Gospell Ans. That he receive Christ Iesus whom God doth freely offer unto hiÌ„ By what meanes are you to receive Christ Ans. By faith whereby I believe the gracious promises of the Gospell How doe you recâ—ive Christ by faith Ans. By laying hold of him and applying him with all his benefits to the comfort of my owne soule VVhat is the first maine benefit which we doe get by thus receiving Christ Ans. Iustification wherby in Christ wee are accounted righâ—eous and so are freed from condemnation and have assurance of everlasting life VVherein standeth this justification Ans. In the forgivenesse of our sinnes and imputing of Christs righteousnesse unto us Wherby then must weâ— looke to be justified in the sight of God Ans. Onely by the merrits of CHRIST IESVS received of us by faith What other maine benefit doe we get by receiving Christ Ans. Sanctification whereby wee are freed from the tyranny of sin and the image of God is renewed in us Wherein is this sanctification seene Ans. In Repentance and new Obedience springing from thence VVhat is Repentance Ans. Repentance is a gift of God wherby a godly sorrow is wraught in the heart of the faithfull for offending God their mercifull father by theit former transgressions together with a resolution for the time â—o come to forsake their former courses and to lead a new life VVhat call you new obedience Ans. A carefull endeavour which the faithfull have to give unfained Obedience to all GODs Commandements according to that measure of strength wherewith God doth enable them What rule have we for the direction of our obedience Ans. The Morall Law of God the summe whereof is contained in the ten CoÌ„mandements What are the cheâ—fe parts of this Law Ans. The duties which wee owe unto God set downe in the fiâ—st Table and that which wee owe unto man in the second What is the summe of the first Table Ans. That wee love the Lord our God with all our hearâ— with all our Soule and with all our minde How many Commâ—ndements belong to this Table Ans. Foure What duty is imployed in the firâ—t commandement Ans. That in all the inward powers and faculties of our soulâ—s the true eternall God be entertained and he only What dutie is injoyned in the Second Commandement Ans. That all outward meanes of Religion and solemne worship bee given unto the same God alone and not so much as the best degree therof even of the bowing of the body be communicated to any Image or representation either of God or any thing else whatsoever What is inioyned in the third commandement Ans. That in the ordinary course of our lives we use the Name of God that is his tythes word workes judgements and whatsoever he would have himselfe knowne by with reverence and all holy respect that in all things he may have his due glory given unto him What doth the fourth Commandement require Ans. That wee keepe holy the Sabboth day by resting from the ordinary busines of this life and bestowing that leisure upon the exercises of religion both publike and Private What is the summe of the second Table Ans. That wee love our Neighbours as our selves What Commandements belong to this Table Ans. The six last What kind of duties are prescribed in the fift Commandement which is the first of the second Table Ans. Such duties as are to be performed w th a speciall respect of superiours inferiours and equalls as namely reverence to all superiours obedience to such of them as are in authority and whaâ—soever speciall duties concerne the husband and Wife Parents and Children Masters and Servants Magistrate and people Pastors and Flocke and such like What doth the sixt Commandement injoyne Ans. The preservation of the safety of mens persons with all meanes tending to the same What is required in the seventh Commandement Ans. The preservation of the chastity of mens persons for the keeping whereof wedlocke is commanded unto them that stand in deed thereof What things are ordained in the eight Commandement A. Whatsoever concerneth the goods of this life in regaâ—d either of our selues or of our Neighbours Of our selves that we labour diligently in an honest and profitable calling contenting our sâ—lves with the goods well gotten and with liberalitie imploy them to good uses of our Neighbours that we use just dealings unto them in this respect and use all meanes that may tend to the furtherance of their estate What doth the ninth Commandement require Ans. The using of truth in our dealing one with another especially to the preseâ—vatioÌ„ of the good name of our neighbours What doth the tenth and last Commandement containe Ans. It condemneth all wandring thoughts that disagree from the love which wee owe to our Neighbours although wee never yeeld our consent thereunto What meanes doth God use to offer the benefits of the Gospel unto men and to worke and increase his graces in them Ans. The outward Ministery of the Gospel Where is this Ministerie executed Ans. In the visible Churches of Christ. What doe you call a visible Church Ans. A Company of men that live vnder the meanes of salvation What are the principall parts of this Ministerie Ans. The administration of the Word and Sacraments What is the word Ans. That part of the outward
Ministerie w ch coÌ„sisteth in the delivery of doctrine What is a Sacrament Ans. A Sacrament is a visible signe ordeined by God to bee a Seale for confirmation of the promises of the Gospell unto the true members in Christ. VVhat are the SacrameÌ„ts ordained by Christ in the New Testament Ans. Baptisme and the Lords Supper What is Baptisme Ans. The Sacrament of our admission into the Church sealing unto us our new birth by the communion which wee have with Christ Iesus What doth the elements of water in Baptisme represent unto us Ans. The bloud and merits of Iesus Christ our Lord. What doth the clensing of the body â—epresent Ans. The clensing of the Soule by the for givenesse of sinne and imputation of Christs righteousnesse What doth the being under the water aad the freeing from it againe represent Ans. Our dying unto sinne by the force of Christs death and living againe unto righteousnesse through His Resurrection What is the Lords Supper Ans. A Sacrament of our preservation in the Church sealing unto us our spirituall nourishment and continuall increase in CHRIST What doth the elements of Bread and Wine in the Lords supper represent unto us Ans. The Body and Bloud of Christ. What doth the breaking of the Bread and powring out of the Wine represent Ans. The sufferings whereby our Saviour was broken for our iniquities the shedding of His precious bloud and powring out of His Soule unto death VVhat doth the râ—ceiving of the Bread and VVine represent Ans The receiving of Chrâ—st by faith VVhat doth the nourishmrnt which our body receiveth by vertue of this outward meat seal uÌ„to us Ans. The perfect nourishment and continuall increase of strength w ch the inward man injoyeth by vertue of the Communion with Iesus Christ after the course of this life is ended VVhat shall bee the state of man in the world to come Ans. Every one to be rewarded according to the life which hee hath lead How many kindes bee there of this judgement Ans. Two the one particular the other generall VVhat call you the particular judgement Ans. That which is given upon the Soule of every man as soone as it is departed from the body What is the state of the Soule of man as soone as hee departeth out of this life Ans. The Soules of Gods Children bee presenâ—ly received into heaven there to injoy unspeakeable Comforts the soules of the wicked are sent into hel there to endure endles tormeÌ„nts VVhat call you the generall judgement Ans. That which Christ shall in a solemne manner give upon all men at once when hee shal come at the last day with the glory of his father and all men that ever have beâ—n from the beginning of the world untill that day shall â—ppeare â—ogether before him boâ—h in body and soule whether they bee quiâ—ke or dead How shâ—ll the dead appeare before the judgement seate of Christ Ans. The Bodyes which they had in their life time shâ—ll by the Almighty power of God be restored againe and quickned with their soules and so there shall bee a Resurrection from the dead How shall the quicke appeare Ans. Such aâ— then remaine alâ—ve shâ—ll bee changed in the twinkling of an eye which shall bee to them in stead of death What sentence shall Christ pronounce upon the righteous Ans. Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world What sentence shall hee pronounce upon the wicked Ans. Depart from me yee cursed into everlasting fire which is prepared for the Devill and his Angels VVhat shall follow this Ans. Christ shall deliver up the kingdome to His FATHER and GOD shall bee all in all A Briefe Method OF Christian Religion WITH A more particular Declaration of some perticular heads of Doctrine which for more plainesse sake were shortly touched in the former Summe Heb. 6.1 Therefore leaving the Doctrine of the bâ—ginning of Christ. c. By Iames Vsher Bish. of Armagh London Printed for Geo. Badger 1646. THE Method of the Doctrine OF Christian Religion Question WHat certaine rule have we left us for our direction in the knowledge of the true Religion whereby we must be saved Ans. The holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament which God delivered unto us by the Ministerie of his servants the Prophets and Apostles to informe us perfectly in all things that are needfull for us to know in matters of Religion What be the generall heads of Religion which in these holy writings are delivered unto us Ans. The knowledge of Gods nature and kingdome What are we to consider in Gods nature Ans. First his Essence or being which is but one and then the persons which are three in number What doe you consider in Gods Essence or being Ans. His Perfection and Life How are we to conceive of God in regard of his Perfection Ans. That he is a Spirit most single and infinite having his being from himself and having need of nothing which is without himselfe Why doe you call God a Spirit Ans. To declare his being to be such as hath no body and is not subject to our outward senses that we admit not any base conceit of his Majesty in thinking him to be like unto any thing which can be seen by the eye of man What understand you by this singlenesse or simplicity of Gods nature Ans. That he hath no parts nor qualities in him but whatsoever is in him is God and Gods whole Essence What gather you of this that God hath no parts nor qualities Ans. That he neither can bee divided nor changed but remaineth alwayes in the same state without any alteration at all In what respect doe you call Gods Essence infinite Ans. In that it is free from all measure both of time and place How is God free from all measure of time Ans. In that he is eternall without beginning and without ending never elder nor younger and hath all things present unto him neither former or later past or to come How is God infinite in regard of place Ans. In that he filleth all things and places both within and without the world present every where contained no where How is he present every where hath he one part of himselfe here and another there Ans. No for he hath no parts at all whereby he might be divided and therefore must be wholly wheresoever he is What doe you call the life of God Ans. That by which the divine nature is in perpetuall action most simply and infinitely moving it self in respect whereof the Scripture calleth him the Living GOD. What gather you of the comparing this infinitenes and simplicity or singlenesse of Gods nature with his life and motion Answ. That when strength justice and mercy are attributed unto God we must conceive that
of Doctrine and this is the ordinary instrument which God useth in begetting Faith What order is there used in the delivery of the Word for the begetting of Faith Ans. First the Covenant of the Law is urged to make sin and the punishment therof knowne wherupon the sting of conscience pricketh the heart with a sense of Gods wrath and maketh man utterly to despaire of any ability in himselfe to obtain everlasting life after this preparation the mercies of the Gospell are propounded wherupon the sinner resuming hope of pardon sueth unto God for mercy and particularly applyeth unto his own soul those comfortable promises and hath wrought in him by the Spirit of God an earnest desire at the least to beleeve and repent What is a Sacrament Ans. A visible signe ordained by God to be a seal for confirmation of the promises of the Gospel unto those who perform the conditions required in the same How is this done by a Sacrament A. By a fit similitude between the signe and the things signified the benefit of the Gospell is represented unto the eye and the assurance of enjoying the same confirmed to such as are within the Covenant Wherefore as the preaching of the word is the ordinary meanes of begetting Faith so both it and the holy use of the Sacraments bee the instruments of the Holy-Ghost to increase and confirme the same How many kindes of Sacraments be there Ans. Two the first of Admission of Gods children into the Church there to be pertakers of an everlasting communion with them the second of his preservation or nourishment therin to assure him of his continual increase in Christ in which respect the former is once the latâ—er often to be administred What doe you understand by Censures Ans. The Ordinance which God hath appointed for the confirmation of the threatnings of the Gospell against the disobedient How are these Censures exercised Ans. First by the word alone by admonition Secondly by afflicting a penaltie either by shutting up the offender in the Lords prison till such time as he shew tokens of repentance or by cutting off the rotten member from the rest of the body Hath this administration of the Gospell been alwayes after the same manner Ans. For substance it hath alwayes bin the same but in regard of the mâ—nner proper to certaine times it is distinguished into two kinds the old and the new What call you the old Ministry A. That which was delivered unto the Fathers to continue until the fulnesse of time wherein by the comming of Christ it was to be reformed What were the Properties of this Ministry Ans. First the Commandements of the Law were more largely and the promises of Christ more sparingly and darkly propounded these laâ—ter being so much the more generally and obscurely delivered as the manifesting of them was further off Secondly these promises of things to come were shadowes with a similitude of Types and Figures which when the truth should be exhibited were to vanish away What were the chiefe States and Periods of this old Ministry Ans. The first from Adam to Abraham the second from Abraham to Christ. What were the speciall Properties of the latter of these two Periods Ans. First it was more especially restrained unto a certain Family and Nation Secondly it had joyned with it a solemne repetition and declaration of the first Covenant of the Law Thirdly besides the Ceremonies which were greatly inlarged under Moses it had Sacraments also added unto it What were the ordinary Sacraments of this Ministry Ans. The Sacrament of Admission in the Church was Circumcision instituted in the dayes of Abraham The other of continual preservation and nourishment the Paschall Lambe instituted in the time of Moses What is the new Administration of the Gospell Ans. That which is delivered unto us by Christ to continue unto the end of the world What are the Properties thereof Ans. First it is indifferently propounded unto all people whether they be Jewes or Gentiles and in that respect is Catholique or Universall Secondly it is full of grace and truth bringing joyfull tydings unto mankinde that whatsoever was formerly promised of Christ is now accomplished and so in stead of the ancient types and shadowes exhibited the things themselves with a large declaration of all the benefits of the Gospell What be the principall points of the word of this Ministery Ans. That Christ our Saviour whom God by his Prophets had promised to send into the World is come in the flesh and hath accomplished the worke of our redemption That he was conceived by the Holy-Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified and dyed upon the Crosse That Body and Soule being thus separated his body was laid in the grave and remained under the power of death and his soule went into the place appointed for the soules of the righteous namely Paradise the Seat of the Blessed That the third day body and soule being joyned together againe he rose from the dead and afterwards ascended up into Heaven where he sitteth at the right hand of His Father until such time as He shall come unto the last Judgement What are the Sacraments of this Ministry Ans. The Sacrament of Admission into the Church is Bâ—ptisme which sealeth unto us our Spirituall Birth the other Sacrament of our continuall preservation is the Lords Supper which sealeth unto us our continuall nourishment FINIS 2 Pet. 1.19 2 Tim. 3.15 â— Pet. 2.21 2 Tim. 3.16 Lu. 16.29 Gal. 1.8 Esay 8.20 2 Tim. 3.16.17 a Deut. 31 11.12 Iosh. 8.35 Ioh. 5.39 b Acts 17.11 1 Cor. 4.6 2 Principle a Iohn 4 24 b Apoc. 1.8 Act. 17.24 25. c Pro. 8.14 1 Tim. 1.17 Iob 9 1â—.13 Iâ—r 10.12 Exo. 34.6 7 Psal. 147.17 Col. 1.15 Rom. 1.23 Deut. 4.12 ver 12.16 1 Tim. 1.17 Eph. 4 5 6 1 Cor. 8.4 Deu. 4.35 39 Mat. 28.19 1 Ioh. 5 7. d Heb. 1.3 5 e Heb. 1.5 Heb. 1.6 Ioh. 1.14 Ioh 85.26 Gal. 4 6. 3 Principle Acts 2 22. cap. 15.18 Psal. 33.11 Gen. 1.1 Heb. 11.3 Exod. 20.11 Rev. 4.11 Heb. 1.7.14 Gen. 2.7 Heb. 12 9. Gen. 2.7 Gen. 3.19 Eccl. 12.7 Ma. 10 28. Rev. 6.9 2 Cor. 5.8 Gen. 1.26.27 cap 9.6 Col. 3.10 Eph. 4.24 Eccl 7.29 Gen. 1.26.27 Gen. 2.18 Act. 17 26 1 Tim. 2.13 4 Principle Ioh. 5.17 Neh. 9.6 Psa. 119.91 Heb. 1.3.11 Act 17.26 28 Mat. 20 30 Pro. 16.33 Mat. 25.31 ver 41. Iude 6. Ioh. 8 44. 1 Joh. 3.8 Mat 15.32 41 Ioh. 8 4◠〈◊〉 3.8 1 Tim. 5.21 Mat. 18.10 Lu. 20.36 2 â—et 2.4 Iude 6. Mat. 25.41 Rev. 20.10 Mal. 2.10 Gen. 2.17 Rom. 2.15 Luke 10.26.27 Rom. 7.7.12.14 Gal. 3 10.12 2 Tim. 3.5 Gal. 3.12 Lu. 10·25 26.27.28 Rom. 7 10 cap. 10.5 Gen. 2.17 Gal. 3·10 â—ev 26.26.14.15 Deu. 28.15.16 â—8 19.20 5 Principle Gen. 3.1.6 Eccl. 7 29. Ioâ—n 8 44 Rom. 5.14 15 Rom.