28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them Prove it to be necessary to Salvation where it can be had Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Joh. 3.5 Except a Man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Prove the Institution of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper 1 Cor. 11.23 24 25. The Lord Jesus the same Night in which he was betrayed took Bread and when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you This do in remembrance of me After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the New-Testament in my Blood This do as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me Prove the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper necessary to Salvation up from the Dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of Life Tit. 3.5 According to his mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Prove that we were by Nature born in sin Psalm 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me Prove that we are by nature Children of Wrath. Eph. 2.3 And were by nature Children of wrath even as others Prove that by Baptism we are made the Children of Grace Gal. 3.26 27. For ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Question What is required of Persons to be baptized Answer Repentance whereby they forsake sin and Faith whereby they stedfastly believe the Promises of God made to them in that Sacrament Prove that Repentance is required of persons to be baptized Acts 2.38 Then Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost Prove that Faith whereby they believe the Promises of God is required of Persons to be baptized Acts 8.36 37. And the Eunuch said See here is Water what doth hinder me to be baptized And Philip said if thou believest with all thy heart thou mayest Acts 18.8 And many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized Question Why then are Infants baptized when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them Answer Because they promise them both by by their Sureties which promise when they come to age themselves are bound to perform Prove that children of believing Parents are to be baptized Acts 2.38 39. And Peter said Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ For the promise is unto you and to your Children Mark 10.14 Suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God Matth. 28.19 Go teach all Nations baptizing them Acts 16.15 And she was baptized and her Houshold 1 Cor. 1.16 I baptized the Houshold of Stephanus not only them but their Houshold in which 't is very probable were Children 1 Cor. 7.14 For the unbelieving Husband is sanctified by the Wife and the unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Husband else were your Children unclean but now are they holy Prove that though our Sureties promised Faith and Repentance in our name yet we our selves are to perform them when we come to age Heb. 10.23 Let us hold fast the profession of our Faith without wavering Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned 2 Tim. 2.19 Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity Question Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained Answer For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ and of the Benefits which we receive thereby Prove that the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was for a continual remembrance of the Sacrifice of the death of Christ 1 Cor. 11.24 This do in remembrance of me Verse 26. As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lord's death till he come Question What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper Answer Bread and Wine which the Lord hath commanded to be received Prove that the outward part of the Lord's Supper is to be Bread and Wine Matth. 26.26 27 28 29. Jesus took Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my Body And he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it For this is my Blood of the New Testament But I say unto you I will not henceforth drink of this fruit of the Vine until the day when I drink it new with you c. Question What is the inward part or thing signified Answer The Body and Blood of Christ which are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper Prove that the inward part or thing signified is the Body and Blood of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion or Communication of the blood of Christ The Bread which we break is it not the Communion or Communication of the body of Christ Question What are the Benefits whereof we are made partakers thereby Answer The strengthening and refreshing of our Souls by the Body and Blood of Christ as our Bodies are by the Bread and Wine Prove that our Souls are strengthened and refreshed by the Body and Blood of Christ John 6.54 55 56. Whoso eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day For my Flesh is meat indeed and my Blood is drink indeed He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him Question What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper Answer To examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former sins stedfastly purposing to lead a new life have a lively Faith in God's mercy through Christ with a thankful remembrance of his death and be in Charity with all Men. Prove that they who come to the Lord's Supper are to examine themselves whether they truly repent 1 Cor. 11.28 Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. Verse 31. For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged Prove that they who come to this Sacrament must stedfastly purpose to lead a new Life 1 Cor. 5.7 8. Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us Therefore let us keep the Feast not with the old leaven neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth Prove that we are to come to this Sacrament
with a lively Faith in God's Mercy through Christ Heb. 10.21 22. And having an High-Priest over the House of God Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience Prove that we are to receive it with a thankful remembrance of Christ's Death 1 Thes 5.18 In every thing give thanks 1 Cor. 11.26 For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lord's death till he come Prove that we are to receive the Sacrament being in Charity with all Men. Matth. 5.23 24. If thou bring thy Gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy Brother hath ought against thee leave there thy gift before the Altar and go thy ways First be reconciled to thy Brother and then come and offer thy gift 1 Cor. 13.2 Though I have all Faith so that I could remove mountains and have no Charity I am nothing Verse 13. And now abideth Faith Hope and Charity but the greatest of these is Charity The whole Duty of Man Reduced into QUESTIONS To be answered by a Single YES or NO PART IV. Sunday I. Duties to God Of God DO you believe in God Yes Are there any more God's than one No. Do you believe that God is an infinite glorious Spirit Yes Is not God distinguished into three Persons Father Son and Holy-Ghost Yes Of the Trinity Are these three Persons any more than one God No. Is not God the Father our Creator Yes Is not God the Son our Redeemer Yes Is not God the Holy-Ghost our Sanctifier Yes Though you cannot fully understand how these three Persons can be but one God are you bound to believe it Yes May we doubt of the truth of any thing which God reveals to us No. Of the Attriâ—utes of God â—r his Divine Excellencies Is not God a Spirit a good a gracious a holy a merciful a wife and just Spirit Yes Can we see God with our mortal Eyes No. Does he not govern and order all things here by his Providence Yes Is God every where present and does he know all things even the thoughts of every Man's Heart Yes Is not your Soul a thing of the greatest value in the World Yes Are you willing to have it saved and to pass to Heaven when you die Yes Of a future State Do you think that your Body shall alway lie in the Grave No. Do you believe your Body shall arise again out of it and be joined with your Soul and live together for ever in Happiness or Misery Yes If you should be damned and go to Hell is there any hope of ever coming out again No. Must you not believe in God and his Son Jesus Christ and love him and sincerely obey his Commands if you will be saved from Hell and obtain Heaven Of the Commands Yes Are you willing to know what these Commands are that so you may obey them Yes Were all Men liable to Damnation because Adam did eat the forbidden Fruit Yes Did Jesus Christ afterwards die for all Men that so they might be saved Yes But must we not believe in Christ and repent of our Sins and conscionably obey him if we will be saved by him Yes Is there any other name under Heaven by which we must be saved but the Lord Jesus Christ No. Seeing we must be saved by Faith in Christ are you desirous to know what true Faith is Of Faith Yes Is not Faith such a belief of the Gospel of Christ as makes us ready and willing to obey his Commands Yes Do you believe the Scripture to be the Word of God Yes Do you doubt of the truth of any thing contained in it No. Are you willing to perform those things which Christ would have you perform to the utmost of your Power Yes If you should at any time sin against him by not performing them will you confess it to God and sorrow for it and strive to do so no more Yes Of the threatnings Shall the threatnings of the Scripture come upon every one that does not repent of his Sins and amend his Life Yes Of the Promises Does not God promise in the Gospel great and glorious things to them that love and obey him Yes Shall you enjoy these Promises unless you perform the Conditions No. Are not these the Conditions That you are to believe in him The conditions of enjoying them Of Hope repent of your Sins love him and obey him Yes Do you hope to partake of the good things which God has promised Yes But can you hope for them aright unless you leave your Sins and heartily endeavour to do what God has commanded No. Can you hope for the Promises at all while you resolve to continue in your Sins No. Should you not instantly endeavour to get out of them and to please God that so you may hope aright Yes Though you have been a very great Sinner yet if you change your course repent of your Sins and believe in Christ is there not a very good Hope of your Salvation Yes Do you love God Yes Of the Love of God and the motives to it Have you not great reason to love him because he is good and great and kind and merciful and willing to have you saved Yes Seeing you love God can you do less than truly to labour to please him No. If you love him should you not desire to enjoy him Fruits of that Love Yes Are there not two ways of enjoying God in his Ordinances here and in Heaven hereafter Yes Is it not a blessed thing to enjoy God here in Praying meditating and in hearing his Word and receiving the Sacrament Yes And will it not be a blessed thing always to enjoy him in the glories and happiness of Heaven Yes Would we have Heaven at a cheaper Rate than one short life of Love and Obedience No. Of the Fear of God As you love God so do you fear him too Yes Do you fear him so as to be afraid to offend him or displease him Yes Do we not displease and offend him when we sin against him Yes Of fearing Men more more than God Is it fit we should fear Man more than God No. Must we not rather displease any Man than God Yes Must we not trust in God in all Temptations Needs and Dangers Yes But though we trust in God must not we our selves resist the Temptation Yes And must we not pray for God's Grace to assist us to overcome it Yes Do we trust in him aright if we do not resist it and beg his Grace to help us No. Not to deliver our selves from any danger by Sin When we beg in any danger or Trouble may we try to get out of it by any Sin No. When we are sick or have lost any thing may we go to a Witch or Conjurer No. In all needs and troubles must we not
they come Yes Are we not undone for ever if he be not merciful to us and forgive us our Sins Yes Should we therefore forget earnestly to beg forgiveness daily No. Should not our expectation of God's forgiveness make us incline to forgive our Brethren Yes Are we not liable to Dangers ghostly and bodily every Day of our lives Yes Is it not God's Protection and Grace that secures us from any of them Yes And have we not reason to beg him daily to save us from all dangers ghostly and bodily i. e. of Soul and Body Yes Is it not by his restraining Grace that we are kept from all sin and wickedness Yes Is it not by his Power and Providence that we are kept from our ghostly Enemy the Devil Yes Is it not by his Mercy that we are kept one day more from everlasting death Yes Can we desire any thing better than to be kept by his Grace from Sin the Devil and Hell No. Are not Sin Hell the Devil and Everlasting Death the most dreadful things imaginable Yes And have we not reason to beg God daily to deliver us from them Yes Are we not to trust that our loving Father for Christ's sake will do these things for us Yes SECT V. Of the Sacraments Question HOW many Sacraments hath Christ ordained c. Answer Two only as generally necessary to Salvation c. Question What meanest thou by this Word Sacrament Answer I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward c. Question How many Parts are there in a Sacrament Answer Two the outward visible sign and the inward spiritual Grace HATH not God besides Prayer appointed the Word and Sacraments as the ordinary means of Salvation Yes Are there any more than Two which are necessary for all Men to whom Christianity is revealed No. But are not these Two necessary for all men in general Yes Are not these the Two Sacraments Baptism and the Lord's Supper Yes Will not the willful neglect of either of these Sacraments highly offend God Yes Can any wilfully neglect them without endangering their Salvation No. Are not the Sacraments Signs or Tokens of God's Favour to us Yes And that we shall partake of all the Benefits of Christ's Death if we are not wanting to our selves Yes Are they not means to convey Grace to the Soul Yes Can there be a more dangerous folly than to refuse the Pledges of our Master's Love and the Conveyances of his Grace No. Is there not in every Sacrament an outward part to be seen by the Eye Yes And is there not in every Sacrament an inward part to be received by Faith Yes Of Baptism Question WHat is the outward visible sign or form in Baptism Answer Water wherein the Person is baptized In the Name of c. Question What is the inward and spiritual Grace Answer A Death unto Sin and a new Birth unto c. Question What is required of Persons to be baptized Answer Repentance whereby they forsake sin and Faith c. Question Why then are Infants baptized c. Answer Because they promise them both by their Sureties c. IS not Baptism a Sacrament or sacred Rite Yes Are we not admitted into the Covenant of Grace by the Sacrament of Baptism Yes Was not this the Covenant which your Godfathers and Godmothers promised you should stand to Yes Should we cease to be thankful to God for calling us to this Grace and Favour No. Well then in this Covenant of Grace did not God promise Pardon of Sin Grace and Glory to us Yes But must we expect these unless we perform something on our part No. Is it not our part to believe in Jesus Christ to repent of our Sins and to obey him Yes Was not this the happy Covenant we were received into at our Baptism Yes You said but now that in every Sacrament there was an outward part to be seen by the Eye and an inward part to be discerned by Faith did you not Yes Is not Water the outward part of the Sacrament of Baptism Yes And is not this the inward and spiritual part that our Sins are pardoned and we made God's Children Yes Is not this washing by Water in Baptism to be In the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Yes Are we not by this Sacrament of Baptism admitted to God's Favour Yes And received into his Church Yes And made his Children by Adoption as we were before by Creation Yes Should this Mercy and Favour ever be forgotten by us No. Suppose any Person be not Baptized till he come to be a Man or Woman must he not declare his belief in Christ and his Repentance before he be baptized Yes Can Infants declare their Faith and Repentance themselves No. Seeing they cannot is it not fit that others should promise them for them Yes But must not they themselves stand to this Covenant of Faith Repentance and Obedience when they grow up if they hope to be saved Yes If they will not stand to these things in sincerity do they not forfeit the Benefits of their Baptism Yes Well then do you your self firmly believe the Christian Religion as was promised for you Yes Do you repent of and renounce all Sin as was promised for you Yes Will you sincerely Love and Obey your God and Saviour as was promised for you Yes Should we ever forget these our Promises in Baptism No. Should we be ever faithful to our baptismal Vow Yes Of the Lord's Supper Question WHY was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained Answer For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice c. Question What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper Answer Bread and Wine which the Lord hath commanded c. Question What is the inward part or thing signified Answer The Body and Blood of Christ which are verily c. Question What are the Benefits whereof we are made partakers thereby Answer The strengthening and refreshing of our Souls by c. Question What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper Answer To examine themselves whether they repent c. IS not the Lord's Supper the other Sacrament Yes Was not this ordained for a remembrance of Christ's dying for us Yes And do we not in this Sacrament renew the Covenant of our Baptism Yes Well then are not these two things the meaning and end of this Sacrament that is a remembrance of Christ's Death and a renewing of the Covenant of Baptism Yes And have we not need to renew it often Yes Does it shew our Love of Christ to come to the Sacrament but seldom No. Do we in this Sacrament profess our selves solemnly to be Christians or Christ's Disciples Yes If it be in remembrance of Christ's Death and be a renewing of the Covenant of Baptism can we do it too often if we come prepared No. Can we too frequently commemorate the Sufferings and the Love of the Lord that bought us No. Is not Bread and
Wine the outward part of the Lord's Supper Yes And is not the inward and spiritual part this The giving of Christ to us his very Body and Blood and all the Benefits and Merits of his Death and Sufferings Yes Doth not the breaking of the Bread shew forth to us that the Body of Christ was broken upon the Cross for us Yes And doth not the Wine poured out shew forth Christ's Blood shed for us Yes Doth not this Sacrament nourish and strengthen our Souls Yes Doth it not nourish and strengthen them in Faith Yes Doth it not nourish and strengthen them in Hope Yes Doth it not nourish and strengthen them in Love to Christ Yes Doth it not nourish and strengthen them in Charity to one another Yes Doth it not encourage every good Christian in a holy Life when he receives these Tokens of his Saviour's Love Yes But may we receive this Sacrament unworthily No. If we would come worthily must we not examine our selves Yes That is to say must we not examine our Faith whether we believe in Christ and believe his Gospel Yes If we would come worthily must we not examine our selves whether we repent of our Sin Yes If we would come worthily must we not examine our selves whether we resolve sincerely to obey Christ's Laws Yes If we would come worthily must we not examine our selves whether we be in Love and Charity with our Neighbours Yes If we would come worthily must we not come and thankfully remember Christ's dying for us Yes If we would come worthily should we not earnestly beg God in Prayer to make us worthy Yes If we come after this manner will God refuse to accept of us No. If we come after this manner shall we not find it a very comfortable Duty Yes If we come after this manner will God cease to love us or refuse to pardon us No. And if we persevere and hold out will he take us to himself when we die Yes Should notorious customary Sinners presume to come to this Sacrament without Repentance No. In Repentance must we not bewail our Sins to God Yes Must we not sorrow because we have offended him we love Yes In Repentance must we not Confess our Sins to God Yes In Repentance must we not stedfastly purpose amendment of Life Yes Does our Repentance signifie any thing without intentions of Reformation No. If we thus repent of our Sins and leave them heartily is not God willing for Christ's sake to be Friends with us Yes Did not Christ die for the Sins of all true Penitents Yes Will not Christ Seal a Pardon to us in the Sacrament if we come faithful Penitents Yes And is it not a strange thing that Men will not come to the Sacrament with Faith Repentance and Charity that so they may have their Pardon sealed Yes Should we not in the Sacrament remember and think upon the wonderful Love of Christ in dying for us Yes Should malicious and uncharitable and revengeful Persons so continuing come to the Sacrament No. Must we not therefore take care to come in Charity Yes Suppose we have done any Man any considerable Injury should we not be ready to make him Satisfaction and reconcile him to us before we come to the Sacrament Yes Suppose a Man have done us an Injury should we forgive him and be willing to be reconciled to him Yes May not a Man lawfully seek Satisfaction for greater Injuries Yes But if we do seek for Satisfaction by Law for a great Injury should it not be without Spite Malice and purposes of Revenge Yes Should we not at the Sacrament offer up something to God for the Use of the Poor Yes Should a Christian that hopes to see God wilfully neglect the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper No. Can he do it without endangering his Salvation No. Should you not therefore take all fit Opportunities to come to this Sacrament after you come to years of Discretion Yes Is it not a good sign of devout Affections and divine Love to come to it frequently Yes Shall not those that conscionably do these things be happy in their change of Worlds Yes Is not eternal Happiness well worth a Christian Life for a few Years Yes Is he wise who will chuse to live wickedly for a little while and live in Hell for ever No. Is it not infinitely better to live and die in Peace Yes AN EXPOSITION OF THE Church-Catechism IN A Continued full and plain Discourse PART II. IN Order to the Explication of this Excellent Catechism we are to consider 't is made up of Five Chief Parts which like the Five Pillars placed near the Door of the Tabernacle Exod. 26.36 37. are the fittest and best Entrance upon Christian Knowledge after our first admission into the Church in the whole World 1. The First Part of it contains an account of our baptismal Benefits Vow and Covenant that is it teaches us to understand and consider what was done for us and in our Name when we were received into the Family of our Saviour into the Christian Church And takes care that we should know what we then promised to do our selves 2. The Second Part of it contains a brief Account of what is to be believed by every Man that hopes Salvation by the Name of Jesus This is comprehended in short in the Apostles Creed 3. The Third Part of it contains an Account in short of what is to be done by every Christian what is to be performed by us if we hope to see God and desire to shew our Love of him by our Obedience And this is briefly comprehended in the Ten Commandments 4. The Fourth Part of it contains a short and comprehensive Account of what is to be prayed for by every Christian And this is contained in the Lord's Prayer which is that very self-same Prayer which our Saviour taught his Disciples when he came to visit us in great Humility and lived upon Earth 5. The Fifth Part of it contains the Doctrine of the Two Sacraments Or a most brief but excellent Account of the Sacrament of Baptism and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper SECTION I. 1. The First Part of the Catechism contains an Account of our baptismal Benefits Vow and Covenant That is it teaches us to understand and consider what was done for us and in our Name when we were received into the Family of our Saviour into the Christian Church And takes care that we should know what we then promised to do our selves Question WHAT is your Name Answer N. or M. THE First Question is What is your Name and the Reason of it is this That we may remember that when our Name was given us we were received into Christ's Church made Disciples of his and admitted into the number of his Flock by Baptism That we may remember whose we are and to whom we belong That we may remember whose Faith and Love and Obedience we have undertaken here from whose Merits and