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
THE PRINCIPLES OF Christian Religion SuÌ„marily sett downe according to the word of God TOGETHER WITH A Breife Epittomie of the Bodie of Divinitie By Iames Vsher Bishop of Armagh LONDON Printed by R.B. for Geo. Badger and are to bee sold at his shop in St. Dunstans Church Yard in Fleet Street 1645. THE PRINCIPLES OF Christian Religion Summarily set downe according to the word of God Question WHat sure grounds have we to build our Religion upon Ans. The Word of God contained in the Scriptures What are those scriptures Ans. Holy writings indited by God Himselfe for the perfect instruction of his Church What gather you of this that God is the Author of those writings Ans That therefore they are of most certaine credit and highest authoritie How serue they for the perfect instruction of the Church Ans In that they are able to instruct us sufficiently in all points of faith that we are bound to beleive and all good duties that we are bound to practice What gather you of this Ans. That it is our duty to acquaint ourselves with these holy writings and not to receive any doctrine that hath not warrant from thence What is the first poine of Religion you are to learne out of GODS Sacred word Ans. The Nature of God What is God Ans. God is Spirit most perfect most wise Almighâ—y and most holy What meane you by callâ—ng God a Spirit Ans that he hath no body at all and therfore must not be thought like to any things which may be seene by the eye of man How many Gods are there Ans. Only one God but three persons Which is the first person Ans. The father who begetteth the Son Which is the second Ans. The Sonne begotten of the Father Which is the third Ans. The HOLY GHOST proceeding from the Father and the Sonne What did God before the world was made Ans. Hee did before all time by his unchangable councell ordaine whatsoever should come to passe In what manner had all things the beginning Ans. In the beginning of time when no creature had any being God by His Word alone in the space of sixe dayes created all things Which are the principall Creatures Ans. ANGELS and Men. What is the nature of Angels Ans. They are wholly spirituall haveing no body at all What is the nature of man Ans. Hee consists of two divers parts a body and a Soule What is the body Ans. The outward and earthly part of man made at the begining of the dust of the earth What is the soule Ans. The inward and spirituall part of man which is immortall and never can die How did God make man at the beginning Ans. According to his owne likenesse and Image Wherein was the Image of God principally seen Ans In the perfection of the understanding and the freedome and holinesse of the will How many men were created at the beginning Ans. Two Adam the man Eue the woman from both whom afterwaâ—ds all mankinde did proceed What doth God after the Creation Ans. By his providence he preserveth and governeth his câ—eatures with al things belonging unto them What befell Angels after their Creation Ans Some continued in the holy estate wherein they were created some of them fell and became Divels May the good Angels fall hereafter Ans. No but they shall always continue in their holinesse and happinesse Shall the wicked Angels ever recover teeir first estate Ans. They shâ—ll not but be tormented in hell world without end How did God deale with man after that hee made him Ans He made a covenant or agreement with Adam and in him with all mankind What was man bound to doe by this covenant Ans. To continue as holy as God at the first made him to keepe all Gods commandements and never to breake any of them What did God Promise unto man if hee did thus keepe His Commandements Ans The continuance of his favour and everlasting life What did God threaten vnto man if hee did sinne and breake his Commandements A. His dreadful curse and everlasting death Did man continue in that obedience whiche he did owe unto God Ans. No For Adam and Eve obeying rather the perswasion of the devil then the Commandements of God did eate of the forbidden fruite and so fell away from God Was this the sinne of Adam and Eve alone or are wee also guilty of the same Ans. All wee that are their children are guilty of the same sinne for we all sinned in them Whâ—t followed upon this sinne Ans. the losse of the Image of God and the corruption of nature in man called Originall sinne Wherein standeth the corruption of mans nature Ans. In sixe things principally What is the first Ans. The blindnesse of the understanding which is not able to coÌ„ceive of the things of God What is the second Ans. The forgetfulnesse of the memory unfit to remember good things What is the third Ans. The rebellion of the will which is wholly bent to sin and altogether disobedient unto the will of God VVhat is the fourâ—h Ans. Disoâ—der of the affections as joy heavinesse love anger feare and such like What is the fift Ans. Feare and confusion in the conscience condemning where it should not and excusing where it should condemne VVhat is the sixth Ans. Every member of the body is become a ready instrument to put sinne in execution What are the fruits that proceed from this naturall corruption Ans. Actuall sinnes whereby we breake the Commandements of God in the whole course of our life How doe you break Gods Commandements Ans. In thought word and deed not doing that which we ought to do and doing that which we ought not to doe What punishment is mankinde subject to by reason of originall and actual sin Ans. He is subject to all the plagues of God in this life and endlesse torments in hell after this life Did God leave man in this wofull estate A. No but of his free and undeserved mercy entred into a new covenant with mankind What is offered unto man in this nâ—w covâ—nant A. Grace and life everlasting is freely offered unto all that shall bee reconciled unto God by his Son Iesus Christ who alone is Mediator betwixt God and man VVhat are you to consider in CHRIST the Mediatour of this Covenant Ans. Two things his nature and his Office How many natures be there in Christ Ans. Two the God-Head and the man-hood joyned together in one person VVhy must Christ bee God Ans. That his Obedience and suffering might bee of infinite worth and value as proceeding from such a person as was God equall to the Father that hee might bee able to overcome the sharpenesse of death which himselfe
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
they are in him without all measure and further also that they bee not divers vertues whereby his nature is qualified but that all they and every one of them is nothing else but God himselfe and his intire Essence Wherein doth the life of God shew it selfe Ans. In his alsufficiencie and in his holy will Wherein standeth his Alsufficiency A. In his All-knowing wisdome and his Almighty power Wherein doth his wisdome consist Ans. In perfect knowledge of all things that either are or might be In what sort doth God know all things doth he as we doe see one thing after another Ans. No but with one sight he continually beholdeth all things distinctly whether they be past present or to come How is He God Almighty Ans. Because he hath power to bring to passe all things that can be howsoever to us they may seeme impossible Wherein is the holinesse of his will seen Ans. In his goodnesse and in his justice Wherein doth he shew his goodnesse Ans. In being beneficiall unto his creatures and shewing mercy unto them in their miseries Wherein sheweth he his justice Ans. Both in his word and in his deeds How sheweth he justice in his Word Ans. Because the truth thereof is most certaine How sheweth he justice in his deeds Ans. By ordering and disposing all things rightly and rendring to his creatures according to their works What doe you call Persons in the Godhead Ans. Such as having one Essence or being equally common are distinguished not divided one from another by some incommunicable property How commeth it to passe that there should be this diversitie of Persons in the Godhead Ans. Though the Essence or being of the Godhead be the same and most simply as hath been declared yet the manner of this being is not the same and hence ariseth the distinction of persons in that beside the being which is common to all and the self-same in all they have every one some especiall property which cannot be common to the rest Which are these persons and what are these personal Properties Ans. The first Person in order is the Father who begetteth the Son The second is the Sonne begotten of the Father The third is the Holy-Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son Doth the Godhead of the Father beget the God-head of the Son Ans. No but the Person of the Father begetteth the Person of the Sonne Thus much of Gods nature what are we to consider in his Kingdome Ans. First the decree made from all eternity and then the execution thereof accomplished in time How was the decree made Ans. All things whatsoever should in time come to passe with every small circumstance appertaining thereunto was ordained to be so from all eternitie by Gods certaine and unchangeable counsell Did God then before he made man determine to save some reject others Ans. Yes surely before they had done either good or evill God in his eternall counsel set some apart upon whom he would in time shew the riches of his mercy and determined to withhold the same from others on whom he would shew the severity of his wrath What should move God to make this difference between Man and Man Ans. Only his owne pleasure whereby having purposed to create man for his owne Glory forasmuch as he was not bound to shew mercie unto any and his Glory should appeare as well in executing of justice as in shewing mercy It seemed good unto His Heavenly wisdome to chuse out a certain number towards whom he would extend his undeserved mercy leaving the rest to be spectacles of his justice Wherein doth the execution of Gods decree consist Ans. In the works of the Creation and providence What was the manner of the Creation Ans. In the beginning of time when no creature had any being God by his Word alone did in the space of six dayes create all things both visible and invisible making every one of them good in their kinde What are principal creatures which were ordained unto an everlasting condition Ans. Angels altogether spirituall and void of bodies And Man consisting of two parts the body which is earthly and the â—â—ule which is spirituall and therefore not subject to mortality In what regard is man said to be made according to the likenesse and Image of God Ans. In regard especially of the perfections of the powers of the soule namely the wisdome of the mind and the true holinesse of his free-will How are you to consider of Gods Providence Ans. Both as it is common unto all the creatures which are thereby sustained in their being and ordered according to the Lords will and as it properly concerneth the everlasting condition of the principal creatures to wit Angels and men What is that which concerneth Angels Ans. Some of them remained in that blessed condition wherein they were created and are by Gods grace for ever established therein Others kept it not but wilfully left the same and therefore are condemned to everlasting torment in Hell without all hope of recovery How is the state of mankinde ordered Ans. In this Life by the tenor of a twofold Covenant and in the World to come by the sentence of a twofold judgement What is the first of these Covenants Ans. The Law or the covenant of workes whereby God promiseth everlasting life unto man upon condition that he performe intire and perfect obedience unto his Law according to that strength wherewith he was indued by nature of his creation in like sort threatneth death unto him if he doe not performe the same What Seale did God use for the strengthning of his Covenant Ans. The two Trees which he planted in the middle of Paradise the one of life the other of knowledge of good and evill What did the Tree of life signifie Ans. That man should have assurance of everlasting life if he continued in obedience What did the Tree of Knowledge of good and evill signifie Ans. That if man did fall from obedience he should be surely punished with everlasting death and so know by experience in himselfe what evill was as before he knew by experience that only which was good What was the event of this Covenant Ans. By one man sinne entred into the World and Death by sinne and so Death went over all men forasmuch as all men have sinned How did sinne enter Ans. Whereas God had threatned unto our first Parents that whatsoever day they did eat of that forbidden fruit they should certainly die They beleeving rather the word of the Devill that they should not dye and subscribing unto his reproachfull blasphemy whereby hee charged God with envy towards their estate as if hee had therefore forbidden the fruit least by eating thereof they should become like God himself entred into action of rebellion against the Lord who made them and openly transgressed his Commandement What followeth from this