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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	die_v	life_n	soul_n	23,154	5	5.3621	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64969	The principles of the doctrine of Christ, or, A catechism in which is contained the sum of the Christian religion, or what is necessary to be believed and done in order to salvation, the answers being but seventeen in number, and in very plain words easie to be understood : unto which is added A catechism for conscience, wherein the consciences of the ignorant, the grosly profane, the young, the meerely mortal, and the hypocrites are examined in order to their instruction and awakening, and the consciences of the sincere Christians are tried in order to their peace and comfort / by Nathanael Vincent.	Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697.; Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697. A catechism for conscience.	1691 (1691)	Wing V418; ESTC R25704	37,318	113

God exercised patience and did not presently punish the wicked man did he not hereupon imagine the Lord was altogether such an one as himself and because he loved his sin that God did not so much hate it And does it not follow Consider this ye that forget God lest I tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver Psal 50. 21 22. And may you not read in another place A brutish man knoweth not neither doth a fool understand this when the wicked spring as the grass and all the workers of iniquity flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for ever Psal 92. 6 7. A. You can talk to me of nothing but Destruction and that for ever Q. 8. Do I talk of Destruction to thee to any other end but to prevent thy being destroyed But pray let me ask thee Dost thou not believe that thou must die A. Yes and I am for a merry Life because I know not how short it may be Q. 9 But what is like to become of thy Soul after Death A. I never spake with any that came from the other World you talk of to inform me where the Souls of men do go Q. 10. Dost thou not believe the word of the God of Truth and what he says concerning the worth of thy Soul which thou so little mindest the irreparableness of its loss and what he tells thee concerning Hells Terrour and Heavens Glory A. I am certain of what is perceivable by my Senses therefore I pursue the good which my Senses are taken with and fly from the evil which distastes and dislikes them But as for things invisible as matters of Faith are I regard them not Q. 11. To mind only the things of sense is it not to play the bruit Dost thou not think thou art capable of an higher happiness and of greater misery than the beasts A. I must confess that if Souls at last should prove immortal and be found so precious and the things revealed in the Scriptures should be indeed realities I and such as I should be but in an ill case Q. 12. If there were but a probability of the Scriptures being the word of God and consequently the word of truth would it not be agreeable to prudence and right reason to be less concerned about things temporal and more about things that are Eternal But how much more when there is so great a certainty A. That certainty is not apparent unto me Q. 13. Was not the Gospel confirmed by the Miracles which Christ wrought and which he enabled his Apostles to work also And our Lord pretending to work Miracles and that openly if he had not indeed wrought them would his Doctrine have been at all received Would not he and his Doctrine have been derided especially since 't is so contrary to corrupt nature imposes such strict commands and requires self-denial and taking up the Cross also A. I must confess that the Gospel being so displeasing to mens fleshly and sensual inclinations would hardly have been embraced unless Christ who pretended to a power to do them had really done wonders to confirm the truth of it Q. 14. Besides Does not the Gospel shew it self to be of God by its effectual working at this day Does it not search the Heart and make the secrets of it manifest Does it not mortifie the strongest lusts does it not open the eyes of blind minds does it not change hearts that are hard as an Adamant and as foul as Hell into hearts clean and tender finally does it not raise them that are dead in sin and make them alive to God and to Righteousness A. I never felt this power of the Gospel which you speak of Q. 15. But have not many others A medicine that has cured multitudes dost thou not believe it a good one though thy self did never try it And let me further ask thee whether thou art now willing to feel this efficicacy of the Gospel A. It must be a powerful word indeed if it work upon such an heart as mine and turn such a Sinner such a Sot such a Devil incarnate into a Saint Q. 16. Is there any thing too hard for the Lord who is Almighty What gross sinners has his word been a means to convince and bring to Repentance A. Now my sinful delights and gains are represented to me as alluring and desirable and I cannot find in my heart to part with them Q. 17. The Rich man that lived in pleasure and fared sumptuously every day and was clothed in Purple which was the royal attire when he came to be tormented in Hell Flames did he then admire his former sensual happiness Nay did he not desire that his surviving Brethren might be warned not to take up with and be deceived still with such a poor felicity A. If I should change my course of life I should be derided and scorn'd and trampled on like dirt What Songs would my drunken Companions make of me Q. 18. Why should a man in his Wits be concerned to behold the mad Men in Bedlam laugh at him for his sober carriage And is it not better to break company with the wicked though they deride thee than to go along with them to that place of woe where their laughter will be at an end and end in eternal sorrow and mourning A. If I would be Religious I know not how to be so Q. 19. Art thou willing to be instructed Wilt thou cry to God for knowledge Wilt thou search into his Word where 't is to be found Wilt thou say to thy debauched Companions whether they laugh or chaff at thee Depart from me ye evil-doers for I will keep the commands of God A. All this you speak seems most truely for my good Q. 20. Wilt thou count that the time past of thy Life does more than suffice to have walked in lasciviousness lusts excess of Wine Revellings Banquettings and other abominable wickedness And wilt thou live the rest of thy time in the flesh to the will of God A. If I think seriously of Eternity I shall waste no more of my precious time of which perhaps there may be but very little remaining Q. 21. How hast thou been used to spend the Sabbath A. Alas that was a day always devoted to sins service in a special manner Upon other days I minded the work and business of my Calling but the Sabbath was wholly wasted in the works of wickedness I fear I have been guilty of more sin that day than upon all the six days of the Week besides Q 22. Is not thy sin exceedingly aggravated because then served most when God should have been served and worshipped Should it not trouble thee that none of thy time has yet been improved as it ought to have been but especially should it not afflict thee that Hallowed Time has been lavisht away most profanely A. This my way has been my folly and madness It were just with God speedily to put an end to

my days to grant me no more Sabbaths nor indeed any longer space for repentance Q. 23. Art thou now willing to sanctifie the Lords day to attend upon those Ministers that preach as being in good earnest that speak most to the Consciences of their Hearers and are desirous and wise to win Souls A. These above all I have hated but all the while I did so I now perceive I had no true love unto my self Q. 24. Dost thou consent to submit unto the easie yoak of Christs commands as well as desire pardon and reconciliation by his Blood And dost thou look upon it as unreasonable to hope to be saved by Christ if thou art resolved that Sin and the Devil shall still rule thee A. The wages of Sin is Death why should I serve such a Lord any longer Oh that I may become a Servant indeed to the best Lord of All. Q. 25. Art thou willing to be a true Convert unto God To have thy Eyes turned to look to him Thy Feet turned to walk in all his ways And thy Heart turned to love and fear and cleave unto Him A. Lord turn thou me and then I even I as bad as I have been shall indeed be turned The Conscience of the Young Man who is vain in his Youth is to be dealt with after this manner Q. 1. O young Man thou rejoicest in thy youth and seemest void of care and fear What is the ground of this thy joy A. I walk after the sight of my Eyes and in the way to which my heart is inclined and the fulfilling of my youthful Lusts is very pleasant Q. 2. But is not thy Creator to be remembred in the days of thy youth And is not his service infinitely better than to have thy Lusts thy Lords A. I reckon it time enough to think of God when I am old Q. 3. How dost thou know thou shalt live to be old A. I find Nature in me vigorous and strong And now what is gratifying to my Senses puts me into a transport of joy Mirth and Musick delight my Ear Meats and Drinks do please my apperite Brave Apparel is my Pride Sports and Recreations are my principal business and Amorous Thoughts and Desires are constant Guests which my heart entertains with wonderful complacency My mind aspires to worldly greatness and I hope to be somebody before I die Q. 4. Why dost thou not consider that the hour of Death may be near notwithstanding the strength of Nature and that many as young and lusty as thy self and who as confidently reckoned upon longer life have been by the small Pox or Feaver or some other malady or by unexpected accident suddenly sent unto their graves A. Pray don't talk of Death 't is a melancholick subject which I don't care to hear or think of Q. 5. But will the putting of Death out of thy mind be any defence against its stroke or keep Death off from thee A. To think much of Death would make life miserable it would be a torturing of ones self and a dying every day Q. 6. But if thou livest so as that to die will be gain to thee will the thoughts of Death be unpleasant then A. I have no inclination at all to change my course of life Q. 7. Why shouldst thou resolve to live a fool deceived and enslaved by thy lusts and pleasures and to venture dying miserably A. Pray let me alone I am not sensible of any bondage I am under I live a merry life and an ounce of mirth is better than a pound of sorrow Q. 8. If an ounce of carnal mirth which may so quickly end and end in endless sorrow be of so much account with thee what is a far more exceeding and eternal weight of joy and glory A. That joy is unsuitable to me That Man methinks spake very good sense who said Soul take thine ease eat drink and be merry thou hast Goods laid up for many years Q. 9. Does not God call that Man a Fool And did not Death which came to him many years sooner than he expected prove him to be both Fool and Wretched And did not Hell make him sensible of his folly when it was too late A. I dislike the thoughts of death but much more of what is to follow after Q. 10. Is it not a Lesson that the Wise man would teach the Young man Eccles 11. 9. But know that for all these things God will bring thee to Judgment A. I dread that day and cannot endure to think of the account I am then to give to Him that is to be my Judge Q. 11. Not thinking of Judgment does it not make thee secure and careless in making ready for it And hereupon will not thy account be with the greater grief and horrour A. I am sorry I have entred upon this discourse if once these things come to have a deep and abiding impression upon my heart I must bid farewel to all my joy and sorrow must fill up the remainder of my days Q. 12. Why dost thou suffer thy self to be deceived and abused Is not a greater joy to be preferr'd before a less A true and lasting joy before that which is but a shadow a dream and vanishes in a moment A. I cannot conceive that Religion should ever prove such a pleasant thing to me Q. 13. Why then does the Scripture speak of strong consolation Of a peace that passes all understanding Of a joy unexpressible and full of glory A. These strong comforts and joys seem to me to be but strong phancies and meer imaginations Q. 14. Hast thou not reason to say so of thy sinful Comforts But pray consider Is it not God the great Creator of all things which has put into the creatures that power they have to delight thy senses And cannot He himself infinitely more delight thy Soul A. Spiritual pleasures are things I do not understand I have had a deal of satisfaction in the delights that are fleshly Q. 15. Dost thou think the Holy Angels have no pleasure because they have no flesh How full of Torment are the Devils though they have no bodily senses to be tormented And have not the elect Angels though they have no bodies a far higher delight in God than a body is capable of A. I confess I have not minded my Soul which is a Spirit but have pleased my senses and my fancy as if there were no higher happiness Q. 16. While thou hast thus pleased thy bruitish part for Beasts have senses which they please hast thou not shewed thy self rather a Brute than either Saint or Man A. You intimate that to be a Saint is to act with the greatest reason But I would fain enjoy my sensual pleasures a little longer and afterwards I am for repenting and turning Saint indeed Q. 17. God who commands thy turning to him and turning Saint does he not command thee to do it presently Does not the Holy Ghost say To day if ye

The Principles OF THE Doctrine of Christ OR A Catechism In which is contained the Sum of the Christian Religion or what is necessary to be believed and done in order to Salvation The Answers being but Seventeen in number and in very plain words easie to be understood Unto which is added A Catechism for Conscience Wherein The Consciences of the Ignorant the grosly Profane the Young the meerely Mortal and the Hypocrites are examined in order to their Instruction and Awakening and the Consciences of the sincere Christians are tried in order to their Peace and Comfort By Nathanael Vincent M. A. Minister of the Gospel Jer. 3. 15. I will give you Pastors according to my Heart who shall feed you with knowledge and with understanding 2 Cor. 4. 2. By manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every Mans Conscience in the sight of God London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chapel 1691. THE Epistle Dedicatory To that Church of Christ who have given up themselves unto my Pastoral Care Light and Grace and Peace be multiplied Beloved in our Lord and Saviour IT is not a Complement I pass upon you when I tell you that your Souls are very dear to me even as my own and your Salvation as my own desired I am perswaded I was put into the Ministry specially for your sakes and that our Lord gave me the Talents I have that I might improve them to your Spiritual advantage When first I came among you most of you were young and I my self was young also but many years are past and gone since we were first related the one to the other our Age begins to decline Old Age and Death are approaching and who knows but Death may overtake Old Age and come to many of us before it You know how I have laboured in the publick Exercise of my Ministry I have not grudged to spend my self and to be spent for you Those Souls who have reaped profit by my Labours what thanks do I owe them and to God for them How have they obliged Me by having the truest regard unto Themselves I have been with you in the Calm and in the Storm and blessed be God that neither you nor I have been Shipwrackt I have gone through Honour and Dishonour through evil Report and good Report And evil report being sanctified to the humbling of me has done me a greater kindness than the Reporters thought of At this day through the Providence of God over ruling and acting powerfully and graciously even to amazement both you and I and many more enjoy a publick liberty which under Restraint and Persecution we earnestly prayed but could hardly hope for This liberty is a special favour from Heaven is envied us by Hell and I make no question but the Instruments of the Evil One will be very active to deprive us of it Let us but improve it by recourse to the Son of God to make us more free indeed i. e. more free from Sin and more inlarged in the Lords Service and I believe we shall find that Scripture fulfilled Rev. 3. 8. Behold I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it I am now come to the finishing part and work of my life and are not many of you also And should it not be our care to finish well When the Painter has almost done a curious piece how exact is he in every touch of his pencil his last hand expresses his greatest Skill If the Lord adds more years unto my days I wish they may be the holiest and most useful and then they will be the happiest I have lived The nearer we approach unto Death and the day of Reckoning how exactly should we walk how clean should be our Hearts how heavenly our Minds and Conversations and how doubly refined should all our Services be You that are Husbands you that are Wives the nearer Eternal Life approaches live together more as the Heirs of such a Life be more fervent in Prayer rejoice in Hope and press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God You that are Parents and Masters Oh set fairer copies for your Children and Servants to write after Be more Exemplary for Faith for Love for Meekness for Truth and Righteousness for Humility and Contempt of the World declare plainly that you seek a better Countrey i. e. an Heavenly and that here on Earth is neither your Heart nor Treasure Children and Servants Souls are precious and a great part of your care give them not occasion to Eternity to curse your unfaithfulness to them and carelesness of them Your instructing of them being seconded by such an Example as may demonstrate to them that you your selves are indeed taught of God will be most likely to take impression and to have the desired effect upon them And you of the younger sort that are Children and Servants be sure to value Saving Knowledge and Grace at an high rate and seek after both betimes When the Youth of a Land are universally degenerate and corrupt and affect ignorance and are filled with prejudices against the power of Godliness 't is a great sign of God his being about to depart from that Land and that the Gospel is ready to be removed What a sad prospect is there at this day when the young Generation is seriously considered Horrible Pride outragious Lust Riotous and Intemperate Eating and Drinking every where almost prevail what will become of poor Posterity You young Ones whom I here address unto be intreated to do a kindness to your selves and to the Land of your Nativity The Righteousness of Ten would have done more towards the preservation of filthy Sodom than the wickedness of a multitude would have done towards the destruction of it If some Tens of you did but prize the Gospel entertain it in your Heads and Hearts and adorn it in your Practise and were instant in Prayer for its continuance among us you might do more to the fixing of the Golden Candlestick in its place than the Blind Zeal of the Papists and the ignorance and disobedience of many carnal Protestants can do towards the taking away the Candlestick and its light from us If a considerable Company of young ones in every Age would set their Hearts to study the Word of God and become true Believers sincere Lovers and diligent Doers of his Word The Sun of Righteousness might through a miracle of mercy as it were stand still in England and not haste to go down for many Generations This little Catechism which I now send forth may be of use to Instructers and to them that are to be instructed in Families and as it is very short so I have endeavour'd to make it very plain to the meanest Capacities The Scriptures are added at length to shew how every thing therein is proved That what is learned may come with the greater Autority and Efficacy The

every imagination of the thoughts of his Heart was only evil continually Q 5. What is Sin A. Sin is a transgression of the Law of God and the desert and wages of it is Death and Hell Sin is a transgression of the Law of God 1 John 3. 4. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law for sin is a transgression of the Law The desert and wages of Sin is Death Rom. 5. 12. Death passed upon all men for that all have sinned The desert and wages of Sin is Hell Psal 9. 17. The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Q. 6. Who is the Saviour from Sin and Hell A. Jesus Christ the Son of God took Mans Nature and died upon the Cross that he might put away Sin and deliver Man from Wrath by the Sacrifice of himself and he arose from the dead and sat down at the Right Hand of God Jesus Christ the Son of God took Mans Nature John 1. 14. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Christ died upon the Cross Luke 23. 33. And they Crucified Him and the Malefactors one on the right Hand and the other on the left Christ by his Death puts away Sin Heb. 9. 26. But now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Christ delivers from Hell and Wrath. Rom. 5. 9. Being now justified by his Blood we shall be saved from wrath through Him Christ arose from the Dead Luke 24. 34. The Lord is risen indeed Acts 13. 37. Rising the third day he saw no corruption Christ Ascended into Heaven and sat at God's Right Hand Heb. 1. 3. When he had by himself purged our sins sat down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on High Q. 7. What are the Offices of Christ Jesus A. Christ has a threefold Office He is a Prophet to teach a Priest by his satisfaction and intercession to reconcile and a King to govern and defend his Church and People Christ is a Prophet to teach Acts 7. 37. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren Him shall you hear Luke 24. 45. Then opened He their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Christ is a Priest to reconcile Heb. 2. 17. It behoved him in all things to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the People Christ reconciles by his Death which was satisfactory to God who had been by sin offended and by his Intercession Rom. 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather is risen again who also maketh intercession for us Christ is a King to govern his Church and People Col. 1. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son Christ defends his Church against all Enemies Rom. 8. 37 Nay in all these things we are more than Conquerors through Him that loved us Q. 8. How is Christ made known A. Christ is made known by the Word in the Holy Scripture which is given by Inspiration of God The Old Testament gave a discovery of Him but in the New Testament he is more fully revealed Christ is made known by the Word in the Holy Scripture Col. 1. 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory The Holy Scripture is given by Inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God The Old Testament gave a discovery of Christ John 5. 46. If ye had believed Moses you would have believed Me saith Christ for He wrote of Me. Acts 26. 22 23. Saying none other things than what Moses and all the Prophets did say should come that Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and shew light to the People and to the Gentiles In the New Testament Christ is more fully revealed 2 Cor. 3. 18. We all with open face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image Q. 9. How are we made partakers of Christ and interested in Him A. We are drawn to Christ by the Spirit working Faith in us whereby we receive Christ and rest upon him alone for Salvation unto which Faith Repentance is joined whereby we sorrow for sin and turn from it to God with the whole Heart We are drawn to Christ by the Spirit working Faith in us 2 Cor. 4. 13. We having the same Spirit of Faith Phil. 1. 30 Vnto you it is given in the behalf of Christ to believe on him By Faith we receive Christ John 1. 12. To as many as received him he gave power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his Name By Faith we rest upon Christ alone for Salvation Phil. 3. 8 9. I count all things but dung that I may win Christ and be found in Him not having my own Righteousness which is by the Law Acts 4. 12. Neither is there Salvation in any other Unto Faith Repentance is joined Acts 20. 21. Testifying both to the Jews and to the Greeks Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance is a sorrowing for Sin Jam. 4. 9. Be afflicted and mourn and weep let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness Repentance is a turning from Sin to God with the whole Heart Isa 55. 7. Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Joel 2. 12. Therefore now also saith the Lord turn ye even unto me with all your heart Q. 10. What is that Covenant which God hath made with them that repent and believe A. God hath made a New Covenant with penitent Believers wherein he hath promised to be their God to justifie them from and pardon all their Sins to renew and write his Laws in their Hearts and to give them Grace till they come to Glory God hath made a New Covenant commonly called the Covenant of Grace Heb. 8. 8. Behold the days come saith the Lord when I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel and of Judah They that repent and believe are in Covenant An Heart to repent and believe is from God Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh The Lord in the Covenant promises to be his peoples God 2 Cor. 6. 16. I will dwell in them and

me nor what I say or do Q. 5. Brutish Heart when wilt thou be wise He that planted the Ear shall he not hear and He that formed the Eye shall not He see But while thus ignorant and regardless of God in what condition dost thou think thou art A. I cannot certainly say but I hope and believe well And truely I see no hurt or danger near me Q. 6. How see no danger Dost thou not know thou art a Sinner A. I know not very well what sin is but I am no more a sinner nor worse than others of my Neighbours Q. 7. Art thou willing to understand thy sin and how exceeding miserable thy sin makes thee A. I am at peace pray do not you disquiet me I have heard of some that have run stark mad and have made away themselves when they have heard preaching of sin and damnation Q. 8. Why hast thou not considered that passage of the Prophet Isa 57. 21. There is no peace saith my God to the wicked Is it wisdom in thee to say peace and safety when God speaks quite the contrary and says Wo to the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given him Isa 3. 11. A. He that made me I hope will save me Q. 9. Dost thou think he will save thee in thy ignorance and wickedness whilst thou dost not desire to be delivered from either How plainly does the Prophet speak Isa 27. 11. It is a people of no understanding therefore He that made them will not save them and he that formed them will shew them no favour A. I am not Book-learned and I hope my ignorance will excuse me Q. 10. Art thou not willingly ignorant And will not the condemnation of them be sore who love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil Joh. 3. 19. Are not they threatned with distress and anguish and destruction as a Whirlwind And told that God will laugh at them in their calamity who hate knowledge and do not chuse the fear of the Lord Prov. 1. 29. A. Pray trouble not your self about me every one shall answer for himself and as the saying is Every Tub shall stand upon its own bottom Q. 11. If a Man were blind and ready to fall into a deep Ditch full of Water should he be angry at one that has Eyes and would stop him and prevent his drowning And dost thou well to be displeased with me who seeing thee in Hells Road and not perceiving thy self whither thou art going endeavour to stop thee and hinder thy falling into that place of Torment A. I do not love to hear of Hell Fire Q. 12. What will it be then to feel it and to be for ever tortur'd in the Flames that are unquenchable A. I find some fears raised in me and begin to doubt all is not well with me Q. 13. Dost thou believe the Bible to be the Word of God and certainly true A. Yes what Christian Man denies that Q. 14. Why then art thou so unacquainted with the Holy Scriptures which when searched and rightly believed make the Believers wise unto Salvation A. I have had other things to do a Trade to mind a Family to provide for and the time I have to spare I spend in merry Company in Sports and Pleasures Q. 15. But is it not unreasonable and Heathen-like only to take thought what thou shalt eat and drink and wherewithal thou shalt be clothed and never to inquire what thou must do to be saved A. I begin to blame my self for my past negligence and carelesness about my Souls health and that I am still so ignorant who have lived so long where there has been so much good preaching Q. 16. How dost thou spend thy time and days A. I mind the World and the profits and pleasures of it all the day long When first I wake in the morning the World presently comes into my thoughts and I continue thinking of it and contriving how to get more of it and how to keep what I have gotten Thus my mind is imployed till I go to Bed at night The World is that which is suitable to me the thing which I most desire and delight in Q. 17. How Earthly minded art thou Does not the Apostle affirm that they are Enemies to the Cross of Christ and that their end will be destruction who mind earthly things Phil. 3 18 19. But tell me Dost thou never pray in secret or in thy Family A. I have long thought that to say Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us when we are sick or come to die had been sufficient Q. 18. Dost thou think that cries forced meerly by fear of calamity will be regarded Does not the Lord speak plainly concerning such who are burthened only with affliction but not with sin who are in fear of death but not desirous to be turned unto God They shall call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me Prov. 1. 28. A. Still my fears increase upon me Q. 19. How is the Lords day spent A. I sit up late on the Saturday night lye long a-bed on the Sunday morning Many times I go not to Church at all if I do go I come away as I went not at all wiser or better And I have wisht Sundays were over that I might return to my worldly business again I have heard of a Book called the Book of Sports I thought it was a very good time when they were allowed of and that those Sports would make Sundays pleasant days indeed Q. 20. What a contempt of God and of his Service and Grace do these words of thine discover and what a wretched carelesness of thy own precious Soul How unfit art thou to keep an Eternal Sabbath in Heaven who now does grudge unto God one day in seven A. I see it had been better to have lived otherwise than I have done Q. 21. As thou hast omitted thy duty so hast thou not allowed thy self in committing iniquity A. Alas with shame I must confess that my Ignorance has not been alone but I have fallen into Drunkenness and Whoredom sometimes I have been guilty of Swearing and Lying to serve a turn and for my own advantage And so I could but do it cleverly I have not stuck at doing unjustly in wronging of my Neighbour Q. 22. How shall the pardon of such sins as these be obtained A. I hope by now saying my Prayers and going constantly to Church and leaving my sins to make amends to God Almighty for them Q. 23. Hast thou never heard of Jesus Christ A. Yes Jesus Christ is our only Saviour Q. 24. Why then dost thou speak of thy praying and duties and performances as if by these thou couldst save thy self A. Certainly sin is to be forsaken and duties are to be done Q. 25. But how shall good duties which when best done have much of