A. Thus much I beg of him in the two first Petitions hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come wherein I desire that Satans Kingdom may be abolished and the kingdom of grace daily increased and therefore I pray unto God to send his grace unto me and to all people that so the Devil may lose ground and there may daily be added unto the Church such as shall be saved that so all may both in word and deed serve and worship the true God and reverently sanctifie and hollow his glorious Name Q. In which petition dost thou beg that we may obey him as we ought to do A. This I ask in the third petition Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven wherein I desire that both my self and all people may know what is that good that acceptable will of God and then make it the rule of our actions that his heavenly will maybe performed by us as it is by the blessed Angels in Heaven that is chearfully without grudging or murmuring readily without delay or procrastination sincerely without guile or hypocrisie constantly without intermission and universally without picking chusing Q. In which Petition do you pray unto God that he will send us all things that be needful both for our Souls and Bodâ—â—s A. This I beg in the fourth petition Give us this day our daily bread wherein I entreat God to take us into his fatherly care and tuition to provide for our subsistence to give us daily or day by day our bread that is all manner of food and sustenance that is requisite for us and withall to fend along with it his heavenly blessing that so it may nourish our bodies and make them fit for their several employments Q. Herein indeed you desire God to give you necessaries for your bodies but wherein do you desire him to give you necessaries for your soules A. The Holy Scripture besides this ordinary bread enformes us of bread that came down from Heaven that is Christ and his benefits represented in the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper and this is that bread wherewith we desire God to feed out Soules which most certainly will nourish them to life eternal Q. In which Petition do you desire God to be mercifull unto us and forgive us our sins A. This I beg of him in the fifth Petition Forgive us our Trespasses wherein I beseech God to pardon unto me and all his servants all those crimes offences and trespasses what ever we are guilty of Q. But wherefore is that clause adjoyned to this Petition as we forgive them that trespass against us A. For very good reason to teach us how we must be qualified before we can be capable of Gods pardon we must be in charity with our brethren otherwise God will not be in charity with us for if we forgive not men their trespasses neither will our heavenly father forgive us our trespasses Q. In which petition do you desire God to save and defend us from all dangers ghostly and bodily and that he will keep us from all sin and wickedness and from our ghostly enemy and from everlacting death A. This I beg of him in the sixth petition And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Q. Doth God then lead his servants into temptation A. There are temptations of trial or probation and God doth lead his servants into these temptations either to exercise their graces or to chastize them for some miscarriage or to prevent them from some gross fall but besides these there are temptations of seduction and ruine which the Devil offers and God by withdrawing his grace suffers us to fall into them and therefore in this Petition I beg of God that he will continually defend us with his grace as with a sheild that so temptations may make no impression upon and that he will deliver us from all those spiritual evils and dangers that our soules are lyable unto howsoever occasioned whether by the treachery of Satan by the enticements of this world or by the provocation of our own lusts as also from the horrid danger that followes our complyance with these the evill of eternal death Q. Wherefore is it that you have so great confidence and trust that God will grant all these things that you have here prayed for A. First because his is the kingdom he is the King of all the earth a loving tender King willing to hear and relieve the wants of his subjects Secondly because his is the power he is a powerful King and thereby able to give plentiful and suitable returns to the requests of his humble suppliants Thirdly because his is the glory he is a glorious King and it is a clear manifestation of his glory and goodness to hear from Heaven a company of miserable wretches that deserve nothing of kindness at his hand and thereupon I say Amen so be it resting fully satisfied that God both hears me and will answer my requests as my necessities require Q. How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Chrurch A. Two onely as generally necessary to Salvation that is to say Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. Q. When did Christ ordain these Sacraments A. The first of them namely Baptism he hallowed in his own person by passing through the Waters of it and also immediately before his ascension he enjoyned his Disciples to Baptize all Nations And the other Sacrament he celebrated with his Disciples presently before his Passion and withal charged his Disciples and in them his whole Church to do it in remembrance of him Q. What is meant by Baptism A. It is derived from a Greek word which signifies to wash dip dive or sprinkle Q. Why is the other Sacrament called the Lords Supper A. Because it was instituted by the Lord of Glory at or after supper Q. How or in what sense are these Sacraments generally necessary to Salvation A. They are the Instruments or the means whereby the merits of Christ are conveyed and made over to us and by which God hath commanded us to receive them and therefore those that wilfully refuse and neglect them when they may be had do neglect the ordinary means of Salvation Q. What do you mean by this word Sacrament A. I mean an outward visible sign of an inward spiritual grace given unto us ordained by Christ himself as a means whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof Q. What is the end or final cause why Christ ordained Sacraments A. He ordained them as a means whereby great blessings and graces are conveyed to us and as a pledge to assure us of his favour and loving kindness Q. What is that grace which by Sacraments is conveyed unto us A. The whole obedience merit death and passion of our Saviour and the benefits that flow from thence Q. Is Christ alone the ordainer of Sacraments A. He onely hath right to institute a Sacrament in regard he is
life from the same Root Q. What is the second benefit that belong to be Members of the Church A. Forgiveness of Sins Q. What is Sin A. Sin is the transgression of the Law of God Q. What is the punishment due unto sin A. Eternal death the wages of sin is death Q. Is not all mankind lyable to this punishment in regard as the Scripture affirms all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God A. All mankind was once in a state of death and dammnation Q. How then came this benefit of the forgiveness of sins to be made over to them A. The Son of God by his active obedience fulfilling every title of the Law and by his passive obedience suffering the wrath of God due to us for the breach of the Law hath made full satisfaction on our behalf reconciled us to God by vertue of which reconciliation our sins are forgiven Q. To whom doth this favour belong A. To the Members of the Church Q. Shall all those that are Members of the Church partake of this benefit A. All those that by Baptism are received into the Church by that Sacrament receive the remission of those sins which they were guilty of before they were baptized and hence it is that in the Nicene Creed we profess to believe one Baptism for the remissioâ— of sins also after they be thus made Members of Christ they receive remission of their future sins by repentance Q. What is the third benefit that bâ—longs to the Members of this Church A. The Resurrection of the Body Q. Can the body then arise out of thâ— Grave when as it is mouldred in crumbs and dust A. It shall most certainly arise â—gain and he re-united to the Soâ— when together they shall render an account of all their actions performed iâ— this life Q. Shall the very same bodies arise that now we bare about with us A. They shall be the same for substance but not for qualities whereas they are now Earthly Mortal and Corruptible bodies they shall then be Spiritual Immortal and incorruptible Q. How can this possibly be that the same body which is devoured by Worms should again be raised A. This is performed by Gods infinite and unlimited power who shall call to the dead arise ye dead and come away to judgement and the dead shall hear his voice and obey it Q. VVhat necessity is there that the same body should arise A. The same body must arise and no other to magnifie Gods justice that so the same individual body that was a copartner in sin may be punished that which did partake in righteous actions and sufferings may be rewarded Q. Shall all bodies in general arise A. The bodies both of the Godly and wicked of the just and unjust all that ever lived shall arise and live again to eternal Ages Q. When shall this general resurrection be A. At the last and great day of accounts when the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout and with the voice of the Arch-angel and with the Trumpet of God Q. What is the fourth benefit that belongs to the Members of this Church A. The life everlasting Q. To whom doth this belong A. To all in general for although the life everlasting is frequently used to signifie that reward which in another life is bestowed upon the righteous yet the wicked shall live eternally Q. What shall then be the difference betwixt the godly and the ungodly in this respect A. The godly shall live to all eternity in unspeakable joys and never fading glories and the wicked shall live eternally or they shall remain alive in Soul Body to endure the Torments to be inflicted upon them by the justice of God for all the sins committed by them whilst they were in the body Q. Do you think that it is enough barely to believe all these Articles of your Faith A. As I am bound to believe them so it is my duty to frame my practice answerable to this my belief so that I must not only know what these words signifie but likewise I must perform such actions as are agreeable thereto Q. Is this all that your Baptismal vow and promise requires from you A. No it not only enjoyns me to believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith but also I am thereby bound to keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and to walk in the same all the dayes of my life Q. When was these Commandments given A. God speak them to Moses upon Mount Sinai who wrote them upon Tables of Stone made them known to the people of Israel for the regulating of their manners Q. If these Commandments are part of Moses his Law then certainly they were abrogated by the coming of Christ A. This Law was before Moses was although not literally recorded and it shall continue after him to the end of the World and therefore it is called the Moral Law because it is to be a perpetual rule of good manners to mankind Q. To whom did God make it known before Moses A. He did implant it in mans nature by Creation and for this reason St. Paul calls it the Law of Nature but when mans light and knowledge was decayed and impaired by the fall of Adam God again renewed this Law to his Servant Moses and likewise our blessed Lord in his first Sermon that most excellent Sermon he preached on the Mount reinforces this Law and rescues it from those corrupt glosses the Scribes and Pharises had put upon it Q. How many Commandements doth this moral law contain A. Ten. Q. Which be they A. The same which God spake in the twentieth Chapter of Exodus saying I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt out of the house of Bondage 1. Thou shalt have none other gods but me 2. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor the likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath or in the waters under the Earth thou shalt not how down to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God and visit the iniquities of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mercy unto thousands unto them that love me and keep my Commandments 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain 4. Kemmember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day six dayes shalt thou labour and do all that thou vast to do but the Seventh day is the Sabboth of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt do no manner of work thou and thy son and thy daughter thy man-servant and thy maid-servant the Cattel and the Stranger that is within thy Gates for in six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the Seventh day wherefore
so great blessings as are bestowed in this Sacrament Q. What is the third thing we must examine A. That is our thankfulness Q. What is it we must be thankful for A. We must thankfully remember the death of Christ what great things he hath done and suffered for us and also with heart and voice we must make our returns of thanks unto this our compassionate Redeemer for this his infinite goodness and loving kindness Q. What is the last duty we must examine our selves about A. It must be concerning our charity As by repentance we must reconcile our selves to God so by charity we must reconcile our selves to our neighbours before we dare come to this love-feast Q. Wherein consists this Christian duty of Charity A. It consists of to parts first in giving to and relieving the necessities of our poor distressed brethren Secondly in forgiving and pardoning those injuries and affronts which are offered to us by our neighbours Q. How must this our Charity be qualified A. It must be entire and universal we must be in Charity with all men And those who come to this holy communion thus disposed and prepared their Souls shall be strengthned and refreshed by the body and blood of Christ as their bodies are by the Bread and Wine A Short TRACT of CONFIRMATION THE Church of England enjoyns Godfathers and Godmothers to take care that those Children for whom they engage be brought to the Bishop to be confirmed by him so soon as they are well instructed in the Church Catechism that is so soon as they can readily rehearse it and give a reasonable account of the principles therein contained But how remiss and careless Sureties are in discharging this trust which is reposed upon them in the presence of God and the Congregation our own experience too badly enforms us by which means this holy Rite of Confirmation is almost quite disused and it is to be feared that it will in a short space of time be laid aside notwithstanding the pious care of our Reverend Father in God not only by their Articles requiting all Ministers in their several charges to prepare the younger sort for the receiving of this divine Rite by Catechizing and to bring them unto them when by this means duly prepared but also in their triennial visitations confirming all such as are brought unto them if Ministers and Sureties are not more diligent in instructing Children in the Elements of Religion and when by that means fitly quallified in bringing them to receive this blessing from the hands of the Bishop And if we do but duly consider the necessity of this Rite and those great blessings that do attend upon it as hereafter I shall manifest it will then appear strange it should be so generally slighted and omitted The main causes of this negligence are either faction or ignorance There are a generation of men in the world who being possessed with the Spirit of contradiction disuse it because the higher Powers enjoyn it they are heady high-minded despising dominion and speaking evil of dignities and the great character of their Saintship consists in their opposition to the lawful Powers in those matters which themselves cannot prove to be illegal and therefore because confirmation is enjoyned by the Canon Law because it cannot be received but by the Ministry of the Bishops which they abominate as the members of Anti-Christ and sworn servants to the Pope of Rome they resolve to reject it notwithstanding the most evident reason that can be given to the contrary as a superstitious innovation and a Popish Relique and indeed so strangely perverse many of this rude hard are that I am apt to perswade my self should the Supream Magistrate strictly enjoyn those fond opinions which they do so zealously entertain they would forthwith Cashiere them to prevent the Powers from infringing their Christian Liberty and this that Rebellious Principle which is generally entertained amongst them doth too evidently declare viz. That those things which in themselves are lawful become unlawful when enjoyned by a lawful Authority and as for these it will I say be a vain attempt to endeavour their conversion indeed their own obstinacy gives me reason to say that it will prove almost as easie a task to wash the Blackamore white as to perswade these zealous sons of Korah to entertain that against which they are prepossessed with too much prejudice and passion But besides these there are another sort of persons who neglect this primitive institution out of pure ignorance they understand little or nothing of the true meaning of it and hence proceeds their omission neither can it at all seem strange that so considerable a number of Christians should be altogether ignorant of the true notion of Confirmation in regard it hath been generally disused for so many years so that they have scarce heard so much as the name of it until of late years since the establishment of Episcopacy since which time they have possibly seen the name of it either in the Common Prayer Book or in the Bishop or Archdeacons Articles of Enquiry and that is all the knowledge they have of it and therefore to remove their Ignorance I principally design this short Treatise neither am I altogether without hopes but that it may have some good success upon those who propound to themselves no other reason for their omission but their ignorance for the removal wherefore and the improving of their knowledge in a matter of so great weight as hereafter I shall prove this to be I shall endeavour with as much clearness and plainness and brevity as may by to show 1. What Confirmation is 2ly The lawfulness of it 3ly The necessity that all Christians have to receive it 1. As to the true notion of Confirmation it is very well expressed in the word it self which is very full and significant for then we do confirm and are confirmed from whence we may infer that Confirmation consists of two main Branches 1. It is an Act of Confirmation on our part in regard we do hereby farther ratifie and establish that contract or covenant which formerly viz. at our baptism was made betwixt God and us and by confessing of it to be valid and Good and by personally undertaking the strict performance of it we do profess our selves Gods faithful servants and bind our selves faster still unto him whose we were before we do at the performance of this holy Rite confirm what others in our minority acted on our behalf we do then profess our selves bound both to believe and to do what our Godfathers and Godmothers promised for us we do publickly own our Christian profession professing that we will be faithful in the discharge of our Baptismal vow And it is very meet and convenient that every Christian should personally resume ratifie those solemn engagements that charitable persons made for him in his infancy neither can any man be reputed a true and compleat member of the Church