whom none is able to withstand that with him nothing is impossible nothing is too hard for him and that he doth whatsoever he pleaseth in heaven and in earth and no thought of his can be hindered Q. What do you learn from Gods being Almighty A. From God's being Almighty I learn that we ought above all to fear him and to tremble at his presence as also to submit our selves unto him to humble our selves under his mighty hand and to walk before him and be perfect that is in all things obedient on the contrary to take heed how we provoke him to jealousie who is stronger than we and that we harden not our selves against him Q. What do you farther learn from God's being Almighty A. From God's being Almighty I farther learn that we ought to trust in him and not be afraid what man can do unto us for if God be for us who can be against us that we be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and be fully perswaded that what God hath promised he is able also to perform Q What is meant by God's being Eternal A. By this that God is Eternal is meant that he is from everlasting to everlasting the beginning and the end which is and which was and which is to come that he is the same and his years have no end that he only hath immortality that is originally and from himself is uncorruptible unchangeable and liveth for ever and ever Q. What do you learn from God's being Eternal A. I learn from God's being Eternal that there is to be given unto him honour and glory for ever and ever that he is to be blessed from everlasting to everlasting and that we ought to trust in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength Q. You said that God is every where present what is meant thereby A. By this that God is every where present is meant that he fills heaven and earth yea the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him that his greatness is unsearchable so that there is no flying from his presence nor can any hide himself in secret places that God shall not see him Q. What do you learn from God's being every where present A. From God's being every where present I learn that we are to pray every where lifting up holy hands God being nigh unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth and if we pray to our Father which is in secret he which seeth in secret will reward us openly Q. What do you farther learn from God's being every where present A. I from thence farther learn that we ought to walk before him in truth and with a perfect heart and do that which is good in his sight that it concernsus to keep his precepts for that all our ways are before him and the eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good Q. Having seen what God is in his Nature and Attributes proceed we to the Works of God Tell me then who made the World and preserveth all things therein A. God the Lord alone made heaven the heaven of heavens with all their host the earth and all things that are therein the seas and all that is therein and he preserveth them all Q. What learn you from God's creating and preserving the World and all things therein A. I learn that God the Lord is worthy to receive glory and honour and power for that he hath created all things and through his pleasure they are and were created and because he preserveth man and beast and the whole earth is full of the goodness of the Lord our mouth should speak the praise of the Lord and all slesh bless his holy name for ever and ever Seeing that of him and through him are all things to him be glory for ever and ever Q Who governs the World and all things therein A. God that made the World and all things therein is Lord of heaven and earth he hath prepared his throne in the heavens and his Kingdom ruleth over all he doth whatsoever he pleaseth both in heaven and in earth and worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will Q. What learn you from God's governing the World and all things therein A. From God's governing the World and all things therein I learn that therefore the Earth should rejoice for justice and judgment are the habitation or establishment of his throne and mercy and truth shall go before his face and that from the rising of the Sun to the going down thereof God's name is to be praised for who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high and humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in earth Q. What do you farther learn from God's governing the world and all things therein A. I do farther learn from thence that we should say whatsoever befalleth us with Eli it is the Lord that is the Lord hath appointed or permitted it let him do what seemeth him good and with Christ not my will but thine be done and with Job whether the Lord giveth or taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord Q. What do you yet farther learn from God's governing the World and all things therein A. I do yet farther learn from thence that we should commit our way and work unto the Lord and in all our ways acknowledge him who then will direct our paths that we should trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe and cast all our care and burthen upon him who careth for us and will sustein us Q. How did God create man A. God made man upright and created him in his own image Q. Wherein doth God's image in man consist A. God's image in man doth consist in knowledge righteousness and true holiness and in the dominion which God made him to have over the works of his hands Q. Did our first parents Adam and Eve continue in that good estate wherein they were created A. No they fell from it by sinning against God in that they did eat of the tree whereof God commanded that they should not eat Q. What then followed upon Adam's Transgression A. By that one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned for the wages of sin is death Q. Did God leave man to perish in this miserable condition or did he in love and pity to us provide a way and means for us to be saved from sin and death A. So God loved the
world that he gave his only begotten Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and that we should not perish but have everlasting life Q. What do the Scriptures inform us concerning this Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God A. The Scriptures inform us that he is the brightness of his Fathers glory and the express image of his person that in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily that he is over all God blessed for ever that he was fore-ordained before the foundation of the World and when the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman being conceived of the Virgin Mary by the holy Ghost and power of the most high that he was holy harmless and undefiled in his lise that he did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth that he went up and down doing good and was approved of God by miracles wonders and signs which God did by him that he died for our sins and was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures and in the sight of the Apostles while they beheld he was received into heaven and sate at the right hand of God from whence he shall come in like manner at the end of the world being ordained of God to judg the quick and the dead Q. How did Jesus Christ save us from sin and death A. Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law by being made a Curse or enduring a cursed death for us and God made him to be Sin or a Sacrifice for sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him he tasted death for every man and gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Q. What do you learn from God's love in sending his Son to be the Propitiation for our sins A. I learn from thence that if God so loved us we ought also to love one another and that if God spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all he will with him also freely give us all things Q. What do you farther learn from God's love in the gift of his Son A. I learn to say with the Apostle Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord JesusChrist who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ in whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace and to declare with the Elders before the throne that worthy is the Lamb that was slain and by his blood hath redeemed us unto God to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing unto him thererefore that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Q. Who are those that shall receive forgiveness of sin and Eternal life and Salvation by Jesus Christ. A. They that believe in Christ and repent shall not perish but receive remission of sins and everlasting life and he is the Author of Eternal salvation to all them that obey him Q. Seeing then that Faith and Repentance and New Obedience are of absolute necessity to Salvation by Jesus Christ First what is true and saving Faith A. True and saving Faith is to believe with the heart that Jesus is the Christ that is that he was anointed and sent of God to be a Prophet Priest and King and to receive him as such Q. What is it to believe with the heart that Jesus Christ was anointed and sent of God to be a Prophet and to receive him as such A. To believe with the heart that Jesus Christ was anointed and sent of God to be a Prophet and to receive him as such is effectually and throughly to believe that he was anointed and sent of God to preach the Gospel whereby he hath brough life and immortality to light that he was sent to speak unto the world those things which he heard from God who gave him commandment what he should say and speak and therefore to hear him that is obey him in all things Q. What if we shall refuse or neglect to hear this Prophet and shall disobey his doctrine A. Every soul which will not hear this Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people for he that despiseth him despiseth him that sent him and if they escaped not that refused him Moses that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him Christ that speaketh from heaven And if the word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward how shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Q. What is it to believe with the heart that Jesus Christ was anointed and sent of God to be a Priest and to receive him as such A. To believe with the heart that Jesus Christ was anointed and sent of God to be a Priest and to receive him as such is effectually to believe that he offered himself without spot to God and gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour to the end that he might make reconciliation for iniquity and put away sin by the sacrifiee of himself and therefore to look for redemption through his blood and not to expect salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved Q. Did Christ perform and execute all that belonged to his Priestly office here on earth or doth he yet continue a Priest in heaven A. Christ our High Priest having once offered one Sacrifice for sins for ever he with his own blood entered in once for all into heaven there to appear in the presence of God for us and he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Q. What encouragement doth the belief of Christ's continuing and acting as a Priest in heaven afford unto us A. Seeing we have a great High-priest Jesus the Son of God that is passed into the heavens and is set down at the right hand of God and also maketh intercession for us we may come boldly that is freely to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need Q. What is it to believe with the heart that Jesus Christ is anointed of God to be King and to receive him as such A. To believe with the heart that Jesus Christ is anointed of God to be King and to
receive him as such is effectually and powerfully to believe that God his Father hath put all things under him that he is the head of all principality and power and crowned with glory and honour that he hath all power given him in heaven and in earth that he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet that he is the one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy and therefore to observe all things whatsoever he hath commanded Q. Seeing that Christ is our Lord and King what learn you from thence A. I learn from Christ's being our King that therefore Sin should not reign in our mortal body that we should obey it in the lusts thereof for what communion hath light with darkness and what concord hath Christ with Belial Q. What are the enemies that Christ our King is to subdue and destroy A. The enemies that he is to subdue and destroy are Satan and wicked men and sin and death which is the last enemy that shall be destroyed Q. What will this King Jesus Christ do for the Righteous who sincerely obey him A. When he shall come with all his holy Angels and sit upon the throne of his glory he shall say unto the Righteous Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world and to those that overcome their spiritual enemies he will grant to sit with him on his throne even as he overcame and is set down with his Father on his throne and to those that shall be faithful to the death he will give a Crown of life Q. Having seen what it is to believe in Christ tell me what are the properties and notes of true Faith set down in Scripture A The properties and notes of true Faith set down in Scripture are these five 1. It purifies the heart 2. It worketh by love 3. It is made perfect by works 4. It overcomes the world 5. It quencheth all the fiery darts of the wicked one that is the Devil Q. Having seen what is meant by Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ let us see what is meant by Repentance which is also necessary to qualifie and fit us to receive pardon of sin and salvation by Jesus Christ What is it therefore truly and savingly to Repent A. Truly and savingly to Repent is with a godly sorrow and shame for sin to turn from all sin unto God Q. It is not sufficient then only to confess our si is to God A. It is not but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy Q. Is not sorrow for sin saving Repentance A. No but godly sorrow worketh Repentance to salvation not to be repented of Q. You cannot think that good purposes and resolutions of amendment are sufficient to Salvation A. No by no means but we must throughly amend our ways and doings we must do works meet for Repentance and bring forth fruits answerable to amendment of life for every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire Q. Having seen the nature of Faith and Repentance tell me what is meant by New and Spiritual Obedience which is also absolutely necessary to Salvation A. By new and Spiritual Obedience is meant that we must make us a new spirit that is do our best endeavour for it and walk in newness of life that we must put off as to the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of our mind and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Q. How is this new and spiritual Obedience farther explained in Scripture A. It is thus farther explained namely That we should not walk nor live after the flesh but after the spirit or according to the spiritual Precepts of the Gospel that we should not any longer live to the lusts of men but to the will of God that we should yield our selves unto God and that as we have yielded our members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity even so now we should yield our members servants to righteousness unto holiness Q. By what arguments and motives doth the Scripture inforoe and press us to this new and spiritual Obedience A. One ground and argument in Scripture for spiritual obedience is this That if any man be in Christ or a true Christian he is a new creature and if we are new Creatures and God's workmanship we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works to the which God hath before prepared us that we should walk in them and therefore they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Q. What other argument or motive do you remember in Scripture for spiritual Obedience A. A second argument is this That Christ his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree to the end that we being dead unto sin should live unto righteousness and he gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Q. What other argument or motive in Scripture can you rehearse for spiritual Obedience A. A third argument is this That Christ hath said if we love him and keep his commandments he will love us and manifest himself unto us and also that his Father will love us they both will make their abode with us Q. What other argument or motive in Scripture can youthink on for spiritual Obedience A. A fourth argument is this That if we live after the flesh we shall die but if we through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body we shall live If we sow to the flesh we shall of the flesh reap corruption but if we sow to the spirit we shall of the spirit reap life everlasting That being become the servants of God we shall have our fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life That great peace have they that love God's law and in Keeping thereof there is great reward And therefore blessed are they that do his commandments Q. What are the works of the flesh which every Christian is to crucifie A. The works of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery sornication uncleanness lasciviousness idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulations wrath strife seditions heresies envyings murthers drunkenness revellings and such like and they that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God Q. What are the fruits of the Spirit that every Christian is to bring forth A. The fruits of the Spirit are Love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against such there is no law Q. Will not outward privileges
our own selves Q. What is meant in Scripture by those thorns which choak the good seed of the word A. The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches and the pleasures of this life and the lusts of other things these are the thorns which choak the word so that it becometh unfruitful Q. The third and last means you mentioned was the Sacraments How many Sacraments are there under the New Testament A. There are only two namely Baptism and the Lords Supper Q. What is Baptism A. Baptism is washing with water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Q. What doth this Baptism or washing with water signifie A. This Baptism or washing with water signifies the washing away of sins or the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost Q. What are they engaged to in reference to God the Father and the Son and Holy Ghost who are baptized in or into the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost A. They are engaged so to live as that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed by them but that the name of Christ may be glorified in them they are obliged to put onChrist and as they name the name of Christ or profess his Religion so to depart likewise from all iniquity and seeing that they who are baptized into Jesus Christ are baptized into his death they are to reckon themselves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God unto whom they are to yield themselves as those that are alive from the dead And lastly they are engaged not to grieve the holy Spirit of God whereby they are sealed unto the day of Redemption Q. What are they engaged to in reference to men who are baptized into Christ A. They are engaged to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace for there is one Baptism and by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body Q. What is the Sacrament of the Lord's supper A. The Lord's Supper is a Sacrament wherein after the giving of thanks and blessing bread is broken and eaten and wine is poured out and drank in remembrance or for a commemoration of Christ. Q. What doth the Bread broken fignifie and teach us to remember A. The Bread broken signifieth and teacheth us to remember the Body of Christ which was given and broken for us for he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities he gave himself a ransom for all and by his stripes we are healed Q. What doth the Wine poured out into the Cup signifie and teach us to remember A. The Wine poured out into the Cup signifieth and teacheth us to remember the Blood of Christ which was shed for many for the remission of sins for he poured out his soul or life unto death and by his blood he hath redeemed us unto God Q. How may we worthily receive the Lord's Supper A. Let a man examine or approve himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that Cup. Q. Of what benefit and advantage is the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to those that worthily receive it A. The Cup of blessing which we bless it is the communion or communication of the Blood of Christ and the bread which we break it is the communion or communication of the body of Christ. Q. What is the danger of receiving the Lord's Supper unworthily A. Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord and he eateth and drinketh damnation or judgment to himself not discerning the Lord's body That is not eating it in a holy manner or making no difference between it and ordinary food Q. How do the sufferings and death of Christ represented in this Sacrament shew unto us the evil and heynousness of sin and by that means engage us to godly sorrow and repentance A. The sufferings and death of Christ represented in this Sacrament shew unto us the evil and heynousness of sin in that we are not redeemed from it but with the precious Blood of Christ his soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death it pleased the Lord to bruise him and to put him to grief and to lay upon him the iniquities of us all That is he would not admit sinners to terms of reconciliation with himself without such a Sacrifice for sin as that of his own dear Son Q. How doth the love of Christ in dying for us engage us to live a new life A. The love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves that is to their lusts and carnal affections but unto him which died for them Q. How doth the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper engage Christians to love each other A. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper engageth us to love each other in that we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread and are all made to drink into one Spirit That is our drinking all of the same Cup signifieth our being animated by the same spirit Q. How farther doth the Lord's Supper engage us to Christian love A. It farther engageth us to Christian love in that we are commanded to walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour and in this Sacrament this Sacrifice is commemorated Q. Seeing Jesus Christ hath set Bishops and spiritual Governours and Teachers over his Church who by their prayers preaching the Word and administration of the Sacraments and Ecclesiastical Discipline are for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry and edifying of his body and hath promised to be with them to the end of the world How are we to behave our selves towards them 1 Cor. 12. 28. Eph. 4. 11 12. 1 Tim. 3. 1. Mat. 28. 19 20. A. We are commanded to obey them that have the rule over us and submit our selves to them for they watch for our souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief and to esteem those that are over us in the Lord and admonish us very highly in love for their works sake and to account them worthy of double honour But as for those false Apostles and deceitful workers which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which we have learned we must avoid them for they serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple having a form