for some temporary or other respects more servent and faire in outward appearance to the world then the weaker faith though a true faith of the elect but for the most part discovered at last by the want of the Root love Fruit good workes Continuance to the end 37. How may wee know the true though weake faith By many good signes in ones selfe longing after God and proficiency in grace and especially by this one grace of God of unfained desire not onely of salvation which the wicked and gracelesse may desire but of reconciliation with God in Christ. 38. Is this a true signe of true faith It is and onely peculiar to the elect proceeding out of a touched and humbled heart for sinne and whosoever have it have in themselves the ground and substance of true and saving faith which afterwards may grow to greater strength and so Blessed are they that hunger and thirst c. Matth. 5. 6. 39. How many wayes may faith be weake Either by want of due Knowledge of the Gospell Application to the soule Though in that measure of knowledge that may else seeme sufficient 40. How is it to be strengthened By using diligently the meanes appointed of God the Word and Sacraments so humbly walking before God it is knowne to bee a true faith and daily encreased 41. What is a strong faith That whereby a man so apprehendeth and applieth the promises of God in the Gospell that hee can distinctly and truly say of himselfe hee is fully resolved in conscience that hee is reconciled to God in Christ and so not neglecteth to finde all godly signes and shew the fruits of the same in his cheerfull service of God 42. Js there any faith perfect No for howsoever it may be strong and stronger then others yet it is alwayes imperfect and requiring encrease and confirmation for which we must pray and strive for so also our knowledge is and will bee so long as wee live in this world as mingled with ignorance unbeleefe and sundry sorts of doubting 43. Have not all sorts of saving faith their fruit following Yes according to their degrees more or better all in some acceptable degree obedience to the will of God and willing profession of the truth and more particularly confession of the faith of Christ. 44. Why must we confesse it For divers reasons these especially that 1. With the mouth outwardly confessing wee may glorifie God and doe him service both in body and soule 2. By confessing of the faith we may sever our selves from all false Christians hypocrites and seducers whatsoever 3. We may incite confirme and strengthen others in the same 45. Js there any other acceptation of this word faith It is sometimes taken for the doctrine of the truth as 1 Tim. 3. 9. and 4. 1. as well as that habit or Theologicall vertue thence and by the gift of God produced in the minde of which wee spake before also where a dead faith false and fained faith hypocriticall faith and the like they are understood to be want of faith or a temporary onely or historicall faith as faith to be healed Matth. 8. under faith working miracles 1 Corinth 18. of all which before 46. What is else necessary to be knowne concerning faith To observe the causes and effects of this true faith 47. What causes The Efficient cause matter form and end of this true faith how wrought and formed in us 48. What efficient cause Either principall or instrumentall What principall God 1. The Father Ioh. 6. 29. this the work of God that ye beleeve in him whom he hath sent 2. The Son Heb. 12. 2. the author and finisher of our faith Jesus 3. The holy Ghost 2 Cor. 4. 14. the Spirit of faith and former of it in us without our preparation or workes 49. What the instrumentall cause The word of God and Sacraments and comfortable learning and using of them What the matter of faith In respect of the Subject Understanding to apprehend Will to assent and apply Conscience to make use of the promise and grace of God Object referred to the 1. Understanding the truth of Gods promise 2. Will grace of God manifested in Christ. 3. Conscience joy and comfort in the holy Ghost 50. What is the forme of faith 1. To beleeve or to seeke to apprehend and know the mercies of God with our best understanding 2. Receive and apply to our soules the free mercies of God in Christ with our whole heart and will 3. Make use of it in our conscience to the Purging and rooting out of dead workes and sin Bringing forth good workes fruits of a living faith 51. What the end of faith In regard of God his glory in his mercies Us our justification by his free mercies in Christ. 52. What is justifying or our justification To be Discharged before God of our guilt Approved before him free and innocent Accepted of God and allowed his favour and presence 53. Doth faith doe this Faith is said to doe it as the instrument whereby we apprehend apply and take benefit of Christ and his merits the very originall and principall cause of this as in whom only and alone we are Discharged and acquitted Approved innocent and accepted God is well pleased and reconciled 54. But Saint James saith we are justified by workes Saint James doth not there speake of our justification as the cause whereby we are justified inwardly before God which is only faith in Christ but of the outward justification as the testification approving thereof to our consciences to the world that we have faith seen by the fruits thereof 55. What of the distinction of generall and speciall explicite and implicite faith Generall and implicite faith are indeed no faith or not true faith explicite and speciall may be as they may be rightly understood the same with our faith and the saving and true faith 56. What are the effects of faith Many or at least by many names stiled and called in holy Scripture and may be reduced to These two 1. Putting off the old 2. Putting on the new Man or this one word encluding both repentance 57. How else called or described Either Workes of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. death to sin and life to righteousnesse Rom. 6. walking not in the flesh but the spirit Rom. 8. Renewing the minde Ephes. 4. 22. True holinesse and righteousnesse ibid. 23. A new creature Gal. 6. 15. Generally good works Jam. 2. Tit. 2. c. 58. But if these workes doe not justifie us what need we doe them and why For divers reasons especially these 1. Because they are good and so to be done 2. They are for the glory of God and his Gospel and nothing more against God then the works of sin 3. They are to the good of the Church and faithful 4. They testifie our faith James the 2. 5. They confirme our election Jo. 4. 12 13. 6. They win others to the Gospel 1 Pet. 3. 7. They
and mercy to our consolation 5. Thankfull expression of praise both in word and deed life and actions for this his admired mystery and meanes of our redemption 41. What followeth in the Creed The other parts of his humiliation in his passions and sufferings death buriall and descent to the grave and hell in the following foure and five Articles SECT 6. The second degree of Christs humiliation in the fourth Article The Analysis of the fourth Article In his passion and the maine parts thereof His sufferings and obedience to the Law and thereby to death for us that by our transgressions of it had so deserved and by whose death and performance of it or obedience both active and passive we are freed if we study and strive with our best endeavours to performe the same whence our chiefest comfort ariseth As by whose stripes we are healed The many degrees and processe of whose sufferings and continuall travels labours and contumely that he throughout his whole life and especially at his death a little before it for our sakes endured and under-went are here in order described as also the most bitter potion or cup of his Fathers wrath his bloody passions with all those remarkeable ciroumstanstances agony betraying unjust judgement crowning with thornes buffetting reviling and lastly crucified that night shamefull and ignom nious death wherein how much more excellent his soul so much more sensible of misery and exquisite his torments of both soule and body though death by his death destroyed and by his buriall our graves as it were opened and our rest or sleepe ther sanctified and so we learne to sorrow for sin that caused such his hitter sorrow and sufferings yet comforted in his death that destroyed death and opened to us the gate of glory 1. VVHat is the fourth Article He suffered under P. Pilate was crucified dead and buried 2. What is hereby expressed The manner of his many sufferings he suffered in his life at his death His humiliation to death buriall under Ponce Pilate dead and buried 3. What is therein briefly then to be observed The second degree of his humiliation and therin two things especially 1. Intimated his perfect obedience to the whole Law in undertaking the performance and curse for us 2. Litterally laid downe his sufferings 4. VVhat obedience Perfect and absolute obedience which all ought to performe hoc fac vives or else cursed every one that continueth not in all these Lawes to doe them 5. How is this part of his humiliation for us In that hee not onely descended from heaven and was incarnate for us conceived and borne and so fitted in the forme of a servant to performe these things for us but was also actually obedient to the Law performing it and all righteousnesse whereby man fulfilled the Law and which is more suffered the penalty due for our delinquencies and by it was made sin for us that we might be the righteousnesse of God in him 6. How did he fulfill the Law In performing what was required and written both in the Law and the Prophets Math. 5. 17. 7. How in the Law 1. All the whole Ceremoniall Law concerned either the service and honour of God the types of him and his sacrifice Math. 15. 17. us to performe and so himselfe as Luke 2. 21. circumcised and offering gifts Lepers as every one of us Luke 1. 2. c. Math. 26. 2. Morall Law in most exquisite love to God and his neighbour all mankinde his brethren for whom he laid downe his life and what greater love 3. Judiciall did wrong no man nay even required not his owne but gave to Caesar what was Caesars and to God the things c. and over and above himselfe for others good 8. How in the Prophets What ever was written by them in exposition of these Lawes or of him and signified in types to be performed by him so he performed all righteousnesse Math. 3. 9. Were we bound to the performance Yes of the whole Morall Law and so much of the residue as were branches thereof seene in the other and pertaining to the service of God or justice to our neighbour 10. But are we now freed From the curse and servility thereof not from the duties and performance for wee are freed from the curse or bondage and feare to be in love with joy a people studious of good workes 11. But hath not Christ performed it for us Yes if wee strive to shew our selves obedient and willing to doe all righteousnesse and so it is Rom. 8. 4 he hath fulfilled the Law for us but with this limitation if we walke not after the flesh but the spirit that is who are willing to be righteous and keepe the Law though not for our weaknesse able 12. How of them that strive not to keepe it He hath done nothing for them for they walke not after the Spirit so if they be sonnes of Beliall without grace not seeking to walke godly or securely thinking or presuming Christ hath done all for them and therefore they seeke to doe nothing to their cost they will finde Christ hath nothing for such gracelesse and secure ones but hath done these things only for his faithfull ones 13. The doctrine then of faith destroyeth not good workes No but confirmeth the godly to goe on more cheerefully in good workes since there is is a reward for such godly and though the worthinesse of them and acceptablenesse be of the power of faith and in Christ yet as God is thereby more glorified so by them a more abundant reward when the ungodly or they that want them shall find none or only the miserable reward of iniquity 14. We are then bound to doe them Yes but to looke for the perfection and sweetning of them to our soules and assurance from him that they are made worthy and acceptable by faith and his most preceious blood 15. What comfort herein That there is help laid on one that is mighty and able to performe and so if we be willing though not able to performe all righteousnesse hee hath done it for us yea and borne all our transgressions 16. How is that In that second part of fulfilling the Law his sufferings for sin and bearing the punishment both in body and soule due to all our offences 17. What were his sufferings Of two sorts 1. Generally all those miseries in the flesh sustained for our sakes even in his infancy childehood and before his manifestation to Israel 2. Especially those grievous ones suffered 1. after his manifestation 2. immediately before and at his death 18. Which of the former sort 1. In his infancy the common miseries in his infancy which as the rest considered in regard of his excellency of person so much more eminently perspicuous 2. Persecution raised by Herod so soon as born in pretence of worship seeking his blood and slaying so many infants not sparing his owne childe that it was said and verified better be
11. and 12. Articles of the Creed concerning the Priviledges of the Church and first forgivenesse of sinnes by washing us in Christs blood covering of our sinnes and imputation of his righteousnesse to those that are his and none others we being not able to satisfie for our owne but needing God powerfully the Church ministerially to forgive them where faith in Christ is required the condition whence the use of much comfort and consequently the blessed hope of resurrection the second priviledge manner certainty and reason wherof are here observed taken from Gods justice equity and mercy As also farther illustrated by divers examples and similitudes presenting to us a shew of the resurrection so the order of it and excellent estate therein more amply expressed in respect of the godly and what good duties to be hence learned and what good uses to be made of the same Whence also consequently our joyfull hope of life everlasting The last Articls where life of joyntly of soule and body raised and united in joy unspeakable and endlesse in heaven is by that to be understood which is also called the union With God and fruition of the glorious Godhead and blessednesse eternal which is the life of Angels though the meanes or cause of it as Christ or the word sometimes figuratively called life and life eternall or as it may be inchoate herein in the kingdome of grace as consummato in glory whereas the contrary and estate of the damned not properly a life but death or ever dying life and so not mentioned in the Creed where onely the comfort of the godly intended the use they make and duty they ought o learne in seeking striving for it in assurancâ— of which their blessed faith and hope they say Amen 1. VVHat is contained in these three last Articles Three priviledges granted to the Church and not elsewhere to be found or attained each Article one viz. 10. Forgivenesse of sinnes 11. Resurrection of body 12. Life everlasting 2. What is forgivenesse of sins Gods passing by our sins without calling them to his remembrance to shame or punish us for them but on the contrariwise imputing righteousnesse to us and accounting and allowing us just 3. Wherein consisteth it In these two things the Covering or cancelling and discharging of sinne Imputation and gift of justice 4. How is the covering or discharging of sin In taking away both the spot and staine of guilt and consequently the removing all punishment 5. How is it done By washing our soules in Christs bloud purging them by his merits and drowning them in the sea of his infinite love and mercy and as wee are in Christ he beholdeth no staine in us hee seeth no iniquity in Iacob and the cause of sin removed punishment the effect and death eternall the due to sin must needs be done away 6. How the imputation of Christs justice and his merits As in him our sins done away so in him is justice given by putting on him and his robes of righteousnesse as we are in him part of that holy society the communion of Saints and members of the true Catholique Church 7. To whom is then forgivenesse of sins Onely to the true members of the Catholique Church for so to them that are in Christ thence is no condemnation because they are of that body and in him in whom God is well pleased and so to all others who are not in him what can bee expected but condemnation 8. Can we not satisfie for our owne sins How can we satisfie for sin that without him and his grace are not able to thinke a good thought and when our best workes in comparison of true holinesse are but as poluted and filthy clouts before him and when wee have done the most we can it is but our duty yea when the best we can we are but unprofitable servants where is then our merit of our selves or ability to satisfie for our misdeeds 9. Who forgiveth sin Onely God the Father Son and Holy Spirit who having power to make the Law have power to forgive the offence 10. How is the Church said or men to forgive sinnes The Church ministerially and that divers ways from God as by The ministry of the word procuring it by offering and ordering the doctrine of repentance and forgivenesse of sin and converting sinners to God The exercising the power of the keyes by Gods order and commission for the benefit of the Church to humble the soule The applying the same to the penitent and so in the power of Gods commission to give and pronounce absolution to the benefit and comfort of the soule desiring the same 11. How the keyes or power of them exercised In foro 1. Exteriori in facie Ecclesiae more publiquely in the sight of the Church to the reforming of offences and removing of scandals 2. Interiori conscientiae more privately to the comfort of the soule and quieting the conscience of the humble penitent 12. How men how doe they forgive Onely partially in regard of some part of some offences concerning them but God forgiveth to the truly penitent totally in respect of all parts of both guilt and punishment and fully whatsoever either the Church holily intendeth or men neglect or wilfully refuse to forgive if he please 13. How stands this with Gods justice As in justice even to the utmost satisfied in the sufferings of Christ and in mercy as he gave and accepteth him and in his merits for us 14. What is then required to forgivenesse of sins A lively faith in Christ whereby we apprehend him and his merits and perfections thereby applyed and made ours whence commeth true repentance forsaking sinne and cleaving stedfastly to God 15. What certainty of it Gods gracious promises in Christ effectually applyed and sealed to the soule by the ministry of the Church in the holy use of his Word and Sacraments 16. What learne we hence In this life seeking this priviledge in the Church 1. To make our calling and election sure in Christ. 2. To become truly a member of his so to have our sins forgiven 3. Obtaine peace of conscience thus and both with God and men 4. To disclaime our owne merits so in humblenesse crave and have Christs justice 5. To try our faith by our repentance and so by our assurance of forgivenesse and thus seeking we shall surely attaine it both from God and his Church and have peace with God and men 17. What followeth of this Resurrection of body as a consequent of forgivenesse of sins for as death entred by sin so sinne also taken away the punishment also to be removed which being of the body in part shall also in that part be dissolved at the last and the body raised 18. But how and when shall it be By the mighty power of God and in his word by the voice of his Angell and sound of his trumpet at the end of the world 19. How can this be Though wormes have eaten it or
continuall theft and she since she so cut herselfe from him and her bastardly issue continuall theeves 4. Sometimes as continually so wholly robbed of his estate and his inheritance transferred to the bastardly breed of some lewd varlot and harlot 5. And lastly with him sometimes others robbed as the inheritance and estate that ought to descend to them thus carried to others that worst and least deserve any good and hence the severity of divers laws both divine and humane that shew the odiousnesse and deterstation of it among all Nations by the punishments 39. What punishments By the Law 1. Of God death as aforesaid Deut. 22. 22. 2. Solon lawfull instantly to kill those taken in adultery 3. Certaine Indians adjudging the adultresse to cut the adulterers throat and some kinsman of hers 4. Nebuchadnezar broiling them on a gridiron 5. Zaleucus among the Locrians to have their eyes put out 6. Egyptians the adulterous nose cut off and the adulterer to have a thousand stripes 7. Turkes though allowing many wives yet adultery punished with death usually 40. How many instances of the execution of such lawes If there were not yet the lawes and sentence of them and the law makers sufficiently shew the foulenesse of the evill but both execution of them according to the letter are abundantly shewed in stories and even beyond the letter of them approved of by Magistrates and such as had the power of interpretation and execution of them and some others 41. How shew you that 1. Zaleucus whose owne sonne and heire of his kingdome taken in adultery and the subjects praying release of the punishment the father caused one of his sons eyes and one of his own to be put out in execution of the Law 2. In Alexander approving the act of the noble Theban Lady Timoclea that slew her adulterous ravisher 3. In the Romans that punished the adultetry and ravishing of the Lady Paulina with destruction of the Priests and Temple of Isis by whose means it was done 5. In the famous strumpet and adulterous Messalina lastly executed by the good Emperour Claudius command 6. In the law Julia executed long time duly and adulterers both of noble bloud and else without difference put to death as testified by all Writers and Tacitus with them 7. In the Emperour first Valentinians time many noble women of great parentage for adulery put to death as testifieth Ammianus Marcellinus 8. In Andreas King of Hungaria whose Queen having betraied a noble Lady wife of Baudebam to her brothers rape and being slaine by him who with his bloudy sword carring her heart to the King had his act approved and retained his honour 8. In Philip the faire King of France that spared not his owne daughters adultresses or their Paramours 9. In Lawes the eleventh that never made shew of anger or offence for his sisters death slain by her husband Seneschall of Normandy with her adulterer in bed together 10. In Gonzaga Duke of Ferrara that caused his treacherous and adulterous Captaine first to marry the party wronged and whose husband he had slaine to marry her and then hanged him 11. In the rape of Lucretia where for Tarquinius adultery the Kings and their race banished and whole forme of government changed and many like stories or as pregnant of the odiousnesse of adultery and punishments attending inflicted both by the hand of God and men 42. Recite some of them 1. Such as King Osbrights adultery rape of the Lord Bruers wife the bringing in of the Danes in revenge of it and subversion of his estate and kingdome with many others and the ruine of all England 2. Such as Paris Helens adultery the ruine of Troy and firebrand of almost all Asia and Greece 3. Such as Valentinians the third his adultery with Petronius Maximus wife that cost his life besides the sacking of Rome and destruction of the Romane Empire with the death of many thousands bringing in Gensericus King of the Vandalls and all miseries that follow warre and desolation 4. Such as Davids adultery punished with many plagues and crosses in himselfe and his Kingdome and with lewd children 5. Such as the Benjamites adultery with the Levites wife or concubine the rooting out of that tribe and fearfull dissolution Judg. 20. 7. Such as the Israelites adultery with the Midianitish women causing the plague wherein 24000. slaine and the Mideanites and their whorish wives and women utter destruction by Gods command all of them saving the unpolluted virvins 42. In this sufficiently declared the odiousnesse of this soule and crying sin If it be not you have it at least charactered fully in the booke of God and writings of other holy men that describe it in the proper colours with the punishment vengeance due and belonging 1. As whoremongers and adulterers God will judge Heb. 13. 4. 2 Such shall not inherit the Kingdome of God 1 Cor. 6. 9. 3. Adultery is a fire that devoureth to destruction Job 31. 12. 4. Saint Basil saith adultery is the hooke of the divell whereby he draweth us to destruction 5. Gregory it is a furnace whose mouth gluttony flame pride sparkles filthy words smoake infamy ashes poverty and shame It is noted of it it woundeth body and soule goods and good name posterity and all that belong to us to death 43. How is it to be shewed As it woundeth a man or he woundeth himself 1. In his body as well as soule by it and fornication polluted 1 Cor. 6. 13. 2. In his soule polluted and dishonoured Prov. 6 31. 3. In his wife wronged despised Mal. 2. 14. 4. In his children impoverished punished or bastardized threatned and seen in David and his posterity 1 Sam. 12. 10. and Prov. 6. 25. 5. In his goods and estate commonly wasted Job 31. 12. 6. In understanding and judgement Prov. 6. 32. 7. Name and to his dishonour Prov. 6. 33. and so it woundeth every way even to death that it is true of this in an eminent degree lust having conceived bringeth forth sin and sin perfected bringeth forth death 44. But what say you then of chastity in the other side As much by all to be honoured and admired and no lesse seen blessed by God then by all commended 45. How shew you this In that it is remembred as of humility to be the roote continence the girdle temperance the nurse so chastity the crowne of all vertues and all Saints and soules of the just that shall be taken up to Sion and the new Jerusalem in the embleme of this as with the title of Virgins and crowne of chastity in token of their holy desires as redeemed from men the corruptions and pollutions of the world are so onely said worthy to accompany and follow the Lambe and the blessing of Joseph that mirror of chastity on earth doe abundantly testifie 46. How in Joseph In that for his sake the Lord knowing and thereby testifying his innocency many received blessings 1. As his Masters
explained the second petition for our selves or fifth in order with the order and Analysis and parts thereof observed what meant by forgivenesse and debts or trespasses and how we are debtors many waies and say justly our trespasses the condition whereon we aske forgivenesse as we forgive others and also no forgivenesse at Gods hand so how and how far men may and ought to forgive their brethren and their trespasses and who offend against this divers wayes how David Moses and others did curse and the Magistrate punisheth and not forgiveth and who truly or as they ought forgive others whereby the way is discussed the power and authority that the Church and Priest hath to forgive sins both according to the doctrine of the holy Scriptures and expositions thereon of the ancient Fathers and all orthodox Writers and so generally of the whole Church of God in all ages as well as the present Church of England with the right understanding of her tenet in that point and the good use to be made of it whereby confession is explaned how far forth requisite and coldly for the most part now used but the defect of discipline and other inconveninces plainly enough to be perceived issuing from the same so the true and genuine use thereof asserted and cleerly proved by many arguments as aforesaid and more fully by the generall practise of the Church and primitiva times demonstrated whereby the manner how it was by them exercised and so the order of the ancient Church discipline is on this occasion set forth and decyphered and for the present petition here is farther declared what herein we ought to doè or avoid so what is here expressed or intimated thus particularly summed up together and explaned 1. VVHat are the three latter Petitions Concerning us and our necessities for things either 1. Temporall as daily bread Give us this day our daily bread 2. Spirituall As forgivenesse of sins c. Deliverance from temptations 3. Partly spirituall and partly temporall as deliverances from all evill ghostly sin and bodily dangers 2. What the first of these Petitions The fourth of the Lords Prayer Give us this day c. wherein we pray for all things necessary for this present life under the name of bread or dayly bread and this day 3. What is the order Placed before those that desire spirituall things or blessings to shew 1. Our exceeding necessity in this life and so first desire food and raiment without which wee cannot subsist 2. Our Fathers mercy that considereth this our need and weaknesse 3. Our account and use wee ought to make of it since allowed to aske it to use it as a step or degree towards better blessings 4. What contained or to be confidered in it 1. The object bread and double epithetons of it 1. Our and 2. Daily bread 2. The action give and adjoyned circumstance twofold of the persons To us time to day 5. What understood by bread 1. Either spiritually bread of life panis vitae or coelestis Angelorum Manna Angels food Christ and Gods word and Sacraments in which respect it might be well preferred to all the rest of the Petitions but thus more improperly 2. Or temporally the staffe of bread food raiment and all other necessities all other comforts of this life whereby to make bread relish well and us to enjoy it 6. How for the first sense Spiritually taken it may be understood indeed that most divinely for Gods holy word which is food of souls bread of life called by such honorable epithetons shewing the vertue and efficacy to sustain the soule according to that of our Saviour Man liveth not by bread onely but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Secondly also for Christ himselfe who is the incarnate Word and Wisedome of the Father who is the true bread of life and food indeed as thirdly of the Sacraments of his body and blood the spirituall food also of our soules and so this called panis coeli or coelestis Angelorum and the like but not so properly in this place intended since this bread in the first and second Petitions desired where Gods name and glory and kingdome are prayed for and whereas in patriâ wee desire to bee satiated with this heavenly Manna here more properly intended is the panis via or viatorum and that part that concerneth the temporall necessities of this life intimated also by Today and daily and so bread is said to be either Panis Nature of this life Doctrine of Gods word Gratia Christus in Sacramentis Gloriae Christus in Coelis 7. How is the word of God bread As it doth nourish comfort and strengthen the soule as materiall bread doth the body and so noted in these respects of our soules 1. Vivification raising it from death to life 2. Consolation comforting it in that life and against all tribulation 3. Confirmation in goodnesse and against all ill and assaults of the divell 4. Delectation with the heavenly taste and sweetnesse roborating strengthning and illuminating of the heart in the true faith 7. How is Christ the bread of life As the word of God manifested in the flesh to the quickening and raising up of our soules and bodies so panis hominum and as the comfort of Saints and Angels in glory so panis hominum Angelorum c. and so to bee noted this bread of life in I. The Sacraments are to be holâ—ly 1. Prepared for with reverence reached unto with feare received by faith 2. Ruminated with devotion that it may nourish us in Christ and make us one with him II. Heaven doth Satiate without any defect to eternity in glory Delight with eternall sweetnesse maintaine life eternally and so Angels food and as the Psalmist said Man did eat Angels food panem Angelorum thus in grace and glory 9. What then of other naturall or materiall bread As by it we understand the very materiall food of our bodies in this life with all the necessary appurtenances of quietnesse and peace friends house lands or revenewes rayment health and other blessings to make it sweet and comfortable to us as that stay of life the staffe of bread is or is accounted to be so we must remember that it ought to be 1. Got by our honest labour 2. Received with moderation and thankfulnesse and so onely properly our daily bread 3. Imparted to others with us as the poore our bread 10. But why is all food called bread To teach us the 1. Use we should intend for strengthning us the property of bread chiefly not for vanity or voluptuousnesse 2. Moderation that should be as the holy and abstemious men that lived with bread and water onely 3. Blessing if we have it from God it shall be sufficient and having food and rayment to bee content 11. Why say you Our bread To signifie both 1. The love of God that granteth it to be ours by the giving when else we
and Anen 2. Verbe so his actions that are done in truth and his fiat or Amen was the foundation of all creatures 3. Adverbe so it signifies certainly or without end or doubt and so are all his words and truth and such and hence our confidence 21. How is Amen used Either for 1. Wishing as usually in prayer Amen fiat 2. Confirmation or ratification as Gal. 1. 20. 3. Usuall affirmation single in speech Amen I say c. 4. Asseveration doubled as Amen Amen dico vobis even almost to oath Jo. 16. 23. 5. Consent as in many prayers praises in the Church 1 Cor. 14. 16. c. used by the people 22. How here used In any of these present respects as in 1. Our confession of praise and consent to the praises of God 2. Our affirmation or asseveration of his glory and our duty 3. Our wishing and hearty desiring our prayers to be heard 4. Our ratification of our vowes and thanksgiving and confirmation of our faith 23. For what may it serve us then 1. To confirme us in the faith and confidence we should pray with 2. To comfort us in assurance of the promises of God and truth of them 3. To Convince and 4. To condemne us if as gracelesse ones we pray unfaithfully Hypocrites wee pray but dissemblingly 24. In what may we then be assured or confirmed in this faith and confidence 1. In God who hath commanded us to pray and offer this sacrifice of praise 2. In the promises of God assuring us to bee heard if we pray faithfully 3. In the testimony of a good conscience that we pray as we ought faithfully and charitably 4. In the holy Spirit who witnesseth with our spirits and maketh us truly say Abba Father 5. In Christ in whom the promises of God are Yea and Amen and in whom as we say Father at first we may here also most confidently say Amen 25. What followeth in the Catechisme The question concerning the sum and substance of the Lords Prayer SECT 8. The thirteenth Question The summe of the Lords Prayer and all the parts thereof and petitions before rehearsed epitomized and hereby paralelled with the answer to the thirteenth Question As else the preface both severally and other petitions explained In the first petition hallowing Gods name The second petition thy Kingdome come in all the parts and branches thereof and 3. Petition Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven so likewise explicated as the fourth petition for our daily bread and â— Petition for forgivenesse of our sinnes as we forgive others and the 6. Petition for deliverance from temptation and all evill as those before with the conclusion and the whole doctrine in them comprised thus epitomized and explaned An other manner of exposition of the same by some propounded wherein the seven deadly sins in the seven Petitions so by them numbred prayed against and the opposite virtues desired though rather in very deed in every of the petitions are all the said vices and vertues and all others whatsoever plainly deprecated or desired 1. VVHat desirest thou of God in this Prayer I desire my Lord God our heavenly Father who is c. 2. What is here in these words contained An exposition by way of paraphrase of the Lords Prayer and so if we marke it we may find all the parts and petitions of it delivered and expressed in other words a little more at large for our better understanding of the sense and meaning of the same 3. How then shew you the parts and petitions of it particularly 1. The Preface of our Father which art in heaven in these words I desire my Lord God our heavenly Father who is the giver of all goodnesse 2. The first Petition Hallowed be thy name The second Petition Thy Kingdome come The third Petition Thy will be done c. That he will send his grace to me and to all people that we may worship him hallowing his name Serve him in his Kingdome Obey him as we ought according to his will 3. The fourth petition And give us this day our daily bread in these words That he will send us all things necessary both for our soules and bodies 4. The fifth petition To forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them c. in this That he will be mercifull unto us and forgive us our sinnes 5. The sixth petition Not to lead us into temptation but to deliver us from evill in these words That it may please him to save and defend us from all dangers ghostly and bodily and from all sin and wickednesse from our ghostly enemy and from everlasting death 6. The conclusion For thine is the Kingdome power and glory for ever and ever Amen in these words And this I trust hee will doe of his mercy and goodnesse in Jesus Christ our Lord and therefore I say Amen So be it 4. And how doe you more particularly shew the full exposition thereof By considering the substance of what is intimated or expressed in the severall parts and petitions aforesaid 5. How in the Preface In the confession of the great mercy love and compassion of our Father as well as his Majesty and glory in the heavens whither we are to elevate our soules and eyes considering our wants and miseries here on earth and so we say and confesse Him 1. Father of mercy and consolation and fountain of goodnesse Light and Spirits and so of our spirits 2. Our father in Jesus Christ and our loving and mercifull God 3. Who is now and for ever the same Alpha and Omega the first and last 4. In heaven the Throne of his glory by his powerfull presence glorious Majesty The Kingdome of his Church by his graces The hearts of the faithfull by his holy Spirit And thus wee confesse him giver of all goodnesse and elevating our eyes and mindes to heaven say Wee have lifted up our eyes unto the hills from whence commeth our help and to thee that dwellest in the heavens in majesty power and glory most gracious God and our loving father which art in heaven 6. How in the first Petition 1. In our confession of Gods goodnesse Thy name is worthy to receive all honour O thou holy one of Israel and holiest of all holies Our duty and it is fit O Lord wee should set forth thy praise and ever be telling of thy glory and sanctifying thy name Our neglect yet O Lord we have not honoured thee as we ought but rather many wayes prophaned thy most holy name and word and other means of our good Lord we bewaile and give us grace truly to lament our sinnes negligences and offences 2. In our requests our petition and intercessions Lord let thy name bee hallowed by us and all people more conscionably in our lives and all our actions that our tongues may shew forth thy praise and wondrous works and that we may ever be doing good and giving of thankes 3. In our deprecation
Prophets and holy men that had beene since the world began to whom the promise still made or confirmed 38. Who was the Mediator in that Christ one and the same for ever though Moses the type of Christ then seen in his stead to stand between God and the people and making atonement yet Christ so in Moses and to the Fathers in many types and shadowes shewed and to bee seene and Mediator for all flesh with the Father now eternally 39. Who the Authour in the new Testament God the Father also in Christ the Mediator promiser and testator of his mercies and blessings to all his people that observe his Law 40. Who the other party All the faithfull his people on their parts promising to observe his Lawes especially that royall Law of love by which knowne to be his Disciples as which is the summe and fulfilling of the whole Law 41. Who the Dictator of it God himselfe speaking in Christ and Christ himselfe dictating both that Golden rule of Prayer Royall Law of Love All other necessary ordinances to bee observed by his and confirming of the old that were to be confirmed 42. Who the Penmen Both Christ himselfe in the great letters of his most holy life and actions and bloudy characters on the crosse and of his passion blacke letters of his death and buriall as well as glorious and golden letters of his resurrection ascention and sending his Spirit to the comfort of his and writing his Lawes in the hearts of the faithfull besides other holy Penmen and publicke notaries also 43. Who were they The holy Evangelists Apostles and Apostolicall Writers recording it by the assistance of one and the same Spirit the Enditer who also testifieth the same by continuall witnesses and evidence of power unto salvation to the Elect. 44. How signed With his bloud on the crosse on Mount Calvarie 45. How delivered To his Church the Apostles for them and their successors to preach teach interpret keep the same for the use of the faithfull to the worlds end 46. What witnesses Besides a cloud of witnesses then present and eye-witnesses of it thousands else of glorious Martyrs and Confessors throughout all ages testifying the invincible truth with utmost endeavours and dearest bloud in the power and evidence of Gods Holy Spirit 47. How sealed By the same Spirit to the hearts and soules of the Elect in those visible signs or seals the Sacraments representing his graces as engraven in them and presenting or conveighing and confirming the same to their soules 48. What graces in the Sacraments Answerable to their nature the promise in the Covenant and intent of the former Sacraments In Baptisme the Washing of the soul from sin Admission into the Church New birth and life in Christ. Lords Supper the Nourishment of us in the Church Strengthening our souls in the faith Feeding on Christ the bread of life and in remembrance of his death a mortifying our earthly members by repentance and a quickning of us in the Spirit in him raised from death to life and by him living 49. What is this order of this doctrine of the Sacraments to the rest After the doctrine of faith and obedience in the Creed and the Commandements and prayer set forth the meanes of obtaining grace to obey and please God the better come these seales of grace in the last place that after such teaching of the former and apprehension of them by the intellectuall powers of the soule the goodnesse of God descending even to the comfort of sense confirmeth his graces and promise of them by the use and acceptation of visible signes and elements for tokens and pledges of the same 50. How is the number so few as two Because it pleased the Lord so to appoint it and it is also sufficient and fittest as Being Baptisme our admission into the Church The Lords Supper our strengthening and maintenance in the same 51. How is it that five more have been added Not so rightly or properly but rather against the course and consent of best authority and antiquity 52. How say you so Because onely these two are so especially in Scripture acknowledged by our Saviour appointed and generally received by all required to be received and these only properly in all respects the others but improperly and not by all required to be received or acknowledged Sacraments 53. How appeareth this For that besides Scripture the ancient Fathers and chiefe Doctors generall consent and confesse only these two properly so intended As S. Cyprian lib. 2. Epist. 2. ad Stephanum Si utroque sacramento nasc antur they may be throughly sanctified and Sons of God As Saint Augustine de doctrina Christiana lib. 3. cap 9. pauca promult is facta facilima c. the Lord and his Apostles delivered few for many easily to be done divine to be understood and pure to be observed to wit the Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper As Saint Ambrose Tertullian Justine Martyr and divers others confessing the same and the others not to be so properly Sacraments nor capable of a Sacraments true definition in the right sense 54. What is a Sacrament then An outward and visible signe of an inward and spirituall grace given unto us ordained by Christ as a meanes whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof 55. What here to be observed 1. The matter outward sensible singe and audible forme of words accedat verbum ad elementum fit sacramentum Inward spirituall grace represented and to be understood 2. The Authour ordained by Christ for difference from the Sacraments of the old Law and those improperly so called not having his institution 3. The end of it in respect of the use and benefit twofold 1. As a meanes whereby we receive grace 2. As a pledge to assure us thereof 56. How is it found in the Sacraments In the I. True Sacraments expressely in 1. Baptisme the 1. Matter Outward signe element And forme of words Inward grace 2. Authour Christ himselfe and his institution Go teach and baptise in the name of c. 3. End meanes pledge seal of grace 2. Lords Supper the 1. Matter in the outward sign form of words grace 2. Authour Christ himselfe and his institution 3. Ends a meanes pledge and seale of grace II. Others not so 57. How shew you it particularly of them In Matrimony Neither Authour Christ but institution of God in Paradise and in and by nature not grace Matter no visible signe prescribed or forme of words especially by our Saviour appointed End Not pertaining to all but onely who have not the gift of continencie may marry Not meanes or seale or pledge of any grace thereby promised or obtained but a holy estate of life in all that godlily enter into it and necessary for some but as Durand saith to speake strictly or properly no Sacrament 58. What of confirmation As saith Alexander Hales par 4. q. 24. neither did the