Before the iudgement in two thinges first the outward pollicie and administration of his Church vers 11.12 Secondly the inward worke of his spirite verse 11.16 4. The outward pollicie is administred by officers who are men furnished with giftes to worke in the building of the Church verse 11.12 and these are of two sortes first such as teach knowledge vnto which are most commonly ioyned the administration of publike prayers and Sacraments as Act. 6.4 Matth. 28.19 And these I finde to be either extraordinary as Apostles the founders of the church Ephe. 2.20 and their assistants prophets and Euangelists Colos 1.1.2 Tim. 4.5 or else ordinary as pastors to teach by exhortation and teachers to vtter doctrine Rom. 12.2.8 Secondly such as are for practise of life namely elders to bee gouernours 1. Cor. 12.28 and Deacons to looke to the poore Act. 6.1 2 3. and for this cause he hath ordained the eldership Matth. 18.17 1. Tim. 4.14 5. The inward worke of his spirit is faith vnfayned and knowledge verse 13. and the fruites of faith which bee our growing into Christ increasing by his grace loue to edifie each other vers 15.16 Rom. 5.1 2 3 4 5. Here we be taught further fruites of faith wrought by the spirit first that wee bee iustified to haue peace towards God ver 1. Secondly adopted to haue accesse to God ver 2. so opened Rom. 8.14 of this commeth ioy vnspeakeable vers 2. with patience vers 3. and hope by the feeling of Gods loue to make vs bold verse 4 5. CAP. 13. Of the seales of the couenant or Sacraments Ephes 5.25 26 27. 1. Cor. 10.17 These two places teach the doctrine of the sacrameÌ„ts 1. A sacrament is a signe to represent and a seale to applie vnto all beleeuers the couenant of mercy out of both and is expounded Rom. 4.11 2. There be two Baptisme and the Lords supper 3. Baptisme is a signe and seale of our admission into the couenant by the new birth and renewing of the holy ghost this is in the first place to which agreeth Tit. 3.5 The Lordes supper is a signe and seale for the continuall confirming of vs in the same couenant this is in the latter place CAP. 14. Of the last iudgement Matth. 25.31 32. c. This shadoweth out the secoÌ„d part of the administration of Christs kingdom which is the last iudgement Where we may learne two things 1. The manner of Christes comming vnto iudgement namely in glory with all his holy Angels vers 31. 2. The iudgement it selfe which is in two points 1. The wonderfull meeting first of the iudge Christ sitting in the throne of his glory vers 31. Then of the persons to be iudged All nations vers 32. That is all the dead raised in their bodies and all the liuing chaunged 1. Corm 15.52 2. In the Sentence Iudiciall which is generall or common that euerly one shall bee rewarded according to his workes vers 35.42 with 2. Cor 5.10 and also speciall or peculiar for some are pronounced Blessed to inherite euerlasting life ver 34.46 some cursed to goe into eternal paine vers 41.46 1 Cor. 15.24.25.26.27.28 This text teacheth 1. Thereshall be an end when all rule authoritie and power is put downe vers 24. 2. Christ kingdome lasteth till all enemies to him and his Church be destroyed ver 25. 3. The last enemie is death which shall be swallowed vp of life vers 26. 4. At the end he shall giue vp his kingdom to God his father and so touching his manhood he shall bee subiect himselfe that God may be all in all vers 24.27.28 A short and plaine opening of the tenne Commandements THe tenne Commandements teach and command all dueties belonging to God and man in two tables The first table is of our duetie to God in foure precepts shewing what we must do to his person and in his outward worship 1. The first precept teacheth that we owe vnto the person of God to set him onely vp as the true God first in our hearts by true knowledge of his diuine nature attributes Trinitie Gal. 4.8 and by a sure confidence in him to hope loue delight reuerence and feare him aboue things Phil. 3.19 Eph. 5.5 and secondly by our outward profession as Ion. 1.9 and in all our workes Pro. 3.6 His outward worship is in two things 1. The meanes 2. The right applying of the meanes 2. The secoÌ„d precept teacheth the meanes which being negatiue and naming but one thing of mans deuise forbiddeth all mans inuentions in the outward worship of God commandeth onely that which God prescribeth which is either ordinary meanes as diuine adoration Psal 95.6 The vse of his name either simply Psal 68.4 or in an oth Exod. 22 11. meditation on his creatures Psalm 145.1 praier thanksgiuing Psal 50.15 the SacrameÌ„ts Mat. 28.19 and his order in his church Coloss 2.5 or extraordinary as fasting Ioel. 2. feasting Ester 9. vowing Gen. 28.20 and in a lot Prouer. 16.33 The right applying of the meanes of Gods worship is either in the right vse euery day or els in the vse of one day in seuen 3. The third precept coÌ„mandeth vs euery day to vse reuerently the outward meanes of Gods worship putting a part which is his name for the whole being of the samâ— kind and by forbidding the euill commanding the good which is to bee obserued before and in the action and after the action with profite Leuit. 24.11 1. Cor. 11.28.34 Ezech. 33.30.31.32 4. The fourth precept teacheth the vse of one day in seuen to bee put apart from all our owne workes to be dedicated to the worship of God In the congregation by the worke of the ministrie and at home in applying the same to the familie Act. 20.7 Deut. 6.6 The second table is of our dutie to man in sixe precepts which either regard the outward action with consent of will in 5. or els of desire onely in the last The 5. are either speciall dueties or els generall 5. The fift precept teacheth speciall duties by a part for the whole and by proportion commanding all duties of superiours to inferiours and contrary and of equals where this any speciall bond or respect requiring a speciall dutie 2. Sam. 15. 1. Pet. 3.1.7.8 Loue as brethren Generall duties belong either to a maÌ„s person or the things pertaining to him 6. The sixt precept teacheth duties to our neighbours person commanding by a negatiue of euill to procure the safetie of our neighbours â—erson Gen. 4.8 Rom. 16.4 The things belonging to his person are either in him or without him 7. The seuenth precept teacheth our dutie to the things in our neighbour as his body 1. Cor. 6.18 by a negatiue of ill commaunds the pure and vndefiled vsing of our neighbors bodie 2. Sam. 11.2.3.4 Gen. 39.8.9 Without a man are his goods and name 8 The eight precept teacheth by a negatiue that wee ought to preserue our neighbours goods Exod. 23.4.5 9. The
containing two parts what wee are without Christ for he is the a Eph. 2.7 mercie seate and what wee are by Christ The Doctrine 1. 1 Marke streightly No mā can stand before God to be iustified if God should iudge him after his sins 2. 2 Mercie It is his mercy applyed vnto vs by faith in Christ Iesus by which we stand iustified before him 3. 3 Feare thee No man can feare God that is to saye serue God as his childe vnlesse hee bee set free by his mercie 4. 4 Stand. Rom. 5.1.2 To stand is to be in state of grace vnder the hope of the glorie of God And here the Master of the familie may doe well to shew vnto his folke how the Scriptures of a Luk 24.44 Moses the Prophets and Psalmes doe agree in one sweete harmonie teaching one and the same doctrine of saluation and godlynes euen b 1. Tim. 1.14 faith and loue which is in Christ Iesus CAP. 7. Now here follow a few more for confirmation of their knowledge and faith out of the new testament The fift Catechisme for cleerenes of vnderstanding The Text. Matth. 17.5 This is my beloued sonne in whom I am well pleased heare him The interpretation THese wordes are the voyce For the master reade 2. Pet. 1.17 which Peter Iames and Iohn heard in the mount to come from heauen where Christ receiued of God the father honour glorie when there came such a voyce vnto him from the excellent glorie Which thing if the Master tell his familie and demaunde of them first the meaning as they haue learned by other places secondly what poyntes of doctrine they perceiue in it it may bee they will bee found by meanes of the former to doe much in this being very easy For the familie How be it to vnderstand it three things must be found out first who spake the words that is God the father testifying of his sonne teacheth the summe of the Gospell secondly what is ment by this clause In whom whom signifieth Christ and In signifieth such as by beleefe are a So is the clause vsed Colos 2.6 and Rom. 8.1 and 5.1 in him thirdly what is ment by this clause I am well pleased which I take to be that God hath b Ephe. 1.5 Ioh. 1.12.13 decreede in himselfe to engraft all his elect into Christ by faith and so to be well pleased with them being planted by beleefe in Christ The substance then is that God would haue all men know this man Christ who was now in the mount with Peter Iames and Iohn to bee his beloued sonne and that he hath purposed to accept of euery soule that should beleeue in him and therefore commandeth all to heare and obey him The Doctrine or Catechisme 1. 1 This is all the text and is proued 1. Cor. 2.2 Coloss 2.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9 The Gospell consisteth in the true knowledge of the person and office of Christ 2. The doctrine of his person is cleere in that the father calleth this man Christ his sonne so that hee is the sonne of God and man Where this worde Sonne is not to bee vnderstoode in regarde of creation as was c Luk. 3.38 Adam or of adoption as the d Rom. 8.15.16 elect but by c Ioh. 1.18 nature and generation 3. Obserue the distinct person of the father acknowledgeth the distinct person of the sonne to which adde out of Matth. 3.17 the distinct person of the holy Ghost 4. 4 Prouerb 8.30.31 Eph. 1.6 Ioh. 1.14.16 This sonne is called beloued to shew that in the loue the father hath to the sonne there flow the ioyfull streames of loue vnto his elect so that hee is the fountaine of grace vnto vs. 5. Vnto these two poyntes of his person are ioyned two of his office answering vnto them First in the beloued he is well pleased this sheweth the mediation of his Priesthood to GOD for vs Secondly him being sonne he would haue heard this sheweth the mediation of his soueraigne kingdome from the father ouer vs. 6. 6 Expoūded 2. Cor. 5.19.21 The mediation of his Priesthoode that God will haue him come betweene vs and himselfe that our sinnes whereof we are guiltie in our selues being pardoned through him wee might haue his euerlasting fauour vnto saluation 7. This mediation is to be vnderstoode in the parts first that Christ died for our sinnes 1 Rom. 4.25 and rose againe to make vs righteous secondly 2 1. Pet. 3.18 by this meanes hee bringeth vs to God thirdly setteth vs at peace with him 3 Rom. 5.1.2 that wee may haue accesse thorow him to his grace wherein wee stand reioycing vnder the hope of the glorie of God fourthly 4 Ioh. 14.2 hee is gone vp into heauen to prepare a place for vs fiftly 5 1. Ioh. 2.1 hee sitteth there as our aduocate 8. 8 Iam. 1.8 Galat. 1.4 Mat. 11.25 In that hee decreeth to please himselfe with Christ this sheweth our free election adoption iustification and saluation to exclude all mans merits free-will workes foreseene and all the reprobate and to establish an vnspeakeable comfort to the man who findeth that God hath giuen him faith that hee may knowe that GOD hath a Ioh. 6.40 predestinated him vnto saluation in his beloued sonne 9. In him 9 God spake this he will reproue them that put any thing to his word Prou. 30.5.6 1. Cor. 3.11 excludeth vnbeleeuers from this mediation it condemneth all other sauiours and additaments whatsoeuer as stubble for the fire 10. The second parte of his office is his soueraigntie in this Heare him which sheweth his soueraigne authoritie ouer b Psal 2.8.9 all nations which is that he is the chiefe c Deut. 18. Prophet ouer all chiefe or d Heb. 3.1 hye Priest and especially e Phil. 2.8 Eph. 1.21.22 Matth. 28.18 Reuel 19.16 King ouer all Kings powers and principalizies and in all things head to his Church 11. 11 This so taught Luk. 8.15 1. Cor. 1◠1.2 Rom. 16.26 15.18 Vnder this word Heare is commanded our obedience that we should heare him which is with our eares heartes and deedes that is by learning his word by acknowledging it by faith and practising it by works 12. 12 Eph. 2.20.21 Reuel 3.7 Matth. 23.8 1. Pet. 5.4 Heb. 10.9.10 c. and cap. 9.24.25 This word him is spoken exclusiuely that is there is no other head of the Church to rule and make lawes but Christ no other master to teach and prescribe doctrine no other priest to offer or satisfie by sacrifice CAP. 8. The sixt Catechisme for increase of vnderstanding The place of Scripture Iohn 3.16 God so loued the world that he hath giuen his only begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life The Interpretation IN this verse Let the master shewe all this interpretation to his familie
5. temple was not built but by men of all sorts in the time of Salomon and the d Nehem. 3. walles of Ierusalem vnder the guiding of Nehemiah So may priuate men very much further the building of the spirituall temple which is the congregation of Christ The Churches spring out of instructed families And as out of Abraham Isaac and Iacobs house sprang forth the Churches of the Iewes so the glorious congregations of the Gentiles began in the families For if seruants well nurtured e Tit. 2.10 may adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all thinges and f 1. Pet. 3.1 husbands obeying not the worde may without the word be wonne by the conuersation of the wiues how much more may the master of the familie doe vnto God and his Church honorable seruice not only by sanctifying his house by the word of faith but also by hauing alwaies in a readines very notable matter to further the building of Gods dwelling place Which thing is auouched to thee by g 2. Tim. 1.5 and 3.15 with Act. 16.1 young Timotheus who being brought vp in the holy Scriptures from a childe vnder his faithfull grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice when he was yet a very young man became a companion of the Apostle Saint Paul in that great and waightie worke of planting Churches And h Act. 18.24 Apollos cōfirmeth the same who being an eloquent man and mightie in the Scriptures was yet more perfectly instructed in the way of God by the house of a craftsman by whom not onely they which beleeued thorow grace were very much holpen but also the aduersaries of Christ were mightily confuted by the Scriptures Moreouer I pray you to marke diligently how that the disorder of one priuate familie One familie well or ill ordered may saue or destroy both Church Common-wealth namely of one a Iudg. 17. 18. Micah of Ephraim was an occasion that Idolatrie did spread thorowe the whole tribe of Dan and so continued many yeares And so contrarily b cap. 6. 7. 8. Gideon being stirred vp by the goodnes of God to the reformation of one meane familie in Manasseh was the cause of a very great deliuerance to the whole nation from most mightie and cruell enemies and most abominable Idolatrie for the space of 40. yeares Where were those c 1 King 14.14.18 7000. in the daies of Eliah that had not bowed the knee to Baal when he thought there were none left in Israel that feared God were they not in the well instructed families Whence came it that d Gen. 37. 38. 39. c. Ioseph in his youth being sold vnto strangers passed thorow so great temptations the comfortles prison the stocks iron to be so worthie a father of the Common-wealth of Egypt so good a nurse to the people of God Ica name no other outward meanes but his good education in the familie of the faithfull Hence is it written e Eccles 4.13 Better is a poore and wise child then an old and foolish king which will no more bee admonished for out of the prison hee commeth for to raigne when hee that is borne in his kingdome is made poore Therefore God commādeth his people f Deut. 11.18 to lay vp his words in their harts and in their soules c. and to teach them their children speaking of them when they sit in their house and when they walke by the way and when they lye downe and when they rise vp c. that their dayes may be multiplied and the dayes of their children c. Behold then what good may come out of a well instructed familie namely that it may bee the preseruing of the countrie and Church in the time of extreame daunger and darknes the seedplot against the time of reformation and a meanes by which God doth multiplie his people and peace in a countrie and that by the contrarie an whole countrie may fall into Idolatrie and destruction Whereby euery man may see what honorable seruice I wish him vnto when I exhort him to the instructing of his familie Therefore I heartily pray and earnestly entreate all gouernours of families A request to the masters of families that they would set such wise order in the disposing of all their worldly affayres that they may haue conuenient leisure and quiet time for the vse of this duetie taking heede of all vaine excuses Vaine excuses which the diuell and our corrupt nature will set before vs as blockes and hinderances that we should not once meddle with such a Luk. 10.42 necessary matters First The Lords day the Lords day being an ordinary rest time of libertie doth call vnto you from the king of heauen to doe this seruice After morning and euening prayer when you haue tried your people what they haue learned at the Church by their pastour and called to mind the chiefe heads of his teaching then is it good to make it a drinke offering vpon the pastours lessons to teach them a point or two of the principles of Religion Two howers once in the weeke And if it be possible I would begge for these poore soules in the name of Iesus Christ who shed his precious bloud for you and them that you would bestowe some two howers euery weeke in some one of the working daies as euery man shal be able to find best and fittest leasure to instruct your children and seruants according to the order of this booke or some such like and that you would continue therein with al care and constancie And I doe not doubt but you shall see great gaine by this little labour euen a blessing from the Lord our God b Hebr. 6.10 who will not forget any mans faithfull labour and loue which is in Christ Iesus There are foure sortes of people Foure sortes of people haue most fit oppotunity to teach the yonger 1. Noble men Gentlemen whome I would especially moue vnto this most vertuous and laudable worke for that they haue most fitte opportunitie to doe greatest seruice herein to God and their countrie First al noble men and Gentlemen and all Masters of great housholds Whose families as they are the most in number so most commonly they stand vnder the most reuerend and humble submission of their superiours Therefore in regard of the one they may profit most and in regard of the other with most easines and conueniencie Vaine pretēce For although the greatest part pretend it a very hard thing in these daies to bring their familie to Christian knowledge and sobernesse yet the not hauing them so consisteth not in the hardnes of the worke or vnrulines of the people but in the common neglect of many gouernours Who passing ouer this dutie Libertie the spoyle of the familie as a matter either not much to be regarded or not pertaining vnto thē haue so hardeened the
and cause thē to shew it him againe Christ teacheth Nichodemus after many other argumentes to vnderstand the doctrine of regeneration spoken of vers 3. by the cause namely by the first and principall cause which is a God God in whom there is rehearsed no b So loued outwarde cause to moue him but onely that of his owne goodnes his singular loue did this worke namely hee loued c The world the world which by no meanes had deserued it The greatnes of which loue is shewed by the d He gaue worke that he gaue his sonne not purchased by any prayers merits or rewarde of ours but of his free gift And e His sonne what gaue he the earth the heauen cattell infinit treasures heauenly spirits Nothing so yea rather that which excelleth al these things euen his sonne And what f Onely begotten sonne an adopted sonne or counterfeit sonne No but his only begotten sonne And g Not perish but haue eternall life why did hee giue him that we should bestow any thing vpon him or that wee can doe any thing for him Least of all but that he might deliuer vs from euerlasting perdition and giue vs eternall life Vpon what h Whosoeuer beleeueth in l.im. condition that we should do all his lawe and satisfie by contrition pilgrimage or workes of condignitie or supererrogation No such thing but whosoeuer beleeueth in him So that wee with Nichodemus may learne that God giuing his sonne of his singular loue doth work this new birth when by the preaching of the Gospell the spirit frameth in vs faith in Christ and when by faith he maketh vs partakers of euerlasting saluation then doe we enter into the kingdome of heauen And so it is expounded by the a Tit. 3.5.6.7 Apostle God of his mercie saueth vs by the new birth which is shed vpon vs thorow Christ that being iustified by his grace wee may bee made heires thorow hope of eternall life Now there are in these wordes certaine things to bee further explaned that seeing their meaning more cleerely wee may more fitly gather out the seuerall braunches of doctrine First in this word * Loued what loued I vnderstand the goodnes of God according to his eternall decree which is called b Eph. 1.5 The good pleasure of his will As the c Esay 53.10 Prophet also sayth The Lord would breake him c. Secondly I vnderstand this word * World what world for the vniuersall and whole mankinde according to the couenant of God made vnto d Gen. 12.3 which is expounded before Abraham namely that hee loued both Iewes and Gentiles as is plainly taught Rom. 3.29.30 Yet e Reade Deut. 10.14.15 Rom. 9.7.8 Acts. 10.34.35.43 euery particular and singuler person is not meant thereby as Christ expoundeth himselfe when he addeth this limitation that whosoeuer beleeueth c. Thirdly this word * Perish what perish signifieth the miserable condition of mankinde in himselfe by sinne yet when hee sayth should not perish he meaneth not that in this world wee should not dye for a time but that f Ioh. 11 25.26 although we be dead we should be quickened and rise againe vnto eternall life Neither doe I thinke that this bodily death is that death which was threatned to g Gen. 2.17 Adam which is properly the death h Eph. 2.1 in sinne and to bee banished from the presence of God as was Adam Gen. 3. Therefore this is our life to bee i 1. Pet. 3.18 brought by Christ vnto GOD to k Psal 16.11 enioy whose presence is euerlasting life it selfe The summe then is this The free good will of God hath giuen his onely begotten sonne vnto all mankinde that whomsoeuer hee by his spirit thorow hearing the Gospell dooth regenerate and make to beleeue should bee deliuered from eternall death in sinne and obtaine the euerlasting glorie of God As I haue been somewhat longer in opening this most worthie place Direction to the gouernour of the house so I finde here a most large field of Catechisme Where I will obserue this order for the direction of the gouernour of the house whom I perswade my selfe by that time he hath beaten the former Catechismes into his peoples heads shal perceiue them better able to receiue stronger meate I will shewe the manifest beautie of this sentence as a most goodly tree where the master shall guide his folke to gather very many kindes of fruites to the comfortable feeding and nourishing of the soule and how to discerne by the good fruite that which is euill First therefore the doctrines shall offer themselues out of this sentence with most sweete comforts annexed vnto them and in the second place mine hand shall poynt out vnto him how he may descrie vnto his familie the errors contrary vnto the same Vnto euery doctrine I will adde some one place of Scripture for the further enlightning of their vnderstanding The doctrines 1. 1 This is shewed out of the whole sway of the text especially in the words loued gaue and the end of giuing which shewe his liuely working towards his creatures preseruation c. and so would hee bee knowne Exod. 34.6 Malac. 1.2 1. Ioh. 4.16 Psalm 9.16 God is euerliuing the most holy creator and wise gouernour and Sauiour of the world 2. 2 This is expressed sauing of the holie Ghost which is shewed by the effect beleeue which is set for his cause vers 5.1 Ioh 5.7 In this one God are three distinct persons God the Father God the Sonne God the holy Ghost Here he must begin to shewe the distinction of the persons thus 3. 3 This is in a manner expressed sauing of the holy Ghost reade Ioh 15.16 The Father begetteth the Sonne begottē the holy Ghost proceedeth from thē both 4. 4 The beginning of the father to loue and send c. the dispensation it is done by the Son the perfection the holy Ghost worketh faith c. the like Gen. 1.1 Tit. 3.6.7 Heb. 1.2 1. Cor. 12.11 The beginning of euery action is giuen to the Father the dispensation to the Sonne the perfection or consummation to the holy Ghost 5. 5 Made man is in the word gaue for by incarnatiō he was giuen Ioh. 1.14 Mat. 1. all the rest is clecre enough The person and office of Christ person Christ is the onely begotten sonne of GOD made man his office he is our Sauiour 6. 6 1. Pet. 2.9.10 The estate of mankinde by Adams fall is here shewed for vnlesse God had giuen his onely begotten sonne we had perished 7. 7 Eph 1.5.6.7.8.9.10 and cap. 4.11.12 The causes of our saluation and their concurrence and proceeding first the good pleasure of Gods will who freely loueth vs the first cause secondly the matter or meanes he vseth Christ by his incarnation suffering c. thirdly the ioyning of these causes into his forme that is