appointed us to labour six dayes Secondly the Lords own example in Resting also from worke the seventh day and Rested the seventh day Thirdly the Lords institution and appointment of the seventh day to be a holy Rest for his service wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it Quest 6. But is there no worke to be done upon the Sabbath day nor by any manner of persons Answ I answer yes first workes of piety may be done by all in their severall places and in particular by the Ministers of Christ as of old time the Priests did performe their workes upon the Sabbath day Mat. 12.5 and were blamelesse and as men went a Sabbath dayes jorney to the Prophets Acts 1.12 2 Kings 4 22 23. and places appointed for Gods publike worship Secondly workes of Mercy and Charity may be done upon the Sabbath day without blame as being acceptable to God at all times in Christ Jesus Acts 20.9 1 Cor. 16.2 Luke 14.5 and not condemned on that day but appointed Thirdly workes of necessity which require present helpe and could not have been done the day before nor stay untill the day following Mark 2.23 24 25 26 27. Mat. 12.11 12. Luke 13.15 15 16. these workes may also bee done upon the Sabbath day as necessary provision of meate for man or beast the necessary worke of the Phisitian or others for a sick or disseased person or of a Chyrurgeon for the wounded or a Midwife or others for Women in travell all such workes of necessity in truth and without hypocrisie may be done upon the Sabbath day But other Workes which are neither workes of piety of Charity nor of true necessity I believe ought not to be done upon that day Quest But is not the Sabbath day ceremoniall and so to be abolished Colos 2.16 17. or at least to be left at liberty now in the time of the Gospell since the Apostle seemeth to hold forth a Sabbath as a ceremony in that Epistle to the Collossians and before to the Galatians he blameth them for observing dayes and moneths and yeares Gala. 4.10 Is not the Sabbath day then abolished by the Comming of Christ Ans First I answer it is certaine there were diverse Sabbaths which the Jewes were required to sanctifie Levit. 23.38 39 c. Ezek. 20.21 and not to prophane or pollute as is evident by that of the Prophet Ezekiel they polluted my Sabbaths then I said I will poure out my fury upon them Thus in this sence the name Sabbath was applied to all those Ceremoniall Levit. 23.26 27 28 29 30 31 32. Feastivalls yea and daies of Fastings which were to be kept without doing any worke on those dayes as a Sabbath or Rest of the Lord. Levit. 23.15 16. Levit. 25.2 3. Lâ—vit 25.8 9. Againe there was a Sabbath of Sabbaths and a Sabbath of yeares when was the yeare of Jubile and these were Ceremoniall Types indeed and Shadowes with the Sacrifices and services herein And of these I conceive the Apostle speakes as abolished and in which the children of God in the Gospell are not to be condemned Colos 2.17 because Christ who is the body figured by all these is come But he doth not speake of this Sabbath which the Lord commanded to be sanctified in the Decalogue or Ten Commandements at least in no wise of the substance of the Commandement that a Seventh day is to be sanctified as holy to the Lord. Quest 8. But wherefore then is not the Seventh day from the Creation kept as a Sabbath day or by what authority is this Seventh day now sanctified and kept as a Sabbath called in Scripture the Lords Day Ans First Isai 56.2 3 4 5. the keeping of a seventh day for a Sabbath is absolutely morall and perpetuall instituted in Paradise before the fall and in the Decalogue or Ten Commandements given on Mount Sinai and that Commandement bindes to a seventh day for ever Secondly although there be not an absolute command in the New Testament to change the day evidently held forth unto us yet there is Divine Authority sufficient in the constant practize of the Apostles and Saints to meete on this seventh day Acts 2.46 Acts 20.7 8 c 1 Cor. 16.1 2. being then called the first day of the weeke to performe the duties of the Sabbath on this day in Preaching and Hearing of the word and receiving of the Sacrament called breaking of bread and in Prayer and giving Almes and the like as being the Lords owne day as the day of the Lords Resurrection and to be sanctified as the Lords day to meet Christ in all his Ordinances of the Sabbath Revel 1.10 as John the 〈◊〉 Divine was ravished in the spirit and met Christ on that day for the great comfort of himselfe and the Churches of Christ that day then called and esteemed and reckoned to be the Lords own day and so to be kept as the Lords day by the Churches of Christ Quest 9. What is the generall duty required in this fourth Commandement and what light from Christ for this duty Ans To be mindefull of and remember the Sabbath Isai 58.13 Heb. 4.9.10 Mark 1.35 39. or Lords day to keep it as a day of Rest from our own works and bodily labour and as a spirituall rest from the sinfull workes of our soules and bodies and to sanctifie it as a holy Rest in the performance of the Lords Workes of holinesse and his holy service to glorifie the Lord of Sabbath in a speciall manner on that Day Quest 10. What is the generall sinne forbidden in this Commandement Ans All prophanation of the Sabbath or Lords day Isaia 58.13 by ommission of Gods workes or performing of our owne workes or worldly businesse of this life outward in our bodies except in case of true extraordinary necessity or performing of any our owne workes of sinne in bodies or soules as all other dayes so especially onâ— the Lords day or the day of Gods Rest Heb. 4.9.10 and Sabbath Day Quest 11. What are the particular duties required for the sanctification of the Christian Sabbath or Lords day what light from Christ for these Ans They are diverse wee may remember these especiall First a preparation for the right sanctification of this day by minding of it before it come that we may be more fit to serve the Lord in it when it is come and by rising early in the morning as bodily health will suffer that wee may have time to exercise preparative duties before wee come to the publike Ordinances Quest 12. What is the sinne contrary unto this Ans To forget the Lords Day or be so unmindfull of it as either in our own persons or by compelling or suffering our children or servants so long to labour Ex. 12.3.6 Exo. 3.5 Ex. 19.10.15 Deut. 33.3 Mat 27.62 As Amos 4.12 so here and over-wearie our bodies or spirits on
Aegyptian Bondage of Sin and Satan and from the power of Death and Hell Ans The same which God spake in the Twentieth Chapter of Exodus saying I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt and out of the house of Bondage 1. Thou shalt have no other Gods but me 2. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor the likenesse of any thing that is in Heaven above nor in the Earth beneath nor in the Water under the Earth Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God and visit the sins of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me and shew mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments c. Quest 3. These Commandments or ten Words first are or may be the heads of direction for a Christians life who is reconciled to God in Christ and at peace with the Law of God in and by Christ the condemning power of the Law being taken away Rom. 8.1 2. in respect of that man or woman who hath his or her pardon sealed in Christ And secondly it may be as a light to them who are in Christ and have the spirit of Christ to assist and direct to a right understanding of this will of God the Father in Christ But what are the particular branches of duty and obedience to God our Father according to which a Christian ought to declare his or her thankfulnesse and love to the Lord the holy blessed God reconciled to you in Jesus Christ Ans The Lord Christ hath given a more short distribution of these ten Commandments dividing them into two principal Tables or Branches Mat. 22.35 1. Of the love of God 2. Of the love of our Neighbour Quest 4. But are there not in both these Tables many particular sins forbidden as evidences of ingratitude and contrary to the holy will and nature of our God and many particular duties required and directories of our special duties held forth as rules of our thankfulnesse not onely in these two Tables of the Law in general but in every Commandment in particular Ans Yes verily there is not a Commandment either Affirmative requiring a duty or Negative forbidding a sin Isa 1.20 but it infolds several particulars elswhere expressed in the Word of God and necessarily implyed in Luke 10.25 c. Psa 119.125 Gen. 5.24 6.8 9. Luk. 1.6 and to be referred unto the particular Commandments of the first and second Table as lights of truth from the spirit of Christ for our more comfortable christian walking with God by the strength of Christ that great Prince and Law-giver of his Church Quest .. 5. I conceive there are many sins forbidden and many duties commanded But what rules may be observed for finding out particular sins forbidden and duties commanded in every precept of the first or second Table Ans First observe that in the first Table are four Commandments 1. Rule The three first of which are Negative precepts forbidding sin expresly 1. Against God 2. Against his Worship 3. And thirdly against Gods name 4. And the fourth which concerneth Gods Sabbath is partly Affirmative partly Negative This you may finde if you consider the four first Commandments Secondly again the like you may observe in the second Table 5. The fifth Commandment which is the first of the second Table is Affirmative holding forth the duties of children to Parents and so of inferiours to superiours The five last are all set down Negatively forbidding sins 6. First against the life of our Neighbour in the sixth Command 7. Secondly against the charity of our Neighbour in the seventh 8. Thirdly against our Neighbour in his goods in the eigth 9. Fourthly against the good name of our Neighbour in the ninth 10. Lastly against the coveting or desire of doing our Neighbour wrong in any of these even in our hearts in the tenth and last Quest 6. This is the first rule What is a second Ans Secondly consider that in every Negative precept whatsoever sin is forbidden the contrary duty is commanded As in that of Psalm 34.14 Eschew evil and do good both the Negative and Affirmative are expressed First Negative Thou shalt do no evil And Secondly Affirmatively Thou shalt do good So in every Commandment Negative though the contrary good is not expressed yet it is implyed and expressed in other places of Scripture and so to be referred to these Commandments Quest 7. What is a third Rule Ans Thirdly consider that in every Affirmative precept commanding a duty to God or to our Neighbour the contrary sin is forbidden As for example if God command that I should love my Neighbour as my self there he doth by that forbid all hatred of my Neighbour for love and hatred as light and darknesse cannot agree together 2 Cor. 6.14 This is a third Rule Quest 8. What is a fourth Rule Ans Every Commandment forbidding any sin mediatly or immediatly against God or our Neighbour forbids all means occasions kindes and degrees of that sin inward or outward in thought word or deed intention or motion to sin Exod. 34 20. so perfect is the law of God in every particular of these ten Words or ten Commandments For Example in that sixth Commandment Thou shalt do no murther or Thou shalt not kill thy Neighbour In this is forbidden all kinde of murther all rash anger Mat. 5.21 c. all evil provoking words or deeds all murthering thoughts all malice or hatred in the very hearts and so all occasions of murther as our Saviour himself interprets the Law to his Disciples Matthew 5. and so in other commands as forbidding Adultery or the like 2. Again every Commandment requiring the performance of any duty to God or to our Neighbour it requireth that we should by the power of Christ wait upon God in the use of all good means and occasions to perform that duty with every kinde and degree of that duty Mat. 5.44 c. inward and outward even to perfection of sincerity and sincere endeavour at least to Gods glory and the good of our selves and others As when the Lord requireth in the fourth Commandment Isa 58.13 That we should remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy he commands we should sanctifie it in making it our delight not doing our pleasure on Gods holy day or speaking our own words Eph 4.29 but sucn as may be for Gods glory and edification of our selves and others glorifying God and waiting on God for power in Christ in hearing of the Word Preached Prayer Sacraments catechising conference meditation and the like acts of piety charity or necessity Quest 9. Is there any other rules to be observed Ans There might be divers but I will name but one more Every Commandment Affirmative or Negative is spiritual A command of God bindes
the great God That the Lord will blesse and honour them that honour him 1 Sam. 2.30 and extoll them who seeke in Christ to give God the praises due unto his name Quest 28. What may the diligent observation of all these duties commanded and sinnes forbidden with the threatning and promises annexed hold forth unto the sonnes of men or what may this instruct Ans First to wicked and prophane men this holds forth and may teach them to take notice of their miserable condition living in a continuall prophanation of Gods name either in his Titles Word Ordinance or workes of Mercy or Judgement and so of a continuall subjection to the curse of God spirituall and temporall here and to an everlasting curse hereafter Quest 29. What further may such wicked men who are out of Christ learne from hence Ans Not to give sleepe to their eyes with quiet nor take delight in any creature-comfort but waite on Christ in all the meanes of Grace untill Christ make them by his Spirit sensible of their sinne and misery and give them faith and repentance that closing with Christ they may be freed from the guilt and punishment of their sinnes Quest 30. What may the Saints of God learn from hence by light from Christ for instruction 1 Cor. 13.9 Phil. 3.12 13 Ans To see the perfection of this holy Law of God and their owne imperfection and seeke daily to Christ as for assurance of Justification and Pardon of sin so for assured power of Sanctification and increase of strength from Christ that they may be inabled more and more to honour and glorifie the most holy Name of their most blessed Lord God and tender Father in Christ Jesus and that one day they shal glorifie this sacred Name in Heaven with Saints and Angels for evermore The thirty one Classis or company of Questions Question 1. YOu have answered concerning the Third now what is the fourth Commandement Ans Remember the Sabbath day to keepe it holy Six dayes shalt thou labour and do all thy work But the Seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not doe any worke Thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy Man-Servant nor thy Maide-servant nor thy Cattell nor thy Stranger that is within thy gates For in six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the Seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Seventh day and hallowed it Quest 2. What doe you principally observe and consider in this Fourth Commandement Ans First I observed the substance o◠sum of the Commandement set down in the first words Remember the Sabbath day to Sanctifie it or to keep it holy Secondly the explication or further Declaration of Gods will and pleasure in the next words that follow Six dayes shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to doe or all thy worke but the Seventh day is the Sabboth of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any worke thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy Man-servant nor thy Maid-servant nor thy Cattell nor thy Stranger that is within thy gates Thirdly I observe the grand or chiefe reason and ground of this Commandement in the last words For in Six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and nested the Seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Seventh day and hallowed it Quest 3. What doe you consider in the first of these the substance or sum of the Commandement in the first words Answ I consider three things First the memento Remember as holding forth a duty of Minding Deut. 5.15 Genes 2.1 2 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shabath rest Remembring and Observing the Sabbath day before it come for preparation as a day holy to the Lord by his appointment of old even in Paradise before the Fall and as too much forgotten and neglected and therefore he requireth his peple to remember the day with greater observation Heb. 4.10 Secondly I consider the day the Sabbath day or day of Rest the Rest-day a day of ceasing from our owne works as God did from his Thirdly I consider another duty namely the end to remember the sanctification of this Rest day or separating and setting it apart from common and ordinary workes which concerne this present naturall life and a Consecrating of it unto God and to holy spirituall workes such as concerne our spirituall life and these things amongst other I observe considerable in the first expression of the Lord in this Commandement Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Quest 4. What do you consider in the second part Ans First a permission and in this the equity of this Commandement as a strong reason or motive to obedience six dayes shalt thou labour and do all thy worke Secondly a Commission or Commandement to worke for since God made all the seven dayes as he did all the Trees of the Garden Gen. 2.16 17. and as hee might have forbid our first Parents halfe the Trees or all but on e if he had pleased and that without any wrong to them yet did forbid them but one Tree of the Garden So the Lord might have forbidden us to worke in three or foure of the dayes or more yea in all but one day And therefore since hee reserveth but one whole day of Seven for his solemne worship Great cause we should yeild most willing obedience to this Commandement and be carefull to keepe this in a holy rest to the Lord. and yet not mispend the six dayes but worke in our lawfull callings Secondly I consider a declaration of of the Lords right in this as being the Lords own separated day in a speciall manner and therefore a strong reason that man should not prophane this day but keepe it holy This in the next words But the Seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God Thirdly I consider a more generall and full prohibition of all manner of work In it thou shalt do no manner of worke that is of thy own workes for which I have allowed thee six dayes to labour in Fourthly I consider the persons who are prohibited from working in particular held forth in these seven expressions First Thou Secondly nor thy Son Thirdly nor thy Daughter Fourthly nor thy Man-servant Fifthly nor thy Made servant Sixtly nor thy Cattell Seventhly nor the Stranger that is within thy Gates or that is within or under thy power jurisdiction protection or command whatsoever Thou shalt not prophane the Sabbath thy self nor suffer any other in thy power to sin in this respect Quest 5. What do you consider in the third and last part you obsorved the principall reason of the Commandement Ans Frst the Lords owne example in the great work of Creation held forth for our imitation For in six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth The Sea and all that in them is and so the Lord
the evening before as to make our selves or any other under our charge unfit for the Lords service on the Lords Sabbath day when it comes the Lord requiring preparation for as well as performance of a duty Quest 13. What are the particular duties of preparation in the morning before the publike Ordinances Mark 16.1 Ephes 5.16 Ans To rise early and improve as much time as can possibly be spared from workes of necessity in private Reading Catechizing and Prayer in our Familes and in secret meditation and Prayer in our closets for Gods blessing upon the publike Ordinances both inabling the Minister of Christs for their duties and the people of God and our selves in the Ordinances to meete Christ 1 Cor. 10. â— and receive refreshing from Christ to our comfort and to Gods glory Quest 14. What is the particular sinne contrary to this particular duties Ans To mispend the morning of the Sabbath or Lords day by oversleeping our selves or otherwise neglecting reading Meditation Catechizing or Prayer for Gods Ministers the Congregations or our selves or any spirituall duty which wee have time to performe in private or secret and neglect to the disfurtherance of our spirituall refreshing in Gods holy Ordinances Quest 15. What reason can you give that all this is required for preparation to meet Christ in the Ordinances Ans Because in every duty all meanes and helpes to the performance of that duty are likewise required to be made use of As Ex. 36.37 So 1 Sam. 12.29 1 John 3.23 Rom. 10.17 and so the neglect of any one help or meanes of performance and Christs power to performe it must needs be a sinne Quest 16. But how may this appeare that when a Duty is required the use of meanes to performe the duty it required Ans We may illustrate this by an example or two First to believe on Jesus Christ is a duty being the command of God and hearing of Gods Word which is a meanes of faith is commanded likewise as well as to believe Therefore the meanes faith is commanded also as a duty Mat. 13.9 Ex. 19.10 11.28 1 Cor. 11.28 Eze. 36.37 1 Sam. 6.3.6 7. 1 Cron. 15 13. and so helpes to duty as well as duties themselves the like I might say here of preparation to the Sacrament and so the neglect of any helpe or meanes to further the performance of a duty is sinne as to neglect prayers or helpes made and so in particular the neglect of right preparation for Ordinance on the Lords Day for God will be sought and served in a right order Quest 17. You have shewed the duty of preparation for the Sabbath both before it come and in the morning for better sanctification of the day now what is or are the particular duties which respect the Rest of the Lords day and what light from Christ for direction in these Answ To rest from all our owne workes of worldly profit Levit. 23.3 Nehe. 13.25 16. Jer. 17.22 Ex. 16.29 30. Ex. 34.21 or pleasure as from buying and selling carrying of burdens and journeis not of absolute necessity or any other of the like kind of labours though in earing time or harvest except such as are noted before to be workes of mercy and in case of necessity aforesaid Quest 18. What are the particular sins contrary to this duty Ans A pharisâ—icall overstrict Jewish superstition in the bare outward Rest refusing workes of mercy or necessity on the Sabbath day so much as to kindle a fire in a cold season for needfull refreshing or to prepare warme meate necessary the better to inable even the weake for Gods service 1 Macah. 2.37.38 Ex. 35.3 Mark 34 Mat. 12.1 2 3 4 5 9. â— necessary defence from the enemy seeking to destroy or any of the like nature Christ having eased us of this strictnesse declaring the Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath for mans good not hurt and respecting mercy above sacrifice Quest 19. What other particular sinnes are there contrary to the rest of the Sabbath or Lords day Ans To prophane this day by bodily unnecessary labours Levit. 15.32.35 Nehe. 13. Jerem. 17. or workes which might have beene done the day before or may be deferred untill the day following or by buying or selling bearing of burdens any the workes of mens ordinary worldly calling for worldly profits Isai 58.13 or by words of conference about such worldly things for our profit or the like Quest 20. It is evident this labour for profit is prohibited what thinke you of carnall pleasures and pastimes upon the Sabbath or Lords daye in gaming sporting to sit gazing at their dores or otherwise mispending of pretious time on the Lordâ— day Ans They are unlawfull also as being the sinfull practize of Idolaters in their Feasts and holy dayes Ex. 32.5 6 or the practice of prophane irreligious people hindering the improvement of that spirituall refreshment the soule hath or should receive in the Ordinance Isai 51.13 Colos 3.16 1 Cor. 10.31 and unbefiting Christians whose delights should be spirituall and heavenly in a sweet Communion with God in Christ and one with another in spiritull graces and exercise of them But in these carnall delights men rather dishonour then honour God as becommeth Christians Quest 21. You have declared the duties commanded and sinnes forbidden concerning the rest of the Sabbath is there no more required Genes 2.3 Exod. 20.8 Ans Yes there is a sanctification of this rest also commanded in all deligent practize performance of and attendance on Christ in all the Ordinances of Christ both private before we come to the Congregation Levit. 23.3 Ezek. 20.12 and publike when wee are present in the Congregation and private and secret duty when we returne home to our houses and Families Quest 22. You have already shewed the duties of preparation in private before wee come to the publike now what are the publike duties in which the people of God ought to sanctifie this rest and glorifie God in this his day and what light from Christ to enable for these Ans They are diverse but you may observe these that follow and first a timely presence in the house of God to be ready as one man to joyne with the Minister of Christ in publike Prayer to God for a blessing upon the worke of the day and his owne ordinances Gen. 28.16 17. Nehem. 8.1.23 and the pious endevours both of Christs Ministers and people every one being ready with the Congregation to heare what Gods Ministers shall speake unto them from God Acts 10.33 Quest 23. What is the particular sinne contrary unto this duty Ans A negligent late comming to the house of God not being ready to joyne with the Congregation in the beginning Eccles. 5.1 1 Cor. 14.40 and so are more ready to offer foolish Sacrifices then to heare and joyne with the Congregation as good order in the
Church of God requires Quest 24. What is a second duty in publike Ans To joyne devoutly and understandingly with the Minister and Congregation in Prayer not onely attending with the eare to every confession of sinne petition for grace and all the powrings out of the Ministers soule in Prayer but with thy minde and heart to goe along with the Minister of Christ and to pour out thy soule with him and all the rest of the Congregation in every confession request or giving of thankes to God saying Amen in thy soule Psal 85.8 Phil. 4.13 Rom. 8.26 27. and in faith expecting a gratious returne of your prayers in Gods due time and this not in thy owne strength but by the assistance and strength of Christ and the spirit of Christ helping our infirmities and inabling the soule to wrastle with God in prayer Gen. 32. Quest 25. What is the sinne contrary to this duty declared Ans Not to attend diligently with our eares or to wander and be distracted in our mindes and hearts in time of Prayer or not to goe along with the Minister of God and heartily joyne with him in Prayer according to the Word of God and rule of Christ or to do this in a dead manner without any affection or life in Prayer or not to pray in faith and in faith expect an answer and gracious returne of our petitions put up rightly in matter and manner in the name of Christ John 19.23 Quest 26. What is a third duty in publike for sanctification of this blessed Sabbath and rest day of the Lord Ans This concerneth both the Ministers and People of God Ezra 7.10 Nehe. 8.8 Ezek. 3.17 Acts 20.20 21. And first the Ministers duty is to Reade Expound Catechize and Preach the Word of God without respect of persons in faithfulnesse sincerity and godly wisedome not with intising words of mans wisdome but in evidence of the spirit and of power and as becomes the Ministers of Christ Quest 27. What is the Ministers sin contrary to this duty Ans To neglect Expounding and Preaching of the Word or Catechizing or to doe it unfaithfully with entising words of mans wisdome and otherwise then becommeth the Gospell of Christ Quest 28. What is the peoples duty in this particular and what light from Christ for this Ans To attend diligently in the hearing of the Word or Catechizing to the voyce of Gods Ministers Acts 15.14 15. or to the Word of God as it is indeed the Word of God and not of man and that without wandring or sleeping with hunger after the mind of Christ in the Word and with faith and obedience as becommeth the children of God to the wil of their Heavenly Father Heb. 4.2 Quest 29. What is the sin contrary to this duty of the people Ans To neglect hearing of Gods Word or Catechizing or to heare it carelessely without devotion Faith Love or Obedience unprofitably either in respect of Gods glory or our owne salvation Quest 30. What is a fourth particular duty in which this rest-day or Lords day is to be sanctified Ans In a right communicating and partaking of the blessed Sacrament according to Christs institution Gods people being clothed upon with the wedding Garment as is declared at large in the former part of the Catechisme Quest 31. What is the contrary sinne to this duty Ans To neglect the Sacrament 2 Chron. 30. As 1 Chron. 15.13 1 Cor. 11.28 29 30. or not to receive it in a due and as right order to Gods glory and our own refreshing in Christ Jesus Quest 32. What are the duties to be performed in private in our Familes after the publike Ordinances are ended Ans Repetition and conference one with another of what we have heard Parents taking account of their children and Masters of their servants what they have remembred searching the Scriptures and examing by the Word what hath been delivered by the Minister of Christ Acts 17.11 12. in Catechizing those under our charge meditation and earnest Prayer unto God for a blessing upon the Word and Sacraments received and strength from Christ to bring forth fruits as Trees of righteousnesse Isaia 61.3 the planting of the Lord that hee may be glorified Quest 33. What is the sinne contrary to this duty Ans A meer resting in the outward hearing of the Word or partaking of the Sacrament and publike ordinance without any care of profiting our selves or Families by Repetition Conference searching the Scripture Catechizing or Prayer in our Family oâ— closets for a blessing endeavouring by the power of Christ to practice in our lives what we have heard and learned as the truth is in Jesus the neglect of any of which is sin Quest 34. This is a strict rest indeed and a strict sanctification of this rest is there any more required Ans Yes a giving of Almes and performing workes of charity and Mercy 1 Cor. 16 2. Nehe. 8.12 and that freely and liberally according to our ability and as the necessities of the Saints require Quest 35. What is the sin contrary unto this duty of Charity Ans To give no Almes and neglect workes of charity and mercy though God hath given us ability to helpe the afflicted brethren in their time of neede Quest 36. Here are many outward acts of duty to bee performed are there noâ— some inward and spirituall required also Ans Yes it is required that the childdren of God should make the Sabbath his delight and keepe a spirituall rest from sinne of omission or commission and so keepe a spirituall and holy restj indeed Heb. 4.9.10 11 c. Isai 58.13.14 as all the dayes of our lives from sinne so especially on the Lords day a preperation to that eternall Sabbath and rest from all sinne and misery which we shall enjoy for ever in the Kingdome of Heaven Quest 37 What is the sinne contrary to this duty of delight in the Sabbath and spirituall rest from sin Ans To be weary of the Sabbath or Lords Day to say or thinke as those in Amos when will the Sabbath be gone Amos 8.5 Isaia 1.12 13 14. when will the Sabbath be gone And not to rest from sin but to doe the Devills worke on Gods Day to swear to drinke tipling and distempering themselves to Whore Amos 5.21 or keepe company with Harlots Jer. 5.7 or abuse Gods Day in any wickednesse whatsoever and so to make even our outward performances odious to God and to all good men Luke 13.25 26. endangerinâ— the soule and body to a restlesse condition in Hell fire for ever Luke 16.24 Quest 38. This is a most perfect Law indeed that requireth all this in one of the Ten Commandements but J pray you who is bound to performe this duty Answ The Commandement it selfe holdeth forth this in the next words Thou thy Sonne thy Daughter thy Man-servant thy Maide-servant nor thy Ox nor thy Asse nor
the Stranger that is within thy Gates That is thou and all that are in thy power without exception Quest 39. But wherefore doth the Lord give this speciall command and direction to his people not onely for themselves but for all under their command Ans That Gods children being carefull and dutifull themselves and diligently performing their duties to all that are under their charge they might not be partakers of other Mens sins Quest 40. But how may one man be guilty of another mans sinne what light have you from Christ to reveile this Ans One may be guilty of another mans sin divers wayes First when a superior commands an inferior to commit a sinne and the sinne be committed of this the superior is guilty as Saul was of killing the Lords Priests 1 Sam. 22.18 2 Sam. 11.15 when hee commanded Doeg to do it and wicked Doeg did it accordingly David kild Vrias by Joab and the sword of the children of AmmoÌ„ And so Iezabell was guilty of that sin of the sons of Belial 1 Kings 21 10. who did beare false witns against Naboth for his Vineyard and thus Magistrates or masters or parents are guilty when they command their subjects or children or servants to prophane the Lords Sabbath Quest 41. What is a second way of being guilty Answ When superiors have power and doe not hinder but suffer inferiors to commit sinne 1 Sam. 3.13 as old Eli suffered his sonnes and did not punish them nor restraine them as hee ought and so when Parents suffer their children or Masters their servants to prophane the Lords Day They are guilty of their childrens sinne and servants sinne Quest 42. What is a third manner how one man may be guilty of another mans sinnes have you any light from Christ for this Ans Wen one man giveth another wicked councell to commit sinne as when Ahitophet counselled Absolom to commit wickednesse with his Fathers concubines 2 Sam. 16 21. or Herodias counselled her Daughter to aske the head of John Baptists Mark 6.24 or when a Master or Father adviseth or counselleth his sonne or servants or any under his charge to prophane the Sabbath Quest 43. What is a fourth manner Ans When Minister or people man or woman doth consent to sinne in others Acts 8.1 Eze. 3.18 or not reprove sin as Saul before his conversion consented to the death of blessed Stephen the Martyr of Christ and for Prophets not to warn the wicked Levit. 19.17 so when Parents or Masters consent to their childrens and servants prophanation of the Lords Day when as they should not suffer sin to lie upon them but reprove them rather So when unworthy Receivers are suffered without any admonition or reproofe Quest 44. What is a fift manner of being guilty Ans When one Man or Woman provokes and stirreth up another to sinne 1 Kings 21 25. as Jezabell provoked Ahab to commit wickednesse and Jobs Wife her Husband to curse God and die Job 2.9 And so when Parents or Masters provoke and stirre up their children or servants by Labour or Pastimes to prophane the Sabbath Quest 45. What is a sixt manner of becomming guilty of other mens sins Ans When men grow to such a height of impudency as to defend other mens sinnes Who call good evill and evill good Isai 5.20 1 Kings 22 6.11.24 1 Sam. 15.22 as wicked Zedechiah defended wicked Ahab in his sinfull course and Saul defended the peoples sin as Lawers plead in unjust causes or when Parents or Masters or any other will plead for Baal and defend the sinnes of their children or servants or Neighbours when they prophane the Lords Day all these ways at least may men be guilty of other mens sins Quest 46. Most certaine the Lord is a most holy God and is Law a most holy Law and perfect rule of holinesse which holdeth forth to us so many duties and so many sinnes in one Commandement of the Sabbath day and sanctification of the rest what use therefore my the knowledged of this truth be of unto the sons of men Ans First concerning wicked men out of Christ the many duties commanded Jer. 17.27 Gâ—lat 3.24 Acts 8.21 22. and sinns forbidden may cause them to tremble for feare of the curse and wrath of God due to them for their prophanation of the Lords day and so be a Schoolemaster to bring them to Christ to see if they may finde pardon and escape the curse and damnation Acts 13.38 39 1 Thess 10 Secondly concerning saints in Christ the Meditation of these things may likewise minde them of Christ First Christ as a justifyer without whose Righteousnesse and Merits they could not be saved 1 Cor. 1.30 and in whom salvation is their portion 2 Cor. 5.17 Secondly Christ as a sanctifyer in whom there is holinesse and power to sanctifie this holy rest this blessed Sabbath as the Lords day in all holinesse and righteousnesse to Gods glory and good of our own soules Quest 47. What benefit is this to the Church that the Lord hath ordained Mat. 28.6 9.17 18. and by his Resurrection and appearing to his Disciples so often one that day consecrated this holy Sabbath Mark 1â— 12 Luk. 24.13 as a day to and for himselfe and for his speciall service and ordinances wherein he now appeareth to his Church Ans A speciall cause of joy that the Saints may once a weeke be as it were in Heaven with Christ meeting Christ in his glorious Ordinances Luke 24.33 34.36 1 Cor. 16.1.2 Mat. 18.20 Ex. 25.21 22. Isai 66.11 John 15.4 5 6. Heb. 4.9 Revel 14.13 and sucking the brests of consolation in all his gracious promises so receiving the sweet juyce and sappe of the life of grace to nourish us in this time of trouble to that Kingdom of glory that eternall Sabbath of rest and peace for ever Quest 48. What is the principall motive or moving cause to stir up and draw the heart of a child of God and your soule in particular to desire and labour in all sincerity and faithfullnesse to glorifie God in a full obedience to every duty commanded and in a full avoyding of every sinne forbidden in these foure Commandemmts or first Table of the Law of God Ans The free love of God in Christ to my soule John 3.16 in the free gift of his onely begotten Sonne and the free love of God the Sonne John 10.15 the Lord Christ himselfe in giving himself and laying down his Life for mee 1 Cor. 5.14 15. to reconcile mee to God and to procure for mee grace and glory this doth constraine mee with a kind of holy and sweet violence or rather powerfull attractive or loadstone of love to love my God againe and to declare my love in a loving Isai 16.9 Psal 119.6 ready willing faithfull and cheerfull obedience yea sincere desire and endevour to fullfill every one of the
if Christ do not un-Church for this fault nor for personal corruptions of particular members then what say you of those particular persons men or women who will and do not onely Separate from but un-Church those Churches and Congregations where they cannot deny but the Gospel hath been comfortably preached and Sacraments administred so as they have been converted conceived in the Womb born again and received Isai 66. suck from the Brests of consolation for nourishment of the life of Grace in them Matth. 18.20 in which Churches they have often met Christ in his Ordinances of the Word and Sacraments in prayers and praises to their comfort And yet now for particular failings it may be for want of full power in the Congregation to exercise Reformation as they desire do brand the Churches and Congregations of Christ with the name of Antichrists Synagogues and the faithful painful Ministers of Christ Baals Priests Lims of Antichrist no true but false and counterfeit Churches and not Ministers of Christ indeed as they judge but of Antichrist himself Ans Truely howsoever some weak Christians may be seduced by deceivers and led into this errour yet it appears divers of these spirits have either none or but little of Christ or true Christianity in them for a man to call his mother whore it would be very uncivil and unchristian although she be sick and weak and faln into divers noysome diseases it is his duty rather to seek first to God and secondly to the Physitians and use all good means for the recovery of her health not separate from and leave her to death and desolation without respect Simile Is it a Christian course when two or three are sick or faln lame in a Family to forsake the house without taking care or affording help and assistance for recovery of a brother sister or fellow servants How will the father or master of the family take this certainly if a murderer must be destroyed when the great King Christ shall come to judgement These that kill in not endeavouring to save life shall not escape unpunished except in time God open their eyes and in and by Christ Acts 5.32 give them repentance let such then repent and return and assist in Reformation not go on in Separation from the Church Quest 31. But what if men be forbidden by Law and men of power to use those means which might by Gods blessing reform such corrupted persons or heal such sick Congregations Ans Howsoever any new course of Discipline or that great censure of excommunication may be forbidden by some acts except they be repelled and so in some course directed by authority of Parliament yet no Law forbids brotherly and neighbourly Exhortations Admonitions Reprehensions Counsels Instructions out of Gods Word Prayers and Supplications and such like and all these should be used for Reformation and not fall to a rash and offensive Separation to grieve the souls of weak Brethren and harden wicked men which it may be by good means and Gods blessing might be reformed and reclaimed as I have shewed in former Classes of this Diologue But God giveth us good hope of authority sufficient in a Christian humble way to reform our Congregations and if some blemishes be not reformed yet a Church may be a true Church if it hold forth the substantial and necessary truth of the Gospel and professed subjection thereunto though many failings and corruptions be botn in particular members and the Church in general 1 Cor. 5. Gal. 1. Revel 2. Revel 3. witnesse the Churches of Corinth of Galatia Ephesus Pergamos Sardis and Philadelphia and many other ancient and modern Churches of Iesus Christ and yet esteemed true Churches as the Church of England Scotland France Bohemia Belgia Geneva the Churches of Holland yea the Churches of London and our particular Congregations though they be too full of corruptions may and ought to be esteemed true Churches at least where true Saints are joyned together in the enjoyment of Ordinances although in mixed Congregations Quest 35. You have given me good satisfaction thus far what is a true visible Church of Christ or the matter of a Church and who are visible Members and of the houshold of faith to and with whom we may exercise our Christian love and charity But how can Infant-children of beleevers baptized in their infancy which can neither professe the Faith of Christ or their Faith in Christ nor shew any subjection to the Gospâ—l agree to your description of a visible Church or how and when and in what manner can these be accounted Members of the visible Church of Christ Ans This is the next manner of admission to Church-membership to be held forth unto you to shew who are Saints and of the houshold of Faith and who is our neighbour and fellow Saint to and with whom I ought to exercise this Christian love and charity even children according to their capacity as well as men of riper yeers Quest 33. But how or in what manner have children of beleevers been admitted and esteemed or reputed members of the visible Church Ans How the children of faithful Abraham and professors of Faith were admitted in the Old Testament Gen. 17. First in infancy to the Sacrament of Circumcision and after to the Sacrament of the Passeover Exod. 12. especially when they were come to yeers of discretion so far as to be able to enquire of their parents the reason of that service Neh. 10. And so to covenant solemnly with God when they were of knowledge and understanding I have shewed before Now for children of beleevers in the New Testament there are two things to be considered First their admission unto Baptism as the children of Abraham in the Old Testament were to Circumcision in infancy and so they were used to be admitted to a true Infant-membership of and in the Church and were and are to be reputed as true visible Infant-members of and in the Church of Christ and visible Infant-saints in judgement of charity Mark 10. and such as of which is the Kingdom of God as our Saviour speaks And this is a true and compleat admission in respect of truth to outward membership though I cannot call it a compleat and perfect membership in respect of perfect visibility and declarative subjection to the faith and profession of the Gospel which they are to declare themselves when they come to yeers of discretion as before in part I observed Quest 34. What reason is for this Ans The cause of those four particulars in Baptism we declared in the example of the Eunuchs baptizing 1. A desire of Baptism 2. A profession of Faith in Christ and subjection unto it 3. An intimation of Covenant and an embracing of Christ and Faith and Covenant union with Christ the head of his Church and in him with members of his mystical body 4. And last of all the receiving of the seal as a patient and
sighs and groans of the spirit unto God at least in our desires Iam. 5.10 Rom. 8.26 27. 9. By way of Covenant Ier. 50.4 5. or renewing of our Covenant and performing our Vows to the Lord. 10. With perseverance giving the Lord no rest until according to his promise 1 Thes 5.17 Gen. 32.10 11. Isa 62.6 7. he grant the lawful desires of our souls so far as they may be for Gods glory and the good of his Church or that he make Ierusalem a praise in the earth Quest 24. What are the particular sins contrary to these particular duties in Prayer Answ There are divers particular sins opposite to these duties relating to the manner of prayer and especially these that follow First it is a sin to pray ignorantly not understanding to whom Mar. 10.35 c. in whose Name or for what we pray Heb. 11.6 Iam. 1.6 7. Secondly to pray without faith or any eye to a promise that we may have ground to hope for obtaining of that we desire Gen. 4.5 Isa 1.15 Pro. 28.9 Iudg. 10.10 c. Thirdly to pray without repentance so as God will not accept our persons or prayers but both are abominable in his sight Ier. 14.10 c. 4.14 Mat. 15.9 Fourthly to pray without reverence and devotion with wandring imaginations or vain distractions in this holy service Isa 15.1 c. Fifthly to pray formally without sincerity Luk. 18.11 12. Iam. 4.6 Sixthly to pray without humility ot sense of our own unworthinesse or submission to the holy will of the most blessed God August Confes lib. O Lord give me chastity but do not give it yet Seventhly to pray without spiritual fortitude or any wrestling with God or to pray faintly as Augustine before his conversion for chastity as desiring and not caring whether his petition was granted or not Eighthly Psal 77.1 2. to pray without zeal or fervency without sight or sense of the want or what we pray for Mark 2.19 29. or of the misery under which we lie without sorrow of affliction of spirits for the absence of Christ in respect of that present distresse in which we are Ninthly Gen. 35.1 to pray without renewing our Covenant or paying our Vows unto our God Tenthly Iohn 15.4 1 Sam. 12.23 to pray without perseverance to surcease or leave off prayer to this great God for our felves or for the Church and people God Quest 25. What should the meditation of these sins evein in our prayers work upon the souls of men Ans First to the wicked men out of Christ Pro. 28.9 21.4 it may be a Schoolmaster to ead them to Christ teaching them that even their prayers and much more their plowing is sin and therefore they should not eat nor sleep in quiet until they come into Christ and finde pardon Quest 26. But what may it teach Gods Children Ans First to see that when we have done all thtt we can we are unprofitable servants we can do no duty so well as we should and therefore stand in need of Christ and Justification by Christ without whom there is no salvation Acts 4.12 Secondly to call to minde that our Sanctification is imperfect and therefore we had need of Christs vertue daily to nourish the life of grace in our souls that we may be more able to call upon God and do him service Rom. 8.26 27. wich joy and comfort in and by Christs spirit Quest 27. You have opened the duties commanded and particular sins forbidden as they relate to Prayer ordinary Now what are the duties commanded and forbidden in respect of Prayer and fasting extraordinary practised by the Church of God Lev. 23.17 c. Iosh 7.7 c. Iudg. 10.28 1 Sā 7.6 Acts 14.23 Ionah 3.6.7 Mal. 2.2 Neh. 1.4 c. Ans Prayer extraordinary and fasting used by the Church as an outward help and furtherance to fit for Prayer is Prayer joyned with fasting or abstinence from ordinary labours and corporal refreshments so far as strength and fitnesse will suffer in sense of our unworthinesse Ot any creature-comforts and of our worthinesse that all temporal blessings should be cursed unto us for our sins that being truly humbled with sigh and sense of our sins Mark 2.20 Ps 85.8 Rev. 8. 4 5 6. and subjection to miscry by Christs absence or seeming absence from our selves or any other Saint in particular or from the Church of God in general either in respect of spiritual graces or want of the manifestation of Christs power and presence to help in any distresse we may seek the face of God in Christ with greater earnestnesse and finde a return of our Prayers with more joy in the Lord who is the hearer of Prayer in and through the mediation and merit of Jesus Christ Quest 28. What are the sins contrary to this duty of extraordinary Fasting and Prayer Ans To refuse or neglect Humiliation with Fasting and Prayer Isa 22.12 c. 58. 3 c. when the Lord calls for it or to perform the duty formally or by halfs not fully as the Lord requireth Quest 29. You have declared the duties required and sins contrary in Prayer Now what are the duties commanded and sins forbidden in respect of praises and thanksgiving unto the Lord and first in general Psal 50.15 23. 103.2 3. Ans It is the duty of every childe of God in Christ to glorifie God in all thankfulnesse for all deliverances from danger Rom. 12.1 or any other mercies received either spiritual or temporal Quest 30. What ia the contrary sin forbidden Deu. 32. 5 6 7. Luk. 27.17 Hab. 1.16 Isa 42.8 Ps 110.12 Ans To be ingrateful by sinning against God or to neglect to glorifie God for his favours bestowed or to sacrifice to our own nets or give the praise to any other which is due to God Quest 31. What are the particular duties required in Thanksgiving Ans There are divers you may observe these four First An acknowledgement of the blessings and graces which the Lord hath given us Gen 32.10 Neh. 9.5 to be far above all that we can do and above and beyond all thanksgiuing and praise that can come from us Gen. 28.20 21. Psal 16.5 6 7. Secondly A contentment in the lot and condition the Lord is pleased to order for us in his good Providence Acts 17.26 Ps 66.4 Thirdly A Declaration of Gods mercies bestowed upon us to others to Gods glory Ps 118.5 95.1 2 107. 8 c. Fourthly An Exhortation and stirring up of others to glorifie God with us for the Lords mercies Quest 32. What are the contraries of these duties Ans They are all sins As 2 Chron. 35.25 Ion. 4.8 9. First not to acknowledge Gods mercies and give the Lord thanks for them Secondly 2 Kin. 6.33 to be discontented at the Lords disposing of us either in prosperity
known by names Acts 9.15 whether it be by his proper Names or Titles Exod. 3.15 Exodus 6.3 As Jehovah Jah Lord God 2. Or his Attributes Eternall Invisible Omnipresent All-sufficient Immortall Unchangeable or the like and for the Justice Mercy Goodnesse Truth or any Attribute of that nature 3. Or his word The Scriptures of Truth and Gods Will and Ordinances revealed there Sacraments Prayer c. 4. Or whether it be Gods Worke of Decree Creation or Providence Judgment Mercy or the Glory or Honour of God in these or any way whatsoever Quest 4. What is meant by taking of Gods Name or taking it up as the Hebrew is rendred Ans Thou shalt not take or take up or touch the holy Name of God Psal 16.4 Psal 50.16 either in thoughts of thy heart or in the words of thy mouth or in thy workes of life and conversation Thou shalt not make any use of the Name of God in any respect or of Religion or any part or Gods worship in vaine Quest 5. What is meant by taking or touching this Sacred Name of God in vaine Ans Mat. 5.34 35 36 37 Levit. 19.12 Psalme 111 9. To take or touch Gods Name in any respect unnecessarily without weighty reasons when it may be to God honour or to my own or my neighbours good Secondly irreverently without feare of dishonouring the holy Name of the holy blessed God Thirdly falsely in speaking or swearing falsely or abusing the Name of God erroneously hypocritically or dishonorably in any manner whatsoever in word life or profession Quest 6. Now having thus explained the precept tell mee what is the generall sin forbidden in this generall prohibition Ans That we should not dishonour God in taking up in our mouthes Deut. 28 58. Exo. 3.13 14 15. 1 Cor. 11.17 18. Psal 50.26 Rom. 2.24 Mat. 12.31 using or abusing this holy Name vainly or any his Titles and Attributes Words Ordinances or Workes or whatsoever the Lord is known by as men are known by their names either in our Hearts Words Lives Profession or any manner of way or by any meanes whatsoever knowing we must answer for every idle word at the day of Judgement Quest 7. What is the generall duty required and implied in this Commandement or the affirmative part contrary or opposed to this negative Ans That wee should honour and glorify Gods Name Mat. 6.9 1 Cor. 6.20 Mat. 5.16 Isaia 26.9 10. Psal 14.1 Job 1.5 Psalme 50.23 and seeke his glory in a holy use of his Name Attributes Word Worship Ordinances and Works of Judgement or Mercy or whatsoever the Lord is pleased to manifest himselfe in or by for his own glory or the good of his Church and children and this in all our Thoughts Words and Conversation Quest 8. You have declared the Generall sinne forbidden and the generall duty required Now what J pay you are the particular duties commanded and sinnes contrary to these forbidden in this Commandement Ans There are many but I will observe these few 1 Pet. 3.14 15. 2 Pet. 2.8 Ex. 32.19 Num. 25.9 Psal 69.9 1 Kings 19 10. John 2.14 15 16 17. Revel 3.19 And the first is a holy and reverent and sincere and right ordered zeale of the glory of God in our hearts and lives This zeale of Gods glory is a duty required in this third Commandement and with this holy zeale have the Saints glorified this holy and dreadfull Name the Lord our God Quest 9. What are the contrary sinnes to this true of the honour and glory of God and his Name Ans First a lukewarmenesse Kings 18.22 Revel 3.15 Acts 18.17 1 Sam. 229 1 Sam. 3.13 1 Cor. 5 2 and base nutrality in the cause of God and Religion a halting betweene two opinions without any care or zeale of God or his Truth or of his Honour and Glory Secondly an ignorant superstitious hypocriticall or praeposterous zeale of Evill or of Good in a false manner Quest 10. What is a second particular duty required to set forth the glory of God and honour his sacred Name and what light from Christ for this duty Ans To glorifie God in his glorious Workes of Creation and Providence Psal 19.1 2 observing and speaking of Gods Wisdome Power Goodnesse Justice and Mercy or any other his Attributes giving God the glory of all both in consideration of his Creation and Government of the World Romans 33.34 and his workes of Justice or Mercy to the wicked or to his own children Quest 11. What is the contrary sinne to this honouring of Gods Name in respect of his works â—sal 104 Isaiah 26.9 10. Psal 147.1 2. 26 c. Ans To neglect the glory of God or to dishonour his Name in the observation or disregard of Gods Wisdome Power Justice or Mercy held forth in his great Worke of Creation or Providence Judgements or Mercies Ordinary or extraordinary ungodly men or to the Saints of the most high not learning Righteousnesse or dishonouring Gods Name in any of these Quest 12. What is a third particular duty required for the honouring of Gods Name and what light from Christ for direction in this particular Ans To glorifie Gods name in the sacred use of Gods Word 1 Cor. 10 31. Sacraments Prayer or any of his Ordinances and in our Profession of the faith and service of God in Jesus Christ in the Gospell of grace serving the Lord in spirit and truth 1 Sam 2.30 and exalting the glory of Gods Name in every particular profiting and growing in grace in the use of them by the power of Christ Quest 13. What is the contrary sinne to this particular dutie Answ To dishonour Gods Name in the prophane and sinfull manner of hearing Gods Word Ezek. 44.32.33 partaking of his Sacraments Prayer or any other of Gods Ordinances worship or service 1 Cor. 11.17.29 30. Nehe. 9.5 Actâ— 9.15 Numbers 6.24 15. Heb. 13.26.21 publike or private or our formall profession or use of them without any preparation for to meete Christ in the spirituall participation of them or heavenly profit by them to Gods glory and good of our selves and others or for our own by ends not Gods glory Quest 14. What is a fourth particular duty required for the honouring of Gods holy Name Ans To Blesse and magnifie the most holy Name of God upon all speciall occasions in himself his Names attributes Word Ordinances or Workes Ezra 3.11 whensoever we are called to defend and beare the Name of God and his Truth Power and Glory before all the World and to blesse in his Name upon what cause so ever the Lord mindeth us to that duty Quest 15. What sinnes are contrary to this duty of glorifying the holy Name of the holy blessed God Ans First to neglect the honouring of Gods Name Nehemias 9.5 or not giving the praises due to his Name which is far above and beyond all thanksgiving and
praise or neglect to blesse his Name when God requires Leviticus 24.15 Job 2.9 Mark 5.24 Secondly to curse or Blaspheame the sacred Name of God or of Christ our Lord in himselfe Word Ordinances or Works Thirdly to abuse the fearefull Name of God to conjuration charmes exorcismes or the like wicked abomination Fourthly to dishonour his Name Title Exodus 21.17 Mat. 5.44 James 3.9 10. Word or Workes of Judgement or mercy in using and abusing it in cursing Father or Mother or others by any wicked imprecation as a plague of God and Pockes on you or the like most odious and prophane termes wicked men practise against themselves or others as God damme me or them Quest 16. What other sinne is there contrary to this duty of glorifying Gods Name in blessing in and by Gods Name Ans To blesse or curse any in the Name of the Devill whether it be by wicked devilish imprecations upon a mans selfe as those cursed wishes and devilish prayers of Athesticall prophane men in these dayes Job 2.9 10 The Devill take me the Devill confound me body and soule and the like damnable wickednesse or the like worse then Paganish imprecation upon any others all being high provocations of the most mighty God who is able to cast both body and soule into Hell fire in a moment Mat. 20.28 as he made the earth to open her mouth and to swallow up Dathan and to cover the congregation of Abiram Numbers 16.32 33. 1 Sam. 28.7 2 Kings 1.1 or to blesse in the devils name or by the devil as those whom ignorant people use to cal good Witches abominable to God Quest 17. What is the first particular duty required in this third Commandement for honoring of Gods Name Ans Deut. 6.13 To glorifie God in calling him to witnesse and judge of the Truth of our words and actions Jer. 4.2 Jer. 12.16 Heb. 6.16 whensoever we are called to sweare in his Name in Truth Judgement and Righteousnesse and to testifie the Truth lawfully concerning our selves or others upon Oath or whensoever wee bind our selves by Oath Promise 2 Cron. 11.12 13.14 Psalme 15.4 Covenant or Protestation in Gods Name for the performance of any thing lawfull possible acknowledging the Lord to be the Revenger of all false Oathes or falsification of Oathes and Promises and subjecting our selves to his judgement if we swear falsely or performe not our just and lawfull Oathes and Protestations so prophan and take the name of our God in vain Quest 18. What are the particular sinnes contrary to this duty of honouring God in swearing the Lord liveth in Truth Iudgemmt and Righteousnesse Ans First Not to sweare and witnesse the Truth in judgement and righteousnesse Ierem. 4.2 in the name of God when we are called lawfully and rightly to sweare to Gods glory and the good of Gods Church As those who affirme all swearing unlawfull and utterly refuse to take any Oath before a lawfull Magistrate upon misunderstanding of those places of Scripture which seeme to forbid swearing at all Mâ—t. 5.14 Iames. 4.12 when as indeed they only forbid all unlawful swearing and all swearing in our ordinary communication by which the name of God is taken in vaine Quest 19. WVhat is a second sinne contrary to this duty Isaiah 48.1 Levit. 19.12 Ans All perjury or false swearing when men sweare by the name of the Lord but not in truth nor righteousnesse and so take the name of the Lord God in vaine Deut. 3.11 Zach. 5.23 4. contrary to Gods strict commandement Quest 20. What is a third sinne forbidden contrary to the duty of glorifying Gods name what light from Christ in this duty for our direction Ans Ier. 5.7 All swearing by the creatures and that which is not God calling that to witnesse truth which cannot search the heart nor try the reines nor know whether the Oath be true or false As when men sweare by Heavens Mat. 5.34 35 36 37. or by the Earth or by our Lady or by the Masse or by themselves or any thing in them or of mans devising setting them up for the tryers of Truth in stead of God whether they be Saints or Angels or any creature whatsoever or any thing but God himselfe Quest 21. What is a fourth sinne 1 Sam. 14.24 40 45. 1 Sam. 25.22 Ans The performing of any unlawfull rash oathes vowes or promises which are sinfull and a dishonour to the holy name of God and to the hurt of the soules or bodies of our selves or others Acts. 23.12 and contrary to the true honour of God or love of our neighbour Prov. 16.33 Prov. 18.18 Numb 26.25 Ioshu 14.2 Quest 22. What is a sixt duty in particular for the honouring of Gods name Ans The lawfull and right use of a lot for dividing of lands or goods when necessity requireth and God calleth for it to end some such controversie which otherwise cannot be decided Acts. 1.24 Psal 16.6 and this with prayer to God to direct the lot and resting satisfied with the lot when God hath ordered it Quest 23. What is the sinne contrary to this duty of seeking the honour of Gods name in a lot Ans All unlawfull common and ordinary abuse of lots in games or otherwise in a wrong manner or to a wrong end Hester 3.7 to the prophanation of Gods name and dishonour of the Gospell of Christ Quest 24. What is a seventh particular duty what light from Christ herein Mat. 10.32 Rom. 10.10 Mat. 5.16 Phil. 1.27 Rom. 1.16 Iude. 4. Ans The confession and glorifying of Gods name in our lives and conversations to Gods honour the good example of others and comfort of our owne soules in Christ Jesus Quest 25. What is the sinne contrary to this confession and profession to the glorifying of Gods name Ans To deny or be ashamed of Christ Mat. 26.74 Iohn 12.42 43 Rom. 2.24 or the Gospel or to dishonour God in our lives or cause the Gospel of Christ and name of God to be Blasphemed Quest 26. You have given me good satisfaction concerning the command it selfe now what doe you believe concerning the reason annexed in the words following For the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine Ans I understand in this command as in the former there is expressed a terrible threatning against all such as prophane Gods name 2. Chron. 36.13 either by prophane swearing or forswearing or by abuse of Ordinances or any other way that God will not hold them guiltlesse but guilty Deut. 27.26 and so subject to Gods curse and eternall condemnation for this sinne Quest 27. What is further implyed in this threatning that God will not hold such guiltlesse who prophane his name Ans A gracious promise of blessing to such as by the power of Christ carefully endeavour by all good meanes to glorifie the sacred name of
Commandements of my Heavenly Father and so these foure first Commandements or first Table of the Law of God Psal 119.101.128 and to refrain from every sinwhatsoever Quest 49. What is the finall cause or chiefe ends at which your soule doth or ought to aime at in this your obedience Ans The prime and chiefe end is the glorifying of God 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Cor. 10.31 1 Pet. 2.9 1 John 5.10 11 12. my God and Father in Christ And the next the Declaration of my love and thankfulnesse to the Lord my God and to shew forth his praises who called me out of darknesse to light and hath freely given me life eternall and everlasting salvation in Christ Jesus The Thirty two Classis or company of Questions Question 1. YOu have profitably and plainely endevoured to declare the duties commaded and the sinnes forbidden in the first Table of the Law of God and held them forth as a light to the feete of Gods Saints by the helpe of the spirit of Christ And in the performance of our Duties and Declaration of our more immediate love unto our God in Christ Now what I pray you do you call the second Table of the Law of God and what are the Commandemtnts comprehended in this second Table what light from Christ to teach this Ans This second Table is that which holdeth forth rules for the manifestation of our love to our Neighbour Mat. â—2 38 39 40. in and for God as our selves and these Rules are comprehended in the six last Commandements of the Decalogue or ten words of Gods Minde to his people Ex. 34.28 Quest 2. What then you doe conceive to be the generall duties of this second Taeble of the Law Ans That which the Lord Christ and the spirit of Christ in the Prophets Mat. 22.39 Levit. 19.18 Rom. 13.8 9. and Apostles holdeth forth unto us namely to love our Neighbour as our selves Quest 3. What is the sinne contrary to this duty of loving our Neighbour as our selves Ans Not to do as we would be done be done by Mat. 7.12 Levit. 19.17 18. Isai 58.7 or instead of love to hate our Neighbour and to hide our selves from our own flesh Quest 4. You say the Lord requireth that we should love our Neighbours as our selves Therefore it seemeth to mee that the Lord requireth his child to love himselfe Now what is this love of a mans selfe according to which hee ought to love his Neighhour Ans Certainly the Lord doth require that a man should in a right manner love himselfe Mâ—t. 22 37 38 39. Phâ—l 2.12 Eph. 5.29 and this love of a man towards himselfe is that love wherewith a Believer should in and for and after God love his owne soule and body in seeking the temporall and eternall good of both for Gods glory and his owne eternall happinesse and salvation Quest 5. What are sinnes contrary to this true and right ordered love of a Man or Womans selfe Ans There are diverse sins contrary to a right and true love of a mans self first a perverse and wicked hatred of Mans selfe Acts 18.6 either of a Mans soule and body by an obstinate rejecting of grace and meanes of grace or willfull Rebellion against God or hatred of his body and life by a Mans desperate rejecting and refusing the meanes of preserving the body and health and life of it or by a desparate destroying of the body and life by any meanes whatsoever An example of this I have seen in divers who in strength and violence of Satans temptations or a kinde of frensie and braine distemper have utterly rejected meanes of comfort some for the soule some for the body some for both as Francis Spira did in Germany after his fall from the Gospell History of Francis Spirra to subscribe to Popery continuing in that sad condition to the day of his death I say nothing of Ahitophel and Iudas 2 Sam. 17.23 Mat. 27.5 who wickedly destroyed themselves contrary to the sixt Commandement of which I shall speak in its place Quest 6. What is a second sinne contrary to the true love of a mans selfe Ans Philauty or corrupt and inordinate love of a mans selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either above God which is a wicked Idolatrous love making an Idoll of a mans selfe and setting up an Idoll in his heart and preferring that above God 2 Tim. 3.2 Or to be so inebriated and drunk with selfe love as to admire onely himselfe and turne his affections of love wholy into himselfe as that Misanthropâ—s who hated every man but himselfe â— Cor. 4.14 Thirdly to love a mans selfe from and for himselfe not from and for God in Christ or from Christ Quest 7. But may there not be a good and holy hatred of a mans selfe Ans We must distinguish of a mans selfe there is a threeford selfe First a mans soule and body or person consisting of both considered in themselves as Gods creatures 1 Thess 5.23 Secondly the old Adam in a mans selfe or the corruption of soule and body by sinne Rom. 6.6 either originall or actuall that Law or power of corruption in our members rebelling against the Law of our minds or Thirdly a mans spirituall selfe or the new Adam and image of Christ in the soule the regenerate part Galat. 5.14 the spirit that fighteth against the flesh Now to hate the first of these selfe our soule or body or person is against nature Ephes 5.29 no man ought to hate himselfe though he may loose himselfe for Christ which is love and no hatred And to hate the third the selfe of grace or grace of Christ in a mans selfe The life of grace in us this is against grace this self must be loved and cherished by all means in and through Christ But for the second selfe spoken of namely our corrupt old Adam in us our body of sinne Coloss 3.5 This ought to be hated as the enemy of the well being both of soule and bodie for ever Job 42.6 as Iob abhorred himself and Paul chastised his body and the converted People of God loathed themselves as they were loathsome to God in their sinnefull corruption Ezek. 36.31 Quest 8. You have satisfied mee in this question how a man ought to love and not to love himselfe now what say you in generall of the love of our Neighbour before we come to the Commandements in particular Ans I have described that in generall before That we must love our neighbour in God and for God as our selves Quest 9. Who is our Neighbour towards whom we ought to exercise our Christian love and Charity Ans All that stand in neede of our helpe or love whether they be our own kindred or strangers Luk. 10.36 37. 1 Tim. 5.8 Mat. 5.48 Prov. 25.21 Galat. 6.10 yea our very enemies and especially the household of faith but
place in their presence or as men of right civill much more of Religious breeding use to do when the Judges or Justices of assize come to the Bench or seate of judgement or the Lord Major or Governour of a City to his place Secondly when a superiour commeth towards an inferiour then in an honorable respect to goe to meete them and give them that honour that is due to them and becommeth their place and dignity Gen. 18.1 2 c. uncovering the head and bending the knee or bowing downe a mans selfe towards the ground in civill reverence of them as Religious Abraham did when three men came towards him which proved Angels and one of them the Lord Christ Malachy 3.1 Gen. 23.7.12 the Angell of the covenant as the Prophet Malachy calleth the Lord Jesus or as Abraham did to the children of Heth. Thirdly the duty of the inferiour in respect to the superiour as of children to Parents servants to Masters or the like is to stand up before them and waite upon them as place and dignity and occasion require Job 29.8 Gen. 18.8 as those did in Iobs presence or as Abraham waited on his honorable guests giving all civill respects due to each person according to place and calling Fourthly the inferiour as children to parents or any other in like relation ought to declare their respects in giving precedency in place giving the right hand and any the like honour as King Solomon did to his Mother he rose up to meet her 1 Kings 19 2. he bowed himselfe to her he caused a seate to be set for her and preferred her to sit on his right hand an excellent example for all children to honour and respect their Mothers as well as Fathers and so servants and all others in their severall Relations Fifthly the younger and inferiours are to declare their respect to superiours in a wise silence holding their peace and to refrain from talking whiles their ancients are in speaking Job 29.9 10. or in place as the Princes did before Iob except as Syracides in his excellent Ethicks giveth leave and wisely directs young men how to behave themselves Eccl. 32.7 8 Speake young man if there be need of thee and yet scarce when thou art twise asked Let thy speech be short comprehending much in few words be as one one that knoweth and yet holdeth his tongue Sixthly inferiours ought to keepe themselves in a right distance from superiours not making themselves equall to those that are above them in age place or dignity Eccl. 32.9 Rom. 12 16. It is the sum of Syrahs morall counsell and well comprehended under this command of the morall Law or Law of good manners becomming a Christian If thou be amongst great men make not thy selfe equall with them and when ancient men are in place use not many words coloss 4.6 and as Apostle saith let your speech be alwayes With grace seasoned with salt that you may know how to answer every man Seventhly inferiours ought to give words of reverence and respect to superiours children to parents 1 Pet. 3.6 Gen. 31.35 servants to Masters and so others in their respective relations Gen. 42.10 as Sarah obeyed her husband Abraham calliag him Lord and as Rachel spake honorably to her Father let it not displease my Lord and Iosephs brethren to him as to a Rule calling him Lord and so a reverent regard is to be had of superiours even in our words 1 Sam. 1.15 as Hanna to Samuel the Prophet shee called him Lord giving Gods Minister the honour of his place Lastly I will name no more here Inferiours ought to be ready to serve thâ—ir superiours in love and duty Mat. 8.9 Coloss 3. â—2 according to their severall relations and respects with readinesse singlenesse of heart as unto Christ As the Centurians servants I say to this man go and he goeth and to another man come and he commeth Saith he not as those two sonnes the one said to his Father when he sent him into his Vineyard I go Sir but he went not The other sayd I will not go yet went and in this did the will of his father that hee did go but yet sinned in his behaviour saying he would not goe the children and servants and inferiours ought to honour and serve their Parents Rom. 12.10 and Masters and Superiours both in word and deede in giving honour to go one before another And thus you have the generall duty of Inferiours towards their superiours Quest 30. What now are the sins contrary to these or any of these Ans I need not expresse them in particular each one who maketh conscience to find out and performe his or her duty may consider whether his carriage be answerable to these directions or in an unmannerly way contrary to them manifesting any disrespect or disobedience which is a sin The Thirty three Classis or company of Questions Question 1. YOu have declared sufficiently the generall duties both of superiours towards inferiours and of inferiours towards superiours in generall Now I pray you what are the particular duties of each to other according to their particular estates Relations and Callings And first in the Oeconomicall or household estate what are the duties of the Husband towards his Wife and of the Wife towards her husband First the common duties of Husbands towards his Wife Ans But first of the common duties of the Husband towards the Wife and of the Wife towards the Hushand and of these I note these First Love a Roote uniting grace their soules and hearts and affections must be married together as well as their bodies Gen. 2.24 Ephe. 5.25 the Husband must love his wife and the Wife ought to love her Husband above all others in the world Secondly mutuall good will or conjugall benevolence to be communicated each to other as the Scripture holdeth forth unto us i Cor. 7.1 2 3 4 5. Prov. 5.18 19. Prov. 2.16 17 18. Malac. 2 15 Jer. 23.24 Thirdly conjugall fidelity not communicating their bodies to any other as the strange woman But preserving each others chastity according to the mariage covenant in thought word and deed as being alwayes in Gods presence Fourthly in the mutuall communication of their goods and all endevours for the due mutuall good Eph. 5.33 comfort and benefit one of another both for soules and body Gen. 2.18 1 Pet. 3.7 and good name and fame as becommeth the Gospell of Christ and those that are fellow helpers one of another and fellow heires of the grace of life Lastly mutuall cohabitation dwelling one with another that they may be more conveniently helpefull each to other upon all occasions with mutuall love and respect to each other 1 Pet. 3.7 1 Cor. 7.10 Ex. 18.7 8 Ruth 1.16 Parents and kindred Quest 2. You have declared the common and mutuall duties of Husband to Wife and of Wife to Husband now
what are the sinnes contrary to these duties John 16.8 what light from Christ to reveile these to convince of these Ans There are divers sinnes contrary to these I will note but these fix First 2 Tim. 3.2 a corrupt selfe-love of themselves and not one of another Secondly a want or absence of love when Mariage is for by ends not joyned with true love one of anothers person but rather of estate or outward worldly Profits or pleasure without true love Thirdly hatred Eph. 5.29 disagreement and dissention and unquiet quarrelling such as becommeth not Man and Wife Fourthly denyall of mutuall benevolence forsaking the mariage bed and so giving way to the devill to tempt to worser wickdnesse 1 Cor. 7.4 Fifthly neglecting communication of goods and other mutuall helps and comforts in a fit manner Lastly separation one from another except necessity of calling 1 Cor. 7.5 require or with consent for a time according to the Scriptures Quest 3. Now you have declared the common mutuall duties betweene Husbands and Wife what are the particular duties first of the Husband towards his Wife what light from Christ to see these Ans The Husband is the head of the Wife Eph. 5.23 and love is an ingredient in every duty 1 Pet. 3. First the Husband is to manifest his love to his Wife in dwelling with his Wife as a man of knowledge Gen. 24.67 as a loving husband in a loving manner endeavouring to instruct his Wife 1 Cor. 14.35 yea governe his Wife in love to direct guide counsell and advise her in all things necessary to be knowne both for this life and that which is come and all in love Secondly to cherish and give his Wife honour and respect as the weaker vessell Eph. 5.29 and as one who hath given her selfe to him as her Husband under God amongst other for this end 1 Pet. 3.7 Thirdly to preserve protect Ezek. 16.8 Ruth 3.9 and defend her in all lawfull and convenient causes according to his ability especially in the maintaining of her true chastity Gen. 16.5 6. and honour by all lawfull and good meanes and more especially in the house amongst her servants as Abraham did Sarahs honour and authority over her servant Hagar Fourthly 1 Tâ—m 5.8 Ruth 3.1 providing her things necessary according to his ability that shee may finde rest in the house of her Husband to Gods glory and the mutuall joy and comfort one of another Quest 4. I doe now see the speciall duties of the Husband towards his Wife what are the sinnes of the husband contrary to these duties what light from Christ to know these sins Ans First not behaving himselfe as a loving head to his Wife Gen. 3.16 1 Cor. 11 3. 1 Tim. 2.11 12. 1 Kings 11 4. but to be as an inferiour contrary to the order of nature and Gods Ordinance Secondly to be overmuch uxorious foolishly drawne away by his Wife or Ruled by her to do that which is either unlawfull or inconvenient dishonorable to God or to himself or hurtfull to any whatsoever as Solomon doted in his old age Thirdly to be too bitter and dominering and tyrnanicall over his Wife Coloss 3. Ruling her not in love as a companion but commanding her as a tyrant doth his slave or compelling her to that which is unlawfull or uncomely in the sight of God or man Gen. 2 18 1 Thess 5.12 God having created her as a helpe meate for him not as a slave under him and him over her but yet in the Lord as in other ordinances of Christ Fourthly the Husband sinnes in not providing for protecting and preserving his Wifes life chastity and honour by all lawfull and good meanes according to his power in a convenient and fit manner much more he sins in prostituting or betraying his Wives life chastity or honour 1 Tim. 5.8 Levit. 19.29 which for a Husband to doe to his Wife is as base as against his owne child and both abominable and contrary to the holy Law and word of God Fifthly to hate strike or abuse his own flesh which his wife now is by the Ordinance of God 't is against the Law of God and Nature it self Eph. 5.25.30 Sixthly and Lastly the Husband sins if he neglect as the Prophet and Priest in his house to Pray for and with his wife 1 Pet 3.7 Job 15.4 1 Sam. 12.23 Phil. 4.13 or restraine prayer before God that by strength from Christ both Husband and Wife may better perform their duties in Gods sight and enjoy Gods blessing upon their daily endeavours Quest 5. The Husband may hence receive a light from Christ to know his duty to his wife now what light from Christ is there shining forth in holy Scripture to shew forth the duties of the wife towards her Huband Answ First the wives duty is to love Ephes 5.23 33. esteem acknowledge and honour her Husbahd as her Head and Lord whom God hath placed over her 1 Pet. 3.6 and she hath chosen as her Lord far her Good Secondly the duty of the wife Coloss 3.18 1 Pet. 3.1 2 c. is to be subject and obedient to her Husband in all things lawfull are expedient in the Lord. Thirdly the wife ought to be loving and amiable Titus 2.4 5. and delightfull to her Husband seeking to win his love and affections more and more to her in the Lord cherishing him in sicknesse Prov. 5.19 Gen. 2.18 and in health as becometh a sweet helper to him according to Gods Ordinance Fourthly the wives duty is to be helpfull as a Coadjutrix to her Husband in Government of the Family 1 Tim. 5.14 Prov. 31.10 11 12 c. not onely as a good wife for the estate credit and well-being of her Husband and Houshold for their Bodies Dyet and Cloathing 1 Pet 3.7 but to be a Good Home-keeper for Communication of spirituall good Prov. 31.27 28 29 30 31. Tâ—tus 2.4 5. as well as corporall to pray with and joyn in Prayer with her Husband and Family to the joy of her Husband and Houshold whom she helpeth to Governe in the fear of God and that with wisedom and understanding many daughters do excellently but such a one surmounteth them all Quest 6. We conceive the wives duty to her Husband now what are the sinnes contrary to this and what light from Christ in Scripture to reveale these Answ First it is a sinne in the wife not to acknowledge her Husband for her head and not to honour and reverence her Husband as her head 2 Sam. 6.16.20 c. who is over her in the Lord and by the Lords Ordinance but to despise and dishonour her Husband as Michal did David Secondly 1 Tim. 2.12 It is a sinne in the wife to domineer and usurp authority over her Husband and directly contrary to the Apostles Rule Thirdly it is a sin in a