those which haue a Gouernour aboue them to whom they shall giue an account and as those which rule ouer such as haue a title vnto and shall bee partakers Ephes 6. 9. 1. Pet. 3. 7. of the same glory which themselues looke for Q. In what things doth this Gouernment consist A. In two direction and recompence or reward Q. VVherein consisteth direction A. In word and in worke Q. What must be done by word A. They must instruct and command them in the Gen. 18. 19. things which pertaine to God and to their speciall callings and heerein God hath declared his singular care of the euerlasting good of men who hath therefore commended the care of Religion to so many to the end they might be so much more assuredly kept in the feare of God Q. What is direction in worke A. Good example of life whereby they are to go before their Inferiours Q. Hitherto of Direction What is Recompence A. It is either a cheerefull reward for well doing or a iust chastisement for euill which both should be answerable to the deed done Q. How many kindes of Superiours are there with authority A. Two priuate and publike and consequently so many Inferiours Q. VVho are priuate Superiours and Inferiours A. Such as are Masters of a familie whether naturall as husband and wife parents and children or otherwise as Masters and seruants where first the husbands are Superiours to their wiues then Parents to their children and lastly Masters to their seruants Q. VVhat is the generall duty of Inferiours in a Family A. According to their places and gifts to performe Gen. 39. 2. 3. 4. that which is commanded by the gouernours therof for the good of the houshold Gen. 18. 8. Q. What is the duty of the Superiours in the houshold A. Prouision of food and raiment both sufficient Prou. 27. 23. 24. 25. Prou. 31 15. Gen. â—8 6. 7. 8. 1. Tim. â— 8. and agreeable to euery ones estate with conuenient gouernment after familiarly to teach them and to goe before them in prayer accordingly Q. VVhat are the common duties of the husband and wife each to other A. Mutuall and coniugall loue one towards another declared by mutuall helpe and a 1. Cor. 7. 3. due beneuolence except by consent for a time that b 1. Cor. 7. 5. 2. Sam. 11. 11. they may giue themselues to fasting and prayer Q. What is the duty of wiues to their husbands A. First subiection in a gentle and moderate kinde Ephes 5 22. and manner for albeit it bee made heauier then it was from the beginning through the transgression of the woman yet that yoke is easier then any other domesticall subiection Secondly in subiection they are to performe obedience wherein wiues are oft short Ephes 5. 33. 1. Pet. 3. 1-6 as husbands in loue Secondly she must represent in all godly and commendable matters his image in her behauiour that 1. Cor. 11. 7. in her a man may see the wisedome and vprightnesse of her husband Thirdly she must bee an helper vnto him as otherwise Gen. 2. 18. Prou. 31. 12. 1. Tim. 3. 11. so by sauing that which he bringeth in Q. What is the husbands dutie to his wife A. In an entire loue vnto her to defend her from Ephes 5. all euill and cherish her as he would cherish his owne flesh and as Christ doth his Church Q. What is the dutie of children to their Parents A. It is either generall or speciall viz. in the case of mariage Q. What is the generall A. So to carrie themselues whiles they are vnder Prou. 10. 1. and 17. 25. 31. 28. their parents tuition and after they are departed from them as they may cause their parents in their good bringing vp to be commended Q. What is the speciall dutie in case of marriage A. That they ought not so much as attempt to bestow themselues in marriage without their Parents Gen. 24. Iudg. 14. 2. Gen. 21. 21. and 27. 46. 28. 9. 1. Cor. 7. 36. 37. 38. direction and consent especially daughters Q. What reason haue you to perswade children vnto this dutie A. That seeing their Parents haue taken such great paines and trauell in bringing them vp they should reape some fruits of their labours in bestowing of them beside they should giue them this honour to esteeme them better able and more wise to prouide for their comfortable marriage then themselues are Q. Is this dutie required onely of children to their naturall parents that begat them A. No it is also in some degree required of children to their Vnkles and Aunts or to any other vnder Hest 2. 10. 20. Ruth 2. 18. 23. whom they are and that be in stead of Parents when Parents are dead Q. VVhat is the second dutie of children to their Parents A. That if their Parents stand in need of reliefe 1. Tim. 5. 4. Gen. 45. 11. 47. 62. they being able are to helpe them Q. So much of the duties of children to their Parents what are those of Parents towards their children A. They are either common to both Parents or particular to either of them Q. What are the common duties of both Parents A. They must marke the wits and inclinations of Prou. 20. 11. 22. 6. Gen. 4. 2. their children and as farre as their owne ability will reach they are accordingly to apply them to some honest calling in due time Q. What is the second common dutie A. To lay vp and prouide somwhat for their children 2. Cor. 12. 14. Prou. 19. 14. and what they haue receiued of their Ancestors to leaue the same where it may be done lawfully to their posterity Q. What speciall dutie is there of the Parents to the eldest sonne A. That sith the Lord hath honoured him with Gen. 49. 3. 4. that dignitie as to be their strength he should also be Deut. 21. 17. honoured of them at the least with a double portion as of the rest of the brethren with honour yet so as hee fall nor from his honour by some horrible sin Gen. 49. 4. Q. So much of the common duties to both what is required of the father especially A. To giue the name vnto the child For notwithstanding Gen. 35. 18. Luk. 1. 62. 63. that the mothers haue somtimes giuen the names yet that hath bin by permission of the fathers Q. What speciall dutie is laid vpon the mother A. a Gen. 21. 7. 1. â—am 1. 23. 1. Tim. 5. 10. 1. Tim. 2. 15. Gen. 24. 10. 1â— Ephes 6. 5. 6. To nurse the child if she be able Q. What is the duty of the seruant to the Master A. With care and faithfulnesse as in the presence of God to bestow himselfe wholly at the times appointed to his Masters businesse Q. What is the Masters dutie A. To recompence his seruice according as the Deut. 24. 14. 15. 15. 13.
spirit applying vnto our soule the blood of Christ by a liuely faith worketh in vs newnesse of life whence this Sacrament is called the Baptisme of Repentance Mark 1. 4. Q. VVhat learne you hereby A. That although sinne doth dwell in our mortall bodies and many leaud motions rise and rebell in vs yet if we be the children of God we shall finde it mortified by the death of our Sauiour Christ and although we bee by nature sluggish to good things yet shall we find our selues quickened by him Q. VVhat persons are to receiue this Sacrament A. All that by the Lawes of Charity are to Act. 10. 47. be esteemed within the Couenant of grace of what nation sexe or age soeuer Q. VVho are to be esteemed to be within the couenant of grace A. First those which being of yeeres of discretion Mat. 3. 6. 28. 29. Act 2. 41. Mark 16. 10. Act. 8. 15. 37. 10. 46. 47. giue assent vnto the doctrine of the Gospell and professe faith and repentance Q. How are those that are at yeeres of discretion to prepare themselues to the receiuing of this Sacrament A. First they are to submit themselues to bee instructed in the a Heb. 6. 1. principles of religion commonly called the Catechisme Secondly they are to make solemne b Mat. 3. 6. Act. 2. 41. Mat. 3. 6. Act. 8. 37. profession of their faith confession of their sinnes with faithfull promise to forsake them Thirdly As a testimony of their faith vnfained repentance after this they are to desire Baptisme of them that haue the dispensation therof and to procure the same assoone as they can Q. Who else are to bee esteemed within the couenant of grace and consequently to haue a title to Baptisme A. The infants of those Parents that are themselues Act. 2. 39. Gen. 17. 7. Luk. 18. 16. within the Couenant and haue been baptized Q. Is it necessarie that both the Parents bee in the Couenant A. No it is sufficient for the intitling of the child 1. Cor. 7. 14. to baptisme if either of them be Q. How doe you proue that Infants are to be baptized A. There is the same vse of Baptisme vnder the Gospell that was of Circumcision vnder the Law and the Infants of Christians are vnder the Couenant as well as theirs and Baptisme is a signe of the Couenant as well as Circumcision if therefore a Gen. 17. 12. Col. 2. 11. 12. Infants were circumcised and Baptisme possesse the roome of Circumcision except there can bee shewed a speciall prohibition or restraint in Gods word it will follow that Infants also may be baptized Further the Apostles are said to baptize a Act. 16. 15. 18. 1. Cor. 1. 16. whole families amongst which it is ordinarie that there be some children and there is no reason to limit the words to them that are at yeeres And this vse hath continued in the Church since the Apostles times and was neuer gainsaid by any but those that by the vniuersal Church haue been iudged hereticks Q. Is Baptisme absolutely necessarie to the saluation of Infants or are we to iudge all those damned that die vnbaptized A. Such a conceit is both vnchristian and vncharitable and without all ground offering wrong to the grace of God and the vertue of his Couenant wherein he promiseth that he will be the God of the faithful and their seed And seeing this Sacrament is not the cause but a testimonie and seale onely of saluation and the fault is not in the Infant that hee is not baptized and seeing in cases of meere necessity where there is no contempt of the means but the party doth as much for the obtaining of them as he can doe God doth not tie himselfe to the meanes but can and often doth giue the thing without the meanes neither haue we herein more warrant to iudge the Infants of Christians damned that without any default of their owne die without Baptisme then the Infants of the Israelites that died before the eighth day or whilest they were in the wildernesse Q. What preparation is to bee required of Infants that are to be baptized A. None can be required of them who in regard of age are but meere patients but that which is to bee performed is to be done of them that bring the child to Baptisme and that are present at the baptizing thereof Q. Who are they A. The Parent or the rest of the Church Q. What is the Parent to performe A. First hee is to consider of the goodnesse of God that hath receiued not onely himselfe but his Gen. 11. 17. child and therefore to reioyce in this loue and fauour of God and then to confirme himselfe in this hope that as God hath quickened him after his Baptisme so will hee his child Secondly hee is to present 1. Sam. 1. 20. Luk. 1. 60. 63. the child Thirdly to giue or to take order for the giuing of some such name as may put the child in remembrance of some good dutie by the signification of it or by setting before him in it the example of some whose faith and vertues are commended in the Scriptures Fourthly after Baptisme when the child Ephes 6. 4. is capable he is to catechize and to bring it vp in the feare and information of the Lord or to procure it to bee done by others that are more able Q. What are the duties of the rest of the Church A. First to reioyce and to giue thankes to God for the encrease of his Church Secondly to giue attendance to the doctrine and to pray that the child may be made partaker of Christ and his benefits Thirdly when it commeth to age to doe such duties vnto it as one member oweth to another CHAP. 38. Of the Supper of the Lord. Wherein consider The parts Signes Elements Actions about them Things signified The circumstances Time Persons MATTH chap. 26. vers 26. 27. 28. 29. 26. And as they were eating Iesus tooke bread and blessed it and brake it and gaue it to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my body 27. And he tooke the cup and gaue thankes and gaue it to them saying Drinke ye all of it 28. For this is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes 29. But I say vnto you I will not drinke henceforth of this fruit of the vine vntill that day when I drinke it new with you in my Fathers kingdome Q. SO much for Baptisme What is the Lords Supper A. It is the other Sacrament of the Gospell whereby is sealed vnto vs our continuance minishment 1. Cor. 11. 20. and growth in Christ and in his body which is his Church Q. What are the outward signes in this Sacrament A. Bread and wine and the sacramentall actions in and about the same Matth. 26. 26. c.. Q. VVhat manner of bread is fittest A. Ordinarie bread
as Rahab though subiect to the King of Iericho might not reueale the Spies but should haue failed in her duty if shee had betrayed them at the Kings commandement and therefore in this case she did well in preferring the obedience shee owed to God before the dutie shee owed to man In like case also Ionathan reuealing his fathers counsel vnto Iosh 2. 3. 1. Sam. 19. 2. 3. Dauid preferring the greater dutie before the lesser did well So wee owing a greater duty to our Deut. 33. countrey then to our naturall kindred must rather refuse to relieue them if they bee Traitors then suffer any hurt to come to our countrey Q. But what if two haue need of that which I can bestow but vpon one onely A. I must then preferre him that is of the houshold Gal. 6. 10. of faith before any other and my kins-men and those that I am tied vnto by any speciall bond before strangers Joh. 1. 41. Act. 10. 24. Q. So much of the generall How are these sixe Commanments diuided A. Into such as forbid all practice or aduised consent to any hurt of our Neighbour and such as forbid all thoughts and motions of euill towards our Neighbour though they neuer come to aduised consent of the will Q. What Commandements are of the first sort A. The first fiue of this second Table Q. How are they diuided A. Into those that concerne speciall duties to speciall persons and those that concerne generall duties to all Q. What Commandements concerne speciall duties A. The first of the second Table being in number the fifth CHAP. 20. Of the fifth Commandement Of the duties of Inferiors to Superiors and of Superiors to Inferiors arising there from Superiours are without authoritie by gifts Naturall of Person Age. of Parts Minde Body Accidentall with authority Priuate By nature Husbands and wiues Parents Children Otherwise as Masters and Seruants Publike in the Church Ministers Common-wealth Magistrates EXOD. 20. 12. Honour thy father and thy mother that thy daies may bee long vpon the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee Q. VVHat is the fifth Commandement A. Honour thy father c. Q. What is the summe of the Commandement A. All speciall duties required in regard of speciall callings and differences which God hath made betweene speciall persons Q. What be those speciall persons A. Superiours and Inferiours Q. What are Superiours A. They are such as by Gods ordinance haue a 2. King 5. 13. 6. 21. 1. Cor. 4. 15. 2. King 2. 12. 13. 14. Coloss 3. 12. preeminence and are heere termed by the name of Parents to whom the first and principall duties required in this Commandement do appertaine Q. Why are all Superiours called here by the name of Parents A. First for that the name of Parents being a most sweet name men might therby be allured the rather to the duties they owe whether they bee duties that are to bee performed to them that are properly so called or which they should performe to others Secondly for that at the first and in the beginning of the world Parents were also Magistrates Pastors Q. How doth this agree with the Cōmandemēt of Christ that we should a Mark 3. 7. 8. call no man Father or Master vpon earth A. Very wel for there our Sauiour meaneth only to restraine the ambitious titles of the Pharisies in those daies which desired not onely so to bee called but that men should rest in their authority alone for matters concerning the soule Q. Who are inferiours A. Such as by the ordinance of God are any way vnder Superiours and who are principally and in the first place to perform the duties required in this Commandement Q. VVhat are the speciall duties required A. They are here comprehended vnder the word Mal. 1. 9. Honour Q. Why so A. Because it addes an ornament and dignitie to them Q. What is the honour that Inferiours owe to Superiours in generall A. Reuerence of the mind declared by some ciuill behauiour or outward submission as of rising before them of giuing thē the honor of speaking first c. Leuit. 19. 32. Iob. 29. 8. 32. 6. 7. Q. VVhat is the dutie of Superiours towards their Inferiors in that respect A. To carrie themselues so as they may bee worthie the honour that is giuen them Q. How many sorts of Superiours are there A. Two without authority and with authority Q. VVho are Superiours without authority A. Such as God hath by Age onely or by some supereminent gifts lifted aboue others as the elder before the yonger the skilfull before him that hath lesse skill Q. VVho are inferiours to such A. They who are yonger and of meaner gifts Q. VVhat is our dutie towards such Superiours A. First to acknowledge the things wherein God hath preferred them before vs and to respect them for it Secondly to make our benefit of their good graces so farre as our calling will suffer Q. What is the dutie of them towards vs A. First they who are Superiours in yeeres are by graue wise and godly cariage of themselues to procure reuerence vnto themselues On the one side auoiding lightnesse and variablenesse of the other too much seuerenesse and austerity Secondly they who are Superiours in knowledge and skil are to vse their skill so as others may be benefited 1. Pet. 4. 10. by them Q. Who are the Superiours with authority A. Such as by special office and calling haue charge ouer others Q. What are the Inferiours A. Such as be committed vnto their charge Q. What generall all dutie is there betweene the Superiours and Inferiours of this sort A. To pray more especially one for another 1. Tim. 2. 1. Psal 20. 21. Gen. 24. 12. Psal 3. 9. 25. 22 and 28. 9. Q. What is required of the Inferiours A. Two things subiection and obedience Rom. 13. 1. Q. What is subiection A. An humble and readie minde to submit themselues to their gouernment who are set ouer them in acknowledging the necessity of their power in gouerning Rom. 13. 1. Tit. 3. 1. 1. Tim. 6. 1. them Q. What is obedience A. A voluntarie heartie doing of that which the Superiours command or patient suffering of that they shall inflict vpon them albeit it should be either without Ephes 6. 5. 6. 7. 1. Pet. 2. 19. 20. iust cause or somewhat more excessiuely then the cause requireth Q. Is there no restraint of this obedience A. None sauing that which we owe vnto God in regard whereof our obedience to them must bee in Ephes 6. 1. 5. 24. 1. Sam. 22. 17. the Lord that is only in lawfull things otherwise we are with reuerence to refuse and alleage our duty vnto God for our warrant Q. VVhat is the duty of such Superiours towards their ours A. Prudently and after a holy manner to gouerne such as are committed vnto them not as Tyrants but as
wanton pictures and the like things that the heart is inflamed to lust thereby Q. What is contrary to this A. To make a couenant with our eyes and to pray Iob. 31. Psal 119. that the Lord would turne away our eyes from seeing vanitie Q. How doth a man sinne by his eares A. When he delighteth in hearing vnhonest and filthie words although for his credit hee will not speake them Q. VVhat further abuse of the parts is there this way A. By all light gesture behauiour of a mans body Esay 3. 16. in wanton dancing and other lasciuious motions Mark 6. 22. Q. VVhat is contrary to this A. That a man so carrie and direct these parts as Rom. 6. they be not weapons of vncleannesse Q. How is the whole body abused A. Either by himselfe or with others Q. How by himselfe A. In ceasing from doing any profitable thing as in 2. Sam. 11. 1. 2. 1. Tim. 5. 11. 13. Deut. 23. 10. Gen. 38. 9. Idlenesse Or by the horrible sinne of Onan and the like pollutions Q. How is it with others A. Either in vnlawfull coniunction of all which the vnlawfull vowes of continencie are nurses or vnlawfull separation Q. How doe men offend by vnlawfull coniunction A. When men do carnally companie with others out of marriage or otherwise then the holy lawes of marriage doe require Q. VVhat is common to those vnlawfull mixtures that are with others A. That they may be all either voluntarie in both Deut. 22. 25. or by force in the one in which case the partie forced is to be holden guiltlesse Q. Of how many sorts are they A. They are either naturall or vnnaturall Q. VVhat is the naturall coniunction forbidden by this Law A. Fornication and Adulterie Deut. 22. 28. Q. VVhat is Fornication A. When two single persons come together out of Leuit. 19. 29. Deut. 23. 17. 1. King 15. 12. 2. King 23. 7. the estate of Matrimonie where it is manifest that the stewes permitted yea authorized and defended in Poperie are vnlawfull and expressely forbidden in the Law and the Kings are commended in the Scripture who tooke away such filthinesse out of their land the rather considering that by them not Fornication only but Adulteries yea Incests also were committed when as both married and vnmarried came thither and oftentimes some of the same blood or affinitie Ezech. 22. 11. committed villanie with one whore so farre is it that they are remedies of vncleannesse Q. VVhat is Adulterie A. When at least one of the persons married or contracted in marriage companieth with another whither also may bee referred Polygamie and the hauing of many wiues at once which was euer vnlawfull Mal. 2. 15. 16. in conscience though it was not punished by the positiue Law Q. May not a man also sinne against this Commandement in abusing his body with his owne wife A. Yes verily when the honourable and chast estate 1. Thess 4. 4. of Matrimonie is vsed to wantonnesse and not with moderation and seemlinesse as a man may fault in excesse of wine although it be his owne Q. Hitherto of the vnlawfull coniunction which is naturall what is vnnaturall A. It is either with those of the same kind or with other and those of the same kind are either of both sexes or of some sexe with the same sexe Q. VVhat are those of both sexes A. First when a man doth keepe companie with a woman or with his owne wife or any other when it is with them according to the manner of women Secondly when there is a mixture of those bodies that Leuit. 18. 19. Ezech. 18. 6. 22. 10. are within the degrees of kindred or alliance forbidden by the Law of God although it bee in marriage Q. What is that of one sexe with the same sexe A. Buggerie when man with man or woman with Rom. 1. 26. 27. woman committeth filthinesse Q. Hitherto of vnnaturall mixture with their owne Leuit. 18. 22. kind What is that with another kind A. Of a man or woman with a beast Leuit. 18. 23. Q. Hitherto of the vnlawfull coniunction What is the vnlawfull separation A. It is either committed when the partie is present or when it is absent Q. How when the partie is present A. When due beneuolence is not yeelded although 1. Cor. 7. 3. 4. there bee aptnesse thereunto nor any hinderance by consent in respect of extraordinarie prayer Q. How when the partie is absent A. When the partie withdraweth it selfe in mislike or loathsomnesse or else by long and vnnecessary iourneyes of trauelling of merchandize warres c. Or when separation hath been made by the Magistrate without lawfull cause Q. So much of the Commandement What are the punishments of the breach A. First a Numb 5. 13. Prou. 5. 14. when many other sinnes are hid this is most commonly discouered Secondly b Prou. 2. 22. 14. Eccles 7. 27. 28. Rom. 1. 24. the sinne is a iudgement of it selfe Thirdly c Heb. 13. 4. 1. Cor. 6. 9. 10. God will iudge them oftentimes in this world alwaies in the world to come Fourthly d Leuit. 20. 10. more particularly whipping for fornication and death to other vnlawfull mixtures e Prou. 6. 26. Hos 4. 11. Iob. 31. 12. 9. 10 Deut. 23. 2. 2. Sam. 13. 14. 16. 21. Leuit. 20. 20. Fifthly it spendeth the goods as also hurteth the body and bereaueth a man of his vnderstanding and iudgement and not onely reacheth to the offenders themselues but also to their children for by Moses Law the bastard to the tenth generation might not enter into the Sanctuarie likewise hee sinneth against his wife and lawfull children whilest thereby he oftentimes maketh a stewes of his house as Dauid did by the adulterie he committed with the wife of Vrias And children begotten in horrible incest were to be burnt or slaine in their mothers wombe CHAP. 23. Of the eighth Commandement The duties to our neighbour in other regards viz. Of his goods The sin forbidding the hurt of our neighbour or his goods is theft Inward of the heart Outward the Instruments Kindes Priuate by abuse of our Owne by Prodigality Auarice Neighbors With colour Without colour Publike in Church sacriledge Temporall Spirituall Common-wealth Good name Command 9. Ch. 24. EXOD. 20. 15. Thou shalt not steale SO much of the seuenth Commandement and of those duties we owe to our neighbour in regard of his wife now follow those which we owe in other regards and that 1. of his goods 2. of his name The dutie we owe him in regard of his goods is contained in the eighth Commandement Q. What is that A. Thou shalt not steale Q. What is the summe of it A. To giue to euery one that which is his and not onely not to diminish by any meanes another mans goods but to doe our best as farre as our callings and meanes
the sheading of the blood of beasts is now vnder the Gospell accomplished by the blood-sheading of Christ Q. What are the sacramentall actions of them which receiue A. To take the bread and to eate it and the wine Mat. 26. 26. 27. and to drinke it Q. VVhat is signified thereby A. The applying of Christ crucified and all his merits vnto our selues by faith as the onely meanes by which we looke to liue eternally Q. VVhat is the fittest time for the celebration of this Sacrament A. The Lords day in the morning Act. 20. 7. Q. But our Sauiour celebrated it vpon another day both he and his Apostles at another time euen in the night A. First our Sauiour did this occasionally after supper in regard of the Passeouer in the roome wherof this was to succeed and therefore hee did institute it presently after the eating of it Secondly that it might goe immediately before his passion the better to shew whereunto it hath relation Thirdly the Apostles did it in the night vpon necessity for feare of persecution and therfore where there is no such cause of feare the custome of our owne Churches is to bee performed which celebrate it in the morning when our wits memories and capacities are most fresh Q. But is there no speciall matter to bee obserued that our Sauiour celebrated this Sacrament after supper A. Yes verily for thereby we learne that wee are not to come to this table to fill our bellies but wee are to haue our mindes lifted vp from these earthly elements to our Sauiour Christ represented by them For it is not the vse after supper to set bread and wine vpon the table but banqueting dishes which reproues them which come only for a draught of wine and such as rest onely in the receit of the outward elements Q. How oft are the Sacraments to be celebrated A. As oft in a yeere as the Church where wee are members may conueniently and agreeable to the dignitie of the mysterie communicate therein 1. Cor. 11. 26. Q. What persons haue title to this Sacrament A. All Christians that are of yeeres of discretion 1. Cor. 11. 27. 28. and haue been baptized being fitted thereunto Q. May not infants and children partake thereof A. No because they cannot performe that dutie which the Apostle requireth of all worthie receiuers 1. Cor. 11. 28. that is they cannot trie and examine themselues Q. By what meanes may we be fit receiuers of this Sacrament A. First by a careful preparation before the action great heed in the action and a ioyfull and thankfull close and shutting vp of it Q. How are we to prepare our selues before the action A. Wee are first to examine our knowledge as in the grounds and principles of religion so also in this Sacrament whether we vnderstand the meaning and vse thereof viz. the signification of the signes and the graces that they seale Secondly wee are to examine what faith wee haue and what repentance not onely in the generall but for our particular sinnes whether wee doe bewaile them or iudge our selues for them otherwise we shall stirre vp Gods wrath against vs and those that belong 1. Cor. 11. 28. 31 vnto vs and moue him although not to condemne vs in the world to come yet to inflict fearfull plagues and iudgements vpon vs in this world Q. What heed is to be taken in the action A. That in the act of receiuing with the signes we consider and call to our remembrance the particular matters signified Seeing the bread broken and the wine poured out wee are affectionately to remember the body of Christ broken and his blood shead for vs and by the eye of faith behold him crucified as it were before our eyes Further beholding the Minister reaching forth these elements vnto vs wee are to behold Christ himselfe therein offering himselfe and all his merits vnto vs if we will receiue them by faith Lastly in the stretching forth of our hands to receiue these elements wee are to labour to haue a sense and feeling of our faith laying hold vpon Christ and all his sauing benefits and in our eating of this bread and drinking this wine wee are to labour to feele such a spirituall refreshing of our soules with the body and blood of Christ as wee feele in our bodies by the bread and wine Q. How are we to close and shut vp this action A. We are to be comforted in heart in the sense of Gods fauour towards vs from whence we should be ready with feeling ioy to sing a Psalm vnto the Lord of praise and thanks-giuing and feeling our selues strengthened in the new man we are to depart with a Mat. 26. 30. resolution to walke more strongly and steadily in the waies of God all the daies of our life afterward For this is a Sacrament not of our incorporation into Christ but of our growth in him CHAP. 39. Of Ecclesiasticall Discipline Censures wherein note their Kindes they are either Medicinall Priuate Publike Of punishment Power and authoritie MAT. ch 18. vers 15. to the 20. and 1. COR. 16. 22. 15. Moreouer if thy brother shall trespasse against thee goe and tell him his fault betweene thee and him alone if hee shall heare thee thou hast gained thy brother 16. But if he will not heare thee then take with thee one or two more that in the mouth of two or three witnesses euery word may be established 17. And if hee shall neglect to heare them tell it vnto the Church but if he neglect to heare the Church let him bee vnto thee as an heathen man and a Publican 18. Verily I say vnto you whatsoeuer ye shall binde on earth shall be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heauen 19. Againe I say vnto you that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall aske it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heauen 20. For where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the middest of them 1. COR. 16. 22. 22. If any man loue not the Lord Iesus Christ let him bee Anathema Maranatha Q. HItherto of the Sacraments now followeth the Discipline of the Church what is it A. The spirituall Censures of the Church executed against such members of the Church as haue fallen into any scandalous sinne Q. What need is there of them A. Very much both to helpe the godly and to restraine and root out the wicked out of the Church euen as much as of the sword of the Magistrate in the Common-wealth or the rod in the house yea so much more as these are for the body and this life the other for the soule and the life to come Q. What is to bee considered in this text concerning these Censures A. First the kindes secondly the power and authoritie Q. What are the kindes A. They are either of