he thinks most necessary to be believed And it is Resolved in the following Section CHAP. I. Section 2. The Summ of Things necessary to be believed by a Christian Artic. I. I believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth I do believe that there is a God an Infinite 1 King 8.27 Eternal Ps 90.2 Spirit Joh. 4.24 absolutely perfect Ps 147.5 Rom. 1.20 and that this God is the Father of whom are all things 1 Cor. 8.6 and who is in a more eminent manner the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Mat. 17.5 Joh. 1.14 Rom. 8.32 And I do believe that Power belongeth unto him Psal 62.11 so that he is able to do whatsoever he pleaseth Eccles 8.3 who did at first create the World and all things contained therein Gen. 1.1 and has preserv'd them ever since by His Divine Providence Neb. 9.6 Art II. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. I do believe that that Man who was born of the Virgin Mary Luk. 2.7 in the days of Herod Mat. 2.1 and who before his birth was by an Angel from Heaven named Jesus Mat. 1.21 was the True Messias the Anointed of the Lord Joh. 1.41 and 11.27 whom God had so long and so often promised to send into the world to be the Saviour of Mankind Gen. 3.15 and 21.12 and 49.10 Deut. 18.15 And I do also believe that this Holy Person was neither Angel nor Arch-Angel nor any other Creature whatsoever but the Son of God by an unspeakable Generation begotten of God from all Eternity Colos 1.15 17. Heb. 1.5 6 10 13. God of God and together with the Father and Holy Ghost one God John 5.18 blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 and that he is rightly called our Lord in respect of that Right that belongs to him as having first Created us Colos 1.16 and then redeemed us 1 Pet. 1.18 19. and being made Lord of all things Acts 2.36 Art III. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary I do believe that Jesus Christ was not conceived after the ordinary way but by the wonderful Operation of the Holy Ghost overshadowing his Virgin Mother Luke 1.35 that he might assume our Nature without the Depravation of it Luk. 1.35 And I do moreover believe that though being conceived in that wonderful manner he had no Man to his Father yet deriving his bodily substance from his Mother he is rightly said to be the Seed of the Woman Gen. 3.15 of the House and Family of David Ps 132.11 Mat. 15.22 Acts 2.30 And so being descended from Adam Luk. 3. he is truly call'd the Son of Man Mat. 8.20 Mar. 9.12 Luk. 9.22 John 5.27 Art IV. Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified Dead and Buried he descended into Hell I do believe that the only begotten Son of God did in our Nature which he had assumed not only really and truly suffer both in his body by tormenting pains Mat. 27.26 29 35. and in his Soul by unspeakable sorrows Mat. 26.38 Luk. 22.44 for the Redemption of Mankind Gal. 3.13 1 Pet. 2.24 but even in the most shameful and ignominious manner also having his Hands and Feet nail'd to a Cross as Thieves and the vilest Malefactors were used Luk. 23.33 there he hung some Hours Luk. 23.44 till he was Really dead Luk. 23.46 and then for the greater certainty of it like other dead Men was embalmed and laid in the Grave Luk. 23.53 his Soul being departed into those unknown Regions where Souls separated from their Bodies are Ps 16.10 Acts 2.31 And I am verily perswaded that all this was done when Pontius Pilate was Governour of Judea under Tiberius the Roman Emperour Luk. 3.1 Art V. The Third Day he rose again from the Dead I do believe that Jesus Christ the Third Day after he died according to his own Promise Joh 2.19 and as the Scripture had foretold Ps 16.10 had his Soul by the Power of the Godhead reunited to his Body Acts 2.31 32. so that he was really and truly alive again Luk. 24.39 Acts 1.3 and is never to return to Death any more Rom. 6.9 Art VI. He Ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the Right Hand of God I believe that after he was risen from the Dead and had conversed with his Disciples Forty Days Acts 1.3 while he was Talking with them he was taken up in a Cloud and went into Heaven Angels attending and ministring unto him Acts 1.9 10. where being exalted far above all Principalities and Powers Eph. 1.20 21. and placed in full Possession of the highest Power Dignity and Dominion he always appears in the Presence of God making Intercession for us by vertue of that Sacrifice which he had before offered upon the Cross Col. 2.16 to 22. Heb. 7.25 and 9.24 Art VII From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead I believe that Christ in his Humane Nature shall continue in Heaven till the end of the World Acts 3.21 and that then he shall come from thence in the Clouds attended with millions of Angels and with the Voice of the Arch-angel and with the Trump of God and shall call all Mankind before him Mat. 24.30 31. as well those that shall be then alive at his coming 1 Thess 4.17 as those that shall have been dead from the beginning of the World Joh. 5.28 and there shall Judge them all according to their Deeds whether they have been good or whether they have been evil 2 Cor. 5.10 Art VIII I believe in the Holy Ghost I believe that there is a Third Person 1 Joh. 5.7 proceeding from the Father and the Son Joh. 15.26 Gal. 4.6 who also is God Acts 5.4 called in sacred Scripture the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost not only upon the account of his own most perfect Holiness and in Opposition to that Vnclean Spirit the Devil but also as he is the cause of all Holiness in us by his Graces sancrifying our Sculs and Bodies to the obedience of God 1 Pet. 1.2 and so making us acceptable to him in Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 6.11 Art IX The holy Catholick Church I believe that Christ by the Preaching of the Gospel has called not only out of Judea but out of all Nations a Society of Men Mat. 28.19 Acts 2.41 42. and 4.32 and 5.14 into which every one is admitted by Baptism 1 Cor. 12.13 and all are united to and under him as their Head Col. 1.18 And that this Catholick or Vniversal Church or whole Society of Christians dispersed over the world containeth in it as its parts many particular Churches such as were those of Jerusalem the first Church planted by the Apostles Luk. 24.47 Antioch Corinth Ephesus c. And that there is no One Governour on Earth whom Christ hath appointed Head of the whole Church or all particular Churches nor any who is sufficient for such a Charge I further believe that this Church is set apart for Holy Services and that the Calling and Profession of the
and Vertuous with a greater Portion of Grace and bring all Sinners to Repentance Preserve all that travel by Land or by Water and give thy blessing to those that labour in their several Callings O prosper thou their handy work O good God be gracious to all my Relations and Friends convert and pardon my Enemies Deal to all degrees and conditions of Men what is most useful and profitable for them Finally I bless and praise thy holy Name for all the Mercies vouchsafed to me and to all Mankind for the sake of thy dear Son Christ Jesus I glorifie thee for his miraculous Birth Life Death Resurrection and Ascension and for his Intercession at thy right Hand for us and for the sending of the Holy Ghost for the wonderful Preservation of thy Church in all Ages for the good Examples of all Holy Men and Women that have gone before us for the means of Grace and for the hope of Glory I likewise magnifie Thee for my Health Strength Food and Rayment for the Preservation of my Self my Friends and Relations and for all the Comforts of this Life humbly beseeching Thee to give us all Grace to live so godly soberly and righteously in this present World that at the end of our Days we may come to those everlasting Joys which thou hast prepared for those that love thee through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen When this Prayer is used in the Morning add that which follows O God who by thy good Providence hast watched over me the Night that is pass'd be Thou pleas'd also to preserve me this Day defend me by thy mighty power from all things hurtful and grant me all things needful both for my Soul and Body and prosper what I shall go about through Jesus Christ Amen When in the Evening add this BE thou pleased this Night to protect and defend me and all that Thou in thy good Providence hast given me from all dangers and grant me such a comfortable and refreshing Sleep as may enable me to serve Thee better the Day following through Christ Amen End these Prayers as follows Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this Day our daily Bread And forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that Trespass against us And lead us not into Temptation but deliver us from Evil. For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Mat. 6.9 Luke 11.2 The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the Love of God and the Followship of the Holy Ghost be with me now and evermore Amen 2 Cor. 13 14. A Brief Paraphrase on the Lord's Prayer to be used at any time as a Prayer Preface O Lord the Creator and Preserver of all Men Heaven is thy Throne and the Earth thy Footstool Petition 1. We entirely desire that thy Name may be glorified by us and by all the World who have had so many Experiences how great how wise and how merciful thou art 2. Rule thou in the hearts of all Mankind by thy Grace and so prepare them for thy Kingdom of Glory 3. And since thy Will is holy and just and wise may we on Earth yield as ready and chearful an obedience to it in all things as the blessed Angels themselves do who stand in thy Presence and do whatever thou commandest them 4. Unless Thou preservest us we all perish We therefore humbly beseech Thee that Thou wouldest give us all things needful both for our Souls and Bodies and bless us in the due use of them We are indeed unworthy of such Mercies by reason of our manifold Transgressions But 5. We humbly hope Thou wilt in tender compassion to us pardon all our Offences against Thee as we do sincerely forgive all those who have offended against us and we beseech Thee to encrease this Charity in us 6. And together with thy Pardon for all that is past we implore thy Grace to preserve us continually from offending Thee for the time to come And to that end do Thou by thy Providence either prevent us from falling into Temptations or by thy Grace so assist us that we may overcome them Deliver us from the Snares and Malice of the evil one and from all sin and wickedness and from the Miseries of this Life so far as thou seest fit for us and above all from everlasting Death Conclusion Hear us and graciously answer our Petitions for thou art the great King whose power is infinite and to thee shall all the glory of thâ— goodness and mercy be returned for ever and ever Amen So be it On the Lord's Day before Church add this to the general Prayer IN an humble and thankful sense of thy infinite goodness O Lord who art pleased to admit us thy unworthy Creatures to tread thy Courts I am going to thine House there to present my Soul and Body to thee in the Assembly of thy Saints O do thou draw nigh to me who am drawing nigh to thee in a holy Fellowship with those who profess the Christian Faith Let thy Holy Spirit compose my Mind to a serious and devout attention in all the parts of thy Divine Service Let me praise thy Name with Chearfulness pray unto thee with Earnestness and hear thy word with Reverence And vouchsafe more fully to inform me of my Duty to correct and amend what is amiss in me to encourage and strengthen my good Resolutions and to assist me in all well-doing for the time to come That so growing every Day better and better by my Communion with Thee I may become such as thou canst love and delight in now and wilt reward at the great Day of the Lord Jesus Amen When you come from Church pray thus I adore thee again O Lord of Life and Glory and do most humbly beseech thee to accept of that dedication I have made of my Soul and Body to thee with Prayers and Praises in the publick Congregation Pardon all the wandring and evil Thoughts and all the unfit Actions I may have been guilty of in my attendance upon thee Be merciful to me in pardoning all my sins and endue me with the grace of thy Holy Spirit Preserve in me always a Religious sense of thee whereever I am or whatsoever I do O Blessed Jesus I beseech thee that thy holy Laws may be more deeply engraven on my heart O that every truth I have learnt this day may be so faithfully remembred by me as may make me more diligent in my Calling more useful in my Conversation more dutiful in all my Relations and more contented in all Conditions that so running the way of thy Commandments I may at length attain thy gracious Promises and be made Partaker of thy everlasting Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer before Confirmation O Almighty God and Merciful Father through whose gracious Providence over me I have been admitted into thy
Members of it is Holy 1 Thess 4.7 2 Tim. 1.9 and 2.19 And I make no doubt but that according to his most gracious promise against this Church built upon the Rock of that Faith which St. Peter confessed in owning Jesus to be the Christ the Gates of Hell or the Power and Malice of the Devil and all his Agents shall not finally prevail Mat. 16.18 but that in it there will be in some part or other of the World a constant succession of Pastors to the end of the World Mat. 28.20 The Communion of Saints I do further believe that all Christians truly sanctified have Fellowship not only with God the Father the Son 1 Joh. 1.3 and the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13.14 as dwelling in them Joh. 14.23 but are united with the Saints Rom. 1.7 Eph. 4.16 1 Joh. 1.7 on Earth the Living Members of Christ in Faith and Charity in Worship and Sacraments Acts 2.42 and 4.32 1 Cor. 12.26 Eph. 4.5 13. in Christian Assemblies Heb. 10.25 from which Assemblies those who wilfully withdraw whilest no sinful Conditions of Communion are really put upon them tho' through Pride and Prejudice and the Clamour of the Enemies of an Establishment it may be so suggested do make such a Schism Breach or Rent in the Body of the Church as becometh not the Members of it but is extreamly hurtful to Order Peace and Charity Rom. 16.17 1 Cor. 1.10 and 12.25 26. dishonourable to Religion and displeasing to Almighty God Gal. 5.20 21. Art X. The Forgiveness of Sins I do believe that not only all the Sins whatsoever any Person was guilty of before he was Baptized are forgiven unto him at his Baptism if he was duly qualified for the receiving of that Holy Ordinance Acts 2.38 and 22.16 but also that all the Sins that any Person shall commit after Baptism shall likewise upon his true Repentance be forgiven him by God Mar. 3.28 Luk. 24.47 for the sake of Christ's meritorious sacrifice once offered on the Cross Heb. 9.26 by which he made Atonement for the sins of the World Rom. 5.11 Col. 1.20 and 2.13 14. 1 Joh. 4.10 Art XI The Resurrection of the Body I do believe that as it is appointed for all Men once to die Heb. 9.27 so is it also determined That at the end of the World there shall be a general Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust Act. 24.15 their Bodies however their Parts may before that be scartered or dissolved being by the Almighty Power of God raised again and re-united to their Souls Job 19. 26 27. never to be separated any more 1 Cor. 15.42 53. And that as all the just shall be raised to a Resurrection of Life so shall all the unjust to a Resurrection of Damnation Joh. 5.29 Art XII And the Life Everlasting I do believe that at the general Resurrection of the Last Day all Men shall be rewarded according to their Deeds which they have done in their Bodies 2 Cor. 5.10 they that have done good shall go into Everlasting Life Mat. 25.46 a state of perfect Joy and Happiness for ever and they that have done evil into everlasting punishment Mat. 25.46 a state of unspeakable Woe and Misery where there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth to all Eternity Mat. 25.30 These are the Articles of the Faith of a Christian Man But if this Faith tho' never so firmly believed does not work by Love 1 Cor. 7.19 Gal. 5.6 and 6.15 it is vain it is dead it is such a Faith as the Devils have who believe and tremble but do not obey Therefore we go on to show those Christian Works or Duties which are the Fruits of True Faith and which together with the belief of Revealed Doctrine are called Faith or an Embracing the Gospel Mar. 16.16 Joh. 3.18 19. And this Faith God accounts through Christ as the Performance of the Condition on our part of the Covenant of Baptism Heb. 5.9 1 Pet. 3.21 CHAP. II. Of the Things to be Practised by a Christian THE Duties belonging to a Christian Respect God our selves and our Neighbours Tit. 2.11 12. The Gospel offering Salvation to all Men upon the Terms of a Godly Sober and Righteous Life through the Merits of Christ Jesus Section I. Of Duties towards God to be practised by every one that believes in him Such Duties to God are to Love and Fear him to Repent and turn to him to Honour and Glorifie him and to Trust in and Rely upon him with Contentment Resignation and Thankfulness to God 1. To Love God God is the Chief Good and therefore he is to be loved both by the Approbation of the Mind and the Affection of the Heart and we are to Love him with all our Hearts and with all our Souls and to show we do so by Keeping his Commandments John 14.15 by chusing to suffer for his sake rather than to sin Heb. 11.25 by our delighting to converse with him in Prayer and Praises in Reading and Hearing his Word and Receiving the Sacrament esteeming with David One Day in his Courts better than a Thousand elsewhere Psal 84.10 And by our coming to those Spiritual Exercises with the same Earnestness as the panting Hart does to the Water-Brooks and with the same chearfulness of Mind though not always the same Sense of it as we go to visit our dearest Friends And Lastly by our longing Desire to Enjoy him in Glory not thinking the Labour and Service of our whole Lives too much towards the attaining that blessed State nor setting up our Rest on this side Heaven Heb. 11.16 but pressing and hastning towards it with Devout Affections and Holy Diligence being willing when God calls to go out of the World and patient to stay till he calls 2. To Fear God Fear is a very affecting and powerful Passion and is a most forcible means to hold us to our Duty and to restrain us from sin For how can he presume to offend by any wilful neglect of his Duty or by the commission of any known sin that considers either the Knowledge and Power of God or His Purity and hatred of Sin That He understands all our Thoughts hears all our Words discerns all our Actions as well secret as open Psal 139.1 to 17. and will as certainly punish all sin unrepented of as He hates and condemns it For as He is able to cast both body and soul into Hell Luk. 12.5 so he has declared That he will do it Mat. 25.41 2 Thes 1.8 Rev. 21.8 And therefore the Scripture requires that we should serve the Lord with Fear Ps 2.11 Heb. 12.28 But then this Fear is not servile or slavish that no longer restrains us from sin than the Rod is before us or held over us but Filial the Fear of a Child that is afraid of displeasing his Father because he is his Father and to whom he always pays as well as owes the greatest Reverence and Obedience 3. To Repent and Turn to God