discourage us from the practice of it especially considering we are undone for all Ages if we are not forgiven a thousand times more by God than ever we can forgive our Brother And considering too that we have such glorious Rewards before us that it is a shameless Impudence to expect so great Glories at a less rate than the bearing Christ's easie Yoke and light Burthen at a lower rate than one short but holy Life here And lead us not into temptation THE meaning is We pray that the allurements of the World the Flesh and the Devil may be so restrained by God that if we should by any of them be tempted to sin against him he will not leave us to be overcome by the temptation and fall into sin by it Or if at any time we shall fall into a sin by their Temptations which God forbid we pray that we may not impenitently live in it Thus we pray in this Petition that seeing we are neither willing nor able of our selves to resist and overcome their temptations that God by his Grace would enable us to do it That seeing we have vile Inclinations and corrupt Affections of our own ready to betray us seeing we have a tempting World ready to deceive us and seeing there is a busie crafty watchful Devil that studies to undoe us and all of them constantly alluring us to Sin or discouraging us from our Christian Duties we pray that God would not withdraw his Grace from us so as to leave us to be overcome by them But by the assistance of that Grace by being always upon our guard by holy Resolutions and a watchful Spirit we may be enabled when we are in danger and are tempted to resist subdue and conquer the Temptation In short we pray in this Petition that whenever we are tempted God would please either to restrain the Temptation or give us Grace to withstand it But deliver us from evil THE meaning is We pray that God would please to deliver us from all the Evils of this Life and that to come Especially from the Evils to which we are tempted That he would deliver us from the Evil of Sin from the Evil One that is the Devil From the power of the Tempter From all Evils and Miseries of Soul and Mind and Body either temporal spiritual or eternal Evil Thoughts Evil Words and Evil Actions And if in his Wisdom and Mercy he see it fit for us to be our Lot and Portion to suffer some Evils or Afflictions here in this Life yet that he will reserve nothing of his Wrath in store for us in another but deliver us from an Evil Eternity the unknown Evils of the Kingdom of Darkness the intolerable Evil of Everlasting Burnings which he has prepared for the Devil and his Angels The CONCLUSION For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever THE meaning is This is no Petition but a praising and glorifying of God that we may hence learn not only to pray for what we want but return him Love and Praise and Adoration for what we receive and the end of all may be his Glory So that as we begun this Prayer with Hallowed or Sanctified and Glorified be thy Name so when we have begged of God all necessaries for our Souls and Bodies we then conclude our Prayers with Praises as it is fit we should Thine is the Kingdom Thou art King the great King of Heaven and Earth and we are thy Subjects Vouchsafe us thy Subjects what we humbly petition for and beg Thou hast commanded us O our good and great King to come to thy Throne of Grace and ask and thou hast said Ask and ye shall have Be thou then intreated by us to hear and grant our Petitions For thine is the Kingdom thine is the Soveraignty and Dominion over all the World and therefore hast an infinite right to dispose of all things Thine is the Power That is thou art Omnipotent or able to do all things and therefore sure able to grant what we humbly ask and sue for It were to no purpose to come and ask a thing of him that were not able to bestow on us what we seek for Here therefore we acknowledge God's infinite Power In all Requests or Suits the two chief things to be considered in the Person we address to are these 1. That he be able to grant us And 2. That he be willing to grant what we beg for Now here in the end of this Prayer we acknowledge God to be able to grant when we say Thine is the Power In the beginning of it we acknowledge him to be willing when we call him by the endearing name of Our Father for what Father will not readily grant a Child what he sees necessary for him Lastly we not only praise God by ascribing to him the Kingdom and Dominion over all the World and by ascribing to him the Power of being able to do all things but by ascribing to him all Glory and Honour And this also is necessary in all our Petitions not only because God says Them that honour me I will honour 1 Sam. 2.30 but because the right end of our Prayers should be the Glory of God Thine is the Glory To thee we give Honour Praise and Adoration in these and all our Devotions and if thou please to answer our Petitions and grant what we beg to thee shall be returned the Praise and Glory for all Ages Amen By Amen we declare our firm Belief that he can grant us what we pray for and our earnest Hope and fervent Desire that he will do it for the sake of him in whom all the Promises are Yea and Amen even the Lord Jesus Question What desirest thou of God in this Prayer Answer I desire my Lord God our heavenly Father who c. THE meaning is I desire God who is my Heavenly and compassionate Father and from whom every good and perfect gift comes and from whom alone I have Grace and Strength to do my Duty that I may Worship him aright when I say Hallowed be thy Name I desire Grace to serve him sincerely and acceptably here and the favour to enjoy him for ever hereafter in Glory by Praying that his Kingdom of Grace may come to us here and we may come to his Kingdom of Glory hereafter This we do when we say Thy Kingdom come We desire that we may obey him as we ought to do and in acceptable degrees and measures as the Holy Angels do in Heaven when we say Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven We pray unto God to send us all things needful both for our Souls and Bodies when we say Give us this day our daily Bread We request him to be Merciful to us and forgive us our Sins when say And forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us We pray that he will please to save and deliver us in all
Heart Yes Should a Christian then follow the evil and corrupt Desires of his Heart No. Did they not promise in your Name that you should believe all the Parts of the Christian Religion Yes Shall you be saved if you do not believe them No. Did you not promise by your Sureties sincerely to obey God's Commandments Yes Seeing they promised these things for you when you were a little Child should you not labour to perform them now Yes Shall you ever go to God and Heaven unless you do sincerely perform them No. But can you do these things without God's Help No. Should you not pray to God for his Grace to keep you alway in this happy Covenant Yes Well then is it not your Duty to renounce the Temptations of the. World Flesh and Devil according to this Promise Yes Is it not your Duty to believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith according to this Promise Yes And do you firmly believe them Yes Can he be a true Christian that denies any one of them No. Is it not your Duty to keep God's Commandments as was promised for you Yes Can you without infinite danger live in the Breach of any one known Command of his No. Well then it seems this was promised for you that you should renounce the Temptations of the World Flesh and Devil believe the whole Christian Faith and keep God's Commandments was it not Yes And has not God promised upon these Conditions to give us pardon of Sin Grace and Glory Yes Suppose a Man after he is baptized should commit a Sin can he be saved unless he repent of it and sincerely forsake it No. Should we not then by this our Covenant of Baptism live a Godly and a Christian Life Yes If we do in Sincerity of Heart keep our Conditions of it shall we go to Heaven when we die Yes Will not Heaven and Happiness be a sufficient Reward for our renouncing of the Temptations of the World Flesh and Devil Yes Will not Heaven and Happiness be a sufficient Reward for our constant believing all the Articles of the Christian Faith Yes Will not Heaven and Happiness be a sufficient Reward for our keeping God's holy Will and Commandments here Yes Will not the Pleasure of Sin for a Season be a sufficient recompense for the Loss of Heaven and Happiness No. Well then was not this a Gracious Covenant which was made in your Name when you were baptized Yes Should we ever cease to be thankful to God for calling us to this State of Salvation No. When we were fallen was it not Jesus Christ that made this gracious Covenant between God and us Yes Did not God shew his great Hatred of Sin and his Willingness to have us save in sending his Son to die for us Yes Should you ever cease then to love God and Christ No. Should you cease to obey God and Christ No. Or to pray to God and Christ No. When we come to Years of Discretion should we not own all that our Godfathers and Godmothers promised in our Name Yes If we will not own it our selves do we not lose all our Title to Pardon Heaven and Glory Yes SECT II. Credendae Catechist REhearse the Articles of thy Believe Answer I believe in God the Father Almighty c. Question What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles c. Answer First I learn to believe in God the Father c. Of the Creed and the practical Belief of it ARTICLE I. I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth DO you believe in God Yes Do you believe in Jesus Christ Yes Do you believe in the Holy Ghost Yes Are there any more Gods than one No. Is not God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost three Persons and but one God Yes Though we cannot fully understand how three Persons can be but one God must we not firmly believe it Yes Is not this easie to God though it be hard to us Yes Shall we be saved without this Faith or Belief No. Do you love God Yes Do you hope to live with God when you die Yes Can any man be saved and go to Heaven without believing and trusting in Jesus Christ No. Do you love your Saviour Jesus Christ Yes Do you love the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit Yes Is it not the Holy Ghost that puts into your mind good Desires Yes Is not this good Spirit grieved when you do an evil Action Yes Is not God a Spirit Yes Can we see God with our mortal Eyes No. Do you believe that God made Heaven and Earth and all things out of nothing Yes Is not God an infinite and glorious Spirit Yes Is not God a Merciful Righteous Holy and Good Spirit Yes Is there any thing that God doth not know No. Can we do any thing and God not see it No. When you think upon any thing does not God know what you think on Yes Is not God a just a wise and powerful God Yes Is there any thing which God cannot do No. Will this good and great God love you if you keep his Commandments Yes ARTICLE II. And in Iesus Christ his only Son our Lord IS not Jesus Christ the Son of God Yes Is not Jesus Christ our Saviour God and Man too Yes Had Jesus Christ any Father besides God No. Did not God by his Holy Spirit cause him to be born of a Virgin Yes Is not Jesus Christ that Lord of ours by whom we hope Salvation Yes If God hear our Prayers at any time doth he not do it for Jesus Christ's Sake Yes If God do pardon our Sins when we repent of them will it not be for Jesus Christ's Sake Yes If God save us will it not be for Jesus Christ's Sake Yes And have we not reason to love Jesus Christ Yes Should we ever cease to obey Christ No. ARTICLE III. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary WAS Jesus Christ begotten by Man No. Was he not conceived by the Holy Ghost after a wonderful manner Yes Was not Jesus Christ born of a holy and pure Virgin Yes Was not this Blessed Virgin 's Name Mary Yes Was he not born of this holy Virgin an Infant as other Men are Yes Because Man had sinned against God was it not necessary that Jesus Christ should die for our Sins Yes Could any thing satisfie an Infinite Justice but an Infinite Satisfaction No. Could any thing therefore satisfie God's Justice for our Sins but the Sufferings and Death of Christ No. Was it not fit that he should be both God and Man who was to reconcile God and Man Yes And have we not reason to love and obey him Yes ARTICLE IV. Suffered under Pontius Pilate Was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell DID not a Man called Pontius Pilate cause our Saviour Jesus Christ to be put to death Yes Did not this Pontius Pilate sentence him to be crucified Yes Was
not this Pontius Pilate a Governour of the Country where Christ lived when he was on Earth Yes Was there any Sin or Fault in Christ No. Was he not accused by the Jews out of meer Malice Yes Was he not crucified that is nailed to a Cross till he was dead Yes That is were not his Hands and Feet nailed to a piece of Wood till he died Yes Was he content to suffer all this for our Salvation Yes Did not Christ by his Death satisfie God's Justice for our Sins if we repent of them and leave them Yes Shall any partake of the Benefits of Christ's Death but the true pernitent Sinner No. Before Christ was crucified was he not buffeted and spit on scourged and spightfully used Yes Did Christ give up the Ghost and really die upon the Cross Yes When he was dead was he not put into the grave and buried as other dead Men are Yes Did he not continue in the State of the dead for a time Yes When Christ descended into Hell did he suffer any Pains or Torments there No. Did he only descend to triumph over the Devil in his own Kingdom Yes Did he not suffer all this for our Sakes that we might be saved Yes And have we not infinite reason to love and obey him Yes ARTICLE V. The third day he rose again from the dead THough Christ were buried in the Grave does he continue in it to this Day No. Did not Christ come alive again the third day and rise out of the grave by his power Yes Did he not rise again out of it for our Justification Yes That is did he not by his coming out of the Prison of the grave shew that he had paid our debt that God's Justice was satisfied and he acquitted upon our Faith and Repentance Yes And can we ever cease to love and obey him No. ARTICLE VI. He ascended into Heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty DID not Jesus Christ about forty days after he came alive again ascend up to Heaven Yes Was he not carried up to Heaven in a Cloud Yes Is not Jesus now at this present at God's right Hand making Intercession for us Yes You say at the right hand of God why Is not God a Spirit Yes Has a Spirit any hands as we have No. When we say that Christ sitteth at the right hand of God do we not mean that he is exalted to the greatest power and glory Yes Is he not there our Advocate to intercede and plead for us Yes And can we for this pay him less than Love and Obedience No. ARTICLE VII From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead DO you believe there shall be a Day of Judgment Yes Shall not Christ come in that day to judge the World and all Men Yes Shall any Man escape the Judgment of Christ No. Shall he not then turn the wicked into Hell Yes Shall he in that day of Judgment place all good Men in Heaven Yes And should we not prepare our selves for that Judgment Yes Must we not then give an account of what we have done here Yes Must we give an account of our Thoughts Words and Actions Yes Shall any Man be able to hide his Sins from this Judge No. Is there any thing that we do which this Judge sees not No. Is there any thing that we think which Judge hears not No. Is there any thing that we think which this Judge knows not No. What does he see and know our very Thoughts Yes But will he not be a merciful Judge to all truly reformed Penitents Yes And for that reason should you not love and obey him Yes ARTICLE VIII I believe in the holy Ghost DO you believe in the holy Ghost or Spirit Yes Is there any Difference between these words Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit No. Is not the Holy Ghost God Yes Doth not this good and Holy Spirit convert us sanctifie us and comfort us Yes Is not this good and Holy Spirit ready by his Grace to assist us in doing our Duties Yes Is he not said to be grieved when we do not make use of the Grace and Strength afforded us Yes And should we grieve this Holy Spirit by a careless and disobedient Life No. Is it not this holy Spirit that puts into your mind good Desires Yes And should we refuse or neglect to perform them No. ARTICLE IX The Holy Catholick Church The Communion of Saints DO you believe that the whole Company or general Family of true Believers professing the Gospel under Christ their head are the Catholick Church Yes Is not Catholick Church as much as to say Universal Church Yes Are not the preaching of the Word and the due Administration of the Sacraments under Bishops and Pastors lawfully called are not these the Marks of it Yes Is it not Catholick in respect of Persons and Place Time and Doctrine Yes Are all the Believers of this Catholick Church holy by their Calling and Profession Yes Should you ever cease to bless God for being a Member of this Catholick Church No. Were you received into this number of Believers when you were baptized Yes Do you firmly believe the particular Church of England to be a sound part of the Catholick Church Yes Of the Catholick Church is not part on Earth and part in Heaven Yes Is not that part of it which is on Earth called the Church Militant Yes And is not that part of it which is in Heaven called the Church Triumphant Yes Do you believe that there is and ought to be a Communion of Saints Yes Is not this Communion of Saints a Communion one with another in all holy things Yes That is to say are we not to keep a Communion one with another in Faith in Love in Charity in Prayer in hearing the Word and receiving the Sacraments Yes May we forsake or withdraw our selves from the Communion or Fellowship of Christians in holy things No. Do you believe that while the Saints or true Believers on Earth do keep up their Communion with each other in all holy things that they have a Fellowship or Communion with the Blessed Trinity the Angels and the Saints departed Yes ARTICLE X. The Forgiveness of Sins DO you believe there is Forgiveness of Sins to be had in the Church of Christ Yes Can this Forgiveness be had unless we believe in Jesus Christ and repent of them and reform them No. If we do believe in Christ and repent of our Sins and leave them and live a new and Christian life shall we be forgiven Yes Is not Repentance this A turning from Sin to God a lasting durable State of new Life and Reformation Yes If the Sinner then have chosen amiss should he not speedily turn to God and chuse better Yes Is he wise or safe if he neglect to do it one day No. ARTICLE XI The Resurrection of the Body DO you believe that the Bodies of them that
Kingdom of Glory hereafter No. And do we not pray that Satan's Kingdom may be destroyed in us Yes So that do we not pray that Christ as King may rule in our Hearts by his Grace here Yes And that the blessed time may hasten when all his Saints shall reign with him in Glory hereafter Yes III. PETITION Thy will be done in Earth As it is in Heaven WHen we say Thy will be done do we not pray that God would enable us to obey his will Yes Can we do God's will unless he enable us No. And do we not pray that God would enable us to suffer his will patiently in all Afflictions Yes So that do we not mean thy will be done by us and thy will be done in us Yes When we say in Earth as it is in Heaven do we not pray that we may do his will on Earth with the like sincerity and chearfulness as the Angels do in Heaven Yes IV. PETITION Give us this day our daily bread WHen we say Give us this day our daily bread do we not pray that God would give us all things needful for our Bodies Yes And do we not pray that God would bless our lawful endeavours in order to such Supplies Yes And do we not pray that God would give us the continual Supply of his Grace for our Souls Yes Is it reasonable to expect Grace for the Soul and Food and Raiment for the Body unless we pray for it No. By saying Bread are we not taught to pray for necessaries not superfluities Yes In saying our bread do we not mean that which is procured by direct and honest means Yes Our bread that is our own not another's is it not Yes Do we not mean by daily bread that which is convenient for our present condition and occasions Yes In short do we not here pray for all Blessings temporal and spiritual to our Souls aâ—â— Bodies Yes V. PETITION And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive them that trespass against us WHen we say Forgive us our trespasses do we not pray for pardon of Sins Yes Do we not pray that God would for Jesus sake acquit us from the Guilt and Punishment of our Sins Yes Can a Christian pray rightly to God with hatred malice or desires of revenge in his heart No. Can we expect forgiveness of God unless we forgive others their Offences against us No. But if a man have considerably trespassed us may we seek reasonable satisfaction Yes But may we seek it with any hatred or malice or revenge to the Person No. Must not a Christian then seek satisfaction for damages without rigour spight or bitterness Yes Is it not an unchristian thing to go to Law for trifles Yes Or to go to Law for revenge and stoutness of Humour Yes May I go to Law meerly because another has disquieted me by that means No. Must a Christian love his Enemies Yes Though this be hard yet is not Heaven a great reward for it Yes Must a Christian do good to them that hate him when it lies in his power Yes Though this be hard yet is not the promise of a Crown of Glory enough to make amends for it Yes Should we Christians then return these injuries to others which we receive from them No. When we pray Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive c. do we not pray that no man may fare the worse in the day of Judgment for any wrongs done to us Yes And do we not pray in this Petition that God would give us the Grace of Charity and Forgiveness Yes VI. PETITION And lead us not into temptation ARE not the World the Flesh and the Devil alway by their Temptations drawing us to Sin Yes Can we overcome their Temptations without God's help No. When we say Lead us not into Temptation do we not pray that God would not suffer us to be overcome by their Temptations Yes Do we not pray that God would not withdraw his Grace from us Yes Can we stand in Temptations without his Grace No. Well then do we not pray that we may not be grievously tempted to sin Yes Or if we are tempted do we not pray that we may not fall into it Yes And do we not pray that we may not live impenitently in sin if we should fall into it Yes Is it a sin to be tempted No. Does not the sin lie in yielding to the Temptation Yes Can the Devil tempt us without God's permission No. In short do we not pray that God would either restrain the Temptation or assist us in it Yes And is there not daily need of this Petition Yes VII PETITION But deliver us from evil WHen we say Deliver us from evil do we not pray that God would deliver us from all Evils of this life and that to come Yes Especially that he would deliver us from the Evils to which we are tempted Yes Can we deliver our selves out of any Evil without God's help No. And do we not pray that God would keep none of his wrath in store for us Yes Do we pray that God would deliver us from the evil One that is Satan Yes And from the evil of Sin Yes And from the evil of Punishment Yes And from the evil World Yes And from our own evil Heart Yes From evil Thoughts evil Words and evil Actions Yes The CONCLUSION For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever Amen WHen we pray to God should we ever omit to praise him too No. When we say For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory do we not praise him Yes Do we not in these Words acknowledge God to be of infinite Power and Glory Yes Doth not this teach us that the right end of our Prayers should be the Glory of God Yes When we say Amen do we not express our Belief that God can and our desire that he will grant these Requests Yes Is not this therefore an excellent Form of Prayer Yes When a Christian prays to God should he ever leave out this Prayer No. Question What desirest thou of God in this Prayer Answer I desire my Lord God our heavenly Father to send c. DO we not solemnly own God in this Prayer to be our heavenly Father Yes Is not the word Father an endearing word Yes And should you not live in his sight with the reverential Affections the Love and Obedience of a Child Yes And seeing he is a tender Father should not this encourage us to pray to him Yes Would any Man methinks be excused from asking good Things of him who is the giver of all Goodness No. Is it not reasonable we should beg the Grace of God seeing we can do no good thing without it Yes Can we worship him serve him and obey him without the assistance of his Grace No. Is it not reasonable we should beg daily bread all things needful for our Souls and Bodies of our Father from whom alone
whose Gospel we derive our Hopes and Expectations of a joyful Resurrection And that we may be constantly put in mind that seeing we name the name of Christ we are to depart from iniquity Question Who gave you this name Answer My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism c. THE meaning is This Name was given me by them who brought me when I knew it not to be admitted to the Favour of God and to be made a Lamb of Christ's Flock And by my Baptism I was made I thank God a Lamb of that Flock a Member of his Church and an Heir to an Inheritance above in Heaven Question What did your Godfathers and Godmothers c. Answer They did promise and vow three things in my name c. THE meaning is They promised for me what I should have promised for my self had I been of Age but seeing I was not and they did promise it I will now stand to it And so I am sensible I must if I hope to receive the Benefits of my Baptism These were then the Three Things they promised which follow 1. They promised I should renounce the World the Flesh and the Devil The Pomps of the World that is all that Pride Vain-glory and Excess that is in the World in Food Raiment or any thing else All vain and sinful Companies and Customs of the World All the Temptations of the World All that is vain or wicked in the World All that Friendship of the World that is Enmity with God All things of the World that may be an occasion of sin to me All the unlawful Riches Honours or Pleasures of the World and never greedily to seek or set my heart upon those that are lawful Thus they renounced for me the Pomps and Vanities of the World which was the first thing they renounced in my name The next was All the sinful Lusts of the Flesh That is all the evil Affections sinful Desires and unlawful Lusts of my corrupt Heart By no means either to be led by them to yeild to them or consent to them The other Branch of what they renounced in my name was The Devil and all his Works Which works are Lying Envying Slandering Pride Murder Hatred but especially tempting others to sin And the actual committing or habitual living in any one wilful known sin Thus in this sense they promised I should renounce The World The Flesh and The Devil Which Renunciation of all these was the First of the Three things they did for me 2. When they presented me to Baptism the second thing they did for me was they promised in my Name That I should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith The meaning is They promised in my Name that I should believe all the Parts of the Christian Religion which are briefly contained in the Creed That is they promised I should believe in God and I do now believe in him They promised I should believe in Jesus Christ and I do firmly believe in him That he was born of a Virgin was crucified died and rose again c. All which I stedfastly believe They promised I should believe the Resurrection of the Body and a Life eternal after Death And I firmly believe these and all other Parts of the Gospel That I should believe these things was the second thing they did for me 3. They promised in my name That I should keep God's holy Will and Commandments and walk in them all the days of my Life The meaning is When they presented me to Baptism they promised in my Name That I should obey God's Will in avoiding all those things which he hath forbidden me and in performing all those things he hath commanded me And to do this not for a day only or a year but all the days of my Life Thus for instance 'T is God's Will and Commandment that I should be Sober Temperate Chast Pure Just and Upright Repent of and Reform my Sins believe in Christ be a very charitable Person That I should be meek humble and peaceable self-denying and mortified fear him love him above all things trust in him be patient in Afflictions submitting to his Will and to his Wisdom attend upon his Ordinances attend upon his Word attend upon Prayer attend upon his holy Sacraments and perform all other parts and instances of my Duty to God to my self and Neighbour This is to keep his holy Will and Commandments So that they who presented me to Baptism and charitably brought me to be received into Christ's Church by it promised in summ these things in my Name 1. That I should renounce the World the Flesh and the Devil so as by neither of them to be led to any known Sin 2. That I should believe the Christian Religion and live according to that belief 3. That I should give God one short life of Love and Obedience in sincerely though imperfectly doing what he has commanded As they promised this in my Name before I was baptized so I am now to keep it afterward that after death I may enjoy the Promises of God which he has made me upon these three Conditions in a joyful Resurrection and an eternal Life of Glory Question Dost thou not think that thou art bound c. Answer Yes verily and by God's help so I will c. THE meaning is As they promised these things in my name or for me when I was an Infant and could promise nothing for my self so I do now heartily own them all and take them intirely upon my self 1. I will and do renounce what they promised in my Name to renounce 2. I will and do believe firmly what they promised in my Name I should believe 3. I will ever by divine aid keep that holy Will and those Commandments of my God and Saviour which they promised in my Name I should And I bless God that he hath in infinite Love to me and Compassion to my Soul called me to this hope this great hope of being saved when I die And I earnestly beg his Grace that I may continue in this Faith this Hope this Love and this Obedience till the end of my Life till I change Worlds and come up to him SECT II. Of the Creed Catechist REhearse the Articles of thy Belief Answer I believe in God the Father c. I. ARTICLE I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth THE meaning is I do profess that I really believe there is an infinitely knowing just powerful holy wise good and merciful Spirit whom we call God that has been from ever and shall be for ever that he is eternal unchangeable omnipresent or every where present omnipotent or able to do all things who gave being to all things and received his Being from none That he orders all things in this lower World by his Providence that being omniscient he knows every Man's Thoughts Words and Actions I firmly believe that this Almighty God who is the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ and through Christ of all the Faithful did make Heaven and Earth the World and all things in it seen and unseen out of nothing and by his Word only And thus I believe in God II. ARTICLE And in Iesus Christ his only Son our Lord. THE meaning is I do solemnly profess to believe firmly Jesus Christ my Lord to be the Son of God to be both God and Man That he is the Son of God by eternal Generation who did from Eternity derive his Godhead from the Father As Man he is the Son of God being conceived by the Spirit of God alone So that as he was God from all Ages so being born of a Woman he was made Man for me and my Salvation I believe there is no other Name under Heaven by which we must be saved but Jesus Christ Who though he be Lord of all things by right of the First Creation and constant preservation of them yet he is more peculiarly the Lord of us who by Faith are consecrated to his Service That as God by the work of Creation he is the Lord that made me That as God and Man by the work of Redemption he is the Lord that bought me That he came from Heaven to visit us in great Humility and died to satisfie God's Justice for our Sins I do believe this Holy Jesus who is both God and Man to be and do in all humility and thankfulness love and obedience take him for my Saviour my Advocate my Redeemer and my Lord. And thus I believe in Jesus Christ III. ARTICLE Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary THE meaning is I do declare that I stedfastly believe That this holy Jesus my Saviour when he was pleased to become Man for me was not conceived as other Men are but after a miraculous manner by the immediate and only Power of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit of God was conceived in the Womb of a vertuous and holy blessed and pure Virgin known by the name of Mary Who being espoused to Joseph of Nazareth was yet before and after her Espousals a pure and unspotted Virgin Who after the natural Time of other Women brought forth the holy Infant the only begotten Son of God who was still God as well as an Infant His holy Mother still a most pure and immaculate Virgin A Virgin who was of the House and Lineage of David he being therefore called the Son of David And I Adore the infinite Wisdom of God who caused him to be born without the least shadow of Original Corruption who was to deliver us from the guilt of Sin I Adore the infinite Wisdom of God who caused his Conception and Nativity to be perfectly Immaculate that so being without Sin himself he might be a fit Sacrifice to atone for us Sinners And I Adore the infinite Wisdom of God who was pleased to order that he should be both God and Man who was to be the Mediator between God and Man and to reconcile God and Man And thus I believe he was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary IV. ARTICLE Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell THE meaning is I do declare that I do assent to this as an undoubted Truth and firmly believe that Jesus Christ my Saviour who was both God and Man having published his Gospel among the Jews he was accused by them out of meer Malice and brought before a Man called Pontius Pilate who was the Roman Governor of the Country where Christ lived which was Judea With Grief and Love I profess to believe that they the Jews tumultuously prevailed with Pilate to sentence him to Death though he declared he found no fault in him The Death which he sentenced him to was that most shameful painful and accursed Death on the Cross Before that Sentence was executed the Jewish Rabble and the Roman Souldiers mocked spit upon buffetted scourged and most vilely abused him I declare with Grief and Love that I believe this my Saviour was Crucified for me that is that his Hands and Feet were nailed to a Cross till he died I believe firmly that he Died as other Men and the reason of it was that he might reconcile the World to his Father and become a Sacrifice for all our Sins or that he might reconcile the Divine Justice and Mercy together that as Man he was to die to suffer in our stead as God he was to merit and make Satisfaction for our Sins and thus he became an infinite Satisfaction to an infinite Justice I entirely believe that when he had given up the Ghost and was dead that his dead Body was by Joseph of Arimathea wrapped in fine Linen and buried in a new Tomb I believe that he being dead and his Soul separated from his Body that he continued in the State of Separation or in the State of the Dead for a time and though between the time that he died and the third Day on which he rose again he did descend into Hell 't was not to suffer any thing there but to triumph over the Devil in his own Kingdom and Quarters and to shew him the Victory he had got over him To break the Iron Bars of these lower Prisons that they might open and shut for ever after only at his Command And thus I believe That he suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified dead and buried and descended into Hell V. ARTICLE The third Day he rose again from the dead THE meaning is I do solemnly profess That I assent to this as an undoubted Truth that Jesus Christ our Saviour though he was crucified and died for our Sins and by his Death had overcome Death did not continue long in the State of Death for his Soul was separated from his Body and his Body lay in the Grave but till the Third Day Upon the Third Day after he was buried reckoning that very Day on which he was buried for the First he by his own infinite Power as he was God did revive and raise himself by uniting the same Soul to the same Body and opened his Grave and came out of it and openly shewed himself alive for he conversed with his Disciples for the space of Forty Days after he arose from the Grave till he went away to Heaven And thus I believe that the Third Day he rose again from the Dead VI. ARTICLE He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty THE meaning is I do firmly believe that our dearest Lord after he rose out of the Grave stayed on Earth for the space of Forty Days In which time he ordered his Disciples how they should preach the Gospel and govern the Church and promised them the Holy Ghost At the End of the Forty Days he walks with them a Mile or Two out of the City of Jerusalem and when he had blessed them there comes down a Cloud and
in the sight of them all carried him through the Air into Heaven where he now sits to prepare a place for us and intercedes to God for all faithful penitent Sinners I believe he sits at God's right hand that is that he is there exalted to the greatest Power and Glory Not that God has Hands as we have for God is a Spirit and a Spirit has no Hands as we have But as with us the right Hand is a Place of Honour so I am fully perswaded that Jesus Christ is exalted in Heaven to the greatest Honour Power and Glory and there pleads and mediates with God for all those that believe in him repent of their Disobediences and live a New and Christian Life And thus I believe that he ascended in Heaven and sitteth at the right Hand of God VII ARTICLE From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead THE meaning is I do freely and fully assent to this as an undoubted Truth That Jesus Christ who is both God and Man at the End of the World shall certainly come again with Power and great Glory from the same Heaven into which he ascended attended by his Holy Angels to Judge all Mankind according as they have lived here That every Eye shall see him and they that pierced his Hands and Feet shall behold his Majesty his Terror and his Glory I believe that the World being dissolved and the Earth and all things thereon being burnt up the Lord Jesus shall sit in the Air in a Glorious Throne and shall judge the quick that is all those that shall be alive at his Coming and the dead that is all those that were dead before since the World began That the Records of their Conscience shall be laid open that is all that ever they thought or spake or did shall be brought to their Memory I believe firmly That he will judge them Righteously and them that have lived unholily irreligiously and died impenitently he shall sentence to eternal Darkness But them that have believed in him repented of and reformed their Sins and lived holy and good lives he shall adjudge to dwell with him in Heaven and Happiness for ever And thus I believe he shall come to judge the quick and the dead VIII ARTICLE I believe in the Holy Ghost THE meaning is I firmly believe That the Third Person in the adorable Trinity the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is God as well as the Father and the Son I believe him to be a Person distinct from both the Father and the Son eternally proceeding from both and equally sent by both and joint Author with both of our Salvation That though these are Three Persons yet are they but One God and though this cannot be fully understood in this World yet I believe it firmly I believe That as God the Father created me and God the Son redeemed me so this God the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit sanctifies me offers me his Grace and Assistance to do the Will of God is my Comforter and always 't is he that puts into my Mind good Desires and pious Purposes So that I believe intirely that he is not only of perfect Holiness in himself but also that he is the immediate Cause of all Holiness in us that by him all the Servants of God are enabled to do all things necessary to Salvation which by the force of Nature they cannot do That 't is he who enlightens our Understandings sanctifies our Will orders and commands our Affections that 't is by his Assistances imparted to us that we speak or do any thing of our Duty Thus I believe God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost not to be Three Gods but Three Persons and but One God And though I shall never in this Life fully comprehend this Mystery of the Trinity yet I firmly believe it And thus I believe in the Holy Ghost IX ARTICLE I believe in the Holy Catholick Church The Communion of Saints THE meaning is I do freely profess to believe That Jesus Christ did by the Preaching of the Apostles gather unto himself a Church consisting of Thousands of beliving Persons to which he daily added such as should be saved and will successively and daily add to the same to the End of the World That this Catholick that is Universal Church is the Corporation or general Family of all true Believers Or that Body or Society of Persons that profess Christ and his Gospel and is governed and continued under Bishops and Pastors lawfully called to that Office by whom the Word and Sacraments are duly Preached and administer'd under Christ their Head I firmly believe this Church of Christ to be One Holy and Catholick One in respect of our Faith One in respect of the Sacraments One in respect of being guided and directed by the same Spirit One in respect of One and the same Head Christ Jesus and One in respect of the same Hope of Glory and Immortality Holy in respect of its Head the Holy Jesus Holy by baptismal Dedication Holy in respect of its Design and End Holy in respect of the Holy Offices performed in it all which tend to produce Holiness and Holy in respect of its Calling Profession and Hope Catholick in respect of that Catholick Faith Truth and Doctrine which it teaches Catholick or Universal in respect of that Universal Obedience which it obligeth all Men to Catholick in respect of time that is it shall universally be continued to all Ages to the End of the World Catholick or Universal because 't is made up of all the particular Churches in the World Catholick in respect of that universal War which it always is to hold against all its Ghostly Enemies Catholick or Universal in this Sense that it is not limitted or confined to one Nation as the Church of the Jews was but by the Command and Appointment of Christ to be spread abroad and gathered from all Nations under Heaven I believe That of this Catholick Church part is on Earth and part in Heaven that is the Saints departed are the triumphant part of the Church and all true Believers Lovers and Obeyers of Jesus are the Church Militant And as I ever desire to be a Member of this Holy Catholick Church so I believe there is and ought to be a Communion of the Saints in it that is a Society or Fellowship one with another in all Holy Things As all Saints on Earth or all true Believers have in common One God One Christ One Holy Spirit One Lord One Faith One Baptism So I believe they ever did and ought to keep up a Holy Fellowship or Society with each other in all the common Christian offices and duties in Faith in professing the Gospel in hearing the Word in receiving the Sacraments in Charity and doing good to each other and in all common Christian offices of Piety and Devotion And I fully am perswaded that while the Saints or true Believers on Earth
sinful Lusts of the Flesh chiefly are Gal. 5.19 20 21. Now the Works of the Flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies Envyings Murthers Drunkenness Revellings and such like Of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Prove that you are to believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Heb. 10.23 Let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering Prove that you are to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments Rom. 12.2 That ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God 1 Joh. 5.3 For this is the Love of God that we keep his Commandments Prove that you are to walk in the same all the days of your Life Eph. 2.10 For we are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Rom. 6.4 Even so we also should walk in newness of Life Luke 1.75 In Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of our Life Question Dost thou not think that thou art bound to believe and to do as they have promised for thee Answer Yes verily and by God's help so I will And I heartily thank our Heavenly Father that he hath called me to this State of Salvation through Iesus Christ our Saviour And I pray unto God to give me his Grace that I may continue in the same unto my Lives end Prove that you are bound to perform this Vow and Promise Psal 22.25 I will pay my Vows before them that fear him Deut. 23.21 When thou shalt vow a Vow unto the Lord thy God thou shalt not slack to pay it For the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee 1 Thes 2.12 That ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory Prove that we are bound heartily to thank God for calling us to this state of Salvation Col. 1.12 13. Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Who hath delivered us from the power of Darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son Prove that we are to pray unto God for his Grace to assist us to continue in the same Matth. 7.7 Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you Heb. 4.16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Psal 84.11 The Lord will give Grace and Glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Prove that you are to continue in this Faith to your Life's end Matth. 24.13 He that endureth to the end the same shall be saved The Creed follows I believe c. Prove the first Article of your Creed that there is but one God Mark 12.29 Jesus answered him the first of all the Commandments is Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. Prove that he is our Father Joh. 8.41 We have one Father even God Matth. 6.9 Our Father which art in Heaven Prove that he is Almighty Gen. 17.1 I am the Almighty God Prove that he is the Maker of Heaven and Earth Acts 17.24 God that made the world and all things therein seeing that he is the Lord of Heaven and Earth Prove that you are to believe in Jesus Christ Acts 16.31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house Prove that he is the only Son of God St. Joh. 3.18 But he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed on the name of the only-begotten Son of God Prove that he is our Lord. Acts 2.36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made the same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ Prove that he was conceived by the Holy ghost St. Luke 1.35 And the Angel answered and said unto her The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God St. Matth. 1.20 That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost Prove that he was born St. Luke 2.6 7. And so it was that while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered And she brought forth her first-born Son Luke 2.11 Unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Prove that he was born of a Virgin St. Matth. 1.22 23. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet saying Behold a Virgin shall be with Child and shall bring forth a Son Prove that this blessed Virgin 's name was Mary St. Matth. 1.18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise whenas his Mother Mary was espoused to Joseph Prove that he suffered under Pontius Pilate St. Matth. 27.2 And when they had bound him they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the Governour Prove that he was crucified St. Matth. 27.35 And they crucified him Prove that he was dead St. Luke 23.46 And when Josus had cried with a loud voice he said Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit and having said thus he gave up the Ghost Prove that Jesus Christ was buried St. Matth. 27.59 And when Joseph had taken the body he wrapped it in a clean linen cloath and laid it in his own new Tomb. Prove that he descended into Hell Eph. 4.9 10. Now that he ascended what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the Earth He that descended is the same also that ascended Acts 2.31 He seeing this before spake of the Resurrection of Christ that his Soul was not left in Hell neither his Flesh did see corruption Prove that he rose again the third day from the dead 1 Cor. 15.4 He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures Acts 10.40 Him God raised up the third day Prove that he ascended into Heaven St. Luke 24.51 And it came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into Heaven Acts 1.9 And when he had spoken these things while they beheld he was taken up and a Cloud received him out of their Sight Prove that he sitteth at the Right-Hand of God that is that he is exalted to the greatest Power and Glory in Heaven Mark 16.19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them he was received up into Heaven and sat on the Right-Hand of God Eph. 1.20 21 22. Which he wrought in Christ
when he raised him from the Dead and set him at his own Right-Hand in the Heavenly Places Far above all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion and every name that is named not only in this World but also in that which is to come And hath put all things under his Feet Prove that he shall come to judge the quick and the dead Acts 17.31 Because he hath appointed a Day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness Acts 10.42 It is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of the quick and the dead Prove that you are to believe in the Holy-Ghost or Holy Spirit 1 Joh. 5.7 There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost and these three are one 1 Thes 4.8 God who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit Matth. 12.32 Whosoever speaketh against the Holy-Ghost it shall not be forgiven him Prove that Christ hath a Church upon Earth Acts 2.47 And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be Saved Prove that this Church of Christ is Holy Eph. 5.27 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy Heb. 12.14 Follow Peace with all Men and Holiness without which none shall see the Lord. Prove that this Church is Catholick that is Vniversal or to consist of People of all Nations And not limited to one Nation as the Jewish Church was Matth. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father c. Rev. 5.9 For thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation Prove that there is and ought to be a Communion of Saints or fellowship one with another in all holy things 1 Joh. 1.7 But if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another Eph. 4.4 5. There is one Body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism 2 Cor. 13.14 The Communion of the Holy-Ghost be with you all 1 Cor. 10.17 We being many are one Head and one Body for we are all partakers of one Bread Prove that we must not forsake the Communion of Saints in holy things Heb. 10.25 Not forsaking the assembling your selves together as the manner of some is Rom. 15.6 That ye may with one Mind and one Mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Prove that there is forgiveness of Sins to be had upon Repentance in the Church Acts 3 19. Repent ye therefore and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out Acts 13.38 Be it known unto you therefore Men and Brethren that through this Man is preached unto you forgiveness of Sins 1 Joh. 1.1 2. If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the propitation for our Sins Prove that there shall be a Resurrection of the Body 1 Cor. 15.21 22. For since by Man came death by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead For as is Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive Acts 24.15 There shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Unjust Prove that there is an Everlasting Life after Death Matth. 25.46 And these shall go away into Everlasting Punishment but the Righteous into Life Eternal Joh. 5.28 29. The hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Question What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy Belief Answer First I learn to believe in God the Father who hath made me and all the World Secondly in God the Son who hath redeemed me and all Mankind Thirdly in God the Holy-Ghost who sanctifieth me and all the Elect People of God Prove that God made you and all the World Acts 17.24 God that made the World and all things therein seeing he is the Lord of Heaven and Earth Acts 17.28 In him we live move and have our being Prove that God the Son redeemed you Luke 1.68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his People Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law Prove that he did redeem you and all Mankind Heb. 2.9 But we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the Angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour that he by the Grace of God should taste death for every Man Prove that God the Holy-Ghost or holy Spirit sanctifieth you and all the Elect People of God 2 Thes 2.13 But we are bound to give Thanks alway to God for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Prove or shew where you find the Ten Commandments Exod. 20.2 to the 18th I am the Lord c. Question What is thy Duty towards God Answer My Duty towards God is to believe in him to c. Question What is thy Duty towards thy Neighbour Answer My Duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as my self and to do c. Prove that you are to perform your Duty towards God and towards your Neighbour Matth. 22.37 38 39. Thou salt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind This is the first and great Commandment And the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Prove that you are to believe in God 2 Chron. 20.20 Believe in the Lord you God so shall you be established Prove that you are to fear God Eccl. 12.13 Fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole duty of Man Prove that you are to love him with all your Heart Soul Strength and Mind Luke 10.27 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Strength and with all thy Mind Prove that you are to worship God Matth. 4.10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Prove that you are to give him Thanks 1 Thes 5.18 In every thing give thanks for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you Prove that you are to put your whole Trust in him Psal 62.8 Trust in him at all times ye People pour out your Heart before him God is a Refuge for us Prove that you are to call upon him Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt