means Acts 13.26 Yes Are all under this common call also called effectually and chosen Mat. 22.14 No. But can this outward call be refus'd without the woful hazard of the Soul Prov. 1.24 26. No. § IS not the Gospel-call a great priviledge and must you not Solemnly thank God our Heavenly Father through Christ for it Psal 147.19 20. Yes Is there not great danger of being drawn from the State to which you are called by damnable doctrines or practices Heb. 10.38 Yes Can you then continue therein and be kept from revolting from your profession without real grace Heb. 13.9 Phil. 2.12 13. No. And if God gives you the first grace is perseverance therein of your Selves Luk. 22.32 No. § WILL you then pray unto God for his Grace to prevent and assist you and consummate at last his work in you Jam. 1.5 Phil. 1.6 Yes And must you not to prayer add the diligent use of all the means that God has appointed Mat. 25.29 Yes Are you willing for your further help that I should teach you what you are to believe and to do according to your promise Heb. 5.12 Yes Catechist Rehearse the Articles of thy Belief Answer I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth And in Iesus Christ his only Son our Lord Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary Suffered under Pontius Pilate Was crucifyed dead and buried he descended into Hell The third day he rose again from the dead He ascended into Heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty From thence he shall come to judge the Quick and the Dead I believe in the Holy Ghost The Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints The forgiveness of Sins The resurrection of the body And the life everlasting Amen § IS this Creed found in so many words any where in Scripture No. Yet is not the whole of it proved by Scripture as being according to the Doctrine of the Apostles and therefore called the Aposiles Creed Eph. 2.20 Yes Is it not agreeable to Scripture that there should be such a Form of sound Words 2 Tim. 1.13 Yes * May we receive any thing as an Article of Faith that is not found in Scripture Gal. 1.8 9. No. Are not all things revealed in the Scriptures to be believed by us Luk. 1.1 Yes But are all things therein alike necessary to be known Joh. 17.3 No. * Are not all things necessary and Fundamental plainly revealed Psal 119.105 Yes * Were not the Scriptures confirm'd by Miracles owned by the Church in all Ages and are they not known by their majesty purity and efficacy on the Hearts of Believers Psal 19.7 8 9. Yes †Will you not then search the Scriptures to prove the Articles of your Belief Joh. 5.39 Yes Qu. What is the first Article Answ I believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth § DOTH not Believing in God denote a practical trusting in and depending on Father Son and Holy Ghost as our Father Redeemer and Sanctifyer Yes Can this be without understanding what God hath revealed concerning himself as standing in these Relations to us Heb. 11.6 No. § DO you not believe that there is a God a most pure and supream Spirit Joh. 4.24 Yes Hath He a body or bodily parts or can He be seen with mortal eyes 1 Tim. 1.17 Deut. 4.15 No. Is He not infinite in his being and blessedness Exod. 3.13 Yes Is He confin'd to Time or place Psal 90.1 or doth He stand in need of any of his Creatures to make Him happy Acts 17.25 No. Is He subject to change or alteration Jam. 1.17 No. Can his attributes and glorious perfections be fully comprehended by us Job 11.7 8 9. No. Is He not most Holy Powerful Wise Good Just and true and this Originally and independently so as no Creature can be Mat. 19.17 Yes § ARE there more Gods than One Deut. 6.4 Is it agreeable to right reason that there should be more than one first Cause on which all things depend Acts 17.28 No. § ARE there not three Persons in the Godhead the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost 1 Joh. 5.7 Yes Is either of these Divine Persons before or after greater or less than the other Joh. 10.30 No. Have they not one and the same Divine nature and are they not distinguished by their Personal properties Yes Did not the Father from eternity beget the Son Psal 2.7 and is not the Son begotten of the Father before all worlds Joh. 1.14 Yes Doth not the Holy Ghost proceed from the Father and the Son Joh. 15.26 Yes § DID not the Almighty power of God appear in the works of his Creation Isa 45.12 13. Yes * Did He not make all things of nothing by the word of his power in the space of 6 days Heb. 11.3 Psal 33.6 Gen. 1.1 Yes Did He make any thing amiss Gen. 1.31 No. †And doth He not by his providence uphold and govern all that He hath made Heb. 1.3 Yes * Did He not in particular make man his body Form'd of the dust and his Soul immediately inspir'd Gen. 2.7 Yes Did not God create him after his own Image a knowing holy creature able also to sulfil the whole Law Gen. 1.26 Yes Did not God Covenant with man to confirm his life and happiness upon condition of his perfect obedience Rom. 10.5 Yes Was the particular command given to try his obedience viz. that He should not eat of the tree of Knowledge of good and evil a hard and impossible thing No. Did not God threaten death on his disobedience Gen. 2.17 Yes Should man have dy'd if he had not sinned Rom. 5.12 No. Did not man understand and agree to his Covenant Gen. 3.3 Yes Qu. What is the Second Article Answ And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord. § DO you not Believe in God the Son the Second Person of the Trinity equal with the Father and partaker of the same essence Phil. 2.6 Yes Though Believers are called Sons by Grace and adoption 1 Joh. 3.1 Yet is not our Lord His only Son by Nature and Eternal Generation Rom. 8.3 Yes § IS not the Son of God called Jesus because He saves his People from their Sins Mat. 1.21 Yes * Was man confirm'd in the holy estate in which He was created as the Elect Angels are now No. Did He not fall from that estate by Transgressing the Law and command which God gave him Eccl. 7.29 Yes Did He not Sin by the temptation of the Devil being left to the freedom of his own will Gen. 3 4 5 6. Yes Can so high an affront to the majesty of the Law-giver that contain'd so much Infidelity and such a total defection from God be reckoned a small Sin No. * Was not Adam our common Father a publick Person and our Representative in the Covenant of works 1 Cor. 15.22 Rom. 5.12 19. Yes Are there then any meer men that are
THE Church-Catechism ENLARG'D and EXPLAIN'D IN AN Easie and Familiar METHOD WITH THE SCRIPTURE-PROOFS Annexed thereunto These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine Heart And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up Deut. 6.7 8. LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside near Mercers Chappel 1697. THE PREFACE THIS explication of the Catechism supposeth the Reader to be convinc'd of the necessity and excellency of the Duty of Catechizing and the great danger of the neglect thereof in Churches or Familys where there are any that need training up in the way that they should go I am not ignorant that there are many who have written excellently on the Catechism and no wonder when so much of every Ministers time is or ought to be taken up in the use of it But yet there are not many that have made use of this Method The first Designer of it being taken away as is said in his life before He had accomplish't what He intended was followed by Doctor Wallis upon another Catechism Doctor Comber and I think He alone followed him upon this yet He by designing so much brevity and altogether omitting the Scripture proofs hath left room for a further Essay The use of this Mothod is double 1. As to the meanest capacitys it hath a visible benefit in that the Question is so fram'd as to lead the person instructed to his Answer whereby his understanding is both try'd and inform'd and yet the memory not burden'd with words it being evident that many of the more careless sort are frighted from the Catechism by a long Answer impos'd upon the memory and others get words by vote which they understand not and presently singer I only here desire of the Teacher that when He propounds or as be any Question He would not express or recite the Text or Texts of Scripture annexed thereunto partly because these proofs do indeed belong to the Answer and not to the Question though they could not conveniently be places otherwise than they are and partly because such a recital of the Texts Chapter and Verse would make the Question so long as to hinder the attention of the Learner great care being to be taken that He Answers understandingly and not by ghess Yes or No and for that reason He may sometimes be required to repeat the matter of the Question in his Answer as Q. Are there more Gods than One A. No there are not more Gods than One. 2. The other use is for them that have more understanding who must be obliged to answer to the Question by the Scripture annexed in this manner Q. Are there more Gods than One A. No. Q. How prove you that A. From Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord thy God is one Lord and I think it cannot be deny'd that the best as well as easiest way of Learning Scripture-principles is in Scripture Phrase Those lively Oracles make a deeper and more abiding impression than any other words And the prudent Catechist may with his Pen mark in every Section such Texts for the Learner to recite at a time as He shall judge for plainness or number to be suited to his Capacity Nor will this hinder the Learning these Principles in distinct propositions as they are set down in other Catechisms but will make it far more easie to Learn the words when they are by this instructed beforehand in the matter therein contain'd In this Composure I have endeavoured to make the Questions very Comprehensive by crowding thereinto as much matter as would consist with the plainness that I studiously design'd so that there is enough in each Question especially when the proof is given in Answer for the Catechist to dilate and enlarge upon in his more Familiar Instructing of those committed to his Charge May the whole be for the Glory of God through Christ and for the Edification of his Flock particularly the Lambs therein R. M. A CATECHISM That is to say An Instruction to be learned of every Person before He be brought to be Confirmed by the Bishop Question WHat is your Name Answer N. or M. Question Who gave you this Name Answer By Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism wherein I was made a Member of Christ the Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven § WAS not your Name given you at your Baptism as they were wont to receive their Names at their Circumcision Luke 2.21 Yes Is it not in the power of Parents chiefly of Fathers to give Names to their Children Luke 1.60 62. Yes Is it then unlawful for others by the Parents Consent to do it as Godfathers and Godmothers amongst us Ruth 4.17 No. § ARE Infants incapable of receiving any Priviledges or Benefits by Baptism Mark 10.14 No. 1. Are there not certain outward Priviledges confer'd by Baptism as of old by Circumcision Rom. 3.1 2. Yes * Were you not by Baptism made a Member of Christ i. e. of his Body the Church 1 Cor. 6.15 12.13 Yes But have all such Members of Christ a saving interest in him or benefit by him John 15.2 No. * VVere you not thereby made the Child of God Acts 3.25 Rom. 9.4 Yes And are there not many visible Children of God that prove rebels against him Isa 1.2 Ezek. 16.20 Yes * VVere you not further admitted an Heir or inheritour of the Kingdom of Heaven Eph. 3.6 Yes And are there not many visible Heirs or Children of the Kingdom that shall be cast out Mat. 8.12 Yes †Is there then any Reason why they that live in Sin should boast of or rest in these outward Priviledges Mat. 3.9 No. 2. Are there not also inward and spiritual priviledges offered in Baptism and sealed on Gods part to Believers Gal. 3.26 27. Yes Are these bestowed on you without any Conditions required on your part Mark 16.16 No. Do the conditions and terms of the Gospel make the Grace therein not to be free Eph. 2.8 No. †Are you not then by Baptism under an engagement to perform the Gospel-conditions 1 Pet. 3.21 Yes Question What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you Answer They did promise and vow thrée things in my Name First That I should renounce the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanity of this wicked World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh Secondly That I should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith And Thirdly That I should keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of my Life § DID your Sureties say when you were Baptized that you did so repent and believe No. Did they promise in their own Name or bind their own Souls with a Vow that you should do so when you came to Age No. Did they
not then in your Name promise or declare the Vow that you should be bound to perform Luke 5 18-20 Yes If you had been Baptized at Age should you not in your own Name have made the Promise Yes †VVhoever then made the Profession in your Name do you not now acknowledge it was your Promise and your Vow Psalm 119.106 Yes § IS not the Baptismal Vow to Renounce and forsake all your Spiritual Enemies Yes 1. Must you not Renounce the Devil under whose Power you were by Nature Eph. 2.2 Yes Is it enough to Renounce the Worship of the Devil which is practised by Idolaters 1 Cor. 10.20 and by Wizards and Charmers Deut. 18.10 11 12. No. Must you not renounce and resist him as an Adversary and a tempter with all his works Jam. 4.7 Yes * Must you not renounce the Suggestions of Satan and his instruments which are the works that He practiseth for your ruin Eph. 2.2 Yes * Must you not renounce the works that Signally bear the Devils Image 1 Joh. 3.8 Such as Lying Joh. 8.44 pride 1 Tim. 3.6 Malice Eph. 4.26 27. Treachery Joh. 6.70 71. and the Seducing others Acts 13.10 Yes 2. Is not the world another Enemy that you are bound to renounce Gal. 1.4 1 Joh. 5.4 Yes Are you bound to leave the Society of men and to dwell alone in woods and rocks or to renounce your Callings and Estates and vow Poverty Acts 20.35 No. * Must we not renounce the examples flatterys and enticings of wicked men Rom. 12 2. Prov. 1.10 Yes May we then like the Company or have a voluntary Fellowship with notoriously ungodly men Eph. 5.11 No. * Must we not renounce the things of the world so far as they are contrary to Christ or would draw us from him Luke 14.26 Yes Did not the first Christians renounce by the name of Pomps and Vanities the Pompous shews in the Pagan Theatres and Processions Yes * May we then be allowed to frequent prophane Stage-plays or the revels in Wakes and drunken Festivals Gal. 5.21 No. * May we immoderately or unseasonably seek or affect the riches honours or pleasures of the world 1 Joh. 2.15 16. No. 3. Is not the flesh with the sinful lusts thereof the other enemy that we must renounce Gal. 5.24 Yes Is not original Sin and corruption the fountain of all actual Sins call'd the works of the flesh Jam. 1.14 Gal. 5 19-22 Yes Doth it no◠lust against the Spirit and draw even the Members of the body to Sin Gal. 5.17 Rom. 6.19 Yes * May we then follow the depraved dictates and reasonings of a fleshly mind Rom. 8.7 Col. 2.18 No. * Must we not especially abhor the gross sins and fleshly lusts that War against the Soul 1 Pet. 2.11 Yes § ARE we not to observe in our Baptismal Vow what we are to believe as well as what we are to renounce Yes 1. Are not the Holy Scriptures Acts 24.14 and particularly the Articles of the Creed the Doctrinal object of our Faith Joh. 20.31 Yes Can we believe these without understanding their meaning and some good esteem of their excellency Luk. 1.4 No. * Must we not assent to the truth of these Articles and live and dye in contending for the Faith Acts 8.37 Jud. 3. Yes Is it enough to profess these Doctrines with the mouth without believing with the Heart Rom. 10.9 10. No. Is it enough to believe them implicitly because the Church believes them without ever examining and trying them by the word 1 Joh. 4.1 No. * Must we not believe with application to our Hearts particularly in what relates to Christ Eph. 1.13 Yes 2. Is not Christ Himself then the immediate and Personal Object of our Faith as a Mediator appointed by God and dying for us Rom. 3.25 Yes * Is not Faith to receive Christ as offer'd in the Gospel Joh. 1.12 and to rely on his merits and righteousness Yes Is it enough then to assent to the Articles as true without a consent to the offers and terms of the Gospel Jam. 2.19 20. No. * Is not saving Faith wrought powerfully by the Spirit Eph. 1.19 and doth it not work by love and all good fruits Gal. 5.6 Jam. 2.18 Yes Is Faith then a strong conceit or perswasion that Christ dy'd for you though you live in sin and were never humbled for it Mat. 7.22 23. No. § ARE we not further engag'd by the Baptismal Vow to a continual obedience to the Holy will of God Yes Did you promise a sinless Obedience for the ends of the Covenant of Works 1 Joh. 1.8 9. No. But is not sincere Obedience to the will of God declared in his word indispensably required in the Covenant of Grace Gal. 6.16 Jam. 1.25 Yes * Is not this new Obedience from the efficacy of the Spirit and constraint of Divine Love 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Yes Yet are we forbidden to take Motives of our Obedience from fear of punishment or hope of reward Jer. 32.40 No. * Are not the ends of it that God may be glorify'd Mat. 5.16 Our Neighbour edify'd 1 Pet. 3.1 2. and our Selves made meet for Heaven Col. 1.12 Yes Will God then accept of that partial Obedience that comes from meer custom and Education and is done for self-applause or pretence of merit Gal. 2.16 No. * Must not our Obedience be free and willing without being griev'd at any of his Commands 1 Joh. 5.3 Yes * Must it not be universal with all the Heart and with a respect to all his Commandments and that in all our actions Psal 119.128 Prov. 7.2 Yes * Must it not be constant even all the days of our Lives Luk. 1.74 75. Yes Question Dost thou think that thou art bound to believe and to do as they have promis'd 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 to my lives end § HAVE you considered your Solemn Vow and Promise made in Baptism Luk. 14.28 31. Yes Do you now in the presence of God and this Congregation make a profession of your standing to your Baptismal Covenant Josh 24.22 27. Yes * You say you will now but will you make this profession in the most difficult and costly circumstances when the glory of God is concern'd Rev. 2.3 4. Yes * Do you make this profession only for hereafter without setting about the performance presently Psal 119.60 No. You say you will but can you do it in your own strength 2 Cor. 3.5 No. * Do you then profess this in and by the help strength and assistance of God Phil. 4.13 Yes And is God wanting to his Church as to sufficiency of means for your help therein Isa 5.4 No. § ARE all that live under the Gospel outwardly called to the State of Salvation and knowledge of the
Is it not evident that He had first descended thither Eph. 4.9 Yes * Is it any where certainly revealed that He went into the Hell of the damned amongst the Spirits there No. But did He not by his death vanquish the powers of Hell and darkness Col. 2.14 Yes * Is not the unseen State or condition of separation of Soul and Body call'd the Grave and Hell 1 Cor. 15.55 Yes And can it be deny'd that He so descended into Hell as to continue for a time under the dominion of Death in a separate State Rom. 6.9 No. Qu. What is the Fifth Article Answ The third day He arose again from the Dead § DID He always continue in that State of the dead or so long as to see corruption Psal 16.10 No. * Considering who He was and what was Prophecyed of Him was it possible for the bands of death to hold him Acts 2.24 No. Did He not rise again by his own power Joh. 10.17 18. to dye no more Rev. 1.18 Yes Did He not rise as an evidence of our discharge Rom. 4.25 and a pledge of our Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.20 Yes * Did He shew himself to all the people when risen or to his enemies that had so long dispised his miracles before Acts 10.41 No. Yet were they left altogether without convincing evidence of his Resurrection Mat. 28.2 3 c. No. * Was He not seen by a sufficient number of witnesses even 500 at once and that at divers places and times after He was risen from the Dead 1 Cor. 15.6 Yes * Could they be deceiv'd by a Phantasm or Apparition when they did both handle and see yea eat and drink with Him after his Resurrection Luk. 24.38 39. No. * Could so Miraculous a work as raising the Dead for a design so contrary to Satan's Kingdom be done by Magick or power of the Devil Eph. 1.19 20. Mat. 12.25 No. * Could the Disciples roll away the Stone from the Sepulchre Steal away his Body Strip it of the Grave-cloths and not awake the Watch or Guard of Souldiers No. * Is it likely that men noted for sincerity 1 Thes 2.10 would impose on the world in a matter of such consequence for which they expos'd themselves to all manner of persecutions and death it self Acts 5.41 No. * If there had been any deceit could it have been conceal'd from so many envious and watchful enemies in so publick a concern Acts 26.26 No. * Did not the witnesses of his Resurrection confirm their report by undoubted Miracles Heb. 2.4 Yes †Was not this Resurrection on the third day from his death and the first day of the Week which is our Christian Sabbath 1 Cor. 15.4 Joh. 20.1 Yes Qu. What is the Sixth Article Answ He ascended into Heaven And sitteth on the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty § WHEN our Lord was risen Did He continue always on Earth in his bodily presence Joh. 16.16 No. Did He not according to Prophecy Psal 64.18 Forty days after his Resurrection Acts 1.3 Ascend up into Heaven in the sight of his Disciples Acts 1.9 11. Yes Was He not pleased to shew himself to some of his Disciples after his ascention Acts 7.55 1 Cor. 15.8 Yes †Did He not Ascend to prepare mansions for his people Joh. 14.2 and to send his Spirit to prepare them for the enjoyment thereof Joh. 16.7 Yes Are we to expect his bodily presence any more on Earth before the day of judgment Acts 3.21 No. § BEING ascended doth He not sit at the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty Mark 16.19 Yes Doth the Right Hand denote any bodily parts in God or His sitting any one particular gesture there Acts 7.55 No. Doth not sitting down denote Rest and the Right Hand dignity and authority Psal 44.3 1 Kings 1.30 Yes * And did not Christ after all his sorrows on Earth rest in the unspeakable joy of his Father Heb. 4.10 Yes * Hath He not the highest dignity and authority Heb. 1.4 and 8.1 and shall He not have compleat victory over all his Enemies Psal 110.1 Yes Qu. What is the Seventh Article Answ From thence He shall come to judge the Quick and the Dead § BEING thus exalted Hath He for ever abandon'd this Earth and his people therein Joh. 14.3 No. Besides his Spiritual presence always with his Church will He not come again in the clouds as He was seen to go up Acts 1.11 Yes Is not this Second coming to judge the world in righteousness and is not the day set and appointed for it Acts 17.31 Yes Do we know the day and hour when this appointed judgment will be Mat. 24.36 No. § WILL He Judge them already Dead and those that are found Quick or alive at his coming Acts 10.42 Yes When all are gather'd before Him will He not Separate between the Godly and the wicked and give to every Man according to his Works Mat. 25.32 2 Cor. 5.10 Yes †Will it not be a day of refreshing to the people of God Acts. 3.19 and exceeding terrible to the wicked 2 Thes 1.7 8 9. Yes Shall any by power or policy be able to escape or hide themselves from the Judge Rev. 6.15 16. No. And must not all abide in that Condition to which they are adjudg'd for ever and ever Heb. 6.2 Yes Qu. What is the Eighth Article Answ I Believe in the Holy Ghost § IS not the Holy Ghost God Acts 5.3 4. Eternal before the World Gen. 1.2 Omnipresent Psal 139.7 and knowing all things 1 Cor. 2.10 Yes Is not He a person Acts 13.2 distinct from the Father and Son Joh. 14.26 Yes Is not He the Spirit of the Father Luk. 14.19 and of the Son Gal. 4.6 as proceeding from them both Yes Is He inferiour to the Father or Son in essence or nature or with respect to the worship and glory which is due to God alone Mat. 28.19 1 Cor. 6.19 No. § IS He not Holy in himself and also as the Authour of Holiness and Sanctification in us Rom. 1.4 Yes †Must we not then believe in Him as a sanctifier by whom we may have an interest in what Christ has done and suffer'd Yes Are any partakers of saving Benefits by Christ to whom they are not effectually apply'd or communicated Joh. 1.11 12. No. Can Parents or Ministers apply them to your Heart or any but the Holy Spirit Tit. 3.5 6. No. Doth not the Spirit do this by working Faith in the Heart by the Ministry of the word Joh. 6.44 45. Yes Doth He not by the Law convince the Sinner Joh. 16.8 and by the Gospel subdue the will and perswade it to yeild to our Lord Jesus Christ Ezek. 36.26 27. Yes Can we then be sav'd by Christ without effectual calling and Regeneration by the Holy Ghost Joh. 3.5 No. Qu. What is the Ninth Article Answ I believe the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints § HATH not God a Church called out of the world to be his peculiar
people 1 Pet. 2.9 Yes Are not believers a distinct Body or Society joyn'd to Christ by Faith Eph. 5.23 and to each other by love Col. 2.2 Yes Can this Church be built on any other Head or foundation than our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 No. Is not part of this Church Triumphant in Heaven Heb. 12.23 and part Militant on Earth Col. 1 24. Yes Is the Church known by external Splendour Pomp or Secular Grandeur Acts 2.42 No. § IS not this Church Holy 1 Cor. 3.17 the Saints above perfectly and the effectually called really so Yes Are not all the visible Members thereof called to Holiness and Holy by profession and obligation 1 Thes 4.7 Yes § IS not the Church Catholick or Universal consisting of all Believers Jews and Gentiles Bond and Free Gal. 3.28 Yes Is the Church confin'd to any one place or Nation Acts 1.8 No. Shall the Gates of Hell ever prevail against it Mat. 16.18 No. †May any of the particular Societys of which it doth consist Rev. 1.20 claim the name Authority and priviledges of the Catholick Church Rom. 11.22 No. § AMONGST the many priviledges of the Church Psal 87.3 is not this one that there is the Communion of Saints Yes * Have not Belâ—â—vers Union and Communion with Christ their Head from whence they are called Saints 1 Joh. 1.3 Yes Do they not Communicate by Faith their wants to him 1 Pet. 5.7 and He by his Spirit Communicate his Merits and Grace to them Isa 53.4 1 Joh. 5.12 Yes And will he refuse to such Communion with himself in Glory hereafter Joh. 17.24 No. * Have not the Saints also Communion one with another 1 Joh. 1.7 1 Cor. 12.26 Yes Can they Communicate Merits to each other Mat. 25.8 9. No. * Have not the Saints above Communion with each other in the same Vision Employment and Glory Mat. 8.11 Yes * Have not the Saints below Communion in the same Gifts and Graces Eph. 4.5 Heb. 3.13 in the same Sufferings Heb. 13.3 and if need be in their Worldly goods Heb. 13.16 Yes Qu. What is the Tenth Article Answ The forgiveness of Sins § ARE there any Sins Original or Actual of Omission or Commission of Thought Word or Deed that do not deserve eternal Death Rom. 6.23 No. Yet are there any that are not Pardonable the Sin against the Holy Ghost only excepted Mat. 12.31 No. * Doth not forgiveness of Sins consist in releasing the Sinner from Guilt and Condemnation Psal 32.1 2. Yes Can any but God who is the party offended forgive Sins to Men Psal 51.4 Mark 2.7 No. Yet must not all forgive injuries done to themselves Mat. 18.21 and Ministers Pronounce forgivenese in Christ's name to the Penitent Mat. 18.18 2 Cor. 2.7 10. Yes * Is there any forgiveness but only through Christ and on the account of his Satisfaction Col. 1.14 No. * Doth the Satisfaction of Christ make forgiveness of Sins to be less Free and Gracious Eph. 1.7 No * Have any the actual forgiveness of their Sins before they Repent and Believe Joh. 3.18 No. †Must you not then have a deep sense of your Sins Acts 2.38 Confess them to God Psal 32.5 with a sincere Resolution of forsaking them Pro. 28.13 Yes Must you not earnestly make Supplication for Pardon with a Fiducial trust in the mercy of God through the Merits and Righteousness of Christ alone Acts 10.43 Yes Qu. What is the Eleventh Article Answ The Resurrection of the Body § DID not death come in by Sin as the Sentence of the Law for the Transgression of it Rom. 5.12 Yes * Can any of our Members when turn'd to dust and scatter'd be hid from God's all-seeing Eye Psal 137.15 16. No. Is it above the Almighty power that made the Body at first of dust to raise it out of it again Mark 12.24 No. * And as He is able to raise the Dead so are we to believe that He will do it Joh. 5.28 29. Yes Though all shall be rais'd the just and the unjust Acts 24.15 yet is not the Resurrection the special Priviledge of Believers Luk. 14.14 Yes * Shall the Wicked rise by vertue of an Union with Christ by his Spirit as the Godly shall Rom. 8.11 No. * And will there not be a vast difference between them in the ends for which they arise Dan. 12.2 Yes Is it not agreeable to Divine Justice that the same Bodies for substance which we had here should be raised then 1 Cor. 15.38 2 Cor. 5.10 Yes But will they be raised to the same dying and mortal State they were in before 1 Cor. 15.53 No. Will not the Bodies of the Saints be exceeding Glorious of which the Resurrection of Christ is both an assurance and a Pattern 1 Cor. 15.20 43 44. Yes †And shall not they who are found alive at the coming of Christ be also chang'd 1 Cor. 15.51 52. Yes Qu. What is the Twelfth Article Answ The life Everlasting § SHALL not Believers have a Life of Glory and happiness in the World to come Psal 16.11 Yes * Do their Souls then sleep with their Bodies in the Grave or go to Purgatory Rev. 14.13 No. Are we able to express the Glory of that State which God has prepared 1 Cor. 2.9 and they enter into immediately after Death Phil. 1.23 No. Shall they not enjoy a Beatifical vision and enjoyment of God with Saints and Angels in the highest employment of Praise without Sin or Suffering Psal 17.15 Yes * and shall not their Bodies also partake of this Life of Glory at last 1 Cor. 15.43 Yes § IS it not an everlasting Life in opposition to this fading Life on Earth 1 Thes 4.17 Yes Will the Life above be Subject to decays and changes and interruptions in the happiness of it 1 Pet. 1.4 No. Will they be in danger of forfeiting this happiness or any Enemy be admitted to dispossess them of it Rev. 3.12 No. †Is there not an everlasting Death contrary to this everlasting Life Rom. 6.23 Yes Is this for the Wicked to have their beings taken away and to remain no more Rev. 21.8 No. Is it not to be banished from the presence of God and to undergo the Torments of Hell for ever 2 Thes 1.9 Mat. 25.46 Yes †Do we not say Amen to testifie our firm Belief of these Articles Rev. 22.20 21. Yes 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 § IS there not manifested a Divine order in the Works of the Blessed Trinity towards Men Yes When Creation is ascribed to the Father doth it mean that it was not the Work of the Son and Holy Ghost Joh. 1.3 Gen. 1.2 No. Is it not that the Father did Create all things