Selected quad for the lemma: faith_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
faith_n believe_v church_n err_v 4,831 5 9.7259 5 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A28383 A plain and brief explanation upon the church catechisme different from what hitherto hath been extant : wherein the first elements and grounds of religion are reduced to such plain and familiar questions and answers ... : to which is added, a plain and useful tract of confirmation / by Nathaniel Blithe ... Blithe, Nathaniel. 1664 (1664) Wing B3197; ESTC R5761 48,274 155

There are 5 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

was no other person that could bring to pass this great work of mans Redemption Q. Could none of the glorious Angels or blessed Saints have come down from Heaven to mannage this charitable design A. It was not in the power of any Angel or Saint nay not of all the Saints and Angels to Redeem lost Man Q. Why what was the reason A. In regard none of them was able to sustain so great a burden as the sins of the whole world He who was infinite in power as the Son of God was was only able to bear up under so heavy a load besides man by reason of sin was condemned to infinite torments and therefore no less than an infinite God could rescue man from those eternal torments Q. If none but the Son of God could effect this work why did he not bring it to pass by vertue of that Almighty power which appertained to his Godhead without taking any other nature A. The Godhead is of that infinite perfection that it cannot possibly be subject to any passion he therefore that had no other nature but the Godhead could not pay such a debt as this the discharge whereof consisted in suffering and dying Q. Why did he not then take some more excellent nature than that of mans A. Because it was fit that God's justice should be satisfied in the same nature that had offended Man onely had sinned and therefore it was but just that the same nature which had offended should suffer before it could be restored Q. Did not the fallen Angels Sin A. Yes they sinned but for them Christ died not and therefore they are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness Q. How comes it to pass that they an exempted from receiving benefit by his gracious sufferings A. In regard they beheld the utmost of their own blessedness but notwithstanding they fell from that glory and happiness into a rebellion against their Creator without the least provocation or temptation either from any outward assault or inward frailty Q. What was it that moved God 〈◊〉 send and his Son so willingly to come from Heaven for the sake of lost undone ma● A. It was their infinite love an● never failing mercies God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to dye for it and Christ Jesus had such a tender compassion for the sinful off-spring of Adam that he came down from his everlasting habitation of glory to open the eyes of the blind to call them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan into his own most blessed kingdome Q. Did man contribute nothing towards the deserving so great a favour A. No far otherwise he was then in an open rebellion against the King of Heaven and instead of meriting his favour in strict justice he deserveb the utmost of his fury and displeasure Q. How did Christ bring to pass this great designe A. By suffering the punishment that was due unto us for sin and by conquering and subduing all our spiritual enemies Q. How did he undergoe this punishment A. By his humiliation He took upon him our nature was born of a pure Virgin suffered under Pontius Pilate by being crucified on a Cross where his hands and his feet were pierced with Nailes and his side with a Spear And by this his infinite condescention and humiliation he offered himself a Sacrifice for the sins of the whole world Q. How did he conquer all our spiritual enemies A. By his exaltation he arose again the third day a compleat conquerour over Hell and Death and all the powers of the grave and ascended into the highest Heavens where he ever liveth to make intercession for us Q. Do you believe then that Christ dyed for the whole world A. Yes I do believe that the eternal Son of God hath redeemed me and all mankind Q. How comes it to pass then that the greatest part of mankind shall perish A. Because they are preverse and obstinate they will not go unto him that they may have life nor embrace those conditions that he offers in his Holy Gospel Q. In which Articles do you learn to believe in God the Holy Ghost who sanctifieth you and all the elect people of God A. In this Article I believe in the Holy Ghost Q. What do you believe that the holy Ghost is A. I believe that he is very God the Third Person in the holy Trinity proceeding from the Father and the Son Q. What is the office of the Holy Ghost A. It is to sanctifie all the elect people of God Q. Why is he stiled the sanctifyer of all the elect people of God A. In regard he is the Author of all holiness and purity in them all our inward gifts and embellishments proceed from him he is the Lord and giver of life namely of that spiritual life which is requisite to actuate and enform every Christian Q. How doth he perform this his Office A. Both outwardly and inwardly Q. How doth he perform it outwardly A. By revealing the Will of God to the Prophets Evangelists and Apostles who by his assistance and inspiration have made it known to the world wherein is contained all things appertaining both to life and Godliness Q. How doth he perform it inwardly A. By renewing of us in all the parts and faculties of our soules working heavenly dispositions in them whereas before they were enclined to all manner of sin and wickedness As also by fearing directing and governing of us in our actions and conversations so that we may actually perform those things that are acceptable in the sight of our heavenly Father Q. Is there nothing else which the Creed propounds to you as the subject of your belief A. It also teacheth me to believe something concerning those persons that with true Faith and obedience worship the undivided Trinity Q. What doth it teach you to believe concerning these A. It teacheth me first to believe that there is a Church Holy and Catholick Q. What do you believe this Holy Catholick Church to be A. By the Holy Catholick Church I mean the whole congregation of Christian people professing one and the same Faith far and wide dispersed over the face of the whole earth Q. Who is the supream head and governour of this Church A. Christ Jesus the eternal Son of God he is the governour thereof the Rock whereupon it is built his holy Spirit is the preserver and sanctifier of it and his blessed Apostles and Evangelists together with those Bishops and Pastors that succeed them do keep and maintain it in the profession of the true Christian faith and religion Q. What number is there of these Churches A. There is but one holy Catholick Church Q. How 〈◊〉 that he when as in the Scripture we read of several Churches as the Church of Rome the Church of Corinth the Church of Ephesus with divers others A. These several congregations every one of which is in some sense a Church and may be
duty of Catechizing yet they perform it so slightly and remisly that it is almost as good left undone possibly they will Catechise the six Sundays in Lent that is they will hear the younger sort by rote repeat over those arswers contained in the Catechism and when they are able to rehearse them readily they believe them sufficiently instructed in the Catechistical points although they understand very little of the true sense and meaning of what is contained therein and the truth of this is plain from hence if you do but propound to them one question out of order is it is not placed in the Catechism or vary but a very little in the words of the question from what it is in the Book they are not able to give an account of it I wish these persons would heartily consider that Canonical obedience they promised when entrusted with A PLAIN and BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE CHVRCH CATECHISM Q. VVHat is your name A. N. or M. Q. Why begin you your Catechism with this Question A. Because this name was given me when I was made a Christian so that whensoever I call to mind this my name I may remember that I am a Christian and what those duties are that this my Holy Profession binds me to observe and do Q. Who gave you this name A. My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism wherein I was made a member of Christ the child of God and an inheritour of the Kingdom of Heaven Q. When was this name given you A. At my Baptism and therefore it is call'd my Christian name because it was given me when I was made a Christian a member of Christ Q. Was you then made a Christian A. Yes this favour was not bestowed upon me at my first birth but at my second when at my Baptism I was washed in the Laver of Regeneration then I was made a Christian admitted into the number of Christs visible members Q. In what condition was you then in before your Baptism A. I was in a weak and infirm capacity the powers and faculties of my soul being in no mean degree impaired and corrupted Q. How came you into this miserable estate A. By the fall of the first man Adam God made a Covenant with Adam and in him with all mankind wherein God on his part promised to confer on mankind divers mercies and Adam on his part promised an exact unsinning unerring obedience but Adam by eating the forbidden Fruit contrary to the express command of his Maker became disobedient and so broke the bond of the Covenant and hereby brought both himself and the whole Race of mankind into this wretched miserable estate Q. By what means was you raised out of this wretched estate A. By the meritorious sufferings of Christ the second Adam who by taking upon him our nature and therein performing exact unerring obedience according to the conditions of the first Covenant and tasting death upon the Cross for every man hath hereby satisfied for the sins of Adam and for the sins of all mankind and by this means delivered me with the rest of mankind out of this desperate condition Q. How come you to have a right to those benefits purchased by Christ A. By Baptism which is the Seal of the second Covenant at the setting on of which Seal these three Priviledges are bestowed to become a member of Christ a child of God and an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven Q. Are all them that are Baptized members of Christ A. All that are Baptized in the name of Christ and profess the Christian Religion may be term'd members of his visible Body but those only who both by profession and practice are sincere Christians belong to his mystical Body that is are united to him live in him and are informed by his Spirit these are indeed Gods real Children by Adoption and Grace and shall in the end be made inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven Q. What did your Godfathers and Godmothers promise for you A. They did promise and vow three things in my name first that I should renounce the Devil and all his works the pomps and vanities 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 Q. Why are you bound according to the first part of your Batismal promise to renounce the Devil and all his works A. Because these are enemies to God and hateful in his sight and before I renounce all that God hates it is impossible that I should be so nearly united to him as to be his true child and member Q. What is the Devil A. The Devil is an evil Spirit who once was an Angel of light but for his Pride and Rebellion was thrown from Heaven into the horrid Regions of Darkness Q. What are the works of the Devil A. The works of the Devil are all manner of sin and wickedness even whatsoever contradicts the Will and Commands of God and defiles our own Souls Q. Why are these stiled the works of the Devil A. Because he was the first Author of Sin Rebellion and Disobedience he in the beginning acted it against God learnt it our first Parents and makes it his whole employment daily to infuse it into the hearts of all mankind Q. What do you mean by the pomps and vanities of this wicked world A. By these I mean all manner of secular honours pleasures and preferments all those perishing delights and transient vanities which this world may present unto us to withdraw our hearts from intending the due performance of that promise we made at our Baptism Q. What are the sinful lusts of the flesh A. The sinful lusts of the flesh are all those abominations and impieties which our rebellious flesh lusteth after and provoketh us to run into Q. The next thing which you say that your Sureties promised for you is to believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith what is it to believe or what is Faith viz. that Faith which on your behalf was promised at your Baptism A. Faith is such an hearty perswasion of the truth of Gods promises and of every thing else that he hath spoken as makes us obedient in all things to his commands Q. What is the object of this Faith or what is it that we are bound to believe A. I am to believe that Form of sound words and wholesom Doctrine which Christ and his Apostles delivered to the World and that we have epitomized and briefly summ'd up in that Confession of Faith commonly called the Apostles Creed Q. Why is this Confession of Faith called the Apostles Creed A. It is so called either because the Apostles were the Authors of it it being composed by them or else because it is an abridgment of the Doctrine delivered by the Apostles Q. How must your
belief of this Rule of Faith be qualified A. It must be intire and universal I must neither add to not diminish from this Confession of Faith but I am obliged by my Baptismal vow to believe all and every Article of this Christian Faith Q. The last thing which your Sureties promised for you was to keep Gods Holy will and Commandments and to walk in the same all the days of your life How or by what means come you to know the will of God A. He hath revealed it in his Holy Word wherein he hath at large manifested how and in what manner he will be worshipped and served Q. For what end and purpose hath God made known his mind unto us A. That we might make it the Rule of our lives and walk according to that Rule all the days of our lives Q. Dost thou think that thou art bound to believe and do as they promised for thee A. Yes verily and by Gods help so I will and I heartily thank our Heavenly Father that he hath called me to this state of Salvation through Jesus Christ our Saviour And I pray unto God to give me his Grace that I may continue in the same unto my lives end Q. How comes it to pass that thou art bound to perform that promise which others made A. Because they only made it in my behalf when by reason of my tender Years I was uncapable of making of it in my own person which promise I am bound actually to perform when I come to years of discretion Q. Are you then able to perform that promise which was made on your behalf A. I am not by my own strength but by the grace of God I am which he hath faithfully promised to give to all those that heartily beg it Q. What think you of this Estate which by your Baptism you are placed in A. I think it is an excellent and blessed Estate as far excelling my natural condition as light doth darkness the one being a state of death and the other a state of life Q. How come you to have a right to this excellent condition A. By vertue of Christs sufferings who hath purchased this condition for me by his Death and Blood-shedding in which by the help and grace of God I do resolve to continue unto my lives end Q. Rehearse the Articles of thy belief A. I believe in God the Father Allmighty maker of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into Hell the third day he arose again from the dead he ascended into Heaven and there be 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 Q. What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy belief A. First I learn to believe in God the Father who hath made me and all the World Secondly in God the Son who hath redéemed me and all mankind Thirdly in God the Holy Ghost who sanctifieth me and all the Elect people of God Q. In which Article do you learn to believe in God the Father A. This I learn in the first Article I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth Q. How many Gods are there A. There is but one only the true everliving and eternal God Q. How can that be when you profess that you believe in God the Father God the Son God the Holy Ghost How sayest thou then that there is but one God A. In the God-head indeed there are three Persons the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost but these three are but one God and this great truth St. John thus expresseth There be three that bare record in Heaven the Father the VVord that is Jesus Christ the Son of God the VVord incarnate and the Holy Ghost and these three are one Q. What is God A. God is a Spirit Infinite in all his Attributes and Perfections Q. How knowest thou that there is such a being as God A. Several ways by his wonderful work of Creation the Heavens declare the Glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy work but especially by my own Conscience which this Infinite Being hath placed within me to accuse me of all those Crimes I commit against his Divine Majesty Q. Vpon what grounds do you call God Father A. He is my Father by Creation giving me at the first my Being he is also my Father by Adoption having through the Gate of Baptism received me into the number of his Servants and Members Q. How did God at the first create you A. By his Almighty and Infinite Power by vertue whereof he can do whatsoever pleaseth him both in Heaven and in Earth Q. And did he finish the Heavens and the Earth and all the rest of his Creation by his Power and Word alone A. Yes he spake and it was done he commanded and they were brought forth Q. In what time did God finish his Creation A. In the space of Six days and rested the Seventh day Q. Why did God at the first give you a Being A. To advance his Honour and to perform his sacred Will Q. Of what did God make Man A. He made his Body of the dust of the ground and breathed into his Nostrils the breath of Life and so he became a living Soul Q. In which Article do you learn is believe in God the Son who redeemed you and all mankind A. In these And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified 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 both the quick and the dead Q. What is this Jesus Christ in whom you believe A. He is perfect God and perfect Man equal to the Father as touching his God-head but inferiour to the Father as touching his Man-hood Q. What Relation stands this Person in to God A. He is his only Son begotten of the Father before the world his first born from all Eternity Q. Why did this Eternal God take upon him our nature and so become Man A. That he might Redeem me and all mankind Q. But how can this be that God should be made Man A. He became Man not by turning the God-head into the nature of Man but by taking Mans nature into the God-head that so one person might be both God and Man Q. What need was there that so excellent a Person as the Son of God should thus abase himself A. Because there
life from the same Root Q. What is the second benefit that belong to be Members of the Church A. Forgiveness of Sins Q. What is Sin A. Sin is the transgression of the Law of God Q. What is the punishment due unto sin A. Eternal death the wages of sin is death Q. Is not all mankind lyable to this punishment in regard as the Scripture affirms all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God A. All mankind was once in a state of death and dammnation Q. How then came this benefit of the forgiveness of sins to be made over to them A. The Son of God by his active obedience fulfilling every title of the Law and by his passive obedience suffering the wrath of God due to us for the breach of the Law hath made full satisfaction on our behalf reconciled us to God by vertue of which reconciliation our sins are forgiven Q. To whom doth this favour belong A. To the Members of the Church Q. Shall all those that are Members of the Church partake of this benefit A. All those that by Baptism are received into the Church by that Sacrament receive the remission of those sins which they were guilty of before they were baptized and hence it is that in the Nicene Creed we profess to believe one Baptism for the remissio● of sins also after they be thus made Members of Christ they receive remission of their future sins by repentance Q. What is the third benefit that b●longs to the Members of this Church A. The Resurrection of the Body Q. Can the body then arise out of th● Grave when as it is mouldred in crumbs and dust A. It shall most certainly arise ●gain and he re-united to the So● when together they shall render an account of all their actions performed i● this life Q. Shall the very same bodies arise that now we bare about with us A. They shall be the same for substance but not for qualities whereas they are now Earthly Mortal and Corruptible bodies they shall then be Spiritual Immortal and incorruptible Q. How can this possibly be that the same body which is devoured by Worms should again be raised A. This is performed by Gods infinite and unlimited power who shall call to the dead arise ye dead and come away to judgement and the dead shall hear his voice and obey it Q. VVhat necessity is there that the same body should arise A. The same body must arise and no other to magnifie Gods justice that so the same individual body that was a copartner in sin may be punished that which did partake in righteous actions and sufferings may be rewarded Q. Shall all bodies in general arise A. The bodies both of the Godly and wicked of the just and unjust all that ever lived shall arise and live again to eternal Ages Q. When shall this general resurrection be A. At the last and great day of accounts when the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout and with the voice of the Arch-angel and with the Trumpet of God Q. What is the fourth benefit that belongs to the Members of this Church A. The life everlasting Q. To whom doth this belong A. To all in general for although the life everlasting is frequently used to signifie that reward which in another life is bestowed upon the righteous yet the wicked shall live eternally Q. What shall then be the difference betwixt the godly and the ungodly in this respect A. The godly shall live to all eternity in unspeakable joys and never fading glories and the wicked shall live eternally or they shall remain alive in Soul Body to endure the Torments to be inflicted upon them by the justice of God for all the sins committed by them whilst they were in the body Q. Do you think that it is enough barely to believe all these Articles of your Faith A. As I am bound to believe them so it is my duty to frame my practice answerable to this my belief so that I must not only know what these words signifie but likewise I must perform such actions as are agreeable thereto Q. Is this all that your Baptismal vow and promise requires from you A. No it not only enjoyns me to believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith but also I am thereby bound to keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and to walk in the same all the dayes of my life Q. When was these Commandments given A. God speak them to Moses upon Mount Sinai who wrote them upon Tables of Stone made them known to the people of Israel for the regulating of their manners Q. If these Commandments are part of Moses his Law then certainly they were abrogated by the coming of Christ A. This Law was before Moses was although not literally recorded and it shall continue after him to the end of the World and therefore it is called the Moral Law because it is to be a perpetual rule of good manners to mankind Q. To whom did God make it known before Moses A. He did implant it in mans nature by Creation and for this reason St. Paul calls it the Law of Nature but when mans light and knowledge was decayed and impaired by the fall of Adam God again renewed this Law to his Servant Moses and likewise our blessed Lord in his first Sermon that most excellent Sermon he preached on the Mount reinforces this Law and rescues it from those corrupt glosses the Scribes and Pharises had put upon it Q. How many Commandements doth this moral law contain A. Ten. Q. Which be they A. The same which God spake in the twentieth Chapter of Exodus saying I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt out of the house of Bondage 1. Thou shalt have none other gods but me 2. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor the likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath or in the waters under the Earth thou shalt not how down to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God and visit the iniquities of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mercy unto thousands unto them that love me and keep my Commandments 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain 4. Kemmember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day six dayes shalt thou labour and do all that thou vast to do but the Seventh day is the Sabboth of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt do no manner of work thou and thy son and thy daughter thy man-servant and thy maid-servant the Cattel and the Stranger that is within thy Gates for in six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the Seventh day wherefore
the very same continuance with it the shallowest capacity easily apprehending that when the foundation is rooted up the whole Fabrick must be thrown down But then again this Ministry will appear to be of a larger continuance than the Apostles time in regard that blessing which by this Ministry is conferred is to abide with the Church for ever viz. The benigne influence and assistance of the Holy Ghost When Our Saviour made this gracious promise at the first to his Disciples to give them the comforter he was to abide with them to the end of the world John 14.16 And I will pray the Father and he shall send you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth And we shall find that when this gift was so miraculously bestowed upon the holy Apostles at the day of Penticost insomuch that those who were Eye-witnesses were strangly amazed and marvelled to hear them speaking in divers languages at that very same time St. Peter to take off the strangeness of the wonder and the envy of the power tels them in plain terms that upon condition they would Repent and be baptized they should every one of them receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost not the meanest the most inconsiderable amongst them but should receive that great thing which they observed in them and not only themselves but their Children also For the promise is to you and to your Children and to all that are afar off even to as many as the Lord our God shall call Acts 2.38 39. Now it is very unreasonable to suppose that the Rite which is partly moral and partly ceremonial the first is prayer the other is laying on of hands that this should be transient only for a short time when as the promise it selfe is to continue for ever It cannot but seem very strange that a solemn Rite annexed to a perpetual promise should be transient and temporary The promise is of a blessing to endure for ever the Ceremony or Rite was annexed to the promise and therefore this also must be for ever And as this Ministry was to continue for ever so was it duly observed and actually practised by the succeeding Ages of the Church as the Reverent Bishop of Down in his Treatise upon this subject hath very learnedly proved And certainly next after the plain words of Scripture the universal tradition of the Church is the best argument for the probation of Rituals And what I have hitherto discoursed of the lawfulness of this Rite is certainly sufficient to satisfie every reasonable person of the necessity of it for that which is Authorized by no meaner a Person than the Eternal Son of God which was practised by the Holy Apostles was observed in the purest ages of Christianity and is a never-ceasing Ministry must of necessity both be lawful to be done and very meet and convenient to be retained in practise But in regard there is nothing more powerfully prevailes with mankind than their interests I shall in the last place in order to the proving the necessity of this wholsom Discipline and to encourage all to the due observation of it endeavour to manifest those great graces and excellent priviledges which are consequent to the worthy reception and due Ministry of it When Confirmation is rightly performed and worthily received it will be highly advantagious to us and will greatly promote the Spiritual good and interest of every Christian and therefore ought not by any means to be neglected And in this respect the Scripture hath spoken so fully plainly as is abundantly sufficient to prove that great blessing that waits upon us It is recorded by St. Luke in the Acts of the Holy Apostles that at the first ministration of this Rite they received the Holy Ghost that is according to the expression of the Holy Jesus to his Disciples when he commanded them to tarry at Jerusalem in expectation of the accomplishment of his glorious promise they are endowed with vertue from on high that is with strength to perform their duty to persevere in their Christian profession notwithstanding all the opposition of Satan and his accursed instruments So that this power from on high which is the proper blessing of Confirmation was expressed not only with speaking of Tongues and doing Miracles but it was effected in spiritual and inward strengths They were not only enabled for the service of the Church to speak in a languages for the benefit of all nations and to do mighty works to convince Gain-sayers but also they were endowed with courage and wisdom and Christian fortitude and boldness openly to confess the faith of Christ crucified and manfully to fight under his Banner against Sin the World and the Devil and to continue Christs faithful Servants and Souldiers to their lives end And if we do but duly consider how apt we are to erre out of the way of Gods Commandments to start aside like a broken Bow and what great opposition we meet with in running the Race that is set before us we shall find abundance of reason to make use of all lawful means to gain a greater measure and assistance of Gods good Spirit That Body of death which St. Paul so earnestly desired to be delivered from that old man of Sin our Rebellious Wills and Affections do fatally resist all good motions and inclinations within us This Law in our members is continually warring against the Law in our minds and bringing us into captivity to the law of sin that is in our members but when this Allmighty Spirit descends upon us he supplies us with such a measure of strength as enables us to mortifie all our earthly Members to keep them under subjection to vanquish all those proud lusts of the flesh which lead us Captive to the committance of evil But besides these inward we have also outward enemies the Devil and his accursed Retinue which bandy together their Forces to overcome us and draw us into their snares and Vassalage these exercise all their malice and cunning to provoke us to renounce our solemn Baptismal engagements and to walk in a down-right opposition to that duty our Maker expects from us When we are once engaged in a holy profession and have faithfully covenanted to forsake every evil practise that is unworthy this our high calling then is the time that our grand adversary fearing that he shall lose a prosellyte will violently oppose us he will make us promises as large as heart can either wish or desire nay he will not stand out for any thing rather than lose a Disciple he will out of design court us at an exceeding high rate telling us as he did our Saviour that all the kingdoms of the world with their glory are at his disposal so that nothing shall be wanting to compleat our desires that this world can afford will we but throw off the yoak of our dear Saviour and list our selves under his accursed banner