repent A. First Union with Christ secondly Adoption of Children thirdly Christian Liberty fourthly a Spiritual holy right to the Seals of the new Covenant fifthly communion with all Saints sixthly Resurrection of the Body unto Life Eternal Q. 2. What is our Union with Christ A. An a holy spiritual 1 By vertue of this Union Christ suffereth in our Afflictions and we fill up in our Bodies what remaineth as his 2 From Christ as head of the Church we have spiritual Life Sense and Motion or growth in Grace secondly as the Husband of the Church Love and Redemption thirdly as the Foundation thereof Stability and Perseverance Conjunction unto him as our b Head c Husband and d Foundation e whereby we are made Partakers of the same Spirit with him f and derive all good things from him a 1 Cor. 12. 12. Joh. 15 1 2. 5 6 7. 17. 23. b Ephes. 4. 15. 5. 23. Col. 1. 18. c 2 Cor. 11. 2. Ephes. 5. 25 26 27. Revel 21. 9. d Matth. 16. 18. Ephes. 2. 20 21 22. 1 Pet. 2. 4 5 6 7. e Rom. 8. 9. 11. Gal. 4. 6. Phil. 1. 19. f Joh. 1. 12. 16. Ephes. 1. 3. Q. 3. What is our adoption A. Our gracious Reception into the family of God as his Children and co heirs with Christ Joh. 1. 12. Rom. 8. 15. 17. Gal. 4. 5. Ephes. 1. 5. Q. 4. How came we to know this A. By the especial working of the holy 3 This is that great honour dignity of believers which exalts them to despising all earthly thrones Spirit in our hearts sealing unto us the promises of God and raising up our Souls to an assured expectation of the promised Inheritance Rom. 8. 15. 17. Ephes. 4. 30. 1 Joh. 3. 1. Rom. 8. 19. 23. Titus 2. 12. Q. 5. What is our Christian liberty A. An 4 Our liberty is our Inheritance here below which we ought to contend for against all opposers holy and spiritual a freedom from the b slavery of Sin the c bondage of Death and Hell the d curse of the Law e Jewish Ceremonies and f thraldom of Conscience purchased for us by Jesus Christ and g revealed to us by the holy Spirit a Gal. 5. 1. b Joh. 8. 32 34 36. Rom. 6. 17 18. Esa. 61. 1. 1 Joh. 1. 7. 2 Cor. 5. 21. c Rom. 8. 15. Heb. 2. 15. 1 Cor. 15. 55 57. d Gal. 3. 13. Ephes. 2. 15 16. Gal 4 5. Rom. 8. 1. e Act. 15. 10 11. Gal. 3. 4 5 Chapters f 2 Cor. 1. 24. 1 Cor. 7. 23. 1 Pet. 2. 16. g 1 Cor 2. 12. Q. 6. Are we then wholly freed from the Moral Law A. Yes as a a Covenant 5 Nothing makes men condemn the Law as a rule but hatred of that universal holiness which it doth require or as it hath any thing in it bringing into bondage as the curse power dominion and rigid exaction of obedience b but not as it is a rule of Life and Holiness a Jer. 31. 31 32 33. Rom. 7. 1 2 3. Rom. 6. 14. Gal. 3. 19. 24. Rom. 8. 2. Gal. 5. 18. b Mat. 5. 17. Rom. 3. 31. 7. 13. 22 25. Q. 7. Are we not freed by Christ from the Magistrates Power and humane Authority A. No being ordained of 6 Rule and Authority are as necessary for humane society as Fire and Water for our Lives God and commanding for him we owe them all lawful obedience Rom. 13. 1 2 3 4. 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 15. CHAP. XXII Of the Sacraments of the new Covenant in particular a holy right whereunto is the fourth priviledge of Believers Q. 1. What are the Seals of the new Testament A. Sacraments instituted of Christ to be visible Seals and Pledges whereby God in him confirmeth the Promises of the Covenant to all Believers restipulating of them growth in Faith and Obedience Mark 16. 16. Joh. 3. 5. Act. 2. 38. 22. 16. Rom. 4. 11. 1 Cor. 10. 2 3 4. 1 Cor. 11. 26 27 28 29. Q. 2. How doth God by these Sacraments bestow Grace upon us A. Not by any 1 This is one of the greatest mysteries of the Roman Magick and jugling that corporal elements should have a power to forgive sins and confer spiritual Grace real essential conveying of spiritual Grace by corporeal means but by the way of Promise Obsignation and Covenant confirming the Grace wrought in us by the Word and Spirit Heb. 4. 2. 1. Cor. 10. Rom. 4. 11. 1. 17. Mark 16. 16. Ephes. 5. 26. Q. 3. How do our Sacraments differ from the Sacraments of the Jews A. Accidentally onely in things concerning the outward matter and form as their number quality clearness of signification and the like not essentially in the things signified or Grace confirmed 1 Cor. 10. 1 2 3. c. Joh. 6. 35. 1 Cor. 5. 7. Phil. 3. 3. Col. 2. 11. CHAP. XXIII Of Baptism Q. 1. Which are these Sacraments A. Baptism and the Lord's Supper Q. 2. What is Baptism A. An a holy action appointed 1 Not the want but the contempt of this Sacrament is damnable 2 It is hard to say whether the Errour of the Papists requiring Baptism of absolute indispensable necessity to the Salvation of every Infant or that of the Anabaptists debarring them from it altogether be the most uncharitable of Christ whereby being sprinkled with water in the Name of the whole Trinity by a lawful Minister of the Church b we are admitted into the Family of God c and have the benefits of the blood of Christ confirmed unto us a Matth. 28. 19. Mark 16. 15 16. b Act. 2. 41. 8. 37. c Act. 2. 38 39. Joh. 3. 5. Rom. 6. 3 4 5. 1 Cor. 12. 13. Q. 3. To whom doth this Sacrament belong A. Unto all to whom the promise of the Covenant is made that is to Believers and to their Seed Act. 2. 39. Gen. 17. 11 12. Act. 16. 15. Rom. 4. 10 11. 1 Cor. 7. 14. Q. 4. How can Baptisme seal the pardon of all Sins to us all our personal Sins following it A. In as much as it is a Seal of that promise which gives pardon of all to Believers Act. 2. 39. Rom. 4. 11 12. CHAP. XXIV Of the Lords Supper Q 1. What is the Lord Supper A. An a holy action instituted and 1 Baptisme is the Sacrament of our new Birth this of our further growth in Christ. appointed by Christ b to set forth his Death c and communicate unto us spiritually his Body and Blood by Faith being d represented by Bread and Wine e blessed by his Word and Prayer f broken 2 No part of Christian Religion was ever so vilely contaminated and abused by profane wretches as this pure holy plain action and institution of our Saviour witness the Popish horrid monster of transubstantiation and their Idolatrous Mass. powred out and received of Believers a Mat. 26.
20 21. Luk. 22. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. 1 Cor. 11. 23 24. b Luk. 22. 19. 1 Cor. 11. 25 26. c Mark 14. 22 23 24. 1 Cor. 11. 24. 25. Joh. 6. 63. d 1 Cor. 11. 23. 25. e 1 Cor. 11. 24. Mat. 26. 26. f Mat. 26. 26. Mark 14. 22. Luk. 22. 19. Q 2. When did Christ appoint this Sacrament A. On the night wherein he was betrayed to suffer 1 Cor. 11. 23. Q 3. Whence is the right use of it to be learned A. From the Word 3 Whatever is more than these is of our own practice and actions of our Saviour as its institution Q. 4. What were the actions of our Saviour to be imitated by us A. First blessing the elements by Prayer secondly breaking the bread and powring out the Wine thirdly distributing them to the receivers sitting in a Table gesture Matth. 26. 26. Mark 14. 22. Luk. 22. 19 20. 1 Cor. 11. 23 24. Q. 5. What were the words of Christ A. First of command Take eat Secondly of Promise This is my Body Thirdly of Institution for perpetual use This do c. 1 Cor. 11. 24 25 26. Q. 6. Who are to be 4 Faith in Gods promises which it doth confirm union with Christ whereof it is a Seal and obedience to the right use of the Ordinance it self is required of all Receivers 5 There is not any one Action pertaining to the Spiritual Nature of this Sacrament not any end put upon it by Christ as first the partaking of his Body and Blood Secondly setting forth of his Death for us Thirdly declaring of our Union with him and his but require Faith Grace and Holiness in the Receivers receivers of this Sacrament A. Those onely have a true right to the Signs who by Faith have an holy interest in Christ the thing signified 1 Cor. 11. 27 28 29. Joh. 6. 63. Q. 7. Do the elements remain Bread and wine still after the blessing of them A. Yes all the spiritual change is wrought by the Faith of the Receiver not the words of the Giver to them that Believe they are the Body and Blood of Christ Joh. 6. 63. 1 Cor. 10. 4. and 11. 29. CHAP. XXV Of the Communion of Saints the fifth priviledge of Believers Q. 1. What is the Communion of Saints A. An holy conjunction 1 By Vertue of this we partake in all the good and evil of the People of God throout the World between all God's People wrought by their participation of the same Spirit whereby we are all made Members of that one Body whereof Christ is the head Cant. 6. 9. Jer. 32. 39. Joh. 17. 22. 1 Cor. 12. 12. Ephes. 4. 3 4 5 6. 13. 1 Joh. 1. 3. 6 7. Q. 2. Of what sort is this Union A. First a spiritual and internal in the injoyment of the same Spirit and Graces which is the union of the Church Catholick Secondly b external and ecclesiastical in the same outward Ordinances which is the Union of particular Congregations a 1 Cor. 12. 12 13. Ephes. 2. 16. 19 20 21 22. 1 Cor. 10. 17. Joh. 17. 11. 21 22. Joh. 10. 16. Heb. 2. 11. b 1 Cor. 1. 10 11. Rom. 12. 5. 1 Cor. 12. 27 28. Ephes. 4. 11 12 13. Phil. 2. 2. Col. 3. 15. 1 Pet. 3. 8. CHAP. XXVI Of particular Churches Q. 1. What are particular Churches A. Peculiar a Assemblies 1 Every corruption doth not presently unchurch a People 2 Unholiness of fellow worshippers defileth not Gods Ordinances of Professors in one Place b under Officers of Christs Institution c enjoying the Ordinances of God d and leading Lives beseeming their holy Calling a Act. 11. 26. 1 Cor. 4. 17 11. 22. 2 Cor. 1. 1. b Act. 20. 17. 28. 14. 23. 2 Cor. 8. 23. Heb. 13. 17. c 1 Cor. 1. 5. Revel 2. 1 2 3. d 2 Thess. 3. 5. 6. 11. Gal. 6. 16. Phil. 3. 18. 1 Thes. 2. 12. Q. 2. What are the ordinary Officers of such Churches A. First a Pastors or Doctors 3 Ministers are the Bishops of the Lord Lord-bishops came from Rome to teach and exhort secondly b Elders to assist in Rule and Government thirdly c Deacons to provide for the poor 4 Rom. 12. 7 8. Ephes. 4. 10. 1 Cor. 12. 28. b Rom. 12. 8. 1 Tim. 5. 17. c Act. 6. 2 3. Q. 3. What is required of these Officers especially the chiefest or Ministers A. a That they be faithful in the Ministry committed unto them b sedulous in dispensing the Word c watching for the good of the Souls committed to them d going before them in an Example of all godliness and holiness of Life a 1 Cor. 4. 2. Act. 20. 18 19 20. b 2 Tim. 2. 15. and 4. 1 2 3 4 5. c Tit. 1. 13. 1 Tim. 4. 15 16. d Tit. 2. 7. 1 Tim. 4. 12. Matth. 5. 16. Act. 25. Q. 4. What is required in the People unto them A. Obedience a to their Message and Ministery b honour and love to their Persons c maintenance to them and their Families a 2 Cor. 5. 20. Rom. 6. 17. Heb. 13. 17. 2 Thess. 3. 14. Rom. 16. 19. 2 Cor. 10. 4 5 6. b 1 Cor. 4. 1. Gal. 4. 14. 1 Tim. 5. 17 18. c Luk. 10. 7. Jam. 5. 4. 1 Tim. 5. 17 18. 1 Cor. 9. 9 10 11 12 13. CHAP. XXVII Of the last Priviledge of Believers being the Door of entrance into Glory Q. 1. What is the Resurrection of the Flesh A. An Act of the 1 The Resurrection of the Flesh hereafter is a powerful motive to live after the Spirit here mighty power of Gods holy Spirit applying unto us the vertue of Christs resurrection whereby at the last day he will raise our whole Bodies from the Dust to be united again into our Souls in everlasting Happiness Job 19. 25 26 27. Psal. 16. 9 10 11. Esa. 26. 19. Ezek. 37. 2 3. Dan. 12. 2. 1 Cor. 15 16. c. Revet 20. 12 13. Q. 2. What is the end of this whole Dispensation A. The Glory of God in our eternal Salvation To him be all Glory and Honour for evermore Amen FINIS Imprimatur John Downame
11. 51 52. 17. 19. Heb. 9. 13 14. b Heb. 9. 24. Q. 5. Whereby doth this oblation do good unto us A. Divers wayes first in that it satisfied the justice of God secondly it redeemed us from the power of Sin Death and Hell thirdly it ratified the new Covenant of Grace fourthly it procured for us Grace here and Glory hereafter by all which means the peace and reconciliation between God and us is wrought Ephes. 2. 14 15. Q. 6. How did the oblation of Christ satisfie God's justice for our sin A. In that for us he underwent the 2 Christs undergoing punishment for us was first typified by the old Sacrifices secondly foretold in the first Promise thirdly made lawful and valid in it self first by God's determination the supream Law-giver secondly his own voluntary undergoing it thirdly by a Relaxation of the Law in regard of the Subject punished fourthly beneficial to us because united to us as first our head secondly our elder Brother thirdly our Sponsor or Surety fourthly our Husband fifthly our God or Redeemer c. punishment due to our Sin Esa. 5. 3. 4 5 6. Joh. 10. 11. Rom. 3. 25 26. and 4. 25. 1 Cor. 15. 3. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Ephes. 5. 2. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Q. 7. What was that punishment A. The wrath of God the curse 3 No change in all these but what necessary follows the change of the Persons sustaining of the Law the paines of Hell due to Sinners in Body and Soul Gen. 2. 17. Deut. 27. 27. Esa. 59. 2. Rom. 5. 12. Ephes. 2. 3. Joh. 3. 36. Heb. 2. 14. Q. 8. Did Christ undergo all these A. Yes in respect of the greatness 4 The death that Christ underwent was eternal in its own Nature Tendance not so to him because of his holiness power and the unity of his Person and extremity not the eternity and continuance of those pains for it was impossible he should be holden of Death Matth. 26. 28 29. Mark 14. 33. and 15. 34. Gal. 3. 13. Ephes. 2. 16. Col. 1. 20. Heb. 5. 7. Psal. 18. 5. Q. 9. How could the punishment of one satisfie for the offence of all A. In that he was not a mere 5 He suffered not as God but he suffered who was God man onely but God also of infinite more value than all those who had offended Rom. 5. 9. Heb. 9. 26. 1 Pet. 3. 18. Q. 10. How did the oblation of Christ redeem us from Death and Hell A. First a by paying a ransome 6 We are freed from the anger of God by a perfect rendring to the full value of what he required from the power of Satan by absolute conquest on our behalf to God the Judge and Law-giver who had condemned us Secondly b by overcoming and spoyling Satan Death and the powers of Hell that detained us Captives a Matth. 20. 28. Joh. 6. 38. Mark 10. 4 5. Rom. 3. 25. 1 Cor. 6. 20. Gal. 3. 13. Ephes. 1. 7. 1 Tim. 2. 6. Heb. 10. 9. b Joh. 5. 24. Col. 2. 13 14 15. 1 Thess. 1. 10. Heb. 2. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Q. 11. What was the ransome that Christ paid for us A. His own precious Blood Act. 20. 28. 1 Pet. 1. 19. Q. 12. How was the new Covenant ratified in his Blood A. By being accompanied with 7 The new Covenant is Christs legacy in his last Will unto his People the eternal inheritance of Glory being conveyed thereby his Death for that as all other Testaments was to be ratified by the death of the Testator Gen. 22. 18. Heb. 9. 16. 8. 10 11 12. Q. 13. What is this new Covenant A. The gracious free immutable promise of God made unto all his Elect fallen in Adam to b give them Jesus Christ and c in him Mercy Pardon Grace and Glory d with a restipulation of Faith from them unto this promise and new obedience a Gen. 3. 15. Jer. 31. 32 33 34. 32. 40. Heb. 8. 10 11 12. b Gal. 3. 8. 16. Gen. 12. 3. c Rom. 8. 32 Ephes. 1. 3 4. d Mar. 16. 16. Joh. 1. 12. 10. 27 28. Q. 14. How did Christ procure for us Grace Faith and Glory A. By the way of purchase 8 The death of Christ was satisfactory in respect of the strict justice of God meritorious in respect of the Covenant between him and his Father 9 All these holy truths are directly denied by the blasphemous Socinians of the Papists with their merits masses penance and purgatory by consequent overthrown and merit for the Death of Christ deservedly procured of God that he should Bless us with all spiritual Blessings needful for our coming unto him Esa. 53. 11 12. Joh. 17. 2. Act. 20. 28. Rom. 5. 17 18. Ephes. 2. 15. 16. 1. 4. Phil. 1. 29. Tit. 2. 14. Revel 1. 5 6. Q. 15. What is the intercession of Christ A His continual solliciting 10 To make Saints our intercessours is to renounce Jesus Christ from being a sufficient Saviour of God on our behalf begun here in fervent Prayers continued in Heaven by appearing as our advocate at the Throne of Grace Psal. 2. 8. Rom. 8. 34. Heb. 7. 25. 9. 24. 10. 19 20 21. 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. Joh. 17. CHAP. XIII Of Christ's Prophetical Office Q. 1. Wherein doth the prophetical Office of Christ consist A. In his Embassage 1 Christ differed from all other Prophets first in his sending which was immediately from the Bosome of his father secondly his assistance which was the fulness of the Spirit thirdly his manner of teaching with Authority from God to Man revealing from the bosome of his Father the whole Mystery of Godliness the way and Truth whereby we must come unto God Matth. 5. Joh. 1. 18. 3. 32. 10. 9. 14. 14. 5 6. 17. 8. 18. 37. Q. 3. How doth he exercise this Office towards us A. By making known 2 To accuse his word of imperfection in Doctrine or Discipline is to deny him a perfect Prophet or to have born witness unto all Truth the whole Doctrine of truth unto us in a saving and spiritual manner Deut. 18 18. Esa. 42. 6. Heb. 3. 1. Q. 3. By what means doth he perform all this A. Divers as first a internally and effectually by his Spirit writing his Law in our hearts secondly b outwardly and instrumentally by the Word preached a Jer. 31. 32 33. 2 Cor. 3. 3. 1 Thess. 4. 9. Heb. 8. 10. b Joh. 20. 31. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Ephes. 4. 8 9 10 11 12 13. 2 Pet. 1. 21. CHAP. XIV Of the two-fold Estate of Christ. Q. 1. In what estate or condition doth Christ exercise these Offices A. In a two-fold Estate first of humiliation 1 The humiliation of Christ shews us what we must here do and suffer his Exaltation what we may hope for 2 The first of these holds forth his