because willingly from God vpon the inticement of the Deuill and inwrapped our selues with vnspeakable guilt slauerie and woe rebelling against the Law of God which is holy iust and good and lying open to Gods curse for euermore t t Iohn 3.16 Rom. 5.12 13 14 c. sent forth for the praise of his glorious grace And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord the second Person of the Trinitie euen his onely begotten Sonne to be u u Act. 2.36 our Lord for our Redemption and so to become our Sauiour which is ment by the name * * Matth. 1.21 Iesus and therefore he x x Esai 61.1 2 c. Heb. 1.9 Iohn 3.34 annointed him for the name Christ signifieth Annointed with the Spirit aboue measure that he might be our holy y y Deut. 18.18 c. Prophet to teach vs the way of saluation z z Heb. 10.12 14. our mercifull High Priest to offer himself a sacrifice for vs and our a a Luk. 1.32 33. Psal 72. 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. powerfull King to worke in our hearts his sauing grace to gouerne vs to protect vs and continually to minister vnto vs all blessings néedfull both for soule and bodie Who was conceiued by the Holy Ghost Borne of the Virgin Marie b b Luk. 1.35 2.6 7. Which Iesus Christ to the end he might be a fit Mediator for vs Rom. 5.15 18 19. 8.2 3. tooke the true nature of man vpon him in all things sinne onely excepted and so was holily conceiued by the extraordinarie operation of the Holy Ghost in the wombe of a Virgin called Marie thereby sanctifying our sinfull conceptions and of her was he borne and brought forth into the world after the common fashion of all men c c Gal. 4.4 5. Heb. 2.16 17. that we might be sure that by the partaking of our nature he hath communicated himselfe and all his goodnes to vs. d d Rom. 5.19 Who in the same our nature led a holy life according to all Gods commandements that it might be imputed vnto vs and e e Esai 53. Luk 22.44 23.1 c. Iohn 18. 19. chapter withal suffred vnspeakable torments both in soule and bodie sufficient to haue purged the sinnes of the whole world though none but the faithfull shall receiue any benefit thereby f f Deut. 21.23 Galat. 3.13 1 Thess 1.10 1 Iohn 3.8 Was crucified Who being made a Curse for vs was bound as a guilty person that we might be loosed out of the spirituall chaine and slauerie of Satan and sinne g g Matth. 27. Coloss 2 13 14. Phil. 1.29 Gal. 6.14 Ps 119. 67 71. 2 Cor. 12.20 1 Thess 1.10 Who was condemned wrongfully by the Iudge Pilate that we which are guilty of innumerable transgressions might be discharged before the Tribunall Seat of Gods fearefull iustice and who thereupon was most shamefully executed as a most hainous Malefactor notwithstanding he was most iust and innocent his hands and féete being fastned with nailes to a Crosse and thereon tormented till he was slaine his side pierced with a speare his blood shed both while he was aliue and dead dead and buried and so being truly dead his bodie was buried All which was to satisfie Gods wrath to wrath to take the curse which otherwise was our due desert because h h Rom. 5.6 8 10. wee were vngodly sinners and Gods enemies to kill and burie all our sins with him i i Ephes 2.16 to reconcile God and vs to slay the enmitie k k Philip. 3.10 2 Cor. 4.17 and to sanctifie and make happy and comfortable all our afflictions and persecutions l l Act. 2.24 27 29 30. Ps 16.10 Math. 12.40 1 Cor. 15.54 55. He descended into Hell Yea he abased himselfe yet further euen to the lowest degrée of humiliation continuing thrée dayes and thrée nights contemptibly in the bands of death that he might vtterly abolish the sting of death that he might vtterly abolish the sting of death and teach vs thorow humiliation for our sinnes m m Act. 2.24 2 Cor. 13.4 Iohn 10.18 Notwithstanding hauing payed the vttermost price for all our sinnes and conquered Satan Rom. 4.25 6.4 5 9 10 11. 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5. 3.21 Reuel 20.5 6. Sinne Hell Damnation the third day he rose againe frō the dead he triumphantly rose againe from death to life vpon the third day both to assure vs that God will count vs righteous that doe beléeue in his name and also to quicken and restore vs to a new and holy life which is the first resurrection n n 1 Cor. 15.4 5 6. Act. 1.2 3 4 c. And so his soule taking his bodie againe and quickning it by his diuine power he continued for a season vpon the earth He ascended into heauen and o o Act. 1.9 11. Mark 16.19 Heb. 9 24. Ephes 4.10 11. Iohn 14 2. 17.24 Col. 3.2 afterwards did thence gloriously ascend into heauen to take possession of it in our name to appeare in the presence of God for vs and to fill all things and specially his Church with his gifts and graces thereby to lead it thither whence by sinne and iniquitie it was banished And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty p p 1 Tim. 3.16 Heb. 7.25 1 Cor. 15.25 27. There he sitteth at the Fathers right hand making intercession for vs by offering to his Father Act. 2.33 36. Psal 110.1 and applying to vs the merit of his passion where he hath all power and authoritie committed vnto him to be the onely Lord and King for the gouernment of all things vnto the saluation of his people and destruction of his enimies q q Act. 3.21 Iohn 17.24 And there he shall remaine as touching his manhood vntill the latter day to the end we might haue assured and constant comfort because our flesh dwelleth there in the person of our Redéemer Frō thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead r r Act. 17.30 31. 2 Cor. 5.9 10. Math. 25.32 c. Rom. 2.6 At that day he shall returne to pronounce execute iust iudgement vpon all mankinde both the good and bad whether dead afore or found aliue at his comming vnto the praise of his glorious iustice rendring vnto euery one according as their workes shall testifie their faith or vnbeléefe This Iesus Christ then I acknowledge and beléeue to be both my Sauiour my Intercessor and my Iudge vnto whom I earnestly cry ſ ſ Rev. 22.20 Come Lord Iesus come quickly t t Act. 24.16 with 2 Cor. 5.6 8 9 10 11. labouring alwaies to haue a cleare conscience that I may haue boldnes at that day and so I trust that he will pronounce for me and make mée partaker of his glory I beleeue in the Holy Ghost And withall I do u u 1 Cor. 6.11 Iohn 14.26 15.26 acknowledge beléeue the third Person of the Trinitie the Holy Ghost procéeding from the Father and
Christes righteousnes and pledges of his blisse Baptisme For why In Baptisme sure there is assured vnto thee Thy sinnes are washed by his blood and thou renew'd shalt bee And thou art entred once for all into the fellowship Of Father Sonne and Holy Ghost at no time thence to slip This holy Trinitie is thy God and thou his Child become His grace is thine thou not thine own through Christ these things are done And Faith is it that consecrates thee to the Lord alone Yea Faith I say in Christes death and Resurrection Therefore vnto the Lord see thou thy selfe do dedicate To dye to sinne and liue to him in state regenerate As water skowreth filth away so makes it faire and cleane Thinke not thy sin is washt when yet thou wicked dost remaine The Supper of the Lord. * So in the Supper of the Lord this gratious Couenant Is otherwise set forth to thee that art the Lords seruant The broken bread doth signifie Christs bodie put to death The powred wine his pretious blood doth note vnto thy Faith When Bread and Wine are ministred by Minister to thee Thinke with thy selfe Christ offereth himselfe and grace to mee And when thou eatst drinkst the same perswade thy selfe withall Christs Merits now belong to me to set me free from thrall Thy Baptisme once was ministred the Supper often ought The new birth needeth oft releefe though once t was truly wrought Wherefore as bread and wine do fresh our bodies oftentimes So comforts Christ the conscience with guilt of sinne that pines And as mans bodie gathers heart by bread and wine to liue So by this sacred food the Lord more spirituall strength will giue To doe his will with thankfulnesse more perfect for to be And better able sinne to leaue this is the veritie And finally as thou dost joyne and that in open place Amids Gods people that receiue before Christ Iesus face See then that peace and loue in thee vnfained be to Men And specially to faithfull folke else thou art none of them Stirre vp thy knowledge and thy faith repentance and thy loue Be zealous of this holy food vnworthy lest thou proue Examine well thy heart before to God thy prayer powre And look try how thou dost thriue in grace from that same howre * The fourth good Meane or Exercise that Christ bids thee to vse Is speciall fellowship with Saints the bad thou must refuse The Saints will teach comfort thee and many waies thee aide The bad will badly teach and will make thee of grace afraid * The fifth and last is noting well Gods creatures workes and hand His iudgements and his benefits God cause thee to vnderstand His patient long-sufferance and doings good alway Repentance and Obedience do teach thee euery day Fifthly Of the right vse of the Meanes of Grace and the Reward thereof DRaw neere to God with vpright heart and vse these meanes of grace Then Christ will be thy King Priest and Prophet in ech case Thy King to worke rule thy heart according to his will Most ready for to do thee good and saue thee from all ill Thy Priest for why he offred vp himselfe to death for thee And will apply his precious merits thy heart to purifie And of this thing thou maist be sure because he rose againe From death to life ascended vp and raigneth now in heauen And thence it is he worketh by his scepter and his rod Making his Meanes effectuall to bring thee vnto God And thence he is thy Prophet eke by Ministers that teach His holy word which thou must heare and diligently search Directing all thy wayes thereto with good and honest hart Christ wholly thine thou wholly his by true indeuour art Then God will surely saue thy soule for Christes sake his Sonne And prosper thee in all thy wayes what ere is said or done Hee 'l turne thy suffrings to the best and Satan eke confound His Promises he will fulfill if that thy heart be sound Beleeue then firmely in thy minde that God will count thee pure Full freely and full gratiously Christs Gospell is most sure Repent thee turne and grow in grace be thankfull and rejoyce In suffering with thy Sauiour obey his holy voice And keepe thy selfe within thy lot thy calling and degree Take paines be iust meeke mercifull and God will harke to thee And alwaies watch for Christ shall come to iudge both quicke and dead Thy Bodie shall be raisd from dust and to thy soule joyned Thy sinnes he will not mention the iust he will declare But iudge he will the Reprobate their sinnes he will not spare Their damned state thou shalt behold Christs sentence to commend Yet thou the joyes vnspeakable shalt haue without all end 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Forme of Prayer after Conference Parent WE Coloss 1.9 pray thée O God to fill vs with the knowledge of thy will in all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding to giue vs grace to walks worthy of thée Lord vnto all pleasing being fruitfull in euery good worke and increasing in the knowledge of God to strengthen vs with all might according to thy glorious power vnto all patience and long-suffering with ioyfulnesse and to make vs truly thankfull vnto thée O Father who hast made vs méete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light and for that thou hast and wouldst deliuer vs from the power of darknes and translate vs into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne in whom we haue redemption through his blood euen the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and Rom. 9.5 who is God ouer all blessed for euer Child Amen Seruant Amen Scholler Amen HEB. 6.1 Let vs goe on to perfection FINIS
your children and euery other ignorant person according to their abilitie in hearing Parent What do you vnderstand by the way he should go Pastor The way that a child should go is the right manner of leading his life in the seruice of God righteously and honestly in his society with man and lawfully in the performance of all dutie whereof Godlinesse is the principall And this it the lesson I haue euen now laid before you namely that The fittest time to learne the feare of the Lord is while we are yong Wherefore those Parents and Housholders are much to blame Note what the Prophet Esay saith Esai 55.1 2 3. who carelesly neglect this first and cheifest care of teaching their people to liue vnto God who yet passe modestie in caring and vrging them how they should liue vnto the flesh and the world And do not they I pray you confute themselues for saying it is too early to catechise them when they are yong seeing they judge it the fittest time to invre them to doe somewhat as soone as they can and do beat into their heads how to get or saue somewhat and to forecast for a liuing in time to come And doe they not practise their vsuall prouerb Early sharpe will be a thorne Except they be such foolish persons as cocker their children with nicenesse proud raggs dainty fare c and make them idle drones or worse whereby they become vnfruitfull for Church or Common-wealth yea oftentimes wasters or rather destroyers of the good gifts of God which are none of theirs by right whatsoeuer title they haue to them by humane lawes and conueyance but indeed belong to the children of God Parent And what is taught by not departing from it when he is old Pastor Not onely that what thing is taught in youth continueth in old age as we may see on the one side in those that taste in their age of the good things which they learned in their childhood as on the other side in them that are brought vp in wickednesse who cast forth the euill sauour thereof in their gray haires but also that early instructing profiteth both the vnderstanding and the memorie And therefore it is for the most part that the elder sort that haue not beene informed in their youth doe learne loddly as the common saying is and remember badly Parent Séeing then you haue made it plaine that Parents must teach or catechize their children in priuate as also that it is best to begin with them so soone as they are able to speake or learne any thing I pray you shew me at what particular times and seasons and how often this labour must be bestowed and in what manner Pastor For the particular times and oftennesse Solomons Rule which is generall for all good duties and works of mercy must be obserued namely t Eccles 11.6 In the morning sow thy seede and in the euening with-hold not thy hand for thou knowest not whether shall prosper either this or that or whether they both shall be alike good His meaning is that we must exercise our goodnes at all times without ceasing so far as we can and so often as conueniently we may For we must not thinke that God is tyed to man or that he will blesse our labour when we do it after a tempting manner once in a weeke twice in a quarter or but now and then at our faire leasure as who should say God must be at our becke and that the most necessarie grace of saluation is gotten with litle ado where in the meane space earthly things which are transitorie sometimes do vs no good are not obtained but with great continuall paines and forecast But we must learne to serue and waite vpon the Spirit of God for his gratious blessing vpon our diligent vse of the meanes trying when God will please to worke by our labour and taking it for his singular fauour and goodnes toward vs if he will prosper our indeuour at one time or other or at all times when we haue constantly done our best from time to time And if I may giue my iudgement the fittest and likeliest seasons for your purpose are euery night and morning at meales and vpon such motions of their mindes whether proceeding of their owne willingnesse or arising of the manifestation of any notable workes of God as your paines may seeme in all reason most likely to take the deeper impression in their hearts And for the manner which as I haue shewed must be easie plaine and familiar for the benefit of the capacitie so also it must be u Eccles 12.10 cheerefull and pleasant though not without reuerence and grauitie thereby to win and hold the affections and to delight Parent In what forme of words do you thinke fit to teach children at the first Pastor In the shortest and pithiest Questions and Answers that can well be deuised which must be strictly obserued and often repeated And for want of better you may vse this following namely Parent The first A. B. C. of a Christian Childe What is your Religion Childe * Act. 11.26 The Christian Religion Parent In whom do you beleeue Childe x Iohn 14.1 In God Parent What is God Childe y Iohn 4.24 God is a Spirit z Gen. 17.1 Almighty a 1 Tim. 1.17 Psal 90.2 without beginning without ending Parent How many Gods be there Childe b 1 Iohn 5.7 Onely one God but thrée persons Parent How bee the Persons called Childe c Math. 28.19 The Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost Parent Who made you Childe d Heb. 1.1 2. God the Father Parent Who redeemed you Childe e 1 Cor. 1.30 God the Sonne Parent Who sanctifieth and preserueth you Childe f 1 Cor. 16.11 12.11 Gen. 1.2 God the Holy Ghost Parent Wherefore did God make redeeme sanctifie and preserue you Childe g Deut. 10.12 32.6 To serue him Parent How will God be serued Childe h Deut. 29.29 After his will reuealed in his word Parent How many parts be there of the word of God Childe Two parts Parent Which be they Childe i Galat. 3.8 9 10 11 12 15 16 17 18. Rom. 10.5 6. The Law and the Gospell otherwise called the Couenant of workes and the Couenant of Grace Parent And what is meete to teach them in the second place Pastor The Lords prayer Parent What next Pastor The Confession of Faith otherwise called The Creede Parent And what afterwards Pastor Then you may set vpon the doctrine of the Law contained in the Ten Commandements which is the first part of this booke of familiar conference that I haue giuen you and so proceed according to the directions I haue set you downe k 2 Tim. 2.7 And the Lord giue you vnderstanding in all things Parent But I pray you how must I deale with them who haue beene neglected to be taught in their youth
and are now come to Mens and Womens estate who also are wont as you said to learne loddly and remember badly Pastor You must take the more paines with such to teach them the true meaning and right vse of the Lord prayer the Creede and the Ten Commandements the words whereof they can babble without vnderstanding as also you must vse the like diligence for the doctrine of the Sacraments according to the Conference or some Catechisme or Treatise made for that purpose Parent It passeth my skill to teach some of them any vnderstanding or profitable vse of that which they confesse in words and specially such as put a confidence in the saying and rehearsing of the words A kinde of Opus operatum as though there were some secret vertue and efficacie in the words that of themselues and of the sounding or pronouncing of them do please God and make them that can and do vtter them to be Christians as they doe superstitiously suppose Pastor Then I aduise you to follow these two courses which haue bin sound very profitable with such blinde soules First for the vnderstanding and vse of the Creede Secondly for Application both of the Creede the Lords prayer the Ten Commandements and the Sacraments Parent What is your course to conuey the vnderstanding and vse of the Creede vnto an ignorant soule that can say the words without sense in himselfe Pastor Prouided alwayes that you humbly beseech God to blesse your labour and likewise that you deale kindly and louingly with such a one you must vse to reason with him or her suppose it be your seruant or any other in as familiar and plaine manner as you can to this effect Housholder The forme of instructing such ignorant soules as are of riper age In whom doe you beleeue Seruant In God Housholder What is God Seruant The Father Almighty Housholder How do you know that God is almighty Seruant Because he is the maker of heauen and earth Housholder In whom do you beleeue besides the Father Seruant In Iesus Christ Housholder Who is Iesus Christ Seruant The Fathers onely Son and our Lord. Housholder What meane you by Our Lord Seruant That he is our Redéemer and Gouernor Housholder How came Christ to be so Seruant He was conceiued by the Holy Ghost and borne of the Virgin Marie Housholder What did he for vs as he is our Lord Seruant He suffered for vs vnder Ponce Pilate Housholder Who was Ponce Pilate Seruant He was a Iudge that condemned Christ to death Housholder To what kinde of death did Pilate condemne our Sauiour Christ Seruant To be crucified Housholder What is that Seruant Hée was lifted vp to a Crosse of wood and nailed vpon it with nailes * This crucifying was in those times among the Iewes a most shamefull execution of Male-factors such as Hanging upon the Gallowes is now amongst vs. Housholder How long was he crufied Seruant Till he was dead Housholder Wherefore was Christ willing to suffer so shamefull a death Seruant For to saue vs from Hell which we deserued for our sins Housholder What did they with Christ when he was dead Seruant They buried his bodie in a Tombe Housholder How long did it lye buried in the Tombe Seruant Vntill the third day Housholder What did Christ then Seruant He rose againe from the dead and so liued and walked vpon the earth againe Housholder What did hee afterwards Seruant After forty dayes he ascended into Heauen that is He went vp into Heauen Housholder What doth our Sauiour in Heauen Seruant He fitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty Housholder What is the meaning of that Seruant He is the great King that raigneth ouer vs all Housholder How long shall Christ raigne so Seruant Till the day of Iudgement Housholder What shall he do then Seruant He shall come againe to iudge both the quicke and the dead Housholder Who are the quicke Seruant They that shall be then found aliue vpon the earth Housholder And what dead persons shall he then iudge Seruant All that haue beene dead before that day Housholder In whom doe you beleeue else besides the Father and the Sonne Seruant In the Holy Ghost Housholder What Are the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost three Gods Seruant No Thrée persons but one God Housholder Doth no body beleeue thus but onely you Seruant Yes the Holy Catholike Church Housholder Who are that Church Seruant The Saints that dwell vpon earth Housholder Why do you call the Saints on earth Holy Seruant Because they are made holy in Christ by Faith and a New life Housholder Why do you call the Saints or Church of God vpon earth Catholike Seruant Because they are vniuersally scattered ouer all the world Housholder What haue they among themselues Seruant A speciall Communion or Fellowship of Loue one with another Housholder What benefits doth God by his Holy Spirit bestow vpon these his beleeuing and penitent people for his Sonne Iesus Christs sake Seruant Forgiuenes of their sins the resurrection of their bodies and the life euerlasting Parent And what is your other course for application of the Creede the Lords Prayer the Ten Commandements and the Sacraments vnto the capacitie and vse of such ignorant persons Pastor Whatsoeuer you shall learne in the preaching of the word or in the daily reading thereof that may informe such simple persons in any of those things you must acquaint them with it fitting it for manner of speech and words to their abilitie And so for all the workes of God his benefits and strokes you must apply them to their estate declare vnto them their great manifold necessitie of sauing grace and alwayes haue recourse vnto such things as they can say in the Creede the Lords Prayer the Ten Commandements * How euer you doe you must labour to inform and settle them on the one side in the vse of the Law discouering sinne and denouncing the curse of damnation and on the other side in the comforts of the Gospell giuing grace by Jesus Christ and assuring the beleeuers and penitent of eternall saluation c. And withall incourage them both to answer your questions and to inquire boldly and cheerefully of you what they thinke good or do make any doubt of Parent I trust the Lord will make me mindfull to vse these good helps which you haue sought out and fitted for such purposes as neede shall require But I haue a great desire to looke into the substance of the Booke that you haue giuen me where I hope to finde directions and furtherances for my selfe and those that are better able to learne and practise than either children or such ignorant persons as we haue last spoken of Pastor I doubt not but you shall gaine somewhat by that which hath passed betwixt you me already since we met togither albeit indeed the greatest vse be of the points of Religion which are handled in the Booke that I
assuredly Child u Rom. 8.34 Heb. 6.19 20. 9.24 Reuel 1.5 Because he sitteth at the right hand of God his Father and so is become our continuall Remembrancer Parent How is Christ the King of his Church Child * Luk. 1.32 33. 1 Cor. 15.25 c. By ruling it in this world and glorifying it in the world to come Parent How doth Christ rule his Church in this world Child First x Phil. 2.13 by working grace in the heart Secondly y Psal 121. by protecting and defending it Thirdly z Rom. 8.28 by disposing all things to its greatest good Parent What Graces doth Christ the King of his Church *** The first way of Christs ruling of his Church in this world worke in the heart Child a Phil. 1.29 1 Cor. 6.11 Faith and Sanctification or Regeneration Parent What is Faith Child b Eph. 3.12 17. Rom. 4.18 21. Faith is a true perswasion of my heart grounded vpon the Promises of God that whatsoeuer Christ hath wrought for the saluation of Man he hath done it as well for me as for any others Parent In what words is Faith in Christ taught Child Gal. 2.20 The Sonne of God hath loued me and giuen himselfe for me Seruant What is the least measure of true Faith that any one can haue who is of yeeres of discretion Scholler d Gen. 4.13 Rom. 8.9 23.24 25. Ephes 3.17 Math. 5.6 Psal 51.8 9. compared When one is perswaded that his sinnes may be forgiuen and withall prayeth from the bottome of his heart that whatsoeuer els God doth for him he would forgiue him Seruant But when Faith groweth to some strength how may you know then that you haue a true and liuely faith Scholler First e Rom. 5 1. Gal. 4.6 by the inward peace of my conscience féeling Gods loue in Christ and assuring me of the forgiuenesse of all my sinnes Secondly f Act. 15.9 Rom. 6.19 Iam. 2.14 15 16. c. by my good workes which are the fruits of a liuely faith * See more of Faith in Part. 4. and in Part. 5. Seruant Where are the chiefest points of Faith as touching the things themselues that are to be beleeued of a Christian comprised and set all togither in one short summe for the help of the more ignorant sort of weake memories Scholler In the Confession of Faith commonly called the Articles of our Beléefe and by some The Apostles Creed Seruant Why is it called The Creed Scholler Of the Latine word Credo which is the first word in this Confession and signifieth in our English tongue I beleeue Seruant And why beareth it the name of the Apostles Scholler Because it was taken out of the doctrine of the Apostles Seruant Vnto whom was it prescribed Scholler Vnto euery one to confesse in his owne person as being indéed the Summe of all Religion Parent Rehearse the Creed Child The forme of Confession of Faith I beléeue in God the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord who was conceiued by the Holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Marie suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell The third day hée rose againe from the dead He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty From thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beléeue in the Holy Ghost the holy Catholike Church the Communion of Saints the forgiuenesse of Sinnes the Resurrection of the Bodie and the Life euerlasting Amen Parent I pray you Pastor giue vs a short Explanation of the Creede which we may vse to read deliberately in our house vnto our ignorant people now and than and at the least vpon the Lords day where better means of edification cannot be had before or after we haue beene at the publike Ministerie of the word In which Explanation we would haue you to direct vs how to vnderstand and apply euery seuerall point to ech one of our selues particularly and withall set vs downe in the margent some of the plainest testimonies of holy Scripture to proue that your exposition is grounded thereon Pastor I will so that you will not forget nor neglect to vse it weekely till such time as you and your Families be better instructed and setled in the truth Parent I pray God make me and my companie not only mindfull and diligent to vse it but also giue vs grace to profit by it Pastor Amen Now than a Christian man or woman should vnderstand and apply to his or her selfe the Articles of Faith as if he or she should say a litle more largely thus The Explanation of the Creede The Creed it self being the Summe of the holy Gospell Forasmuch as g g Heb. 11.1 2 3 c. Iam. 1 12 13. 1 Tim. 1.5 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9. true Faith is the onely Mother and ground-worke of all sauing graces and whereby also they become acceptable to God and that euery person who looketh to bée saued must attaine saluation by his h h Hab. 2.4 Iohn 3.15 16 18. Gal. 3.22 26. Heb. 10.38 11.6 owne faith and not by the faith that is in any others out of himselfe And forasmuch as the same true faith i i Rom. 10.10 2 Cor. 4.13 Matth. 10 32 33. Act. 8.37 will necessarily shew it self by Confession I doe here make confession of it with my mouth as I haue receiued and do stedfastly hold it in my heart not from the traditions or sayings of men but as I sée it warranted in Gods most holy word vnto the praise and glory of God my owne comfort and the good example of others in this forme following to wit I beleeue in God the Father Almighty Maker of heauen earth I doe acknowledge and beléeue k k Deut. 4.39.1 Iohn 5.7 one onely God distinguished into thrée persons l l Math. 28.19 the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost to be m m Iohn 14.1 20.28 my God n n Ephes 1.11 Act. 15.18 27.20 21 22 c. who decréed before all worlds o o Gen. 1. 2. chapters made and fashioned in time p p Act. 4.24 28. Gen. 14.19 Rom. 11.36 disposeth and possesseth all things whatsoeuer with all their seuerall actions circumstances in most holy manner according to his infinite power and wisedome vnto his owne glory and specially Angels in heauen and Men on earth who is both willing able to blesse me q q Rom. 8.28 Psal 115.11 13 15. and who I know maketh all things worke togither for good vnto me whom he hath called to loue feare and obey him maugre all enimies r r Iohn 20.17 because hee is Christs father and my father almighty in strength Which Father ſ ſ Gen. 3.1 7. Iohn 8.44 Rom. 7.12 23. Deut. 27.26 when wée wretches fel shamefully
all the rest of the faithfull haue amongst our selues from and vnder Iesus Christ our Head Parent How do you then communicate with the faithfull in the Lords Supper Child First g Ephes 4.1 2 3 4 5 6 15 16. I am confirmed in all such graces as other the Faithfull do receiue from Christ that they do also belong to me Secondly h Col. 3.14 Act. 2.41 42 c. 1 Cor. 12. 13. I binde my selfe in a speciall bond of Loue to practise all the duties thereof vnto them in generall as to the ioynt members of the same mysticall bodie and particularly to remember the poore Seruant Is there any change as the Papists say of the bread and wine into the naturall bodie and blood of Christ Scholler i 1 Cor. 11.26 27 28 29. There is a change of their vse but not of their substance Seruant What is their vse at that time Scholler Twofold First k 1 Cor. 11.26 a solemne shewing forth of the Lords death Secondly l 1 Cor. 10.16 17. with 11.27 29. the nourishment of our soules and bodies vnto euerlasting life Seruant Whence haue they that strength and vse Scholler m 1 Cor. 11.23 24 c. From the ordinance and blessing of Christ whereby they are consecrated to that purpose Seruant How do you proue that bread and wine remaine still in their owne nature after consecration Scholler n 1 Cor. 11.26 27 28 29. First the word of God calleth them so after Secondly o 1 Cor. 11.26 there must néedes be true outward signes Thirdly p Experience this consecrated bread and wine will corrupt in time Fourthly q The Reason is good vnles wee had a word of faith to build a matter of faith vpon we sée féele and taste nothing but bread and wine Seruant But seeing Christ saith This is my Bodie and This is my Blood why should we not beleeue that they are changed into his bodie and blood Scholler There are many reasons why we should not beléeue so Seruant Let vs heare some of them Scholler First the naturall sense of those words teacheth no such change Secondly Christ was neuer corporally present in any of the Iewish Sacraments Thirdly Christ was not corporally present in this Supper when he did first administer it Fourthly r Act. 3.21 Christs bodie shall not come downe from heauen till the last day Fiftly it possesseth but one place of a true naturall bodie wheresoeuer it is Sixtly it is absurd and wicked to hold that Christ hath many bodies and in many places at once and that men though Reprobates yea Dogs Cats and Mice may chew his flesh in their téeth Seruant Why are they then called his bodie and blood Scholler First because they are the Sacraments of his bodie and blood Secondly for the great similitude betwéene them And thirdly to assure vs more strongly of his spirituall presence Seruant Is it lawfull to with hold either the bread or the wine from any of the Communicants Scholler No for first the Lord Iesus ordained both and secondly there is necessarie vse of both Seruant What necessarie vse Scholler ſ Iohn 6.35 53 54 55 56. Act. 4.12 To shew that he is our full and sufficient foode Parent You said that Christ giueth himselfe and all his merits vnto euery true beleeuer in receiuing the Lords Supper Of fit and worthy Receiuers Child Yes t Luk. 3.8 20.35 Col. 1.12 Reuel 3.4 for the Lord in his frée Grace and Mercy estéemeth such to be worthy Receiuers Parent Shew mee more at large whom the Lord esteemeth worthy Receiuers Child They that are furnished with such Graces as are both necessarie and fit in this case and that do vse it as Christ hath appointed and as becommeth so heauenly mysteries Parent Which are those Graces that are most necessarie and fit Child These fiue First u Ioh. 17.3 Knowledge Secondly * 2 Cor. 13.5 a true and liuely faith Thirdly x 1 Cor. 11.31 Repentance newnesse of life Fourthly y Col. 3.14 Charitie towards men Fiftly z Luk. 22.15 Act. 8.36 an earnest desire to receiue this Sacrament Parent 1. Of Knowledge What knowledge is required at the least for the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper Child Some true knowledge of God of his Law of his Gospell of our selues or our owne estate and of the Sacraments Parent What knowledge of God is required Child That there is a 1 Cor. 8.4 but one God b Gen. 1.1 the maker and c Act. 17.28 gouernor of all things and d 1 Ioh. 5.7 distinguished into the persons of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost Parent What is God Pastor e Reuel 4.9 God is a liuing f Iohn 4.24 spirituall g 1 Tim. 1.17 eternall h Job 11.7 8 9. infinite and i Revel 4.8 most holy essence k Exod. 3.14 existing onely of himselfe in all perfection l Psal 135.6 Esai 46.10 11. Iam. 1.17 Mal. 3.6 as touching his will most absolute free and vnchangeable m Psal 147.5 Gen. 17.1 in his working all-sufficient for wisedome and strength n Mica 7.18 19 20. Ps 99.8 145.17 Exod. 34.6 7. and to his creatures most mercifull and iust Parent What is a Person Pastor o Iohn 14.9 16 17 18. 17.21 A distinct manner of subsisting in the Godhead Parent Declare vnto mee more largely how the one onely God is distinguished into three persons and how the three persons subsist in the one God which we commonly call the Vnitie in Trinitie and the Trinitie in Vnitie Pastor The three persons are so distinguished one from another that they are neither separated nor confounded either in themselues or in their working * A mysterie to be reuerently beleeued not curiously searched Hypostases inseratabiles Diuinitas indiuidualis personarum proprietates incommunicabiles Ioh 1.33 5.19 20 21 22 23. 8.16 17 18 19. 10.30 14.9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 23 16. In themselues for First ech person hath the whole Godhead in it in such sort as the Vnitie of the essence or nature of God is neither diuided into parts nor destroyed Secondly ech person is coeternall coequall without difference of time or greatnesse Thirdly ech person is in and with ech other and possesseth ech other so that yet the Father is not the same with the Sonne or the Holy Ghost or the Sonne the same with the Father or the Holy Ghost or the Holy Ghost the same with the Father or the Sonne as touching their persons And fourthly ech person enjoyeth equall glory with other and ech hath euerlasting delight in other yet not the same but according to the distinct manner of ech persons subsistence in the Godhead In their working for though ech person doth the same things that the other do in euery thing that is done without absence or weaknesse yet
not any one of them worketh altogither after the same manner as another doth but ech one of them according to the distinct proprietie of his Person in speciall Parent How are the three Persons distinguished in their speciall Proprieties Pastor p Prov. 8.22 23 24 c. Psal 2.7 Iohn 15.26 The Father is of himselfe the Sonne is begotten of the Father from all eternitie and the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne Parent How in their working togither Pastor q Heb. 1.1 2. Iohn 5.17 19. The Father worketh of himselfe by the Sonne and the Holy Ghost and therefore the originall beginning of the action is ascribed to him r Rom. 8.11 Heb. 1.2 The Sonne worketh from the Father by the Holy Ghost and so the disposing of the action as it were by a Steward is attributed to him ſ Gen. 1.2 1 Cor. 12.11 The Holy Ghost worketh from the Father and the Sonne and therefore the efficacie and finishing of the action is in a speciall sort allotted vnto him Parent What knowledge of the Law is required for worthy Receiuing Child t Deut. 6.25 Rom. 7.7 8 9 10 11 13. That it requireth true righteousnesse and discouereth our corrupt nature sinne and condemnation Parent What of the Gospell Child u Act. 4.12 Gal. 3.13 That Christ is our sufficient Redéemer and onely remedie against Gods curse Parent What of our selues or of our owne estate Child * Ephes 2.3 4 5 6 7 8 c. That we do surely stand in grace though borne in sinne and wrath Parent What of the Sacraments Child x Esai 7.11 Rom. 4.11 Luk. 22.19 20. That they are fit worthie helps to strengthen our weake faith Seruant How are they so Scholler y Iere. 19.10 11. Act. 21.11 Iohn 3.12 Galat. 3.1 1 Ioh. 1.1 3. Because the Lord doth worke vpon other our senses and faculties as our séeing féeling being admitted and clensed receiuing eating and drinking tasting digesting being nourished refreshed chéered and strengthned thereby to confirme vnto our hearts his sauing grace which first by hearing the word we haue beléeued Parent II. Of Faith What Faith is required for the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper Child Faith which taketh hold of Christ and his benefits and leadeth vs to true thankfulnesse * Of this grace we haue conferred already in the second part and also more in Part. 5. Parent What Repentance and Newnesse of Life is required III. Of Repentance and Newnesse of life Child * See more of this grace in Part. 2. and in Part. 5. That godly sorrow with causeth to forsake sinne togither with that effectuall grace which inableth to kéepe Gods Commandements increasing with the increase of God Parent What Charitie towards Men is required IV. Of Charitie towards men before you receiue the Lords Supper Child z 1 Iohn 5.1 Ioh. 13.34 35. 15.12 13. 2 Cor. 8.8 9. compared That which is wrought and groweth in my heart towards them for Iesus Christs sake who loued both them and me vnto the death Seruant How do you further know that you haue loue or charitie towards men Scholler First a Psal 16.3 1 Iohn 3 1◠4.1 1 P◠1.22 3.8 4.8 9. c. because I doe specially loue and reuerence godly persons Secondly b Math. 5.23.24 I séeke for conscience sake to be reconciled after offences committed Thirdly c Math. 5.44 Mark 11.25 26. I wish well euen in my heart vnto my very enimies being ready to pardon all their wrongs and praying for them Fourthly d 1 Cor. 14.1 16.14 Galat. 6.10 Hebr. 12.14 1 Pet. 3.11 2 Tim. 3.3 Mal. 2.10 14. I beare a louing affection towards all men following peace with them and endeuouring to doe them good but particularly those vnto whom I am bound in nature or by any other couenant of God * See more of this grace in part supra and in part 5. infra Parent V. Of earnest desire to receiue the Lords Supper Why must you earnestly desire to receiue the Lords Supper Child For two causes First e 1 Cor. 11 20 22 23 24 25. because the Lord hath both ordained and commanded it for his owne glory Secondly f 1 Cor. 11.17 Ephes 5.26 Act. 2.42 20.7.11 God giueth more grace by it than by the word preached alone Parent What more grace haue you by it than by the word preached alone Childe First g 1 Cor. 10.16 Christs death and merits are more particularly applied to me and so I am more fully assured to be kept still in grace yea and sealed vp vnto euerlasting saluation Secondly g 12.13 I am more stronglie bound as by a solemne renewing of an oath to continue in Grace Thirdly g Act. 2.42 c. I am more effectually stirred vp to make profession of Faith and obedience as often as I am called thereunto Seruant How often is euery Christian bound to receiue the Lords Supper Scholler h 1 Cor. 11.25 26. Act. 2.42 Of receiuing worthily As often as he may so that he be a worthy receiuer Parent But what is required of vs about the time of celebrating the Lords Supper that wee may vse it as Christ hath appointed and as becommeth so heauenly mysteries Childe There are required these three things First a due and holie preparation before Secondly a fit disposition in the action Thirdly other duties afterward I. Of preparation before Parent What preparation is required before Childe Wée must set our selues apart from all other businesse that we may First i 1 Cor. 11.28.31 search our selues throughly for the sanctified graces of Knowledge Faith Repentance Charitie and desire to the Lords Supper aforesaid Secondly k Psal 26.6 Num. 9.6 stirre them vp and renew them vnto better growth and practise Thirdly l 2 Chron. 30.18 19 20. Mat. 5.23 24. 1 Tim. 4.4 5. humblie craue the assistance of Gods spirit and reconciliation with God yea and with men also where néed is Seruant But what if you finde the sanctified graces of Gods spirit to be weake in your heart must you not then abstaine Scholler No m 2 Chr. 30.18 19.20 I must come and that with hope and chéerefulnesse vpon some conditions Seruant Why with hope and cheerfulnesse Scholler n Esai 7.11 Luk. 4.18 Mat. 15.24 with Luk. 22.19 20. Because the Lords Supper was ordained of purpose for the confirmation of the weake Seruant Vpon what conditions must you come Scholler First o Acts 8.37 if the graces aforesaid be sound in me though verie weake Secondly p John 4.10 if I féele my wants with gréefe Thirdly q Mark 9.24 if I labour against my weakenesse hungring and thirsting after Gods grace in Christ Seruant What speciall means hath the Lord appointed for our better direction to try and examine our selues Scholler r Math. 3.6 Acts 8.37 Iam. 5.16