fifth Petition which is and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors (l) Mat 6. 12. we pray that God for Christs sake would freely pard on all our sins (m) Psal 51. 1 2 -7 9. Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindness according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions v. 2. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin v. 7 Purge me with hysop and I shall be clean wash me 〈◊〉 I shall be whiter then snow v. 9. Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities Dan. 9. 17 18 19. Now therefore our God hear thou the prayer of thy servant and his supplication v. 19. O Lord hear O Lord forgive for thine own sake which we are the rather encouraged to ask because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others (n) Luk. 11. 4. And forgive us our sins for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us Mat. 18. 35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses Q. What do we pray for in the sixth Petition A. In the sixth Petition which is And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil (o) Mat. 6. 13. we pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin (p) Mat. 26. 41. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation the Spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak or support and deliver us when we are tempted (q) 2 Cor. 12. 8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me Q. What doth the conclusion of the Lords Prayer teach us A. The conclusion of the Lords Prayer which is For thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory for ever Amen (r) Mat. 6. 13. teacheth us to take our incouragement in prayer from God onely (Å¿) Dan. 9. 4-7 8 9 -16 17 18 19. And I prayed unto the Lord my God and made my confession and said O Lord the great and dreadful God keeping the Covenant and mercy to them that love him and keep his Commandments v. 7. O Lord righteousuess belongeth unto thee but unto us confusion of faces as at this day to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and unto all Israel that are neer and that are far off thorow all the countreys whither thou hast driven them because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee v. 8. O Lord to us belongeth confusion of face to our Kings to our Princes to our Fathers because we have trespassed against thee v. 9. To the Lord our God belongs mercies and forgivenesses though we have rebelled against him v. 16. O Lord according to all thy righteousness I beseech thee let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy City Jerusalem thy holy mountain because for our sins and for the iniquities of our fathers Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us v. 17. Now therefore O our God hear the prayer of thy servant and his supplications and cause thy face to shine upon the Sanctuary that is desolate for the Lords sake v. 18. O my God encline thine ear and hear open thine eyes and behold our desolation and the City that is called by thy Name for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness but for thy great mercies v. 19. O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord hearken and doe defer not for thine own sake O my God for thy City and thy people are called by thy Name and in our prayers to praise him ascribing Kingdom power and glory to him (t) 1 Chr. 29. 10 11 12 13. Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the Congregation and David said Blessed be thou Lord God of Israel our Father for ever v. 11. Thine O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine thine is the Kingdom O Lord and thou art exalted as head above all v. 12. Both riches and honours come of thee and thou reignest over all and in thine hand is power and might and in thine hand it is to make great and to give strength unto all v. 13. Now therefore our God we thank thee and praise thy glorious name And in testimony of our desire and assurance to be heard we say Amen (u) 1 Cor. 14. 16. Else when thou shalt bless with the Spirit how shall he that ocupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest Rev. 22. 20 21. He which testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lâ—rd Jesus v. 21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all AMEN The Ten COMMANDMENTS EXODUS XX. GOD spake all these words saying I am the LORD thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage I. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth thou shalt not bow down thy self to them nor serve them For I the LORD thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments III 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 IV. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Six dayes shalt thou labor and do all thy work but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thy cattel nor thy 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 LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it V. Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee VI. Thou shalt not kill VII Thou shalt not commit adultery VIII Thou shalt not steal IX Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors house thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife nor his man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his ox nor his ass nor any thing that is thy neighbors FINIS The LORDS PRAYER Matth. 6. OVr Father which art in heaven Hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdom come Thy will be
shall I flee from thy presence Almighty d Rev. 4. 8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him and they were full of eyes within and they rest not day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come Knowing all things e Heb. 4. 13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do Psal 147. 5. Great is the Lord and of great power his understanding is infinite Most wise f Rom. 16. 27. To God only wise be glory through Jesus Christ for ever Amen Most Holy g Isa 6. 3. And one cryed unto another and said Holy holy is the Lord of hosts the whole earth is full of his glory Rev. 15. 4. Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy name for thou only art holy for all nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgements are made manifest Most Just h Deut. 32. 4. He is the rock his work is perfect for all his wayes are judgement a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Most Merciful and gracious Long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth i Exod. 34. 6. The Lord passed by before him and proclaimed the Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodnss and truth Q Are there more Gods then one A. There is but one onely the living and true God k Deut. 6. 4. Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. 1 Cor. 8. 4. 6. As concerning therefore the eating of things offered in sacrifice to Idols we know that an Idol is nothing in the world and that there is none other God but one But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him Jer. 10. 10. But the Lord is the true God he is the living God and an everlasting King at his wrath the earth shall tremble and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation Q. How many persons are there in the Godhead A. There be three persons in the Godhead the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and these three are one true eternal God the same in substance equal in power and glory although distinguished by their personal properties l 1 John 5. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one Mat. 3. 16 17. And Jesus when he was baptized went up straightway out of the water and loe the heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him And lo a voice from heaven saying This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13. 14. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen Joh. 10. 30. I and my Father are one Q. What are the personal properties of the three Persons in the Godhead A. It is proper to the Father to beget the Son m Heb. 1. 5 6. 8. For unto which of the Angels said he at any time Thou art my son this day have I begotten thee And again I will be to Him a Father and He shall be to me a Son And again when he brings in the first begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him But unto the Son he saith Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy Kingdom and to the Son to be begotten of the Father n John 1. 14 18. And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth No man hath seen God at any time The onely begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him and to the Holy Ghost to proceed from the Father and Son from all eternity o Joh. 15. 26 But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me Gal. 4. 6. And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Q. How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father A. The Scriptures manifest that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equall with the Father ascribing unto them such names p Isai 6. 3 5-8 And one cried unto another and said Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts the whole earth is full of his glory Then said I Woe is me for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying Whom shall I send and who will go for us then I said here am I send me This compared with Joh. 12. 41. These things said Esaias when he saw His glory and spake of Him And with Act 28. 25. And when they agreed not among themselves they departed after that Paul had spoken one word Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet to our Fathers 1 Joh. 5. 20. And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is the true God and eternal life Act. 5. 3 4. But Peter said Ananias why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land whiles it remained was it not thine own and after it was sold was it not in thine own power why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart thou hast not lied unto men but unto God attributes q John 1. 1. In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God Isai 9. 6. For unto us a Son is born unto us a child is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace Joh. 2. 24. 25. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he knew all men and needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. But God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God For
Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alwayes even to the end of the world Amen to execute the Offices of Prophet t Act. 3. 21 22. whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken of by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began For Moses truly said unto the Fathers A Prophet shal the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me him shal ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you Luke 4. 18-21 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor he hath sent me to heal the broken in heart to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised V. 21. And he began to say unto them This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears Priest u Heb. 5. 5 6 7. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High-Priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee As he saith also in another place Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedck who in the dayes of his flesh when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong cries and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared Heb. 4. 14 15. Seeing then that we have a great High-Priest that is passed into the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession For we have not an High-Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin and King of his Church * Psal 2. 6. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion Matth. 21. 5. Tell ye the daughter of Sion Behold thy King cometh unto thee meek and sitting upon an ass and upon a colt the foal of an ass Isai 9. 6 7. For unto us a child is born unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of peace Of the encrease of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this Phil. 2. 8 9 10 11. And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father in the estate both of his Humiliation and Exaltation Q. How doth Christ execute the office of a Prophet A. Christ executeth the office of a Prophet in his revealing to the Church x Joh. 1. 18. No man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him in all ages by his Spirit and word y 1 Pet. 1. 10 11 12. Of which salvation the Prophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you V. 11. Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie when it testified before-hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory which should follow V. 12. Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven which things the Angels desire to look into in diverse wayes of administration z Heb. 1. 1 2. God who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last dayes spoken unto us by his Son whom He hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the worlds the whole will of God a Joh. 15. 15. Henceforth I cal you not servants for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doth but I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you in all things concerning their edification and salvation b Act. 20. 32. And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified Eph. 4. 11 12 13. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers V. 12. For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ V. 13. Till we all come in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Joh. 20. 31. But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of God and that believing you might have life through his name Q. How doth Christ execute the office of a Priest A. Christ executeth the office of a Priest in his once offering himself a sacrifice without spot to God c Heb. 9. 14 28. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God V. 28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation to be a reconciliation for the sins of his people d Heb. 2. 17. Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people and in making continual intercession for them e Heb. 7. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Q. How doth Christ execute the office of a King A. Christ executeth the office of a King in calling out of the world a people to himself f Act. 15. 14 15 16. Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visâ—â— the Gentiles to take out of them a
sit upon the throne of his glory with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet of God e 1 Thes 4. 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first to judge the world in righteousness f Act. 17. 31. Because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Q. What benefits hath Christ procured by his Mediation A. Christ by his Mediation hath procured Redemption g Heb. 9. 12. Neither by the blood of goâ—ts and calves but by his own blood he enâ—red in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us with all other benefits of the Covenant of Grace h 2 Cor. 1. 20. For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us Q. How do we come to be made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured A. We are made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured by the application of them unto us i John 1. 11 13. He came unto his own and his own received him not But as many as received him to them gave be power to become the sons of God even to them that believe in his name which is the work especially of God the Holy Ghost k Tit. 3. 5 6. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour Q. Who are made partakers of Redemption through Christ A. Redemption is certainly applied and effectually communicated to all those for whom Christ hath purchased it l Eph. 1. 13 14. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of Truth the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory Joh. 6. 37-39 All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out V. 39. And this is the Fathers will who hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day Joh. 10. 15 16. As the Father knoweth me even so know I the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep And other sheep I have which are not of this fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold and one shepheard who are in time by the Holy Ghost inabled to believe in Christ according to the Gospel m Eph. 2. 8. For by grace ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God 2 Cor. 4. 13. We having the same spirit of faith according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak Q. Can they who have never heard the Gospel and so know not Jesus Christ nor believe in him be saved by their living according to the light of nature A. They who having never heard the Gospel n Rom. 10. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed â—â—d how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher know not Jesus Christ o 2 Thess 1. 8 9. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Eph. 2. 12. That at that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenant of Promise having no hope and without God in the world John 1. 10 11 12. He was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not He came unto his own and his own received him not But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe in his Name and believe not in him cannot be saved p Joh. 8. 24. I said therefore unto you that ye shall die in your sins For if ye believe not that I am He ye shall die in your sins Mark 16. 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature q 1 Cor. 1. 20 21 22 23 24. Where is the wise where is the Scribe where is the Disputer of this world Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world V. 21. For after that in the wisdom of God the world through wisdom knew not God it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe V. 22. For the Jewes require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom V. 23. But we preach Christ crucified to the Jewes a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness V. 24. But unto them who are called both Jewes and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God or the Law of that Religion which they professe r John 4. 22. Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jewes Rom. 9 31 32. But Israel which followed after the law of righteousness hath not attained to the law of righteousness Wherefore Because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law for they stumbled at that stumbling stone Phil. 3. 4 5 6 7 8 9. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh if any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh I more V. 5. Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin an Hebrew of the Hebrews as touching the law a Pharisee V. 6. Concerning zeal persecuting the Church touching the righteousnesse which is in the law blamelesse V. 7. But what things were a gain to me those I counted loss for Christ V. 8. Yea doubtless and I account all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do account them but dung that I may win Christ V. 9. And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith neither is there
to anger saith the Lord do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces V. 20. Therefore thus saith the Lord God Behold mine anger and fury shall be poured out upon this place upon man and beast and the trees of the field and the fruit of the ground and it shall burn and none shall quench it Ezek. 16. 26 27. Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbors great of flesh and hast encreased thy whoredomes to provoke me to anger V. 27. Behold therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee c. Deut. 32. 16 17 18 19 20. They provoked him to jealousie with strange Gods with abominations provoked him to anger V. 17. They sacrificed to Devils not to God to gods whom they know not to new gods c. V. 18. Of the rock that begat thee thou art unmindful and hast forgotten God that formed thee V. 19. And when the Lord saw it he abhorred them because of the provoking of his sons and daughterâ— V. 20. And he said I will hide my face from them I will see what their end shall be for they are a very froward generation children in whom there is no saith accounting the breakers of this Commandment such as hate him and threatning to punish them unto divers generations g Hos 2 2 3 4. Plead with your mother plead for she is not my wife neither am I her husband let her therefore put away her whoredomes out of her sight and her adulteries from between her breasts V. 3. Lest I strip her naked and set her as in the day that she was born and make her as a wilderness and set her like a dry land and slay her with thirst V. 4. And I will not have mercy upon her children for they are the children of whoredomes and esteeming the observers of it such as love him and keep his Commandments and promising mercy to them unto many generations h Deut. 5. 29. O that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep my Commandements alwayes that it might be well with them and with their children for ever Q. Which is the third Commandment A. The third Commandment is 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 i Exod. 20. 7. Q. What is required in the third Commandment A. The third Commandment requires that the Name of God his titles attributes k Mat. 6. 9. After this manner therefore pray ye Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy Name Deut. 28. 58. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law written in this book that thou maist fear this glorious and fearful name THE LORD THY GOD. Psal 29. 2. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his Name c. Psal 68. 4. Sing unto God sing praises unto his Name extoll him that rideth upon the heavens by his Name JAH and rejoyce before him Rev. 15. 3 4. See above in d ordinances l Mal. 1. 14. Cursed be the deceiver that hath in his flock a male and offereth unto the Lord a corrupt thing for I am a great King saith the Lord of hosts and my name is dreadful among the heathen Eccl. 5. 1. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God and be more ready to hear then to give the sacrifice of fools for they consider not that they do evil the word m Psal 138. 2. I will worship towards thy holy Temple and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy Name Sacraments n 1 Cor. 11. 24. 25 -28 29. And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me V. 25. After the same manner also he took the cup c. V. 28. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of this bread and drink of this cup. V. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body prayer o 1 Tim. 2. 8. I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting oaths p Jer. 4. 2. And thou shalt swear the Lord liveth in truth in judgement and in righteousness and the nations shall bless themselves in him shall they glory vowes q Eccl. 5. 2-4 5 6. Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing before God for God is in heaven and thou upon earth therefore let thy words be few V. 4. When thou vowest a vow unto God defer not to pay it for he hath no pleasure in fools pay that which thou hast vowed V. 5. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow then that thou shouldest vow and not pay V. 6. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin neither say thou before the Angel that it was an errour Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice and destroy the work of thine hand lots r Act. 1. 24 26. And they prayed and said Thou Lord who knowest the hearts of all men shew whether of these two thou hast chosen V. 26. And they gave forth their lots and the lot fell upon Matthias and he was numbred with the eleven Apostles his works Å¿ Job 36. 24. Remember that thou magnifie his work which men behold and whatsoever else there is whereby he makes himself known be holily and reverently used in thought t Mal. 3. 16. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his Name meditation u Psal 8. throughout O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy Name throughout the earth to the end word * Col. 3. 17. Whatsoever ye do in word or in deed do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him Psal 105. 2-5 Sing unto him sing Psalms unto him talk ye of all his wondrous works V. 5. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done his wonders and the judgements of his mouth writing x Psal 102. 18. This shall be written for the generation to come and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. by an holy profession y 1 Pet. 3. 15. But sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts and be ready alwayes to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear Mic. 4. 5. For all people will walk every one in the name of his God and we will walk in the name of our God for ever and ever and answerable conversation
temptation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithful who will not suffer you to he tempted above what ye are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it bestow and blesse all means of grace (Å¿) Heb. 13. 20. 21. Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jeâ—us Christ that great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant V. 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ c. and quicken us to watchfulnesse in the use of them that we and all his people may by his providence be kept from being tempted to sin (t) Mat. 26. 21. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation c. Psal 13. 9. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins let not them have dominion over me then shall I be upright and innocent from the great transgression or if tempted that by his Spirit we may be powerfully supported and enabled to stand in the hour of temptation (u) Eph. 3. 14 15 16 17. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ V. 15. Oâ— whom the whole family of heaven and earth is named V. 16. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man V. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted c. 1 Thes 3. 13. To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God even our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints Jude v. 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy or when fallen raised again and recovered out of it (*) Psa 5â— 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit and have a sanctified use and improvement thereof (x) 1 Pet. 5. 8 9 10. Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the Divel as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour v. 9. Whom resist stedfast in the faith knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world v. 10. But the God of all peace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you that our sanctification and salvation may be perfected (y) 2 Cor. 13. 7-9 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil not that we should appear approved but that ye should do that which is honest though we be as reprobates V. 9. For we are glad when we are weak and ye are strong this also we wish even your perfection Satan trodden under our feet (z) Rom. 16. 20. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly c. Zech. 3. 2. And the Lord said unto Satan The Lord rebuke thee O Satan even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee Is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire Luk. 22. 31 32. And the Lord said Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat v. 32. But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not and when thou art converted c. and we fully freed from sin temptation and all evil for ever (a) Joh. 17. 15. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil 1 Thes 5. 23. And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blamelesse unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Q. What doth the conclusion of the Lords Prayer teach us A. The conclusion of the Lords Prayer which is For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory for ever Amen (b) Mat. 6. 13. teacheth us to enforce our petitions with arguments (c) Rom. 15. 30. Now I beseech you brethren for the Lord Jesus Christs sake and for the love of the Spirit that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me which are to be taken not from any worthinesse in our selves or in any other creature but from God (d) Dan. 9 â— 7 8 9 -16 17 18 19. And I prayed unto the Lord my God and made my confession and said O Lord the great and dreadful God keeping the Covenant and mercy to them that love him and keep his Commandments v. 7. O Lord righteousness belongeth unto thee but unto us confusion of face as at this day c. v. 8. O Lord to us belongeth confusion of face to our Kings to our Princes to our Fathers because we have trespassed against thee v. 9. To the Lord our God belongs mercies and forgivenesses though we have rebelled against him v. 16. O Lord according to all thy rigteousness I beseech thee let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy City Jerusalem c. v. 17. Now therefore O our God hear the prayer of thy servant and his supplications and cause thy face to shine upon the Sanctuary that is desolate for the Lords sake v. 18. O my God encline thine ear and behold our desolation and the city that is called by thy Name for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness but for thy great mercies v. 19. O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord heatken and doe defer not for thine own sake O my God for thy city and thy people are called by thy Name and with our prayers to join praises (e) Phil. 4. 6. Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God ascribing to God alone eternal soveraignty omnipotency and glorious excellency (f) 1 Chron. 29. 10 11 12 13. Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the Congregation and said Blessed be thou Lord God of Israel our Father for ever v. 11. Thine O Lord is the greatnesse and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine thine is the Kingdom O Lord and thou art exalted as head above all v. 12. Both riches and honour come of thee and thou reignest over all and in thine hand is power and might c. v. 13. Now therefore our God we thank thee and bless thy glorious Name in regard whereof as he is able and willing to help us (g) Eph. 3 20 21. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think according to the power that worketh in us v. 21. Unto
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH Together with The LARGER and LESSER Catechismes Composed by the Reverend ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES Sitting at WESTMINSTER Presented to both Houses of Parliament Again Published with the Scriptures at large and the Emphasis of the Scriptures in a different Character To which is annexed two sheets of Church-Government with the SCRIPTURES at large The second Edition Deut. 6. 6 7. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou fittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up London Printed by E. M. for the Company of Stationers and are to be sold by John Rothwel at the Fountain in Cheapside 1658. The LARGER CATECHISM Agreed upon by the ASSEMBLY of DIVINES At VVESTMINSTER Quest WHat is the chief and highest end of man A. Mans Chief and Highest End is to glorifie God a Rom. 11. 36. For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen 1 Cor. 10. 31. Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God and fully to enjoy him for ever b Psal 73. 24. to the end Thou shalt guide me with thy counsels and afterwards receive me to glory Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none on earth that I desire besides thee My flesh and my heart fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever For lo they that are far from thee shall perish thou shalt destroy all them that go a whoring from thee but it is good for me to draw nigh to God I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy works John 17. 21 22 23. That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me and the glory which thou gavest me have I given them that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me Quest How doth it appear that there is a God Ans The very light of Nature in man and the works of God declare that there is a God c Rom. 1. 19 20. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse Psal 19. 1 2 3. The heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy-work Day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night sheweth Knowledge There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard Acts 17. 28. For in him we live and move and have our being but his Word and Spirit only do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their salvation d 1 Cor. 3. 9 10. But as it is written Eye hath not seâ—n nor ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them that love him But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works Isai 59. 21. As for me this is my Covenant with thee saith the Lord my Spirit which is upon thee my words which I have put into thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy Seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Q. What is the word of God A. The Holy Scriptures of the old and new Testament are the Word of God e 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration 2 Pet. 1. 19 20. We have also a more sure word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts V. 20. Knowing this first that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation V. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost the only rule of Faith and Obedience f Eph. 2. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone Rev. 22. 18 19. For I testifie unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book if any man shall adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this book V. 19. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city and from the things which are written in this book Isa 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Luke 16. 29 31. They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them if they believe not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead Gal. 1. 8 9. But though we or angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed As we said before so say I now again if any man preach any other Gospel unto you then that ye have received let him be accursed 2 Tim. 3. 15 16. Before Q. How doth it appear that the Scriptures are the word of God A. The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of God by their Majesty g Hos 8. 12. I have written to them the great things of my law but they were counted as a strange thing 1 Cor. 2. 6 7 13. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect yet not the wisdom of this World nor of the Princes of this World that come to nought but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory Which things also we speak not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth
what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man that is in him even so the things of God knows no man but the Spirit of God works r Col. 1. 16. For by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Gen. 1. 2. And the earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the earth and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters and worship Å¿ Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13. 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen are proper to God onely Q. What are the Decrees of God A. God's Decrees are the wise free and holy acts of the counsel of his will t Ephes 4. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being Predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will Rom. 11. 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out Rom. 9. 14 15 18. What shall we say then Is there unrighteousness with God God forbid For he saith to Moses I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion Therefore he hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardeneth whereby from all eternity he hath for his own glory unchangeably fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass in time u Eph. 1. 4 11. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will Rom. 9. 22 23. What if God willing to shew his wrath and to make his power known endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had before prepared unto glory Psal 33. 11. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever the thoughts of his heart unto all generations especially concerning Angels and men Q. What hath God especially decreed concerning Angels and men A. God by an eternal and immutable decree out of his meer love for the praise of his glorious grace to be manifested in due time hath elected some Angels to glory * 1 Tâ—m 5. 21. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect Angels that thou observe these things without preferring one before another doing nothing by partiality and in Christ hath chosen some men to eternal life and the means thereof x Eph. 1. 4 5 6. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundations of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved 2 Thes 2. 13 14. But we are bound to give thanks to God alway for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and also according to his sovereign power and the unsearchable counsel of his own will whereby he extendeth or withholdeth favour as he pleaseth hath passed by fore-ordained the rest to dishonour and wrath to be for their sin inflicted to the praise of the glory of his justice y Rom. 9. 17 18-21 22. For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh even for this same purpose have I raised thee up that I might shew my power in thee and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardeneth Hath not the Potter power over his clay of the same lump to make one vessell unto honour and another unto dishonour What if God willing to shew his wrath and to make his power known endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction Matth. 11. 25 26. At that time Jesus answered and said I thank Thee O Father Lord of Heaven Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise the prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight 2 Tim. 2. 20. But in a great house there are not onely vessels of gold and of silver but also of wood and of earth and some to honor and some to dishonor Jude v. 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of God into wantonness denying the onely God and our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 8. And a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to them that stumble at the word being disobedient whereunto also they were appointed Q. How doth God execute his Decrees A. God executeth his Decrees in the works of Creation and Providence according to his infallible fore-knowledge and the free and immutable counsel of his own will z Ephes 1. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will Q. What is the work of Creation A. The work of Creation is that wherein God did in the beginning by the Word of his power make of nothing the World and all things therein for himself within the space of six dayes and all very good a Gen. 1. Heb. 11. 3. Through faith we understand that the Worlds were framed by the word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear Prov. 16. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself yea even the wicked for the day of evill Q. How did God create Angels A. God created all the Angels b Col. 1. 16. For by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Spirits c Psal 104. 4. Who maketh his Angels Spirits his Ministers a flame of fire Immortal d Mat. 22. 30. For in the Resurrection they neither
marry nor are given in marriage but are as the Angels of God in heaven Holy e Matth. 25. 31. When the Son of Man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the Throne of his glory excelling in knowledge f 2 Sam. 14. 17. Then thine handmaid said The word of my Lord the King shall now be comfortable for as an Angel of God so is my Lord the King to discern good and bad therefore the Lord thy God will be with thee Matth. 24. 36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man no not the Angels of heaven but my Father onely mighty in power g 2 Thess 1. 7. And to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels to execute his Commandments and to praise his Name h Psal 103. 20 21. Blesse the Lord ye his Angels that excell in strength and do his commandments hearkning to the voice of his word Blesse the Lord all ye his Hosts ye Ministers of his that do his pleasure yet subject to change i 2 Pet. 2. 4. For if God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment Q. How did God create Man A. After God had made all other creatures He created man male and female k Gen. 1. 27. So God created Man in His own Image in the Image of God created He him Male and Female created He them formed the body of the man of the dust of the ground l Gen. 2. 7. And the Lord God formed Man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the woman of the rib of the man m Gen. 2. 22. And the rib which the Lord had taken from man made He a woman and brought her unto the man indued them with living reasonable and immortal souls n Gen. 2. 7. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul Compare this with Job 35. 11. Who teacheth us more then the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser then the fowls of heaven And with Eccl. 12. 7. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the Spirit shall return to God who gave it And with Matth. 10. 28. Fear not them who can kill the body but are not able to kill the soul but rather fear him who is able to destroy both body soul in hell And with Luke 23. 43. And Jesus said unto him To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise made them after his own image o Gen. 1. 27. So God created man in his His own Image in the Image of God created He him male and female created he them in knowledge p Col. 3. 10. And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of Him that created him righteousnesse and holinesse q Eph. 4. 24. And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse having the Law of God written in their hearts r Rom. 2. 14 15. For when the Gentiles who have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts their conscience also bearing witnesse and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another and power to fulfill it Å¿ Eccl. 7. 29. Lo this onely have I found that God hath made man upright but they have sought out many inventions with dominion over the creatures t Gen. 1. 28. And God blessed them and said unto them Be friutful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fiâ—h of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth yet subject to fall u Gen. 3. 6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise she took of the fruit thereof and did eat and gave also unto her husband with her and he did eat Eccl. 7. 29. Lo this only have I found that God made man upright but they sought out many inventions Q. What are Gods works of Providence A. Gods works of Providence are his most holy * Psal 145. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his wayes and holy in all his works wise x Psal 104. 24. O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches Isa 28 29. This also cometh from the Lord of hosts who is wonderful in counselling and excellent in working and powerful preserving y Heb. 1. 3. Who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sins sate down on the right hâ—nd of the Majesty on high and governing all his creatures z Psal 103. 19. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens and his Kingdom ruleth over all ordering them and all their actions a Mat. 10. 29 30 31. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father but the very haires of your head are all numbred Fear not therefore ye are of more value then many sparrowes Gen. 45. 7. And God sâ—nt me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance to his own glory b Rom. 11. 36. For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen Isai 63. 14. As a beast goes down into the valley the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest so didst thou lead thy people to make thy self a glorious name Q. What is Gods Providence towards the Angels A. God by his Providence permitted some of the Angels wilfully and irrecoverably to fall into sin and damnation c Jude v. 6. And the Angels which kept not their first estate but left their own habitation he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day 2 Pet. 2. 4. For if God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgement Heb. 2. 16. For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham John 8. 44. Ye are of your father the Devil and the lusts of your father ye will do he was a murtherer from the beginning and abode not in
Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins Rom. 6. 23. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Mat. 25. 41 -46 Then shall he say also to them on the left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels V. 46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal Jude v. 7. Even as Sodom and Gommortha and the cities about them in like manner giving themselves over to fornication and going after strange flesh are set forth for an example suffering the vengeance of eternall fire Q What are the punishments of sin in this world A. The punishments of sin in this world are either inward as blindness of mind e Ephes 4. 18. Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindnesse of their heart a reprobate sense f Rom. 1. 28. Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them over to a reprobate mind and to do those things which are not convenient strong delusions g 2 Thess 2. 11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie hardness of heart h Rom. 2. 5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God horrour of conscience i Isai 33. 14. The sinners in Zion are afraid fearfulness hath surprized the hypocrites Who among us shall dwell with devouring fire who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings Gen. 4. 13. And Cain said unto the Lord my punishment is greater then I can bear Mat. 27. 4. Saying I have betrayed innocent blood and they said What is that to us see thou to that and vile affections k Rom. 1. 26. For this cause God gave them up to vile affections for even their women did change their naturall use into that which is against nature or outward as the curse of God upon the creatures for our sakes l Gen. 3. 17. And unto Adam he said Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee saying Thou shalt not eat of it Cursed is the ground for thy sake in forrow shalt thou eat of it all the dayes of thy life and all other evils that befall us in our bodies names estates relations and imployments m Deut. 28. 15. to the end But it shall come to passe if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe to do all his Commandments and his Statutes which I have commanded thee this day that all these curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee Cursed shalt thou be in the City and cursed shalt thou be in the Field Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body and of thy land c together with Death it self n Rom. 6. 21-23 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed for the end of those things is death V. 23. For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternall life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Q. What are the punishments of sin in the world to come A. The punishments of sin in the world to come are everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of God and most grievous torments in Soul and Body without intermission in Hell-fire for ever o 2 Thess 1. 9. Who shal be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power Mark 9. 44-46-48 to go into Hell where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched Luke 16. 24. And he cryed and said Father Abraham have mercy upon me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame Q. Doth God leave all mankind to perish in the state of sin and misery A. God will not leave all men to perish in the estate of sin and misery p 1 Thess 5. 9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ into which they fell by the breach of the first Covenant commonly called the Covenant of works q Gal. 3. 10 12. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the law to do them V. 12. And the law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall live in them but of his meer love and mercy delivereth his elect out of it and bringeth them into an estate of salvation by the second Covenant commonly called the Covenant of Grace r Tit. 3. 4 5 6 7. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared V. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the holy Ghost V. 6. Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour V. 7. That being justified by his grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternall life Gal. 3. 21. Is the law then against the promises of God God forbid for if there had been a law given which could have given life verily righteousness should have been by the law Rom. 3. 20 21 22. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge of sin V. 21. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and by the Prophets V. 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them hat believe for there is no difference Q. With whom was the Covenant of Grace made A. The Covenant of Grace was made with Christ as the second Adam and in him with all the elect as his seed Å¿ Gal. 3. 16. Now to Abrahaem and to his seed were the promises made he saith not to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ Rom. 5. 15 to the end Of which before Isa 53. 10 11. Yet it pleased our Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his dayes and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand V. 11. He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities Q.
people for his name and to this agree the words of the Prophets as it is written After this I will return and build again the Tabernacle of David which is fallen down and I will build again the ruines thereof and I will set it up Isai 55. 4 5. Behold I have given him for a witness to the people a leader and commander to the people Behold thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God and for the holy One of Israel for he hath glorified thee Gen. â—9 10. The scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a law-giver from between his feet until Shiloh come and unto him shall the gathering of the people be Psal 110. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth and giving them officers g Eph. 4. 11 12. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ. 1 Cor. 12. 28. And God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that Miracles then gifts of healings helps governments diversities of tongues Laws h Isai 33. 22. For the Lord is our judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King he will save us and Censures by which he visibly governs them i Mat. 18. 17 18. And if he shall nâ—glect to hear them tell it to the Church but if he neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a Publican Verily I say unto you Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ when ye are gathered togâ—ther and my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus in bestowing saving grace upon his elect k Act. 5. 31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repenâ—ance to Israel and forgiveness of sins rewarding their obedience l Rev. 22. 12. And behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be Rev. 2. 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried and ye shall have tribulation ten dayes be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life and correcting them for their sins m Rev. 3. 19. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings n Isai 63. 9. In all their affliction he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them and he bare them and carried them all the dayes of old restraining and overcoming all their enemies o 1 Cor. 15. 25. For he must reign till he have put all his enemies under his feet Psal 110. throughout The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou at my right hand untill I have made thine enemies thy footstool to the end and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory p Rom. 14. 10 11. But why dost thou judge thy brother or why dost thou set at naught thy brother We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ For it is written As I live saith the Lord every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God and their own good q Rom. 8. 28. We know that all things work together for good to them who love God to them who are the called according to his purpose and also in taking vengeance on the rest who know not God and obey not the Gospel r 2 Thess 1. 8 9. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Psal 2. 8 9. Ask of me and I shall give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Thou shalt break them with a rod of Iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel Q. What was the state of Christs humiliation A. The estate of Christs humiliation was that low condition wherein he for our sakes emptying himself of his glory took upon him the form of a servant in his Conception and Birth Life Death and after his death untill his resurrection Å¿ Phil. 2. 6 7 8. Who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross Luke 1. 31. And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus 2 Cor. 8. 9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be rich Acts 2. 24. Whom God hath raised up having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it Q. How did Christ humble himself in his Conception and Birth A. Christ humbled himself in his Conception in that being from all eternity the Son of God in the Bosom of the Father he was pleased in the fulness of time to become the Son of Man made of a Woman of low estate and to be born of her with divers Circumstances of more then ordinary abasement t Joh. 1. 14-18 And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth V. 18. No man hath seen God at any time the onely begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father he hath declared him Gal. 4. 4. But when the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law Luke 2. 7. And she brought forth her first born Son and wrapped him in swadling-clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the Inne Q. How did Christ humble himself in his life A. Christ humbled himself in his life by subjecting himself to the
rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them to raise up our affections thither i Col. 3. 1 2. If ye then be risen with Christ sâ—ck those things which are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God set your affections on things above not on things on the earth and to prepare a place for us k Joh. 14. 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also where himself is and shall continue till his second coming at the end of the world l Act. 3. 21. Whom the heavens must receive till the â—imes of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began Q. How is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God A. Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favour with God the Father m Phil. 2. 9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name with all fulness of joy n Act. 2. 28. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life Thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance Compared with Psal 16. 11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulness of joy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore glory o Joh. 17 5. And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was and power over all things in heaven and earth p Eph. 1. 22. And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church 1 Pet. 3. 22. Who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God Angels and Authorities and Powers being made subject unto him and doth gather and defend his Church and subdue their enemies furnisheth his Ministers and people with gifts and graces q Eph. 4. 10 11 12. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ Psal 110. throughout The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand till c. to the end and maketh intercession for them r Rom. 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died ye rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Q. How doth Christ make intercession A. Christ maketh intercession by his appearing in our nature continually before the Father in heaven Å¿ Heb. 9. 12-24 Neither by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood he entred in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us V. 24. For Christ is not entred in the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us in the merit of his obedience and sacrifice on earth t Heb. 1. 3. Who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sins sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high declaring his will to have it applied to all believers u Joh. 3. 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him might not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 17. 9 -20-24 I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me for they are mine V. 20. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also that shall believe on me through their word V. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world answering all accusations against them * Rom 8. 33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifies Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us procuring for them quiet of conscience notwithstanding daily failings x Rom. 5. 1 2. Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. My little children these things write I unto you that ye sin not And if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous And he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole word Heb. 4. 16. Let us there come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and finde grace to help in time of need access with boldness to the throne of grace y and acceptance of their persons z Eph. 1. 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved and services a 1 Pet. 2. 5. Ye also as lively stones are built up a Spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Q. How is Christ to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world A. Christ is to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world in that he who was unjustly judged and condemned by wicked men b Act. 3. 14 15. But ye denied the Holy One and the just and desired a murtherer to be granted unto you and killed the Prince of life whom God hath raised from the dead whereof we are witnesses shall come again at the last day in great power c Matt. 24. 30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory and in the full manifestation of his own glory and of his Fathers with all his holy Angels d Luk. 9. 26. For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he shall come in his own glory and in his Fathers and of the holy Angels Mat. 25. 31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all his holy Angels with him then shall he
salvation in any other but in Christ alone Å¿ Acts 4. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven given amongst men whereby we must be saved who is the Saviour onely of his body the Church t Eph. 5. 23. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body Q. Are all they saved who hear the Gospel and live in the Church A. All that hear the Gospel and live in the visible Church are not saved but they onely who are true members of the Church invisible u Joh. 12. 38 39 40. That the saying of Esaias the Prophet might be fulfilled which he spake Lord who hath believed our report and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed Therefore they could not believe because that Esaias said again He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them Rom. 9. 6. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect for they are not all Israel who are of Israel Mat. 22. 14. For many are called but few chosen Mat. 7. 21. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven Rom. 11. 7. What then Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for but the election hath obteined it and the rest were blinded Q. What is the visible Church A. The visible Church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the World do profess the true Religion * 1 Cor. 1. 2. Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours 1 Cor. 12. 13. For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit Rom. 15. 9 10 11 12. And that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his mercy as it is written For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentâ—les and sing unto thy name V. 10. And again he saith Rejoyce ye Gentiles with his people V. 11. And again Praise the Lord all ye Gentiles and laud him all ye people V. 12. And again Esaias saith There shall be a root of Jesse and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles in him shall the Gentiles trust Rev. 7. 9. After this I beheld and lo a great multitude Which no man could number of all nations and kinreds and people and tongues stood before the throne and before the lamb clothed with white robes and palms in their hands Psal 2. 8. Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Ps 22. 27 28 29 30 31 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord and all the kindreds of the earth shall worship before thee V. 28. For the Kingdom is the Lords and he is the Governour among the nations V. 29. All they that be fat upon the earth shall eat and worship all that go down to the dust shall bow before him and none can keep alive his own soul V. 30. A seed shall serve him it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation V. 31. They shall come and shall declare his righteousness Psal 45. 17. I will make thy name to be remembred in all generations therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever Mat. 28. 19 20. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world Amen Esai 59. 21. As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My spirit which is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever and of their children x 1 Cor. 7. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now they are holy Act. 2. 39. For the Promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Rom. 11. 16. For if the first-fruits be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy so are the branches Gen. 17. 7. And I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee Q. What are the special priviledges of the visible Church A. The visible Church hath the priviledge of being under Gods special care and government y Isa 4. 5 6. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Sion and upon her assemblies a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence V. 6. And there shall be a Tabernacle for a shadow in the day-time from the heat and for a place of refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain 1 Tim. 4. 10. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men especially of those that believe of being protected and preserved in all ages notwithstanding the opposition of all enemies z Ps 115. throughout Not unto us O Lord not unto us but to the end Isai 31. 4 5. For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me like as the lion and the yonglion roaring on his prey when a multitude of Shepherds are called forth against him he will not be afraid of their voice nor abase himself for the noise of them so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for mount Sion and for the hill thereof V. 5. As birds flying so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem defending also he will deliver it and passing over he will preserve it Zech. 12. 2 3 4-8 9. Behold I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and Jerusalem V. 3. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burthensom stone for all people all that burthen themselves with it shall be cut in pieces though all the people of the earth be
gathered together against it V. 4. In that day saith the Lord I will smite every horse with astonishment and his rider with madness and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah and will smite every horse of the people with blindness V. 8. In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David and the house of David shall be as God as the Angel of the Lord before them V. 9. and it shall come to pass in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem and of enjoying the communion of Saints the ordinary means of salvation a Act. 2. 39-42 For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call V. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and in fellow-ship and in breaking of bread and in prayers offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministery of the Gospel testifying that whosoever believes in him shall be saved b Psal 147. 19 20. He sheweth his words unto Jacob his statutes and his judgements unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his judgements they have not known them praise ye the Lord. Rom. 9. 4. Who are Israelites to whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory and the Covenants and the giving of the Law and the service of God and the promises Eph. 4. 11 12. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ Mark 16. 15 16. And he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned and excluding none that will come unto him c Joh. 6. 37. All that the father giveth me shall come unto me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Q. What is the invisible Church A. The invisible Church is the whole number of the elect that have been are or shall be gathered into one under Christ the Head d Eph. 1. 10-22 23. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him V. 22. And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all Joh. 10. 16. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold and one shepherd John 11. 52. And not for that nation onely but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad Q. What speciall benefits do the Members of the invisible Church enjoy by Christ A. The Members of the Invisible Church by Christ enjoy Union and Communion with him in grace and glory e Joh. 17. 21. That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me Eph. 2. 5 6. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickned us together with Christ by grace ye are saved And hath raised us up together and hath made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus John 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world Q. What is that Union which the Elect have with Christ A. The Union which the Elect have with Christ is the work of Gods grace f Eph. 1. 22. And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the Church Eph. 2. 6 7 8. And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus V. 7. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us in Christ Jesus V. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God whereby they are Spiritually and mystically yet really and inseparably joyned to Christ as their head and husband g 1 Cor. 6. 17. But he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit John 10. 28. And I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Eph. 5. 23-30 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body V. 30. For we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones which is done in their effectual Calling h 1 Pet. 5. 10. But the God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you 1 Cor. 1. 9. God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Q. What is effectual calling A. Effectual Calling is the work of Gods almighty power and grace i Joh. 5. 25. Verily verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Eph. 1. 18 19. 20. The eyes of your understanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints V. 19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places 2 Tim. 1. 8 9. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord nor of me his prisoner but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God V. 9. Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began whereby out of his free and especial love to his Elect and from nothing in them moving him thereunto k Tit. 3. 4 5. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by
the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Eph. 2. 4 5-7 8 9. But God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us V. 5. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickned us together with Christ by grace ye are saved V. 7. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus V. 8. For by grace ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God V. 9. Not of works lest any man should boast Rom. 9. 11. For the children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of works but of him that calleth he doth in his accepted time invite and draw them to Jesus Christ by his Word and Spirit l 2 Cor. 5. 20. Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God Compared with 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. We then as workers together with him beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain for he saith I have heard thee in a time accepted and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation Joh. 6. 44. No man can come to me except the Father who hath sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day 2 Thess 2. 13 14. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth Whereunto he hath called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ savingly inlightning their mindes m Acts 26. 18. To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith which is in me 1 Cor. 2. 10 -12 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea even the deep things of God V. 12. Now we have not received the Spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that ye might know the things freely given us of God renewing and powerfully determining their wills n Ezek. 11. 19. I will give them one heart and I will put a new Spirit within you and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and will give them an heart of flesh Ezek. 36. 26 29. A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh V. 29. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses and I will call for the corn and increase it and lay no famine upon you Joh. 6. 45. It is written in the Prophets And they shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me so as they although in themselves dead in sin are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his call and to accept and imbrace the grace offered and conveyed therein o Eph. 2. 5. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickned us together with Christ by grace ye are saved Phil. 2. 13. For it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure Deut. 30. 6. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul that thou maist live Q. Are the Elect effectually called A. All the Elect and they onely are effectually called p Act. 13. 48. And when the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed although others may be and often are outwardly called by the ministery of the Word q Mat. 22. 14. For many are called but few are chosen and have some common operations of the Spirit r Mat. 7. 22. Many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord Have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name cast out Divels and in thy name done many wonderful works Mat. 13. 20 21. But he that received the seed into stony places the same is he that heareth the word and anon with joy received it yet hath he not root in himself but dureth for a while for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word by and by he is offended Heb. 6. 4 5. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come If they c. who for their wilful neglect and contempt of the grace offered to them being justly left in their unbelief do never truly come to Jesus Christ Å¿ Joh. 12. 38 39 40. That the saying of Esaias the Prophet might be fulfilled which he spake Lord who hath believed our report and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed V. 39 Therefore they could not believe because that Esaias said again V. 40. He hath blinded their eyes and hardned their heart that they should not see with their eyes and understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them Act. 28. 25 26 27. And when they agreed not among themselves they departed after that Paul had spoken one word Well spake the Holy Ghost by the Prophet Esaias unto our Fathers saying V. 26. Go unto this people and say Hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and not perceive V. 27. For the heart of this people is waxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes have they closed least they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them Joh. 6. 64 65. But there are some of you that believe not For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who should betray him V. 65. And he said Therefore said I unto you that no man can come unto me except it were given him of the Father Psal 81. 11 12. But my people would not hearken to my voice and Israel would have none of me so I gave them up to their own hearts lusts and they walked in their own counsels Q. What is the Communion in Grace which the Members of the Invisible Church have with Christ A. The Communion in Grace which the Members of the Invisible Church have with
of his soul and be satisfied by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities V. 12. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he hath poured out his soul unto death and he was numbred with the transgressors and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors Heb. 7. 22. By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better Testament Rom. 8. 32. He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers V. 19. But with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot imputing his righteousness to them e 2 Cor. 5. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him and requiring nothing of them for their Justification but Faith f Rom. 3. 24 25. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ V. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God which also is his gift g Eph. 2. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God their Justification is to them of free grace h Eph. 1. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace Q. What is justifying Faith A. Justifying Faith is a saving Grace i Heb. 10. 39. But we are not of them who draw back to perdition but of them who believe to the saving of the soul wrought in the heart of a Sinner by the Spirit k 2 Cor. 4. 13. We having the same Spirit of faith according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak Eph. 1. 17 18 19. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him V. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints V. 19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power and word of God l Rom. 10. 14. How then shall they call on him on whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher whereby he being convinced of his sin and misery and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition m Act. 2. 37. Now when they heard this they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall we do to be saved Act. 16. 30. And brought them out and said Sirs What must we do to be saved Joh. 16. 8 9. And when he is come he will convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgement Of sin because they believe not in me Rom. 5. 6. For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly Eph. 2. 1. And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins Act. 4. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved not onely assenteth to the truth of the promise of the Gospel n Eph. 1. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise but receiveth and resteth upon Christ and his righteousness therein held forth for pardon of sin o Joh. 1. 12. But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name Act. 16. 31. And they said Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thine house Act. 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the fight of God for salvation p Phil. 3. 9. And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is by the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith Act. 15. 11. But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they Q. How doth Faith justifie a Sinner in the sight of God A. Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God not because of those other graces which do alwayes accompany it or of good works that are the fruits of it q Gal. 3. 11. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident for the just shall live by faith Rom. 3. 28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law nor as if the grace of Faith or any act thereof were imputed to him for his justification r Rom. 4. 5. But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness Compared with Rom. 10. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation but onely as it is an Instrument by which he receiveth and applieth Christ and his righteousness Å¿ Joh. 1. 12. But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name Phil. 3. 9. And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is by the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith Gal. 2. 16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified Q. What is Adoption A. Adoption is an act of the free grace of God t 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons
have known him that is from the beginning I write unto you young men because ye have overcome the wicked one I write unto you little children because ye have known the Father V. 14. I have written unto you fathers because ye have known him that is from the beginning I have written unto you young men because ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one Heb. 5. 12 13 14. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers ye have need that one teach you again which be the first-principles of the Oracles of God and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat V. 13. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness for he is a babe V. 14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil nor in this life perfect in any a 1 Joh. 1. 8 -10 And if we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us V. 10. If we say that we have not sinned we make him a lyar and his word is not in us but growing up to perfection b 2 Cor. 7. 1. Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God Phil. 3. 12 13 14. Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus V. 13. Brethren I count not my self to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before V. 14. I press toward the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Q. Whence ariseth the imperfection of Sanctification in believers A. The imperfection of Sanctification in believers ariseth from the remnants of sin abiding in every part of them and the perpetual lustings of the flesh against the spirit whereby they are often foiled with temptations and fall into many sins c Rom. 7. 18-23 For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me but how to perform that which is good I find not V. 23. But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members Mark 14 66 to the end And as Peter was beneath in the Palace there cometh one of the maids of the High Priest c. Gal. 2. 11 12. But when Peter was come to Antioch I withstood him to the face because he was to be blamed V. 12. For before that certain came from James he did eat with the Gentiles but when they were come he withdrew and separated himself fearing them who were of the circumcision are hindered in all their spiritual services d Heb. 12. 1. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us and their best works are imperfect and defiled in the sight of God e Isai 64. 6. But we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags and we all do fade as a leaf and our iniquities like the wind have taken us away Exod. 28. 38. And it shall be upon Aarons forhead that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts and it shall be alwayes upon his forhead that they may be accepted before the Lord. Q. May not true believers by reason of their imperfections and the many temptations and sins they are overtaken with fall away from the state of Grace A. True believers by reason of the unchangeable love of God f Jer. 31. 3. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me saying Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee and his decree and covenant to give them perseverance g 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity Heb. 13. 20 21. Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant V. 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory c. 2 Sam. 23. 5. Although my house be not so with God yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure for this is all my salvation and all my desire although he make it not to grow their inseparable union with Christ h 1 Cor. 1. 8 9. Who shall confirm you unto the end that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ V. 9. God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. his continual intercession for them i Heb. 7. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Luke 22. 32. But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not and when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren and the spirit and seed of God abiding in them k 1 Joh. 3. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God 1. Joh. 2. 27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of Grace l Jer. 32. 40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me John 10. 28. I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand but are kept by the power of God through Faith unto salvation m 1 Pet. 1. 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time Q. Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are in the Estate
of grace and that they shall persevere therein unto salvation A. Such as truly believe in Christ and endeavour to walk in all good conscience before him n 1 Joh. 2. 3. And hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his commandments may without extraordinary revelation by faith grounded upon the truth of Gods promises and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made o 1 Cor. 2. 12. Now we have received not the Spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given us of God 1 Joh. 3. 14-18 19-21-24 We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren he that loveth not his brother abideth in death V. 18. My little children let us not love in word nor in tongue but in deed and in truth V. 19. And hereby we know we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him V. 21. Beloved if our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God V. 24. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us 1 Joh. 4. 13-16 Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit V. 16. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him Heb. 6. 11 12. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end V. 12. That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises and bearing witness with their Spirits that they are the children of God p Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the children of God be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace and shall persevere therein unto salvation q 1 Joh. 5. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God Q. Are all true believers at all times assured of their present being in the estate of grace and that they shall be saved A. Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith r Eph. 1. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise true believers may wait long before they obtain it Å¿ Isa 50. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the Lord and stay upon his God Psal 88. throughout O Lord God of my salvation I have cried day and night c. and after the enjoyment thereof may have it weakened and intermitted through manifold distempers sins temptations and desertions t Psal 77 1. to the 12. verse I cried unto thee with my voice c. Cant. 5. 2 3 -6 I sleep but my heart waketh it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh saying Open to me my sister my love my dove my undefiled for my head is filled with dew and my locks with the drops of the night V. 3. I have put off my coat how shall I put it on I have washed my feet how shall I defile them V. 8. I opened to my beloved but my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone my soul failed when he spake I sought him but I could not find him I called him but he gave me no answer Psal 51. 8-12 Make me to hear joy and gladnesse that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce V. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free Spirit Psal 31. 22. For I said in my haste I am cut off from before thine eyes nevertheless thou heardst the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee Psal 22. 1. My God my God why hast thou forsaken me why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring yet are they never left without such a presence and support of the Spirit of God as keeps them from sinking into utter despair u 1 Joh. 3. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God Job 13. 15. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him but I will maintain mine own wayes before him Psal 73. 15 -23 If I say I will speak thus behold I should offend against the generation of thy children V. 23. Nevertheless I am continually with thee thou hast holden me by thy right hand Isa 54. 7 8 9 10. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee V. 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord my Redeemer V. 9. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee V. 10. For the mountaines shall depart and the hills shall be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Q. What is the communion in Glory which the members of the Invisible Church have with Christ A. The communion in glory which the members of the Invisible Church have with Christ is in this life * 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. immediately after death x Luk. 23. 43. And Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise and at last perfected at the resurrection and day of Judgment y 1 Thess 4. 17. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Q. What is the communion in Glory with Christ which the members of the Invisible Church enjoy in this life A. The members of the Invisible Church have communicated to them in this life the first fruits of glory with Christ as they are members of him their head and so in him are interested in that glory which he is fully
possessed of z Eph. 2. 5 6. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickned us together with Christ by grace ye are saved And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus and as an earnest thereof enjoy the sense of Gods love a Rom. 5. 5. And hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us Compared with 2 Cor. 1. 22. Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts peace of conscience joy in the Holy Ghost and hope of glory b Rom. 5. 1 2. Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ V. 2. By whom also we have access by faith into the grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Rom. 14. 17. For the kingdome of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost as on the contrary the sense of Gods revenging wrath horror of conscience and a fearful expectation of judgement are to the wicked the beginning of their torments which they shall endure after death c Gen. 4. 13. And Cain said unto the Lord My punishment is greater then I can bear Mat. 27. 4. Saying I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood And they said What is that to us see thou to it Heb. 10. 27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries Rom. 2. 9. Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile Mark 9. 44. Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched Q. Shall all men die A. Death being threatned as the wages of sin d Rom. 6. 23. For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternaal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. it is appointed unto all men once to die e Heb. 9. 27. And as it is appointed unto all men once to die but after death the judgement for that all have sinned f Rom. 5. 12. Wherefore as by one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Q. Death being the wages of sin why are not the righteous delivered from death seeing all their sins are forgiven in Christ A. The righteous shall be delivered from death it self at the last day and even in death are delivered from the sting and curse of it g 1 Cor. 15. 26 -55 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death V. 55. O death where is thy sting c. Heb. 2. 15. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage so that although they die yet it is out of Gods love h Isa 57. 1 2. The righteous perisheth and no man layes it to heart and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come V. 2. He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness 2 King 22. 20. Behold therefore I will gather thee unto thy fathers and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place to free them perfectly from sin and misery i Rev. 14. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Eph. â— 27. That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish and to make them capable of further communion with Christ in glory which they then enter upon k Luk. 23. 43. And Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Phil. 1. 23. For I am in a streight betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Q. What is the communion in Glory with Christ which the members of the invisible Church enjoy immediately after death A. The communion in Glory with Christ which the members of the invisible Church enjoy immediately after death is in that their souls are then made perfect in holiness l Heb. 12. 23. To the general assembly and Church of the first-born which are written in heaven and to God the judge of all and to the Spirits of just men made perfect and received into the highest heavens m 2 Cor. 5. 1 -6-8 For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens V. 6. Therefore we are alwayes confident knowing that while we are present in the body we are absent from the Lord V. 8. We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. Phil. 1. 23. For I am in a streight betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Compared with Act. 3. 21. Whom the heavens must receive untill the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began And with Eph. 4. 10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things where they behold the face of God in light and glory n 1 Joh. 3. 2. Beloved now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then I shall know even as also I am known waiting for the full redemption of their bodies o Rom. 8. 23. And not onely they but our selves also who have the first fruits of the Spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of our body Psal 16. 9. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoyceth my flesh also shall rest in hope which even in death continue united to Christ p 1 Thess 4. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him and rest in their graves as in their beds q Esa 57. 2. He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness till at the last day they be again united to their souls r whereas the souls
left hand a Mat. 25. 33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left and upon cleer evidence and full conviction of their own consciences b Rom. 2. 15 16. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts their consciences also bearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or excusing one another V. 16. In the day when he shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel shall have the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them c Mat. 25. 41 42 43. Then shall he say also to them on the left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Divel and his Angels V. 42. For I was an hungred and ye gave no meat I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink V. 43. I was a stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye clothed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not and thereupon shall be cast out from the favourable presence of God and the glorious fellowship with Christ his Saints and all his holy Angels into hell to be punished with unspeakable torments both of body and soul with the Divel and his Angels for ever d Luke 16. 26. And besides all this there is a great gulf fixed so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot neither can they pass to us that would come from thence 2 Thess 1. 8 9. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ V. 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Q. What shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgement A. At the day of judgement the righteous being caught up to Christ in the clouds e 1 Thes 4. 17. Thou we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. shall be set on his right hand and there openly acknowledged and acquitted f Mat. 25. 33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left Mat. 10. 32. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven shall joyn with him in the judging of reprobate Angels and men g 1 Cor. 6. 2 3. Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the world And if the world c. V. 3. Know ye not that we shall judge Angels how much more then the things that pertain to this life and shall be received into heaven h Mat. 25. 34 -46 Then shall the King say to them on his right hand come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world V. 46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal where they shall be fully and for ever freed from all sin and misery i Eph. 5. 27. That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle nor any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Rev. 14. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them filled with unconceivable joyes k Psal 16. 11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulness of joy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore made perfectly holy and happy both in body and soul in the company of innumerable Saints and holy Angels l Heb. 12. 22 23. But ye are come unto mount Sion and unto the city of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and â—o an innumerable company of Angels V. 23. To the general assembly of the first born which are written in heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of just men made perfect but especially in the immediate vision and fruition of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and of the holy Spirit to all eternity m 1 Joh. 3. 2. Beloved now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when we appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then shall I know even as I am known 1 Thes 4. 17 18. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. V. 18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words and this is the perfect and full communion which the members of the invisible Church shall enjoy with Christ in glory at the resurrection and day of judgement Having seen what the Scriptures principally teach us to believe concerning God it followes to consider what they require as the duty of man Quest VVHat is the duty that God requireth of man A. The duty which God requireth of man is obedience to his revealed will n Rom. 12. 1 2. I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service V. 2. And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God Mic. 6. 8. He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God 1 Sam. 15. 22. And Samuel said Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as in obâ—ying the voice of the Lord Behold to obey is better then sacrifice and to hearken then the fat of rams Q. What did God at first reveal unto man as the rule of his obedience A. The rule of obedience revealed to Adam in the estate of innocency and to all mankind in him beside a special command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was the Moral Law o Gen. 1. 26 27. And God said Let us make man in our image after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the face of the earth V. 27. So God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him male and female created he them
own Poets have said For we are also of his off-spring and that he is a God in Covenant as with Israel of old so with all his people i Gen. 17. 7. And I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee Rom. 3. 29. Is he the God of the Jews onely is he not also of the Gentiles Yes of the Gentiles also who as he brought them out of their bondage in Egypt so he delivereth us from our Spiritual thraldom k Luke 1. 74 75. That he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear V. 75. In holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of our life and that therefore we are bound to take him for our God alone and to keep all his Commandments l 1 Pet. 1. 15 16 17 18. But as he who hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation V. 16. Because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy V. 17. And if ye call on the father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work pass the time of your sojoruning here in fear V. 18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers Lev. 18. 30. Therefore shall ye keep mine Ordinances that ye commit not any of these abominable customes which were committed before you that ye defile not your selves therein I am the Lord your God Lev. 19. 37. Therefore shall ye observe all my Statutes and all my judgements and do them I am the Lord. Q. What is the sum of the four Commandments which contain our duty to God A. The sum of the four Commandments containing our duty to God is to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength and with all our minde m Luk. 10. 27. And he answering said unto him Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all c. Q. Which is the first Commandment A. The first Commandment is Thou shalt have no other Gods before me n Exod. 20. 3. Q. What are the duties required in the first Commandment A. The duties required in the first Commandment are the knowing and acknowledging of God to be the only true God and our God o 1 Chron. 28. 9. And thou Solomon my son Know thou the God of thy father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts if thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever Deut. 26. 17. Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God and to walk in his wayes and to keep his statutes and his commandments and his judgements and to hearken unto his voice Esai 43. 10. Ye are my witnesses saith the Lord and my servant whom I have chosen that ye may know and believe me and understand that I am he before me there was no God formed neither shall there be after me Jer. 14. 22. Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain or can the heavens give showers Art not thou he O Lord our God therefore we will wait upon thee for thou hast made all these things and to worship and glorifie him accordingly p Psal 95. 6 7. O come let us worship and bow down let us kneel before the Lord our Maker V. 7. For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hands Mat. 4. 10. Then said Jesus unto him Get thee hence Sathan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serve Psal 29. 2. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness by thinking q Mal. 3. 16. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his name meditating r Psal 63. 6. When I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watch remembring Å¿ Eccl. 12. 1. Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth c. highly esteeming t Psal 71. 19. Thy righteousness also O God is very high who hast done great things O God who is like unto thee honoring u Mal. 1. 6. A son honoureth his father and a servant his master if then I be a father where is mine honour and if I be a master where is my fear saith the Lord of hosts unto you O Priests that despise my name adoring * Isa 45. 23. I have sworn by my self the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness and shall not return that unto me every knee shall bow every tongue shall swear choosing x Josh 24. 15-22 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord choose you this day whom ye will serve whether the God which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood or the Gods of the Amorites in whose land ye dwell but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord V. 22. And Joshua said unto the people Ye are witnesses against your selves that ye have chosen the Lord to serve him And they said we are witnesses loving y Deut. 6. 5. And thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy might desiring z Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee fearing of him a Isa 8. 13. Sanctifie the Lord of hosts himself and let him be your fear and let him be your dread believing him b Exod. 14. 31. And Israel saw the great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians and the people seared the Lord and believed the Lord and his servant Moses trusting c Isa 26. 4. Trust ye in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength hoping d Psal 130. 7. Let Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption delighting e Psal 37. 4. Delight thy self also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart rejoycing in him f Psal 32. 11. Be glad in the Lord and rejoyce ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart being zealous for him g Rom. 12. 11. Not slothful in business fervent in spirit serving the
son is stubborn and rebellious he will not obey our voice he is a glutton and a drunkard V. 21. And all the men of his City shall stone him with stones that he dye So shall thou put evill away c. cursing mocking g Prov. 30. 11-17 There is a generation that curseth their father and doth not bless their mother V. 17. The eye that mocketh at his father and despiseth to obey his mother the Ravens of the valley shall pick it out and the young Eagles shall eat it and all such refractory and scandalons carriage as proves a shame and dishonour to them and their government h Prov. 19. 26. He that wasteth his father and chaseth away his mother is a son that causeth shame and briageth reproach Q. What is required of Superiours toward their Inferiours A. It is required of Superiours according to that power they receive from God and that relation wherein they stand to love i Col. 3. 19. Husbands love your wives and be not bitter against them Tit. 2. 4. That they may teach the young women to be sober to love their husbands to love their children pray for k 1 Sam. 12. 23. Moreover as for me God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you but I will teach you the good and the right way Job 1. 5. And it was so when the dayes of their feasting were gone about that Job sant and sanctified them and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all for Job said It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts Thus did Job continually and blesse their inferiours l 1 King 8. 55 56. And he stood and blessed all the Congregation of Israel with a loud voice saying V. 56. Blessed be the Lord God that hath given rest to his people Israel according to all that he promised there hath not failed c. Heb. 7. 7. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the greater Gen. 49. 28. All these are the twelve Tribes of Israel and this is it that their father spake unto them and blessed them every one according to his blessing he blessed them to instruct m Deut. 6. 6 7. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart V. 7. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up counsel and admonish them n Eph. 6. 4. And ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. countenancing o 1 Pet 3. 7. Likewise ye husbands dwell with them according to knowledge giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel and as being heirs together of the grace of life that your prayers be not hindred commending p 1 Pet. 2. 14. Or unto governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and the praise of them that do well Rom. 13. 3. For Rulers are not a terrour to good works but to the evil Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same and rewarding such as do well q Esth. 6. 3. And the King said What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this Then saith the Kings servants There is nothing done for him discountenancing r Rom. 13. 3 4. For Rulers are not a terror to good works but to the evil V. 4 For he is the Minister of God to thee for good but if thou do evil be afraid for he beareth not the sword in vain for he is the minister of God a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil reproving and chastising such as do ill Å¿ Prov. 29. 15. The Rod and Reproof give wisdome but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame 1 Pet. 2. 14. See above in P protecting t Job 29. 12 13 14. 15 16 17. Because I delivered the poor that cryed the fatherless and him that had none to help him V. 13. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me and I caused the widowes heart to sing for joy V. 14. I put on righteousness and it clothed me my judgement was a robe and a diadem V. 15. I was eyes to the blind and feet was I to the lame V. 16. I was as a father to the poor and the cause which I knew not I searched out V. 17. And I brake the jawes of the wicked and plucked the spoil out of his mouth Isa 1. 10 -17 Hear the voice of the Lord ye Rulers of Sodom give ear unto the law of our God ye people of Gomorrah V. 17. Learn to do well seek judgement relieve the oppressed judge the fatherless plead for the widow and providing for them all things necessary for soul u Eph. 6. 4. And ye fathers provoke not your children but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. and body * 1 Tim. 5. 8. But if any man provide not for his own and especially for those of his own house he hath denied the saith and is worse then an Infidel and by grave wise holy and exemplary carriage to procure glory to God x 1 Tim. 4. 12. Let no man despise thy youth but be thou an example of all the believers in word in conversation in charity in Spirit in faith in purity Tit. 2. 3 4 5. The aged women likewise that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness not false accusers not given to much wine teachers of good things V. 4. That they may teach the young women to be sober to love their husbands to love their children V. 5. To be discreet chast keepers at home good obedient to their own husbands that the word of God be not blesphemed honour to themselves y 1 King 3. 28. And all Israel heard of the judgement which the King had judged and they feared the King for they saw that the wisdome of God was in him to do judgement and so to preserve that authority which God hath put upon them z Tit. 2. 15. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all â—uthority let no man despise thee Q. What are the sins of Superiours A. The sinnes of Superiours are beside the neglect of the duties required of them a Ezek. 34. 2 3. 4. Son of man prophecy against the shepherds of Israel prophesie say unto them Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds wo be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves should not the shepherds feed the flocks V. 3. Ye eat the fat and cloath you with the wooll ye kill them that are good but ye feed not the
and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed V. 31. Behold the dayes come that I will cut off thine arm and the arm of thy fathers house that there shall not be an old man in thine house Q. What are the duties of equals A. The duties of equals are to regard the dignity and worth of each other (p) 1 Pet. 2. 17. Honour all men love the brother-hood fear God honour the King in giving honour to go one before another (q) Rom. 12. 10. Be kindly affectioned one towards another with brotherly love in honour preferring one another and to rejoyce in each others gifts and advancement s as in their own r Rom. 12. 15 16. Rejoyce with them that do rejoyce and weep with them that weep V. 16. Be of the same mind one towards another mind not high things but condescend to men of low estate c. Phil. 2. 3 4. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better then themselves V. 4. Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others Q. What are the sinnes of equals A. The sins of equals are beside the neglect of the duties required (Å¿) Rom. 13. 8. O we no man any thing but to love one another for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law the undervaluing of the worth (t) 2 Tim. 3. 3. Without natural affection c. envying the gifts (u) Act. 7. 9. And the Patriarchs moved with envy sold Joseph into Egypt but God was with him Gal. 5. 26. Let us not be desirous of vain glory provoking one another envying one another grieving at the advancement or prosperity one of another (*) Num. 12. 2. And they said Hath the Lord indeed only spoken by Moses hath he not also spoken by us and the Lord heard it Esth 6. 12 13. And Mordecai came again to the Kings gate but Haman hasted to his house mourning and having his head covered V. 13. And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had be fallen him Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him if Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews before whom thou hast begun to fall thou shalt not prevail against him but shalt surely fall before him and usurping preheminence one over another (x) 3 Joh. ver 9. I wrote unto the Church but Diotrephes who loveth to have the preheminence amongst them receiveth us not Luke 22. 24. And there was also a strife among them which of them should be the greatest Q. What is the Reason annexed to the fifth Commandment the more to enforce it A. The Reason annexed to the fifth Commandment in these words That thy dayes may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee (y) Exod. 20. 12. is an expresse promise of long life and prosperity as far as it shall serve for Gods glory and their own good to all such as keep this Commandment (z) Deut. 5. 16. Honor thy father and thy mother as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee that thy dayes may be prolonged and that it may go well with thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee 1 King 8. 25. Therefore now Lord God of Israel keep with thy servant David my father that which thou promisedst him saying There shall not fail thee a man in thy sight to sit on the throne of Israel so that thy children take heed to their way that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me Eph. 6. 2 3. Honour thy father and thy mother which is the first Commandment with promise V. 3. That it may be well with thee and thou maist live long on the earth Q. Which is the sixth Commandment A. The sixth Commandment is Thou shalt not kill (a) Exod. 20. 43. Q. What are the duties required in the sixth Commandment A. The duties required in the sixth Commandment are all careful studies and lawful endeavours to preserve the life of our selves (b) Eph. 5. 28 29. So their own wives as their own bodies He that loveth his wife loveth himself V. 29. For no man ever hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church and others (c) 1 King 18. 4. For it was so when Jezebel cut off the Prophets of the Lord that Obadiah took an hundred Prophets and bid them by fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water by resisting all thoughts and purposes d Jer. 26. 15 16. But know ye for certain that if ye put me to death ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon your selves and upon this City and upon the inhabitants thereof for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears V. 16. Then said the Princes and all the people to the Prophets This man is not worthy to die for he hath spoken unto us in the Name of the Lord our God Act. 23. 12-16 17-21-27 And when it was day certain of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse saying That they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul V. 16. And when Pauls sisters sen heard of their lying in wait he went and entred into the Castle and told Paul V. 17. Then Paul called one of the Centurions unto him and said Bring this young man unto the chief Captain for he hath a certain thing to tell him V. 21. There lie in wait for him more then sorty men which have bound themselves with an oath that and now are they ready looking for a promise from thee V. 27. This man was taken of the Jews and should have been killed of them then came I with an army and rescued him having understood that he was a Roman subduing all passions e Eph. 4. 26 27. Be ye angry and sin not let not the sun go down upon your wrath V. 27. Neither give place to the devil and avoiding all occasions f 2 Sam. 2. 22. And Abner said again to Asahel Turn thee aside from following me wherefore should I smite thee to the ground how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother Deut. 22. 8. When thou buildest a new house then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof that thou bring not blood upon thy house if any man fall from thence temptations g Mat. 4. 6 7. And saith unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down for it is written He shall give his angels charge over thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up least at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone V. 7. Jesus said unto him It is written again Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God Pro. 1. 10 11-15 16. My son if sinners entice thee consent thou not V. 11. If they say
make themselves wings they flee away as an Eagle towards heaven Psal 62. 10. If riches increase set no your heart upon them distrustful and distracting cares and studies in getting keeping and using them u Mat. 6. 25 -31.-34 Therefore I say unto you Take no thought for your life what ye shall eat or what she shall drink nor yet for your body what ye shall put on is not the life more then meat and the body then raiment V. 31. Therefore take no thought saying what shall we cat or c. V. 34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow for the morrow shall take thought for the things of it self sufficient to the day is the evil thereof Eccl. 5. 12. The sleep of a labouring man is sweet whether he eat little or much but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep envying at the prosperity of others * Psal 73. 3. For I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked Psal 37. 1-7 Fret not thy self because of evil doers nor be thou envious against the workers of iniquity V. 7. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him fret not thy self because of him who prospereth in his way because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass as likewise idleness x 2 Thes 3. 11. For we hear that there are some who walk among you disorderly working not at all but are busie-bodies Pro. 18. 9. He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster prodigality wastful gaming and all other wayes whereby we do unduly prejudice our own outward estate y Prov. 21. 17. He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich Prov. 23. 20 21. Be not among wine bibbers among riotous eaters of flesh V. 21 For the drunkard and glutton shall come to poverty and drowsiness shall cloth a man with rags Prov. 28. 19. He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough and defrauding our selves of the due use and comfort of that estate which God hath given us z Eccl. 4. 8. There is one alone and there is not a second yea he hath neither child nor brother yet there is no end of all his labour nor is his eye satisfied with riches neither saith he For whom do I labour and bereave my soul of good This is also vanity yea it is a sore evil Eccl. 6. 2. A man to whom God hath given riches wealth and honour so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof but a stranger eateth it This is vanity and an evil disease 1 Tim. 5. 8. But if any â—â—ovide not for his own and especially for those of his own house he hath denied the faith and is worse then an infidel Q. Which is the ninth Commandment A. The ninth Commandment is Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour a Exod. 20. 16. Q. What are the duties required in the ninth Commandment A. The duties required in the ninth Commandment are the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man b Zâ—ch 8. 16. These are the things that ye shall do Speak every man truth to his neighbour execute the judgement of truth and peace in your gates and the good name of our neighbour as well as our own c 3 John ver 12. Demetrius hath a good report of all men and of the truth it self yea and we also bear record and ye know that our record is true appearing and standing for d Prov. 31. 8 9. Open thy mouth judge righteously and plead the cause of the poor V. 9. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction and from the heart e Psal 15. 2. He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousnesse and speaketh the truth from his heart sincerely f 2 Chron. 19. 9. And he charged them saying Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart freely g 1 Sam. 19. 4 5. And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father and said unto him Let not the King sin against his servant against David because he hath not sinned against thee and because his works to thee-ward have been very good V. 5. For he did put his life in his hand and slew the Philistine and the Lord wrought great salvation for all Israel thou sawest it and didst rejoyce Wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood to slay David without a cause cleerly h Jos 7. 19. And Josuâ—h said unto Achan My son give I pray thee glory to the Lord God of Israel and make confession unto him and tell me now what thou hast done hide it not from me and fully i 2 Sam. 14. 18 19 20. Then the King answered and said unto the woman Hide not from me I pray thee the thing that I shall ask thee And the woman said Let my Lord the King now speak V. 19. And the King said Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this and the woman answered and said As thy soul liveth my Lord the King none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my Lord the King hath spoken for thy servant Joab he bad me and he put all these words in the mouth of thine hand-maid V. 20. To fetch about this forme of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing and my Lord is wise c. speaking the truth and onely the truth in matters of judgement and justice k Lev. 19. 15. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgement thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honour the person of the mighty but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour Prov. 14. 5-25 A faithfull witness will not lye but a false witness will utter lyes V. 25. A true witness delivereth soules but a deceitful witness speaketh lyes and in all other things whatsoever l 2 Cor. 1. 17 18. When I therefore was thus minded did I use lightness or the things that I purpose do I purpose according to the flesh that with me there should be yea yea and nay nay V. 18. But as God is true our word toward you was not yea and nay Eph. 4. 25. Wherefore putting away lying speak every man truth with his neighbour for we are members one of another a charitable esteem of our neighbours m Heb. 6. 9. But beloved we are perswaded better things of you and things that accompany Salvation 1 Cor. 13. 7. Charity beareth all things beleeveth all things hopeth all things endureth all things loving desiring and rejoycing in their good name n Rom. 1. 8. First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all
are all his ordinances especially the Word Sacraments and prayer all which are made effectual to the elect for their Salvation (l) Mat. 28. 19 20. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost v. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alwaies even unto the end of the world Act. 2. 42-46 47. And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers v. 46. And they continuing daily with one accord in the Temple and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart v. 47. Praising God and having favour with all the people And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Q. How is the word made effectual to Salvation A. The Spirit of God maketh the Reading but especially the Preaching of the word an effectual means of enlightning (m) Neh. 8 8. So they read in the book in the Law of God distinctly and gave the sense and caused them to unstand the reading Act. 26. 18. To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them who are sanctified by Faith that is in me Psal 19. 8. The Commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the eyes convincing and humbling sinners (n) 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. But if all prophecy and there come in one that believeth not or one unlearned he is convinced of all he is judged of all v. 25. And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest and so falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is in you of a truth 2 Chro. 34. 18 19 -26 27 28. Then Shaphan the Scribe told the King saying Hilkieh the Priest hath given me a book And Shaphan read it before the King v. 19. And when the King had heard the words of the Law he rent his cloths v. 26. And as for the King of Judah who sent you to enquire of the Lord so shall ye say unto him Thus saith the Lord God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard v. 27. Because thy heart was tender and thou didst humble thy self before God when thou heardst his words against this place and humblest thy self before me and didst rent thy cloaths and weep before me I have heard thee also saith the Lord. v. 28. Behold I will gather thee to thy fathers and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace c. of driving them out of themselves and drawing them unto Christ (o) Act. 2. 37 -41 Now when they heard this they were pricked to their hearts and said unto Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall we do to be saved v. 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about 3000 Souls Act. 8. from ver 27. to ver 39. And behold a man of Ethiopia an Eunuch of great authority c. was returning and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the Prophet v. 29. Then the Spirit said to Philip Go neer and join thy self to this Charioâ— v. 30. And Philip ran thither to him and said Understandest thou what thou readest c. v. 35. Then Philip began at the same Scripture and preached unto him Iesus V. 36. And the Eunuch said See here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized v. 37. And Philip said If thou believest with all thine heart thou maist And he answered and said I believe that Iesus Christ is the Son of God V. 38. And they went down both into the water and he Baptized him of comforming them to his Image (p) 2 Cor 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. and subduing them to his will (q) 2 Cor. 10. 4 5 6. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds v. 5. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledg of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ v. 6. And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled Rom. 6. 17. But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you of strengthening them against temptations and corruptions (r) Mat. 4. 4 -7 10. But he answered and said It is written Man shall not live c. v. 7. Iesus said unto him It is written Thou shalt not tempt the Lord c. v. 10. Then said Jesus unto him get thee hence Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship c. Eph 6. â—6 17. Above all taking the shield of Faith whereby ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked v. 17. And take the helmet of Salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God Psal 19. 11. Moreover by them is thy servant warned and in keeping of them there is great reward 1 Cor 10. 11. Now all these things hapned unto them for ensamples and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are câ—mâ— of building them up in grace (Å¿) Act. 20. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus v. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness v. 17. That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works and establishing their hearts in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation (t) Rome 16. 25. Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mysterie which was kept secret since the world began 1 Thes 3. 2-10 11 -13 And sent Timotheus our brother and minister of God and our fellow labourer in the Gospel of Christ to establish you and comfort you concerning your faith v. 10. Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith v. 11. Now God himself and our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way unto you v. 13. To the end he may
into the visible Church (l) 1 Cor. 12. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jewes or Gentiles bond or free and are all made to drink into one Spirit and enter into an open and professed ingagement to be wholly and onely the Lords (m) Rom. 6. 4. Therefore we are buried by baptisme with him into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of his father so we also should walk in newnesse of life Q. Unto whom is Baptisme to be administred A. Baptisme is not to be administred to any that are out of the visible Church and so strangers from the Covenant of promise till they professe their faith in Christ and obedience to him (n) Act. 8. 36 37. And as they went on their way they came to a certain water and the Eunuch said see here is water what hinders me to be baptized v. 37. And Philip said If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest And he answered and said I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and he baptized him Act. 2 38. Then Peter said repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost but infants descending from parents either both or but one of them professing faith in Christ and obedience to him are in that respect within the Covenant and to be baptized (o) Gen. 17. 7-9 And I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee And God said unto Abraham Thou shalt keep my Covenant therefore thou and thy seed after thee in their generations this is my Covenant c. Compared with Gal. 3. 9 -14 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham v. 4. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith And with Col. 2. 11 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in cutting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ v. 12. Buried with him in Baptisme wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead And with Act. 2. 38 39. Then Peter said repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost v. 39. For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call And with Rom. 4. 11 12. And he received the sign of Circumcision a seal of the Righteousnesse of faith which he had being yet uncircumcised that he might be the father of all them who believe though they be not circumcised that righteousnesse might be imputed unto them also v. 12. And the father of Circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision onely but also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had being yet uncircumcised 1 Cor. 7. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy Mat 28. 19. Go ye therefore teaâ—h all nations baptizing them in the name c. Luk. 18. 15 16. And they brought unto him also infants that he should touch them but when his discsples saw it they rebuked them v. 16. But Jesus called them unto him and said suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven Rom. 11. 16. For if the first fruits be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy so are the branches Q. How is our Baptisme to be improved by us A. The needful but much neglected duty of improving our Baptisme is to be performed by us all our life long especially in the time of temptation and when we are present at the administration of it to others (p) Col. 2. 11 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ V. 12. Buried with him in baptisme wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead Rom. 6. 4-6-11 Therefore we are buried by baptisme with him into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of his father so we also should walk in newnesse of life V. 6. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin V. 11. Likewise reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin buâ— alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. by serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it and of the ends for which Christ instituted it the priviledges and benefits conferred and sealed thereby and our solemn vow made therein (q) Rom 6. 3 4 5. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death V. 4. Therefore we are buried by baptisme with him into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of his father so we also should walk in newness of life V. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likenesse of his death we shall be also in the likenesse of his resurrection by being humbled for our sinful defilement our falling short of and walking contrary to the grace of Baptisme and our ingagements (r) 1 Cor. 1. 11 12 13. For it hath been declared unto me of you my brethren by them which are of the house of Châ—oâ— thaâ— there are contentions among you V. 11. Now this I say that every one of you saith I am of Paul and I am of Apollo and I of Cephas and I of Christ V. 13. Is Christ divided was Paul crucified for you or were ye baptized in the name of Paul Rom. 6. 2 3. God forbid How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein V. 3. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin and of all other blessings sealed to us in that Sacrament (Å¿) Rom. 4. 11 12. And he received the sign of circumcision a seal of righteousness of faith which he had being yet uncircumcised that he might be the father of all them who believe though they be not circumcised that righteousness might be imputed unto them also V. 12. And the father
Praise ye the Lord. Psal 138. 1 2 3. I will praise thee with my whole heart before the Gods will I sing praise unto thee v. 2. I will worship towards thy holy Temple and praise thy Name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy Name v. 3. In the day when I cryed thou answerest me and strengthnedst me with strength in my soul 2 Cor. 2. 14 15. Now thanks be to God who alwayes causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledg by us in every place v. 15. For we are to God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish works and whatsoever he is pleased to make himself known by (q) Psal 145. throughout I will extoll thee O God my King c. Psal 8. throughout O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy Name in all the earth c. and to glorifie him in thought word (r) Psal 103. 1. Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name Psal 19. 14. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our Redeemer and deed (Å¿) Phil. 1. 9 -11 And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledg and in all judgment v. 11. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God that he would prevent and remove Atheism (t) Psal 67. 1 2 3 4. God be merciful unto us and bless us and cause his face to shine upon us v. 2. That thy way may be known upon earth and thy saving health among all Nations v. 3. Let the people praise thee O God let all the people praise thee v. 4. O let the Nations be glad and rejoice for thou shalt judge the people righteously and govern the Nations upon earth ignorance (u) Eph. 1. 17 18. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the spâ—rit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledg of him v. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints idolatry (*) Psal 97. 7. Confounded be all they that serve graven Images that boast themselves of Idols worship him all ye gods profaneness (x) Psal 74. 18 -22 23. Remember this that the enemy hath reproached O Lord and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy Name v. 22. Arise O God plead thine own cause remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily v. 23. Forget not the voice of mine enemies the tumult of those that rise up against thee encreaseth continually and whatsoever is dishonourable to him (y) 2 Kings 19. 15 16. And Hâ—zâ—kiah prayed unto the Loid and said O Lord God of Israel which dwellest between the Cherubims thou art the God even thou alone of all the Kingdoms of the earth thou hast made heaven and earth v. 16. Lord bow down thine ear and hear open Lord thine eyes and see and hear the words of Sennacherib which hath sent him to reproach the living God and by his over-ruling providence direct and dispose of all things to his own glory (z) 2 Chron. 20. 6 -10 11 12. And Jehoshaphat said O Lord God of our fathers Art not thou God in heaven and rulest not thou over all the Kingdoms of the heathen and in thine hand is there not power and might so that none is able to withstand thee v. 10. And now behold the children Ammon and Moab c. v. 11. Behold I say how they reward us to come to cast us out of our possessions which thou hast given us to inherit v. 12. O our God wilt thou not judge them for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us neither know we what to do but our eyes are upon thee Psal 83. throughout Keep thou not silence O God hold not thy peace c. Psal 140. 4 -8 Reep me O Lord from the hands of the wicked preserve me from the violent man who have purposed to overthrow my goings v. 8. Grant not O Lord the desires of the wicked further not his wicked devices lest they exalt themselves Q. What do we pray for in the second Petition A. In the second Petition which is Thy Kingdom come (a) Matth. 6. 10. acknowledging our selves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of sinne and Satan (b) Eph. 2. 2 3. Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience v. 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the children of wrath even as others we pray that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed (c Psal 68. 1 -18 Let God arise let his enemies be scattered let them also that have him flee before him v. 18. Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led captivity captive thou hast received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them Rev. 12. 10 11. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven Now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast out which accused them before God day and night v. 11. And they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death the Gospel propagated throughout the world (d) 2 Thes 3. 1. Finally brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified even as it is with you the Jewes called (e) Rom. 10. 1. Brethren my hearts desire and prayer to God is That they might he saved the fulness of the Gentiles brought in (f) John 17 9 -20 I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them that thou hast given me for they are thine v. 20. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word Rom. 11. 25 26. For I would not brethren that ye should be ignorant of this mystery â—est ye should be wise in your own conceits that blindness in part is hapned to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in v. 26. And so all Israel shaâ—l be saved as it is written There shall come out of Zion the deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Psal 67. throughout God be merciful unto us and bless us and cause his face
c the Church furnished with all Gospel officers and ordinances (g) Matth 9. 38. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into his harvest 2 Thes 3. 1. Finally brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may have a free course and be glorified even as it is with you purged from corruption (h) Mal. 3. 1 11. For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place incense shall be offered up unto my Name and a pure offering for my Name shall be great among the Heathen saith the Lord of hosts Zeph. 3. 9. For then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the Name of the Lord to serve him with one consent countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrate (i) 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. I exhort therefore that first â—f all supplications prayers intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all men v. 2. For Kings and for all that are in auâ—hority thâ—t me may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins and the confirming comforting and building up of those that are already converted (k) Act. 4. 29 30. And now Lord behold their threatnings and grant unto thy servanâ—s that with all boldness they may speak thy word v. 30. By stretching forth â—hine hand to heal and that signes and wonders may be done by the Name of thy Holy Child Jesus Eph. 6. 18 19 20. Praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints v. 19. And for me thâ—t utterance may be given me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gentiles v. 20. For which I am an Ambassador in bonds that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak Rom. 15. 29 30 -32 And I am sure that when I come unto you I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ v. 30. Now I beseech you brethren for the Lord Jesus Christ sake and for the love of the Spirit that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me v. 32. That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God and may with you be refreshed 2 Thes 1. 11. Wherefore we pray alwayes for you that our God would count you worthy of his calling and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power 2 Thes 2. 16 17. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father which hâ—th loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace v. 17. Comfort your heart and stablish you in every good word and work that Christ would rule in our hearts here (l) Eph. 3. from ver 14. to the 21. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ v. 15. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named v. 16. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man v. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love v. 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height v. 19. And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledg that ye might be filled with the fulness of God v. 20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think c. and hasten the time of his second coming and our reigning with him for ever (m) Rev. 22. 20. He which testifieth these things saith surely I come quâ—ckly Amen even so come Lord Jesus and that he would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world as may best conduce to these ends (n) Isai 64. 1 2. O that thou wouldst rend the heavens that thou wouldst come down that the mountains might flow down at thy presence v. 2. As when the melting fire burneth the fire causeth the waters to boil to make thine name known to thine adversaries that the nations may tremble at thy presence Rev. 4. 8 9 10 11. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him and they were full of eyes within and they rest not day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come v. 9. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne who liveth for ever and ever v. 10. That four and twenty Elders fall down before him that sat on the throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their Crowns before the throne saying v. 11. Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created Q. What do we pray for in the third Petition A. In the third petition which is Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven (o) Matth. 6. 10. acknowledging that by nature we and all men are not only utterly unable and unwilling to know and to do the will of God (p) Rom. 7. 18. For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me but how to perform that which is good I find not Job 21. 14. Therefore thâ—y say unto God Depart from us we desire not the knowledg of thy wayes 1 Cor. 2. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can be know them because they are spiritually discerned but prone to rebel against his word (q) Rom. 8. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be to repine and murmur against his Providence (r) Exod. 17. 7. And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribaâ— because of the chiding of the children of Israel and because they tempted the Lord saying is the Lord among us or not Num. 14. 2. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron And the whole Congregation said unto them would God that we had died in the land of Egypt would God that we had died in this wilderness and wholly inclined to do the will of the flesh of the devil (Å¿) Eph. â— 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the ayre the spirit that now woâ—keth in the children of disobedience We
pray that God would by his Spirit take away from our selves and others all blindness (t) Eph. 1. 17 18. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledg of him v. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints weakness (u) Eph. 3. 16. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthned with might by the Spirit in the inner man indisposedness (*) Mat. 26. 40 41. And he cometh to the Disciples and findeth them asleep and saith unto Peter What could ye not watch with me one hour v. 41. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation the Spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak and perverseness of heart (x) Jer. 31. 18 19. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke Turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God v. 19. Surely after that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth and by his grace make us able and willing to know do and submit to his will in all things (y) Psal 119. 1 -8-35 36. Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the Lord. v. 8. I will keep thy statutes O forsake me not utterly v. 35. Make me to go in the paths of thy commandments for therein do I delight v. 36. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies and not to covetousness Act. 21. 14. And when he would not be perswaded we ceased saying The will of the Lord be done with the like humility (z) Mic. 6. 8. He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God cheerfulness (a) Psal 100. 2. Serve the Lord with gladness come before his presence with singing Job 1. 21. And Job said Naked came I out of my mothers womb and naked shall I return thither the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord. 2 Sam. 15. 25 26. And the King said unto Zadok Carry back the Ark of God into the City if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord he will bring me again and shew me both it and his habitation v. 26. But if he say thus I have no delight in thee behold here I am let him do to me as seemeth him good faithfulness (b) Isa 38. 3. And said Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore diligence (c) Psal 119. 4 5. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently v. 5. O that my wayes were directed to keep thy statutes zeal (d) Rom. 12. 11. Not slothful in business fervent in Spirit serving the Lord. sincerity (e) Psa 119. 80. Let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I be not ashamed and constancy (f) Psal 119. 112. I have enclined my heart to perform thy statutes alwayes even to the end as the Angels do in heaven (g) Isa 6. 2 3. Above it stood the Seraphims each one had six wings with twain he covered his face with twain he covered his feet and with twain he did fly v. 3. And one cried unto another and said Holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts the whole earth is full of his glory Psal 103. 20 21. Bless the Lord ye his Angels that excel in strength and do his commandments hearkning unto the voice of his word v. 21. Bless ye the Lord all ye his hosts ye ministers of his that do his pleasure Mat. 18. 10. Take heed ye despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you in heaven there Angels do alwayes behold the face of my Father which is in heaven Q. What do we pray for in the fourth Petition A. In the fourth Petition which is Give us this day our daily bread (h) Mat. 6. 11. acknowledging that in Adam and by our sin we have forfeited our right to all the outward blessings of this life and deserve to be wholy deprived of them by God and to have them cursed to us in the use of them (i) Gen. 2. 17. But of the Tree of knowledg of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely dye Gen. 3. 17. And unto Adam he said because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the Tree of the which I commanded thee saying thou shalt not eat of it cursed is the ground for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the dayes of thy life Rom. 8. 20 21 22. For the Creature was made subject to vanity not willingly but by reason of him who have subjected the same in hope V. 12. Because the Creature of it self also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God V. 22 For we know that the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together until now Jer. 5. 25. Your iniquities have turned away these things and your sins have withholden good things from you Deut 28. from ver 15. to the end But it shall come to pass if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe to do all his Commandments and statutes which I command thee this day that all these curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee V. 16. Cursed shalt thou be in the City and cursed in the field and cursed in thy basket and in thy store c. To the end of the chap. and that neither they of themselves are able to sustain us (k) Deut. 8. 3. And he humbled thee and suffered thee to hunger and fed thee with Mannâ— which thou knewest not neither did my fathers know that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live nor we to merit (l) Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed to thy servant c. or by our own industry to procure them (m) Deut. 8. 17 9. And thou say in thine heart My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth V. 18. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God for it is be that giveth thee power to
comes to passe (r) Eph. 1. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundations of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love v. 11. In whom also we obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the purpose of his own will Rom. 9. 22. What if God willing to shew his wrath and to make his power known endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction v. 23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory Q. How doth God execute his decrees A. God executeth his decrees in the works of Creation and Providence Q. VVhat is the work of Creation A. The work of Creation is Gods making all things of nothing by the Word of his Power in the space of six dayes and all very Good (Å¿) Gen. 1. throughout Heb. 11. 3. Through Faith we understand that the world were framed by the Word of God so that things which were seen were made of things that do appear Q. How did God create man A. God created man male and female after his own image in knowledge righteousness and holiness with dominion over the creatures (t) Gen. 1. 26. And God said let us make man in our own image after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattel and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth v. 27. So God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him male and female created he them v. 28. And God blessed them and God said unto them be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that creepeth upon the earth Col. 3. 10. And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him Eph. 4. 24. And that ye put on that new man which after God is created in righteousnesle and true holinesse Q. What are Gods works of Providence A. Gods works of Providence are his most holy (u) Psal 145. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his wayes and holy in all his works wise * Psal 104. 24. O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches Isa 28 29. This also cometh from the Lord of hosts which is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working and powerful preserving (x) Heb. 1. 3. Who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sins sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high and governing all his creatures and all their actions (y) Psal 103. 19. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heaven his kingdom ruleth over all Matth. 10. 29. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father v. 30. But the very hairs of your head are all numbred v. 31. Fear ye not therefore ye are of more value then many sparrows Q. What speciall act of Providence did God exercise towards man in the estate wherein he was created A. When God had created man he entred into a Covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience forbidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil upon pain of death (z) Gal. 3. 12. And the law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall live in them Gen. 2. 17. But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not â—â—â—â—f it for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die Q. Did our first Parents continue in the state wherein they were created A. Our first Parents being left to the freedom of their own will fell from the estate wherein they were created by sinning against God (a) Gen. 3. 6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise she took of the fruit thereof and did eat and gave also to her husband with her and he did eat v. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig-leaves together and made themselves aprons v. 8. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden v. 13. And the Lord God said unto the woman what is this that thou hast done and the woman said the Serpent beguiled me and I did eat Eccles 7. 29. Lo this onely have I found that God hath made man upright but they have sought out many inventions Q. What is sin A. Sin is any want of conformity unto or transgression of the Law of God (b) 1 John 3. 4. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law for sin is the transgression of the law Q. What was the sin whereby our first Parents fell from the estate wherein they were created A. The sin whereby our first Parents fell from the state wherein they were created was their eating the forbidden fruit (c) Gen. 3. 6. vide supra V. 12. The woman which thou gavest to be with me she gave me of the tree and I did eat Q. Did all mankind fall in Adams first transgression A. The Covenant being made with Adam not only for himself but for his posterity all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation sinned in him and fell with him in his first transgression (d) Gen. 2. 16. And the Lord God commanded the man saying of every tree of the garden thou mayst freely eat v. 17 But of the tree of the knowledg of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die Rom. 5. 12. Wherefore as by one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned 1 Cor. 15. 21. For since by man came death by man also came the resurrection of the dead v. 22. For as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive Q. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind A. The Fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery (e) Rom. 5. 12. Wherefore as by one man sin entred in to the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Q. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell
and rejected of men a man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs and we hid as it were our faces from him he was despised and we esteemed him not the wrath of God (g) Luk. 22. 44. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground Mat. 27. 46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cryed with a loud voice saying ELI ELILAMA-SABACTHANI that is to say My God my God why hast thou forsaken me and the cursed death of the cross (h) Phil. 2. 8. And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross in being buried (i) 1 Cor. 15. 4. And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and continuing under the power of death for a time (k) Mat. 2. 40. As Jonas was three dayes and three nights in the whales belly so shall the Son of man be three dayes and three nights in the heart of the earth Act. 2. 24 25 26 27 -31 v. 24. Woom God bath raised having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it v. 25. For David speaketh concerning him I foresaw the Lord alwayes before my face for he is on my right hand that I should not be moved v. 26. Therefore did my heart rejoyce and my tongue was glad moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope v. 27. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell neither wilt thou suffer thine holy One to see corruption v. 31. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his soul was not left in hell neither did his flesh see corruption Q. Wherein consisteth Christs Exaltation A. Christs exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day (l) 1 Cor. 15. 4. And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures in ascending up into heaven (m) Mark 16. 19. So then after the Lord had spoken to them he was received up into heaven and sate on the right hand of God in sitting at the right hand of God the Father (n) Eph. 1. 20. Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places and in coming to judge the world at the last day (o) Act. 1. 11. Which also said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gâ—zing up into heaven this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven Chap. 17. v. 31. He hath appointed a day in the which he shall judge the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Q. How are we made partakers of the Redemption purchased by Christ A. We are made partakers of the Redemption purchased by Christ by the effectual application of it to us (p) John 1. 11 12. v. 11. He came unto his own and his own received him not v. 12. But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name by his holy Spirit (q) Tit. 3. 5 6. v. 5. Not by works of righteousnesse which we have done but according to his mercy â—e saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost v. 6. Which be shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Sâ—viour Q. How doth the Spirit apply to us the Redemption purchased by Christ A. The Spirit applieth to us the Redemption purchased by Christ by working faith in us (r) Eph. 1. 13 14. v. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the Word of truth the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise v. 14. Which is an earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory Joh. 6. 37 39. v. 37. All the Father giveth me shall come unto me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out v. 39. And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given I should lose nothing but should raise it again at the last day Eph. 2. 8. By grace ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual Calling (Å¿) Eph. 3. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love 1 Cor. 1. 9. God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Q. What is effectual Calling A. Effectuall calling is the work of Gods Spirit (t) 2 Tim. 1 9. Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began 2 Thes 2. 13 14. v. 13. But we are bound to give thanks alwayes to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth v. 14. Whereunto he called you by our Gospâ—l to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ whereby convincing us of our sin and misery (u) Act. 2. 37. Now when they heard this they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles men and brethren what shall we do inlightning our minds in the knowledg of Christ (*) Act 26. 18. To open their eyes and to turn them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me and renewing our wills (x) Ezek. 36. 26 27. v. 26. A new heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh v. 27. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them he doth perswade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the Gospel (y) John 6. 44 45. v. 44. No man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day v. 45. As it is written in the Prophets and they shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me Phil. 2.
13. For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Q. What benefits do they that are Effectually called partake of in this life A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of Justification (z) Rom. 8. 30. Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Adoption (a) Eph. 1. 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will Sanctification and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them (b) 1 Cor. 1. 30. Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption Q What is Justification A. Justification is an act of Gods free grace wherein he pardoneth all our sins (c) Ro. 3. 24 25. v. 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ v. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propiation through faiâ—h in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God Rom. 4. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works v. 7. Saying blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered v. 8. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin and accepteth us as righteous in his sight d 2 Cor. 5. 19. To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed to us the word of reconciliation v. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him onely for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us e Rom. 5. 17. For if by one mans offence death reigned by one much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ v. 18. Therefore as by the offence of one judgement came upon men unto condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life v. 19. As by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous and received by Faith alone f Gal. 2. 16. Knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law but by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Iesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified Phil. 3. 9. And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith Q. What is Adoption A. Adoption is an act of Gods free grace g 1 Ioh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not whereby we are received into the number and have a right to all the priviledges of the sons of God h Ioh. 1. 12. As many as received him to them gave be power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name Rom. 8. 17. And if children then heirs heirs of God and joint-heires with Christ if so be we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together Q. What is Sanctification A. Sanctification is the work of Gods free grace i 2 Thes 1. 13. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and the belief of the truth whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God k Ephes 4. 23. And be renewed in the Spirit of your mind v. 24. And that ye put on that new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness l Rom. 6. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life v. 6. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Rom 8. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Q. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from Justification Adoption and Sanctification A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from Justification Adoption and Sanctification are assurance of Gods love peace of conscience m Rom. 5. 1. Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ V. 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God V. 5. And hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto us joy in the holy Ghost n Rom. 14. 17. For the Kingdome of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost encrease of grace o Prov. 4. 18. The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day and perseverance therein to the end p 1 Joh. 5. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God 1 Pet. 1. 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last times Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness q Heb. 12. 23. To the general assemby and Church of the first-born which are written in heaven and to God the judg of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and do immediately passe into glory r 2 Cor. 5. 1. For we know that if our earthly houses of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens V. 6. Therefore we are alwayes confident knowing that whilest we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. V. 8. We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with
Get thee hence Satan for it is written thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serve Psal 29. 2. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness Q. What is forbidden in the first Commandment A. The first Commandment forbiddeth the denying (k) Psal 14. 1. The fool hath said in his heart there is no God they are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God (l) Rom. 1. 21. Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were they thankful but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkned and our God (m) Psal 81. 10. I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt open thy mouth wide and I will fill it v. 11. But my people would not hearken to my voice and Israel would none of me and the giving that worship and glory to any other which is due to him alone (n) Rom. 1. 25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creatures more then the Creator who is blessed for ever Amen v. 26. For this cause God gave them up vnto vile affections for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature Q. What are we especially taught by these words before me in the first Commandment A. These words before me in the first Commandment teach us that God who seeth all things taketh notice of and is much displeased with the sin of having any other God (o) Ezek. 8. 5. to theend Psal 44. 20 21. But if we have forgotten the name of our God or stretched out our hands to a strange God v. 21. Shall not God search this out for he knoweth the secrets of the heart Q. Which is the second Commandment A. The second Commandment is Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth thou shalt not bow down thy selfe to them nor serve them for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments (p) Exod 20 4 5 6. Q. What is required in the second Commandment A. The second Commandment requireth the receiving observing and keeping pure and entire all such religious worship and Ordinances as God hath appointed in his word (q) Deut. 32. 46. And he said unto them Set your hearts unto all the words which I testifie among you this day which ye shall command your children to observe to do all the words of this law Mat. 28. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world Act. 2. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers Q. What is forbidden in the second Commandment A. The second Commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by Images (r) Deut. 4. 15 16 17 18 19. v. 15. Take ye therefore good heed unto your selves for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire v. 16. Lest you corrupt your selves and make you a graven Image the similitude of any figure the likeness of male or female v. 17. The likeness of any beast that is on the earth the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air v. 18. The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth v. 19. And least thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven and when thou feest the Sun Moon and Starres even all the host of heaven shouldest be driven to worship them and serve them which the Lord God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven Exod. 32. 5-8 And when Aaron saw it he built an Altar before it and Aaron made proclamation and said Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord. v. 8. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them they have made them a molten calf and have worshipped it and have sacrificed thereunto and said These be thy Gods O Israel which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt or any other way not appointed in his word (Å¿) Deut. 12. 31 32. Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God for every abomination to the Lord which he hateth have they done unto their gods for even their sons and their daughters have they burnt in the fire to their gods v. 32. What thing soever I command you observe to do it thou shalt not add thereto nor diminish from it Q. What are the Reasons annexed to the second Commandment A. The Reasons annexed to the second Commandment are Gods soveraignty over us (t) Psal 95. 2 3 6 Let us come before his prefence with thanksgiving and make a joiful noise unto him with Psalms v. 3. For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all Gods v. 6. O come let us worship and bow down let us kneel before the Lord our maker his property in us (u) Psal 45. 11. So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty for he is thy Lord and worship thou him and his zeal he hath to his own worship (*) Exod. 34. 13 14. But ye shall destroy their altars break their images and cut down their groves V. 14. For thou shalt worship no other God for the Lord whose name is Jealous is a jealous God Q. Which is the third Commandment A. The third Commandment is 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 (x) Exod. 20. 7. Q. What is required in the third Commandment A. The third Commandment requireth the holy and reverend use of Gods Name (y) Mat. 6. 9. After this manner therefore pray ye Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy Name Deut. 28. 58. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book that thou maist fear this glorious and fearful name THE LORD THY GOD. Title (z) Psal 68. 4. Sing unto God sing praises to his name extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH and rejoycâ— before him Attributes (a) Rev. 15. 3 4. And they sing the Song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb saying great and marvellous are thy words Lord God Almighty just and true are thy wayes thou King
of Saints V. 4. Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name for thou only art holy for all nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgments are made manifest Ordinances (b) Mal. 1. 11 14. For from the rising of the Sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among rhe Gentiles and in every place incense shall be offered unto thy name and a pure offering for my name shall be great among the heathen saith the Lord of hosts V. 14. But cursed be the deceiver that hath in his flock a male and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing for I am a great King saith the Lord of hosts and my name is dreadful among the heathen Word (c) Psal 138. 1 2. I will praiâ—â— thee with my whole heart before the gods will I sing praise unto thee V. 2. I will worship towards thy holy Temple and praise thy name for thy loving Kindness and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name and Works (d) Job 36. 24. Remember that thou magnifie his work which men behold Q. VVhat is forbidden in the third Commandment A. The third Commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of any thing whereby God maketh himself known (e.) Mal. 1. 6 7-12 A son honoureth his father and a servant his Master If then I be a father where is mine honor and if I be a Master where is my fear saith the Lord of hosts unto you O Priests that despise my Name and ye say Wherein have we despised thy Name V. 7. Ye offer polluted bread upon mine Altar and ye say Wherein have we polluted thee in that ye say The Table of the Lord is contemptible V. 12. But ye have profaned it in that ye say the Table of the Lord is polluted and the fruit thereof even his meat is contemptible Chap. 2. v. 2. If you will not hear and if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my Name saith the Lord of hosts I will even send a curse upon you and will curse your blessings yea I have cursed them already because ye do not lay it to heart Chap. 3. 14. Ye have said it is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts Q. What is the Reason annexed to the third Commandment A. The Reason annexed to the third Commandment is that however the breakers of this Commandment may escape punishment from men yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgement (f) 1 Sam. 2. 12 -17-22.-24 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial they knew not the Lord v. 17. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord for men abhorred the offering of the Lord v. 22. Now Eâ—i was very old and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation v. 24. Nay my sons for it is no good report that I hear ye make the Lords people to transgress 1 Sam. 3. 13. For I have told him that I will judg his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth because his sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not Deut. 28. 58 59. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful Name The Lord thy God v. 59. Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful and the plagues of thy seed even great plagues and of long continuance and sore sicknesses and of long continuance Q. Which is the fourth Commandment A. The fourth Commandment is Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy six dayes shalt thou labour and do all thy work but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thy cattel nor thy 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 Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it (g) Exo. 20. 8 9 10 11 Q. What is required in the fourth Commandment A. The fourth Commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set time as he hath appointed in his Word expresly one whole day in seven to be a holy Sabbath unto the Lord (h) Deut. 5. 12 13 14. Keep the Sabbath day to sanctifie it as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee v. 13. Six dayes shalt thou labour and do all thy work v. 14. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter nor thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thine ox nor thine ass nor any of thy cattel nor thy stranger that is within thy gates that thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou Q. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath A. From the beginning of the world to the Resurrection of Christ God hath appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath and the first day of the week ever since to continue to the end of the world which is the Christian Sabbath (i) Gen. 2. 2 3. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he made V. 3. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he rested from all his work which God created and made 1 Cor. 16. 1 2. Now concerning the collection for the Saints as have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye V. 2. 7. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come Act. 20. 7. And upon the first day of the Week when the disciples came together to break bread Paul preached unto them ready to depart on the morrow and continued his speech until midnight Q. How is the Sabbath to be sanctified A. The Sabbath is to be sanctified by an holy resting all that day (k) Exod 20. 8 -10 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy V. 10. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no manner of work thou nor thy son c. even from such worldly imployments and recreations as are lawful on other dayes (l) Neh. 13. 15 16 17 18 19 -21 22. In those dayes saw I in Judah some treading wine-presses on the sabbath and bringing in sheaves and lading asses also wine grapes and figs and
thy seed after thee V. 10. This is my covenant which ye shall keep between me and you and thy seed after thee every man-child among you shall be circumcised Exod. 12. throughouts 1 Cor. 11. 23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Iesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread V. 26. For as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come Q. Which are the Sacraments of the New Testament A. The Sacraments of the New Testament are Baptisme (y) Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and the Lords Supper (z) Mat. 26. 26. 27. 28. v. 26. And as they were eating Iesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my body v. 27. And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink ye all of iâ— v. 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Q. What is Baptisme A. Baptisme is a Sacrament wherein the washing of Water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost (a) Mat. 28. 19. See in letter y doth signifie and seal our ingrafting into Christ and partaking of the benefits of the Covenant of Grace and our engagement to the Lords (b) Rom. 6. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father even so we also should walk in newness of life Gal. 3. 27. For as many of you as have been Baptized into Christ have put on Christ Q. To whom is Baptisme to be administred A. Baptisme is not to be administred to any that are out of the visible Church till they profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him (c) Act. 8. 36. And as they went on their way they came unto a certain water and the Eunuch said see here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized V. 37. And Philip said if thou believest with all thine heart thou maist and he answered I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God Acts 2. 38. Then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost but the infants of such as are members of the visible Church are to be baptized (d) Acts 2. 38. See before V. 39. For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are a far off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Gen. 17. 10. See in letter x Col. 2. 11 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ V. 12. Buried with him in Baptisme wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead 1 Cor. 7. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy Q. What is the Lords Supper A. The Lords Supper is a Sacrament wherein by giving and receiving Bread and Wine according to Christs appointment his death is shewed forth and the worthy receivers are not after a corporal and carnal manner but by faith made partakers of his Body and Blood with all his benefits to their spiritual nourishment and groweth in grace e 1 Cor. 11. 23 34 25 26. I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night wherein he was betrayed took bread V. 24. And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me V. 25. After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my blood this do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me V. 26. For as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 10. 16. The Cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ Q. What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper A. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lords Supper that they examine themselves of their knowledg to discern the Lords body (f) 1 Cor. 11. 28 29. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. V. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body of their faith to feed upon him (g) 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith prove your own selves know you not that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates of their repentance (h) 1 Cor. 11. 31. For if we would judg our selves we should not be judged love (i) 1 Cor. 10. 16. The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ the bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ V. 17. For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread and new obedience (k) 1 Cor. 5. 7. Pâ—rge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened for even Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us V. 8. Therefore let us keep the feast not with old leaven neitheir with the leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth lest coming unworthily they eat and drink judgment to themselves (l) 1 Cor. 11. 28 29. See in letter f Q. What is Prayer A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God (m) Psal 62. 8. Trust in him at all times ye people pour out your hearts before him God is a refuge for us Selah for things agreeable to his will (n) 1 Ioh. 5. 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us in the Name of Christ (o) Ioh. 16. 23. And in that day he shall ask me nothing verily verily I say unto you Whatsoever ye shall ask the father in my name he will give it you with confession of our sins (p) Psal 32. 5 6 I acknowledged my sins unto
Christ Rev. 1. 4 20. John to the seven Churches in Asis Grace be unto you and peace from him which is and which was and which is to come and from the seven spirits which are before his throne v. 20. The mistery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand and the seven golden candlesticks The seven stars are the Angels of the seven Churches Rev. 2. 1. Unto the Angel of the Church of Ephesus write These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks Particular Churches in the primitive times were made up of visible Saints viz. Of such as being of age professed faith in Christ and obedience unto Christ according the Rule of Faith and Life taught by Christ and his Apostles and of their children Acts 2. 38 41 47. v. 38. Then Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost v 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls v. 47. Praising God and having favour with all the people and the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Compared with Acts 5. 14. And believers were the more added to the Lord multitudes both of men and women 1 Cor. 1. 2. Unto â—he Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be saints with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours Compared with 2 Cor. 9 13. Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorifie God for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ and for your liberal distribution unto them and unto all men Acts 2. 39 For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call 1 Cor. 7. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy Rom. 11. 16. For if the first-fruit be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy so are the branches Mar. 10. 14. But when Jesus saw it he was much displeased and said unto them suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdome of God Compared with Mat. 19. 13 14 v. 13. Then were there brought unto him little children that he should put his hand on them and pray and the disciples rebuked them v. 14. But Iesus said suffer little children and forbid them not tâ— come unto me for of such is the Kingdome of heaven Luk. 18. 15 16. v 15. And they brought unto him also infants that he would touch them but when his disciples saw it they rebuked them v. 16. But â—esus called them unto him and said suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdome of God Of the Officers of the Church THe Officers which Christ hath appointed for the edification of his Church and thâ— perfecting of the Saints are Some extraordinary as Apostles Evangelists and Prophets which are ceased Others ordinary and perpetual as Pastors Teachers and other Church-governours and Deacons Pastors THe Pastor is an ordinary and perpetual officer in the Church Jer. 3. 15. 16 17. v. 15. And I will give you pastors according to mine heart which shall feed you with knowledg and understanding v. 16. And it shall come to pass when ye he multiplyed and increased in the land in those dayes saith the Lord they shall say no more The ark of the covenant of the Lord neither shall it come to mind neither shall they remember it neither shall they visit it neither shall that be done any more v. 17. At that time they shall call Ierusalem the throne of the Lord and all the nations shall be gathered unto it to the name of the Lord to Ierusalem neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart Prophecying of the time of the Gospel 1 Pet. 5. 2 3 4. v. 2. Feed the flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind v. 3. Neither as being lords over Gods heritage but being ensamples to the flock v. 4. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away Eph. 4. 11 12 13. v. 11. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and teachers v. 12. For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ v. 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ First It belongs to his office To pray for and with his flock as the mouth of the people unto God Acts 6. 2 4. v. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve Tables v. 4. But we will give our selves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word Acts 20. 36. And when he had thus spoken he kneeled down and prayed with them all Where preaching and prayer are joyned as several parts of the same Office Jam. 5. 14 15. Is any man sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him anointing him with oyl in the name of the Lord. v. 15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him The Office of the Elder that is the pastor is to pray for the sick even in private to which a blessing is especially promised much more therefore ought he to perform this in the publick execution of his Office as a part thereof To read the Scripture publickly For the proof of which 1. That the Priests and Levites in the Jewish Church were trusted with the publick reading of the Word as is proved Deut. 31. 9 10 11. v. 9 And Moses wrote this law and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord and unto all the elders of Israel v. 10. And Moses commanded them saying At the end of every seven years in the solemnity of the year of release in the feast of Tabernacles v. 11. When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall chuse thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their
you and upon your brethren this do and ye shall not trespass So Christ who hath instituted a Government and Governours Ecclesiastical in the Church hath furnished some in his Church beside the Ministers of the Word with gifts for governments and with commission to execute the same when called there unto who are to joyn with the Minister in the government of the Church Rom. 12. 7 8. v. 7. Or Ministry let us wait on our ministring or he that teacheth on teaching v. 8. Or he that exhorteth on exhortation he that giveth let him do it with simplicity he that ruleth with diligence he that sheweth mercy with cheerfulness 1 Cor. 12. 28. And God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that miracles then gifts of healings helps governments diversities of tongues Which Officers reformed churches commonly call Elders Deacons THe Scripture doth hold out Deacons as distinct officers in the church Phil. i. â— Paul and Timotheus the servant of Jesus Christ to all saints in Christ Jesus whith are at Philippi with the Bishops and Deacons 1 Tim. 3. 8. Likewise must the Deacons be grave not double-tongued not given to much wine not greedy of filthy lucre Whose Office is perpetual 1 Tim. 3. 8. Likewise must the Deacons be grave not double-tongued not given to much wine not greedy of filthy lucre to ver 15. see in the Bible Act. 6. 1 2 3 4. v. 1. And in those dayes when the number of the Disciples was multiplyed there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily manistration v. 2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables v. 3. Wherefore brethren look ye out among you seven men of honest report full of the holy Ghost and wisdom whom we may appoint over this business v. 4. But we will give our selves continually to prayer and to the Ministry of the word To whose Office it belongs not to preach the Word or administer the Sacraments but to take special care in distributing to the necessities of the poor Act. 6. 1 2 3 4. see before Of Particular Congregations IT is lawful and expedient that there be fixed congregations that is a certain company of christians to meet in one Assembly ordinarily for publick Worship When believers multiply to such a number that they cannot conveniently meet in one place it is lawful and expedient that they should be divided into distinct and fixed congregations for the beter administration of such ordinances as belong unto them and the discharge of mutual duties 1 Cor. 14. 26 33 40. v. 26. Let all things be done unto edifying v. 33. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace as in all Churches of the Saints v. 40. Let all things be done decently and in order The ordinary way of dividing Christians into distinct Congregations and most expedient for edification is by the respective bounds of their dwellings First Because they who dwell together being bound to all kind of moral duties one to another have the better opportunity thereby to discharge them which moral tye is perpetual for Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it Deut. 15. 7 11. If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee thou shalt not harden thy heart nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother v. 11. For the poor shall never cease out of the land therefore I command thee saying Thou shalt open thy hand wide unto thy brother to the poor and to the needy in the land Mat. 22. 39. And the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Mat. 5. 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfil Secondly The communion of saints must be so ordered as may stand with the most convenient use of the Ordinances and discharge of moral duties without respect of persons 1 Cor. 14. 26. Let all things be done unto edifying Heb. 10. 24 25. v. 24. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works v. 25. Not forsaking the Assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching Jam. 2. 1 2. v. 1. My brethren have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of persons v. 2. For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring in goodly apparel and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment Thirdly The pastor and people must so nearly cohabite together as that they may mutually perform their duties each to other with most conveniency In this company some must be set apart to bear office Of the Officers of a particular Congregation FOr Officers in a single Congregation there ought to be one at the least both to labour in the Word and Doctrine and to rule Prov. 29. 18. Where there is no vision the people perish but he that keepeth the law happy is he 1 Tim. 5. 17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine Heb. 13. 7. Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the word of God whose faith follow considering the end of their conversation It is also requisite that there should be others to joyn in Government 1 Cor. 12. 28. And God hath set some in the Church First Apostles Secondarily Prophets Thirdly Teachers after that Miracles then gifts of healings helps governments diversities of tongues And likewise it is requisite that there be others to take special care for the reliefe of the poor Acte 6. 2 3. v. 2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the Disciples unto them and said It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God and serve tables v. 3. Wherefore brethren look ye out among you seven men of honest report full of the holy Ghost and wisdome whom ye may appoint over this business The number of each of which is to be proportioned according to the condition of the Congregation These officers are to meet together at convenient and set times for the well ordering of the affairs of that Congregation each according to his office It is most expedient that in these meetings one whose office is to labour in the Word and Doctrine do moderate in their proceedings 1 Tim. 5. 17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine Of the Ordinances in a particular Congregation THe Ordinances in a single Congregation are Prayer Thanksgiving and singing of Psalms 1 Tim. 2. 1. I