in the practice of several duties CHAP. I. Of the practical use of the Doctrine of the Trinity and improvement of Baptism 1. IT is matter of sad consideration to see the ignorance infidelity formality and loosness of Baptized Christians who live liker unbaptized Heathens than Christians Some of the causes of this ungodliness are 1. Some make no more account of Baptism than of a Ceremony and others ascribe too great a virtue to the very act or work of Baptizing And generally there is much curiosity and expence in preparing for entertainments where there is little sense of what is to be done in the holy solemnity of Baptism by prayer humiliation and faith 2. The neglect or negligent cold imperfect way of early and holy education of Baptized Infants 3. The not improving of our Baptism when we are grown up for graces assistances privileges comforts and engagements to God as if the Laver of Regeneration were a Fountain dried up or no more to be used than while we are first washed 2. I have said before that the doctrine of the Trinity is a fundamental practical doctrine to be explained to all and known of all because we are all Baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost I am limited to a very short discourse and therefore must say as much in little as I can in the following points In the form of Baptism Mat. 28.19 we have two things 1. A commission to teach and Baptize 2. A direction with commandment to Baptize in the Name or into the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Here observe 1. The Author or the Lord who gave this Commission and Command the Lord Jesus ver 18.2 The parties 1. The Minister employed and his office to teach the Gospel or Covenant of grace and to Baptize with Water 2. The principal parties between whom he deales and officiates in this solemn Act. 1. God the most high and gracious God making and declaring a Covenant of grace and taking sinful and undone Man into it 2. Man graciously taken into Covenant and dutifully accepting of and submitting to the grace of God declared in that Covenant according to the terms and constitution or Laws thereof 3. To Baptize with Water is a Ministerial Act between God and the party Baptized By it God doth graciously admit and receive a guilty polluted Sinner to himself in Covenant and the poor polluted Sinner doth consent and submit to God upon Covenant terms and Baptizing with Water is an outward visible Sign and Seal by which God doth signify his grace and bind himself as God in Covenant to perform his gracious promises and the party Baptized doth declare and signify his humble acceptation of and sincere consent to the Covenant of grace and binds himself to perform what God requireth of him 4. This is done in the Name or into the name of the Father the Son and Holy Ghost Where God doth more fully and clearly and distinctly declare himself than ever he did to Abraham or any of his Covenant People before at least together and at one time 5. According to this declaration of himself as God the everlasting and Almighty by which name he took Abraham into Covenant Gen. 17.1 the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost he taketh his people for his own and they take him for their God. 6. And so we are related to God as Father Son and Holy Ghost and have a right to him as Father as he hath to us as Children and to him as Son of the Father and what the Son hath done for us as he hath a right to us as Children and Brethren Heb. 2.11,12,13,14 And we have a right as well as relation to God the Holy Ghost and to what he doth as he hath a right to us to teach lead sanctify and dwell in us We have God engaged to us and we are engaged and oblig'd to God the Father the Son and Holy Ghost as such 7. As God said I am the Lord thy God thou shalt have no other Gods but me binding his Covenant People to himself in which this positive duty is implied Thou shalt have me for thy God so here in our Baptism we are engaged to have God the Father the Son and Holy Ghost for our God to have him is both our duty and happiness 8. Therefore we must not take up and satisfy our selves with the knowledge and faith of God in general That God is or that God is one the Creator and Governour of all things but must enlarge our knowledge and faith into the mystery of God Col. 2.2 the Father Son and Holy Ghost and into the marvellous Works of Redemption Sanctification and Salvation in which the grace of the Father Son and Holy Ghost doth gloriously appear 9. God descending to us in Covenant and exalting us to be his People is the highest object of our knowledge faith fear love desire delight hope and trust We must honour and worship him own and obey him according to this revelation as Father Son and Holy Ghost And now I come to shew you that this Doctrine of the Trinity or three Persons in the God-head is a practical Doctrine as well as fundamental and to be known and believed of all Christians and then the practical improvement of Baptism 1. Let us take this Mystery as it is revealed to us 2. And because it is revealed to us we ought not to be terrified from a humble search into it It is plain 1. That Father Son and Holy Ghost are one God and that one God in Covenant 2. Father Son and Holy Ghost are severally Named 3. Therefore there is a relation of the one to the other and a distinction between them 4. There is an order but no inequality in Essence for we are to honour and obey the one equally with the other 5. No doubt but this is for his Glory that he hath thus declared himself and for the good of his People and what we cannot now understand we shall understand in Heaven 1 Cor. 13.10 6. Every Baptized Person must hold fast the faith and profession of the Trinity of Persons in the same indivisible Essence and God-head for every Person is declared to be our God to have a right to us and we are devoted to them as one God and three Persons 7. What is briesly summ'd up in this form of Baptism is more particularly explained in Scripture and more distinctly in the New Testament therefore we ought to enquire into the Scriptures into the common and also distinct acts and Operations ascribed to God as one and to each one of the most Glorious Persons 8. In these words we have the foundation object rule and measure of our holy Faith comprehended Our Faith is sounded upon God he is the highest Object of it Our Faith must follow the Order laid down the Father is the First Person the Son the Second and the Holy Ghost
and customs Rom. 13.6,7 Commandment IX 1. Equivocation because truth is darkned and 2. Breach of Faith even with hereticks are unlawful Ps 15.1 to 4. Ezek 17.15,16 Rom. 1.31 Rev. 21.8 Commandment X. 1. Concupiscence is sin 2. Thoughts are under Law for it is spiritual 3. Sin remains in the regenerate tho it reign not it is Sin Gal. 5.17,18 2. Every sin deserves Death therefore there are more than seven deadly sins Mat. 24.51 1 Cor. 6.10 Rev. 21.28 SECT XXIII What God requires of Man to escape wrath Faith. 1. FAith should not be defined by ignorance for it is the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 and cannot be without knowledge Joh. 17.3 Joh. 4.22 chap. 10.38 chap. 16.30 chap. 17.7,8 2. Faith is a certain firm assent not only to Doctrines because Christ is the object of it Joh. 1.12 chap. 3.16 Rom. 3.26 3. Unbelief is a disallowance therefore on the contrary faith is an approbation of and consent to the way of Salvation by Christ 1 Pet. 2.4 4. Faith goes further yet it is a trusting in Christ Ephes 1.13 A guilty lost penitent mourner must have a Saviour which he can trust 5. Faith may be abstracted in some consideration but can never be separated from good Works Ephes 2.8,9,10 Gal. 5.6 James 2.14,18,26 6. Faith answers to the offer of the Gospel and therefore receives Christ as a Prophet for Wisdom as a Priest for Righteousness as King for Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 Mat. 11.28 Joh. 7.37 Mar. 9.7 Repentance 1. Repentance is to be Preached in Gospel times Acts 26.20 Luke 24.47 2. Christ repented not for us it is Gods gift and our duty Acts 11.18 chap. 17.30 3. It is not the sinner who grieves for Sin but the spirit who convinceth of it 4. The Law discovering sin and wrath is subordinate to the Gospel drawing the Soul to God by grace and mercy 5. In or by sin the Creatures heart is turned to Self and Creatures from God by repentance he returns from Self and Creatures to God. 6. An intention to repent once in a Mans Life is not repentance for it is an actual return to God with godly sorrow and with fruit 2 Cor. 7.9 7. Repentance takes in all known Sin the habits and Dominion of which are broken by it yet the in-dwelling of Sin doth hinder it to be a repentance to Life SECT XXIV Outward and ordinary means of Grace 1. THere is no such perfection of grace as to live above Ordinances They who had extraordinary measures of the spirit observ'd Ordinances and brought Converts under them Acts 2.41,42 chap. 6.4 chap. 12.5 chap. 22.7 2. The Administration of them and Preaching the word was and ought to be committed Authoritatively to Ministers and Pastors qualified ordained and called The Apostles went out by commission Mat. 28.19 See Heb. 5.4 Men must be competently able Tit. 1.9.2 Tim. 2.2 for the Office and Work 1 Thes 5.12,13 1 Tim. 4.6 and Ordained by Pastors Tit. 1.5,6,7 1 Tim. 5.22 chap. 4.14 and so he is distinct from brethren 1 Tim. 5.6 over whom he is an officer with authority 1 Thes 5.12,13 Heb. 13.7,17 1 Cor. 14.34,35 1 Tim. 2.12 A minister must give himself to his work 1 Tim. 4.13,14,15 must abide in his calling except necessity requires absence Acts 20.3,4 else how can he watch and be an example to them Believers have enough to do in their own places without taking upon them any part of the Ministers office Ephes 6.4 1 Thes 5.11 Rom. 15.14 and much good might be done if done with humility and judgment SECT XXV Of the Sacraments 1. OUr Lord sealed the New Testament with his Blood and added visible signs and seals as means of Grace Mat. 26.24 c Mat. 28.19 2. There are not seven but two Sacraments which are proper to Christianity and common to all Christians 3. Sacraments are not empty signs but effectual to their end See Rom. 6.3,4 Gal. 3.26 1 Cor. 10.16,17 and they are effectual after their kind for by them we are instructed as by a visible word and excited and sealed 4. They do not confer grace by the very doing or using them for there is no natural vertue of conveyance of grace It is not the outward washing 1 Pet. 3.20,21 nor doth the intention of the Minister make them effectual but the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 1 Cor. 11.28 1 Cor. 7.19 Ephes 5 25,26 5. The Minister of the New Testament 2 Cor. 3.6 Mat. 28.19 is the only Minister of the Seals 1 Cor. 11.23 Of Baptism 1. The Baptism of the spirit is the Work of the spirit and not the ordinance enjoined We have no Ordinance of Baptism but what is with Water which is necessary to Baptism as Bread and Wine to the Lords Supper 2. Baptism is a necessary duty but it is the unbelief that damneth Mat. 16.16 and not the meer want of Baptism 3. Of the form of Baptism see what is spoken of the Trinity before and of the improvement of Baptism after 4. Note carefully the ground or reason upon which the Apostles received the first converts to Baptism Acts 2.39 for the promise is to you c. 5. There is no particular command for Baptizing Infants by Name but seeing the ground of Baptizing the repenting believing Jews was because the promise was to them and their Children and not only to them but to the Gentiles that were far off and should believe in Christ the Infants of such Parents are included in the command of Baptizing because they are named in the promise or Covenant of grace They who deny their Baptism are obliged to produce by what word or Act of God they are excluded Of the Lords Supper 1. Where ever Christ was Bodily present he was visibly present and seen He is not seen in the Sacrament therefore though believers have Communion with his Body and Blood by Faith 1 Cor. 10.16 he is not present in Body He is in Heaven Acts 3.21 and when he will come he shall be seen Rev. 1.7 2. There is no Transubstantiation if there were any it were more likely that the Body and Blood of Christ should be turned into Bread and Wine because it is Bread and Wine as well after consecration as before than that the Bread and Wine should be turned into the Body and Blood of Christ as sure as it was Bread and Wine before it was blest it is as surely the same after it is blest when eaten and drunk Was there ever any change of one differing and unlike substance into another and the change not seen or sensibly perceived Moses's Rod was not a Rod when it was turned into a Serpent the water was not water but Wine when our Saviour turned it into Wine But here is no change at all perceiv'd when our Saviour spake to his Disciples This is my Body and was he not alive at the table Did they eat him alive or was he at the same time alive at the Table and Dead
to Salvation Act. 8.28 c. 2. They who attend upon the Means of Salvation are instructed reproved warned and checked Conscience is met with one time or other and who is so dead and senseless that never found in himself a necessity of becoming a new Man And then how might the Consideration of their being baptized of the nature and obligation of Baptism work them towards Conversion and Reformation Reasoning thus with themselves 1. I am not mine own but God's I am dedicated and joined to him by Covenant It is both my Glory and my Duty to be the Lord's Shall I who am related to the most high God as a Child turn to be a Child of the Devil Shall I who am redeemed with precious Blood sell my self to Sin and become a Slave Shall I who am baptized into the Holy Ghost the Spirit of Sanctification defile my self and drown my self in the mire of Sin The Sons of God are lead by the Spirit of God Rom. 8.14 Am I God's or am I not If not What Oh what will become of me for ever 2. I am washed with Water and I must be washed with Blood and Regeneration or else I cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Joh. 3.3,5 Nothing that defileth shall enter therein Rev. 21.27 Oh wash me throughly and cleanse me from my Sin Psal 51.2 3. When you are convinced of the necessity of Regeneration improve your Baptism towards it Say then 1. I am baptized into the Father who is the Father of Mercies and God of all Grace who teacheth calleth draweth and meeteth returning Prodigals O Father of Mercies make me a Child Oh draw me call me meet me receive me Thou art my God by Covenant thy Sign and Seal is upon me Oh forsake me not but put thy Spirit within me 2. I am baptized into the Name of Jesus who came into the World to save Sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Matth. 1.21 Tit. 2.14 Oh redeem me by thy Power from this Bondage from Sin Satan and the evil World Oh wash me by the Merits and Efficacy of thy Blood 1 Joh. 1.7 Oh bring me home a Stray-Sheep Seek me and save me Be thou my Peace and my Advocate 3. I am baptized into the Holy Ghost the Spirit of Light Wisdom Life Sanctification and Holiness Oh make me a new Creature wash me according to thy Grace and Power Joh. 3.5 Tit. 3.5 2 Thess 2.13 Baptize me with thy Baptism and I shall be a new Man and clean in thy sight 2. Let all such as are regenerate and called remember their Baptism 1. By way of Thankfulness and Praise to the Father Son and Holy Ghost for Grace and Love that God is their God and that they are his People that they have obtained Mercy They may go so high as Election and praise God as the Apostle doth Ephes 1.3 to 8. 1 Thes 1.2,3,4 How happy are you in such a Father such a Saviour such a Comforter and that you are under Grace and made safe by Covenant 2. Improve Baptism for Grace and Growth in Grace and Holiness 1. Because you are separated to God as an holy God and are joined in Covenant and therefore are not Debtors to the Flesh to live after the Flesh Rom. 8.12 We are bought with a price 1 Cor. 6.20 and joined to the Lord and therefore are one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 one Mind one Will one Aim one Way and End. 2. Because you are crucified with Christ therefore we should be holy see Rom. 6.6 Gal. 2.20 Chap. 5.24 Chap. 6.14 By virtue of our Union with Christ we must go on to mortifie Sin Rom. 6.3 and live to God Rom. 6. from 4. to 13. By this we have great and effectual Assistance and are under the strongest Engagements to Holiness 3. Improve your Baptism for Privileges which are exceeding great and high As 1. Apply it for your Acceptation with God Ephes 1.6 Though we are vile and hateful in our selves yet we are beloved of the Father accepted in the beloved Son and sanctified by the Spirit 2. Apply it for Justification and Reconciliation The Father will not condemn them for whom his Son died The Father will not be wroth with them that believe and are in him in whom he is well pleased The Terrour of Condemnation is taken off by the Holy Ghost the Comforter 3. Apply it for Adoption and the Privileges and Comforts of it Joh. 1.12 Gal. 4.6 Adopted Children have the Spirit of Adoption and the Earnest of the Spirit Rom. 8.23 Ephes 1.13 Chap. 4.30 and all things with Christ Rom. 8.32 4. Improve it for Communion with God 1 Joh. 1.3 1 Cor. 1.9 What may not a Child have that is fit and good for him from a Father and such a Father as Ephes 1.3 that comes to him in his Son's Name and hath the Son to be an Advocate for him and the Spirit to make Intercession in him See Joh. 16.26,27 1 Joh. 2.1 Rom. 8.26 You may be bold for a Child's Portion in Covenant that have the Heart and Spirit of a Child 4. Improve your Baptismal Relation to the Father the Son and Holy Ghost for Assurance The great Promise is that God will be our God All-sufficient for all things and all times What Circumcision was Baptism is See Rom. 4.11 Col. 2.11,12 Say then you have the Seal of God added to his Promise Oh shew it and plead it for Confirmation and Assurance of Pardon Act. 2.38 Chap. 22.14 and all other Blessings 5. Improve Baptism for your Continuance and Constancy in Duty and Obedience against all Temptations to Apostacy Make quick Denials to the Importunities of the Flesh World and Devil Say What have I to do with thee Satan Get thee hence I am baptized I am delivered and redeemed from thee and sworn in Covenant against thee I am a Soldier of Christ in his Name by his Authority and Power I will resist thee I will not turn away from Christ nor be treacherous to him and mine own Soul c. Say to the World I am crucified to thee what have I to do with thee The Lord is my Portion Go tempt and allure them that know thee not and that have their Treasure upon Earth I am dead to thee But Lord there is none in Heaven but thee and none upon Earth besides thee c. Psal 73.25 Say to the Flesh I am redeemed I am joined to the Lord Shall I take the Members of Christ and make them Members of an Harlot God forbid How shall I serve sin that am freed from it To this End Remember 1. To whom thou art engaged Thou art married in Covenant to the Lord thou art to honour thy Father in Heaven who is better than all above all thou art a redeemed Servant and Member of Christ thou art related and engaged to the Holy Spirit 2. Remember the nature of thy Obligation it is a solemn Covenant an Engagement of the highest nature 3. It is a Pre-engagement thou art promised to God
first and wilt not be false 4. It is an unspeakable Mercy Honour and Blessing to be Sons and Daughters in Covenant with God Will you forfeit it 5. Your present and future Happiness depends upon your observing loving honouring serving God and walking before him 6. God will judge you by his Son Christ in the last Day And what will he do to them in that Day who are ashamed of him now Oh! re-turn and repent ye Revolters Lastly Improve your Baptismal Relation and Covenant by Mediation by Prayer by Thanksgiving by Communion at his Table and all by Faith with Love and Reverence Let it not be a small thing in your Eyes to be the Sons and Daughters of the Almighty God who is a great King. Secondly Improve your Baptism for others Parents for your Children 1. Before they are baptized 2. After they are baptized 1. Before From the Water of Baptism learn and lay to heart gross Pollution and Corruption such as no Soap or Nitre no Tears or Blood or Righteousness of our own could purge away 2. Bless God heartily for the Blood of Jesus and the Sanctification of the Spirit 3. See the Necessity and Benefit thereof 4. And then address your selves to God as Father Son and Holy Ghost for your Seed 1. Beg that the Infant may be taken into the Covenant of Grace with you 2. That the Child may ever continue under the Grace and in the Duty of the Covenant 3. Pray for the inward Grace and rest not in the outward Privilege To that end 1. Be sensible of the sinful Defilement Death and Misery of the Infant by Nature Humble your Souls in the Sight of God under the Consideration of it 2. Look unto the Promise or free Covenant of Grace and the part that Infants have in it Act. 2.39 and the Grace expressed by Christ to Infants Mar. 10.13 c. 3. Exercise Faith in the free Grace and Love of the Father the Love and Redemption of the Son the Grace and Power of the Holy Ghost 4. Do not look upon Baptism as an empty Sign but as an Ordinance of God established by a Word of Command and Promise for great Ends and of great Efficacy to those Ends by the Operation of the Spirit It is not a Sign of nothing nor a Seal of nothing but look to the Grace of it 5. Taking Encouragement from Free Grace apply your selves to the Father Son and Holy Ghost for the Infant by earnest Prayer The matter of which may be 1. That God would be so merciful as to receive the Infant to Baptism 2. That God would be his Father Redeemer and Sanctifier and be his God according to the Grace of every Relation 3. That the poor Infant may be taken out of the old corrupt Stock and planted into Christ so as to receive Life and Nourishment from him Rom. 6.3 c. 4. That he may in time have Faith and the Adoption the Privileges of a Child and the Grace to continue in the Duties 5. That he may never turn after the Flesh World and Devil or if he do that he may return to God in Covenant and never revolt again 6. Look upon the Grace and the Obligation of Baptism together the Grace and the Duty Water in Baptism is as significant and conducive to its End as Bread and Wine in the Lord's Supper 2. Improve Baptism for them that are baptized Thus 1. Respect your Infants as the Children of God committed to your Charge for Education as more God's than yours Make a difference between them and the Breed of Insidels Atheists Worldlings and Devils 2. Continue in fervent Prayers for them from their Infancy 3. Begin to instruct them and train them up for God as you feed them plainly frequently seasonably sensibly They will soon take notice of things which they see of the Moon and Stars c. Make known to them the invisible God his Wisdom Power Goodness and Providence 4. As they grow in Capacity labour to fill them and labour that Knowledge may enter into their Souls Make frequent Applications to them when you are taken with their Comeliness Beauty Features Actions Speeches and how pretty they are when dress'd Make spiritual use of these things to your selves and them 5. Take Considerations from their Baptism to plead for them with God 1. When you observe them to be dull and backward to Goodness and forward to Naughtiness when you see them negligent forgetful untractable and are afraid of them Oh say as you mourn to God This Child is dedicated to thee in Covenant with thee Oh make him thine own Work upon his Soul what I cannot Give what I have not to give Teach him redeem him convert him sanctifie him rule him O thou who didst once receive him do not now reject him 2. When you are cross'd and afflicted contend with them for God upon Covenant-Engagement and plead with God for them upon Covenant-Mercies and Promises Shew unto them what an Honour Liberty Mercy it is to be God's Covenant-child how much they are obliged to keep Covenant with the Heavenly Father Son and Spirit how happy it will be for them in the great Day to be called Ye blessed of the Father and how terrible it will be to depart as cursed Revolters and treacherous Unbelievers and impenitent Workers of Iniquity to be tormented in Everlasting Fire with the Devil and his Angels The Lord teach you to profit CHAP. II. Of Prayer Shewing whence and how the Matter of Prayer is drawn out of the Catechism with a Form or Pattern of Prayer thence deduced section 1 OBserve what Prayer is Prayer is the offering up our Desires to God for things agreeable to his Will in the Name of Christ with Confession of our Sins and thankful Acknowledgment of his Mercies When your offer up your Desires to God how will you conceive of him What Titles will you give him Look to Ans 4. God is a Spirit c. as followeth in the Prayer You cannot expect to speed for your own sakes nor presume to go in your own names or in the name of any Creature Saint or Angel but in the Name that is by virtue of the Mediation of Jesus Christ Here look to Ans 30. And in making continual Intercession for us In your Prayers you offer up your Desires to God for things agreeable to his Will. What are your Desires You want all spiritual and heavenly Blessings and temporal good things which God hath promised and directed us in his Word to ask particularly in that Prayer called The Lord's Prayer Particularly pray for the Application of the Benefits of Redemption and the Benesits which they who are effectually called partake of in this Life And what Believers do receive at their Death and at the Resurrection see from Ans 40 c. You must also pray for the Means of Grace by which you obtain these Graces Privileges and Blessings as the Continuance of the Christian Sabbath as in the
and brought over to my earnest Request to be constant Communicants but not ignorant unprepared and unreformed 1. I beseech you to consider the great and gracious Condescention of the most high and holy God to reveal to you the great Mystery of Redemption by his beloved Son and to make it plain and to confirm weak Faith to represent it by sensible Signs The Bread and Wine admonish you of the Necessity of Christ without whom you cannot live and of the Benefit of Christ whose Effect is spiritual Nourishment and Growth in Grace You have need of this plain way of Information by sensible Signs God stoops very low therein neglect it not What an Advantage is this to be doubly taught by the Word and by teaching Signs 2. Consider once again what is conveyed to your Souls by these visible Signs 1. Jesus Christ as dying yea as dead in our stead for our Sins to satisfie for them to reconcile us to God and to procure Forgiveness of Sins and that his Death was effectual for these great Purposes because we shew forth the Death of Christ by which all heavenly Blessings are become Legacies in the New Testament 2. Is it not profitable for you to see Jesus Christ and all the Benefits of Redemption set before you That God with-holds nothing from you if you will receive Christ but sets him and all things with him before your Eyes invites you to take him and all his Benefits He offers him yea gives yea seals the Gift of Righteousness and Life to make it sure to you for ever if you will but take and receive as he hath appointed you And what can be more to you than Jesus Christ and the Purchace of his most precious Blood Are the Forgiveness of Sins Reconciliation Adoption Supplies of all Grace the Promises which are exceeding great and precious such vile and common things that you will not have them though for coming for Have you no need of Christ or no need of receiving him in this Ordinance Surely if he enjoined it to them who had been trained up in his Doctrine known his Life seen his Miracles how gracious is God to us in appointing us such an Help who have more need of such repeated Confirmations of his Grace Can you do as well without Or what need you care to have your Graces strengthned or Forgiveness sealed Can you be so unthankful and cold in your Love as to neglect to remember him in a Way of his own Appointment Or would you be so careless to have the Act of Oblivion sealed by the Great Seal and to be sure of Life Or are you so rich that you can be without a part in the Everlasting Covenant Is he a Child of God that never enquires for the Legacy bequeathed by Will What is this but the New Testament confirmed by the Death of the Testator section 5 2. You are invited nay required to come by one who must not be despised a great King. This Charge This do in remembrance of me was given by the Lord in the same Night wherein he was betrayed That which you are invited to is with greatest Earnestness to be desired You will certainly die for ever without Christ Come Soul take me and live saith Christ Whosoever will let him come And will you not come Can neither the Authority of God nor his Love nor the last Charge of a dying Saviour prevail with you Oh! will you not observe his Charge which was given in the same Night wherein he was betrayed When he was ready to sacrifice his Body and Blood for your Sins When he was ready to drink the bitter Cup of God's Wrath appointed to be drunk by Infinite Justice When he was ready to shed his Blood for the Remission of Sin and to make the Covenant of Grace of force by his Death So that thereby all the Children might come in for their Portions and Share because the Testator being dead the Legacies became due to all that claim them Will none of these things move you but rather let all be lost than you trouble your selves to examine your selves to repent of Sin and embrace Christ or to shake off your damning Security and spiritual Sloth The Lord rebuke you in Mercy that you may be saved section 6 3. Doth the offended God declare that he is well pleased with the Death of his Son Doth the Lord Jesus Christ shew forth his own Death for Sin to redeem your Souls Do not you hear him say Thus was my Body broken thus was my Blood shed thus my Hands and my Feet and my Sides were wounded Thus I gave up the Ghost for you And upon this that Christ died a Proclamation is made to all that have any thing to accuse the Soul of Rom. 8.33 Who can lay any thing to the Charge of God's Elect It is Christ that died And to all Sinners that are cast in Law that cannot deny nor mitigate their Offences nor bear the Sentence much less endure Damnation by that Sentence I say to all Sinners notice is given 1 Joh. 1.2 If any Man sin there is an Advocate with the Father who is also the Propitiation for our Sin. O Sinner wilt not thou come to see this Death shewed forth Soul what hast thou to shew or plead wherefore the Sentence of Eternal Death should not be pronounced against thee but this Hast not thou sinned against the infinite God Doth not thy Conscience accuse judge and condemn thee according to the Law which thou hast transgressed What canst thou say for thy self If thou offer to plead any thing of thine own either good Intentions Desires Purposes Works or any Circumstances to extenuate and pare off the grossness of thy Sin thy Conscience except the Ignorant and Erroneous like an upright Judge well learned in the Law and Gospel must needs stop thy Mouth over-rule all thy Pleas and tell thee that without shedding of Blood there is no Remission of Sin and that no Blood but the precious Blood of Christ as of a Lamb without Spot can cleanse thee from thy Sin. Wilt not thou therefore cast thy self upon the free Grace of God reconciled and satisfied with the Death of his dear Son And wilt thou not come to that Ordinance which he commanded his People to the End of the World to observe in which his Death is shewed forth and there shew him to God as the Death of thy Mediator who hath made Peace and taken away Sin And shew him also to all thy Adversaries and Accusers Lo all you that seek my Soul to destroy it This is he who gave his Life a Ransom for me He hath fulfilled the Law satisfied the Divine Justice What have you to say against me Against all your Accusations this I plead and alledge that Christ died and overcame Death and that he died for me And be it known to all Infidels and Blasphemers that the crucified Christ is my Lord and Saviour Into him I
was baptized to him I am joined I am his And O you the blessed Saints of God take notice that I hope to be saved even as you by him whose Name is Jesus who came to save his People from their Sin. O you careless ones who will not be at the Cost of a Sacrament who will not come to the Light forsake your Sins nor be joined to the Lord to be his by a renewed Covenant You that will not take pains to know the Lord Jesus in the great Work of Redemption in which you are deeply concerned that will not take time and pains to prepare your selves for the Supper of the Lord give me leave to ask you these few Questions 1. Have you sinned at all 2. What doth every Sin deserve 3. Is there any other Redeemer but the Lord Jesus Christ 4. Do you think that his Death is shewed forth in his holy Sacrament 5. Ought you not to obey his last Will to make a Remembrance of him And will you not come to remember him Oh what a Sight doth the broken-hearted Penitent see when the Father sheweth the Death of his Son as fully satisfied and pleased in him And when Jesus Christ sheweth forth his Death as satisfying for all with a full Discharge to all that repent and believe the Gospel Oh how must the Heart needs melt and love as Mary wept and loved Let me add Wouldst not thou hate and abhor that Minister that would refuse to baptize thy Child or account thee as an Heathen or a Publican And is it nothing to thee that thou carriest thy self like an Heathen by thy strangeness sinful and slothful refusing to come to this Ordinance Thou dost discover the Ineffectualness of thy Vow in Baptism to bind thee to be a thorow Christian and that thou art not the better for it that thou thinkest that the preaching of Christ is but a dry thing of no power upon thy Heart that there is not that Good to be had by Communion with Christ that we say there is In a word Thou art backward to renew thy Covenant in thine own Person in thy riper Years and wouldest be as slack to be baptized if it were now to be done as thou art to eat the Lord's Supper for both are Seals and Signs of the same Covenant And by consequence thou art backward to become a Christian And what wilt thou be accounted at the last Day section 7 The other Motive is the Loss and Dis-advantage by not Receiving and also by unworthy Receiving The Non-Communicants lose all that true Believers get that Satisfaction Peace Joy Comfort Strength and Growth The unworthy Receiver and unsound Communicant comes for the worse 1. Sin is a great Dis commodity to any one The Sin of unworthy Eating and Drinking is a Sin of great Indecency and Mis-behaviour towards Jesus Christ crucified for Sin Thou art guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord that is thou prophanest that which is most holy and abusest that which should be most dear to thy Soul. 2. Thou eatest and drinkest Judgment to thy self for they who eat and drink unworthily provoke God to punish them they draw down Judgments upon themselves and others also 3. Thou losest the Benefit of spiritual Nourishment and Growth in Grace thy Sins grow thy Heart waxeth worse and worse more deceitful and hard if not more prophane even to nauseate that from which thou receivest no saving Benefit In a word Thou hast no Communion with the Father in his Love with Christ in his Merits with the Holy Ghost in his Grace and Comforts nor with the Saints of God in Love and heavenly Privileges Oh what a Loss and Disadvantage is this Consider what I say and resolve by the Grace of God against affected Ignorance spiritual and killing Sloth and Ease against Unbelief and Falseness of Heart shrinking from thy Covenant Vow and Promise and see that thou sin no more by Omission of this great Duty and Neglect of this high Privilege nor by an unworthy Eating and Drinking But hunger and thirst after Christ and thou shalt be filled with his Grace and Glory Come with thy Wedding-Garment and thou shalt never be cast out If thou wilt shew forth his Death until he come again when he comes he will receive thee to himself and thou shalt be for ever with the Lord. So be it Amen Amen FINIS ERRATA IN the Catechism pag. 6. Letter t for Heb. 11.13 read 11.3 PART II. p 9. l. 3. r. the Law is called a Letter c. ibid. l 24. add the things of the Spirit p. 11. l. antepenult r. if not one jot c. p. 19. Sect. 1. r. Jehovah which signifies c. p. 38. l 12. for put p 49. l. 21. dele in p 59 l. 10. f give r. shew p. 60. n. 5. l. 2. r. and Faith and is called c. p. 77. l. 21 r. but not absolute p. 87. l. 25. dele not p. 88. l 7. r. doth not hinder p 94. l. 15. after bless it add as the Minister doth Other Faults by reason of the Author's distance from the Press have escaped which the Reader is intreated to correct and pardon
Catechism made Practical THE CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTED I. In the Principles of Christian Religion positively in the shorter CATECHISM II. In what he is to refuse and what to hold fast in the greatest Points of Controversie And how to confute Errors and defend the Truth III. In the Practice of several Duties VIZ. 1. The Practical Improvement of the Holy Trinity 2. Baptism 3. Prayer And 4. Preparation for the Lord's Supper Joh. 12.35 Walk while ye have the Light lest Darkness come upon you LONDON Printed for Jonathan Robinson at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church Yard 1688. The AUTHOR'S PREFACE TO Ministers Governors of Families and People under their Charge ESPECIALLY To his much honoured Friends and next Relations THere are three things most worthy our Ministerial Work and Endeavours and most desirable to be found in the Flocks committed to our Charge and Oversight 1. The saving Knowledge of the Truth 2. A Judgment to discern between Truths and Errors especially such as concern Faith and Holiness the Principles of the Oracles of God and the things which accompany Salvation 3. A gracious lively Spirit sincerely devoted to God in Christ and strongly inclined to holy Exercises and practice of Religious Duties Or if you will take all in three short Sentences 1. Conviction of Judgment of Saving Truth and damning Errors 2. Sound Conversion to God. 3. A Conversation according to the Will of God revealed in the Gospel The Church is called God's Husbandry and God's Building 1 Cor. 3.9 and Ministers are highly dignified when called Workers together with God 2 Cor. 6.1 and Labourers together with God 1 Cor. 3.9 The Field is God's the Seed is his the Husbandry is his and the Increase is given by him We are Labourers together with him enabled by him and working by his power and influence under him and for him All our Sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3.5 without him we are nothing and can do nothing Who then is Paul and who is Apollos but Ministers by whom ye believed as the Lord gave to every man. I have planted Apollos watered but God gave the increase So then neither is he that planteth any thing nor he that watereth but God that giveth the increase 1 Cor. 3.5,6,7 As we are Husband-men we must sow and plant but that is not all we must also mound and fence our Fields and Plantations As we are Builders we must lay the Foundation carry on the Building by Edification in Faith 1 Tim. 1.4 and secure the Building that it fall not like an House built upon the Sand. This Husbandry is elsewhere called a Garden and this Building called an House How graciously doth the Most High condescend to delight himself in and to be entertained by his Church as by a Royal Spouse with his own Graces and Gifts the Fruits of his Holy Spirit when they are in Act put forth and exercised as in a Garden of Spices and Orchard of Pomegranates or at a Table prepared for him Cant. 4.14,15,16 chap. 5.1 and 1.12 What a blessed Life may we lead by walking with God appearing before him calling upon him praising him and hearing him speak There is ordinary not mean but rich and plentiful and extraordinary Entertainment for hungry feeding Believers in the Ordinances of the Gospel In the Gospel there is a Feast prepared and that a Wedding-Feast a Wedding-Feast of a King's Son his only Son the Prince of Life but they who sit at it must have a Wedding-Garment the Ornament of Grace Faith Repentance and Love a Suitableness of heart and Preparation Matth 22. 2. Towards this most desirable End there are three things to be found in this little Book 1. Here are the Foundations of Faith and Godliness laid a View of the Principles of Christian Religion according to the Word of God out of which they are gathered and by which they are proved and agreeing with the appproved Doctrine of the Reformed Churches 2. Here are the most important Doctrines briefly touched in these Principles cleared proved desended and rescued out of the hands of them who have handled the Word of God deceitfully and have led many into the Errors of the Wicked that the studious Christian may know what he ought to contend for and to continue in and how to maintain his Ground 3. Here are Directions for Practice of several great Duties of all baptized Christians 1. How to improve the Doctrine of the most holy Trinity the Mystery of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and his Baptism or Entrance into Covenant with God. 2. Direction for Prayer with a Prayer taken out of the Catechism for the most part 3. Direction for the Communion in the Lord's Supper 3. Of these three Parts be pleased to take this following Account 1. Some time since a little Book was printed called Principles made practical directing the poorer and weaker sort of Christians who had learnt the shorter Catechism and could not buy nor spare time to read other profitable Books to make use of their Catechism to furnish them with matter for Prayer and Preparation for the Lord's Table As mean and defective as it was it was attended with a Blessing to many that embraced it as an help to them and therein I rejoice That Impression being sold off and worn out in the hands of many long ago another Edition of it hath been much desired and called for from many places I have re-viewed it corrected the Faults in the Sence of it and begged of God to open a passage for it and seeing it was blessed before in a plain homely dress I have not at all trimmed or adorned it To those two Duties I have now added another Chapter of the practical use of the Doctrine of the glorious eternal Trinity and improvement of Baptism upon these Considerations 1. The Doctrine of the Trinity hath been and is looked upon as a meer Speculation under a Veil of Mysteriousness as if it were as dangerous to look into it as it was into the Ark Whereas though it be an high and glorious Mystery to be adored and with profoundest Reverence and Humility to be studied and taught yet it is revealed by God himself as the Object of our Faith and Worship See Calvin 's Instit l. 1. c. 13. Sect. 28 21. Perfecta scientia est sic Deum scire ut licet non ignorabilem tamen inenâ—…rabilem sciâ—… Hilar. De P. â—it Unitate So God reveals himself in the Creation of the World in the Creation of Man and in the Covenant of Grace When we are admitted into Covenant and made visibly free of the City of God we are devoted to God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost This Doctrine is a Fundamental of our Christian Faith and therefore to be explained to the People of God in Covenant with him as far as it is revealed in his Word and that is enough for our present State. 2. The very Titles and Appellations of the Persons in
in the Catechism to which they belong 7. As soon as you can give your selves to Prayer and be not disswaded by them who are against all Vse of Forms Think not that God will not be served but with New and New. Pray for the Matter of it what is pleasing to God and good for you with Vnderstanding spiritual Sense and Faith and as you can do more and better Thus do and the Lord help you by his Holy Spirit 8. Renew your Baptismal Covenant and as engaged by Covenant examine your selves and so eat c. And Lastly Having once preparedly joined your selves to the Lord and his Church in the Communion of his Body and Blood having drunk of that one Cup and being made one Bread take heed of Neglects and Apostasie Remember As often as you do it c. you shew forth the Lord's Death until he come And while you live continue so to do It will be a Benefit to you to lay up the short View of these Principles in your Memories and often repeat them to your selves ADVERTISEMENT THere is lately published the Second Edition of Mr. Pools Annotations on the Bible in which the whole Sacred Text is inserted in two Volumes in Folio Useful for Families and Closets Sold by Jo. Robinson in St. Paul's Church-yard A SHORT CATECHISM According to the DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND With Scripture Proofs at large Newly revised and corrected with more Scriptures and Propositions for Illustration annexed LONDON Printed in the Year 1688. A short View of Divinity or Summary of this CATECHISM SHewing 1. what is Mans chief End. 2. The way to it I. Mans chief End is either 1. The chief End of Intention what he ought to aim at above all things as the Scope of his Life and Actions that is to glorify God. Or 2. Mans chief End of Fruition his chiefest Good and Happiness and that is to enjoy God for ever II. The Way to attain this chief End is by the holy Scriptures The Scriptures principally teach 1. What Man is to believe 2. What God requires Man to do 3. What Man may and ought to ask of God and pray for The Scriptures are a Rule of Faith a Rule of Life and manners a Rule of Prayer I. The Scriptures teach what Man is bound to believe 1. Concerning God. 2. Concerning himself 1. Concerning God Man is to believe 1. What God is in his Essence or Being and Attributes 2. What he is in Relation to himself as the Essence subsisteth in three Persons the Father the Son the Holy Ghost 3. What God is in Relation to his Creatures in general and to Man in special of whom the Scriptures principally speak God is to be considered in reference to Man 1. As Creator 2. Preserver 3. Governor 4. Redeemer 5. Benefactor and gracious Rewarder 2. Man is to be considered as 1. a Creature 2. as a defective needy insufficient Creature and sinful 3. As under Government as a Subject governed by Law and Covenant 4. As redeemed under which consider 1. Mans Sin. 2. Mans Misery 3. Mans Inability to recover or restore himself Concerning our Redemption Note 1. The way by which by a Covenant of Grace 2. The Person by whom our Lord Jesus Christ Concerning this Redeemer observe 1. who and what he is 2. His Office in general a Mediator A Mediator in three Offices 1. A Prophet 2. a Priest 3. a King in a twofold State of Humiliation and Exaltation 3. The Application of Redemption by the Holy Spirit The Redemption is applied in effectual Calling They who are called are justified sanctified and adopted And these are partakers of great Benefits from Christ in this Life at Death after Death at the Resurrection and in Heaven for ever II. The Scriptures teach what Man is obliged to do to please and glorify God and that is Obedience to the moral Law which Law shews what we ought to do and what we ought not to do But Man hath transgressed this Law and is fallen under the Wrath and Curse of God. The Scriptures further teach what is to be done to escape the Wrath of God which is 1. Faith in Jesus Christ 2. Repentance to Life towards God. 3. A diligent Vse of means which are 1. The Word heard and read 2. The Sacraments Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. 3. Prayer III. What Man ought to pray for taught generally in the Scriptures particularly in the Lord's Prayer The Sum of all is our highest End and the way to it the way to it is by Faith in Jesus Christ with its adjunct Repentance which we are taught in our Creed 2. By Love and Obedience the Sum of the Commandments 3. By Invocation taught by our Saviour A SHORT CATECHISM According to the DOCTRINE OF THE Church of England Quest 1. WHat is the chief End of Man Answ MAn's chief End for which he was made and redeemed and to which he should aim is to glorifie (a) 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the Glory of God. Rom. 11.36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen God and to enjoy him for (b) Psal 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee V. 26. My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever V. 27. For lo they that are far from thee shall perish thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee V. 28. But it is good for me to draw near to God I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy works ever 2. Q. What Rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorifie and enjoy him A. The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New (c) 2 Tim. 3.15 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 Ephes 2 20. And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone Testament is the only Rule to direct us how we may glorifie and enjoy (d) 1 Joh. 1.3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ V. 4. And these things write we unto you that your joy may be full Psal 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards receive me to glory Joh. 20.31 But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his Name him 3.
lust and inticed V. 15. Then when lust hath conceived it brings forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death Matth. 15.19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts murthers adulteries fornications thefts false-witnesses blasphemies it 23. Q. What is the misery of that Estate whereinto Man fell A. All Mankind by their Fall lost Communion with (i) Gen. 3.8 Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden V. 10. And he said I heard thy voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid my self V. 24. So he drove out the man and he placed at the end of the garden of Eden Cherubims and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life God are under his Wrath and (k) Ephes 2.2,3 see before Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the work 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 law to do them Curse and so made liable to all miseries in this Life to Death it self and to the pains of Hell for (l) Lam. 3.39 Wherefore doth the living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins Rom. 6.23 For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Matth. 25.41 Then shall he say 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 ever 24. But all Mankind were not left to perish in the state of Sin and Misery For 25. Q. Did God leave all Mankind to perish in the state of Sin and Misery A. God having out of his meer good pleasure from all Eternity elected some to everlasting (m) Ephes 1.4 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 Life did enter into a Covenant of Grace to deliver them out of the state of Sin and misery and to bring them into an estate of Salvation by a (n) Rom. 3.21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the law and the prophets V. 22. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe for there is no difference Gal. 3.21 Is the law then against the promises God forbid for if there had been a law given which could have given life verily righteousness should have been by the law V. 22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe Redeemer 26. Q. Who is the Redeemer of God's Elect A. The only Redeemer of God's Elect is the Lord Jesus (o) 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men the Man Christ Jesus V. 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time Christ who being the Eternal Son of God became (p) Joh. 1.14 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 Gal. 4.4 But when the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law. Man and so was and continueth to be God and Man in two distinct Natures and one Person for (q) Rom. 9.5 Whose are the Fathers and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever Luke 1.35 And the Angel answered and said unto her The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the Power of the Highest shall over-shadow thee therefore also the holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Col. 2 9. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Heb. 7.24 But this Man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable priesthood V. 25. Wherefore he is able to save them to the utmost that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them ever 27. Q. How did Christ being the Son of God become Man. A. Christ the Eternal Son of God became Man by taking to himself a true (r) Heb. 2.14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death that is the Devil V. 16. For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham Heb. 10.5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me Body and a reasonable (Å¿) Matth. 26.38 Then saith he unto them My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death tarry you here and watch with me Soul being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the Womb of the Virgin Mary and born of (t) Luke 1.31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus V. 35. see before V. 42. And she spake out with a loud voice and said Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Gal. 4.4 see before her yet without (u) Heb. 4.15 For we have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Heb. 7.26 For such an High-Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens Sin. 28. Q. What Offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer A. Christ as our Redeemer executeth the Offices (x) Acts 3.22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you Heb. 12.25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven Compared with 2 Cor. 13.3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me which to you-ward is not weak but is mighty in you Luke 4.18 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-hearted to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised of a Prophet (y) Heb. 5.5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High Priest but he that
his ass or any thing that is thy neighbour's his 17. Q. Is any man able perfectly to keep the Commandments of God A. No meer Man since the Fall is able in this Life perfectly to keep the Commandments of (d) Eccles 7.20 For there is not a just man on earth that doeth good and sinneth not 1 Joh. 1.8 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 lyer and his word is not in us Gal. 5.17 For the fiesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would God but doth break them in Thought Word and (e) Gen. 6.5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually Gon. 8.21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour and the Lord said in his heart I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth neither will I again smite any more every thing living as I have done Rom. 3.9 What then are we better than they No in no wise for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles that they are all under sin and so on to V. 21. Jam. 3.2 For in many things we offend all If any man offend not in word the same is a persect man and able also to bridle the whole body and so on to V. 13. Deed. 18. Q. Are all transgressions of the Law equally heinous A. Some sins in themselves and by reason of several Aggravations are more heinous in the sight of God than (f) Ezek. 8.6 He said furthermore unto me Son of Man seest thou what they do even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here that I should go far off from my Sanctuary But turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations V. 13. He said also unto me Turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do V. 15. Then said he unto me Hast thou see this O son of man Turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations than these 1 Joh. 5.16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death he shall ask and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death There is a sin unto death I do not say that he shall pray for it Psal 78.17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness V. 32. For all this they sinned still and believed not for his wondrous works V. 56. Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God and kept not his testimonies others 19. What doth every sin deserve A. But whatever the Sin is great or small every Sin deserveth God's Wrath and Curse both in this Life and that which is to (g) Ephes 5.6 Let no man deceive you with words for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience Gal. 3.10 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 Lam. 3.39 Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins Matth. 25.41 Then shall he also say unto them on the left hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels come PART III. What Duties God requires of sinful Man in the Law of Grace or Gospel for the escaping of God's deserved Wrath and Curse 1. GOD hath not left sinful man to perish in the state of Sin and Misery into which he is fallen but the first Covenant of Life or Works being broken by the first Adam God hath made a second Covenant of Grace to bring sinners to Eternal Salvation by Jesus Christ the Redeemer according to certain Terms and Conditions which God doth require of all and doth work in all that are saved There are several Duties and Conditions which God requires of sinful Man to escape the Wrath and Curse of God due to us for Sin. We call them Conditions because God requireth them from us 2. What doth God require of us that we may escape his Wrath and Curse due to us for sin A. To escape the the Wrath and Curse of God due to us for Sin God requireth of us Faith in Jesus Christ Repentance unto (a) Acts 20.21 Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ Life with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the Benefits of (b) Prov. 2.1 My son if thou wilt receive my words and hide my commandments with thee c. V. 5. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Chap. 8 33. Hear instruction and be wise and refuse it not V. 34. Blessed is the man that heareth me waiting daily at my gates waiting at the posts of my doors V. 35. But whoso findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Isa 55.3 Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Redemption 3. Q. What is Faith in Jesus Christ 1. A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a (c) Heb. 10.39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the soul Saving Grace whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for Salvation as he is offered to us in the (d) 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 Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee V. 4. Trust ye in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength 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 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 beheved 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 Gospel 4. Q. What is Repentance unto Life 2. A. Repentance unto Life is a (e) Acts 11.18 When they heard these things they held their peace and glorified God saying Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted
Sacraments become effectual Means of Salvation not from any virtue in them or in him that doth administer them but only by the Blessing of (Å¿) 1 Pet. 3.20 The like figure whereunto even Baptism doth also now save us not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Matth. 3.11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance but he that cometh after me is mightier than I whose shooes I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire 1 Cor. 3.6 I have planted Apollo watered but God gave the increase V. 7. So then neither is he that planteth any thing neither he that watereth but God that giveth the increase Christ and the working of his Spirit in them that by Faith receive (t) 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 made all to drink into one spirit them Q. What is a Sacrament 2. A. A Sacrament is an holy Ordinance instituted by Christ wherein by sensible signs Christ and the Benefits of the new Covenant are represented sealed and applied to (u) 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 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. throughout 1 Cor. 11.23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus 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 Lord's death till he come Believers Q. Which are the Sacraments of the New Testament 3. A. The Sacraments of the New Testament are (x) Matth. 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 Baptism and the Lord's (y) Matth. 26.26 And as they were eating Jesus 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 it V. 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Supper Q. What is Baptism 1. A. Baptism is a Sacrament wherein the Washing of Water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy (z) Matth. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them c. Ghost doth signifie and seal our ingrafting into Christ and partaking of the Benefits of the Covenant of Grace and our Engagement to be the (a) Rom. 6.4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism 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 buptized into Christ have put on Christ Lord's Q. To whom is Baptism to be administred 2. A. Baptism is not to be administred to any that are out of the Visible Church till they profess their Faith in Christ and Obedience to (b) Acts 8.36 And as they went on their way they came to 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 mayest 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 him but the Infants of such as are Members of the Visible Church are to be (c) Acts 2.39 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. 17.7 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 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 Col. 2.11 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 baptism 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 and now they are holy baptized Q. What is the Lord's Supper 1. A. The Lord's Supper is a Sacrament wherein by Giving and Receiving Bread and Wine according to Christ's 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 growth in (d) 1 Cor. 11.23 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 Lord's 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 Grace Q. What is required to the worthy Receiving of the Lord's Supper 2. A. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's Supper That they examine themselves of their Knowledge to discern the Lord's (e) 1 Cor. 11.28 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 Lord's body Body of their Faith to feed upon (f) 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith prove your own selves
Mat. 5.18 The Spirit will not nullify his own work 17. The Scriptures are of the same use to us and all Ages to come which they were of to them that first received and believed them They are written that we should believe them that shall be saved Joh. 20.31 They are profitable for all things for all good works therefore we cannot be wise to Salvation without them 2 Tim. 3.15,16,17 1 Joh. 1.1,2,3,4 18. The authority of the Old Testament is equally Divine with the New. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3.16 They mutually prove one another Luke 24.44 Acts 26.22,23 chap. 24.14 A proof from the Old Testament is as good as any from the New both make up one perfect Canon and Rule of Faith. 19. Consequences clearly or immediately drawn from Scripture or by clear natural light are Divine for they are contained in the Scriptures Those consequences drawn by our Saviour and Peter to prove the fundamental Article of the Resurrection are now part of Scripture Mat. 22.32 Acts 2.30,31 and were virtually contained in the Scriptures before If we can draw consequences from Scriptures by sound Mediums in imitation of them what we prove by such consequences is true and to be believed 20. The sence of Scripture is but one plain and simple to imform and fettle our understandings and faith and not ambiguous to confound us or keep us in doubts When the Scriptures speak plainly and properly the sence is proper when by metaphors and figures then it is plainly so If the sence were ambiguous how could they be understood how could they serve for Doctrine or for conviction of Error but they are profitable to those and other ends therefore plain 2 Tim. 3.16,17 21. There are no contradictions in Scripture for they are all given by inspiration of God who cannot contradict himself If any contradiction appears it is because our understandings cannot reach their coherence 22. Divine Revelation and right reason are different lights from the same father of light There is nothing therefore in Scripture contrary to right reason To bring matters revealed to be judged by reason is to bring the Spirit of God before the tribunal of Man who is both blind corrupt and partial and to make the Reason of Man now in a corrupted state to be more Divine and certain than Revelation Ephes 5.8 1 Thes 5.4 Ephes 4.17,18 1 Cor. 2.14 There is the greatest reason in the World to believe what God hath revealed Right reason and revelation agree where Scripture is contrary to reason the reason is not good 23. God hath taken care to preserve Canonical Scriptures from being lost The Scriptures are perfect 2 Tim. 3.15,16,17 If any were lost the rest would be imperfect If not one jot or tittle shall pass away from the Law till all be fulfilled the whole Law and Revelation is safe Mat. 5.18 SECT III. Of the Trinity THE Doctrine of the most glorious Trinity is fundamental and practical because we are baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Our Christian faith and hope is built upon them we receive Gifts and Blessings from them together and from each one distinctly and we glorify and worship them together and distinctly as being devoted Servants to God the Father the Son and Holy Ghost This mystery is known only by Revelation There is enough in nature to make it credible and the practical use of it is to be made known as well as the truth of it to be proved by the Holy Scriptures Concerning it observe 1. There are three Relatives or Persons in the God-head 2. What a Person in the God-head is 3. These three are one God in Being or Essence co-essential and co-equal for there can be no inequality in the same infinite God-head or Essence I. There are three This is acknowledged by the Socinians who pronounce them to be no Christians who do not believe it Racov-Catech c. 1. But they deny that there are three Persons in the God-head because a Person is Essentia individua intelligens an individual intelligent Being But this reason is not good It implies that because a Person in the God-head is not like a Person in Nature therefore there are no distinct Persons or Relatives in the God-head Concerning these three observe 1. They are nam'd together Mat. 28.19 1 Joh. 5.7 and apart in many Scriptures by their several different Names These three are more than one They say there is but one Person in the God-head and that is the Father But the Father is not every one of these three there are two more distinctly named besides him The Father is not the Son nor the Son the Father nor is the Father nor the Son the Holy Ghost the Holy Ghost is not the Father nor the Son. If the Father be a Person so is the Son and so is the Holy Ghost The Father and the Son are two and not one and the Holy Ghost is a third If the Father relate to the Son as Father and the Son relate to the Father as Son as they do then they are distinct Persons and then there are also more Persons than one and as the Father and the Son are two the Holy Ghost is a third Not a quality of God for there are no accidents in God and if he were a power or a quality there would be no need of naming him as distinct from the Father and the Son for he would be included in the Father as the power of God. 2. These three are distinctly named in our Baptism which is a covenanting action and solemnity Covenants are between Persons The God of Grace who takes a number of Persons into Covenant with himself doth declare himself to them that they may know to whom they are obliged and related in Covenant Our great duty is to believe in God to honour and serve him and to expect what he hath promised He reveals himself as our God in Covenant and that not only as God but as Father Son and Holy Ghost We are oblig'd in the same duties to the Son and Holy Ghost as to the Father and partake of Grace Love and Communion from each one together 2 Cor. 13.14 Ephes 1.2,3 As God hath made himself known to us in Covenant so we are to believe and order our conceptions of him 3. Persons are known by personal properties and actions These three are known and distinguished by distinct properties and actions in reference to one another and towards the Creatures We are bound to believe in the Son as the only begotten Son therefore as distinguished from the Father John 20.31 chap. 3.16,18 The property and action of the Father is to beget The Son is called the first begotten Heb. 1.6 The Divine nature is unchangeable and indivisible and not multiplicable therefore there is no proper action nor passion as in nature nor production of new Being in this eternal Generation the manner of which
our sensual appetites Rom. 7.23 Rom. 8.5,6 Tit. 1.15 This is Sin working all manner of concupiscence Rom. 7.8 Adam's habitual corruptions and vices followed upon his actual offence by his own and Satan's doing and Gods just judgment Our actual offences proceed from our natural and habitual corruptions Adam sinned and forfeited for himself and us who are as much his Posterity as Cain and Abel were And God by a righteous Act hath concluded all under Sin Rom. 11.31 Gal. 3.22 This corruption is fitly called the Old Man in opposition to the New Man which is from Christ by the regeneration of the Spirit Rom. 6.6 Ephes 4.22 Col. 3.9 Such as our first Parents were after their transgression such are we by nature Ephes 2.3 that is by a Law of Nature that like should beget like not only in a natural but moral kind and evil qualities Without the image of God what is Man but a young Insidel he loves Self better than God and wanting the guidance of knowledge and wisdom and stay of holiness in himself he sinneth of his own being an active Creature and tempted by Satan and the World. He is corrupted in his nature or he could not imitate His aptness to imitate is one spark of corrupt nature Cain killed his Brother when he had no example to imitate SECT X. Of the Miseries of Men by the Fall. SInful Man is a miserable Creature I shall not speak of all the miseries the World groans under only take notice of two 1. Death is a punishment of Sin as you heard before God reserv'd in his own will and power how far this punishment should be executed They who are redeemed from eternal Death suffer a temporal Heb. 9.28 as a punishment for Sin and for no other cause Death was not known before it was menaced If Death had been the condition of nature it had followed nature in time it might have been foretold but not threatned as a punishment for Sin. 2. The pains of Hell. To teach Men that Death eternal and not temporal was threatned to Adam and that eternal Death is but the continuation of temporal is to tempt Men to despise temporal death and in their distresses to make away themselves to put an end to the miseries of this Life Then the sensual voluptuous Man might say Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die and the miserable sufferer will say I will die rather than live in misery And if eternal Death be but such a privation of Life that I shall never be restored to Life when I am once Dead I had rather never live again than live again to be miserable What work would Socinianism make in the World if it be propagated and entertained It is too far gone but they pretend the Glory of God for it For how can it consist with the justice and goodness of God to punish and torment Men in Hell for ever for the Sins sollies and vanities of a short Life To answer this objection and clear the proceedings of Divine Judgment I humbly offer these considerations 1. There is self-love partiality and hard thoughts of God at the bottom of this objection Men are more sensible of their just sufferings than of the sinfulness of Sin. 2. There is no more unrighteousness in judgment and execation than in the constitution of Gods Government and Laws The great day appointed will be a day of judgment and not injustice Acts 17.31 The sentence will be righteous therefore so will the execution of it be They who do such things are worthy of Death Rom. 1.16 The Judge of all the Earth will do right Gen. 18.25 3. It was just that Adam should die for he knew the Law and the threatning Is it not as just that the wicked should be condemned to Hell who take no warning nor counsel 4. A Sinners heart is eternally turn'd away from God. It is just in God to sentence him to depart from him for ever who will never of himself turn unto him 5. We are not sit to judge in Gods cause for we know not the heinousness of Sin nor the dishonour of God and we are ignorant partial and corrupted parties Parties are no meet judges 6. If we can never repair the dishonour done to God by sin is it not just we should suffer for ever 7. There is a proportion between the Sins of a finite Creature committed against the infinite God and the punishments inflicted by an infinite God upon a finite offender 8. Is it just if a magistrate punish by Death who can never restore the malefactor to Life for momentany sins why then shall God be thought unjust to punish with eternal Death 9. It is most certain God will do nothing to his own dishonour and knows how to glorify his goodness and justice 10. By Gods judgments severally pronounced upon the Criminals Gen. 3.13,20 it is clear that God doth observe a just rule and proportion in punishment He doth not punish all alike 11. They can deserve no less who now despise goodness and forbearance and Death it self 12. The mediator between God and Man will judge between God and Man. He who took our Nature will not wrong the worst of Men. 13. Humbly observe the judgment to come Mat. 25.41 c where note 1. The judge cannot be excepted against by the worst of Sinners 2. The wicked are persons who shall live for ever 3. For the fire is everlasting 4. Everlasting fire is everlasting punishment 5. If the punishment be everlasting the suffering malefactors will be everliving To die eternally is not therefore to be extinguished or to cease to be but to be miserable for ever From what is said it follows 1. That concupiscence is Sin Rom. 7.7,17,20,22,23 2. Every Sin is mortal by desert and venial or pardonable only by Grace Rom. 6.23 Ephes 1.7 3. There is no third place beside Heaven and Hell therefore there is no Purgatory for Venial Sins 4. No Man can or shall suffer more than he deserveth Ps 130.3 Gal. 3.10 SECT XI Of our Recovery 1. GOd hath elected some to eternal Life Election is of Persons and not of qualities or for the sake of qualities Election is of Grace in the free chooser and not in the chosen who are graceless before God makes them gracious 2. The Covenant of Life or Works or Nature being broken God did not renew that but made another called the Covenant of Grace because it proceeds from Grace after a Breach and promiseth Grace to keep it in the construction of Grace or Gospel sence The Moral Law or Commandments is the same in both Covenants but the promisory State and Privileges are very different By a Redeemer 1. Christ is our Redeemer from guilt and justice by a Ransom and Price from our Enemies Satan the World and Sin by Power He is our Lord because of his Right and Power to govern and redeem us He is Jesus which is as much as Saviour Christ which
ever 1 Thes 4.16 In confidence of which they commit their Souls to God Ps 31.6 Acts 7.59 2 Tim. 4.12 2 Cor. 5.1,4 2 Tim. 4.8 3. They do immediately pass into Glory Phil. 1.23 or else it had been more desireable to enjoy Christ in Bonds than be dissolved See Luke 23.43 Mark the words are not I say this day c. but I say unto thee This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise The Soul of Christ was that day in Paradise therefore the Soul of the penitent was to be with Christ in Paradise that day for he was promised to be with Christ 4. No Man can merit eternal Life or degrees of Glory by his good Works it comes by gift Rom. 6.21 2 Tim. 4.8 SECT XXII Christians are obliged to or by the Moral Law. 1. GOD is the Lord and God of believers therefore they are bound to observe these Commandments 2. They are bound to keep by the equity of that other part of the preface who brought thee out c. A redeemed People must serve their Redeemer 3. The Lord Jesus was the Redeemer out of Egypt and gave the Law to Moses Acts 7.30 to 34. Heb. 12.26 whose voice shook the Earth 4. They Love God therefore it is a Law to them which requires Love Mat. 22.38,39 2. If ye walk in the spirit ye are not under the Law Gal. 5.18 doth not contradict this for we are not under the ceremonial Law nor the moral for Righteousness nor under the coaction and servile obedience nor condemnation of it for it is the Law of the Lord our God who is so in the Covenant of Grace 3. The Law is as it alwaies was a perfect Law therefore our Saviour did not as a Prophet add new precepts to it He instituted new Sacraments and instanced in some duties not known to the Pharisces but they are all reducible to some precept of the ten 4. No Man ever did or can do more than is required in the Law. Our Saviour did the will of God and no more Heb. 10.7 Angels do no more Ps 103.20 Believers are unprofitable Servants Luke 17.10 5. Therefore 1. There are no works of supererogation 2. No Man can merit for himself or others 3. Therefore there is no treasure of merits to be dispensed to them that want Of Christs fulness there is a dispensation made by himself but he hath no Lord Treasurer of merits and indulgences in his Kingdom 4. There are no counsels of perfection The young Man in the Gospel Mat. 19. had more to part with and deny himself in than others but more than self denial was not required of him which is enjoined to all and was practised Acts 2.44,45 5. Vows of poverty make no Man perfect Obj. But as many as be perfect c Phil. 3.15 Answ Christianity is a comparative perfection as Heirs at Age Gal. 4.1,2,3 but absolute A sincere believer is Evangelically perfect in Christ and account of grace but not perfect according to the Law. Commandment I. 1. Prayer was alwaies a duty Ps 27.6,7,8 Our Saviour did not add the Lords Prayer as a new precept to the first Commandment 2. Christ added not the precept of Worshiping himself to the first Commandment for he was alwaies an object of Worship Compare Acts 7.30 Is 6.1,3 with Joh. 12.41 Is 45.23 with Rom. 14.11 Commandment II. 1. God is invisible therefore no Man can make an Image of him 1 Tim. 1.17 His People saw none therefore he forbad them to make any Deut. 4.15,16 Every Image made for God must be a real lye for none can be made like him Acts 17.29 All those representations of him in Scripture Visions are for understanding and not for sight 2. All signs of honour before Images are forbidden Exod. 20.5 Levit. 26.1 Is 2.8,9 chap. 44.13 to 20. 3. It is Heathenish to Worship the true God by Creatures or Images Rom. 1.22,23 4. The Israelites did not believe the golden Calf to be God but made it to be a visible sign of Gods presence The feast was to Jehovah and not to the Calf yet it was abhorred and punished Exod 3â— 5 c. 5. Images begâ—t carnal thoughts of the invisible God therefore are not sit to instruct the vulgar Deut 4.15,16 Jer. 10.8,14,15 Hab. 2.18 Ps 115.4 to 8. Rom. 1.22,23 The Worship of God. 1. God is the only Object of Divine Worship the Father through the Son by the Holy Ghost Ephes 2.18 and no Creature either Saint or Angel Matth 4.10 Deut. 6.13 chap. 10.20 Col. 2.18 Heb. 1.14 Act. 10.25,26 chap. 14 14,15 Rev. 19.20 chap. 22.8,9 2. The Socinians prove that Divine Honour is due to Christ from Luk. 17.5 Matth. 8.25 Act. 7.59,60 2 Cor. 12 7,8 1 Thess 3.11 That the first Commandment is not changed by giving him such honour for he is no strange but a subordinate God. From this Concession of theirs I argue for his Glory against their false Opinion of Christ 1. He who said Thou shalt have no other God but me saith of himself I am Jehovah thy God. We must have none for God but he who is Jehovah Thou shalt have no other God but me or before me Therefore if Christ ought to be worshipped by this Commandment as they confess he is God Jehovah the only true God. He ought to be worshipped with divine Honour by virtue of this Commandment But there is no God to be worshipped according to this Commandment but Jehovah thy God therefore he is Jehovah 2. There is no subordinate Jehovah Christ is Jehovah therefore not a subordinate God. 3. A subordinate God is a strange God Any God but me is a strange God therefore any God but Jehovah is a strange God for Me is a Relative to Jehovah and Me is the same as God Jehovah 4. The Object of our Worship in that Commandment is but one Jehovah thy God If Christ be not that one Jehovah he is not at all to be worshipped by this Commandment but he is to be worshipped as God therefore he is Jehovah 5. There is but one Cause of our Salvation Tit. 1.3,4 chap. 2.13 1 Tim. 2.3 chap. 4.10 therefore it cannot be that Christ is honoured as God by the first Commandment because he is the second Cause of our Salvation 6. If Christ be not God Jehovah and yet ought to be worshipped with divine Honour the Commandment must needs be changed for if there be a new Object of Worship there is a Change of the Commandment 3. The Worship of God is kept pure when it is not depraved with mixtures of false Objects with the true it is entire when the Ordinances are not more nor fewer than Christ hath enjoined nor any part taken from nor added to them 4. When God is worshipped with the Heart he is worshipped in Spirit and when he is worshipped plainly without Types and Shadows he is worshipped in Truth Joh. 4.24 5. The outward manner of God's Worship must be suitable to God and to the
fourth Commandment See Cat. Part 3. § 5 c. The outward and ordinary Means c. You cannot but desire the Mercies of this Life such as respect your outward Man. What makes Men outwardly happy but a Competency of the good things of this Life and Prosperity as far as shall be for God's Glory and our Good. Then Men live happily upon Earth when every one doth perform his Duty when we enjoy Peace when we live in Safety Honour Chastity good Repute outward Wealth and are content with our own Condition as you may gather from what is contained in the six last Commandments When you pray you must confess your Sins What Sins See the sinfulness of that State into which Mankind fell and the several Sins against each Commandment Make therefore your Requests known with humble Confession of your Original Sin bewail your Guilt the Loss of Original Righteousness the Corruption of your Nature and your many actual Sins of Thought Word and Deed of Omission or careless Performance of the Duties requ red and of Commission of Sins forbidden in each Commandment See and search each Commandment as opened in the Catechism together with the heinousness of your Sins and the greatness of them with their several Aggravations See Part 2. of the Cat. With a thankful Acknowledgment of his Mercies For what Mercies For all Mercies revealed offered and received particularly for the Covenant of Grace for Jesus Christ the Redeemer for all the Benefits of Redemption for Grace for the Means of Grace for outward Mercies publick private personal We offer up our Desires for what we want and make a thankful Acknowledgment of what we have and enjoy And so the matter of both is the same when you know what to pray for you know also what to be thankful for And to humble us in the sight of God and to make us earnest and importunate let us lay to heart the Misery of our State since the Fall Answ 22 23 c. Here followeth a Form or Pattern of Prayer sramed according to those Directions section 2 O God who art a Spirit Infinite Eternal Unchangeable in thy Being in thy Wisdom Power Holiness Justice Goodress and Truth Although we are not fit to come into thy glorious Presence being both unlike thee dark and foolish impotent and unclean guilty and corrupt thou art graciously pleased to command us to draw nigh unto thee and to seek thy Face in the Name of the Lord sesus Christ our Advocate in whom thou art well pleased For thine infinite Mercies and for thy Goodness sake be nigh unto us by thy Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ According to the multitude of thy tender Mercies be merciful unto us and blot out all our Iniquities A short general Confession We humbly confess and bewail that the Covenant being made with Adam for himself and his Posterity we who descend from him by ordinary Generation sinned in him and fell with him And now O Lord most holy and just we are guilty before thee we have lost Original Righteousness and our whole Nature is corrupted whereby we are apt and prone to all manner of actual Transgressions which proceed from this our Original Sin. We acknowledge that for our Sin we are justly deprived of Communion with thee and fallen under thy Wratn and Curse and made liable to all the Miseries of this Life to Death it self and to the Pains of Hell for ever Oh! we have daily broken thy Commandments in Thought Word and Deed and our Sins are very heinous in thy Sight because of many Aggravations A large Confession of Sin. Holy Lord our Nature is so corrupted and degenerate that we have by acting according to it transgressed all thy holy Commandments Oh! we have not loved thee with all our Heart with all our Soul and with all our Mind We have not loved our selves as we ought nor our Neighbour as our selves We are bound to keep all thy Commandments because thou art the Lord our God and Redeemer But Oh! we have not known thee nor acknowledged thee the only true God and our God nor worshipped and glorified thee accordingly As we have confessed thee with our Mouths so in our Works we have denied thee We have not worshipped and glorified thee as the only true God as God infinitely blessed and glorious but have robbed thee and given that to others which is due to thee alone and have not considered in our Hearts that thou who hatest Iniquity seest all things takest notice of and art much displeased with such Transgressors We have not received observed and kept pure and entire all such religious Worship and Ordinances as thou hast appointed in thy Word nor have we considered thy Soveraignty over us Propriety in us and the Zeal which thou hast to thine own Worship We have not holily and reverently used thy Names Titles Attributes Ordinances Word and Works but have often prophaned the things whereby thou hast made thy self known neither have we laid to heart that though the Breakers of this Commandment may escape Punishment from Men yet thou the Lord our God wilt not suffer them to escape thy righteous Judgments Glorious and holy Lord We have not kept holy to thee such set Times as thou hast appointed not that one whole Day in seven which is our Christian Sabbath We have not sanctified it by an holy Resting all that Day from such worldly Employments and Recreations as are lawful on other Days and by spending the whole time in the publick and private Exercises of thy Worship or only in the Works of meer Necessity and Mercy But on the contrary we have sinned by the Omission or careless Performance of the Duties required by often prophaning the Day by Idleness or that which is in it self sinful and by unnecessary thoughts Words and Works about worldly Employments or Recreations And we have not as we should considered thy merciful allowing us six Days for our worldly Employments thy challenging a special Propriety in the Sabbath-day thine own Example and thy blessing of it all which should have moved us to keep it holy Thus have we sinned against thine infinite glorious Majesty We have sinned against Heaven and against thee To these great Offences against thee the Lord our God we have added many Sins against our Neighbour also We have not only failed in performing the Duty which we owe to every one in their several places and relations but have often and many ways done contrary thereunto We have sinned in not preserving the Honour in not performing the Duties belonging to every one in their several places and relations as Superiors Inferiors and Equals but have neglected or done many things against the Honour and Duty belonging to every one in their several places and relations We have not been so careful and charitable as we ought to do whatsoever tendeth to the Preservation of our own and our Neighbour's Life of our own and our Neighbour's
Chastity in Heart Speech and Behaviour but have sinned by unchaste Thoughts or Speeches or Actions We have not studied to procure and further the Wealth and outward Estate of our selves and Neighbour but have often hindred both We have not laboured to maintain and promote Truth between Man and Man and of our own or our Neighbour's good Name but have either by Imprudence Inconsiderateness Want of Zeal Credulity or some corrupt Affection spoken or entertained what is prejudicial to Truth and injurious to our own and our Neighbour's good Name O Lord we have not been sully contented with our own Condition nor have always had a right and charitable frame of Spirit towards our Neighbour and all that is his but have been subject to Discontentment to envy or grieve at the Good of our Neighbour and to many inordinate Motions and Affections For these our manifold Iniquities Transgressions and Sins yea for the least of them we deserve thy Wrath and Curse both in this Life and that which is to come but for Jesus Christ's sake have Mercy upon us O Lord thou hast been pleased out of thy meer good Pleasure to decree to bring thine Elect out of the State of Sin and Misery by the Lord Jesus Christ the only Redeemer He was graciously pleased to humble himself to the Death of the Cross to satisfie thy divine Justice to reconcile us to thee and now he ever liveth making Intercession for poor Sinners Supplication or offering up our Requests in the Name of Christ O thou the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Mercies and the God of all Grace for the sake of thine Eternal and Beloved Son have Mercy upon us and apply to us by thy Holy Spirit the Redemption purchased by Christ by working Faith in us and thereby uniting us to him For Effectual Calling We humbly pray thee convince us of our Sin and Misery enlighten our Minds in the Knowledge of Christ renew our Wills and perswade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the Gospel For Justification Oh that thou wouldst justifie us freely by thy Grace and pardon all our Sins and accept of us as righteous in thy sight only for the Righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to us For Adoption Oh that thou wouldest receive us who are by Nature Children of Wrath into the number of and give us a right to all the Privileges of the Sons of God. For Sanctification Gracious Father by the mighty working of the Spirit of Sanctification renew us in our whole Man after thine own Image and enable us more and more to die to Sin and to live unto Righteousness For the Benefits which accompany or flow from Justification c. And being justified sanctified and adopted we beseech thee vouchsafe us Assurance of thy Love Peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy Ghost Increase of Grace and Perseverance therein unto the End. And when we come to our End we humbly pray thee at our Death to make us perfect in Holiness to bring us immediately unto Glory and let our Bodies being still united to Christ rest in their Graves till the Resurrection At the Refurrection we pray thee to raise us up in Glory openly to acknowledge us and acquit us in the Day of Judgment and to make us perfectly blessed in the full Enjoyment of thee our God to all Eternity For Grace and a Biessing upon the Means of Grace And Gracious and blessed Lord since thou hast appointed Ways and Means by which we may attain these Blessings we humbly intreat thee to work in us Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and Repentance unto Life and to make us diligent in the use of all outward Means whereby Jesus Christ doth communicate to us the Penefits of our Redemption We beseech thee by thy Holy Spirit to make the Reading and Preaching of thy Word an effectual Means of convincing and converting Sinners and building up us and others in Holiness and Comfort through Faith unto Salvation We pray thee teach us to attend to thy Word with Diligence and Preparation and to receive it with Faith and Love to lay it up in our Hearts and practise it in our Lives Continue to thy Church thy holy Institutions and Sacraments Bless the one to be a Sign and Seal of our Engrafting into Christ and partaking of the Benefits of the Covenant of Grace and to engage us to be the Lord's Bless the other also that by Faith the worthy Receivers of it may be Partakers of the Body and Blood of Christ with all his Benefits to our spiritual Nourishment and Growth in Grace For all Men and for outward Mercies O Lord thou hast commanded us to pray for all Men We beseech thee to grant unto the King and all our Superiors the Spirit of Wisdom and Grace to perform the Duties of their several places Help them so to rule that our Lives Chastity Wealth and outward Estate that our good Names and Truth between Man and Man may be secured maintained and promoted that under them we may lead peaceable and quiet Lives in all Godliness and Honesty Grant that in all our Conversation among Men we may behave our selves humbly reverently and obediently towards our Superiors and may live in Peace neither doing Violence to the Life of our Neighbour nor suffering from them That we may live soberly chastely honestly not hindring but furthering the good Estate of each other promoting of Truth and the good Name and Repute without slandering or reproaching not witnessing falsly against one another learning to be contented with our own Condition without Envy or Grief at each other's Good and suppressing all inordinate Motions and Affections contrary thereunto Against our bodily and spiritual Enemies O thou who hast all Power both in Heaven and in Earth be graciously pleased to exercise thy Soveraign Kingly Office in subduing us wholly to thy self in ruling and defending us in restraining and conquering all thine and our Enemies both within us and without us Sin Satan and the World and make us more than Conquerors over all even our last Enemy Death For the Calling and Conversion of the Elect c. Gracious Lord who of thy meer good Pleasure didst elect some of the Posterity of fallen Man and enteredst into a Covenant of Grace to bring them out of the State of Sin and Misery and to bring them into an Estate of Salvation by Jesus Christ be pleased according to the Riches of thy Grace to make known the Lord Jesus Christ the only Redeemer in all his Offices to the World. Reveal by thy Word and Spirit thy Will for the Salvation of poor Sinners and cause thy Word to be preached read and heard that it may be effectual to convince and convert Sinners and to build them up in Holiness and Comfort through Faith unto Salvation Before you go to the Word O Lord who hast Compassion on the
Ignorant and of them who go out of the way who hast by thy Holy Spirit made the Reading but especially the Preaching of thy Word an effectual Means of convincing and converting Sinners and of building them up in Holiness and Comfort through Faith unto Salvation be pleased for Christ's sake to prepare our Hearts that we may attend to thy Word and receive it as new-born Babes 1 Pet. 2.1 by Faith and Love and lay it up in our Hearts and practise it in our Lives Before the Sacrament or Communion Most holy wise and merciful Lord God when all Mankind was fallen into an Estate of Sin and Misery it pleased thee to enter into a Covenant of Grace to bring thy People out of that sinful and miserable Condition into an Estate of Salvation by thy beloved Son the only Redeemer thou art graciously pleased to teach us convince convert build up and comfort us by thy Word and for our furtherance in Faith Holiness and Comfort to represent to us Jesus Christ and all the Benefits of the New Covenant by sensible signs the Bread and Wine broken poured out given and received and not only to represent Christ to us but also to seal and apply him and the Benefits of the New Covenart Be thou pleased by thy Spirit of Grace to help us to receive the Bread and Wine according to thy divine Appointment that we may receive them worthily and be Partakers by Faith of his Body and Blood with all his Benefits to our spiritual Nourishment and Growth in Grace We pray thee help us to examine our selves and so let us eat Oh let us not eat and drink unworthily not discerning the Lord's Body but give us a clear and saving Knowledge to discern the Lord's Body a lively Faith to feed upon him a renewed Repentance to Life a pure and fervent Love and quicken us to walk in new Obedience to all thy Commandments Oh help us to remember him and shew forth his Death both by our Profession and holy Conversation till he come again For the Lord's Day O Lord our God who hast commanded us to remember to keep holy the Sabbath day for Jesus his sake forgive us our great Forgetfulness both in preparing for it and performing the Duties of it Thou hast been very merciful to us in allowing us six Days for our own Employments Thou hast strictly enjoined us to sanctifie this whole Day and to move us thereunto thou hast set before us thine own Example both of finishing all thy Works in six Days and resting the seventh and hast blessed the Day and sanctified it Yet we have not considered nor regarded these Reasons annexed to this thy holy Commandment to perswade and quicken us to this great and holy Duty Pardon us O Lord according to the Riches of thy Grace this our Transgression and seeing thou givest us hopes of enjoying another Sabbath we beseech thee help us by thy Holy Spirit to sanctifie this Sabbath by an holy Resting all this Day even from such worldly Employments and Recreations as are lawful on other Days In reading hearing singing Psalms Meditation Prayer Conference and to spend the whole time in the publick and private Exercises of thy Worship except so much as is to be taken up in the Works of Necessity and Mercy which thou shalt call us to And keep us by thy Grace from the Omission or careless Performance of the Duties required from prophaning the Day by Idleness or any thing in it self sinful or by unnecessary Thoughts Words or Works about our worldly Employments or Recreations And bless the whole Day to us For Morning for every Day according to Ans 11. Most holy the All-wise and Almighty Lord God who dost by thy most holy wise and powerful Providence preserve and govern all thy Creatures and all their Actions we do most earnestly beseech thee to give us thy Holy Spirit to preserve our Souls from Sin and Temptations to govern our Thoughts Wills Affections our Words and Actions that they may be holy Over-rule our vain sinful Thoughts Imaginations Designs Purposes Motions and Affections to Evil. Raise in us Holiness of Design in our Conversation that we may aim at thy Glory Give us Wisdom and Discretion to order all our Affairs according to thy Laws Give us Ability and Strength that by thy Power we may carry on all the Affairs and Works of our particular Calling preserve us by thy Power therein from our Enemies and from all Harm and Danger We humbly commit our selves to thy holy wise and powerful Providence we desire thy Grace to depend thereupon and to ascribe the Glory of all our Success to thy Blessing Let us see and acknowledge thee in whatsoever shall come to pass this Day for all things are by thee and through thee and for thee to whom be Glory for ever For Night O Lord who hast created the Evening and the Morning and hast by thy great Wisdom ordained the Night for Rest and that part of our Time on Earth should be spent in Sleep and Rest that being refreshed thereby we might be enabled for thy surther Service When we are at rest we have neither Knowledge to discern nor Wisdom to fore see nor Power to resist the Evils that may befal us But thou by thy holy wise and powerful Providence preservest and governest all Creatures in all their Actions Therefore we adore thy Providence and in considence of thy Wisdom Power and Goodness cast our selves upon thee this Night humbly beseeching thee to preserve our Souls from Sin that we imagine not Evil upon our Beds our Persons our Relations our Habitation our Comsorts from Danger and Destruction from all Creatures who are subject to thy Command Keep us that we sleep not the Sleep of Death let neither Men nor Devils nor any other Creature disturb or hurt us And thou who governest all Creatures and all their Actions govern us our Imaginations Affections Senses Actions that sleeping or waking we may be thine And all we beg as in the Name of Christ so for the sake of Christ AMEN Directions to use this Form Perswasions to Family-Prayer especially and Resolution of some Questions briefly touched section 1 YOu see what store of spiritual and divine Matter your Catechism doth afford you to enable you for Prayer and Thanksgiving You shall not have cause to complain of want of Matter such as you ought and such as you may make use of You need no more to say you know not what to pray for for here is a Treasure digged up in your own Ground if indeed you make this little Catechism your own Now labour with your own Hearts and in this small Treatise and the Lord by his own Spirit teach you how to pray I perceive these Prayers to grow to such a length that I sear some will be discouraged from the length and seeming tediousness of all this therefore receive these few Counsels and Directions section
2 1. You may use this as a Form of Prayer or only as a Copy or Pattern if you be so well skilled and instructed as to be able to improve your Knowledge in these Principles of Religion to this Duty of Prayer But those who cannot attain to that Liberty and Boldness may use so much of the Prayer every Day as is not proper to some special Occasions as that for the Lord's Day and that before the Sacrament and that before Hearing of the Word and leaving these out of the ordinary Course to their proper Seasons the rest may be drawn together to serve either for Morning or Evening or any other convenient time 2. If you cannot spend so much time at once for Prayer then let that which is omitted at one-time be used at another and particularly on the Lord's Day and before the Sacrament it is requisite to be more large and full 3. The least Prayer you can use at any time is the shorter Confession noted in the Margin with those Petitions for Effectual Calling and the Benesits of Redemption for Grace the Means of Grace and outward Mercies for the Morning and the Evening which are all noted in the Margin 4. Though I have not drawn up a Form of Thanks-giving for you yet as it is your Duty to return Thanks for Mercies received as much as to pray for Mercies so if you observe how good God hath been to you in granting your Requests it is but turning that which was before the matter of your Request into the matter of Thanks-giving and presenting your Returns of Praise in the Name of Christ 5. You may use this Prayer alone as well as with others changing We for I and I for We Vs into Me and Me into Vs This is necessary for the younger and weaker sort to observe 6. Take heed of praying by Rote in meer Form as a laudable Custom But strive for the Spirit of Supplication and Adoption affect your Hearts with your Exigencies and the Excellency of the things you pray for section 3 In the next place I warn and exhort you to take heed 1. Of neglecting this holy Duty both in your Families and in secret also 2. Of the careless sleepy and cold Performance of it 1. Consider that God never had nor hath a Child who doth not use to call upon him Prayer is the first Exercise of a Convert Act. 9.11 They who are born of God and adopted have the Spirit of Sons Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4.6 They who are effectually called are a Royal Priest-hood every one of them offereth up spiritual Sacrifices to God 1 Pet. 2.5,9 2. No Master or Superior in Families can neglect set and solemn Prayer in and with his Family without Sin and Danger 1. Not without Sin for to pray without ceasing to continue in Prayer and watch in the same with Thanksgiving are joined with other Duties which belong to Relations and Members of a Family see Ephes 6. to v. 10. and v. 18. and very clearly Col. 4.1,2 It is as much your Duty to continue in Prayer c. with your Eamilies as it is for your Masters to give to your Servants that which is equal Secondly You cannot omit Prayer but with Hazard and Danger Jer. 10.25 He is as an Heathen who calleth not upon God and lies open to the Fury and Wrath of God. Prayer is a Protection to Families and Persons Ezek. 9.4 'T is true many thrive and live in Ease and Peace who call not upon God But is their Prosperity and Peace blessed to them See 1 Tim. 4.5 2. Take heed of the cold and careless Performance of Prayer see Mat. 15.8 Rom 12.11 As you must not be slothful in your own Business so not cold but servent in the Service of God James 5.16 And take heed of Formality Hypocrisie and Boasting Luk. 18.10 c. section 4 Qu. But how shall I bring my Heart to be serious and earnest in this holy Duty Ans 1. By the gracious Assistance of the Spirit of Supplication who teacheth and exciteth the Soul to Prayer and maketh Intercession in us Rom. 8.26 2. Study well and work upon thy Heart a serious Consideration of those Answers that unfold the State of Sin and Misery and the places of Scripture out of which they are taken 3. Know and be assured that the multitude of thy Sins are against an higher Law and Power than Man's against the infinite and soveraign Majesty of the most high God. Arraign thy self before his highest Tribunal Let Conscience indict thee of the Omissions of what is commanded by the holy Law of God and which thou art engaged by solemn Promise in Baptism to obey and keep and what thou hast committed which is expresly and clearly forbidden And then consider against whom thou hast offended even that God who is infinite in Holiness hating Sins in Righteousness taking Vengeance upon all Impenitents in Wisdom knowing where to find you out and where to punish you in Power able to undo thee and to torment thee in Hell for ever and to make this World an Hell to thee 4. Lay to heart the desert of every Sin God's Wrath and Curse all the Miseries of this Life though he forbear and spare thee the Sting of Death and the Pains of Hell. 5. Affect thy Heart with the Heinousness of thy Sins and their many Aggravations whereby thou deservest far sorer Punishment And if ever thou wilt be scrious these Considerations will make thee section 5 Quest But what do you mean by the Aggravations of Sin Answ By Aggravations of Sin are meant those Circumstances which render the Sin greater To aggravate is to greaten magnifie to make to weigh heavier Such as these The Person offending if of Age Place Office Experience Profession doth more offend even in the same Sin than others do Thou that teachest another c. Rom. 2.21 Heb. 5.12 For instance The Quality of the Person offended as God Christ Spirit Superiors c. Sins against the Gospel are greater than against Moses's Law as being against clearer Light and Grace more amply revealed Sins often repeated long continued in against Reproof Purposes c. and the Circumstance of Time makes the Sin the greater As to â—erve Sin the Devil and the World on the Lord's Day or any other time of divine Worship These and other Circumstances do aggravate that is do add to the greatness and weight of the Offence section 6 Quest But when I see my Iniquity and my Sin and am humbled for them how shall I deal with God for Mercy What shall I say and plead Answ 1. Confess thine Iniquity and lament thy perishing Condition without a Redeemer if God had left thee to perish in the Estate of Sin and Misery 2. Plead this that God out of his own meer good Pleasure without thy seeking or the motion of any for thee did elect some to Eternal Life and did enter into a Covenant of Grace to bring them out of the
State of Sin and Misery and to bring them into an Estate of Salvation by a Redeemer 3. Plead that the Eternal Son of God became Man c. that he offered up himself a Sacrifice to satisfie Divine Justice to reconcile us Sinners to God that that Satisfaction is accepted by the Father and that he maketh continual Intercession for all that come unto him heavy laden and weary 4. Seeing that God was graciously moved of his own good Pleasure to contrive the Redemption of Sinners by his Son Christ and seeing that Jesus Christ had given Satisfaction to the Divine Justice and finished his Work and seeing it is the Office of the Holy Spirit to apply the benefits of Redemption to miserable Sinners in the Work of Effectual Calling be instant with him that he would be pleased to convince thee of thy Sin and Misery and to enlighten thee in the Knowledge of Christ and renew thy Will and to perswade and enable thee to embrace Jesus Christ who is freely and as he is freely offered to thee in the Gospel Beg earnestly to be taken into the Covenant of Grace and to be taken into the number of Elect Children 5. Be not sparing to insist upon this that Jesus Christ with all the Benefits of Redemption is freely offered to thee as well as others being offered to all in the Gospel and therefore though thou art unworthy plead the Freeness of the Grace offered and urge that thou mayest have a Share and Portion in that free Grant and that thou dost come to declare thy Acceptance of it CHAP. III. Directions for the worthy Receiver to examine and prepare himself to receive the Lord's Supper section 1 IT followeth now that I direct and assist you to the worthy Receiving of the Lord's Supper To this End you must keep in Memory and have in your Eye three Points of your Catechism 1. What a Sacrament is 2. What the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is 3. What is required of the worthy Receivers of it See those Answers section 2 Quest What do you understand by Worthy Receiving Answ Not that any of us can be worthy of it but that we must be fitted and prepared for it and so worthy for it when we come in a manner suitable to it and rightly disposed It doth not signifie Merit and Desert but Disposedness Fitness Suitableness and Preparation according to the Rule of the Gospel and the Institution of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1.24 to ver 30. section 3 For your better Instruction three things must be resolved 1. What is to be done by worthy Receivers before they come 2. What in the time of Receiving and communicating 3. What is to be done afterwards For the first of these your Catechism shews you It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's Supper that they examine themselves of their Knowledge to discern the Lord's Body c. Quest To examine your selves What 's that Answ To put your selves to it as the common Phrase is to demand and urge to know whether you have Knowledge to discern the Lords Body and Faith to feed upon him c. It is to enquire in general into your spiritual State what manner of Christians you are and in particular to know how you are disposed towards Christ in this Ordinance and to know this by Search and Trial not resting in Guesses and Presumption The Graces and Dispositions of Soul which you are to examine in order to your Eating and Drinking worthily are five 1. Knowledge to discern the Lord's Body 2. Faith. 3. Repentance 4. Love. 5. New Obedience section 1 I begin with Knowledge to discern the Lord's Body Quest What is it to discern the Lord's Body Answ For your understanding of this keep in your Mind the Notion of a Sacrament remember what this Sacrament is Yet to help you herein observe the Elements or outward Matter of the Sacrament and what they the Bread and Wine broken poured out given and received eaten and drunken signifie betoken or stand for You see plainly Bread and Wine but observe the Actions of the Minister 1. He blesseth that is he prayeth and setteth them a part according to Divine Appointment 2. He breaketh the Bread and poureth out the Wine which doth represent and bring to your Mind the Death of Jesus Christ as shedding his Blood even to Death to satisfie Divine Justice c. Col. 3.4 And know that he who gave his Life a Ransom for many for so doing he is the Life of them that believe 1 Joh. 5.12 and therefore he that hath the Son hath Life 3. Observe the Bread and Wine thus blessed broken and poured forth are given to you by the Hand of the appointed Officer denoting that God doth exhibit offer and give to every faithful Soul his crucified Son with all his Benefits for Life and Nourishment And Lastly As an hungry Man receiveth Food eateth and drinketh for the Maintenance of his Life which is maintained when the Food which he eateth is digested by him so also when you take eat and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ by Faith you are united to him spiritually which Union is signified by taking eating and drinking the Bread and Wine and receive spiritual Life Nourishment and Growth in Grace Now therefore if you discern the Lord's Body you do sensibly perceive that what is given and received eaten and drunken is not the same natural Body and Blood of Christ crucified and shed at Jerusalem and now in Glory You know by your Senses that it is truly and substantially Bread and Wine Yet Secondly you observe that though this Bread and Wine be the same for kind with other common Bread and Wine yet it is not common Bread and Wine in the Use and End of it but you see it broken blessed given taken and eaten as betokening the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ which was offered as a Sacrifice to satisfie Divine Justice and is now offered and given to you of God with all the Benefits of the New Covenant which is confirmed by that precious Blood. So then you see the Bread and Wine but discern the Body and Blood of Christ signified and represented by them When you see the Bread and Wine so blessed to this blessed End you must believe and know that the Redeemer and all his Benefits are communicated to you Examine now your Knowledge 1. That it is Bread and Wine 2. The Actions Sacramental and what they signifie 3. The Use and End for which they are applied Say then Here are Bread and Wine the Signs of that blessed Body and Blood which were given for Sin. And because it is not common Bread and Wine they should not eat and drink it in a common manner but worthily i. e. in a manner befitting so great a Mystery 2. Trial of Faith. The second Grace about which you must examine your selves is Faith Search and enquire whether you have it in you
and Endeavour after new Obedience No Man is sensible of Sin as highly offensive and contrary to God but doth grieve and sorrow for it No Man is sorry in a Godly sort that doth not turn from it unto God as hating it and endeavouring to please God. Men may hear of Sin and talk of it without these Effects but they were never sensible of what they speak section 2 2. Do I apprehend that it is Mercy meer Mercy tender Mercy and wonderful if ever I turn from Sin and escape Damnation Is this Mercy in and through and for the sake of Jesus Christ if ever I escape the Curse and Wrath due to me for Sin Doth the Apprehension of God's Mercy in Christ melt me win me overcome me and prevail upon me to forsake all my Sin and to turn to him 3. Do I grieve for Sin What is my Grief Is it deep and hearty arising in me from a clear Sight and Conviction of Sin Do I grieve that I ever sinned at all that I have dishonoured and displeased God though I should not go to Hell nor fear it Doth it break my Heart and make me mourn before God when I remember it 4. Do I hate it Do I hate all Sin in general for its corrupt base and devilish Nature and Qualities Do I hate mine own Sin in special Do I flee Occasions and watch against Temptations to it Do I pray against it to be delivered from it and enabled against it Do I die to it and mortifie it and cease to make provision for it These are the Signs of Hatred of Sin. 5. Have I turned from Sin Do I turn further and further from it Whose am I To whom do I belong Satan Or am I turned from him to God Am I really turned so that I yield those Members which were Instruments of Unrighteousness unto Sin to be Instruments of Righteousness unto God Do I turn to love fear and serve him as the Lord my God 6. How do I turn Feignedly weakly and in pretence or with a Purpose of Heart Is my Purpose full and fixed or but half perswaded Am I so turned that I resolve in the strength of Grace to return back no more but to go forward Do I so purpose that I will endeavour all Ways by all Means by the use of all Ordinances to walk in new Obedience as a new Man Do I turn to God as well as cease from Sin Whence do my Resolutions and Purposes arise Do they arise from that Saving Grace of the Spirit working in me a Sense of Sin as Sin and an Apprehension of the Mercy of God in Christ Or do spring from worldly Sorrow Fear or Shame Loss or Harm suddain Passion or serious Consideration 4. The Trial of Love. section 1 The fourth Grace to be examined is Love And though your Catechism tells you you must examine your Love yet it helps you not to try it as you are helped in the Trial of Faith and Repentance It will be necessary for me to open to you the Nature and Properties of this divine Grace and that by shewing you the Objects of it or towards whom this Grace of Love is exercised Examine your Love 1. To God. 2. To Man. 1. Concerning your Love to God you must observe that we are bound to love God in those three distinct Relations in the Godhead that is we must love the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost for in our Baptism we take these three glorious Persons in the God head for our God And what Duties we are engaged to in our Baptism we must exercise and engage our selves a-new to perform when we come to the Lord's Table for then and there we renew our Covenant with God. And as we are bound to believe in God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost so we are bound to love the Father the Son and Holy Ghost This being spoken on the way I shall describe this Grace of Love as near as I can as Faith and Repentance are described before and that by pointing out the Cause and Reasons and the Effects of it by which you may try the Truth of it Rom 5.8 Luk 7.37 Ps 116 1,2,3 to 10. Cant. 1.3 ch 5.9,10 1 Joh. 4.9,10,19 Ps 63 2,3 Deut. 30.20 c. 10.20 c. 11.22 Joh. 14.15 1 Joh. 5.3 chap. 3.1,6 chap. 4.10,11 Love to God is a Saving Grace whereby a Sinner out of the sense of his Sin Baseness Corruption and Misery and from an Apprehension of the infinite Perfections of God especially his Grace Goodness and All sufficiency he doth adore and admire him he doth desire him and cleave to him he laboureth to do the things that please him and to conform to him in all things section 2 Examine your selves 1. Doth your Love to God proceed from your Knowledge and Apprehension of his infinite Excellencies expressed in his Attributes Do you therefore acknowledge God and look upon him as infinite in Wisdom Holiness Power Righteousness Faithfulness and Truth as rich in Grace c. See Exod. 34.6,7 Dost thou believe the Love of God to thy Soul Is he thy God Hath he engaged his Attributes and Glory to thee to be on thy side and for thy good Dost thou believe thy self to be corrupted polluted guilty and helpless Dost thou look upon the Creatures as vain and unable to make thee happy that God is All-sufficient for thee in all Conditions at all Times Dost thou adore and praise him See Psal 103. from 1. to 19. Dost thou believe that God is infinitely better than all Creatures and to be loved above all And dost thou esteem and love him above all the World even with all thy Heart Strength Soul and Mind Matth. 22.37 Luk. 10.22 even above Father above Mother Wife House Lands yea Life it self Dost thou desire him prize him and prefer him before all Psal 16.5,6 and 4.6,7 and 144 15. Dost thou labour to be like him to imitate him to keep his Commandments 1 Joh. 4.10,11 1 Pet. 1.17 and still to give God the Precedence to chuse him above all to fear him more than Men or Devils and to obey him rather than Man This in general section 3 But to go on to Particulars Examine your Love to the three glorious Persons in the God-head distinctly And know this that he that loveth the Father loveth the Son and the Holy Ghost likewise and he that loveth Christ loveth the Father and the Holy Ghost also 1. Examine your Love to God the Father Say to thy Soul O my Soul What am I about to receive Bread and Wine But what is represented thereby The Body and Blood of thy dear Saviour the only begotten of the Father as crucified with all the Benefits of his Death But whence came this to pass How came he to be one of us in our Nature to be thus abased and crucified to become a Propitiation and a Ransom for Sin Oh behold and wonder Rom. 5.5,8,9 This is an Act of the
Father's Love and Grace Dost thou perceive and admire the Father's Love in making a Covenant of Grace to bring thee and such as thou art out of the State of Sin and Misery mark that and to bring thee into the State of Salvation by the Redeemer Admire this way that it should be by a Redeemer that the Redeemer should be the Eternal Son of God that such a glorious Person should so humble himself and die such a Death for Enemies and Sinners when Sacrifices and Offerings God would not Heb. 10.5 Oh dost thou not love the Father 1. Because he was pleased of his meer good Pleasure to decree the Salvation of poor Sinners 2. Because he took that way to bring his chosen ones out of Sin and Misery to obtain Everlasting Salvation 3. Because he sent his Son 1 Joh. 4.9 Joh. 3.16 in the Form of a Servant to humble himself to Death even the Death of the Cross to take away Sin by that kind of ignominious and painful Death 4. For sitting him thereunto For it pleased the Father that in him should all Fulness dwell Col. 1.19 Heb. 2.10,11,17 chap. 7.26 5. And that when all other means could not do it as was intimated before Heb. 10.5 6. And who and what are they for whom the Infinite Wisdom doth consult Infinite Mercy and Grace act in such a wonderful way and manner Even Sinners Enemies when weak weak and without Strength and therefore worthless and good for nothing Rom. 5 6,7,8 7. And to make this Love more admirable that every one that believeth should become a Child of God 1 Joh. 3.1 Joh. 1.12 Study and behold this infinite Mercy and Grace He gave his Son to be thy Redeemer and giveth every one that shall be saved to his Son And though they are given to the Son in Election to be redeemed by him they must come to Christ but they cannot come except the Father draw them Joh. 6.39,44,45 Doth not thy Love grow warm and gather Strength by these Considerations Herein is Love God gives and sends his Son to be thy Saviour a compleat and perfect Saviour he is and he with the glorious Purchace of his Blood things present and things to come a Testament full of Blessings sealed in that precious Blood is set before thee upon the Table Now the Father of Mercies is ready to receive thee and if thou receive thy Saviour thou shalt be made a Son even a Co heir with Christ Perceivest thou not the Love of God in all this Examine thy self now Is not God better than Father and Mother to thy Soul What saith thy Heart to this Father's Love Wilt thou love him better than Father and Mother Wilt thou honour and reverence him as a Father high above all Wilt thou serve and imitate him Ephes 5.1 and pass the time of thy sojourning here in his sear 1 Pet. 1.17 Shew thy Love by keeping all his Commandments Wilt thou refuse to be abased shamed afflicted persecuted and even to die when he calls thee to it for his sake and for his Glory Herein thou wilt manifest thy Love to him who hath blessed thee c. Ephes 1.3 section 4 Secondly Try thy Love to thy Redeemer the Lord Jesus If thou lovest him thou knowest for what Cant. 1.3 Because of the savour of thy good Ointment c. therefore do the Virgins love thee The Reasons of thy Love to Christ may be reduced to two Heads 1. What he was and became for thee 2. What he is to thee and for thy benefit 1. What he was and became for thee And here observe that thy Love must run out towards him as thy Redeemer in his three-fold Office And take notice of this Whatever Christ was for thee in reference unto God he performed as thy High-Priest and because he discharged that Office he is become a Prophet and a King. Had he not satisfied the Divine Justice and reconciled God to Sinners he could never have taught his Church the Way of Salvation because there would have been no Salvation wrought or purchased and he should have had no People to rule and defend Now examine thy self Dost thou not wonder that the Eternal Son of God should become thy Redeemer Thy Redeemer who art the sinful Off-spring of sinful Parents That he should take upon him the Seed of Abraham and not the Nature of Angels Heb. 2.16 That he should save thee by his own Debasement Dishonour and bitter Sufferings Hast thou not Cause to love him 1. For taking thy Nature so much below him into Union with his glorious Person 2. For taking thy Nature with all the afflictive Meanness of it not with Honours Ease Pleasure Reputation and Pomp Mar. 10.45 He who was the Lord of all came not to be ministred unto but to minister 3. For suffering the Wrath of his own Father as a most provoked mighty Judge who spared not his own Son Rom. 8.32 4. For taking on him the Guilt of Sin which is most odious and contrary to him so far as that he who was holy harmless and undefiled did bear the Sins of many Isa 53.11 and was numbred among Transgressors to suffer the most bitter and reproachful cursed Death and that for the Transgressions of his apostatized and revolted Creatures And now still he makes Intercession for thee he pleads his own Sufferings for thy Salvation and his Merits for thy Discharge Ask thine own Soul seriously What wouldest thou have done had not he thus low abased himself and been thy Surety How couldest thou have reconciled the provoked Majesty of Heaven Couldest thou have born the Wrath and Curse which was due to thee for thy Sin Oh how should the Sense of Sin Guilt and Damnation due to thee beget a deep Sense of thy Saviour's Love and thereby inflame thy Love 2. Consider what he is to thee and for thee Surely he is All in all a merciful and faithful Saviour Hast thou any Knowledge of thy fallen depraved cursed woful Condition And doth it not make thy Love to burn within thee He was a Surety for thee and he is a Saviour to thee He gave himself for thee and now he gives himself to thee with a large Share and full Portion of the Purchace of his most precious Blood. Knowest thou not that the holy and jealous God was angry with thee that all the Miseries of Life Death and Hell were due unto thee and that neither thy Tears nor Blood could wash away thy Sin and that Christ hath done all that was required for thy Atonement Oh dost thou not love him entirely and intensely to the highest degree who procured thy Pardon by his own Condemnation and bitter Death who hath obtained for thee an Acquittance from thy Trespasses and Debts a Patent for Adoption and a Kingdom with that Prerogative even a Co heirship with himself Rom. 8.17 Now thy Love to Christ as thy Priest and Advocate will appear 1. In thy high prizing his
Trial of New Obedience section 1 For your better undertaking of it be pleased to observe what it is and why it is called New. New Obedience is an hearty sincere Respect or Aim at God's Glory in keeping all his Commandments or having a Respect to all God's Commandments and walking before God in Righteousness and Holiness all the Days of our Life being redeemed from the Hand of our Enemy It is called New Obedience in opposition to the Service of Sin or obeying the Law in our Members For we being Sinners by Nature and corrupted with Original Sin are inclined and given to serve Sin and to live after the Flesh Rom. 6.11,12,13,16,17,18,19,20 But when we are united to Christ in our Effectual Calling and have Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ then we become dead to Sin and free from the Dominion of it we are married unto Christ in Covenant that we may abound in Fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the Praise and Glory of God Philip. 1.11 Rom. 7.4 We are bound to do whatsoever he commandeth us Matth. 28.20 section 2 Now three things must be enquired after 1. The Subject and Principle or Root of this New Obedience 2. The Rule of it 3. The End and Design of it 1. Whence is it that you perform Service or Obedience unto God Do you serve him from Faith Love and unfeigned Repentance towards God Are you effectually called Remember what that is Are you united to Christ by Faith See what that is Are you turned from all Sin from your bosom darling costly Sin to God to obey his Law Try your Repentance Have you a new Heart Have you the Image of God renewed upon you Are you sanctified by the Spirit Look to Ans 35. For New Obedience proceeds from the Heart renewed and sanctified section 3 2. Try your Obedience by the Rule of it that is the whole Word and Will of God Psal 119.105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet c. V. 6. When I have respect to all thy Commandments at all times always even to the End Psal 119.112 Phil. 2.12 He that is such an one doth not live in any known Sin nor neglect any known Duty He makes Conscience of Duty to God and Man Act. 24.16 section 4 3. Try and examine the End of your Obedience what you aim at and design New Obedience proceeds from a Principle of Renewing Grace is regulated by the Word of God and directed to his Glory And so what you learn first in your Catechism is the End of your Conversation and Obedience See Col. 1.10 Phil. 1.11 1 Pet. 2.9 chap. 4.11 section 5 The second Duty is Preparation for the Lord's Supper Having examined your Hearts if you find these Graces in you then the Work of Preparation is to stir up the Grace of God given you in putting your Souls in a readiness to receive Jesus Christ as offered to you with all the Benefits of the New Covenant by adding to your Self-Examination humble Consession of Sin earnest Supplication for Forgiveness of Sin and Grace If you find a Want or Weakness of Grace then sharpen your Desires after it and pray for it and add your Thanksgiving for the Means of Grace and for Grace received Thus much for the Duties before the Sacrament CHAP. IV. Duties at and after the Communion together with Motives and Perswasions to perform the whole Duty in a due manner section 1 WHile you attend upon God at his Table shake off all Drowsiness and Vanity of Mind Consider at whose Table you are to eat and drink and what the Feast is Therefore draw near with an holy Reverence with a clear Knowledge and lively Faith. Attend to what is done before you the outward Signs and what is done according to the Institution of Christ Observe the breaking of the Bread the pouring out the Wine and the giving of both to you Know that you are to remember Jesus Christ to discern his Body and to shew his Death Thirst and hunger for him Receive him by Faith and the Benefits of the New Covenant Look unto Christ crucisied with a broken Heart sorrowing for Sin. Meditate on the Love of God in his Son Jesus on the Sufferings of Christ on the Satisfaction given Redemption and Victory obtained for thee Cast thy self upon him trust to him give thy self to him delight in his Love apply him for what thou dost most stand in need of renew thy Covenant and thy Engagement to be the Lord's and excite thy Love to all Saints and be thankful section 2 After the Sacrament reflect upon your selves re-view your Carriage 1. Consider Have you discerned the Lord's Body made an affectionate Remembrance of him Have you received him by Faith Are you nourished by him 2. If you find Quickning and Comfort then bless God for it beg a Continuance of it watch against Relapses fulfil your Vows encourage yourselves to a frequent Attendance on that Ordinance But 3dly If you find not present Benefits by it then you must more exactly review your Preparation and Carriage at the Sacrament in both which if you can approve your selves to God and your own Conscience then wait for the Fruit in due time But if you find that you have failed in either Preparation or Carriage you must be humbled and attend upon it afterwards with more Care and Diligence section 3 Having directed you and brought some Assistance towards the holy and comfortable receiving the Communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord I might expect that you will say you have now what you much desired and only wanted For so great should be the Forwardness and Zeal of every one who bears the Christian Name to obey every Command of Christ and particularly to address themselves to this holy Ordinance wherein the Love of Christ is set forth in his most precious Blood that they should not need Motives to spur them on But Alas how commonly do we see Men and Women excommunicate themselves and Non-Communicants crowding out at the Church-doors leaving but a little Flock behind to feed upon his Body and Blood who laid down his Life for the Sheep Truly to see many depart who have been earnestly invited to this Feast of Love hath brought to my Mind the Separation that will be in the last Day between the Sheep and the Goats Wo wo to them when Christ shall bid them depart from him who for Love of Ease Ignorance and wilful Impenitence go away from him represented at his Table I shall draw out a few Arguments to perswade poor Souls to a conscientious well-prepared Address to the Table of the Lord out of the same Store house your very Catechism section 4 Advantage or Dis-advantage are the prevailing Motives to perswade or disswade Now if you shall find the Advantages very great of right and worthy Receiving and the Loss and Sin great of Neglecting or unworthy Receiving then I hope you will be won