the hope that is in him with all meeknesse 1 Pet. 3. 15. 2 It makes a Christian willing to receive every truth discovered unto him from the Word of God 1 Tim. 6. 5. and carefull to put in practise whatsoever he knows already 1 Joh. 2. 3 4 5. 3 It makes us painfull and industrious for the increasing of that knowledge which we have attained Prov. 2. 3 4. Hos 6. 3. And thus we must examine our selves about our knowledge saying to our own souls What O my soul hath God as yet wrought these things in thee or not Qu. How may a man examine himself about his faith so as to know he hath true faith in Christ Ans A man may know hee hath saving Faith by these characters of it 1 Saving faith is always wrought and preserved by the Word of God preached Rom. 10. 14 17. 1 Cor. 1. 21. and is that whereby wee come to be weary and heavie laden with sins Mat. 11. 28. to bee utterly rid of all confidence in our own righteousnesse Rom. 10. 3 4. and also restlesse in hungring after Christ till we find comfort in the promises touching the pardon of our sins Mat. 5. 6. 2 Saving faith makes the Christian to look at sin as the greatest evill and the grace of Christ as the greatest good in the world Heb. 11. 24 25 26 27. c. it purifieth the heart will thoughts affections and conscience from all love and allowance of sinne Act. 15. 9. Rom. 7. 15. and so works inward sanctification Act. 26. 18. It wrestles against temptations of unbelief Mar. 9. 24. Luk. 22. 31 32. and works by love to God and our brethren Gal. 5. 6. And by these evidences we must examine our selves whether we have true faith or not saying to each of our own souls What O soul art thou thus and thus qualified or not Qu. How may a man examine himself about his Repentance so as to know that he doth truly repent Ans True Repentance may be known 1 By our willingnesse and gladnesse to have any sin discovered Psal 141. 5. and our hearty love of those that discover and reprove it in us 2 Sam. 12. 13. 2 By an inward godly sorrow for all known sins as they are a breach of Gods Commandements and are displeasing unto God 2 Cor. 7. 10. and by a forsaking of all known sins Ezek. 18. 5 6. c. Psal 119. 3. out of a perfect hatred of them and care to avoid all occasions of them 2 Cor. 7. 11. 3 By an universal turning to God Deut. 3. 10. and constant cleaving to him in all his revealed wil and by practise of al known duties of obedience which obedience the death of Christ set forth in the Lords-supper notably provokes a Christian unto And thus wee must try our repentance before wee come to the Lords Table O my soul dost thou repent thus Qu. How may a man examine himself about his Obedience so as to know that his obedience is unfeigned obedience Ans Unfeigned obedience may be known thus 1 It is grounded onely on the Word of God Eph. 2. 10. and not on the traditions or inventions of men Mar. 7. 6 7. and it hath respect unto all Gods commandements without partiality or exception Psal 119. 6. 2 Unfeigned obedience aims at the right end namely at the praise and glory of God Phil. 1. 11. and not at any private advantage crosse thereunto and it is alwayes accompanied with zeal Gal. 4. 18. humility Mich. 6. 8. and constancy Psal 106. 3. And thus we must try our obedience before we come to the Lords supper Is it thus with thee O my soul Qu. How may a Christian examine himself about his love so as to know whether his love to God bee entire or not Ans We may be sure that our love to God is entire if no Commandement of God bee grievous unto us 1 Joh. 5. 3. if our love weanes our hearts from the love of the world 1 Joh. 2. 15. 1 Joh. 4. 20 21. 1 Joh. 5. 1. 1 Joh. 4. 12. and lastly if it make us love the children of God Qu. How may a Christian examine himself about his love so as to know that he hath entire love to the children of God in speciall Ans Entire love to the children of God makes us love godly men for godlinesse sake 2 Joh. 1 2 verses that is it will make us love all the Saints Eph. 1. 15. whether rich or poor strangers or kindred and that constantly Prov. 17. 17. Also such entire love will communicate it self in doing good to their souls and bodies 1 Joh. 3. 17 18. Q. How may a Christian examine himself about his love so as to know that he hath true love and charity toward his neighbor that is to all men in general Ans True love toward our neighbor or all men in generall may be known thus 1 It will make us willing to forgive wrongs to others Col. 3. 13. and to seek peace Rom. 12. 18. and make satisfaction if we have wronged them Rom. 13. 10. 2 True love will cause us to love the souls of all people and not to suffer sin to lie upon them Lev. 19. 17. 3 True love to our neighbor will make us to overcome evil with good Rom. 12. 17 20 21. by heaping offices of love upon them that wrong us And thus we must examine our selves about our love before we come to the Sacrament and see whether these qualifications of Gods Spirit be wrought in our hearts or not Qu. How may a man examine himself about his hunger and thirst after Christ so as to know that hee hath an earnest hunger and thirst after him Ans We may know if we have true hunger and thirst after Christ thus 1 True hunger and thirst after Christ wil make us seek him with all our heart in the diligent and constant use of all the means Prov. 13. 4. so as that nothing wil satisfie us without Christ Psal 73. 25. 2 Earnest hunger thirst after Christ longs after him for his own sake so as to part with any thing for him Matth. 13. 44. and to be content to have him upon any conditions Phil. 1. 21. Phil. 3. 8. 3 Earnest hunger and thirst after Christ makes the soul ready to entertain with great thankfulness whatsoever means or messenger shall bring Christ home unto it Rom. 10. 15. And lastly true hunger and thirst after Christ causes the Christian to seek after Christ for holinesse Isa 51. 1. as well as for happinesse Now is it thus with my soul or not Qu. How may a man examine himself about the sincerity of his heart so as to know that he is sincere and upright in his heart Ans A Christian may know that he is sincere and upright in heart thus 1 Sincerity and uprightness of heart wil shew it self in a carefulness to reform our delightful and bosom-sins Psal 18. 23. in an endeavour to find them out
cease to be God when hee was made Man Ans No Christ did not cease to be God when he was made man but was from that time forth is now Heb. 13. 8. and ever shall be both God and Man Ioh. 11. 14. Rom. 9. 5. in one person 1 Cor. 8. 6. Qu. Why was Christ both God and Man Ans Christ was both God and Man that he might be a fit Mediator betwixt God and men and bee able both to doe and suffer all things that were to be done and suffered on our behalf Gal. 4. 4 5. Heb. 2. 11 14. 4. 15 16. Qu. Is there any other Mediator between God and men besides Jesus Christ Ans No there is but one Mediator betwixt God and men namely the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2. 5. who having died upon the crosse Phil. 2. 8. to save his people from their sinnes rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven where he now fits at Gods right hand and makes continuall intercession for them Acts 1. 9 10 11. Rom. 8. 34. Qu. What hath Christ done for such of us as belong to Gods election Ans First Christ hath fulfilled the Law Mat. 5. 17 18. which we ought to have exactly kept Rom. 10. 5. Secondly he hath merited a crown of righteousnesse for us by fulfilling that Law Phil. 2. 8 9. Heb. 2. 9. 12. 2. Qu. What benefit have we by Christs doings Ans We have this benefit by Christs doings First God will impute Christs righteousnesse to us in his fulfilling the Law Rom. 5. 10. Rom. 10. 5. Secondly he will give us the crown of glory which his Son Christ hath merited by his righteousnesse John 17. 22. Col. 3. 4. Heb. 9. 24. John 1. 23. Qu. What hath Christ suffered for us Ans Christ Jesus hath suffered for us thus First he hath born our sins 1 Pet. 2. 24. Heb. 9. 28. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Secondly he hath suffered the wrath of God due to us for sin 1 Pet. 3. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 3. Qu. What benefit have we by Christs sufferings for us Ans If we be indeed the people of God our benefit by Christs sufferings is very great For first God will not impute those sins to us which Christ hath born 2 Cor. 5. 19. And secondly God will not lay that wrath and vengeance upon us which Christ hath suffered and undergone Rom. 5. 9. 1 Thess 1. 10. but on the contrary he will give us through Christ all things good for us both here and hereafter Mat. 7. 10. Psal 84. 11. Qu. Seeing Christ hath both fulfilled the Law for us and satisfied Gods wrath we may cast away care because there 's nothing left for us to doe or suffer is there Ans In a way of merit or so as to rest upon our doings or sufferings for justification or salvation wee neither can nor may doe or suffer any thing Esay 64. 6. Phil. 3. 7 8 9. Luke 17. 10. But in a way of obedience we are bound both to doe and suffer whatsoever the will of God in his Word requires of us as a token of our submissivenesse and thankfulnesse to God 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. Phil. 1. 20. Qu. How can wee doe any thing that is good seeing we have no power naturally of our selves Ans First even unbeleevers have so much naturall power of themselves as to use such outward meanes both in publick and private as are appointed of God through the assistance of his Spirit to work a power in them to please God and therefore they must not be idle and say they have no power of themselves but up and bee doing in the use of meanes Acts 9. 6. Luk. 13. 24. Phil. 2. 12. Secondly unfeigned beleevers who have some supernaturall power derived upon them from Christ Joh. 1. 16. must improve 2 Tim. 1. 6. Rev. 3. 2. that power also in the practise of duties of holiness towards God and duties of righteousnesse toward men all the dayes of their life Luke 1. 74 75. Acts 24. 16. For though wee shall not bee saved for our good works yet wee shall never bee saved without good works Heb. 12. 14. Jam. 2. 14 26. Qu. How are Christians made partakers of Christ and his benefits Ans Christians are made partakers of Christ and his benefits onely by faith apprehending and applying them Ephes 3. 17. Mat. 21. 22. Qu. What is Faith Ans Faith is a perswasion of the heart Rom. 10. 10. grounded upon the promises Psal 119. 49 50. of God rightly understood and applyed a Pet. 3. 16. Mat. 4. 6. comp with Psalm 91. 11. whereby I beleeve that Jesus Christ died for me Gal. 2. 20. as well as for any other Qu. Is this saving Faith in our own power or can we beleeve when we will Ans No we have not faith of our selves Ephes 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. neither is it in our own power to beleeve when we will but faith is the gift of God wrought in the heart of Gods elect by the Word Rom. 10. 17. and by the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 3. 6 7. and therefore we must use the meanes to get it Qu. Cannot we be saved without Faith Ans No wee cannot bee saved without faith for he that believeth not on the Son of God shall not see life but shall perish eternally Joh. 3. 36. Mar. 16. 16. Gal. 3. 11. Qu. Is there any true faith in that soule that doth not unfeignedly repent Ans There is no true faith in that soule that doth not often act forth unfained repentance for his sins because every one that beleeves in Christ hath the spirit of Christ Gal. 4. 6. Rom. 8. 9. but now true repentance is a saving grace issuing from Christs spirit 2 Tim. 2. 25. Zech. 12. 10. as well as faith Qu. What is true repentance Ans True repentance is an inward dislike hatred and sorrow 2 Cor. 7. 9 10. for all sinne Psal 119. 104. and a turning from it to God Jer. 3. 13. Jam. 4. 9 10. 1 Pet. 5. 6. Esay 1. 16 17. 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. 1 Tim. 6. 12. Prov. 8. 13. Psal â—7 10. Prov. 13. 5. chiefly upon this ground because every sin as it is sin is contrary to the holy nature Gen. 6. 6. Gen. 39. 9. and sacred will of God 1 Thess 4. 7. Q. What becomes of the souls of men after death Ans The soules of all that die in the true and unfeigned faith of Christ immediately goe to live with Christ in blessednesse Luk. 23. 43. Phil. 1. 23. and the soules of the wicked Luke 16. 23. goe immediately into hell torments Qu. Whether shall mens bodies rise again at the â—ast day or no Ans Yes the bodies both of the godly and ungodly shall rise again at the last day of â—udgment and at that time all shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive according to what they have done in the body whether it be good or evil 2 Cor. 5. 10. and the righteous
2. 13. Qu. But how shall a Christian be sensible of his own spirituall wants and the decay of the power and activity of grace in his soul Ans A Christian may come to be sensible of his own spirituall wants and decays of grace by the consideration of his daily slips and sins of thought word and deed either against Gods precepts or prohibitions As for instance my distrust lets me see my weakness of faith and my omission of and sloathfulness in holy duties le ts me see my want of love and zeal towards God and Christ And so of the rest Hereupon now a Christian must apply the seal of the Covenant for an assurance to himself that as all so especially these and these particular wants shal be supplyed from Christs fulness Job 1. 16. Psal 1. 3. Jam. 4. 6. Qu. How must a Communicant renew his love before he comes to the Lords Table Ans A Communicant must renew his love before he comes to the Lords Table thus 1 He must strive to get his heart inflamed with love to God 2 Cor. 5. 14. and Man 1 Joh. 4. 11. by a due considetion and deep sense of Gods free and great love to him in Jesus Christ and by considering also that eating and drinking together at the Lords Table is a testification of that sweet love which is and must be among Christians one towards another 1 Cor. 12 13. 2 If any man have wronged him he must forgive injuries freely Ephes 4. 26. and if he hath given any just occasion of offence to others he must seek reconciliation with them Mat. 5. 24 25. Rom. 12. 18. Q. How must a Communicant renew his resolution of better obedience before he comes to the Lords Table A. A Communicant is to renew his resolution of better obedience thus namely in an humble acknowledgment of his own weakness Psal 119. 106. he must resolve through Gods grace without all further delay Psal 119. 60. to walk in new obedience and to this end he must earnestly crave strength from God and intreat that he would enable him thereunto Psal 119. 117. Qu. How must a Communicant renew his thankfulnes to God and Christ before he comes to the Lords Table Ans A Communicant before he comes to the Lords table must renew his thankfulnes to God thus 1 He must seriously consider that though he has broken Covenant with God oftentimes and in speciall since the last Sacrament yet the Lord now graciously offers to confirm the Covenant of Free-grace to him anew in this next Sacrament 2 He must also take notice that if there be but the least spark of saving grace in him the Lord will not quench Isa 42. 3. but nourish it and for that end invites him to come to the holy feast of his Sons flesh and blood 3 He must also remember that if he hath throughly endevored 2 Cor. 8. 12. to examine and prepare himself for that ordinance he shal find acceptance with God through Christ and the Lord will look upon him as a worthy guest at his Table 1 Cor. 11. 28. Now all these three indulgences from God call for present thankfulness from the beleeving soul Qu. Besides self-examination and the renewed exercise of the forenamed graces and also besides Prayer so often mentioned before had we not need yet more especially to seek God by earnest Prayer before we come to the Lords Table Ans Yes as a Christian must pray earnestly to God for many particulars hinted before so in speciall he must also pray that God would please further to fit him by his Spirit Phil. 4. 6. Psal 19. 14. for a meet partaking of this sacrament and also accept of him through Jesus Christ as a worthy receiver though in himself most unworthy And the reason of al is because God wil be sought unto even to doe those very things which he hath already promised to do for his people Ezek. 36. 37. Thus far of the Duties before Receiving Qu WHat are the duties required of a Christian At and In the time of receiving the Lords-supper Ans The duties required at and in the time of our receiving are these 1 Every communicant is to give diligent attention to that which is publickly done not onely when he himself is to receive but during the whole action 1 Cor. 14. 16. to behold and look upon both the elements themselves Exod. 24 8. and all the Sacramentall actions 1 Cor. 11. 23. c. in the administration of the Sacrament 1 Cor. 14. 40. 2 He must use such reverent behaviour as may be free from super stition yet fit to stirre up and expresse inward faith and thankfulness 1 Cor. 14. 40. Q. What must be the meditation and disposition of our hearts in tune of receiving the Sacrament Ans Our meditation and disposition of heart at and in the time of our receiving must be this 1 When we see the Bread and Wine consecrated and set apart for this holy use then we must call to mind and consider the eternal love of God the Father in sanctifying setting apart his Son Jesus Christ in his secret counsell to be the Redeemer and Surety of his people Joh. 10. 36. and the tender mercy of Christ in undertaking this hard service for us Heb. 7. 26. Heb. 10. 9. 2 When we see the Bread broken and the wine powred out we are to mourn over him whom we have pierced by our sins Zech. 12. 12. and remember the infinite justice and wrath of God against sin that could never be satisfied but by this means Rom. 3. 25. 3 When we see the Bread and wine given unto us al by the Minister we are to meditate upon the gift and application of Christ crucified to our own souls in particular and to every beleeving receiver els Gal. 2. 20. 4 When we take the Bread and Wine we must stir up our selves by faith to lay hold upon and apply to our selves all the merits of Christs death 1 Cor. 11. 24. and so joyfully to feed thereupon by beleeving that as sure as bread and wine will nourish the body up in a naturall life so sure will the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ fed upon by faith nourish our souls unto eternall life and will also satisfie our souls Matth. 11. 29. and strengthen them against all temptations here in this world 1 Cor. 10. 16. Joh. 6. 35. 5 When we behold the rest of the Congregation communicating with us we are then to stir up our hearts to loving and kind affections towards them and all the people of God 1 Cor. 10. 17. Qu. WHat is that holy carriage that is required after receiving the Sacrament Ans 1. Immediately after receiving a Christian in token of thankfulness for his receiving such inward pledges of love from God must offer up the sacrifice of praise 1 Thess 5. 18. to the Lord and cheerfully give alms 1 Cor. 16. 2. Heb. 13. 16. for the relief of the poor members of Christ 2 At other times after receiving he must often try himself whether he hath been made to drink into one spirit with Christ and his members or not 1 Cor. 12. 13. and what growth he hath gotten by the Sacrament in assurance of Gods favor in strength against corruptions in power to walk with God in obedience to him and in all other graces of the Spirit and fruits of Christs death 3 If the Christian after receiving cannot find these fruits in himself he must humble himself for his own sinnes as the cause thereof 1 Cor. 11. 31. and though he finds not that comfort and benefit he looks for yet if he be truly humbled for the want of it he may be comforted in this as a fruit of a worthy receiving 2 Chron. 30. 18 19. 4 If he shall find upon this after-examination the forenamed benefits truly wrought in his heart then he is most thankfully to give God the glory and to desire the continuance and increase of the same grace with all holy endevors to that end 1 Chron. 29. 13 14 18 verses and as he hath received Jesus Christ so he is to walk in him Col. 2. 6 7. 2 Pet. 2. 20 21 22. and not to return to his former evil practises but to keep the Covenant that he hath renewed with the Lord at the Sacrament and to increase in love and fellowship with Gods children 1 Cor. 10. 16 17. 5 And lastly a Christian upon the sense of the comfort and benefit received at the Sacrament is to resort the oftner and with the more earnest desire unto it 2 Chron. 30. 21 23 verses FINIS