out many inventions Eccles 7.29 by which he defaced that image and made himself a sinner and for this had suffered eternal death had he not been Redeemed by the death of Christ Q Wherein is Christs Exaltation A. 1. In His Victory over Hell 2. In His Resurrection 3. In His Ascention 4. In His Session at the right hand of God 5. In His coming again to judge the quick and the dead Q. What do you think of Christs descent into Hell in the fifth Article A. I believe that after the death of His body His humane soul went down really and locally into Hell Q. In what sence do you take Hell here A. I take Hell here as I take Christs Death and Burial in the former Article that is in the litteral sense For as Christ died for us and was buried so also it is to be believed litterally that He went down into Hell Art 3. of the Church of England Q. What do you mean by these words He rose again the third day A. I mean that He was not raised by any other but rose again of Himself by His own power For as He gave up the Ghost when He died no man took away His life from Him but He layed it down of Himself so He took His life again of and by Himself Q. Why is it said He rose again the third day whenas it is evident by the story of His Passion as it is set down by the holy Evangelists that there were not forty hours between His Death and His Resurrection A. You must understand that the Jews reckoned their Natural day consisting of 24. hours from evening to evening And then you must by a Synechdoche which putteth part for the whole take two parts of two days for two whole days and reckon part of Good-Fryday being the day of the Jews preparation on which day He was Crucified from the ninth to the twelfth hour for one day Then the Sabbath day or Saturday from Sun-set to Sun-set was one entire whole day this was the second And then lastly the night following the Sabbath or Saturday to the dawning of the first day of the week that we call the Lords-day or Sunday must be taken for the third day He was Crucified Dead and Buried on Fryday towards the evening His body lay in the Grave all Saturday He rose again on the Sunday morning St. Luke 24.31 which was the third day after His death Q. Why are Christs Descent into Hell and His Resurrection put together into one Article A. Because in these two poynts is contained all whatsoever Christ hath merited for us by His Death For the Redemption of our Souls is compleated by His conquering the Devil in His descent into Hell by His Soul and the Redemption of our Bodies is compleated by His conquering Death in the glorious Resurrection of His Body Q. What is contained in the sixth Article A. Christs Ascention into Heaven and Session at the right hand of God In His Incarnation was the beginning in this is the end of His Pilgrimage here on Earth In that was His Humiliation in His Resurrection and this is His Exaltation Q. But was not Christ always in Heaven A. Yes According to His Godhead which is always every where but by way of special presence most eminently in Heaven and was then in Heaven when it was with His Soul in Hell and with His Body in the Grave But His Manhood in His Humane Body and Soul came not into Heaven till His Ascention which was forty days after His Resurrection Q. VVhat were the reasons of Christs Ascention into Heaven A. 1. Because there was no other place sutable to His glorious Body 2. Because it was but just and equal that His Manhood should take possession of that Kingdom of glory which He had purchased by His Passion 3. Than He might shew His Kingdom not to be of this world and so that He was not to be looked upon as Man but to be worshiped as God 4. That He might therefore prepare a place for us 5. That He might thereby draw our minds and affections after Him and cause our conversation to be in Heaven c. Phil. 3.20 Q. VVhat are the benefits that we have by His Ascention A. 1. Upon His Ascention we have the Comforter sent unto us St. Joh. 1.6.7 by whom He giveth His gifts to men Eph 4.8 1 Cor. 12. 2. He appeareth in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 So that If any man sin we have an Advocate with Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and He is the Propitiation for our sin and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole world 1. St. John 2.1 2. 3. Where He is there shall we be also St. John 14.3 17.24 Q. But why is the Session of Christ at the right hand of God added to this Article A. Because as His Ascention into Heaven setteth forth the glory and Majesty of His Person by the place where He is so this may shew the exercise of His power in that place Q. But is there any right hand or left with God A. No. For indeed God is a Spirit that hath neither flesh nor bones nor any part of a body Q. How then is it said that Christ is on the right hand of God A. This is a Trope or Metaphorical changing of the word as it is frequent to observe in holy Scriptures when we speak of God after the manner of men attributing to Him humane affections and members according to our capacities And yet indeed whenas He is a Spirit there can be nothing that hath any part of a body imagined to be in Man But because in our conversation with men we take Him to have the greatest honor which is placed on the right hand therefore transferring and comparing this to things in Heaven to express the glory of Christ which as Man He hath attained unto above all others Men and Angels we say that He is set on the right hand of the Father on the right hand of the Throne of Majesty in Heaven Heb. 8.1 And so accordingly we must take Sittting not for the site and posture of the body but for the firm and sure possession of that Royal Power and highest glory which He as Man hath received of the Father Who hath set Him on His own right hand in Heavenly places far above all Principalities and Powers c. Eph. 1.20 21 22 23. Q. What do you observe in the seventh Article concerning His coming again to Judge the quick and the dead A. The four last things viz. Death Judgment Hell and Heaven Q. How do you gather these three A. Because first it is appointed for all men once to die or else to be changed at the last day Then cometh the Judgment and by this they that are acquitted shall go into Heaven and they that are condemned shall go into Hell And this will be the last act of Christs Office Then He shall deliver up
the experience of senses nor relyeth upon strength of reason but upon the power and authority of God who can neither deceive nor ever be deceived Q. Why is it called the Apostles Creed A. To distinguish it from the other two Creeds used in the Church Liturgie viz. St. Athanasius his Creed and the Nicene Creed as also from all other Confessions of Faith as that of Calcedon c. Q. Were the Apostles then the Composers of this Creed as St. Athanasius was of his and the Nicene Fathers were of theirs Or was it gathered out of their Writings only as agreeable to their Doctrine A. The Apostles themselves were the Composers of it Q. At what time did the Apostles compose their Creed A. When they were all together at Jerusalem filled with the Holy Ghost before they dispersed themselves abroad to preach the Gospel to several Nations then they agreed upon this as the common Subject and Rule of all their Preaching that there might be no difference in their Doctrines after their departures one from another Anno Domini Christi 44. Anno Imperatoris Claudij 2. July 15. Q. Was it composed by them all together and delivered as the common result of their joynt determination like the Decrees of a General Council or did every several Apostle deliver his own particular Dictate in it and so every one give in his Article A. It is an antient and received Tradition that every one of the Apostles composed his several Article and therefore they are twelve Articles according to the number of the twelve Apostles Q. Can you tell me which Article was made by each particular Apostle A. Yes according to the Tradition St. Peter gave in the first I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth St. Andrew the second And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. St. John the Evangelist the third Which was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary St. James the Son of Zebedee the fourth Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified Dead and Buried St. Thomas the fifth He descended into Hell the third day he rose again from the Dead St. James the Son of Alpheus the sixth He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty St. Philip the seventh From thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead St. Bartholomew the eighth I believe in the Holy Ghost St. Matthew the ninth The Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints St. Simon the tenth The Remission of Sins St. Judas Thaddeus the eleventh The Resurrection of the Body St. Matthias the twelfth The life everlasting Q. Is there any probability of truth in this Tradition A. There is first the like probability that is in other Ecclesiastical Traditions in that it hath been delivered to us by Godly men who of their piety were not willing and in policy could have no reason to deceive us with a false story Then again this is plainly intimated in that Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and from thence the Latin word Symbolum which signifieth a Shot a Collation or Contribution and implyeth that every particular Apostle conferred his several Article to the whole Sum and Reckoning of the Creed Q. But hath not the Word divers other significations A. Yes And very fitly answering to the Creed As when it is called an Agreement it signifieth that it was consented to by all Sometimes it is a watch word a signal or mark of distinction by which a man may know his fellow-souldier from his enemy And so it is the badge of our Profession by which you may know the difference between a Christian and an Infidel as a Souldier is known in the field as well by the Word as by his Coat and his Colors Yet the first sense as it is a Contribution or Share or Shot is as proper as any and seemeth most to be warranted by the Derivation and Etymologie of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à conjiciendo from casting together or adding one thing to another Q. Why is it called Creed A. Creed is of the first word in Latin Credo to believe So that to say our Creed is to say our Belief that is that which is to be believed Q. Is it sufficient for a Christian man to believe those things only that are contained in the Apostles Creed A. Those things especially are the first and immediate object of our Faith and are to be believed in express terms But also with those we must believe the Canonical Scriptures out of which they may be proved and the expositions and right consequences drawn by the Church from them both and also the other Orthodox and Catholick Confessions of Faith as the Creeds of St. Athanasius Nice and Chalcedon And also those Traditions which we have received by faithful hands from the Apostles As that these and none other are Canonical Scriptures That the Jews Sabbath which was on the last day of the week to wit on Saturday is changed into our Lords-day or Sunday That the power of Governing the Church and Imposition of hands belongs to the Bishops and such like that are agreeable to the Articles of our Creed Q. But is not this to make new Articles of Faith No. These are but explanations of and deductions from the Apostles Creed As the Nicene Athanasian and Chalcedon Creeds are not new ones or other Creeds but the expositions of the old one And concerning those aforenamed Traditions 1. When I know this Creed is agreable to and to be proved by the Canonical Scriptures then I must believe that to be the Scripture which the Church by Tradition commendeth unto us for the same 2. Again When I believe there is a God and that he is to be worshipped and so that some time is to be set a part for his service then I am easily induced to believe that This day that is the Lords-day is the fittest standing time which was first begun by our Saviours Resurrection and seconded by his appearing to his Disciples confirmed by the coming of the Holy Ghost and by the meetings of the Apostles and continued unto our time by the practice of the whole Church 3. Lastly When as I believe the Holy Catholick Church to be a Communion of Saints a company of faithful people then it easily followeth in my perswasion That our Saviour Christ who is the God of order left not this Society in confusion for every man to do and teach when and what he listeth as though all Christians upon their Baptism had presently power given them to Govern Teach and Ordain in the Church as they should see occasion But that our Saviour left this power to his Apostles and they left their Authority to set things in order that should be wanting in the Church upon emergent occasions and to Ordain Priests in every City not to all Christians nay nor to all Priests but to some particular men as to St. Timothy at
Ephesus and to St. Titus in Creet c. And therefore they only that is the Bishops are to be acknowledged to have this Authority of Jurisdiction and Ordination who can derive it from the Apostles and prove themselves in these very things to be the Apostles Successors Q. VVhat do you chiefly learn out of the Articles of the Christian Faith 1. I learn to believe in God the Father who hath made me and all the world 2. In God the Son who hath redeemed me and all mankind 3. In God the Holy Ghost who sanctifieth me and all the elect people of God Q. VVhat Do you believe there be three Gods A. No There be three Persons and but one God The Father the Son and the Holy-ghost are onely one Con-substantial Co-eternal and Co-equal Essence but three persons Q. VVhat do you mean by a Person A. A Person is one who hath his own subsistence which no other besides hath proper to himself Q. How is it possible that there should be three Persons in one Essence A. With men it is impossible but not with God Indeed this is such an high and and dreadful Mystery that it is not safe to say any more of it but that I do believe it that there is three in one The Father is made of none as it is in St. Athanasius his Creed The Son is of the Father alone and the Holy-ghost is of both And by these several properties they are really distinguished each from other For the substance of God with this property to be of none maketh the Person of the Father The very self-same substance with this property to be of the father maketh the Person of the Son The same substance having added to it the property of proceeding from the other two maketh the person of the Holy Ghost So that in every Person there is implyed both the Substance of God which is one and also that property which causeth the same Perrson really and truly to differ from the other two This is the truth But how cometh it to pass I cannot say you need not nay you must not search only believe Q. Out of what words in the Creed do you learn to believe in God the Father who hath made you and all the world A. Out of the words of the first Article I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth Q. What do you observe in this Article A. 1. That there is a God 2. That there is but one God 3. That there are divers Persons in the Godhead implyed in Father 4. That God expresseth himself to us 1. By the Unity of his Essence God 2. By Trinity of Persons Father 3. By his Attributes as Almightiness Infiniteness c. 4. By his Works expresly of Creation and consequently of Preservation of Heaven and Earth and all things that are therein visible and invisible Q. Do you not believe that the Son and the Holy Ghost is also Almighty and Maker of Heaven and Earth A. Yes For as we say the Father is God the Son is God and the Holy Ghost is God and yet they are not three Gods but one God So we say the Father is Almighty the Son is Almghty and the Holy Ghost is Almighty and yet there are not three Almighties but one Almighty And so we say the Father is the Maker of Heaven and Earth and the Son is Maker of Heaven and Earth and the Holy Ghost is Maker of Heaven and Earth and yet they are not three Makers but one Maker of Heaven and Earth For although by a peculiar manner of speaking according to our capacity in respect of the Persons we call the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth because he is the first of the Persons in the Godhead And we attribute Wisdom to the Son because he is the eternal Word of the Father And Goodness to the Holy Ghost because he is the Love of them both Yet indeed these and all other outward Actions and Attributes of God are common to all the Persons of the Godhead Q. In what Articles do you learn to beleive in God the Son who hath Redeemed you and all Mankind A. In the 2 3 4 5 6 7 Articles Q. What is the reason that the work of Mans Redemption done by the second Person in the Trinity is more largly and in more Articles set down than the work of the Worlds Creation A. 1. Because it cost more to Redeem the Soul than to make the World The work of Redemption is greater than the work of Creation and consisteth of more circumstances 2. To teach us that as we ought to respect other Doctrine so this in a more special manner as that we determin to know and rejoyce in nothing more than in Jesus Christ and him Crucified Q. Could not God have Redeemed Mankind by a word as easily as have made the World A. Yes For with God all things are and ever were possible God had other means in his power to save us than by the death of his Son but a better and more convenient way to demonstrate his Love and Mercy towards us and to manifest his Wisdom Power and Justice against Sin Death and Satan He had not for God chose the best When He first decreed this way to save Man it was in His Power to have appointed another way if it had pleased Him So that God was not tyed to determin this way upon any necessity as if the choice of other means failed Him But this in the Wisdom of God common to all the three Persons in the Holy Trinity was allowed as the most honorable and acceptable way to God and the most favourable and comfortable way to Man Q. Did Christ Redeem none but Mankind A. No. God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto Judgment 2 St. Pet. 2.4 St. Jude 6. Q. Did Christ Redeem all Mankind A. Yes The words of the Church-Catechism are express and plain who Redeemed me and all Mankind And so it is written that He dyed for all 1 Cor. 5.14 15. and that He is the Saviour of all men 1 Tim. 4.10 As by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation so by the Righteousness of one the free gift came came upon all men to justification of life Rom. 5.18 Q. Is the price of Christs Death sufficient for the Redeeming of all Mankind A. Yes doubtless For He gave himself a Ransom for all 1 Tim. 2.6 by which He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him Heb. 7.25 For He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world St. John 1.29 Q. But was it Christs intention and purpose that all Mankind should be Redeemed and Saved by His death A. Yes surely For He will have all men to be saved 1 Tim. 2.4 that is He is not willing that any should perish 2
eternal happiness of the eight Beatitudes Q. Which be the five Senses A. 1. Seeing 2. Hearing 3. Touching 4. Tasting 5. Smelling Q. Which are the four Cardinal Moraâ— Virtues A 1. Prudence 2. Justice 3. Fortitude 4. Temperance Q. Which be the three Theological Virtues A. 1 Faith 2. Hope 3. Charity Q. What be the seven guifts of the Holy Ghost A. 1. Wisdom 2. Understanding 3. Counsel 4. Fortitude 5. Knowledge 6. Godliness 7. The Fear of the Lord. Q. Which be the twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost A. 1. Love 2. Joy 3. Peace 4. Patience 5. Benignity 6. Goodness 7. Longanimity 8. Mildness 9. Faith 10. Modesty 11. Continence 12. Chastity Q. Which be the three kinds of Good Works A. 1. Alms. 2. Prayer 3. Fasting Q. What be the seven works of Corporal Mercy A. 1. To feed the hungry 2. To give drink to the thirsty 3. To cloath the naked 4. To visit and redeem the Captives 5. To harbour the harbourless 6. To visit the sick 7. To bury the dead Q. What be the seven works of Spirituaâ— Mercy A. 1. To correct the sinner 2. To instruct the ignorant 3. To counsel the doubtful 4. To comfort the sorrowful 5. To take wrongs patiently 6. To forgive wrongs willingly 7. To pray for all men Q. What be the Offices of Christian Justice A. 1. To decline all evil 2. To do all good Q. VVhich be the eight Beatitudes A. 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven St. Mat. 5. 2. Blessed are the meek For they shall possess the earth 3. Blessed are they that mourn For they shall be comforted 4. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness For they shall be filled 5. Blessed are the merciful For they shall find mercy 6. Blessed are the clean in heart For they shall see God 7. Blessed are the Peace-makers For they shall be called the Sons of God 8. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousness sake For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Q. VVho are the persons sanctified by the Holy Ghost A. In one word they are the Church Q. VVhat is the Church A. The Church is a visible company of Christs faithful people for whom He the Son of God taking upon Him the Nature of Man did and suffered all things necessary to their Salvation Q. VVhat do you observe in your Creed concerning the Church A. 1. Her Being that there is a Church 2. Her Proprieties 3. Her Priviledges Q. What are the Prproieties of the Church A. 1. One 2. Holy 3. Catholick 4. Apostolick 5. A Communion of Saints Q. VVhat are the Priviledges of the Church A. 1. Concerning the Soul Forgiveness of Sins 2. Concerning the body Resurrection of the Body 3. Concerning both Body and Soul Life Everlasting Q. What needs this be an Article of your Christian Faith that the Church hath a being For do not all Jews Turks and Infidels c. believe that there is a Church A. They believe that there is such a Sect of Christians in the world as we call the Church But they believe it not to have such means of Salvation such saving truth in the Word such efficacy in the Sacraments such power of binding and loosing such proprieties and priviledges as I believe to be in the Church Q. VVhat is the first propriety of the Church A. To be one Q. How do you say the Church is but One A. The whole multitude of Believers dispersed far and wide over the whole world is but One Collective Mystical Body of our Lord Jesus Christ Therefore I say I believe the Church Not Churches in the plural number but in the singular number One Church as it is intimated in the Apostles Creed and expressed in the Nicene Creed And so it is written There is One Body and One Spirit even as you are called in One hope of your calling One Lord One Faith One Baptism One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in us all Eph. 4.4 5 6. As it is but One Body so it hath but One Head One Supream invisible Rector or Governor even Christ Jesus our Lord whom the Father hath given to be Head of the Church which is His Body Eph. 1.22 23. Thus the Church is but One because She teacheth in all places and at all times one and the same Doctrine of Faith Administreth the same Sacraments is guided by the same Spirit and hath the same invisible Head And so the particular Members though they cannot be all together in one place ought to be of one mind and endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Q. What is the second Propriety of the Church A. She is Holy Q. How is the Church said to be Holy A. First As all things consecrated and set a part for Religious uses are said to be holy so all the Faithful are holy that have dedicated themselves and given up their names in Baptism unto Christ And so then again In Him the Church is holy as a Body that is joyned to an holy Head from Whom as from the Fountain of all holiness the Graces of the Holy Ghost and the Riches of the goodness of the Father are diffused and derived Lastly She is Holy because of the Holy Word that is Preached the Holy Sacraments that are Administred the Holy Service that is performed and the Holy Lives that are practised in the Church Q. VVhy is She called Catholick A. Catholick is as much as General and Universal and then therefore She is called Catholick because being dispersed throughout the whole world She doth in Her Motherly bosome receive embrace and safe-keep all persons of all times places and Nations so that they be of one mind and consent in the Faith and Doctrine of Christ Q VVhy is the Church called Apostolick A. This was added by the Fathers of Nice and Constantinople to prove the Church truly Catholick in that the Doctrine thereof which all men of former ages in all Nations had received and all for the present and hereafter are bound to stand to as received from the very Apostles themselves and from their writings Q. VVhy is the Church called the Communion of Saints A. 1. In respect of Christ the Head in whose benefits every Member hath a common interest in that He took upon Him the Nature of Man not of this or that particular but of all in general and so for all men that believe in Him He effectually suffered all things necessary for their Salvation 2. In regard of the society of all the Elect people of God all the faithful Members of the Church both Militant and Triumphant that have been are or shall be in all times and in all places who hold an inseparable Communion and Unity among themselves as Members of one and the self same body and do help and assist one another with mutual acts of mercy and all good works among whom there is
Perjury false rash common customary and unnecessary swearing Q. What is commanded in the fourth Commandment A. Coming to the Church hearing the Word Praying with the Congregation Meditating and constant Practising of the Service of God Q. What is forbidden here A. Licentiousness Libertinism Profaneness Sloth and Negligence of Holy Duties and following the Labors of our ordinary and common Callings at the appointed times of Gods Service Q. What is taught in the fifth Commandment A. Honor Obedience Subjection Reverence and Maintenance of our Natural Civil and Ecclesiastical Parents Q. What is prohibited in this Commandment A. Unnatural affection Disobedience Rebellion Faction Schism Q. What is required in thi sixth Commandment A. Meekness Courtesie Gentleness Goodness Forgetfulness of Wrongs Forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath Forgiven us Q. What is forbidden in the sixth Commandment A. Wilful-Murder Man-slaughter Violence Fighting Quarrelling all Prejudice to the body or life of our Neighbour Anger Hatred Malice desire of Reveng provocation by Gestures Words or Actions Q. What is commanded in the seventh Commandment A. Continence Chastity Modesty Frugality Purity of the mind in thoughts and desires and purity of the body in tongue face eyes ears touching gesture c. Q. What is forbidden here A. Fornication Adultery all Uncleanness and the occasions thereof by unseemly communications wanton songs unchaste immodest and uncivil gestures rioting drunkenness voluptuousness intemperance wantonness c. Q. What is required in the eighth Commandment A. Justice and Equity and Righteousness upright and fair dealing in Merchandise and Traffick in Buying and Selling and Bargaining advancing by all means the profit and advantage of our Neighbour Q. What is forbidden in the eighth Commandment A. Sacriledge Robbery Simony Usury Extortion Oppression Violence Cousenage Cheating Circumvention Over-reaching Supplanting in any Business Q. What is enjoyned in the ninth Commandment A. Speaking Asserting Maintaining Justifying the Truth in Equity and Justice in whatsoever is right And good and charitable Construction fair interpretation taking all things in the best sence where there is but an appearance of Evil. Q. What is prohibited in this Commandment A. False and deceitful Witness-bearing subverting in Judgment comploting combination whispering detracting rayling false-accusing slandering tale-bearing lying faining dissembling double dealing flat denying of the Truth c. Q. What is taught in the tenth Commandment A. Sincerity benevolence good desires towards our Neighbour from the heart wishing to another as much good and happiness as to our selves Q. What is forbidden in this Commandment A. Actual Concupiscence a will or desire or thought to hurt or any way to prejudice our Neighbour Q. What do you chiefly learn out of all these Commandments A. Two things 1. My Duty towards God 2. My Duty towards my Neighbour Q. Out of which Commandments do you learn your Duty towards God A. Out of the four first Commandments which are called the First Table because they are the Commandments which God wrote in the First of the two Tables which He gave unto Moses Q. Out of which of the Commandments do you learn your Duty towards your Neighbour A. Out of the other Six called The Second Table because they contain the Commandments that God wrote in the Second of those Tables These are the two Precepts of Charity 1. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy strength and with all thy mind And 2. Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Q. Is a Christian man bound to keep no other Commandments but these A. Yes There be those which they call the Precepts or Commandments of the Church which indeed are not other Commandments but deductions and Conclusions drawn from the Ten Commandments and these every one is bound to keep Q. Which be the Precepts of the Church A. 1. To keep the Holy-days appointed by the Church with leaving the ordinary works of our Calling and attending Divine Service 2. To keep Fasts and Abstinence on Certain days appointed 3. To pay Tythes to the Pastors of the Church 4. To make special Confession of sins to the Priest when a man feels his Conscience troubled with any weighty matter 5. To receive the Holy Eucharist thrice every year at Easter once especially and at other times as conveniencies and opportunities best serve Q. But is not this to teach for Doctrines the Commandments of men A. No. These are not meerly mans Commandments but Gods and such as are taught in their respective General Heads in the Ten Commandments Q. Can you make this appear in every one of these several Precepts A. Yes And first for the two first Precepts If God ought to be worshiped in ordinary course or to be thanked or sought to by Prayer and Fasting upon extraordinary occasions of his Mercies or his Judgments which is clear in the First Table then certain days upon the occasion both for Thanksgiving as Feast-days and for humiliation as Fasting-days must be set apart by the Church and these of necessity must be observed by all the Members of the same Then again for the third Precept If the aforesaid duties of Common Service Thanksgiving and Humiliation must be done Then it is necessary that some persons as the Priests be set a part for the performance of those Duties A. And then it is urged out of the first Commandment that these persons who are set apart for the publick Ministry of the Church have their honor of Maintenance Now for this Maintenance the Priests under Moses Law were to have the Tythe or Tenth And the Apostle saith the Ministers of the Gospel are worthy to have more 1 Cor. 9.12 and avoucheth that by the appointment and Ordinance of God who being Lord of Heaven and Earth hath reserved the Tythes to his own use and service Levit. 27.30 they ought to have as much v. 14. And shews plainly that the Priesthood being after the order of Melchisedeck hath a greater right to Tythes than that of Aarons Heb. 7. Therefore the Church Commands that every mans Allowance to Her Minister shall be no less than the Tythe of what he possesseth Then for the fourth it is clear that we ought to confess our sins one to another it a part of Gods Service required in the First and Fourth Commandments thus to give honor to God and there is good reason for it in respect of our selves because there is need of help and comfort in distress of conscience and if to any one then especially to the Priest who hath power of Absolution Lastly It is a principal part of Gods service to receive the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist in remembrance of the Sacrifice of the death of Christ and therefore the Church commands that to be done Now because the fittest time for that action is about the time of Christs Passion which is especially therein remembred therefore it is enjoyned every one besides other times especially at Easter Q. Well
Are you able now to do all those things that are necessarily required and to walk in the Commandments of God and to observe them as you ought to do A. No. Not of my self in all points and at all times as in strictness I ought to do yet I may being assisted by Gods help perform and keep them so far as that God may graciously accept of it Q. Did ever any man keep all these Commandments in all points at any time or any of them perfectly at all times A. No. No man ever kept all of them at any time perfectly according to the parts nor any one of them at all times according to the degree of obedience that is required except our Saviour Christ who alone did all things well who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth 1. St. Pet. 2.22 Q. How do you mean then that it is any way possible to keep Gods Commandments A. In a word For the possibility of keeping Gods Commandments to us that are in Christ for without Him we can do nothing there must necessarily concurre with our true endeavours the grace of Gods assistance helping our infirmities and so we may be able to do something and the grace of Gods acceptation not weighing our merits but pardoning our offences and so we may be able to do what is sufficient Q. How may a man come by this grace of assistance and acceptation A. He must call to God for it by continual Prayer Q. What is the most absolute and best form of Prayer A. That which is taught us by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ called The Lords Prayer THE LORDS PRAYER Our Father c. Q. VVHat do you chiefly observe in the Lords Prayer A. 1. A Proeme or Preface 2. The Petitions 3. The Conclusion Q. What is contained in the Preface A. The Person to whom we Pray to wit God in whom we believe and whom we are to obey described 1. By His relation to us that He is a Father and in this we have Faith that He Will 2. By His Habitation that He is in Heaven and by this we have hope He is able to help us And 3. By the Common interest that we all have in Him in that He is Ours and by this we have Charity and pray with others and for others as well as for our selves Q. How is God said to be our Father here A. By Adoption in and through Christ and so He is Ours that is all ours who are Christians who all in the judgment and exercise of Charity are to be taken and used as the children of God Q. But is not God in all places A. Yes Q. Why then do you call upon Him as limited and circumscribed in Heaven A. God is said to be in Heaven not because He is there limited or confined by the bounds of that place but because Heaven is the Throne of His Majesty the place of His most glorious Residence in which He is by a more special and eminent presence than in any other Q. May we pray to none but God A. No. To none but God as the chief Author and Giver of what we pray for Q. But may we not pray to one another A. Yes We may pray to them with whom we live and converse for any thing thing wherein they can assist us as subordinate means and instruments in and under God Q. But may we not pray to the Saints departed A. No. Q. But are not they more able and ready to help us in their Prayers to God for us being of the Church Triumphant than any of the Church Militant A. Yes no doubt Q. Why then may we not pray to them to pray for us as we do for one another here on earth A. 1. Because we have no warrant in Gods Word for our so doing 2. Because we are not assured that they hear us as we do one another to whom we speak face to face Q. How many Petitions are there in the Lords Prayer A. Seven To some of which all Manners and Forms of Prayers ought to be referred Q. What do you desire in the first Petition Hollowed be thy Name A. That Gods Honor and Glory may be preferred and advanced above all things That the Confession and Practice of Faith Hope and Charity and holy Conversation of Christian Life may so shew forth their power and force in us that others beholding the same may take occasion to praise God in our behalfe when we make our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorifie our Father that is in Heaven Q. What do you ask of God in the second Petition Thy Kingdom come A. 1. That Gods Kingdom of Power and Grace may come that Christ may reign in the Church and that the Church may be propagated over the whole world 2. That also His Kingdom of Glory may come that in this the Church may reign with Christ for ever That it may please God of His gracious goodness shortly to accomplish the Number of His Elect and to hasten His Kingdom that we and all they who are departed in the true Faith of His Holy Name may have one perfect consummation and bliss both in body and soul in His Eternal and everlasting Glory Q. What is the substance of the third Petition Thy Will be done A. That we upon Earth though weak and but of small power may exhibit and yeild unto Almighty God exact and perfect Obedience according to all the parts and degrees that are required in our duties such as the Angels and Saints do in Heaven desiring nothing so much as that we may chearfully submit our selves to His good pleasure both in Prosperity and Adversity and renouncing our own wills which are prone to evil we may rest and settle our minds in the Will of God Q What is the meaning of the fourth Petition Give us this day our Daily Bread A. That God may send us all things which be needful both for the body and soul in giving us bread that is corporal the food of the body that we may have bread to eat and clothes to put on and all outward things that belong to this life and also Spiritual bread too that there be not the Famine of the Word and Sacraments which are to nourish our souls to life everlasting Q What do you pray for in the fifth Petition And forgive us c. A. Pardon and Forgiveness of our sins and offences against our Father which is in Heaven upon Condition that we forgive all them that offend against us And it is to be observed that this request to God is but upon this Condition which if we perform not on our part God is desired to do nothing for us neither will He on His. See St. Mat. 6.14 15. 18.35 Q. What do you pray for in the sixth Petition Lead us not into Temptation A. Because this life is a Warfare in which we wrestle with the World the
and effectual receiving of the other two and therefore is not excluded but implyed in the necessity of those Q. Are not Orders and Matrimony necessary also A. Orders indeed are necessary for the Publick Ministry and Government of the whole Church yet are not necessary to be entred into or received generally by all Christians but only by those who are willing to dedicate themselves to tthat holy service and find themselves inwardly called thereunto And Matrimony is necessary also for the conservation of Mankind and so for the continuance of the Church by legitimate procreation and Religious Education of Children in the fear and nurture of the Lord and to the praise of God Yet it is not necessary to be entred into or taken in hand of any but at the liberty of every mans choice and discretion only by such as have not the guift of Continency and judge the same to serve and help them better unto Godliness Q. What think you of the other two Sacraments to wit Confirmation and Extreme Vnction A. Confirmation commonly called Bishoping because it is to be Administred only by the Bishop is of great use 1. Here the Persons Baptised being at years of discretion are tyed with their own mouth and their own consent to ratifie and confirm the promise made for them by their Godfathers and Godmothers in their Baptism and so to take the charge upon themselves and to discharge their Sureties 2. They have the benefit of the Prayers of the Church applyed particularly by imposition of hands for their increase of grace and for their strength defence against all temptations of the Flesh and all assaults of the World and the Devil very seasonably at that time when they begin to be in danger to yeild unto the same and to fall into sundry kinds of sins Anoynting with Oyl at or before the hour of death which they call Extreme Unction might have in the Apostles time a Physical use and virtue But that it had a Mysterious signification and was applyed by St. James or any other Apostle after a Sacramental manner it doth not appear clearly in holy Scripture And if it be admitted into the number of these five supernumeraries which are commonly called Sacraments but have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptism and the Lords Supper yet we may say the same both of this and Confirmation viz. that they are not of any absolute necessity unto Salvation as to the simple being of a Christian because if they that are baptised die without Confirmation and they that are sick be visited and die without Extreme Unction yet both may be saved Q. Are Baptism and the Lords Supper absolutely necessary unto Salvation A. Not so absolutely necessary neither as though God cannot save some particulars without them but generally necessary as being the ordinary way and means for all men to be saved by They are means that God tyeth us unto though he tye not himself Q. May we not dispence without receiving of the Sacraments A. Yes But only in the case of absolute necessity or otherwise the willful neglect and contempt of them is dangerous It is in effect to tread under foot the Son of God and to count the bloud of the Covenant wherewith we are sanctifyed an unholy thing Q. What is a Sacrament A. An outward visible thing or Element Ordained by Christ Himself to be a sign of grace given unto us and a means to convey the same grace unto us and a Seal and Pledge to confirm the same and to assure us thereof Q. Who is the Author of the Sacraments A. Jesus Christ our Lord. He appointed the outward visible sign and He ordained it to be such a means Seal and Pledge and He gives the inward spiritual grace Q. How many parts be there in a Sacrament A. Two The outward visible Sign and the inward Spiritual Grace Q. Do the Sacraments then bring Grace with them A. Yes Being duly Administred and rightly Received For Grace is an essential and the chiefest part of the Sacrament Q. How come some then to receive the Sacrament to their own Damnation A. Because they bar themselves of the Grace in that they receive the Sacrament unworthily Q. You do not say then that the receiving of the outward Element bringeth Grace A. No. But it is the Receiving the Sacrament that bringeth Grace of which the Element is but one part that is given by the Priest in the Church and Grace is the other part that is reached down by God himself from Heaven And now to receive all the Sacrament consisting of these parts is to receive Grace Q. What is the difference between Baptism and the Lords Supper A. Baptism is as it were our Initiation or entrance into the Church which is the house of the Living God in and by which we being by nature born in sin and children of wrath are made the children of Grace members of Christ heirs and inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven But the Lords Supper is as it were our Education our Food Maintenance or means of Subsistance by which we are preserved and kept in the same House unto the purchased Inheritance And therefore Baptism as our Admission is to be Administred but once but the Lords Supper as our Food and maintenance is to be often Administred unto us Q. What is the outward Sign in Baptism A. Water wherein the Person is Baptised in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Q. Why is Water used for the outward Sign in Baptism A. Because it is instituted by Christ Himself St. Mat. 28.19 in these words Baptising them in the Name c. Q. Why did our Saviour Christ Ordain the Sacrament of Baptism to be done by Water A. Because He is Lord of all Act. 10.36 And whatsoever the Lord pleased that did He in Heaven and Earth Psal 135.6 Q. But is there no reason why our Lord appointed this Action in the Sacrament to be done by this Element A. One reason may be to imitate the Ceremony of washing then used among the Jews 2. In this was fulfilled the Type of Noah's Flood which was a Figure of Baptism wherein Souls are saved by Water 1 St. Pet. 3.20 3. To shew the resemblance between Dipping or Washing in Water and the Spiritual Grace which is the thing that He would have to be signified in the Sacrament Q. What is the Grace or Spiritual thing that is signified in the Sacrament of Baptism A. A death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness Q. What do you mean by a death unto sin A. I mean the getting out of the power of sin by Gods gracious pardon and forgiveness and by His acceptance of my imperfect righteousness As to live unto sin is to be the slave of sin to be subject both to the tasks and blows to do the works of sin and to suffer the punishment of the same So to die to sin is to be free and