fire against the contemners of thy most holy precepts and yet to the penitent sinners hast alwaies shewed thy selfe a fauorable Father and a God full of mercie we thy creatures and woorkemanship of thine owne handes confesse our selues most vnworthie to open our eies vnto the heuens but far lesse to appeare in thy presence For our consciences accuse vs and our manifold iniquities haue borne witnes against vs that we haue declined from thee We haue bin polluted with Idolatrie we haue giuen thy glory to creatures we haue sought support where it was not to be founde and haue lightlied thy most wholesome admonitions The manifest corruptiō of our liues in al estates euidently proueth that wee haue not rightlie regarded thy precepts lawes and holy ordinances and this was not onelie done O Lord in the time of our blindnes but euen nowe when of thy mercie thou hast opened vnto vs an entrance to thy heuenly kingdom by the preaching of thine holie Euangell the whole bodie of this miserable Realm still continueth in their former impietie For the most part alas following the foote steppes of the blinde and obstinat princesse vtterlie despise the light of thy Gospell and delight in ignorance and Idolatrie others liue as a people without a God and without all feare of thy terrible iudgments And some O Lorde that in mouth professe thy blessed Evangell by their slaunderous life blaspheme the same We are not ignorant ô lord that thou art a righteous iudge that cannot suffer iniquitie long to be vnpunished vpon the obstinat trangressors especiallie O Lord when that after so long blindnes and horrible defection from thee soe louinglie thou callest vs againe to thy fauor and felloshipp and that we doe yet obstinatlie rebell we haue O Lorde in our extreame miserie called vnto thee yea when wee appeared vtterlie to haue bene consumed in the fury of our enemies and then didst thou mercifullie incline thine eares vnto vs. Thou foughtest for vs even by thine owne power when there was in vs neither wisedome nor force Thou alone brakest the yoke from our neckes and set vs at liberty when we by our foolishnes had made our selues slaues vnto straungers and mercifullie vnto this day hast thou continued with vs the light of thine Evangell and so ceasest not to heape vpon vs benefites both spiritual and temporal But yet alas O Lord we clearly see that our great ingratitude craueth farther punishement at thy hands the signs wherof are evident before our eies For the whispering of sedition the contempt of thy graces offered and the maintenance of Idolatrie are assured signes of thy farther plagues to fall vpon vs in particular for our grieuous offences And this vnmeasurable intemperatenesse of the aire doeth also threaten thine accustomed plague of famin which commonlie followeth riotous excesse and the contempt of the poore wherewith alas the whole Earth is replenished Wee haue nothing O Lord that we may lay betwixt vs and thy iudgment but thine onelie mercy freely offred vnto vs in thy dear Son our Lorde Iesus Christ purchased to vs by his death and passion For if thou wilt enter into iudgement with vs thy creatures and keepe in minde our grieuous sinns and offences then can there no flesh escape condemnation And therefore wee most humblie beseech thee O Father of mercies for Christ Iesus thy Sonnes sake to take from vs these stony hearts whoe soe long haue heard aswell thy mercies as seuere iudgments and yet haue not bin effectuallie moued with the same and giue vnto vs hartes mollified by thy Spirit that may both conceiue keepe in minde the reuerence that is due vnto thy maiestie Look O Lorde vnto thy chosen children labouring vnder the imperfection of the fleshe graunt vnto vs that victory that thou hast promised to vs by Iesus Christ thy Sonne our onely Sauiour Mediatour and Lawgiuer To whome with thee and the holy Ghost bee all honour and praise nowe and ever A CONFESSION OF OVR Sinnes commonly vsed in the Church of Edinburgh before Sermons IT is of thy mercie O Lord and not of our merites that it hath pleased thee to shew thy selfe vnto the world euer from the beginning and vnto vs nowe in this last most corrupt age yea Lord we further confesse that neither Lawe nor Gospell can profit vs to saluation except that thou of thy meere grace worke in vs aboue all power that is in this our nature For albeit thou teach we shal remaine ignorant albeit thou threaten wee shall contemne and albeit thou promise mercie and grace yet shall we dispair and remaine in infidelitie Vnles that thou create in vs newe hartes write thy Lawe in the same and seale in vs remission of our sinnes and that the sense and feeling of thy fatherlie mercie by the power of the holie Spirite To the old world thou spakest by Noah To Pharaoh his people by thy seruant Moses To all Israell by the fearfull trumpet of thy Lawe To the Citie of Ierusalem by thine owne wisedome our Lord Iesus Christ and to the multitude as well of Iewes as Gentiles by the preaching of the holy Apostles But who gaue obediēce Who trembled and constantly feared thy hotte displeasure Who did rightly acknowledg the time of their visitation And whoe did embrace and keepe to the end thy Fatherlie promises Onely they O Lorde to whome thy Spirite was the inward teacher whose hartes thou openest and from whome thou remoouest rebellion and infidelity the rest were externally called but obeyed not they heard aswell mercy offred as thretnings pronounced but neither with the one nor with the other were they effectuallie mooued We acknowledge O Lorde that the same corruption lurketh in vs that buddeth forth in them to their destruction and iust condemnation And therefore wee most humblie beeseech thee O Father of mercie for Iesus Christ thy Sonnes sake that as thou hast caused the light of thy word clearly to shine amongest vs and as thou hast plainlie instructed vs by the externall ministerie in the right way of saluation Soe it will please thee inwardlie to moue our dull hearts and by the power of thy holie spirit that thou wilt write and seale in our harts that holy feare and reuerence which thou crauest of thy chosen children that faythfull obedience to thy holie will together with the feeling sense that our sinnes are fullie purged and freely remitted by that onely one Sacrifice which only by it selfe is acceptable vnto thee to wit the obedience death and meditation of thy onely son our Soueraigne Lord only Pastour Mediatour and high Priest our lord Iesus Christ To whome with thee and with the holy Ghost be all honor and glory world without end AN OTHER CONFESsion of our sinnes IVst and righteous art thou ô Lord God father everlasting holy is thy Lawe most iust are thy iudgments yea even when thou doest punishe in greatest seueritie wee doe confesse as the truth is that wee haue
A CATECHISME OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION TAVGHT in the Schooles and Churches of the Low-Countries and dominions of the Countie Palatine WITH THE ARGVMENTS AND vse of the seueral doctrins of the same Catechisme By IEREMIAS BASTINGIVS And now authorized by the Kinges Maiestie for the vse of Scotland Wherunto is adioyned certaine Praiers both publike and priuate for sundry purposes EDINBVRGH ⧠Printed by Robert VValde-graue printer to the Kings Majestie 1591. Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis The A. B. C. A a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r r s s t u v w x y z A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V W X Y Z. a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r s s t v u vv x y z. A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V VV X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 a e i o u a e i o u ab eb ib ob ub ag eg ig og ug ac ec ic oc uc ak ek ik ok uk ad ed id od ud al el il ol ul af ef if of uf an en in on un In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Sobeit The Lords prayer OVr Father which art in heauen halowed be thy name Thy kingdom come Thy wil be done in Earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our dayly bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespas against vs. And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the kingdome power the glory for euer and euer Amen The beliefe I Beleue in God the Father almightie maker of Heauen Earth And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord which was conceiued by the holy Ghost Born of 〈◊〉 virgin Mary Suffered vnder Ponâ—â—us Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell the third day hee rose againe from the dead Hee ascended into Heauen sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almightie From thence shal he come to iudge the quick the dead I beleue in the holy ghost The holy Catholik Church The coÌ„munion of Saints The forgiuenes of sinnes the resurrection of the body And the life euerlasting THE TEN COMMANDEments of Almightie God HArken and take heede Israel I am the Lorde thy God which haue brought thee out of the lande of Egypt from the house of bondage 1 Thou shalt haue non other Gods before me 2 Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image nor the likenes of any thing that is in Heauen aboue or in the Earth beneath nor in the water vnder the Earth Thou shalt not bow downe to them nor worship them For I the lord thy God am a ielous God and visits the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third fourth generation of them that hate me and shewe mercie vnto thousands of them that loue me and keepe my commandements 3 Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the lord will not holde him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine 4 Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabboth day Six dayes shalt thou labour and doe all that thou hast to doe But the Seauenth day is the Sabboth of the Lorde thy God In it thou shalt do no maner of work thou and thy Sonne and thy daughter thy manseruant and thy maidseruant thy cattel and the stranger that is within thy gates For in six dayes the Lorde made Heauen and Earth the Sea all that in them is and rested the Seauenth day wherefore the Lord blessed the Seuenth day and hallowed it 5 Honor thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thee 6 Thou shalt do no murther 7 Thou shalt not commit adulterie 8 Thou shalt not steale 9 Thou shalt not beare false witnes against thy neighbour 10 Thou shal not couet thy neighbours house Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours wife nor his seruant nor his mayde nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is his A PRAIER TO BE VSED before Catechising VVEe most hartily thank thee O most mercifull Father for all thy blessings bestowed vppon vs from the beginning of the world vnto this time for our election creation redemption mercifull vocation iustification sanctification continuall preseruation and for that same assured and most comfortable hope that thou hast giuen vs of our glorification in the world to come And we beseech thee to direct vs that considering thy mercies we may acknowledg and confesse our sinnes which should prouoke thee rather to curse than to blesse vs to confounde vs rather than to preserue vs. Wee haue sinned against thee both in thoght worde deed grant that we seeing the horror of our sinnes and the fiercenes of thy wrath may without hypocrisie or dissimulation be earnestly sory hartely repentant for our former wickednes howbeit in such sort as that wee despair not but that in bitternes of our griefe we may haue comfort by faith in thy Sonne Christ that our offences are pardoned Grant O Lord that we being assured hereof in our consciences may through thy holy Spirite be renued in the inward man to hate detest and abhorre sinn and to study to liue according to thy blessed will during our whol life and as now throgh thy goodnes wee are here assembled together so we beseech thee to direct vs that at this present both in our wordes harts and all our behauiors may be in such sort ordered as that wee may trulie vtter and reuerently receiue the principles of thy holy heauenly word to the strengthening of our fayth to the comforte of our consciences to the amendement of our sinfull and lewd liues and to the glory of thy most holy name through Iesus Christ our Lord So be it OF THE ONELY COMFORT OF MAN IN LIFE AND IN DEATH THE ARGVMENT ⧠In the first section is handled the soueraigne good of man and namely his onely comfort in life and in death as also the necessarie meanes to attaine that soueraigne good and two questions are propounded for the handling of this preface or argument Question Lords day The first WHat is thy onely comfort in life in death Answere That in soule and body a 1. Cor. 6.19 1. Thes 5.10 whether I liue or die b Rom. 14.8 I am not mine owne but I belong c 1. Cor. 3.23 vnto my most faythfull Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christe who by his precious blood most fully satisfying d 1. Pet 1.18 1. Ioh. 1.7 2.2 for al my sinnes hath deliuered e 1. Ioh. 2.8 Heb. 2.14.15 me from the whole power of the deuill
our selues or by some other Question 13 Are wee able to satisfie by our selues Answere Not one whit Yea rather we do c Iob. â—9 23 15.15 Math. 6.22 increase our debt euerie day Question 14 Can any creature in Heauen or in Earth make satisfaction for vs Answere None at all For first God wil not d Heb. 2.14 punish any other creature for that sinne that man hath committed SecoÌ„dly that which is but an only creature is not able to indure the wrath of God against sinne and to e Psal 130.3 Iob. 4.18 25.5 deliuer others from it Question 15 Then what maner of mediatour and deliuerer must we seeke for Answere Such a one as is true man and perfectly iust and yet notwithstaÌ„ding more mightie than all creatures that is who is also true f 1. Cor. 15.21 25. Iere. 23.6 Esa 53.11 2. Cor. 5.14 Heb 7.16 Esa 7.14 Rom. 8.3 God OF THE MEDIATOVR THE ARGVMENT That Christ is that onlie mediatour true man and perfectlie iust and true God such a one as in the Gospell is promised and exhibited Question Lords day 6 16 Wherefore must he needs be true man and perfectlie just Answere Because the iustice of God requireth that the same nature of man which sinned should also pay the punishment of sinne but he g Rom 5.12 17. that were a sinner himselfe h 1. Pet. 3.18 could not pay for other men Question 17 Wherefore ought hee also to be true God Answere That by the power of his Godhead he might be able to i Esa 55.3 18. Act. 2.24 1. Pet 3.18 sustaine the burden of Gods wrath in his flesh to recouer k 1. Ioh. 1.2 4.9.10 Act. 20.28 Ioh. 3.16 and restore vnto vs the righteousnesse and life that we had lost Question 18 But who is that Mediatour who is both true God and true and perfect man Answere Our Lord Iesus Christ l Mat. 1.23 1. Tim. 3.16 Iohn 14.16 .. 1. Tim. â— 5. Luke â— 11 who is made vnto vs of God wisedom righteousnes sanctification and perfect m 1. Cor. 3.30 redemption Question 19 Whereby knowest thou that Answere By the Gospell which God first reueiled in n Gen. 3.15 Paradise and afterwarde did o Genes 22.18 46.10.11 Ro. 1.2 Heb. 1.1 Act 3.12 c. 10.43 publish by the Patriarks and Prophets p Ioh. 5.46 Heb. 10.7 shadowed out in sacrifices and ceremonies and last of al q Gal. 4.4 3.24 Heb 13.8 accomplished by his onely begotten sonne The vse THe vses of this doctrine of the Gospel are four for first hereby appeareth the antiquitie of the doctrine of Christ our only redeemer so that to doubt of the truth therof were to robbe God for that it hath witnes from God himselfe from the Fathers and the Prophets led by the holy Ghost whereunto also the sacrifices and ceremonies did lead men and whereof the Son of God himselfe comming in the flesh bare witnes Wherefore it behoueth vs carefullie to vphold in the Church and faithfully to expounde and retaine this doctrine both for the worthines of it as comming from God and for the antiquity and also for the necessitie and profit thereof Another vse is to know that after Christ is once com the shadows of the sacrifices haue an end and that now after the Sunne is risen there is no more place for the ceremonies of the Lawe and that concerning the vse of them they are fulfilled abollished in the death of Christ The third vse is to learne by despising the World the transitorie delightes thereof to desire with the whole affection of the heart that soueraigne good that is offered vnto vs in the Gospel and when it is offered to lay hold on it The fourth vse is in al affliction and euen in life and death to comfort our selues by these glad tydings of saluation purchased by Christ which far exceedeth all the ioyes of the wicked OF THE GOSPEL THE ARGVMENT That Christ is a Sauior onlie of those that beleeue and of true fayth and of the summe of those things that are to be beleeued Question Lords day 7 20 Is saluation then restored to all men by Christ that perished in Adam Answere Not to al but only to those who are ingraffed into him by true faith r Ioh. 1.12 â— 36 Esa 53.11 Psal 2.12 Rom. 11.20 Heb. 4. â— 10.39 and do lay hold vpon all his benefites Question 21 What is true fayth Answere It is not onely a knowledge by which I doe stedfastly assent to all things which God hath Å¿ He. 11.13 Iam 2.19 Gal. 2.20 reueiled vnto vs in his woord but also an assured t Rom. 4.16 5.1 10.10 c. Iam. 1.8 affiance kindled in my u Rom. 1 16. 10.17 1. Cor. 1.21 Mar. 16.16 Act. 16.14 hart by the holy x Mat. 16.17 Ioh. 3.5 Gal. 5.22 Phi. 1.19 Ghost through the Gospell by which I rest vpon God making sure account that forgiuenesse of sinnes euerlasting righteousnes and life is y Ha. 2.4 Mat. 9.2 Eph. 2.7.8.9 Rom. 5.1 bestowed not onely vpon others but also vpon me and that freely by the mercie of God for the z Rom. 3.24.25 Act. 10.43 merit and desert of Christ alone Question 22 What are those thinges which a Christian man must of necessitie beleeue Answere All those thinges that are a Iohn 20 30 Mat. 28 10 promised vnto vs in the Gospell the sum whereof is briefly comprised in the Apostles Creed or in the chiefe heades of the Catholike vndoubted faith of al Christians The vse VVHich being so we gather from hence two conclusions one that non of those things ought to bee reckoned vnder the name of the Gospel which men haue added to the written word of God that is to the doctrine conteined in the books of both testaments the other is that they are very Antichrists and instruments of Sathan who fearing to haue their iugling bewraied do cry out that onlie on certaine sort of men must reade the Scripture and therefore it is very vnlawful to translate the holy scriptures into the vulgare tongues which may be vnderstood even of siely Weomen Question 23 What is that Creede of the Apostles Answere 1 I beleeue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth 2 And in Iesus Christ his only son our Lord. 3 Which was conceiued of the holy Ghost born of the virgin Mary 4 Suffered vnder Pontius Pilat was crucified dead buried descended into hell 5 Rose againe the third day from the dead 6 And ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the father almightie 7 From thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead 8 I beleeue in the holie Ghost 9 I beleeue the catholike Church the communion of Saintes 10 I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes 11 The resurrection of the flesh 12 And the life
euerlasting The vse THe profit of these articles thus generally distinguished is this that they may serue in sted of a rule whereunto the fayth of al men ought to agree and whatsoeuer is contrary to one or to mo Articles ought to be accounted false Secondly that they may be vnto vs in stead of a table wherein we may perceiue distinctlie and seuerally what things are to be marked in Christ for as the partes of the bodie are distinguished by ioynts so in this confession of fayth whatsoeuer we ought distinctlie and seuerallie from the rest to beleeue is rightlie and fitlie called an Aiticle OF THE APOSTLES Creede THE ARGVMENT The partes of the Creede and of God one in substance and three in person Question Lords day 8 24 Into howe many partes is this Creede deuided Answere Into three parts The first is of the euerlasting father and of our creation The second is of the Sonne and of our redemption The third is of the holie Ghost and of our sanctification The vse IT is therefore requisite to keepe this diuision that although our saluation be the worke of the whole Trinitie yet we may know how to put a difference betweene the propertie of every person and to knowe what euerie of them hath done for our saluation and redemption Question 25 Seeing there is a De. 6.4 Eph. 4.6 Esa 44.6 45 5. 1. Cor. 8.4 but one onelie substance of God why doost thou name those three the Father the Son and the holie Ghost Answere Because God hath so b Esa 61.1 Luc. 4.18 Psa 119.1 Mat 3.16 17. 28.19 Iohn 14 26. 15.26 Tit. 3.5.6 Ep. 2 18 2 Cor. 13.13 Gal. 4.6 1. Iohn 5.7 reueiled himselfe in his word that these three distinct persons are one true and euer lasting God OF GOD THE FATHER THE ARGVMENT Of God the Father and of the creation and preseruation of our selues and of the whole world that is of heauen and earth Question Lords day 9 26 What beleeuest thou when thou sayest I beleeue in God the Father almightie c. Answere I beleue in the euerlasting father of our Lord Iesus Christ who c Gen. 1. 2 Psal 33 6. Iob. 33 4. Act. 4 24. 14 15 c. Esa 45.7 created of nothing the heauen and the earth and all thinges that are therein and doth vphold and d psal 104 3 125.3 Mat. 10 19. Heb. 1.3 Rom. 11.36 gouerne the same by his euerlasting counsell and prouidēce to be by the means of Christ e Ioh. 1.12 Rom 8.15 Ga. 4.5 6.7 Ephes 1.5 my God and my Father Therefore I so trust in him I so repose my selfe vpon him that I doubt not but he wil prouide all thinges f psa 55.23 Mat. 6 26. Luc. 12 22. necessarie both for my soule for my bodie And moreouer also that whatsoeuer euill he sendeth vpon me in this miserable life he wil g Rom. 8.28 turne the same to my saluation seing he is both able to do it as being h Esa 46.4 Rom 10.12 8.38 God almightie and willing to do it as being my i Mat. 6. 7.8.9 mercifull father The vse THis article of our fayth the doctrine therein conteined maketh much for the comfort of the godly For seeing we are ioyned in league with that God who is our Father who is almightie who created heauen and Earth who gouerneth vs and preserueth vs what is there that we may not look for from such a Father What is there whereof we may not mak our selues sure For example the Leper was perswaded only of the power of Christ he knew not his wil therfore hee sayd Lorde if thou vvilt Mat. 8 2. thou canst make me cleane and he was clensed how much more shal we obteine those things which wee ask if both we be perswaded of his almightie power and also doubt not of his promises From hence is our loue to our neighbour set on fire for when God hath promised that he wil increase his blessings vpon them who are liberal to the poore and he is God almightie who would not be pricked for ward to bestowe almes liberally and cheerefully Thirdlie by the same doctrine I am admonished not to doubt of any mans saluation thogh he seeme cast away of God and withal to keepe my selfe in the feare of God How namely because God is able to raise vp againe my brother that is fallen and to call him home into the way of saluation and also to suffer me to fall into grieuous sinns and to cast me off vnlesse I abide in fayth OF GODS PROVIDENCE THE ARGVMENT Of Prouidence belonging to the common place of Creation and of the vse of both Question Lords day 10 27 What is prouidence Answere The almightie and euerie where present power of God k Act. 17.25 c. psal 94.9 c. Isa 29.15 c. Eze. 8.12 whereby he doth as it were beare vp with his hand and l Heb. 1.2.3 gouern the heauen earth with all creatures so that whatsoeuer groweth out of the earth also raine and drowght plentie dearth meat and m Iere. 5.24 Act. 14.17 drinke n Iohn 9.3 health sicknesse o Prou. 12.2 riches pouertie finalie al thinges that are fal out not rashly or by chāce but by his fatherly counsell and will Question 28 What profite haue we by this knowledge of the creation and prouidence of God Answere Hereby we are in aduersitity made p Ro 5.3 c. Iac 1.3 Iob. 1.21 c. patient in prosperitie q Deut. 8.10 1. Thes 5.18 thankfull for the time to come wee haue a r Rom 5.4.5 verie good hope reposed in God our most trustie father knowing assuredly that nothing can ſ Ro. 8.38.39 draw vs from his loue seeing all creatures are so in his power that without his pleasure they are not t Ioh. 1.12 26 Pro. 21.1 Act. 17.25 c. able not onely not to do any thing but not so much as to stirre OF GOD THE SONNE THE ARGVMENT He commeth nowe to handle the second part of the Creede of the Sonne of God and of our redemption and first is declared the meaning of the name Iesus and they are refuted who in word do acknowledge the sonne of God to bee Iesus that is a Sauiour but in deed do detract from his merit Question Lords day 11 29 Wherefore is the Sonne of God called Iesus that is a Sauiour Answere Because he saueth and deliuereth vs from all our a Mat. 1.21 Heb 7.25 sinnes neither ought saluation to bee sought for in any other neither * Act 4.12 can it els-where bee found Question 30 Do they that beleeue in the only Sauiour Iesus who seeke for happines from Saints or from themselues or from any thing els Answere No for although in word they glorie in him as a Sauiour yet in deede they denie the onely Sauiour
righteousnesse which hee purchased for vs by his death Secondly wee also now by the power thereof are n Rom. 6.4 Col. 3.1 c Ephes 2.5 raised vp vnto a new life Last of all the rising again of Christ our head is a o 1 Cor. 15.12 c. Rom. 8.11 pledge vnto vs of our glorious resurrection The vse THis pledg we ought to set against the wicked speeches of some who say Who ever came againe from the dead to certifie vs of that heauenly life as who say the resurrection of Christ were not a sufficient testimonie and seal of the same resurrection to be at the last accomplished in our bodies also and in our flesh Question 46 Howe doost thou vnderstande that He ascended into heauen Answere That in the sight of his Disciples Christ was p Act. 1.9 Mark 16 19 Luk. 24.51 taken vp froÌ„ earth to heauen and is q Heb. 4.14 7 25. 9.11 Rom 8.34 Ephes 4.10 Colos 3.1 yet there for vs shall be till he come againe to iudge the quick and the r Act. 1.11 Mat. 24.30 dead Question 47 What then is not Christ with vs as he promised vnto the end of the world Answere Christ is true God and true Å¿ Mat 28.20 Mat 26.11 Io. 16 18 17. Act. 3.21 man therefore according to his manhead he is not now vpon earth but according to his Godhead his grace and his spirite he t Ioh. 14 17. c. 16.13 is at no time from vs. Question 48 And are not the two natures in Christ by this means pulled a sunder if the manhead bee not wheresoeuer the Godhead is Answere Not a whit for seeing the Godhed cannot be contained in any compasse and is present u Act. 7 49. 17 27. c. Ierem. 23.24 in all places it followeth necessarilie that it is without the nature of man which it hath taken yet neuertheles is in it also and x Col. 2.9 Iohn 3.13 11.15 Mat. 28 6. remaineth personallie vnited vnto it Question 49 What fruit doth Christs ascending into heauen bring vs Answere First that he y 1. Ioh. 2.1.2 Rom. 8.34 maketh intercession in Heuen vnto his Father for vs. Secondly that we haue our flesh in heauen that by this as by a certain pledg we may be assured that he who is our head wil a Ioh. 14.2 20 17. Eph. 2.6 lift vp vnto him vs that are his meÌ„bers Thirdly that he b Ioh. 14 16. 16 7 2 Cor. 1 22 2 Cor. 5 5 sendeth vnto vs his spirit as a pledg betwene vs by the working whereof we seeke not things on earth but thinges that are aboue where hee c Cal. 3.1 Phil. 3 20. c. sitteth at the right hand of God The vse AS that maketh for our comforte that hee sendeth his spirit vnto vs so againe hauing receaued this pledg of the Spirit we are warned not to seeke for the thinges on Earth but the things that are aboue Iohn 16.11 for to that end did he asscend into heauen and from thence bestowe his spirit vpon vs that by the power thereof shed abroade in our hartes we might bee lifted from these earthlie present and carnall things to long after things heauenly things to come and thinges spirituall Hereupon sayth Paul Seeke those things that are aboue Col. 3.1 vvhere Christ sitteth at the right hand of God set your mind on things aboue and not on things on earth OF CHRISTES ASCENDING into Heauen THE ARGVMENT The sitting at the right hand and the fruit thereof which is the third degree of Christ exaltation Question Lords day 18 50 Why is it added he sitteth at the right hand of God Answere Because Christ did therefore assceÌ„d into heaueÌ„ that he might d Ep. 1 20. 5 23. Col. 1 18. therby declare himself the head of his church by which his Father e Mat. 28.18 Ioh. 5.22 gouerneth all things Question 51 What doth this glory of Christ our head availe vs Answere First that by the holie Ghost hee f Ephe 4.10 powreth vpon vs his members heauenly guifts And then that by his power he doth g Ps 29. 101 2. Ioh. 10 28 Eph 4.8 protect and defend vs against all enemies The vse VVHich being so and seeing so mighty a Lord reigneth for vs who is not onlie able but willing also to doe whatsoeuer is good for our saluation Mat. 8 31 to whome while he reigned in his humilitie euen the very Deuills became suiters to whome gouerning his kingdome in the dayes of his flesh the Sea the winds and the storms were obedient vnles we rest in his protection whoe now sitting at the right hand of God is Lord of heauen and earth and gouerneth all thinges at his pleasure we are most worthie whome Christ should much more vpbraid with our shamefull cowardlines then he did long agoe his disciples because in the stormes of aduersitie our fayth dooth not rise higher by the considerâ—tion of so great matters OF CHRISTS COMMING againe to judgement THE ARGVMENT Christes comming againe to iudgement 2 The fruit or comfort thereof Question Lords day 19 52 What comfort dooth Christes comming againe to judge the quicke and the dead bring to thee Answere That in all miseries and persecutions I lift vp my head and h Luk. 21.28 Rom. 8.23.24 Phil. 3.10 Tit. 2.13 waite for him who did before stand in my stead before Gods iudgmeÌ„t seat did i 2. Thes 1.6.7 1. Thes 4.10 falte away all curse from me to come from heauen as a Iudge to throwe all his and mine enemies into euerlasting paines and to k Mat. 25.41 receiue me with al the elect vnto himself into heauenly ioies and euerlasting glorie The vse VVHich being so it is likewise most meet that every one of vs should so prepare himselfe that he may so much the more comfortably look for and be ready to receiue such a Iudge that shal be soe gratious and so mercifull vnto him And wee shall duely prepare our selues to the iudgment of Christ if following his counsell Wee haue our loynes girded vppe and our lamps burning Luke 12.36 37 Mat. 22.11 that is if first wee haue fayth the true marriage garment which leaneth vpon a sure foundation to wit the merite of Christ alone who deliuereth vs from the wrath to come OF GOD THE holie Ghost THE ARGVMENT Of the holy Ghost true and euerlasting God with the Father and the Son and of his office or working and effects in vs. Question Lords day 20 53 What beleeuest thou of the holy Ghost Answere First that he is true God and coeternall with the euerlasting Father and the l Gen. 1.2 Isai 48 16 1 Cor. 3.16 1 Cor. 6.19 Acts. 5.3.4 sonne Then that hee is also m Mat. 28.19 2 Cor. 1.2 giuen to mee that through faith hee may n Ga. 3 14.1 pe 1.2 1. Cor 6.17
l 1. Cor 14 6 Ephe 4 25. professe the matter to be even as it is m 1. Pet 4.8 Moreouer that as much as in me lyeth I defend and increase the good name and credit of others OF THE TENTH COMmandement THE ARGVMENT That even the very smallest desire contrary to Charitie ought to be put out of mens mindes 2. Of the proceeding of the godly in the obedience of the Lawe 3. And what the vse of the Lawe is in this life Question Lords day 44 113 What doeth the tenth commandement forbid Answere That our harts be neuer tempted no not with the least desire or thoght against any commandement of God but that alwaies from the harte wee detest all sinne and contrariwise take a Ro 7 7. c pleasure in all righteousnes The vse VVHich being so who seeth not that in this last commandement is required and conteined the perfit obedience of the whole lawe for howe commeth it to passe that wee sinne against every commandement but because this corrupt concupiscence is in vs without which we should of our owne accord with our whole minde and bodie striue to attaine to the onelie good altogether without any contrary thought or mammering but so long as it cleaueth vnto vs it cannot be but that we shal all offend both very oâ—â—en and in many things shall eftsoones grone and lament with the Apostle saying O vvretched man that I am vvhoe shall deliuer me from the bodie of this death Rom. 7.24 Question 114 Are they able whoe are conuerted vnto God to keepe these commandements perfectly Answere No verely but euen they that ar most holie so long as they liue haue onely some small beginnings of this b 1. Ioh. 1 8 c. Ro. 7 14 15. Eccle. 7 22. obedience yet so that with an earnest vnfeigned indeuour they c Rom. 7.22 Iac 2 10. begin to liue not according to some onelie but even according to all Gods commandements Question 115 Why then will God haue his Lawe so exactlie and so seuerely preached whereas there is no man in this life that is able to keepe it Answere First that in our whole life we may more and more d Iohn 1 9 psal 22 5. acknowledg how forward our nature is to sinne and soe much the more greedilie e Rom. 7 23 desire forgiuenes of sinnes and righteousnes in Christ Secondly that we continually be f 1. Cor. 9.24 c. phil 3 12 13.14 about this and daylie muse vppon it that wee may obteine the grace of the holy Ghost from the Father to the end wee may every day more and more be renewed according to the Image of God vntil one day at the length after wee are departed out of this life we attaine with ioy to that perfection which is sette before vs. OF PRAIER THE ARGVMENT The necessitie of Prayer the conditions of good prayer and a rule for those things that are to be asked Question Lords day 45 116 Wherefore is prayer necessary for Christians Answere Because it is the principall part of that g Psal 50.14.15 thankfulnes which God requireth at our hands as also because the Lord bestoweth his grace and the holy Ghost vpon them alone who with true gronings doe continuallie begge these things at his handes and doe b. Mat. 7.7.8 Luc. 11.9 13 Mar. 13.12 psal 50 15. giue him thanks for the same Question 117 What thinges are required to that prayer wherewith God is pleased and which he heareth and graunteth Answere That with true affection of harte we ask of that true God alone whoe hath i Iohn 4.22 psal 81.8 9.10 Iam 1.5 reueiled himselfe in his worde all things whatsoeuer hee hath commanded vs to k Rom. 8.26 1 Iohn 5.14 psal 145.18 ask of him and that with an inward l Iohn 4.21.22 Psal 145.18 2. Chron. 20.12 feeling of our owne needie miserable estate we m psal 2.11 psal 119.120 Esai 66.2 Pro. 34 17.18 51.17 Iona. 3.4 c humbly throwe our selues downe before the maiestie of God n Rom 10.14 Mar 11.24 1 Ioh 5.14.15 Mat 15.22 c. leaning vpon this strong foundation that we albeit vnworthie yet are vndoubtedly o Ioh 26.23 Col 3.17 Ioh. 14.13 heard of God for Christes sake as he hath p Mat. 7.7.8 psal 50.14 promised vnto vs in his word Question 118 What are those things which God commandeth vs to ask of him Answere All thinges q Iam. 1 17 Mat. 6.35 necessarie both for soule and bodie which our Lorde Iesus Christ hath coÌ„prised in that praier which hee himselfe hath taught vs. Question 119 What is that prayer Answere OVr r Mar. 6.9.10 c. Luk. 11.2 c. Mat. 7.9 10.11 Luk. 11 12 13. Father which art in Heuen Hallowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy wil be done as in Heuen so also in Earth Giue vs this day our daylie bread And forgiue vs our debts as we forgiue our debters and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for euer Amen HOW WE SHOVLD PRAY THE ARGVMENT The preface of the Lords prayer and the exposition thereof Question Lords day 46 120 Why doth Christ commande vs after this maner to call vpon God Our Father Answere That even in the very entrance of prayer he may stir vppe in vs a reuerence and trust in God conuenient for the children of God which ought to be the ground-work of our prayer to wit that God for Christes sake is become our Father will much lesse denie vnto vs those thinges that wee ask of him by a true fayth then our Parents a Mat. 7.9.19 11. Luk. 11.11 denie vs earthlie benefites Question 121 Why is that added which art in Heauen Answere That we b Ier. 23 24 Act. 17.24 25.27 should not conceiue any base and earthlie thing of the heauenly maiestie of God and withall also that from his almightie power wee should c Rom. 10.12 looke for whatsoeuer is necessarie for soule and bodie OF THE FIRST PETITION THE ARGVMENT Wherein the hallowing of the name of God consisteth Question Lords day 47 122 What is the first petition Answere Hallowed be thy name that is Grant first of all that wee may d Ioh. 17 3. Ier. 9.23 24 31.33 34 Mat. 16 17 Iam. 1 5. psal 119.105 knowe thee aright and may reuerence praise and e psal 119.137.138 Luk. 1.46 c. 68 c. psal 145.8 9 17 Ex. 34.6.7 Psal 143.1 2 5 10.11.12 Iere. 31.5 32.18 19 40 41 33 11 20 Mat. 19 17. Rom 3 3 4. 11 22 23 2. Tit. 2.19 set forth thy almightie power wisdom goodnes righteousnes mercie and trueth that shineth in all thy workes Secondly that wee may so direct all our life thoughtes wordes and deeds that thy most holie name be not reproched by our occasion but rather
whome thou hast sent Iesus Christ and so I may worshippe thee in a pure conscience Moreouer because thou promisest wisdome to those which are of a lowe and humble minde as children but those that are proud and high destitute of thy guifts thou giuest them over to vanitie roote out of my hart all pride that being humbled I may shew my selfe teachable and obedient first to thee then to those whome thou hast giuen me to instruct that so I may by little little prepare my selfe to serue to thy glory onely and to the profit of others in walking in that calling which thou shalt assigne vnto me Amen A PRAYER BEFORE wee goe to meate Psal 145.15.16 The eies of all things trust in thee O Lorde and thou giuest them their foode in due season thou openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing every liuing creature ALmightie most mercifull God which of thine infinite goodnes hast created all things of nothing and who susteinest and rulest the same perpetuallie by thy deuine power whoe led the Israelites through the Desart feding them with Manna 49. years Blesse vs thy vnworthie seruants and sanctifie those thy guifts that soberly and holily we may vse them knowe in them that thou art indeede our Father and the fountaine of all good things Graunt also that wee vsing these things corporall wee may be alwaies disposed chieflie to seeke that spirituall foode of thy word that our soules may be nourished to eternall life which Christ hath purchased vnto vs by his precious blood Our Father which art c. A THANKSGIVING after meate Deut. 8.10.11 When thou hast eaten and filled thy self then thou shalt giue thanks vnto the Lorde thy God 11. And thou shalt beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God and neglect his Commaundements O Lord God and heuenly Father we giue thee thanks for thy gret and infinite benefites which thou bestowest vpon vs miserable sinners of thine incomprehensible mercy at all times in that thou vphouldest vs in this mortall life furnishing vnto vs al things that are necessarie but cheifly that thou vouchsafest to regenerate vs by the holy doctrine of thy Gospell vnto the hope of a better life Wee beseech thee mercifull God and Father not to suffer our mindes to be occupied in these earthly transitory things but that they may looke vp and seeke the things that are in heauen waiting for the comming of our Sauior Christ Iesus when he appeares in the clouds to deliuer vs. So be it Our Father c. A PRAYER BEFORE wee go to bed O Lord God and heuenly Father which according to thy manifolde wisdome hast appointed the day for labour and the night for rest We render thee thankes that thou hast so mercifullie kept vs this day and hast heaped continuallie vpon vs so many benefites Graunt likewise that wee nowe ceasing from our labour and care may so be refreshed with sleepe that our mindes not beeing buried in sleep with the bodie we be slumbring in thy loue but that the memory of our Creation and saluation be at noe time wiped out of our harts Graunt moreouer that our consciences aswell as our bodies may inioy the own rest Likewise that wee moderatlie vsing sleepe we may haue a respect not vnto sluggishnes but to necessitie to the end that wee returning more apt and quick to our works left off for a time we may the more readilie serue thee profit our neighbor And in the mean time while we are taking rest deliuer vs from all perill and keepe vs vndefiled both in bodie and soule that our sleepe likewise may serue to the glory of thy Name and seeing this day is past ouer with vs not without manifolde slidings for we miserable wretches cary alway sin about with vs we besech thee that as the night now foldeth vp all thing in darknes so according to thy incōprehensible mercy that thou wilt bury all our sinnes lest for them wee be casten out from thy sight Graunt also quietnes and comfort to all those which are afflicted with any kinde of sicknes or other calamities for Christ Iesus thy Sonne our Lords sake which this way hath taught vs to pray Our Father c. FINIS