also hath loved us Eph. 5.2 Q. For what other Reason doth it engage us to love each other A. For this Reason because we being many are one Bread and one Body for we are all Partakers of that one Bread 1 Cor. 10.17 Q. What is Prayer A. Prayer is the making known our Requests to God with Thanksgiving for all the good things we have received Phil. 4.6 Q. Must not our Hearts go alone with our Words A. We must lift up our Hearts with our Hands unto God in the Heavens Lam. 3.41 Q. Then you cannot think it lawful to pray in an unknown Tongue as the Papists generally do A. No in no wise Seeing we must (a) 1 Cor. 14.15 pray with the Understanding (b) Ps 62.8 and pour out our Hearts before God Q. Is it not for the same Reason unlawful to use Prayers in the Publick Congregations in a Language unknown to the generality of the People according to the Custom of the Popish Church A. (a) 1 Cor. 14.9 Except Men utter by the tongue Words easy to be understood how shall it be known what is spoken for they shall speak into the Air (b) Ver. 16. and how shall the Unlearned say Amen seeing he understands not what is said (c) Ver. 19. Therefore St. Paul saith he had rather speak five Words in the Church with his Understanding that he might teach others also than ten thousand Words in an unknown Tongue Q. In what posture of Body should we pray A. We should bow down and kneel before the Lord our Maker Ps 95.6 Q. How must we do that our Prayers and thanksgivings may be accepted A. (a) 1 tim 2.8 We must lift up holy Hands without Wrath and doubting of God's Power or Goodness (b) Col. 3.17 And whatsoever we do in Word or Dead we must do all in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ giving Thanks unto God and the Father by him Q. May we not pray to the Angels and the Virgin Mary and other Saints as the Mediators with God for us as the Papists do A. 'T is utterly unlawful so to do For there is one only Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 Q. What if we regard Iniquity in our Hearts when we pray A. (a) Ps 66.18 If we regard Iniquity in our hearts the Lord will not hear us (b) Joh. 9.31 But if any Man be a Worshipper of God and doth his Will him he heareth Q. What shall be after Death A. It is appointed to Men once to die and after this the Judgment Heb. 9.27 Q. Who shall be the Judg A. The Father judgeth no Man but hath committed all Judgment unto the Son Joh. 5.22 Q. Who must appear before this Judg A. We must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ 2 Cor. 5.10 Q. Why must we all appear before Christ's Judgment-Seat A. That every one may receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5.10 Q. Who are they that shall not be condemned by this Judg A. There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus or are true Christians who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 Q. What shall immediately go before the general Judgment A. All that are in the Grave shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and shall come forth Job 5.28 Q. What shall follow the general Judgment A. To them who by patient Continuance in well-doing seek for Glory Honour and Immortality Christ will give eternal Life but to them who do not obey the Truth but obey Unrighteousness Indignation and Wrath Tribulation and Anguish upon every Soul of Man that doth evil But Glory Honour and Peace to every Man that worketh good Rom. 2.7 8 9 10. Q. What shall become of this World after the Judgment A. The Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent Heat the Earth also and the Works that are therein shall be burnt up 2 Pet. 3.10 Q. Seeing you profess to believe these things what manner of Person ought you to be A. (a) 2 Pet. 3.11 14. I ought to live in all holy conversation and Godliness and to be diligent that I may be found of God in Peace without spot and blameless (b) 1 Cor. 15.58 And to be stedfast immoveable always abounding in the Work of the Lord for as much as I know that my Labour is not in vain in the Lord. THE END The Creed I Believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell the third Day he rose again from the dead He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the Right-hand of God the Father Almighty From thence he shall come to judg the Quick and the Dead I believe in the Holy Ghost The holy Catholick Church The Communion of Saints The Forgiveness of Sins The Resurrection of the Body And the Life Everlasting Amen The Lord's Prayer OUr Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this Day our daily Bread And forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us And lead us not into Temptation But deliver us from Evil For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen The Ten Commandments I. GOD spake these Words and said I am the Lord thy God Thou shalt have no other Gods but me II. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor the Likeness of any Thing that is in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath or in the Water under the Earth Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God and visit the Sins of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me and shew Mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments III. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain IV. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day Six days shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do but the seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no manner of Work thou and thy Son and thy Daughter thy Man-Servant and thy Maid Servant thy Cattel and thy Stranger that is within thy Gates For in six Days the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh Day Wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh Day and hallowed it V. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy Days may be
Masters A. 'T is the Duty of Servants to be obedient to their own Masters and to please them well in all things not answering again nor purloyning but shewing all good Fidelity that they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things Tit. 2.9 10. Q. What if they have froward Masters must they be subject to such A. They ought to be subject to their Masters with all Fear not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward 1 Pet. 2.18 Q. How should Servants obey their Masters A. They should obey their Masters not with Eye-Service as Men-pleasers but in Singleness of Heart fearing God Col. 3.22 Q. What Encouragement have Servants thus to obey their Masters A. Of the Lord they shall receive the Reward of the Inheritance for they serve in so doing the Lord Christ Col. 3.24 Q. What Encouragement have they to suffer patiently from froward Masters A. This is thank-worthy if a Man for Conscience towards God endure Grief suffering wrongfully and 〈◊〉 when we do well and suffer for it we take it patiently this is acceptable with God 1 Pet. 2.19 20. Q. What is the Duty of Masters towards their Servants A. 'T is the Duty of Masters (a) Col. 4.1 to give to their Servants that which is just and equal (b) Eph. 6.9 And to forbear Threatning Q. Why should they do so A. Because they have also a Master in Heaven neither is there respect of Persons with God Col. 4.1 Q. What is the Duty of Husbands towards their Wives A. 'T is the Duty of Husbands to love their Wives and not be bitter against them Col. 3.19 Q. How should Husbands love their Wives A. They should love them (a) Eph. 5.25 as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it and (b) Vers 28. so ought Men to love their Wives as their own Bodies Q. Ought not Husbands to dwell with their Wives A. A Man ought to forsake Father and Mother and to cleave to his Wife and they two shall be one Flesh Mat. 19.5 Q. What is the Duty of Wives towards their Husbands A. 'T is the Duty of Wives to (a) Eph. 5.33 see that they reverence their Husbands and (b) Vers 22. submit unto them as unto the Lord. Q. Why should they do so A. Because the Husband is Head of the Wife even as Christ is Head of the Church Eph. 5.23 Q. What if the Husband be an Infidel or wicked Man A. St. Peter saith Ye Wives be in subjection to your own Husbands that if any obey not the Word they also may without the Word be won by the Conversation of the Wives while they behold your chaste Conversation coupled with Fear 1 Pet. 3.1 Q. How should you behave your self towards the Aged A. I ought to (a) Lev. 19.32 rise up before the hoary Head and to honour the Face of the old Man (b) Prov. 16.31 For the hoary Head is a Crown of Glory if it be found in the Way of Righteousness Q. What is your Duty towards Strangers A. I may not be forgetful to entertain Strangers for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares Heb. 13.2 Mat. 25.35 Q. What is your Duty towards the Poor and Needy A. I ought to be (a) 1 Pet. 3.8 pitiful towards them and (b) Eph. 4.32 tender-hearted (c) Heb. 13.3 and to remember them that are in Bonds as bound with them and them which suffer Adversity as being my self also in the Body Q. Is it enough to pity them and to be sorry for their Condition A. By no means (a) Jam. 2.15 16. for if a Brother or Sister be naked and destitute of daily Food and I say to him Depart in peace be you warmed and filled but give them not those things which are needful to the Body what doth it profit Therefore (b) Heb. 13.16 to do good and communicate I may not forget for with such Sacrifices God is well pleased Q. Ought he to give Alms who gets his Living by the Labour of his Hands A. Let him that stole steal no more but rather let him labour working with his Hands the thing that is good that he may have to give to him that needeth Eph. 4.28 Q. For what End should you give Alms A. My Light should so shine before Men that they may see my good Works and glorify our Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5.16 Q. For what End may you not give Alms A. I (a) Mat. 6.1 may not do my Alms before Men to be seen (b) Vers 2. or have Glory of them otherwise I have no reward of my Father which is in Heaven Q. What if you find you self strongly tempted to Vain-glory and to desire the Praise of Men in giving your Alms A. In that case my Left-hand should not know what my Right-hand doth Or I should give very secretly Matth. 6.3 Q. With what Mind ought you to give A. I ought to be ready to distribute and willing to communicate not to give grudgingly or of necessity for God loveth a chearful Giver 1 Tim. 6.18 2 Cor. 9.7 Q. Can a Man love god who refuseth to relieve the Needy when he is able A. Who so hath this World's Goods and seeth his Brother hath need and shutteth up his Bowels of Compassion from him how dwelleth the Love of God in him 1 Joh. 3.17 Q. What then is pure and undefiled Religion A. Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this To visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction and to keep our selves unspotted from the World Jam. 1.27 Q. To whom ought you to do good A. As we have opportunity we must do good unto all Men especially to them who are of the Houshold of Faith Gal. 6.10 Q. What Encouragement have you to be merciful and charitable A. (a) Mat. 5.7 Blessed are the Merciful for they shall obtain Mercy And (b) 1 Tim. 6.19 if we are rich in good Works we shall lay up for our selves a good Foundation against the time to come that we may lay hold of Eternal Life Q. Are there not Promises of Temporal good things also to the Merciful and Charitable A. Yes (a) Ps 41.1 2 3. c. Blessed is the Man that considereth the Poor the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble the Lord will preserve him and keep him alive and he shall be blessed upon the Earth (b) Ps 37.26 And his Seed is blessed Q. What was David 's Observation concerning the merciful Man A. David saith I have been young and now am old yet have I not seen the Righteous or merciful Man forsaken nor his Seed begging Bread Ps 37.25 Q. What was his Son Solomon 's Observation A. There is that scattereth and yet encreaseth and there is that withholdeth more than is meet but it tendeth to Poverty Prov. 11.24 Q. But you believe that God may in Faithfulness for great and wise Ends
suffer a merciful and good Man to fall into Afflictions notwithstanding the fore-mentioned Promises A. Yes (a) Rom. 8.28 For we know all things work together for good unto them that love God (b) 2 Cor. 4.17 And these light Afflictions which are but for a moment work for them a far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory Q. You have well told me your Duty towards the Poor and Needy God grant that you practise it Tell me next your Duty towards your Brother that hath offended you A. We ought to forbear one another and forgive one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us Col. 3.12 Eph. 4.32 Q. How often shall thy Brother sin against thee and thou forgive him till seven times A. Yes Until seventy times seven Mat. 18.22 Q. What if you do not forgive your Brother his Trespasses A. Neither will my heavenly Father forgive me my Trespasses Mat. 6.15 Q. What is your Duty towards your Brother that hath offended God A. I must not hate my Brother in my Heart but in any wise rebuke my Neighbour and not suffer Sin upon him Lev. 19.17 Q. What Encouragement have you so to do A. If any Man err from the Truth and one convert him let him know that he which converteth a Sinner from the Error of his Way shall save a Soul from Death and shall hide a multitude of Sins Jam. 5.20 Q. How should we reprove our sinning Brother A. If any Man be overtaken in a Fault they that be Spiritual should restore such a one with a Spirit of Meekness considering themselves lest they also be tempted Gal. 6.1 Q. Is it not your Duty to be as savourable as may be in judging your Brother A. Our Lord hath said (a) Mat. 7.1 2. Judg not that ye be not judged For with what Judgment ye judg ye shall be judged And (b) Rom. 14.4 who art thou that judgest another Man's Servant to his own Master he standeth or falleth Q. How ought those that are strong and knowing to behave themselves towards the weak and ignorant A. They that are strong ought to bear the Infirmities of the Weak and not to please themselves Rom. 15.1 Q. What is your Duty towards your Enemies A. 'T is my Duty to love mine Enemies Mat. 5.44 Q. How should you shew your Love to your Enemies A. By (a) 1 Pet. 3.9 not rendring Evil for Evil or Railing for Railing but contrariwise blessing (b) Rom. 12.21 And by overcoming Evil with Good Q. What Arguments have we to love and do good to our Enemies A. (a) Rom. 5.8 God commendeth his Love towards us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us And (b) Mat. 5.45 so shall we be the Children of our Father which is in Heaven For he makes his Sun to rise on the Evil and on the Good and sendeth Rain on the Just and on the Unjust (c) Luke 6.35 And is kind to the Unthankful and to the Evil. Q. By the Answers you have given I perceive you are far from imagining that the Grace of the Gospel doth excuse us from good Works A. We are created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Eph. 2.10 Q. Is it sufficient to do good Works with our outward Man A. No but if any Man be in Christ or a true Christian he is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Q. What is it to be a new Creature A. To be a new Creature is to be (a) Eph. 4.23 renewed in the Spirit of our Mind (b) Rom. 6.17 and to obey from the Heart Q. Why is it necessary to be renewed in the Spirit of our Mind A. It is necessary to be renewed in the Spirit of our Mind because (a) Mat. 7.18 a corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good Fruit nor a good Tree bring forth evil Fruit. (b) Chap. 12.34 And out of the abundance of the Heart the Mouth speaketh Q. For what other Reason is it necessary that we should be renewell in the Spirit of our Mind and pure in Heart A. It is also necessary because Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all INiquity and purify to himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works Tit. 2.14 Q. Is there any other Reason why it should be necessary to be renewed in the Spirit of our Mind and be pure in Heart A. It is also necessary because hereby (a) Col. 1.12 we are made meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light (b) Joh. 3.3 And except we be born again we cannot see the Kingdom of God Q. Why can we not A. Because God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all and therefore we cannot have Fellowship with him and walk in Darkness 1 Joh. 1. 5 6. Q. Are you able of your self to believe and repent and make you a lcean Heart and obey God's Laws A. (a) Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me (b) Joh. 15.5 but without him I can do nothing Q. Is Christ ready to enable you with his Grace and Spirit A. He hath promised that (a) Mat. 13.12 to him that hath shall be given that is that useth the Strength he hath already received and he shall have abundance (b) Luke 11.13 And that if we who are evil know how to give good Gifts unto your Children how much more shall our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit unto them that ask him Q. What were those Operations of the Holy Ghost which were proper and peculiar to the first Ages of the Church A. First the Holy Ghost whom the Father did send in Christ's Name did teach the Apostles all things and brought all things to their Remembrance whatsoever he had said unto them Joh. 14.26 Secondly (a) Acts 2.1 4. when the Day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance (b) Mat. 3.11 And they were baptized with the Holy Ghost and with Fire (c) Acts 2.3 when there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of Fire which sate upon all of them Thirdly When (a) Mark 13.11 they were led before Rulers (b) Luke 12.12 the Holy Ghost did teach them in the same hour what they ought to say Fourthly To one was given by the Spirit the Word of Wisdom to another the Word of Knowledg by the same Spirit to another the working of Miracles to another Prophecy to another discerning of Spirits to another divers kinds of Tongues to another the Interpretation of Tongues 1 Cor. 12.8 9 10. Q. For what End were these extraordinary Gifts and Operations of the Holy Ghost A. By these the Holy Ghost was a Witness that God hath exalted his Son Jesus with his Right-hand