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
the Passover was then ended and to be abolished by His instituting this other in the place thereof at the very time of eating the Passover Q. VVhy do not Christians receive this Sacrament at Supper or in the Even-tide that being the time of the day in which it was first instituted A. Because though it might be fit in regard of the thing it self yet it is not so to us not so fit for our preparation and meditation of the worthiness of the Sacraments and of the duties of the Receivers Q. But might not men make themselves fit to receive it at Supper time A. Yes Possibly men may and some men happily would yet because most men are more indisposed to Meditation and Contemplation towards the Evening than in the Morning and have many avocations and occasions to take away their minds by many occurrences before that time of the day therefore the Morning is chosen for that Sacred Action as the time that in regard of mens dispositions and businesses in the world is fittest for all Q. Is not this Sacrament called by other names besides the Lords Supper A. Yes It is called the Propitiatory Sacrifice the unbloody and commemorative Sacrifice the Eucharist and the Communion Q VVhy is it called the Propitiatory Sacrifice A. It is called a Propitiatory Sacrifice not properly and really but figuratively and respectively by way of resemblance and by way of remembrance because it shews the Lords death 1 Cor. 11.26 who is the Propitiation for our sins 1 St. John 2.2 and keeps us in mind of that Propitiatory Sacrifice which our Lord once for all offered by His Death upon the Cross to reconcile us to God and make God propitious favourable and loving toward us and well pleased with us Q. VVhy is it called the Vnbloody Sacrifice A. Because it is not a real Sacrifice which was offered by shedding of blood but only a memorial of that Sacrifice which is commemorated here without blood Q. VVhy is it called a Commemorative Sacrifice A. Because it both representeth and commemorateth unto us that real Sacrifice of Christ upon the Cross and also we in this do represent and commemorate the same to God offering and presenting unto Him in this Sacrament by way of commemoration and remembrance the Body and Blood of His own Son as the only Propitiation and Satisfaction for our sins interposing them between Him and us and pleading them before His Mercies Seat and through them with all humility and confidence desiring the benefits of pardon and grace to be bestowed upon us Q. VVhy is it called the Eucharist A. It is called the Eucharist or Eucharistical Sacrifice from giving of thanks as the word Eucharist of the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies which is a part of the duty that is required of the Communicants of the Sacrament and is Tropically put for the whole action when the Lords Supper is called by this name because that the Church in the administration thereof offereth unto God the Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving for her Redemption purchased by Christs Death that is commemorated in this Sacrament Q. Why is it called the Communion A. Because there is taught in this Sacrament 1. A Communion between Christ and us 2. A Communion between us Christians among our selves one with another Q. What is the Communion between Christ and us A. There is a three-fold Communion between Christ and us Q. How is that A. 1. The outward signs in the Sacramen do represent and exhibit to us whol Christ God and man in one Person Then here is a Natural Union and Communion between our Humane Nature and Christs Divine Nature in the Person of the Son of God 2. Christ is the Head of the Church and we are His Members Here is a Mystical Union between our Persons and the Person of Christ God and Man into one Mystical Body 3. Christ is in Heaven and thither by this Sacrament we are assured we shall come And then there will be a Celestial Communion between our Persons glorifyed and the Person of Christ in the world to come And these all follow upon one another 1. Whole Christ is represented and presented in the Sacrament Christ in His Person is God and Man this Union is Natural 2. The Man Christ is Head of the Church this is Spiritual and Mystical 3. All Men that are Members of this Church in the Kingdom of Grace shall be Co-inheritors with Him in the Kingdom of Glory this Celestial Q. What is the Communion of us among our selves one with another A. It is an Union flowing from the former between Christ and us It is the Communion of Saints by which as they are all Members of Christs Mystical Body so though they be many in number yet they are but one Body all subject to that one Head all living by one Faith all nourished by one and the same Spiritual Food all by one Spirit Baptised into that one Body all guided by that one Spirit And this is lively set forth by the Action of this Sacrament wherein the whole Church being many are all partakers of that one Bread and so are one Mystical Body though having many Members as the Bread is one Loaf though made of many Grains 1 Cor. 10.17 Q. What is the outward Sign in the Lords Supper A. Bread and Wine Q. Why is it Bread and Wine A. Because the Lord hath commanded them to be received Q. VVhy did our Lord choose Bread and VVine to be the outward Signs in this Sacrament A. He chose Bread 1. Because it is the most common Diet of all others so Christ is our common Salvation St. Jude 3. He died for all 2 Cor. 5.15 2ly Because Bread is the easiest food for all men to attain to so the word the Word that is God and the Word of God is nigh Rom. 10.1 He is found of them that seek Him not He is made manifest to them that asked not after Him v. 20. Again He chose Bread and Wine 1. Because Bread and Wine are the best of Meat and Drink Bread is the stay Isa 3.1 the staff Ezek. 4.16 of life of the body the strength of mans heart and VVine maketh glad the heart of Man Psal 104.15 So Christ is the best and most necessary food of a mans spiritual life of the Soul The Bread of Life St. John 6.48 The Bread which came down from Heaven that a man may eat thereof and not die v. 50. Nay except ye eat of this Bread that is the flesh of the Son of Man for the bread which He gives us is His flesh which He gave for the life of the World v. 51. and drink His Blood you have no life in you v. 53. 2. Because these two standing for meat and drink are perfect nourishment of the body so is Christ of the soul not in part but in perfection compleat nourishment and Salvation 3. Because the Bread is made of many Grains compact together into one
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
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