A. If a man say I love God and hateth his brother he is a liar for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen and whoso hath this world's goods and seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him Q. Hath not Christ given a new commandment concerning the loving of our brethren A. A new commandment he hath given to us That we love one another as he hath loved us that we also love one another And as hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us so we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren Q. Are the commandments of Christ impossible or difficult to be obeyed A. His commandments are not grievous but his yoke is easie and his burthen is light Nor hath God in any thing wearied us that we should testifie against him Q. Are we able of our selves to believe and repent and keep all the commandments of God A. We are not sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God whose grace is sufficient for us It is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure but as without Christ we can do nothing so we can do all things through Christ which strengthneth us Q. Are we therefore to lie idle and only to live in expectation of power from above to work in us both to will and to do what is required of us A. No verily but we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling because it is God which worketh in us both to will and to do that is because we are enabl ed by the concurrence of God's grace with our endeavours both to resolve firmly to do well and to perform accordingly Q. Seeing we are unable without the supply of God's grace and Spirit to keep his commandments and therefore it cannot but be absolutely necessary for us to pray to him that we may be strengthned with might by his Spirit in the inward man what encouragement have we to hope for spiritual strength upon our praying for it A. We are encouraged from those words of Christ Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you c. If ye being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Q. What further encouragement have we to expect spiritual strength A. We are further encouraged from the tenure of the new Covenant which is this I will put saith God my Laws into their mind and write them in their hearts I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my commandments and do them Which Promises suppose that we must not be wilfully or carelesly wanting to our selves in the use of means as is manifest by comparing these texts with Ezek. 18. 31. and James 4. 8. and many such like Q. What are the chief ordinary means which God hath appointed for the working and furtherance of Faith Repentance and all graces in us A. They are these three 1. Prayer 2. The holy Scriptures or Word of God 3. The Sacraments Q. What is Prayer A. Prayer'is the making known our requests to God and the pouring out our hearts before him that so we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need Q. How must we pray to God that we may be heard and accepted by him A. That we may be heard and accepted by God we must ask in the name of Christ and such things only must we ask as are according to his will Q. What else is necessary to make our prayers acceptable A. 'T is farther necessary to the making of our prayers acceptable that we call upon God in truth and sincerity and not with feigned lips that we pray with humility and submission saying Not my will but thine be done that we ask in faith that is believing in the wisdom power and goodness of God that we lift up holy hands without wrath or forgiving all that have trespassed against us and lastly whatsoever we ask we shall receive if we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight but if we regard iniquity in our hearts the Lord will not hear us Q. But must we not with prayers to God join also praise and thanksgiving A. Yes in every thing must our requests be made known to God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus that in every thing we give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we are to offer the sacrifice of praise continually unto God Q. How did Christ our Lord teach his Disciples to pray A. He taught them to pray after this manner Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on 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 sor ever and ever Amen Q. What is the second means for begetting and increase of Faith and all other Vertues A. It is the word of God or the holy Scriptures which are able to make us wise unto salvation for all the Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in rightcousness that the man of God and every faithful Christian may be perfect throughly furnished for every good work Q. How must we receive the word of God that it may become an effectual means of grace unto us A. We must receive the word with meekness and all readiness of mind with an honest and good heart and laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and evil speakings as new born babes we must desire the sincere milk of the word that we may grow thereby Q. It is not enough then merely to hear or read God's word A. By no means but we must meditate n the law of the Lord day and night we must lay it up and hide it in our hearts and having with an honest and good heart heard the word we must keep it and bring forth fruit with patience or perseverance for if we be hearers only of the word and not doers we deceive
Lord forasmuch as we know that our labour is not in vain in the Lord and not to be weary in well doing seeing that in due season we shall reap if we faint not and whatsoever we do to do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men knowing that of the Lord we shall receive the reward of the inheritance and that to those that by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory honour and immortality God will render eternal life Q. What is the fruit of the consideration of the glorious Rewardin heaven as to passive obedience and suffering the will of God A. The consideration of the glorious reward in Heaven encourageth us to run the race that is set before us with patience because we reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Nay when men shall revile and persecute us and shall say all manner of evil against us falsly for Christ's sake we are to rejoice and to be exceeding glad and even leap for joy because that great is our reward in Heaven and our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory Q. What doth the Scripture tell us of Hell A. The Scripture tells us that Hell is a place of torment and everlasting punishment where shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth Q. Who are those that shall be thus everlastingly punished A. They that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus they shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power and shall be cast into Hell-fire where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched Q. Tell me once more what must we do to be saved from eternal misery and to escape the wrath to come A. That we may be saved from eternal misery and escape the wrath to come we must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and bring forth fruits meet for repentance and turn from all our transgressions so iniquity shall not be our ruine Two Short PRAYERS For the Use of CHILDREN By the same Author Morning Prayer MOst Great and Gracious Lord God the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort Thou art worthy to receive all thanks and praise for all thy mercies and favours towards me Blessed be thy name for preserving me the night past from all danger and evil for refreshing me with comfortable sleep and raising me up to see the light of another day In thee I live and have my being Thy mercies are new every morning and thy compassions fail not Grant therefore O Lord that as I live by the mercy and goodness I may also live to thy service and glory that I may love thee with all my heart and with all my strength and that I may be careful as thy obedient child to please thee O merciful Father in all things O give me understanding that I may learn thy Commandments Teach me to know thy will and enable me to do it that I may not sin against thee at any time Keep me this day from all evil and preserve me from all danger O Lord preserve my going out and my coming in from this time forth and for evermore And give me grace I beseech thee to serve thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life and to do that which is well pleasing in thy sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy name thy Kingdom come thy will be done on 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 Evening Prayer O Almighty God and most merciful Father I thy poor Creature desire to praise thy holy name and to give thee all humble and hearty thanks for thy fatherly care over me this day and for all the blessings and comforts which I have received of thee day after day O Lord in mercy forgive my unthankfulness and all my other sins Forgive I beseech thee every evil thought word and deed whereby I have sinned against thee this day or at any other time And grant O Lord that for the time to come I may serve thee better and obey thee in all things Heavenly Father watch over me this night keep me from all evil and danger refresh me with comfortable rest and sleep and raise me up in health and safety to behold the light of another day And grant that the longer I live the better I may live and as I grow in age that I may also grow in grace and in the knowledge of thee and of thy Son Jesus Christ. Bless O Lord all that I am bound to pray for all my friends and kindred Bless all in this house and give us all grace to live in thy fear that we may die in thy favour and be received into thy heavenly and everlasting Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour to whom be glory both now and for ever Amen THE END Some new Books Printed for Richard Royston at the Sign of the Angel in St. Paul's Church-yard THe Christian Sacrifice a Treatise shewing the necessity and manner of receiving the Holy Communion together with suitable Prayers and Meditations for every Month in the Year and the Principal Festivals in memory of our blessed Saviour in 12. The Devout Christian instructed how to Pray and give Thanks to God or a Book of Devotions for Families and for particular Persons in most of the concerns of Humane Life By the Author of the Christian Sacrifice in 12. The Practical Christian a Treatise explaining the Duty of Self-examination together with Confessions Meditations and Prayers By R. Sherlock D. D. Rector of Winwick The Principles of holy Christian Religion or the Catechism of the Church of England paraphras'd by the same Author A manifest Discovery of the Gross Ignorance Erroneousness and most Unchristian and Wicked Spirit of one John Bunyan Lay-preacher in Bedford which he hath shewed in a vile Pamphlet publish'd by him against The Design of Christianity The End Eccles. 12. 13. a Jo. 4. 24. b 1 Sam. 2. 2. Revel 4. 8. 1 Jo. 3. 3. Job 4. 17. Isa. 5. 16. c Mat. 19. 17. Psal. 103. 8. 119 68. 145. 8 9. d Deut. 32. 4. Job 34. 10. Gen. 18. 25. Isa. 26. 7. e Deut. 7. 9. Psal. 31. 5. 146. 6. Lam. 3. 23. f Jo. 21. 17. 1 Tim. 1. 17. Isa. 40. 13 14. Prov. 15. 3. g Revel 4. 8. Luke 18. 27. Dan. 4. 33. Job 42. 2. h Gen. 21. 33. Rom. 16. 26.
receive him as such is effectually and powerfully to believe that God his Father hath put all things under him that he is the head of all principality and power and crowned with glory and honour that he hath all power given him in heaven and in earth that he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet that he is the one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy and therefore to observe all things whatsoever he hath commanded Q. Seeing that Christ is our Lord and King what learn you from thence A. I learn from Christ's being our King that therefore Sin should not reign in our mortal body that we should obey it in the lusts thereof for what communion hath light with darkness and what concord hath Christ with Belial Q. What are the enemies that Christ our King is to subdue and destroy A. The enemies that he is to subdue and destroy are Satan and wicked men and sin and death which is the last enemy that shall be destroyed Q. What will this King Jesus Christ do for the Righteous who sincerely obey him A. When he shall come with all his holy Angels and sit upon the throne of his glory he shall say unto the Righteous Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world and to those that overcome their spiritual enemies he will grant to sit with him on his throne even as he overcame and is set down with his Father on his throne and to those that shall be faithful to the death he will give a Crown of life Q. Having seen what it is to believe in Christ tell me what are the properties and notes of true Faith set down in Scripture A The properties and notes of true Faith set down in Scripture are these five 1. It purifies the heart 2. It worketh by love 3. It is made perfect by works 4. It overcomes the world 5. It quencheth all the fiery darts of the wicked one that is the Devil Q. Having seen what is meant by Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ let us see what is meant by Repentance which is also necessary to qualifie and fit us to receive pardon of sin and salvation by Jesus Christ What is it therefore truly and savingly to Repent A. Truly and savingly to Repent is with a godly sorrow and shame for sin to turn from all sin unto God Q. It is not sufficient then only to confess our si is to God A. It is not but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy Q. Is not sorrow for sin saving Repentance A. No but godly sorrow worketh Repentance to salvation not to be repented of Q. You cannot think that good purposes and resolutions of amendment are sufficient to Salvation A. No by no means but we must throughly amend our ways and doings we must do works meet for Repentance and bring forth fruits answerable to amendment of life for every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire Q. Having seen the nature of Faith and Repentance tell me what is meant by New and Spiritual Obedience which is also absolutely necessary to Salvation A. By new and Spiritual Obedience is meant that we must make us a new spirit that is do our best endeavour for it and walk in newness of life that we must put off as to the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of our mind and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Q. How is this new and spiritual Obedience farther explained in Scripture A. It is thus farther explained namely That we should not walk nor live after the flesh but after the spirit or according to the spiritual Precepts of the Gospel that we should not any longer live to the lusts of men but to the will of God that we should yield our selves unto God and that as we have yielded our members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity even so now we should yield our members servants to righteousness unto holiness Q. By what arguments and motives doth the Scripture inforoe and press us to this new and spiritual Obedience A. One ground and argument in Scripture for spiritual obedience is this That if any man be in Christ or a true Christian he is a new creature and if we are new Creatures and God's workmanship we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works to the which God hath before prepared us that we should walk in them and therefore they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Q. What other argument or motive do you remember in Scripture for spiritual Obedience A. A second argument is this That Christ his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree to the end that we being dead unto sin should live unto righteousness and he gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Q. What other argument or motive in Scripture can you rehearse for spiritual Obedience A. A third argument is this That Christ hath said if we love him and keep his commandments he will love us and manifest himself unto us and also that his Father will love us they both will make their abode with us Q. What other argument or motive in Scripture can youthink on for spiritual Obedience A. A fourth argument is this That if we live after the flesh we shall die but if we through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body we shall live If we sow to the flesh we shall of the flesh reap corruption but if we sow to the spirit we shall of the spirit reap life everlasting That being become the servants of God we shall have our fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life That great peace have they that love God's law and in Keeping thereof there is great reward And therefore blessed are they that do his commandments Q. What are the works of the flesh which every Christian is to crucifie A. The works of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery sornication uncleanness lasciviousness idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulations wrath strife seditions heresies envyings murthers drunkenness revellings and such like and they that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God Q. What are the fruits of the Spirit that every Christian is to bring forth A. The fruits of the Spirit are Love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against such there is no law Q. Will not outward privileges