the Dispensation of the Work To the Holy Ghost Vertue and Power and Efficacy of Operation In a Word God the Father in the Son by the Holy Ghost worketh all things By the word of the Lord were the heavens Psal 33. 6. made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth Of all visible Creatures which is the Chiefest A. Man For in Man above all other Visible Creatures the Lord sets forth the Glory of his Wisdom Power and Goodness Q. What was the State and Condition of Man at the first by Creation A. It was an holy and happly Condition a State of Innocency and a State of Life Q. Wherein stood that holy Condition of Man A. In that he was free from Sin and created after God's own Image and Likeness And God said Let us make man in our Gen. 1. 26. image according to our likeness Q. What was that Image of God in which Man was at first created A. It was a Conformity of Man to God even a Conformity of all the Power of the Soul of Man to the Will of God standing in Wisdom and Holiness Put on the new man which after God Eph. 4. 24. Col. 3. 10. is created in righteousness and true holiness Q. What was that Wisdom that was in Man at the first A. A perfect Knowledge of God his Creator and of his Will to be obeyed and of his Wisdom and Will touching the particular Creatures for Adam named them according to their Natures Q. What was that Holiness that was in Man at the first A. It was a Conformity of the Will and Affections and the whole Disposion of Man in Body and Soul to the Will of God his Creator Q. Wherein stood that happy Condition of Man in his first Creation A. In Three things 1st In a blessed Estate which was in Communion which Man had with the True God with whom he had daily and as it were familiar Conversation 2dly In Dominion over the Creatures Gen. 1. 28. An Example whereof is when all Creatures presented themselves before him to receive their Names from Ver. 29. him 3dly In a Body endued with Beauty Strength and Immortality And that his Body was Immortal there is no question seeing Death came in by Sin Q. Man being in this happy Estate what Employment had he A. Twofold 1st Particular and Outward To Till Chap. 2. 15. and Dress the Garden 2dly General and Spiritual To Worship and serve his Creator Every one shall be called by my name Isa 43. 7. for I created him for my glory Q. How was be fitted and enabled for this Service A. He was fitted of God with Freedom of Will and Ability for perfect Obedience Being manifestly proved from the Perfection of the Image of God in which Man was created Also he having the Moral Law written in his Heart by Nature Q. How doth that appear A. 1st By the Effect of his Law in his Heart For Man having sinned the Guilt Gâ—n 3. 8. of his Conscience forced him to hide himself from God's Presence 2dly By the Remainders of the Law of God in all Mankind who having not the Law of God are a Law unto Rom. 2. 14 themselves Q. Did Man continue in that happy State in which he was created A. No But hearkning to the poysned Gen. 3. Suggestions of the wicked Serpent and by obeying his Perswasions he lost his Free-Will and Perfection and fell from Righteousness to Sin Q. How was it that Man lost his first State and fell from Righteousness to Sin A. God suffering Satan to tempt him and leaving him to the mutability and liberty of his own Will he fell into Sin eating of the forbidden Fruit. Q. How did Man yield to Temptation being created Good A. Being left of God to the liberty Chap. 3. 6. and mutability of their own Will they voluntary enclined to that Evil whereunto they were tempted Q. What is the State of Man being fallen from his first Estate in which he was created A. It is a State of Corruption and Misery Q. What is the State of Corruption following the Fall of Man A. It is the Loss of the Image of God in which Man was created at first and the Image of Satan succeeding in the place of it so that Man in that State can do nothing but sin And this the Scripture calls the Old Man the Flesh And Adam begat a child in his own Gen. 5. 3. likeness after his image Cast ye off concerning the conversation Eph. 4. 22. in time past the old Man which is corrupt through the deceivable lusts Q. What is Sin A. Sin is any swerving from the Law of God though it be in the least want of that which the Law requireth Whosoever sinneth transgresseth the law 1 Joh. 3. 4. for sin is the transgression of the law I had not known lust except the law Rom. 7. 7. had said Thou shalt not lust Q. How many sorts of Sin be there A. Two Original and Actual Sin is either the Corruption of Nature or the evil Actions that proceed from thence as the Fruits of it Q. What is the Corruption of Man's Nature A. It is that Corruption that is deriv'd from our first Parents by Natural Generation called Lust or Concupisence But sin took an occasion by the commandment Rom. 7. 8. and wrought in me all manner of concupisence Q. Wherein standeth that corruption A. In Two things 1st In an utter Disability and Enmity to that which is good I know that in me that is in my flesh Chap. 7. 18. dwelleth no good things The wisdom of the flesh is enmity against Chap. 8. 7. God 2dly In a Proness to all manner of Evil. The law is spiritual but I am carnal Chap. 7. 14. sold under sin Q. In whom is that Corruption of Nature found A. In all Men and Women none excepted descending from Adam by Natural Generation For there is no difference for all have Chap. 3. 23. sinned and are deprived of the glory of God Q. How is it that all Men and Women are deflied with the Corruption of Nature A. Through the Infidelity and Disobedience of our first Parents in Eating the Forbidden Fruit all Men being guilty of that Sin Wherefore as by one man sin entered Rom. 5. 12. into the world and death by sin and so death went over all men forasmuch as all men have sinned Q. How are all Men Guilty of that Sin A. 1st Because they were in the Heb. 7. 9. Loins of our first Parents from whom they should by course of Nature descend 2dly Because our first Parents were by God's Appointment to stand or fall not as singular Persons only but also as Heads and Roots of all Mankind and as publick Persons representing all Mankind So that every one naturally descending of Adam is Guilty of Adam's Sin it being imputed to him as St. Paul manifesteth As in
Adam all die By the offence of one the fault came on Rom. 5. 18. all men to condemnation By one mans disobedience many were Ver. 19. made sinners Q. Is Original Corruption found in every one equally A. Yes it is for that which is born of Natural Generation is nothing but Corruption For as St. John saith That which is born of flesh is flesh Joh. 3. 6. Q. Doth this Corruption of Nature break forth and shew it self equally and in all Men alike A. No Though Original Corruption be found equally and alike in all Men naturally yet doth God for the Good of Humane Society limit Man's Corruption and restrain Man from notorious Crimes y their Natural Temper by Fear of Shame and Punishment Desire of Honour and Reward and such like Q. Now what is Actual Sin A. It is a Fruit of Original Corruption and it is a Particular and Actual Breach of God's Law For out of the heart come evil thoughts Mat. 15. 19. murders adulteries fornications thefts and such like When lust hath conceived it bringeth Jam. 1. 15. forth sin Q. How is Actual Sin distinguished A. Into Inward and Outward It is either the Inward Faculties of the Soul as the Mind or Will and Affections or in the Outward Members of the Body Q. What is the Actual Sin of the Mind Will and Affections A. It is the evil Thought or Intent of the Mind which comes either by the Conceiving of the Mind it self or by Satan's Suggestion The Lord saw that the wickedness of Gen. 6. 5. man was great in the earth and all the imaginations of his heart were only evil continually And Satan stood up against Israel and 1 Chron. â—1 1. provoked David to number Israel Also it is every Motion and Lust and Desire stirring in the Heart contrary to God's Law For the flesh lusteth against the spirit Gal. 5. 17. and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary one to the other Q. What is Outward Actual Sin in the Outward Members of the Body A. It is that which is committed by the Members of the Body carrying with it the Faculties of the Soul Q. How is Actual Sin effected A. Two ways Either by Omission or Commission either by omitting that which ought to be done or by committing that Evil that is forbidden and ought not to be done whether it be inwardly in the Mind Will or Affections or outwardly in Word or Deed. Q. What is the State of Misery following the Fall of Man A. It is a continual Subjection to the Curse of God whereby Man by the just Sentence of God is continually subject and liable to God's Curse for Sin Cursed is every one that continueth not Gal. 3. 10. in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them And that in this Life both in Body and outward Estate The Lord shall make the pestilence cleave Deut. 28. 21. unto thee until he have consumed thee from off the land whither thou goest to possess it The Lord shall smite thee with a consumption Ver. 22 c. and with a fever and with an inflammation and with an extreme burning and with the sword and with blasting and with mildew and they shall pursue thee till thou perish c. And also in Soul and that with Blindness of Mind Hardness and Astonishment of Heart Horrour of Conscinece and such like And the Lord shall smite thee with Deut. 28. 28. madness and with blindness and with astonishment of heart And not only in this Life but also in the End of this Life and that is the Power of Corporal Death the Death of the Body whereby the Soul is severed from the Body And also after this Life is ended And that by Eternal Death of Body and Soul in Hell Fire called the Second Death which is a final Separation from the comfortable Presence of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost and a sense and feeling of God's Wrath in that Separation whenas it shall be said to them I never knew you Depart from me Mat. 7. 23. ye that work iniquity Depart from me into everlasting fire Chap. 25. 41. which is prepared for the devil and his angels Q. Seeing then by the just Iudgment of God we are subject both to Temporal and Eternal Punishment Is there yet any Way or Means remaining whereby we may be delivered from these Punishments and be reconciled to God A. God will have his Justice satisfied Wherefore it is necessary that we satisfie either by our selves or by another For The soul that sinneth it shall â—ie Exod. 18. 4. Q. Are we able to satisfie our selves A. Not a whit Nay rather we do every Day encrease our Debt For If thou O Lord shouldest mark our Psal 130. 3. iniquities O Lord who should stand Q. Is there any Creature which only is a Creature in Heaven or Earth able to satisfie for us A. None For first God will not punish that Sin in any other Creature which Man hath committed For The soul that sinneth it shall die Exod. 18. Neither can that which is nothing but a Creature sustain the Wrath of God against Sin and deliver others from it Who can stand before his wrath or Nah. 1. 6. who can abide in the fierceness of his wrath Q. What manner of Mediator then and Deliverer must we seek for A. Such a one verily as is very Man For since by man came death by man 1 Cor. 15. 21. came also the resurrection of the dead And perfectly Just For such an high priest it became us to Heb. 7. 26. have which is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners Q. Wherefore is it necessary that he be very Man A. 1st That he might die and suffer the Punishment due to Sin which the Godhead could not do Forasmuch then as the children were Chap. 2. 14. partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part with them that he might destroy through death him that had the power of death that is the devil 2dly Because the Justice of God requireth that the same Humane Nature which sinned do it self likewise make Recompence for Sin The righteousness of the righteous shall Exod. 18. 20. be upon him and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself Q. Why also must he be very God A That he might by his Godhead sustain in his Flesh the burthen of God's Wrath For the Lord thy God is a consuming Deut. 4. 24. fire and a jealous God And might recover and restore unto us that Righteousness which we had lost He was wounded for our transgressions Isa 53. 5. he was broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed Yet the Lord would break him and Ver. 10. make him subject to infirmities when he shall make his soul an offering for sin
Q. And who is that Mediator which is both very God and perfectly Iust Man A. Even our Lord Jesus Christ who is made to us of God Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption There is one Mediator between God and 1 Tim. 2. 5. Man which is the man Jesus Christ Ye are of him in Jesus Christ who is 1 Cor. 1. 30. made of God unto us wisdom righteteousness sanctification and redemption Q. But what are we to Know and Believe touching the Distinction of the two Natures in Christ his Godhead and his Manhood A. That there is a real Distinction of Mat. 26. 39. Joh. 10. 17 18. Act. 3. 21. those two Natures without any Mixture the one with the other and without any Conversion or turning of the one into the other and that the Essential Properties and Actions of both Natures remain distinct one from the other Q. What are we to Believe and Know touching the Union of Christ's two Natures his Godhead and his Manhood A. That they are united by Personal Union that the Godhead and Manhood in Christ make but One Person Q. What is that Personal Union A. It is the assuming of the Humane Nature into the Person of the Son of God so as the Manhood being not a Person in it self is received into Unity of Person with the Second Person in Trinity and doth usually and only subsist in the same This is a Mystery of Godliness And the word was made flesh and Joh. 1. 14. dwelt among us full of grace and truth Great is the mystery of Godliness which 1 Tim. 3. 16. is God is manifested in the flesh justified in the spirit c. Q. What is the Office of Iesus Christ being God and Man in One Person A. It is his Mediatorship to be the only Mediator and Advocate between God and Man There is one mediator between God and 1 Tim. 2. 5. man Q. What is meant by a Mediator or Advocate A. A Mediator or Advocate is a third Person that takes upon him to agree and reconcile two that be at variance As Christ being both God and Man did set at one God and Man who before were separated by Sin I the Lord have called thee in righteousness Isa 42. 6. and will hold thine hand and I will keep thee and give thee for a covenant of the people and for a light of the Gentiles Q. How did he that A. By the Satisfying of God's Justice by his Death By Praying and Intreating for the Guilty And By applying forcibly and effectually his Merit through Faith on them that Believe and regenerating them by his holy Spirit effecting that they cease from sinning And lastly Hearing their Groans and Petitions when they call upon him For thus it becometh him who was our Mat. 3. 15. faithful high priest to fulfil all righteousness Q. What be the several Functions and Offices of Christ as he is Mediator A. They are Three namely his Prophetical Office Priestly Kingly Christ was anointed of his Father to be the Prophet King and Priest of his Church For Moses truly said unto the fathers A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of our brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you Wherefore in all things it behoved him Heb. 2. 17. to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou Psal 110. 1. at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool Q. What is the Prophetical Office of Christ A. It is the Office of Revealing the Will of God and the Means of Salvation to his Church in all Ages As No man hath seen God at any time Joh. 1. 18. the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him Which Office Christ performs Two ways 1st Outwardly By the Ministry of his Word Christ was put to death concerning the 1 Pet. 3. 18. flesh but was quickened in the spirit By which spirit he went and preached Ver. 19. unto the spirits that were in prison 2dly Inwardly By the Operation and Teaching of his holy Spirit As by the Example of Lydia Whose heart the Lord opened that she Act. 16. 14. attended unto the things which Paul spake Q. VVhat is the Priestly Office of Christ A. It is that whereby Christ hath and doth reconcile God to his Elect He performing all those things to God for them whereby they may come to Eternal Life But this man because he endureth for Heb. 7. 24. ever hath an everlasting priesthood Wherefore he is able also perfectly to Ver. 25. save them that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Which Priestly Office Christ performs Three ways for God chosen First In fulfilling the Law of God and performing perfect Righteousness for them Which Perfection He is made unto us of God wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 30. righteousness sanctification and redemption standeth in Two things 1st In the Purity of his Humane Nature he being conceived and born Pure and Holy void of all Sin 2dly In the Obedience of his whole Life he doing all that the Law required of him for God's Chosen Who did no sin neither was there any 1 Pet. 2. 22. Isa 53. 9. guile found in his mouth Secondly As he was Man consisting of Body and Soul Yet the Lord would break him and Isa 53 10. make him subject to infirmities when he shall make his soul an offering for sin Offering of himself unto God his Father a sacrifice without spot thereby appeasing his Wrath for all their Sins How much more shall the blood of Heb. 9. 14. Christ which through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God But now in the end of the world hath Ver. 26. he appeared once to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself Thirdly His entring into Heaven and there appearing before his Father continually making Intercession for all the Faithful Who shall condemn It is Christ who Rom. 8. 34. also is at the right hand of God and maketh request for us Q. After what manner doth Christ make Intercession in Heaven for the Faithful A. Not by Prostrating himself and uttering Words to his Father or by putting up a Prayer or Supplication to him But by presenting himself and the Sacrifice of himself once offered upon the Cross and the infinite and unvaluable Merit of that Sacrifice before the Eyes of his Father willing as he is God and Man and desiring as he is Man that his Father would accept of his perfect Satisfaction for all that are given unto him For Christ is not enter'd into the holy Heb. 9. 24. places that are made with hands which are similitudes of the true sanctuary but
make us understand how much he detesteth Sin that so also we might detest it and withal he tameth the Rebellion of our Flesh and daily more and more teacheth us Obedience It is good for me that I was afflicted Psal 119. 71. that I might learn thy statutes 3dly God worketh in us that we should learn to pity such as be in distress for no Man hath Compassion or suffereth with another who himself hath not suffered before For We have not an high priest which cannot Heb. 4. 15. be touched with our infirmities but such an one as was in all things tempted in the like sort yet without sin 4thly By Afflictions the Lord shaketh off our Deadness and Drowsiness and doth stir us up the more earnestly to come and call upon him by fervent and hearty Prayer Call upon me in the time of thy trouble Psal 50. 15. and I will hear thee 5thly By them the Lord maketh tryal of our Faith for they do either Consume the Wicked through Impatience or else Harden them through Despair On the other side they Soften the Hearts of the Godly to make them call upon God and to trust the more upon him Blessed is the man that endureth temptation Jam. 1. 12. for when he hath been tryed he shall receive the Crown of life 6thly By Afflictions God doth call our minds away from these Earthly things that we may the more earnestly desire the Life to come Seeing then there is so many Comforts by Affliction My son despise not the chastning of the Heb. 12. 5 Lord neither faint when thou art corrected of him For whom he loveth he chasteneth 6. Q. Why is he said to be Almighty A. Because he is able to do whatsoever he will Whatsoever pleased the Lord that did Psal 135. 6. he in heaven in earth in the sea and in all the depths Yea he is able to do more than he will For I say unto you God is able of these Mat. 3. 9. stones to raise up children to Abraham Q. What Comfort is there in that God is said to be Almighty A. It strengthneth me in my Prayer to him assuring me that he can make good whatever Promises he hath made unto me in his Word Being fully assured that he which Rom. 4. 21. had promised was also able to do it And though I be weak and unable to resist mine Enemies bodily or spiritual and no way able to help or provide for my self yet my heavenly Father is of all Majesty and Power guiding and over-ruling continually Men Angels and Devils and all Creatures to serve for his own Glory and the Good of his Children Yea though I should walk through the Psal 23. 4. valley of the shadow of death I will fear none evil for thou art with me When the ways of man please the Lord Prov. 16. 7. he will make his enemies to be at peace with him Q. What is meant in saying He was Maker of Heaven and Earth A. That he formed and framed this whole World and all the Creatures that are therein only by the Power of his Word and Commandment even of Nothing By the word of the Lord were the heavens Psal 33. 6. made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth Q. What Comfort cometh by this A. That although through Adam I had lost the Right both of Heaven and Earth and of every Creature so as I could have no Comfort in the Use of them yet through my Saviour the Second Adam since I truly Believed in him I am restored to a far better Estate being made in him a right Heir of all and all the Creatures are blessed and sanctified to me that I may have a holy Use of them For if we be children we are also Rom. 8. 17. heirs even the heirs of God and heirs annexed with Christ 2dly All the Creatures in Heaven and Earth are at league with me to help for my Good so far as may stand with his Glory For the stones of the field shall be in Job 5. 23. Hos 2. 18. 1 Cor. 3. 21. league with thee and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee Q. Declare unto me the Second Part of the Creed concerning Faith in God the Son Which is the Second Article A. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. Q. What is signified by that Word JESUS A. This Word signifieth a Saviour Thou shalt call his name Jesus for Mat. 1. 21. he shall call his people from their sins Q. Why is the Son of God called Jesus that is a Saviour A. Because he saveth us from all our Sins Therefore he is able also perfectly to Heb. â— 25. save them that come unto God by him Neither ought any Safety to be sought for from any other nor can elsewhere be found Neither is there salvation in any other Act. 4. 12. name â—â—der heaven whereby we must be saved I even I am the Lord and beside me Isa 43. 11. there is no saviour Q. Whom doth he save A. He saveth all and only the Elect and Believers which have been are or shall be even from the Beginning to the End of the World God so loved the world that he gave Joh. 3. 16. his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Q. What Evils doth he deliver his Elect from A. From all Sin So the Angel testifieth He shall save his people from their Mat. 1. 21. sins The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us 1 Joh. 1. 7. from all sin And also from the Punishment of Sin For the Cause being taken away which is Sin the Effect is taken away which is Punishment Now then there is no condemnation to Rom. 8. 1. them that are in Christ Jesus I give unto them eternal life Q. How doth Christ save his Elect 1st He saveth us by his Merit or Satisfaction Because by his Obedience Passion Death and Intercession he hath merited for us Remission of Sins Reconciliation with God and Everlasting Life The blood of Jesus Christ his Son 1 Joh. 1. 7. cleanseth as from all sin By the obedience of one many shall be Rom. 5. 19. made righteous He was wounded for our transgressions Isa 53. 5. he was broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed He hath made him to be sin for us 2 Cor. 5. 21. which knew no sin that we should be made the righteousness of God in him Christ hath redeemed us from the curse Gal. 3. 13. of the law 2dly He saveth us by his Efficacy Power and Operation Because he not only obtaineth by his Meriting for us Remission of Sins and that Life which we had lost but also applieth effectually unto us by virtue of his Spirit through Faith the whole Benefit of our
Redemption For what Benefits he merited by his Death he doth not retain them unto himself but bestoweth them on us Q. What is it therefore to Believe in Iesus A. It is not only to Believe that he is able to save and that he is the only Means to obtain Salvation by but also that he is my Saviour My spirit doth rejoyce in God my Saviour Luk. 1. 47. The Lord is my light and my strength Psal 27. 1. And that I rely wholly upon him and none but him for the Salvation of my Soul Lord to whom shall we go thou hast Joh. 6. 68. the words of eternal life Q. What Comfort hast thou by this A. That though I am guilty of innumerable Sins both Original and Actual even the Breach of the whole Law and so am worthy to be damned and have all the Plagues of God due to my Sin cast upon me yea though I were a Bond-Slave to Sin and Satan yet I Believe that Jesus is my Saviour and that he hath delivered me from all my Sins both the Guilt and the stisfactory Punishment of them and also from the Power of Sin and Satan The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me that I should preach the gospel to the poor heal the broken-hearted preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind that I should set at liberty them that are bruised Q. What is signified by the Word CHRIST A. Christ signifieth Anointed Q. Why is he called Christ that is Anointed A. Because he was Ordained of the Father and Anointed of the Holy Ghost the Chief Prophet and Doctour The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet like unto me Deut. 18. 15. who hath opened unto us the secret Counsle and all the Will of his Father concerning our Redemption For all things that I have heard of Joh. 15. 15. my Father have I made known unto you And the High-Priest who with that one only Sacrifice of his Body hath redeemed us So Christ was once offered to take Heb. 9. 28. away the sins of many And doth continually make Intercession to his Father for us Who shall condemn It is Christ which Rom. 8. 34. is dead yea which is risen again who is also at the right-hand of God and maketh request for us And a King who ruleth us by his Word and Spirit and defendeth and maintaineth that Salvation which he hath purchased for us And he shall reign over the hous of Luk. 1. 33. Jacob for ever and of his kingdom shall be none end And I will give unto them eternal Joh. 10 28. life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand Q. What Benefit hast thou by this A. That both I and all the Elect of God are made spiritual Kings Priests and Prophets And from Jesus Christ which hath made us kings and priests unto God even his Father Kings in bearing rule over our Hearts and mastering our rebellious Thoughs Wills and Affections Let not sin reign therefore in your mortal Rom. 6. 12. bodies that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof Priests in offering up to God our Spiritual Sacrifices And ye as lively stones be made a 1 Pet. 2. 5. spiritual house and a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Of Prayer Let my prayer be directed in thy sight Psal 141. 2. as incense and the lifting up of mine hands as an evening sacrifice Of Thanksgiving Let us therefore hy him offer the sacrifices Heb. 13. 15. of praise always to God Of Alms To do good and to distribute forget Ver. 16. not for with such sacrifice God is well-pleased Of a Contrite Heart The sacrifices of God are a contrite Psal 51. 17. heart a contrite and a broken heart O Lord thou wilt not despise Of our whole Souls and Bodies for the Service of God I bescech you therefore brethren that Rom. 12. 1. ye give up your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God And Prophets in applying that Knowledge we have to the Benefit and Good of others When thou are converted strengthen Luk. 23. 32. thy brethren Q. Now shew me why this Iesus Christ is called the only Son of God seeing we also are said to be the Sons of God A. Christ is called God's only Son because he alone is the Co-eternal and Natural Son of the Eternal Father And the word was made flesh and Joh. 1. 14. dwelt among us and we saw the glory thereof as the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father Thou art my Son this day begat I Heb. 1. 5. thee I will be his Father and he shall be my Son The Angels also and Adam before his Fall are his Sons by Creation But we are Sons adopted of the Father by Grace for his sake Who hath predestinated us t be adopted Eph. 1. 5. through Jesus Christ unto himself As many as received him to them Joh. 1. 12. gave he power to be the sons of God even to them that believe in his name Q. What Comfort cometh by this A. It sheweth the wonderful Love and great Mercy of God to me that when I was by Nature the Child of Wrath and Perdition he spared not to give his only Son for me to make me his Child and Hell by the Grace of Adoption But God so loved the world that he Joh. 3. 16. gave his only begotten Son that whoseever believeth in him shall not perish but have eternal life Q. Wherefore is he called Our Lord A. Because he redeeming and ransoming both our Body and Soul from Sin not with Gold and Silver but with his precious Blood and delivering us from all the Power of the Devil hath set us free to serve him Knowing that ye were not redeemed 1 Pet. 1. 18 with corruptible things as silver and gold But with the preceious blood of Christ 19 That ye should shew forth the vertues Chap. 2. 9. of him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light Q. What is the Comfort of this A. That Christ being my Lord and I living under his Dominion I need not fear what Enemies whether Devil or wicked Men can do unto me If God be on our side who can be against us And though I was under the Prince of Darkness having Satan my Lord until I believed in Christ yet finde I am Christ's and he is my only Lord and that by Purchase with his Blood by Gift from his Father and by Marriage contracted to be consummate at his Appearing Q. Which is the Third Article A. Which was Conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary Q. What Believest thou in this Article A. I Believe That the Son of God who is and continueth True and Everlasting God took the very Nature of Man of the
Flesh and Blood of the Virgin Mary For he in no sort took the Angels but Heb. 2. 16. he took the seed of Abraham When the fulness of time was come Gal. 4. 4. God sent forth his Son made of a woman By the working of the Holy Ghost The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee Luk. 1. 35. and the power of the most high shall over-shadow thee That withal he might be the true Seed of David Concerning Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 1. 3. which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh Like unto his Brethren in all things Wherefore in all things it became him Heb. 2. 17. to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be merciful and a faithful high priest in things concerning God Sin excepted But was in all sort in the like manner Heb. 4. 15. tempted yet without sin Q. What Profit is there by Christ's holy Nativity and Conception A. Hereby our Faith is confirmed that he is the True Mediator For he cannot be a Mediator between God and Men who is not by Nature True God and True Man For such an high priest it became us to Chap. 7. 26. have which is holy blameless undefiled separate from sinners And that he doth cover with his Innocency and perfect Holiness my Sins in which I was conceived that they might not come in the sight of God He is made unto us of God wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 30. righteousness sanctification and redemption Christ hath suffered for our sins the 1 Pet. 3. 18. just for the unjust that he might bring us to God Q. Which is the Fourth Article A. Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified Dead and Buried he descended into Hell Q. What Believest thou when thou sayest he Suffered A. I Believe That Christ all the time of his Life which he led in the Earth especially at the End thereof sustaineth the Wrath of God doth in Body and Soul against the Sin of all Mankind Surely he hath borne our infirmities Isa 53. 4 and carried our sorrows we did judge him as plagued and smitten of God and humbled Who his own self bare our sins in his 5. body on the tree by whose stripes ye were healed That he might by his Passion as the only Propitiatory Sacrifice deliver our Body and Soul from Everlasting Damnation Yet the Lord would break him and Ver. 10. make him subject to infirmities when he shall make his soul an offering for sin Who hath delivered us from the power Col. 1. 13. of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son Christ hath redeemed us from the Gal. 3. 13. curse And purchased unto us the Favour of God Righteousness and Everlasting Life He hath made him to be sin for us 2 Cor. 5. 21. which knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him Q. What is meant by this He Suffered under Pontius Pilate being as his Iudge A. That he being Innocent and Condemned before a Civil Judge might deliver us from the severe Judgment of God which remained for all Men For he hath borne our infirmities and Isa 53. 4 carried our sorrows And he was wounded for our transgressions 5. he was broken for our iniquities Q. But is there any thing more in it that he was fastned to the Cross than if he had suffered any other kind of Death A. There is more For by this I am assured That he took upon himself the Curse which did lie on me For Christ hath redeemed us from the Gal. 3. 13. curse For the Death of the Cross was accursed of God His body shall not remain all night Deut. 21. 23. upon the tree for the curse of God is upon him that is hanged Q. What is it then to Believe in Christ Crucified A. It is not only to Believe That Christ suffered such a kind of Death but also by virtue of this Death I am crucified to God and my Sins pardoned and the Curse of the Law is taken away from me yea That by virtue of the Cross of Christ my Sins are mortified and crucified God forbid that I should rejoice but in Gal. 6. 14. the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ whereby the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world Q. Why was it necessary for Christ to humble himself unto Death A. Because the Justice and Truth of God who said Whensoever thou eatest of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt die the death could by no other means be satisfied for our Sins but by the very Death of the Son of God For God sending his own Son in the Rom. 8. 3. similitude of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh That he might destroy through death Heb. 2. 14. him that had the power of death that is the devil Q. But Death is the wages of sin Rom. 6. 23 1 Pet. 2. 22. and Christ was without sin and therefore How could Death have any Power at at all over Him A. Christ indeed was free from the the Commission of Sin in his own Person but he was made sin for us 2 Cor. 5. 21. And by the means of our Sins Death seized upon him For he was delivered to death for our Rom. 4. 25. sins God spared not his own Son but gave Chap. 8. 32. him for us all to death Q. Did Christ die for All according to the Testimony of Scriptures 1 Tim. 2. 6. where it is said He gave himself a ransom for all men A. No certainly he died not for All but for Many as is proved by Scripture I pray not for the world but for those Joh. 17. which thou hast given me for they are thine Christ was once offered to take away Heb. 9. 28. the sins of many Thou shalt call his name Jesus for Mat. 1. 26. he shall save his people srom their sins So that it is manifest that Christ died and offered up himself only for Many for his Elect for his Church and peculiar People Q. Now is Christ said to have died for all Men and not to have died for all Men A. 1st Christ died for all Men Absolutely and without Exception as touching the Sufficiency which he paid in Price 2dly Christ died not for all Men but for the Elect only and the Faithful as touching the Application Participation and Efficacy of his Merit and Passion Q. What Benefit doth the Church of God and every true Believer receive by the virtue of Christ's Death A. 1st Not only those Articles before-mentioned do declare and shew those Benefits which we receive by the Death of Christ but also we are assured of the freedom from the Sting of Death But thanks be to God which hath 1 Cor. 15. 57. given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 2dly Death it self is turned into a