Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
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A28383
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A plain and brief explanation upon the church catechisme different from what hitherto hath been extant : wherein the first elements and grounds of religion are reduced to such plain and familiar questions and answers ... : to which is added, a plain and useful tract of confirmation / by Nathaniel Blithe ...
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Blithe, Nathaniel.
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1664
(1664)
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Wing B3197; ESTC R5761
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48,274
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155
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the Cross as a Sacrifice to make explation and satisfaction for the sins of the World Q. How is this Sacrament a remembrance of this Sacrifice A. In regard in this Sacrament we have as it were Christ crucified before our eyes represented lively before us on the Cross when the bread is broken it calls to mind how his sacred body was broken with the Crown of Thorns the scourges the nails the spear and when the wine is poured out it remembers us how his precious blood issued forth out of his hands feet head and side Q. What other end was thereof Christs instituting this holy Sacrament A. For the remembrance of those benefits we receive by the sacrifice of his death and passion that is that we should continually that is frequently remember and commemorate with joy and thanksgiving before God and man those benefits purchased by his death Q. What is the outward part or sign of the Lords Supper A. Bread and Wine which the Lord hath commanded to be received Q. Why are these two Elements rather than any other used in this Sacrament A. Because these do very fitly represent the inward spiritual grace which is the body and blood of Christ As Bread and Wine is the cheif nourishment of our Bodies the great preservatives of life and health so the Body and Blood of Christ is the onely food of our Soules which must hourish them to life eternal Q. Where hath the Lord commanded these elements to be received A. At his first institution of it he gave this command to his holy Apostles and in them to his whole Church when he had broke the bread he gave it unto them and said take eat this is my body and when he had blessed the cup he gave it them saying drink ye all of this Q. What is the inward part or thing signified in this Sacrament A. The Body and Blood of Christ which are verily and indeed taken and received by the Faithful in the Lords Supper Q. How can it possibly be that the very body and blood of Christ can be received in the Lord Supper A. In this Sacrament there is a true and real participation of Christ for as verily as every worthy communicant eats the Bread and drinks the Wine so verily God in heaven bestows on him and communicates unto him the body and blood of his Saviour and also makes over unto him all the benefits and advantages that proceed from the sufferings of his body and the effusion of his Blood Q. By whom is it that the body and blood of Christ are verily and indeed received in this holy Sacrament A. It is onely by the faithful that is such as worthily prepare themselves before they adventure to present themselves that behave themselves devoutly and reverently in the time of the administration of it and also after the receiving of it walk as becometh such who are united to Christ by so near a tye Q. Do not all then that come receive his body and blood A. This holy Sacrament is offered to all that judge themselves worthy of it but those onely receive benefit from it who are worthy in deed and in truth Q. But suppose others do adventure to come who are unworthy what do they receive A. They receive their own destruction being guilty of the body and blood of Christ Q. Certainly then it is far better to abstain from this sacred banquet A. There is a necessity lyes upon all Christians to come as also to come prepared in regard this is the food of our soules without which nourishment they will starve and perish and also by neglecting this weighty concern we shall disobey the command of our dear Saviour who hath solemnly enjoyned us to keep this feast in remembrance of him Q. What are the benefits whereof we partake by receiving the Lords Supper A. The strengthning and refreshing of our souls by the body and blood of Christ as our bodies are by the Bread and Wine Q. How many are these benefits in number A. They are two first to strengthen and secondly to refresh our Soules Q. In what measure are soules hereby strengthned A. In the very same degree as out bodies are by bread for as bread is the staffe of life without which the body is not able to subsist but grows feeble and weak and at length drops into the grave even so the body of Christ doth nourish and strengthen our soules enable them to the performance of good works without which they have no power to decline the ways of sin and death Q. In what measure are our soules refreshed in this Sacrament A. In the same degree as our bodies are refreshed by Wine for as Wine refreshes the body not only when it is thirstly but also when it is faint and feeble so doth the blood of Christ refresh our Souls wash them from the guilt of Sin which exposed them to the wrath of God which is the greatest refreshment the most powerfull cordial that can be administred to them Q. But how is it possible for so small a piece of Bread or one spoonful of Wine to produce such rare effects A. These proceed not from these outward elemens but from the will and power of Christ who was pleased to ordain these Elements as means and instruments to conveigh these graces unto us Q. What is required of those that come to the Lords Supper A. To examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former fins stedfastly purposing to lead a new life to have a lively faith in Gods mercy through Christ with a thenkfull remembrance of his death and to be in charity with all men Q. What is the general duty here required A. Examination which is not only enjoyned by the Catechism but the very same duty St. Paul requires of every one that come to this Table let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that Cup. Q. What are those matters about which every Christian is not enquioe or examine himself before this Feast A. They are principally four Repentance Faith Thankfulness Charity Q. What is the first thing his examination must spend it self upon A. The first matter must be Repentance Q. What kind of repentance must a man find in himself before he partakes of these Viands A. It must consist of these two parts First there must be an entire renouncing and forsaking of sin of every evil way and Secondly a stedfast purpose and resolution by Gods grace and assistance for the time to come to lead a new and innocent life Q. What is the second matter he must bring under examination A. His Faith Q. How must this Faith be qualified A. It must be a lively Faith which life it must show forth by well doing and it must also be a Faith in Gods mercy through Christ that is stedfastly believing that it is God alone who through the merits and sufferings of his Son hath given to mankind
A. Thus much I beg of him in the two first Petitions hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come wherein I desire that Satans Kingdom may be abolished and the kingdom of grace daily increased and therefore I pray unto God to send his grace unto me and to all people that so the Devil may lose ground and there may daily be added unto the Church such as shall be saved that so all may both in word and deed serve and worship the true God and reverently sanctifie and hollow his glorious Name Q. In which petition dost thou beg that we may obey him as we ought to do A. This I ask in the third petition Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven wherein I desire that both my self and all people may know what is that good that acceptable will of God and then make it the rule of our actions that his heavenly will maybe performed by us as it is by the blessed Angels in Heaven that is chearfully without grudging or murmuring readily without delay or procrastination sincerely without guile or hypocrisie constantly without intermission and universally without picking chusing Q. In which Petition do you pray unto God that he will send us all things that be needful both for our Souls and Bodâ—â—s A. This I beg in the fourth petition Give us this day our daily bread wherein I entreat God to take us into his fatherly care and tuition to provide for our subsistence to give us daily or day by day our bread that is all manner of food and sustenance that is requisite for us and withall to fend along with it his heavenly blessing that so it may nourish our bodies and make them fit for their several employments Q. Herein indeed you desire God to give you necessaries for your bodies but wherein do you desire him to give you necessaries for your soules A. The Holy Scripture besides this ordinary bread enformes us of bread that came down from Heaven that is Christ and his benefits represented in the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper and this is that bread wherewith we desire God to feed out Soules which most certainly will nourish them to life eternal Q. In which Petition do you desire God to be mercifull unto us and forgive us our sins A. This I beg of him in the fifth Petition Forgive us our Trespasses wherein I beseech God to pardon unto me and all his servants all those crimes offences and trespasses what ever we are guilty of Q. But wherefore is that clause adjoyned to this Petition as we forgive them that trespass against us A. For very good reason to teach us how we must be qualified before we can be capable of Gods pardon we must be in charity with our brethren otherwise God will not be in charity with us for if we forgive not men their trespasses neither will our heavenly father forgive us our trespasses Q. In which petition do you desire God to save and defend us from all dangers ghostly and bodily and that he will keep us from all sin and wickedness and from our ghostly enemy and from everlacting death A. This I beg of him in the sixth petition And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Q. Doth God then lead his servants into temptation A. There are temptations of trial or probation and God doth lead his servants into these temptations either to exercise their graces or to chastize them for some miscarriage or to prevent them from some gross fall but besides these there are temptations of seduction and ruine which the Devil offers and God by withdrawing his grace suffers us to fall into them and therefore in this Petition I beg of God that he will continually defend us with his grace as with a sheild that so temptations may make no impression upon and that he will deliver us from all those spiritual evils and dangers that our soules are lyable unto howsoever occasioned whether by the treachery of Satan by the enticements of this world or by the provocation of our own lusts as also from the horrid danger that followes our complyance with these the evill of eternal death Q. Wherefore is it that you have so great confidence and trust that God will grant all these things that you have here prayed for A. First because his is the kingdom he is the King of all the earth a loving tender King willing to hear and relieve the wants of his subjects Secondly because his is the power he is a powerful King and thereby able to give plentiful and suitable returns to the requests of his humble suppliants Thirdly because his is the glory he is a glorious King and it is a clear manifestation of his glory and goodness to hear from Heaven a company of miserable wretches that deserve nothing of kindness at his hand and thereupon I say Amen so be it resting fully satisfied that God both hears me and will answer my requests as my necessities require Q. How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Chrurch A. Two onely as generally necessary to Salvation that is to say Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. Q. When did Christ ordain these Sacraments A. The first of them namely Baptism he hallowed in his own person by passing through the Waters of it and also immediately before his ascension he enjoyned his Disciples to Baptize all Nations And the other Sacrament he celebrated with his Disciples presently before his Passion and withal charged his Disciples and in them his whole Church to do it in remembrance of him Q. What is meant by Baptism A. It is derived from a Greek word which signifies to wash dip dive or sprinkle Q. Why is the other Sacrament called the Lords Supper A. Because it was instituted by the Lord of Glory at or after supper Q. How or in what sense are these Sacraments generally necessary to Salvation A. They are the Instruments or the means whereby the merits of Christ are conveyed and made over to us and by which God hath commanded us to receive them and therefore those that wilfully refuse and neglect them when they may be had do neglect the ordinary means of Salvation Q. What do you mean by this word Sacrament A. I mean an outward visible sign of an inward spiritual grace given unto us ordained by Christ himself as a means whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof Q. What is the end or final cause why Christ ordained Sacraments A. He ordained them as a means whereby great blessings and graces are conveyed to us and as a pledge to assure us of his favour and loving kindness Q. What is that grace which by Sacraments is conveyed unto us A. The whole obedience merit death and passion of our Saviour and the benefits that flow from thence Q. Is Christ alone the ordainer of Sacraments A. He onely hath right to institute a Sacrament in regard he is