in the New Testament because it was so fully known in the Old that Children were within the Covenant and admitted to the Seal of it That Baptizing them is not a receiving them as Foreigners into the Church of Christ but a more Solemn manifesting them to be so and a witnessing they are Members of Christ who belonged to the Body of his Church before Ephes 2.12 13. Hâ—l 8.6 There needed no new Command to promote an old Practâ—â—e which unless contâ—â—ued I see no great inducement can be offered to perswade a Jew to become Christian Wills against Danvers Second Part p. 36. None of their Priviledges are infringed but ours enlarged the Covenant is unrepealed and Baptism larger than Circumcision as including Females as well as Males as capable Subjects of it 14. The Error of the Anabaptists hath these ill consequences 1. It throws all the World into Heathenism again 2. Makes a Church ever gathering never gathered 3. 1 Cor. 7.14 Makes Children of Turks and Jews equally happy as ours 4. States our Children in the visible Synagogue of Satan by excluding them the visible Church of Christ 5. Gives Parents small hopes of their Salvation by disowning them for Members of Christs Church Mark 16.16 Baxters Infant Church-memb and not esteeming them Believers 6. It may expose to the breach of the sixth and seventh Commandments Q. Why was the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Ordained A. For the continual Remembrance and the Sacrifice of the Death of Christ and the Benâ—sits we receive thereby Q. What things are Considerable in this Answer A. 1. That Christ Offered himself a Sacrifice to God for Mans sins Heb. 5. and 9 Chap. 2. By the Death and Sacrifice of Christ we receive great Benefits 1. Pardon of Sin 2. Peace with God 3. Adoption 4. Gift of Holy Ghost 5. Graces 6. Glory 3. That these Benefits and this Death of Christ ought to be remembred Mat. 26.1 Cor. 11 24. Q. How is the Sacrament a Commemoration of Christs Death A. 1. The Bread and Wine set apart for the Use of the Sacrament denotes Christs separation for the Work of our Redemption the Breads breaking Christs Crucifying its eating our receiving Christ and our Union with him 2. The Wine shews Christs Blood distinct from his Body as shed for us The pouring out the Wine shews the shedding his Blood and our drinking it our applying Christs Blood to cleanse us from sin Q. Why is Christs Death called a Sacrifice A. 1. It was Typified by all the Sacrifices under the Law 2. Christ Offered himself a Sacrifice for us Q. Why is it not yet counted a Sacrifice A. 1. Christ is not again Offered 2. Christ is not ours nor in our power to Offer 3. Heb. 9.25 26. His Offering himself once for all is sufficient Q. What are the outward parts of the Lords Supper A. Bread and Wine which the Lord hath Commanded to be Received Q. Is not the Bread in the Sacrament turned into Christs Body after the words of Consecration since Christ said This is my Body A. No. 1. Gen. 17.10 Exod. 12 Funeral of Mass Brevint against Mass p. 57. Sacraments are spoken in a Figurative sense Circumcision is called the Covenant and the Paschal Lamb the Passover which were but signs of the Covenant And so this is my Body signifieth this is the sign of my Body and our Adversaries grant a Figurative Speech in the use of the Cup where it is said This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood of which the Blood of Christ signified by the Wine was a Seal 2. Transubstantiation against all our Senses We see feel smell taste Bread 3. Then is there no Sacrament because the Sign is destroyed 4. It s Institution iâ— in Remembrance of Christ which implies his Absence 5. It destroys Christs Humanity which cannot be in many places at once 6. It exposeth Christs Body to Rude Accidents our eating him Mice destroying him its moulding and corrupting against Psal 16.10 7. Then the Infidels eating the Bread shall be saved for all eating Christ shall 8. Their Pleas from John 6. unsound Christ spoke there Spiritually nor indeed was the Sacrament then Instituted but some time after a little before his Death 9. Either Christ is in the Sacrament or he is not If in it they Act horrid things to tear Christs Body with their Teeth and if he be not there they Act gross Idolatry in Worshipping a piece of Bread it is a madness to eat our God or adore what we eat in the Heathens account 16 10. It was Confirmed but in the Year 1215. after Christ Q. May not the Cup of Wine be forbidden A. 1. No. This Error succeeded the former Ames Bell. Enervat Tom. 3. Lib. 4. Cap. 7. Fox Act. Vol. 2. pag. 460. A. Bishop Ushers Answer to Jesuit pag. 3. B. Taylors disswasive Cap. 1. Sect. 6. for if Christs Body be in the Bread his Blood is there also and therefore our Adversaries deny the distinct Administration of it But 2. Against the Command and Practice of Christ and his Apostles 1 Cor. 11.24 Mat. 26. 3. Pope Gelasius Decreed this Act to be Sacrilegious and he was as Infallible as his Successors if one be Infallible for them another is so against them 4. No Ancient Council Father or Example of Primitive Church was for it saith the same Gelasius 5. It was Decreed about 1415 after Christ in the Council of Constance Q. What is the inward part or thing signified A. The Body and Blood of Christ which are verisy and indeed taken and received of the Faithful in the Lords Supper Q What is here Observable A. 1. That the Body and Blood of Christ are Offered in the Sacrament to be received by the Communicants 2. That the true faithful Communicant doth receive them and their Benefits 3. His receiving them is by Faith Spiritually applying them to his Soul Q. What are the Benefits we are made Partakers of hereby A. The strengthening and refreshing of our Souls and Bodies by the Body and Blood of Christ as our Bodies are by the Bread and Wine Q. What is herein Considerable A. 1. That as Bread and Wine are great strengtheners and refreshers of our Bodies so doth Christs Body and Blood with the Benefits thence flowing to the Worthy Receiver Dr. Patricks Mensa Mystica p. 382. much strengthen and refresh our Souls in the sense of the Pardon of our sins of our Peace with God comforts of the Holy Ghost Grace against sin our sense of Gods Love Union with him and Right to Glory Q. What is required of Persons who come tâ— the Lords Supper A. To Eramine themselves whether they Repent them truly of their former sins steadfastly purposing to lead a new Life have a lively Faith in Gods Mercy through Christ with a Thankful Remembrance of Christ's Death and be in Charity with all Men. Q. What is Considerable in this Answer A. 1. The Duties of a
afraid after sin and bold after doing good And the greatest profest Atheist seems most afraid of a Supream Being to punish him Suet. in Caes Cal. c. 51. Suet. Tib. Ne. c. 69. So that it may be the Atheists wish there was no God but it cannot be his belief there is none for those checks for Evil and encouragements of Good premis'd imply there is a God who is just to punish sinners and to reward the wel-doer Whence a Reverend Prelate saith it may consist with the Atheists interest B. Pearson on Creed p. 22. to wish there was no God but it cannot consist with his Reason to believe there is none 5. Psal 14.1 Therefore we may justly blame those as Fools with the Psalmist who say in their Hearts There is no God Much more those who profess with their mouthes There is no God Indeed Atheism is but the Genuine product of Debauchery and profaneness Baxter 's Reas of Chr. Rel. part 2. c. 12. p. 444. for when men have so lived that they are afraid to dye and appear before God at Judgment They are inclinable to wish there was no God to call them to an account for their vice and what they so much desire they will easily perswade themselves to believe that they and their Companions may go on in their evil course Q. How do you prove there is but one God A. 1. There can be but one first cause Grot. de Ver. Rel. Christ l. 1 Mornaeus de Ver. Rel. c. 3. but one Infinite Almighty Independent Eternal Being For if there were two or more Beings equally mighty c. there could not be one Almighty and each might obstruct others proceedings 2. The Heathens have 5. granted This Truth in making their Jove as we own our Jehovah to be the most Glorious most Great Almighty Omnipresent Omniscient Deity the Father Author Governour of all things in Heaven and Earth It is credibly reported of Plato B. Paearson on Creed p. 23. that writing to his Friends he said The Name of God was prefixed before his most serious Works but the Name of Gods before his other Books And a Reverend and Learned Divine of our Church Dr. Cudworth 's Intellect System Gen. 3.5 hath proved lately the Heathens centring their plurality of Gods in the Unity of a Deity And indeed the first mention of Gods was from Satan Q. What is it to believe in this one God A. 1. To grant there is a God 2. To believe what is made known of him in his Word or by his Works that he is true just holy good eternal almighty c. 3. Tit. 3.8 Ja. 2.19 To believe his threats and promises 4. To repose our trust and confidence in him 5. To live answerable to this Faith For tho it is a grand folly to deny the Being of a God Dr. Stillings on Prov. 14.9 p. 36. Yet the Atheists themselves esteem them Fools who believe there is a God and yet by sin affront and trifle with him Q. What are the Attributes God hath in the Creed A. Two one relating to himself Almighty The other with Respect to Christ and us Father Q. What is meant by God's Attribute Almighty A. 1. His power to do all things as he pleaseth B. Pearson on Creed p. 42. consistent with his Glory 2. His Soveraignty or right to Rule and govern the works of his hands And both these the Heathens granted 6. Q. How prove you Gods Almighty Power A. 1. God is frequently called so in Scripture 2. Almightiness is deny'd to all things else 3. His Works of Creation Bish Nicholson on Cat. p. 34. Preservation Sanctification Resurrection c. prove it 4. His great Armys Lord of Hosts all things in the whole World obey him And by his order the least thing strong enough to destroy the greatest place or person Mornaeus de Ver. Rel. c. 11. Gen. 3. 6. 19. Dan. 3. 6. as Learned Mornaeus ingeniously manifests 5. His punishing his enemies singly and joyntly 6. His wonderful Deliverances of his People 7. His restraining all powers as he pleaseth Job 1 and 2 Chapter 8. All power and might is from him therefore he is Almighty 9. The Practice and expectation of the whole World who pray to God in all straits and wants B. Pearson on Creed p. 287. expecting from him all protection and supplies which certainly infers God's being Almighty to be impressed on man's Heart naturally Q. What should God's Almightiness considered influence us to A. 1. To believe he is so Almighty 2. To believe all the Articles of the Creed however dark or impossible They seem to a natural man's apprehension since our God Almighty can do them 3. To make us careful we offend not this Almighty God 4. To take care to please him by obeying him 5. Mat. 10.28 To be humble in our strength we had it from God and not of our selves 6. To ascribe all deliverances from dangers and supplies of our wants to God Almighty 7. Not to despair of God's help in any trouble if he please he can help us 8. Not to be afraid of any Enemies tho they be mighty God is Almighty Isa 41.11 43.2 3 Rom. 8.26 9. To encourage us in Prayer and all Duties our God is able to assist us in them and to grant to us and do for us above all that we are able to ask or think Q. How prove you God's Soveraignty or right to Rule all Creatures A. He is the only Lord of all the World to whom we and all his creatures do owe obedience by several Rights by which God may claim it 1. By our Creation He made us and not we ourselves he formed our bodies of the Dust Psal 95.6 7. and infused our souls so that every faculty of our souls and part of our bodies are several obligations to worship God 2. Our preservation God as the great Housholder of the World provides for all his Creatures Acts 17. 28. and in him we live move and have our being and as we daily live of his mercy ought to live to his glory 3. The price of our Redemption We are to God a purchased possession He gave his Son to die 1 Cor. 6.19 20. that he might by his Sons sufferings grant us life and purchase us to serve him Now what we buy and pay for we may expect to be served with much more then may God expect to be served by us Tit. 2.14 4. All Creatures pay him obedience Sun Moon Stats keep their state God first placed them in The Sea exceeds not its bounds the Earth remains habitable and Air convenient for us to breathe in unless the God of Nature please to alter their course to punish sin and then a flood shall drown the World Gen. 6. 19. Num. 16. and fire descend from Heaven the Earth shall open and the Air by infection destroy Q. How should God's Soveraignty affect
death 5. All our good comes from God who must make us gracious and glorious if we be either 6. Our best duties tho done through Gods assistance yet are attended with many infirmities Isa 64.6 7. coldness weariness c. 7. There is no proportion between our work and this reward therefore it must be the gift of Gods free Grace Q. What improvement do you make of this Article A. 1. If eternal misery be the wages of sin it shews mans folly in daring to act sin when for a moments pleasure here he must meet with eternal torments hereafter 2. If eternal life be given to the godly it should engage us to the practice of godliness Our labour is not in vain 1 Cor. 15.58 Q. What is meant here by the word Amen A. It is here an Asseveration or Affirmation of our consent to the truth of all the premised Articles In which O Lord encrease our Faith and enable us to lead the Life of Faith that at the end of our lives we may have the end of our Faith the Salvation of our Souls SECT II. Q. THe Rule of Faith in the Articles of the Creed being considered What is yet remaining of your Baptismal Vow A. The Rule of obedience in my keeping all Gods Commandments and walking in the same all the days of my life Q. How many Commandments are there A. Ten and therefore they are sometimes called the Decalogue Q. Which be they A. The same which God spake in the twentieth Chapter of Exodus Exod 20. saying I am the Lord thy God who brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt and out of the house of bondage c. Q. What is considerable in this Preface to these Commandments A. 1. The Authority of the Law-giver I am the Lord thy God The Lord that made thee and thy God in Covenant with thee who may give Laws to my Creatures and declare my will to my People which they are bound to obey 2. The obligations on the people to obey their deliverance from the Aegyptian bondage Q. Do these Commandments oblige us A. Dr. Arrowsmiths Tact. Sac. lib. 2. Cap. 4. Sect. 4. Mar. 5 6 7 Chap. Rom. 13.9 Ephes 6.2 James 2.8 9. 1. The Jews if considered as a Church had a Ceremonial Law abolisht by Christ As a state they had a judicial Law not obliging all Nations But this Law they had as men and Gods rational Creatures given them by God as their Creator therefore it obligeth us as men so long as we continue our being 2. The precepts of this Law are repeated by Christ and his Apostles and proposed by them to us as a rule to walk by 3. The obligations on us are greater then on the Jews to observe them God is not only our Lord and our God in Covenant with us Bish Ni. cholson on Cat. p. 13.21.134 but we enjoy the substance of their shadows the fulfilling of their promises prophecies and Types And our deliverance by Christ is far greater then from an Aegyptian bondage ours was from an infernal Pharaoh the Devil a deliverance of both Soul and body from eternal misery by the blood of Christ Q. Why is it called the moral Law Hookers Polity lib 1. sect 8. Leighs body of Divinity p. 124. A. Because it relates to manners and containing our duties to God and Man Q. Why is it called the Law of nature A. 1. Because its duties were impressed on mans Nature at his Creation 2. Mans reason rightly improved will dictate all these dutys Bish Nicholson on Cat. p. 81. for that reason which dictates the being of a God will certainly teach he ought to be worshipped and that there can be but one Almighty God to be worshipped who therefore ought to hear his name Reverenced his ordinances and Laws observed always and at sometimes more publickly and solemnly by his People And as it is the dictate of Nature to do to others as we desire they should do to us so it will teach us to Honour whom it is due to B. Wilkins Natural Religion to abstain from murthering of or committing uncleanness with or stealing from or bearing false witness against or inordinately coveting after any thing of our Neighbours 3. The Heathen have acknowledged a Deity to whom they paid worship and observed some more solemn times then others to do it in and have been so exemplary in declaiming against and punishing of 14 all sins against the second Table That they may be Witnesses against us unless we labour to keep these Laws of God Q. How are these ten Commandments divided A. Into two Tables relating to the twofold object of duty God and Man Q. Which Commandments contain our dutys towards God A. The four first Q. Which Commandments contain our dutys towards Man A. The six last Q. Why are more delivered Negatively then affirmatively A. 1. To shew our proneness to evil which requires so many restraints 2. To shew there must be a ceasing from sin before we can do good Q. What general Rules are there for the understanding these Commandments A. James 2.10 1. That the same Authority is offended in breaking one that is in breaking all 2. All Negative commands disswade not only from sin but command the contrary duty 3. All positive commands command not only the duty but also forbid the contrary sins 4. Both positive and Negative disswade from all Evil thoughts as well as Evil words and actions and oblige to have purity as well as to Holiness of the tongue or conversation 5. They both oblige to avoid all things tending to any sin and to use all means that may further us in any duty 6. Leigh 's Body of Divinity p. 205. Affirmative precepts are not so obliging as the Negative the first oblige to duty but not always as works of mercy and the like may be done on the Sabbath And obedience to God is better then Honour to a Superior without Gods Honour but the Negative oblige to avoid all sin and alwaies because it is never lawful to act Evill that good may come thereby Q. Why are the Commandments given in the second person singular A. 1. Leigh 's body p. 207. Because thus there can be no evasion from Duty 2. Every one is concerned in the obedience which is due to them 3. To shew God is no respecter of persons he speaks to Poor and Rich to all alike Q. What is the first Commandment A. Thou shalt have no other Gods but me Q. Which is here to be learned A. 1. That we are prone to Idolatry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuag in loc See Jun. Trem. in loc 2. That there is but one God whom alone we ought to worship 3. that we should not adore a plurality of Gods as the Heathens did 4. That God is every where present and beholds the Idolatry of heart and life Thou shalt have no other Gods before me Q. What are the
then he doth justice to disswade them from the sin he keepeth mercy for thousands he punisheth but to the third and fourth generation 5. God may justly punish the children for the Parents fault Traytors pollute their blood for their children as well as selves and their children oftentimes by the Laws of the Land suffer with their parents for their Parents faults Q. What is the third Commandment A. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain Q. What is meant by Gods Name A. 1. His Title and Attributes as Lord God c. 2. His Word and Ordinances whereby his Name and Will is made known to us Q. What is meant by taking Gods Name in vain A. 1. To use it or his Ordinances idly without an Holy Reverence and to some serious and good purpose 2. To use them evilly as in rash Oaths and Curses Spells Charms c. Q. What is here forbidden A. 1. Buxtorf Heb. Lex 155.161 Schikard's Heb. Gram. All rash and idle naming of the name of God whose Name the Jews would not write in a small piece of Paper lest it might come to servile use and have but of late dared to pronounce the name Jehovah And as for Gods Name Jab which in its Numeral Letters amounts to 15 they use it not out of Reverence to God but Number by two other Letters 2. Here is forbidden all sinfull use of Gods Name in Blasphemy Zech. 3.5 Mal. 3.5 Oaths Curses c. 3. All lying and forswearing whereby the God of Truth is called to Witness a Lye which God and Man abhor Prov. 1.24.26 28 Titus 1. last as Scripture and Heathens Witness 4. All slight and abuse of Gods Word and Ordinances 5. All Profession of Religion without a suitable Practice for they use the Name of God in vain and live not accordingly Q. What is here Commanded A. 1. A Reverend esteem for and use of Gods Name Cat. Ch. of England Attributes Oaths Word Ordinances An Honouring his Holy Name and Word 2. A Life adorning the Gospel and suitable to the Name of Christ Q. What is the Sanction of this Precept A. The Lord is a Jealous God and will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain Q. What is meant by this A. It is a Meiosis less is spoken than is intended for if God will not hold him guiltless it implies he will account him very guilty who taketh his Name in vain and will punish him accordingly As 1. John 8.44 The Blasphemer was to be stoned to Death Levit. 24.11 14 16 23. 2. The Lyar is a Child of the Devil here Rev. 21.8 Zech. 3.5 Mal. 3.4 5. Dr. Rawleigh Sermon on Oaths and a Fire-brand of Hell hereafter 3. The false Swearer is here Cursed and hath God a swift Witness as well as Judge against him So that it seems to be the strictest threat against the greatest sin of all the Commands Q. What improvement do you make of this A. 1. It shews us the extent of Gods Service not only to our Actions but to our Words and Thoughts Jer. 4.14 Mat. 12.36 Psal 139.1 to 10. 2. It should engage us to have a care of rash Oaths and Lying which is a great dishonour to the God of Truth 3. It should oblige us to Glorifie God with our Tongues 4. It should engage us to improve all the means of Grace whereby God discovers himself unto us for our good Q. What is the Fourth Commandment A. Remember that thou keep Holy the Sabbath Day Sir days shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do but the Seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no manner of Work Thou and thy Son and thy Daughter Thy Man-servant and thy Maid-servant Thy Cattel and the Stranger that is within thy Gates For in Sir days the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the Seventh day wherefore the Lord Blessed the Seventh day and Hallowed it Q. What is the design of this Commandment A. A setting apart a time for the more Publick Worship of God though our whole Life should be a Serving him yet some time is requisite to be observed for an unanimous Solemn Publick Serving him Q. Wherein is the Morality of this Commandment A. 1. In observing a set time Solemnly set apart for Gods Publick Worship 2. In ordering that this be a seventh part of our time Q. Why was the Jewish Sabbath changed into our Christian Lords Day or their Seventh altered and our first day of the Week observed A. 1. It s Institution or Sanction was not only in respect of the Creation Gen. 2. Deut. 5.15 but of the Deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt Now our Deliverance by Christ was Typified by their Deliverance from Egypt and was far greater than theirs and therefore might reasonably have a day set apart in Remembrance of it B. Pearson on Creed 264 265. And the Sanction of the Sabbath in Remembrance of that Deliverance might equally Typifie the Observation of our Sabbath on the day of our Deliverance B. Taylors holy Living p. 290. Exo. 12.1 since its Observance was not strictly confined to the remembrance of the Creation 2. The change of the Seventh day to the First seems to be Typified in the changing of the Seventh Month before the Israelites came out of Egypt into the First Month after it Psal 110.3 by Gods own appointment 3. It s change is Prophesied of in that Psalm which relates to Christs Prophetick Office where his People are said to be a willing People in the day of his Power in the beauty of Holiness Or as it is in our Divine Service Psal 118.22 The People shall Offer thee Free-will Offerings with an Holy Worship in the day of thy Power Now the day of Christs Power was that day of his Resurrection Mat. 28.1 Psal 118.24 wherein he manifested his Conquest over Death Hell and the Grave and that was on the First Day of the Week And we will rejoyce and be glad in it 4. Christ was Lord of the Sabbath Day and might alter it and by his Presence twice amongst his Disciples met together and Celebrating the Duties of that day Blessing them John 20.19 26. and pronouncing Peace to them warranted their Practice and Evidenced its Divine Authority 5. The Practice of the Church in the Apostles time John 20. 1 Cor. 16.1 and ever since Fox Acts (a) Vol. 1 p. 69 70. It was much observed in Justin Martyr's time 167 Years after Christ (b) Vol. 1 p. 134. Constantine the Great Commanded its being kept Holy And (c) Vol. 1 p. 203. B. Pearson on Creed p. 265. Edgar King of England Commanded the same here about 959 Years after Christ 6. The Commandment is fulfilled though the seventh