4.2 Yes * Must we not Reverence his name in his Worship Psal 111.9 call upon his name and bless it Job 1.21 Yes * Must we not Honour his name in our Actions and take heed that we deny it not before men Rev. 2.13 Yes Qu. Which is the Fourth Commandment Answ Remember that thou keep Holy the Sabbath day c. § SEEING nature teacheth us there must be a time fixt for Gods worship is it fit that it should be left to men to determine it No. Hath not God fix't a Seventh part of time and made the observing it part of his Moral Law that shall not pass away Mat. 5.18 Yes Was not the Sabbath ordain'd in Paradice Gen. 2.2 3. observ'd before the Ceremonial Law Exod. 16.25 and ordered to continue in Gospel times Isa 56.1 2. Yes * But is it necessary to observe the same day of the Week which the Jews observed before the Resurrection of Christ Mark 2.28 Ezek. 43.27 No. Is not the first day of the week on which He arose called the Lords day Rev. 1.10 and mention'd as the known time for Worship in the Churches 1 Cor. 16.1 2. Yes And have we not the constant Practice of the Church for this change from the Apostles time to this day Acts 2.1 and 20.6 7. Yes § ARE we less oblig'd to Gospel Ordinances on the Lords day than the Jews were to their legal observances on their Sabbath Levit. 23.3 No. * Should we not remember the Holy Sabbath to prepare for it before it comes Luk. 23.54 Isa 66.23 Yes * Are we not to observe on the Sabbath a Rest from all manner of common work and business Neh. 13.15 Yes But must we neglect works of Piety though done with bodily labour Mat. 12.5 or works of necessity and mercy Luk. 14.5 No. May we think and talk of the worldly business that we abstain from doing Ezek. 33.31 32 or run to Recreations and Secular Pleasures Isa 58.13 No. * Must it not be a Holy Rest taken up in observing all duties of Divine Worship Acts 20.7 Yes Must we not rise Early Psal 92.2 and persist in the duties of the day without weariness or grudging Amos. 8.5 Yes * Can we keep a Sabbath aright if we wilfully neglect or forsake the Publick Assemblies Heb. 10 2◠No. Yet when they are over is not the rest of the day to be spent in repetition of what we have heard Holy conference and meditation Luk. 24.14 17. Yes § MAY Masters of Families into whose hands this Commandment is put Exod. 20.10 suffer any under their charge to Prophane the Sabbath No. And must not Magistrates enjoyn the observation of the Sabbath and punish the neglect Neh. 13.17 22. Yes Yet if they neglect it will God suffer Sabbath breakers to go unpunisht Jer. 17.27 No. †And are days of Fasting and Thanksgiving Lawfully appointed to be Religiously observ'd Esth 4.16 and 9.21 Yes § DARE you rob God of what He claims an Interest in when He hath allowed you Six days for your own Work No. Hath not God given his own Example by resting Himself on the Seventh day and blessing and hallowing the Sabbath Gen. 2.3 Yes †Doth not the keeping the Sabbath tend highly to the Honour or God Isa 58.13 and the preserving his Worship in the World Ezek. 20.12 Yes Can we expect a blessing on our Week-days Labour if we prophane the Sabbath Isa 56.2 No. Yet is it enough to Worship God on the Lords day if we neglect his Worship on other days Psal 145.2 No. Qu. Which is the Fifth Commandment Answ Honour thy Father and thy Mother c. § DOTH not this Commandment enjoyn the mutual duties of Superiours and Inferiours to each other in every Relation Yes 1. Must not Children honour their natural Parents the Authors of their being under God Eph. 6.2 Yes * If Parents are Aged Poor or Weak may Children despise them in Heart or Carriage Pro. 23.22 No. * Must they not fear to offend them Levit. 19.3 and Submit to their reproofs and corrections Heb. 12.9 Yes * Must they not obey their Commands in all Lawful things though they seem harsh and severe Col. 3.20 Yes * May they murmur at their Provision or reject their advice in Marriage or matters of moment Gen. 21.21 and 26.24 No. * Must they not follow their Godly Instructions and examples Pro. 4.1 3. and endeavour to be a Comfort to them in their old Age Prov. 10.1 and 25.20 Yes * May they divulge their infirmities wast their estates Prov. 19.26 or reflect dishonour upon them by their wicked Lives Prov. 29.15 No. * Must they not endeavour to requite their Parent◠in praying for them and maintaining them if they be in want 1 Tim. 5.4 Yes And must not Children by Adoption and affinity honour their Parents Esth 2.7 20. Ruth 3.1 5. Yes § DO not Parents owe to their Children tender sincere and constant Love Col. 3.21 Yes May they under pretence of loving them lose their just Authority over them Gen. 18.19 No. * Having seriously devoted them to God must they not diligently teach and instruct them Deut. 6 6-8 Yes * May they suffer them to live in idleness without a Lawful Calling and honest labour Mat. 21.28 No. * Must they not mark their Inclinations and Company reprove them for their faults and in case of sin and stubbornness correct them Prov. 29.15 17. and 23.13 14. Yes But may they by reproachful Language and wicked Commands provoke them to wrath and discourage them Eph. 6.4 No. * Must they not set them a good example and dayly pray for a blessing upon them Job 1.5 Yes 2. Must not Servants honour their Masters 1 Tim. 6.1 and obey their just Commands 1 Pet. 2.18 Yes * May they by stubborn silence private mutterings or cross answers provoke their Masters Tit. 2.9 No. May they wast their Masters Goods Tit. 2.9 or neglect his business when his Eye is off Col. 3.22 23. No. * Must they not bless God for Godly Masters pray for them Gen. 24.12 and submit to Instructions and Reproofs Yes § SHOULD Masters that would mind their Duty be indifferent or careless about what Servants they take into their Houses Psal 101.6 7. No. * May they rule over them with rigour as if they were Slaves or Beasts Levit. 25.46 without regard to the health of their Bodies Mat 8.5 6. or good of their Souls Gen. 18.19 No. * Must they not give them what is just and equal as to Instruction Provision Work and Wages Prov. 31.15 Jam. 5.4 Yes 3. Is not the duty of Wives Sum'd up in a reverend and quiet Subjection and the duty of Husbands in an entire and intense love Eph. 5.24 25. Yes 4. Are not Magistrates our civil Parents Isa 49.23 and must we not Honour and Reverence them 1 Pet. 2.17 Yes * May we revile our Rulers or use any indecent words concerning them Eccl. 10.20 Acts 23.5 No. * Must we not by all just means defend
Love God aright if we Love him not for himself and this with a Superlative Love Luk. 14.26 No. Can Faith be true that works not by Love Gal. 5.6 or that Love real that shows not it Self in keeping his Commandments Joh. 15.10 14. No. And doth not Love to God make our obedience more willing chearful active and abiding 1 Joh. 5.3 Yes Seeing we cannot Love God without measure as He is good without measure ought we to Love him less then with all our Heart mind might and Strength Deut. 6.5 No. Question What is thy duty towards thy Neighbour Answer My duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as my Self and to do to all men as I mould they should do unto me To love honour and succour my Father and Mother To honour and obey the King and all that are put in Authority under Him To submit my Self to all my Governours Teachers Spirital Pasters and Masters To order my Self lowly and reverendly to all my Betters To hurt no body by Word or Deed. To be true and just in all my Dealing To bear no malice nor hatred in my Heart To keep my Hands from picking and stealing and my Tongue from evil speaking lying and standering To keep my Body in temperance soberness and charity not to covet nor desire other Mens Goods but to learn and labour truly to get mine own living and to do my duty in that State of Life unto which it shall please God to call me § DOTH not the Second Table contain the Six Last Commandments and is not Love to our Neighbour the Sum of them all Mat. 22.39 Yes Are not all those meant by our Neighbours with whom we have any Dealings or converse Luk. 10 29-36 Yes Must we not love our Neighbours with a pure hearty and unfeigned love as we love our selves 1 Joh. 3.18 Yes Yet must we love all equally with the same measure 〈◊〉 kind of love No. 〈◊〉 is not natural affection due to Relations 2 Tim. 3. â— â— love of Reverence to Superiours and of complacenâ—◠〈◊〉 delight to the Godly Psal 16.2 Yes * But must we deny a love of Compassion to all in misery and a love of Benevolence to our very Enemies Luk. 6.32 33. No. †And can we do our duty required in these Commâ—â—dments without this Grace of love and Charity 1 Cor. 13 1-7 No. § NOW you have heard these Commandments explained do you think that you are able perfectly to fulfil the Law of God Eccl. 7.20 Jam. 3.2 No. Must you not lament your sinfulness and weakness and depend on Christ for Righteousness and Strength Isa 45 2â— Yes And do you not stand to your promise that in desire and constant endeavour you will Practice sincere obedience to God's Commandments Psal 119.6 48. Yes Catechist My good Child know this that thou art not able to do these things of thy Self nor to walk in the Commandments of God and to serve him without his special Grace which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent Prayer § IS not Prayer a necessary part of Worship in order to the obtaining Grace Rom 10 13. and availing much when perform'd aright Jam. 5 16. Yes * Is there any other object of Râ—â—â—giâ—â—â— Prayer but God who alone searcheth the Hearâ— 2 Chron 6.30 No. * Is Prayer a bare speaking the words with our Mouths without the pâ—â—â—â—ng out the dâ—â—iâ—es of our Hearts Psal 25.1 and 42.4 No. * May we omit any 〈◊〉 the kinds of Prayer Publick in the Church Acts 2.42 private in the Family Jer. 10.25 and secret in the Closet Mat. 6.6 No. Must we not often lift up our Hearts in Holy Ejaculations Psal 119.164 and sometimes use extraordinary Prayer with Fasting 1 Cor. 7.5 Yes * Must we not know the matter of our Prayers by our wants but chiefly by the Precepts and Promises of God Heb. 4.16 1 Joh. 5.14 Yes * Have we any other Mediatour whose name we can come in save our Lord Jesus Christ Joh. 14.13 14. No. * Can we perform this duty aright without the Holy Spirit to help our infirmities Rom. 8.26 and to stir up Holy affections and Graces in the Soul Zech. 12.10 No. †Must we joyn with our desires the Graces of Faith Humility and Self-denyal and are you desirous so to Pray Yes Let me hear therefore if thou canst say the Lords Prayer Answer Our Father which art in Heaven Hallowed by thy name Thy kingdom come Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our dayly bread And forgive us our trespasses As we forgiven 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 § IS not this call'd the Lords Prayer because the Lord himself Composed it and taught it his Disciples Yes * May we refuse to use these words as a Form so excellent for the Author matter and method and as being part of Christ's own word and Prescription Luk. 11.1 2. No. Yet seeing it is so general and Comprehensive Is it unlawful to use other words in Prayer No. * Is not this then a perfect Pattern of Prayer to direct us in the matter and manner of our Supplications Mat. 6.9 Yes Qu. What is the Preface of the Lords Prayer Answ Our Father which art in Heaven § CAN there be a greater encouragement to come to God in Prayer than this that He is the Father of Believers by adoption Luk. 11.13 Psal 103.13 No. Is it not a fearful thing to come before God without a Special Interest in him Heb. 12.29 Yes Can we have access to him any way but by Christ Eph. 3.14 or have an evidence of our Interest but by the Spirit of adoption Gal. 4.6 No. Doth not this Relation require dutiful affections such as filial fear love and confidence when we draw near Him Mala. 1.6 Yes § MUST not they who say Our Father live as the Children of one Father Mat. 23.8 and Pray for and with one another Jam. 5.16 Acts 20.36 Yes § IS not the God to whom we Pray though present every where Psal 139.7 8. most gloriously present in the highest Heavens Isa 63.15 and 66.1 Yes * Is there any thing which a God in Heaven cannot give if it be good for us Psal 115.3 No. * Should not poor crawling worms come with a great awe and reverence before the God of Heaven Eccl. 5.1 2. Yes * Is it fit to have Earthly Hearts when we Worship a Heavenly Father Psal 123.1 Lam. 3.41 No. * Is not the God of Heaven equally near to all his Petitioners in whatsoever parts of the Earth Acts 17.27 Yes Qu. Which is the First Petition Answ Hallowed be thy Name § IS not the Hallowing Gods Name to Honour and Glorify Him in all things by which He makes himself known Yes Can the Name of God be ever impure in it Self or otherwise than
means Acts 13.26 Yes Are all under this common call also called effectually and chosen Mat. 22.14 No. But can this outward call be refus'd without the woful hazard of the Soul Prov. 1.24 26. No. § IS not the Gospel-call a great priviledge and must you not Solemnly thank God our Heavenly Father through Christ for it Psal 147.19 20. Yes Is there not great danger of being drawn from the State to which you are called by damnable doctrines or practices Heb. 10.38 Yes Can you then continue therein and be kept from revolting from your profession without real grace Heb. 13.9 Phil. 2.12 13. No. And if God gives you the first grace is perseverance therein of your Selves Luk. 22.32 No. § WILL you then pray unto God for his Grace to prevent and assist you and consummate at last his work in you Jam. 1.5 Phil. 1.6 Yes And must you not to prayer add the diligent use of all the means that God has appointed Mat. 25.29 Yes Are you willing for your further help that I should teach you what you are to believe and to do according to your promise Heb. 5.12 Yes Catechist Rehearse the Articles of thy Belief Answer I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth And in Iesus Christ his only Son our Lord Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary Suffered under Pontius Pilate Was crucifyed dead and buried he descended into Hell The third day he rose again from the dead He ascended into Heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty From thence he shall come to judge the Quick and the Dead I believe in the Holy Ghost The Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints The forgiveness of Sins The resurrection of the body And the life everlasting Amen § IS this Creed found in so many words any where in Scripture No. Yet is not the whole of it proved by Scripture as being according to the Doctrine of the Apostles and therefore called the Aposiles Creed Eph. 2.20 Yes Is it not agreeable to Scripture that there should be such a Form of sound Words 2 Tim. 1.13 Yes * May we receive any thing as an Article of Faith that is not found in Scripture Gal. 1.8 9. No. Are not all things revealed in the Scriptures to be believed by us Luk. 1.1 Yes But are all things therein alike necessary to be known Joh. 17.3 No. * Are not all things necessary and Fundamental plainly revealed Psal 119.105 Yes * Were not the Scriptures confirm'd by Miracles owned by the Church in all Ages and are they not known by their majesty purity and efficacy on the Hearts of Believers Psal 19.7 8 9. Yes †Will you not then search the Scriptures to prove the Articles of your Belief Joh. 5.39 Yes Qu. What is the first Article Answ I believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth § DOTH not Believing in God denote a practical trusting in and depending on Father Son and Holy Ghost as our Father Redeemer and Sanctifyer Yes Can this be without understanding what God hath revealed concerning himself as standing in these Relations to us Heb. 11.6 No. § DO you not believe that there is a God a most pure and supream Spirit Joh. 4.24 Yes Hath He a body or bodily parts or can He be seen with mortal eyes 1 Tim. 1.17 Deut. 4.15 No. Is He not infinite in his being and blessedness Exod. 3.13 Yes Is He confin'd to Time or place Psal 90.1 or doth He stand in need of any of his Creatures to make Him happy Acts 17.25 No. Is He subject to change or alteration Jam. 1.17 No. Can his attributes and glorious perfections be fully comprehended by us Job 11.7 8 9. No. Is He not most Holy Powerful Wise Good Just and true and this Originally and independently so as no Creature can be Mat. 19.17 Yes § ARE there more Gods than One Deut. 6.4 Is it agreeable to right reason that there should be more than one first Cause on which all things depend Acts 17.28 No. § ARE there not three Persons in the Godhead the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost 1 Joh. 5.7 Yes Is either of these Divine Persons before or after greater or less than the other Joh. 10.30 No. Have they not one and the same Divine nature and are they not distinguished by their Personal properties Yes Did not the Father from eternity beget the Son Psal 2.7 and is not the Son begotten of the Father before all worlds Joh. 1.14 Yes Doth not the Holy Ghost proceed from the Father and the Son Joh. 15.26 Yes § DID not the Almighty power of God appear in the works of his Creation Isa 45.12 13. Yes * Did He not make all things of nothing by the word of his power in the space of 6 days Heb. 11.3 Psal 33.6 Gen. 1.1 Yes Did He make any thing amiss Gen. 1.31 No. †And doth He not by his providence uphold and govern all that He hath made Heb. 1.3 Yes * Did He not in particular make man his body Form'd of the dust and his Soul immediately inspir'd Gen. 2.7 Yes Did not God create him after his own Image a knowing holy creature able also to sulfil the whole Law Gen. 1.26 Yes Did not God Covenant with man to confirm his life and happiness upon condition of his perfect obedience Rom. 10.5 Yes Was the particular command given to try his obedience viz. that He should not eat of the tree of Knowledge of good and evil a hard and impossible thing No. Did not God threaten death on his disobedience Gen. 2.17 Yes Should man have dy'd if he had not sinned Rom. 5.12 No. Did not man understand and agree to his Covenant Gen. 3.3 Yes Qu. What is the Second Article Answ And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord. § DO you not Believe in God the Son the Second Person of the Trinity equal with the Father and partaker of the same essence Phil. 2.6 Yes Though Believers are called Sons by Grace and adoption 1 Joh. 3.1 Yet is not our Lord His only Son by Nature and Eternal Generation Rom. 8.3 Yes § IS not the Son of God called Jesus because He saves his People from their Sins Mat. 1.21 Yes * Was man confirm'd in the holy estate in which He was created as the Elect Angels are now No. Did He not fall from that estate by Transgressing the Law and command which God gave him Eccl. 7.29 Yes Did He not Sin by the temptation of the Devil being left to the freedom of his own will Gen. 3 4 5 6. Yes Can so high an affront to the majesty of the Law-giver that contain'd so much Infidelity and such a total defection from God be reckoned a small Sin No. * Was not Adam our common Father a publick Person and our Representative in the Covenant of works 1 Cor. 15.22 Rom. 5.12 19. Yes Are there then any meer men that are
not guilty of Adam's first sin and lyable to wrath thereupon Rom. 5.18 Eph. 2.3 No. Is not our nature by the fall corrupted by Original Sin from whence all actual Transgressions flow Psal 51.5 Yes And is there any sin that doth not deserve death and eternal Damnation Rom. 6.23 No. * Has God left all the posterity of Adam to perish in this State into which they brought themselves No. Having chosen some before all time Eph. 1.4 hath He not â—â—â—red into a new Covenant with them called the Covenant of Grace Ezek. 16.8 Yes Is man left to save Himself by his own wisdom or power Hos 13.9 No. Or is there any other Redeemer from this State of sin and wrath but our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 4.12 No. * Did not the Son of God that He might Redeem us become man and take on him a true body and reasonable Soul Heb. 2.14 Yes Is He not then one Person in two Natures Yes If He had not been man could He have dyed and if He had not been God could he have Merited by dying Acts 20.28 No. § IS not this Jesus the Christ or Messias so long promised and expected Job 8.24 Yes Is He not called Christ because anointed to His Offices by the Spirit which He received without measure Psal 45.7 Joh. 3.34 Yes 1. Were not Prophets anointed 1 Kings 19.16 and had not He the Office of a Prophet Acts 3.21 Yes Could we have known the will of God if his only begotten Son had not revealed it Joh. 1.18 No. Did He not at first preach himself and afterwards send Pastors and Teachers to shew us the whole counsel of God touching our Salvation Eph. 4.11 Yes But is the outward Preaching sufficient without the inward effectual Teachings of the Spirit Joh. 6.45 No. 2. Were not the Legal Priests anointed Exod. 40.13 and Hath not our Lord the Office of a Priest Psal 110.4 Yes * Was not his human nature Soul and Body offer'd up a Sacrifice to satisfie the Divine Justice Isa 53.10 Heb. 9.13 14. Yes Was this Sacrifice offer'd more than once or is it offer'd dayly in the Mass Heb. 9.28 No. * Doth He not now appear in Heaven to make intercession for us Heb. 7.24 25. Yes 3. Were not Kings also anointed 1 Sam. 10.1 and hath not He the Office of a King Psal 2.6 Yes Can any defend the Church Deliver it and Conquer the Enemies thereof but He Rev. 17.14 No. Hath He not subdued Subjects to himself erected Officers and made Laws to govern his Church by Psal 110.3 Yes Is He not rightly Stiled Lord as being rightful Soveraign and our Lord by right of Redemption and our Resignation of our Selves to him Rom. 14.9 Yes Qu. What is the Third Article Ausw Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary § DID He take upon Him the nature of the Angels Heb. 2.16 No. Had He when He took our nature any earthly Father Luk. 3.23 Heb. 7.3 No. * Was He not Conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the Womb of his Mother Mat. 1.21 Yes Did not the Holy Ghost by that wonderful operation sanctifie and purifie that Substance of the Virgin of which He was made man Luk. 1.35 Yes Hath He then by taking on him the same Flesh and Bloud that the Children have the same Original Stain as they Heb. 7.26 No. And was not the Human Nature thus Form'd in the moment of the Conception assum'd into the Person of the Son of God Luk. 1.39 Yes Did He relinquish his Divine Nature or was there a Conversion of the Godhead into Flesh Rom. 9.5 No. But did He not veil his Divinity when in our Flesh He seem'd to many to be no more than a man Phil. 2.7 Yes And is not this wonderful Condescension called his coming down from Heaven for us Joh. 3.13 Yes †Are we capable of Comprehending fully the Mystery of his Incarnation 1 Tim. 3.13 No. * Was it not according to the first promise that He should be the Seed of the Woman Gen. 3.15 Yes Was He not born of a Virgin for further demonstration of his power and purity Isa 7.14 Yes And was He not born of the Virgin Mary as being of the Tribe of Judah and Family of David Rom. 1.3 Yes Was there any thing in his Birth as to time or place which did not fully agree with the Prophecies that went before Gal. 4.4 Luke 2.4 No. Was His Birth in Princes Courts or the splendour of Earthly Grandeut Luk. 2.7 No. Yet did not the Heavenly Host and miraculous Star declare his Dignity Mat. 2.2 Luk. 2.13 Yes * Did He disdain to be made under the Law or to submit to the Ceremonial part thereof particularly in Circumcision Gal. 4.4 5. Luk. 2.21 No. And was He not perfectly obedient to the whole moral Law Mat. 3.15 and 5.17 Yes Qu. What is the Fourth Article Answ He suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified Dead and buried He descended into Hell § DID not our Lord Suffer the penalty of the Law for Sinners as well as Submit to the Commands of it Isa 53.5 Yes * Was He not all his life time a Man of sorrows persecuted tempted affronted and Subject to all our natural and sinless Infirmities Isa 53.3 Heb. 4.15 Yes Yet in the midst of the Sufferings of his life did He forbear to Preach work Miracles and to go about doing good Mat. 4.23 Acts 10.38 No. * Was He not betray'd forsaken and deny'd reviled spit on and buffetted accused arraigned and condemned to death Mat. 26 and 27. Yes Was it a small matter that He suffered under Pontius Pilate a man noted for cruelty Luk. 13.1 and by a Death which the Romans would inflict on none but their Slaves No. Was not the Cross a painful lingering shameful and accursed death Heb. 12.2 Gal. 3.13 Yes * But was not his Soul-agony the bitterest part of his Suffering both in the Garden and on the Cross Mat. 26.38 and 27.46 Yes Did He not then as the great propitiation drink the Cup of Wrath which we had deserv'd Isa 53.6 10. Yes § WAS He not really dead by a Separation of his Soul from his body 1 Cor. 19.3 Luk. 23.46 Yes Could He be otherwise than dead when upon the piercing his side there came out forthwith bloud and water Joh. 19.37 No. Did not the darkning of the Sun the rending the Vail the quaking of the Earth and cleaving of the Rocks further confirm this tremendous mystery Mat. 27.51 Yes § AND could there be a greater evidence of his death than his being buried in such a manner as is recorded Mat. 27.59 66. No Yea did not the place and circumstances of his Burial contribute to the assurance of his following Resurrection Joh. 19.39 40. Yes § MAY we doubt of the truth of his descending into Hell because there are variety of opinions about the meaning of it No. If upon his Resurrection He was not left in Hell Acts 2.30 31.