AN HELPE FOR yong people Preparing them for the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper By W. L. B. D. LONDN Printed by T. H. for Nathaniel Butter at the Pyde Bull neer St. Augustines Gate 1640. Directions for the weak and ignorant Reader YOu first directed and taught me how to teach you I learned from you not from my Bookes what questions to instruct you in by observing your misconceits of the first necessary grounds of faith and accordingly I have framed this short Catechisme Many other points are needfull for you as to understand the Creed because else you cannot beleeve it and the ten Commandements els you cannot know your sinnes nor your duties and also the Lords Prayer els you cannot tell how to pray But for help heerein I referre you to some short Catechisme where these Heads are expounded Now that you may profit by this take these directions 1. Learn by heart the places of Scripture brought for proofes and ponder them in thy mind till thou understandest how they proove the point for which they are alledged This will help thy understanding for it is not enough to say the words unlesse thou understand the matter 2. Observe by the order of the parts how and in what order God doth save men by Christ and be you sure to goe that way 3. Observe that the Covenâ—nt of Life and Peace in Christ and justification by faith do goe before the use of the Sacrament as the Grant or conveyance of Land doth before the sealing and therfore you must first be in covenant with God ere you can have right to or benefit by the Sacrament 4. For the great duty of examining your selves doe thus Lay the signe of triall before thee and then aske thy conscience Is it thus and thus with my soule For example for triall of thy faith and repentance put thy selfe to the question How long have I had faith Have I indeed been wrought upon by the word of God What change do I finde in my selfe since I was a beleever Spread all thy sinnes before thee and then demand Soul how do I like of this or that sin Do I make conscience of it or am I willing to enjoy it longer to make excuses and find pretences for the practising of it So for obedience and charity examine thy selfe thus Do I desire and endevour to know and doe Gods will in all things Or am I willing to hide mine cies from this or that daty and to shift it off Do I love the godly because they be godly Or can I scoâ—ne mock and despite them Deale faithfully with thy poore soule in this duty of examination and triall remembring that before the act of receiving thou doest confesse thy sinnes and professe before God and that Congregation that the remembrance of them is grievous unto thee and the burden intolerable doe not now dissemble with God and men be sure of this that if thou bring not grace the Sacrament will put none into thee He that comes a Iuaas shall go a Iudas he that comes an unbeleever or ignorant or impenitent shall goe away so as he came may in worse case then he came 5. And lastly Labour for distinct knowledge in matters of salvation content not thy selfe with ungreauded conjectures as I thinke so and I hope so Build not on the sand but be thou an hearer and a doer of the word so shalt thou be able to day hold on eternall life Amen An help for yong People preparing for the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper Of Christ and how he seveth us Q. HOW doe you hope to be saved A. By Iesus Christ Q. Who is Iesus Christ A. The second person in the blessed Trinity who in the fulnesse of Time took our nature and became man for our Redemption Gal. 4.4 Ro. 1.3.4 Ioh. 1.14 Mat. 16.16 Ioh. 6.69 Q. What hath he done to save you A. He died to save me from my sins Ro. 4. 25.1 Cor. 15.3 Es 53.5 Col. 1.20 Q. Must you else have died and suffred Gods wrath A. Yes for death is the wages of sin and all that are sinners be under the Curse Gal. 3.10 Ro 6.23 Q. How can the death of another save you A. Yes Because Christ is our suertie appointed of God to beare our sins and therefore what he did and suffered in our Name it is as well as if we had done it our selves Heb. 7.22 Es 42.6 Es 53.6 Gal. 3.1.3 Gal. 4.4.5 2. Cor. 5.21 1 Pet. 2.24 Q. Gods justice then must be satisfied for every sin A. Yes God punisheth the sins of the Elect in the person oâ— Christ But the sins of others that do not believe in their own persons Ioh. 16.9 Ioh. 11.50 Ioh. 8.24 Q. How doth Christ satifie Gods Iustice for us A. Because he answered the law for us Gal. 4.4 5 Ro. 10.3 Q. How did he answer the law for uâ—â— A. By bearing the punishment which the law threatned for sin and fulfiling the obedience which the law required of us Ro 5.19 Gal. 3.13 Ro. 5.9 Q. How commeth the death of Christ to be so available A. Because it was the suffering and obedience of him that is God Act. 20.28 1. Pet. 19.1 Cor. 2.8 Of our need of Christ Q. DO you stand in need of Christs righteousnesse to save you A. Yes Because I and all the world are wholly corrupted with sin through Adams fall and to become slaves of Satan and guilty of eternall damnation R 3.10 Gen. 6.5 Ro. 5.12.19 Eph. 22 Ro. 10.3 Q. What is sin A. It is any breaking or swerving from the law of God 1.10.3.4 Q. How came sin into the world A. By the first sin of Adam and Eve in eating the forbidden fruit God made man upright Gen. 3.6 Ro. 5.12 Q. Are you then a sinner A. Yes I was borne in sin and do daily Break Gods holy laws being very prone to evil and untoward to any thing that is good Ps 51.5 Ro. 7.23 Q. What is the punishment due to sinne and sinners A. The wrath of God and eternall death in Hell fire Q. You are delivered from sin the punishment the of only by Christ as you said A. Yes for his blood clenseth us from all sin 1. Ioh. 1.7 Heb. 9.26 Q. How can that be seeing you confesse that you are still a sinner A. Yes though sin remaine in me yet I am clensed from all sin for two reasons Q. What the first A. Because I am made free from the punishment of sin i from damnation being justified by the blood of Christ Ro. 8.1 Ro. 5.1 Ro. 10.4 Ro. 4.7 Q. Why secondly A. Because by Christ we are made free from the power of sin so that sinne doth not reigne in us 2. Co. 5.17.20 Gal. 2.17 Ro. 6.6 114.1 Ioh. 3 8. Ro. 8.2 Of the means to pertake of Christs righteousnesse Q. ARe all men thus clensed and saved by Christs death A. No only they that truly beleeve and repent of the evill of
their doings Es 1.16 Luke 13.3 Marke 4.17 Luke 24.47 Q. What is faith A. It is a beleife of the Gospell whereby a sinner truly humbled for sin doth trust and test upon Christ alone for salvation Or thus Faith is the relying of an humbled soule upon the promises of God for salvation by Iesus Christ Eph. 1.13 Es 50.10 Q. Must the soule be first humbled and pricked for sin before it can go to Christ for salvation A. Yes for Christ came to call sinners and to heals the Broken hearted Mat. 9.13 Es 61.1 Luk. 4.18 1. Tim. 1.15 Q. What promises hath God made to the humbled soule that believeth and resteth on Christ for mercie A. God hath said they shall not perish but have everlasting life Ioh. 3.16 Mat. 11.28 Q. Is it enough to beleeve and no more A. No we must also repent and be converted and turne from our fins Act. 3.19 Mat. 3.8.10 Mar. 1.15.20.21 Q. What is repentance A. It is an earnest displeasure and hatred against sin whereby we turne from sin to walk with God in newnesle of life Mat. 3.8 10.2 Cor. 7.10.11 Q. What promise is there made to them that truly repent A. God will pardon their sins and remember them no more Es 55.7 Es 1.18 Heb. 10.17 Luke 15.7 20. Q. Can we not be Iustified before God by our works of obedience good endeavors A. No because in many things we faile all and he that is a breaker of the law cannot be saved by it Ro. 3.20 Ro 4.5 Iam. 3.2 Q. What is the true difference between the Doctrine of the law and of the Gospell touching salvation A. The law offâ—reth salvation to them alone that do fulfil and keep it perfectly in their own persons Râ— â—0 5 Q. How doth the Gospell offâ—r us salvation A. By the righteousnesse of another i. of Christ apprehended and applyed to the humbled Soule by a lively faith Ro 10 9.11 Ro. 4 6.13 Q. Is true faith then void of good works and of holinesse of life A No for then it were a dead faith and it could not profit us because whosoever is in Christ is a new creature Iam 2.14 2. Cor. 5.17 Iohn 15.2 Q. What is the meaning then when you say we are justified by faith without works A. The meaning is that we are justified by Christs righteousnesse onely and that there is no need of our works to be joyned with him in that busines Rom. 3.21.24.28 Q. It seemes then that God doth receive us into his favour out of his meere mercy in Christ alone Imputing his righteousnesse unto us and not our sinnes A. It is most true 2. Cor. 5.21 Rom. 4.5.6 Q. The covenant also of life and peace is made in Christ to them that believe and repent without the condition of perfect obedience A. It is so Rom. 5.6 Gal. 2.17.1 Ioh. 2.2 Q. This blessed doctrine is taught us in the Gospell how else is it taught and confirmed to us A. In the Sacraments Of the nature and use of the Sacrament and of our preparation thereunto Q. HOw many Sacraments be there A. Two only Baptisme and the supper of the Lord Q. What is a Sacrament A. It is a Seal of the righteousnesse of faith or a token of the Covenant of peace between God and man Ro. 4.11 Gen. 17.11 Q. Say the same in other words A. A Sacrament is an outward and visible signe of an inward and spirituall Grace given unto us as in your Catechisme Q. What is that spirituall Grace whereof the Sacraments be outward signes and pledges A. The favour of God doing away our sins in and by Christ Crucified 1. Cor. 10.16 1. Cor. 11.26 Heb. 9.26 Q. How many parts be there of every Sacrament A. Two first some outward bodily sign of Christs own ordaining secondly and some spiritual Grace or Benefit thereby signified Q. What is the outward sign in the Lords supper A. Bread and wine given and received according to Christs appointment Q. What is signified thereby A. The body and blood of Christ Crucified for our sins Q. What is the benefit of receiving these signes A. By them as by a token and pledge from God himselfe the worthy receives is assured that be hath a part and share in Christs Death and shall be saved thereby Q. Do all that come to the Lords Table receive such a pledge of Gods favour A. No only they that be worthy receivers the rest receive meet bread and wine and so profane Gods ordinance and provoke Gods judgements against themselves Q. What must we doe that we may be worthy receivers A. We must examine our selves whether we have first Faith Secondly Repentance Thirdly New obedience Fourthly Charity For the ignorant and unbeleevers the Impenitent disobedient and uncharitable persons be all of them unworthy receivers Q. What Faith is required in a worthy Communicant A. The profession of the true Faith and the Grace of faith Q. Why is the profession of Faith required A. Because He that looks to partake of Christian Priviledges must know and maintaine the Articles of Christian religion Q. Where be the Articles of the Christian Faith contained A. In the word of God and more summarily in the Creed Q. Do you understand the Creed A. Yes Q. Why is the understanding of those Articles of faith required A. Because if we doe not understand the meaning of them we can never believe them Q. Many understand the Creed and yet are unworthy receivers How may one be assured that his knowledge is Sound and Saving A. By two signes of saving knowledge Q. What is the first A. It is a Renuing knowledge it doth not onely acquainte me with Gods will and waies But also it worketh my heart to Obedience of the same Luk. 7.47 Ioh. 13.17 Ro. 2.20 Ro. 6.17.2 Cor. 3.18.2 Tim. 3.5 Q. What 's the second signe of saving knowledge A. It is an humbling knowledge which maketh me more and more to see how vile I am and how unable to doe any thing that is good and so to seek strength helpe from Christ Phil. 3.7.8 Ro. 7.9 Iob 42.6 Q. You have said that faith is the relying and resting of the humbled soule upon Christ alone for salvation How will you trie your faith whether it be sound and lively A. By two signes Q. What 's the first A. If it hath been wrought in my heart by hearing and knowledge of the word of God Ro. 10.4.17 for if we have alwaies had this faith as carnall persons say they have had it is a Counterfeite faith for naturally we are borne in unbeliefe Neither doth faith grow up with our Education But it is a supernaturall gift of Gods spirit wrought in us by the Gospell Eph. 2.8 Ro. 2.27 Gal. 5 6. Ro. 9.8 Ioh. 3.6 Q. What 's a second signe of true faith whereby it may be knowne A. By the fruite of Faith which is to make me walke by the rule of faith i. the scripture so that I shall
not believe one thing and do the Contrary True faith will make one to practise what he believeth else t is a dead faith â—am 2.16.17 Act. 15 9. Q. Why is this Gracy of faith required in a receiver A. Because by faith we are made partakers of Christ and of the benefits of his passion which are set forth to us in the sacrament we must bring faith to Gods promises and Gods sacraments Heb. 3.14 Gal. 3.26 the second Grace is repentance He must examine himselfe in that Q. How will you know your repentance to be found A. By two signes Q. What 's the first A. If I make conscience of every sin even because it is sin Luk. 16.10 Act. 24.16 Ps 119.128 Gen. 39.9 if we greive for sin because of shame that is a worldly respect and therefore a wordly sorrow But if we greive for our sins because God is offended that is a Godly sorrow because the respect and ground of it is Godly Q. What is the second signe of sound repentance A. Amendment and forsaking of sinne for true loathing and inâ—ard hatred of sin is accompained with a leaving of it else it is but a mock sorrow Act. 26.20 Ioel 2.13 2. Cor. 10.11 Q. Why is this Grace required in a Communâ—cant A. Because God promiseth nothing to a wicked man and therefore the sacrament cannot seale nor assure him of any mercy in Christ Ro. 25. Mat. 3.7.8 Q. What is the Third Grace required in a worthy receiver A. Care to walke in New obedience i. to abstaine from evill and exercise our selves in that which is Good Ro. 12.9 Es 1.16 Q. Why is new obedience required A. Because if we say we have fellowship with Christ and walke in darknesse we doe but deceive our selves 1. Ioh. 1.6 1. Ioh. 3.10 Q. What is the signe of true obedience A. Sincerity i. when without doubling of deceit without dispensing or pretences for sin we walke upright in the Commandements of God Ps 32.2.1 Cro. 28.9.1 Cro. 12.33 It is a spirit without guile we must not hide our eies from any part of Gods will or of our duty Ps 1 19.80 Q. What is the fourth Grace required in a worthy receiuer A. Christian loue and Charity especially towards all them that love and feare God 1. Co. 5.8 Q. What is the first signe of Christian love A. If we love the Children of God because they be the Children of God and fear Him 1. Ioh. 5.1 1. Ioh. 3.12.14 Mat. 10.41 Q. What is the second signe A. To do our brother no wrong but good if we can Ro. 13.10.1 Cor. 1.5 Q. What 's a Third signe A. If he hath wronged us to forgive him Eph. 4.32 Mat. 6.14.15 Q. What is a fourth signe A. A fellow-feeling of our Brothers weal and wo i. if we can rejoyce at the good that befalls our Neighbor in his wealth credit gifts preferment and graces as if they had hapned to our selves and on the other side if we can heartly be sory for the disgraces and losses which befall our brethren Pro. 24 18. Iob 31.29.30 especially if we can rejoyce and greive for such good and evills as befall them for Christs sake Name and cause Q. Why is such love required in a Communicant A. Because we are members of one Head Christ Iesus and are all partakers of one Bread one Hope one Faith and therefore should be of one minde and of one heart Act. 4.32 Ioh. 13.35 Q. What if after examination we finde not these graces to be in our selves A. They that be voide of these graces cannot be worthy receivers But if we finde them to be in us in truth and sincerity though not in that measure we desire wee may and ought to come to the Lords Table Q. By what meanes doth God worke these Graces in our hearts A. By the word preached and heard with an honest heart by which also they are daily increased Ro. 14.10 Other Generall questions Q. VVHat is the estate of man by Creation A. An holy and happy estate for man was at the first made like unto God in holinesse and righteousnesse in goodnesse and immortallity He was free from sinne and misery Q. What is the estate of all men through the fall of Adam A. An estate of sin and misery for wee are all of us originally very sinfull and miserable Being enemies to all Goodnesse and prone to all evill and so the objects of Gods wrath and heires of hell fire Q. What is the state of them that be renued by Christ A. It is an estate of holinesse and righteousnes which is begun here in the kingdome of Grace and shall be finished in the kingdome of Glory They that are Christs are renewed in knowledge and holinesse according to that Image wherein Adam at the first was created and they are acquitted from the guilt and punishment of sinne by the Blood and Intercession of Christ and finally they are intituled to an estate of Glory and Immortality with God in Heaven for evermore Q. How must we serve God here in this life A. According to his word and not according to our owne fansies and devises Q. How must we pray to God! A. Only in the Name and mediation of Iesus Christ praying for such things as are agreable to Gods will to give us Q. How shall I know that A. By the word of God which sheweth us what things God hath promised and commanded and forbidden Q. How else may I know what things I may beg of God in prayer A. By the Lords prayer wherein Christ hath taught us what to pray for so that whatsoever we have need to pray for or ought to pray for it is contained in those Petitions FINIS