world that he gave his only begotten Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and that we should not perish but have everlasting life Q. What do the Scriptures inform us concerning this Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God A. The Scriptures inform us that he is the brightness of his Fathers glory and the express image of his person that in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily that he is over all God blessed for ever that he was fore-ordained before the foundation of the World and when the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman being conceived of the Virgin Mary by the holy Ghost and power of the most high that he was holy harmless and undefiled in his lise that he did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth that he went up and down doing good and was approved of God by miracles wonders and signs which God did by him that he died for our sins and was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures and in the sight of the Apostles while they beheld he was received into heaven and sate at the right hand of God from whence he shall come in like manner at the end of the world being ordained of God to judg the quick and the dead Q. How did Jesus Christ save us from sin and death A. Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law by being made a Curse or enduring a cursed death for us and God made him to be Sin or a Sacrifice for sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him he tasted death for every man and gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Q. What do you learn from God's love in sending his Son to be the Propitiation for our sins A. I learn from thence that if God so loved us we ought also to love one another and that if God spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all he will with him also freely give us all things Q. What do you farther learn from God's love in the gift of his Son A. I learn to say with the Apostle Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord JesusChrist who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ in whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace and to declare with the Elders before the throne that worthy is the Lamb that was slain and by his blood hath redeemed us unto God to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing unto him thererefore that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Q. Who are those that shall receive forgiveness of sin and Eternal life and Salvation by Jesus Christ. A. They that believe in Christ and repent shall not perish but receive remission of sins and everlasting life and he is the Author of Eternal salvation to all them that obey him Q. Seeing then that Faith and Repentance and New Obedience are of absolute necessity to Salvation by Jesus Christ First what is true and saving Faith A. True and saving Faith is to believe with the heart that Jesus is the Christ that is that he was anointed and sent of God to be a Prophet Priest and King and to receive him as such Q. What is it to believe with the heart that Jesus Christ was anointed and sent of God to be a Prophet and to receive him as such A. To believe with the heart that Jesus Christ was anointed and sent of God to be a Prophet and to receive him as such is effectually and throughly to believe that he was anointed and sent of God to preach the Gospel whereby he hath brough life and immortality to light that he was sent to speak unto the world those things which he heard from God who gave him commandment what he should say and speak and therefore to hear him that is obey him in all things Q. What if we shall refuse or neglect to hear this Prophet and shall disobey his doctrine A. Every soul which will not hear this Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people for he that despiseth him despiseth him that sent him and if they escaped not that refused him Moses that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him Christ that speaketh from heaven And if the word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward how shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Q. What is it to believe with the heart that Jesus Christ was anointed and sent of God to be a Priest and to receive him as such A. To believe with the heart that Jesus Christ was anointed and sent of God to be a Priest and to receive him as such is effectually to believe that he offered himself without spot to God and gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour to the end that he might make reconciliation for iniquity and put away sin by the sacrifiee of himself and therefore to look for redemption through his blood and not to expect salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved Q. Did Christ perform and execute all that belonged to his Priestly office here on earth or doth he yet continue a Priest in heaven A. Christ our High Priest having once offered one Sacrifice for sins for ever he with his own blood entered in once for all into heaven there to appear in the presence of God for us and he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Q. What encouragement doth the belief of Christ's continuing and acting as a Priest in heaven afford unto us A. Seeing we have a great High-priest Jesus the Son of God that is passed into the heavens and is set down at the right hand of God and also maketh intercession for us we may come boldly that is freely to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need Q. What is it to believe with the heart that Jesus Christ is anointed of God to be King and to receive him as such A. To believe with the heart that Jesus Christ is anointed of God to be King and to
should perish but that all should come to repentance Q. What duty towards God do you learn from theconsideration of his goodness and mercy A. The duty towards God that I learn from the consideration of his goodness and mercy is this that we ought to love God because he first loved us that we should praise him and give thanks unto him and be perswaded by his mercies to present our bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable to God which is our reasonable service Q. What duty towards man do you learn from the consideration of God's goodness and mercy A. The duty towards man which I learn from the consideration of God's goodness and mercy is this that we should be patient towards all men not rendring evil for evil to any man but do good to all even to them that hate us and to be merciful as our Father also is merciful and kind to the unthankful and to the evil and forgive one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us Q. In what especially is the kindness love and mercy of God manifested to us A. In this was manifested the love of God to us in that he sent his only begotten Son into the world to be the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world that we might live through him Q. Doth the goodness and grace of God in the Gospel give security to Sinners or shall we continue in sin that Grace may abound A. God forbid for the goodness of God leadeth us to Repentance and the grace of God that bringeth salvation teacheth us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly rightcously and godlily in this present World Q. You said that God is most just and righteous what is meant thereby A. By God's being most just and righteous is meant that God the Judge of all the Earth will do right and render to every man according to his deeds that his ways are right and equal and his judgment is according to truth Q. What duty towards God do you learn from his justice and righteousness A. The Duty towards God that I learn from his justice and righteousness is this that seeing God without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work we ought to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear and I farther learn that when God's judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world should learn righteousness and acknowledge that God is just and righteous in all his works that he doth and that therefore we should not complain but be humbled and accept of the punishment of our iniquities and bear the indignation of the Lord because we have sinned against him Q. What duty towards man do yo learn from the justice and righteousness of God A. The duty towards man that I learn from the justice and righteousness of God is this to do no evil to my neighbour nor go beyond or defraud my brother in any matter the Lord being the avenger of all such but without having respect of persons to do justice and judgment which is more acceptable to the Lord than Sacrifice to render unto all their dues and to do to others as I would that they should do to me and lastly when I am reviled not to revile again when I suffer not to threaten but to commit my self as Christ did to him that judgeth righteously Q. You said that God is most true and faithful what is meant thereby A. By God's being most true and faithful is meant that God cannot lye nor deny himself that with him is no variableness nor shadow of turning but that he keepeth covenant and mercy to them that love him and keep his Commandments he will do and make good what he hath spoken nor shall any word fail of all that he hath promised Q. duty towards God do you learn from his being most true and faithful A. The duty towards God which I learn from his being most true and faithful is this that we draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of saith and call upon him in truth for he trieth the heart and hath pleasure in uprightness he requireth truth or sincerity in the inward parts and will give ear unto the prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips Q. What farther duty towards God do you learn from his truth and faithfulness A. I do farther learn from the truth and faithfulness of God that if we suffer according to the will of God we should commit the keeping of our souls to him in well doing as unto a faithful Creator as being perswaded that he is able to keep that which we commit to him against that day and therefore will do it and that we should hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering he being saithful that promised and will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that we may be able to bear it and will establish us and keep us from evil Q. What duty towards man do you learn from God's being most true and faithful A. The duty towards man which I learn from God's being most true and faithful is this that putting away lying every man should speak truth with his neighbour from his heart and that in our mouth and spirit there should be no guile but in simplicity and godly sincerity we should have our conversation in the world For lying lips are an abomination to the Lord but they that deal truly and are upright in their way are his delight Q What is meant by this that God is All-knowing A. By God's being All-knowing is meant that he is perfect in knowledge and his understanding is infinite that he understands our thoughts a far off and is acquainted with all our ways and that there is not a word in our tongue but he knoweth it altogether neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do Q. What do you learn from God's being most wise and All-knowing A. From God's being most wise and All-knowing I learn that I ought to serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord knoweth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts and his eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men to give to every one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings Q. What is meant by this that God is Allmighty A. By God's being Almighty is meant that he is the blessed and only Potentate
whom none is able to withstand that with him nothing is impossible nothing is too hard for him and that he doth whatsoever he pleaseth in heaven and in earth and no thought of his can be hindered Q. What do you learn from Gods being Almighty A. From God's being Almighty I learn that we ought above all to fear him and to tremble at his presence as also to submit our selves unto him to humble our selves under his mighty hand and to walk before him and be perfect that is in all things obedient on the contrary to take heed how we provoke him to jealousie who is stronger than we and that we harden not our selves against him Q. What do you farther learn from God's being Almighty A. From God's being Almighty I farther learn that we ought to trust in him and not be afraid what man can do unto us for if God be for us who can be against us that we be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and be fully perswaded that what God hath promised he is able also to perform Q What is meant by God's being Eternal A. By this that God is Eternal is meant that he is from everlasting to everlasting the beginning and the end which is and which was and which is to come that he is the same and his years have no end that he only hath immortality that is originally and from himself is uncorruptible unchangeable and liveth for ever and ever Q. What do you learn from God's being Eternal A. I learn from God's being Eternal that there is to be given unto him honour and glory for ever and ever that he is to be blessed from everlasting to everlasting and that we ought to trust in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength Q. You said that God is every where present what is meant thereby A. By this that God is every where present is meant that he fills heaven and earth yea the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him that his greatness is unsearchable so that there is no flying from his presence nor can any hide himself in secret places that God shall not see him Q. What do you learn from God's being every where present A. From God's being every where present I learn that we are to pray every where lifting up holy hands God being nigh unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth and if we pray to our Father which is in secret he which seeth in secret will reward us openly Q. What do you farther learn from God's being every where present A. I from thence farther learn that we ought to walk before him in truth and with a perfect heart and do that which is good in his sight that it concernsus to keep his precepts for that all our ways are before him and the eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good Q. Having seen what God is in his Nature and Attributes proceed we to the Works of God Tell me then who made the World and preserveth all things therein A. God the Lord alone made heaven the heaven of heavens with all their host the earth and all things that are therein the seas and all that is therein and he preserveth them all Q. What learn you from God's creating and preserving the World and all things therein A. I learn that God the Lord is worthy to receive glory and honour and power for that he hath created all things and through his pleasure they are and were created and because he preserveth man and beast and the whole earth is full of the goodness of the Lord our mouth should speak the praise of the Lord and all slesh bless his holy name for ever and ever Seeing that of him and through him are all things to him be glory for ever and ever Q Who governs the World and all things therein A. God that made the World and all things therein is Lord of heaven and earth he hath prepared his throne in the heavens and his Kingdom ruleth over all he doth whatsoever he pleaseth both in heaven and in earth and worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will Q. What learn you from God's governing the World and all things therein A. From God's governing the World and all things therein I learn that therefore the Earth should rejoice for justice and judgment are the habitation or establishment of his throne and mercy and truth shall go before his face and that from the rising of the Sun to the going down thereof God's name is to be praised for who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high and humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in earth Q. What do you farther learn from God's governing the world and all things therein A. I do farther learn from thence that we should say whatsoever befalleth us with Eli it is the Lord that is the Lord hath appointed or permitted it let him do what seemeth him good and with Christ not my will but thine be done and with Job whether the Lord giveth or taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord Q. What do you yet farther learn from God's governing the World and all things therein A. I do yet farther learn from thence that we should commit our way and work unto the Lord and in all our ways acknowledge him who then will direct our paths that we should trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe and cast all our care and burthen upon him who careth for us and will sustein us Q. How did God create man A. God made man upright and created him in his own image Q. Wherein doth God's image in man consist A. God's image in man doth consist in knowledge righteousness and true holiness and in the dominion which God made him to have over the works of his hands Q. Did our first parents Adam and Eve continue in that good estate wherein they were created A. No they fell from it by sinning against God in that they did eat of the tree whereof God commanded that they should not eat Q. What then followed upon Adam's Transgression A. By that one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned for the wages of sin is death Q. Did God leave man to perish in this miserable condition or did he in love and pity to us provide a way and means for us to be saved from sin and death A. So God loved the
or respects avail us any thing to justification and salvation without this new and spiritual obedience A. Neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcifion but a new creature the keeping of the commandments of God and not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven but he that doth the will of his Father which is in heaven For why call ye me Lord Lord saith our Saviour and do not the things which I say The hearers of the Law are not just before God but the doers of the Law shall be justified Q. May it not suffice to keep some of the Commandments of God but must we obey all A. We must have respect unto all God's commandments and hate every false way for whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet wilfully offend in one point he is guilty of all or liable to the punishment due to the breach of all viz. Eternal death Q. Will God accept at our hands nothing short of absolutely perfect Obedience A. Like as a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him for he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are but dust and if there be a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not That is it is accepted if we demonstrate that we are reallywilling by our acting in a good suitableness to the strength we have received Q. Do you think that you can deserve forgiveness of sin and eternal Salvation at God's hands by obeying his commandments A. No by no means but when we have done all those things that are commanded us we must say that we are unprofitable servants we have done but that which was our duty to do and not by works of righteousness which we have done that is not for the desert of them but according to his mercy he saveth us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost and he maketh us accepted in the beloved by whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sin according to the riches of his grace Q. Seeing we cannot merit at God's hands by any thing we can do and that we are pardoned and saved purely by the free Grace of God in Christ how comes obedience to his commandments to be indispensably necessary to our being so A. Obedience to God's commandments is therefore indispensably necessary to our being pardoned and saved because that the righteous Lord loveth righteousness but hateth wickedness and all the workers of iniquity insomuch as he that justifieth the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord so that without holiness no man shall see the Lord for thereby we are made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light nor can we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness for God is light and in him is no darkness at all Wherefore God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless us by turning every one of us from our iniquities and hath exalted him to be a prince a Saviour first to give repentance and then forgiveness of sins and he came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it that is to perfect it or preach it fully So the same word is used Rom. 15. 19. and Col. 1. 25. Q. Then you will never be perswaded to believe that Faith in Christ freeth us from our obligation to the Moral Law or any one precept of it A. Do we make void the law through faith God sorbid yea we establish the law And to live soberly righteously and godlily in this present world is that even the sum of all that which the grace of God that brings salvation teacheth us Nay it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than one jot or tittle of the law to fail till all be fulfilled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or till all things be done that is till the world be destroyed Q. Which are the ten Commandments into which the Moral Law as it was given by God to Moses is divided of which the four first contain our duty towards God and the other six our duty towards man A. God spake all these words saying I am the Lord thy God which hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of Bondage 1. Thou shalt have no other Gods before or besides me 2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth thou shalt not bow down thy self to them nor serve them For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments 3. 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 4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy Man-servant nor thy Maid-servant nor thy cattel nor thy stranger that is within thy gates For in six 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 Sabbath day and hallowed it 5. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee 6. Thou shalt not kill 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery 8. Thou shalt not steal 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours House thou shalt not covet thy neighbours Wife nor his Man-servant nor his Maid-servant nor his Oxe nor his Ass nor any thing that is thy neighbours Q. How are these ten Commandments abridged by our Saviour Christ A. He hath reduced them all to these two Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind and with all thy strength This is the first Commandment or the first Table And the second is like namely this Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Q. How is the love of God expressed A. This is the love of God that we keep his Commandments Q. How is this second Commandment or Table farther explained by Christ A. He hath farther explain'd it thus As ye would that men should do to you do ye also to them likewise Q. Can a man love God and hate his brother or refuse to supply his necessities according to his ability
A. If a man say I love God and hateth his brother he is a liar for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen and whoso hath this world's goods and seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him Q. Hath not Christ given a new commandment concerning the loving of our brethren A. A new commandment he hath given to us That we love one another as he hath loved us that we also love one another And as hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us so we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren Q. Are the commandments of Christ impossible or difficult to be obeyed A. His commandments are not grievous but his yoke is easie and his burthen is light Nor hath God in any thing wearied us that we should testifie against him Q. Are we able of our selves to believe and repent and keep all the commandments of God A. We are not sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God whose grace is sufficient for us It is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure but as without Christ we can do nothing so we can do all things through Christ which strengthneth us Q. Are we therefore to lie idle and only to live in expectation of power from above to work in us both to will and to do what is required of us A. No verily but we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling because it is God which worketh in us both to will and to do that is because we are enabl ed by the concurrence of God's grace with our endeavours both to resolve firmly to do well and to perform accordingly Q. Seeing we are unable without the supply of God's grace and Spirit to keep his commandments and therefore it cannot but be absolutely necessary for us to pray to him that we may be strengthned with might by his Spirit in the inward man what encouragement have we to hope for spiritual strength upon our praying for it A. We are encouraged from those words of Christ Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you c. If ye being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Q. What further encouragement have we to expect spiritual strength A. We are further encouraged from the tenure of the new Covenant which is this I will put saith God my Laws into their mind and write them in their hearts I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my commandments and do them Which Promises suppose that we must not be wilfully or carelesly wanting to our selves in the use of means as is manifest by comparing these texts with Ezek. 18. 31. and James 4. 8. and many such like Q. What are the chief ordinary means which God hath appointed for the working and furtherance of Faith Repentance and all graces in us A. They are these three 1. Prayer 2. The holy Scriptures or Word of God 3. The Sacraments Q. What is Prayer A. Prayer'is the making known our requests to God and the pouring out our hearts before him that so we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need Q. How must we pray to God that we may be heard and accepted by him A. That we may be heard and accepted by God we must ask in the name of Christ and such things only must we ask as are according to his will Q. What else is necessary to make our prayers acceptable A. 'T is farther necessary to the making of our prayers acceptable that we call upon God in truth and sincerity and not with feigned lips that we pray with humility and submission saying Not my will but thine be done that we ask in faith that is believing in the wisdom power and goodness of God that we lift up holy hands without wrath or forgiving all that have trespassed against us and lastly whatsoever we ask we shall receive if we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight but if we regard iniquity in our hearts the Lord will not hear us Q. But must we not with prayers to God join also praise and thanksgiving A. Yes in every thing must our requests be made known to God by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus that in every thing we give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we are to offer the sacrifice of praise continually unto God Q. How did Christ our Lord teach his Disciples to pray A. He taught them to pray after this manner Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive 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 sor ever and ever Amen Q. What is the second means for begetting and increase of Faith and all other Vertues A. It is the word of God or the holy Scriptures which are able to make us wise unto salvation for all the Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in rightcousness that the man of God and every faithful Christian may be perfect throughly furnished for every good work Q. How must we receive the word of God that it may become an effectual means of grace unto us A. We must receive the word with meekness and all readiness of mind with an honest and good heart and laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and evil speakings as new born babes we must desire the sincere milk of the word that we may grow thereby Q. It is not enough then merely to hear or read God's word A. By no means but we must meditate n the law of the Lord day and night we must lay it up and hide it in our hearts and having with an honest and good heart heard the word we must keep it and bring forth fruit with patience or perseverance for if we be hearers only of the word and not doers we deceive