Ans. First the corruption of nature called originall sinne derived by continuall discent from Father to Sonne wherewith all the powers of the soule and body are infected and that in all men equally and then actuall sin ariseth from hence Shew how the principall powers of the soule are defiled by this corruption of our nature Ans. First the understanding is blinded with ignorance and infidelity Secondly the memory is prone to forget the good things which the understanding hath conceived Thirdly the will is disobedient unto the will of God understood and remembred by us the freedome and holinesse which it had at the first being lost and is now wholly bent to sin Fourthly the affections are ready to overrule the wil and are subject to all disorder Lastly the conscience it selfe is distempered and polluted In what sort is the conscience thus distempered Ans. The duties therof being two especially to give direction in things to be done and to give both witnesse and judgement in things done for the first it sometimes giveth no direction at all and thereupon maketh a man to sin in doing of an action otherwise good and lawfull sometimes it giveth a direction but a wrong one and so becommeth a blind guide forbidding to doe things which God alloweth and commanding to doe things which God forbiddeth For the second it sometimes giveth no judgement at all nor checking the offender as it should but being benummed and as it were seared with an hot yron It sometimes giveth judgement but falsly condemning where it should excuse and excusing where it should condemne thereby filling the mind with false fears or feeding it with vaine comforts and somtimes giveth true judgement but uncomfortable and fearfull tormenting the guilty soule as it were with the flashes of hell-fire What are the kinds of actuall sinn◠Ans. Such as are inward in the thoughts of the mind and lusts of the heart or outward in word or deed whereby the things are done which should be omitted and those things omitted which should be done What is the death which all men are subject unto by reason of these sinnes Ans. The curse of God both upon the things that belong unto them such as are their Wife and Children honour possessions use of Gods Creatures and upon their own persons in life and death What are the curses they are subject to in this life Ans. All temporall calamities both in body which is subject unto infinite miseries and in soule which is plagued somtime with madnesse sometime with the terrour of a guilty conscience sometimes with a benummed and seared conscience sometime with hardnesse of heart which cannot repent and finally a spirituall slavery under the power of the world and the devill What is the death that followeth this miserable life Ans. First a separation of the soule from the body and then an everlasting seperation of the whole man from the presence of God with unspeakable torment in hell-fire never to be ended which is the second death If all mankind be subject to this damnation how then shall any man be saved Ans. Surely by this first Covenant of the Law no flesh can be saved but every one must receive in himselfe the sentence of condemnation yet the Lord being a God of mercy hath not left us here but entred into a second Covenant with mankind What is the second Covenant A. The Gospel or the Covenant of grace wherby God promiseth everlasting life unto man upon condition that he be reconciled to him in Christ for as the cōdition of the 1. was the continuance of that justice which was to be found in mans own person so the condition of the second is the obtaining of that justice which is found without himselfe in the person of the Mediator Jesus Christ. What are we to consider in Christ our Mediator Ans. Two things his nature and his office How many natures be there in Christ Ans. Two the God-head and the Manhood remaining still distinct in their substance properties and actions How many persons hath he Ans. Only one which is the person of the Son of God for the second person in the Trinity tooke upon him not the person but the nature of man to wit a body and a reasonable soule which doe not subsist alone as we see in all other men but are wholly sustained in the person of the Son of God What is the use of this wonderfull union of the two natures in one Person Ans. Our nature being received into the Union of the Person of the Son of God the sufferings and the obedience which it performed became of infinite value as being the sufferings of him who was God equal with the Father What is the Office of Christ Ans. To be a Mediator betwixt God and Man What par◠of his Office did he exercise concerning God Ans. His Priesthood What are the parts of his Priestly Office Ans. The satisfaction of Gods justice and his intercession What is required of Christ for the satisfaction of Gods justice Ans. The paying of the price which was due for the breach of the Law committed by mankinde and the performance of that righteousnesse which man by the Law was bound unto but unable to accomplish How was Christ to pay the price which was due for the sinne of mankind Ans. By that wonderful humiliation wherby he that was equall with God made himselfe of no reputation and became obedient unto the death sustaining both in body and soule the curse that was due to the transgression of the Law What righteousnes was there required of Christ in our behalfe Ans. Both originall which he had from His conception being conceived by the Holy-Ghost in all purenesse and holinesse of nature and actual which he performed by yeelding perfect obedience in the whole course of His life unto all the precepts of Gods Law What is the Intercession of Christ Ans. That part of His Priesthood whereby He maketh request unto His Father for us and presenteth unto Him both our Persons and our imperfect obedience making both of them however in themselves polluted by the merit of His satisfaction to be acceptable in Gods sight Thus much of that part of the office of the Mediatour which is exercised in things concerning God how doth He exercise himselfe in things concerning man Ans. By communicating unto man that grace and redemption which he hath purchased from His Father What parts of His Office doth He exercise here An. His Propheticall and Kingly Office What is His Propheticall Office Ans. That whereby He informeth us of the benefits of our redemption and revealeth the whole will of His Father unto us both by the outward meanes which He hath provided for the instruction of His Church and by inward enlightning of our mindes by His Holy Spirit What is the Kingly office Ans. That whereby He ruleth His Subjects and confoundeth all his enemies
THE PRINCIPLES OF Christian Religion SuÌ„marily sett downe according to the word of God TOGETHER WITH A Breife Epittomie of the Bodie of Divinitie By Iames Vsher Bishop of Armagh LONDON Printed by R.B. for Geo. Badger and are to bee sold at his shop in St. Dunstans Church Yard in Fleet Street 1645. THE PRINCIPLES OF Christian Religion Summarily set downe according to the word of God Question WHat sure grounds have we to build our Religion upon Ans. The Word of God contained in the Scriptures What are those scriptures Ans. Holy writings indited by God Himselfe for the perfect instruction of his Church What gather you of this that God is the Author of those writings Ans That therefore they are of most certaine credit and highest authoritie How serue they for the perfect instruction of the Church Ans In that they are able to instruct us sufficiently in all points of faith that we are bound to beleive and all good duties that we are bound to practice What gather you of this Ans. That it is our duty to acquaint ourselves with these holy writings and not to receive any doctrine that hath not warrant from thence What is the first poine of Religion you are to learne out of GODS Sacred word Ans. The Nature of God What is God Ans. God is Spirit most perfect most wise Almighâ—y and most holy What meane you by callâ—ng God a Spirit Ans that he hath no body at all and therfore must not be thought like to any things which may be seene by the eye of man How many Gods are there Ans. Only one God but three persons Which is the first person Ans. The father who begetteth the Son Which is the second Ans. The Sonne begotten of the Father Which is the third Ans. The HOLY GHOST proceeding from the Father and the Sonne What did God before the world was made Ans. Hee did before all time by his unchangable councell ordaine whatsoever should come to passe In what manner had all things the beginning Ans. In the beginning of time when no creature had any being God by His Word alone in the space of sixe dayes created all things Which are the principall Creatures Ans. ANGELS and Men. What is the nature of Angels Ans. They are wholly spirituall haveing no body at all What is the nature of man Ans. Hee consists of two divers parts a body and a Soule What is the body Ans. The outward and earthly part of man made at the begining of the dust of the earth What is the soule Ans. The inward and spirituall part of man which is immortall and never can die How did God make man at the beginning Ans. According to his owne likenesse and Image Wherein was the Image of God principally seen Ans In the perfection of the understanding and the freedome and holinesse of the will How many men were created at the beginning Ans. Two Adam the man Eue the woman from both whom afterwaâ—ds all mankinde did proceed What doth God after the Creation Ans. By his providence he preserveth and governeth his câ—eatures with al things belonging unto them What befell Angels after their Creation Ans Some continued in the holy estate wherein they were created some of them fell and became Divels May the good Angels fall hereafter Ans. No but they shall always continue in their holinesse and happinesse Shall the wicked Angels ever recover teeir first estate Ans. They shâ—ll not but be tormented in hell world without end How did God deale with man after that hee made him Ans He made a covenant or agreement with Adam and in him with all mankind What was man bound to doe by this covenant Ans. To continue as holy as God at the first made him to keepe all Gods commandements and never to breake any of them What did God Promise unto man if hee did thus keepe His Commandements Ans The continuance of his favour and everlasting life What did God threaten vnto man if hee did sinne and breake his Commandements A. His dreadful curse and everlasting death Did man continue in that obedience whiche he did owe unto God Ans. No For Adam and Eve obeying rather the perswasion of the devil then the Commandements of God did eate of the forbidden fruite and so fell away from God Was this the sinne of Adam and Eve alone or are wee also guilty of the same Ans. All wee that are their children are guilty of the same sinne for we all sinned in them Whâ—t followed upon this sinne Ans. the losse of the Image of God and the corruption of nature in man called Originall sinne Wherein standeth the corruption of mans nature Ans. In sixe things principally What is the first Ans. The blindnesse of the understanding which is not able to coÌ„ceive of the things of God What is the second Ans. The forgetfulnesse of the memory unfit to remember good things What is the third Ans. The rebellion of the will which is wholly bent to sin and altogether disobedient unto the will of God VVhat is the fourâ—h Ans. Disoâ—der of the affections as joy heavinesse love anger feare and such like What is the fift Ans. Feare and confusion in the conscience condemning where it should not and excusing where it should condemne VVhat is the sixth Ans. Every member of the body is become a ready instrument to put sinne in execution What are the fruits that proceed from this naturall corruption Ans. Actuall sinnes whereby we breake the Commandements of God in the whole course of our life How doe you break Gods Commandements Ans. In thought word and deed not doing that which we ought to do and doing that which we ought not to doe What punishment is mankinde subject to by reason of originall and actual sin Ans. He is subject to all the plagues of God in this life and endlesse torments in hell after this life Did God leave man in this wofull estate A. No but of his free and undeserved mercy entred into a new covenant with mankind What is offered unto man in this nâ—w covâ—nant A. Grace and life everlasting is freely offered unto all that shall bee reconciled unto God by his Son Iesus Christ who alone is Mediator betwixt God and man VVhat are you to consider in CHRIST the Mediatour of this Covenant Ans. Two things his nature and his Office How many natures be there in Christ Ans. Two the God-Head and the man-hood joyned together in one person VVhy must Christ bee God Ans. That his Obedience and suffering might bee of infinite worth and value as proceeding from such a person as was God equall to the Father that hee might bee able to overcome the sharpenesse of death which himselfe
Ministerie w ch coÌ„sisteth in the delivery of doctrine What is a Sacrament Ans. A Sacrament is a visible signe ordeined by God to bee a Seale for confirmation of the promises of the Gospell unto the true members in Christ. VVhat are the SacrameÌ„ts ordained by Christ in the New Testament Ans. Baptisme and the Lords Supper What is Baptisme Ans. The Sacrament of our admission into the Church sealing unto us our new birth by the communion which wee have with Christ Iesus What doth the elements of water in Baptisme represent unto us Ans. The bloud and merits of Iesus Christ our Lord. What doth the clensing of the body â—epresent Ans. The clensing of the Soule by the for givenesse of sinne and imputation of Christs righteousnesse What doth the being under the water aad the freeing from it againe represent Ans. Our dying unto sinne by the force of Christs death and living againe unto righteousnesse through His Resurrection What is the Lords Supper Ans. A Sacrament of our preservation in the Church sealing unto us our spirituall nourishment and continuall increase in CHRIST What doth the elements of Bread and Wine in the Lords supper represent unto us Ans. The Body and Bloud of Christ. What doth the breaking of the Bread and powring out of the Wine represent Ans. The sufferings whereby our Saviour was broken for our iniquities the shedding of His precious bloud and powring out of His Soule unto death VVhat doth the râ—ceiving of the Bread and VVine represent Ans The receiving of Chrâ—st by faith VVhat doth the nourishmrnt which our body receiveth by vertue of this outward meat seal uÌ„to us Ans. The perfect nourishment and continuall increase of strength w ch the inward man injoyeth by vertue of the Communion with Iesus Christ after the course of this life is ended VVhat shall bee the state of man in the world to come Ans. Every one to be rewarded according to the life which hee hath lead How many kindes bee there of this judgement Ans. Two the one particular the other generall VVhat call you the particular judgement Ans. That which is given upon the Soule of every man as soone as it is departed from the body What is the state of the Soule of man as soone as hee departeth out of this life Ans. The Soules of Gods Children bee presenâ—ly received into heaven there to injoy unspeakeable Comforts the soules of the wicked are sent into hel there to endure endles tormeÌ„nts VVhat call you the generall judgement Ans. That which Christ shall in a solemne manner give upon all men at once when hee shal come at the last day with the glory of his father and all men that ever have beâ—n from the beginning of the world untill that day shall â—ppeare â—ogether before him boâ—h in body and soule whether they bee quiâ—ke or dead How shâ—ll the dead appeare before the judgement seate of Christ Ans. The Bodyes which they had in their life time shâ—ll by the Almighty power of God be restored againe and quickned with their soules and so there shall bee a Resurrection from the dead How shall the quicke appeare Ans. Such aâ— then remaine alâ—ve shâ—ll bee changed in the twinkling of an eye which shall bee to them in stead of death What sentence shall Christ pronounce upon the righteous Ans. Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world What sentence shall hee pronounce upon the wicked Ans. Depart from me yee cursed into everlasting fire which is prepared for the Devill and his Angels VVhat shall follow this Ans. Christ shall deliver up the kingdome to His FATHER and GOD shall bee all in all A Briefe Method OF Christian Religion WITH A more particular Declaration of some perticular heads of Doctrine which for more plainesse sake were shortly touched in the former Summe Heb. 6.1 Therefore leaving the Doctrine of the bâ—ginning of Christ. c. By Iames Vsher Bish. of Armagh London Printed for Geo. Badger 1646. THE Method of the Doctrine OF Christian Religion Question WHat certaine rule have we left us for our direction in the knowledge of the true Religion whereby we must be saved Ans. The holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament which God delivered unto us by the Ministerie of his servants the Prophets and Apostles to informe us perfectly in all things that are needfull for us to know in matters of Religion What be the generall heads of Religion which in these holy writings are delivered unto us Ans. The knowledge of Gods nature and kingdome What are we to consider in Gods nature Ans. First his Essence or being which is but one and then the persons which are three in number What doe you consider in Gods Essence or being Ans. His Perfection and Life How are we to conceive of God in regard of his Perfection Ans. That he is a Spirit most single and infinite having his being from himself and having need of nothing which is without himselfe Why doe you call God a Spirit Ans. To declare his being to be such as hath no body and is not subject to our outward senses that we admit not any base conceit of his Majesty in thinking him to be like unto any thing which can be seen by the eye of man What understand you by this singlenesse or simplicity of Gods nature Ans. That he hath no parts nor qualities in him but whatsoever is in him is God and Gods whole Essence What gather you of this that God hath no parts nor qualities Ans. That he neither can bee divided nor changed but remaineth alwayes in the same state without any alteration at all In what respect doe you call Gods Essence infinite Ans. In that it is free from all measure both of time and place How is God free from all measure of time Ans. In that he is eternall without beginning and without ending never elder nor younger and hath all things present unto him neither former or later past or to come How is God infinite in regard of place Ans. In that he filleth all things and places both within and without the world present every where contained no where How is he present every where hath he one part of himselfe here and another there Ans. No for he hath no parts at all whereby he might be divided and therefore must be wholly wheresoever he is What doe you call the life of God Ans. That by which the divine nature is in perpetuall action most simply and infinitely moving it self in respect whereof the Scripture calleth him the Living GOD. What gather you of the comparing this infinitenes and simplicity or singlenesse of Gods nature with his life and motion Answ. That when strength justice and mercy are attributed unto God we must conceive that