Ephesus and to St. Titus in Creet c. And therefore they only that is the Bishops are to be acknowledged to have this Authority of Jurisdiction and Ordination who can derive it from the Apostles and prove themselves in these very things to be the Apostles Successors Q. VVhat do you chiefly learn out of the Articles of the Christian Faith 1. I learn to believe in God the Father who hath made me and all the world 2. In God the Son who hath redeemed me and all mankind 3. In God the Holy Ghost who sanctifieth me and all the elect people of God Q. VVhat Do you believe there be three Gods A. No There be three Persons and but one God The Father the Son and the Holy-ghost are onely one Con-substantial Co-eternal and Co-equal Essence but three persons Q. VVhat do you mean by a Person A. A Person is one who hath his own subsistence which no other besides hath proper to himself Q. How is it possible that there should be three Persons in one Essence A. With men it is impossible but not with God Indeed this is such an high and and dreadful Mystery that it is not safe to say any more of it but that I do believe it that there is three in one The Father is made of none as it is in St. Athanasius his Creed The Son is of the Father alone and the Holy-ghost is of both And by these several properties they are really distinguished each from other For the substance of God with this property to be of none maketh the Person of the Father The very self-same substance with this property to be of the father maketh the Person of the Son The same substance having added to it the property of proceeding from the other two maketh the person of the Holy Ghost So that in every Person there is implyed both the Substance of God which is one and also that property which causeth the same Perrson really and truly to differ from the other two This is the truth But how cometh it to pass I cannot say you need not nay you must not search only believe Q. Out of what words in the Creed do you learn to believe in God the Father who hath made you and all the world A. Out of the words of the first Article I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth Q. What do you observe in this Article A. 1. That there is a God 2. That there is but one God 3. That there are divers Persons in the Godhead implyed in Father 4. That God expresseth himself to us 1. By the Unity of his Essence God 2. By Trinity of Persons Father 3. By his Attributes as Almightiness Infiniteness c. 4. By his Works expresly of Creation and consequently of Preservation of Heaven and Earth and all things that are therein visible and invisible Q. Do you not believe that the Son and the Holy Ghost is also Almighty and Maker of Heaven and Earth A. Yes For as we say the Father is God the Son is God and the Holy Ghost is God and yet they are not three Gods but one God So we say the Father is Almighty the Son is Almghty and the Holy Ghost is Almighty and yet there are not three Almighties but one Almighty And so we say the Father is the Maker of Heaven and Earth and the Son is Maker of Heaven and Earth and the Holy Ghost is Maker of Heaven and Earth and yet they are not three Makers but one Maker of Heaven and Earth For although by a peculiar manner of speaking according to our capacity in respect of the Persons we call the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth because he is the first of the Persons in the Godhead And we attribute Wisdom to the Son because he is the eternal Word of the Father And Goodness to the Holy Ghost because he is the Love of them both Yet indeed these and all other outward Actions and Attributes of God are common to all the Persons of the Godhead Q. In what Articles do you learn to beleive in God the Son who hath Redeemed you and all Mankind A. In the 2 3 4 5 6 7 Articles Q. What is the reason that the work of Mans Redemption done by the second Person in the Trinity is more largly and in more Articles set down than the work of the Worlds Creation A. 1. Because it cost more to Redeem the Soul than to make the World The work of Redemption is greater than the work of Creation and consisteth of more circumstances 2. To teach us that as we ought to respect other Doctrine so this in a more special manner as that we determin to know and rejoyce in nothing more than in Jesus Christ and him Crucified Q. Could not God have Redeemed Mankind by a word as easily as have made the World A. Yes For with God all things are and ever were possible God had other means in his power to save us than by the death of his Son but a better and more convenient way to demonstrate his Love and Mercy towards us and to manifest his Wisdom Power and Justice against Sin Death and Satan He had not for God chose the best When He first decreed this way to save Man it was in His Power to have appointed another way if it had pleased Him So that God was not tyed to determin this way upon any necessity as if the choice of other means failed Him But this in the Wisdom of God common to all the three Persons in the Holy Trinity was allowed as the most honorable and acceptable way to God and the most favourable and comfortable way to Man Q. Did Christ Redeem none but Mankind A. No. God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto Judgment 2 St. Pet. 2.4 St. Jude 6. Q. Did Christ Redeem all Mankind A. Yes The words of the Church-Catechism are express and plain who Redeemed me and all Mankind And so it is written that He dyed for all 1 Cor. 5.14 15. and that He is the Saviour of all men 1 Tim. 4.10 As by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation so by the Righteousness of one the free gift came came upon all men to justification of life Rom. 5.18 Q. Is the price of Christs Death sufficient for the Redeeming of all Mankind A. Yes doubtless For He gave himself a Ransom for all 1 Tim. 2.6 by which He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him Heb. 7.25 For He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world St. John 1.29 Q. But was it Christs intention and purpose that all Mankind should be Redeemed and Saved by His death A. Yes surely For He will have all men to be saved 1 Tim. 2.4 that is He is not willing that any should perish 2
St. Pet. 3.9 Q. But why then are not all men effectually Redeemed but many become the sons of Perdition A. Because when as He hath given the sufficient price of their Redemption yet they like the Servant that would not go out free Exod. 21.6 chuse still to continue the servants of sin When He gathereth them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings they will not St. Mat. 23.37 So like Israel they destroy themselves when as in Him is their help Hosea 13.9 They bar themselves of the benefit of His Redemption either they are not in Christ they enter not into Covenant with Him at all and then without Him there is no Redemption or else if they be in Him if they have entered the Covenant with Him in Baptism they break the conditions that they make with him And He Redeemed them not so absolutely as though He would save them whether they will or no but only upon condition of their Repentance and Faith and Obedience according to their promise in Baptism Q. What do these six Articles concerning Christ declare A. 1. His Person in the 2d Article 2. His Humiliation in the 3d and 4th Articles 3. His Exaltation in the 5th 6th and 7th Articles Q. What do you observe in the Person of Christ out of the second Article A. 1. His Name Jesus 2. His Office Christ 3. His Divinity or Godhead His Only Son 4. His Title Our Lord. Q. What do you call His Name A. Jesus Q. What is nhe meaning of that Name A. A Saviour for so the Angel bid Joseph call his Name Jesus because He shall save His people from their sins St. Mat. 1.21 Jesus of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 jashang to save Q. What is His Office A. To be a King a Priest and a Prophet Q. VVhere is that taught us A. In the Word Christ Q. How doth the VVord Christ import all these Offices A. Christ of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ungo according to the Greek As Messiah of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mashach in Hebrew signifieth Anoynted Now we read in Scripture of three sorts that were Anoynted The first were Kings as Samuel Anoynted David 1. Sam. 16.13 The second were Priests as Aaron and his Sons Exod. 40.13 15. The third were Prophets as Elijah is sent to Anoynt Elisha the Prophet in his room 1 Kings 19.16 And therefore Christ is called a King Zach. 9.9 St. Mat. 21.5 St. John 18.37 And a Priest Psal 110.4 Heb 5.7 8. And also a Prophet Deat 18.18 Acts 7.37 Q. VVhat benefit comes to us by all these Offices of Christs A. 1. He Rules and Defends as a King 2. He cleanseth us from sin by the Sacrifice of himself as a Priest And thirdly He teacheth us as a Prophet Q. Out of what words do you learn to believe Christs Divinity or Godhead A. Out of these words His that is Gods only Son in that He is the only begotten Son of God as in the Nicene Creed not a Son by Creation as all Creatures Nor a Son by Adoption as Man but His only Son by an eternal and unsearchable Generation in respect of his Godhead which teacheth us that he is not only Coâ—eternal and Co-equal but also Con-substantial of one and the self same substance with God the Father For to be a Son is to be partaker of the very Nature Essence and Being of the Father Now Gods Essence and Nature is Infinite and Indivisible without bounds or parts and wheresoever that which is Infinite is there it is all compleat and whole so that God cannot beget a Son which is but part of and not all and wholly His Essence therefore since He is the Son of God in Him dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead bodily that is personally Col. 2.9 Q But is Christ in respect of His Manhood called the Son of God A. Yes As by an eternal and unsearchable Generation in respect of His Godhead He is the Son of God who hath begotten Him of His own Substance God of God very God of very God as in the Nicene Creed So by grace of Personal Union in respect of His Manhood Christ is the Son of God who hath sanctified the Humane Nature by the operation of the Holy Ghost in the Womb of the ever blessed Virgin St. Mary and inseparably united it to the Godhead in the Person of the Son so that the Holy Thing which was Conceived by the overshaddowing of the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary is called the Son of God St. Luke 1.35 Q. Hath God no other Son but Christ A. No other such as He Indeed we are the Sons of God by Grace of Adoption and other Creatures by power of Creation But by the external and unsearchable Generation and by communion of Nature and Substance Christ is Gods only Son as it is in the Evangelist the only begotten of the Father St. John 1.14 Q. What is Christs Title A. Lord. Q. How is Christ said to be our Lord A. 1. By right of Creation Gen. 1.1 St. John 1.3 2. By right of Preservation Heb. 1.3 3. By right of Dominion Psal 8.1 6. St. Mat. 28.18 4. By right of the Covenant Stipulation and Agreement that is between Him and us Deut. 26.16 17 18. Ezek. 16.8 5. By right of Redemption Act. 20.28 Eph. 1.7 Q. Wherein is Christs Humiliation A. In His Incarnation Art 3. Passion Art 4. Q. What do you observe in Christs Incarnation A. His Humanity or Manhood in that for us Men and for our Salvation He came down from Heaven and was Incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary and was made Man like unto us in all things sin only excepted Q. How doth it appear that Christs Humane Nature was without sin A. In that He was Conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of a pure Virgin one that never knew Man and so was not begotten after the manner of other men of the corrupted and sinful Seed of Adam Q. But could She being a Virgin have a Son How is that possible for Her that knew not a Man A. It is true it is impossible by the power of Nature and therefore it is called a Miracle Isa 7.14 done by the power of God St. Luke 1.35 And this as it sheweth Christs Humane Nature being made of a Woman born under the Law so it intimateth His Divine Nature in that He was born of such a Woman as never knew Man Q. But who was the Virgin Mary A. A Woman of the Nation of the Jews of the Tribe of Judah of the Linage or Family of David And so Christ was of the Seed of David according to flesh and therefore bone of Mans bone and flesh of Mans flesh Q. Then how many Natures are there in Christ A. Two The Godhead and the Manhood Q. Why was it necessary that Christ should be God A. 1. That He might overcome Death 2. That He might have power to prevail with His Father 3. That He might make
the Kingdom to God the Father Q. Why is it said that Christ shall come again Did He ever come before to Judgment A. No. But this word again relateth to Christs first coming by His Incarnation for our Redemption and teacheth us that as He came then in the fulness of time to visit us in great humility so He shall come again at the end of the world in His glorious Majesty to Judge both the quick and the dead Q. Why are quick and dead mentioned in this Article A. To shew that all shall not die before the last day of Judgment but some shall be then found alive and these shall only be changed from corruption to incorruption and shall be caught up together with the dead into the clouds to meet the Lord in the ayr and so without separation of the body and soul by death they shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4.15 16 17. 1 Cor. 15.51 c. Q. In what Article of your Creed do you learn to believe in the Third Person of the Trinity the Holy Ghost who hath sanctified you and all the Elect People of God A. In the 8 9 10 11 12th Articles Q. What do you observe in this part of the Creed A. 1. The Person sanctifying 2. The Persons sanctified Q. VVho is the Person sanctifying A. The Holy Ghost called the Paraclete or Comforter Q. VVhat do you mean by the Holy Ghost A. A Ghost is the same that a Spirit which is pure a incorporeal immaterial substance So by the Holy Ghost I mean the Holy Spirit that is the Third Person in the Sacred Trinity Q. But are there not other Spirits besides the Third Person in the Trinity A. Yes The Angels are Spirits Heb. 1.14 And there are the Spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12.23 which are the souls of the Elected after they be delivered from the burden of the flesh And these are holy too And in general any thin substance in Nature wanting solidity and grossness of matter by way of resemblance and similitude may be called a Spirit But these are created Spirits and to distinguish the Third Person in the glorious Trinity from these we must call Him Uncreated And to make this distinction plain and evident the Fathers in the Councils of Nice and Constantinople have expounded this Article thus I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord and giver of life VVho proceedeth from the Father and the Son VVho with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified VVho spake by the Prophets Now here Being Lord distinguisheth Him from Ministring spirits Heb. 1.14 and being giver of life proceeding from the Father and the Son being worshiped and glorified together with the Father and the Son communicating with them in their Substance Nature Power Majesty Glory and Eternity and speaking by the Prophets distinguisheth Him from all creatures whatsoever Q. But is not the Holy Spirit said equally of the Father and of the Son too A. It is true both the Father and the Son are a Spirit and both holy also And therefore indeed this Third Person is not distinguished from the other two by His proper name but is called by a name common to the other two And this comes to pass because of our want of words For we can conceive God under no other Names but such as we borrow from created things so far as we can resemble Him to something that is in Nature and no farther And therefore we can call the First and Second Persons by their proper names because the First Person his communicating of His Substance to the Second is like to Generation that is the Act of Generating or begetting in Nature and so the Substance Generating is one Person of the Father and the Substance Generated is another Person of the Son But the Coming or Proceeding of the Third Person from both the other is like to nothing in Nature and therefore we can call the Act of this communicating of the Substance of the other two Persons to the Third by no other but by the general Name of Comeing or Proceeding and therefore the Person Proceeding in such manner as cannot be expressed no nor conceived by any thing that resembleth it must of necessity to us want His proper name and be called by the name proper to the other two Yet whensoever the Holy Spirit though it be the common name of all Three is joyned with the First and Second Person in the Trinity or with either of them by way of distinction then this particularly signifieth the Third Person in the Deity who ineffably inconceivably and eternally proceedeth from the Father and the Son and is Very God Co-eternal Co-equal and Con-substantial to both and to be worshipped with the same Faith and with equal Honor and Adoration Q. But why is the Third Person called Holy as it were in distinction to the other two A. We must not speak of any Person of the Godhead without holiness and all other Attributes of Perfection either expressed or understood And so the Third Person as the First and the Second is Holy ab intra by nature from all Eternity and Co-equal with them in this as in all other Nominal and Real Relative and Absolute Attributes But He is said to be Holy in distinction to Them by an Holyness of His Office ab extra begun in time as He is the Author and Maker of Holiness in us the Giver of Holy and Spiritual life the Sanctifier of all the Elect People of God Q. How doth the Holy Ghost Sanctifie and make Holy the Elect people of God A. 1. He dedicateth us early to Christs service in our Baptism 2. He alienateth us from the allurements of the world by a religious education 3. He acquainteth us with the holy Scriptures and with the Principles of Religion drawn from the same which â—re able to make us wise unto Salvation â—hrough faith that is in Jesus Christ 4. He exerciseth us therein that is 〈◊〉 the Scriptures and those Principles â—hrough the assistance of grace to have â—lways a Conscience void of offence â—oth towards God and towards men Q. How doth the Holy Ghost exercise 〈◊〉 to have a Conscience thus void of sence A. Many ways 1. By moving us to keep and restrain â—â—r five outward Senses that sin by â—â—em as by open windows enter not inâ—â— our hearts 2. By enabling us to practise the four â—â—rdinal moral Virtues 3. By infusing into our hearts the three Theological Virtues 4. By endowing us with the seven guifts of the Holy Ghost 5. By working in us the twelve Effects or Fruits of the Holy Ghost 6. By giving us a heart and power to do the three kinds of good works as also to perform the seven works of Corporal mercy the seven works of Spiritual mercy and the Offices of Christian Justice 7. By propounding unto us as the excitements of holy duties and the reward of our labours all the external internal and