are the sinnes of Children contrary to these duties of children to their Parents Answ First Mat. 10.37 for children to love their Parents above Christ is a sinne against Christ and no true love to their Parents Secondly not to love or to hate Levit. 20.9 Prov. 20.20 Deut. 27.16 Prov. 15.20 Prov. 23.22 Gen. 9.22.24 c. Prov. 30.17 curse revile or dishonour despise disgrace or be ashamed of his Parents is a sinne a fearfull sinne cursed is he that seteth light by his Father or his Mother and let all the people say Amen Thirdly To mock scorn or deride Parents is a fearefull sinne yea not to cover but to scorn or deride or despise them in their infirmities this is sinne Fourthly Deut. 21.18 19 20. c. Rom. 1.30 2 Tim. 3.2 Prov. 30.17 1 Sam. 2.25 for children to be rebellious and to disobey and slight the lawfull and good Commandements and directions of Parents is as sinne yea to despise to obey their Mother is a fearfull sinne and hath a terrible curse foretold to fall upon such children The eye that mocketh his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valley shall pick it out and the young Eagles shall eate it Fifthly Prov. 5.1 children sinne in not subjecting themselves to the good instructions and good correcting of their parents Prov. 5.11 12 13. Levit. 9.3 Prov. 31.1 2 3 4. Deut. 21 20. Prov. 28.24 Gen. 26.34 35. Gens 54.50 51. Numb 39.3 4 5. 1 Cor. 7.35 38. yea of Mother and Father Sixthly children sinne in Robbing of their Parents in diminishig any of their Parents goods in Drunkennesse Gaming or any other way whatsoever who so Robbeth his Father or his Mother and saith it is no transgression the same is the companion of a destroyer it is a sin Seventhly it is a sinne to vow and promise or to settle mariage affections or for children to marry contrary to their Parents good advise and against their good will and approbation especially being under their government it was the practise of prophane Esau himselfe to his Parents for the Father hath the right to give his daughter in mariage Gen. 74.12 John 19.27 Eightly children sinne in being unthankfull and unkind to their Parents not taking care for them as Ioseph for old Jacob and Christ for his Mother but neglecting Parents contrary to the order both of nature and grace Mat. 15.5 6. Ninthly to be without naturall affection to Parents Rom. 1.31 or to disrespect their prayer and blessing is a sin Gen. 27.34 Hest 2.7 20. and they worse then Esau Tenthly for children not to obey as Hester did Mordecia but to disrespect or despise or disobey their Tutors or Governours or Parents for their wise just and wholesome commands 2 Chron. 24.2.17 22. Gen. 12.5 Gen. 13.8 Prov. 18.19 Psal 33. 1 2 3. Gen. 27.41 counsells and admonitions or to be unkinde or unthankfull to any of them or theirs for their care over them or to be without love to Brethren or Sister much more to be unkinde unquiet or contentious to quarrell or as Esau to malice or hate one another all this is sinne and subjects to the curse of God Quest 19. Now have received from Christ the great Prophet out of the holy Scripture of truth what is the duties of Parents to children and of children to their Parents declare I pray you by light from Christ what is the meanes to inable children to practize these duties to Gods glory and their Parents comfort and comfort of their own soules Ans It is not in man to direct his steps Jer. 10.23 neither can Parents or children performe their duties by strength of their owne therefore both Parents and children must waite on Christ in his Ordinances Iohn 1.12 Iohn 1.16 Iohn 15.5 Phil. 4.13 Malac. 4.2 and receive dayly strength of grace from Christ to walke comfortably with Christ in their duties for without Christ wee can doe nothing but in and by Christ wee may doe all things as the Apostles witnesseth of himselfe Christ is the Sunne of Righteousnesse who commeth with healing in his Wings not onely to heale our natures but to enlighten and warme and quicken the soules of his children in the performance of every duty Grace in children is the best riches the best portion the same in Parents Quest 20. The mutuall dutiet of Parents to children and of children to Parents being thus held forth declare I pray you the duties of masters and mistresses to their servants and apprentises Gen. 18.19 2 Kings 5 23. Coloss 3.22 Ans Masters and Fathers of Families are in the nature and place of Parents to their servants whilest they are under their charge and ought to be carefull of their servants and apprentises to Catechize and instruct them in the knowledge of God of Christ and of themselves and their duties out of Gods Word that they may doe them service in the feare of God not with eye service Gen. 24.1 56. but in singlenesse of heart as unto Christ For how should Masters or Mistresses expect faithfull service from their servants and apprentises when they never take care to teach them what their duty is out of Gods Word Secondly Job 13 31 Coloss 4.1 Masters ought to rule their servants with Justice and equity according to the Apostles direction Masters give unto your servants that which is just and equall knowing that yee also have a Master in Heaven Thirdly the commandes of Masters and Mistresses to their servants and apprentises must be honest and lawfull agreeable not contrary to the Word of God else they are not to be obeyed 2 Sam. 11 14 15. David sinned in commanding Ioab to to set Vriah in the hottest of the Battell that he might be smitten and die 1 Sam. 22 17. and Ioab sinned in obeying David and Saul sinned in commanding his footmen to to kill the Lords Priests and Saules foot-men did not sinne in disobeying the unlawfull commands of the King their Master Fourthly Gen. 24.5 8. Masters ought to command their Servants and Apprentises things possible for them to do proportionable to their abilities actings of their best endevours not beyond them faithfull Abraham a good Master required no more of his servant Rom. 12.17 1 Tim. 5.8 Fifthly the Masters duty is to provide for his Servants and Apprentices convenient food and rayment and to Grant them necessary rest 2 King 5.13 and refreshing that they may be able to doe their Masters Service with cheerefulnesse as unto living Parents Sixthly the duty of Masters towards their Servants Ephes 6.9 is to correct them when necessity requireth with wisedom and moderation and to forbear cruell threatnings knowing that they have a Master in heaven neither is their respect of persons with him Seventhly the Masters and Mistresses duty Gen. 29.15.21 Gen. 30.28 Exod. 2 9. Prov. 22.6 Deut. 15.12 13 14. towards their
life of grace witn joy and hope in believing and 2. what quickning vertue of Christ held forth in the Word of life there is in my soule 3. What strengthning with might in inner man what abilities of spirituall senses seeing hearing tasting with eyes and ears and mouth of faith to discerne the Lords body and blood from the outward element of bread and wine and to partake of Christ in the act of receiving that so I may feed on Christ with joy rejoycing at the Lords Table Quest 7. But what light have you from Christ to know whether you have life of grace and spirituall senses in your soule nor not without which it is impossible to discerne the Lords body or to receive or seed on Christ or draw near with any comfort to the Lords Table Answ This is a great question and often hath filled my soule with fears and doubting but by the grace of God in Christ I shall render a reason of the hope that is in me and shew you what grounds I have to believe and hope that I have found life of grace in me and so spirituall senses â—o discern the Lords body so that I may come with comfort to the Lords Supper Quest What are your grounds of your life of grace given in you in Christ Answ I praise God I was born of religious parents my Father like faithfull Abraham carefull to pray with and to instruct his family Gen. 18 19. Iosh 24.15 1 Sam. 1.15 1 Pet. 3.7 and catechize them in the first principles of the Oracles of God and as Joshua who resolved himself and his house to serve the Lord. And my Mother like Hanna a woman pouring out of her soul to God in secret prayer for me or as Monica did for her sonne Augustine and both my parents living together as heirs of the grace of life so that their prayers might not be hindred and with endeavouring to bring up their children in the knowledge of Christ and fear of God and so I conceive it is more difficult to declare the first quickning or birth of the life of grace my soul but yet I beleeve I have felt and found divers evidences of this life in me Quest 9. You answer right its difficult in such to manifest the beginnings of grace in the heart but what was a first evidence of life of grace in you that you can discerne or remember Answ Truly in my childehood I was taught and had some knowledge of the Scripture and of my estate both by creation and the fall of Adam and of the way of salvation in Christ the second Adam and I had an outward form at least of Religion and I was carefull to sanctifie the Lords day and to spend it in holy duties Prov. 22.6 2 Tim. 3.15 Gen. 24.63 Rev. 1.10 Psal 119.136 Rom. 9.1 2 3. both publick private though with many failings And I remember on a Lords day after Supper I went into a Garden as Isaac into the field to meditate of what I had heard Preached and I hearing a great noise of children and youths playing in the streets and so prophaning the Lords day I was so grieved that I shed tears for them as David for his enemies conceiving their estate was fearful being senslesse of their own misery and adding sin to sin and this I thought might be some work of Gods Spirit and sign of true grace then beginning in my soul when I was about ten or twelve years of age Quest 10. I do conceive there might be much wrought in you by the power of education moving you to dislike that open prophanation of the Lords day of Parents suffering their Children to play in the streets when they should rather be catechizing them in their families as it is a common fault still yet there is good hope that affection and grief for sin was a work wrought in you by the Spirit of Christ and so a an evidence of true grace in your soul But what further evidence have you found Ans After I was grown to riper years Gen. 42.16 Rom. 2.14 15. 2 Cor. 12 7 c. Rom. 7.22 c. in my youthful time when I left my Parents I was too subject to conform to that company and family with whom I lived where was an outward common form of Religion and saying of some prayers sometimes but I saw no power of Religion no conscience of ordinary swearing especially lesser Oathes as common blinde people call them as by their Faith and Troth and by our Lady c. no conscience of immoderate abuse of the creatures eating and drinking to ryot no care of any strict observation of the Lords day but a dislike of too much precisenesse as they called it and inveighing against Puritans as they called them sn those dayes as some such do against Roundheads in these times of which so called I did know some to be religious and good people and sometimes would defend and speak for them whether out of a principle of graca from Christ or by the power of my education I have since called in question but this I am sure that amongst this formal or civil yea sometimes uncivil company I had many buffetings of Satans messengers sometimes as a captive prisoner I had many falls into sin and failin my walking to the great trouble of my conscience enlightned whether by the light of nature accusing or excusing as the Apostle speaks or whether by the common light of the spirit in my education Rom. 2.15 and word Preached or thirdly whether by the light of grace and spirit of Christ I conceived a great question and was often filled with fears and terrors in my soul that though I seemed a Saint in comparison of divers open prophane persons about me yet having such falls and corruptions I was either still unregenerate or a formal hypocriâ—e at best as Mr. Bolton upon the first Psalm the beginning describes him and so could seldom gain or keep any quiet in my conscience or true peace as I was perswaded in my soul onely some comforts I had hope of in Christ Iesus Quest 11. Truly your state I believe might well be questionable especially if you were drawn away with the error of the wicked Rev. 2.5 to approve of their wayes or to dislike strictnesse in Religion and precise walking with God at the best it is certain that if truth of grace was ever in you yet you had lost your first love and though formerly you might have had a name to live 2 Pet. 3.17 Rev. 2.4 3.1 2. yet in this condition you were either dead or taken captive indeed or graces ready to dye in you your works and walking being found so imperfect before God But tell me I pray you how or by what means did you get any peace or quiet in your conscience in those times Ans I do not remember that I did approve of the evil wayes of that company with
and being grieved when they do evill as an affliction of God upon themselves correcting them in time and especially taking care to prevent sin in them and Gods Judgement for sin upon them Secondly to declare their love to their Children in nourishing them and bringing them up with fit education Prov. 4.3.4.5 according to their calling Thirdly in taking care to place them in some honest calling for which they are fit by naturall inclination and gifts or with which their minde upon true information is affected as convenient and hopefully profitable for soules and bodies Gen. 49.8 9 10. c. and a comfortable lively-hood when they come to mens estate as Iacob gave his Sonnes callings in his blessing and care for them Fourthly in taking care for them Gen. 28. Gen. 24.1 2 3 4 c 1 Cor. 7.36 if God give ability and fitnesse to direct them in matters of moment for their comfortable life especially in the Married estate providing for them as Abraham for his Son Eccles 7.25 Gen. 14.57 58. and the wise man for his daughter not without her liking and consent Fifthly laying up and providing comfortably for their children 2 Cor. 12.14 Deut. 21.17 Gen. 49.3.4 1 Chron. 5 1.2 Gen. 17.23 Exod. 4.25 26. Mark 10.13.14 Luke 1.59.60 Ephes 6.4 as God giveth ability unto them in estate respecting the Eldest according to the right of the first born if there be no just cause held forth in Scripture to the contrary Sixthly as to procure for them as children of beleevers born in the Church the Sacrament of Baptisme that seale of the Covenant as their priviledge if God afford it in a right manner so to bring them up in the knowledge of Christ that they may walke according to the Covenant Gen. 49.15.16 Heb. 13.20.21 Monica prayes for her Sonne Augustine c. Seventhly to pray to the Lord for his blessing upon them as the Patriarks and Saints did of old and the Children of God of later Times in the Church Quest 16. You have held forth the particular duties of Parents to their Children now what are the particular sinnes contrary unto these duties Answ Whatsoever is contrary to the duties before mentioned as in briefe First not to love their Children Mat. 7.9 and take care to provide for them Secondly to hate them Ephes 5.29 Eccles 16.1.2 3. Thirdly to love their bodies or to take care for their outward temporall Estates and not to take care for their soules and Eternall Estate Fourthly to neglect Catechizing Deut. 11.19 or Instructing of them Fifthly 1 Kings 1.6 Prov. 10.1 Prov. 29.15.17 to be too Indulgent towards them Cockering of them which often proves the undoing of Children and griefe of Parents the Child left to himselfe bringeth his Mother to shame Sixthly to be too cruell Eph. 6.4 and bitter in correction or otherwise towards their Children Coloss 3.21 provoking them to take those evill courses which a wise and right Fatherly carriage towards them might have prevented which is contrary to that Rule Fathers provoke not your Children lest they be discouraged Seventhly in cursing Rom. 12.14 or not praying for their children and not desiring Gods blessing upon them for if the Magistrate or prophet of God the Civill and spirituall Father may sinne in not praying for their civill and spirituall 1 Sam. 12.23 children then it must needs be a sinne also in naturall Parents Gen. 9.25 For howsoever Noah prophetically cursed Canaan yea some others have in a propheticall manner pronounced curses to come upon the wicked yet to curses as commonly wicked Parents and others too often use Matt. 5.44.45 is a grievous sinne and God many times brings the Parents curses upon their Children Quest 17. You have manifested the duties of Parents towards their Children now what light have you from Christ to hold forth in Scripture the duty of Children towards their Parents Answ These duties of children may be branched forth into divers particulars Ruth 4.15 John 14.31 Gen. 31.35 Gen. 46.29 Gen. 47.7 Malach 1.6 Gen. 45.8.9 Gen. 45.23 Gen. 44.30 31. First the childrens duty is to love honour and highly esteem of and reverence their naturall Parents although they themselves be highly exalted and their Parents be but of mean Estate and to declare their honourable esteeme of their Parents in all Words and Actions of reverence and respect both in their presence and absence Secondly childrens duty is to fear offending of their Parents or grieving them by word or deed in their presence or by any Actions Leviticus 19.3 or behaviour in their absence thou shall feare thy Mother and thy Father I am the Lord the Mother is named before the Father because children are most apt to disrespect their Mother therefore the wise man he expresseth both together Prov. 23 2â— hearken to thy Father that begat thee and despise not thy Mother when she is old Let children not forget their duty herein Thirdly Ephes 6.1.2 2. Coloss 3.20 Prov. 1.8 children are not onely to love and honour and feare offending but also to obey their Parents in the Lord the Apostle presseth this duty with the motive of a promised blessing which is the first Commandement with promise saith he that it may goe well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth Luke 2â— 11 and Christ himselfe giveth an Example when he was subject unto his Parents Fourthly the duty of children Prov. 1.8 is to accept off and subject unto the instruction and correction of Parents Heb. 12.7.9 as that which is most profitable for their good being discreetly and in right manner performed Fifthly the duty of children is to be directed Gen. 28. â— 2 Gen. 28.6.7 and advised by their Parents with much respect for undertaking Matters of great concernment especially for their undertaking of marriage good children will not be rash in this without consent of Parents especially religious Parents who take care both of their soules and bodies and the like respect ought Foster children to have of their Guardians Hester 2.7.20 and Foster Parents who religiously and carefully take care for their good Prov. 4.1.3 c. Matt 15.4.5 6. 1 Tim. 5.4 Gen. 47.12 John 19 2â— 27. Gen. 27.34 Gen 48.12 13. Gen. 14.12 13 14.15 c. Prov. 31.28 Prov. 17.17 Rom. 12.10 Sixthly childrens duty is to follow Parents good Example and to declare themselves thankfull to their Parents seeking their good and taking care for them if at any time they stand in need of cherishing or provision for their comfortable lively-hood in this life especially for the good of their soules Christ tooke care for his Mother even at his death Seventhly children are to desire and esteeme the Prayers and blessing of their Parents to love Parents Friends and especially naturall Brethren and Sisters as most neer ein relation Quest 18. You have held forth the dutâ—es now what
seeing to be exercised in this holy Sacrament Ans The spiritual sense which answereth bodily sight is a spiritual sight and eye of the soul or rather eye of faith and the spiritual object of the eye of faith is the Body and Blood of Christ or whole Christ my Saviour presented to the eye of my soul as preprared from all Eternity by God the Father as a perfect Saviour and a full banquet Ioh. 6.27 c. 1 Cor. 10.16 17. by his vertue and merits to nourish and enliven my soul and body to life eternal and the life of grace in me to the life of glory for which himself exhorts me to labour and wait for him in this Sacrament Quest 11. What is to be acted or done by you when you thus see the Bread and Wine prepared for you on the Lords Table Answ I ought by the power of Christ 1. To observe diligently the Sacramental Elements of Bread and Wine first what they are 2. To meditate and see how fitly they represent the Body and Blood of Christ And 3. By the eye and hand of faith to apply all to my own soul Heb. 10.5 6 7. Ioh. 6.27 that as I see the Bread and Wine is prepared by the Minister of Christ and Gods goednesse for my bodily nourishment so to see how the Lord Iesus Christ is prepared from all Eternity for nourishment of my soul to life everlasting Quest 12. What is the third Sacramental object of senses corporal and spiritual to be exercised in this feast of the Lord Mat. 26.6 27. 1 Tim. 4.4 5. Luke 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.26 c. Ans The action of blessing Elements in which both the sences of seeing and hearing bodily are to be exercised when the Minister of Christ by solemn prayer doth Blesse Consecrate and Sanctifie 1. The Bread to be the Sacramental Body of Christ 2. The Wine to be his Sacramental Blood according to the Lords Institution seeing and hearing of them both sanctified and separated from common Bread and Wine to this holy use and end by prayer thanksgiving and blessing according to the command example and institution of Christ Quest 13. What is the object of your spiritual sences of seeing and hearing in this action represented by consecration of Sacramentdl Bread Ioh. 6.27 Ans By the ear and eye of faith I am to hear and see God the Father sealing and consecrating Christ the Lord for the everlasting nourishment of my soul and body spirirually to life eternal Quest 14. What is to be acted and done when you thus hear and see the Bread and Wine blessed and consecrated by the Minister of Christ with the ears and eyes of your body and hear and see the Lord Christ so represented consecrated and sealed by God the Father with the ears and eyes of faith the spiritual senses of the life of grace in your soul 1 Cor. 10.18 Rom. 10.7 c. Ans First Rom. 8.9 1 Pet. 1.11 Iohn 16.26 Isa 63.4 c. Heb. 10.14 observation by the power and assistance of Christs spirit and his quickning power in my soul Secondly to observe diligently by the power of God this blessing consecrating and sanctifying of the outward Elements of Bread and Wine by Christs Minister and by the ear and eye of the soul this consecrating and sealing of Christ by the holy blessed God as my full perfect and sufficient Saviour Quest 15. What is the second meditation Ans Secondly by the power of the spirit of Christ 2 Sam. 1.26 Psal 42.1 2. by Divine meditation of this unspeakable love of God consecrating his onely begotten Son from all Eternity to be my Redeemer and All-sufficient Saviour so to be affected as to admire this wonderful free love of God in giving his Son and having my soul filled with spiritual longings to enjoy and partake of so rich a gift of grace held forth to my soul in this Sacrament above that wonderful love of Jonathan to David passing love of women Quest 16. What is a third particular act to be done Ans Thirdly Application by the power of the same spirit through the grace of faith so to apply Christ thus consecrated of God the Father to be my Saviour as the Bread and Wine by the Minister to represent this sacramentally to my soul that I may finde I am united by faith and the same spirit of Christ unto God the Father Ioh. 20.17 as to my most tender Father in Christ Iesus for ever Quest 17. What is the fourth Sacramental action or object in the celebration of this blessed Sacrament about which your corprral and spiritual sences should be exercised Luk. 22.19 20. Mat. 26.26 c. 1 Cor. 11.24 c. Isa 53.4 c. Luk. 24.15 c. Ans The sacramental representation or the breaking of Christs body with torments and the shedding of his blood for my sins as Christ our Lords intimates in his institution of this holy sacrament and as foretold before by Prophets Quest 18. What bodily or spiritual sences or organs and instruments of body and soul are to be exercised by you in this Sacramental action of breaking Bread and powring out of the Wine in the Sacraments by the Minister of Christ Ans First the sence of bodily seeing when by the eyes of the body I behold the Minister of Christ breaking the Bread the sacramental body and powring out of the Wine the sacramental blood of Christ prepared and blessed consecrated sanctified by the Word and prayer for this holy use and powred forth for my refreshing as 1 Tim. 4 4 5. common bread and drink so much more this by Christs institution and ordinance Mark 14.22 c. Quest 19. What spiritual sences are to be exercised Ans I ought to exercise the sences of spiritual sight Isa 53. Zach 12.11 13.6 7. Mat. 26.31 ult 27. c. Luk. 22.23 and by faith the spiritual eye of the soul to behold and see the natural body of Christ crucified and broken with torments for my sins though a bone of him was not broken but his soul broken with grief and sorrow in sense of the wrath of God and his body with sense of pains buffetings with fists whippings with scourges crowned with thorns crucifying with tormenting nails mixing of Gall and Vinegar to drink and above all his Agony in the Garden sweating drops of blood and not onely denying forsaking and betraying but sense of his Fathers wrath and forsaking at least in sense to him for a time I say the eye of my faith is to see all this Mat. 27.46 and what more the scripture revealeth in the bitter passion of Christ held forth to my soul in the breaking of the bread and powring out of the wine for me to partake of at the Lords Table Quest 20. What is to be acted or done by you upon the beholding of this Sacramental action of breaking Bread and powring out of the Wine with the eyes and
praise or neglect to blesse his Name when God requires Leviticus 24.15 Job 2.9 Mark 5.24 Secondly to curse or Blaspheame the sacred Name of God or of Christ our Lord in himselfe Word Ordinances or Works Thirdly to abuse the fearefull Name of God to conjuration charmes exorcismes or the like wicked abomination Fourthly to dishonour his Name Title Exodus 21.17 Mat. 5.44 James 3.9 10. Word or Workes of Judgement or mercy in using and abusing it in cursing Father or Mother or others by any wicked imprecation as a plague of God and Pockes on you or the like most odious and prophane termes wicked men practise against themselves or others as God damme me or them Quest 16. What other sinne is there contrary to this duty of glorifying Gods Name in blessing in and by Gods Name Ans To blesse or curse any in the Name of the Devill whether it be by wicked devilish imprecations upon a mans selfe as those cursed wishes and devilish prayers of Athesticall prophane men in these dayes Job 2.9 10 The Devill take me the Devill confound me body and soule and the like damnable wickednesse or the like worse then Paganish imprecation upon any others all being high provocations of the most mighty God who is able to cast both body and soule into Hell fire in a moment Mat. 20.28 as he made the earth to open her mouth and to swallow up Dathan and to cover the congregation of Abiram Numbers 16.32 33. 1 Sam. 28.7 2 Kings 1.1 or to blesse in the devils name or by the devil as those whom ignorant people use to cal good Witches abominable to God Quest 17. What is the first particular duty required in this third Commandement for honoring of Gods Name Ans Deut. 6.13 To glorifie God in calling him to witnesse and judge of the Truth of our words and actions Jer. 4.2 Jer. 12.16 Heb. 6.16 whensoever we are called to sweare in his Name in Truth Judgement and Righteousnesse and to testifie the Truth lawfully concerning our selves or others upon Oath or whensoever wee bind our selves by Oath Promise 2 Cron. 11.12 13.14 Psalme 15.4 Covenant or Protestation in Gods Name for the performance of any thing lawfull possible acknowledging the Lord to be the Revenger of all false Oathes or falsification of Oathes and Promises and subjecting our selves to his judgement if we swear falsely or performe not our just and lawfull Oathes and Protestations so prophan and take the name of our God in vain Quest 18. What are the particular sinnes contrary to this duty of honouring God in swearing the Lord liveth in Truth Iudgemmt and Righteousnesse Ans First Not to sweare and witnesse the Truth in judgement and righteousnesse Ierem. 4.2 in the name of God when we are called lawfully and rightly to sweare to Gods glory and the good of Gods Church As those who affirme all swearing unlawfull and utterly refuse to take any Oath before a lawfull Magistrate upon misunderstanding of those places of Scripture which seeme to forbid swearing at all Mâ—t. 5.14 Iames. 4.12 when as indeed they only forbid all unlawful swearing and all swearing in our ordinary communication by which the name of God is taken in vaine Quest 19. WVhat is a second sinne contrary to this duty Isaiah 48.1 Levit. 19.12 Ans All perjury or false swearing when men sweare by the name of the Lord but not in truth nor righteousnesse and so take the name of the Lord God in vaine Deut. 3.11 Zach. 5.23 4. contrary to Gods strict commandement Quest 20. What is a third sinne forbidden contrary to the duty of glorifying Gods name what light from Christ in this duty for our direction Ans Ier. 5.7 All swearing by the creatures and that which is not God calling that to witnesse truth which cannot search the heart nor try the reines nor know whether the Oath be true or false As when men sweare by Heavens Mat. 5.34 35 36 37. or by the Earth or by our Lady or by the Masse or by themselves or any thing in them or of mans devising setting them up for the tryers of Truth in stead of God whether they be Saints or Angels or any creature whatsoever or any thing but God himselfe Quest 21. What is a fourth sinne 1 Sam. 14.24 40 45. 1 Sam. 25.22 Ans The performing of any unlawfull rash oathes vowes or promises which are sinfull and a dishonour to the holy name of God and to the hurt of the soules or bodies of our selves or others Acts. 23.12 and contrary to the true honour of God or love of our neighbour Prov. 16.33 Prov. 18.18 Numb 26.25 Ioshu 14.2 Quest 22. What is a sixt duty in particular for the honouring of Gods name Ans The lawfull and right use of a lot for dividing of lands or goods when necessity requireth and God calleth for it to end some such controversie which otherwise cannot be decided Acts. 1.24 Psal 16.6 and this with prayer to God to direct the lot and resting satisfied with the lot when God hath ordered it Quest 23. What is the sinne contrary to this duty of seeking the honour of Gods name in a lot Ans All unlawfull common and ordinary abuse of lots in games or otherwise in a wrong manner or to a wrong end Hester 3.7 to the prophanation of Gods name and dishonour of the Gospell of Christ Quest 24. What is a seventh particular duty what light from Christ herein Mat. 10.32 Rom. 10.10 Mat. 5.16 Phil. 1.27 Rom. 1.16 Iude. 4. Ans The confession and glorifying of Gods name in our lives and conversations to Gods honour the good example of others and comfort of our owne soules in Christ Jesus Quest 25. What is the sinne contrary to this confession and profession to the glorifying of Gods name Ans To deny or be ashamed of Christ Mat. 26.74 Iohn 12.42 43 Rom. 2.24 or the Gospel or to dishonour God in our lives or cause the Gospel of Christ and name of God to be Blasphemed Quest 26. You have given me good satisfaction concerning the command it selfe now what doe you believe concerning the reason annexed in the words following For the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine Ans I understand in this command as in the former there is expressed a terrible threatning against all such as prophane Gods name 2. Chron. 36.13 either by prophane swearing or forswearing or by abuse of Ordinances or any other way that God will not hold them guiltlesse but guilty Deut. 27.26 and so subject to Gods curse and eternall condemnation for this sinne Quest 27. What is further implyed in this threatning that God will not hold such guiltlesse who prophane his name Ans A gracious promise of blessing to such as by the power of Christ carefully endeavour by all good meanes to glorifie the sacred name of
assistance of the spirit of Prayer and this rightly Rom. 8.26 in a right manner in the name of Christ and to a right end otherwise our Prayers are not right nor acceptable before God nor can we expect to be heard at Gods hand when we call upon him in Prayer Quest 21. J see then that a bare forme of Prayer is not sufficient to rest in but I must have the spirit of God inabling of mee to pray with the spirit or inner man as well as with the mouth and my soule must bee disposed in a right manner in Prayer and enabled by the Spirit of Christ but what graces are requisite in this dutie Ans Faith Repentance Humility Devotion See Classis 30. 2 Sect. in 2 Commandement pag. 502. 503 504. Zeale Fervency Perseverance and such like Graces and all in the name of Christ else all is nothing And therefore hee or shee prayeth best who hath the spirit of Prayer and can powre out his or her heart and soule to God in Prayer as Jacob and Hannab and other Saints of God have done and have beene heard in their Prayers with a gratious returne 1 Cor. 14.15 Iames 1.6 Isa 1.15 16. Acts. 10.2 Hosea 12.4 James 5.16 Psal 51.17 Iere. 50.4 5. 1 Thess 5.17 John 16.23 Quest 22. But how shall a man get the spirit of Prayer and ability to powre out his soule to God Ans I answer you must not rest in your Prayers nor in any duty you performe to God as if that did satisfie the Lord for your sins or meritoriously procured your peace with God but you must rest on Christ both for your acceptation of your selfe and your prayers upon the Golden Altar with the incense of Christs merits Revel 8.3.4 Quest 23. In what else must J wait for the spirit Ans Secondly you must waite upon God in Christ in all the meanes of grace till hee powre out the spirit of Prayer into your heart and soule that you may cry Abba Father and be heard as a child of God in Christ Gal. 4.6 Quest 24. What further direction can you give Ans Thirdly and lastly for your better enablement to expresse the desires and groans of your soule to the Lord aske your soule but these or the like foure questions to this or the like effect as speaking to your selfe Quest 25. What is the first Ans First Oh my soule to whom or to what glorious Majesty oughtest thou to direct thy Prayers at Morning or Evening or Noone day or whensoever in publike or private or secret thou desirest to gaine a blessing from the highest Heavens Psal 55.17 Quest 26. What shall I answer to this demand Ans Let thy soule answer and it will tell thee it is to the most high God the Possessor of Heaven and Earth the searcher of all hearts and the hearer of Prayer presented to him in the name and by the mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ Ps 38.13 Psal 65.2 Psal 77.1 Iohn 16.23 Quest 27. What directions Ans Endeavour in all fear and humility to begin thy Prayer with the best expressions of the most glorious Name Nature Persons Properties of this great and glorious Lord God with the acknowledgement of his Truth Power and Majesty in his Words and Workes held forth in Scripture and of thy unworthinesse which may affect thy heart by the helpe of Christs Spirit with a right temper to powre out thy soule to God in Prayer 1 Chron. 29.11 2 Chron. 30.18.19 Ezra 9.6 Nehe. 9.32 and this in the best words thou canst but chiefly have regard to thy heart which the Lord hath a speciall eye unto And so begin thy Prayer as Exod. 15.11 12.13 Exodus 34.6 7. 1 Kings 8.23.27 or in the like manner Quest 28. What is second question Answ Secondly aske thy soule a second question to this or the like effect Oh! my soule Ezra 9.5 6 7. Prov. 28.13 Dan. 9.4.5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. wherein hast thou offended this great God to whom thou desirest to lift up thy selfe in Prayer that thou mayst acknowledge thine offences and seeke for further assurance of pardon before thou beg any other favour at the Lords hand as 2 Chron. 6.36 Quest 29. What direction here Ans Let thy soule first looke into the glasse of thy owne conscience Rom. 2.14 15. Acts 24.16 Rom. 3.20 Iohn 3.19 20.36 1 Iohn 3.23 Rom. 7.18 19 20. and secondly into the glasse of the Word of God both the commanding and promising part both Law and Gospell and finde out thy sinnes and accuse and condemne thy selfe for thy ingratitude for so many former mercies yea confesse and labour to be humble for thy fall in Adam for thy originall and actuall transgressions in state of nature but especially thy unthankefulnesse in dayes of grace Ephes 4.30 either in thought word or deede wereby thou hast grieved the spirit of God by whom thou art sealed to the day of Redemption and this in as good words as God makes thee able As Hannah 1 Sam. 1.17 and with the exercise of all those graces the Lord hath given thee to this end thou hast here a large field to powre out thy soule to God in if thou canst finde out thy manifold sinnes against God or the sinnes of others which thou desirest to confesse and bewaile before God thy Lord as Daniel and other Saints have done Daniel 9.7 8 9 10 11. Quest 30. What is the third question Ans Thirdly aske thy soule a third question to this or the like effect Oh my soule what dost thou want or what is thy request and the desire of thy heart to obtaine at the hands of thy God and loving Father in Christ Quest 31. And what wants may I expresse Ans Thy soule will tell thee thou wantest in the first place the assurance or more full assurance of the forgivenesse of all thy sinnes and of Gods free grace and love unto thee in the Lord Jesus thou wantest many favours from God for thy body for thy soule for this for a better life for thy wife thy husband for Parents children servants kindred accquaintance thy Neighbours thy friends thy enemies for the Kings Majesty for the Parliament the Kingdom the City and Country for Peace and Truth and a happy union and communion one with another and with the whole Church of Christ and here expresse thy minde as well as thou canst by the power of Christ the Lord careth not so much for fine words as for an honest sincere contrite heart sanctifyed by the spirit of Christ Isai 66.2 Quest 32 What is the fourth question Ans Lastly aske thy soule a fourth question to this or the like effect Oh my soule what hast thou received from this great and good God for which thou art bond to render him thankes and praise in the Name of the Lord Jesus Quest 33. What rule is there to finde this out Ans Let thy soule call to minde all or as many as thou canst of those unspeakable favours the Lord hath bestowed upon thee reckon them up imparticular out of the catalogue of Gods mercies both upon thy owne soule in particular and the Church in generall to thy selfe to thine to the people of God and what a sea of mercy mayst thou swim in and enlarge thy thankfulnesse above all for Gods free love in the Lord Jesus as Psalme 116.12 13. Quest 34. But did you ever know any man thus learne to pray Ans Yes did I know a Christian who could reade never a word upon the Booke and yet after hee had received these directions puting them carefully and constantly in practise in a secret place before God the onely searcher of hearts and the Teacher of the ignorant hee did in a short time attaine an excellent habit in Prayer and was inabled to pray dayly in his Family in a sweet comfortable manner and assuredly the Lord is the same God still to all his children in Christ and will be so to all who diligently waite on him in the use of the meanes I conclude with the Apostle now to him that is able to keepe you from falling and to present you blamelesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Jude 24.25 to the onely wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen FINIS COurteous Reader there are some few Errata which the ingenuous may easily find and amend with their Pen.