thine is the Kingdome c. Q. These words are for matter and forme a thanksgiving What do we ascribe to God therein A. We acknowledge that Kingdome a over all the world and b power to doe what he will and c glorious excellencies do belong to God our Father in Heaven And we ascribe the praise thereof to him The excellency of Grace Majesty Mercy Power any thing whereby one may be magnified and extolled is the Lords peculiarly and transcendently 1 Chron 29.11 Rev 4.10 11. a 1 Tim. 1.17 Psal 103.19 Dan 5.21 b Psal 115.3 Psal 62 11. Rev 4.8 9. Deut. 32.31 c Esay 6.3 5. Esay 43.7 Rom 9.17 Q. What is required to an holy and right praising of God A. Two things 1. We must labour to have our hearts a affected with his glorious excellencies and greatnesse Conditions in right Thanksgiving as being the fountaine b of all the good we are or have a Esay 12.4 Psal 126.2 3. b 1 Chron 29 11 12. Psal 116.12 13 14. Mic. 7.18 Q. What 2ly must we doe If we desire to praise God aright A. We must endeavour to Live and Dye unto him who loved us first we must use all mercies which we receive from Him unto his Honour and service Psal 50.23 Ps 18.1 2. Rom 14.8 2 Cor. 5.15 Rom 12.1 2. Q. Wherefore is this clause added to the end of the Lords prayer A. To teach us that the hearing answering of our Prayers is grounded on a Gods own goodnesse b greatnesse and c glory and by them he is engaged to hear us We must presse God with the interest of his own glory power and Kingdome for hearing and helping of us a Ezek. 36.22 32. b Mic. 4.8 Dan. 3.16 17. 2 Chron. 14.11 c Ier 14.8 21 22. Exod 32.11 12. Iosh 7.9 Q. What must they do that ascribe all these to God A. We must set a up God in our hearts as â—upream King make him our Rock and Fear not b giving any part of his glory to any creature a Matth. 10.37 Luke 12.5 Ier. 10.7 Esa 8.12 13. b Dan. 2.30 Q. For ever What doth that word import A. That Gods a Kingdome power and glory in and over the Church is everlasting it failes not and that the Church shall b ascribe the same unto him in all ages and throughout all eternity When all Kings and Kingdomes shall cease when we are dead and gone yet Christ remainâ— a King of the Church and shall be magnified in it a Dan. 7.14 Esa 50.2 Esa 46.3 4. b Eph. 3.21 Rev. 5.13 14 according to that antient doxologie used in the Churches of Christ Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost Hooker Pol. lib. â— 8. 42. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Rom. 11.36 Rev. 5.13 AMEN Q. What doth that Word import A. Amen being set after any prayer or thanksgiving it doth imply our consent confidence and desire that the thing shall be as is uttered Deut. 27.15 16. Jer. 11.5 Jer. 28.6 1 Kings 1.36 2 Cor. 14.16 Q. What followes hereof A. That we must understand attend unto and affect the things prayed for else how shall I say Amen They that pray in an unknown tongue or gaze up and down or fiddle about their cloathes and other matters and complements in time of prayer do not bear a part in Prayer their Amen is fruitlesse and vaine 1 Cor 14.16 Rev. 22.20 CAP. XLVIII Of the right Vse and Abuse of the Lords Prayer Q. HOw may a Christian make a right use of the Lords prayer A. We may use it both for a Rule of prayer to measure our requests make other prayers by and also for a prayer it selfe as it was delivered by Christ Christ puts matter words into our mouthes Christ taught his Apostles to pray as John taught his Disciples that is He did not only give Rules of Prayer a patterne but a form for them to use Mat. 6.7 9. Luke 11.1 2. If you ask May we pray our Father c our Lord Christ gives the Answer when you pray say Our Father c. Of set Formes Prayer Q Is a Set Forme of Prayer lawful either of our own making or delivered to us in a book A. Yes it is else Christ and the Prophets would never have delivered set formes to be used by the Church God appointed Formes and therefore formes be not â— themselves unlawful the prayer is not evill because it is a formed prayer Num 6.23 26 Ioel 2 17. 1 Chron. 16.7 35. 2 Chron. 29.30 He gives the forme he sets them the words to be used and it was at a solemne Fast too Q. But is a set forme of Mans making lawfull to be used by us A. Yes If the prayer for matter and substance be lawful and such as concernes us we may safely use it We may use the words of Moses Daniel Nehemiahs prayer Q. Is stinted prayer lawfull that is set prayer to which one is confined and tied to use no other Of stinted prayer A. That 's unlawfull both in publick and private he that confines himselfe to book-prayers or to the prayers of others with whom he joynes or to set prayers of his own devising can never discharge the duty of right praying Ps 50.15 Jer. 14.7 21. Ezra 9.6 Dan. 9 5. They changed their Prayers with the occasions Q. Why so A. Because 〈◊〉 prayers must be made according to our necessities and neither book nor men with whom we joyne in prayer can expresse all o u wants and griefs nor I my selfe this day what I shall need pray for to morrow Yet it concludes not that set prayer or prayer with others for so much as it doth contain of meet matter to be asked is hereby unlawfull Because by such prayers we are not stiâ—ted but have liberty both the Ministers in their Congregations and our selves in private to enlarge our prayers as causâ— requireth There is addes between lawâ—â—ll and sufficient such a measure of Petitions is sufficient for the publike or the family which is not sufficient every way to all my occasions and that prayer may be sufficient at one time which is not at another Q. But in praying must we not exercise the spirit of prayer And can that be done in a set or book prayer A. Yes the spirit of prayer is when we begge in faith with feeling and fervency with sights and groanes and that is done when we joyne with others or use set formes as well as in sudden ex tempore conceived prayers As a Begger in true want beggs hard if there be any hope of obtaining and yet peradventure the next day or to the next man useth the same words or to the like effect the varying of a phrase doth not make it the spirit of prayer Mat. 26.39 42 44. with Heb 5.7 2 Cor. 13.14 with 2 Thes 3.17 18. Col. 3.16 The songs are not lesse
summarily in the Creed What is the Creed A. It is a Forme of sound and wholesome words teaching us what we must believe concerning God and the Church of God 2 Tim. 1.13 Q. It is not then a prayer A. No it doth not contain matter of petition but of profession of faith as the gesture of standing up doth also shew It belongs to the Honour and Worship of God that we make confession of our Faith Rom. 10.9 I believe in God Q. How many Gods be there A. Onely one God distinct in three persons Deu. 6.4 Esa 446.1 Joh. 5.7 Mat. 28.19 Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped and glorified Q. How be the Persons called A. God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13.14 Q. Which of these three Persons is Jesus Christ A. The second and middle Person Joh. 16.28 Eph. 1.3 Joh. 14.26 Joh. 15.26 Q. What is God A. God is an a eternall Spirit who b hath his Being of himselfe and c giveth being to all things else and we must worship him in Spirit and in Truth a Rev. 16.5 Ioh. 1.1 2. Prov 8.30 Heb. 9.14 b Exod. 3.14 Exod. 6.3 c Act. 17.25 Ioh. 4.24 God hath a Being he is a God by Nature whether we thinke it or not 2. His Being is of Himselfe 3. And without beginning Q. When you say God is a Spirit What doe you meane A. I meane that he is an immateriall immortall substance without body parts or passions not like to man nor any thing made by art Act. 17.29 Luk. 24.39 Esay 31.3 Act. 14.15 Q. What be the properties of Gods Nature by which we may conceive of Him A. He is the immortall eternall invisible only wise God the Lord God Gratious and Mercifull long-suffering abundant in Goodnesse and Truth forgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin and that will by no means clear the guilty And such an one we shall finde him to be 1 Tim. 1.17 Exod. 34.6 7. Q. Is it needfull to know these Properties to be in God A. Yes We must have an assured knowledge that he is Almighty perfectly good the Fountaine of all Goodnesse else we should not believe on him nor feare him nor love him nor depend on him for good things Rom. 10.10 14. Heb. 11.6 Q. What is it to believe in God A. To believe God is to believe that God is and that he is true But to believe in God is to rest and relie on him for salvation and for all things else that be good for me Iam. 2.19 Eph. 1.13 Esa 26.4 Q. Why doe you say I believe in God A. Because a particular and personall faith is necessary unto salvation every one must believe with his own heart and confesse with his own mouth Rom. 10.9 Act. 8 37. Q. What then doth it import to believe in such a God A. That God is all this to me and my salvation Gen. 17.7 Num. 14.17 18. CAP. XVI Of Creation and Providence and Gods Fatherhood and Power The Father Almighty Q. WHy is the first Person in the Trinity called Father A. Because he is the Father of Christ and of all that be Christs and also because he giveth beginning to all things else He. 1.5 Eph. 1.3 17. Eph. 3.14 2. Cor. 6.18 Ioh. 1.6 Ioh. 20.17 Q. Why is he called Almighty A. Because he can doe all that he will nothing can hinder his Power if he were not Almighty He could not make the least grasse or worme that is Rev. 1.8 Ier. 32.17 27. Iob. 9.9 12. Q. Declare more fully what you mean by Gods Almightinesse A. I meane not that God hath an idle power which he doth not exercise but that all creatures be in his hand and under his governance that he ordereth and disposeth all things by his unsearchable Wisdome and Providence Maker of Heaven and Earth Q. What doe you understand by that A. I believe that God made all things both visible and invisible of nothing in the space of six daies Gen. 2.1 Heb. 11.3 Col. 1.16 Q. The Heavens What mean you by that A. That God made the Heavens and the Hoast of them and the Inhabitants of Heaven that is the Angels Col. 1.16 Iohn 1.3 Q. Did God make the evill Angels too that is the Devils A. Yes He made them Angels of light but they by their fall made themselves Angels of darknesse Inde vers 6. 2 Pet. 2.4 Mat. 8.29 Q God made the Earth and all things therein Did he make the hurtfull creatures A. God made all good but their hurtfulnesse is a part of the curse that came in by sin Gen. 3.17 18. Rom. 8.20 22. Q. Did God make all things and so leave them A. No He still a upholdeth and preserveth governeth disposeth all things both b great and small c casuall and certaine good and evill by his just and wise providence a Ioh. 5.17 Act. 17.28 Heb. 1.3 b Ioh. 38.8 11 22 41. c Mat. 10.29 30 31. Psal 19.1 2. Iosh 10.11 12.13 Iob. 37.16 17. The Kingdoms and wils of men Dan. 4.25 1 King 12.15 Rain and Droughth Plenty and Dearth Am. 4.6 7. Health and sicknesse 1 Sam. 2.6 Life and Death Dan. 5.23 Psal 31.15 All are at his command doe happen by his wise and just disposing Q. Are the Devils also and the evill wils and minds of men guided by God A. Yes He sets them all their bounds overruleth all their wickedness as shall serve most for his glory Yet God himselfe remaines Holy and untoucht of any evill Act. 4.27 28. Job 1.12 2.6 Joh 19.11 Numb 22.18 19. 2 Sam. 16.11 Q. What then doe you believe in this Article A. I believe that Almighty God who is the Father of Jesus Christ the Maker and disposer of all things is my Father and my God He is the God on whom I depend for salvation and all things needfull for this life present Esay 54.4 5. Ps 100.3 Esay 64.8 9. 46.4 44.24.26 Q. How may it appeare that you indeed doe believe all this A. By three effects which follow this my beliefe 1 It makes me submit quietly to Gods will in whatsoever estate I am knowing that he is my Father 2 Sam 15.26 2 Sam. 16.10 2 King 20.19 1 Pet 4.19 Phil. 4.6 11 12. Mat. 6.30 32. Q. What second effect of this Faith A. This my faith banisheth all base and false feares of men upon assurance that I am not left to the power and will of any creature Esay 8.12 51.12 13. Joh. 19.10 11. Mat 26.53 1 Pet 3.14 15. Q. How lastly A. This Faith makes me to depend on God in his wayes for all things I need without stepping out to any false and indirect meanes for help as to bribery sorcery fraud flattery time-serving lying oppression nor to make flesh my arme Gen. 20 11 16. Ier. 17.5 2 Chron 16.3 7 8 9 12. Mat 4.3 7. Dan 3.16 17. Esay 28.16 CAP XVII Of Faith in the Sonne of God And in Jesus
the want of them or thâ— contrary to them shall make most for thâ— praise of his grace and for final and spiritual good 1 Iohn 5.14 Rom. 8.27 Q. For whom must we pray A. For a all men the dead b only exempted 4. For whom and such as have sinned againsâ— the Holy Ghost a 1 Tim. 2.1 1 Sam. 15.35 Ier. 28.6 Rom. 10.1 b Eccl. 9.6 Lukâ— 16 26. c 1 Iohn 5.16 The state of the dead is unalterable besides we have no example precept or promise of prayer made for the dead Q. In what manner must we pray unto God for these things A. To a right manner of praying three things are required 5. In what manner 1. It must proceed from the heart renued by the Spirit and assisted by the Holy Ghost in the very act of prayer Eph. 6.18 Iude v. 20. Gal. 4.6 with Rom. 8.15 26. 1. In the Spirit Spiritual prayer is not only opposed unto lip-prayer as when the tongue is exercised without the heart and affection but also unto heartiest prayers of unregenerate persons a natural man cannot pray though he cry from the heart as they did Ion. 1.5 Hos 7.14 Psal 78.34 36. He must be a spiritual man that can pray aright and also he must be assisted in prayer by Gods Spirit else he will make unmeet requests and loose his prayers Iam. 5.15 16. Q. How shall I know when I pray in the Holy Ghost A. By three things 3 things in spiritual prayer First if the sense apprehension of spiritual wants and evils which destroy the work of grace and hinder Christs Kingdom in us do chiefly stirre us up to prayer That is prayer in the Holy Ghost there is a natural and there is a spiritual good and evill Psal 4.6 7 Q. How secondly may it be known A. By the kind of our importunity the desire is not filled nor the heart at rest unlesse God answer us with spirituall favours and mercies no not although all outward good things be granted The naturall man regards but little Gods wâ—â—l or his good will he is at rest with naturall good things natural good thingâ— fill a naturall desire c. Exod 33.1.2 15 17 with Exod 34.9 Psal 105.4 Q. How thirdly A. In spirituall prayer not only the witt tongue and memory and such like good parts of nature are exercised but the graces of the spirit as humility hope repentance faith c. This is prayer in the Spirit Psal 66.18 Iob 16.13 14 17. Job 22.27 28. 2 Chron â—0 6 7 10 12. Ezra 9.6 Psal 85. â—5 8. Neh. 1.5 6 7 8 11. Q. What second thing is required to a right manner of praying A. We must pray with feeling of our wants and earnestnesse to obtaine Sense of our wants and misery begets fervency We cannot be earnest for things which we find no need of 2. With fervency or thinke to be due to us Joâ— 3.8 Rom 8.26 Heb 5.7 Iam 5.16 Ier 29 13. Dan 9.3.8 18. Luke 18.1 5. Q. What third thing is required to a right manner of praying A. We must pray in faith that is in full assurance that the thing we aske is according to gods will 3. In Faith and that we shall obtaine our requests so far forth as is expedient and best for us We must not doubt of the things we aske whether we may pray for them or not nor yet of Gods hearing and answering us therein we pray for many things conditionally but not doubtfully c. Iam 1.6 7. Iohn 5.15 2 Cor 12.9 Q. What ground of assurance have we that we shall be heard A. Gods promise of giving such such things and of hearing us when we beg them in and through Christs mediation there is a twofold promise first God promiseth to give us his spirit to give an heart of flesh to give strength against temptations and troubles c. Secondly and he hath bid us call upon him for the same with promise to heare and answer us and this is the ground of our confidence Luke 11.9 13. Psal 50.51 Heb. 4.15 16. CAP. XLIII Of the parts of Prayer and of the Lords Prayer Q. WHat be the parts of Prayer A. Three First a particular confession and aggravation of our sins and misery before God 1. Confession or dâ—prication with grief and shame of heart and with a purpose to leave them Luke 18.13 Psal 51.3 4 5. Prov. â—8 13 Ez. 9.6 14. 1 Iohn 1.9 Psal 32.5 Luke 15.21 1 Tim. 21. Q What be the other two parts of Prayer A. 2. Petition a and supplication for good things to our selves or others 2. Petition Intercession 3. Thanksgiving and 3. Thanks-giving wherein b wee give God the glory of his own excellencies and of all the good done to us a 1 Tim. 2.1 Acts 12.5 Luke 23.42 b Hab. 1.12 13. Num 14.17 Mic. 7.18 Rev. 5.13 1 Chron. 29.11.14 Psal 103.1 2. Q. Doe all Gods Children call upon their Father in Heaven A. Yes as the Child will Crave and make his moane to his Parents so the Children of God be of a spiritual craving disposition whereby the soul hangethup on God to receive good things from him Prayerlesse people be dead and gracelesse people Gal. 4.6 Zach. 12.10 Psal 79.6 Iob 27.10 Q. When and how often must we pray A. We must pray continually that is constantly Morning and Evening and also upon special occasions 1 Thes 5.17 Luke 18.1 1 At set times Acts 3.1 Acts 10 2 9. Acts 16.13 16. Ps 92.1 2. And it is a good thing so to doe Psal 55.17 with Dan. 6.10 2 And upon special occasions Dan. 9.2 Acts 12.5 Luke 6.12 13. Q But does the Spirit of God come at and keep set houres of prayer Can prayer at set times be prayer in the spirit A. Yes for the spirit of Grace is continually abiding in us and with us and therefore the spirit of supplication also David and Daniel Peter and John did 〈◊〉 want the spirit of Prayer when they kept the houres of Prayer Q The Lords Prayer consisteth of a Preface and a Body of Petitions and there be six Petitions of the Lords prayer How be they divided A. In the first three we begge such things as doe most immediately concerne Gods glory In the three latter such as concerne our good Our Father Q. How is God our Father and why so called A. Because God is the Father of Christ and in Him ouâ— Father having begotten us by the word of truth and married us unto his own eternall deare sonne Eph. 1.3 5. Gal. 4 5. Iam. 1.18 Rom. 8.16 17. Ioh. 20.17 Math. 22.2 Cant 4.9 Eph 5.32 Q. What learne you from this that Christ teacheth us in prayer to call God Father A It teacheth us that in Prayer we must goe to God as to a Father we must consider God in our minds as a Fathâ—r to us in Christ Jesus Esay 63.15 16. Luke 15.18 Math 11.25 Iohn 17.25