for a troubled and wounded Conscience 464 The END of the Table A briefe and necessarie Catechisme Very meet to be knowne of euery one before they bee admitted vnto the Supper of the Lord. Question WHat is the cheefest thing which euery one ought to bee most carefull of as long as they liue An. Euery one ought to be most careful of these two points First and chiefely â—ow we can be saued in the day of iudgement before Gods iudgement seate and so come to life euerlasting Secondly how to liue according to Gods holie will during our life In which two points wholly standeth the glory of God so much as of man ought to bee sought for Que. How can we know this how wee are discharged before Gods iudgement seate An. We can neuer know how we bee discharged before the iudgement seate of God vntill such time as we know our owne miserable estate by reason of the greatnesse of our sinnes and the horrible punishment which we deserue for them Que. How doest thou know the greatnesse of thy sinne and the horrible punishment due to the same An. The greatnes of my sinne and the horrible punnishment thereof I knowe â—y the Law of God rightly vnderstood the sum whereof is contained in the tenne Commandements Quest Rehearse the tenne Commandements An. God spake all these wordes and saide I am the Lord thy God which brought â—hee out of the Land of Egypt out of the House of â—ondage 1 THou shalt haue none other but Gods me 2 Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image nor the likenesse of any thing that â—s in Heauen aboue nor in the â—arth beneath nor in the water vnder the earth thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a iealous God and visit the sinnes of the Fathers vpon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mercie vnto thousands in them that loue mee and keepe my Commandements 3 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy GOD in vaine for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine 4 Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day six daies shalt thou labour and doe all that thou hast to do But the seuenth day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no manner of worke thou thy sonne and thy daughter thy manseruant and thy maidseruant try cattle and the stranger that is within thy gates For in sixe dayes the LORD made heauen and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seuenth day wherfore the Lord blessed the seauenth day and hallowed it 5 Honor thy Father thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thee 6 Thou shalt do no murder 7 Thou shalt not committe Adultery 8 Thou shalt not steale 9 Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbor 10 Thou shalt not couet thy Neighbours house thou shalt not couet thy Neighbours wife nor his manseruant nor his maide nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is his Qu. What is the first Commandement An. Thou shalt haue no other Gods but me Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement A. The Lord God straitly chargeth vs in this first commandement that wee worship God alone which worshippe standeth in three points First that wee loue God aboue all SecoÌ„dly that we make our praiers to none but to God Thirdly that we acknowledge God alone to be the guider and gouernour of all things of whom wee receiue all the benefites we haue and therefore that we trust and stay vpon him alone Que. What is the second Commandement An. Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image or the likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue c. Qu. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. In this second Commandement bee contained three things First that wee should not think God to be like either man or woman or any other thing therefore that we make no image of God in any case Secondly that we make no image of any other thing either to worship the image it selfe either God Saint or Angell by the image neyther yet to this end to bee the better put in minde of God by the Image Thirdly that we worship not God in any other outward worship according to our owne fantasies but as God commandeth vs in his word Que. What is the 3. Commandement An. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement Ans God chargeth vs in this third Commandement these three things First that we vse with a most high reuerence the name of GOD whensoeuer we either speak or thinke vpon him Secondly that wee neuer blaspheme the name of God in our common talke although the matter bee neuer so true but only where the glory of God is sought or the saluation of our Bretheren or else before a Magistrate in witnessing the truth when we are thereunto lawfully called In which causes we must onely sweare by the name of God But as for Saints Angels Rood Book Crosse Masse or any other thing wee ought in no case by them to sweare Que. What is the 4 Commandement An. Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabbath day Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. The hallowing of the Sabbath day is to rest from our labours in our Calling and in one place to assemble our selues together and with feare and reuerence to hear marke and lay vppe in our hearts the word of GOD preached vnto vs to pray all together that which we vnderstand with one consent And at the times appointed to vse the Sacraments in Faith and Repentance and all our life long to rest from wickednesse that the Lord by his holy Spirit may work in vs his good worke and so begin in this life the euerlasting rest Que. What is the fift Commandement An. Honor thy Father thy Mother Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. The meaning of the fift Commandement is that we should honour that is to say loue feare obey and releeue our Parents or any other that are vnto vs in their stead As our Princes Rulers and Magistrates our Pastours and Teachers our Masters and all other which are aboue vs in any calling placed by God the Aged and â—ray headed and that all Superiors do shew themselues indeed Parents in defending and guiding their Inferiours Qu. What is the sixt Commandement Ans Thou shalt doe no murther Que. What is the meaning of this Commandement An. First the Lord God forbiddeth vs in this Commandement all killing fighting and quarrelling all reproaches mocks and taunts Secondly he forbiddeth all killing in heart that is al anger and malice all desire of reuenge Thirdly on the other side he commandeth vs to preserue life by exercising the workes of
Mr. EDWARD DERING HIS Godly priuate Prayers for Christian Families Whereunto is annexed his briefe and necessary Catechisme for Housholders Marke 11.24 Whatsoeuer you desire when you pray beleeue thâ—t ye shall haue it and it shall be giuen vnto you â—om 10.13 Whosoeuâ—r shall call vpon the Name of the Lord shall be saued LONDON Printed by Isaac Iaggard 1624. A PREFACE describing the Glorious estate of the Saints on earth and the true Nature and Right vse of Prayer To the excellent that are on earth all things pertaining to life and glory through the spirit of Grace and Supplication Beloued in the Lord Iesus AS the loue of God hath heerein exceedingly abounded vnto vs that we are called the Sons of God so there is not a more pregnant Embleme of our Adoption to be his Children then that wee cry Abba Father nor a more liuely pledge of our loue vnto God then that we doe cast our selues into the armes of his mercy by faithfull prayer Oh how much better is it to bee a doore-keeper in the House of God then to sit on the Throne with Princes How exceeding were the riches of Gods mercie towards vs that spared not his onely Sonne vnto death to restore vs from death to life That the Lord of Glory became a Seruant vnto all that hee might redeeme vs from the bondage of sinne into tbe glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God That life it selfe became death that hee might deliuer vs from death vnto life That he that knew no sinne but was perfect holinesse it selfe yet became sinne for our sakes that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him Surely if Dauid thought it an high aduancement to bee the sonne in law to an earthly wicked King How much more glorious is our aduancement that we are become the adopted sons of the Almighty and Holyest God who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords And if the Queene of Saba counted the seruants of Salomon happie because they enioyed his presence and were partakers of the worldly and fading Comforts as abounded in his Court Oh how much more happie is the condition of the Saints of God that do not only enioy the gracious presence of God with open face in whose fauour is Eternall life but are thereby translated into the same image froÌ„ glory to glory as by the Spirit of GOD that so they may bee made meete partakers of that glorious inheritance with the Saints in light euen that light which is immortall and vndefiled which fadeth not If to be rich in faith good workes be the true and dureable treasure which fayleth not If the ioy of the Spirit be that which none can take away from vs If all earthly honor be as dung in comparison of that inward glory wherewith the Kinges daughter is adorned If theyr safety be impregnable which haue a wall of fire to beguirt them therein walking most secure that haue the Lord of Hosts to protect guide them then happy surely and thrice happy is the condition of Gods Children who haue God to bee their Portion and may enioy durable riches pure and euerlasting Comfort honor that neuer fadeth and security without securitie For as our security in God makes vs watchful ouer our owne waies and iealous of our owne inability so heereby are we daily cast vpon the riches of Christ and from him encrease and grow in grace And as we grow in grace so do we attaine to and prosper more and more in peace of conscience and thereby abound with ioy in the holy Ghost And the more we are filled with ioy and peace in beleeuing the more do we glorify our God in cheerfull obedience and so as members are more intirely interessed in the glorie of our head approaching heereby neerer to the life of Glory the more wee triumph ouer all our oppositions and are more throughly abased and excluded of all glorying in our selues that so dooing all things to the glory of our God we may be aduanced by him in abasing our selâ—es and weaned from all carnall fading glorie that we may bee fitted for the glory of the life to come And what can now hinder vs heerefrom whereto all things shall further No trouble can do it seeing it prepares thereto No not sinne shall hinder because it is not imputed but rather auailes to the imputation of righteousnesse that so the sting of sinne may be remoued It is not life can doe it because we are dead vnto sinne neither shall death auaile hereunto seeing we are aliue vnto GOD. Much lesse may Angels hinder because they are ministring spirits for our good to keepe vs in all our waies Nor Principalities can preuaile because the Kingdomes are the Lords and so ouerseers to the Saints It is not powers shall hinder seeing all power is giuen to our Head and so in him we are able to doe all things Neither things present should ought auaile hereto because we liue by Faith not by sight and so can lay vp a good Foundation by them agâ—inst the life to come Neither shall things to come hinder vs which are alreadie ours by Faith whereby wee apprehend them though yet we enioy them not and so in patience wait for them and so by continuance in wel-doing make ready for theÌ„ And how shal height hinder vs who haue the Highest to bee our hope whom lowlinesse aduanceth and highnesse abaseth Can depth preuent vs vvhen our Head is aboue water nay aboue the highest Heauens whether he will draw vs vp all after him out of the deepest snares No no it is not hell can hinder vs seeing it is destroyed nor Satan shall preuaile for seeing we haue the shield of Faith to resist him hee will flye from vs Behold the wonderfull and glorious priuiledges of the sons of God! And by this wee know that we haue this glorious vnion and fellowship with God euen by his Spirit that hee hath giuen vs. And hereby we know effectually that the Spirit dwelleth in vs euen by this blessed libertie and boldnes in pressing to the throne of Grace crying Abba Father with all Son-like importunity and challenging his promise in Christ Iesus Thus by the Spirit wee know our Adoption and by the Spirit of Prayer we pleade the same And can we be denied when the Spirite helpes our Infirmities and knovves our Wants Shall wee not preuaile aboue whatsoeuer wee can aske or thinke seeing our Sauiour is our Aduocate to make intercession for vs who knowes what is best for vs who heares before we aske and askes that we may be heard Behold here the ground and necessitie of Prayer If the Spirit be in vs we shall pray in the Spirit and if we pray in the libertie of the Spirit wee are set at liberty thereby euen the libertie of the Sonnes of GOD. Onely be we wise to try the Spirit by the Spirit that so vvee may not offer the sacrifice of Fooles 1. It is
be now and shall bee to the end of the world Of the which number I beleeue that I am one I beleeue that God knoweth them all and hath a most tender care ouer them Que. What callest thou the Communion of Saints An. The Communion of Saints is the society that all we which beleeue haue one with another as members of one head Iesus Christ whereby wee are ready to communicate all Gods benefites both Spirituall and Temporall to the mutuall health and comfort one of another according vnto the measure which we haue receyued of God in this life Que. What is it to beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes An. I beleeue that Iesus Christ hath wholy appeased God for my sinnes paide the full punishment due to them and therfore that they be freely forgiuen mee and shall neuer be laide vnto my charge Que. What beleeuest thou of the rising againe of the body Ans I beleeue that after this life eÌ„nded my soule shal go to God that gaue it and my body shall rest in the graue vntill the appoynted time and then I shall see God in my flesh and mine eyes shall looke vpon him and this my bodie shall bee made like to the glorious body of Christ without al corruption Que. What is it that thou sayest of Life euerlasting An. I beleeue that when God shall raise againe this my body and ioyn it againe together with my soule that then I shall liue with Christ for euer in his euerlasting kingdome of glory Que. By what means do we attaine to this which thou hast heere confessed An. The holy Ghost hath appointed the preaching of the word to be the ordinary meanes whereby hee worketh in our hearts this true and liuely faith and without this preaching of the Word we can neuer haue faith Que. After that GOD by the meanes of his word hath wrought in our hearts faith by what meanes afterward doeth he strengthen the same An. This faith doth God strengthen in vs by the selfe same preaching of the word and also by the vse of the Sacraments Que. What callest thou the Sacraments An. Sacraments bee outward signes ordaind of God for the greater assurance and strengthening of our Faith beeing vnto vs sure pledges of these benefits of our Saluation which we receiue in Christ to be ours and are represented vnto vs by the outward signes of water in baptisme and Bread and Wine in the Supper of the Lord. They serue also for a marke of our profession whereby we differ from other people which be Heathen Qu. How many Sacraments be there An. There be two Sacraments that is to say Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. Qu. What strength of faith hast thou through Baptisme Ans I am taught and assured by Baptisme that my sinnes are forgiuen mee for as the water washeth away the filthinesse of my bodie euen so should I through the holy Ghost be thereby fully certified and perswaded that the bloud of Christ beeing sprinkled vpon my soule by the hand of Faith hath washed away both the guiltinesse of my sinne and the punishment due vnto the same the fruite and effect whereof appeareth heerein that through the power of Christ his death and resurrection I am dead as touching sin and raised vp againe in newnesse of life vvhich two things in whomsoeuer they appeare not they may well haue the name title of Baptisme but indeed they are no Christians Qu. What strength of faith do wee finde in the vse of the Lords Supper Ans The Supper of the Lord thorough the holy-Ghost doth strengthen my Faith that I should not doubt but as surely as I receiue the Bread and Wine into my body to become wholly mine so my soule receiueth withall Christ with his passion and righteousnesse to be wholy mine as surely as if I had wrought them mine owne selfe Que. Are not then the bread and wine in the supper of the Lord turned into the body and bloud of Christ An. The bread and wine as touching their nature and substance are not turned but as touching the vse of them they differ from common Bread and Wine in that they are appointed of God to serue vnto vs as Seales â—ledges of those benefits which Christ in his body hath wrought for vs. Qu. In what maner oughtest thou to prepare thy selfe to the receiuing these misteries An. In preparing my selfe to receiue the supper of the Lord I ought diligently to obserue these three things First to examine my selfe whether I stand in faith or no which I shall know if I feele my hart assured by the Spirit of God that the punishment of my sins is fully discharged in Christ and that whatsoeuer hee hath done pertaineth not onely to others but euen to me Secondly to examine my selfe whether I find my hart inwardly sorry for my sins with inward hatred and lothing of sin and an earnest desire and sure purpose wholy to conforme my selfe to the will of Gods word Thirdly if any offence be betwixt others and me that I reconcile my selfe vnto them All these things although they ought earnestly to be considered in the whole course of our life yet then especially when wee come to the supper of the Lord. Que. Now seeing wee be saued by Christes Works without our deseruings wherto then now serueth our wel doings or what auaileth it to do good workes An. We must do good workes not to deserue our saluation by them but by our works to glorifie God in walking as becommeth Gods Children declaring thereby our thankfulnes to God for our redemption Secondly by our works to make our election more certaine vnto our selues Thirdly to winne others vnto Christ by our holy life and conuersation Quest What works callest thou good works An. Our works can neuer be accepable and good in the sight of God vnlesse in doing them wee keepe these two things First that they be framed according to the rule of Gods lawes Commandements not after our owne deuice Secondly that they proceede from an heart purged by faith If either of these two pointes be lacking our workes are abhominable in the eyes of Almighty God although they appeare neuer so glorious in the sight of men Que. Because prayer is one especiall meanes which Gad will haue vs vse to increase our faith tell me what belongeth to true prayer An. It is requisite in true prayer that we obserue these fiue things First that we make our prayers onely to God thorough Christ and not to Saints Secondly that we be inwardly touched with neede of the thing we aske hauing our minde wholly bent therupon and not caried away with by-thoghts Thirdly that our prayers be grounded vppon Gods promise with full assurance that they shall be granted so farre as the Lord doth know them to be meete and needfull for vs. Fourthly that we continue in prayer although we haue not our requests at the first Fiftly that we aske not those things which we thinke