of Christ alone We are justified freely by his grace Chap. 3. 24. through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus Q. Shew me what are those things which are necessary for a Christian Man to Believe concerning Faith A. All things which are promised us in the Gospel As Christ saith These things are written that ye might Joh. 21. 31. believe The Sum whereof is briefly comprised in the Creed of the Apostles or in the Articles of the Catholick and Undoubted Faith of all Christians Q. Which are the Articles and Sum of Christian Faith or the Apostles Creed A. I believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord Which was conceived of the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into Hell The Third Day he rose again from the Dead He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the Right-hand of God the Father Almighty From thence he shall come to judge the Quick and the Dead I believe in the Holy Ghost I believe the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints The Forgiveness of Sins The Resurrection of the Body And Life Everlassting Q. Shew me the Reason why it is calld the Apostles Creed A. Because it containeth as it were a brief Sum of all the Apostolical Doctrine written in the Books of the Old and New Testament Q. What are the Parts of this Creed A. They are Four 1st Of Faith in God the Father 2dly Of Faith in God the Son 3dly Of Faith in God the Holy Ghost Q. But why is our Faith distinctly referred to every Person by it self seeing that it is One God in whom we Believe A. That our Faith may be the better strengthned Which is then done when we consider distinctly and apart what each Person according to his distinct Property hath wrought in our Salvation Notwithstanding our Faith is not at all the less referred to One God Q. How A. For it is all one as if a Man should say I put all my Hope and Trust in One God of whose Love I cannot doubt at all For whereas he is distinguished into Three Persons every one of them confirmeth in me the Assurance of that Love For the Father hath both Created me by his Omnipotency and doth also Guide me by his merciful Providence The Son hath Redeemed me by his Death Reconciled me to God the Father and even yet maketh Intercession to him for me The Holy Ghost by his Divine Power hath Sanctified me and joyned me with Christ and his Church that with it I might be made Partaker of all Gifts until he bring me even to Eternal Life Q. Which is the First Article of the Creed A. I believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth Q. Why say we rather I believe and not We believe whereas in Prayer we say not only My Father but Our Father A. Because howsoever we ma and must one Pray for another yet we cannot one Believe for another but when we come to Years every Man must believe for himself and be saved by his own and not by another's Faith As the Prophet saith The just shall live by his faith Hab. 2. 4. Q. What is meant in saying I Believe in God A. I do not only Believe God And that there is but One God But I Believe in God that is I Believe that he is my God that is I am perswaded That whatsoever God is and is said to be he is all that to me and referreth it all to my safety for his Son's sake and therefore from my Heart I put all my Confidence in him Q. What Comfort is reaped hereby A. So long as I repose all my Trust in him I may assure my self of my Salvation and of an happy Deliverâ—nce in all Dangers and Necessitie For Daniel when he was brought out Dan. 6. 23. of the cruel lions den had no hurt found on him because then he trusted in his God Q. Why is God called a Father A. 1st In respect of Christ his only begotten and natural Son 2dly In respect of all the Creatures as he is Creator and Preserver of them all 3dly In respect of the Elect whom he hath adopted to be his Sons Who hath predestinated us to be adopted Eph. 1. 5. through Jesus Christ unto himself according to the good pleasure of his will Q. What Comfort cometh by this A. I do therefore believe in him to be my God and my Father for Christ's sake As many as received him and believed Joh. 1. 12. in his name to them he gave power to be the sons of God But ye have received the spirit of adoption Rom. 8. 15. whereby we cry Abba Father And therefore I do trust in him and so rely on him that I may not doubt but he will provide all things necessary both for my Soul and Body Though I be poor and needy the Lord Psal 40. 17. thinketh on me Behold the fowls of the heaven they Mat. 6. 26 sow nor reap not yet your heavenly Father feedeth them Are not ye much better then they And why care ye for rayment the lillies 28 of the field they neither labour nor spin Wherefore if God so cloath the grass of 30 the field shall he not do not much more unto you O ye of little faith Therefore take no thought saying What 31 shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we put on For your heavenly Father knoweth that 32 ye have need of all these things But seek ye first the kingdom of heaven 33. and the righteousness thereof and all these things shall be ministred unto you And that he will bear with my Wants and Weaknesses I will spare them saith the Lord as Mal. 3. 17. a man spareth his own son that serveth him As a father hath compassion on his children Psal 10â— 1â— so hath the Lord compassion on them that fear him For he knoweth whereof we be made 14. he remembreth that we are but dust And what Afflictions he sendeth on me in this troublesom Life he will turn them to my Safety For all things work together for the Rom. 8. 28. best to those that love God And furthermore he never chastiseth me but for my good But the Lord chastiseth us for our profit Heb. 12. 10. that we might be made partakers of his holiness We are chastised of the Lord because 1 Cor. 11. 32. we should not be condemned with the world When ye thought evil against me God Gen. 50 20. disposed it to good Q. Now shew unto me what Profit the Faithful reap by their Afflictions A. 1st By them God bringeth us to Humility With rebukes thou chastiseth man for Psal 39. 11. iniquity 2dly By Afflictions God calleth us to true Repentance for when he correcteth our Sins he doth it to
it cannot be lost though for a time it may in some part as concerning some Gifts or some measure of it so that in the Elect it cannot be utterly lost For a little while have I forsaken thee Isa 54. 8. but with great compassion will I gather thee Q. What Benefits are received by the Holy Ghost A. They are such as concern the Reprobate As by virtue of the Holy Ghost they may be enabled to preach the Historical Faith As in the Example of Balaam who Numb 24. 17. Foretold of Christ To Interpret the Scriptures aright in some places As the Scribes and the Chief-Priests Mat. 2. 5 6. They may receive some measure of Illumination They may be restrained for a time from this or that Sin As in the Example of Abimilech Gen. 20. 6. They may obtain some measure of Worldly Joy or some Counterfeit Joy As in the Example of Herod and Mark 6. 20. Luk. 8. 13. the Parable of the Seed Or such as concern the Elect By the Holy Ghost they are Regenerated Joh. 3. 5. By it the Fruits of the Spirit are Gal. 5. 22. wrought in the Hearts of the Elect By it is wrought the Assurance of Rom. 8. 15. Salvation in the Elect. By virtue of the Holy Ghost the Elect Chap. 14. 4. are preserved in the State of Grace Q. What is it to Believe in the Holy Ghost A. I do not only Believe That there is a Holy Ghost but also That I by virtue of thâ—s Holy Ghost am truly Regenerate Comforted Preserved Settled in Faith and made Partaker of all other necessary Benefits of the Spirit Concerning the Church the Fourth Part of the Creed Q. Which is the Ninth Article of the Creed A. I Believe the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints Q. Why is it not as well said I believe in as I believe the Holy Catholick Church A. It is warrantable to believe the Church but not warrantable to believe in the Church or to rest our Judgments upon the Authority of the Church without any Warrant from the Word Believe not every Spirit but try whether they are of God And the Reasons wherefore we are to Believe in the Church are 1st Because it is an Honour peculiar to God to be depended upon or to be believed in Ye believe in God believe also in Joh. 14. 1. me 2dly Because the Word is the Foundation of the Church and not the Church of the Word Ye are built upon the foundation of the Eph. 2. 20. Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone 3dly Because the Church may err as did the Church of Corinth err about 1 Cor. 20. the Sacrament Q. What is the True Church A. The True Church is nothing but a peculiar Company of Men Elected and Called But ye are a chosen generation a 1 Pet. 2. 9. royal priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that you should shew forth the vertues of him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light Q. Is there but One Church of God or be there Many Churches of Christ A. There is but One True Catholick or Universal Church There is one body and one spirit even Eph. 4. 4. as ye are called in one hope of your vocation This True Church is either Triumphant with the blessed Angels in Heaven Therefore are they in the presence of the Rev. 7. 15. throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple and he that sitteth on the throne will dwell amongst them Or Militant on Earth fighting under Christ's Banner against the World the Flesh and the Devil And there was a battel in heaven Michael Rev. 12. 7. and his angels fought against the dragon and the dragon fought and his angels This Militant Church is either Visible as a Company amongst Men professing the True and Uncorrupt Doctrine of the Law and Gospel in which Company are many dead and unregenerate Members and Hypocrites Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven Or Invisible that is a Company of those that are elected to Eternal Life in whom a New Life is begun here by the Holy Ghost and is perfected in the Life to come This Church as long as it sojourneth on Earth always lieth hid in the Visible Church Those that are in this Invisible Church never perish neither are there any Hypocrites therein but the Elect only of whom it is said No man shall pluck my sheep out of my Joh. 10. 28. hands The Lord knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2. 19. Q. Who is the Head of this Mystical Body the Church A. Only Christ himself as may appear The husband is the wife's head even Eph. 5. 23. as Christ is the head of the Church and the same is the Saviour of the body And that 1st Because he only is able to perform the Office of an Head unto his Church as to Quicken to Preserve to Nourish to Direct and Govern it 2dly Because he only is able to prescribe Laws to bind the Consciences There is one Law-giver which is able Jam. 4. 12. to save and to destroy Q. What are the Notes or Signs of the True Church A. They are either Internal Signs 1st The Spirit of God dwelling in the Heart Grieve not the holy Spirit of God by Eph. 4. 30. whom ye are sealed to the day of redemption 2dly Is True Regeneration For that which is born of flesh is flesh Joh. 3. 6. and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit 3dly True Faith is a Sign for the Church is called by the Name of the Faithful Mine eyes shall be unto the faithful of Psal 101. 6. the land that they may dwell with me Or External Signs As 1st The pure Preaching of the Word of God If ye continue in my word ye are verily Joh. 8. 31. my disciples 2dly The right Administration of the Sacraments namely Baptism and the Lord's Supper Go and teach all nations baptizing Mat. 28. 19 them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things 20. whatsoever I have commanded you 3dly The Third Sign is A sincere Profession of Justification by Christ alone Neither is there salvation in any other Act. 4. 12. name for among men there is given no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved Q. Wherefore is the Church called Holy A. 1st Because the Holiness of Christ is imputed to it Ye are of him in Christ Jesus who of 1 Cor. 1 30. God is made unto us wisdom righteteousness sanctification and redemption 2dly Because Holiness is begun in every Soul that is regenerate in this Life Surely they work none iniquity that Psal 119. 3. walk in his ways 3dly It is Holy in respect of Prophane Persons Aaron and his Sons are
not to drink Lev. 10. 10. strong drink that they may put difference between the holy and unholy Q. If the Church be Holy what are we to esteem of Swearers Lyers Whoremongers and such like wretched Persons that live in the Church Are they Members of the Church or no A. They are not so long as they live under the dominion of any notorious Sin but are as Chaff among Wheat whose end is to be burned Christ will come with his fan in his Mat. 3. 12. hand and will gather his wheat into his garner but will burn up the chaff with fire Q. May the Church of God obtain a Perfection of Holiness in this World A. No verily For howsoever the Triumphant Church is perfectly Holy at least in Soul These are they which are not defiled with Rev. 14. 4. women for they are virgins yet the Militant Church is but Holy only in part If we say we have no sin we deceive 1 Joh. 1. 8. our selves Q. By what means may Holiness be encreased A. By the diligent and frequent Use of God's Ordinance Sanctifie them with thy truth thy Joh. 17. 17. word is truth Q. Wherefore is the Church called Catholick A. The word Catholick signifieth Universal and the Church is so called for these Causes 1st In respect of Time because the Church hath been in all Ages is at this Present and shall continue by Successionâ— unto the World's End For the gates of hell shall not prevail Mat. 16. 18. against it 2dly In respect of the Members of the Church for they are universally gathered out of all Nations and People 3dly In respect of Place for the Church is dispersed in all Nations I beheld and lo a great multitude Rev. 7. 9. which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the throne and before the Lamb cloathed with white robes and palms in their hands Q. Whether may any one be saded out of the Church A. No Man can be Saved out of the Church 1st Because without the Church there is no Saviour Without me ye can do nothing Joh. 15. 5. 2dly Because whomsoever God hath chosen to the End which is Eternal Life he hath chosen to the Means which is the Inward and Outward Calling The Elect therefore though they be not at all times Members of the Visible Church yet they are made such before they die Q. Whether is there any such Counsel of God which hath severed some to be Saved and some to be Damned A. I do believe and am perswaded That there is Predestination which consisteth of these Two Parts Election and Reprobation Q. What is Election A. Election is the Eternal Unchangeable Free and most Just Decree of God whereby he hath decreed to convert some to Christ to preserve and keep them in Faith and Repentance and by them to give them Eternal Life Q. What is Reprobation A. Reprobation is such a Decree of God as whereby he hath decreed to leave some according to his most just Judgment in their Sins to punish them with Blindness and Damnation being not made Partakers of Christ everlastingly Both being God's Decree I know whom I have chosen Joh. 13. 18. He hath mercy on whom he will 2 Tim. 1. 9. His grace was given before the world Rom. 9. 18. was Q. How do you prove That there is Election in God A. It is proved by Testimony of Scripture He chose us in him before the foundation Joh. 15. 16. of the world Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you As many as were ordained to eternal life believed He predestinated us to be adopted through Jesus Christ unto himself according to the good pleasure of his will Q. How do you prove That there is Reprobation in God A. It is proved also by Scripture God doth shew his justice on the vessels Rom. 9. 22. of wrath Who were before of old ordained to Jud. 4. this condemnation It is given unto you to know the secrets Mat. 13. 11. of the kingdom of heaven but to them it is not Q. What are the Causes of Predestination A. The Efficient and Motive Cause of our Election is the good Pleasure of God who hath not fore-seen any thing in us for which he should chuse us for there can be no good thing in us as of our selves seeing we are by Nature the Children of Wrath as well as others So likewise the Efficient Cause of Reprobation is the most free good Pleasure of God for we being all by Nature the Children of Wrath had all perished if Sin were the Cause of Reprobation wherefore the Cause of Reprobation is not in Men themselves but that is in God's Will in shewing forth his Justice Therefore of particular Men why this Man is elected and he reprobated there can be no other Reason given but the good Pleasure of God only But the Cause of Damnation is altogether in Men which is Sin He hath mercy on whom he will and Rom. 9. 12. whom he will he hardneth Q. Is Predestination Vnchangeable or no A. Predestination is Firm and Unchangeable which may appear by this Reason Because God is Unchangeable and doth not depend on the Interchangeable Course of Things but the same rather dependeth on his Decree What therefore he hath from Everlasting decreed of Saving the Elect and Condemning the Reprobate that hath he unchangeably decreed And therefore both Election and Reprobation is Firm and Unchangeable This is the Father's will That of all Joh. 6. 36. which he hath given me I should lose nothing My counsel shall stand and I will do Isa 46. 10. whatever I will I am the Lord I change not Mal. 3. 6. None shall pluck my sheep out of my Joh. 10. 28. hand Q. Whether are the Elect always Members of the Church A. The Elect are not always Members of the Church but then first when they are converted and regenerated by the Holy Ghost If any man have not the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8. 9. the same is not his Q. Whether may the Elect fall from the Church or not and the Reprobate always continue A. The Elect cannot fall wholly and finally from the Church as hath been proved by the Unchangeableness of God's Predestination though sometimes they may fall from it but wholly and finally to forsake it they can never None shall pluck my sheep out of my Joh. 10. 23. hands But the Reprobate and Hypocrite do at length finally depart from the Church and fall away from Gospel-Gifts and Graces which they seemed to have They went out from us but they 1 Joh. 2. 19. were not of us for if they had been of us they would have continued with us Q. What is meant by Communion of Saints A. The Communion of Saints is the Society that all they that believe have one with another as Members of one Head Jesus
Christ For as the body is one and hath many 1 Cor. 12. 12. members and all the members of the body which is one though they be many yet are but one body even so is Christ For by one Spirit we are baptized into Ver. 13 one body whether we be Jews or Grecians bond or free and have been all made to drink into one spirit For the body also is not one member but 14. many For we that are many are one bread 1 Cor. 10. 17. and one body because we are partakers of one bread We being many are one body in Christ Rom. 12. 5. and every one one anothers members But let us follow the truth in love and Eph. 4. 15. in all things grow up into him which is the head that is Christ For we are members of his body of his Chap. 5. 30. flesh and of his bones Whereby we are ready to communicate all God's Benefits both Spiritual and Temporal to the mutual Health and Comfort of one another according to the measure which we have received of God in this Life Besides the things that are outward I 2 Cor 11. 28. am cumbred daily and have the care of all the churches Bear ye one anothers burthen and so Gal. 6. 2. fulfil the law of Christ If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any compassion and mercy Fulfil my joy that ye be like-minded having the like love being of one accord and of one judgment That nothing be done through contention or vain-glory but that in meekness of mind every man esteem other better than himself Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of other men Q. Wherein have the Saints Communion one with another A. 1st In that they are made Partakers 1 Cor. 12. 13. of the same Privileges in Christ and of the same Saving Graces in his Life And though not in the same Phil. 1. 7. Measure yet of the same Glory in the Life to come For henceforth is laid up for me 2 Tim. 4. 8. the crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing 2dly In that they are made Partakers of the Prayers of one another I exhort therefore that prayers and supplications 1 Tim. 2. 1. be made for all men c. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem Psal 122. And therefore our Saviour Christ taught us to pray Our Father and not My Father To signifie That we ought to pray for all the Militant Churches as well as our selves 3dly In that they do employ those Talents that God hath given them not altogether to their own private Good but to the Good of God's Church The manifestation of the Spirit is given 1 Cor. 12. 7. to every man to profit withal So that ye labour together in prayer for 2 Cor. 1. 11. us that for the gift bestowed upon us for many thanks may be given by many persons for us For the gathering together of the Saints Eph. 4. 12. and for the work of the Ministry and for the edification of the body of Christ 4thly In that God's Saints are ready to relieve the Necessities of their Brethren And the multitude of them that believed Act. 4. 32. were of one heart and of one soul neither any of them said that any thing of that which he possessed was his own but they had all things common He is ever merciful and lendeth Psal 37. 26. A devout man one that feared God Act. 10. 2. with all his houshold which gave much alms to the people He that hath two coats let him part to Luk 3. 11. him that hath none and him that hath meat do likewise 5thly The Communion of Saints consists in respect of Society and Fellowship one with another And all that believed were in one Act. 2. 24 place and had all things common And they continued daily in the temple 26. with one accord and breaking bread at home did eat their meat together with gladness and singleness of heart Thou art my Lord my well-doing extendeth Psal 16. 3 4. not to thee but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent all my delight is in them And not only in Private Meeting together of the Saints but also in the diligent and chearful Meeting together at God's House at his Publick Ordinances as at Publick Prayer Hearing the Word Preached Receiving the Holy Sacrament c. I thank my God having you in perfect Phil. 1. 3. memory Because of the fellowship which ye have 5. in the Gospel from the first day till now When I remembred these things I Psal 42. 4. poured out my very heart because I had gone with the multitude and led them into the house of God with the voice of singing and praise as a multitude that keepeth a feast Q. What is to be understood by Saints in this Article A. Not only dead Men much less such as are Canoniz'd by the Pope but also such Servants of God that live upon the Earth being Sanctified by the Blood of Christ and by the Spirit of God being also set a-part and separated out of the World I mean from the Estate of an Unregenerate Person and such as are called Saints in divers places of Scripture Unto the church of God which is at 1 Cor. 1. 2. Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus Saints by calling To the Saints that are at Ephesus Eph. 1. To the Saints in Christ that are at Philippi Phil. To them which are at Coloss Saints Col. and faithful brethren in Christ Q. Which is the Tenth Article of the Creep A. The Tenth Article to be believed is Remission of Sins Q. What is the Remission of Sins A. Remission of Sins is the free Gift of God whereby the Elect are freed both from the Guiltiness and Punishment of Sin by the means of the Passion and Intercession of Christ and that in this World Q. Who is it that giveth Remission of Sins A. Remission of Sins is given of God only I even I am he that putteth away Isa 43. 25. thine iniquities for my own sake and will not remember your sins Why doth this man speak blasphemy Mark 2. 7. Who can forgive sins but God only And it must needs be so because Sin is only committed against God and therefore God only hath Power to forgive it Q. But Remission is ascribed to the Apostles and the Ministers as is manifest Mat. 18. Joh. 20. 23. A. The Apostles remit Sins in that they are Signifiers and Declarers of God's Remission The Church remitteth Sins when according to the Commandment of God she denounceth Remission of Sins to the Repentant One Neighbour