goodnesse As out of the Old Testament g Gen. 18. 18 19. where greatnes seems to be consequent of goodnesse and godlinesse and that God will blesse them whose children and houshold by living uprightly blesse God Also h Pr. 22. 6. where that men in their old age depart not from godlinesse and goodnesse is that in their youth they were trained up in it Againe i Ecc. 12. 1 where the wise Preacher wishes as we say to take time by the fore-lock and betimes to informe in golinesse And then that k V. 13. 14 to be godly and goe by the rule of Gods Commandments is mans whole endeavours Then out of the New Testament l Mat. 6. 33. that our first care Christ would have to be to be godly and no doubt the endeavours of our first yeares as who secking first to be godly should not misse any good according to that of David m Psa 8 4. 11. who assures all good to the godly as Christ makes goods the additions to godlinesse Also n Jo. 14. 15 Christ would have us to testifie our love of him and to shew it by keeping his Commandements which is by having faith and workes of faith hope charity and what other Christian vertues commanded by him Againe o 1 Jo. 2. 1. as if to prepare us for all these vertues the Apostle warnes against all vice and under the salute or title or appellation of Children as if to shew we could not be too timely in a contest with them the spirit of God p Rev. 22. 14. assuring heaven to the godly blessednesse as the right of their inheritance These and the like Expositions over and these like more plaine instructions instilled into youth for their further growth in godlinesse may you next doe well by yet larger expositions to explain unto them the meaning of the Creed the ten Commandements and the Lords Prayer with here and there some hints to some usefull Applications And first of the Creed A breif Exposition of the Creed THe Creed though as some will have it the immediate dictates of the twelve Apostles however it be uncertain who were the first compilers of it is the most ancient summe of Christian faith received by the Primitive Church and fathers and though containing in it the pith and marrow of Gods promises in in the Gospell yet because no Canonical Scripture in the exposition thereof it behoves us out of the Scriptures to prove every article thereof and to produce still such places of Canonical writ as shall infallably set forth the substance and sum of it And first for the Creed in generall thus the sum of our faith it behoves first to prove the necessity of faith And that doe these Scriptures as Habac. 2. 4. the last clause of the verse recited Rom. 1. 17. and Gal. 3. 11. and further explained or exemplified Jo. 3. 36. and 1 Jo. 5. 10. By collation of all which places there 's no living without it no living as to please God a Heb. 11. 6. without pleasing whom even better were it not to be b Mat. 18 6. No but this faith is it that justifies uâ— before God c Rom 5 1 Gal 1 15 sanctifies us before men d Act 15 9 Gal 5 6 is that by which we must live in which we must dye live we must by faith and that is when all we doe we doe in faith and when all we suffer we suffer in faith And then dye we must in faith and that first by weaning our selves from an immoderate love of this world secondly by depending on the promises of God thirdly by adhering to all helpes may bring us to heaven and fourthly in the pursuit of this adherence by no means to fall backe or faulter but though perhaps at present seeing little or no good come to hope and goe on still as faithfully assured of its coming e Job 13 15 Ps 30 5 These and the like places prove the necessity of faith And being that faith comes by hearing of the word f Ro 10 17 of God see we now next the symboll of faith it selfe the Creed and come we by the test of that word to prove every the Articles thereof and first of the First Article I beleeve in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth which is also the first Part of it wherein is to be proved 1. That there is a God 2. that he is a Father 3. that he is Almighty 4. that he is Maker of Heaven and Earth 5. that this must be our faith and 6. that this must be every particular mans faith 1. For the first that there is a God though none but fooles a Ps 14 1 will deny his being these like Scriptures prove and as if the better to worke upon our capacities prove it by evident reasons As by his works of Creation b Ro 1 20 and Providence c Heb 1 3 where by the one we are to told he made e all things by the other that he preserves all things which none bâ—t God can doe Where might be added the Nature of the Creatures Whose motion points at some still first mover their multitudes at some Vnite which againe must needs be God yea our owne dayly experience that see his wrath emergent against the wicked and goodnesse and mercy eminent to the good and the godly Vse Which may teach the foolish and dull Atheist to lay by his stupid infidelity and confesse with his mouth what he durst but deny in his heart that there is a God may teach men to live so as if there were a God godly and serve him as they ought both dutifully and duly Besides that these like Scriptures and Reasons may prove not onely that there is a God but also that there is out one God However to backe this assertion have we also Gods owne Testimony in these other like Scriptures as Deut. 4. 39. Isa 45. 5. 1 Cor. 8. 4. and the like Vse Which again may instruct us against all filthy Idolatry and them that count ought else a. God beside him may teach unity among our selves d Act 4 32 and our onely sole salvation by him e Is 43 11 Ro 3 30 When proving him thus to be but one we need not presse further or be driven to prove that he is true or good all these like terms being convertible this one being every of those two and they all three but as all one 2 That he is a Father con we that Scripture f Isa 9. 6. where though speaking of Christ the Son of God the Prophet cals him Son as the second person in the Trinity Father as the first person both Father and son together with the holy Ghost though being but one entire substance God yet thus are three distinct subsistences one God three Persons g Mat. 28. 19. 1 Joh. 5. 7. That he is called Father shewes
V. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee VI. Thou shalt not kill VII Thou shalt not commit adultery VIII Thou shalt not steale IX Thou shalt not bear false witnesse against thy Neighbour X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours wife nor his man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is thy Neighbours The Lords Prayer in a Preface six Petitions a Confirmation and a Conclusion The Preface The Petitions OVr Father which art in Heaven 1. Hal lowed be thy Name 2. Thy Kingdome come 3. Thy will be done in Earth as it is in heaven 4. Give us this day our dayly Bread 5. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our Debtors 6. And lead us noâ— into Temptation but deliver us from evill For thine is the Kingdome and the Power The Confirmation and the glory for ever The Conclusion Amen â—race before meat BLessed God the Father of all blessings and God of all comfort and consolation blesse us and the Creaturs whatever now provided for us so fill both our bodies and soules with good that both may abound in all goodnesse to thy only glory and both their good through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holy Spirit be all honour and glory for ever Amen Grace after meat Give us O Lord we beseech thee all thankfull hearts for all thy good graces and benefits what ever now and at all times bestowed on us that by us and all the faithful for that all thy good thou maist receive all praise and glory now and for ever Amen A short Catechisme 1. Question WHat ought to be our chiefest care Answer To glorifie God a 1 Cor. 10. 31. II. Q That we may have that Care and shew forth that glory what ought we especially to have A Zeale b Numb 25. 11. III. Q Is Zeale enough to shew it A No we must have also knowledge c Rom. 10. 2. IV. Q That we may have both that zeal and knowledge what ought we especially to understand and consider A The works of God and the Word of God V. Q What are the works of God A The world and all things therein contained VI. Q Dothâ—bat glorifie God A Yes d Psal 19. 1 2. VII Q Why would he have his works to glorifie him A That we might be without ex cuse e Rom. 1. 19 20. VIII Q What is the Word of God A The holy Scriptures of the old and new Testament commonly called the Bible IX Q Why ought we to understand and consider that Word A That we might have a certaine rule to go by X. Q Have we a certaine rule in that Word A Yes f Is 8. 20. XI Q What especially teacheth that Word A The Knowledge of God and our selves g 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. XII Q What ought we to know of God A Two things especially XIII Q What be they A First what he is secondly what he hath done XIV Q First what is God A He is a Spirit h Jo. 4. 24. XV. Q Secondly what hath God done A He hath made all things i Gen. 1. â— XVI Q What ought we to know of our selves A Three things especially XVII Q What be they A First â—â— what we were Secondly what we are Thirdly what we shall be XVIII Q First then what weâ—e we A At our first Creation when God made man and all things he and they all Gen. 1. 31 were good k XIX Q Secondly what are we A Since that our first Parent Adams Gen. 6. 5. Ro. 6. 23. fall evill 1 And unlesse by Grace renewed subject to death m XX. Q Thirdly what shall we be A At the last day the generall Resurrection of all Mankind they by grace Mat. 25. 34. renewed shall be blessed in Heaven'n they that continue in sin shall be accursed in Mat. 25. 41. Hell o XXI Q Well but what was Adams sin to us Rom. 5. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 22. A We sinned in him p XXII Q How then can we be redeemed from that his guilt A By Jesus Christ XXIII What or who is Jesus Christ A The Sonne of God and Saviour of man XXIV Q Why must we be redeemed by Jesus Christ A Because the sin of man was against God God that is also man as Jesus Christ was and is must make the satisfaction XXV Q Are there more Gods then one A No there is but one God but there are three Persons in the Godhead XXVI Q What are those three Persons A The first the Father the second the Son and the third the holy Ghost XXVII Q How doe you know this A My Creed tels me so XXVIII Q What is the Creed A The Articles of our Faith XXIX Q Why doe some call it the Apostles Creed A Because some say the Apostles composâ—d it XXX Q What doe you think who composed it A It is uncertaine XXXI Q Why then is it râ—ceived A Because whoever composed it makes no great matter but being of old received and certainely containing the sum or grounds of Christian Religion comprised in the Gospell of Christ it is therefore received XXXII Q How many be those Articles of it A According to the number of the twelve Apostles twelve XXXIII Q What be those Articles A I beleeve in God c. XXXIV Q What is Faith A A certaine confidence in and dependance on Jesus Christ q Eph 3. 12. XXXV Q Why need we that confidence and dependance on Jesus Christ A Because we are sinners and none but he bare those sins i Heb. 9. 28. XXXVI Q What is sin A A transgression of the Law s 1 Jo. 3. 4. XXXVII Q What is that Law A The Commandements of God XXXVIII Q How many Commandments are there A Ten in two Tables t Deut. 4. 13. XXXIX Q Which be the Commandments A I am the Lord thy God c. XL. Q What learne you by these Commanmandements A My duty towards God and my duty towards my Neighbour XLI Q What is your duty towards God A To love him above all things u Mat. 22. 37. XLII Q What is your duty towards your Neighbour A To love him as my selfe w Mat. 22. 39. XLII Q Well but can you exactly keepe them in every point A No but I dayly breake some one or other of them in thought word and deed x Psal 14. 1. 3. And breaking but one I am guilty of all y Ja. 2. 10. XLIV Q How then to any purpose can you keepe any of them A I must labour what I may to keepe them XLV Q Why must you labour to keepe them A Because they are the rule prescribed of God XLVI Q Well but being as you say not able to keepe them as you ought how
repeat still the proof set downe before in the Margent for his answer Which you may omit till you come to this or the like Exposition which you may use for that purpose and which I have set downe but only by quoting the place without the words that both the booke might not grow to any great bulk it being necessary that every Learner should have one and also that by searching for it in the Bible one whereof if their ability may not reach to more may serve in one family the Learner might the better presse it in his memory Or if he can write which I would advise you also to encourage your Learneâ—s to and to that end as in print so immediately before the Catechisme have I caused also to be inserted an Alphabet of the most usuall written hands the same sentences of Scripture teaching to write that in a leafe of Paper set betweene every leaf in this booke or otherwise in a peece of paper for the purpose he may write down every proofe A brief Exposition of the former Catechisme with here and there some short Explications the Teacher may acquaint his Learner with 1. Teacher HAve you learnt your Catechisme Learner Yes 2. T. Come let me examine you and see whither yea or no you understand what you have learnt What understand you by the word Catechisme L. An Instruction by way of question and answer Explication Catechisme is originally a Greek word and signifies by word of mouth by way of question and answer the first instruction or institution of the more ignorant in any kind of doctrine In the Church of God the institution in the Rudiments of Religion 3. T. Is this like instruction necessary L. Yes most necessary 4. T. How prove you that L. Many wayes it may be proved by these two especially First God will have all to understand and come to the knowledge of the truth of Religion a 1 Tim. 2. 4. Secondly Catechising is the readiest way to teach the grounds of Religion without which bootlesse it is to thinke to build up that truth or to come to the knowledg of it 5. T. Say for little Children it be necessary and them more rude and ignorant yet for great eloquent and more knowing men and Women it may seeme not to be so necessary L. Yes for them too if otherwise great and eloquent and knowing in humane learning they be not learned in the truth of God as may be proved by the example of Theopbilus a Noble man b Lu. 1. 4. who disdains not the instruction of Luke And Apollos an eloquent man c Act. 18. 24. 26. that condiscends to the instructions and expositions of Aquila and Priscilla 6. T. You said in your answer to our first question that our chiefest care ought to be to glorifie God How prove you that L. By that of St Poul d 1 Cor. 10. 31. which intimates in all our doings our chiefest care of Gods glory 7. T. Then next in your answer to our second question to have that care and shew forth that glory you said we ought to have zeal How prove you that L. By the example of Phineas e Numb 25. 11. who by his zeale in slaying Zimri and Cosbi that by their lewdnesse had dishonoured God turnes away the wrath of God from Israel for which f Vers 12. God gives him his Covenant of peace testifying thereby the approbation of zeale to set forth his glory 8. T. What is zeale L. An earnest and great care that one hath to doe a thing 9. T. Then againe in answer to our third question you said that even that zeale was not enough to shew forth that glory but that we must have knowledg too Doe you still hold that assertion L. Yes And I can prove it too 10. T. How can you prove it L. By that of St Paul to the Romans g Rom. 10. 2. where well it was that they had zeale of God but it was not well enough wanting knowledge Explicat Ignorance God cannot away with though one may be zealous in his service yet truly to performe the service he must be knowing too and therefore to direct both that zeale and knowledge that both may be right in the service are we to consider the works of God and the Word of God both good rules to direct to Gods glory 11. T. How are the Workes of God the rule L. The Psalmist shews it h Psal 19. 1 2. 12. T. How doe they declare his glory L. Why being a goodly and glorious frame it shews the glory of the Workman that made it who was God 13. T. You said in your answer to our seventh question that God would have his works to glorifie him that we might be without excuse How prove you that L. By that of St Paul i Rom. 1. 19 20. where speaking of the Gentiles that otherwise know not God the Apostle proposes as a rule to prove his power and God-head the workes of God and so that they might be without excuse saith he 14. T. What meanes he by that being without excuse L. That so glorious a frame that shews both the glory and goodnesse of God could not but condemne the wickedness and ingratitude of man 15. T. But though as to his condemnation this may make him without excuse is this a rule sufficient for his salvation L. No. 15. T. How prove you that L. By that of Paul to the Corinthians k 1 Cor. 1. 21. Explic. The knowledge of God by the Creature is that more weake and imperfect and may availe so as to set forth the glory of God and make man without excuse as to well or ill doing but as to the atttaining of Salvation he must have yet a stronger and more perfect knowledge and a better rule to goe by then the book of Nature to wit the booke of the Scriptures which is as you answered to our Ninth question our certain â—â—le to goe by 16. T. Well but how prove you that to be the certain Rule L. By that of Isaiah l Is 8. 20. 17. T. Why would God have the booke of nature first and then after the booke of the Scriptures to be thus the Rule L. That finding nature thus to direct to this truth we might the better beleeve the Scriptures 18. T. You said In your answer to our eleventh question that the Scriptures teach the knowledge of God and our selves How prove you that L. Out of that of St Paul m 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. 19. T. What meane you by that Inspiration of God L. The Dictates and directions of the holy Ghost 20. T. What by Doctrine Reproofe Correction Instruction in righteousnesse L. The method the Scriptures teach to traine up men to God and goodnesse 21. T. What where he saith that the man of God may be perfect L. That nothing be wanting for his good and godly information Explic. This shews the
how by holinesse n Luk. 1 75 dispose those all to that pioâ—s dependance o 2 Sam 3 18 and thus much be spoken of the second Article come we to the third III. Third Article Which was conceived by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary which with the next that followes sets forth the Humiliation of Christ and the three next to that his Exaltation Of which Humiliation two steps or degrees we have in this Article and five in the Article following as in this first that he was conceived by the holy Ghost 2. that he was boâ—â—e of the Virgin Mary and theu in the next 3 that he â—â—ffâ—â—ed under Pontius Pilate 4. that he was Crucified 5. that he was Dâ—ad 6. that he was Buried and 7. that he dâ—scended into Hell To go on with this Article that he was humbled yea humbled himselfe the Scriptures p Ph 2 8 shew and by this first step or degree conceived by the holy Ghost the Scriptures make an Angel q Mat. 1 20 Luk 1 35 the witnesse thereby to teach it no power of man but the power of God that could make God man and that by descending yet by the second step borne of the Virgin Mary as the Scriptures also prove r Is 7 14. Luk 1 31 Gal. 4 4. Though of the holy Ghost conceived wâ—ich was a glorious conception yet far beneath was it the dignity of the Lord fâ—lory s Ps 24 10 to be conceived but that oâ—t of wisedome he would humble himselfe to the Conception and that out of love to be thus borne that by that Conception he might be free from sin pure to purge the impurity of our conception t Ps 51 5 and by this birth like unto us in all man sin only excepted u Heb 4 15 And borne of a Virgin also to evade the pollution of natures impurity and not only so but thereby to shew also the power of God in that too beside the coâ—rse of nature to produce so glorious a birth And then borne of the Virgin Mary a woman though poore yet of the Linage of David betrothed to a Man of that Linage w Mat 1 20 Luk 2 4 Applic. He humbled himselfe as if thereby to teach us to be humble x Mat 11 29 And first in that glorious manner as if thereby to teach the glory of Humility y Luk 14 11 Then by many an hard taâ—ke thus huâ—ble he was for us that we might undergoe any hardship for him to be content in what ever state so as to serve him z Ps 4 12 And humbling thus himselfe fâ—r us that we like hiâ— a Phâ— 2 5 should be humble to each other b Jo 13 14 Whose thus Conception shews him God and that his birth man thus God and man in one Person without confusion of both natures without mixture of either but both perfect God and perfect man One person that had the power of God c Ro 1 4 and the parts of man d 1 Pet 2 24 Mat 26 38 The power of God to preserve man for God and the parts of mans soule and body for mans soule and body to present man unto God Without either of which power or parts or either of them he could not have beene the Redeemer That he was borne of a Virgin that was poore shews the riches of his grace and power so to enrich our poverty e 2 Cor. 8 9 Then of a Virgin betrothed to honour marriage as in token of that honour at a marriage shewing his first miracle f Jo 2 11 And then a Virgin a woman of the Linage of David and betrothed to a Man of that Linage as if thereby to shew that greatnesse hath not all the preheminence with God but that the poore also may have right to an inheritance with him In both this conception and birth may we read lessons of the great love of God that would have our salvation wrough in this manner in this exhibition of Christ doing all that might be done for his chosen as he did for his Vineyard g Is 5 4 leaving undone nothing that might be done for them Nor Christ leaving any step untrod any degree not undergone whereby to effect mans salvation as in this article not only by these two steps of life but as in the next steps he out by five degrees of death for him Of which next and therof in this IV. Fourth Article Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into Hell 3. That he suffered under Pontius Pilate as we said the other two were steps of life so may we say these two be steps of death And this is his first step to it those two others of life being little lesse then presently an exhibition to death from his Cradle to his Crosse under-going still as it were deadly sufferings That he trod every these weary wofâ—ll steps the Scriptures also shew as how 1. he suffeâ—â—d not onely desertion of God h Mal 27. 46 but also i Jo 15 20 many other tyrannous persecutions of men but this worst of all under Pontius Pilate k 1 Tim 6 13 as that 2. He was Crucified l Mat 27 35 3. dead m Jo 19 33 4. buried n Vers 42 and 5. He o Act 2 27 descended into Hell p. 1. Suffered many as we said tyrannous persecutions of men as his flight from Herod p Mat 2 14 the Pharisees reviling q Mat 9 34 and way-laying r Jo 7 32 him yea his own Country mens contemning of him s Mat 13 54 55 but this worst of all under Pontius Pilate the true Messias suffering under a false Judg the King of Heaven under an earthly petty President And that noâ— onely betrayed by a Disciple t Mat 21 47 48 apprehended as a Theife u vers 55 accused arraigned condemned yea crucified as a most accursed malefactor crucified because to suffer the most accursed death w Deut 21 23. and that to redeem us from the curse x Gal 3 13 crucified because the most shamefull y Heb 12 2 most painefull z Act 5 death and that to redeem from shame and pain a Is 53 5 Thus ere he dyes for us enduring most bitter torturings as the piercing b Ps 22 16 hands and his feet distention and nayling them to the Crosse and the like and that to turne away our tormentings and crosse out the guilt of our sins c Col 2 14 Also 3. dead to satisfie Gods justice for mans sins d Rev 1 5 and confirme to Beleevers the promises of God in the Gospell e Heb 9 16 Then 4. buried to ratifie that confirmation that as when Jonas was cast into the Sea then and not till then did it cease raging f Jon 1 15 so Christ being buried then and not till then is Gods