insufficient to creepe in or to abide still neither the able to liue idlely by carelesnes pride or couetousnesse 3. That there be a godly order established and peaceably kept of euery one without giuing offence 4. That there be a holy and right vse continually of true discipline to admonish suspend and excommunicate obstinate offenders whosoeuer they be Q. Are not the articles of your beleefe a prayer A. No but onely a summe of the Gospell which is one part of Gods word containing the promises of saluation by Christ and is also a rule by which I must examine my faith Q. VVhat meane you by faith A. Not faith to worke miracles which is past nor historicall onely beleeuing that to be true which God saith nor temporarie to know professe and to teach Christ feare to commit sinne sorrow after to make satisfaction to destroy the wicked to make many prayers wishing heauen and to liue for a time in shew honestly yet out of Christ but iustifying faith is here meant Q. VVhat is iustifying faith A. It is a gracious and true perswasion in my heart grounded vpon Gods promises concerning Christ whereby I do apply him and all his benefits to my selfe being assured that he is my wisedom strength righteousnesse holinesse and redemption and that what he hath done it is as well done for me as for any other and so is mine as if my selfe had done it Q. Hovv came you by this faith A. By the holy Ghost working the same inwardly by the outward ministerie of the Gospell preached ordinarily is by the same word Sacramēts and Prayer confirmed continued and increased Q. VVhat prosite reape you by this beleefe A. I a wretched sinner in my selfe being pardoned of sinne and Christ giuen to me am in him the adopted sonne of God and righteous before him my heart purged my conscience quieted my imperfect workes do please him all crosses are for comfort and further to saluation holy Angels tend vpon me heauen is mine inheritance I am set at libertie from the curse of the lawe Sathan the world and fleshly lusts without feare of death damnation and hell fire Q. Hath euery one this faith and so these benefites A. No but onely such as shewe repentance the fruite of faith Q. VVhat is repentance A. It is a true turning of my mind will and heart wholly from the world the flesh and diuell vnto God with full purpose to attend carefully to the counsell of his word and spirit and through the whole course of my life readily and constantly endeauour to follow the same Q. VVhat are the true tokens of this true repentance A. 1. A continuall striuing of the flesh and spirit 2. A hatred of my former vanities auoyding occasion companie counsell or example to ill with loue vnfained to the contrarie 3. Increase of peace in conscience with comfort in affection for righteousnesse sake 4. A ioyfull expecting and wishing Christs comming to iudgement Q. May not a man that truly repenteth fall aftervvards A. Yes indeed and into the same sinne or some other Q. Hovv then may a man be persvvaded that his repentance vvas then true before A. 1. If this be of infirmitie feeling before and in the committing a dislike thereof for after true repentance sinne is neuer wholy committed 2. If that Godly sorrow follow which is not either for earthly shame temporall punishments hellish torments or losse of heauen but for displeasing God so mercifull a Father and this is called renewed repentance Q. Hovv should this appeare to be true A. 1. By an vtter loathing and condemning my selfe for the sinne newly committed with desire and perswasion of pardon 2. A godly anger burning zeale against my selfe with taking reuenge vowing and practising strictly the contrary vertue for offending 3. A watchfull care and continuall feare lest I fall afterwards at any time againe into the same Q. VVhat may comfort a troubled conscience A. These things 1. That God can pardon any sinne 2. That he will by promise made pardon euery penitent 3. That he which feeleth a true desire to leaue sinne and to please God is bound to beleeue his sinnes are both pardonable and pardoned 4. That doubting of saluation with feare to offend God is a signe of saluation 5. No condemnation to such as are in Christ and therefore their sinnes cannot damne them 6. Iustification must not be iudged after sanctification there is no perfection here and the best children of God haue grieuously fallen and haue felt this sting of conscience 7. The assurance of saluation must not be iudged as men feele assurance in affliction but by the stabilitie of Gods promises from former comforts and tokens of grace but in trouble from present desires onely The third part Q. You said that your Godfathers and Godmothers did promise for you that you should keepe Gods commaundements tell me hovv many there be A. Ten and are diuided into two tables Q. VVhat doth the first table teach you A. The dutie which I owe vnto God in holinesse whome I must loue with all my heart with all my mind and with all my soule and with all my strength set downe in the foure first commandements containing the matter manner end and time of Gods worship Q. VVhat doth the second Table teach you A. The dutie which I owe vnto my neighbor which is euery one in righteousnes whom I must loue as my selfe set downe in the sixe last Commaundements containing his dignitie life bodie goods credit and more spiritually all of thē Q VVhich be the Commaundements A. The same which God spake in the 20. of Ezodus saying I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage which is no commaundement but the preface vnto them Q. VVhat is the first commandement A Thou shalt haue none other Gods but me Q. VVhat doth this Commaundement teach you A. To make choice of one and the true God to be my God and not to take that for God which is not God by nature the occasion whereof was the lusting after strange gods Q. VVhat are the things forbidden by this Commaundement A. Ignorance of God and the truth not to pray distrust of God impatiencie to feare loue or ioy in the creature more then in the Creatour to deny God or his word power presence iustice o◠mercie openly or secretly in heart securitie without feare of God The contrarie is commaunded Q. VVhat is the second Commaundement A. Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any graven image c. Q. VVhat doth this Commaundement teach you A. I must neither worship false Gods nor this true God with false worship but in spirit and truth as his word onely teacheth The occasion of this Comman was our foolish desire of a carnall worship and a false conceipt to be able to prescribe a manner of worship to God of our selues Q VVhat things are hereby forbidden A. Idolatrie picturing of God or
forbid all the kinds contained vnder the same thing mentioned and all the causes with occasions thereunto 1. Ioh. 3. 15. Mat. 5. 28. 32. Q. Are they a prayer A. No nor so to be vsed they are a rule for me to liue after and do teach me my duty to God and my neighbour Deut. 6. 31. 12. Psal 119. 105. Eccles 12. 13. Mat. 22. 37. 39. Q. VVhat is your duty tovvards God A. My dutie towards God is to beleeue in him to feare him and to loue him c. 2. Chron. 20. 20. Eccles 12. 13. Mat. 22. 37. Q. VVhat is your duty tovvards your neighbour A. It is to loue my neighbour as my selfe c. Mat. 22 39. Rom. 13. 9. Q. Can ye keepe the commaundements and not offend God nor your neighbour A. No I breake them euery day in thought word and deed hating both God and my neighbour by nature Ps 14. 1. 2. 3. Rom. 8. 7. 1. 30. 2. Cor. 3. 5. Tit. 3. 3. Q. VVhat is then novv your state and vvhat deserue you by thus offending God A. I am in the state of corruption and do deserue Gods curse which is eternall destruction of bodie and soule Deut. 27. 26. Mat. 25. 41. 46. Gal. 3. 10. Of mans redemption Q. VVhat are you in this case to do A. To cry vnto God for mercie and seeke for deliuerance Luk. 15. 17. Psal 51. 1. 2. c. Q. Are you of your selfe able or is there any good in you to moue God to set you free A. No indeed Rom. 3. 10. 7. 18. Luk. 17. 10. 2. Cor. 4. 4. Eph. 2. 8. 9. Q. Then vvho doth redeeme you A. Onely Iesus Christ Rom. 7. 25 2. Cor. 5. 21 Rom. 5. 19. Gal. 2. 20. 3. 13. Q. VVhat is Iesus Christ A. He is the eternall Sonne of God Mat. 17. 5. Heb. 1. 23. a King to gouerne vs Ps 2. 6. Mat. 28. 18. a priest to offer for vs Ps 110. 4. And a Prophet to teach vs Deut. 18. 18. Esa 61. 1. Mat. 17. 5. Q. VVhat beleeue you concerning him in the Articles of the Creed A. I do beleeue that he was conceiued by the holy Ghost c. Q. VVhat is this to you A. I do perswade my selfe hereby that his puritie is for my corruption his obedience for my transgression his death for my debt and his ascension for my eternall saluation 1. Cor. 1. 30. Phil. 3. 20. Q. But as God made all vvill so Iesus Christ also saue all A. No verily many shall be damned few shal be saued Mat. 7. 13. 14. onely the elect which take hold of Christ by a lively faith Ioh. 3. 16. 36. Mar. 16. 16. Q. VVhat is this liuely faith A. It is a true perswasion of my heart grounded vpon Gods promises Eph. 3. 17. Rom 4. 21. that Iesus Christ is giuen to me Ioh. 3. 16. and the merits of his death and passion are as truly mine as if I my selfe had wrought them 2. Cor. 5. 21. Rom. 8. 1. Q. Hovv come you by this faith A. From my effectuall calling by the word preached and the worke of Gods spirit Act. 13. 48. Rom. 10. 14. 15. Eph. 1. 13. Q. VVhere is set dovvne the summe of your becefe A. In my Creed I beleeue in God the Father Almightie c. Q. Are these a prayer or so to be vsed A. No it teacheth me what to beleeue concerning God and his church Q. VVhat good hath Gods Church the true beleeuers aboue the rest of mankind A. They are in the state of grace they haue communion with Christ and one with another the forgiuenesse of sinnes the glorious resurrection of the bodie and life euerlasting Of sanctification Q. Hovv may it appeare that you haue this faith and also these benefites A. By my sanctification Q. VVho doth sanctifie you A. The holy Ghost Rom. 15. 16. Q. VVhat is sanctification A. Jt is a making new of the whole man whereby he daily dyeth to sinne and increaseth in holinesse and righteousnesse Eph. 4. 23. 24. Gal. 5. 24. 1. Thes 4. 1. Q. VVhat grace proceedes from this sanctification A. True repentance leauing that which is ill with hatred and performing new obedience with gladnesse of heart continually Ier. 31. 19. Act. 26. 20. Ps 119. 10. 113. 115. 136. 14. 34. 35. 44. Q. VVhat estate novv stand you in being sanctified and penitent A. I am in the blessed estate of grace wherein if I continue I shall inherite eternall life Tit. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Rom. 11. 22. Mat. 10 22. 2. Tim. 4. 8. Q. VVhy hath God thus made redeemed sanctified and hitherto preserued you A. To serue him truly all the dayes of my life Eph. 2. 10. Tit. 2. 11. 12. Luk. 1. 74. 75. Q. Hovv must God be serued A. Onely after his will reuealed in hss written word Deut. 30. 8. 10. and 4. 2. 2. Cor. 4. 6. Of our strengthening in the state of grace for the certainty of our glorification Q. Js it needfull for such as are elected and once called iustified and sanctified that they should continue still in vsing meanes to saluation A. Yea truly else they will fall away Pro. 29. 18. 2. Chron. 15. 2. Heb. 3. 12. 13. Q. VVhat things must you continue in to assure your selfe of saluation and to grovv strong in the vvay of life A. Jn the knowledge of Gods word Psal 11. 2. Act. 2. 42. 2. Pet. 1. 19. Ioh. 10. 27. 28. in faith Joh. 3. 36. in loue to the godly Ioh. 13 35. 1. Ioh. 3. 14. in obedience Ezech. 36. 26. Psal 15. 5. Ier. 32. 39. 40. in patient suffering for Christ Rom. 8. 17. Iam. 1. 12. in a longing after Christs comming 2. Tim. 4. 8. in sinceritie without hypocrisie which will appeare by my appealing to God in these things Ioh. 21. 15. Of the Sacraments Q. Hath God giuen any helpes and commaunded farther any other meanes besides the vvord for the strengthening of vs herein A. Yes these two Sacraments and Prayer Q. VVhat is a Sacrament A. An outward signe and seale of invisible graces Q. Hovv do the Sacraments strengthen you A. By a reuerent vsing and meditating of them rightly vnderstood as signes representing Christ and his benefites and sure seales of his couenant with vs Gen. 9. 9. to 18. and 17. 9. 10. Hovv many Sacraments are there A. Onely two Baptisme and the Lords Supper 1. Cor. 10. 1. 2. 3. 4. Mat. 28. 19. 26. 29. 27. 1. Cor. 11. 23. 24. 25. Q. VVhat is the signe and the thing signified in Baptisme A. The signe is water and the grace is the bloud of Christ by which I am washed from my sinnes Act. 2. 38. 22. 16. Q. VVhat are the signes and things signified in the Lords Supper A. The signes are the bread and wine the things signified are the bodie bloud of Christ 1. Cor. 11. 23. 24. 25. Q. VVhy come you to receiue A. To strengthen my faith and to keepe in remembrance Christ his
state of damnation A. No indeed albeit both before the conuersion and also after they be called they falling by infirmitie and lying a time in their sinne may appeare in shew to the Church to be none of the elect yet can they not fall away wholy nor finally Q. May not men then liue as they list sithence he being a reprobate cannot be saued or an elect he cannot be damned A. Not so for that one elected cannot but vse the meanes which are ordained for him to walke in to make his election sure to himselfe which whoso doth not cannot be saued Q. VVhat beleeue you concerning God the Son A. That he is God the second Person in the Trinitie Christ Iesus the onely naturall Sonne begotten of the Father our Lord made man cōceiued and sanctified by the holy Ghost ioyning two natures into one person borne according to the promise of the Virgin Marie who perfectly fulfilled the lawe humbled and suffered vnder Pontius Pylate was crucified bearing vpon him Gods curse and hellish torments who died and was buried and being a while held captiue of death in the graue he was exalted and victoriously rose againe the third day and is ascended vp into heauen and there he sits on the right hand of God his Father hauing all power in heauen and earth to rule and gouerne his Church where his manhood doth and shall at all times though in his Godhead he be present with me euer remaine vntill he shall come from thence to iudge vs all here on earth both quicke and dead at the last day which day cannot be nowe farre off Q. VVhy should he neede to be both God and man A. That he might be the onely Mediator betwixt God and man to satisfie for sinne which neither the manhood by deseruing nor Godhead by dying alone could do Q. VVhy is he called Christ A. To declare that he was the promised Messias and to signifie his offices that he was annointed not with materiall oyle but with the gift of the spirit without measure to be our King Priest and Prophet from which name we are called Christians and are by him Kings Priests and Prophets Q. Hovv is Christ a King A. He is King not onely as God but as hee is the head gouerning the Church without any generall Vicar vnder him by his word and spirit immediatly making lawes and ordeining Ministers to the gathering together and preseruation thereof 2. By destroying Sathan his Angels vnbeleeuers idolaters heretickes Antichrist and the whole kingdome of darknesse Q. Hovv is Christ a priest A. 1. By satisfying for all the sinnes of the elect by his passion and fulfilling of the lawe 2. For that he maketh prayer continually to God for them Q. Hovv is Christ a Prophet A. By immediatly reuealing from his Father his word and meanes of saluation contained in the same Q. VVhy is he called Iesus A. To signifie that he is a Sauiour to euery true beleeuer neither is there any other meanes of ourselues or by any orher either in part or whole to obtaine saluation but onely by him alone Q. VVhy is he called Lord A. Because we owe all homage and dutie in ioue to him for our redemption Q. VVhat beleeue you concerning the holy Ghost A. That he is God the third person in the Trinitie proceeding from the Father and the Sonne who spake by the Prophets dwelling in the faithfull sanctifying them in part in this life working by the word and holy motions an vtter loathing of sinne and a heartie loue of righteousnesse leading them into all truth perswading them of Gods fauour teaching them in prayer bearing them vp in temptation quickening renewing and increasing his gifts in them that they may know beleeue loue and do that which is good which he will perfect fully in the life to come Q. VVhy did this God thus make redeeme sanctifie and hereto preserue you A. That I might prayse his name in liuing godly righteously and soberly according to all his commandements in my calling in all things whatsoeuer my estate be in this present world Q. VVhat do you beleeue concerning the Church A. That it is but one mysticall bodie whether militant or triumphant visible or invisible in heauen or in earth being a companie of the Lords elect holy by Christ catholike gathered of the dispersed abroad and hauing speciall prerogatiues aboue the rest of mankind communion with Christ and one with another by the bond of the spirit the forgiuenesse of all sinnes the ioyfull resurrection of the bodie and life euerlasting wherof I beleeue my selfe to be one and therfore that the same things belong also vnto me Q. VVhat are the markes of the true Church here on earth A. Inwardly faith and loue outwardly besides the vncertaine notes of vniuersalitie antiquitie and consent these two Christs word truly preached his Sacraments rightly administred whereto adde faithfull prayer and holy discipline Q. Js the Church of Rome a true Church of Christ A. No but of Antichrist the Pope the chiefe teacher of the doctrine of diuels Q. VVhat reason haue you to disallovv that religion A. For that it is a false religion I. The author is the diuell II. The meanes vsed to vphold it are vnlawfull 1. deceiued Councels 2. vnwritten verities and forged authors 3. falsifying the Fathers 4. corrupting Scripture by adding thereto 5. by taking from it by false interpreting 6. reteyning the people in ignorance by forbidding to studie the word and teaching it in an vnknowne tongue 7. pretending reuelations and shewing lying miracles 8. counterfeit holinesse 9. bloudie persecution III. The matter of their religion is vntruthes idolatrie heresie and nouelties inuented by man IV. The forme in the seruice ridiculous by foolish gestures carnall by fleshly pompes and delights their worship is by hypocrisie V. The end to aduance men by worshipping of Saints and extolling mans power and merits VI. The benefite gotten therby is nothing because it keepes a man in the estate of damnation and alloweth the breach of all the ten Commaundements 1. To feare God by mens doctrines 2. To worship Images 3. Magicke and coniuring 4. Idol-seruice 5. Treason against Christian Princes 6. Assoyles for murtherers 7. Stewes and restraint of mariage 8. Wages for no lawfull labour to Masse-mongers and for deceites 9. To breake an oath to a Christian made lawfully 10. That concupiscence is no sinne 7. Gods iudgements against many of the most fierie professours thereof which is neuer seene to happen to zealous and constant professours of the truth Q. VVhat must be done to maintaine the Church and to ouerthrovv heresie that destroyes the foundation errours corrupting religion scismes breaking the peace of the Church and vices stayning our profession A. 1. To cleaue onely to the written word which is both in time before and in authoritie aboue the Church to iudge all controuersies in religion 2. To call sufficient men and ordaine them Ministers to teach allowing necessarie maintenance but suffering no
necessarie 6. My hope to waite without appointing God either the time place manner or quantitie of the matter 7. My will to vse afterwards all the honest meanes appointed to obtaine the same Q. VVhat be the true properties of prayer A. 1. That it be in true loue for we must remember to pray for all our brethren not departed this life for there is no Purgatorie 2. It must bee made onely to God for him only can we call heauenly Father neither to Saints nor Angels 3. In the name of Christ through whom onely he is our Father by adoption 4. In faith for that he is a Father and will not deny his children 5. Without a carnall conceipt of God vaine babling or wandering thoughts for he is in heauen Q. VVhich be the sixe petitions A. Hallowed be thy name c. Q. VVhat do these teach you A. The summe of all the things which I can lawfully aske at Gods hand for body or soule wherof the first three concerne the glorie of God and the latter three the good of man Q. VVhich is the first petition and vvhat desire you in it A. The first is Hallovved be thy name and I desire therein in the first place that I and all other may acknowledge God so truly in his word and workes as in euery of our thoughts wordes and deeds he may be highly worshipped and praysed Q. VVhich is the second and vvhat desire you in it A The second is Thy kingdome come and desire that he will send vs the meanes thus to honour his name that is his word and spirit with all things that do further thereunto that so the elect may be gathered and Christ come to the last iudgement to giue vs his kingdome of glorie Q. VVhich is the third petition and vvhat desire you in it A. The third is Thy vvill be done and I desire that as we haue the meanes to glorifie him so here we pray to do not ours but his will as all his commaundements and word teacheth vs and as the blessed Saints and Angels do in heauen heartily wiâ—hout hypocrisie willingly without grudging readily without lingring faithfully without sinister respects ioyfully without murmuring and constantly without wauering vnto the end Q. VVhich is the fourth petition and vvhat desire you in it A. The fourth is Giue vs this c. and I desire that he will provide those necessaries for our bodies without which we cannot serue him and that we may depend patiently vpon his prouidence vsing diligent labour and all honest meanes to helpe our selues and others Q. VVhich is the fifth petition and vvhat desire you in it A. The fifth is And forgiue vs our trespasses c and I desire that he would forgiue all of vs friend or foe our sinnes lest they either hinder vs of the former mercies or cause them to be taken froÌ„ vs and that he will perswade our consciences that we are forgiuen by giuing vs grace to forgiue freely and to forget those offences whereby in any thing or any way our neighbours haue bene grieuous vnto vs. Q. VVhich is the sixt and last petition and vvhat desire you in it A. The sixth is Leade vs not into temptation c. and I desire that as he will pardon vs so he would also giue vs the gift of continuance that though we be tempted yet may we ouercome and be deliuered from sinne and Sathan and neuer fall againe any more from God Q. VVhich is the confirmation A. For thine is the kingdome c. Q. VVhat learne you by this A. I do learne hereby two things 1. that it is a reason not to moue God but to stir vp our affections and to strengthen our faith in asking Q. Hovv doth it this A. When it teacheth me to acknowledge the kingdome to God our Father that is his dominion and right ouer all and that his power is the greatest to compell all to do what he will and as he will and his glorie the highest which himself maintaines and we seeke aboue all Q. VVhat is the second thing vve learne A. 2. A thanksgiuing and praysing of God which we ought to vse in the end as the second part of prayer which is done in giuing to God his owne the rule power and glorie which we desire him to manifest by graunting our petitions and we will acknowledge the same not for a time but for euer and euer Q. VVhich is the conclusion A. This word Amen Q. VVhat meane you by this vvord A. That I am perswaded by the aforesaid reasons that my request is graunted and shall bee performed as my father shall see it conuenient for me and his glorie in time and place And therefore I say it is so or so it shall be which is Amen The fifth part Q. VVhat is a Sacrament A. It is a visible signe and seale of inuisible graces commaunded and ordained with a promise by Christ in the Church to be administred publikely by a lawfull Minister with the preaching of the word which Sacrament with all the rites thereof doth represent and conuey by proportion and relation in the present vse inuisible graces first Christ and then all his benefites for further assurance of the same things which God hath made by the promise of his word vnto a true beleeuer who is with Christ by the holy Ghost vnited and made one Q. VVhat meane you by Christ all his benefits A. Whole Christ God and man with his righteousnesse iustice holines and redemption who as he is Christ one person of two natures is truly said to be really present in the Sacraments not properly in his humanitie but by the communion of properties Q Hovv may you be sure that you haue receiued true benefite by the Sacraments A. If I do feele a dying to sinne and liuing vnto righteousnesse getting strength and also increasing therein daily by the force of Christes death and resurrection Q. Hovv many Sacraments are there A. Two and no moe Baptisme and the Lords Supper VVhat is Baptisme A. It is the first Sacrament in the new Testament by which such as are within the couenant are either washed sprinkled or dipped in the water in the name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost Q. VVhat is the outvvard signe and rite A. Water and washing Q. VVhat is the inuisible grace A. The bloud of Christ which cleanseth vs of all sinne originall and actuall past and to come Q. Are vve then no more sinners A. Yes in ourselues for originall sinne still is sinne in vs but we are washed from it because it shall not be imputed nor any sinne else vnto me a true beleeuer Q. VVho are to be baptized A. Not onely such as be of yeares that can do testifie their faith but also infants of either father or mother professing Christ and baptized for the promise of saluation belongs to them and to their children Q. Is baptisme so necessarie to saluation that vvithout it children cannot be