it I believe in this Article namely that I am of the number of those that have their sins forgiven them 1 Ioh. 5.13 Rom. 10.9 Q. What signes be there that your sins be forgiven you How will you know it A. By three signes 1. Where sin is forgiven it is subdued and purged out The issue of our corruption is stanched and dried up when once we have touched Christ by faith have his bloud sprinkled on our consciences Mar. 5.29 Act. 3.26 Rom. 6.11 14. Peace without Grace is not of Gods sending it is a false peace but if we be healed and clensed of sinne we are forgiven though we feare the contrary Col. 2.13 Q. What other signe and effects followes upon our beliefe that our sins be forgiven A. The perswasion that God hath forgiven me begets in my heart a strong love and high prizing of Jesus Christ Luk. 7.42 47. Zach. 12.10 2 Cor. 5.14 Q. What thirdly is a signe that your sin is forgiven you A. It makes me ready to a forgive others and to b pity them that goe on in their sinnes impenitently as I my selfe have done heretofore a Eph. 4.31 32. Mat. 18.32 33. b Luk. 22.32 CAP. XXV Of resurrection of the flesh and everlasting life Q. SHall they that be dead live againe A. Yes at the last day every one shall come againe with his own body Act. 24.15 Iude. v. 14. Iob 19.24 25 27. Dan. 12.2 Mat. 22.32 Joh. 11.24 1 Cor. 15.12 Q. Shall the very same body live again and be raised A. Yes the same bodies made free from all defects and weaknesses unto which we are now subjected 1 Cor. 15.43 53. Phil. 3.2 1. Joh. 5.28 29. Rev. 20.12 Q. How doch the beliefe of the resurrection work upon you A. It makes me keep a conscience void of offence before God and men continuing in well-doing with courage and patience I will not be corrupted with worldly honours or pleasures Act. 24.16 1 Cor. 15.33 34 58. 2 Cor. 9.10 Heb. 11.35 And the life everlasting Q. When a man dies his body goes to the grave Doth the soule die with the body like the beasts A. No the soule is an immortall substance and separated from the body at death Eccles 12.7 1 King 17.21 Luk. 23 43 46. Mat. 22.32 2 Cor. 5.6 8. Luk. 12.5 Q. Whither then goe the souls of them that depart hence A. To Heaven or to Hell to everlasting life or to everlasting death immediately after their dissolution Luk. 16.22 23. Heb. 9.27 Col. 1.20 Rev. 14.13 Rev. 6.9 Phil. 1.23 2 Cor. 5.8 Q. Then there is no Purgatory or third place where as in a prison by enduring exquisite torments the soules that were not fully purged in this life doe make satisfaction for veniall sins and lighter faults or for their temporall punishment due to their mortall sinnes which they have committed from which Purgatory they say they are delivered by the prayers of the living and the Popes indulgencies or at least at the day of judgement if they chance to lye there so long A. No for as there be but two sorts of men godly or wicked sheep or goats regenerate or unregenerate so there be but two places provided for them where they remaine in an unchangeable estate of blisse or woe All a wicked men of what profession soever being punished with everlasting perdition from the presence of God and b all the faithfull are present with the Lord their soules being fully purged from all spot of sin and the fault c quite remitted through the bloud of Christ a 2 Thes 1.9 Mat. 25.41 46 Rom. 2.9 b 2 Cor. 5.6 8. Rev. 14.13 c 1 Joh. 1.7 Eph. 5.27 Q. What is meant by life everlasting A. It is the glorious state of the Elect after this life wherein they do immediately enjoy God Christ for ever in a most holy happy unutterable and unchangeable communion 1 Joh. 3.2 Rev 22.4 Rev. 21.3 4. 1 Thes 4.17 Psal 16.11 1 Cor. 2.9 Q. For whom is eternall life prepared To whom is it given A. To them that walke with God a finishing their course in feare holinesse and b endeavouring to glorify God here on earth a Mat. 5.8 Heb. 12 14. Joh. 10.27 28. Rev. 21.27 Rev. 22.14 b Ioh. 17.4 2 Tim. 4.8 Mat. 25.21 Q What doe you believe in this Article A. I believe that at the last day my soule and body shall be joyned together againe and that in both I shall enjoy the presence of God for evermore Tit. 1.2 1 Thes 4.17 1 Ioh. 2.25 Q. Why doe you think that you shall enjoy this blessed life A. Because the life of grace is already begunne in me which shall end in glory 1 Joh 3.3 Mat. 19.28 29. Rom. 6.22 Phil. 1.6 1 Pet. 1.23 Q. May a Christian be assured of everlasting life before he depart this present life A. Yes he may and that upon sure and infallible grounds out of Gods Word wherein we clearly see Gods promises purposes towards them that be effectually called Faith is a sure knowledge of a thing upon the authority of divine revelation which cannot deceive nor be deceived Joh. 3.36 1 Joh 5.11.12 1 Joh. 4.10 14 19 24. Eph. 1.14 2 Cor. 1.22 1 Thes 1.4 5. 2 Pet. 1.10 2 Cor. 13.5 The office and work of faith is twofold to 1. Justify the person 2. Purify the heart CAP. XXVI Of the fruit and office of faith viz. to justify and of the meanes how faith is wrought Q. WHat Benefits redound to thee of this beliefe A. Two 1. By Faith I am righteous before God and heire of eternall life not because my faith of it selfe can make me righteous but because the righteousnesse of Christ is my righteousness before God and I cannot apply it to my selfe by any other way then by faith God offereth us life and righteousnesse in Christ and faith is the hand by which we recieve that gift Rom. 4.5 6. Joh. 6.35 1 Joh. 5.11 12 13. Rom. 3.24 25. Q. Say the same in other tearmes A. When I say we are justified by faith I meane the object of faith Christ Jesus The onely way and meane to embrace Christ and to rest on the promises of the Gospell is by faith Phil. 3.9 The only righteousnesse by which a sinner stands just before God is the righteousnesse of Christ and the onely meanes to partake of that righteousnesse is by Faith Rom. 9.32 Q. It seemes then that faith is a most excellent gift of God which bringeth us into the possession of Gods rich mercies and tender love revealed in the Gospell A. It is so and therefore above all things we must labour for the grace of faith John 6.29 Joh. 3.18 Act. 16.31 Heb. 4.2 11. Heb. 3.12 14 19. Q. Can we attaine it of our selves by our own strength A. No a it is the gift of God our hearts are b slow to believe being naturally inclined to distrust God and to trust in the creatures and therefore c God by
unregenerate persons all that be out of Christ be under the Law and must answer for themselves for all the world by the Law of their creation are bound to be holy and perfect as God made them at first and must be judged according to that Covenant unlesse they come to be in Christ Gal. 4.5 Rom. 3.9.19 Joh. 16.9 Rom. 2.12 Eph. 2.12 Q. Then all that have not Christ be in an ill case A. They be so they have nothing to plead for themselves before the judgement seat of God nothing to stand between the justice of God and their sins Eph. 2.12 Acts 17.30 CAP. II. Of the fall of man and his sinfull state Second head of Christian doctrine Q. HOw came sin into the World seeing God made man upright A. By the first sinne of Adam and Eve who being deceived by the Serpent did eat of the forbidden fruit 2 Cor. 11.3 Gen. 3.3 4. Rom. 5.12 19. Q. How did sin come upon all by that one mans sin A. Two manner of waies First by imputation the Lord in justice imputing the guilt of that first sinne to all his posterity Rom. 5.14 15 18 19. 1 Cor. 15.22 By one mans disobedience many were made sinners as soone as he sinned that first Covenant was broken and the state of Adam and all mankind in him was changed into a state of sin and misery In Adam all die i the sentence of death was passed on all in Adam when as yet there were no more men in the World 1 Cor. 15.45 47. There were two head men by whom all fall and rise Adam was the head of the Covenant of Nature if he had stood none of us had fallen And so Christ is the head of the Covenant of Grace if he were not risen we cānot rise we rise or fall with him vers 16 17. As the Righteousnesse of Christ is imputed to them that be of Christ by spirituall regeneration Esay 53.10 So is the sinne of Adam imputed to all that come of him by naturall generation For as all the Elect are justified first in Christ their Head as in a common person surety when he rose againe from death and thereby received as it were Gods acquittance in full discharge of our debts 1 Tim. 3.16 And 2ly the◠are justified in their own Persons when as they come by Faith actually to be members of Christ In like manner all mankind was condemned in Adam as a common person representing all mankind and as a radicall person containing all that Nature which was to be derived to all generations of men Act. 17.26 Every one of us would have done as Adam did if we had been in his place And we are in our own Persōs liable to that sentence of death so soon as we exsist and have our sowre sinfull being from that poysoned root Q. But doth it stand with the justice of God to impute unto us Adams sinne A. Yes because Adam was the head and root of all mankind we were in his loyns when we sinned we were part of Adam in him and of him As the Children of bondmen are bondmen the Children of a Traitor are tainted in blood till they be restored in bloud so it was with us our Father became a slave sold under sinne and such are we his children till Christ make us free Adams sinne was the sinne of mankind he stained and corrupted our Nature Rom. 5.12 Hos 2.2 If adulterous Brats complaine why they are cast out the Lord bids them plead with their mother so we must plead with Adam This is just in our Law Q. How secondly did sin enter upon all by that one sin A. By propagation the lump and root of mankind being corrupted so are the branches Rom. 11.16 Gen. 5.3 Job 14 4. with our nature Adam propagated sin and corruption God made Angels all at once and therefore the fall of some of them did not draw all into the same condemnation But God made all mankind in one man to be multiplied by generation and so that root dying and being poysoned all that come of him are likewise dead poysoned We were in Adam two manner of waies 1. Legally as Parties contracting with God in that first Covenant and so were to stand or fall with our Head 2. Naturally we were in his loynes so that whatsoever befell the humane Nature it is Common to us of which nature we are a part All the seed of man was in Adam and therefore all that seed being corrupted in Adam we that come of him must needs be corrupted also we are a generation of vipers Mat. 3.7 a seed of evill doers Es 1.4 and young Serpents are worthy to dye because of their kind and the poyson somnesse that is in them Who can bring a cleane thing out of an unclean Job 14.4 Q. What then is the state of every one that is borne into the world A. Very miserable in no wise to be rested in if ever we meane to be happy Eph. 4.18 Q. Why so A. By reason of sin and wrath whereunto from the birth we are all subjected That which is of nature is common to the whole kind if thou be a man it is so with thee Eph 2.3 Q. How long does a man continue in that sinfull and cursed estate A. Untill he be regenerate and borne againe and made a member of Christ Joh 3.3 Q. What is there in sinne that makes one thus miserable A. Two things First the stain of sin 2ly The guilt of sinne The one makes us ugly creatures 1. Sinne it selfe the other accursed Q. What mean you by the stain of sin A. It is that filthinesse whereby the pretious soule being turned from God is defiled and become uncleane Math. 15.20 2 Cor. 7.1.1 Jam. 1 21. Every sin leaves a spot upon the soule even those sinnes which men think they get credit by as the Pox or Leprosy doth upon the body therefore sinners are compared to Vipers to Dogs and Swine c. Q. Is it such a matter to be a sinner if there were no punishment to follow A. Yes for two reasons 1. Because the wretched soule hath lost his excellency being deprived of the favour of God and of supernaturall Graces Reason is mans excellency and Grace a Christians which is the greatest losse of all When the soule is become a filthy stye then God departs It 's worse to be a theese or a mad-man then to be in prison to be Nebuchadnezzar amōgst beasts then Daniel in the lions den the privation of supernaturall good is a supernaturall misery Esa 64.6 Levit. 26.30 Q. Why Secondly A. Because the sinner can doe nothing that is pleasing to God the best things he doth God abhors them all Esa 1.10 15. Hag. 2.13 14 Rom. 8.8 Esay 66.3 Prov. 15.8 Tit. 1.15 Every thing is marred and defiled by them being dead in sins Q. What is the guilt of sin A. It is that quality in sin 2. Guilt and punishment
suffer all these things A. Especially in the garden where he swet clots of blood before any hand was laid on him and on the Crosse by the space of six houres Luk 22.43 44. Mat 27.46 Psal 22.1 6. Mar 14.33 34. Phil. 2.8 So heavy was the wrath of God that an Angell came to comfort him yea he roared as a man forsaken c. Q. What is the vertue and efficacy of his sufferings A. By his stripes we are healed Es 53 5. Heb 9.14 26 28. Col 2.14 Heb 10.2 10 12 14. In him we all died and were condemned and his death tooke away our condemnation 2 Cor 5.14 Rom 8.3 Q. For whom did Christ suffer all this A. For his Body the Church Christs blood is of value to save all men but it was not intended for them that perish Christ stood not in their stead for then they should not dye themselves Eph 5.25 Joh 10.15 Q. How know you that you have a part in Christ's sufferings A. Because the life and power of sin is killed in me and I now live to him that died for me Sinne is of all things most odious to me 2 Cor. 5.15 Rom. 6.3 6. 1 Joh 5.6 The merit of Christs death reacheth unto God to satisfie and pacifie him and the vertue or efficacie of it reacheth to our soules to mortifie and kill sin in them 1 Pet 4.1 2. Q. Who was Pontius Pilate A. The Roman Judge that condemned him because he said that he was the Son of God the King of Israel Joh 19 7 8 12 15 19 21. Mat 20.19 a signe that the Messiah was come because the government was taken from them and now in the hands of a stranger Gen. 49.10 Joh 18.31 Rev. 11.8 where Christ was slaine Q. Why was he thus legally condemned and not killed privily A. Because that death alone is satisfactory to the Law which publike authority doth inflict on Malefactours for though Christ were no Malefactor no guile was found in his lips he was innocent by the Judges owne mouth yet he was numbred amongst the transgressors Esay 53.12 Mat. 20.18 19. Q. What kind of death died he A. He was crucified which was a painfull shamefull and accursed death Ioh. 19.18 31. Phil. 2.8 Deut. 21.23 Q. Why that kinde of death A. Because he was to remove the curse from us therefore he was to be made a curse for us Gal. 3.13 Q. Dead Why died he A. Because death is the wages of sin and sin is not remitted without shedding of blound Rom. 6.23 Heb. 9.22 1 Cor. 15.56 57. Heb. 2.9 14. Q. Buried Why so A. That he might sweeten the grave to us and be God both of the dead and of the living Mat. 12.40 Rom. 14.9 1 Cor. 15.55 Q. Descended into Hell When Christ gave up the Ghost his Body was put into the Grave and his Soule went into Paradise being commended into the hands of God as the soule of Steven and other the faithfull are as the soule of the converted theef was What then is meant here by Christs descending into Hell A. His Soule went not into the place of the damned but thereby is meant his abiding prisoner under the dominion of Death the space of three daies Bp. Ushers answer to the Irish Jesuits challenge c. 8. As Jonas was three daies in the Whales belly and saw no corruption But David doth c. Compare Psal 16.10 with Act. 2.27 31. Act. 13.34.35 Rom. 6.9 Mat. 12.40 Q. What is the substance of that you believe in this Article A. I believe that Christ suffered the whole punishment belonging unto sinners both in his Soule and Body when he offered up himselfe a curse and a sacrifice for sin and that by his sufferings Gods wrath is pacified towards me all the spirituall enemies of my salvation are thereby vanquished CAP. XX. Of Christs exaltation sitting at the right hand of God the Father The third day he rose again from the dead Q. DID Christ still remain in the the grave A. No the third day he rose againe Luke 24.3 6. Act. 2.24 Act. 1.3 1 Cor. 15.4 8. Q Why was it needfull that Christ should rise againe A. 1. Because else we were still in our sinnes else it doth not appear that our sinnes be satisfied for 1 Cor. 15.17 1 Pet. 1.3 21. Christ was not onely to suffer Death and the Law but to conquer them which he had not done if he had been still holden of death and we must have looked out for another Saviour that could conquer it The debtor comes not out of prison till he hath paid the utmost farthing c. If any one sin had beene unsatisfied Christ had no risen from the dead Q. Why else must Christ rise againe A. That he might apply effectually unto us the merit of his death 1 Cor. 15.16 54 55. Rom. 4.25 Rev. 1.18 He ascended into Heaven Q. What became of Christ after he was risen A. After he had spent forty daies in teaching his Apostles the things belonging to the Kingdome of God he went up into Heaven in that same body which had been crucified and buried Act. â— 3.9 10 11. Eph. 4.10 Luk. 24.51 Eph. 1.20 22. Q. What good is that to us A. 1. It assureth us that he hath finished the worke of our redemption which his Father gave him to doe in an acceptable manner Iohn 16.10 Iohn 17.4 5. Heb. 9.12 25. Heb. 10.12 If Christ had not fulfilled the Law and satisfied for all out debt if he had not in all things well pleased his Father he had never got into Heaven But now God welcomes him to Heaven and bids him Sit thou at my right hand untill I make thine enimies thy Foot-stoole Heb. 1.3 9 13. Q. What else doth it assure us of A. 2. It assureth me that seeing Christ is entred into Heaven in our name hath taken possession for us of the purchased inheritance that therefore he will bring us thither in his appointed time Ioh. 12.26 Ioh. 17.24 Heb. 6.20 Sitteth at the right hand of God Q Where is Jesus Christ now A. In Heaven at Gods right hand in great glory and power Act. 7.56 1 Pet 3.22 Q. God hath no right hand nor left hand What then is the meaning of it A. It signifieth that Honour and Power which Christ received of his Father when he had finished the worke of our redemption Heb. 1.13 Mat. 22.44 Eph 1.20 22. 1 Cor 15.24 25. Q. What does Christ do there A. He makes intercession for us that is he presents our prayers and pleads his merits for our acceptance Heb 7.25 9.24 Ro 8.34 He entereth our appearance and causeth that no wrath issue out against us though our sins cry for vengeance God never said to Saint or Angel Sit thou at my right hand Heb 1.13 Q. Doe we not want him more to be with us here on earth A. No He doth us more good in Heaven appearing for us in the presence of God upon
Q. And what is their duty back againe to Inferiours A. They must not disdaine nor dispise others that be below themselves in gifts or estate but rather to be beneficiall to them by their countenance good example best use of their gifts Jam. 2.2 Job 29.15 16 17. Luk. 8.3 1 Tim. 6.17 Tit. 2.2 All tallents are given for use as the eie recieves not sight for it selfe nor the stomack meat for it selfe but for the body Q. Because all men are to be honoured and we must not doe any thing whereby our brother is set at nought Tell me how equals ought to behave themselves one toward another As fellow-servants fellow-Ministers fellow-Citizens A. They must be curteous one to another respectfull giving honour one to another not provoking envying or disgracing one another 1 Pet. 2 17. Rom. 12.10 Mat. 23.6 Gal. 5.26 Q. Why must we be carefull of this Law A. Because God hath annexed outward blessings to the conscionable performance of the duties herein contained namely long life wel-being It shall be well with thee and thou shalt live long We must take all outward promises with this condition viz so farre as they shall be expedient for the health of our soules and not to the hurt of them Gods children have long life health c. or the blessing of them CAP. XXXVI Of the six Commandement Thou shalt not kill Q. WHat is the purpose of God in this sixt Commandement A. 1. To provide for the safety and preservation of mans life 2. And it forbids all unmercifulnesse cruelty whereby the life or wel-being of the life of another is prejudiced and impeached We must not 1. Harme our own or anothers life 2. Nor wish in affection any impairing of the same Nor 3. Signify by tokens any such desire Mat. 15.19 This Commandement is broken Inwardly Outwardly Q. How is it broken inwardly A. Two waies First by rash and unadvised anger Now anger is an inward motion of displeasure against another inclining the heart to wish or practice evil to another there is a just anger against the sinnes of others but sinfull anger is that which is conceived upon surmises false causes or else is excessive in the measure and continuance or evill in its effects moving us to doe evill Mat. 5.22 Eph 4.31 Jam. 1.19 20. Prov. 14.29 Q. How secondly A. By hatred and malice envy and desire of revenge against another This is the murther of the heart 1 Ioh. 3.15 Col. 3.8 Rom. 12.19 Obad. v. 10 12. Is all revenge unlawfull A. All private revenge in unlawfull but God hath set the Magistrate in his stead to take vengeance upon a Malefactor and to right our wrongs for us Prov. 20.22 Rom. 13.4 Rom. 12.17 1 Sam. 25.26 35. Q. How is this Commandement broken outwardly A. Many waies First when the murther of the heart doth breake forth and discover it selfe in dogged and wrathfull lookes and gestures Mat. 5.22 Racha Gen. 4.5 Mat. 27.39 Psal 22.13 Gen. 21.9 2 Sam. 13.15 All disdainfull and scornfull carriages as the fleering of the countenance laying out of the tongue grinding of the teeth biting the nailes shaking the head stamping with the foot at one or any other gesture and carriage whereby thy brother is set at nought is a sinne against this commandement this is to say Rache Q. How secondly A. When the wrath and malice of the heart breaks forth into evill speeches as a railing b scoffing c brawling and chiding d accusing upbraiding e and threatning c. These shew the venome and rancor of the heart and are the murther of the tongue this is to say Thou foole a Psal 59 7. 2 Sam. 16.8 b Mat. 27.40 43. 2 King 2.23 c Eph. 4.31 Tit. 3.2 d Psal 52.4 Ezek. 22.9 e Act. 9 1. In all which places you see that Railing Scoffing Brawling Accusing Threatning and such like are here forbidden Q. How thirdly doe men sin against this Law outwardly A. When anger and fury breakes forth into blowes so that we strike wound or maime another Act. 23.3 Exod. 2.13 Exod 21.18 20 22. Q. How fourthly A. In the grosse act of murther that is when men lay violent hands on a themselves or b others to the taking away of their life c or else by Counsell wishing approbation or any other way are consenting to the killing of themselves or others a 1 Sam. 31.4 2 Sam. 17.23 Mat. 27.5 b Gen. 4.8 c 2 Sam. 12.9 1 King 21.10 13. Mat. 14.8 Act. 8.1 Act. 22.20 It is a fearfull sin Num. 35.31 33. Judg. 9.24 Q. How else doe men become guilty of murther in the sight of God A. VVhen we a neglect the means of life and health or else by b surfetting and drunkennesse impaire our own or anothers health or c else doe desperately cast our selves and others into dangers and sinnes which are punishable by death a 1 Tim. 5.23 b Rom. 13.13 Hab. 2.15 c 2 Sam. 23.15 17. Joh. 11.8 9. d 1 King 2.23 Q How lastly doe we become guilty of bloud in the sight of God A. By unmercifull and cruell dealings with other using oppressions and extremities against them Esay 1.15 Esay 3.15 Jer. 22.13 17. Mic 3.2 10. Luk. 11.39 Ezek. 22.7 13 27. Such persons are compared to Butchers to Grinders to Theeves to Wâ—lves they are murtherers in the sight of God Q. VVhat is here commanded in this Law A. All workes of sobriety meeknesse and mercy whereby the life of my selfe or neighbour is preserved VVe must put on a bowels of mercy we must b speak good unto them c defend and a relieve them as we can a Col. 3.12 b Gen. 31.29 c Exod. 2.13 Jer. 26.24 a Luk. 10.37 Q. As there is a life so there is a murthering of the soule as well as of the body and he is a Murtherer that kils his owne soule or the soule of another Act. 20.26 VVhat doth God require of us in this regard A. That we should not a plunge our selves or others into sin and heresy by rejecting or corrupting the food of souls Gods VVord nor by any other seducement whatsoever but b rather to bring our selves and others to a love of the truth and labouring after the bread of life a Ezek. 33.8 9. Ezek. 34.4 2 Cor. 7.2 2 Pet. 3.16 Tit. 3.11 b Jam. 5.20 Ioh. 4.10 14 26. Iude v. 20.21 Heb. 3.13 CAP. XXXVII Seventh Commandement Thou shalt not commit Adultery Q. WHat is the drift of this Commandement A. To provide for the chastity of our selves and others Wherein God doth 1. Require a clean heart and body 2. And forbiddeth all words gestures that may sound and allure to uncleannesse Mat 5.28 1 Thes 4.3 4. This Commandement is broken Inwardly Outwardly Q. How inwardly A. By filthy imaginations and desires of the heart though they never break forth into the outward action that 's the adultery of the heart Col 3.5 1 Cor 7.9 Gen 39.7 2 Sam. 13.2 Q. How is it broken outwardly A.