the Lord. Catechist I shall reduce this Question and Answer to these that follow for your better understanding their importance Q. What are the ordinary means of Grace and Salvation A. The Word Prayer and Sacraments Catechist Hence we call them Ordinances Now for the word of God read or preacht or the Reading and Preaching thereof by lawful Mininisters set apart and ordained to this Holy Function by those that have Authority in the Church to send forth labourers into the Vineyard for these I say being Gods Ordinances or ordinary means of mens Salvation it is plainly proved by divers Texts particularly that of the Apostle Rom. 1.16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to Salvation to every one that believeth whether Jew or Gentile Therefore he told the Jews Act. 13.26 That to them the word of this Salvation is sent And by the Gospels being published to the Gentiles he saith Rom. 11.11 That Salvation was come to the Gentiles And hence his charge to his Son Timothy 1 Ep. 4.16 Take heed to thy self and to thy doctrine continue in them for in so doing thou shalt save thy self and them that hear thee And it is an excellent place in S. James 1.21 Lay apart all filthiness and superfluity os naughtiness and receive with meekness the ingrafted word which is able to save your Souls And for both the Word and Prayer being such ordinances for mens Salvation there seems to be no less than a Demonstration in Rom. 10.13 14. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved But how shall they call on him in whom they have not believed or how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher And to shew that we can have no grounds to hope for Salvation by hearing any but lawfully ordained Ministers it follows How shall they preach unless they be sent Lastly for the Sacraments being ordinary means of mens Salvation what can be more express than our Saviours words for Baptism John 3.5 Verily verily I say unto you except a man be born again of water and of the spirit be cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved For the Apostle saith Gal. 3.27 As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ And he calls it therefore Tit. 3.5 The Laver or washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost And St. Peter saith expresly 1 Ep. 3.21 The like Figure whereunto speaking of Noahs Ark wherein he with Eight Souls was saved in the Deluge even Baptism doth now save us and for the Lords Supper being an Ordinance for mens Salvation as it is evident by the Rule of Contraries for if He that eats and drinks unworthily not discerning the Lords Body eats and drinks his own damnation 1 Cor. 11.29 then he that eats and drinks worthily discerning the Lords body eats and drinks his Salvation so Our Saviour spake punctually hereof Joh. 6.53 54. Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of God and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my Blood hath eternal Life and I will raise him up at the last day I have been the larger in proving all these to be Gods ordinances to save mens Souls that you may see good Children what cause you have to abhor the Quakers Sect as damnable Hereticks who utterly reject nay even make a mock at them especially both the Sacraments Know therefore in doing so they reject and despise the manifest Ordinances of God and certain it is that as for us Ministers in the Dispensation of the Word and Prayer and Sacraments consists that whole Ministration which we have received of the Lord for the Salvation of men so for you the people I speak in the Apostles words Heb. 2.3 How shall ye escape if ye neglect so great Salvation which at first began to be spoken by the Lord himself and was confirmed to the world by them that heard him and by them whom they Commissioned for it such as Timothy and Titus it was Committed to other faithful men from age to age successively able to teach others also 2 Tim. 2.2 Let us then go on Q. Who ordained the Sacraments A. Jesus Christ Catechist It is not in the Churches power to ordain new Sacraments it belongs only to God and his Son Christ Jesus For the Covenant is Gods and therefore it is his Prerogative to ordain Sacraments to be Seals of the Covenant And who but he can either give the Grace signified by the outward Signs or Elements or can punish the unworthy Receivers of them or such as be unfaithful to their part of the Covenant made and renewed in them Q. How many Sacraments then did Christ ordain A. Two only as generally necessary to Salvation Q. Why do you hold two Sacraments and no more A. Those other five which the Papists account Sacraments viz. Orders Confirmation Extreme Unction Penance and Matrimony answer not the Definition of a Sacrament for they neither were all ordained by Christ nor have they any visible sign representing some Spiritual Grace nor any promise to make them Seals of Grace and pardon unto us Catechist It is apparent Christ ordained two Sacraments Matth. 28.19 Go teach and baptize all nations in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and that his mind was that this should continue always in his Church is manifest from his promise and Loe I will be with you and your Successors so teaching and baptizing alway to the end of the world And for the Lords Supper Christs Institution thereof is to be seen in the Holy Gospel and it is as fully recited by St. Paul 1 Cor. 11. as by any of them ver 23. What I have received of the Lord that have I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night that he was betrayed took bread and brake it and gave it to them all saying ver 25. This do in remembrance of me in like manner he took the Cup c. and that it was his mind that this also should be a standing perpetual Memorial of himself in his Church appears ver 26. As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew forth the Lords death till he come that is to Judgement even till the end of the world These are plain Texts against the Anabaptists Catabaptists and Quakers who clearly abolish both these Sacraments But no apperance of any such Texts is there for the other five added to these two in the Romish Church I need but give you an abstract of what the Article of our Church saith that for Penance as the Papists use it and Extreme Unction they are no better than cortupt imitations of the Apostles without any shew of warrant for so-doing And others of them as Orders and Matrimony are states
of Life indeed allowed in Scripture but have not the nature of Sacraments to be ordinary means of Salvation And these altogether with Confirmation have no visible signs or Ceremonies ordained of God as Baptism and the Lords Supper have Let the Adversaries shew any of these if they can by the Scriptures but they can do no such thing which therefore can by no means be counted in the number of the Sacraments strictly so called ordinary means necessary for all to receive for their Salvation but the most that can be said is that some of them may be esteemed Holy Rites and Ceremonies in their due place For the two Sacraments then I ask you Q. How are these two generally necessary to Salvation A. They are necessary to be used if they can be had and whosoever slight or willfully neglect them they highly offend God and endanger their own Salvation Catechist These two thus instituted by Christ must necessarily be used by all Christians all that will own their Christianity and obey Christ and his Gospel For Christs Commandment to his Apostles was positive that as they should teach or disciple as the word signifies so baptize all Nations they came to and who can choose but see him urging a necessity of Baptism upon all that would become members of his Church which he expresseth by entring into his Kingdom in that forequoted Text Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born again of water and of the Spirit He can in no wise enter into the Kingdom of God except mark the word And for the Lords Supper it is to any Apprehension as strict a Commandment as any in the Scriptures That his Ministers take the bread and cup and give them and that the people eat and drink thereof in remembrance of him and that for this end the shewing forth the Lords death and that for so long a continuance till he come Do this is the word and therefore there is nothing more to be inquired but whether it be done or not done to shew our Obedience or Disobedience to his plain Commandment in short wilfully to neglect either of those Sacraments whereof too many God knows are notoriously-guilty among us is to contemn Christs own Ordinance and Appointment and what man can hope to be saved but in the way appointed by Christ Jesus himself the Saviour of men Now let me instruct you more distinctly first in the nature of a Sacrament in general and then of the two Sacraments apart Q. What meanest thou by the word Sacrament A. I mean an outward visible sign of an inward spiritual Grace given unto us ordained by Christ himself as a means whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof Q. How many parts are there in a Sacrament A. Two an Outward visible sign and an inward spiritual Grace Catechist That you may understand these more clearly I ask you Q. What is that you call the outward sign in a Sacrament A. That which we see with our Bodily eyes Q. What is that you call the inward Spiritual Grace A. That which the eye of Faith discerns in the visible signs Catechist You see water in Baptism and Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper with your eyes They are set before you and you see them and so they are Signs both outward and visible in the Holy Sacraments But what is signified and conferred by these outward visible things to your Souls this is no object of nor can be discerned by your bodily eyes for it is the Soul alone that can discern them there by the eye of Faith upon the account of Christs promise to his own Ordinance and Institution the Grace signified and conveyed therefore is wholly inward and spiritual Tell me then Q. For what uses are these Outward Signs or parts in the Sacraments Ordained and Instituted A. To be Signs signifying and means conveying and pledges assuring the Graces signified to Beleivers Catechist They are Signs signifying or representing the spiritual Grace for Example Water in Baptism signifies and represents The Holy Spirits cleansing the Soul polluted by Original sin in and through the blood of Christ And in the Lords Supper The Bread broken signifies and represents Christs Body bruised and torn and crucified and the Wine poured out signifies and represents his blood shed upon the Cross for Remission of sins And thus as the Apostle saith Gal. 3.2 Christ Crucified is set before our eyes in visible Types and Signs and Representations and they are also means or Instruments or as it were Conduit pipes ordained by Christ to convey the Graces and Benefits signified to the worthy Receivers Yea and pledges to assure us thereof Seals of the Covenant of Grace as our Seals are of Bonds or Evidences or as Circumcision was to Abraham Rom. 4.11 He received the Sign of circumcison a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith As sure as we receive the One so sure shall we receive and be made partakers of the other if the fault be not in ourselves All those will be much more clear in Questions and Answers upon each Sacrament First then of Baptism And first let me hear you answer out of the Church Catechism Q. What is the outward part or sign in Baptism A. Water wherein the person is baptized in the Name of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost Q. What is the inward and spiritual Grace A. A death unto sin and a new birth unto Righteousness for being by nature children of wrath we are hereby made the children of Grace Q. What is required of persons to be baptized A. Repentance whereby they forsake sin and Faith whereby they stedfastly believe the promises made to them in that Sacrament Q. Why then are Infants baptized when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them A. Because they promise them both by their sureties which promise when they come to age themselves are bound to perform Catechist Let us look over these again carefully and break them into other plain and short Inquiries Q. What thing did Christ ordain to be the outward Sign to be used in Baptism A. Water only Catechist Observe Water and Water only Our Wild Quakers speak most scornfully and Contemptibly of Water-Baptism But it is plain Our Saviour himself was Baptized in the River Jordan And all besides him we read of in the Scriptures that were either baptized by John the Baptist or by Christ's Apostles were baptized with water and Christs promise Matth. 28.19 20. Was to be with his Ministers so baptizing to the worlds end The Text is well known once and again before quoted Joh. 3.5 Verily Verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again of water and of the Spirit mark of water as well as of the Spirit He cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And as this is necessary to teach you the necessity of water to arm you Children against the Quakers error So do I express the answer thus water only to exclude the
Debauchery thereof is very great and therefore it is as needful now as ever That some Persons be engaged publickly to see that children that are baptized be brought up in the doctrine of Christ and in the fear of God Q. What just exception can be made against this Custome A. None but Godfathers and Godmothers neglecting their duties now this or the like Exceptions lye against the best and most wholesome Institutions both of God and man Catechist It is indeed a very sad thing that Godfathers and Godmothers so generally neglect their duties I say therefore O that All persons would be serious in undertaking this charge and fulfill it more Conscientiously than commonly men do And then The Benefit of this Custom would convince all mankind how convenient it is that it be retained to prevent any persons making Shipwrack of Faith and of a good Conscience when they come to years of discretion Q. Why do Christians give their Children names in Baptism A. Because the Jews gave names to their children in Circumcision and Baptism succeeds in the room of it Again it is intended That their names should always put them in mind of their Christianity which they received together with their names Catechist First That Baptism succeeds in the room of Circumcision As it is clear in matter of Fact so I take it to be manifest in that one Text of St. Paul Coloss 1.11 In whom also ye are Circumcised by the Circumcision made without Hands in putting off the Body of the Sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ buried with him in Baptism 2. That the Jews gave their names when they Circumcised their Children is plain in divers instances To name but two Gen. 21.3 4. Abraham called the name of his Son which Sarah bare unto him Isaac and Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being Eight days old as God commanded him And so had John Baptist his name given to Him at his circumcision Luk. 1.59 and so had our Saviour Luk. 2.21 When 8 days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child his name was called Jesus which was so named of the Angel before he was conceived in the Womb. 3. As often as we mention or think of our names we should as much as possible call to mind our Baptismal Covenant viz. To be Christs faithful servants to our lives end and hereof St. Pauls text 2 Tim. 3.19 may serve for a good Paraphrase Let every one that nameth the name of Christ or upon whom the name of Christ is called in that he is called a Christian depart from iniquity Q. Seeing then you received both these in Baptism I ask you what is Baptism as it is in this place offered to your Consideration A. It is one of the Seals of the new Covenant Catechist Such was Circumcision and therefore such is Baptism that succeeds it Rom. 4.11 Abrahams circumcision was to Him a seal of the Righteousness of Faith which He had being Vncircumcised Q. What Covenant do you mean A. The same which God made with Adam after his fall in those words The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head and which he afterwards renewed at several times to Gods people by the Patriarchs and Prophets and at last Ratified in Christs blood called the Covenant of Grace Catechist This Covenant as made with Adam as the common parent and Representative of all mankind you have in Gen 3.15 and as it was renewed to Abraham you have Gen. 12.3 and 22.18 In thee in thy Seed i. e. in Christ as St. Paul explains it Gal. 3.8 shall all Families of the earth be blessed Which Covenant was afterwards renewed or new revealed in other words to Jacob Gen. 49.10 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah till Shilo come by Moses Deut. 18.15 A Prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you of your Brethren like unto me him shall ye hear by David by Isaiah Jeremy and the rest of the Prophets too many to recite particularly here and still in every age it was more clearly revealed then the former until the Seed came the Mediator of this covenant and ratified and established it by his Blood It will be of great Use to you Good Children if you can reach to understand thus much much more if you can attain a competent practical knowledge of the terms of this Covenant as your Catechism well understood may instruct you I ask you therefore Q. How many parts are there in this Covenant A. Two Gods part and ours Catechist For so it is in all Covenants which being between parties it obligeth them both to their respective parts and neither of them can expect the benefit of the Covenant without his own performance of what belongs to him Q. What then is Gods part or what doth God promise in the Covenant of Grace A. Forgiveness of Sins Sanctifying Grace and Eternal Life Q. How doth your Catechism express these A. It shews what Benefits we receive by Baptism to wit that of limbs of Satan we are therein made members of Christ Of Children of Wrath and of the Devil we are therein made Children of God and of heirs of Hell we become inheritors of the Kingdom of heaven Catechist These are great things Good Children for you to learn and having learnt them I beseech you do your best to consider them and see how all are grounded in the plain words of Holy Scripture Of Limbs of Satan as the Head and Father of all wicked ones we are by Baptisme made members of Christ Members you all know relate to a Body Now the Church is the Body whereof Christ is the Head and by Baptism we are made members of the Church which is the Mystical Body of Christ For Baptism is the Sacrament of Admission into the Church as the Lords Supper is the Sacrament of nourishment in the Church 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit we are all baptized into one body whether Jew or Gentile 2. Whereas we are all by nature Children of wrath one as well as other Ephes 2.3 By Baptism we are born anew of water and the spirit John 3.5 and so have the power and dignity or priviledge to be called the Children of God by Regeneration as well as by Adoption for John 1.12 To as many as received him to them gave be power to become the Sons of God even as many as believed in his name and professed that belief by being Baptized Gal. 3.26 27. Ye are all the children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ And from hence they may call God Father saying Our Father which art in heaven witness what Christ said to his Disciples John 20.17 I ascend to my Father and your Father and from hence they are brethren to Christ for Heb. 2.11 He is not ashamed to call them Brethren And being thus children and sons of God they are 3. By Baptism made Heirs of his Kingdom
wits are utterly perverted into an extreme and Atheistical wickedness hereby Of this therefore the Holy Scriptures warn all men and especially the younger sort in innumerable Texts Ps 1.1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the councel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful Prov. 1.10 My son if sinners entice thee consent thou not If they say come with us let us lay wait for blood c. Cast in thy lot among us my son walk not thou in the way with them refrain thy foot from their paths see the Text at large And chap. 2.10 c. he tells you how great a lesson of Wisdom this is i.e. of Religion When Wisdom entreth into thine heart c. Discretion shall preserve thee Vnderstanding shall keep thee to â—eliver thee from the way of the evil man from the man â—hat speaketh froward things who leave the paths of Righteâ—usness to walk in the ways of darkness Who rejoyce to â—o evil and delight in the frowardness of the wicked Whose ways are wicked and they froward in their paths To â—eliver thee from the strange woman even from the stranger â—hat flattereth with her words For her house enclineth unto â—eath and her paths unto the dead None that go unto her return again neither take they hold of the paths of life And in innumerable other places doth the wise man â—nculcate and urge this too many to repeat here I must content my self with St. Pauls injunctions to all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 5.9 not to keep comâ—any with fornicators and v. 11. nor with covetous nor with â—dolaters nor railers nor extortioners nor with any broâ—her that walketh disorderly as it is 2 Thes 3.6 Concerning whom he commandeth in the name of the Lord Jesus that we withdraw ourselves from them And in a word he exhorts Ephes 5.11 that we have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them which must be by refusing all familiarity with them as well as by verbal reprehending them As for the things of this world S. John tells us 1 Ep. 2.16 they may be all reduced to these three the lusts of the flesh the lusts of â—he eye and the pride of life i. e. Riches pleasures and honours And for resisting all Temptations from them I shall content my self with commending to your daily â—emembrance that one Text of his chap. 3.15 Love not â—he world nor the things of this world for if any man love the world the love of the father is not in him And for avoiding all sinful customs or fashions I shall only mind you of that general precept in Gods law Erod 23.2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil For thus shall ye as St. Peter saith 2 Ep. 2.20 escape the pollutions of this world and to all these you are bound by your Baptismal vow to be Christs faithful servants and souldiers For as our Saviour saith Math. 6.24 Ye cannoâ— both serve God and Mammon God and the world oâ— the lusts thereof no nor your fleshly lusts as the nexâ— Answer teacheth you Q. What is meant by renouncing all the sinful lusts of the flesh A. In Baptism we promise to mortifie the flesh by fasting and prayer and not to suffer our fleshly lusts to reign in us so as to live in Gluttony drunkenness or any moral uncleanness Catechist As St. Paul expresses it Gal. 5.10 We must walk in the Spirit and not fulfil the lusts of the flesh 1 Cor. 5.17 we must follow his example in keeping the body under and bringing it in subjection that it should not rebel against the Spirit Gal. â— 24 if we be Christs as we all profess and promise to be in Baptism we must thus shew it by Crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts We must as St. Peter exhorts 1 Ep. 2.20 As Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the Soul For this I beseech you young men and maids to think of you cannot fulfil your fleshly lusts falling into either drunkenness or fornication whether simple fornication or that before Marriage or by any other wretched wicked manner of life but you 'l thereby become eminently guilty of a direct Breach of your Baptismal Vow and Covenant with God And in short I wish you with all my heart to bear that text of St. Pauls continually in your minds Rom. 8.13 If ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live So here is Life and death set before you and put to your choice Q. What is the life of a Christian in respect of all these A. It is an holy Spiritual Warfare for we are in Baptism listed Souldiers under Christs banner continually to fight against these our spiritual enemies Catechist 1 Tim. 1.18 We must war a good warfare holding faith and a good Conscience 1 Tim. 6.12 We must fight the good fight of Faith whereunto we are called having in Baptism professed this good profession before many witnesses even in the presence of God and in the face of the Congregation Q. By what means may we fight this good fight and warfare so as to overcome A. By the continual use of prayer fasting faith and watchfulness over our hearts and senses and constant care to walk according to Gods word Catechist To all these Gods H. Word directs us with the greatest plainness To prayer with fasting 1 Thes 5.17 pray without ceasing or continually For this Devil of fleshly lusts Christ saith Math. 17.21 goeth not out but by fasting and prayer By these it is that the flesh is mortified and kept under Gal. 5.16 This I say therefore Walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh For the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other But therefore Gal. 24. They that are Christs indeed do crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts And to these of fasting and prayer S. John adds Faith 1 Ep. 5.4 Whesoever is born of God over cometh the world and this is our victory that overcometh the world even our Faith And our Saviour adds Watchfulness Matth. 26.41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation Luk 21.32 33. Take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeting and drunkenness and the cares of this life and that day come upon you unawares 36. Watch ye therefore and pray always Mark 13.37 And what I say unto you I say unto all watch And lastly O! that young people would often Meditate upon what David directs them to even circumspect walking according to Gods word Psal 119.9 Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his ways even by taking heed thereto according to Gods word These particulars make up that Repentance that you promised in Baptism
Assistance as my Guide and Sanctifier and Comforter Catechist That you may well understand your Belief as a Christian and particularly what you profess to believe of each person in the Blessed Trinity and every word in it I ask you in the first place Q. Why do you say I Believe rather than we or they believe A. Because Though the prayers of others may avail much yet every man must be saved by his own Faith Catechist And Think not sleightly of this lesson for it levels directly against the Papists implicite Faith We are often taught to pray for one another saying Our Father which art in Heaven Give us and forgive us c. as S. James saith chap. 5.6 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much i. e. for others as well as for himself for of such prayer he there speaks But no man can believe for any but himself Habak 2.4 By his Faith shall the just live i.e. lead his life here according to Gods will revealed in his word and so be saved at last for ever So is every one therefore by his Creed taught to say not we believe for others but I Believe for himself as the man in the Gospel whose Son was dumb Mat. 9.17 23. Lord I believe Lord help mine unbelief Q. In whom dost thou believe A. In God only Catechist Believing in is more then bare believing for besides Credence or Assent it implies Trust and Affiance and is a Divine Honour proper to God only and therefore we say in the Creed I believe in God we do not say alike I believe in the Holy Gatholick Church but I believe the Holy Catholick Church For Cursed is the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the Lord Jer. 17.5 And therefore Christ avoucheth himself to be God when he said John 14.1 Ye believe in God believe also in me Q. What is it to believe in God A. To believe there is a God and to believe that what God saith is undoubtedly true and to depend upon him in Hope for the accomplishment of his promises Catechist The First Principle in Religion against Atheists is that there is a God Heb. 11.6 He that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him And the next Principle is the certainty of his Word That it is as Gold tryed seven times in the fire Psal 12.6 For Numb 23.19 He is not as man that he should lie Luk. 16.17 It is easier for heaven and earth to pass than one jot or tittle of his Word to fail And then from these we infer the safety of trusting in him for the fulfilling of his promises For Heb. 11.23 Faithful is he that hath promised who also will perform We may therefore take up the Prophet Micahs words chap. 4.5 All people walk every one in the name of his God But we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever Q. How many Gods are there A. One God only therefore I profess to believe in God Singularly and not in Gods Catechist You know what the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 8.4 The Heathens have Gods many and Lords many but we know they are all but Idels and an Idol is nothing and therefore to us Christians There is no other God but One Eph. 4.6 One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Q. How is this One God distinguished A. Into three Persons God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost Catechist These three Persons in the Godhead were apparently distinguished in Christs Baptism at the river Jordan For the Father spake from heaven saying This is my Beloved Son and the H. Ghost descended upon him like a Dove And so are they manifestly distinguished in our Baptism For we are expresly Baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost And S. John 1 Ep. 5.7 affirms both the distinction of the persons and their Unity of Essence saying There be three that bear record in Heaven The Father the Word and the spirit and these three are one More I need not to say of this great Mysterious Doctrine at this time whoso would better understand it let him study the Creed of S. Athanasius Let us now see what the Apostles Creed teacheth us to believe of each person in this Blessed Trinity Q. What dost thou believe of the First person A. That he is God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth Q. God the Father whose Father is he A. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and ours in him Catechist Christ is the only begotten Son of God Joh. 1.14 And by this Title is God especially owned and honoured by us Christians Rom. 15.6 We are with one mind and one mouth to glorifie God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ And then God is our Father and we are his Sons by Adoption in Christ 1 John 3 1. Behâ—ld what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed up nâ—w that we should be called the Sons of God For Eph. 1.5 We are predestinated to the Adoption of Children by Christ Jesus And as to his Sons He hath appointed us an Inheritance For Rom. 8.11 If Sons then heirs Heirs of God joynt heirs with Christ Q. What is God A. A most pure Spirit a Being absolutely perfect Catechist We have this definition of God from Christs own mouth John 4.24 God is a spirit having no bodily parts or members or passions and all whatsoever perfections and excellencies are in him and derived from him Q. What is the great Attribute of God A. Omnipotency or Almightiness that is that he can do whatever pleaseth him Catechist So speaks the Psalmist Ps 135.6 Whatsoever the Lord pleaseth That doth he in Heaven and in Earth and in all deep places And hence Job said ch 42.2 I know that thou canst do every thing For in his hand saith Jehoshaphat 1 Chron. 20.6 is such power and might that none is able to withstand Q. What other Essential Attributes are there of God besides Almightiness A. Eternity that he neither hath beginning nor will have an end Immutability that he changeth not Omnipresence that he is in all places Omniscience that he sees all things and knows them perfectly And the most perfect Goodness and Holiness that he is neither Author nor approver of evil Catechist Let these Scriptures sink into your hearts for all these Eternity for so the Heavenly Congregation sing Rev. 4.8 Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty which was and which is and which is to come Immutability Jam. 1.10 He is the Father of Lights with whom is no variableness nor shaddow of turning Heb. 13.8 He is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Omnipresence for Am I a God at hand saith the Lord and not a God afar of Jer. 23.24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I should
gives hereof 1 Thes 2.3 That day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night for when men shall say peace and safety then cometh sudden destruction upon them as travel upon a woman with child and they shall not escape Matth. 25.31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory with his Holy Angels then shall he sit in his Throne of Glory and before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats And he shall set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left Then shall the King say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father c. But ver 41. To them on his left hand He will say Depart from me ye cursed c. And ver 46. These shall go into Everlasting punishment but the Righteous into Life Eternal Q. What use are we to make of these several parts of Christs Exaltation A. To rise again with Christ unto all newness of life to set our affections on things above where Christ is To serve him with fear because all power is given him and to judge ourselves daily and to watch over all our thoughts words and actions as they that must give account thereof at Christs tribunal Catechist All these the Scripture splainly teach us Rom. 6.4 We are buried with Christ by Baptism that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of his Father even so we also should walk in newness of life And this is the proper use to be made of Christs Resurrection for it follows there having been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also planted together in the likeness of his Resurrection Col. 3.1 If ye be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ is set at the Right hand of God This is the use we are to make of Christs Ascension and sitting at the Right hand of God In short Psal 2.11 Serve the Lord with fear kiss the Son lest he be angry and so ye perish if his wrath be kindled yea but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him And that is a Meditation very proper for that whole Exaltation of Christ that is past already and then let what is to come be always in our minds even his coming to judgment That judging ourselves we may not be judged of the Lord 1 Cor. 11.31 And seeing all these things shall be then dissolved let us seriously consider as St. Peter 2 Ep. 3.11 admonisheth us What manner of persons we ought to be in all manner of Conversation and Godliness Thus have you what the Creed teacheth you concerning the two first persons in the blessed Trinity The Father and the Son now Q. What dost thou believe concerning the Third Person A. I believe that he is God the Holy Ghost Proceeding from the Father and the Son One with them Holy in himself and the Author of all Holiness in us Catechist I shall further explain to you and prove the several parts of this Answer in the following Questions and their answers I ask you then Q. Is not the Father a Spirit and was not the Son also a pure Spirit before he took our nature upon him A. Yes But the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son inspired or proceeding from them both Catechist True and from hence he is called the spirit of the Father Matth. 10.20 And the spirit of the Son Gal. 4.6 And as the Father sent the spirit John 14.26 So the Son promised his Disciples to send the spirit when he left them to the wide world John 15.26 When the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father He shall testifie of me Q. Is the Holy Ghost God A. Yes He is One with and Equal to the Father and the Son Catechist Being one with and equal to them he must necessarily be God very God For being three persons they are but one God 1 John 5.7 There are three that bear record in Heaven The Father the Word and the Spirit and these three are One. Besides which plain Text to prove the Divinity of the Holy Ghost There is one General Argument which is not hard to learn or remember for arming yourselves against all such Hereticks as deny the Holy Ghost to be God as well as our Saviour The name of God the Attributes of God the Works of God and the Honours which belong to God alone are ascribed to the Holy Ghost Therefore the Holy Ghost is God Particularly we are all Baptized as in the name of the Father and of the Son so in the name of the Holy Ghost And here in the Creed we profess to believe in the Holy Ghost as well as as in God the Father and in Jesus Christ the only Son of God And believing in is an honour peculiar to God We may not believe in any Creature in any but God For it implies Trust and Affiance and Jer. 17.5 Cursed is he that trusts in any Arm of flesh To name only one Text more Act. 5.3 When Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Ghost concerning the price of their lands they are expressly said to lie to God and not to men Therefore the Holy Ghost is God Q Why is he called the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost A. Being Holy in himself he Sanctifies us and all our Holiness is his work he is the Author of all Holiness in us Catechist Holiness is his Essential Attribute and Sanctification or making us Holy is his proper Work And hence we read of the Sanctification of the Spirit 1 Thes 2.13 and of the renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 And hereby he seals us to the day of Redemption Ephes 4.30 Q. By what means doth the spirit Sanctifie us A. The Holy Scriptures were written by men inspired by the spirit and he daily enlightens converts sanctifies and comforts our souls by them in the Ministry of the Word Q. What must we then do that the spirit may Sanctifie us A. We must highly esteem and constantly attend Gods Holy Ordinances and obey all the Holy Spirit 's godly motions in our hearts Catechist The Spirit moves in these waters as in the Pool of Bethesda to heal the diseases of our Souls and we are therefore warned to take heed that we do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God Ephes 4.30 nor quench the spirit 1 Thes 5.19 Which is done as by any willful gross sin so by despising prophecying 1 Thes 1.20 by slighting neglecting or making light of any of Gods Holy Ordinances Thus have you what the Creed teaches you to believe concerning the Holy Ghost also and so concerning all the Persons in the Blessed Trinity Proceed we then to what it teacheth concerning the Church Q. Who are they that shall receive any benefit