it cannot be lost though for a time it may in some part as concerning some Gifts or some measure of it so that in the Elect it cannot be utterly lost For a little while have I forsaken thee Isa 54. 8. but with great compassion will I gather thee Q. What Benefits are received by the Holy Ghost A. They are such as concern the Reprobate As by virtue of the Holy Ghost they may be enabled to preach the Historical Faith As in the Example of Balaam who Numb 24. 17. Foretold of Christ To Interpret the Scriptures aright in some places As the Scribes and the Chief-Priests Mat. 2. 5 6. They may receive some measure of Illumination They may be restrained for a time from this or that Sin As in the Example of Abimilech Gen. 20. 6. They may obtain some measure of Worldly Joy or some Counterfeit Joy As in the Example of Herod and Mark 6. 20. Luk. 8. 13. the Parable of the Seed Or such as concern the Elect By the Holy Ghost they are Regenerated Joh. 3. 5. By it the Fruits of the Spirit are Gal. 5. 22. wrought in the Hearts of the Elect By it is wrought the Assurance of Rom. 8. 15. Salvation in the Elect. By virtue of the Holy Ghost the Elect Chap. 14. 4. are preserved in the State of Grace Q. What is it to Believe in the Holy Ghost A. I do not only Believe That there is a Holy Ghost but also That I by virtue of thâ—s Holy Ghost am truly Regenerate Comforted Preserved Settled in Faith and made Partaker of all other necessary Benefits of the Spirit Concerning the Church the Fourth Part of the Creed Q. Which is the Ninth Article of the Creed A. I Believe the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints Q. Why is it not as well said I believe in as I believe the Holy Catholick Church A. It is warrantable to believe the Church but not warrantable to believe in the Church or to rest our Judgments upon the Authority of the Church without any Warrant from the Word Believe not every Spirit but try whether they are of God And the Reasons wherefore we are to Believe in the Church are 1st Because it is an Honour peculiar to God to be depended upon or to be believed in Ye believe in God believe also in Joh. 14. 1. me 2dly Because the Word is the Foundation of the Church and not the Church of the Word Ye are built upon the foundation of the Eph. 2. 20. Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone 3dly Because the Church may err as did the Church of Corinth err about 1 Cor. 20. the Sacrament Q. What is the True Church A. The True Church is nothing but a peculiar Company of Men Elected and Called But ye are a chosen generation a 1 Pet. 2. 9. royal priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that you should shew forth the vertues of him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light Q. Is there but One Church of God or be there Many Churches of Christ A. There is but One True Catholick or Universal Church There is one body and one spirit even Eph. 4. 4. as ye are called in one hope of your vocation This True Church is either Triumphant with the blessed Angels in Heaven Therefore are they in the presence of the Rev. 7. 15. throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple and he that sitteth on the throne will dwell amongst them Or Militant on Earth fighting under Christ's Banner against the World the Flesh and the Devil And there was a battel in heaven Michael Rev. 12. 7. and his angels fought against the dragon and the dragon fought and his angels This Militant Church is either Visible as a Company amongst Men professing the True and Uncorrupt Doctrine of the Law and Gospel in which Company are many dead and unregenerate Members and Hypocrites Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven Or Invisible that is a Company of those that are elected to Eternal Life in whom a New Life is begun here by the Holy Ghost and is perfected in the Life to come This Church as long as it sojourneth on Earth always lieth hid in the Visible Church Those that are in this Invisible Church never perish neither are there any Hypocrites therein but the Elect only of whom it is said No man shall pluck my sheep out of my Joh. 10. 28. hands The Lord knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2. 19. Q. Who is the Head of this Mystical Body the Church A. Only Christ himself as may appear The husband is the wife's head even Eph. 5. 23. as Christ is the head of the Church and the same is the Saviour of the body And that 1st Because he only is able to perform the Office of an Head unto his Church as to Quicken to Preserve to Nourish to Direct and Govern it 2dly Because he only is able to prescribe Laws to bind the Consciences There is one Law-giver which is able Jam. 4. 12. to save and to destroy Q. What are the Notes or Signs of the True Church A. They are either Internal Signs 1st The Spirit of God dwelling in the Heart Grieve not the holy Spirit of God by Eph. 4. 30. whom ye are sealed to the day of redemption 2dly Is True Regeneration For that which is born of flesh is flesh Joh. 3. 6. and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit 3dly True Faith is a Sign for the Church is called by the Name of the Faithful Mine eyes shall be unto the faithful of Psal 101. 6. the land that they may dwell with me Or External Signs As 1st The pure Preaching of the Word of God If ye continue in my word ye are verily Joh. 8. 31. my disciples 2dly The right Administration of the Sacraments namely Baptism and the Lord's Supper Go and teach all nations baptizing Mat. 28. 19 them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things 20. whatsoever I have commanded you 3dly The Third Sign is A sincere Profession of Justification by Christ alone Neither is there salvation in any other Act. 4. 12. name for among men there is given no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved Q. Wherefore is the Church called Holy A. 1st Because the Holiness of Christ is imputed to it Ye are of him in Christ Jesus who of 1 Cor. 1 30. God is made unto us wisdom righteteousness sanctification and redemption 2dly Because Holiness is begun in every Soul that is regenerate in this Life Surely they work none iniquity that Psal 119. 3. walk in his ways 3dly It is Holy in respect of Prophane Persons Aaron and his Sons are
Q. And who is that Mediator which is both very God and perfectly Iust Man A. Even our Lord Jesus Christ who is made to us of God Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption There is one Mediator between God and 1 Tim. 2. 5. Man which is the man Jesus Christ Ye are of him in Jesus Christ who is 1 Cor. 1. 30. made of God unto us wisdom righteteousness sanctification and redemption Q. But what are we to Know and Believe touching the Distinction of the two Natures in Christ his Godhead and his Manhood A. That there is a real Distinction of Mat. 26. 39. Joh. 10. 17 18. Act. 3. 21. those two Natures without any Mixture the one with the other and without any Conversion or turning of the one into the other and that the Essential Properties and Actions of both Natures remain distinct one from the other Q. What are we to Believe and Know touching the Union of Christ's two Natures his Godhead and his Manhood A. That they are united by Personal Union that the Godhead and Manhood in Christ make but One Person Q. What is that Personal Union A. It is the assuming of the Humane Nature into the Person of the Son of God so as the Manhood being not a Person in it self is received into Unity of Person with the Second Person in Trinity and doth usually and only subsist in the same This is a Mystery of Godliness And the word was made flesh and Joh. 1. 14. dwelt among us full of grace and truth Great is the mystery of Godliness which 1 Tim. 3. 16. is God is manifested in the flesh justified in the spirit c. Q. What is the Office of Iesus Christ being God and Man in One Person A. It is his Mediatorship to be the only Mediator and Advocate between God and Man There is one mediator between God and 1 Tim. 2. 5. man Q. What is meant by a Mediator or Advocate A. A Mediator or Advocate is a third Person that takes upon him to agree and reconcile two that be at variance As Christ being both God and Man did set at one God and Man who before were separated by Sin I the Lord have called thee in righteousness Isa 42. 6. and will hold thine hand and I will keep thee and give thee for a covenant of the people and for a light of the Gentiles Q. How did he that A. By the Satisfying of God's Justice by his Death By Praying and Intreating for the Guilty And By applying forcibly and effectually his Merit through Faith on them that Believe and regenerating them by his holy Spirit effecting that they cease from sinning And lastly Hearing their Groans and Petitions when they call upon him For thus it becometh him who was our Mat. 3. 15. faithful high priest to fulfil all righteousness Q. What be the several Functions and Offices of Christ as he is Mediator A. They are Three namely his Prophetical Office Priestly Kingly Christ was anointed of his Father to be the Prophet King and Priest of his Church For Moses truly said unto the fathers A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of our brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you Wherefore in all things it behoved him Heb. 2. 17. to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou Psal 110. 1. at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool Q. What is the Prophetical Office of Christ A. It is the Office of Revealing the Will of God and the Means of Salvation to his Church in all Ages As No man hath seen God at any time Joh. 1. 18. the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him Which Office Christ performs Two ways 1st Outwardly By the Ministry of his Word Christ was put to death concerning the 1 Pet. 3. 18. flesh but was quickened in the spirit By which spirit he went and preached Ver. 19. unto the spirits that were in prison 2dly Inwardly By the Operation and Teaching of his holy Spirit As by the Example of Lydia Whose heart the Lord opened that she Act. 16. 14. attended unto the things which Paul spake Q. VVhat is the Priestly Office of Christ A. It is that whereby Christ hath and doth reconcile God to his Elect He performing all those things to God for them whereby they may come to Eternal Life But this man because he endureth for Heb. 7. 24. ever hath an everlasting priesthood Wherefore he is able also perfectly to Ver. 25. save them that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Which Priestly Office Christ performs Three ways for God chosen First In fulfilling the Law of God and performing perfect Righteousness for them Which Perfection He is made unto us of God wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 30. righteousness sanctification and redemption standeth in Two things 1st In the Purity of his Humane Nature he being conceived and born Pure and Holy void of all Sin 2dly In the Obedience of his whole Life he doing all that the Law required of him for God's Chosen Who did no sin neither was there any 1 Pet. 2. 22. Isa 53. 9. guile found in his mouth Secondly As he was Man consisting of Body and Soul Yet the Lord would break him and Isa 53 10. make him subject to infirmities when he shall make his soul an offering for sin Offering of himself unto God his Father a sacrifice without spot thereby appeasing his Wrath for all their Sins How much more shall the blood of Heb. 9. 14. Christ which through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God But now in the end of the world hath Ver. 26. he appeared once to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself Thirdly His entring into Heaven and there appearing before his Father continually making Intercession for all the Faithful Who shall condemn It is Christ who Rom. 8. 34. also is at the right hand of God and maketh request for us Q. After what manner doth Christ make Intercession in Heaven for the Faithful A. Not by Prostrating himself and uttering Words to his Father or by putting up a Prayer or Supplication to him But by presenting himself and the Sacrifice of himself once offered upon the Cross and the infinite and unvaluable Merit of that Sacrifice before the Eyes of his Father willing as he is God and Man and desiring as he is Man that his Father would accept of his perfect Satisfaction for all that are given unto him For Christ is not enter'd into the holy Heb. 9. 24. places that are made with hands which are similitudes of the true sanctuary but
Christ's coming to Iudgment A. I believe hereby That they shall then receive their own Bodies again which so long time had lain in the Earth and that in a far more excellent Estate than when they left them God giveth even to every seed his own 1 Cor. 15. 38 body The body is sown in dishonour and is 43. raised in glory And that they shall then receive Honour as in Rev. 3. 5 21. And that blessed Sentence of the Judge Come Mat. 25. 34. ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you And also all the Benefits that Christ hath purchased for them Then lift up your heads for your redemption Luk. 21. 28. draweth nearer And they shall be freed from all the Powers of Death they shall die no more Death is swallowed up in victory Yea they shall be freed from all Sorrow and Want from all Hunger and Thirst and they shall weep no more They shall neither hunger nor thirst any Rev. 7. 16. more God shall wipe away all tears from Rev. 7. 17. their eyes Q. Wherein consisteth the Third Part of the Creed A. Of Faith in God the Holy Ghost Q. Which then is the Eighth Article of the Creed A. I Believe in the Holy Ghost Q. Wherefore is the third Person in the Trinity called a Ghost or a Spirit A. 1st Because he is a Spiritual Nature God is a Spirit Joh. 4. 24. 2dly Because he is breathed or inspired into the Hearts of the Elect by the Father and the Son He breathed on them and said unto Joh. 20. 22. them Receive the Holy Ghost 3dly Because it is his Office to inspire our Hearts with good Motions Holy men of God spake as they were 2 Pet. 1. 21. moved by the Holy Ghost Q. Wherefore is he called Holy A. It is not to deny either the Holiness of the Father or the Son but because he is the Means of the Sanctification of others and therefore he is called the Spirit of Sanctification Rom. 1. 4. Q. What is the Holy Ghost or how is he described A. The Holy Ghost is the Third Person of the Trinity There are three which bear record in 1 Joh. 5. 7. heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one proceeding from the Father and the Son But when the Comforter shall come Joh. 15. 26. whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father being also very God with the Father and the Son There are three which bear record in 1 Joh. 5. 7. heaven the Father the Word and the Spirit and these three are one Co-eternal and Because he created the Heaven and the Earth and was from the very Beginning The Spirit of the Lord moved upon the Gen. 1. 2. waters Co-equal with the Father and the Son And that is manifest by his Divine Attributes as Omnipotency Psal 33. 6. Omnisciency 1 Cor. 2. 10. Infinite Goodness and Holiness 1 Cor. 6. 11. Unchangeableness Act. 1. 16. Truth Infallible Joh. 15. 26. Mercy Unspeakable Rom. 5. 5. 8. 26. Q. What is the Office of the Holy Ghost A. The chief Parts of his Office are 1st To Teach us The Holy Ghost whom the Father will Joh. 14. 26. send in my name he will teach you all things 2dly To Regenerate us Except a man be born of water and of Joh. 3. 5. the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God 3dly To Unite us with Christ Hereby we may know that Christ dwelleth 1 Joh. 3. 24. in us even by the Spirit that he hath given us 4thly To Rule and Govern us As many as are led by the Spirit of Rom. 8. 14. God they are the sons of God Q. By what means may the Holy Ghost be given or received A. He is given either Visibly as unto the Apostles There appeared unto them eleven tongues Act. 2. 3. like fire or Invisibly as unto the Church from the Beginning to the End of the World He which hath not the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8. 9. is none of his For without the Spirit there neither was nor should have any Church Also he is given after an ordinary way By the Ministry of the Word and by the Use of the Sacraments While Peter yet spake the Holy Ghost Act. 10. 44. fell on them which heard the word Q. To whom is the Holy Ghost given A. He is said to be given to all to whom he comunicateth his Gifts to the whole Church that are called both to the Elect and to Hypocrites To the Elect he is given not only as concerning his Common Gifts but also as concerning his Proper and Saving Graces Knowledge of God's Word Regeneration Faith and Conversion To the Hypocrite he is also given only as touching the Knowledge and Doctrine and other his Common and General Gifts The world cannot receive him because Joh. 14. 17. it seeth him not neither knoweth him Q. How is the Holy Ghost kept or retained A. 1st By diligent Use of the Ecclesiastical Ministry He gave some to be Apostles some to Eph. 4. 11. be Prophets for the edification of the body of Christ 2dly By Meditation in the Doctrine of the Gospel and by studying to Profit therein Let the word of God dwell in you plenteously Col. 3. 16. in all wisdom 3dly By Encrease and Continuance and Amendment of Life Unto him that hath shall be given Mat. 13. 12. He that is righteous let him be righteous Rev. 22. 11. still 4thly By daily earnest Prayer and Invocation How much more shall your heavenly Luk. 11. 13. Father give the Holy Ghost to him that desire him Q. How shall a Man know whether he hath the Spirit or no A. It may be known by the Effects 1st If Sin be weakned in him If Christ be in you the body is dead Rom. 8. 10. because of sin 2dly If he be freed from the Bondage and Dominion of Sin Where the Spirit of the Lord is there 2 Cor. 3. 17. is liberty 3dly If he can love his Enemies This must needs be of God's Spirit because it is above Nature Love your enemies Mat. 5. 44. 4thly If he have the Spirit of Supplication and can Pray with the Heart from a feeling and from a fervent and holy Desire The Spirit helpeth our infirmities for Rom. 8. 26. we know not what to pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh request for us 5thly If he can find in himself any of the Fruits of the Spirit as Love Gal. 5. 2. joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith c. Q. May the Holy Ghost once received be afterwards totally and finally lost A. In the Reprobate he may be lost totally and finally The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit of the Lord vexed him But in the Elect
of Christ alone We are justified freely by his grace Chap. 3. 24. through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus Q. Shew me what are those things which are necessary for a Christian Man to Believe concerning Faith A. All things which are promised us in the Gospel As Christ saith These things are written that ye might Joh. 21. 31. believe The Sum whereof is briefly comprised in the Creed of the Apostles or in the Articles of the Catholick and Undoubted Faith of all Christians Q. Which are the Articles and Sum of Christian Faith or the Apostles Creed A. I believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord Which was conceived of the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into Hell The Third Day he rose again from the Dead He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the Right-hand of God the Father Almighty From thence he shall come to judge the Quick and the Dead I believe in the Holy Ghost I believe the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints The Forgiveness of Sins The Resurrection of the Body And Life Everlassting Q. Shew me the Reason why it is calld the Apostles Creed A. Because it containeth as it were a brief Sum of all the Apostolical Doctrine written in the Books of the Old and New Testament Q. What are the Parts of this Creed A. They are Four 1st Of Faith in God the Father 2dly Of Faith in God the Son 3dly Of Faith in God the Holy Ghost Q. But why is our Faith distinctly referred to every Person by it self seeing that it is One God in whom we Believe A. That our Faith may be the better strengthned Which is then done when we consider distinctly and apart what each Person according to his distinct Property hath wrought in our Salvation Notwithstanding our Faith is not at all the less referred to One God Q. How A. For it is all one as if a Man should say I put all my Hope and Trust in One God of whose Love I cannot doubt at all For whereas he is distinguished into Three Persons every one of them confirmeth in me the Assurance of that Love For the Father hath both Created me by his Omnipotency and doth also Guide me by his merciful Providence The Son hath Redeemed me by his Death Reconciled me to God the Father and even yet maketh Intercession to him for me The Holy Ghost by his Divine Power hath Sanctified me and joyned me with Christ and his Church that with it I might be made Partaker of all Gifts until he bring me even to Eternal Life Q. Which is the First Article of the Creed A. I believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth Q. Why say we rather I believe and not We believe whereas in Prayer we say not only My Father but Our Father A. Because howsoever we ma and must one Pray for another yet we cannot one Believe for another but when we come to Years every Man must believe for himself and be saved by his own and not by another's Faith As the Prophet saith The just shall live by his faith Hab. 2. 4. Q. What is meant in saying I Believe in God A. I do not only Believe God And that there is but One God But I Believe in God that is I Believe that he is my God that is I am perswaded That whatsoever God is and is said to be he is all that to me and referreth it all to my safety for his Son's sake and therefore from my Heart I put all my Confidence in him Q. What Comfort is reaped hereby A. So long as I repose all my Trust in him I may assure my self of my Salvation and of an happy Deliverâ—nce in all Dangers and Necessitie For Daniel when he was brought out Dan. 6. 23. of the cruel lions den had no hurt found on him because then he trusted in his God Q. Why is God called a Father A. 1st In respect of Christ his only begotten and natural Son 2dly In respect of all the Creatures as he is Creator and Preserver of them all 3dly In respect of the Elect whom he hath adopted to be his Sons Who hath predestinated us to be adopted Eph. 1. 5. through Jesus Christ unto himself according to the good pleasure of his will Q. What Comfort cometh by this A. I do therefore believe in him to be my God and my Father for Christ's sake As many as received him and believed Joh. 1. 12. in his name to them he gave power to be the sons of God But ye have received the spirit of adoption Rom. 8. 15. whereby we cry Abba Father And therefore I do trust in him and so rely on him that I may not doubt but he will provide all things necessary both for my Soul and Body Though I be poor and needy the Lord Psal 40. 17. thinketh on me Behold the fowls of the heaven they Mat. 6. 26 sow nor reap not yet your heavenly Father feedeth them Are not ye much better then they And why care ye for rayment the lillies 28 of the field they neither labour nor spin Wherefore if God so cloath the grass of 30 the field shall he not do not much more unto you O ye of little faith Therefore take no thought saying What 31 shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we put on For your heavenly Father knoweth that 32 ye have need of all these things But seek ye first the kingdom of heaven 33. and the righteousness thereof and all these things shall be ministred unto you And that he will bear with my Wants and Weaknesses I will spare them saith the Lord as Mal. 3. 17. a man spareth his own son that serveth him As a father hath compassion on his children Psal 10â— 1â— so hath the Lord compassion on them that fear him For he knoweth whereof we be made 14. he remembreth that we are but dust And what Afflictions he sendeth on me in this troublesom Life he will turn them to my Safety For all things work together for the Rom. 8. 28. best to those that love God And furthermore he never chastiseth me but for my good But the Lord chastiseth us for our profit Heb. 12. 10. that we might be made partakers of his holiness We are chastised of the Lord because 1 Cor. 11. 32. we should not be condemned with the world When ye thought evil against me God Gen. 50 20. disposed it to good Q. Now shew unto me what Profit the Faithful reap by their Afflictions A. 1st By them God bringeth us to Humility With rebukes thou chastiseth man for Psal 39. 11. iniquity 2dly By Afflictions God calleth us to true Repentance for when he correcteth our Sins he doth it to
Redemption For what Benefits he merited by his Death he doth not retain them unto himself but bestoweth them on us Q. What is it therefore to Believe in Iesus A. It is not only to Believe that he is able to save and that he is the only Means to obtain Salvation by but also that he is my Saviour My spirit doth rejoyce in God my Saviour Luk. 1. 47. The Lord is my light and my strength Psal 27. 1. And that I rely wholly upon him and none but him for the Salvation of my Soul Lord to whom shall we go thou hast Joh. 6. 68. the words of eternal life Q. What Comfort hast thou by this A. That though I am guilty of innumerable Sins both Original and Actual even the Breach of the whole Law and so am worthy to be damned and have all the Plagues of God due to my Sin cast upon me yea though I were a Bond-Slave to Sin and Satan yet I Believe that Jesus is my Saviour and that he hath delivered me from all my Sins both the Guilt and the stisfactory Punishment of them and also from the Power of Sin and Satan The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me that I should preach the gospel to the poor heal the broken-hearted preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind that I should set at liberty them that are bruised Q. What is signified by the Word CHRIST A. Christ signifieth Anointed Q. Why is he called Christ that is Anointed A. Because he was Ordained of the Father and Anointed of the Holy Ghost the Chief Prophet and Doctour The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet like unto me Deut. 18. 15. who hath opened unto us the secret Counsle and all the Will of his Father concerning our Redemption For all things that I have heard of Joh. 15. 15. my Father have I made known unto you And the High-Priest who with that one only Sacrifice of his Body hath redeemed us So Christ was once offered to take Heb. 9. 28. away the sins of many And doth continually make Intercession to his Father for us Who shall condemn It is Christ which Rom. 8. 34. is dead yea which is risen again who is also at the right-hand of God and maketh request for us And a King who ruleth us by his Word and Spirit and defendeth and maintaineth that Salvation which he hath purchased for us And he shall reign over the hous of Luk. 1. 33. Jacob for ever and of his kingdom shall be none end And I will give unto them eternal Joh. 10 28. life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand Q. What Benefit hast thou by this A. That both I and all the Elect of God are made spiritual Kings Priests and Prophets And from Jesus Christ which hath made us kings and priests unto God even his Father Kings in bearing rule over our Hearts and mastering our rebellious Thoughs Wills and Affections Let not sin reign therefore in your mortal Rom. 6. 12. bodies that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof Priests in offering up to God our Spiritual Sacrifices And ye as lively stones be made a 1 Pet. 2. 5. spiritual house and a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Of Prayer Let my prayer be directed in thy sight Psal 141. 2. as incense and the lifting up of mine hands as an evening sacrifice Of Thanksgiving Let us therefore hy him offer the sacrifices Heb. 13. 15. of praise always to God Of Alms To do good and to distribute forget Ver. 16. not for with such sacrifice God is well-pleased Of a Contrite Heart The sacrifices of God are a contrite Psal 51. 17. heart a contrite and a broken heart O Lord thou wilt not despise Of our whole Souls and Bodies for the Service of God I bescech you therefore brethren that Rom. 12. 1. ye give up your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God And Prophets in applying that Knowledge we have to the Benefit and Good of others When thou are converted strengthen Luk. 23. 32. thy brethren Q. Now shew me why this Iesus Christ is called the only Son of God seeing we also are said to be the Sons of God A. Christ is called God's only Son because he alone is the Co-eternal and Natural Son of the Eternal Father And the word was made flesh and Joh. 1. 14. dwelt among us and we saw the glory thereof as the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father Thou art my Son this day begat I Heb. 1. 5. thee I will be his Father and he shall be my Son The Angels also and Adam before his Fall are his Sons by Creation But we are Sons adopted of the Father by Grace for his sake Who hath predestinated us t be adopted Eph. 1. 5. through Jesus Christ unto himself As many as received him to them Joh. 1. 12. gave he power to be the sons of God even to them that believe in his name Q. What Comfort cometh by this A. It sheweth the wonderful Love and great Mercy of God to me that when I was by Nature the Child of Wrath and Perdition he spared not to give his only Son for me to make me his Child and Hell by the Grace of Adoption But God so loved the world that he Joh. 3. 16. gave his only begotten Son that whoseever believeth in him shall not perish but have eternal life Q. Wherefore is he called Our Lord A. Because he redeeming and ransoming both our Body and Soul from Sin not with Gold and Silver but with his precious Blood and delivering us from all the Power of the Devil hath set us free to serve him Knowing that ye were not redeemed 1 Pet. 1. 18 with corruptible things as silver and gold But with the preceious blood of Christ 19 That ye should shew forth the vertues Chap. 2. 9. of him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light Q. What is the Comfort of this A. That Christ being my Lord and I living under his Dominion I need not fear what Enemies whether Devil or wicked Men can do unto me If God be on our side who can be against us And though I was under the Prince of Darkness having Satan my Lord until I believed in Christ yet finde I am Christ's and he is my only Lord and that by Purchase with his Blood by Gift from his Father and by Marriage contracted to be consummate at his Appearing Q. Which is the Third Article A. Which was Conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary Q. What Believest thou in this Article A. I Believe That the Son of God who is and continueth True and Everlasting God took the very Nature of Man of the