cease to be God when hee was made Man Ans No Christ did not cease to be God when he was made man but was from that time forth is now Heb. 13. 8. and ever shall be both God and Man Ioh. 11. 14. Rom. 9. 5. in one person 1 Cor. 8. 6. Qu. Why was Christ both God and Man Ans Christ was both God and Man that he might be a fit Mediator betwixt God and men and bee able both to doe and suffer all things that were to be done and suffered on our behalf Gal. 4. 4 5. Heb. 2. 11 14. 4. 15 16. Qu. Is there any other Mediator between God and men besides Jesus Christ Ans No there is but one Mediator betwixt God and men namely the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2. 5. who having died upon the crosse Phil. 2. 8. to save his people from their sinnes rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven where he now fits at Gods right hand and makes continuall intercession for them Acts 1. 9 10 11. Rom. 8. 34. Qu. What hath Christ done for such of us as belong to Gods election Ans First Christ hath fulfilled the Law Mat. 5. 17 18. which we ought to have exactly kept Rom. 10. 5. Secondly he hath merited a crown of righteousnesse for us by fulfilling that Law Phil. 2. 8 9. Heb. 2. 9. 12. 2. Qu. What benefit have we by Christs doings Ans We have this benefit by Christs doings First God will impute Christs righteousnesse to us in his fulfilling the Law Rom. 5. 10. Rom. 10. 5. Secondly he will give us the crown of glory which his Son Christ hath merited by his righteousnesse John 17. 22. Col. 3. 4. Heb. 9. 24. John 1. 23. Qu. What hath Christ suffered for us Ans Christ Jesus hath suffered for us thus First he hath born our sins 1 Pet. 2. 24. Heb. 9. 28. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Secondly he hath suffered the wrath of God due to us for sin 1 Pet. 3. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 3. Qu. What benefit have we by Christs sufferings for us Ans If we be indeed the people of God our benefit by Christs sufferings is very great For first God will not impute those sins to us which Christ hath born 2 Cor. 5. 19. And secondly God will not lay that wrath and vengeance upon us which Christ hath suffered and undergone Rom. 5. 9. 1 Thess 1. 10. but on the contrary he will give us through Christ all things good for us both here and hereafter Mat. 7. 10. Psal 84. 11. Qu. Seeing Christ hath both fulfilled the Law for us and satisfied Gods wrath we may cast away care because there 's nothing left for us to doe or suffer is there Ans In a way of merit or so as to rest upon our doings or sufferings for justification or salvation wee neither can nor may doe or suffer any thing Esay 64. 6. Phil. 3. 7 8 9. Luke 17. 10. But in a way of obedience we are bound both to doe and suffer whatsoever the will of God in his Word requires of us as a token of our submissivenesse and thankfulnesse to God 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. Phil. 1. 20. Qu. How can wee doe any thing that is good seeing we have no power naturally of our selves Ans First even unbeleevers have so much naturall power of themselves as to use such outward meanes both in publick and private as are appointed of God through the assistance of his Spirit to work a power in them to please God and therefore they must not be idle and say they have no power of themselves but up and bee doing in the use of meanes Acts 9. 6. Luk. 13. 24. Phil. 2. 12. Secondly unfeigned beleevers who have some supernaturall power derived upon them from Christ Joh. 1. 16. must improve 2 Tim. 1. 6. Rev. 3. 2. that power also in the practise of duties of holiness towards God and duties of righteousnesse toward men all the dayes of their life Luke 1. 74 75. Acts 24. 16. For though wee shall not bee saved for our good works yet wee shall never bee saved without good works Heb. 12. 14. Jam. 2. 14 26. Qu. How are Christians made partakers of Christ and his benefits Ans Christians are made partakers of Christ and his benefits onely by faith apprehending and applying them Ephes 3. 17. Mat. 21. 22. Qu. What is Faith Ans Faith is a perswasion of the heart Rom. 10. 10. grounded upon the promises Psal 119. 49 50. of God rightly understood and applyed a Pet. 3. 16. Mat. 4. 6. comp with Psalm 91. 11. whereby I beleeve that Jesus Christ died for me Gal. 2. 20. as well as for any other Qu. Is this saving Faith in our own power or can we beleeve when we will Ans No we have not faith of our selves Ephes 2. 8. Phil. 1. 29. neither is it in our own power to beleeve when we will but faith is the gift of God wrought in the heart of Gods elect by the Word Rom. 10. 17. and by the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 3. 6 7. and therefore we must use the meanes to get it Qu. Cannot we be saved without Faith Ans No wee cannot bee saved without faith for he that believeth not on the Son of God shall not see life but shall perish eternally Joh. 3. 36. Mar. 16. 16. Gal. 3. 11. Qu. Is there any true faith in that soule that doth not unfeignedly repent Ans There is no true faith in that soule that doth not often act forth unfained repentance for his sins because every one that beleeves in Christ hath the spirit of Christ Gal. 4. 6. Rom. 8. 9. but now true repentance is a saving grace issuing from Christs spirit 2 Tim. 2. 25. Zech. 12. 10. as well as faith Qu. What is true repentance Ans True repentance is an inward dislike hatred and sorrow 2 Cor. 7. 9 10. for all sinne Psal 119. 104. and a turning from it to God Jer. 3. 13. Jam. 4. 9 10. 1 Pet. 5. 6. Esay 1. 16 17. 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. 1 Tim. 6. 12. Prov. 8. 13. Psal â—7 10. Prov. 13. 5. chiefly upon this ground because every sin as it is sin is contrary to the holy nature Gen. 6. 6. Gen. 39. 9. and sacred will of God 1 Thess 4. 7. Q. What becomes of the souls of men after death Ans The soules of all that die in the true and unfeigned faith of Christ immediately goe to live with Christ in blessednesse Luk. 23. 43. Phil. 1. 23. and the soules of the wicked Luke 16. 23. goe immediately into hell torments Qu. Whether shall mens bodies rise again at the â—ast day or no Ans Yes the bodies both of the godly and ungodly shall rise again at the last day of â—udgment and at that time all shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive according to what they have done in the body whether it be good or evil 2 Cor. 5. 10. and the righteous
not unfeignedly repent of the same as they doe eate and drink of the bread and wine which they there receive 1 Cor. 11. 29. Qu. Can one that is regenerated or born of God be an unworthy receiver at the Lords Table Ans One that is regenerated cannot properly be called an unworthy receiver because his person is accepted with God through Christ but yet such an one may eate and drink unworthily and so pull Gods displeasure upon himself for a time as those careless unprepared and forgetfull Corinthians did of whom God struck some with sickness and others with death 1 Cor. 11. 29 30. Qu. SEeing there is so great Mr Chancy's Doctrine of the Sacraments well suiting here with my scope and purpose gave mee ease in the matters following whose steps I have trod in yet so as that I have interwoven sundry variations and additions where I conceived them needfull danger in unworthy receiving what ought we to do for prevention thereof Ans There bee three sorts of duties to bee performed by us if we would bee accepted with God for worthy Communicants and prevent the danger of unworthy receiving Qu. Which be thâ—se three sorts of duties Ans The three sorts of duties belonging to a communicant are these namely some to be done before some at and some after our receiving the Sacrament of the Lords-supper Qu. What are the duties to be done by us through Gods assistance before our receiving the Sacrament of the Lords-supper Ans The duties that we are to perform before we come to the Lords Table are two namely First thorow examination of our selves 1 Cor. 11. 26. and secondly a right behaviour and holy carriage after our self-examination Q What do you mean by examination of a mans self A. Self-examination is the calling of a mans self privately to account and question in the sight of God that hee may know whether he be duly fitted to partake of that ordinance or not Qu. Is it not enough for a Communicant to examine himself once for all Ans No for every Christian should very frequently be examining of himself Psal 4. 4. 2 Cor. 13. 5. touching the state and condition of his soul but especially before he comes to the Lords Table and look how oft soever hee intends to come to that Sacrament so often hee is bound strictly to examine and sift out his own spirituall state before he presume to present himself there as a guest 1 Cor. 11. 28. Qu. Wherein consists the thorow examination of our selves before receiving Ans The thorow examination of our selves before receiving consists in two things First in generall to examine our selves whether wee bee reall and sound Christians or hypocrites Secondly in a more speciall trying of our selves what sins we stand guilty of and whether those graces which are requisite to the right receiving of the Lords supper be truly wrought in us or not Qu. How may we discern whether wee bee sound Christians or hypocrites Ans We may discern whether wee bee sound Christians or hypocrites by these four notes viz. 1 If one that is a true Christian be enticed and drawn away from God he grieveth for it Gen. 39. 9. Rom. 7. 22 23 24. 1 Tim. 1. 15. and giveth not ready consent unto the temptation Rom. 7. 19. Gal. 5. 17. 2 If through frailty hee bee overborn to give consent to the temptation yet it is not full consent but he doth it against his will and purpose for his purpose is not to sin Rom. 7. 15 19. 3 If he do put his sinfull inclinations into execution and practise yet hee continueth not long in them doth not nor will not walk after them but recovereth himself because he is incorporated into Christ and hath the seed of true grace in him 1 Joh. 3. 9. Luke 22. 61 62. 4 When he does any good thing his main aim and level is at Gods glory 1 Cor. 10. 31. Phil. 1. 20. not at his own profit honor or credit Mark 8. 34 35 36. Gal. 1. 10. But the contrary to these four are the marks and notes of unsound and hypocriticall persons Qu. Now for the more speciall trying of our selves how should we examine our selves about our sins Ans Wee must examine our selves about our sins thus namely goe and seriously look into Gods Law and so call to remembrance how we have offended our God 1 Joh. 3. 4. Rom. 7. 7 9. Psal 51. 4. given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme 2 Sam. 12. 14. 2 Pet. 2. 2. scandalized our brethren that is to say grieved the stronger Psal 119. 136. and occasioned the weaker 1 Cor. 8. 10 11 12 13. christian to sin by our example And lastly how we have wronged our own souls by suffering sin easily to prevaile and the life activity and power of grace to faile and decay in us Rev. 2. 4 5. Q. Now in the next place how shall I know which be those Graces that are especially requisite and necessary to the right receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords-supper Ans The Graces that are especially necessary to the right-receiving of the Lords-supper are these eight namely 1 Sound knowledge 1 Cor. 11. 29. 2 Saving faith Rom. 4. 11. Mar. 16. 16. 3 True repentance for all our sins 1 Cor. 11. 31. 4 Unfeigned obedience Prov. 9. 5 6. 5 Entire love to God and man Mat. 5. 25. 1 Cor. 12. 13. 6 Earnest hunger and thirst after Christ 1 Joh. 7. 37. Luk. 22. 15. 7 The sincerity and uprightnesse of our hearts 2 Chron. 30. 18 19. 8 Thankfulnesse to Christ Mat. 26. 30. Qu. But how shall I know whether these graces are truly wrought in me by the word spirit of God or not Ans If you would know whether these graces are truly wrought in your soul or not then you must examine your self about each particular grace severally as first about knowledge then about faith and so of all the rest in order Qu. How may a man examine himself about his knowledge so as to be convinced that his knowledge is sound knowledge Ans A man may be convinced that his knowledge is sound by considering the measure of it and the properties of it Qu. What measure of knowledge is required of a Communicant Ans Every Communicant must in some competent measure know all the principles Heb. 5. 12. Heb. 6. 1 2. of the doctrine of Christ necessary to salvation As for example what is the naturall condition of every man and woman what is the means of our recovery out of that natural condition what is the spirituall meaning of the Ten commandements what is the most true meaning of all the Articles of the Christian Faith what is the nature use and end of each Sacrament and the like Qu. What are the properties of sound knowledge Ans Sound knowledge hath these and such like properties 1 It makes a man humble 1 Cor. 3. 18. Prov. 26. 16. and ready to render a reason of
2. 13. Qu. But how shall a Christian be sensible of his own spirituall wants and the decay of the power and activity of grace in his soul Ans A Christian may come to be sensible of his own spirituall wants and decays of grace by the consideration of his daily slips and sins of thought word and deed either against Gods precepts or prohibitions As for instance my distrust lets me see my weakness of faith and my omission of and sloathfulness in holy duties le ts me see my want of love and zeal towards God and Christ And so of the rest Hereupon now a Christian must apply the seal of the Covenant for an assurance to himself that as all so especially these and these particular wants shal be supplyed from Christs fulness Job 1. 16. Psal 1. 3. Jam. 4. 6. Qu. How must a Communicant renew his love before he comes to the Lords Table Ans A Communicant must renew his love before he comes to the Lords Table thus 1 He must strive to get his heart inflamed with love to God 2 Cor. 5. 14. and Man 1 Joh. 4. 11. by a due considetion and deep sense of Gods free and great love to him in Jesus Christ and by considering also that eating and drinking together at the Lords Table is a testification of that sweet love which is and must be among Christians one towards another 1 Cor. 12 13. 2 If any man have wronged him he must forgive injuries freely Ephes 4. 26. and if he hath given any just occasion of offence to others he must seek reconciliation with them Mat. 5. 24 25. Rom. 12. 18. Q. How must a Communicant renew his resolution of better obedience before he comes to the Lords Table A. A Communicant is to renew his resolution of better obedience thus namely in an humble acknowledgment of his own weakness Psal 119. 106. he must resolve through Gods grace without all further delay Psal 119. 60. to walk in new obedience and to this end he must earnestly crave strength from God and intreat that he would enable him thereunto Psal 119. 117. Qu. How must a Communicant renew his thankfulnes to God and Christ before he comes to the Lords Table Ans A Communicant before he comes to the Lords table must renew his thankfulnes to God thus 1 He must seriously consider that though he has broken Covenant with God oftentimes and in speciall since the last Sacrament yet the Lord now graciously offers to confirm the Covenant of Free-grace to him anew in this next Sacrament 2 He must also take notice that if there be but the least spark of saving grace in him the Lord will not quench Isa 42. 3. but nourish it and for that end invites him to come to the holy feast of his Sons flesh and blood 3 He must also remember that if he hath throughly endevored 2 Cor. 8. 12. to examine and prepare himself for that ordinance he shal find acceptance with God through Christ and the Lord will look upon him as a worthy guest at his Table 1 Cor. 11. 28. Now all these three indulgences from God call for present thankfulness from the beleeving soul Qu. Besides self-examination and the renewed exercise of the forenamed graces and also besides Prayer so often mentioned before had we not need yet more especially to seek God by earnest Prayer before we come to the Lords Table Ans Yes as a Christian must pray earnestly to God for many particulars hinted before so in speciall he must also pray that God would please further to fit him by his Spirit Phil. 4. 6. Psal 19. 14. for a meet partaking of this sacrament and also accept of him through Jesus Christ as a worthy receiver though in himself most unworthy And the reason of al is because God wil be sought unto even to doe those very things which he hath already promised to do for his people Ezek. 36. 37. Thus far of the Duties before Receiving Qu WHat are the duties required of a Christian At and In the time of receiving the Lords-supper Ans The duties required at and in the time of our receiving are these 1 Every communicant is to give diligent attention to that which is publickly done not onely when he himself is to receive but during the whole action 1 Cor. 14. 16. to behold and look upon both the elements themselves Exod. 24 8. and all the Sacramentall actions 1 Cor. 11. 23. c. in the administration of the Sacrament 1 Cor. 14. 40. 2 He must use such reverent behaviour as may be free from super stition yet fit to stirre up and expresse inward faith and thankfulness 1 Cor. 14. 40. Q. What must be the meditation and disposition of our hearts in tune of receiving the Sacrament Ans Our meditation and disposition of heart at and in the time of our receiving must be this 1 When we see the Bread and Wine consecrated and set apart for this holy use then we must call to mind and consider the eternal love of God the Father in sanctifying setting apart his Son Jesus Christ in his secret counsell to be the Redeemer and Surety of his people Joh. 10. 36. and the tender mercy of Christ in undertaking this hard service for us Heb. 7. 26. Heb. 10. 9. 2 When we see the Bread broken and the wine powred out we are to mourn over him whom we have pierced by our sins Zech. 12. 12. and remember the infinite justice and wrath of God against sin that could never be satisfied but by this means Rom. 3. 25. 3 When we see the Bread and wine given unto us al by the Minister we are to meditate upon the gift and application of Christ crucified to our own souls in particular and to every beleeving receiver els Gal. 2. 20. 4 When we take the Bread and Wine we must stir up our selves by faith to lay hold upon and apply to our selves all the merits of Christs death 1 Cor. 11. 24. and so joyfully to feed thereupon by beleeving that as sure as bread and wine will nourish the body up in a naturall life so sure will the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ fed upon by faith nourish our souls unto eternall life and will also satisfie our souls Matth. 11. 29. and strengthen them against all temptations here in this world 1 Cor. 10. 16. Joh. 6. 35. 5 When we behold the rest of the Congregation communicating with us we are then to stir up our hearts to loving and kind affections towards them and all the people of God 1 Cor. 10. 17. Qu. WHat is that holy carriage that is required after receiving the Sacrament Ans 1. Immediately after receiving a Christian in token of thankfulness for his receiving such inward pledges of love from God must offer up the sacrifice of praise 1 Thess 5. 18. to the Lord and cheerfully give alms 1 Cor. 16. 2. Heb. 13. 16. for the relief of the poor members of Christ 2 At other times after receiving he must often try himself whether he hath been made to drink into one spirit with Christ and his members or not 1 Cor. 12. 13. and what growth he hath gotten by the Sacrament in assurance of Gods favor in strength against corruptions in power to walk with God in obedience to him and in all other graces of the Spirit and fruits of Christs death 3 If the Christian after receiving cannot find these fruits in himself he must humble himself for his own sinnes as the cause thereof 1 Cor. 11. 31. and though he finds not that comfort and benefit he looks for yet if he be truly humbled for the want of it he may be comforted in this as a fruit of a worthy receiving 2 Chron. 30. 18 19. 4 If he shall find upon this after-examination the forenamed benefits truly wrought in his heart then he is most thankfully to give God the glory and to desire the continuance and increase of the same grace with all holy endevors to that end 1 Chron. 29. 13 14 18 verses and as he hath received Jesus Christ so he is to walk in him Col. 2. 6 7. 2 Pet. 2. 20 21 22. and not to return to his former evil practises but to keep the Covenant that he hath renewed with the Lord at the Sacrament and to increase in love and fellowship with Gods children 1 Cor. 10. 16 17. 5 And lastly a Christian upon the sense of the comfort and benefit received at the Sacrament is to resort the oftner and with the more earnest desire unto it 2 Chron. 30. 21 23 verses FINIS