of the wants and miseries of others to see how many walke ignorantly other many in security hypocrisie superstition and other sins many also in diseases and painefull troubles of body and minde We haue looked too narrowly vpon bad examples and neglected good thus vile we are and more then we are able to expresse all our sinnes are mortall and damnable being committed against thine infinite Maiesty and thine holy and vndefiled word We haue grieued thy good spirit wherby we are sealed to the day of our redemption wee are vnworthy to breathe in the aire or to tread on the earth but worthy to be left to our selues and to the malice of Satan to heape vp wrath against the day of wrath and the declaration of thy iust iudgement But seeing that thou so louedst the world that thou gauest thine only begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting and seeing he hath cancelled the hand-writing and bond which was against vs and thou hast giuen him to bee made vnto vs wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption and that if we should despaire we should dishonour thee and giue aduantage to the enemies of our saluation Wee pray thee inable vs to glorifie thee by beleeuing that our sinnes are forgiuen Good Lord wash away our crimson and scarlet red sins with the precious blood of Christ that we may be as white as wooll and as snow that thou maiest see no iniquity and behold no transgression in vs set our sinnes as farre from vs as the East is from the West and seeing thou dost iustifie none by the merits of our Sauiour but whom thou dost sanctifie by the efficacie and vertue of his pretious death and gloâious resurrection yea seeing it were hainous vnthankfulnesse to desire remission of sinnes and to liue wickedly we pray thee cause vs to be sorry for our sinnes with a godly sorrow and to testifie our sorrow by a care to auoide sinne and the occasions thereof and to doe holy duties in a holy manner imbracing the occasions of the same and by apology and herein we pray thee inable vs to confesse our sins and to craue pardon that we may be assured thou dost absolue and acquit vs from all our sinnes Moreouer giue vs indignation against our sinnes and ourselues by reason of them saying to them get them hence what haue we to doe with them any more also worke in vs a godly feare and desire draw vs and we will runne after thee and cause vs to testifie our repentance by a zeale of thy glory that the coales of our loue to thee may be fiery coals and a vehement flame and by reuenge offring violence to sinne resisting and striuing against especially such sinnes as we are most inclined to Sanctifie vs throughout our mindes that wee may know thee to be the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ purge our consciences from dead workes to serue thee the liuing God write thy lawes in our harts and mindes cause vs to obserue and doe them set a watch before our lippes that we offend not with our tongues but that we may be an humble people of a pure language seruing thee with one consent hating lying swearing and all euill speaking turne away our eyes from beholding vanity direct our steppes in thy word and let none iniquity haue dominion ouer vs cause vs to giue all diligence to make our calling and election sure by faith in thy promises and by adding to our faith vertue shining in a gracious course of life among men and to vertue knowledge seeing without knowledge wee can doe nothing well and to knowledge temperance auoiding curiosity riotousnesse wantonnesse and to temperance patience quietly willingly and constantly subiecting our selues to thy holy prouidence in afflictions comming either immediately from thy holy hand or from men although they wrong vs thereby and to patience godlinesse by a zealous worshipping of thee and to godlinesse brotherly kindenesse shewed to the houshold of faith in a speciall manner and to brotherly kindenesse loue euen to our enemies Cause vs to purge our selues from all pollution both of flesh and spirit and to grow vp to full holinesse in the feare of thy name that as our saluation is nearer then when we first beleeued it so our faith repentance and new obedience may be more Inable vs to put on weare the whole armour of God that wee may stand fast the girdle of truth against all hypocrisie and falshood the breastplate of righteousnesse against all vnrighteous and euill waies the shooes of peace assured of our reconciliation with thee against troubles the shield of faith against doubting the helmet of hope against fainting and the sword of the spirit thy holy word against all errour and ignorance O knit our hearts for euer to thee that we may feare thy name and so liue as to glorifie thee to winne others to thee and to proue our faith to be liuely and true that so we may reioyce in the Lord and lift vp our faces before the Almighty and wee pray thee to grant the same blessings that wee haue craued for our selues to al thy people according to their necessities and conditions Grant thy Gospell a free passage throughout all nations where thou hast appointed to gather thine elect by the ordinary meanes Blesse Kings and Magistrates that they may be nurses to thy Church Cause them to serue thee with feare and to reioyce with trembling especially we beseech thee to blesse our King and other Rulers in this land that true religion may flourish popery and superstition and all profanenesse and wickednesse more and more rooted out Blesse the Ministers of thy word it is thy will to conuey heauenly treasures in earthen vessels and although the word seeme to worldly men to be foolishnesse and as weake as the trumpets vsed in the ouerthrow of Iericho yet make it thy power to the saluation of thy people to the conuincing of gaine-sayers Forgiue the sinnes of this land other lands where thy name is called vpon and giue repentance to them that yet liue swearing drunkennesse oppression wantonnesse contempt of thy word and such other grieuous sins that make the land to mourne Purge thy Church that it may bee faire as the moon Purge as the sunne and terrible as an army with banners Comfort also we pray thee the afflicted with sicknesse pouertie wars trouble of conscience or any other aduersity distressed according to the multitude of their sorrowes let thy consolations refresh their soules blesse them also that we are bound to by nature charge desert or any other bond and those that pray for vs or haue desired our praiers And we desire to praise thy holy name and in that weake measure as wee are able wee giue thee humble and hearty thankes for our election redemption vocation iustification measure of sanctification and hope of glorification and also for all the blessings whereby this present life hath beene the more comfortable to vs anâ grant that this may bee the chiefe end of all our petitions that wee may more cheerefully serue thee and that our loue may not be a selfe-loue but that wee may labour to preferre thy glory before our owne saluation and be grieued that we haue so much selfe-loue in vs and finally as thou hast graciously protected vs this day past for which we praise thy name so wee pray thee to preserue vs this night keepe vs from wicked dreames and from all dangers let thy watchfull prouidence compasse vs about and thine Angels defend vs grant vs such refreshing by rest and sleepe that if it please thee to giue vs more time in this world we may bee the more chearefull and fit for thy seruice and keepe our soules awake and watchfull that at our dissolution they may be carried by the Angels to heauen that when we shall awake at the last day we may be satisfied with thine image Heare vs in these things and whatsoeuer else thou knowest needfull for vs or any of thine for the merits of thy beloued Sonne in whom thou art well pleased to whom with thee and the holy spirit be all honour and glory dominion and power ascribed of vs the whole Church from this time forth and for euermore Amen FINIS
finde not ââese things at all in our selues c 1 Cor. 11.27.29 and at the wicked doe not receiue the body ââd blood of Christ d Ioh. 6.54 but onely the outâard elements but what if wee finde ââem but weake and feeble A. Then wee may and ought to ââceiue to be further strengthened e Math. 11.28 12.20 Q. What is to be considered of vs in âe time of celebrating the Lords Supââr A. By the two signes that Christ a perfect Sauiour f Heb. 7.25 by consecrating âd setting apart the Bread and âine that Christ was appointed of âod to be our Mediatour g Iohn 6.27 by breaââng the Bread and pouring out the âine that Christ suffered for vs h Es 53.5 Iohn 19.34 by giuing the Bread and Wine thâ God giueth Christ with all his mârits to true beleeuers by receiuinâ the Bread and Wine the applicatâon of Christ and his merits to oââ saluation i Gal. 2.20 Q. What is to bee done after the râceiuing the Lords Supper A. Thankesgiuing for Chrââ and all his benefits and renewiââ our faith repentance and obeââence as we couenanted at the Lorâ Table Q. Is the Bread and Wine turnâ into the body and blood of Christ A. No first because the faithfââ in the old Testament did eate tâ same spirituall meate that we doe but they could not feede on him therwise then by faith k 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. hee hauiââ not then taken flesh secondââ Christs body shall be in heauen vâtill the day of iudgement l Acts. 3.21 thirdââ Christ said Doe this in remeâbrance of mee therefore hee meaâ not to bee bodily present fourthââ if the outward signe be taken awaâ there is no Sacrament Q. What is meant by these words of our Sauiour This is my Body and this is my Blood A. Math. 26.26.27.28 This doth signifie and represent ânto you my Body crucified and my Blood shed for remission of your sinnes ând by your faith you arâ spiritually âartakers of my Body Blood to eterâall life The grounds of Christian Religion somewhat inlarged by some addition to the Exposition of the Creede the tenne Commandements and the Lords Prayer that by often reading them they may be known although they be not learned without booke as the former Question WHat are the chiefe thing to be knowne in Christâan Religion A. First how tâ serue God aright Deut. 20.12 2 Coâ 10.31 secondly hoâ wee may be happy Act 16.30.31 Ioâ 17.3 Matth. 11.28 Q. Where is the knowledge of thâ things to be gotten A. In the holy Scriptures of the oâ and new Testament where God haââ plainely taught vs all things necessary faith and good life 2 Tim. 3.16.17 âeut 12.32 Psal 19.7 Reuel 22.18 Q. How doe you know the Scriptures to the word of God A First by the perfection of the ââw and the Gospell therein contained ââcondly by the fulfilling of the propheââs thirdly by the Maiesty of the stile âârthly by the efficacy fiftly by the âiracles sixtly by the consent seâânthly by the wonderfull preseruatiââ thereof eightly by the testimony of ãâã holy Spirit Q. Seeing the fundamentall and chiefe ââângs contained in the Scriptures are briefly ââprised in the Creede the tenne Comâândements and the Lords Prayer let vs âour to come to the vnderstanding thereâââ and first to begin with the Creede what ââth it containe A. Twelue Articles whereof the âât concerneth God the Father the ââe next God the Sonne the eight ââd the holy Ghost and the foure last ãâã Church Q. Concerning the first Article I beââue in God the Father Almighty maker of heauen and earth you haue already tâ me what it is to beleeue or what faith is the definition of a speciall iustifying faitâ which is here vnderstood but are there ãâã other kindes or sorts of faith which are coâmon and not peculiar to the elect A. Yes there are three other namâly first an historicall faith whereby man doth know and assent to the woâ of God secondly temporary whereââ one may know assent vnto and maââ profession of the word and sometimâ haue some confused ioy and some âstâaining graces thirdây faith of miââcles whereby hauing some extraordânary promise or reuelation one beleueth some miraculous thing shall coââ to passe by the power of God Q. Although iustifying faith be but ãâã in kinde yet what degrees hath it A. There is a weake and a stroââ faith Matth. 6.30 and 14.31 Roââ 14.1 and 4.18.19.20 Dan. 3 16.1â and 6. Matth. 8. and 15. Q. What is to be considered in a weaâ faith A. First the defects thereof ãâã weake Christian failing either in knoâledge Matth. 16.23 Act. 1.6 or in âot being able to apply the promises to âimselfe without much doubting Esa â2 3 secondly what it hath and therââ first the seate thereof an humbled âeart Esa 57.15 secondly the effects âf it he acknowledgeth his sinne to be âardonable disliketh his sinnes comâateth against vnbeliefe and other âorkes of the flesh earnestly desireth ârace and is teachable Matth. 5.6 âsal 10.17 Reuel 21.6 also vseth the âeanes to know more and practiseth âhat he knoweth thirdly the properââ of it is to increase by which it diffeâeth from Popish implicite faith Q. What is to be considered in a strong âith or beleeuer A. First hee hath more knowledge âhen the weake secondly hee applieth ââe promises with more assurance Rom. â 20 thirdly all vertues and graces âhich be fruits of faith bee in greater âeasure in him yet not alwaies in the ââme degrees and neuer without imâerfection in this life where euen the âârongest Christian hath combate beâweene the flesh and the Spirit and hath the perfection of parts not degrees Q. You haue already told me what Gâ is now how doe you know that there ãâã such a God A. First by the testimony of ãâã Scripture secondly by the creatiââ and gouernement of the world a Rom. 1.20 Act. 14.17 thiâly by the horrour of the consciences men after the committing of sinnâ fourthly b Rom. 2.15 by the worke of Gods Spiriâ the faith whereby we vnderstand thâ the world was ordained by the wâ of God c Heb. 11.3 Q. What is it to beleeue in God A. To beleeue that he is in all tâ he speaketh that he is true that he my God in couenant counting the ãâã of my safety and charge of my hapânesse to belong to him whereby ãâã heart is staied on him and my wâ committed to him with a holy securâ Ioh 17.3 2 Chron. 20.20 Psal 78. â Ierem. 31.9 2 Tim. 1.12 Q. What is meant by the word Fathâ A. The first person in the Trinâ who is the Father of Christ by natââ Ioh. 1.14 and of true beleeuers by adâtion Rom. 8.11 Q. How is the Father the first person A. Not in dignity or time but in order because he is the fountaine of the deity the Sonne being from him and the holy Ghost from both What is
fourthly by care of vniuersall âd constant obedience to God Psal â9 6.112.117 1 Iohn 3.9 fifthly by âe to God and his children with cleaâg to God euen in the want of the âarance of his loue and not onely ââile we are assured thereof 1 Ioh. 4. â and 5.1 Acts 11.23 Iob 13.15.24 âtly by a desire of the sincere milke of âe word 1 Pet. 2.2 Q. May Faith and Repentance and âh graces as be necessary to saluation bee ãâã A. They may be weakned for a tiââ habits being decaied acts interruptâ feeling denied but they are neuer whâly and finally lost Luk. 22.32 1 Cor. â 13. Phil. 1.6 1 Cor. 10.13 Q. As it is comfortable that wee bâ such benefits by the spirit so what duâ learne we hence A. First to vse the gifts of the spâ to the glory of God Phil. 1.11 secoâly not to grieue the spirit by our sinâ Eph. 4.30 thirdly to vse the meaâ wherby the holy Ghost worketh thâ gifts as ordinarily the word preachâ Rom. 10.14 17. and whereby he incâseth them as first the Word Preachâ and Read 1 Pet. 2.2 Acts 20.32 âcondly Prayer Iude 20. thirdly the âceiuing of the Sacraments Rom. 4. â 1 Cor. 10 2.3.4 fourthly to pracâ what we heare and know Ioh. 7. â 2 Tim. 1.6 Q. Concerning the ninth Article I âleeue the holy Catholike Church the câmunion of Saints shew a little more larâ then in the shorter Catechisme what is mâ by communion of Saints 1 Cor. 14.33 A. Saints are holy people wherâ liuing in this world or departed from ânce by death communion signifieth âe fellowship they haue first with âhrist as his benefits are bestowed on âem and their sinnes imputed to âhrist and also he accounteth their afâctions his owne and helpeth to beare ââm Psal 73.26 1 Ioh. 1.3 2 Cor. 5. â 1 Cor. 1.9 secondly one with anoâer the liuing with the liuing by loâng exhorting comforting and prayâ for each other and imploying their âporall goods for the profit of each âer Acts 4.32 Gal 5.13 and 6.1.2 âeb 3 13. Gal. 6.10 and the liuing âth the dead in that the departed doe ãâã generall desire the deliuerance of all âir fellow members out of all their âseries although they know not parââlar conditions and persons Reuel 10. and the Saints on earth doe in âart and affection conuerse with them âeauen desiring to bee with Christ âl 1.23 and 3.20 Col. 3.1.2 Q. What duties learne wee from âe A. First to labour to make our calâg sure because thereby wee may know wee are true members of ãâã Church 2 Pet. 1.5.6.7.10 secondly be thankefull to God for choosing a calling vs to bee of the number of people Ephes 1.3 4. thirdly to be ââly that we may be Saints on earth âuing holinesse begun in the Church âlitant that so we may be sure wee sââ haue it consummated or perfect in ãâã Church triumphant 2 Pet. 2.9 fouâly to loue esteeme and helpe one aâther 2 Thes 3.14 Ephes 4.2.3 â Rom. 12.6.7.8 fifthly to auoid vnlâfull society with the wicked Eph. â 11. 2 Cor. 6.16.17.18 2 Tim. 3.5 Q. Concerning the tenth Article ââleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes which blessing of God vpon his Church procââ by the sufferings of Christ whereby the gââ of sinne binding to punishment is takeâ way what comforts arise from hence A. First that this remission of siââ may be applyed particularly Psal 1 1.3 Esa 38.17 secondly because whâ God iustifieth he sanctifieth 1 Cââ 11. thirdly nothing can separate sucâ be iustified from the loue of Châ Rom. 8.33.34.35 fourthly becââ ââch shall raigne with Christ in another âorld Rom 5.17 Q. What duties learne we from hence A. First to renounce our owne me ââs 1 King 8.46 Ioh. 8.11 secondly to âe carefâll âo auoide sinne Ioh. 8.11 ââirdly to be thankfull to God through âhrist Psal 103.1.3 fourthly to loue ââm Luke 7.47 fif ly to be mercifull ââmen Col 3 13. Q. Concerning the eleuenth Article euery âleeuer ought to beleeue that his owne boââ and the bodies of other men shall rise ââm the dead the bodies of the elect shall ââe by vertue of the vnion with Christ and ãâã glorious the bodies of the reprobate shall ââse by the powerfull citation of Christ and ââat to shâme what coÌforts learn you hence A. First against troubles of this life Dan. 12.1.2 3. secondly against death 1 Cor. 15.55 2 Cor. 4.14 Q. What duties A. First Phil. 3.20 21. not to mourne immoderateââ for the dead 1 Thes 4.13 secondly ãâã haue the body in honour by nouriâing it and by auoiding vncleannesse ââd other sinnes liuing righteously Cor 15. and by burying it decently at âeath Matth. 25.46 1 Cor. 2.9 Q. Concerning the twelfth Article beleeue the life euerlasting what shall bâ the euerlasting life of the soule and body aâter they be reunited which although wââ cannot fully know in this life yet it being ãâã some measure reuealed first what shall ceaââ then A. Seuen things first such calling as be here a 1 Cor. 15 24. for there shall be no Magâstrate or Subiect Master or Seruant secondly faith b 1 Cor. 13.12.13 hope patience anâ such vertues as be ioyned with griefe pitty mercy c. thirdly all sinnâ Heb. 12.22 fourthly naturall infirmâties of body and minde Reu. 7 16.1â and 21.4 fifthly naturall meanes fâ preseruation of life as meate drink sleepe c 1 Cor. 15.44 Matth. 22.30 c. sixtly the vanity of thâ creatures Rom. 8.20.21.22 seuenthlâ the Mediatorship of Christ 1 Corintâ 15.28 Q. Secondly what shall wee haue thâ shall be saued at the the day of iudgementâ A. First in soule these things firââ perfect knowledge d 1 Cor. 12.12.13 1 Ioh. 3.2 Math. 5.8 secondly perfeââ peace of conscience thirdly full freâdome of will to God f Heb. 12.22 2 Pet. 3.13 fourthly perfeââ loue to God g 1 Cor. 13 13. the Angels and Saints fiftly full ioy Ps 16.11 Secondly in the body there shall bee these things first great strength acutenes of senses health although it be sowne in weakenesse it shall rise in power secondly incorrupââon no more subiect to rottennesse or to be dissolued into dust and immortaââty so as death shall haue no place âor power 1 Cor. 15.54 thirdly glory âeauty shining like the starres sunne ãâã Moses his face did by the glory âhich God put vpon it and as Christ ââd at his transfiguration Dan. 12.3 Matth. 13.43 fourthly to be spirituall ââmediately sustained by the spirit of âod without meate or drinke or any ââher meanes and the body shall bee ââmble and also perfectly subiect to the ââirit of God 1 Cor. 15.44 Thirdly in âoth soule and body there shall bee âhese things first perfection of nature ând grace secondly communion with âod the blessed Angels and Saints Thes 4.17 Reuel 22.4 1 Ioh. 3.2 Ioh. 7.24 secondly heauen 1 Pet. 1.4 ââirdly Lordship ouer the creatures ââcept the Angels Reuel 21.7 fourthââ