THE CRISTALL OF CHRISTIANITIE OR LOOKING GLASSE OF GODS LOVE Containing the Principles of our Christian profession by the way of disputation betweene Master and Scholler in Schooles and Families fit for the profitable practise of all especially of youth to be vsed Initiated formerly by others and amplified by R. P. Minister and Preacher of Gods word Barnard in his Morrals Sacra scriptura mentis oculis quasi speculum quoddam opponitur ibi pulcra nostra in Christo perspicimus ibi feda nostra in nobis Cernimus ibi quantum perficimus ibi quantum a pro factu longè distamus plane sentimus Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson dwelling neere the three Cranes in the Vinetree 1617. TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL VERTVOVS AND Religious Gentleman master George Bostocke Iustice of his Maiesties peace in the Countie of Denbigh R. P. wisheth Grace Peace and in Iesus Christ all health and happie prosperitie LICVRGVS Right Worshipfull the LACEDEMONIAN Law-maker apointed condigne punishment for euery offendor according to the offence but for an vnthankefull person he could finde no seueritie nor seuere punishment sufficient In consideration therefore of your worship and euer approued fauours towards me as I am bound so I am moued to remember them and shew my selfe mindfull and thankful for them least I should seeme culpable of the grose sinne of Ingratitude and not haue power to performe my Gratuitie with gifts of excellencie I haue made bolde to present to your Worship in testimonie of my loue my poore labours wherein I laboured when I was the Lords labourer in that Congregation where your Worships fauours were well approued not to me alone but to all that were faithfull preachers of Gods word and conformable ministers to the commendable Lawes of our gratious kinges Maiestie Those apparant and approued giftes of grace with many other commendable gifts of nature by God planted in you hath prouoked me to present as vnto a deuout patron of pietie the fruits of my labours and arguments of my loue by Gods grace purposing and faithfully promising vpon your worshipful acceptation of this my widows mite to dedicate more ample manifestation to you and yours of my vnfained affection In the meane time humbly crauing pardon for this my boldnes and euer heartily according to my bounden dutie desiring our gratious God in your heart by his gratious blessing to increase such holy and heauenly vertues whereby the good gifts of grace and nature planted in you may flourish and bring forth such fruits of godlines whereby Gods name may more be glorified Christes members comforted our gratious Kings loyall Subiects by your godly obedience to like obedience in couraged your Worships worthinesse more illustrated the bodies soules of you and all yours with blessinges Temporall more and more inriched and with the Diadems and Crownes of glory by the glorious King of Heauen eternally Crowned I rest London the first day of September 1617. ⸫ Your worships in all loue and dutie ouer to commaund R. P. A Prayer to be sayd at the beginning of this Booke O Lord our God and in Iesus Christ our mercifull and heauenly Father we thy poore seruants assembled before thy maïestie in this Congregation by the sight of our sinnes doe acknowledge our selues to be vnworthie of the least drop of thy fauour or dram of thy mercies Therefore we beseech thee in the name of thy deare Son Iesus Christ and for his sake to pardon all our sinnes passed and by thy gratious spirit to grant vs such grace at this present that we may religiously proceede in the true vnderstanding of thy holy word And by the same thy spirit bee made more obedient to frame our liues by direction of thy Lawes that thereby we may be more apt and able to set forth thy glory by practising the precepts taught vs in thy holy word at this present and daily bee more readie by hearing the same thy holy word to receiue such increase of faith as may sustaine vs to the attayning of all godly instructions and full fruition of true and eternall felicitie world without ende through Iesus Christ thy deare Sonne our onely Sauiour Amen The Cristall of Christianitie or looking Glasse of GODS loue Question AS You doe professe to be a Christian so shewe me what estimation you haue of the diuine scriptures where on you grounde your Christian profession Answere I doe and I ought to esteeme the holy and Canonicall scriptures to bee the spirituall glasse and cleare Cristall wherein the diuine fauour and euerlasting loue of God doth appeare euen to the attaining of eternall life Iohn 3. 30. Q. Wherein may Christians principally proue and find that diuine fauour and euerlasting loue A. First that God the Father did out of his meere loue create vs to his owne Image Secondly that God the Son when that Image was defaced did of his tender loue giue himselfe to redeeme vs. Thirdly that God the holy Ghost gratiously both sanctifieth and in sanctification preserueth vs. Q. As you haue mentioned the God-head in three persons Can you proue them by the Scriptures to be one onely true God A. The Apostle Iohn doth plainely proue it in these words There are three that beare record in heauen the Father the Word and the Spirit and these three are one God Iohn 5. 17. Q. Wherefore hath God Created Redeemed Sanctified and in sanctification preserued Christians A. First that we in this life should liue to the glory of God Secondly in the life to come wee should receiue glory euerlasting with God Q. How may Christians learne to glorifie God in this present life A. By ordering this life according to the rule of Gods holy word in the Scriptures reueiled Q. What rules of life are in the scriptures reueiled to guide vs to the glory of God A. The first is the rule of Gods holy precepts and Commandements The second is constant faith in Gods fatherly promises The third is religious Celebrating the holy Sacraments The fourth is the practise of holy faithful feruent and deuout prayers Q. How many are the precepts by God commanded A. The Commandements are ten in number and in two Tables they were written for our instruction Q. What things are in those two Tables principally contained A. In the first a Christians dutie to God And in the second our duties to our neighbour are both taught contained and commaunded Q. What are the words in the first Table mentioned Q. I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of Bondage Exod. xx Q. Are these words a part of the ten Commaundements A. These words are not of the Commaundements but are a profitable preface before the precepts Q. What learne christians by this preface A. A Christian by the word Lord may learne the Law-giuer to be the chiefe Lord and gouernour And by the word God a louing Father and most mercifull deliuerer of his people from bondage distresse
Q. Shew me how and whereby Christians may behold this Christian faith A. The twelue Apostles in a cleare cristall glasie hath described it plainely Q. Kehearse the first Article and shew me what you learne by it A. I beleeue in God the father Almightie c. First I learne hereby God on whom I doe beleeue is my Father and I am his childe by faith in Christ Iohn 1. 12. Gal. 3. Secondly I learne I am one of them to whom God sayth I will be their God and they shall be my sonnes daughters sayeth the Almightie Iere. 33. 1. Thirdly I learne that my almightie Father will so sustaine me that I shall lacke nothing Psal 23. And so defend me that the gate of hell shall not preuaile against me Math. 16. Q. Rehearse the second Article and shew me what you learne by it A. And in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lord. First I learne the name and nature of Iesus doth assure me that he is my Sauiuiour Mat. 2. By the second title of his name which is Christ and signifieth aunoynted I am taught that as the oyntment on Aarons head did descend to all his garments so on me and all Christians the oyle of grace descendeth from Christ vnto vs. The third as he is the onely sonne of God from euerlasting so he bringeth many children to God euerlastingly to be saued Fourthly I learne That he is my Lord both by right of redemption and my Lord and husband by right of coniunction Hos 2. 19. Q. Rehearse the third Article and shew me what you learne by it A. Which was conceiued by the holy Gost borne of the virgin Mary whereby I learne first that he is free from sinne and altogether pure and vnspotted Heb. 9. Secondly I learne that by his diuine nature and power hee is able to performe what soeuer tendeth to the conquest of mans foes Col. 3. Thirdly it doth assure me that hee being borne of a woman is a perfect man and in his person and manhood indured the wrath of God for the sinnes of mankinde and to free the faithfull by his satisfaction from all their sinne and transgression Esay 53. Q. Rehearse the fourth Article and shew me what you learne thereby A. Suffered vnder Poncius Pilate was crucified dead and buryed he descended into hell First I learne that vnder Poncius Pilate the Iudge he suffered on the Crosse to worke out my Redemption Math. 27. Gal. 3. 14. Secondly his descending into hell signifieth the humbling of his soule to suffer the torments of hell for my sake Psal 22. Q. Rehearse the fixt Article and what you learne out of it A. He rose againe from the dead Hereby I learne that his resurrection doth assure me of my iustification 1. Cor. 15. 17. Secondly I learne that risting from sinne and delighting in righteousnes doth assure me that I am a chosen member of his body Rom. 6. 4. Thirdly I am taught that I rising with him should set my affections on heauenly things where he is Col. 3. 1. Fourthly the rising of his body from the graue so gloriously doth assure me that my body shall arise to enjoy with him eternall glory 1. Cor. 15. 18. Q. Rehearse the fixt Article and what you learne by it A. He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God c. First I learne by his ascension into heauen that hee hath taken possession for me all his members of the heauenly Mansion Secondly That he is seated on the right hand of God in maiestie doth assure me that he is aboue all Angels placed in a secondary dignitie to the father to whom in his humane nature hee maketh intercession for his members continually Thirdly he there placed in glory assureth me and euery member of his body there to be placed with him in euerlasting glory Q. Rehearse the seauenth Article what you learne by it A. From thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead Wherin first I learne to my comfort that my Sauieur shall come to be my Iudge Iob 19. 25. Secondly I learne that his second comming shall bee with great glory when hee commeth to Iudgement Mat. 25. 41. Thirdly I learne as he shal be glorified in giuing glory to his faithfull members so he shall also be glorified in rendring vengeance in flaming fire to the faithlesse that haue contemned the faithfull and disobeyed the Gospell 1. Thes 2. 8. Q. Rehearse the eyght Article and shew me what you learne out of it A. I beleeue in the holy Ghost wherein first I learne the holy spirit being very God doth certifie my soule and my spirite that I and all faithfull Christians are the children of God and coheires with Christ of his glorious kingdome Rom. 8. 16. Secondly I learne that the spirituall power of the holy spirit mollifieth sinne in mee and maketh all holy desires to take place in my soule and indueth me with true holinesse of life Ephe. 4 23. Q. Rehearse the ninth Article and what you learne therein A. I beleeue the catholike Church whereby I learne that God hath on earth and throughout the world a holy Chuch and sanctified Congregation of people Math. 8. 10. Act. 10. 34. Secondly I learne That in this holy societie there is a Communion of Saints of which number by faith I am assured through thy fauour to be one Ephe. 5. 26. Q. Rehearse the tenth Article and what you learne by it A. I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes by which Article first I learne and stedfastly beleeue although I am a sinner yet Christ making satisfaction for my sinnes and for the sinnes of the whole world my sinnes shall neyther to me be imputed nor to my confusion remembred Ier. 33. 34. Psal 32. 1. Q. Rehearse the eleauenth Article and what you learne by it A. I beleeue the resurrection of the Bodie Whereby I learne that when the trumpet of God thall blow and the Arch-angels sound out this powerfull sentence Rise you dead my body shall be raised from the dust and so raised shall raigne with Christ for euer 1. Thes 4. 17. Secondly I learne I shall bee clothed with Christ his bodie and in my resurrection my vile body shall be glorious 1. Cor. 15. 42. Q. Rehearse the twelfth Article and shew me what you learne thereby A. I beleeue the life euerlasting Wherein first I learne to my comfort that after death I shall be placed in the throne of life and crowned in the kingdome of life Reu. 2. 10. 1. Tim. 4. Secondly I learne the life which I and euery faithfull member of Christ shall receiue shall neuer ende but bee euerlasting Psal 21. Thirdly I learne that of all these graces and fauours of God to mee and to all the faithfull commeth of the free gift of God to me to all the whole Christian Church through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour to whom with the Father and holy spirit I all the faithfull are
bound to render all honor and glory world without end Amen ⸫ A Prayer briefly to be repeated at the end of this first part GRatious holy and heauenly Father which of thy loue hast of clay created vs to thine owne Image by thy deare son redeemed vs from bondage and by the holy Ghost doest sanctifie and preserue vs in holinesse to serue thee Grant vs wee beseech thee that as by thy holy word we are taught the duties of Christianitie so we may without hypocrisie sincerely serue thee in such sort as may tend most to the setting forth of thy glory in our pilgrimage of this life present And may also most directly guide vs to the attaining the eternall felicitie prouided for vs all thine elect in thy celestiall Paradize in the life to come And powerfull Lord wee pray thee by the rule of thy Law so religiously gouerne our hearts that we neyther stray after our owne Imaginations nor deceiue our selues by any vaine ostentations and bring vs by imbracing the doctrines of thy holy Scriptures to account and esteeme them the holy and cleare Cristall wherein thy loue is reueiled and thy law for direction of our liues plainely described To true obedience of which thy law good Father so incline forme and frame our hearts wee beseech thee that vnfainedly aboue all things we may loue thy holy Maiestie and by proceeding in the rules wee practise by an holy christian charity we may performe our loue one to another with pure hearts vnfainedly And finally by a true and vnfained faith obtaine the promises of grace to serue thee in true holinesse and righteousnesse of life and after this true sanctification and grace present we may raigne with thee in euerlasting glory world without end through Iesus Christ our blessed Sauiour and Redeemer Amen ⸫ Here followeth the second part of the Cristall of Christianitie wherein the Sacrament of Baptisme is discussed very plainely and very familiarly Question TO that end that all Christians may vnderstande what the true Church of Christ is shew me whom and what you do call the true Church of Christe here on earth Answere The name of Church by signification signifieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Calling And all Christian people that professe the faith of Christ are named by the name of the Church visible generally Q. Who are more effectually and truely called the Church A. They truely in this world are called the true and inuisible Church of Christ whom God elected to saluation before the beginning of the world And which in receiuing Christ by faith doe beleeue in Christ alone to be saued eternally Q. What is the condition and estate of them which be true members of the church and doe beleeue in Christ effectually A. Although it doth not to men alwayes so appeare yet it is apparant that the true members of the Church are replenished with true happinesse holinesse and endued with diuine and sauing graces Q. How are they which are members of Christ his true Church made happie A. The true Church and euery member are blessed made happie by Christ which taketh away the curse and wrath of God due for sinne from them and bestoweth his righteousnesse on them Q. How are Christ his members made holy A. Through his holy spirit which sanctifieth all the elect in Christ with true holinesse Q. How are they replenished here on earth with heauenly graces A. As the Sunne-beames are made pertakers of the Sunnes glory and brightnesse So the true Chruch is replenished and euery part made pertakers of such heauenly vertues and diuine graces wherby God our heauenly Father is glorifyed by his grace giuen to the members of the Church in this life present Q. Doe you conclude then that all Christians which truely beleeue in the Sonne of God which are sanctified by the spirite of God and through his grace expresse in this life the glory of God are effectually called into the true Church and they are rightly called the true Church of Christ A. This is my conclusion that all faithfull people elected before the foundation of the world in Christ gathered throughout the world vniuersally which are iustified sanctified and ordained to be glorified are the true Church of Christ of whom Christ is the Lord and head and are therefore called the true Christian Church rightly Q. What assurance hath the Church here on earth of Christes loue A. Christ hath appoynted the preaching of Gods blessed Word and the holy Sacraments as testimonies thereof Q. How many Sacraments hath Christs ordayned in his Church necessary for the saluation of his Church A. Christ hath ordayned and in his church instituted the Sacrament of Baptisme to receiue and entertaine them which are his members into the fauour of God by his loue Q. What other Sacrament was by Christ instituted A. The holy feast and banquet of his most blessed body and bloud to feede them and sustaine them by and with full assurance of his loue Q. What meane you by this word Sacraments A. Sacraments are outward signes that doe represent all those spirituall inwarde sauing graces which the faithfull receiue from God through Iesus Christ Q. What is the outward signe in Baptisme A. Water wherein the Childe is dipped or sprinkled with and it doth represent the two properties of Water which doth both clense and comfort Q. How doth the propertie of clensing agrée with the inward graces represented in Baptisme A. The propertie of clensing representeth the clensing of our sinnes by the precious and pure bloud of Christ which was shed on the Crosse for our sinnes Q. How doth Water in Baptisme represent comfort to vs A. As Baptisme is instituted in stead of Circumcision which was a seale of righteousnesse by faith so the faithfull are sealed and comforted by faith in Christ to bee saued Q. Doth Baptisme both signifie clensing from sinne and sealing vnto righteousnes A. Our clensing from sinne euen from the infection of the Leprosie which came by Adams disobedience And the essentiall righteousnesse which commeth by Christ is represented by Baptisme Q. What is the cause you compare originall sinne to the infectious disease of the Leprosie A. The word doth declare originall sinne Gezar or Gazar to be full of euill to flow with euill and to ouerflow all men naturally with corruption tending to damnation Q. Doth that daungerous disease bring daunger of damnation naturally on all men A. In one significant word the Apostle doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shew that the infection doth so infect all mans affections and partes with disobedience that the will of the naturall man will not obey the will of God for the which rebellion the wrath of God commeth ouer all the children of disobedience to condemnation Q. How are the faithfull freed from this infectious sin of Leprosie proceeding from Adams disobedience A. As it came by disobedience of one vpon all men to condemnation So it is taken away by the perfect
and often times such for vnworthy receiuing doe receiue punishment and sometimes such doe eate and drinke their owne damnation as the Apostle testifieth So the benefit of them that receiue it worthily is great for by faith they feeding spiritually doe eate the spirituall foode which neuer perisheth by vertue whereof they are preserued from perishing and sustained vnto eternall life Q. What meaneth the Apostle by eating and drinking their owne damnation in the Lords supper A. The Apostle doth signifie that euen this banquet receiued by the wicked persons carelesse and without consideration of their owne impietie without faith repentance or charitie trampling vnder foote that precious bloud Euen for such contempt hée meaneth such wicked persons shall finde the receiuing thereof to testifie their condemnation more fully Q. What doth he meane that he saith some of you are sicke some are weake and some are falne asleepe A. He admonisheth them which were and vs that are now reputed faithfull professors that for lack of that worthinesse which is required of them and vs which come not fully or fitly prepared such were and are punished with such sicknesses and punishments as might make them better to consider their owne crimes and vnaduised receiuing Christ his blessed bodie and so condenme their owne selues And by such punishment also God moueth them to flie to him for mercy in this world that they may not with the wicked of this world perish in the world to come for want of Christian duties Q. What duties are of Christians required which come to this Sacrament of Christ that they may be reputed worthy receiuers thereof A. There is required principally of them a three-folde consideration or examination which worthily and effectually bee partakers of Christ Q. Shew me those principall considerations and examinations A. As it is not fit for a seruant or a subiect to come to the Table of a temporall King vncleanly or vncomely so it is much more vnfit and further offence to come to the table of the eternall king Christ Iesus with any kind of vncleannesse as might giue offence to his mightie Maiestie Q. Shew mee first what cleannesse is required of Christians comming to his presence to be pertakers of this precious banquet A. The people were commaunded when they came to heare the Law promulgated on Sina Certaine dayes to wash and sanctifie themselus before they came to heare the Law When the Lord would haue his people talke with his Maiestie he commanded them to wash them and make them cleane from all their wirkednesse Before King Dauid came to Gods Altar he washed his handes in innocencie And Christ Iesus did both wash and wipe the very féete of the Apostles when he would make them fit for this feast Q. What learne we by all these washings A. First when we come to heare the Law or Gospell preached all wickednesse and vngodlinesse must be washed by earnest sorrow for former sinnes committed and our selues sanctified by beliefe that pardon for sinne and increase of grace may by Christ be granted Secondly when we come to the maiesty of the glorious God by inuocation or prayer we must with the Publican see and bee sorrowfull for our owne miserie and not with a proud but a pure zeale of soule hope to be purged pardoned and by Christ iustified Thirdly we must not presume to come to the Temple nor to the Altar nor Table of this great King vntill heart and hand bodie and soule and euery part be found by proofe to be pure and cleane Fourthly by Christ we are taught that except we be washed by him be pronounced cleane by his mouth none are fit for this feast and that is the cause that the Apostle sayth some eate drinke their olone damnation because that euery man doth not examine himselfe to find his testimony of his washing through Christ Iesus Lord of the feast before hee come to the Lordes feast and blessed Sacrament of his bodie and bloud Q. As you haue shewed me what cleanlines is fit for Christian Communicants so shew me what comelinesse is required at the table and Supper of the Lord A. As at a festiuall Table of a King comely and desent garments are required so at the feast and table of the Lord euery Christian must haue a comely and Christian garment such as may please God through Christ Q. What garment is fit for a Christian to come to the Lords table in A. There belongeth first a Christian care of casting away the garment of the old corrupt Adam And secondly an indeuour to put on Christ Iesus Q. Shew me what the casting away of the olde Adam doth signifie A. First it signifieth the casting away the corruptions that we are clothed with naturally by Adams transqression and the Apostle nameth them to be principally these following namely lying and slandring in any sort Secondly stealing and all kinde of false dealing vncomely vngodly and especially all filthie and prophane talking Thirdly all bitternesse wrath wrathfull or euill speaking one to another séeing we are all members of one bodie Fourthly and finally to banish and cast from vs all thoughts words workes that eyther are euill or tend to euill purposes Q. Let me now vnderstand what the putting on Christ Iesus meaneth A. First we must vnderstand the remoouing from the minde inwardly all euils is the worke of the holy Ghost which afterward doth cloth and garnish the godly with the forme and shape of God in true holines and righteousnesse by Christ Q. Shew me the signes of the holinesse and righteousnesse by Christ Iesus bestowed on vs A. As we are clothed by Christ with sanctification of Gods spirit and iustification before God so it doth often appeare before men and is expressed in speaking the truth without dissimulation In honest dealing and godly care in our vocation iustly to labour and liue To speake that which may be instruction for others and consolation to those that heare our wordes Christians must be courteous one to another mercifull one to another louing one to another and by loue which they seeing in God towardes them one to forgiue another as God for Christ his sake forgiueth them and in the true garment of vnion clothed comming to the Communion of the bodie and bloud of Christ shall be accepted as ghests worthie of Gods graces by Christ at the table presented You haue shewed mee from the first consideration what comelinesse and cleannesse becommeth Christians to haue when they come to be partakers of the Lords supper Shew mée nowe the manner of eating and drinking of the Lords bodie and bloud Q. What must a Christian man consider in the worthie eating the bodie of Christ Iesus and drinking his precious bloud spiritually A. As all that worke the worke of GOD must beleeue in him whom God hath sent so all that will eate the bodie of Christ and drinke his bloud worthily must beleeue in his Incarnation in his Passion in his Resurrection