every imagination of the thoughts of his Heart was only evil continually Q 5. What is Sin A. Sin is a transgression of the Law of God and the desert and wages of it is Death and Hell Sin is a transgression of the Law of God 1 John 3. 4. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law for sin is a transgression of the Law The desert and wages of Sin is Death Rom. 5. 12. Death passed upon all men for that all have sinned The desert and wages of Sin is Hell Psal 9. 17. The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Q. 6. Who is the Saviour from Sin and Hell A. Jesus Christ the Son of God took Mans Nature and died upon the Cross that he might put away Sin and deliver Man from Wrath by the Sacrifice of himself and he arose from the dead and sat down at the Right Hand of God Jesus Christ the Son of God took Mans Nature John 1. 14. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Christ died upon the Cross Luke 23. 33. And they Crucified Him and the Malefactors one on the right Hand and the other on the left Christ by his Death puts away Sin Heb. 9. 26. But now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Christ delivers from Hell and Wrath. Rom. 5. 9. Being now justified by his Blood we shall be saved from wrath through Him Christ arose from the Dead Luke 24. 34. The Lord is risen indeed Acts 13. 37. Rising the third day he saw no corruption Christ Ascended into Heaven and sat at God's Right Hand Heb. 1. 3. When he had by himself purged our sins sat down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on High Q. 7. What are the Offices of Christ Jesus A. Christ has a threefold Office He is a Prophet to teach a Priest by his satisfaction and intercession to reconcile and a King to govern and defend his Church and People Christ is a Prophet to teach Acts 7. 37. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren Him shall you hear Luke 24. 45. Then opened He their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Christ is a Priest to reconcile Heb. 2. 17. It behoved him in all things to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the People Christ reconciles by his Death which was satisfactory to God who had been by sin offended and by his Intercession Rom. 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather is risen again who also maketh intercession for us Christ is a King to govern his Church and People Col. 1. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son Christ defends his Church against all Enemies Rom. 8. 37 Nay in all these things we are more than Conquerors through Him that loved us Q. 8. How is Christ made known A. Christ is made known by the Word in the Holy Scripture which is given by Inspiration of God The Old Testament gave a discovery of Him but in the New Testament he is more fully revealed Christ is made known by the Word in the Holy Scripture Col. 1. 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory The Holy Scripture is given by Inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God The Old Testament gave a discovery of Christ John 5. 46. If ye had believed Moses you would have believed Me saith Christ for He wrote of Me. Acts 26. 22 23. Saying none other things than what Moses and all the Prophets did say should come that Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and shew light to the People and to the Gentiles In the New Testament Christ is more fully revealed 2 Cor. 3. 18. We all with open face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image Q. 9. How are we made partakers of Christ and interested in Him A. We are drawn to Christ by the Spirit working Faith in us whereby we receive Christ and rest upon him alone for Salvation unto which Faith Repentance is joined whereby we sorrow for sin and turn from it to God with the whole Heart We are drawn to Christ by the Spirit working Faith in us 2 Cor. 4. 13. We having the same Spirit of Faith Phil. 1. 30 Vnto you it is given in the behalf of Christ to believe on him By Faith we receive Christ John 1. 12. To as many as received him he gave power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his Name By Faith we rest upon Christ alone for Salvation Phil. 3. 8 9. I count all things but dung that I may win Christ and be found in Him not having my own Righteousness which is by the Law Acts 4. 12. Neither is there Salvation in any other Unto Faith Repentance is joined Acts 20. 21. Testifying both to the Jews and to the Greeks Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance is a sorrowing for Sin Jam. 4. 9. Be afflicted and mourn and weep let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness Repentance is a turning from Sin to God with the whole Heart Isa 55. 7. Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Joel 2. 12. Therefore now also saith the Lord turn ye even unto me with all your heart Q. 10. What is that Covenant which God hath made with them that repent and believe A. God hath made a New Covenant with penitent Believers wherein he hath promised to be their God to justifie them from and pardon all their Sins to renew and write his Laws in their Hearts and to give them Grace till they come to Glory God hath made a New Covenant commonly called the Covenant of Grace Heb. 8. 8. Behold the days come saith the Lord when I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel and of Judah They that repent and believe are in Covenant An Heart to repent and believe is from God Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh The Lord in the Covenant promises to be his peoples God 2 Cor. 6. 16. I will dwell in them and
walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people God promises to justifie them from and pardon all their Sins Heb. 8. 12. I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more God promises to renew and to write his Laws in their Hearts Heb. 10. 16. This is the Covenant I will make with them after those days saith the Lord I will put my laws in their hearts and in their minds will I write them God will give his people Grace sufficient till they come to Glory 2 Cor. 12. My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in â—eâ—kness 2 Tim. 4. 18. The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me to his heavenly Kingdom to whom be glory for ever and ever Rehearse the Laws of God Exod 20. which by Faith are Established and are our Rule to walk by God spake all these words saying I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the House of Bondage Com. I. Thou shalt have none other Gods before me Com. II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any Graven Image or any Likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath or that is in the Water under the Earth thou shalt not Bow down thy self to them nor Serve them for I the Lord thy God am a Iealous God visiting the Iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy unto Thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments Com. III. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain Com. IV. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work but the Seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy Man-servant nor thy Maid-servant nor thy Stranger that is within thy Gates for in Six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the Seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it Com. V. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy days may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Com. VI. Thou shalt not Kill Com. VII Thou shalt not commit Adultery Com. VIII Thou shalt not Steal Com. IX Thou shalt not bear false Witness against thy Neighbour Com. X. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours House thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Wife nor his Man-servant nor his Maid-servant nor his Ox nor his Ass nor any thing that is thy Neighbours Q. 11. What is the Sum of the Law contained in the Ten Commandments A. The Sum of the Law is Love to God which will cause us to Worship him in Spirit to Sanctifie his Name and Day and Love to our Neighbours as to our Selves which will hinder us from doing any thing contrary to the Dignity Life Chastity Estate or good Name of our Neighbour and all motions of the Heart to work ill to him The Sum of the Law is Love to God Mat. 22. 37 38. Jesus said unto him Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind this is the first and great Commandment So great that it comprehends all others And Love to our Neighbour ver 39. The second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Rom. 13. 10. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour and therefore love is the fulfilling of the law Q. 12. How is grace to be obtained whereby we may keep Gods Commands A. Grace to keep the commands of God is obtained by Prayer wherein 't is our Duty to offer up our desires to God in Christ's Name by the Spirits assistance confessing Sin and giving thanks for Mercies Grace which strengthens us to keep Gods Commandments is obtained by Prayer Psal 119. 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee Oh let me not wander from thy Commandments Psal 138. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul Prayer is our Duty Luke 18. 1. Men ought always to pray and not to faint always i. e. at their set times and all fit seasons In Prayer we offer up our desires to God Psal 38. 9. Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee Prayer must be in Christs Name Joh. 16. 23. Verily verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you Prayer must be by the Spirits assistance Rom. 8. 26 27. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered And be which searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Prayer should be with confession of Sin Psal 51. 3. I acknowledge my iniquity and my sin is ever before me There ought to be a giving thanks for Mercies Col. 4. 2. Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving Q. 13. What is the Rule for our direction in Prayer A. The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in our Supplications but especially the Lords Prayer which he taught his Disciples The whole Word of God directs us in Prayer for it reveals his Will according to which our Prayers ought to be made 1 Joh. 5. 14. And this is the confidence we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his Will he heareth us The Lords Prayer which he taught his Disciples is our special direction how to pray Mat. 6. 9 10 11 12 13. After this manner therefore pray ye Our Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily Bread And forgive us out Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us And lead us not into Temptation but deliver us from Evil for thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever Amen Q. 14. How hath God confirmed his New Covenant A. God hath confirmed his New Covenant by the Sacraments which are the Signs and Seals of it and these Sacraments under the New Testament are Two Baptism and the Lords Supper Sacraments are Signs and Seals of the New Covenant What the Apostle speaks of the Sacrament of Circumcision in the Old Testament is true of the Sacraments under the New Rom 4. 11. He received the sign of Circumcision a seal of the righteousness of Faith and where the righteousness of Faith is
signified and sealed the other Benefits of the New Covenant are signified and sealed also Baptism is appointed and required Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and disciple all nations baptizing them The Lords Supper is Instituted 1 Cor. 11. 23. I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you ver 24. Do this in remembrance of me Q. 15. What is Baptism A. Baptism is a washing with Water in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost whereby is signified and sealed our being Born again the purging away of sin by the Blood and Spirit of Christ and our partaking of a new Nature And all that are Baptized whether Believers or their Seed are engaged to be the Lords Baptism is a washing with Water in the Name of the Father Son and Spirit Mat. 28. 19. Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Baptism signifies and seals our being born again Tit. 3. 5. According to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost In the regenerate sin is purged away by the Blood and Spirit of Christ 1 Joh. 1. 7. The Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Gal. 5. 16. This I say then walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh They that are born again have a new nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. That you might be partakers of the Divine Nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust All that are baptised whether Believers or their seed are engaged to be the Lords Rom. 6. 3 4. So many of us as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised into his death and being dead to sin should walk in newness of life Children are engaged as well as the Parents Act. 2. 39. The Promise is unto you and to your Children 1 Cor. 7. 14. Else were your Children unclean but now they are holy separated to him and to his service Q. 16. What is the Lords Supper A. The Lords Supper is an Ordinance wherein after self-examination which is required there is a giving and receiving of the Bread and Wine according to Christs appointment And worthy Receivers discern his Body partake of his benefits and shew forth his death till he come to Judgment Self-examination is required before this Ordinance of the Supper 1 Cor. 11. v. 28. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. In this Supper there is a giving and receiving of Bread and Wine according to Christs appointment Mat. 26. 26 27. Jesus took Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my Body And he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it unto them saying Drink ye all of it Worthy Receivers discern his Body looking beyond the Bread and Wine to his Body and Blood thereby signified and given to them 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. This is my Body which is broken for you This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood Worthy Receivers partake of his benefits Joh. 1. 16. And of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace In the Supper we shew forth Christs death till he come to Judgment 1 Cor. 11. 26. For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew forth the Lords death till he come Q. 17. When Christ comes to Judgment who must appear before Him A. At the last day the dead will be raised and all must appear at the Judgment seat of Christ Believers who have done good shall be rewarded with eternal life The wicked who lived and died in their sins shall be punished with the vengeance of eternal fire At the last day the dead shall be raised Acts 26. 8. Why should it seem a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead All must appear at the Judgment seat of Christ 2 Cor. 5. 10. For we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or evil Believers that have done good shall be rewarded with eternal life Rom 6. 22. But now being made free from sin and become servants to God ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life The wicked shall be punished with the vengeance of eternal fire Mat. 25. 41. Then shall he say to them on the left hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels 2 Cor. 5. 11. Knowing the truth and terrour of the Lord we perswade Men. 2 Pet. 3. 7 11. Seeing the Heaven and the Earth are kept in store reserved unto fire against the day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness The CREED I Believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth and in Iesus Christ his only Son our Lord who was Conceived by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified Dead and Buried he Descended into Hell Continued in the State of the Dead Thâ— 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 Iudge the quick and the dead I Believe in the Holy Ghost the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints the Forgiveness of Sins the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting Amen London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chapel 1691. A Catechism FOR CONSCIENCE The design of which is to try awaken and instruct the Consciences of Men and to make them faithful to God and to Themselves The Conscience of a grosly Ignorant Sinner is thus to be Questioned Quest 1. WHat are thy thoughts of God Answ I seldom hear and hardly ever think of him Q. 2. Why is not God in all thy thoughts Why dost thou live without him in the World A. I have no knowledge of Him and I do not care to entertain thoughts concerning Him Q. 3. Is not this thy bare ingratitude and folly that God who gave thee thy Being and gives thee every good thing thou hast should never be thought on But tell me Hast thou no apprehensions of God at all A. I sometimes conceive Him to be a good old Man that sits and reigns above in Heaven Q. 4. Foolish and darkned Heart Why hast thou not taken notice that God is a Spirit who really has no bodily parts Why dost thou not consider That they exceedingly dishonour Him who change the glory of the incorruptible God into an Image made like to corruptible Man Rom. 1. 23. But dost thou not believe that God always observes thee A. I regard not God and I hope he does not much regard
sin in them make satisfaction for the iniquities thou hast been guilty of Does not the Scripture say The Blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1. 7. And being justified by his Blood we shall be saved from wrath through Him Rom. 5. 9. A. I thought not on Christs Blood neither know I how it comes to be of more worth than my own good prayers and doings Q. 26. Is not Christ God as well as Man And does not thinkest thou his Godhead put a greater worth and value upon his Sufferings and Blood which was shed upon the Cross for sin than is to be found in a sinners prayers and duties A. I do not very well apprehend this matter Q. 27. Is it not because thou dost not apprehend how great an evil sin is Did not the sin of Man strike so high as at God himself and to satisfie for it was it not necessary that the Son of God should humble himself and become Man and be obedient to the death of the Cross that he might make satisfaction and an atonement for this great evil A. I thought good duties and works had been of more worth than you make them Q. 28. Can either thou or thy duties be accepted any other way but in Christ the Beloved A. I see then I must do good duties without resting on them as if hereby I could deserve pardon And that forgiveness of sin is to be had by the Blood of Jesus who alone made satisfaction for iniquity Q. 29. Art thou willing now to attain to the saving knowledge of the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent A. My Ignorance I perceive is dangerous I wish I were directed how to obtain sound and true knowledge Q. 30. Wilt thou allow time to get knowledge Wilt thou pray for wisdom VVilt thou attend upon the VVord preached VVilt thou study Catechisms and other good Books And above all Books wilt thou search the Bible that thou mayest be instructed A. Such counsel is very profitable and ought to be followed Q. 31. VVilt thou leave the Company of ignorant Fools since a companion of Fools shall be destroyed And wilt thou associate with them that are wise and godly that thou mayest become truly wise thy self A. I hope to receive much benefit by religious Company Q. 32. VVilt thou now keep holy the Sabbath day and come to the House of God with a design and desire that the Spirit may be given thee who can enlighten thy darkness and turn and change thy very heart A. O that God would forgive my iniquities and give to me his Holy Spirit to be my Guide Q. 33. Art thou willing presently to part with thy fleshly and worldly Lusts with thy most pleasing and gainful sins which hitherto have blinded thy mind and defiled thy Soul A. I now fully resolve upon all this which you have spoken to me about Q. 34. Dost thou not resolve in thy own strength Alas how weak art thou in thy self and if left to thy self how soon will all thy good purposes vanish A. The Lord strengthen me and give me an heart to know him so as to love and fear him and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind to the end of my days The Conscience of the gross notorious profane Sinner is thus to be dealt with that it may be startled Q. 1. Whither Oh whither art thou going VVhy dost thou make such speed in a pernicious way Does Eternal Damnation and Misery deserve all this pains and labour A. Talk not to me of damnation I have no fear of any such thing I live a gallant Life at present and trouble not my head about uncertainties hereafter Q. 2. Hadst thou never any checks of Conscience in thy vile and vicious courses A. Conscience has sometimes much disquieted me and was ready to spoil all the pleasure I took in sin but now that troublesom Devil is laid and I can sin without remorse with freedom and delight I can be very merry among my boon Companions and Ladies of pleasure My Sports and Pastimes make my days and nights too pass swiftly away and I am become a Stranger unto melancholy Q 3. How canst thou thus make a mock of sin why dost thou thus resemble the mad-man that casteth firebrands and arrows and death and yet sayest Am I not in sport Those Ladies of pleasure thou art so much taken with Do they not increase transgressours among men Is it not a sign of being abhorred of the Lord to fall into their hands Are not their hands as bands and their hearts as netts and snares will not the end be bitter as Wormwood and are not their houses the very Suburbs of Hell And as for thy boon Companions are they not incarnate Devils do they not entice thee to sin and endeavour to harden thee in it and continually further thee in the way to death and damnation A. My heart is proof and I can laugh at such talk as this speak of these things to silly Women or to Children to fright them or to Men that are childish I can enjoy my pleasures without the least check or fear and this does mightily increase them and makes them to be pleasures indeed Q 4. Does not this senslesness of heart argue thy condition more desperate who under such loads of guilt and wrath yet feelest and fearest nothing The Man that is sick of a Feaver and has lost the use of his understanding and says he is perfectly well and wonders they will not let him rise and go about his affairs and business does not this argue the disease more violent and dangerous and likely to prove more deadly A. You talk like a damn'd Fanatick 't will never be a good and a merry World till such sour and serious fellows as you be are out of it Q. 5. Is not this the raving of a man in a spiritual sense frantick and besides himself A. Pray cease to cant and prate in my company and preach to them that are willing to go to Conventicles and to be your Auditors a Romance a Stage-play a witty Song sung with an excellent voice and good musick such things as these take with me exceedingly Q. 6. This profane language which argues an heart most corrupt and wicked does not God hear it Does not the Psalmist say what no reasonable man can deny There is not a word in my tongue but Lo O Lord thou knowest it altogether Psal 139. 4. A. I will not believe every thing which rigid Dissenters speak of God Almighty I believe him to be better than they would make him I have pleased my flesh and go on in those courses which you make faces at and declaim against yet I prosper and rather thrive in the World than go down the Wind I hope God is not altogether such an One as you do represent him Q. 7. But does he not give a true representation of himself in his own Word When
will hear his voice harden not your hearts Heb. 3. 7 8. If thou wert in pain wouldst not thou be for present ease If thou wert in great danger wouldst not thou be for present security If sick of a death threatning malady wouldst thou not desire to be presently healed Why oh why shouldst thou not be willing to part with sin immediately which is the worst disease and which if not presently cured perhaps may never be cured but issue in eternal death A. Methinks I see that evil in sin I never saw and the bewitching pleasure of it is not so taking a thing as it was formerly Q. 18. Art thou willing to be directed to a Saviour who can deliver thee from Sin and Wrath A. I may die while I am young and when I come to die I shall prize a Saviour certainly I ought now to value him I am willing to be directed to him Q. 19. That thou may'st come to Christ wilt thou flee youthful lusts and pray that thy heart may be cleansed from them and that thou mayest possess thy vessel in sanctification and honour counting it an honour to thy body to have the members of it Instruments of Righteousness unto Holiness A. I perceive my Lusts are hurtful and 't is a foolish thing to serve them to my own ruine Q. 20. When Sinners thy companions entice thee wilt thou refuse to consent and rather reprove them though they call thee fool and fanatick than have any longer fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness A. 'T is better to leave them and be laught at than in hell to weep and despair with them to Eternity Q. 21. Thy wanton and defiling and ensnaring books such as Plays and Romances wilt thou cast away and give thy self to search the Scripture Catechisms and other good books which may help thee in the understanding and practice of the Word of God A. I hope I shall become a student in the Holy Bible labour to be well grounded in the doctrine of the Catechism and add practice to knowledge Q. 22. Art thou sensible that the pleasures of sin are but for a season And are the vanities of the world fallen in thy esteem A. I hope I shall be no longer a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God nor prefer sports and pastimes before Prayer his word and service Q. 23. Dost thou perceive that thy happiness lies in God in being favoured by him in being like unto him in holiness and in enjoying him both here and for ever A. My naughty heart is unsuited to God and looks upon happiness in him with a strange eye but I desire my heart may be circumcised to love him and that I may chuse God himself above all Q. 24. Dost thou consent to receive Christ who is made known and offered to thee in the Gospel to justifie thee by his blood to sanctifie thee by his Spirit and to rule thee by his word and commandments A. I desire my heart may be opened to receive the Lord Jesus Q. 25. Dost thou rely on Christ alone to make thy peace with God as believing this truth there is but One God and One Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus A. I am perswaded that Christ alone is the Saviour of his Church and People and that there is not Salvation in any other Q. 26. Dost thou see thy inability to come to Christ except the Father who hath sent him draw thee A. The Lord make me willing in the day of his power and draw me to his Son Turn mâ— to himself that I may never return to my youthful vanity and folly or any wickedness more The meerly Moral Mans Conscience is thus to be Examined Q. 1. What are thy Apprehensions of thy Spiritual state A. I thank God I am not as other Men are Extortioners Vnjust Adulterers None can say black is my Eye I have the the good word and report of my Neighbours I do as I would be done unto I wrong I defraud no Man Q. 2. How dost thou perform thy duty towards God A. I pray and hear Sermons and come to the Communion Table and pay to the Church as well as to the Poor and therefore question not but all is and will be well with me Q. 3. Dost thou not believe that thou art descended from old Adam A. I have heard something of Adam I think he was the first Man but I do not well understand the meaning and intent of your question Q. 4. Dost thou not know that Adam was created innocent and upright but quickly fell from his integrity by believing Satan and eating the forbidden Fruit A. That was done several thousand years ago and I am not to concern my self about it Q. 5. Thinkest thou not that thou didst sin in Adam A. I cannot conceive how I should sin in Him so long a time before I was born Q. 6. Does not the Apostle expresly say that by one Mans disobedience many were made sinners This he speaks of Adam and does he not affirm that death passed upon all men because in Him all sinned Rom. 5. 12 19. A. I do not understand how this can be Q. 7. Dost thou not perceive in thy self the effects of Adam's sin And that thou hast derived from Him a corrupt and depraved Heart and Nature A. I thank God my heart is very true and good I believe that few if any have a better Q. 8. How long has thy Heart been thus true and good A. Ever since I can remember Q. 9. What thinkest thou of that black character which the Heart-searching God gives of the heart of man that it is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it Jer. 17. 9. A. I never perceived any such wickedness in mine Q. 10. Is it not because thy Heart deceives thee and hides its wickedness from thy Eyes But for thy conviction let me ask thee What kind of thoughts does thy heart entertain A. Thoughts are free and I let them take their course it would be an endless piece of business to observe my thoughts Q. 11. Does not the Scripture say that sinful thoughts as well as ways must be forsaken if we will obtain mercy Isa 55. 7. And does not the Apostle give advice to a man to pray that the thought of his heart may be forgiven Acts 8. 22. Do not these places plainly signifie that thoughts may be sins and need pardon A. I never understood so much before Q. 12. When thou are praying or hearing where are thy thoughts A. I am very reverent and devout in my gestures and behaviour but as for my thoughts I can give no account for I very little if at all mind them Q. 13. Does not God himself say that they worship him in vain who draw nigh to him with their Bodies and honour him with their Lips but their Hearts are removed far from him A. My heart I must confess does rove and wander while I am in
the service of God I have many thoughts and contrivances about the World while I am in the Church worshipping Q. 14. When thou art about thy worldly business that brings in gain into thy purse are not thy thoughts intent and fixt A. I don't love to play the fool and do those things that bring in my livelihood and the maintenance of my family as if I did them not Q 15. Does not this shew the corruption of thy nature and the estrangement of thy heart from God that thou canst trifle with Him and in his Service and about the concernments of thy Soul and yet be so very serious about earthly matters A. I must confess in this respect my heart is not so good as it ought to be and as I did before imagine Q. 16. Didst thou ever see thy need of Christ of his Righteousness to cover thy sins and to render thy duties acceptable A. I have long time thought that my own righteousness and honest dealing did commend me to God Almighty and that I am too good to be damned I have not perceived any great need of Christ and know but little of him Q. 17. Art thou willing to be convinced of thy pride and ignorance which thy words plainly discover that ignorance and vain confidence may not be thy ruine A. Here is a charge that is severe such as I thought I never should have had from any man and I am ready to resolve to talk no more but still to place my confidence where I have done And yet withall I have no mind to perish therefore I am not against conviction upon good and sufficient grounds Q. 18. Thou trustest in thy Righteousness but does thine exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees And if it does not how canst thou hope against Christs plain words to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5. 20. A. I know not what the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees was Q. 19. Thou art free from actual murther but is there not malice envy or revenge working in thy heart without controul Thou never wert guilty of actual fornication but dost thou not lust in thy heart after Women suffering evil concupiscence to burn within not caring to quench that impure flame Thou stealest not any part of thy neighbours Estate but hast thou not often covered what is His The Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees was external only not in heart sinful workings within they made no matter of yet they rested on this Righteousness thought themselves whole and slighted Christ the great Physician of Souls And is not thy Righteousness which thou gloriest in just the same A. Christ says If thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commandments and he names those of the second Table Q. 20. But does he not tell that young man who had kept these commandments from his youth without any gross violation of them that yet he lacked one thing love to Christ above his Possessions And art not thou thy self so far from loving Christ and believing in him that thou hast not cared to know him A. I have heard some talk of Christ that he is our Redeemer Q. 21. May he not well be called a Redeemer who redeemed believers from the curse of the Law from the wrath to come and from all their Iniquities Who gave his Life a ransom and shed his blood to be the price of his Churches Redemption A. I see you would perswade me that I do stand in need of Christ the Redeemer as well as others and that I am lost without him Q. 22. Did not Christ come to seek and to save that which was lost Is it not better to see thy self lost and come to Him while he calls thee than to think thou art safe enough till Hell too late convince thee that 't is quite contrary A. My Life has been led without blame I differ much from others who have run into all excess of riot Q. 23. Was not the Apostle Paul blameless touching the righteousness of the Law before his Conversion And yet was he not convinced of sin and saw himself lost And who ever express't an higher esteem of Christ than He A. Certainly the Apostle saw that in sin which yet I do not see Q. 24. Wilt thou study the purity and spirituality of the Law of God Wilt thou take notice how it requires thee to love the Lord with all thy heart to worship him in Spirit and in Truth and forbids all sinful motions thoughts passions and desires If the Law did thus come to thee would not sin presently revive would not thy iniquities appear innumerable wouldst thou not conclude thy self dead and condemn'd till justified by Faith in Jesus A. I begin to have other thoughts of Christ than ever yet I entertain'd Q. 25. Wilt thou now bewail thy misplaced confidence wilt thou pray for Faith and hear for Faith in Christ wilt thou be incessant in thy Supplications that it may be given thee to believe wilt thou come by the help of his Grace and Spirit unto God as thy Chiefest Good and come to him through Jesus the Mediator being sensible that He is the only Way unto the Father A. I desire to believe Lord help my unbelief Q. 26. Wilt thou in all thy duties look unto Jesus for assistance to perform them and for acceptance through Christ after they are performed A. I see this is necessary Q. 27. Wilt thou rely on Christ and his Righteousness i. e. his Obedience and Sufferings for pardon of all past iniquities especially thy minding the world and mocking of God in thy Devotions hitherto And wilt thou earnestly desire that thy Faith may not be counterfeit but of the right kind purifying thy heart overcoming the world and working by love A. Such a Faith I now perceive is more precious and will make me more truely rich than the greatest abundance of Gold that perishes Q. 28. VVilt thou take due notice of the reason why thou mavest safely trust in the Lord Jesus to save thee Does not his Godhead argue him able to save And did he not become Man that he might be in a capacity to suffer for mens sin VVas he not made like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the people Heb. 2. 17. A. On Him alone I resolve to rest on whom whosoever believes he shall not be confounded The Hypocrites Conscience is thus to be searched Q. 1. Art thou willing to be tried and since there is no grace but has its counterfeit hast thou no fear of being deceived and mistaking shews for substance A. You make me half angry by asking such a question None that know me doubt of my uprightness Q. 2. Of what Church art thou A. I am of the purest Church and way I know I have separated my self from all that are not of my perswasion and I do not care to have communion with them Q. 3. Is not
the Communion of Saints an Article of the Creed Is not the love of every particular Member of Christ to be extended to the whole Body Were not the Ephesians commended for their Faith in the Lord Jesus and Love to all the Saints Eph. 1. 16. And if Believers of different perswasions that are sincere are received by Christ ought they not to receive one another A. I hate mixtures in Religion Q. 4. But shouldest thou not Love Grace wherever thou seest it And shouldest thou not take heed lest thy spirituality be mixed with uncharitableness A. I am a Member of a true and rightly constituted Church of Christ I can hardly look upon Assemblies that are of another constitution as true Churches their Ministry or the Ordinances administred to them to be valuable Q. 5. Is not this the right Antichristian Spirit Do not the Papists Damn all Christians in the World that are not of their way Instead of coming out farther from Babylon art thou not Baptized into the Spirit of Babylon e're art aware A. I am sure we ought to dislike corruptions wherever we see them Q. 6. And is it not as certain that true goodness where-ever 't is seen is to be approved Now dost thou not perceive that many who differ from thee in thy Church-way are sound in the Faith and of Exemplary Holiness in their Lives A. I cannot deny but upon Discourse with them and observation of them for I am a strict observer of other mens steps I have found them so Q. 7. Is not this an Argument that plainly proves Christ is in other Churches also and works effectually among them and in them by his Spirit But thou who talkest so much of a pure Church how is thy Family ordered A. I am not under so low a dispensation as to use forms of Catechising in my Family neither do I look upon Family worship to be of such absolute necessity Q. 8. A strict Church and a loose Family are they things at all suitable Wilt thou talk against Forms of Catechising when the Apostle commands Forms of sound words to be held fast And as for Family worship Is it not plain from that Petition in the Lords Prayer Give us this Day our Daily Bread That they who daily Eat together ought daily to Pray together And that not only for the Bread they Eat but also for the Hallowing of Gods Name the coming of his Kingdom the forgiveness of Sins and Grace to strengthen them against Temptation to Evil A. I am not utterly against Family worship but sometimes perform it Q. 9. What hinders thy constant performance Is it not if thou wilt confess the truth an estrangement of thy Heart from God An eagerness after the World And an over-industriousness in thy earthly business A. You little know whom you speak to I have a great Name and am highly esteemed for godliness by them that are acquainted with me Q. 10. Had not the Church of Sardis a Name that they lived and yet were really dead in sin many of them In others of them the good things that remained were they not ready to die And was not the Church of Laodicea confident she was rich and increased in good things and had need of nothing when indeed she was wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked A. These instances shake not my confidence Q. 11. VVhat is the ground of this thy confidence A. Being so very pure and strict in our Church way I hope we may have some grains of allowance to be more remiss in other respects But this is a secret not to be communicated to every one Q. 12. Is not this to resemble many ignorant carnal Protestants who because they are pretty exact in keeping some of the commands think they may make bold to live in the transgression of others But does not the Apostle say that if a man keep the whole Law and yet allow himself in offending in one point he is guilty of all Because he keeps no Commandment sincerely and out of love and reverence to God the Law-giver Jam. 2. 10. A. Another ground of my Confidence is the falls of Saints that are upon Scripture record therefore I conclude that to be intemperate with Lot and Noah and to be unclean with David may very well consist with truth of grace Q. 13. VVherefore are their Falls recorded Is it that such sins may be allowed of No no. Is it not to keep Saints humble and that they may depend upon a strength beyond their own that they may be able to stand Is it not to make them sensible how bad the best men are when God does leave them a little to themselves A. I cannot in this contradict you Q. 14. VVere not these Falls of Saints recorded also to open a door of hope to faln Saints that they might rise again and cry for pardon and for hearts more clean and right and that they might be more strongly upheld for the future and be established by Gods free Spirit Now if thou securely allowest thy self in those sins which the Saints loathed themselves for and with shame and sorrow did forsake is not this a plain demonstration of thy Hypocrisie A. I have sometimes been encouraged to over-reach and defraud others that are not of our Way because Israel was allowed to spoil the Egyptians of their Jewels and Treasure Q. 15. Had not the most High God the Possessor of Heaven and Earth a greater right to the Egyptians Gold and Jewels than they had themselves and might not He dispose of their Treasure as well as punish themselves as he pleased and did he not thus dispose of it by a special command at that time But where is there such a particular command given to thee How plain is the Precept that which is altogether just shalt thou follow Does not the Apostle say Let no man go beyond or defraud his Brother in any matter because the Lord is the Avenger of all evil 1 Thes 4. 6. Has not our Lord plainly signified thou shouldest no more wrong another than thou wouldest be willing another should wrong thee Mat. 7. 12. Hath he not shewed thee O Man what is good And what does the Lord thy God require of thee but to do justly as well as to love mercy And if these duties are neglected where is thy walking humbly with God A. I confess what you say comes with that evidence and conviction that the foundation of my confidence begins to look like a Sandy Foundation Yet I find great stupidness in my Spirit I can think of the sins I have allowed my self in without remorse and trouble Q. 16. Is there a greater and more inexcusable contemner of God than a Hypocrite who so often draws near to God and gives him so many good words and yet in heart despises his presence his power his goodness and his anger also A. Woe is me I wish I be not quite left unto my self I fear God may have
ruin Q. 11. Is not being burthened with sin now the way to be eased of the load and to prevent thy sinking under it into Hell A. I fear my fears and that sin is not my burthen only the punishment threatned the vengeance of Eternal Fire does affright me Q. 12. Is there not a difference made between thee who fearest that God who can kill the Body and destroy the Soul in Hell and those stupid sinners who live without God in this World as if there were no Heaven or Hell in the next A. I grant there is some difference made for my Conscience that now is awakened and troubled was once very fast asleep and senseless Q. 13. Art thou still a worker of iniquity A. No I dare not sin presumptuously I dare not allow my self in the practice of any known wickedness but still in many things I am continually offending Q. 14. Dost thou think that none have true grace unless they are perfectly free from all sin Does not Solomon say There is not a just man upon Earth that does good and sins not Eccles 7. 20. Does not the Apostle acknowledge that sin dwelt in him and that when he would have done good evil was present with him Rom. 7. A. You little think how great the sins are which I have been guilty of though now I cease the practice of them I am exceedingly amazed at their nature number and aggravations Q. 15. Does not the Lord promise he will abundantly pardon the wicked man that forsakes his evil way Isa 55. 7. Is thy sin too great for the righteousness of Christ to cover who in point of sufficiency is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world Where sin has abounded does not the grace of God much more abound A. Still the greatness of sin terrifies me Oh wretch that I am what have I been and done Q. 16. How great a sinner was David with what horrid aggravations did he sin being such an experienced Saint so wonderfully deliver'd and advanced and so great a Prophet besides and yet does he despair of mercy Does he say Because my sin is great I fear it will not be forgiven Nay does he not use the greatness of his sin as an argument to prevail for pardon because Divine mercy and the Name of God would be the more magnified in justifying one so guilty Did he not pray and prevail too when he prayed for thy names sake pardon my iniquity for it is great Psal 25. 11. A. God pardons not the sins of any whether great or small that repent not and I fear I never have sorrowed after a godly sort Q. 17. When thou confessest sin to God dost thou hide any because of the love thou bearest to it Art thou not grieved and displeased with thy self because thou hast sinn'd and art thou not willing to forsake all the sins thou doest know and acknowledge if so is not the promise very express That thou shalt have mercy Prov. 28. 13. A. You cannot imagine what vile thoughts and lusts and passions there are in my Heart which I cannot get rid of Q. 18. Are not these thoughts and lusts very unwelcome Guests wouldst not have them mortified and brought into captivity and obedience to Christ and don 't you desire a clean Heart may be created and a right Spirit renewed in you A. I think 't is meerly fear of Hell that is the principle from which such desires flow If there were no Hell 't is likely my longing after purity would be at an end Q. 19. Why shouldst thou make a supposition that there were no Hell Art thou not to look upon things as they are and are they not indeed as in Scripture they are represented If there were no future rewards and punishments who knows what the best would be and do the main foundation and reason of religion and goodness being gone Does not the Apostle himself say What advantageth it me if the dead rise not let us eat and drink for to morrow we die 2 Cor. 15. 32. A. Well but still I fear I am sincere in nothing which I do because I seem to be acted meerly by the fear of punishment Q. 20. Do not all Hypocrites and wicked men that are under awakening convictions and fear Hell most fear the loss of their sinful pleasures and gains more Do they not therefore endeavour to smother these convictions that they may serve their fleshly and worldly lusts without disturbance But art not thou of another mind fearing lest thy Conscience should fall asleep again and desiring it may be more thoroughly awakened A. I would fain have my Conscience made truely tender Q. 21. And wouldst thou not have thy heart thoroughly renewed A But my Will I think is influenced meerly by a dread of Eternal Damnation and Misery Q. 22. Is not Eternal Condemnation a thing that ought to be dreaded Why is Hell made naked before us in the Word but that we may fear the falling into it And while these fears are very high is it any wonder that the actings of love are not so evident VVhen a Child fears his Fathers anger though he has a true love to his Father yet is his love so plainly apparent in the very height of his fear A. Oh! how shall I be able to dwell with devouring Fire and to inhabit Everlasting Burnings Q. 23. Does the Scripture any where say that an Hypocrite by the fear of Hell may be carried so far as to be willing to be truely and thoroughly sanctified to be willing to be made right as to the principle manner and end of his obedience and yet remain a Hypocrite still A. I do not remember that ever any Hypocrite consented to be a Saint indeed for fear of punishment and yet still was branded for an Hypocrite Q. 24. Do we not read that the will to be sincere is wrought of God Phil. 2. 13. and that it is a Day of power when he thus makes a willing people Psal 110. 3. why then shouldst thou make light of this willingness in thee to part with all sin both in heart and life and to become an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile A. Christ saves Believers only he that believes not shall be damned I am afraid I have no saving Faith and that Christ never has indeed been received by me Q. 25. Art thou willing to receive Christ undivided Christ a Prophet effectually to instruct thee Christ a Priest to make reconciliation by his death for all thy iniquities and interceeding for thee to procure the acceptance of thy duties Christ a King to subdue thy lusts and Satan and to rule thee according to the holy Laws in the Bible which are the Laws of his Kingdom A. I must needs say I have no exception against any of Christs Offices and I should be glad if He would do all this for me that you have mention'd Q. 26. And as thou art willing to receive Christ undivided so art