the call and ordination and license of the Governours of the Christian Church impowred thereunto 2. Diligently to attend unto the substance of what is deliver'd rather than to the person the Oratory Wit or Phrases 3. To attribute so much to the authority of God's Ministers as to give belief and obedience to their declarations and directions where I have not assurance or strong grounds at least moving me to the contrary 4. Faithfully to apply the things spoken in the name of God unto my self and afterwards to call them again to remembrance and chew upon them and treasure them up in mind that I may cleanse my wayes by taking heed unto them accordingly And to this purpose Lastly To look upon the word preached as good seed sown in order to my return of a proportionable crop and therefore to take heed that the soil of my heart be prepar'd aright for the receiving rooting and cherishing of it until harvest Q. Consideration of our own doings What course are you to take in the consideration of your own doings A. I am impartially to reflect upon my thoughts and affections words and wayes to lay them to the rule of God's holy and righteous laws and so to pass censure and judgement on them as to their quality good or evil Q. And God's Providences What is the result of your observance of God's Providences to your self and others A. Not to determine by them nakedly the goodness or badness of principles and practices which the rules of right do not approve or condemn but on the one hand by God's mercies and benefits to be provoked to serve him with alacrity and gladness of heart and on the other hand by his judgements for sin to be deterr'd from it and by all his afflictions and chastisements to be humbleâ— under his rod into a patient submission anâ— resignation to his disposal mortified to this uncertain and troublesome world and the things thereof and fitted for a better Q. Watchfulness What is Christian watchfulness A. The keeping of our thoughts in a wakeful posture lest temptations unto sin surprize us at any time unawares or the good motions of the holy Spirit pass unobserved and so unimproved by us Q. Prayer What is acceptible Prayer A. The sincere and fervent utterance of good desires penitent confessions and thankful acknowledgments to God with faith and reverence Q. What pattern and rule have you to pray by A. That perfect form of prayer which our blessed Saviour taught his disciples called the Lords Prayer Q. What other particular direction have you A. To offer up my prayers to God in the prevailing name of Jesus Christ looking for acceptance through him alone Q. But how then is the Lords Prayer a perfect Form to you since there is no mention of the name of Jesus Christ in it A. I do most effectually pray in the name of Jesus Christ when I prefer those very petitions to the Father which He my Advocate hath penned for me Q. Fasting What is Fasting in the Religious sense of the Word A. The moderate chastâ—ing and afflicting our selves by voluntary abstinence from meat and drink and bodily pleasures for religion sake Q. Why add you Fasting unto Prayer A. First because it is a fitting expression both of our deep humiliation acknowledging our selves unworthy to be sustained any longer in life and of our zealous desires of the things we ask of God preferring them before our daily food and secondly because it is also a sitting means to elevate our minds in Prayer and to subdue the flesh unto the Spirit Q. The H. Saeraments What mean you by the Sacraments A. I mean those two sacred rites anâ— ordinances of the new Testament Baptism and the Lords Supper prescribeâ— by Christ as the visible marks and badge of our Christian profession outward sign and seals of the Gospel Covenant anâ— real pledges and conveyances as well a pertinent and sensible representations oâ— spiritual grace where they are orderâ—â— administered and received Q. Baptism What is Baptism A. The Institution of Christ for the first admission of his disciples by his Ministers washing the party with water in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Q. In the name of the sacred Trinity What means that phrase in the name which I have heard some read from the Greek into the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost A. Not onely that the person is baptized by authority and commission derived from the Father Son and Holy Ghost but principally and chiefly that He is now devoted a disciple and so engaged to the perpetual acknowledgment belief and obedience of this sacred Trinity God the Father God the Son and God the H. Ghost which three are yet but one God Q. But of what use may your Baptism be to you since you was baptized in your infancy A. Besides the benefit of regenerating and preventing grace then received for which I owe hearty thanks to Almighty God the consideration of it provokes me to newness of life several wayes First because outward washing signifies and betokens purity Secondly because my being baptized in or into that blessed name engageth me to own his doctrine and keep his laws Thirdly when I remember my Christian name was then given unto me and that I was as soon devoted unto God as of any name in the world I cannot but deem it a reproach to my good name should I do otherwise And Lastly The solemn vow and promise then made by my sureties which I have since taken upon my self requires as much of me Q. The Baptismal Vow What is that solemn vow and promise you speak of A. It consists of these three branches First that I should renounce the Devil and all his works the pomps and vanity of this wicked world and all the sinful lusts of the flesh Secondly that I should believe all the Articles of the Christian faith And Thirdly that I should keep Gods holy will and commandments and walk in the same all the dayes of my life And I am taught that the grounded hopes of each adult Christianâ— blessedness depend upon the sincere observance of these three points which were the express clauses of his indentures sealed at his entrance upon the profession of Christianity Q. The Lord's Supper What is the Lords Supper A. It is according to Christs institution bread consecrated broken and eaten wine consecrated powred forth and drank in an holy Communion for a resemblance of Christ whose body was broken with torments for us and blood shed for the remission of our sins It is the Christian Love-feast upon the memorials of the sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ Q. What intend you by the word consecrated applied to the Bread and Wine A. As much as if I had said sanctified set apart and blessed with prayer and the words of institution by a person ordained thereunto Q. How is this Sacrament
that diâ—th not and torments intolerable the portion of every soul that doth evil Then shall the wicked go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal Q. Seeing we Christians do all profess to believe these things The Conclusion what manner of persons ought we to be A. We ought to live in all holy conversation and godliness being diligent that we may be found of God in peace without spot and blameless growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ To whom with the Father and H. Spirit be glory as is due both now and for ever Amen Amen Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing but that servant which knew his Lords will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes Luke 12.43 47. The end of the Commandment charity out of a pure heart and of good conscience and of faith unfeigneâ— from which some having swerved haâ—â— turned aside unto vain jangling 1 Tim. 〈◊〉 5 6. This is a faithful saying and the things I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have believed in Goâ— might be careful to maintain gooâ— works These things are good and profitable unto men But avoid foolish questions and genealogies and contentions and stirrings about the law for they arâ— unprofitable and vain Tit. 3.8 9. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts glory not and lie not against the truth James 3.13 14. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering for he is faithful that hath promised and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works Heb. 10.23 24. Giving all diligence add to your faith vertue and to virtue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to â—emperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity For if these things be in you â—nd abound they make you that you shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in â—he knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off and hath for gotten that he was purged from his old sins Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fall for so an entrance shall be ministred to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things though ye know them and be stablished in the present truth Yea I think it meet as long as I am in this tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in rmembrance knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me Moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance 2 Pet. 1.5 to 〈◊〉 Yet therefore beloved seeing yâ— know these things before beware lesâ— ye also being led away with the erroâ— of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ To him be glory both now and for ever Amen châ—p 3.17 18. Little children let no man deceive you he that doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous He that commiteth sin is of the devil for the devil sinneth from the beginning For this purpose the Son of God was manifest that he might destroy the works of the devil 1 Joh 3.7 8. The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly rigteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and that glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2.11 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments â—hat they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in thorow the gates into the City Rev. 22.14 PRevent us O Lord in all our doings with thy most gracious favour and further us with thy continual help that in all our works begun continued and ended in thee we may glorifie thy holy Name and finally by thy mercy obtain everâ—asting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Almighty Lord and everlasting God vouchsafe we beseech thee to direct sanctifie and govern both our hearts and bodies in the ways of thy laws and works of thy commandments that through thy most mighty protection both here and ever we may be preserved in body and soul through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen ALmighty God who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of godly life give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit and also daily endeavour to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmighty God who shewest to them that be in error the light of thy truth to the intent that they may turn into the way of righteousness grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christs Religion that they 〈◊〉 eschew those things that are contrary to 〈◊〉 profession and follow all such things as a … … greeable to the same through our Lord 〈◊〉 Christ Amen BLessed Lord who hast caused all holy S … tures to be written for our learning g … that we may in such wise hear them read 〈◊〉 learn and inwardly digest them that by pat … and comfort of thy holy Word we may emb … and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlas … life which thou hast given us in our Savi … Jesus Christ Amen The End The Stationers Advertisement to the Reader THere is a most useful Tract now in the P … from the same Author explaining the genu … meaning and rational equity of that comprehen … rule of righteousness Do as you would be done by â— and applying of it to particular states and cases 〈◊〉 life in order to the cure of many misdemeanours prâ—vailing among us Newly printed the third and fourth part of T … Friendly Debate
A Brief and Perspicuous MANUDUCTION TO Practical Divinity By way of Question and Answer Wherein The chief Principles of Religion are so explained as to infer a good life from them If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Joh. 13.17 Restat ut his Ego me ipse regam solerque Elementis Sunt certa piacula quae te Ter purè lecto poterunt recreare libello Horat. Ep. 1. London Printed by J. R. for Henry Eversden under the Crown Tavern in West-Smithfield next Duck-lane end 1670. Courteous Reader THe method of the ensuing Manuduction to the understanding practice of true Religion is so undoubtedly useful that it needs no other recommendation than the naked description of it It leads us first to the profitable knowledge of our selves and thereby 2. of God who made us with the end for which he made us and so on 3. to the revelation of his mind and wit in the Holy Scriptures directing us to that end wherein 4. we learn more dictinctly the state of Man 1. as created and 2. fallen and 3. restored by Jesus Christ who this Jesus Christ is what he hath done for us what benefits we may expect from him and by him what conditions are to be observed by us for the obtaining of those benefits what help must enable us and what means we must use in order to the right discharge of those conditions and lastly how severe a penalty we incur by a careless and contemptuous neglect of those meanâ— and conditions The propounding of which things by way of question and answer in a plain and familiar dress may add much benefit to the ignorant and render the attention to each particular more deliberate I have nothing to superadde unless it be to tell thee that the first draught and platform of this Catechism is known to have been marked out in most of its greater lines by a Learned and Reverend man now with God and then to pray that as it is here finished filled up and exposed to thy view it may prove as 't is intended an effectual advancement of thy progress in a well-grounded faith and piety and so conduct thee at last to that eternal happiness which is the undoubted reward of a Godly and Christian life This now Courteous Reader is the unfeigned wish of Thy devoted friend and servant in our common Saviour B. C. A Manuduction to Practical Divinity Q. WHat art thou O man The natural knowledge of our selves A. I am a reasonable creature Q. What mean you when you say you are reasonable A. I mean that I am above a beast Reasonable and have something within me more noble than my body whereby I am enabled to act with understanding and choice knowing what I do and why Q. I desire to see all along how your knowledge leads to practice tell me therefore What learn you from your being reasonable A. I learn never to attempt or do any thing unworthy of my self and of which I cannot give a good reason or account to my self or others Q. You said you was a creature whâ—â— mean you by that A. Creature I mean that I once was not wâ—â— made and am preserved by another 〈◊〉 that I derived my being from and hold 〈◊〉 of another Q. What learn you hence A. I learn that I ought to live coâ—stantly in dependance upon and acknoâ—ledgment of him that made and maiâ—tains me Q. Who is it that made and preservâ— you A. God Q What is God Of God in his nature and attributes A. The most perfect Being and Fouâ—tain of all other things Q. But what more particular description can you give me of him A. God is a Being wholly spirituaâ— and therein above my self who am spirâ—â— and body most good and gracious moâ—â— holy most wise most powerful eternal anâ— infinite in all perfections and therein above all spirits Q. That I may see you understanâ— your self in what you have now spoken anâ— say not things by rote only as many do 〈◊〉 shall examine you briefly about the part of this description and first tell me God 〈◊〉 a Being wholly spiritual Spirit what mean â—ou by that A. I mean that he hath no flesh and â—ones as I have nor can he be seen or â—erceived by bodily sense nor can I make or imagine any thing like him but my best conception of his nature is that which I have of a spirit Q. Why what do you conceive a Spirit to be A. A being endued with understanding will and active power Q. But whence do you gather that God is since your senses are not able to shew him unto you A. Being From those sensible effects of his invisible being which could never be without him and have produced in all mens consciences not monstrously depraved by ignorance and vice the like belief of his being My senses give the same witness to the being of God as they do to that of my own soul or spirit Q. Well you have acknowledged a God and told me that he is a Spirit what learn you hence A. I learn from this confession that I am bound to worship him and to worship him in and with my spirit as we as outward man and that it is not lawful being not possible indeed to fram a picture or bodily image of him Q. You have satisfied me in some measure about the divine nature I now comâ— to enquire into those excellent properties which you ascribed unto God the better to difference and distinguish him from others spirits and first you said he was most good and gracious Most good and gracious What mean you by that A. I mean that he is most freely ready to do all acts of goodness compassion mercy and love Q. What learn you hence A. I learn to expect from his grace and bounty whatsoever is either needful or convenient for me Q. You said secondly God was most holy Most holy What mean you by that A. I mean that he is altogether separate from sin without sin and universally righteous an hater of sin and lover of righteousness so that he neither can or will do any evil himself nor approve it in any other Q. What learn you hence A. I learn never to imagine that his Grace will allow or countenance me in sin and never to hope that I shall please him without holiness Q. You said thirdly Most Wise God was most wise What mean you by that A. I mean that he hath a complete knowledge of all things and skill to do all things according thereto Q. What learn you hence A. To do all things as in his sight who knoweth all things and begging direction from him to rest satisfied with his wise disposal in all things Q. You said fourthly Most Powerful God was most powerful What mean you by that A. I mean that he is Almighty and can do all things that agree with his wisdom and holiness all