in the sight of them all carried him through the Air into Heaven where he now sits to prepare a place for us and intercedes to God for all faithful penitent Sinners I believe he sits at God's right hand that is that he is there exalted to the greatest Power and Glory Not that God has Hands as we have for God is a Spirit and a Spirit has no Hands as we have But as with us the right Hand is a Place of Honour so I am fully perswaded that Jesus Christ is exalted in Heaven to the greatest Honour Power and Glory and there pleads and mediates with God for all those that believe in him repent of their Disobediences and live a New and Christian Life And thus I believe that he ascended in Heaven and sitteth at the right Hand of God VII ARTICLE From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead THE meaning is I do freely and fully assent to this as an undoubted Truth That Jesus Christ who is both God and Man at the End of the World shall certainly come again with Power and great Glory from the same Heaven into which he ascended attended by his Holy Angels to Judge all Mankind according as they have lived here That every Eye shall see him and they that pierced his Hands and Feet shall behold his Majesty his Terror and his Glory I believe that the World being dissolved and the Earth and all things thereon being burnt up the Lord Jesus shall sit in the Air in a Glorious Throne and shall judge the quick that is all those that shall be alive at his Coming and the dead that is all those that were dead before since the World began That the Records of their Conscience shall be laid open that is all that ever they thought or spake or did shall be brought to their Memory I believe firmly That he will judge them Righteously and them that have lived unholily irreligiously and died impenitently he shall sentence to eternal Darkness But them that have believed in him repented of and reformed their Sins and lived holy and good lives he shall adjudge to dwell with him in Heaven and Happiness for ever And thus I believe he shall come to judge the quick and the dead VIII ARTICLE I believe in the Holy Ghost THE meaning is I firmly believe That the Third Person in the adorable Trinity the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is God as well as the Father and the Son I believe him to be a Person distinct from both the Father and the Son eternally proceeding from both and equally sent by both and joint Author with both of our Salvation That though these are Three Persons yet are they but One God and though this cannot be fully understood in this World yet I believe it firmly I believe That as God the Father created me and God the Son redeemed me so this God the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit sanctifies me offers me his Grace and Assistance to do the Will of God is my Comforter and always 't is he that puts into my Mind good Desires and pious Purposes So that I believe intirely that he is not only of perfect Holiness in himself but also that he is the immediate Cause of all Holiness in us that by him all the Servants of God are enabled to do all things necessary to Salvation which by the force of Nature they cannot do That 't is he who enlightens our Understandings sanctifies our Will orders and commands our Affections that 't is by his Assistances imparted to us that we speak or do any thing of our Duty Thus I believe God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost not to be Three Gods but Three Persons and but One God And though I shall never in this Life fully comprehend this Mystery of the Trinity yet I firmly believe it And thus I believe in the Holy Ghost IX ARTICLE I believe in the Holy Catholick Church The Communion of Saints THE meaning is I do freely profess to believe That Jesus Christ did by the Preaching of the Apostles gather unto himself a Church consisting of Thousands of beliving Persons to which he daily added such as should be saved and will successively and daily add to the same to the End of the World That this Catholick that is Universal Church is the Corporation or general Family of all true Believers Or that Body or Society of Persons that profess Christ and his Gospel and is governed and continued under Bishops and Pastors lawfully called to that Office by whom the Word and Sacraments are duly Preached and administer'd under Christ their Head I firmly believe this Church of Christ to be One Holy and Catholick One in respect of our Faith One in respect of the Sacraments One in respect of being guided and directed by the same Spirit One in respect of One and the same Head Christ Jesus and One in respect of the same Hope of Glory and Immortality Holy in respect of its Head the Holy Jesus Holy by baptismal Dedication Holy in respect of its Design and End Holy in respect of the Holy Offices performed in it all which tend to produce Holiness and Holy in respect of its Calling Profession and Hope Catholick in respect of that Catholick Faith Truth and Doctrine which it teaches Catholick or Universal in respect of that Universal Obedience which it obligeth all Men to Catholick in respect of time that is it shall universally be continued to all Ages to the End of the World Catholick or Universal because 't is made up of all the particular Churches in the World Catholick in respect of that universal War which it always is to hold against all its Ghostly Enemies Catholick or Universal in this Sense that it is not limitted or confined to one Nation as the Church of the Jews was but by the Command and Appointment of Christ to be spread abroad and gathered from all Nations under Heaven I believe That of this Catholick Church part is on Earth and part in Heaven that is the Saints departed are the triumphant part of the Church and all true Believers Lovers and Obeyers of Jesus are the Church Militant And as I ever desire to be a Member of this Holy Catholick Church so I believe there is and ought to be a Communion of the Saints in it that is a Society or Fellowship one with another in all Holy Things As all Saints on Earth or all true Believers have in common One God One Christ One Holy Spirit One Lord One Faith One Baptism So I believe they ever did and ought to keep up a Holy Fellowship or Society with each other in all the common Christian offices and duties in Faith in professing the Gospel in hearing the Word in receiving the Sacraments in Charity and doing good to each other and in all common Christian offices of Piety and Devotion And I fully am perswaded that while the Saints or true Believers on Earth
do thus stedfastly keep up this Communion with each other in all holy things in Faith and Worship Love and Obedience they all have a Communion or Fellowship with the Blessed Trinity with the holy Angels and with the Saints departed So that as I am a member of Christ's Catholick or Universal Church so I ever desire to keep Communion or Fellowship with them in all Holy Things and that as Christ is our Common Head and we his Members and I never withdrawing my self from this Communion so my Faith may be accepted with theirs my Prayers offered up with theirs my profession of the Gospel may appear with theirs my Duty Love and Obedience may be accepted with theirs in the Day of the Lord Jesus And thus I believe the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints X. ARTICLE The forgiveness of Sins THE meaning is I believe that whereas every Sin whether of Thought Word or Action is a transgression of the Law of God and for every transgression the Sinner is liable to Eternal Punishment by the infinite Justice of God Yet that God in his unspeakable Mercy gave his Son Jesus and the Son gave himself to become a Surety for this Debt of ours and did offer up himself a Sacrifice by his Death to God's Justice and a satisfaction for us Thus reconciling God's punishing Justice with his pardoning Mercy Provided that the Sinner who had chosen amiss chosen the ways of Sin and Death would in Faith and with Repentance and new Obedience turn seasonably to God and chuse better I firmly believe the first remission is obtained by the Holy Sacrament of Baptism All original and actual Sin being there washed away to every one that duly partakes of that Sacrament But whereas alas 't is too true we have some way or other stained the white Robes which we had put on when we came from the waters of Baptism and because every disobedience since is a recession or going back from our Baptismal Purity for all such Sins God in much Mercy through the death of Jesus hath given us the Covenant of Repentance Which being but this a turning from Sin to God a lasting durable state of new Life and Reformation he has promised through the Merits and the Death of Jesus that if I have but this to offer up to him from a sincere and contrite Heart it shall be accepted to my Pardon and Forgiveness and he will be reconciled to me And thus I believe the forgiveness of Sins XI ARTICLE The Resurrection of the Body THE meaning is I do profess solemnly that I am fully perswaded of this infallible truth That as 't is appointed for all Men once to die so 't is determined that all Men shall arise from death That the Souls separated or parted from our Bodies are in the Hand of God and live That the Bodies of the Dead although turned to dust mouldered into ashes consum'd in flames or swallowed up of the waters devoured by beasts or fishes or any way scattered shall be gathered together again all the scattered dust pack'd together and in an instant be revived and come alive by the Soul 's being united to it again The same Flesh which died shall live the same Body which fell shall rise the same Soul infallibly be united to the same Body So that the Soul and Body are parted asunder by Death yet at the last day they shall be joined together at the Resurrection and shall no more be parted And this Resurrection I firmly believe shall be Universal of all Mankind no Man shall be left in the Grave or Dead That this shall be at the end of the World when Christ shall come to Judgment when the Trump shall sound or when the Arch-Angel shall lift up his Voice like a Trumpet the just and unjust shall both arise out of their Graves and live The Just shall arise to the Resurrection of Life and the Unjust to the Resurrection of Damnation And thus I believe the Resurrection of the Body XII ARTICLE And the Life Everlasting Amen THE meaning is I do freely declare that I believe this to be an undoubted truth That besides this Life here in this World which is but for a short time there shall be another Life in the other World which shall last for ever I firmly believe that after this finite Life here is over and the Soul departed and the Body dead that the Soul still lives and shall live for ever and after the Resurrection the Body shall live also and both shall live together for Eternity The Soul and Body of the unbelievers disobedient and impenitent shall live for ever and be Partners with the Devil and his accursed Spirits in Hell And that the Souls and Bodies of the Righteous after the Resurrection and after their Sentence shall enter into the fullness of their Master's Joy beyond all possibility of Sin and Sorrow suffering and temptation doubts or scruples fears or dangers where they shall have their Understandings clarified and enriched where the Will shall be satisfied where the Affections shall be all Love and all Joy where they shall securely and peacefully possess all that they breathed after panted sighed and languish'd for here and enjoy it not for Years or Ages but for all Eternity Amen THE meaning of that Word at the end of the Creed is I do declare that I do stedfastly believe all this and desire to live accordingly Question What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles c. Answer First I learn to believe in God the Father c. THE meaning is I do according to this my confession of Faith firmly and as I hope to see the Face of God believe in God the Father who is the first Person of the adorable Trinity who created me and all Men who made the whole World and all Things therein out of nothing Secondly I do likewise firmly believe in God the Son Jesus Christ my Saviour who is the second Person of the Adorable Trinity Perfect God and perfect Man equal to the Father as touching his Godhead but inferiour to the Father as touching his Manhood who redeemed me and all Men by his Death and who has satisfied God's Justice for my Sins upon my Faith and my Repentance my future Love and Obedience Thirdly I do also firmly believe in God the Holy Ghost or holy Spirit who is the third Person of the adorable Trinity who proceeds from the Father and the Son and is co-equal and co-eternal with them It is he who is my Guide my Sanctifier my Comforter who puts into my Mind good desires pious purposes and devout resolutions who offers me his Grace and Assistance to do God's Will so truly that he is said to be grieved when I refuse it And although I cannot fully understand in this Life how these three Persons can be but one God yet I do fully and firmly assent to it as an undoubted truth that it is so without which Belief I cannot
with a lively Faith in God's Mercy through Christ Heb. 10.21 22. And having an High-Priest over the House of God Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience Prove that we are to receive it with a thankful remembrance of Christ's Death 1 Thes 5.18 In every thing give thanks 1 Cor. 11.26 For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lord's death till he come Prove that we are to receive the Sacrament being in Charity with all Men. Matth. 5.23 24. If thou bring thy Gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy Brother hath ought against thee leave there thy gift before the Altar and go thy ways First be reconciled to thy Brother and then come and offer thy gift 1 Cor. 13.2 Though I have all Faith so that I could remove mountains and have no Charity I am nothing Verse 13. And now abideth Faith Hope and Charity but the greatest of these is Charity The whole Duty of Man Reduced into QUESTIONS To be answered by a Single YES or NO PART IV. Sunday I. Duties to God Of God DO you believe in God Yes Are there any more God's than one No. Do you believe that God is an infinite glorious Spirit Yes Is not God distinguished into three Persons Father Son and Holy-Ghost Yes Of the Trinity Are these three Persons any more than one God No. Is not God the Father our Creator Yes Is not God the Son our Redeemer Yes Is not God the Holy-Ghost our Sanctifier Yes Though you cannot fully understand how these three Persons can be but one God are you bound to believe it Yes May we doubt of the truth of any thing which God reveals to us No. Of the Attriâ—utes of God â—r his Divine Excellencies Is not God a Spirit a good a gracious a holy a merciful a wife and just Spirit Yes Can we see God with our mortal Eyes No. Does he not govern and order all things here by his Providence Yes Is God every where present and does he know all things even the thoughts of every Man's Heart Yes Is not your Soul a thing of the greatest value in the World Yes Are you willing to have it saved and to pass to Heaven when you die Yes Of a future State Do you think that your Body shall alway lie in the Grave No. Do you believe your Body shall arise again out of it and be joined with your Soul and live together for ever in Happiness or Misery Yes If you should be damned and go to Hell is there any hope of ever coming out again No. Must you not believe in God and his Son Jesus Christ and love him and sincerely obey his Commands if you will be saved from Hell and obtain Heaven Of the Commands Yes Are you willing to know what these Commands are that so you may obey them Yes Were all Men liable to Damnation because Adam did eat the forbidden Fruit Yes Did Jesus Christ afterwards die for all Men that so they might be saved Yes But must we not believe in Christ and repent of our Sins and conscionably obey him if we will be saved by him Yes Is there any other name under Heaven by which we must be saved but the Lord Jesus Christ No. Seeing we must be saved by Faith in Christ are you desirous to know what true Faith is Of Faith Yes Is not Faith such a belief of the Gospel of Christ as makes us ready and willing to obey his Commands Yes Do you believe the Scripture to be the Word of God Yes Do you doubt of the truth of any thing contained in it No. Are you willing to perform those things which Christ would have you perform to the utmost of your Power Yes If you should at any time sin against him by not performing them will you confess it to God and sorrow for it and strive to do so no more Yes Of the threatnings Shall the threatnings of the Scripture come upon every one that does not repent of his Sins and amend his Life Yes Of the Promises Does not God promise in the Gospel great and glorious things to them that love and obey him Yes Shall you enjoy these Promises unless you perform the Conditions No. Are not these the Conditions That you are to believe in him The conditions of enjoying them Of Hope repent of your Sins love him and obey him Yes Do you hope to partake of the good things which God has promised Yes But can you hope for them aright unless you leave your Sins and heartily endeavour to do what God has commanded No. Can you hope for the Promises at all while you resolve to continue in your Sins No. Should you not instantly endeavour to get out of them and to please God that so you may hope aright Yes Though you have been a very great Sinner yet if you change your course repent of your Sins and believe in Christ is there not a very good Hope of your Salvation Yes Do you love God Yes Of the Love of God and the motives to it Have you not great reason to love him because he is good and great and kind and merciful and willing to have you saved Yes Seeing you love God can you do less than truly to labour to please him No. If you love him should you not desire to enjoy him Fruits of that Love Yes Are there not two ways of enjoying God in his Ordinances here and in Heaven hereafter Yes Is it not a blessed thing to enjoy God here in Praying meditating and in hearing his Word and receiving the Sacrament Yes And will it not be a blessed thing always to enjoy him in the glories and happiness of Heaven Yes Would we have Heaven at a cheaper Rate than one short life of Love and Obedience No. Of the Fear of God As you love God so do you fear him too Yes Do you fear him so as to be afraid to offend him or displease him Yes Do we not displease and offend him when we sin against him Yes Of fearing Men more more than God Is it fit we should fear Man more than God No. Must we not rather displease any Man than God Yes Must we not trust in God in all Temptations Needs and Dangers Yes But though we trust in God must not we our selves resist the Temptation Yes And must we not pray for God's Grace to assist us to overcome it Yes Do we trust in him aright if we do not resist it and beg his Grace to help us No. Not to deliver our selves from any danger by Sin When we beg in any danger or Trouble may we try to get out of it by any Sin No. When we are sick or have lost any thing may we go to a Witch or Conjurer No. In all needs and troubles must we not
Heart Yes Should a Christian then follow the evil and corrupt Desires of his Heart No. Did they not promise in your Name that you should believe all the Parts of the Christian Religion Yes Shall you be saved if you do not believe them No. Did you not promise by your Sureties sincerely to obey God's Commandments Yes Seeing they promised these things for you when you were a little Child should you not labour to perform them now Yes Shall you ever go to God and Heaven unless you do sincerely perform them No. But can you do these things without God's Help No. Should you not pray to God for his Grace to keep you alway in this happy Covenant Yes Well then is it not your Duty to renounce the Temptations of the. World Flesh and Devil according to this Promise Yes Is it not your Duty to believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith according to this Promise Yes And do you firmly believe them Yes Can he be a true Christian that denies any one of them No. Is it not your Duty to keep God's Commandments as was promised for you Yes Can you without infinite danger live in the Breach of any one known Command of his No. Well then it seems this was promised for you that you should renounce the Temptations of the World Flesh and Devil believe the whole Christian Faith and keep God's Commandments was it not Yes And has not God promised upon these Conditions to give us pardon of Sin Grace and Glory Yes Suppose a Man after he is baptized should commit a Sin can he be saved unless he repent of it and sincerely forsake it No. Should we not then by this our Covenant of Baptism live a Godly and a Christian Life Yes If we do in Sincerity of Heart keep our Conditions of it shall we go to Heaven when we die Yes Will not Heaven and Happiness be a sufficient Reward for our renouncing of the Temptations of the World Flesh and Devil Yes Will not Heaven and Happiness be a sufficient Reward for our constant believing all the Articles of the Christian Faith Yes Will not Heaven and Happiness be a sufficient Reward for our keeping God's holy Will and Commandments here Yes Will not the Pleasure of Sin for a Season be a sufficient recompense for the Loss of Heaven and Happiness No. Well then was not this a Gracious Covenant which was made in your Name when you were baptized Yes Should we ever cease to be thankful to God for calling us to this State of Salvation No. When we were fallen was it not Jesus Christ that made this gracious Covenant between God and us Yes Did not God shew his great Hatred of Sin and his Willingness to have us save in sending his Son to die for us Yes Should you ever cease then to love God and Christ No. Should you cease to obey God and Christ No. Or to pray to God and Christ No. When we come to Years of Discretion should we not own all that our Godfathers and Godmothers promised in our Name Yes If we will not own it our selves do we not lose all our Title to Pardon Heaven and Glory Yes SECT II. Credendae Catechist REhearse the Articles of thy Believe Answer I believe in God the Father Almighty c. Question What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles c. Answer First I learn to believe in God the Father c. Of the Creed and the practical Belief of it ARTICLE I. I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth DO you believe in God Yes Do you believe in Jesus Christ Yes Do you believe in the Holy Ghost Yes Are there any more Gods than one No. Is not God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost three Persons and but one God Yes Though we cannot fully understand how three Persons can be but one God must we not firmly believe it Yes Is not this easie to God though it be hard to us Yes Shall we be saved without this Faith or Belief No. Do you love God Yes Do you hope to live with God when you die Yes Can any man be saved and go to Heaven without believing and trusting in Jesus Christ No. Do you love your Saviour Jesus Christ Yes Do you love the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit Yes Is it not the Holy Ghost that puts into your mind good Desires Yes Is not this good Spirit grieved when you do an evil Action Yes Is not God a Spirit Yes Can we see God with our mortal Eyes No. Do you believe that God made Heaven and Earth and all things out of nothing Yes Is not God an infinite and glorious Spirit Yes Is not God a Merciful Righteous Holy and Good Spirit Yes Is there any thing that God doth not know No. Can we do any thing and God not see it No. When you think upon any thing does not God know what you think on Yes Is not God a just a wise and powerful God Yes Is there any thing which God cannot do No. Will this good and great God love you if you keep his Commandments Yes ARTICLE II. And in Iesus Christ his only Son our Lord IS not Jesus Christ the Son of God Yes Is not Jesus Christ our Saviour God and Man too Yes Had Jesus Christ any Father besides God No. Did not God by his Holy Spirit cause him to be born of a Virgin Yes Is not Jesus Christ that Lord of ours by whom we hope Salvation Yes If God hear our Prayers at any time doth he not do it for Jesus Christ's Sake Yes If God do pardon our Sins when we repent of them will it not be for Jesus Christ's Sake Yes If God save us will it not be for Jesus Christ's Sake Yes And have we not reason to love Jesus Christ Yes Should we ever cease to obey Christ No. ARTICLE III. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary WAS Jesus Christ begotten by Man No. Was he not conceived by the Holy Ghost after a wonderful manner Yes Was not Jesus Christ born of a holy and pure Virgin Yes Was not this Blessed Virgin 's Name Mary Yes Was he not born of this holy Virgin an Infant as other Men are Yes Because Man had sinned against God was it not necessary that Jesus Christ should die for our Sins Yes Could any thing satisfie an Infinite Justice but an Infinite Satisfaction No. Could any thing therefore satisfie God's Justice for our Sins but the Sufferings and Death of Christ No. Was it not fit that he should be both God and Man who was to reconcile God and Man Yes And have we not reason to love and obey him Yes ARTICLE IV. Suffered under Pontius Pilate Was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell DID not a Man called Pontius Pilate cause our Saviour Jesus Christ to be put to death Yes Did not this Pontius Pilate sentence him to be crucified Yes Was
not this Pontius Pilate a Governour of the Country where Christ lived when he was on Earth Yes Was there any Sin or Fault in Christ No. Was he not accused by the Jews out of meer Malice Yes Was he not crucified that is nailed to a Cross till he was dead Yes That is were not his Hands and Feet nailed to a piece of Wood till he died Yes Was he content to suffer all this for our Salvation Yes Did not Christ by his Death satisfie God's Justice for our Sins if we repent of them and leave them Yes Shall any partake of the Benefits of Christ's Death but the true pernitent Sinner No. Before Christ was crucified was he not buffeted and spit on scourged and spightfully used Yes Did Christ give up the Ghost and really die upon the Cross Yes When he was dead was he not put into the grave and buried as other dead Men are Yes Did he not continue in the State of the dead for a time Yes When Christ descended into Hell did he suffer any Pains or Torments there No. Did he only descend to triumph over the Devil in his own Kingdom Yes Did he not suffer all this for our Sakes that we might be saved Yes And have we not infinite reason to love and obey him Yes ARTICLE V. The third day he rose again from the dead THough Christ were buried in the Grave does he continue in it to this Day No. Did not Christ come alive again the third day and rise out of the grave by his power Yes Did he not rise again out of it for our Justification Yes That is did he not by his coming out of the Prison of the grave shew that he had paid our debt that God's Justice was satisfied and he acquitted upon our Faith and Repentance Yes And can we ever cease to love and obey him No. ARTICLE VI. He ascended into Heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty DID not Jesus Christ about forty days after he came alive again ascend up to Heaven Yes Was he not carried up to Heaven in a Cloud Yes Is not Jesus now at this present at God's right Hand making Intercession for us Yes You say at the right hand of God why Is not God a Spirit Yes Has a Spirit any hands as we have No. When we say that Christ sitteth at the right hand of God do we not mean that he is exalted to the greatest power and glory Yes Is he not there our Advocate to intercede and plead for us Yes And can we for this pay him less than Love and Obedience No. ARTICLE VII From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead DO you believe there shall be a Day of Judgment Yes Shall not Christ come in that day to judge the World and all Men Yes Shall any Man escape the Judgment of Christ No. Shall he not then turn the wicked into Hell Yes Shall he in that day of Judgment place all good Men in Heaven Yes And should we not prepare our selves for that Judgment Yes Must we not then give an account of what we have done here Yes Must we give an account of our Thoughts Words and Actions Yes Shall any Man be able to hide his Sins from this Judge No. Is there any thing that we do which this Judge sees not No. Is there any thing that we think which Judge hears not No. Is there any thing that we think which this Judge knows not No. What does he see and know our very Thoughts Yes But will he not be a merciful Judge to all truly reformed Penitents Yes And for that reason should you not love and obey him Yes ARTICLE VIII I believe in the holy Ghost DO you believe in the holy Ghost or Spirit Yes Is there any Difference between these words Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit No. Is not the Holy Ghost God Yes Doth not this good and Holy Spirit convert us sanctifie us and comfort us Yes Is not this good and Holy Spirit ready by his Grace to assist us in doing our Duties Yes Is he not said to be grieved when we do not make use of the Grace and Strength afforded us Yes And should we grieve this Holy Spirit by a careless and disobedient Life No. Is it not this holy Spirit that puts into your mind good Desires Yes And should we refuse or neglect to perform them No. ARTICLE IX The Holy Catholick Church The Communion of Saints DO you believe that the whole Company or general Family of true Believers professing the Gospel under Christ their head are the Catholick Church Yes Is not Catholick Church as much as to say Universal Church Yes Are not the preaching of the Word and the due Administration of the Sacraments under Bishops and Pastors lawfully called are not these the Marks of it Yes Is it not Catholick in respect of Persons and Place Time and Doctrine Yes Are all the Believers of this Catholick Church holy by their Calling and Profession Yes Should you ever cease to bless God for being a Member of this Catholick Church No. Were you received into this number of Believers when you were baptized Yes Do you firmly believe the particular Church of England to be a sound part of the Catholick Church Yes Of the Catholick Church is not part on Earth and part in Heaven Yes Is not that part of it which is on Earth called the Church Militant Yes And is not that part of it which is in Heaven called the Church Triumphant Yes Do you believe that there is and ought to be a Communion of Saints Yes Is not this Communion of Saints a Communion one with another in all holy things Yes That is to say are we not to keep a Communion one with another in Faith in Love in Charity in Prayer in hearing the Word and receiving the Sacraments Yes May we forsake or withdraw our selves from the Communion or Fellowship of Christians in holy things No. Do you believe that while the Saints or true Believers on Earth do keep up their Communion with each other in all holy things that they have a Fellowship or Communion with the Blessed Trinity the Angels and the Saints departed Yes ARTICLE X. The Forgiveness of Sins DO you believe there is Forgiveness of Sins to be had in the Church of Christ Yes Can this Forgiveness be had unless we believe in Jesus Christ and repent of them and reform them No. If we do believe in Christ and repent of our Sins and leave them and live a new and Christian life shall we be forgiven Yes Is not Repentance this A turning from Sin to God a lasting durable State of new Life and Reformation Yes If the Sinner then have chosen amiss should he not speedily turn to God and chuse better Yes Is he wise or safe if he neglect to do it one day No. ARTICLE XI The Resurrection of the Body DO you believe that the Bodies of them that
own State and Condition Yes May a Man envy or grieve at his Neighbour's Good or Prosperity No. Ought we not to be just towards others not only in our actions but in our very thoughts desires and intentions Yes Should we consent to any motions of the heart of contriving to get what 's our Neighbours by unjust or unlawful means No. Is discontentedness repining and murmuring forbidden to a Christian Yes Should a Christian with vexation or greediness or immoderately seek Riches Honours or Pleasures No. Did not your Godfathers and Godmothers promise for you that you should keep these Commandments Yes And will you labour to keep them that you may please God and be admitted to him when you die Yes Will you shew your Love by your Obedience Yes Question What dost thou chiefly learn by these Commandments Answer I learn two things my Duty towards God and my c. Question What is thy Duty towards God Answer My Duty towards God is to believe in him c. IS it not your Duty to believe in God Yes Do you believe him to be an infinitely wise just powerful holy and good Spirit Yes Is not a Christian to fear God so as to be afraid to offend him Yes May a Christian fear Man more than God No. May a Man commit a Fault to please Men though he displease God No. Should we not love him who is infinitely lovely Yes Should we not love him with all our Heart Soul Mind and Strength Yes Is it not reasonble to love a great and good and wise and merciful God Yes Should we ever cease to love that God that is willing we should be saved No. Can we cease to love him who sent his Son to die for us No. Is it not reasonable we should fall down and worship that God that made us and all the World Yes Is it not reasonable we should fall down and Worship that God that can send us to Hell in an instant Yes Is it not reasonable we should give him thanks who gives us Food and Raiment Yes Must not a Christian put his whole Trust in God in all his Needs and Dangers Yes May a Christian seek to deliver himself out of them by any unlawful means No. Is not this to distrust God Yes Must not a Christian call upon him in Prayer Yes Is it not reasonable we should call upon that God that is able to help us Yes And is he not willing and ready to help us in all needs and dangers if he see it fit for us Yes Is it not reasonable we should Honour his holy Name seeing to glorifie it was the great End of our Creation Yes Is it not reasonable we should honour and love that Word which is the Message of Divine Love to us Yes Is it unreasonable we should serve such a God and obey him truly all the days of our Life No. Has he not provided eternal Rewards in Heaven for our moment's obedience here Yes And can we expect more for doing less No. Question What is thy Duty towards thy Neighbour Answer My Duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as c. SHould we not do to all men as we should be content they should do to us if they were in our condition and we in theirs Yes Are we willing to have any Evil done to our own Souls No. Should we therefore do any Evil to any other Man's No. Are we willing to have our own Bodies maimed or wounded No. Are we willing to have our own Goods or Estates injured by any Man No. Should we therefore do so to any other Mans No. Are we willing to have our own good Name taken away and slandered No. Should we then do so to any other Man's No. Are we willing to have our own Needs and Wants relieved by them that are able to do it Yes Should we therefore according to our ability relieve the Needs of others Yes Would we not have all Men deal fairly honestly and justly with us in all Cases Yes And ought we not to deal so with others Yes Is not this to love our Neighbour as our selves Yes Should a Christian hurt any man by word or deed No. Should he be just and upright in all his Dealings Yes May he bear malice hatred or ill will to any in his Heart No. May a Christian be given to lying evil-speaking and backbiting No. Should a Christian be sober chast and temperate Yes Should a Christian that hopes to see God be a Whoremonger Glutton or Drunkard No. Should we wish or desire to deprive our Neighbour of any thing that belongs to him No. Should a Christian be diligent in his calling Yes And should he be content with his State and Condition Yes SECT IV. Postulanda Or Things to be prayed for Of the Lord's Prayer Catechist MY good Child know this that thou art not able to do these things of thy self nor to walk in the commandments of God and to serve him without his special Grace which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent Prayer Let me hear therefore if thou caust say the Lord's Prayer Answer Our Father c. CAN we keep God's Commandments without his help No. Should we not daily pray to God for his Grace and Strength to do his Will Yes Should any Christian pray less than twice every day No. Should not those who have leisure do well to do it oftner Yes Must our Heart go along with our Mouths when we pray Yes Should a Christian kneel upon his knees when he prays Yes In our Prayers should we ever leave out the Lord's Prayer No. PREFACE Our Father which art in Heaven I. PETITION Hallowed be thy Name IS not God who created us our Father Yes Are we not his Children by Adoption too Yes Is he not then our Father by Creation and our Father in Christ Jesus Yes Is this good Father of ours unwilling to hear us if we ask aright No. Is not this our Father in Heaven Yes When you say Father doth not this teach you to pray with the Affections of a Child and with reverential Love Yes When you say Our Father doth not this teach you to pray for others as well as your self Yes When we say hallowed be thy Name do we not mean Sanctified be thy Name Yes When we say hallowed be thy Name do we not desire God to enable us to Worship Glorifie and Honour him Yes Can we Reverence and Adore and Glorifie him aright unless he enable us No. Is it not fit therefore we should first desire him to strike an awe into our Hearts while we are praying to him Yes II. PETITION Thy Kingdom come WHen we say Thy Kingdom come do we not pray that God's Kingdom of Grace may come to us here Yes And do we not pray that his Kingdom of Glory may come to us hereafter Yes Can we pray for any thing better or more desirable than the Kingdom of Grace here and the
whose Gospel we derive our Hopes and Expectations of a joyful Resurrection And that we may be constantly put in mind that seeing we name the name of Christ we are to depart from iniquity Question Who gave you this name Answer My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism c. THE meaning is This Name was given me by them who brought me when I knew it not to be admitted to the Favour of God and to be made a Lamb of Christ's Flock And by my Baptism I was made I thank God a Lamb of that Flock a Member of his Church and an Heir to an Inheritance above in Heaven Question What did your Godfathers and Godmothers c. Answer They did promise and vow three things in my name c. THE meaning is They promised for me what I should have promised for my self had I been of Age but seeing I was not and they did promise it I will now stand to it And so I am sensible I must if I hope to receive the Benefits of my Baptism These were then the Three Things they promised which follow 1. They promised I should renounce the World the Flesh and the Devil The Pomps of the World that is all that Pride Vain-glory and Excess that is in the World in Food Raiment or any thing else All vain and sinful Companies and Customs of the World All the Temptations of the World All that is vain or wicked in the World All that Friendship of the World that is Enmity with God All things of the World that may be an occasion of sin to me All the unlawful Riches Honours or Pleasures of the World and never greedily to seek or set my heart upon those that are lawful Thus they renounced for me the Pomps and Vanities of the World which was the first thing they renounced in my name The next was All the sinful Lusts of the Flesh That is all the evil Affections sinful Desires and unlawful Lusts of my corrupt Heart By no means either to be led by them to yeild to them or consent to them The other Branch of what they renounced in my name was The Devil and all his Works Which works are Lying Envying Slandering Pride Murder Hatred but especially tempting others to sin And the actual committing or habitual living in any one wilful known sin Thus in this sense they promised I should renounce The World The Flesh and The Devil Which Renunciation of all these was the First of the Three things they did for me 2. When they presented me to Baptism the second thing they did for me was they promised in my Name That I should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith The meaning is They promised in my Name that I should believe all the Parts of the Christian Religion which are briefly contained in the Creed That is they promised I should believe in God and I do now believe in him They promised I should believe in Jesus Christ and I do firmly believe in him That he was born of a Virgin was crucified died and rose again c. All which I stedfastly believe They promised I should believe the Resurrection of the Body and a Life eternal after Death And I firmly believe these and all other Parts of the Gospel That I should believe these things was the second thing they did for me 3. They promised in my name That I should keep God's holy Will and Commandments and walk in them all the days of my Life The meaning is When they presented me to Baptism they promised in my Name That I should obey God's Will in avoiding all those things which he hath forbidden me and in performing all those things he hath commanded me And to do this not for a day only or a year but all the days of my Life Thus for instance 'T is God's Will and Commandment that I should be Sober Temperate Chast Pure Just and Upright Repent of and Reform my Sins believe in Christ be a very charitable Person That I should be meek humble and peaceable self-denying and mortified fear him love him above all things trust in him be patient in Afflictions submitting to his Will and to his Wisdom attend upon his Ordinances attend upon his Word attend upon Prayer attend upon his holy Sacraments and perform all other parts and instances of my Duty to God to my self and Neighbour This is to keep his holy Will and Commandments So that they who presented me to Baptism and charitably brought me to be received into Christ's Church by it promised in summ these things in my Name 1. That I should renounce the World the Flesh and the Devil so as by neither of them to be led to any known Sin 2. That I should believe the Christian Religion and live according to that belief 3. That I should give God one short life of Love and Obedience in sincerely though imperfectly doing what he has commanded As they promised this in my Name before I was baptized so I am now to keep it afterward that after death I may enjoy the Promises of God which he has made me upon these three Conditions in a joyful Resurrection and an eternal Life of Glory Question Dost thou not think that thou art bound c. Answer Yes verily and by God's help so I will c. THE meaning is As they promised these things in my name or for me when I was an Infant and could promise nothing for my self so I do now heartily own them all and take them intirely upon my self 1. I will and do renounce what they promised in my Name to renounce 2. I will and do believe firmly what they promised in my Name I should believe 3. I will ever by divine aid keep that holy Will and those Commandments of my God and Saviour which they promised in my Name I should And I bless God that he hath in infinite Love to me and Compassion to my Soul called me to this hope this great hope of being saved when I die And I earnestly beg his Grace that I may continue in this Faith this Hope this Love and this Obedience till the end of my Life till I change Worlds and come up to him SECT II. Of the Creed Catechist REhearse the Articles of thy Belief Answer I believe in God the Father c. I. ARTICLE I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth THE meaning is I do profess that I really believe there is an infinitely knowing just powerful holy wise good and merciful Spirit whom we call God that has been from ever and shall be for ever that he is eternal unchangeable omnipresent or every where present omnipotent or able to do all things who gave being to all things and received his Being from none That he orders all things in this lower World by his Providence that being omniscient he knows every Man's Thoughts Words and Actions I firmly believe that this Almighty God who is the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ and through Christ of all the Faithful did make Heaven and Earth the World and all things in it seen and unseen out of nothing and by his Word only And thus I believe in God II. ARTICLE And in Iesus Christ his only Son our Lord. THE meaning is I do solemnly profess to believe firmly Jesus Christ my Lord to be the Son of God to be both God and Man That he is the Son of God by eternal Generation who did from Eternity derive his Godhead from the Father As Man he is the Son of God being conceived by the Spirit of God alone So that as he was God from all Ages so being born of a Woman he was made Man for me and my Salvation I believe there is no other Name under Heaven by which we must be saved but Jesus Christ Who though he be Lord of all things by right of the First Creation and constant preservation of them yet he is more peculiarly the Lord of us who by Faith are consecrated to his Service That as God by the work of Creation he is the Lord that made me That as God and Man by the work of Redemption he is the Lord that bought me That he came from Heaven to visit us in great Humility and died to satisfie God's Justice for our Sins I do believe this Holy Jesus who is both God and Man to be and do in all humility and thankfulness love and obedience take him for my Saviour my Advocate my Redeemer and my Lord. And thus I believe in Jesus Christ III. ARTICLE Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary THE meaning is I do declare that I stedfastly believe That this holy Jesus my Saviour when he was pleased to become Man for me was not conceived as other Men are but after a miraculous manner by the immediate and only Power of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit of God was conceived in the Womb of a vertuous and holy blessed and pure Virgin known by the name of Mary Who being espoused to Joseph of Nazareth was yet before and after her Espousals a pure and unspotted Virgin Who after the natural Time of other Women brought forth the holy Infant the only begotten Son of God who was still God as well as an Infant His holy Mother still a most pure and immaculate Virgin A Virgin who was of the House and Lineage of David he being therefore called the Son of David And I Adore the infinite Wisdom of God who caused him to be born without the least shadow of Original Corruption who was to deliver us from the guilt of Sin I Adore the infinite Wisdom of God who caused his Conception and Nativity to be perfectly Immaculate that so being without Sin himself he might be a fit Sacrifice to atone for us Sinners And I Adore the infinite Wisdom of God who was pleased to order that he should be both God and Man who was to be the Mediator between God and Man and to reconcile God and Man And thus I believe he was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary IV. ARTICLE Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell THE meaning is I do declare that I do assent to this as an undoubted Truth and firmly believe that Jesus Christ my Saviour who was both God and Man having published his Gospel among the Jews he was accused by them out of meer Malice and brought before a Man called Pontius Pilate who was the Roman Governor of the Country where Christ lived which was Judea With Grief and Love I profess to believe that they the Jews tumultuously prevailed with Pilate to sentence him to Death though he declared he found no fault in him The Death which he sentenced him to was that most shameful painful and accursed Death on the Cross Before that Sentence was executed the Jewish Rabble and the Roman Souldiers mocked spit upon buffetted scourged and most vilely abused him I declare with Grief and Love that I believe this my Saviour was Crucified for me that is that his Hands and Feet were nailed to a Cross till he died I believe firmly that he Died as other Men and the reason of it was that he might reconcile the World to his Father and become a Sacrifice for all our Sins or that he might reconcile the Divine Justice and Mercy together that as Man he was to die to suffer in our stead as God he was to merit and make Satisfaction for our Sins and thus he became an infinite Satisfaction to an infinite Justice I entirely believe that when he had given up the Ghost and was dead that his dead Body was by Joseph of Arimathea wrapped in fine Linen and buried in a new Tomb I believe that he being dead and his Soul separated from his Body that he continued in the State of Separation or in the State of the Dead for a time and though between the time that he died and the third Day on which he rose again he did descend into Hell 't was not to suffer any thing there but to triumph over the Devil in his own Kingdom and Quarters and to shew him the Victory he had got over him To break the Iron Bars of these lower Prisons that they might open and shut for ever after only at his Command And thus I believe That he suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified dead and buried and descended into Hell V. ARTICLE The third Day he rose again from the dead THE meaning is I do solemnly profess That I assent to this as an undoubted Truth that Jesus Christ our Saviour though he was crucified and died for our Sins and by his Death had overcome Death did not continue long in the State of Death for his Soul was separated from his Body and his Body lay in the Grave but till the Third Day Upon the Third Day after he was buried reckoning that very Day on which he was buried for the First he by his own infinite Power as he was God did revive and raise himself by uniting the same Soul to the same Body and opened his Grave and came out of it and openly shewed himself alive for he conversed with his Disciples for the space of Forty Days after he arose from the Grave till he went away to Heaven And thus I believe that the Third Day he rose again from the Dead VI. ARTICLE He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty THE meaning is I do firmly believe that our dearest Lord after he rose out of the Grave stayed on Earth for the space of Forty Days In which time he ordered his Disciples how they should preach the Gospel and govern the Church and promised them the Holy Ghost At the End of the Forty Days he walks with them a Mile or Two out of the City of Jerusalem and when he had blessed them there comes down a Cloud and
of it to be true To perform the conditions upon which I hope to receive the Promises there made to me to obey sincerely the Commands of it and to get out of the way of the Threats of it And lastly so truly and conscionably to serve him here in this Life that I may live with him in a life Eternal hereafter Question What is thy Duty towards thy Neighbour Answer My Duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as c. THE meaning is So to love all Men as that we may in all things do unto others as we would they should do unto us were they in our condition and we in theirs For instance as we are willing to have no evil done to our own Souls so to do none to the Souls of others As we are willing to have no Evil done to our own Bodies so to do none to the Bodies of others As we are unwilling to have our own Goods or Possessions injured by others so to injure no Man's our selves As we are willing not to have our own good Name taken away by slander or evil-speaking so to do so to no other Man's As we are willing to have our own Needs and Distresses relieved so to be ready and willing according to our Ability to relieve the Needs of others To respect support pray for and honour our natural Parents who supported us when we were so unable to support our selves that we had perish'd every moment without them To honour pray for pay Tribute to and obey all the lawful Commands of my lawful King and of those Governours that receive Command and Authority from him To respect esteem pray for pay the dues and obey the Christian Doctrines of all my Spiritual Pastors that is all true Ministers of God's Word and Sacraments To obey and honour to be diligent and faithful in the Service of my Master or Mistress and not to be stubborn and irreverent to them To pay a due regard esteem and honour to all my Betters in Age Gifts or Estate To desire intend wish or speak or act the hurt of no Man To be plain and honest just and upright in all dealings with any other man To cherish or keep no grudges heart-burnings uncharitable intentions or desires of revenge in my breast against any man whatever but to be ready to do good to all men freinds and enemies To render to every Man his due to defraud steal from or be any way unjust to no man To keep my Tongue from all evil bitter virulent reproachful and railing language even towards them who revile and rail at me Alway to speak the truth or nothing And in my whole Conversation to hate a Lye which is so hateful to the God of Truth To be meek and humble sober and temperate chast and pure both in my Soul and Body And in what soever State or Calling God shall please to place me to manage it prudently and conscionably diligently and holily to the end of my life till he shall call me to lay aside my business here and enter upon a New World Catechist My good Child know this that thou art not able to do these things of thy self nor to walk in the commandments of God and to serve him without his special Grace which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent Prayer Let me hear therefore if thou canst say the Lord's Prayer THE meaning is That though these Commandments of God are to be kept and obeyed most sincerely by us yet of our selves we are not able to keep them without his Grace that is without the gracious Assistance of his Holy Spirit to enable us and give us strength to keep them Now God will deny his Grace and Aid to none who faithfully beg and faithfully use it We must therefore diligently employ and use what we already have in labouring to keep his Commands And we must daily beg more Grace of God by Prayer in which we should never leave out that Divine Prayer following which was taught us by the Saviour of the World SECT IV. Of the Lord's Prayer The PREFACE Our Father which art in Heaven THE meaning is O God thou art our Father as thou hast created us and thou art our Father as we are made thy Sons by Adoption In the first Sence that is by Creation all Mankind are thy Children In the other Sence we Christians were made thy Children by our Holy Baptism Thou hast O our Saviour taught us to call God Father that we may pray with the Affections of a Child and with the holy Fear and Love of a Child and rely upon the paternal Care and Bounty of our Father and be encouraged to run to our heavenly Father with all our Needs and our Complaints as Children do to a Father Thou hast taught us to say Our Father not my Father that we may learn to pray for others as well as our selves and with a brotherly Affection beg of our common Father the same Blessings for others which we do for our selves Thou art our Father and therefore willing to hear us and as willing to help us Thou art in Heaven and therefore able to help us Thou art our Father O let this endearing compellation move our Love and win our Obedience Thou art in Heaven and that 's our proper Country thither we thy Sons are travelling there our Inheritance and our Treasure is thither we direct our Prayers exalt and raise our Affections before we come thither I. PETITION Hallowed be thy Name THE meaning is Let thy Name be sanctified and adored praised and magnified honoured and glorified by me and all Mankind and that both in Private and in Publick in our Hearts Tongues and Actions So that in this Petition we pray that God would enable us and others to confess and glorifie him above all in thought word and deed That we may never dishonour or prophane his Name but as affectionate and obedient Sons have a reverential Love and Honour for the Name the Titles and Attributes and every thing that relates to our Father which is in Heaven Thy Kingdom come THE meaning is We pray that his Church may be inlarged his Gospel spread and propagated that his Kingdom of Grace may come to us here and his Kingdom of Glory may be enjoyed by us hereafter We beg too that God would destroy and pull down the Kingdom and Power of Sin and Satan in us and instead of that that he would set up his Spiritual Kingdom there That as King he would Rule in our Hearts and make us obedient to his Laws and subdue every rebellious Lust or Desire Thought or Imagination That all our Affections being Subject to his Laws and Rules his Grace may so Reign in us here that at last we may Reign with him in his Glory hereafter Thy will be done in Earth As it is in Heaven THE meaning is We pray that God would enable us and others to obey his Will or do
discourage us from the practice of it especially considering we are undone for all Ages if we are not forgiven a thousand times more by God than ever we can forgive our Brother And considering too that we have such glorious Rewards before us that it is a shameless Impudence to expect so great Glories at a less rate than the bearing Christ's easie Yoke and light Burthen at a lower rate than one short but holy Life here And lead us not into temptation THE meaning is We pray that the allurements of the World the Flesh and the Devil may be so restrained by God that if we should by any of them be tempted to sin against him he will not leave us to be overcome by the temptation and fall into sin by it Or if at any time we shall fall into a sin by their Temptations which God forbid we pray that we may not impenitently live in it Thus we pray in this Petition that seeing we are neither willing nor able of our selves to resist and overcome their temptations that God by his Grace would enable us to do it That seeing we have vile Inclinations and corrupt Affections of our own ready to betray us seeing we have a tempting World ready to deceive us and seeing there is a busie crafty watchful Devil that studies to undoe us and all of them constantly alluring us to Sin or discouraging us from our Christian Duties we pray that God would not withdraw his Grace from us so as to leave us to be overcome by them But by the assistance of that Grace by being always upon our guard by holy Resolutions and a watchful Spirit we may be enabled when we are in danger and are tempted to resist subdue and conquer the Temptation In short we pray in this Petition that whenever we are tempted God would please either to restrain the Temptation or give us Grace to withstand it But deliver us from evil THE meaning is We pray that God would please to deliver us from all the Evils of this Life and that to come Especially from the Evils to which we are tempted That he would deliver us from the Evil of Sin from the Evil One that is the Devil From the power of the Tempter From all Evils and Miseries of Soul and Mind and Body either temporal spiritual or eternal Evil Thoughts Evil Words and Evil Actions And if in his Wisdom and Mercy he see it fit for us to be our Lot and Portion to suffer some Evils or Afflictions here in this Life yet that he will reserve nothing of his Wrath in store for us in another but deliver us from an Evil Eternity the unknown Evils of the Kingdom of Darkness the intolerable Evil of Everlasting Burnings which he has prepared for the Devil and his Angels The CONCLUSION For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever THE meaning is This is no Petition but a praising and glorifying of God that we may hence learn not only to pray for what we want but return him Love and Praise and Adoration for what we receive and the end of all may be his Glory So that as we begun this Prayer with Hallowed or Sanctified and Glorified be thy Name so when we have begged of God all necessaries for our Souls and Bodies we then conclude our Prayers with Praises as it is fit we should Thine is the Kingdom Thou art King the great King of Heaven and Earth and we are thy Subjects Vouchsafe us thy Subjects what we humbly petition for and beg Thou hast commanded us O our good and great King to come to thy Throne of Grace and ask and thou hast said Ask and ye shall have Be thou then intreated by us to hear and grant our Petitions For thine is the Kingdom thine is the Soveraignty and Dominion over all the World and therefore hast an infinite right to dispose of all things Thine is the Power That is thou art Omnipotent or able to do all things and therefore sure able to grant what we humbly ask and sue for It were to no purpose to come and ask a thing of him that were not able to bestow on us what we seek for Here therefore we acknowledge God's infinite Power In all Requests or Suits the two chief things to be considered in the Person we address to are these 1. That he be able to grant us And 2. That he be willing to grant what we beg for Now here in the end of this Prayer we acknowledge God to be able to grant when we say Thine is the Power In the beginning of it we acknowledge him to be willing when we call him by the endearing name of Our Father for what Father will not readily grant a Child what he sees necessary for him Lastly we not only praise God by ascribing to him the Kingdom and Dominion over all the World and by ascribing to him the Power of being able to do all things but by ascribing to him all Glory and Honour And this also is necessary in all our Petitions not only because God says Them that honour me I will honour 1 Sam. 2.30 but because the right end of our Prayers should be the Glory of God Thine is the Glory To thee we give Honour Praise and Adoration in these and all our Devotions and if thou please to answer our Petitions and grant what we beg to thee shall be returned the Praise and Glory for all Ages Amen By Amen we declare our firm Belief that he can grant us what we pray for and our earnest Hope and fervent Desire that he will do it for the sake of him in whom all the Promises are Yea and Amen even the Lord Jesus Question What desirest thou of God in this Prayer Answer I desire my Lord God our heavenly Father who c. THE meaning is I desire God who is my Heavenly and compassionate Father and from whom every good and perfect gift comes and from whom alone I have Grace and Strength to do my Duty that I may Worship him aright when I say Hallowed be thy Name I desire Grace to serve him sincerely and acceptably here and the favour to enjoy him for ever hereafter in Glory by Praying that his Kingdom of Grace may come to us here and we may come to his Kingdom of Glory hereafter This we do when we say Thy Kingdom come We desire that we may obey him as we ought to do and in acceptable degrees and measures as the Holy Angels do in Heaven when we say Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven We pray unto God to send us all things needful both for our Souls and Bodies when we say Give us this day our daily Bread We request him to be Merciful to us and forgive us our Sins when say And forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us We pray that he will please to save and deliver us in all
when he raised him from the Dead and set him at his own Right-Hand in the Heavenly Places Far above all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion and every name that is named not only in this World but also in that which is to come And hath put all things under his Feet Prove that he shall come to judge the quick and the dead Acts 17.31 Because he hath appointed a Day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness Acts 10.42 It is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of the quick and the dead Prove that you are to believe in the Holy-Ghost or Holy Spirit 1 Joh. 5.7 There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost and these three are one 1 Thes 4.8 God who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit Matth. 12.32 Whosoever speaketh against the Holy-Ghost it shall not be forgiven him Prove that Christ hath a Church upon Earth Acts 2.47 And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be Saved Prove that this Church of Christ is Holy Eph. 5.27 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy Heb. 12.14 Follow Peace with all Men and Holiness without which none shall see the Lord. Prove that this Church is Catholick that is Vniversal or to consist of People of all Nations And not limited to one Nation as the Jewish Church was Matth. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father c. Rev. 5.9 For thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation Prove that there is and ought to be a Communion of Saints or fellowship one with another in all holy things 1 Joh. 1.7 But if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another Eph. 4.4 5. There is one Body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism 2 Cor. 13.14 The Communion of the Holy-Ghost be with you all 1 Cor. 10.17 We being many are one Head and one Body for we are all partakers of one Bread Prove that we must not forsake the Communion of Saints in holy things Heb. 10.25 Not forsaking the assembling your selves together as the manner of some is Rom. 15.6 That ye may with one Mind and one Mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Prove that there is forgiveness of Sins to be had upon Repentance in the Church Acts 3 19. Repent ye therefore and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out Acts 13.38 Be it known unto you therefore Men and Brethren that through this Man is preached unto you forgiveness of Sins 1 Joh. 1.1 2. If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the propitation for our Sins Prove that there shall be a Resurrection of the Body 1 Cor. 15.21 22. For since by Man came death by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead For as is Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive Acts 24.15 There shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Unjust Prove that there is an Everlasting Life after Death Matth. 25.46 And these shall go away into Everlasting Punishment but the Righteous into Life Eternal Joh. 5.28 29. The hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Question What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy Belief Answer First I learn to believe in God the Father who hath made me and all the World Secondly in God the Son who hath redeemed me and all Mankind Thirdly in God the Holy-Ghost who sanctifieth me and all the Elect People of God Prove that God made you and all the World Acts 17.24 God that made the World and all things therein seeing he is the Lord of Heaven and Earth Acts 17.28 In him we live move and have our being Prove that God the Son redeemed you Luke 1.68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his People Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law Prove that he did redeem you and all Mankind Heb. 2.9 But we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the Angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour that he by the Grace of God should taste death for every Man Prove that God the Holy-Ghost or holy Spirit sanctifieth you and all the Elect People of God 2 Thes 2.13 But we are bound to give Thanks alway to God for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Prove or shew where you find the Ten Commandments Exod. 20.2 to the 18th I am the Lord c. Question What is thy Duty towards God Answer My Duty towards God is to believe in him to c. Question What is thy Duty towards thy Neighbour Answer My Duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as my self and to do c. Prove that you are to perform your Duty towards God and towards your Neighbour Matth. 22.37 38 39. Thou salt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind This is the first and great Commandment And the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Prove that you are to believe in God 2 Chron. 20.20 Believe in the Lord you God so shall you be established Prove that you are to fear God Eccl. 12.13 Fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole duty of Man Prove that you are to love him with all your Heart Soul Strength and Mind Luke 10.27 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Strength and with all thy Mind Prove that you are to worship God Matth. 4.10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Prove that you are to give him Thanks 1 Thes 5.18 In every thing give thanks for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you Prove that you are to put your whole Trust in him Psal 62.8 Trust in him at all times ye People pour out your Heart before him God is a Refuge for us Prove that you are to call upon him Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt
glorifie me Prove that you are to honour his Holy Name 1 Sam. 2.30 Them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed And his Word Esa 66.2 To this Man will I look even to him that is Poor and of a contrite Spirit and trembleth at my Word Prove that you are to serve him truly all the days of your Life Luke 1.74 75. That we being delivered out of the hand of our Enemies might serve him without fear In Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of our Life Prove that you are to love your Neighbour as your self Rom. 13.9 If there be any other Commandment it is briefly comprehended in this Saying namely Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Prove that you should do unto all Men as you would they should do unto you Matth. 7.12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that Men should do unto you do ye even so to them For this is the Law and the Prophets Prove that you are to Love Honour and Succour your Father and Mother Prov. 6.20 My Son keep thy Father's Commands and forsake not the Law of thy Mother Col. 3.20 Children obey your Parents in all things for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Prove that you are to honour and obey the King and all that are put in Authority under him 1 Pet. 2.13 14. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake whether it be to the King as Supream or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of Evil doers and for the Praise of them that do well Ver. 17. Fear God Honour the King Prove that you are to submit your self to all your Governours Rom. 13.1 Let every Soul be subject to the higher Powers Ver. 7. Render therefore to all their dues tribute to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Prove that you are to submit your self to your Teachers and Spiritual Pastors Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves For they watch for your Souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with Joy and not with Grief 1 Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that Rule well be accounted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in word and doctrine Prove that Servants are to be obedient to their Masters Eph. 6.5 Servants be obedient to them that are your Masters 1 Pet. 2.18 Servants be subject to your Masters with all fear not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward Prove that you are to order your self lowly and reverently to your Betters 1 Pet. 5.5 Likewise ye younger submit your selves unto the elder yea all of you be subject one to another and be cloathed with humility Philip. 2.3 In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves Prove that you are to hurt no body by word or deed Philip. 2.15 That ye may be blameless and harmless the Sons of God without rebuke 1 Thes 4.6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter because the Lord is the avenger of all such 1 Thes 5.15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man but ever follow that which is good both among your selves and to all men Prove that you are to be true and just in all your dealings Rom. 12.17 Provide things honest in the sight of all men Philip. 4.8 Finally Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure think on these things Prove that you are to bear no malice nor hatred in your heart Lev. 19.17 Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thy heart 1 John 3.15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murtherer Matth. 5.44 Love your Enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you Prove that you are to keep your hands from picking and stealing Zach. 5.3 For every one that stealeth shall be cut off Eph. 4.28 Let him that stole steal no more 1 Cor. 6.10 Nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God Prove that you are to keep your tongue from evil-speaking James 1.26 If any man among you seem to be religious and bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his own heart this man's Religion is vain James 4.11 Speak not evil one of another Brethren Eph. 4.31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice Prove that you are to keep it from lying Col. 3.9 Lye not one to another Eph. 4.25 Wherefore putring away lying speak every man truth with his Neighbour Prove that you are to keep your tongue from slandering Psalm 101.5 Whoso privily slandereth his Neighbour him will I cut off Ps 15.1 3. Lord who shall abide in thy Tabernacle He that back-biteth not with his tongue nor doth evil to his neighbour nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour Prove that you are to keep your Body in Temperance Soberness and Chastity Psalm 84.11 The Lord will give grace and glory no good thing will he withhold from them that live uprightly Prove that you are to worship him Rev. 15.4 Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy name for thou only art holy for all Nations shall come and worship before thee Prove that you ought to serve him Luke 4.8 And him only shalt thou serve Prove that you ought to obey him Heb. 5.9 He became the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Prove that 't is God that sends us all things needful for our Souls and Bodies James 1.17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above Prove that he will be merciful unto us and forgive us our sins upon our unfeigned Repentance Joel 2.13 Rent your hearts and not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful flow to anger and of great kindness Acts 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out Prove that he is our defender in all Dangers Psalm 89.18 For the Lord is our defence the holy one of Israel is our King Prove that we are to pray him to keep us from all sin and wickedness and from our ghostly Enemy and from everlasting death Matth. 6.13 Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Prove that you are to trust that of his mercy and goodness he will do this when you ask him James 1.6 But let him ask in Faith without wavering Psalm 37.5 Commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass Question How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Church Answer Two only as generally necessary to Salvation that is to say Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. Prove the Sacrament of Baptism from Scripture Matth.
And what was our part of the Covenant was it not that we would believe in Jesus Christ repent of our Sins and sincerely obey him all our Days Yes The Vow of Baptism in renouncing the Devil Seeing we renounced the Devil in our Baptism may we any way deal with him as by Conjuration or Witcheraft No. When Men go to Conjurers and Witches for any help do they not in some degree forsake God Yes Are the Works of the Devil all Sin particularly Pride Lying Malice Envy Murder and tempting others to Sin Yes Must not a Christian forsake all the Pomps of the World the World Yes Are not the Pomps of the World all Excess in Diet Sports or Apparel or what 's above our Degree and Quality Yes Are we not to forsake all Temptations of the World Yes All the vain and sinful Customs of the World Yes All things of the World that may be an occasion of sin to us Yes All that friendship of the World that is enmity with God Yes All things of the World that may take off my heart from God Yes Should a Christian either covet or greedily and inordinately seek the Riches Honours and Pleasures of the World No. Must we so forsake the World as to get or keep no part of it by unlawful means nor set our heart on it Yes Must we forsake all wicked Companies and all wicked Customs of the World Yes Should a Christian be led by the sinful Lusts the Plesh or the unclean desires of the Flesh No. Are we not to forsake all those Lusts of the Flesh which St. Paul mentions Gal. 5.19 c. Yes Promise of Faith in Baptism and Obedience Do you believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith which your Godfathers and Godmothers promised you should believe Yes Will you labour to keep God's holy Will and Commands as they promised in your name Yes Are we not highly concerned to keep this Covenant with God which we made at our Baptism Yes Can we reasonably expect that God should make good his part of this Covenant if we do not sincerely make good our part No. ¶ Sunday III. ¶ Lord's Supper ARE not all Christians to receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper as often as conveniently they can Yes meaning of it Do we not come to the Sacrament thankfully to remember Christ's Death for us and to renew that Covenant with God which we made at our Baptism Yes Can any good Christian desire to be excused from doing this No. Renewing of the Covenant of Grace Does not the Covenant which we renew contain Mercies on God's part and Duties on ours Yes Are not the Mercies on God's part as was said before Pardon of Sin Grace here and Glory hereafter Yes And are not the Duties on our part Faith or a stedfast belief in Christ Repentance for all known sin and future sincere Obedience Yes Should we neglect to examine our seives before Examination wherein we have broken our Covenant by sinning against God No. Should we not examine how wilful how great how frequent our sins against God have been Yes Humiliation and Contrition Ought not this sight of them to bring us to Humiliation and Contrition Yes Is not the true Contrition a sorrow out of Love to God Yes That is should we not sorrow because we have offended so good a Father so tender a Saviour and grieved his Holy Spirit Yes Should we not privately in Prayer Confesion confess our Sins to God and mention in particular the chiefest of them Yes Must we not beg God to cleanse us from secret Sins those which we have forgot by saying with David Cleanse thou me from my secret faults Yes Resolutions of Obedience When we have sorrowed for them and confessed them may we still keep them and live in them No. Must we not renounce them and resolve to obey God better for the future Yes When we have examined our selves Faith and confessed our Sins to God and sorrowed for love of him and purposed sincerely to obey him for the future are we to believe that our sins shall be pardoned through Christ Yes Must we not bring with us to the Sacrament Charity Charity and Love to our Brethren Yes May we come with malice and hatred in our hearts No. Must we not labour to reconcile them to us whom we have injured and seek forgiveness and make our peace with them before we come Yes And must we not be ready to forgive them that have injured us Yes Must we not bring with us Devotion Devotion and put off all thoughts of the World Yes Vsefulness of a Spiritual Guide If we doubt of any thing before should we not do well to ask the advice of a Minister Yes Should we be ashamed or afraid to discover the griefs or doubts of our Soul to him No. Would a good Man like us much the better for so doing Yes Meditation when receiving When we are at the Lord's Table should we not humbly meditate on our own Unworthiness Yes And should we not thankfully meditate on Christ's sufferings for us Yes Was not Christ the Sacrifice which was offered up for our Sins Yes Could there be a greater instance of Love than for Christ to die for us and our Salvation No. For this Love of Christ's can we return him less than Love and Obedience No. Thankfulness afterward After the Sacrament should we not thank God for the benefits and mercies there received Yes Mindfulness of our good Purposes Should we forget any of our good Resolutions there made No. Is it not very dangerous willfully to break them Yes Should we not often renew our Covenant with God in the Sacrament Yes ¶ Sunday IV. ¶ Honouring God's name SHould we not honour God in his name Yes May a Christian dishonour it by swearing No. May we dishonour him by speaking any evil or thinking any evil of God No. Of Perjury and Oaths Is not Perjury or false-swearing a dreadful sin against God Yes Should not a Christian be very careful never to swear vainly rashly or falsly Yes Should he ever swear at all unless he be lawfully called to it No. Ought not every Christian to lay to heart the great sin and danger of swearing vainly rashly and falsly Yes ¶ Sunday V. ¶ MUST not a Christian Worship God in his Soul and Body Yes Worship Must not a Christian pray frequently and constantly Yes Prayer When we pray to God should we not confess our Sins to him and beg his Pardon Confession and his Grace to amend our lives Yes Should not a Christian pray in private as well as publick Yes Should not a Christian in Prayer beg of God for those Graces which he most wants Yes Should not the Lyar beg of God the Grace to speak Truth the Lustful Man for Chastity the Proud Man for Humility and the like