the exercises of Religion not without a gracious respect also to his bodily refreshing and necessity Now all these ends of the Sabbath being no ceremoniall things but matters of substance abiding in their strength throughout all ages therefore the Sabbath if so founded upon them is a thing morall and perpetuall Question 100 By this it appeares that a Sabbath that is a day of holy rest in every week is a thing not changed yea is unchangeable shew me now how the particular day comes to be altered so as that Saturday was the Jewes Sabbath and the Lords day ours Answer One day every week is to be observed that the work of Creation accomplished within the compasse of a week may be remembred but the day is now altered from the last to the first day of the week that the remembrance of that far greater work of redemption may be preferred which redemption being perfected in Christs resurrection the day of the resurrection is now become the Lords day that is the Lords Sabbath day Question 101. What Rules are to be observed for the sanctifying of the Sabbath Answer 1 Remember the Sabbath so as to be carefull of preparation for it that is set thy businesse in order the day before and thy heart in order at least the morning of the Sabbath and have not twenty things in thy house to be set in order on the morning of the Sabbath when thou shouldest be setting thy heart in order Eccles 5.1 1 Pet. 2.1 2 Attend carefully the publick service lest while thou art busie here and there about vain and impertinent things and thoughts many precious passages of the Sermon or of prayer passe away without any notice 1 Kings 20.40 Acts 10.33 1 Cor. 14.16 3 Consecrate the day privately and wholly unto God for it is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God thy heart thy tongue thy carriage that day must not be for thy self but for thy God Isa 58.13 14. Question 102. What helps are there for the sanctifying of the Sabbath in this holy manner Answer 1 Look to thy heart lest that rove and be divided from God with every dayes thoughts and be thou in the Spirit that is rapt up and ravished with spirituall meditations upon the Lords day Rev. 1.10 2 Look to thy company and conference for as worldly work is forbidden because it hinders a spirituall work so by the same reason are worldly words forbidden because they hindâ—r spirituall words that is such as are for God and thy soules good Exod. 20.10 Isa 58.13 Our words that day must not be our owne that is such as we have mind unto but such as are meet for the Lords day 3 Look to thy works and carriage this is not a day for the shambles the shop the warehouse the workhouse but for thee and other good Christians to be upon the Mount Tabor that is being lifted up above the world to be wholly busied in Religious exercises and Ordinances wherein Jesus Christ the King of the Church is to be seen in his beauty Isa 35.17 4 Look to thy Entertainment using friends if on the Sabbath day they be with thee friendly and rejoycing with them in the Lord in the sober use of the Creatures Prov. 18.14 Acts 2.46 But appoint not solemn Feasts upon that day that 's to make the Lords day thy friends day and take heed lest by unnecessary care for many things thou keep Mary from Christs feet that is thy well-affected Servant from a Sermon Luke 1.10.41 5 Watch thy self in thy contentments let not sleep or meat or pleasant talk or sport take away the time or thy heart from the Lord of that day and the end for which he appointed it They that live in pleasure on a Sabbath day are dead while they live to wit in regard of their deadnes and indisposition to heavenly things Luke 8.14.21.34 Hos 4.11 13.6 Question 103. By this is appears that the Sabbath is the principall time but are there not other times also and that in the week dayes wherein Christian duties are to be exercised Answer Yes a due respect is to be had unto Christian duties piety and charity all the week long for we ought to be devout Christians and therefore to fear God and give Alms and pray to God not this or that day but alwayes Acts 10.2 In particular a due regard is to be had to hearing reading conferring praying at all times Question 104. What reason is there of hearing the word continually Answer Because Ministers are to preach in season and out of season Sabbath day and week dayes therefore people are to hear So likewise think not others too carelesse that leave some other businesses to be at Christs feet sincerely but thy self rather to be carefull who art from thence unnecessarily Luke 10.39 40. Question 105. What Rule may be given them who have many businesses for their better guiding and setling as concerning the six dayes Sermons Answer The direction usefull for such may be comprehended under these three heads The Judgement must be well informed The Conscience well examined And the Providence of God well observed Question 106. How is the Judgement to be informed Answer Both generally and particularly 1 Of the generality that a man must by no means make lâ—ght of spirituall opportunities but redeem them rather and purchase them with abatement of outward things Mat. 22.5 Ephes 5.16 2 For particular opportunities a light may be given for our direction by a two-fold consideration Viz. 1 Of the state of Times Time for good exercises is still to be redeemed but specially when the times are evill that is the more corrupt and troublesome the more doubtfull and dangerous the times are the more earnest we should be to wait out and to make use of all spirituall opportunities 2 Tim. 4.2 3. Acts 20.28 30. John 12.35 36. 2 Of the nature of the opportunity when Christ goes by when there is a more speciall occasion a Minister that preaches with Authority and not as the Scribes then without the contempt of the lowest means and Minister but with a greater desire of this greatest means get up into a Tree as Zacheus did and lay all other ordinary things aside as Mary did to enjoy God in a more speciall manner the reason is because ordinary duties must yield to extraordinary as ordinary workes of piety are to yield to extraordinary works of mercy Mat. 12.1 2 c. the necessary exigence of our calling to extraordinary works of piety Acts 20.7 11. 3 Of our own state and occasions which must make Christians to straine above ordinary in three cases 1 At their first conversion the new converted Christians were every day in the Temple and new born Babes had need be oft at the breast Acts 2.42.46 1 Pet. 2.12 2 In the time of affliction and tentation as people spare time for their businesse to goe to the Physitian are blamelesse Psal 73.16 17. Job 33.23 Isa 40.4 Mat.
thy House of prayer and have our conversation truly and wholly in Heaven and all heavenly exercises Have mercy upon us O Lord in regard of that light estimation that worldly and vain mis-spending of this precious time whereof we have been so often and so deeply guilty heretofore and put thy Spirit into us we beseech thee to incline our hearts for the time to come to keep this Statute Ezek. 36.27 and to cause us to observe this great Commandement And first of all enable us we pray thee unto a meet preparation for this dayes service help us for that purpose so to examine our ways and carriage the week past as to repent truly of what hath been amisse and to renew our Covenant for a better carriage the week following Assist us withall for the through purging of our hearts from those dregs and defilements which the world hath left behind it as also for the stirring up of our souls by heavenly meditations and prayer that so we may come with devout minds and hungring hearts into thy Sanctuary as those that being poor and blind and miserable and naked stand in great need of thy provision Grant moreover O Lord that coming in due time and in a reverent manner into thy Temple our care may be attentively and without distractions of mind watchfully and without heavinesse of heart devoutly and without dulnesse of spirit reverently and without uncomelinesse of carriage to abide in thy presence and for the whole time to attend thee in thine Ordinances Make us mindfull afterward of those private exercises reading repeating conferring meditating praying whereby the publick may be made more profitable to us and powerfull in us And let us not forget according to the time and ability we have to meditate upon thy Creatures but this being the day wherein it pleased thy Majesty to put thine hand first for the making of them let it be our day also wherein to thy praise and honour to remember them especially let us not forget upon this good day those labours of love and charitable works for our brethrens good which thou O Lord forgettest not Heb. 6.10 And while we doe good to their bodies let us not be unmindfull of that which is the greatest matter the doing of all the good we can unto their soules That all this may be done the better grant we may abstain the day throughout not only from vain pastimes and sinfull practises but also from those every dayes works and words and thoughts more then truly necessary whereby we shall use as our own any part of that sacred time which thou O Lord hast set apart wholly and only for thy self Help us O Lord our God without whom we can doe nothing by thine own strength thus to observe thine owne time Sanctifie us that we may sanctifie it unto thee and be our selves sanctified by it it being made to us as it is to all good observers a blessed day by all the exercises thereof blessed to our use and spirituall advantage And let this work of sanctification by the service of this day as a speciall means be continued still and more and more perfected in us till we come to that place where perpetually resting from all our labours we shall enjoy an eternall and all-satisfying Sabbath with thine own glorious Majesty and thy blessed Son and Lord of the Sabbath Jesus Christ and that for the same Jesus Christs sake To whom with thee O Father and the blessed Spirit for the Creation of the world this day begun for the Redemption of the world this day finished for the Sanctification of the world this day by the descending of the Holy Ghost fully manifested and ordinarily most effected we acknowledge to be due and desire to give all honour power might Majesty and Dominion both now and for evermore Amen and Amen A Prayer to be used before the Hearing of the Word especially on the Sabbath I Doe humbly and heartily thanke thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth for that I live by thy goodnesse and good providence in thy Church in a Land of uprightnesse wherein there is the means of grace and that in these last dayes wherein it hath pleased thee to speak unto us by thy onely Son and so to make known unto me a poor Babe in Christ onely because it seemed good in thy sight things hid from the wise and prudent yea from Kings and Prophets who heretofore have desired to see the things that we see and have not seen them and to hear the things that we hear and have not heard them withall I doe with sorrow and grief of heart acknowledge how unworthily and with how little fruit I have entertained that holy word of thine and blessed means of salvation which thou hast in so much mercy and plenty afforded not understanding what I have heard for want of marking it not remembring what I have understood for want of making account of it not delighting in what I have remembred for want of love unto it not practising what for a time I have delighted in for want of considering the end of Preaching and the necessity of practising not persevering in what for a time I have practised for want of a through resolution to hold out in a holy conversation O Lord I deserve not to escape but to be seized upon by some grievous heavy judgement for neglecting so great salvation Notwithstanding gracious Father since thou hast been pleased to work in my heart a love unto thy word and a loathing of my self for my light esteeming of it heretofore I beseech thee pardon my former neglect and for the time to come let the eyes of my understanding be enlightned that I may know what formerly I have been ignorant of yea let my heart be opened that I may receive remember and delight in that word of thine which formerly I have shut out let slip and not regarded Give me thy Spirit to cause me to walk in those Statutes of thine which formerly I have not observed and uphold me with thy constant Spirit that I may persevere unto the end in all holy courses This day in particular wherein thou offerest the means and callest me unto the hearing of thy holy word vouchsafe to free me from all pride of heart Jer. 13.15 distractions of mind tentations of Satan from all drowsinesse deadnesse and dullnesse of spirit and withall make mine heart by that good disposition which thou shalt work in it like well prepared ground fit in the most kindly manner to receive that seed of thy word which thou preparest for it Assist thy Servant and Minister who is to deliver thy message that he may speak as he ought to speak even that which shall be profitable to the soules of all thy people and powerfull upon my soule in particular and for that purpose Paul may plant and Apollo water but thou O Lord givest the increase let it please thee so to blesse
4 Paines 5 Pain in the farewell and parting with it He hath cut off his right hand and pluckt out his right eye with this one hand and cast it from him too 4 He carefully and continually searcheth himselfe and goes down with light into his heart 5 He is jealous of his owne heart for 't is deceitfull and fears it for 't is desperate and therefore goes not with it without a sword the word he will not trust it in holiest practices and most heavenly perswasions 6 He doubts of none but of himself suspects most his own graces and the witnesse of his own spirit lest Satan shine like an Angel of light and say 't is the testimony of Gods Spirit with ours 7 He walks daily with God humbly and heavenly wishing that none saw his good but God and men his evill he cares not if Christ loves him how he appears 8 He eats and drinks as if Christ sate at the Table his bodily food is sweetned and seasoned with some heavenly meditations or holy discourses his speech is powdered with salt he feeds not heartily but riseth hungry till then 9 He is verily afraid of indifferent things and avoids all appearance of evill 10 He is carefull of his Calling onely in love to Gods Command with feare of the world 11 He buyes and sells not to gain but to godlinesse they are but poor professors that live no better then they bargain they trade as all at the best as most doe and is not this the broad way where many goe You shall know a Christian as by his Church so by his shop 12 His dayes of Humiliation are his Holi-dayes his delights are Christians Sabbaths and society of Saints not only publick but in private he fears many times he is not one but desires ever and is earnest to be one of the excellent ones the secret ones and sincere ones 13 He is open hearted and open handed to all he can no more keep sin close then his Coin he can give well and lend as well as borrow and can take as well a reproof as a kind nesse he is simple in evill he cannot cover or excuse it in the Lords work he is carefull and cleanly and a good workman but in the Devils work he is a very bungler he cannot bandsomely sin or excuse it 14 He is content to have his spirituall estate tryed by any not only by a searching Minister in publick but by a private friend he opens his heart freely for others to ask and gives Answer of his hope with meeknesse and fear 15 His thoughts are bound in with a holy compasse and his words are not idle he speaks not to spend the time in impertinent powerlesse or discoverlesse things but to minister grace to men glory to God and to doe good or receive good his life is a light and leads and provokes to goods works 16 He doth not a good duty in grace but he goes to the utmost of it he aimes not at the Butt but at the midst of the white he is zealous in good works fervent in spirit serving the Lord pressing hard to the price of the high Calling perfecting holinesse in fear 17 He hath heard no more then he practiceth and prayes not only in fear of Gods Command and his own conscience but in love to have a communion with God in Christ by the Spirit 18 His ears are open to the whole word he believes the threats and trembles he fears also the Promises lest he come short 19 He hath a respect to every Command such a respect I say as a man hath to his betters his heart stands in awe to every Commandement 20 He prayes in the holy Ghost his Petitions and intercessions are made by the Spirit and sent up with sighes by the intercession of Christ unto God the father the Spirit cries before he cries he speaks not first and then he looks for the Spirit to quicken his words but his words follow the Spirit with much affection fervency faith and fear 21 He hath found out the Hell of his heart and feels the flames of it in secret self-love hidden hypocrisie horrible blasphemy c. and somtimes pride possessed with the whole damned Crew mentioned 2 Tim. 3.2 3 4 5. and elswhere In a word he hath found an emptinesse and an enmity to all good 22 He sets his face against the body of sin and every member of it he seeks and receives some power daily from Christs Crosse to crucifie every lust and he watcheth the Sepulchre lest it rise again 23 He daily desires the virtue of Christs Resurrection and he is risen and walks in new obedience in holinesse and heavenly mindednesse 24 He is ever poor in spirit and is known 1 By his continuall complaints 2 B importunate Prayers 3 By uncessant paines for righteousnesse 25 He is never found in his own but if he can be in Christs Righteousnesse all the rest is dung 26 He ever forgets others sins and his own graces observes others graces and his own sins 27 He not only loves the Saints but honours the excellent ones and rejoyceth at Gods glory and at any good done by others as done by himself 28 He mourns in secret for his 1 Owne sins 2 Others 3 For the dishonor of God 4 For the danger of the Gospel 5 For the disgrace of Gods people 29 He walks humbly with God lying ever at his feet looking up ar the Throne of grace to the Lord in Jesus Christ 30 He lives by faith eats and drinks and sells and buyes in Christ In a word he will not receive any earthly Creature a spirituall Crosse nor a heavenly grace and blessing but by the hand of Christ 31 He looks for and longs and loves the appearing of Christ he hastens his coming Amen even so Lord Jesus come quickly 2 Tim. 4.5 2 Pet. 3.12 Rev. 22.28 A Christian CATECHISM Opening the first Principles and most fundamentall points of RELIGION As they are expressed in the BELIEF Question WHat is the Belief Answer It is a profession of our Christian faith Question Is it a Prayer Answer No. Question How doth a profession of faith differ from a Prayer Answer Prayer is a speech directed to God wherein we desire that something may be given or forgiven us but a profession of faith is a speech directed usually to men wherein we expresse to them what we do believe Question Why doth every one in particular say I believe I believe Answer Because every man must in particular know what he himselfe doth believe and so be ready to declare what is his faith upon which he groundeth his hope of eternall life Question What doe you mean when when you say I believe in God In God Answer I mean that I know and am assured that God is such a one as he hath in his word declared himself to be and that I doe trust in him Jer. 31.34 Isa 26.4 Question What is that word
of God wherein you say God hath declared himself unto us Answer It is the holy Scriptures Rom. 1.2 Question How can the Scriptures be called the word of God seeing they are written by men Answer Although holy men wrote the Scriptures yet did not they write by their own power or in their own name but by the power of the Spirit of God and in the name of God himself and therefore what they wrote is to be accounted the word of God himself Hos 8.12 1 Pet. 1.20 21. 2 Sam. 23.2 Question What hath God in the Scripture declared himself to be Answer An eternall most gracious most wise most just unchangeable infinite and all glorious Majesty from whom all things have their being and by whom all things are Governed and preserved Isa 43.10 13. Jude 25. Exod. 34.6 Deut. 32.4 Num. 23.19 Question Who is God the father in whom you believe The Father Answer He is the first person of these three the Father Son and Holy Ghost who are the one and onely God Eternall 2 Chron. 6.18 Psal 119.91 Acts 17.28 1 John 5.7 Question Why is the first person in the blessed Trinity called Father Answer He is called so especially in respect of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord and secondarily in respect of all his Saints who are adopted to be his Children by grace in Jesus Christ Jer. 20.17 Ephes 1.5 Question Why doe you call God the father Almighty Almighty Answer Because he is abundantly sufficient to accomplish his will so that he can doe whatsoever he will doe Psal 115.3 Question Whereby doth the Almighty power of God appear Answer It appears by this Maker of Heaven and Earth that he is the Maker of Heaven and Earth Question Why doe you call God the Maker of heaven and earth Answer Because God did at first make and doth still preserve the heaven and earth and all things that are in them Jer. 42.5 Question Of what did God at first make the Heaven and Earth Answer God created that is made the Heaven and Earth of nothing in the beginning and then brought them into that order wherein they now stand in six dayes Gen. 1. Question What did God doe in the first day of the world Answer He made the light and divided it from the darknesse calling the light day and the darknesse night Gen. 1.3 Question What did God in the second day Answer He made the firmament and therewith he divided the waters calling it Heaven Gen. 1.7 9. Question What did God in the third day Answer He made the dry Land calling it Earth and Seas and all kinds of Grasse and Hearbs and Trees Gen. 1.9 10 11 12. Question What did God in the fourth day Answer He made the Son the Moon and the Stars and placed them in the Firmament of Heaven that they might divide the day from the night and be for signs and seasons and dayes and years Gen. 1.3 5. Question What did God in the fifth day Answer He made all such Creatures as live in the water and all kind of Fowles which fly about the earth Gen. 1.20 21 22. Question What did God in the sixth day Answer He made creeping things of the earth and all Cattel and Beasts of the Earth and last of all he made man to whom he gave dominion over the Fish of the Sea Fowles of the aire and every living thing that moveth upon the earth Gen. 1.24 28. Question Whereof did the Lord God make man Answer The Lord God made man of the dust of the earth Gen. 2.7 Question Is there no part of man which was not made of the dust Answer Yes there is an immortall spirit in man which the Lord God breathed into him after he had formed his body of the dust Gen. 2.7 Eccles 12.8 Question How many more did the Lord at first make Answer He made only one and that was Adam the father of all mankind Gen. 2.7 Question How was woman made Answer The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and whilst he slept the Lord God took out one rib of his and made a woman of it Gen. 2.21 22. Question How many women did the Lord at first make Answer He made onely one and that was Evah whom he gave to Adam for wife and so they two became the first Parents of all mankind Gen. 2.22 23. Question Were Adam and Evah our first parents created sinfull and miserable as we are now Answer No the Lord God created them holy glorious and upright in his Image according to his likenesse Gen. 1.26 27. Eccles 7.3 Question How did they become then sinfull and miserable Answer By breaking the Commandement of their God Question What Commandement was it that they brake Answer That Commandment whereby the Lord forbad them to eat of the fruit of the Tree of the knowledge of good and ill which was in the midst of the Garden of Eden wherein God put the man Gen. 2.17.3.6.2.8 Question Seeing the Lord God created our first Parents holy and perfectly able to fullfill his will how became they so rebellious as to transgresse his Commandement Answer The Devil by his subtilty deceived them and so caused them to transgresse the Commandement of their God in eating the forbidden fruit Gen. 3.1 2 3 4. Question Was this sin of our first parents a small offence Question No it was a great and most grievous sin and that in a three-fold respect 1 Because it proceeded from the belief of the Devils lye before and against the knowne truth of God 2 Because it proceeded from a causeless and wicked distrust of Gods goodnes to them as if he envying their happines had by his Commandements restrained them from a principall means thereof 3 Because it was a willfull act of disobedience even against their Creators revealed will Question What effect wrought this disobedience in our first parents Answer It made them subject unto death and so to him who hath the power of death which is the Devil Rom. 5.12 Gen. 2.17 Heb. 2.14 Question What death were our first parents subjected unto by sin Answer They were subjected to a three-fold death The first of sin The second corporall The third everlasting Question How did our first parents disobedience make them subject to the death of sin Answer By depriving them of that righteousnesse wherein they were created making their hearts inclinable to all wickednesse and working darknesse in their understandings perversenesse in their wills disorder in their affections readinesse in all the members of their bodies to serve uncleanesse and so wholly subjecting them to the Dominion of sin and death Gen. 6.5 21. Ephes 2.3.4.8 Pro. 1.24 25. 1 Pet. 2.11 Rom 6.19 Ephes 2.5 Rom. 6.17 Question What is that corporall death which sin brought upon our first parents Answer It is that death which is caused by the separation of the body from the soul when the body returneth to the ground whence it was taken
brought but he willingly descended or went down into hell and overcame the power thereof John 10.15 Question What was done to the body of our Saviour after it was layed in the grave Answer It was sealed up fast into the Sepulchre and watched by Souldiers that it might not be stoln away Mat. 27.66 Question When our Saviour was buried was he for ever holden in the grave Answer No He roseagain from the dead he arose againe from the dead Question What doe ye mean when you say that He arose againe from the dead Answer I understand thereby that the body of our Saviour was raised out of the grave and that by the joyning againe of his soule unto it he became of a dead a living man Rev. 18. Question How long was it after our Saviours buriall before he arose againe Answer He arose againe from the dead the third day Luke 24. The third day Question By what power did our Saviour rise from the dead Answer By the power of his eternall Godhead wherein he is one with the Eather and the Holy-Ghost 1 Pet. 3.18 Question What testimonies have we to assure us of our Saviours resurrection Answer We have the testimony of the Prophets of Angells of those many witnesses who saw him and spake with him and handled him after his resurrection and of those works of a truly living man which he did after he was risen from the dead Psal 16.10 11. Luke 24.5 6. Acts 13.22 Question How long continued our Saviour upon the earth after his resurrection Answer By the space of forty dayes Acts 3. Question What became of our Saviour after those dayes Answer He ascended in to heaven He ascended into Heaven Question What doe you understand by these words He ascended into Heaven Answer I understand thereby that our Saviour went up from the earth into Heaven where the glory and majesty of God doth appear in the presence of his holy Argells Luke 24.51 Eph. 4.10 Mat. 18.10 Question Why did our Saviour ascend into heaven Answer That he might prepare a place of rest and glory for the children of God and appear in the presence of God to intercede for them to the end of the world John 14.2 Heb. 7.25 Heb. 9.24 Question Is our Saviour then at this day in heaven Answer And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty Yes there he sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty Acts 1.34 Question What doe you mean when you say that our Saviour sitteth at the right hand of God Answer I understand thereby that Christ Jesus our Lord is in the Heaven exalted to the highest degree of Heavenly glory and dignity being made much more powerfull and excellent then men and Angells Eph. 1.20 21 22. 1 Pet. 3.22 Question Shall our Saviour returne from the heaven whether he is ascended Answer Yes From thence he shall come to judge from thence shall he come to judge both the quick and the dead 2 Tim. 4.1 Question Whom doe you undestand by quick and dead Answer By the quick I understand all those who shall be living at the time of the appearing or second coming of our Saviour to Judgement the quick and the dead and by the dead all those who shall die before that day 1 Thes 4.15 Question Shall all then both dead and living be judged by our Saviour at his second appearing Answer Yes they shall appear before the judgement seat of Christ and receive from his mouth a most just and unresistable sentence of blessednesse or misery everlasting Rom. 14.10 2 Cor. 5.16 Mat. 25.34 35 36. Question Doe you believe onely in the Father and his Sonne Jesus Christ Answer No I believe in the holy Ghost I believe also in the holy Ghost Mat. 28. Question What doe you mean when you say I believe in the holy Ghost Answer I mean that I doe believe that there is a holy Ghost who is one God with the Father and the Son in whom the children of God ought to trust because he abideth in them to be their instructer comforter and sanctifier uniting them into the mysticall body of Jesus Christ and making them parts of the holy Catholick Church 1 John 5.7 John 16.13 1 John 2.27 John 14.16 Rom. 8.5 1 Cor. 12.13 Question Hath God an holy Catholick Curch Answer Yes The holy Catholick Church I believe the holy Catholick Church Eph. 1.22 Question What doe you meane when you say I believe the holy Catholick Church Answer I mean that I doe believe that there is an holy congregation of men women and children in all ages and out of all quarters of the world by Gods speciall grace according to his eternall purpose from the midst and miserable estate of wicked men to be Gods peculiar people on earth and the inheritance of his kingdome in Heaven Heb. 12.23 1 Pet. 3.7 1 Cor. 7.14 Heb. 11. Isa 60.4 Gal. 1.15 Rom. 8.28 1 Pet. 2.9 1 Thes 2.12 Question What is the meaning of the word Church Answer A Church is as much as a Congregation called out from among others Acts 15.14 Question What is the meaning of the word Catholique Answer Catholique signifieth as much as universall or generall Question Doe you believe that Gods Church is universall or generall Answer Yes I believe that the Congregation or assembly of Gods Saints which is called his Church is generally called in all times and out of all places in the earth Question How doth God call men into his Church Answer God calleth men into his Church after a two-fold way or manner 1 Ordinarily when he doth at once speak unto their eares by his Spirit moving them by faith to receive the word Acts 16.14 2 Extraordinarily when he doth without the means or ministry of the word work powerfully by his Spirit upon the hearts of men inlightning and sanctifying them Acts 9.6 Question May a man who neglecteth the call of God in his worke warrantably expect to be called of God by his Spirit Answer No in no wise because it is most just with God to deny those his extraordinary calling who most wickedly contemn the blessed call of his holy word Prov. 1.24 25 26 27. Question Why is the Catholike Church called holy Answer Because the Catholique Church consisteth onely of such as are holy to whom alone belongeth the kingdome of God Acts 20.32 Question What good doe men receive by being members of this holy Church Answer They are thereby made partakers of the communion of Saints the forgivenesse of sins and the resurrection of the body unto life everlasting Acts 2 47. Question VVhat doe you understand by the communion of Saints Answer I understand thereby that especiall joyfull and heavenly fellowship which the Saints have with God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ The communion of Saints and one with another 1 John 1.3 Question Have the Saints an especiall communion above others with God the Father Answer Yes
the word delivered as that much increase and good fruit may come thereby unto Jesus Christ the great Lord of the Harvest For me thine unworthy servant in particular let me not receive thy word as the high way ground without understanding and retaining it nor as the stony ground so as by reproaches or persecution to wither and be withdrawn from it nor as the thorny ground so as to suffer it by worldliness and voluptuousnesse to be choaked and deaded in me but as the good ground so as to bring forth much fruit and that with patience that so by patient continuance in well doing I may have glory and honour and immortality and eternall life and that not for any thing in my self but in and through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holy Spirit be all honour and glory now and evermore Amen A Prayer for Advisement O Most wise most gracious and most glorious God I confesse my self to be a poor and weak Creature very unable and insufficient to take any such course as whereby thou shouldest have glory others good or my self any true comfort Unto which weaknesse much carelesnesse also is added and a neglect or a negligent using of those means and helps whereby I might become more able and more profitable in my place and calling nor is that all but too unadvised I am too sudden too rash and so apt both in speaking and dealing to behave my self without that good consideration that becomes a discreet and settled Christian And hence it is that there is a want of that reverence that there ought to be in thy presence of that mindfullnesse that there ought to be in my businesse of that wisedome that there should be in my words of that staidnesse that there ought to be in my carriage Lord grant that I may consider of these things so as to be humbled repent of these things so as to be pardoned and beg help of thee so about these things as that they may be amended Pardon O Lord these and all other my sins Amend O Lord these and all other my imperfections Grant that casting away all carelesnesse whatsoever my hand findeth to doe I may doe it with all my might withall grant that observing the over-forwardnesse and freenesse of my nature in every thing I may be so much the more carefull and watchfull that nothing may be done rashly Above all things let me not be rash with my mouth before thee but besides that since of every idle word that I speak I must give account at the day of Judgement Lord help that my mind may be so set a work before the moving of my lips as that I may speak nothing to thy dishonour others offence or my own grief and shame Yea grant that I may ponder the paths of my feet and so study all my carriage as that my rashnesse may not be seen therein but my Rule if being framed according to the good direction of Religion and reason and that I may not hasten with my feet and so sin doe thou O Lord see to it that my soule may not be without knowledge but so endued with it as that both the inner and the outer man may be ordered by it Let faith and Religion guide my reason and sanctified reason my affections and well-ruled affections set awork my senses and members that I may so speak and so doe as one that must give a strict account and so as that I may give a good and comfortable account of both and all this for Jesus Christs sake in whom thou givest to all liberally and upbraidest none to whom with thee O Father and the Eternall Spirit be all honour and glory both now and evermore Amen QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS upon the Church-Catechism Question 1. WHat is it that Christian Children should consider of in the first place Answer That which their very name puts them in mind of to wit their Baptism Question 2. What is the speciall thing that they are to consider of in their Baptism Answer Of that Vow and Promise which they by their Sureties made unto God when they were Baptized Question 3. But what were those particular things which they then promised Answer First to forsake the Devil and all his works Question 4. What be those works of the Devill Answer Some are inward and some are outward Question 5. What are those that are inward and more spirituall Answer The first of them is Pride which is when a man thinks himself worthy of more honour then is due unto him or when he loves too well that that is due Question 6. How doe you know that this Pride is a worke of the Devil Answer Because it is said that Satan tempted David to number the people to wit by stirring up his heart to that pride and vanity out of which he numbred them 1 Chron. 21.1 Question 7. What helps and means are there for the forsaking of this work of the Devil Answer 1 We must consider we have nothing but what we have received and therefore we must not boast as if we had not received it 1 Cor. 4.7 2 To pull down our Pride we must look upon our faults and follies as the Peacock upon his black feet that he may not be proud of his feathers 3 We must know that God sets himselfe against all such people and beholds every one that is proud to abase him Job 40.11 4 He that is lifted up with Pride is in danger of falling into the condemnation of the Devil 1 Tim. 3.6 Question 8. Who be those that be most apt to fall into the sin of Pride Answer Those that be young and Novices in the world and amongst young Schollars that be of better parts and wits who ought therefore to be so much the more carefull to avoid this sin by how much the Devil is more busie and hath from their age more advantage to bring them to it Question 9. What is the second inward work of Satan Answer Anger Envy and Malice Question 10. How doth it appeare that these are the works of Satan Answer Because the Apostle saith They give place to the Devil that give place to their passion Ephes 4.27 Question 11. What help and means is there for the forsaking of this work of the Devill and for the suppressing of anger and wrath Answer To consider these particulars 1 That a man in his wrath is altogether unfit to doe what God would have him doe for the wrath of man worketh not the Righteousnesse of God James 1.20 as appeareth in King Asa who being in a rage was so far from entertaining the righteous word of God as that he did most unrighteously put the Prophet in Prison that did deliver it 2 Chron. 16 10. 2 That a wrathfull man is unfit for society with others and become like Nabal who was so froward that a man could not tell how to speak to him 1 Sam. 25.17 3 That wrath and envy cause foolishnesse
of carriage and shortnesse of dayes Prov. 14.29 30. 4 That anger wrath and malice are the marks of unregenerate persons Now we should be as unwilling to undergoe the marks as the misery of such gracelesse persons Col. 3.8 Question 12. What is the third inward work of Satan Answer Filthy and unclean thoughts in the heart although they never break out in words or carriage Question 13. How doe you know that this uncleannesse of heart is the work of Satan Answer Because his Title is to be an unclean Spirit and accordingly his busines is to work uncleannesse in our spirits Question 14. What help is there to forsake and avoyd this work of the Devil Answer Some things are to be avoyded and some things are to be done Question 15. What are the things to be avoyded Answer 1 Such things as stir up uncleannesse as wanton Pictures Playes Songs wanton Books or looks Job 31.1 by means of which the unclean spirit enters in and defiles the heart 2 Such things as strengthen uncleannesse as excesse in meat and drink Gen. 19.32 Jer. 5.8 3 Such things as perfect it and whereby Satan fills the heart with it as dalliance and wanton carriages Question 16. What are the things to be done Answer 1 We must fill our hearts with good meditations The heart will be working and the way to free it from worse thoughts is to fill it with better 2 We must fill our hands and hearts with businesse An idle head and heart is the shop of the Devil and David fell into unclean walking not warring 2 Sam. 11.2 3 We must fill our mouths with earnest prayers to God to keep out and to cast out this unclean spirit Yea and in regard of all such inward works of Satan we must pray Lord rebuke Satan and incline not my heart to any evill way Zech. 3.2 Psal 141.4 Question 17. You have shewed the inward what be the outward works of Satan Answer First swearing falsly or vainly unto which cursing may be added Question 18. How do you know that swearing is a work of the Devil Answer Because Christ saith whatsoever is more then yea or nay cometh of evill or of Satan that evill one Mat. 5.27 Question 19. How doe you know that cursing is a work of the Devill Answer It appears that cursing of God comes from the Devil because the Devil by Jobs wife tempted him to curse God Job 2.8 9. Cursing of God by Job was the Devils aym and for that purpose Jobs wife was the Devils Agent And it appears that cursing of men comes from the Devil also because the tongue is set on fire of Hell when we doe therewithall curse men Jâ—mes 3.6 9. Question 20. What helps and meanes be there to forsake this work of the Devill Answer To consider that 1 There is a flying Book sent forth to overthrow his house and state that sweareth falsly Zech. 5.4 and God will not hold him guiltles that taketh his name into his mouth and sweareth vainly Exod. 20.7 2 Swearing doth not only make particular persons miserable but the whole Land also to mourne under the heavy judgements of God Jer. 23.10 Because of swearing or cursing as it is in the margent the Land mourneth Question 21. What help is there against cursing Answer First to consider that he that loves cursing cursing shall come unto him it shall cleave unto him it shall come into his bowels like water and like Oyle into his bones Psal 109.17 8. Secondly to consider how unseemly and unreasonable a thing it is with the same tongue to blesse God and then afterward to curse men that are made after the similitude of God James 3.9 Question 22. What help is there against both cursing and swearing Answer To consider that in both the name of God is taken in vain even that glorious and fearfull Name Exod. 20.7 The Lord our God which whosoever fear not the Lord will make their plagues wonderfull and the plagues of their seed even sore sicknesses and of long continuance sore diseases and of long durance Deut. 28.58 59. Question 23. But there be divers that doe not swear by this dreadfull name of God but by this bread or drink by this hand or by this light what shall we say to them Answer This was an old trick to shift off the force of the third Commandement and to such the Apostle James sayes that while they swear by Heaven or Earth or any other of the Creatures although they never name God yet God will not hold them guiltlesse but they shall fall into condemnation James 5.12 Question 24. But I cannot choose but swear say some for men will not believe me otherwise Answer Yes saith the Apostle Let your yea be yea Jam. 5.12 2 Cor. 1.17 18 19. and your nay nay That is be not off and on but be true and stable in your speeches and you shall never need an Oath A constant and ordinary true speaker is easily believed an ordinary swearer is never believed Question 25. What is it absolutely unlawfull then for a man to swear at all Answer Not so a man may swear before a lawfull Magistrate Nehem. 10.29 to confirm a solemn Covenant Gen. 31.53 and upon speciall and important occasions Gen. 47.31 Heb 6.16 For God forbids us not the taking of his name into our mouths but the taking of it in vain Question 26. What 's the second outward work of Satan Answer Lying and deceiving Question 27. How doe you know that lying is a worke of the Devill Answer Because when the Devill speaketh a lye he speaketh of his own that is nothing is more usual with him nor more proper to him then a lye is and it is that also that proceeds from him for he is a lyar and the father of them John 8.44 Question 28. What helps be there for the forsaking of this worke of the Devill Answer 1 To consider that as all truth comes from God so all lying comes from the Devil Now who would be willing to conceive and bring forth a Child whereof the Devil should be the father 2 Every thing should be to us as it is to God Now lying lips are an abomination to the Lord but they that deale truly are his delight therefore lying and deceit should be abominable to us likewise Prâ— 12.22 3 We should consider that he shall be shut out of the Kingdome of Heaven that loveth or maketh a lye Rev. 22.15 withall that all lyars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone Rev. 21.8 I ought therefore to love truth as I love Heaven and to fear lying as I fear Hell Question 29. What particular cases be there wherein men are more tempted to and therefore ought to be more watchfull against this sin of lying Answer In foure cases especially First in case of profit Hence it is that people doe so ordinarily lye in the Market and in trading to wit for the getting of a
that perisheth John 6.27 2 Not wearing away our bodies with excessive toyle Exod. 18.18 3 Avoiding excessive care which disturbs and annoyes the heart and so hinders that setlednesse of mind that there ought to be in duties of piety Psal 108.1 1 Tim. 2.8 and that peaceablenesse of carriage that there ought to be with those that are of our company 1 Sam. 25.17 5 Holily not with a will to be rich 1 Tim. 6.9 but to be employed for Gods glory John 17.4 and for providing for those that God hath given us 2 Cor. 12.14 as also that we may have to give to him that needeth Ephes 4.28 Question 123. Are men so to be busied in their Callings as that no Recreation is allowed Answer Recreation that is resting after a man is toiled out with labour and fetching a mans breath as it were Exod. 23.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sept. So 2 Sam. 16.14 is no way unlawfull but rather by the example of God himself and of Jesus Christ commended unto us Exod. 31.17 John 4.6.8 Nor is refreshing and setting an edge upon a mans spirit by some pleasant and harmlesse exercise to be condemned because it furthers a man in his Calling and makes him more profitable then otherwise he could be Question 124. Since by how much Recreation is more delightfull by so much Rules are more needfull shew me what Rules are to be observed that Recreation may be better ordered Answer Our Recreation should be 1 In and by things lawfull not vain and vile Books not filthy or slanderous Songs girding at those that fear God 1 Cor. 15.33 Psal 69.12 not foolish talking and un-Saintlike jesting Ephes 5.3 4. not mixt dancing for Mat. 6.13 we are not to lead our selves into tentation Excessive drinking Ephes 5.18 nor make bold with those Recreations that are not of good report Phil. 4.8 to wit amongst the Brethren Acts 16.2 that is holy and judicious Christians such are Dicing Carding Gaming Stage-playing c. 2 It is needfull when the body is wearied the spirits weakned and wasted Recreation is not as meat and drink of ordinary use but as Wine that is a little is to be taken of it when there are evident reasons for it 1 Tim. 5.23 3 Such as is needfull Corporall exercise is a fit Recreation for Students but to sit down and employ the mind in reading the Bible or som good Book or other is the best refreshing for Labourers 4 At a fit time Pleasurable Recreations are not to be used 1 On the Sabbath that 's a day wherein we should not do our pleasure it 's Gods holy day not our play day Isa 58.13 Recreations on that day be sacrilegious for they steale away sacred time the hearts of the people from God and the duties of that day as somtime Absolom stole the hearts of the men of Israel from his father David 2 Sam. 15.6 2 In time of mourning Isa 22.12 13. for it becomes no body to be jolly when God is angry or absent Mat. 9.55 5 For a fit time as our need requires and as our occasions will bear for we must redeem the time and not set spurs to a running Horse and passe it away needlesly in pastimes as if it were a benefit to be rid of it that 's neither for our profit here Prov. 21.17 nor our safety hereafter Mat. 25.30 6 In a fit manner that is 1 Not covetously playing for money that is for any considerable quantity for otherwise Recreation being needful sâ—me small matter may be laid out by those that be able to make it more a Recreation to them but playing for any such quantity as stirs up covetousnesse and longing desire to win for the moneys sake and as will make the looser bad because he cannot well bear the losse this is unlawful as being against the tenth Commandement in regard of coveting and against the eighth Commandement in regard of the casting away of more then a man can well spare Besides it turns the Recreation on the winners part to a Vocation he stayes longer then he should doe at it and returns sooner then he should to it and on the loosers part to a vexation Nor is it any thriving course for the ordinary or extraordinary winner Prov. 13.11 2 Not over earnestly and with unrestrained enlargement 1 Cor. 7.31 it 's dangerous for a man to give up himselfe to pleasurable things and if at any time he give himself more liberty that way yet even then he should acquaint his heart with wisedome that is he should be master of himselfe and wisedome should be the moderator of his mirth and content Eccles 2.3 7 In good company not with men of evill minds and manners for in Recreation a man is most free and so apt to grow into further acquaintance and to open himselfe more then is fit for such companions 1 Kings 22.2.4 2 Chron. 19.2 Besides that men of an evill carriage shew it in their mirth most and so a man that accompanies them is in danger to be partaker of their sin It 's true that he may reprove them but reproof and Recreation do so ill stand together that the one is like to be omitted for the other Question 125. Hitherto of the applying of Gods word to our generall and particular calling shew me in the third place how is it to be applyed to our carriage Answer There is a great use of the Direction of it for our carriage 1 Alone 2 In company 3 In regard of our relation to others 4 In regard of our selves Question 126. What must we doe when we are solitary and alone Answer Something we must watch against and somthing we must look to Question 127. What must a man watch against Answer Against Satan and his own heart or against Satan in his own heart for his tentation when we are alone is sutable to our disposition He enters upon the heart of covetous Judas to set him upon the betraying of his Master for his own advantages Hence it is that a worldly and voluptuous man is ever thinking on his Barns Psal 49.11 and his belly Luke 12.17 18 19. good fellowes and youngsters of their pleasures drinkings and merry meetings Isa 56.12 for which such thoughts their hearts cheare them up Eccles 11.9 Malicious men think of revenge Gen. 27.41 Ambitious men of preferment Luke 9.46 47. Ezek. 28.6 and lustful persons fill and foul their hearts with all unclean thoughts Prov. 7.18 yea they garnish their hearts for the Devil by setting up in their imagination all lascivious pictures and defiling representations and by acting fornications and adulteries in their hearts a thousand times over Mat. 5.28 Question 128. What help is there against such vile thoughts as these when a man and his owne heart is together Answer 1 A man must find his heart work There 's no other means for a man alone especially if he be given to meditation to be free from bad and base thoughts but by
as our hearts be over charged and put out of frame for the duties of our Callings and the expectation of the day of Judgement Luke 21.34 3 Not if any of the company that is tied to drink the health be distempered by it for is not the health a work of darknesse Ephes 5.11 if it cause distemper and have not I fellowship with it if I be a worker in it yea and moreover a binder to it for every man that is in it doth not only drink the health but bind the health if not in words yet in deed because by his joyning a greater distast and shame rests upon any man that shall offer to shrink Now whether this Healthing be for the glory of God and so carried as that he that drinks it is not over charged himself nor any of his company let every mans conscience judge as in the sight of God and thereby decide to himself the lawfullnesse or unlawfullnesse of this course To which add 4 Not if it be open and observed and so countenance the course of God and bid God speed to the fashion of drinking healths wherein ordinarily and for the generality there is so much abuse John 2 Epist v. 11. and this meets with the most moderate and eminsed Healthings for though to eat and drink to feast is a thing needfull and requisite yet there 's no need of Healthing Now though a man drink but a little or no hurt yet how can it be lawfull for them to doe a needlesse act when it is an occasion of stumbling to others and a hardning of them in a most sinfull practice see Deut. 32.26 27. Question 144. Hitherto of meats and drinks shew me now what Rules are to be observed for Apparrell Answer 1 Let not thy Apparell be above thy place For Gods mind is that men should so appear outwardly in their port and attendance and so in their Apparel as to maintaine that difference of degrees that he hath established among them Eccles 10.6 7. 2 Let it not be above thy means for that 's against the Commandement Thou shalt not steale while as Absolom stole away the heart of the people from David their rightfull King 2 Sam. 15.6 so vanity of Apparel steales away a man or womans estate from those necessary occasions wherein of right it should be bestowed 3 Conform not to the world in it against the good and acceptable and perfect will of God Rom. 12.2 that is against those generall Rules of godlinesse comelinesse sobriety modesty and moderation which the word of God sets before us which have a binding power in those particulars which are too low for the Scripture to name and which Christians that reverence their generall Rules need not to have named See 1 Tim. 1.10 Phil. 4.8 1 Tim. 1.9 4 Imitate in thy Apparell holy and faithfull men and women 1 Pet. 3 5. Modest and sober Sarah is a fit pattern for those of her sex who are more apt to exceed in this kind and not Jezabel 2 Kings 9.30 Now the example of holy persons layes down the Rule of restraint in this particular So to cloth our selves as that all the world may see we count our graces our Ornaments rather then our Garments a meek spirit rather then a curious habit 1 Pet. 3.3 4. with Psal 73.6 5 For this reason let those that be professors of Religion and those that would be reckoned holy Christians watchfully and above others restrain themselves this way keeping still and yet without uncomelinesse the safer and sober siâ—e and leaning to the word rather then the world for how shall they be examples to others that exceed themselves and what a pity and misery is it that there should be so few holy men and women out of the fashion to be a pattern to the residue of the world that so affect fashions Question 145. Since you speak of fashions tell me what is to be thought concerning new fashions in Attire Answer 1 To speak generally all affectation and offence in the form and fashion of our Apparell is to be avoided that is we must not apparell our selves so as to shew we have a mind to be in the fashion nor so as to encourage those that be vainer and grieve the better party Phil. 4.8 2 To speak more particularly observe these Rules 1 Such fashions of Apparel as clearly and at first sight crosse the Rules of Christian modesty as the attire of women whereby nakednesse is in part covered but in a great part discovered are to be rejected as abominable It 's strange that honest women will not give Harlots leave to have such an Attire as may be properly called the Attire of an Harlot Prov. 7.10 to wit as unbeseeming the modesty of a sober woman 2 Other fashions there be tolerable rather then laudable and that they may be tolerable it belongs to the wisedom and sobriety of Christians to observe these two Rules 1 Not to enter into them suddenly so as to keep even pace with the most forward fashionist 2 Not to use them exactly and in the utmost extremity The former of these argues levity the later curiosity and want of worth both pride and vanity 3 Any fashion used out of pride and vanity of mind is absolutely sinfull Onely for some better Reason some more liberty may be given and taken viz. in these regards 1 To avoid the imputation and offence of fingularity and that it may appear that Christians doe not affect to be unlightly nor put the stresse of Religion upon these lessen things 2 In case of duty both of Children to parents and of wives to husbands whom the clearnesse of the duty to give content makes these things more disputable and gives occasion for dispensing with them at least in some degrees But there 's a wide difference between these two to wit when such or such are in the fashion out of a mind and affectation and when their appearing in the fashion enforced by the imperiousnesse of vain and unkind and ungodly Superiours in their trouble and affliction Question 146. But is not Apparell an indifferent thing why then should there be so much scruple about it Answer I Answer 1 It 's true that the Apparelling of our selves this or that way is a thing indifferent in the generality but pride luxury vanity of mind are not things indifferent but absolutely sinfull and so are those particular fashions that spring from and manifestly savour of these corrupt roots 2 Though such things be in a sort indifferent and left to our liberty it being a shame that Christians that have so many Rules pressing to modesty and sobriety in the general should need to be taught particularly how to dresse themselves every day yet let us not for shame so carry our selves as that God should repent he hath left them indifferent liberty is the triall of ingenuity and tendernesse of conscience 3 I Answer with a Holy Father in a like case That 's the very
Q. What is that everlasting death which sin brought upon our first parents A. It is that death which is caused by the everlasting separation of the whole man from the presence and glory of the Lord which wicked and ungodly men shall suffer in Hell fire Rev. 20.6 Zech. 1.9 Q. Did our first parents bring themselves only into this miserable estate by their sin A. No by this grievous offence of our first parents they and all their children to the world end were made children of wrath subject to death and him who hath the power of death Rom. 5. Ephes 2.32 Q. How could the sin of our first parents make their posterity subject to so much misery Answer Very well because they sin'd not only as particular persons but as the root or fountain of mankind and so their corruption floweth from them with their corrupt nature unto all who by ordinary generation receive their nature from them Question Must all men then dye and perish everlastingly Answer No although Almighty God might in Justice condemn all men yet he is pleased in mercy to save some Psa 130.3 Question What means hath God in mercy for the salvation of men Answer He hath given his Son Jesus Christ our Lord that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3.16 Question Doe you then believe in the Son of God Answer Yes I believe in Jesus Christ his onely Son our Lord. And. Question What is it to believe in Jesus Christ Answer It is from an inward evidence of heart concerning that unseen salvation which is in him to cleave unto him as the one and onely author of eternall salvation Heb. 11.1 John 6.68 69. Heb. 5.9 Question Why was the Son of God called Jesus In Jesus Answer Because he was to save his people from their sins as the word Jesus importeth which sign fieth a Saviour Mat. 1.21 Question Why was our Lord Jâ—sus called Christ Christ Answer Because he was the great Messiah or anointed one of the Lord spoken of of the Prophets for so much the name Christ signifieth an anointed one importeth John 4.25 Dan. 9.25 Question Why was our Saviour called the anointed one of the Lord Answer Because those three great Offices the Kingly Priestly and Propheticall to which men were by Gods appointment anointed in their perfection in him who was appointed by God to be the heavenly King or Governour of his Church the heavenly Prophet or instructer of his Church and the eternall Priest who by one Offering of himself perfected for ever them that are sanctified and ever appeareth in the true holy place Heaven it self to make intercession for them 1 Kings 1.39 Exod. 29.7 1. Kings 29.16 Psal 2.6 Acts 7.27 Heb. 7.25 Heb. 10.14 Heb. 4.24 Question How was our Saviour anointed to these Offices Answer He was anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power Acts 10.38 Question What benefit hath the Saints by these Offices of our Saviour Answer Much every way for they need fear no spirituall enemy who have such a King to defend them they may with boldnesse come to God who have such a Priest appearing in the presence of God for them they may be sure of the knowledge of God who have such a Prophet to instruct them 1 John 4.14 Luke 1.74 75. Heb. 10.22 John 15.15 Question Seeing the Saints receive so great benefit by our Saviours Offices are there no duties which they owe to him in respect of them Answer Yes as he is their King so they must obey him as he is their Priest so they must rest upon his all sufficient Sacrifice and intercession and as he is their Prophet so they must attend unto him that they may be instructed by him 2 Cor. 10.5 Heb. 10.19 Mat. 17.5 Question How doth our Saviour being now in Heaven execute his Kingly and Propheticall Office in his Church on Earth Answer By his holy Spirit and holy word whereby he inwardly and outwardly Governes his Church as a King and instructeth it as a Prophet Rom. 8.9 Psal 110.2 Ephes 3.5 Col. 3.16 Question Whose Son is our Saviour Jesus Christ His. Answer He is the Son of God the father Almighty Mat. 3.17 Question Hath the Almighty any more Sons Answer Only Son No Christ Jesus is his only Son John 1.14 Question How then doth the Scripture call all the Saints the Sons of God Answer The Saints of God are his by his gracious adoption but our Lord is his only begotten Son by miraculous and unutterable Generation Rom. 8.15 John 1.14 Question Why is our Saviour Jesus Christ called Lord Our Lord. Answer He is called Lord both in regard of his Godhead wherein he is one Lord with the father and the holy Ghost and also in regard of the great Lordship and power which is settled upon him by God the father Mat. 28.10 18. Acts. 20.36 Question VVho are they that may in a speciall manner call Christ Jesus our Lord Answer All the Saints of God who are traâ—slated out of the power of darknesse into the spirituall Kingdome of Jesus Christ the dear Son of God and are therefore his subjects and servants and so have him for their Lord Col. 1.15 Rev. 1.9 Question VVas Jesus Christ our Lord ever in the world Answer Yes in the fullnesse of time appointed by his father he came into the world Gal. 4.4 Question How came our Lord Jesus Christ into this world Who was conceived Answer He was conceived of the Holy Ghost and born into the world of the virgin Mary Luke 1.35.12.6 7. Question VVas our Saviour conceived by the power or means of any man Of the holy Ghost Answer No the Holy Ghost without man conceived our Lord Jesus in the bowells of his blessed mother being still a pure virgin Mat. 1.18 Isa 7.14 Question VVhy then is Joseph the husband of Mary in the Scripture called our Lord Christs father Answer Because he was his mothers espoused husband and so supposed to be his father though indeed he was not his true and naturall father Luke 3.23 Question VVhat doe you learn by knowing that our Lord Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost Answer I learn thereby two things 1 That he was God 2 That he was altogether without sin Question How doe you learn that Christ Jesus our Lord was God by knowing that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost Answer Because I know that the Holy Ghost is God and therefore that he who was conceived of him was God as he who is conceived of man is man Luke 1.35 Question VVas our Lord Jesus Christ God then Answer Yes he was eternally and now is and for ever shall be one with the father and the holy Ghost God blessed for evermore Isa 9.6 John 1.1 Rom. 9.5 Question How doe you learn that our Lord Jesus Christ was altogether without sin by knowing that he was conceived by the holy Ghost Answer Because our Saviours conception of the
after their resurrection be for ever but because their being shall be in misery it 's therefore called a death not a life Mat. 25.46 Rev. 20.5 Q. Are not the spirits of Gods Children before the day of judgement made partakers of everlasting life A. The spirits of Gods children immediately after they be severed from the body are admitted into heavenly blessednes in the presence of the Lord but in proper speech they cannot be said to partake of everlasting life which in the Scripture signifies that perfect happines which the Saints shall in their persons receive after they be raised from the dead Phil. 1.23 Rev. 6.11 Mat. 25.46 Q. Where shall the Saints of God live that life everlasting which they shall partake of after the resurrection A. The Saints of God shall be made partakers of everlasting life in those heavenly places where our Saviour now sitteth at the right hand of God 1 John 1.3 Ephes 2.6 Q. May no man then look to enjoy ever lasting life upon the earth A. No the dearest Saint of God upon this earth lives to dâ—e shall never live for ever untill they be after the resurrection put into the possession of their abiding City where they shall be freed from all the sorrowes sicknesses afflictions griefs of this present life and shall inherit perfect joyes and happinesse in the presence of the Lord for ever Heb. 9.27 Heb. 13.14 Rev. 21.4 Ps 16.1 Rules for a Christian way 1 THat 's the narrow way that is and hath been of old set down in Scripture The way must be made no narrower nor broader then the word of God makes it he only is to appoint the way that brings us to the journeyes end John 5.39 2 In that way we must walk without turning either to the left hand by prophanesse or to the right hand by superstition Deut. 5.32 33. 3 That we may so doe we must continually take heed to our wayes according to the word of God Psal 119.9 and withall pray earnestly that we may not wander Psal 119.10 but may hear a voyce behind us saying This is the way walke in it Isa 30.21 4 We must turn into this way as soon as we can and be timely good that we may be greatly good 1 Kings 18.3.12 and when we be once come in we must never goe out Ezek. 18.24 Prov. 1.32 5 The speciall time and season of coming in is when God sends Ministers to make known his word unto us The sending forth of a faithfull Ministry is a not suffering of us to walk in our own wayes Acts 14.16 17.30 if therefore thou walkest in them afterward thou doest it whether God will or no Mat. 23.37 and shalt accordingly suffer for it Psal 18.26 6 In this narrow way there must be a continuall proceeding and going forward the path of the just being not as the morning cloud that vanisheth at the first heat Hos 6.4 but as the morning light that shines more and more unto the perfect day Proverbs 4.18 7 The paths of wisedome are indeed paths of pleasantnesse Prov. 3.17 and the longer we walk in this way the easier we shall find it Acts 26.29 it being made easie to us both by grace enabling us to walk acceptably Ezek. 36.27 and by faith flying to Christ because we cannot walk perfectly 1 John 5.4 and by use whereby the yoak more cumbersome at first comes to be born more quietly and contentedly at last Mat. 11.29 30. it will be our ease therefore if we make it our exercise to keep a good conscience towards God and man Acts 24.16 Psal 25.12 13. 8 This is the difference between good and bad men that the one comfort themselves with their state and condition Luke 12.19 the other with their way and carriage 2 Cor. 1.12 2 Kings 20.3 9 However Gods way be every where spoken against yet the singular comfort of it is felt by faith all the while we walk in it Mark 10.30 and then most when we have least of all outward comforts 1 Sam. 30.6 Heb. 10.34 Gen. 39.21 Acts 23.1 Job 13.15 16. 27.5 6. but then shall this comfort be perfectly felt and perpetually enjoyed when we come to our journeys end and even to that glory honour immortality and eternall life which they shall be possessed of who patiently continue in well-doing Rom. 2.7 10 Then shall they that say yee fooles now meaning such as walk circumspectly Ephes 5.15 say feelingly and full sorrowfully we fooles meaning themselves while they see clearly and when it is too late to help it their own everlastingly cursed condition and the happy estate of those that have been carefull of a holy conversation Wisd 5.4 Mal. 3.18 RULES FOR THE Christian-Day OR The Sabbath-Day OF THE New Testament 1 SEt in order thy affaires the day before the Sabbath and thy affections in order upon the morning of the Sabbath the former prevents upon the Lords day worldly works and the later distracting thoughts 2 The heart being purged and prepared there arises from thence a great difference between Sabbath and weekly services He that hears a Sermon on the week day leaves the world but upon the Sabbath a man takes leave of the world that is he sequesters himself even wholly from it and by meditation and prayer fills his heart with contrary that is with heavenly things hence while he hears the word hee 's much more affected with it because the heart is clear from the world and carried heaven and finds after a greater effect of it as fruit is much more and better in well prepared ground 3 The principall duty of the Lords day is repairing to the Lords house to the Assembly and Ordinances of God morning and evening Acts 20.7.11 there being therein 1 A publick profession that we are the people of the Lord Jesus while we leave all things one day in seaven that we may attend him and 2 A filling of our Cystern from God the Fountain that is a replenishing of our heads and hearts with those heavenly things whereby we shall be furnished and supplyed for future time and in speciall all the week after for a holy walking in the narrow way the generall rule of hearing being to hear for afterward Isa 42.23 4 But as the day is not so neither are the duties thereof ended when the publick meeting is dissolved but in private also it is meet that we should be mindfull of 1 Heavenly Meditations Upon the Lords day we should be in the Spirit Rev. 1.10 in a spirituall temper possessed and taken up with spirituall thoughts that the speeches and actions proceeding from us that day may be in a speciall degree the breathings Creatures of the Spirit of God 2 Christian and ghostly communications tending to the spirituall advantage of our selves and those with whom we converse Acts 20.11 Christians are to edifie one another Ordinary builders are to build other dayes they build and are built up most on the Lords day
3 Works of charity as visiting the sick administring to laying up for the necessities of those that be in distresse 1 Cor. 16.2 5 Much adoe there is about a Sabbath day and Sabbath duties and they that account fellowship with God a heavy burden are glad they have this to say that learned men differ that so they may better take leave to doe what they list and be far from God without the condemnation of men but they that love that life that we shall lead in heaven will be glad to live with God one day in a week here at least in some degree as they look to live with him every day hereafter RULES FOR A Christian Carriage EVERY DAY 1 A Wake with God giving him thanks in thy first thoughts for the rest of the night and craving his presence for the occasions of the day Parents look their Children should doe their duty to them in the morning when they see them first so when we are first awakened and look up God that is ever before us and whom whensoever our eyes be open we should think we see ought to be reverently and dutifully acknowledged 2 If there be much busines let not prayer be omitted that the businesse may be dispatched that is as if a man having a long journey to goe should hasten out a foot and not stay to make ready his Horse for it is God that must carry us along in all our businesses but rise the sooner that the duty of prayer may first be performed rather out of sleep then put off prayer Mark 1.35 for all prosperity comes from this I am with thee Gen. 39.5 And how shall God be obtained if he be not sought Luke 11.9 3 Betake thy self to thy private prayers before thou enter upon the world for thy heart will hardly be with God wholly and fully if thy worldly occasions have taken possession of it formerly 4 Let Family exercises be performed either the first time thou canst take or the fittest time thou canst choose 5 As for worldly employment 1 See thou have a Calling it being not enough that thou be about some work or some good work but this also being required that thou be about that good work which God committeth to thee to doe John 17.4 for God gives to every servant of his his work Mark 13.34 2 Thy works and occasions being such as thou art called to Be about them 1 diligently a good Christian should not be a bad husband Prov. 27.23 Eph. 4.28 2 Justly and conscionably A good husband should not be a bad Christian nor any way defraud or over-reach his brother 1 Thes 4.6 3 Discreetly for he that handleth a matter wisely shall find good Prov. 16.20 Eccles 9.10 4 Faithfully and with a dependance upon God notwithstanding all thy wit and care for he that trusteth in the Lord happy is he Prov. 16.20 6. When thou art alone hate vaine thoughts Psal 119.113 when thou art in company let thy communication be such as if Jesus Christ were at thy heels ready to overtake thee and to ask what communications are these that ye have one with another while ye wake together Luke 24.17 and whether thou be alone or in company let thy carriage be ordered with such respect unto that God in whose presence thou art that thy tongue and thy doings may not be against him to provoke the eyes of his glory Isa 3.8 Generally be such in company as that thou maist with comfort remember thy carriage when thou art alone and such alone as that thou mayest with credit declare thy carriage when thou art in company 7 Take a view at night of the passages of the day which would best be done by putting them down in writing particularly in that view consider thy dealing and Gods dealing 1 Thy dealing and in what 1 Thy sins and any evill thou hast done as carefull men write down every debt that they may mind it and pay it so do tender Christians take notice and rather then faile a note of their sins that they may not be out of their remembrance and that they may take the next opportunity for repentance wherein be thou so far from deferring as to resolve for every evill of the day that upon the review smites thy heart and clogs thy conscience to judge thy selfe before thou sleepest that if thou shouldst never awake till the day of Judgement yet at that day thou mayest not be condemned of the Lord thou having before hand judged and condemned thy selfe 1 Cor. 11.31 2 Thy good deeds for as thou art to recount thy sin because thou art a debtor in it so any good deed because thou art a debtor for it and God without whom thou canst doe nothing John 15.5 should not want the due praise of thy well doing Howbeit it is fit also that thou shouldst observe that good that is in thee that thou maist not want the comfort of it but maist support thy selfe with it when thy heart is sad with sin and vert with Satan 2 Gods dealing what God by his providence reproves in thee one day rush not upon it the next and in that which thou findest God according to his word to countenance be thou constant let the affâ—ictions of the day make thee more carefull and fearfull of sin and the mercies more chearfull and forward in service COUNSELL FOR A Christian Carriage TAsk thy selfe in businesse Stint thy selfe in pleasure Take heed that these two never meet together A loose life and a light heart but when the carriage is loose let the heart be laden When thou differest from others in thy education see that thou differ from them in thy conversation that being so much holier then they as thy education hath been better The mind is the guid of the tongue therefore consider before thou speak The tongue is the messenger of the heart therefore as oft as thou speakst without meditation going before so oft the messenger runs without errand Let not pleasure steal away the mind from businesse but let businesse win and wean the mind from pleasure After good education take heed of the first errors lest the virginity and tendernesse of conscience being taken away it grow bold and impudent in evill FINIS A Table of the chief Heads handled in the foregoing Tract WOrks of the Devill p. 21 Pride 23 Anger Envy Malice 24 Anger 25 Filthy and unclean thoughts 26 Swearing and cursing 28 Helps against swearing and cursing 30 Lying a work of the Devill 34 In what cases lying is to be watcht against especially 36 Helps against the works of the Devil 38 Opposing the truth of God a work of the Devill 40 Opposing the children of God a work of the Devill 42 Generall helps to free men from the works of the Devill 44 Pomps and vanities of the world 46 Helps against them 48 The sinfull lusts of the flesh 50 Reasons of forsaking the works of the flesh 52 In what manner we must forsake the Devill the world and the flesh 54 Of the Christian faith 56 What it is to believe the Articles of Christian faith 58 Helps for the applying Christ to our own soules 62 The use of our believing the Articles of the Christian faith 64 What Gods will is and what to keep it 66 What to keep Gods will and commandement 68 The use of Gods word c. and how it must be heard 70 The manner of the right receiving of the Lords Supper 72 The manner how to pray and to fast aright 74 Vowing 78 Rules for vowing 79 The duty of simpathising 82 Rules for Edifying 84 Almes giving 85 Almes giving and mourning for the sins of the times 86 Helps to mourn for the Sins of the times 88 Of the Sabbath and morality thereof 90 Of the Sabbath and the duties thereof 94 Helps for sanctifying the Sabbath 96 Christian duties to be done in the week dayes 100 Rules of Resolution concerning 6 dayes Sermons 102 Opportunities of hearing discovered by conscience 104 Opportunities of hearing discovered by providence 106 Of reading and Christan conference 108 Of christian conference and daily payer 110 Of prayer in the family 112 Helps to establish a course of family prayer 114 Every one must have a calling 118 What calling to chuse 121 Whether a man may change his calling 122 How to be conversant about a mans calling 124 Recreation allowed and how far 126 Rules for Recreation 128 Of playing for money 130 Of our carriage alone 134 Helps against vile thoughts when we be alone 136 How to take care of our carriage in company 138 Rules for company 140 Duties to Superiours 142 Duties to superiours and inferiors 144 Of our carriage towards equalls 146 Of our carriage towards friends 148 Of our carriage toward enemies and strangers 150 Rules for our carriage in regard of our selves 152 Rules concerning meats and drinks 154 Whether lawfull to drink healths 156 Rules for apparell 160 Of fashions of attire 162 Against pride and vanity in apparell 164 Rules for a good carriage in prosperity 168 Rules for a good carrage in adversity 172 Directions for a good carriage in spirituall afflictions 174 Helps for our carriage in temptations 176 A comfort in all afflictions 178 Common breaches of the 1 Commandement 180 Common breaches of the 2 Com. 182 Common breaches of the 3 Com. 186 Common breaches of the 4 Com. 188 Common breaches of the 5 Com. 192 Common breaches of the 6 Com. 198 Common breaches of the 7 Com. 202 Common breaches of the 8 Com. 206 Common breaches of the 9 Com. 212 Common breaches of the last Com. 217 Infallible signes of a sincere heart 223 The first principles and most fundamentall points of Religion opened 234 Rules for a Christian way 299 Rules for the Sabbath-day 305 Rules for a christian carriage every day 310 Counsell for a christian carriage 317. FINIS