referred and then as requiring the Duty forbids the sin and forbidding any sin supposeth a precept for the Duty contrary to that sin so shall I teach you both these what are the Duties required and what the Sins forbidden in each Commandment proving their respective answers as we go along by the Scriptures First then let me ask you the Questions in your Church Catechism Q. What is thy Duty to God A. My duty towards God is to believe in Him c. Now see how every Commandment is explained in this Answer Q. What doth the first Commandment require of you according to this Answer in your Catechism A. Gods inward worship which is to believe in him to fear him and to love him and him alone as the only true God with all my heart with all my mind with all my soul and with all my strength Catechist This distinction of Worship that it is either Inward of the Soul or Outward of the Body is evidently the Apostles when he tells us 1 Cor. 6.20 That we must glorifie God with our bodies and with our spirits which are his Now the inward that of the Spirit is required by this Commandment that is in the positive part which is implied in the negative for that we are forbidden to have any other God but Him or before him implies that we must have him that is acknowledge him and worship him for our God and for our only God and to believe in him and fear him and love him this is to acknowledge him to be and to have him our God according to that Text Deut. 10.12 What doth the Lord thy God O Israel require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God and to walk in his ways to love and serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy Soul Q. May not loving God be accounted the summ of our whole Duty to God as Love of our Neighbour is of our whole Duty to our Neighbour A. Yes and without loving God there can be no keeping his Commandments in sincerity Catechist Our Saviour said John 14.15 If ye love me keep my Commandments No other way can we shew our love to either God or Christ Jesus On the other hand the Scriptures set forth obedience or keeping Gods Commandments as the work of Faith and labour of love Heb. 6.10 1 Thes 1.3 and St. Paul saith The love of Christ constraineth hereunto 2 Cor. 5.14 And it is certain all other Graces abound where as the Apostle expresseth it Rom. 5.5 The love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us Q. What do those words Before me teach you Thou shalt have no other Gods before me A. Always to consider that God is every where present and beholds the Idolatry of the heart as well as in action Catechist I know O my God saith David 1 Chron. 29.17 that thou triest the heart Jer. 17.10 I the Lord search the heart I try the reins even to give to every man according to his ways and according to his doings Q. What then are the sins forbidden in this Commandment A. Atheism or having no God Polytheism or owning more Gods than One Irreligion not glorifying not worshipping the true God as God and inward Idolatry that is believing fearing or loving any lust or Creature as our God or giving Religious Worship or honour to any other Being Catechist Atheism or in the Psalmists words Psal 14.1 The Fools saying in his heart much more speaking it out in words That there is no God Polytheism The having Lords many and Gods many But to us saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 8.4 There is no more Gods but One. Irreligion not Glorifying not worshipping God which is all one as if we believed and professed There is no God A sin taxt by S. Paul in the Gentiles Rom. 1.21 That knowing God they did not glorifie Him as God Idolatry which is not only the worshipping idols or images made of silver and gold the works of mens hands which have eyes and see not which have ears and hear not mouths and speak not Ps 135.15 16. But also the immoderate love of any Creature For Christ saith Mat. 6.24 Ye cannot serve God and Mammon and this do all covetous and worldly minded men From whence S. Paul saith expresly that covetousness is idolatry Col. 3.5 And he speaks of some who make their belly their God Phil. 3.19 which do all Epicures gluttons and drunkards and intemperate persons and some he saith mind earthly things All these then are sins against this first Commandment which requires the Inward worship of God Q. What doth the second Commandment require A. Gods Outward worship that is to worship God not only with our hearts and Spirits which God alone seeth but also bodily in the sight of men and not by Images but as he himself appoints us in his word Catechist It is a marvellous thing that there should be any need of convincing men that God is to be worshipped Outwardly as well as Inwardly with our Bodies as well as with our Spirits or that any persons of understanding should make that foolish use of our Saviours words to the woman of Samaria John 4.24 God is a spirit and is to be worshipped in Spirit and in truth as if pretending to worship God in their hearts and spirits could excuse their utter neglect of his outward worship or their not Kneeling in prayer or any other irreverent undecent behaving themselves in the worship of God But if there be any need to speak to this point I think here is enough in the very letter of this Commandment to stop all mouths Thou shalt not bow down before images and worship them For in that we must not do it before images implies that before God we must do it we must bow down before him when we worship him that as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 6.20 We may glorifie God with our bodies as well as with our spirits which are his Hence the Psalmist saith Psal 132.7 We will go into his Tabernacle and fall down before his footstool And hereunto are we daily invited in his words Psal 95.6 O come let us worship and fall down and kneel before the Lord our maker This must we do only to avoid Superstition and Will worship we must have a care to do it in such a manner as God directs in his word and not worship God in any way invented by man contrary to his word See Deut. 4.2 and 12.32 Whatsoever I command you that observe and do ye shall not add to the word I command you neither shall ye diminish ought from it that ye may keep the Commandments of the Lord your God which I command you Q. What are those kinds or parts of Worship which God himself hath appointed us in his word A. Daily Prayer and Thanksgiving often Reading Hearing and Meditating upon His word and the due Use of the Sacraments Catechist That
Lord and Saviour should direct us so strictly to pray to God and him only to no other whom we cannot call by this title Our Father which art in heaven Religious prayer and Invocation is a Divine Honour it is proper to God who saith Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble and we cannot give Gods glory to another without the guilt of Idolatry To pray unto Saints or Angels implies an adoring them as Omnipotent able to help us Omnipresent and Omniscient capable of hearing us wherever and whensoever we call upon them And can we he sure of either of these or are they possible where have we any precept or direction in all the Scriptures to make our Addresses and Supplications unto them or any example of any Saints that have done it before us or any promise of their hearing our prayers or helping our necessities or of our obtaining what we ask of them or by their Mediation And having none of these how can we pray to them in duty or in Faith But this we can do to God and to him only Our Father which is in Heaven For being Our Father he is gracious and of great kindness having Fatherly bowels ready and willing to hear and help us and being Our Father in Heaven He is Almighty the Great giver of all goodness and therefore able to hear and help us And therefore to him alone let us make our prayers and supplications saying with Holy David Psal 25.1 Vnto thee O Lord do I lift up my Soul Psal 121.1 2. I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help My help cometh from the Lord who made Heaven and Earth Q. What is the meaning then of this Preface Our Father which art in Heaven A. It teaches me to call upon God as my Lord God Our Heavenly Father who is the Giver of all Goodness and so assures me that he both will and can hear and help me Catechist Your Catechism here gives you a very short but pithy explanation of this Title of the Great God as the Hearer of prayers Psal 65.2 Our Father which art in Heaven Therein every one calls upon God in such words as S. Thomas expresseth his faith in Joh. 20.28 My Lord and my God Thou in whom I have a special interest as my God Yet mark it not so mine but that he is also others Our heavenly Father For I am in Charity to look upon others as my Brethren having a filial relation also to God as well as my self Now as I said in that He is our Father This assures us that he is ready and willing to hear and help us as any Father will do for his children for so Christ argues Matth. 7.9 10. If a child ask bread of his father will he give him a stone or if he ask a fish will he give him a Scorpien Will he not give him all good things and things needful and profitable for him Hon much more will God as a Father give us all good things that we ask him For Psal 103.13 As a Father pitieth his children so doth the Lord them that fear him And then that he is Our Heavenly Father this assures us of his power and ability that he can help us For Psal 99.1 The Lord is great in Sion and he is high above all people Psal 97.1 The Lord reigneth let his Children rejoyce For nothing then can harm them without his leave and providence Psal 2.1 Even when the Heathen rage and the Kings of the Earth bandy together against the Lord and against his Anointed he that setteth in Heaven shall laugh them to scorn The Lord shall have them in Derision He that dwells in Heaven Pray how dwells the Lord there Surely not so there but that he is in all places Omnipresent Jer. 23.23 Am I God at hand and not afar of saith the Lord Do not I fill heaven and Earth saith the Lord But he is in Heaven because there is the Habitation of His throne of Majesty Psal 97.2 And there and from thence he more especially manifesteth his exceeding great power and glory So is he Our Father in heaven in that sence and as our Catechism adds by way of explanation He is therefore the Giver of all Goodness of all good things Jam. 1.17 Every good and every perfect gift comes from above even from the Father of lights with whom is no variableness neither shaddow of turning So much of the Preface now to the petitions Q. How many petitions are there in the Lords prayer A. Six Three with relation to Gods glory and three to our own benefit Q. Why are we taught to pray first for what respects Gods Glory before we pray for things relating to our own benefit A. To teach us that we ought to make Gods Glory the great end of our prayers as well as of all our Actions and in all cases to prefer it before all things whatsoever Catechist Gods glory is the great end of our Creation and of whatever God doth that the whole Earth may be full of his Glory Isaiah 6.3 Solomon saith Prov. 16.4 The Lord made all things for himself yea even the wicked for the day of evil that is to glorifie his justice in them Now what is Gods end in all his doings should be Our great end and aim in all our prayers and all our actions 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God For the first Petition then Hallowed be thy name You may observe in the first place that your Catechism explains Hallowing Gods Name to be as much as worshipping him which we often also express by glorifying or honouring him and taking due notice thereof I ask you first Q. Are we able to Worship Honour or Glorifie God as we ought to do A. No. Q. How ought we to Worship or Honour or Glorify God A. Above all Beings in heart word and deed Catechist Do but remember the Apostle's expression to this purpose 1 Cor. 6.20 We must glorifie God with our Bodies and with our spirits which are his Now alas this we sinful corrupt degenerate mankind are in no wise able to do until he regenerate and renew us in the words of his Covenant his Covenant of Grace Ezek. 11.19 Put a new heart and a new spirit within us take from us the stony heart and give us an heart of flesh In a word till he put his Spirit his Spirit of Grace within us to cause us to walk in his Statutes and in his Judgments Q. What desirest thou therefore in this petition Hallowed be thy Name A. I desire God to send his Grace to me and to all people that we may worship him as we ought to do Q. Dost thou desire this or any other Blessing of God for thy self only A. No I desire it for all people and whatever Blessing I desire for my self in any petition in Christian Charity I pray the same
Debauchery thereof is very great and therefore it is as needful now as ever That some Persons be engaged publickly to see that children that are baptized be brought up in the doctrine of Christ and in the fear of God Q. What just exception can be made against this Custome A. None but Godfathers and Godmothers neglecting their duties now this or the like Exceptions lye against the best and most wholesome Institutions both of God and man Catechist It is indeed a very sad thing that Godfathers and Godmothers so generally neglect their duties I say therefore O that All persons would be serious in undertaking this charge and fulfill it more Conscientiously than commonly men do And then The Benefit of this Custom would convince all mankind how convenient it is that it be retained to prevent any persons making Shipwrack of Faith and of a good Conscience when they come to years of discretion Q. Why do Christians give their Children names in Baptism A. Because the Jews gave names to their children in Circumcision and Baptism succeeds in the room of it Again it is intended That their names should always put them in mind of their Christianity which they received together with their names Catechist First That Baptism succeeds in the room of Circumcision As it is clear in matter of Fact so I take it to be manifest in that one Text of St. Paul Coloss 1.11 In whom also ye are Circumcised by the Circumcision made without Hands in putting off the Body of the Sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ buried with him in Baptism 2. That the Jews gave their names when they Circumcised their Children is plain in divers instances To name but two Gen. 21.3 4. Abraham called the name of his Son which Sarah bare unto him Isaac and Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being Eight days old as God commanded him And so had John Baptist his name given to Him at his circumcision Luk. 1.59 and so had our Saviour Luk. 2.21 When 8 days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child his name was called Jesus which was so named of the Angel before he was conceived in the Womb. 3. As often as we mention or think of our names we should as much as possible call to mind our Baptismal Covenant viz. To be Christs faithful servants to our lives end and hereof St. Pauls text 2 Tim. 3.19 may serve for a good Paraphrase Let every one that nameth the name of Christ or upon whom the name of Christ is called in that he is called a Christian depart from iniquity Q. Seeing then you received both these in Baptism I ask you what is Baptism as it is in this place offered to your Consideration A. It is one of the Seals of the new Covenant Catechist Such was Circumcision and therefore such is Baptism that succeeds it Rom. 4.11 Abrahams circumcision was to Him a seal of the Righteousness of Faith which He had being Vncircumcised Q. What Covenant do you mean A. The same which God made with Adam after his fall in those words The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head and which he afterwards renewed at several times to Gods people by the Patriarchs and Prophets and at last Ratified in Christs blood called the Covenant of Grace Catechist This Covenant as made with Adam as the common parent and Representative of all mankind you have in Gen 3.15 and as it was renewed to Abraham you have Gen. 12.3 and 22.18 In thee in thy Seed i. e. in Christ as St. Paul explains it Gal. 3.8 shall all Families of the earth be blessed Which Covenant was afterwards renewed or new revealed in other words to Jacob Gen. 49.10 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah till Shilo come by Moses Deut. 18.15 A Prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you of your Brethren like unto me him shall ye hear by David by Isaiah Jeremy and the rest of the Prophets too many to recite particularly here and still in every age it was more clearly revealed then the former until the Seed came the Mediator of this covenant and ratified and established it by his Blood It will be of great Use to you Good Children if you can reach to understand thus much much more if you can attain a competent practical knowledge of the terms of this Covenant as your Catechism well understood may instruct you I ask you therefore Q. How many parts are there in this Covenant A. Two Gods part and ours Catechist For so it is in all Covenants which being between parties it obligeth them both to their respective parts and neither of them can expect the benefit of the Covenant without his own performance of what belongs to him Q. What then is Gods part or what doth God promise in the Covenant of Grace A. Forgiveness of Sins Sanctifying Grace and Eternal Life Q. How doth your Catechism express these A. It shews what Benefits we receive by Baptism to wit that of limbs of Satan we are therein made members of Christ Of Children of Wrath and of the Devil we are therein made Children of God and of heirs of Hell we become inheritors of the Kingdom of heaven Catechist These are great things Good Children for you to learn and having learnt them I beseech you do your best to consider them and see how all are grounded in the plain words of Holy Scripture Of Limbs of Satan as the Head and Father of all wicked ones we are by Baptisme made members of Christ Members you all know relate to a Body Now the Church is the Body whereof Christ is the Head and by Baptism we are made members of the Church which is the Mystical Body of Christ For Baptism is the Sacrament of Admission into the Church as the Lords Supper is the Sacrament of nourishment in the Church 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit we are all baptized into one body whether Jew or Gentile 2. Whereas we are all by nature Children of wrath one as well as other Ephes 2.3 By Baptism we are born anew of water and the spirit John 3.5 and so have the power and dignity or priviledge to be called the Children of God by Regeneration as well as by Adoption for John 1.12 To as many as received him to them gave be power to become the Sons of God even as many as believed in his name and professed that belief by being Baptized Gal. 3.26 27. Ye are all the children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ And from hence they may call God Father saying Our Father which art in heaven witness what Christ said to his Disciples John 20.17 I ascend to my Father and your Father and from hence they are brethren to Christ for Heb. 2.11 He is not ashamed to call them Brethren And being thus children and sons of God they are 3. By Baptism made Heirs of his Kingdom
or renounce your Baptism as many do A. Then shall I be much worse for being Baptized This Apostacy will aggravate my Damnation Catechist True for as Matth. 10.21 He only that endureth to the end shall be saved so Matth. 12.40 Wo unto them whose latter end is worse than their beginning who as the Apostle Heb. 10.30 expresseth Apostacy draw back to the perdition of their Souls Q. What means must you then use to prevent this A. I will pray continually that God will give me his Grace that I may continue in the same unto my lives end Catechist And I beseech and exhort you Good Children learn thus to pray betimes and exercise your selves in prayer daily in some or other good forms of prayer for this great thing that you may continue in Christs words and so be his Disciples indeed John 8.29 Ask and seek and knock as your Saviour teacheth you by prayer by continual prayer and he assures you then of the help of his Holy Spirit to enable you to keep your Baptismal Vow that having entred into the way of life you shall never forsake it and of this he assures you by an excellent similitude which you cannot chuse but understand Luk. 11.13 If your natural parents be ready to give you bread and clothing and all good things you stand in need of upon your begging them How much more will your Heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit to them that ask it Q. What are the General Heads of Catechism A. The Creed the Decalogue the Lords prayer and the Doctrine of the Sacraments Catechist I would bespeak you in St. Peters words you and the whole Congregation 2 Pet. 1.2 13. I say unto you I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things although I may hope many of you know them already and are established in the Truth For even they that know them already have yet great need to be put continually in remembrance of them and therefore I think it not only meet but also necessary to stir you up by putting you in remembrance of them as long as I am in this Tabernacle as long as I live that you may be always thinking of them and never forget them Credenda Agenda Oranda What you must believe what you must do and practice and what you must pray for and Gods Covenant and Promises sealed to you in the Sacraments these are the great things in Christian Doctrine necessary to be known that you may be saved and upon these four General Heads depend all the Questions in your Catechism Either by way of Introduction shewing you when by whose means upon what terms and conditions you became Christians together with the great Benefits that belong to you as Christians if your conversations be such as becomes the Gospel and the Profession of Christianity and those things you have had and I hope have learnt in our Explanation of the four first Questions and their Answers or else they serve to Connect and joyn together the great Doctrines taught you in the Catechism in an orderly Method for the help of your Memories or to help you to a clear and full understanding of them To come then to the main points to be learnt by Catechism I ask you in the first place Q. Why is the Creed the first part of Catechism A Because to believe aright is the very ground work of all Religion and then must I shew my believing heartily by my good works of Obedience Catechist Yea so it is certainly A right belief is the Foundation of Religion Thereforewhen the Jaylor asked Paul and Silas Act. 16.31 Sirs what shall I do to be saved To this they directed him in the first place Believe in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved thou and thine house But then it is a lesson I would take all occasions to teach you That there is no resting in a dead Faith without good works of Obedience And for this time I only offer to you for proof hereof the tenour of our Saviours Commission to his Apostles when he sent them forth to convert the world Matth. 28.19 20. He bad them whomsoever they should by Baptism admit into the Church and the Confession of Christianity to teach them to observe all things whatsoever he had commanded them And you have an eminent instance of the necessary Conjunction of Obedience with Faith in that grand Doctrine of Christianity that of the Trinity into which we are expresly Baptized as the next Questions and their Answers instruct you Q. Which is the great Fundamental in the Faith of Christians A. The Doctrine of the Trinity that is to believe in God the Father as Creator in God the Son as Redeemer and in God the Holy Ghost as Sanctifier This is the Grand Mystery in Christianity Catechist In my mind your Church-Catechism propounds this Doctrine with a very becoming Gravity and no man can deny this Doctrine so propounded but he must withall deny and reject plain Scripture Q. In the first place then Rehearse the Articles of thy Beliefe A. I Believe in God c. Q. What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy Belief A. First I learn to believe in God the F. c. Catechist Whosoever will own himself a Christian He must profess his Christian Faith in this tenor To believe in God first as Creator who made me and all the world according to that 1 Cor. 8.6 To us there is but one God the Father of all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him 2 In God the Son our L. Jesus Christ as Redeemer who redeemed me and all Mankind For 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 2.5 6. There is one God and one Mediator between God and man The man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all to be testified in due time 3 In God the Holy Ghost as Sanctifier who Sanctifieth me and all the elect people of God For 2 Thes 2.13 Whosoeve are chosen to Salvation it is through Sanctification of the spirit and belief of the Truth Now you are taught in your Answer to my next Question what an influence this Doctrine of the Trinity hath to good life and obedience if it be believed aright and I shall have occasion hereafter to prove every particular in it by the Scriptures For the present therefore I shall content my self with hearing you rehearse it Q. In what manner must we believe in these persons A. So as to pay each person his respective Duty for example to love fear and serve God the Father as my great Creator and most Gracious preserver To trust in God the Son and obey his Gospel as my only Lord and Saviour and to follow the motions and directions of God the Holy Ghost and to make Use of his Grace and
Assistance as my Guide and Sanctifier and Comforter Catechist That you may well understand your Belief as a Christian and particularly what you profess to believe of each person in the Blessed Trinity and every word in it I ask you in the first place Q. Why do you say I Believe rather than we or they believe A. Because Though the prayers of others may avail much yet every man must be saved by his own Faith Catechist And Think not sleightly of this lesson for it levels directly against the Papists implicite Faith We are often taught to pray for one another saying Our Father which art in Heaven Give us and forgive us c. as S. James saith chap. 5.6 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much i. e. for others as well as for himself for of such prayer he there speaks But no man can believe for any but himself Habak 2.4 By his Faith shall the just live i.e. lead his life here according to Gods will revealed in his word and so be saved at last for ever So is every one therefore by his Creed taught to say not we believe for others but I Believe for himself as the man in the Gospel whose Son was dumb Mat. 9.17 23. Lord I believe Lord help mine unbelief Q. In whom dost thou believe A. In God only Catechist Believing in is more then bare believing for besides Credence or Assent it implies Trust and Affiance and is a Divine Honour proper to God only and therefore we say in the Creed I believe in God we do not say alike I believe in the Holy Gatholick Church but I believe the Holy Catholick Church For Cursed is the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the Lord Jer. 17.5 And therefore Christ avoucheth himself to be God when he said John 14.1 Ye believe in God believe also in me Q. What is it to believe in God A. To believe there is a God and to believe that what God saith is undoubtedly true and to depend upon him in Hope for the accomplishment of his promises Catechist The First Principle in Religion against Atheists is that there is a God Heb. 11.6 He that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him And the next Principle is the certainty of his Word That it is as Gold tryed seven times in the fire Psal 12.6 For Numb 23.19 He is not as man that he should lie Luk. 16.17 It is easier for heaven and earth to pass than one jot or tittle of his Word to fail And then from these we infer the safety of trusting in him for the fulfilling of his promises For Heb. 11.23 Faithful is he that hath promised who also will perform We may therefore take up the Prophet Micahs words chap. 4.5 All people walk every one in the name of his God But we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever Q. How many Gods are there A. One God only therefore I profess to believe in God Singularly and not in Gods Catechist You know what the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 8.4 The Heathens have Gods many and Lords many but we know they are all but Idels and an Idol is nothing and therefore to us Christians There is no other God but One Eph. 4.6 One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Q. How is this One God distinguished A. Into three Persons God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost Catechist These three Persons in the Godhead were apparently distinguished in Christs Baptism at the river Jordan For the Father spake from heaven saying This is my Beloved Son and the H. Ghost descended upon him like a Dove And so are they manifestly distinguished in our Baptism For we are expresly Baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost And S. John 1 Ep. 5.7 affirms both the distinction of the persons and their Unity of Essence saying There be three that bear record in Heaven The Father the Word and the spirit and these three are one More I need not to say of this great Mysterious Doctrine at this time whoso would better understand it let him study the Creed of S. Athanasius Let us now see what the Apostles Creed teacheth us to believe of each person in this Blessed Trinity Q. What dost thou believe of the First person A. That he is God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth Q. God the Father whose Father is he A. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and ours in him Catechist Christ is the only begotten Son of God Joh. 1.14 And by this Title is God especially owned and honoured by us Christians Rom. 15.6 We are with one mind and one mouth to glorifie God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ And then God is our Father and we are his Sons by Adoption in Christ 1 John 3 1. Behâ—ld what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed up nâ—w that we should be called the Sons of God For Eph. 1.5 We are predestinated to the Adoption of Children by Christ Jesus And as to his Sons He hath appointed us an Inheritance For Rom. 8.11 If Sons then heirs Heirs of God joynt heirs with Christ Q. What is God A. A most pure Spirit a Being absolutely perfect Catechist We have this definition of God from Christs own mouth John 4.24 God is a spirit having no bodily parts or members or passions and all whatsoever perfections and excellencies are in him and derived from him Q. What is the great Attribute of God A. Omnipotency or Almightiness that is that he can do whatever pleaseth him Catechist So speaks the Psalmist Ps 135.6 Whatsoever the Lord pleaseth That doth he in Heaven and in Earth and in all deep places And hence Job said ch 42.2 I know that thou canst do every thing For in his hand saith Jehoshaphat 1 Chron. 20.6 is such power and might that none is able to withstand Q. What other Essential Attributes are there of God besides Almightiness A. Eternity that he neither hath beginning nor will have an end Immutability that he changeth not Omnipresence that he is in all places Omniscience that he sees all things and knows them perfectly And the most perfect Goodness and Holiness that he is neither Author nor approver of evil Catechist Let these Scriptures sink into your hearts for all these Eternity for so the Heavenly Congregation sing Rev. 4.8 Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty which was and which is and which is to come Immutability Jam. 1.10 He is the Father of Lights with whom is no variableness nor shaddow of turning Heb. 13.8 He is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Omnipresence for Am I a God at hand saith the Lord and not a God afar of Jer. 23.24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I should
gives hereof 1 Thes 2.3 That day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night for when men shall say peace and safety then cometh sudden destruction upon them as travel upon a woman with child and they shall not escape Matth. 25.31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory with his Holy Angels then shall he sit in his Throne of Glory and before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats And he shall set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left Then shall the King say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father c. But ver 41. To them on his left hand He will say Depart from me ye cursed c. And ver 46. These shall go into Everlasting punishment but the Righteous into Life Eternal Q. What use are we to make of these several parts of Christs Exaltation A. To rise again with Christ unto all newness of life to set our affections on things above where Christ is To serve him with fear because all power is given him and to judge ourselves daily and to watch over all our thoughts words and actions as they that must give account thereof at Christs tribunal Catechist All these the Scripture splainly teach us Rom. 6.4 We are buried with Christ by Baptism that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of his Father even so we also should walk in newness of life And this is the proper use to be made of Christs Resurrection for it follows there having been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also planted together in the likeness of his Resurrection Col. 3.1 If ye be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ is set at the Right hand of God This is the use we are to make of Christs Ascension and sitting at the Right hand of God In short Psal 2.11 Serve the Lord with fear kiss the Son lest he be angry and so ye perish if his wrath be kindled yea but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him And that is a Meditation very proper for that whole Exaltation of Christ that is past already and then let what is to come be always in our minds even his coming to judgment That judging ourselves we may not be judged of the Lord 1 Cor. 11.31 And seeing all these things shall be then dissolved let us seriously consider as St. Peter 2 Ep. 3.11 admonisheth us What manner of persons we ought to be in all manner of Conversation and Godliness Thus have you what the Creed teacheth you concerning the two first persons in the blessed Trinity The Father and the Son now Q. What dost thou believe concerning the Third Person A. I believe that he is God the Holy Ghost Proceeding from the Father and the Son One with them Holy in himself and the Author of all Holiness in us Catechist I shall further explain to you and prove the several parts of this Answer in the following Questions and their answers I ask you then Q. Is not the Father a Spirit and was not the Son also a pure Spirit before he took our nature upon him A. Yes But the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son inspired or proceeding from them both Catechist True and from hence he is called the spirit of the Father Matth. 10.20 And the spirit of the Son Gal. 4.6 And as the Father sent the spirit John 14.26 So the Son promised his Disciples to send the spirit when he left them to the wide world John 15.26 When the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father He shall testifie of me Q. Is the Holy Ghost God A. Yes He is One with and Equal to the Father and the Son Catechist Being one with and equal to them he must necessarily be God very God For being three persons they are but one God 1 John 5.7 There are three that bear record in Heaven The Father the Word and the Spirit and these three are One. Besides which plain Text to prove the Divinity of the Holy Ghost There is one General Argument which is not hard to learn or remember for arming yourselves against all such Hereticks as deny the Holy Ghost to be God as well as our Saviour The name of God the Attributes of God the Works of God and the Honours which belong to God alone are ascribed to the Holy Ghost Therefore the Holy Ghost is God Particularly we are all Baptized as in the name of the Father and of the Son so in the name of the Holy Ghost And here in the Creed we profess to believe in the Holy Ghost as well as as in God the Father and in Jesus Christ the only Son of God And believing in is an honour peculiar to God We may not believe in any Creature in any but God For it implies Trust and Affiance and Jer. 17.5 Cursed is he that trusts in any Arm of flesh To name only one Text more Act. 5.3 When Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Ghost concerning the price of their lands they are expressly said to lie to God and not to men Therefore the Holy Ghost is God Q Why is he called the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost A. Being Holy in himself he Sanctifies us and all our Holiness is his work he is the Author of all Holiness in us Catechist Holiness is his Essential Attribute and Sanctification or making us Holy is his proper Work And hence we read of the Sanctification of the Spirit 1 Thes 2.13 and of the renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 And hereby he seals us to the day of Redemption Ephes 4.30 Q. By what means doth the spirit Sanctifie us A. The Holy Scriptures were written by men inspired by the spirit and he daily enlightens converts sanctifies and comforts our souls by them in the Ministry of the Word Q. What must we then do that the spirit may Sanctifie us A. We must highly esteem and constantly attend Gods Holy Ordinances and obey all the Holy Spirit 's godly motions in our hearts Catechist The Spirit moves in these waters as in the Pool of Bethesda to heal the diseases of our Souls and we are therefore warned to take heed that we do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God Ephes 4.30 nor quench the spirit 1 Thes 5.19 Which is done as by any willful gross sin so by despising prophecying 1 Thes 1.20 by slighting neglecting or making light of any of Gods Holy Ordinances Thus have you what the Creed teaches you to believe concerning the Holy Ghost also and so concerning all the Persons in the Blessed Trinity Proceed we then to what it teacheth concerning the Church Q. Who are they that shall receive any benefit
by Christs Redemption and the Spirit 's Sanctification A. Only the Holy Catholick Church that is such as in any age or place are called to Faith and Repentance and do evidence the truth of a lively Faith and true Repentance by constant Obedience to Gods Will revealed in his Word Q. What mean you by a Church A. The Company of the Faithful that is such as are called to Faith and Repentance Catechist Neither can the Pope nor any one particular Person upon Earth be truly called the Church For it is a Company a Body consisting of many members And hence Christ calls it a flock though it be a little flock in comparison of the whole world that lyes in wickedness Luk. 12.32 Fear not little flock for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom And St. Peter 2 Ep. 2.9 useth these Plural and Collective words calling the Church a chosen generation a Royal Priesthood an Holy nation a peculiar people Caetus Vocatorum It is a Company of called ones such as are called out of the world to forsake its sinful ways and Customs to profess Repentance from dead works and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ Of which calling S. Paul saith 2 Tim. 1.9 They are called with an Holy calling Rom. 1.7 Called to be Saints In a word 2 Thes 2.13 They are called as well as chosen to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the Truth Q. What signifies this word Catholick A. It is a Greek word and is as much as Universal Q. What mean you by believing the Church to be Catholick or Vniversal Q. That Gods Church is not now confined to any one place or people as it was under the Old Testament but all that are called in any Age or Place are now of the Catholick Church being United into one Mystical body Catechist Under the Old Testament Psal 76.1 2. In Judah was God known His name was great in Israel Jerusalem was his Tabernacle and his dwelling place was in Sion Psal 147.19 10. He shewed his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel He dealt not so with any Other nation neither had the Heathen knowledge of his Law But now under the Gospel or New Testament The partition wall between Jew and Gentile being by Christs Death broken down Both are become one sheepfold under one Shepherd And according to Gods promise to Christ Ps 2.8 The Heathen are given to him for an Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for a possession So that now Act. 10.34 35. God is no Accepter of persons But in every nation He that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him And hence S. John saith Rev. 7.9 That he in his vision beheld and loe a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the throne and before the Lamb clothed with white robes Crying with a loud voice Salvation to our God that sitteth on the throne and to the Lamb for ever Q. Who is the Head of this Mystical Body the Catholick Church A. No man living but Christ only Catechist It is pride and presumption in the Pope to claim this Honour which belongs to Christ alone For Eph. 5.23 He alone is Head of the Church who is the Saviour of the Body Col. 1.18 He is the Head of the Body the Church Who is the beginning the first born from the dead that in all things he might have the preeminence For it pleaseth the Father that in him all fulness should dwell Q. Hath God always had a Church on Earth A. Yes and will have to the end of the world it can never be destroyed utterly Catechist It was Christs promise to his Disciples and in them to his Church All that through them should afterwards believe in his name To be with them alway to the end of the world Matth. 28.20 And he said Matth. 16.18 Vpon this Rock that is the Truth confessed by St. Peter there That he was the Christ the Son of the Living God upon this rock would he build his Church and the Gates of Hell should not prevail against it i. e. quite destroy or root it out of the world Q. Can any one Church as that of Rome call it self the Catholick Church in opposition to other Churches A. No no more than Rome can be called the whole world Catechist Rome is at the best but one Member of the Catholick Church of Christ and can no more properly be called the Catholick Church than either It or any one Particular place can be called the whole World Q. Is Christs Church always visible upon Earth A. That of sincere Christians is invisible That of all Christian professors is visible Catechist The Church Visible is the Light of the world and a City set upon an Hill which cannot be hid Mat. 5.14 It is alway visible at least to them that are of it and profess Christianity But sometimes it may be so persecuted as to flee like the woman into the Wilderness where she hath a place prepared for her for that time of persecution Rev. 12.6 and then it is not so visible as to be glorious and to prosper and flourish in the eyes of the world Q. Why is Christs Church said to be Holy an Holy Church A. Because of its better part sincere Christians in it and because of its Holy Ordinances and Gods commands and our profession of true Holiness Catechist 1 Pet. 2.9 It is an Holy Nation a peculiar people Rev. 21.2 It 's an Holy City the new Jerusalem Not but that there is a mixture of good and bad godly and prophane in the Church for our Saviour compares the Church which he calls the Kingdom of heaven Matth. 13.24 to a field wherein tares grow up with the wheat And ver 47. to a draw-net that incloseth both good fish and bad with divers others of the like Nature But the Church is Holy as for its Holy things so because all its members do or should profess Holiness it is a company or Congregation of men who are called with an holy calling or Vocation 2 Tim. 1.9 For every man that nameth the name of Christ or on whom the name of Christ is called being called Christian is bound to depart from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 Q. But who then are they that are truly Holy A. Such as believe aright and live answerably such as evidence the truth of a lively Faith and Unfeigned Repentance by constant Obedience to Gods Will revealed in his Word Catechist So I have often told you for St. James 2.18 saith Shew me thy Faith by thy works And he there argues it at large that good Works of Obedience are the only things that can evidence a mans Faith to be true and alive and not dead or no better than that Faith of Devils who believe and tremble Q. What duties doth our believing the Holy Catholick Church oblige us all to
Restitution we have one in the Old Testament Neh. 5.11 12 13. He in his Reforming the people caused them to restore the money and the corn which they had exacted of one another And another in the New Testament Zaccheus Luk. 19.8 who upon his Conversion promised if he had wronged any man by false accusation he would restore fourfold In short the Apostles precept reacheth this matter Rom. 13.7 Render to all their Dues For whatever thou hast wronged any man of it is his Due It is his though in thy hands and possession and thou art bound in justice to give or render to every man his Due or what is his Q. Do not they also transgress this Commandment who are idle and will not labour in an honest Calling or who are prodigal and wast their Estates and Earnings A. Yes They are Thieves to their Families who either provide not for them or spend all they have upon their Lusts Catechist I have before told you of the Apostles most severe Censure of such men as are careless of their Families 1 Tim. 5.8 If any man provide not for them of his own household He hath denied the Faith and is worse than an Infidel And I appeal to every one here if it be not the same case for a man vainly to wast what should maintain his wife and children and piss that against the walls which should be bread and clothing to their backs and bellies May these things then serve to help you to Understand this Eight Commandment Q. What doth the Ninth Commandment Thou shalt not bear false witness require A. To speak the truth on all occasions and to endeaâ—â—ur to preserve and maintain and promotâ—â—â—ine own and my Neighbours Credit or good Name Catechist I would have you here recollect the scope and purport of the three last Commandments For in the Sixth Commandment God takes care to secure your Neighbours life and person in the Seventh his chastity and the chastity of his Relatives in the Eight his worldly Goods and properties and Estate And here what is as dear to him as any of the other his credit good Name and Reputation In General Truth in speech is required by this Commandment which is one part of the Answer to that necessary Inquiry Who shall dwell in Gods Tabernacle who shall inhabit his Holy Hill Psal 15.1 2. He that speaketh the truth to his Neighbour Putting away lying therefore saith the Apostle Eph. 4.25 speak ye every man the truth for we are members one of another And in special we must in all our speeches have a just care of our Neighbours good Name and Repute For Rom. 13.10 Love worketh no ill to his Neighbour in any kind especially not in his good Name which is the best thing he hath in this world better than a most pretious oyntment Eccl. 7.3 And to be chosen rather than great riches and loving favour than silver and gold Prov. 22.1 Q. What then are the sins forbidden by this Commandment according to your Catechism A. Evil speaking as well as false speaking lying and standering and also rash judging talebearing and wispering lies much more bearing false witness before a Magistrate Catechist Ye shall not steal nor deal falsely nor lye one to another are the words of Gods Law â—â—v 19.11 And therefore A righteous man hateth lying Prov. 13.5 For A proud look lying lips an heart that deviseth abominations and him that soweth discord amonâ—â—rethren a false witness that speaketh lyes these are â—hose Seven things which God hateth yea they arâ— abomination to him Prov. 6.16 17 18 19. So that a false witness shall not be unpunished and he that speaketh lyes shall not escape Good Children take my Councel treasure up these and the like Texts in your hearts and Memories And think of what S. John saith expressly Rev. 22.15 Without that is without the heavenly Jerusalem shall be dogs even Sorcerers Whoremongers Idolaters with whom are ranked every one that loveth and maketh a lye This is hugely aggravated if it be a lye upon solemn Oath in bearing Witness or Testimony before a Magistrate for this perverteth publick Justice and Judgment and misleads both Judge and Jurors to a false sentence or verdict This is expresly forbidden in the Letter of this Commandment But I pray learn further it is not only lying and false speaking that you must avoid by this Commandment but also all evilspeaking as your Catechism teacheth you Put them in mind saith the Apostle to Titus 3.1 2. and in him to all Ministers to speak evil of no man to be no brawlers c. Not rendring evil for evil or railing for railing saith S. Peter 1 Ep. 3.9 For Our Saviour left us an example that we should follow his steps chap. 2.21 Who when he was reviled reviled not again ver 23. St. Paul therefore joyns these together 1 Tim. 6.4 Envy strife railings evil surmisings as coming from pride and strife of words So is evil surmisings a great fault and from thence rash judging and censuring For Christ saith Mat. 7.1 2. Judge not that you be not judged for with what measure thou metest out to another it shall be measured to thee again And S. James saith chap. 4.11 Speak not evil one of another brethren He that speaketh evil of his brother and judgeth his brother speaketh evil of the Law and judgeth the Law To this may be added talebearing a thing expresly forbidden by God himself in his Law Lev. 19.16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among my people A thing Solomon often declaims against Prov. 18.8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds and go down into the inner parts of the belly Chap. 11.13 A talebearer revealeth secrets but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter And therefore he imputeth the Continuance of strife among men to these chap. 26.20 Where there is no wood there the fire goeth out so where there is no talebearer the strife ceaseth And by Consequence where such are it continueth It is therefore excellent councel which the Son of Sirach gives Ecclus. 19.6 Whether it be to friend or foe talk not of other mens lives and if thou canst without offence reveal them not look the place at large and also chap. 21.25 26. In short I exhort you Beloved often to read what S. James saith at large in his Epistle of the Government of the tongue that unruly member and always to remember and carry in your minds the Rule S. Peter 1 Ep. 3.10 gives out of the 34. Psalm ver 12. What man is he that desires life and to see good days Let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile Let him eschew evil and do good let him seek peace and ensue it Q. May we in no Case tell a lye no not for the better A. No for all lies are of the Devil and we must not do evil that good may come of it Catechist
for others also Catechist Therefore observe as the latter petitions run not Give me but give us not Forgive me but forgive us so this and the two following petitions run in the third person and two of them in the Passive voice It is here not let me nor yet let us only Hallow thy name but Hallowed be thy name so that as on the one hand Our prayers should answer our duties which in this case is to glorifie God with our whole man in heart word and deed so do they on the other hand answer Gods promises and that is a full one in the P. Malachi to this purpose chap. 1.11 From the rising of the Sun even to the going down of the same Gods name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place incense and a pure offering shall be given to his Name Go on then to the next petition Thy Kingdom come Q. What is implied in this petition Thy Kingdom come A. That we and all men are by nature under the bondage and Dominion of sin and Satan and that we are not of ourselves able to rescue ourselves from them Catechist We are by nature not only of our Father the Devil doing his will as Christ told the Jews because his works we do Joh. 8.44 but we are also his Subjects nay his Vassals and Bondslaves For 2 Pet. 2.19 Of whom a man is overcome of the same he is brought in bendage Rom. 7.14 We are sold under sin Eph. 2.2 The Prince of the power of the Air is the Spirit that ruleth in all the Children of disobedience He ruleth in them by sin reigning in them For Rom. 6.16 His Servants we are to whom we obey whether of sin unto death or of Obedience unto righteousness Q. What desirest thou therefore of God in this petition A. That God would rescue us from the Dominion of sin and Satan and that his Kingdom of Grace may take place in us and that God would fit us for and hasten his Kingdom of Glory Q. How doth your Catechism express this A. I desire God to send his Grace to me and to all people that we may serve him as we ought to do Catechist In respect of the former branch of your Answer that God would rescue us from the Dominion of sin and Satan in us and that his Kingdom of Grace may take place and be rooted in us I conceive this petition is equivalent to what the Apostle declares to be the design of the Gospel in the world Act. 26.18 That God would open mens eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive for giveness of Sins and an inheritance among them that are Sanctified by faith that is in Christ Jesus or it is just what Zacharias hath in his Song Luk. 1.74 That God would grant unto us and unto all men that being delivered from the hands of our Enemies Our spiritual Enemies We and they may all serve him in Holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives And then in respect of the latter Gods fittting us for and hastning his Kingdom of Glory this petition may receive Light from that promise of Christ Rev. 22.20 Surely I come quickly for thereunto we are directed to say from the bottom of our hearts even so Come Lord Jesus Come quickly For that is the great thing which we Christians should love and look and long for even his appearing as may be seen in diverse Texts Particularly Titus 1.13 and 2.12 13. Q What is implied in the third petition Thy Will be done A. That we are naturally apt to do the Will of the Devil the World and the flesh but to rebel against Gods Will of Commandment and to murmur at his Will of Providence Catechist There is a twofold Will of God what he commandeth in his word and What he ordereth in his Providence And by corrupt nature we rebell against hoth especially the former being prene to all evil and averse to all good conceived in sin and born in iniquity Ps 51.5 Having our understandings darkned and being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in us because of the blindness of our hearts Q. What desirest thou therefore of God in this petition A. That we may be both able and willing to obey his Will revealed in his Word and in all things submit to his Providence Q. How is this expressed in your Catechism A. I desire God to send his grace to me and to all people that we may obey him as we ought to do Catechist That is that we may follow Christs example herein who said Ps 40.8 I am content to do thy will O God yea thy law is in my heart And for his works of Providence that we may with Holy David when any evil happens to us from the Lord lay our hands upon our mouths and say nothing that is not repine or murmur at what God doth because it is Gods doing For in all cross accidents and occurrences we should see Gods hands as Job did chap. 1.21 The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. Q. How ought we to obey him A. As they do it in Heaven Q. What means that clause in Earth as it is in Heaven A. Therein I desire that we may obey Gods Will with that sincerity chearfulness and constancy wherewith the Angels do it in Heaven though we cannot with the same perfection Catechist You remember how the Psalmist describes those Heavenly Inhabitants Ps 103.20 Bless the Lord ye his Angels that excel in strength that fulfil his Will or Commandment hearkning to the voice of his word And from thence they have the name of Seraphims from their Alacrity and Zeal in Glorifying God and doing his Will and pleasure For God made them ministring spirits to minister to them that shall be heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 And such is their zeal and fervency herein that they are said to be a flame of fire That therefore is our prayer in this petition that God would inspire us with the like fervency chearfulness and constancy in our Obedience So much for those petitions that relate to Gods glory Now follow those that relate to our own temporal and Spiritual Benefit Q. What is implied in the fourth petition Give us this day our daily Bread A. That no man can maintain himself by all his own care and labour without the Blessing of God upon both Catechist Our Saviour saith Matth. 6.32 That Our Heavenly Father knoweth that we have need of these things that is somewhat to eat and somewhat to drink and somewhat to put on food and raiment These bodies of ours must have their proper aliment and cannot subsist without them From whence Solomon saith The bread of the needy is his life He that withholds it from him is a man of blood But these things so needful we cannot get by all our labours without
the Lord. Catechist I shall reduce this Question and Answer to these that follow for your better understanding their importance Q. What are the ordinary means of Grace and Salvation A. The Word Prayer and Sacraments Catechist Hence we call them Ordinances Now for the word of God read or preacht or the Reading and Preaching thereof by lawful Mininisters set apart and ordained to this Holy Function by those that have Authority in the Church to send forth labourers into the Vineyard for these I say being Gods Ordinances or ordinary means of mens Salvation it is plainly proved by divers Texts particularly that of the Apostle Rom. 1.16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to Salvation to every one that believeth whether Jew or Gentile Therefore he told the Jews Act. 13.26 That to them the word of this Salvation is sent And by the Gospels being published to the Gentiles he saith Rom. 11.11 That Salvation was come to the Gentiles And hence his charge to his Son Timothy 1 Ep. 4.16 Take heed to thy self and to thy doctrine continue in them for in so doing thou shalt save thy self and them that hear thee And it is an excellent place in S. James 1.21 Lay apart all filthiness and superfluity os naughtiness and receive with meekness the ingrafted word which is able to save your Souls And for both the Word and Prayer being such ordinances for mens Salvation there seems to be no less than a Demonstration in Rom. 10.13 14. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved But how shall they call on him in whom they have not believed or how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher And to shew that we can have no grounds to hope for Salvation by hearing any but lawfully ordained Ministers it follows How shall they preach unless they be sent Lastly for the Sacraments being ordinary means of mens Salvation what can be more express than our Saviours words for Baptism John 3.5 Verily verily I say unto you except a man be born again of water and of the spirit be cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved For the Apostle saith Gal. 3.27 As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ And he calls it therefore Tit. 3.5 The Laver or washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost And St. Peter saith expresly 1 Ep. 3.21 The like Figure whereunto speaking of Noahs Ark wherein he with Eight Souls was saved in the Deluge even Baptism doth now save us and for the Lords Supper being an Ordinance for mens Salvation as it is evident by the Rule of Contraries for if He that eats and drinks unworthily not discerning the Lords Body eats and drinks his own damnation 1 Cor. 11.29 then he that eats and drinks worthily discerning the Lords body eats and drinks his Salvation so Our Saviour spake punctually hereof Joh. 6.53 54. Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of God and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my Blood hath eternal Life and I will raise him up at the last day I have been the larger in proving all these to be Gods ordinances to save mens Souls that you may see good Children what cause you have to abhor the Quakers Sect as damnable Hereticks who utterly reject nay even make a mock at them especially both the Sacraments Know therefore in doing so they reject and despise the manifest Ordinances of God and certain it is that as for us Ministers in the Dispensation of the Word and Prayer and Sacraments consists that whole Ministration which we have received of the Lord for the Salvation of men so for you the people I speak in the Apostles words Heb. 2.3 How shall ye escape if ye neglect so great Salvation which at first began to be spoken by the Lord himself and was confirmed to the world by them that heard him and by them whom they Commissioned for it such as Timothy and Titus it was Committed to other faithful men from age to age successively able to teach others also 2 Tim. 2.2 Let us then go on Q. Who ordained the Sacraments A. Jesus Christ Catechist It is not in the Churches power to ordain new Sacraments it belongs only to God and his Son Christ Jesus For the Covenant is Gods and therefore it is his Prerogative to ordain Sacraments to be Seals of the Covenant And who but he can either give the Grace signified by the outward Signs or Elements or can punish the unworthy Receivers of them or such as be unfaithful to their part of the Covenant made and renewed in them Q. How many Sacraments then did Christ ordain A. Two only as generally necessary to Salvation Q. Why do you hold two Sacraments and no more A. Those other five which the Papists account Sacraments viz. Orders Confirmation Extreme Unction Penance and Matrimony answer not the Definition of a Sacrament for they neither were all ordained by Christ nor have they any visible sign representing some Spiritual Grace nor any promise to make them Seals of Grace and pardon unto us Catechist It is apparent Christ ordained two Sacraments Matth. 28.19 Go teach and baptize all nations in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and that his mind was that this should continue always in his Church is manifest from his promise and Loe I will be with you and your Successors so teaching and baptizing alway to the end of the world And for the Lords Supper Christs Institution thereof is to be seen in the Holy Gospel and it is as fully recited by St. Paul 1 Cor. 11. as by any of them ver 23. What I have received of the Lord that have I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night that he was betrayed took bread and brake it and gave it to them all saying ver 25. This do in remembrance of me in like manner he took the Cup c. and that it was his mind that this also should be a standing perpetual Memorial of himself in his Church appears ver 26. As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew forth the Lords death till he come that is to Judgement even till the end of the world These are plain Texts against the Anabaptists Catabaptists and Quakers who clearly abolish both these Sacraments But no apperance of any such Texts is there for the other five added to these two in the Romish Church I need but give you an abstract of what the Article of our Church saith that for Penance as the Papists use it and Extreme Unction they are no better than cortupt imitations of the Apostles without any shew of warrant for so-doing And others of them as Orders and Matrimony are states
Apostles and therefore it is presumption and Sacriledge in the Popish Priests to take the Cup from the Laity Catechist It is necessary to teach you this to arm you against Popery The words of the Institution are express Mat. 26.27 Drink ye all of this And S. Mark saith chap. 14.23 They all drank of it Here is both precept and practice against the Church of Romes presumptuous and Sacrilegious robbing the Laity of the Cup. And I may argue with the Apostle Gal. 3.15 Brethren I speak after the manner of men though it be but a mans Testament no man disannulleth or diminisheth or addeth thereto after it be confirmed by his Death And how then dare any mutilate this Sacrament which is the new Testament in Christs blood Now both fully to arm you against the other great Popish Error that of Transubstantiation and also clearly to explain the truth to you I think it needful to offer you these following Questions Q. Is the Substance of Bread and Wine changed by Consecration into the Substance of Christs Body and Blood A. No for we evidently see the Substance of Bread and Wine to remain after Consecration Catechist I told you this before and I must tell you it again that you may take due notice of it They are called Bread and Wine after as well as before Consecration in the Scriptures And our senses tell us plainly and assure us they are still bread and wine that is We see and feel and smell and tast them to be no other but bread and wine and therefore to say they are changed Substantially that is into the Substance of Christs body and blood is as well to bely our sences as the Scriptures Know this therefore what change there is made of or in the Elements by Consecration it is wholly Sacramental not in Substance but in their Use Q. But do not we then feed on Christs body and blood in the Lords Supper A. Yes as truly and really as we do on the Bread and Wine Catechist So your Catechism teacheth you they are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lords Supper and therefore though we Protestants deny the corporeal we yet do not the Real presence of Christs Body and Blood Real it is though spiritual and not at all the less real for its being wholly spiritual And for proof hereof I need but mind you of the Apostles negative questions which hath the force of the strongest Affirmation 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ and the bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ Is it not that is it certainly is so We do here as certainly Communicate of Christs body and blood as we do of the bread and wine if we be worthy Receivers I say if we be worthy Receivers for mark the words of your Church Catechism and out of it answer me the next question Q. Do all that receive the bread and wine feed on Christs body and blood A. No but the faithful only Catechist Your Catechism so expresseth it they are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful If Unbelievers and wicked men do with Judas receive the Signs yet do they receive them only not the things signified by them either Christs body or blood or their saving benefits that is the Remission of their sins increase of Grace or assurance of their Eternal Salvation Matth. 16.25 It is not meet to take the childrens bread and cast it to the dogs Such pearls belong not to Swine nay alas coming unpreparedly and eating and drinking unworthily the Apostle tells them what it is that they verily and indeed receive 1 Cor. 11.29 They eat and drink damnation to themselves not discerning the Lords body Therefore saith Holy Church in her warning to the Communicants excellently If any of you be a blasphemer of God an hinderer or slanderer of his word an Adulterer or be in envy or malice or any other grievous crime Repent ye of your sins or else come not to the Holy Table lest after the taking this Holy Sacrament The Devil enter into you as be entred into Judas and fill you full of all Iniquity and bring you to destruction both of body and of Soul It is then the Faithful only that receive real benefit of this Sacrament and really feed on Christs body and blood Now I ask you Q. Do the faithful feed on Christs body and blood carnally A. No it is after a spiritual manner only Catechist I told you this before and now call upon you to speak it yourselves that it may take deeper impression on you And I prove it by one Text Joh. 6.63 when the Disciples were offended at our Saviours telling them of eating his flesh and drinking his blood He thus explained himself The flesh profiteth nothing it is the spirit that quickneth The words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are life that is they have a spiritual and not a litteral or carnal sence and meaning And when I have asked you one question more I must needs think you have attained a competent understanding of the doctrine of this Sacrament as it is thus far taught you in your Catechism Q. Since we see nothing but bread and wine and since our hands handle and feel and our Tast perceives nothing but bread and wine how can we be sure that we do verily and indeed feed on Christs Body and Blood A. By Faith in the promise of Christ for he called the Bread his body and the Wine his Blood and therefore will undoubtedly with the Signs give the things signified Catechist And this I conceive is the great thing assured us by Christs saying Matth. 26.26 28. This is my Body and This is my Blood the Blood of the New Testament not that the Bread and Wine are at all Transubstantiated into Christs Body and Blood or that the Body and Blood are corporally or carnally in or under the Bread and Wine which is the Lutherans Consubstantiation but we are here assured by our Saviour that with the one God will certainly give the other to all worthy Receivers Christs word will be made good to us if the fault be not in ourselves It is Faith in his word and promise who if he speak the word can create a new world that assures us thereof Of receiving and feeding upon Christs Body and Blood and all the benefits of the Blessed Sacrament Q. What then are the benefits you receive thereby A. The strengthening and refreshing of our Souls by the Body and Blood of Christ as our Bodies are by the Bread and Wine Catechist Consider well this answer and then tell me Q. Do we feed our bodies in the Lords Supper A. No it is a spiritual feast for our Souls only Catechist This is no trifling question but needful as experience shews It is our Souls we come to feed here with