in the New Testament because it was so fully known in the Old that Children were within the Covenant and admitted to the Seal of it That Baptizing them is not a receiving them as Foreigners into the Church of Christ but a more Solemn manifesting them to be so and a witnessing they are Members of Christ who belonged to the Body of his Church before Ephes 2.12 13. Hâ—l 8.6 There needed no new Command to promote an old Practâ—â—e which unless contâ—â—ued I see no great inducement can be offered to perswade a Jew to become Christian Wills against Danvers Second Part p. 36. None of their Priviledges are infringed but ours enlarged the Covenant is unrepealed and Baptism larger than Circumcision as including Females as well as Males as capable Subjects of it 14. The Error of the Anabaptists hath these ill consequences 1. It throws all the World into Heathenism again 2. Makes a Church ever gathering never gathered 3. 1 Cor. 7.14 Makes Children of Turks and Jews equally happy as ours 4. States our Children in the visible Synagogue of Satan by excluding them the visible Church of Christ 5. Gives Parents small hopes of their Salvation by disowning them for Members of Christs Church Mark 16.16 Baxters Infant Church-memb and not esteeming them Believers 6. It may expose to the breach of the sixth and seventh Commandments Q. Why was the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Ordained A. For the continual Remembrance and the Sacrifice of the Death of Christ and the Benâ—sits we receive thereby Q. What things are Considerable in this Answer A. 1. That Christ Offered himself a Sacrifice to God for Mans sins Heb. 5. and 9 Chap. 2. By the Death and Sacrifice of Christ we receive great Benefits 1. Pardon of Sin 2. Peace with God 3. Adoption 4. Gift of Holy Ghost 5. Graces 6. Glory 3. That these Benefits and this Death of Christ ought to be remembred Mat. 26.1 Cor. 11 24. Q. How is the Sacrament a Commemoration of Christs Death A. 1. The Bread and Wine set apart for the Use of the Sacrament denotes Christs separation for the Work of our Redemption the Breads breaking Christs Crucifying its eating our receiving Christ and our Union with him 2. The Wine shews Christs Blood distinct from his Body as shed for us The pouring out the Wine shews the shedding his Blood and our drinking it our applying Christs Blood to cleanse us from sin Q. Why is Christs Death called a Sacrifice A. 1. It was Typified by all the Sacrifices under the Law 2. Christ Offered himself a Sacrifice for us Q. Why is it not yet counted a Sacrifice A. 1. Christ is not again Offered 2. Christ is not ours nor in our power to Offer 3. Heb. 9.25 26. His Offering himself once for all is sufficient Q. What are the outward parts of the Lords Supper A. Bread and Wine which the Lord hath Commanded to be Received Q. Is not the Bread in the Sacrament turned into Christs Body after the words of Consecration since Christ said This is my Body A. No. 1. Gen. 17.10 Exod. 12 Funeral of Mass Brevint against Mass p. 57. Sacraments are spoken in a Figurative sense Circumcision is called the Covenant and the Paschal Lamb the Passover which were but signs of the Covenant And so this is my Body signifieth this is the sign of my Body and our Adversaries grant a Figurative Speech in the use of the Cup where it is said This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood of which the Blood of Christ signified by the Wine was a Seal 2. Transubstantiation against all our Senses We see feel smell taste Bread 3. Then is there no Sacrament because the Sign is destroyed 4. It s Institution iâ— in Remembrance of Christ which implies his Absence 5. It destroys Christs Humanity which cannot be in many places at once 6. It exposeth Christs Body to Rude Accidents our eating him Mice destroying him its moulding and corrupting against Psal 16.10 7. Then the Infidels eating the Bread shall be saved for all eating Christ shall 8. Their Pleas from John 6. unsound Christ spoke there Spiritually nor indeed was the Sacrament then Instituted but some time after a little before his Death 9. Either Christ is in the Sacrament or he is not If in it they Act horrid things to tear Christs Body with their Teeth and if he be not there they Act gross Idolatry in Worshipping a piece of Bread it is a madness to eat our God or adore what we eat in the Heathens account 16 10. It was Confirmed but in the Year 1215. after Christ Q. May not the Cup of Wine be forbidden A. 1. No. This Error succeeded the former Ames Bell. Enervat Tom. 3. Lib. 4. Cap. 7. Fox Act. Vol. 2. pag. 460. A. Bishop Ushers Answer to Jesuit pag. 3. B. Taylors disswasive Cap. 1. Sect. 6. for if Christs Body be in the Bread his Blood is there also and therefore our Adversaries deny the distinct Administration of it But 2. Against the Command and Practice of Christ and his Apostles 1 Cor. 11.24 Mat. 26. 3. Pope Gelasius Decreed this Act to be Sacrilegious and he was as Infallible as his Successors if one be Infallible for them another is so against them 4. No Ancient Council Father or Example of Primitive Church was for it saith the same Gelasius 5. It was Decreed about 1415 after Christ in the Council of Constance Q. What is the inward part or thing signified A. The Body and Blood of Christ which are verisy and indeed taken and received of the Faithful in the Lords Supper Q What is here Observable A. 1. That the Body and Blood of Christ are Offered in the Sacrament to be received by the Communicants 2. That the true faithful Communicant doth receive them and their Benefits 3. His receiving them is by Faith Spiritually applying them to his Soul Q. What are the Benefits we are made Partakers of hereby A. The strengthening and refreshing of our Souls and Bodies by the Body and Blood of Christ as our Bodies are by the Bread and Wine Q. What is herein Considerable A. 1. That as Bread and Wine are great strengtheners and refreshers of our Bodies so doth Christs Body and Blood with the Benefits thence flowing to the Worthy Receiver Dr. Patricks Mensa Mystica p. 382. much strengthen and refresh our Souls in the sense of the Pardon of our sins of our Peace with God comforts of the Holy Ghost Grace against sin our sense of Gods Love Union with him and Right to Glory Q. What is required of Persons who come tâ— the Lords Supper A. To Eramine themselves whether they Repent them truly of their former sins steadfastly purposing to lead a new Life have a lively Faith in Gods Mercy through Christ with a Thankful Remembrance of Christ's Death and be in Charity with all Men. Q. What is Considerable in this Answer A. 1. The Duties of a
of that dignity he is admitted to by being a Christian a Name in which the Primitive Christians Gloried And we still honour with precedence to our Sirname it being better not to have been born then not to be a Christian 4. This Teacheth him not to stain his Christian Name by sin we are careful to act without dishonour to our Sirname or Family and the Consideration of our Christian Name should engage us not to act any thing unbecoming our Religion This practice would best silence Disputes and gain most Proselytes whereas its neglect causeth Divisions amongst men and dishonours God How can either Jew or Gentile be encouraged to embrace our Religion when God â—y all manner of sin is dishonoured and Christs â—ospel scandalized Let not the Name be â—ithout the Life of a Christian 5. 2 Pet. 2.21 Heb. 10.38 It is a constant warning to continue Christians to our lives end we account it 〈◊〉 shame as men to disown our Names And as Christians should not be ashamed â—f our Profession 6. Gen. 13 8 1 John 4.7 11. John 13.35 The Remembrance of this Name enâ—ageth a mutual love among Christians who are fellow Brethren by Nature and â—ellow Christians by Grace and fellow Solâ—iers by Baptism Love was and is the true mark of Chriâ—â—ians Q. Who gave you this Name A. My Godfathers and my Godmothers in my Baptism wherein I was made a member of Christ a Child of God and an inheritor of the Kingâ—om of Heaven Q. What is in this Answer considerable A. Three things 1. The Givers of my Name My Godfathers and Godmothers 2. The time when it was given In my Baptism 3. The Priviledges I was by Baptism admitted to A Member of Christ c. Q. Who were the Givers of thy Name A. My Godfathers and Godmothers Q. Who are those A. Book of Common-Prayer in pub Bapt. Persons engaged to God and hâ— Church in the stead and behalf of me to gether with my Parents to see me broughâ— up to lead a Christian and a godly life Q. Have these Persons any other Title bâ— sides Godfathers and Godmothers A. Yes some who scruple the Name but own the thing call them Sureties anâ— Witnesses Q. Why are they called Sureties A. Because by them the Child is entreâ— into the Baptismal Covenant and theâ— are in the name of the Child engaged tâ— God and the Church Ch. Cat. in Dec. Sacram. as much as in them lie to see the Child brought up in the true Râ—ligion And as such our Church owns thâ— Q. Why are they called Witnesses A. 1. They are Witnesses that the Chiâ—â— by Baptism is received into Christ's Churcâ— 2. They are Witnesses to testifie to thâ— Child when grown up that it was Baptized and so may proceed to the partakinâ— of other Ordinances And this hath been a laudable Custom in thâ— Church above 1200 years saith * Leigh's Bâ—ly of Divinity l. 8. â— 8. p. 928. Mr. Perkin Q. Why are they called Godfathers anâ— Godmothers A. 1. They are engaged to God and hâ— Church as Spiritual Parents to see the Chilâ— Baptized brought up in the Principlâ— and Practices of the True Religion 2. They are engaged as in God's Cause so for his sake on the account of Religion to take care of God's Glory and the Childs welfare Q. What reasons are there for the use of Godfathers c. Buxtorf Syn. Jud. l. 1. c. 2. Isa 8.2 3 4. Jun. Tremel in loc Lu. 1.59 Plat ina in Vita Hâ—gini Hooker 's Polity l 5. s 64. A. 1. It was the practice of the Jews at the naming of their Children at their Circumcision to have those by called Sponsors by them by others Witnesses and Sureties and by us Godfathers 2. It was the practice of the Church under the New Testament 3. It was the practice of Christ's Church almost ever since as History manifests as an Expedient to propagate the Gospel and Christian Religion That if the Natural Parents were ignorant and could not or wicked and would not bring up their Children in the true Religion These Godfathers and Godmothers might Or if the Natural Parents were by Persecution taken away or otherwise dyed or Apostatized from the Faith Lest he Children should be brought up in Heathemsm The Church of Christ wisely and tenderly practiced what it had grounds for from all Antiquity the joyning of other persons with the natural Parents as Godfathers and Godmothers engaging them on Gods account to take care for the Child 's good Education Q. Though Godfathers and Godmother might have been necessary in those times 〈◊〉 Persecution yet why are they used now in oâ— times of Peace A. 1. They are as necessary now as everâ— if we consider that tho we have yet thrâ— God's mercies peace in the Church yet wâ— know not how soon Persecution may attend us Walker's Medest Plea c. 9. sec 7. 2 Tim. 3 1. Dr. Sherlock on Cat. p. 63 2 Tim. 3.4 5 6. 2 Pet. 2.1 2. And it may be reasonably feared the Child now Baptized may live to seâ— Troubles for Religions sake in these lasâ— daies and worst times 2. If God should be pleased to bless them with peace in Church and State yet the consideration of those Errors and Heresies that Schism and Division the Age too much abounds with will pload it necessary to have Godfathers c. to have the Child brought up in the principles of the true Religion 3. If to these we add the sad Prophaness Debauchery Atheism and Impiety of this Generation it will appear greatly necessary to engage persons to take care Children be brought up in the sear of God and the practice of Religion It is sad indeed the thing is so much abused which causeth it to be so slighted yet this pleads it not to be unlawful to be used let it be seriousâ—â— and Christianly undertaken faithfully and conscientiously discharged and then the benefit thence arising will demonstrate it convenient to be retained to prevent persons Shipwrack of Faith and Conscience Q. When was this Name given A. In my Baptism As agreeable 1. Gen. 21.3 4. Isa 8.3 4. Luk. 1.59 and 2.4 To the practice of God's people under the Law when the Children received their Names at their Circumcision 2. Agreeable to their practice under the Gospel 3. At Baptism the Children are received into Christ's visible Church and then as being owned visible Christians they receive their Christian Names 4. Sueton. Nero. Claud. Caes c. 6. Calvin Instit l. 4 c. 15. s 1 The Heathens had their days of washing and then they had their Names Q. What are the Priviledges the Child receives by Baptism A. Three 1. Membership with Christ I am made a Member of Christ 2. Adoption A Child of God 3. Heirship of Glory An inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven Q. What is meant by our being Members of Christ A. Members relate to a Body Col. 1.18 Eph. 4.16 and Christ calls
thou not think that thou art bound to do and believe as they have promised for thee A. Yes verily and by Gods help so I will And I heartily thank our heavenly Father that he hath called me to this state of salvation through Iesus Christ our Saviour And I pray unto God to give me his grace that I may continue in the same unto my lives end Q. Why is this Question proposed A. 1. That the Child being now grown up might be made sensible of that Vow he was entred in by his Godfathers and Godmothers in Baptism 2. That before the Congregation he by making an open profession of it might evidence that he retained that Religion he was Baptized into and owned as firm and stedfast what was then done and promised for him 3. That he now being grown up and assenting to the obligation on him from that Vow entred by his Godfathers and Godmothers might henceforward look upon himself obliged to practise it And here how may we justly lament the neglect of Confirmation amongst us which would be a great expedient to oblige persons to be instructed in the principles of Religion and engage them by an assuming their Baptismal Vow on themselves to the practice of it Q. What is considerable in the Answer A. 1. An earnest assent and consent to the Obligation on us from our Baptismal Vow to perform it Yes Verily 2. 2 Cor. 3.5 Joh. 15.5 Phil. 2.13 An humble acknowledgment of our own inability to perform our Duties of Religion or to withstand Sin Satan and the World without God's help And therefore by God's help I will 3. The great joy and gladness the Baptized person looks on his Baptized state with Psal 147. last Acts 4.12 I heartily thank our heavenly Father who hath called me to this State of Salvation through Jesus Christ our Saviour It being a State of Grace of which the numerous Jews and Heathens are deprived of 4. Here is an holy means used to obtain God's help to perform this Vow I pray unto God to give me his Grace 5. Phil. 4.13 Here is an holy Resolution of perseverance through God's help 6. Phil. 1. That I may continue in the same to my lives end Q. Rehearse the Articles of thy Belief A. I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth And in Iesus Christ his only Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary sutfered under Pontius Pilate Was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell The third day he rose again from the dead and ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty From thence he shall come to judge hoth the quick and the dead I believe in the Holy Ghost The Holy Catholick Church The Communion of Saints The forgiveness of Sins The Resurrection of the Body and the life everlasting Amen Q. Why are the Articles of the Creed in the first person singular A. 1. Because though we may pray for each other yet every one must believe for himself 2. Because hereby every one makes an acknowledgment and confession of his own Faith Q. Why is it called the Belief A. From the first words I believe Q. Why is it called the Creed A. From the first word in Latin Credo Q. Why is it called the Apostles Creed A. 1. Because there is good reason to believe it was made by the Apostles Alsted Chronol p. 315. Calvin Instit l. 2. c. 16. sect 18. Dr. Sherlock on Cat. before they were dispersed abroad in the World at the Council of Jerusalem about the 49 year of Christ as a sum of sound Doctrin for the Churches use And some have supposed hence it was divided into Twelve Articles according to the number of the Apostles 2. It is called the Apostles Creed because its Articles agree with the doctrin of the Apostles delivered in their Writings Q. How are the Articles of the Creed divided A. Catec of Church of Engl. Some have made only three parts of it respecting the sacred Trinity the only Object of our Faith and thus doth our Church divide it into Articles 1. Concerning God the Father who made me and all the World 2. Concerning God the Son who Redeemed meand all Mankind 3. Concerning God the Holy Ghost who sanctifies me and Elect People of God Others have added a fourth part concerning the Church of God and its Priviledges here and hereafter Col. 1.18 Eph. 1.14 4 uke 14.7 Cor. 15.19 But because the Church is no object of Faith and our belief of Christ and the Holy Ghost will pre-suppose a People Redeemed and Sanctified and that State will infer pardon of Sins Resurrection and Eternity of Life Therefore I shall only consider three parts Q. Which is that part of the Creed which relates to God the Father A. I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth Q. What is here believed concerning God the Father A. Three things 1. His Being 2. His Attributes 3. His Works Q. What is meant by I believe in God A. That I believe 1. There is a God 2. There is but one God 3. That I believe in this one God Q. How do you prove there is a God A. Arguments to convince the Atheist are drawn from Reason for he who denies a God cannot credit Scripture which we say is the Word of God Therefore 1. Gror. de ver Chris Relig. l. 1. Morn de ver Relig c. 1. Cicero l. 1. Tusc Quest Val. Max. l. 1. c. 1. Extern The first cause of all things proves a God nothing could make its self and therefore every thing made had God a Creator and is an Argument for a God and may silence the Atheist 2. The 1. consent of all Nations who by the light of Nature saw it The Roman Orator accounts no Nation so barbarous as to deny the Being of a Deity And the Athenians banisht Diagoras for but saying he doubted it Their Polytheism or worship of many Gods tho sinful yet pleaded they were Theists worshippers of a Deity The several Creatures especially our selves may silence all doubts Dr. Arrowsmith Aphor. Exer. 2. sect 1 2. for tho which way soever we look we may find enough to convince us of his Being Yet our selves as what we are most conver sant with may silence Atheism 3. Our bodies and souls witness a Deity Our Parents could not make us Male or Female Leigh 's body of Divinity l. 2. c. 1. p. 151. however desirous they of either Sex We 2. excel all creatures in our structure and our Souls are above the Sphere of Earthly Beings being 3. spiritual and capable of an immortality remembring things past and foreseeing things to come all which plead for a God a Father of our Spirits and Creator of our Bodys 4. The testimony of every mans Conscience which at sometimes 4. checks him for evil and encourageth him to Good is
death 5. All our good comes from God who must make us gracious and glorious if we be either 6. Our best duties tho done through Gods assistance yet are attended with many infirmities Isa 64.6 7. coldness weariness c. 7. There is no proportion between our work and this reward therefore it must be the gift of Gods free Grace Q. What improvement do you make of this Article A. 1. If eternal misery be the wages of sin it shews mans folly in daring to act sin when for a moments pleasure here he must meet with eternal torments hereafter 2. If eternal life be given to the godly it should engage us to the practice of godliness Our labour is not in vain 1 Cor. 15.58 Q. What is meant here by the word Amen A. It is here an Asseveration or Affirmation of our consent to the truth of all the premised Articles In which O Lord encrease our Faith and enable us to lead the Life of Faith that at the end of our lives we may have the end of our Faith the Salvation of our Souls SECT II. Q. THe Rule of Faith in the Articles of the Creed being considered What is yet remaining of your Baptismal Vow A. The Rule of obedience in my keeping all Gods Commandments and walking in the same all the days of my life Q. How many Commandments are there A. Ten and therefore they are sometimes called the Decalogue Q. Which be they A. The same which God spake in the twentieth Chapter of Exodus Exod 20. saying I am the Lord thy God who brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt and out of the house of bondage c. Q. What is considerable in this Preface to these Commandments A. 1. The Authority of the Law-giver I am the Lord thy God The Lord that made thee and thy God in Covenant with thee who may give Laws to my Creatures and declare my will to my People which they are bound to obey 2. The obligations on the people to obey their deliverance from the Aegyptian bondage Q. Do these Commandments oblige us A. Dr. Arrowsmiths Tact. Sac. lib. 2. Cap. 4. Sect. 4. Mar. 5 6 7 Chap. Rom. 13.9 Ephes 6.2 James 2.8 9. 1. The Jews if considered as a Church had a Ceremonial Law abolisht by Christ As a state they had a judicial Law not obliging all Nations But this Law they had as men and Gods rational Creatures given them by God as their Creator therefore it obligeth us as men so long as we continue our being 2. The precepts of this Law are repeated by Christ and his Apostles and proposed by them to us as a rule to walk by 3. The obligations on us are greater then on the Jews to observe them God is not only our Lord and our God in Covenant with us Bish Ni. cholson on Cat. p. 13.21.134 but we enjoy the substance of their shadows the fulfilling of their promises prophecies and Types And our deliverance by Christ is far greater then from an Aegyptian bondage ours was from an infernal Pharaoh the Devil a deliverance of both Soul and body from eternal misery by the blood of Christ Q. Why is it called the moral Law Hookers Polity lib 1. sect 8. Leighs body of Divinity p. 124. A. Because it relates to manners and containing our duties to God and Man Q. Why is it called the Law of nature A. 1. Because its duties were impressed on mans Nature at his Creation 2. Mans reason rightly improved will dictate all these dutys Bish Nicholson on Cat. p. 81. for that reason which dictates the being of a God will certainly teach he ought to be worshipped and that there can be but one Almighty God to be worshipped who therefore ought to hear his name Reverenced his ordinances and Laws observed always and at sometimes more publickly and solemnly by his People And as it is the dictate of Nature to do to others as we desire they should do to us so it will teach us to Honour whom it is due to B. Wilkins Natural Religion to abstain from murthering of or committing uncleanness with or stealing from or bearing false witness against or inordinately coveting after any thing of our Neighbours 3. The Heathen have acknowledged a Deity to whom they paid worship and observed some more solemn times then others to do it in and have been so exemplary in declaiming against and punishing of 14 all sins against the second Table That they may be Witnesses against us unless we labour to keep these Laws of God Q. How are these ten Commandments divided A. Into two Tables relating to the twofold object of duty God and Man Q. Which Commandments contain our dutys towards God A. The four first Q. Which Commandments contain our dutys towards Man A. The six last Q. Why are more delivered Negatively then affirmatively A. 1. To shew our proneness to evil which requires so many restraints 2. To shew there must be a ceasing from sin before we can do good Q. What general Rules are there for the understanding these Commandments A. James 2.10 1. That the same Authority is offended in breaking one that is in breaking all 2. All Negative commands disswade not only from sin but command the contrary duty 3. All positive commands command not only the duty but also forbid the contrary sins 4. Both positive and Negative disswade from all Evil thoughts as well as Evil words and actions and oblige to have purity as well as to Holiness of the tongue or conversation 5. They both oblige to avoid all things tending to any sin and to use all means that may further us in any duty 6. Leigh 's Body of Divinity p. 205. Affirmative precepts are not so obliging as the Negative the first oblige to duty but not always as works of mercy and the like may be done on the Sabbath And obedience to God is better then Honour to a Superior without Gods Honour but the Negative oblige to avoid all sin and alwaies because it is never lawful to act Evill that good may come thereby Q. Why are the Commandments given in the second person singular A. 1. Leigh 's body p. 207. Because thus there can be no evasion from Duty 2. Every one is concerned in the obedience which is due to them 3. To shew God is no respecter of persons he speaks to Poor and Rich to all alike Q. What is the first Commandment A. Thou shalt have no other Gods but me Q. Which is here to be learned A. 1. That we are prone to Idolatry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuag in loc See Jun. Trem. in loc 2. That there is but one God whom alone we ought to worship 3. that we should not adore a plurality of Gods as the Heathens did 4. That God is every where present and beholds the Idolatry of heart and life Thou shalt have no other Gods before me Q. What are the