⧠A Treatise of the way to life deuided into three partes The first part sheweth howe by sinne wee haue deserued Gods curse The seconde parte sheweth me howe wee are freed from the curse and the law satisfied The thirde part teacheth vs what duetyes and thankefulnesse we owe to the Lorde for this benefite of our redemption ⧠Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson ¶ The first part sheweth our miserie and how by sinne we haue deserued Gods curse and eternall damnation Q TO whom doest thou professe thy selfe to belong A To the liuing God a Gen. 1.1 Act. 14.15 maker of heauen earth whose b Ephe. 2.10 workmanship I am for that hee hath made and created me Q. Wherefore hath God created thee A. That I might serue to a Ephe. 1.4.5 his glorie by doing his will in b Ephe. 4.24 righteousnesse and holinesse all my life Q. Did God then create man that he could doe his will A. Yea verily for he created man a Gen. 1.27 to the likenesse of his owne image in true b Col. 3.10 Ephes 4.24 holinesse and righteousnesse Q. Canst thou then of thy selfe doe his will and keepe his lawe A. Nothing lesse for in a Rom. 5.18 Adam we are all fallen from the state of innocencie and b Ephes 2.3 are by nature the children of wrath c Rom. 3.23 and voyde of all grace d Rom. 6.20 seruants of sinne Q. What is sinne A. It is the breach a 1. Iohn 3.4 or transgression of Gods lawe Q. What is the reward of sinne A. Eternal a Rom. 6.23 Mat. 25.41.46 death and damnation both of body and soule Q. How commest thou to the knowledge of sinne A. By a Rom. 3.20 Rom. 7.7 the lawe of God whiche I finde my selfe not able to performe therefore am guiltie of death Q. What is the lawe of God A. It is a rule of perfect obedience b 1. The. 4.1.3 teaching vs howe to walke please God conteyned in the ten commaundements Q. Rehearse them Exod. 22. A. God spake and said I am the Lord thy God c. Q. What meaneth this Preface I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the lande of Egipt out of the house of bondage A. I note first that God setteth down his authoritie before his law saying I am the Lord mouing vs to feare him alone secondly adding thy God hee geueth foorth most louing promises of his mercies concerning this life and the life to come to moue vs to loue him alone and trust onely in him thirdly repeating his benefites he addeth matter of faith and thankfulnesse Q. How is this lawe deuided A. Intâ— a Mat. 22.37 39. Luke 1.75 1. Table two principall heades 2. Tables or tables Q. What is conteyned in the first table A. a Luke 1.75 Mat. 22.37 Ephe. 4.24 Holinesse or the true woorship of God commonly called our duetie to God conteyned in the first foure commaundements Q. What teacheth the first commaundement Thou shalt haue none other Gods before me A. It teacheth vs to honour a Deut. 6.4 God alone that is to worship him with b Deut. 10.12 20. feare to beleeue in him and call vppon him through faith and testifie our c Deut. 6.5 Marc. 11.30 loue toward him with thankesgiuing hauing our d Luke 10.27 soule hearte minde and thoughtes consecrate vnto God and forbiddeth vs to e Deut. 18.9.10.11 heare false teachers or to regard sorcerers witches or anie such Q. What teacheth the 2. commandement Thou shalte not make to thy c. A. It teacheth vs that wee shoulde not liken God to a Leuit. 26.1 any creature whatsoeuer nor woorship him in any similitude neither after our oâ—â—e phantazie or by good intentes not grounded on his worde but onely b Iohn 4.23 in spirite and trueth after the true c Deut. 12.32 rule of his worde Q. What teacheth the third commaundement Thou shalt not take the name c A. It forbiddeth vs to a Ier. 5.7 sweare be any creature whatsoeuer or by Gods name b Leuit. 19.12 falsely or c Eccle. 19.1 rashly but in d Iere. 4.2 truth iudgement and iustice with all e Deu. 4.8.58 reuerence of his name and chargeth vs with the care f 1. Cor. 10.31 Col. 3.17 of gods glorie in hearing speaking thinking of his worde works and in all our doings Q. What teacheth the fourth commaundement Remember thou keepe holy the Sabboth c A. We are taught to a Act. 20.7 assemble to heare Gods worde and vse his sacramentes with b Rom. 4.11 faith and c Mat. 3.2.6 repentaunce and to pray to him also to d Esay 56.2 58.13 rest from sinne and our owne wayes to profite in true mortification and sanctification e Exod. 31.13 whiche God worketh in his Saintes Q. It seemeth then that these foure preceptes teache the true seruice due to God now tell me what is taught in the second table The 2. Table A. The second table teacheth vs a Luke 1.75 Mat. 22.39 Ephe. 4.24 righteousnesse or our duetie to men in the Lorde conteyning the sixe last commaundements Q. What learne we in the first coÌ„mandement Honour thy Father c A. We learne to feare loue a Leuit. 19.3 and obey our Parentes b Exod. 22.28 Princes c Rom. 13.1.2 Gouernours teachers d 1. Thes 5.12 Pastours Maisters and e Leui. 19.32 Elders and all our betters Finally it teacheth all superiors to be as fathers to their inferiours the inferiours to obey in the Lord. Q. What teacheth the sixt commandement Thou shalt doe no murther c A. It teacheth vs to shun al occasioÌ„ of discord in thought deed and worde all quarrelling fighting a Leuit. 19.17 18. 1. Iohn 3.15 hatred or desire of reuengement and teacheth to do b Mat 5.43.44 good to all men euen to our enemies Q. What teacheth the seuenth commaundement Thou shalt not commit adultry A. It forbiddeth all a Ephe. 5.3 fornication b Leuit. 18.12 vnorderly and wanton lusts c Ephe. 5.4 talkes songs proud d Deut. 11.12 apparrell lechery drunkennesse excesse and e Ezec. 16.49 idlenesse Finally all occasions leading to vncleannes requireth all sobernesse chastity and temperancie Q. What teacheth the eight Thou shalt not steale c A. It forbiddeth all a Exod. 25.14 17. deceite b Ier. 8.10.15 couetousnesse c 1. Thes 4.6 iniury in any dealing in all callinges and commaundeth all true d Leui. 19.13 iust dealing in iudgement measure weight teacheth euerye man to bee content with his estate e Ephes 4.28 and to helpe others Q. What teacheth the nienth commaundement Thou shalte not beare false c A. It forbiddeth all a Exod. 23.1 Psal 15.3 hearing and b Leui.
19.16 speaking of slaunders and vntruthes against our neighbours all flattering lying vpbrayding and dissembling and chargeth vs with the care of the good name of our neighbour and charitablie to witnesse the truth to the establishing of loue Q. What teacheth the tenth commaundement Thou shalte not couet thy c A. It teacheth that not only a consent to the desires of euill is sinne but the motion of sinne it selfe is against Gods a Rom. 8.7 7.7 Gal. 5.17 lawe and bewrayeth our concupiscence and conuinceth vs of the breach of the lawe Q. Sith then that wee cannot obserue the law to what vse serueth it A. To shewe a Gal. 3.19 man his weakenesse to b Rom. 3.20 7.7 accuse and condemne man and maketh the faithfull to c Gal. 3.24 flee to Christ and acknowledge the free grace of God to bee the onely cause of their health it increaseth the knowledge of Gods wil in them d Gal. 2.16.19 humbleth the flesh and stirreth vp the spirite to e Heb. 8.10.11 obediēce by Gods spirite whiche maketh the lawe f Psal 19.17 profitable sweete to the faithfull The second part teaching how we are freed from the curse and the law satisfied Q. BY what meanes then is the law satisfied and this curse answered for vs A. God of his infinite a Ioh. 3.16 loue in the b Gal. 4.4.6 fulnesse of time sent his sonne made of a woman and subiect to the law and redeemed vs from the slauerye of it c 2. Cor. 5.19 reconciling vs to God by not imputing our sinnes vnto vs and so was d Rom. 8.3.4 2. Cor. 5.21 made sinne for vs that we in him might be righteous before GOD and so e Gal. 3.13 freed from this curse and the law satisfied Q. It seemeth then that we obtayne not righteousnesse by the law A. No verily but a Gal. 2.16 3.11.12 by fayth in Iesus Christ b Gen. 15.6 Rom. 4.13.16 in whom our faith is counted for righteousnesse Q. What is faith then A It is a certaine a Ephe. 4.13 1. Ioh. 5.23 knowledge sure b Mar. 11.22 perswasion of the free good will of God towardes vs in Christ c Heb. 8.10 sealed in our hearts by his spirite Q. How come we by faith A. By a Ioh. 17.8.20 Rom. 10.17 hearing the worde of God preached Q. Haue we faith then by bare hearing of the word A. No but it is the a Ioh. 6.44 Ephe. 6.23 2.8 Phil. 2.13 woorke of Gods spirite in vs. Q. Is faith then needfull A. Yea a Mar. 16.16 Iohn 8.24 for without faith we cannot be saued Q. What profit then haue wee by faith A. Wee are a Rom. 3.23 5.1 iustified thereby b Iohn 1.12 Gal. 3.26 made the sonnes of God Q. Rehearse the summe of this thy faith A. I beleeue in God the Father almightie c Q. What is the briefe summe of all this A. I learne foure thinges first that God a Gen. 1.1 Ephe. 4.6 Deut. 32.58 Mat. 2.10 the father is creatour and preseruer of al things in heauen earth Secondly that God the sonne b Ioh. 3.16.17 Gal. 4.5 1. Ioh. 2.12 is redeemer of the world Thirdly that God c 2. Thes 2.13 1. Pet. 1.2 the holy Ghost is the sanctifier of his people Fourthly that by this meanes GOD hath d Ephe. 5.26 purchased to himselfe a Churche and made it holy to serue his glory in life Q. Are there three Gods that thou namest God the father God the sonne and God the holy Ghost A. No verily but a Ephe. 4.6 one onely eternall God in one essence and being yet b Mat. 4.16.17 28.19 1. Iohn 5.7 distinguished in three persons because of their seuerall operations effects and properties 1. part Q. Why is the first person in trinitie called father A. Because hee hath a Gen. 1.1 created all things and b Ioh. 20.17 1. Iohn 3.1 adopted the faithfull to be his children in Christ Q. Why is he sayde to be almightie A. Because his power is ouer all thinges and ruleth them all by a Ier. 10.13 He. 1.3 11.3 2. Pet. 3.5.6 his word Q. Why is he called maker of heauen and earth A. Not onely because he made heauen and earth and all thinges in them but also because hee a Esay 40.26 Ier. 10.12.13 ordereth and b Esay 42.5 preserueth them all by his prouidence Q. What followeth in the second article 2. part and in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lord A. Here beginneth the history of our redemption wrought by the second person in trinity God the sonne Q. What signifieth this worde Iesus A. It signifieth a Mat. 1.21 a Sauiour Q. VVhy is Christ called a Sauiour A. Because hee Mat. 1.21 saueth his people from all their sinnes Q. What doeth this worde Christ signifie A. It signifieth annoynted and is so called because hee was annoynted with a Psal 45.7 Ioh. 3.34 the holy Ghost to bee the b Luke 1.32 king c Psal 110.4 Heb. 4.14 priest and d Luke 24.10 Heb. 1.2 prophet to GOD his father Q. What is his kingdom A. It is spirituall and a Iohn 18.36 heauenly wherby he gouerneth his church by his word and spirite and b Col. 1.13 Heb. 2.14 triumpheth ouer Satans kingdom in c Col. 1.22 Heb. 1.3 1 Pet. 2.24 his owne person for vs. Q. What profite haue we by his kingdome A. We haue a Luke 1.71.74 Rom. 8.2.15 libertie of conscience regeneration b Ephe. 6.16 Apoc. 12.11 strength and victorie against Satan death hell and sin and finally are made c Ephe. 4.7.8 partakers of Christ his graces and spirituall treasures Q. Why is he called a priest A. Because he was the a Heb. 2.17 9.11.12 true high priest to offer his own bodie a sacrifice for our sinnes Q. What doth his priesthoode profite vs A. It assureth vs that he is our a Rom. 8.24 Heb. 7.25 mediatour to reconcile vs to God and satisfie for our sins to b Rom. 5.2 Ephe. 2.18 make an entry for vs to come c Rom. 8.15 before our God with boldnes to pray to him d Heb 13.15 1. Pet 2.5 offer spirituall sacrifices Q. Why is he called a Prophet Esay 55.4 Heb. 1.1 A. Because he is the full interpreter of his Fathers will vnto vs. Q. VVhat profiteth it vs to beleeue this A. Much verily for hereby our faith is stayed on the a Iohn 3.33.34 Heb. 1.2 2 3 doctrine of Christ so that we looke for no other doctrine or reuelations then his gospell though b Gal. 1.8 reuealed from heauen by an Angell Q. Sith thou callest Christ the only sonne of GOD howe is it that the faithfull are also the sonnes of God A. Christ is onely the sonne a
a Churche for they are a token of Gods face and a Act. 10.33 Heb. 4.12.13 presence and the printes of the b Ezek. 43.7 soles of his feete Q. It shoulde seeme then that the Romish Church is not the true Church hauing neither the word sincerely preached nor the Sacramentes perfect neither in substance nor forme and their discipline cleane besides the word A. It is very true neither can the familie of loue be the true Church refusing the vocall worde vocall prayer banishing the Sacraments and true discipline Q. Shewe mee the meaning of the tenth article the remission of sinnes A. It assureth vs of the a Psal 32.1.2 Ephe. 1.7 free forgiuenesse of all the sinnes of the beleeuers both of the fault and punishment Q. Doe we not merite forgiuenesse of any one sinne by workes A. No certainely but Christ a Act. 13.38.39 alone is the full satisfaction b Tit. 2.14 1. Iohn 1.7 for all our sinnes Q. Are not works then needful sith they doe not merite A. Yes nothing more first to testifie our a Col. 3.17 thankfulnesse and b 1. Iohn 5.2 loue to God to c Tit. 3.8 Iam. 2.18 proue our faith secondly to d 1 Pet. 2.12 giue good example to men thirdly to e Mat. 5.18 1. Cor. 10.31 glorifie God Fourthly to assure our conscience that we are the sonnes of God Q. What teacheth the eleuenth article the resurrection of the bodie A. We are assured that the a Iob. 19.25 bodies of the faithfull shall rise to behold God and b Phil. 3.21 shall be made like to the glorious bodie of Christ and their soules immediately after this life c Eccle. 12.7 2. Cor. 5.6.7 returne to God Q. Doe noe the wicked rise also A. Yes verily both the a Act. 24.15 iust and vniust the iust to life and the wicked to death and iudgement b Iohn 5.29 Q. What vnderstandest thou in the eleuenth article the life euerlasting A. I vnderstand that after this resurrection there is no more chāge but the faithfull a Iohn 3 36 shall liue with Christ for euer in ioy the wicked shall be without Christ b Mat. 25.46 in eternall payne Q. Then all this teacheth vs that the obedience of the law is onely performed by Christ in whom we are freelye iustified through faith wrought by Gods spirite whiche geueth vs the true knowledge of GOD and his mercies in Christ in whome onely wee please God and our obedience is acceptable A. It is euen so ¶ The thirde parte teacheth vs what dueties and thankefulnes we owe to the Lord for this benefite of our redemption Q. By what meanes is this faith obedience nourished or increased in vs A. By a Rom. 10.17 Gal. 3.2 hearing of the word of God by the true b Rom. 4.11 vse of the Sacraments c Rom. 8.15 10.14 by prayer by which meanes also wee testifie our faith and obedience glorify GOD. Q. Doe these of themselues nourishe our faith A. No but onely a Rom. 8.6 ◠Cor. 3.18 Gods spirit maketh them effectuall vnto vs. Q. Howe is our faith nourished by the woorde A. By diligent a Rom. 10.17 hearing reading meditation conference b Act. 20 32 He. 10.24.25 exhortation application of the worde assuring vs of the truth therof and of Gods promises c Iam. 1.21 submitting our selues wholly to the same that it may be d Rom. 1.16 a worde of power vnto saluation in vs. Q. What is a Sacrament A. It is an outward a Gen. 17.11 Rom. 4.11 seale ioyned vnto the word which visibly representeth vnto vs spiritual things assureth our faith of Gods promises declared in his worde Q. How many Sacramentes are there A. Two Baptisme and the supper of the Lorde Q. How doth Baptisme profite or nourish our fayth A. First by assuring vs that wee are a Rom. 6.3 1. Cor. 12.13 Gal. 3.27 one with Christ Secondly that we are b Iohn 3.3.5 begotten againe c Col. 2.11 from sinne into a new life Thirdly by being a pledg d Tit. 3.5 of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes for as the water cleanseth the body so our soules by the e 1. Pet. 3.21 blood of Christ are purged from sinne Q. What profite hath our faith by the Lords supper A. Euen this that as outwardely we a 1. Cor. 10.16 12.26 receiue the bread and wine to nourish our bodies so inwardly we receiue Christ by faith euen as our own whose b Col. 1.14.22 body and blood cleanseth vs from sin and nourisheth vs to eternall life Q. Doe we receiue the very bodye and blood of Christ reallye in the bread A. Nothing lesse but onely a Iohn 6.63 spiritually by faith Q. Howe shall wee receiue this Sacrament woorthily or profitably A. When wee come with faith repentaunce Q. How shall we knowe that wee come with faith A. First if we acknowledging our owne pouertie and wants confesse the mercies of God a 1. Cor. 11.24 with thankesgiuing secondly when we assure our selues of the b Mat. 26.28 forgiuenesse of our sinnes by the death and sacrifice of Christ onely Q. How shal we know that we come with repentance A. First if we a 1. Cor. 11.28 examine our harts and are truely b Psal 32.5.6 grieued for our sinnes c Mat. 3.6 confessing them before God secondly when we d Mat. 3.8 walke in a new life that is in holines to God and true loue to our neighbour e Mat. 5.23 24 reconciling our selues one to another and f Mat. 6.14 15 Col. 3.13 forgiuing that we may be forgiuen Q. What differeth Baptisme frō the Lordes supper sith they both betokē the remission of sinnes A. Baptisme grafteth vs into Christ by regeneration in hope of remission of sinnes the supper nourisheth vs 1. Cor. 12.13 beyng grafted to feele the power of the death and resurrection of Christ dayly strēgthening our faith into a new life Q. What is prayer whiche is the third meanes to increase our faith A. It is to aske all good thinges of God by faith and to giue him thanks for all things receiued Q. How doth prayer nourish faith when it is rather an effect or exercise of faith A. It nourisheth it when wee hauing asked doe also obtayne and so our faith is strengthened and comforted but it is an effect of faith because where faith is Rom. 10.14 there followeth prayer thankesgiuing Q. What is required in true prayer A. a Eccles 5.1 1. Tim. 2.8 A pure affection to GOD and his worde a b Gen. 32.10 Luke 18.13 true feeling of our owne vnworthines wants sins asure c Iam 1.6 Mat. 7.7 faith in the fauour and promises of God and to aske all things d Rom. 8.28 according to his will Q. Are we thus prepared to prayer