and a gladness when they are discovered Psal 119. 59. 141. 5. 2 Sincerity will put us upon self-denyall and make us part with any outward comfort to keep a good conscience Heb. 11. 24 27. 3 Sincerity and uprightness will cause us to make conscience of the fruitfull performance of holy duties Rom. 12. 11. especially in secret Mat. 6. 6. And lastly it will stirre up an earnest desire of growth unto perfection Phil. 3. 12 14. Now is it thus with me or not Qu. How may a man examine himself about his thankfulness to Christ so as that he may know hee is truly thankfull Ans A man may know he is truly thankful to Christ when he esteemeth Christs Eph. 3. 17 18 19. love and benefits Phil. 3. 8. above all others and so desireth to please Christ 2 Cor. 5. 14 15 in all things And thus wee ought to examine our selves about all these particular Graces of Christ in us by asking our consciences whether it bee thus and thus with our souls Q WHen a man hath thus examined himself what must he endevor to doe after such self-examination for the finishing of his preparation to the Sacrament Ans 1. If a man after examination of himself shal plainly find any of these Graces to be wanting in him he must for the present abstain from the Sacrament Exod. 12. 48. Num. 9. 6 7 c. 2 If he doubt whether they be wrought in him or not he is likewise to forbear comming to the Sacrament Mat. 5 23 24. Rom. 14. 23. unless his conscience by some means may be resolved and setled that he hath them 3 If he shal truly find that God hath wrought them in him though yet in much weakness then he is to come to this sacrament to be therby further strengthened 2 Chron. 30. 18 19. Q What if a Christian having for the former reasons abstained from the Lords Table do a long time after continue in a sad and sorrowfull condition mourning for the want of those forenamed Graces in himself must he still forbear to come to the Sacrament Ans No man truly and inwardly mourneth for the want of those Graces but he that in some measure hath the truth of them wrought in himself by Gods Word and Spirit and therefore spiritual mourners may comfortably and should readily approach to Christ in this Sacrament 1 Cor. 11. 31. as well as in other of his holy ordinances Ps 34. 18. Isa 61. 2 3. 66. 2. Mat. 11. 28. Qu. Are there yet any more things required of a communicant after his examination of himself Ans Yes after a Christian hath throughly examined himself there be yet more duties to be practised For 1 He is carefully with bitterness of spirit to remember and bewayl to God the manifest rebellions of his unregenerate estate Psal 29. 7. 1 Tim. 1. 13. and the wants and weaknesses of his present state Rom. 7. throughout 2 He is to renew his faith in Christ Heb. 11. 28. and his repentance for all known sins especially committed since his former receiving 3 He is to renew and stir up his desires and thirstings after Christ in the Sacrament and his love to God and man 4 He is to renew his resolution and purposes of better obedience to God in the duties both of the first and second Table of the Law for the time to come Isa 1. 16 17 18. through the help of Christ And lastly he is to renew his thankfulnesse to God All these a Christian must endeavour to do because it is not the bare having of grace but the present exercise therof that makes us worthy receivers in Gods account 1 Cor. 1. 4 5 7. compared with 1 Cor. 11. 18 21 29. Qu. How must a communicant renew his faith in Christ before he comes to the Sacrament Ans A Communicant must labor to renew his saith in Christ thus 1 He must go to God in the name of Christ to sue out a new pardon of his sins 2 Chron. 30. 6. especially of such sins as most trouble the peace of his conscience and presse the promises that concern the sacrament 1 Cor. 11. 24 and the death of Christ 1 Joh. 1. 7. 2 He must strive by Prayer and meditation against carnall reason Joh. 6. 52 58. the greatest enemy of faith and also hee must bewayl his unbelief Mar. 9. 24. and ponder and weigh well the nature of the Sacrament as namely That the Sacrament is as Gods oath to secure his promises unto us Heb. 6. 16 17. and a pledge and seal of the righteousness of faith Rom. 4. 11. 3. And lastly he must consider that God commands us to receive and enjoy the merits of Christs death offered to us in this Sacrament 1 Cor. 11. 24. and therefore he must raise up his faith to take hold of Christ Qu. How must a Communicant renew his repentance before he comes to the Lords Table Ans In renewing his repentance a communicant must take this course 1 Strictly to call to mind his particular sins as near as possibly he can especially sins most lately committed 1 Cor. 11. 31. either by not-doing the good he ought and might have done or by doing the evill he ought not to have done and by the serious consideration of such sins with all the circumstances and aggravations thereof he is to renew a more bitter sorrow for them Lam. 3. 40. 2 He must renew his free and humble confession of each particular sin 1 Sam. 7. 6. as near as he can judge himself for them and lift up fervent prayers for the pardon of them Psal 5. 1 2. and for strength and power against them and this wil shew that he stands not wel-affected towards his sins 3 In case that he hath wronged any one he must make restitution and satisfaction to the uttermost of his power Luk. 19. 8. and must resolve fully by Gods grace to leave all sins and avoid the occasions thereof giving up himself to newness of life and to the frequent constant and conscionable use of all good means with the improvement of all holy opportunities conducing to that newness of life Psal 1. 1 2. Qu. How must a communicant renew his spiritual desires and thirst after Christ before each Sacrament Ans He that would renew his desire and thirst after Christ must follow this course 1 He must acquaint himself throughly with his own spiritual wants and emptiness Prov. 27. 7. and take heed of a presumptuous imagination of more grace then yet he hath attained unto Rev. 3. 16 17. 2 He must take a thorow view of the wonderfull excellency and fulness that is in Christ Job 4. 10. Col. 1. 19. and the promises â— Pet. 1. 4. as also a view of the worth of Gods favor and loving kindness which is better then life it self Psal 63. 3. 3 He must have a thorow view of his own utter insufficiency to bring his heart to any true hunger and thirst after these things Phil.
A HELPE TO THE WILLING SOVL OR The Communicants Counsellor BEING A plaine and familiar Discourse upon sundry maine Truths both Doctrinall and Practicall requisite to be known understood and observed by every Christian before his approach to the Lords Table Composed mostly in reference to the Rules and Directions concerning Sacramentall knowledge laid down in an Ordinance of both Houses of PARLIAMENT of the 20 of October 1645. By HENRY SEARLE For the benefit and edification of the Inhabitants of Aldeburgb in Suffolk Happy is the man that findeth Wisdome and the man that getteth understanding Prov. 3. 13. London Printed by R. C. for John Bellamy at the three golden Lions in Cornhill near the Royall Exchange 1647. The reasonable Request of the AVTHOR Friendly Reader KNow assuredly that had it not been to spare the Purse and Pains of the poorer sort of that people amongst whom Gods disposing-hand hath for the present cast mee in procuring written Copies hereof this Catechisticall Discourse should not have troubled the buisie Presse But seeing it is now printed whoever thou art be requested these four things 1 To beware lest any subtle Factors for Satan doe by their smooth ptetences slie insinuations or poisonous perswasions hinder thee in or take thee off from bestowing thy time and pains to get understanding in spirituall things by the help of this or other such like Books Answer such cunning Jugglers thus True indeed though I get much knowledge yet I may perish But if I despise knowledge then I must perish 2 So often to peruse discourse and meditate upon the Truths ensuing as that when justly required thou maist be able to give a good account of the sense and meaning thereof and to beare the substance in thy memory though thou shouldst not attain to the set-form of words 3 Seriously upon every occasion to follow whatsoever Practicall instructions thou meetest withall especially those about self-examination and preparation before thou commest to the Lords Table 4 And lastly to seek for a speciall Blessing from heaven upon thy own and my endeavours for the welfare of thy soule A Helpe to the willing SOVL OR The Communicants Counsellor Qu. WHat is God Answ God is an uncreated Spirit Joh. 4. 24. most wise Rom. 16. 27. most holy Exod. 15. 11. eternall and infinite Psal 147. 5. Maker of heaven and earth the sea and all that in them is Exod. 20. 11. Esa 42. 5. Preserver and governor of all things and creatures whatsoever Nehem. 9. 6. Acts 17. 26. Qu. What mean you by calling God a Spirit Ans When I call God a Spirit I mean that he hath no body at all and therefore must not be thought like to any things which may be seen by the eye of man Deut. 4. 15. c. Rom. 1. 22 23. Qu. How many Gods be there Ans Though there be three in Person yet in Divine Essence there is but one onely true God Deut. 6. 4. 1 Joh. 5. 7. Epbes 4. 5 6. Qu. Which be the three Persons in the Godhead Ans The three Persons in the God-head are God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost Mat. 28. 19. Qu. What is the property of God the Father Ans The property of God the Father is to be of himself and to beget the Son Joh. 1. 18. Joh. 3. 16. Qu. What is the property of God the Son Ans The property of God the Son is to be begotten of the Father Joh. 3. 18. Qu. What is the property of God the Holy Ghost An. The property of God the holy Ghost is to proceed from the Father Joh. 15. 26. and the Son Rom. 8. 9. Gal. 4. 6. Qu. Are any of the three Persons in the Godhead greater then other Ans None of the three Persons in the God-head are greater or lesse then another but they are all equally God Phil. 2. 6. 1 Joh. 5. 7. Qu. WHat was the State of Man by Creation Ans God created man after his own image Gen. 1. 26. Gen. 5. 1. that is to say God created man in a resemblance of that knowledge Col. 3. 10. righteousnesse and true holinesse Ephes 4. 24. Eccles 7. 29. which was and is in himself and in these the image of God was principally seen Qu. If God made us so holy and happy at first how come we now to be sinfull and miserable Ans Wee are become sinfull and miserable Ephes 2. 1 3. by reason of Adams first transgression in eating of the forbidden fruit Gen. 2. 17. Gen. 3. 6. Qu. But forasmuch as that first transgression was committed in Paradise above five thousand years before we were born how come we to be guilty of it Ans Adam was a publick person Eccles 7. 29. and the common Father of us all and because we were in his loyns therefore his sin was ours and so we were all sinners in his offence Rom. 5. 12. 19. Qu. Besides the guilt of Adams first sin are we not sinners in other respects also Ans Yes besides our being guilty of Adams first sin we have both originall and actuall sin Qu. What is originall sin Ans Originall sin consists of two parts namely First in a backwardnesse to all good Secondly in an aptnesse to all evill Jer. 4. 22. Gen. 6. 5. Qu. Why doe you call it originall sin Ans I call it originall sin because we took our very first beginning in it For so soon as ever we began to bee conceived in our Mothers wombe Gen. 5. 3. Psal 51. 5. sinfull dispositions and inclinations began to cleave unto us Qu. What is actuall sin Ans Actuall sin is a breach of the law of God 1 Joh. 3. 4. by thinking Jer. 4. 14. desiring Maâ— 5. 28. devising Prov. 24. 8. purposing Psal 28. 3. Psal 140. 4. speaking Col. 3. 8 9. Ephes 5. 4. or acting 1 Sam. 15. 24. 2 Sam. 24. 10. those things which God hath forbidden or by leaving undone those things which God hath commanded Rom. 7. 19. Qu. What is the fruit of Sin Ans The fruit of all sin is all woe and misery both here and hereafter Deut. 28. 15 16 c. Rom. 6. 21. Esa 6. 9 c. Rom. 11. 8. Mat. 27. 3 4 5. Exod. 5. 2. Exod. 7. 3. Rom. 1. 28. 2 Thess 2. 11. Rom. 6. 23. 2 Thess 1. 7 8 9. Qu. Is there no way to avoyd this misery Ans There is no way to avoyd this misery but onely by Jesus Christ Acts 4. 12. Qu. Was Jesus Christ God or Man Ans Jesus Christ was God from all eternity before the world or any thing was made Joh 1. 1 2 3. Joh. 8. 58. and he was made man about four thousand years after the world was made Gal. 4. 4. Qu. How was Christ made man Ans Christ was conceived by the holy Ghost Luke 1. 35. born of the Virgin Mary Esay 7. 14. 11. 1. and so was made a holy man without all sin Luke 1. 35. John 3. 6. Qu. But did Christ
the hope that is in him with all meeknesse 1 Pet. 3. 15. 2 It makes a Christian willing to receive every truth discovered unto him from the Word of God 1 Tim. 6. 5. and carefull to put in practise whatsoever he knows already 1 Joh. 2. 3 4 5. 3 It makes us painfull and industrious for the increasing of that knowledge which we have attained Prov. 2. 3 4. Hos 6. 3. And thus we must examine our selves about our knowledge saying to our own souls What O my soul hath God as yet wrought these things in thee or not Qu. How may a man examine himself about his faith so as to know he hath true faith in Christ Ans A man may know hee hath saving Faith by these characters of it 1 Saving faith is always wrought and preserved by the Word of God preached Rom. 10. 14 17. 1 Cor. 1. 21. and is that whereby wee come to be weary and heavie laden with sins Mat. 11. 28. to bee utterly rid of all confidence in our own righteousnesse Rom. 10. 3 4. and also restlesse in hungring after Christ till we find comfort in the promises touching the pardon of our sins Mat. 5. 6. 2 Saving faith makes the Christian to look at sin as the greatest evill and the grace of Christ as the greatest good in the world Heb. 11. 24 25 26 27. c. it purifieth the heart will thoughts affections and conscience from all love and allowance of sinne Act. 15. 9. Rom. 7. 15. and so works inward sanctification Act. 26. 18. It wrestles against temptations of unbelief Mar. 9. 24. Luk. 22. 31 32. and works by love to God and our brethren Gal. 5. 6. And by these evidences we must examine our selves whether we have true faith or not saying to each of our own souls What O soul art thou thus and thus qualified or not Qu. How may a man examine himself about his Repentance so as to know that he doth truly repent Ans True Repentance may be known 1 By our willingnesse and gladnesse to have any sin discovered Psal 141. 5. and our hearty love of those that discover and reprove it in us 2 Sam. 12. 13. 2 By an inward godly sorrow for all known sins as they are a breach of Gods Commandements and are displeasing unto God 2 Cor. 7. 10. and by a forsaking of all known sins Ezek. 18. 5 6. c. Psal 119. 3. out of a perfect hatred of them and care to avoid all occasions of them 2 Cor. 7. 11. 3 By an universal turning to God Deut. 3. 10. and constant cleaving to him in all his revealed wil and by practise of al known duties of obedience which obedience the death of Christ set forth in the Lords-supper notably provokes a Christian unto And thus wee must try our repentance before wee come to the Lords Table O my soul dost thou repent thus Qu. How may a man examine himself about his Obedience so as to know that his obedience is unfeigned obedience Ans Unfeigned obedience may be known thus 1 It is grounded onely on the Word of God Eph. 2. 10. and not on the traditions or inventions of men Mar. 7. 6 7. and it hath respect unto all Gods commandements without partiality or exception Psal 119. 6. 2 Unfeigned obedience aims at the right end namely at the praise and glory of God Phil. 1. 11. and not at any private advantage crosse thereunto and it is alwayes accompanied with zeal Gal. 4. 18. humility Mich. 6. 8. and constancy Psal 106. 3. And thus we must try our obedience before we come to the Lords supper Is it thus with thee O my soul Qu. How may a Christian examine himself about his love so as to know whether his love to God bee entire or not Ans We may be sure that our love to God is entire if no Commandement of God bee grievous unto us 1 Joh. 5. 3. if our love weanes our hearts from the love of the world 1 Joh. 2. 15. 1 Joh. 4. 20 21. 1 Joh. 5. 1. 1 Joh. 4. 12. and lastly if it make us love the children of God Qu. How may a Christian examine himself about his love so as to know that he hath entire love to the children of God in speciall Ans Entire love to the children of God makes us love godly men for godlinesse sake 2 Joh. 1 2 verses that is it will make us love all the Saints Eph. 1. 15. whether rich or poor strangers or kindred and that constantly Prov. 17. 17. Also such entire love will communicate it self in doing good to their souls and bodies 1 Joh. 3. 17 18. Q. How may a Christian examine himself about his love so as to know that he hath true love and charity toward his neighbor that is to all men in general Ans True love toward our neighbor or all men in generall may be known thus 1 It will make us willing to forgive wrongs to others Col. 3. 13. and to seek peace Rom. 12. 18. and make satisfaction if we have wronged them Rom. 13. 10. 2 True love will cause us to love the souls of all people and not to suffer sin to lie upon them Lev. 19. 17. 3 True love to our neighbor will make us to overcome evil with good Rom. 12. 17 20 21. by heaping offices of love upon them that wrong us And thus we must examine our selves about our love before we come to the Sacrament and see whether these qualifications of Gods Spirit be wrought in our hearts or not Qu. How may a man examine himself about his hunger and thirst after Christ so as to know that hee hath an earnest hunger and thirst after him Ans We may know if we have true hunger and thirst after Christ thus 1 True hunger and thirst after Christ wil make us seek him with all our heart in the diligent and constant use of all the means Prov. 13. 4. so as that nothing wil satisfie us without Christ Psal 73. 25. 2 Earnest hunger thirst after Christ longs after him for his own sake so as to part with any thing for him Matth. 13. 44. and to be content to have him upon any conditions Phil. 1. 21. Phil. 3. 8. 3 Earnest hunger and thirst after Christ makes the soul ready to entertain with great thankfulness whatsoever means or messenger shall bring Christ home unto it Rom. 10. 15. And lastly true hunger and thirst after Christ causes the Christian to seek after Christ for holinesse Isa 51. 1. as well as for happinesse Now is it thus with my soul or not Qu. How may a man examine himself about the sincerity of his heart so as to know that he is sincere and upright in his heart Ans A Christian may know that he is sincere and upright in heart thus 1 Sincerity and uprightness of heart wil shew it self in a carefulness to reform our delightful and bosom-sins Psal 18. 23. in an endeavour to find them out