they did to promote that which they did not hope would prevail And if they had any such hope whence did it arise They could not hope that all the mighty Princes and great Scholars of the world and men bred and born and zealous in other Religions would easily be led into a new one by a few poor inconsiderable unlearned men nay if they hoped by their own Authority and credit to impose this new Religion on men why were they so free in discovering their own meanness and what 's more their own failings and infirmities which sure must needs prejudice men from receiving it onely upon their commendation of it Or did they hope that the Doctrine would commend it self and so venture it to be tryed onely by it's apparent purity and goodness Then was this plain-dealing and honesty and if men embraced it for this then is it truly such and indeed we cannot imagine but that which is received by so great a part of Mankind and yet is so contrary to the Religions to which men were before wedded and so cross to the designs of worldly ambitious and voluptuous men who are usually both the greatest and mightiest part of mankind must needs have some more than ordinary apparent excellency in it and power manifestly going along with it and so we find still more and more reason to believe it Will any man yet say that perhaps these few well-meaning honest men were deceived as such men are apt to be by the craft of him whom they followed What colour of reason hath any man to suspect this First the works he did were such as they saw and not onely they but his Enemies were convinced they were real Secondly those works were enough to convince them that what he taught them was nothing but the very truth First that wonderful works were wrought by Jesus Christ and his followers they who are no Friends to either but Enemies do witness Neither can any man perswade himself that the writers of Scriptures durst have published these things to the World at that time when there were so many men alive who would have disproved them and declared them lyars and marred their whole design and credit if they had been false They tell us not of things done in a corner where others could not see but in the streets and Market-places and publick Assemblies and in the presence of thousands who had seen and tasted of them Secondly the works done were sufficient to prove the Doctrine taught to be of God 1. They were professedly done to that end that men might believe it was from God and therefore it must be believed that they were such as were fit to produce such a belief for if they had not been such as men must reasonably think they were done by the power of God only there could be no hopes the Doctrine would be believed to come from God because of them 2. That they were such as did truly manifest a divine power the works themselves are enough to convince us For who but God or they with whom God wrought could make the blind to see the lame to walk the deaf to hear a few loaves to satisfie and much more than satisfie many thousands Who could raise the dead to life again command sicknesses to depart the winds to cease the Seas to be calm the Devils to be gone Who could raise himself from the dead and go up into Heaven in the sight of Men and discover the thoughts of men's hearts and such like wonderful works as the world saw done by Jesus Christ and his followers but by the power of an Almighty God Was not all this enough to convince men to believe that these men came from God and spake from God Lastly If after all this it shall appear that the things which are written in these books are such things as do well become the Majesty and wisdome and goodness of God to make known and fit for man on supposition that there be a God to know what mâ—re can be thought requisite to satisfie any reasonable man both that there is a God and that these books contain his word Now that the things are truly worthy of God and fit for man to know he cannot chuse but confess that reads and understands them they being such as all men must acknowledge are apt to beget in man a due and honourable esteem and reverent thoughts of God setting him forth before our eyes as the alone maker preserver and governour of all things glorious in incomprehensible Majesty infinite in power and wisdom and holiness and knowledge and justice and goodness shewing us our dependence on him and his Providence over us and how that in his goodness and bounty consists our Life his Will is our Law his favour our onely happiness and his displeasure our destruction These Books shew us how good God was to us at first in making us with immortal Souls and beautiful Bodies and providing all things necessary for the good of both and in giving us the command and use of other Creatures and how man fell by disobeying God from that good and comfortable estate into all manner of misery the severe judgments of God on those who stubbornly continue in their Rebellion against him and the wonderful courses that God hath taken to restore us to happiness and the singular mercies of God to all that fear him And what things can we imagine fitter than these to perswade man to honor and fear and love and obey God Again if we consider the Doctrines commended therein to our Faith as the Doctrine of the Trinity and the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and the sending of the Holy Ghost and the way of pardoning sins and saving sinners by the death and Resurrection of the eternal Son of God and the like these things are wonderful and Mysterious and because they are so they are the fitter to beget in us Humility and Reverence and admiration and being so comfortable to oblige us to all love and obedience If we look upon the Laws and Rules of Life of worshipping God watching over our selves and loving our Neighbours we find them all to be full of all Purity and Holiness Justice and Equity such as we must needs in reason judge fit to be observed and the things commanded such as tend most evidently to the glory of God and the universal good of all mankind so that the wit of man cannot possibly conceive what could have been wiser or better Lastly if we consider the promises and rewards proposed for the incouragement of obedience and the threatnings and punishments denounced against all disobedience we find them such as truly becomes an eternal God and most apt to beget obedience to the Laws of God for they are not lite and momentany nor reaching as those of men to the body onely and this present Life but they are infinite and eternal of Soul and Body both Considering all these things I cannot imagine
In the beginning Gen. 1.1 God made the World and all things Acts 17.24 in six dayes Exod. 20.11 by his Word Heb. 11.3 and every thing which God made was very good Gen. 1.31 Q. Who preserveth all things A. God upholdeth all things by the word of his power Heb. 1.3 in him we live and move and have our Being Acts 17.28 Q. Who Ruleth and Governeth all things A. God hath prepared his Throne in the Heavens and his Kingdom Ruleth over all Psal. 103.19 Q. Doth God take Care of the smalest things of the World A. God preserveth Man and Beast Psal. 36.6 He feedeth the Fowls of the Air and cloatheth the Grass of the Field Mat. 6.26 30. Not one Sparrow falleth to the ground without him and the very hairs of our heads are numbred Mat. 10.29 30. Q. Where is God A. Heaven is God's Throne and Earth is his Foot-stool Acts 7.49 he filleth Heaven and Earth Ier. 23.24 we cannot flee from his Presence Psal. 139.7 Q. Hath God any Body or Parts as we see the Creatures have A. God is a Spirit Iohn 4.24 which hath not Flesh and Bones Luke 24.39 but is invisible Col. 1.15 whom no man hath seen nor can see 1 Tim. 6.16 Q. Hath God beginning or ending A. God is Eternal 1 Tim. 1.17 from Everlasting to Everlasting Psal. 90.2 he Liveth for ever and ever Rev. 4.10 Q. What Power hath God what is he able to do A. He is the Lord God Almighty Rev. 4.8 he can do every thing Iob. 42.2 nothing is too hard for him Ier. 32.17 Q. What is Gods Knowledge and Wisdom A. He is the only wise God 1 Tim. 1. 17. his understanding is infinite Psal. 147.5 he knoweth all things Iohn 21.17 his Eyes are in every place beholding the evil and the good Prov. 15.3 Q. Is he a Holy God A. God is pure 1 Iohn 3.3 and Holy Isa. 5 16. he hath no pleasure in wickedness Psal. 5.4 cannot be tempted with evil neither tempteth he any man Iames 1.13 Q. Is there any injustice in God A. God is most upright Isa. 26.7 without Iniquity just and right is he Deut. 32.4 and will render to every man according to his deeds Rom. 2.6 Q. Is he not also good A. God is good and doth good Psal. 119.68 good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works Psal. 145.8 Q. Is there any untruth or changing with God A. Our God is a God of Truth Psal. 32.5 a faithful God 2 Thes. 3.3 he cannot lye Tit. 1.2 he changeth not Mal. 3.6 Iames 1.17 all his promises are yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 Q. Is there any more but one God A. There is none other but one 1 Cor. 8.4 onely true 1 Thes. 1.9 and Living God Acts 14.15 Q. Who is this one onely true and Living God A. The Lord he is God there is none else besides him Deut. 4.35 even God that made the World Acts 17.24 the Father the Soâ— and the Holy Ghost Mat. 28.19 2 Cor. 13 14. Ephes. 2.18 Q. Who is the Father A. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 1.3 who having life in himself hath also given to the Son to have life in himself Iohn 5.26 Q. Who is the Son A. The Word Iohn 1. â— Jesus Christ Iohn 20.31 God's own Rom. 8.32 onely begotten Iohn 3.16 and beloved Son Mat. 3.17 the onely begotten of the Father Iohn 1.14 Q. Is the Son true God A. He is the Lord of Hosts Isa. 6.3 with Iohn 12.4 Numb 21.6 with 1 Cor. 10.9 the true God 1 Iohn 5.20 the great God Tit. 2.13 over all God Blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 Q. Who is the Holy Ghost A. The Holy Ghost is the Eternal Heb. 9.14 Spirit of the Father Mat. 10.20 and of the Son Gal. 4.6 Q. Is the Holy Ghost God A. The Spirit of God is Godâ— 1 Cor. 3.16 17. the Lord 2 Cor. 3.17 Acts 5.3 4. Q. The Father is God the Son is God and the Holy Ghost is God are not these three Gods A. There be three in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are One 1 Iohn 5.7 Q. What know you of the Angels A. Angels are either Holy Angels Mat. 25.31 or evil Angels Psal 78.49 Q. Which call you Holy Angels A. Holy Angels are an innumerable Company Heb. 12.22 of Elect 1 Tim. 5.21 and mighty 2 Thes. 1.7 Angels of Heaven Mat. 24.36 excelling in strength doing God's Commandments and hearkning to the voice of his Word Psal. 103.20 Q. Vnder whose Command are Holy Angels A. Angels and Authorities and Powers are made subject to Christ 1 Pet. 3.22 Q. What special Office have Holy Angels A. Holy Angels are ministring Spirits sent fortâ—â— to Ministâ—â— for them who shall be heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 Q. Whicâ—â—all you eâ—â—l Angels A. The evil Angels are the Angels that sinned and kept not their first estate but left their own Habitation whom God cast down to Hell 2 Pet. 2.4 Iude 6. Q. Who is chief of evil Angels A. Beâ—lzebub is Prince of Devils Mat. 12.24 that Old Serpent called the Devil and Sathan Rev. 12 9. Q. What is the Devil 's main business A. Our Adversary the Devil as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5.8 Q. What hath God prepared for the Evil Angels A. Everlasting Fire is prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25.41 Q. Who was the first Man A. The first Man was Adam Gen. 2.5 Luke 3.38 1 Cor. 15.45 Q. Of what did God make Adam A. The Lord God formed Man of the Dust of the ground and breathed into his Nostrils the breath of Life and man became a Living Soul Gen. 2.7 Q. Who was the first Woman A. The first Woman was Eve the Mother of all Living Gen. 3.20 Q Of what did God make Eve A. The Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he took one of his Ribs and mâ—de it a Woman and brought her unto the man Gen. 2.21 22. Q. What are the chief parts of Man A Man hath a Soul or Spirit and a Body Mat. 10.28 Eccl. 12.7 Q In what state or Condition did God mâ—ke Man A. God made man upright Eccl. 7.29 in the Image of God made he him Gen. 1.27 Q What mâ—an you by God's Image A. Man was created after God in righteousness and true Holiness Eph. 4.24 and â—n knowledge Col. 3.10 and God made him have Dominion over the works of his hands Psal. 8.6 Gen. 1.16.2.20 Q Where did God place Adam A. God put the Man into the Garden of Eden Gen. 2.15 Q. What Command did God give Man there A. Goâ— Commanded the Man saying Oâ— the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely dye Gen. 2.16 17. Q. Did Adam keep this Command A. The Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty 2 Cor. 11.3 Gen. 3.13 and she did eat and
53.5 and the Wine poured out signifies that Christ's blood was shed for many for the remission of sins Mat. 26.28 Q. What do our taking eating and drinking these signifie A. Our taking eating and drinking the bread and wine signifie the Communion of the body and blood of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 Q. To what end was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained A. We are to do this in remembrance of Christ 1 Cor. 11.25 for as often as we eat this bread and drink this Cup we shew the Lord's Death till he come v. 26. Q. What doth our joynt partaking together of this Sacrament signifie A. Our joynt partaking of this Sacrament signifies that we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread 1 Cor. 10.17 Q. What is the danger of receiving this Sacrament unworthily A. Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord 1 Cor. 11.27 and eateth and drinketh judgment to himself not discerning the Lord's body v. 29. Q. What must we do to receive this Sacrament woâ—â—hily A. Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that â—read and drink of that Cup 1 Cor. 11.28 Q. What mean you by examining a man's self A. We must examine our selves whether we be in the Faith and prove our own selves 2 Cor. 13.5 Q. What shall become of us when we dye A. When we dye the dust shall return to the Earth as it was and the Spirit shall return unto God who gave it Eccl. 12.7 Q Shall our Bodies lye for ever in the Earth A. No there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the just and unjust Acts 24.15 Q. By whom have we the Resurrection from the Dead A. As in Adam all dye so in Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15.2 all that are in the graves shall hear his voyce and shall come forth they that have done good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of Damnation Iohn 5.28 29. Q. When shall the Resurrection be A. At the last day Iohn 11.24.6.39 the end of the World Mat. 13.36 when the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voyce of the Arch-Angel and with the Trump of God 1 Thes. 4.16 Q. Shall the very same Bodies rise again A. Yes this Corruptible must put on Incorruption and this Mortal shall put on Immortality 1 Cor. 15.53 Q. To what end must we rise again A. God hath appointed a day in the which he will Judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained Acts 17.31 Q. What Man is that A. God shall Judge the Secrets of men by Jesus Christ Rom. 2.16 it is he who was ordained of God to be Judge both of Quick and Dead Acts 10.42 Q. Shall all Men be judged by Christ A. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5.10 Q. What shall be the doom of the Wicked A. Christ shall â—â—y unto the wicked depart from me ye cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25.41 and they shall go away into everlasting punishment v. 46. where their Worm dyeth not and the fire is not quenched Mark 9.48 and there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth v. 50. Q. What shall be the reward of the Righteous A. Christ shall say unto the Righteous Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepar'd for you from the Foundation of the World Mat. 25.34 and they shall go into Life Eternal v. 46. and shall ever be with the Lord 1 Thes. 4.17 Q. Can you exactly tell me what blessings the Righteous shall enjoy in Heaven A. Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord they rest from their Labours Rev. 14.13 are comforted Luke 6.25 enter into the joy of their Lord Mat. 25.21.23 and an Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 1.4 but it doth not yet appear what we shall be onely we know that when Christ shall appear we shall be like him 1 Iohn 3.2 Q. In the mean time how ought Christians to behave themselves in this Life A. Our Conversation must be as becometh the Gospel of Christ Phil. 1.27 walking worthy of God who hath called us unto his Kingdom and glory 1 Thes. 2.12 being fruitful in every good work and abounding in the knowledge of God Col. 1.10 Q. How may our Conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ A. The Grace of God which bringeth Salvation teacheth us that denying ungodliness and worldly Lusts we should live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World Tit. 2.11 12. and herein should we Exercise our selves to have alwayes a Conscience void of Offence toward God and toward Man Acts 24.16 Q. Is not the Profession of Christian Religion enough of it self A. Not every one that sath unto Christ Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the will of God which is in Heaven Mat. 7.21 Q. Do you not make void the Law through Faith A. God for-bid yea we establish the Law Rom. 3.31 as the body without the Spirit is â—ead so Faith without works is dead also Iam. 2 2â— therefore blessed are they that keep Christ's Commandments that they may have â—â—ght to the tree of life may enter in through the gates into the City Rev. 22.14 Q. What is your duty to God as he is but One A. Because there is but one God we must worship the Lord our God and serve him only Mat. 4.10 cleave unto him Deut. 10.20 and have no other Gods before him Exod. 20.3 Q. What sins are you here especially to take beed of A. We must take heed how we say in our hearts there is no God Psal. 14.1 or have not the knowledg of God 1 Cor. 15.34 on knowing God glorifie him not as God Rom. 1.21 or prosessing that we know God yet in works deny him Tit. 1.16 or serve the Creature more than the Creator who is blessed for ever Rom. 1.25 Q. How ought you to worship God A. God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth Iohn 4.24 Q. What sins are we especially to take heed of A. No man hathâ— seen God's shape Iohn 5.37 let us take heed how we liken him to any thing or compare any likeness unto him Isa. 40.18 or corrupt our selves by making us a graven image or the likeness of any Figure Deut. 4.15 Rom. 1.23 Acts 17.29 to bow down to it or serve it Exod. 20.5 or think he can be worshiped with mens hands as though he needed any thing Acts 17.25 or worship him teaching for Doctrines the Traditions of men Mat. 15.9 Q. What Duties
God Why did that eternal Man leave Children so unlike himself of so short a Life Or what is now become of him If he was eternally he had eternally a power to be and live and did chuse to dye and be no more and not leave the least notice to the World that ever he was Did that first man begin to be He gave not his beginning to himself for before he began to be he was not he had it from no other man for he was the first man did he spring out of the Earth Shew what power the Earth had to prodcue so noble a Creature and if it had that power did it spend it all at once that it should never before or since bring forth another man or any thing like him I know men may dream of strange â—hings and tell their dreams so often that they may forget they were dreams and begin to think them Truths and because wicked man is afraid of God he is willing to set hiâ— phansie aâ— work to hatch pretty conceits which he may play and sport with and divert himself from hearkning to his Conscience and fom all thoughts of God which disturb his quiet and imbitter his delights with fears of Judgment but he shall never be able by reason to satisfie himself that there is no God 3. The content of the whole World perswades me that it is at least a very great unadvisedness and arrogance hastily to dis-believe a God the whole frame and order of Nature convince me that it is very reasonable and highly satisfactory to the mind of man to believe there is a God but far greater satisfaction yet a man may receive from those clearer evidences which God hath given to the World of himself in Prophesies and Miracles Let a Man therefore thus reason with himself First Things have been fore-told many hundred years before they came to pass and these things have come to pass exactly in all circumstances of time place and manner as they were fore-told For my own part I know that I cannot tell what shall be to Morrow or the very next hour and others who have ventured to fore-tell such things have miserably befool'd both themselves and all that gave credit to them onely those few who pretended that they came from God and gave sufficient evidence to the world that they spake by God's Command have been so happy as to gain credit to the God from whom they came as the true God and to themselves as his true Prophets by a timely and evident fulfilling of those things which they did foretel Now seeing that there have been men who have foretold the the things which afterwards came to pass in all circumstances as they were fore-told and such things as did not depend upon the constant course of Nature and such as no man else could foresee and seeing that these men did profess they knew not these things by their own Art or Study nor by any natural means but only by the revelation which they had from God and seeing it is unconceivable how any should know such things but he alone who governs and orders all things I cannot but believe there is a God who sent these men and spake by them 2. Works have been done which not only exceed the power of man to do but are clearly above the power and against the course of nature these are truly called Miracles wonderful works The Fire hath refused to burn them that were cast into it the Waters have stood up like Walls on each hand whilst men have passed dry-foot through the midst of them the Sun hath been made to stand still for a time and the dead have been raised to life with a word these and the like things I am sure man hath of himself no power to do nor can any man imagin by whom they could be done but by him alone who hath the command of nature These things were done by men onely who said they came from God and to witness to the world that they said truly and all to perswade the world to acknowledge God to fear worship and obey him and therefore I cannot but believe that there is a God who sent these men and wrought by them If any man now ask how we know there have been such things as these he will receive a fuller answer in that which now follows to shew what reason we have to believe the Scriptures to be true wherein these things are recorded It is very reasonable to believe that if there be a God he expects some homage and duty from us and because we can of our selves but guess at most what duties they be which we are to pay unto him and so may be mistaken it is farther yet very reasonable to believe that God hath given us some notice of his will and pleasure and some rule to direct us how we may acceptably serve and honour him and that he should therein make known unto us so much of himself as may beget in us an honuorable esteem and reverend thoughts of his Majesty and so much of his works as to convince us that we came from him and do depend upon him and so much of his goodness and bounty as may encourage us to serve him cheerfully and lastly such demonstrations of his truth as may satisfie us that all this is real and no guile or deceit in it The reasonableness of believing this upon supposition onely that there is a God will make it still more reasonable to believe there is a God when we see that there is something which men do receive and own as a rule sent from God to teach us how we are to honour him and that it hath all those things in it which we suppose it reasonable that such a Rule should have Now we have in our hands a book called the Bible or book and the Scripture or Writing by way of excellency and it is believed that in this Book we have the Word of God whereby he hath revealed himself and his will unto us to teach us both what we are to believe and what we are to do and what we are to hope for That then which we are now to be satisfied in is how it appears that this Book doth indeed contain the Word of God Now this Book being made up of two parts the Old and the New Testament and the Writers of the New Testament bearing witness to the Writers of the Old Testament that they came from God it will certainly follow that if the Writings of the New Testament be true and from God the Writings of the Old are so too Therefore a man need do no more but satisfie himself in the truth and Divine Authority of the New Testament And here let a man thus reason with himself 1. I see that we have these Books and I see whose names they bear I see that the men who writ these Books pretend that they spake from God and that we ought to