struck through the Liver and their Wealth hath been in the House of Strangers Prov. 5.3 10. 4. Beware of rejecting of Instruction or sober Reproof this brings Poverty Prov. 13.18 5. Beware of loving costly Superfluities Wine and Oil when there is no need of them Prov. 23.21 21.17 6. Take heed of covetously with-holding more than is meet in point of Charity to Objects of great Misery this tends to Poverty Prov. 11.24 7. Beware of giving to the Rich and withholding from the Poor Prov. 22.16 8. Take heed of delighting in the Company of vain Persons such shall have Poverty enough Prov. 28.19 9. Take heed of Oppression though thou be poor of oppressing the Poor Prov. 28.3 It is like a sweeping Rain that leaves no Food Now I beseech you consider of these Cautions that Men oft-times make themselves poor by such things as ought to be avoided IX Something briefly offered in case it shall be your State to be persecuted which all that will live godly in this World must and may expect until that glorious Day come that God will make a new Heaven and a new Earth And as to your being persecuted for Righteousness-sake either for doing what God Commands or for not doing what he Forbids 1. Commit your Souls to God in well-doing fear him trust in him let him be your Fear and Dread Isa 8.13 2. Rather in the fore-mentioned Cases chuse to suffer than to sin 3. Keep a good Conscience for that will bear you up under all hard Trials Integrity will afford daily Joy Acts 24.16 4. Be purely suffering in a principle of Love to God and Christ if ever you would be owned by God and Christ if otherwise all Suffering may be nothing 1 Cor. 13.3 My Friends give me leave that have been five times in Prison for my Lord's Cause and sometimes beaten and often fined to beseech you to avoid these things in suffering if God permit Trials to come upon you 1. Take heed of unbelief of Promises O that Promise If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye 1 Pet. 4.14 They that suffer for Righteousness sake happy are they great is their Reward in Heaven Mat. 5.10 11. They shall have in what they lose an hundred fold in this present time and in the World to come Eternal Life Mat. 10.30 Surely a faithful Sufferer experiences sweet Comforts from God in the enjoyment of his Spirit comfort of his Promises Providences waiting great Grace attending O the sweet Comfort and Discoveries when John was banished into the Isle of Patmus or a place of Death he never met with the like Discoveries before in order to a manifesting in his four-fold Visions what should shortly come to pass never the like Discoveries before Rev. 1.9 The three Children had a glorious Presence in the fiery Furnace they were preserved and those that cast them in were destroyed their Enemies convinced no God was like their God Dan. 3.29 6.26 Daniel in the Lion's Den an Angel guarding of him Lions restrained from hurting of him the Informers destroyed before they came to the bottom of the Den Dan. 6.24 Paul and Silas in the Dungeon their Backs bleeding their Feet in the Stocks they at Midnight praising God and praying the Prison shaking the enraged Jaylor trembling and he and his after the Word was preached to him and all that were in his House believing and to Christ in holy Baptism conforming Thus you see there may be an hundred-fold more than formerly was enjoyed of divine Comfort and Strength Acts 16.24 to 34. Discoveries Preservation some out of weakness have been made strong O consult Soul that little Book of Martyrs Heb. 11. Besides what shall be accomplished when the Saints shall possess the Kingdom yea the greatness of it under the whole Heavens shall be given to them Dan. 7.27 Rev. 5.10 Psal 45.16 Rev. 20.4 5 6. 2. Souls take heed in a suffering Day of Self-confidence When Self-denial will help thee to be a faithful Martyr Self-confidence will make thee but an unfaithful Souldier an impatient Sufferer and a sinful Complier much of this I have seen in the Days of our late Trials He that trusts his own Heart is a Fool Prov. 28.26 Peter promised much out of a Temptation but fell foully under the Temptation O stay on him that gives Strength to them that have no Might Isa 40. ult 3. Take heed of carnal Counsel in a suffering State There are many will say Save your selves by complying and leave off bearing their Testimony and comply contrary to their Light cowardly God disowned Conscience wounded Comforts clowded and in saving themselves here without infinite Mercy may lose Eternal Life hereafter Luke 9.24 25. 4. Take heed of over-loving Self or the World more than Christ and Truth it will bring you to a dreadful Day in which you shall not be worthy of Christ Remember you are not your own but were bought with his precious Blood when you deserved nothing but Wrath and think not much to hazard your All for him Consider the Cross is interlaid with the Crown Love not the World nor the things 1 John 2.15 that are in the World neither equal with God nor above God it will declare if you so do that the Love of the Father is not in you Mat. 11.37 Rev. 1.10 X. O consider something as relating to the irresistable Decree of God even Death and Judgment Heb. 9.27 O consider it will not be long e're thou must be strugling with thy last Enemy O restless Death when Weakness will be attending Strength failing natural Spirits expiring Death-Sobs attending Friends weeping and you departing from the World Friends and Relations O happy then yea fully blessed if dying in the Lord Rev. 14.13 where John is commanded to write it O presume not upon a long Life it is a great hinderance to a good Life O for God's sake and for your eternal Welfare-sake do not forget your dying Hour nor your latter End lest you come down wonderfully and there be none to help you Lam. 1.9 1. God doth affectionately wish it Deut. 32.29 2. God doth graciously direct you to hear Counsel and receive Instruction that ye may be wise in your latter End Prov. 19.20 3. Labour to live so as you would wish when your Eyes come to be closed Prov. 5.11 Numb 23.10 4. Whatever your Hand findeth to do that is agreeable to the Lord 's holy Will do it with all your Might knowing there is no Work to be done in the Grave Eccles 9.10 5. Remember you must die but the Time when the Place where the Manner how you know not Evil falls out to Man and he knoweth it not Eccles 9.12 1. In order to your dying Hour let Time and Duty go together Mat. 24.46 2. Let a holy Reverence of God attend you in all Actions Places and Conditions 1 Pet. 1.17 3. Let the Contemplations of God's Love in Christ to you engage you to say daily to
Bishops and Deacons Titus 1.6 Q In what manner are they to be chosen that are to be Elders or Bishops Q. They solemnly are to apply themselves by Prayer and Fasting unto the Lord for direction whom to chuse and as near as they can appoint such Men in the Work that are qualified for it and sutably gifted to feed the Flock with wholsome sound Doctrine then to ordain them by the laying on of the Hands of the Eldership Acts 14.23 13.2 3. 1 Tim. 4.14 1 Tim. 3. Q. VVhat is the Work chiefly of the Elders A. To feed the Flock of God over which the Holy Ghost hath made them Overseers to watch for their Souls as one that must give an Account for them Heb. 13.17 to provide seasonable Matter for them both for Instruction Correction and Comfort and to labour to hold forth sound Doctrine by a due Study and premeditating upon the Will of God 1 Tim. 4.15 2 Tim. 2.15 Mat. 24.45 And so giving every one their Portion in due Season being Patterns or Ensamples to the Flock 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3. Q. Are the Deacons to be ordained by laying on of Hands A. Yea so was the Example Acts 6.6 Q. What is to be done in order to chuse them A. Their Qualifications are to be minded on the Churches part and as near as they can to chuse Men according to the Pattern 1 Tim. 3.8 Q. VVhat is their Work A. To over see the Poor faithfully and carefully to distribute the Church's Contribution that the Poor may not justly complain Act. 6.1 2. Q. What Care ought the Church to take of them that labour in the Word and Doctrine A. To account them worthy of double Honour not to receive evil Thoughts of them without just Cause nor any Accusation against an Elder without two Witnesses and to obey them in their ruling according to Christ's own Word 1 Tim. 5.17 19. Heb. 13.17 Q. What further are they to do A. They that are taught in the Word are to communicate to him that teacheth in all good Things according as they shall be made free by the Power of the Gospel Gal. 6.6 Phil. 4.17 Q. Are they thus to be contented to Labour A. Yea and when the chief Shepherd shall appear they shall receive a Crown of Life if Faithful Free Ready Constant Humble in the doing of their Work 1 Pet. 6.2 3 4. So was Paul's Charge to the Elders Acts 20. as also his own Example Acts 20.33 34. Q. VVhat is the Duty of Saints in Affliction A. To pray for Mercy to exercise Patience to examine themselves to loath their Sin with a Resolution to turn from it Jam. 5.14 Lam. 3.40 Job 24.31 Joh. 5.14 Q. VVhat are they to do further A. They are to send for the Elders of the Church and they are to pray over them anointing them with Oil in the Name of the Lord. And there is a two-fold Promise First That the Prayer of Faith shall save the Sick Secondly That if he have committed Sin it shall be forgiven him Jam. 5.14 15 16. This Promise of Recovery must be considered if God have not otherwise determined for it is appointed for Men once to die and if Recovery should always be of sick Members then none in the Church should die Q. VVas this ever practised by Christ's Disciples c. A. Yea they anointed with Oil in the Name of the Lord many that were Sick and healed them Mark 6.13 Although there be no more in the Oil than there was in the brazen Serpent yet being commanded by the Lord there is Virtue in it and God's Promise is to his own Way Therefore let none despise and run out of God's Way as Asa did 2 Chron. 16.12 13. Q. VVhat are Persons to do when merry A. They are to sing Psalms and Spiritual Songs according to their sensibleness of the Lord's Mercy to themselves or the Church of God and to speak forth their Experiences of God's Goodness Mercy either Spiritually or Temporally enjoyed for the Praise of God for the raising up each others Hearts Exod. 15.12 Isa 26.1 Jude 5. Luke 2.29 Q. Is Singing giving of Thanks Praising Blessing God all one A. Yea the Apostle's words make it so appear 1 Cor. 14.15 16 17. Q. What are Christians Duty to all Men A. To do to all Men as they would be done by Mat. 7.12 Luk. 6.31 Q. VVhat is their Duty to Enemies A. To pray for them that persecute them to do good to them that hate them to bless them that curse them to feed if hungry if thirsty to give them Drink Rom. 12.20 Mat. 5.44 Q. How must they learn this Duty A. By considering that Christ laid down his Life for them while Enemies Rom. 5.8 by a serious consideration that God would have Love and Mercy shewed to them that are Evil that Saints might be like God that Men might that way be provoked to turn unto the Lord and if not provoked by the Lord's Patience and Mercy nor his Peoples it will justly make their Torments insupportable Mat. 5.45 Rom. 12.20 even as sad as Coles of Fire upon the Head Q. What are Christians Duty to Magistrates A. To obey them in all things commanded by them that are not contrary to the Law of the Almighty God not for Wrath but for Conscience sake Q. VVhat must we do when we cannot actually obey A. Patiently suffering as did the three Children Daniel Paul and Silas Peter and John when Governours required that to be done which God forbad or commanded that to be avoided that God enjoined Rom. 13.5 Acts 4.19 16.21 23. Dan. 3.16 17 18. 6.10 Q. How are Men elected or chosen by the Lord A. They are said to be chosen in Christ before the Foundation of the World Ephes 1.4 1 Pet. 1.2 Q. How are Men in Christ A. By Faith Rom. 11.20 23. Q. How then cometh Faith A. By hearing the Word preached Rom. 10.17 Q. How comes the Word of Remission of Sins and eternal Life to be preached A. By the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ Q. How came Jesus Christ to die for our Sins A. It was the Lord's free Love in sending him into the World John 3.16 Luke 24.47 1 Cor. 15.13 14 15. Q. But seeing Men are chosen through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth as 2 Thess 2.13 How then are they chosen in him before the Foundation of the World A. In the Purpose of God they that believe are his Chosen Q. How make you that appear A. God calleth things that are not as tho they were Rom. 4.17 And so he said to Abraham I have made thee a Father of many Nations yet not the Father of one Child at that time but Ishmael Gen. 17.5 but not of Isaac in whom his Seed should be called Rom. 9.7 Q. How doth it farther appear that Men are Elect according to the foreknowledg of God thrô Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience 1 Pet. 1.2 and yet
are said to be chosen before the Foundation of the World in Christ A. Christ is called a Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World yet not slain many thousand Years after till he was a Man in the Flesh so Men are said to be chosen in Christ before the Foundation of the World yet not chosen till they have the Sanctification of the Spirit and believe the Truth 2 Thess 2.13 He hath set apart the Godly for himself Psal 4.3 Q. How are Men said to be ordained of old to Condemnation A. Not as Men but as wicked ungodly Men who turn the Grace of God into Wantonness denying our Lord Jesus Christ and the only Lord God Jude 4. Q. How doth this farther appear A. Because that God manifesteth upon Oath that he desireth not the Death of a Sinner but that he may turn and live Q. How doth it appear that God doth not ordain any to Destruction but as they are wicked and abuse his Grace A. By his lamenting the Ruin of them that have perished and had the things hid from their Eyes that pertain to their everlasting Peace Matth. 23.37 Luke 19.41 42. Also by the Lord minding that Man's Destruction is of himself Hos 13.9 Acts 13.46 Also for this Cause God shall send them strong Delusions and for this Cause he gave them up to vile Affections so that there was a Cause of their Ruin when they had a being and not before they had a being 2 Thess 2.10 11. Rom. 1.14 Psal 81.10 11. Q. What are Childrens Duty towards their Parents A. Children obey your Parents in all things for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord Col. 3.20 compared with Ephes 6.1 2. Exod. 20.12 Q. What is the Danger of disobeying slighting or making light of Parents A. Some eminent Judgments have taken hold of those that have so done and it doth much provoke the Lord. Q. What Judgments have fallen upon Children for making light of their Parents A. Ham the Father of Canaan for his Contempt of his Father Noah was cursed and was Servant to the rest of his Brethren Gen. 9.22 23 27. Q. What else befel disobedient Children A. He that smote his Father or he that cursed or reviled his Father was according to the Law of God to be put to Death Exod. 21.15 17. His Lamp to be put out in obscure Darkness that curseth Father or Mother Prov. 20.20 Q. How doth it appear that some eminent Judgment is likely to fall on them A. The Eye that mocketh at his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valley shall pick it out and the young Eagles shall eat it Prov. 30.17 Disobedience to Parents is reckoned up among the Sins that God hath punished Ezek. 22.7 14. among the Sins that God will punish and that which makes the Days with other Evils perilous 2 Tim. 3.2 Q. Are Parents to be obeyed in any thing actually that contradicts the Mind of the Father of Spirits A. In this respect we must honour God more than Father or Mother or Governours as Christ saith Call no Man Father for one is your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 23.9 Q. What Privilege have those Children that are obedient to their Parents in the Lord A. It is called the first Commandment with Promise Ephes 6.3 God blessed the Rekabites the Sons of Jonadah and honoured them highly because they did not violate their Father's Command but observed it Jer. 35.5 6 7 8 9 compared with the 18 19 verses Q. What was done to the Children that mocked the Prophet because of his bald Head A. They were cursed and two Bears came forth out of the Wood and slew forty two Children 2 Kings 2.23 24. Q. What may this Judgment of God teach Parents A. Much to caution and instruct their Children to take heed of despising reproaching or mocking any though wanting any thing in Person or Substance that others enjoy Q. What was done to Gehazi for Covetousness and Lying A. The Leprosy of Naaman the Syrian clave to him and his Seed for ever and he went out white as a Leper 2 King 5.25 27. Q. What was done to Ananias and Saphira for lying A. They fell down both dead at the Apostles Feet Acts 5.1 2 3. Q. What must be the Portion of Liars A. They shall have their part in the Lake of Fire and Brimstone that tormenteth for ever and ever Rev. 21.8 Q. What did Moses say to the Brethren that strove with each other A. Rebuked them saying Wherefore smitest thou thy Fellow And Abraham said to Lot when their Herdsmen were at strife Let there be no Strife between me and thee for we be Brethren Exod. 2.13 Gen. 13.8 It was the Charge of Joseph to his Brethren saying See that you fall not out by the way Gen. 49.24 Q. VVhat is the Duty of Servants to their Masters A. Servants be subject to your Masters with all fear not only to the Good and Gentle but also to the Froward 1 Pet. 2.18 19 20 21. Q. But what Service ought a Person to perform to those whom he engageth to serve A. Diligently faithfully humbly behaving himself in his outward Business avoiding Eye-service purloyning or taking little Matters without Consent or Knowledg of his Master or stubbornly answering again or despising or slighting of them because they are Brethren Ephes 6.6 7 8. 1 Tim. 6.1 Titus 2.9 10. Q VVhat Encouragement hath a Servant to be subject to the Froward to be Faithful to be Humble Diligent avoiding Eye-service not answering again A. The Grace of God in sending his Son to die teacheth those Lessons Titus 2.11 also knowing that whatsoever good Thing any Man doth the same he shall receive of the Lord whether Bond or Free Also the Law of Equity which the Law of God gives a being unto would have Servants do as they would be done by and so Masters to deal by their Servants as they would have their own Children when they come to be Servants dealt by considering those words Mat. 7.2 Mark 4.24 What measure you meet shall be measured to you again Therefore let Master and Servant Father and Child all prepare according to the Measures of Knowledg received doing the Will of God from the Heart And this shall be the Conclusion of the Matter Fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole Duty of Man Eccles 12.13 Remember thy Creator in the Days of thy Youth say daily What am I what do I whither go I Thy last Hour and Eternal Judgment do not forget THE END APPENDIX May 1693. BEing desired by Brethren to reprint this short Catechism and moved thereto at the Association of several Messengers and Elders assembled together at Nantwich April 19 1693. And looking upon my poor Endeavours to be far short of what might be done in order to the instructing of Youth and what some have done yet in answer to the desire of that Christian Assembly and the fervent Desires of many in
given to admire the Giver and to love things given so far as you may honour the Giver Prov. 3.9 Honour the Lord with thy Substance and there is promised an Increase O Soul if the Streams be sweet what is the Fountain And if the Creature be sweet what is the Creator O Souls serve God with all labour to love God above all and be content to be at his dispose in all 1 Chron. 29.14 Mat. 10.37 Isa 39.7 8. Job 1.21 Consider in great Prosperity you live upon Alms have nothing but what the great God gives you and live daily on his bountiful Benevolence and as he descends with Favours to you so do you ascend with Thankfulness to him Give us this Day our daily Bread our Lord teacheth us to pray and cannot we live well one Day without Bread then let 's ask it every Day and be thankful for it David rose at Midnight to praise God but it 's hardly some Mens Mid-day Work Hide not your Face from your own Flesh While some poor Relations are in Want if thou hast Prosperity look not with a scornful but with a pitiful Eye upon them Thy own Friend and thy Father's Friend do not forget Isa 58.7 Prov. 27.10 Job in his Prosperity caused the Widow to sing and pulled the Poor out of the Jaw-teeth of the Wicked And the Blessings of them that were ready to perish came upon him read the 31st Chapter of Job O how hath the Abuse of Prosperity and growing Proud overturned Sodom Ezek. 16.49 brought down that great Monarch Nebuchadnezzar overturned Belshazzar smote Herod with Worms for taking the popular Applause of the People who died immediately Acts 12.23 Those that slight Christ's Work and Way for the love of these worldly things shall never taste of his Supper Luke 14. 18-24 How have some for the love of this World and the things therein forsook the Assembly of the true Church and the divine Institutions and fallen in with a false Church a false Ministry and countenanced a company of vain Traditions in the pretended Worship of God and for fear of humane Fury fell under the Fury of divine everlasting Vengeance and are in danger without true Repentance for rejecting Light to be cast into utter Darkness O Souls tremble at that Word that saith They shall drink of the Lord's Wrath poured out without Mixture Rev. 14.9 10. Consider Moses Heb. 11.24 the three Children Dan. 3. Daniel's Case Peter and John's Case Acts 4.5 Antipas his Case and the Church's Courage in that Day Rev. 2.13 The Case of Stephen and all the blessed Martyrs Some were in great Prosperity outwardly but did not neglect what God commanded nor cowardly comply sinfully but hazarded all even Life it self Watch and pray in these things that Prosperity be not your Ruine by complying with sinful Temptations while you shall dare to put a Blot upon God's Not Touch not taste not handle not after the Commands and Doctrines of Men Col. 2.21 VIII As to Adversity or being in a poor low Condition in this World remember these things 1. That Godliness with Contentment is great Gain As it is not the bigness of the Cage that makes the Bird to sing without a secret Instinct so it is not having little of this World that should cast thee down since commanded by the Lord to be content with such things as ye have Heb. 13.5 2. Consider A little with the Fear of God is better than the Riches of many Wicked Psal 37.16 Consider Eccles 4.6 Prov. 16.8 Consider dear Souls it 's better to be in the meanest Condition in this World that possible may be with the Enjoyment of Christ and Truth than in the highest Condition without him and it In a word it 's better to suffer with him than reign without him Consider it 's better to be with a Lazarus in his Rags and Sores keeping Integrity than to be with a Dives in his Riches and Robes in a State of Wickedness and Sensuality Psal 73.12 Luke 15.19 20 21 22. Have some their Beds of Ivory stately Places of Rest O but poor Believer hast thou Rest from the damning Guilt of Sin Rest from the Curse of the Law Rest from an accusing Conscience through Faith in Christ Mat. 11.28 O wouldst thou part with this for theirs Surely no. Have they the Fat of the Flock and their curious Dainties And what if thou hast mean Food and coarse Bread but art partaker of Christ by Faith as the true Bread of Life and art nourished by him up to Eternal Life John 6.51 54. O dost thou enjoy the Fulness of God's House Christ as held forth in his Word and Ordinances Surely poor Soul thou couldest not part with him for all the Epicurean's Dainties Have they their Wine in Bowls and thou the Water of Affliction yet art refreshed with his Love that is better than Wine yea better than Life Cant. 4.10 O how hath the Wine of his Love cheared thy wounded Spirit when nothing else would avail Psal 63.3 Do Men in their Pomp chant to the Sound of the Viol and have their melodious Sounds O but poor Soul hast thou heard the joyful Sound of Remission of Sins and Everlasting Life through a dear Redeemer and art framing thy Soul and Body to the teaching of this joyful Sound O be content thy Enjoyments are far beyond theirs Consider Psal 89.15 O the blessed sound of the Gospel in the Benefits of his Death Resurrection Ascension and Intercession may make thee exceeding joyful Poor Soul have they their choice Ointments and Perfumes and thou hast thy smoaky House and poor Enjoyments Yet Soul consider if thou hast the Anointings of God's Spirit this is far beyond what they enjoy 1 John 2.27 The Spirit quickens the Spirit comforts the Spirit leads into Truth Take heed of that Spirit that leads from Gospel-Institutions and Commands that 's a Cheat of the Devil The holy Apostles say He that is of God heareth us and hereby know we the Spirit of Truth from the Spirit of Error 1 John 4.6 The Spirit witnesseth with our Spirits that we are the Sons of God and sealeth us to the Day of Redemption And Soul is not this far beyond all the pleasant Artificial Savours in the World Well be content Soul if you have your Hell here and your Heaven hereafter it 's well enough Rejoice in hope of the Glory of God Rom. 5.2 Though poor in this World yet if rich in Faith thou art happy Jam. 2.5 And now I beseech you take heed of those things that bring some into a low poor Estate in this World I shall give some Hints at some of them 1. Beware of Slothfulness this brings Poverty like an armed Man on some Prov. 6.11 2. Beware of Suretyship Why should thy Bed be taken from under thee Prov. 6.1 22.27 3. Take heed of lustful sinful Desires of strange Women though their Lips drop as an Hony-comb such have been a Snare to many A Dart hath