Selected quad for the lemma: water_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A59771
|
The principles of holy Christian religion, or, The catechism of the Church of England paraphrazed for the use of Borwick-Hall.
|
Sherlock, R. (Richard), 1612-1689.
|
1656
(1656)
|
Wing S3246; ESTC R33882
|
21,051
|
65
|
The Apostles Creed and that 's the object of our faith and a little breviary or sum of the Gospel 2. All that we are bound to practise and obey is commanded in the 10. Commandements and that 's the Rule of our Life and the Epitome of the Law And these are the two parts of holy Religion Faith and Obedience Faith which the Gospel requires and Obedience which the Law exacts which Obedience is also called Charity or Love For Love is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 12.10 therefore S. Paul reduceth all Religion to Faith and Love Gal. 5.6 2 Tim. 1.13 But because we can neither believe nor do any thing as we ought Phil. 2.13 without the Divine Grace assisting us thereunto therefore God hath ordained and commanded unto us the use of Prayer and of the Sacraments as the means and conveyances of his Graces into our souls to enable us both to believe in him and also to love and obey him in a manner holy and acceptable unto him 3. Therefore the next general head of Catechism is the Lords Prayer as the sum pattern and perfection of all Prayer and Devotion 4. And the fourth and last head is the Doctrine and use of the Sacraments the ground and reason whereof is briefly this All those things which concern the good of our souls are according to the nature of the soul spiritual divine and invisible and so are not easily conceived by our frail understandings which apprehend not but by organs of sense therefore God hath been pleased mercifully to ordain certain outward visible elements to signifie and seal his inward invisible graces unto our souls and to be pledges to assure us thereof and these are Baptism and the Lords Supper And upon these four generall heads all the severall questions in the Catechism besides do depend either 1. By way of introduction to put us in minde of our obligation hereunto by solemn vow and promise when we were Baptized Or 2. for the connecting and joyning of these generals together by a fit method for memories sake Or 3. for the more clear and full understanding of each of them as will further appear in the several Questions and Answers ensuing Open mine eyes O Lord and enlighten my minde that I may both see and rightly understand the wondrous things of thy Law and carefully frame my heart and all the actions of my life thereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen THE PRINCIPLES OF Holy Christian Religion OR The Catechism of the Church of England paraphrased The Introduction 1. Question BEcause your Name is the badge and cognizance of that holy Christian Religion you profess therefore 't is first demanded of you What is your name Answer R. T. W. 2. Question And since together with your Name you received Christianity 't is therefore secondly askt Who gave you this name Answer * Such as scruple at the name and use of Godfathers may remember 1. That it is the universal practise of the Church against which no modest man will presume to argue since Church Customes are of sufficient authority with S. Paul 1 Cor. 11.6 That 2. it is not without example in holy Scripture Isa 8.2 3. Luk. 1. from vers 57. to 64. 3. That Infants cannot come themselves to Baptism nor therein answer for themselves 4. That their parents may die before they come to years or else may be seduc'd into Heresie or Schism 5. That hereby a spiritual kindred amongst Christian neighbours is contracted and Charity which is the life of Christianity is maintained and increased And for the name of Godfathers 't is more proper then that of Witnesses or Sureties if we consider either 1. Their office which is both to offer up unto God the party baptized and devote him to his service and also to profess Repentance Faith and Obedience unto God in their names Or 2. The benefit they receive by Baptism which is to be made the children of God in which respect chiefly their sureties are called Godfathers My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism wherein I was made a Christian and therefore it is called my Christian name 3. Question What happiness or benefit is it unto you to be baptiz'd and become Christian Answer I am thereby made 1. A member of Christ 2. A childe of God 3. An heir of the Kingdome of heaven or more fully thus Whereas I was born in sin Psal 51.5 Ephes 2.3 Rom. 5.12 Joh. 3.5 1 Cor. 12.3 Rom. 8.7 Gal. 4.7 Act. 22.16 and am by nature the childe of wrath and heir of Death and Hell by being born again of water and of the Holy Ghost in Baptism I am not only 1. ingraffed into Christ's Mystical body the Church but am also 2. reconciled unto God through Christ and made his childe by Adoption and Grace and not only a childe but also 3. an Heir even an Heir of God and joynt-heir with Christ of the Kingdome of heaven 4. Quest Are these great Blessings confer'd upon you through Baptism absolutely or upon condition only Answ Upon condition Mark 16.16 Act. 8.37 2.38 that I do observe and keep that promise and vow which was made in my name being baptized 5. Quest What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then promise and vow for you Answ They did promise and how three things in my name 1 That I should forsake the Devil and all his works Luk. 1.74 75. the pomps and banities of this wicked world and all the sinfull lusts of the flesh 2 That I should believe all the Articles of the Christian faith 3 That I should keep Gods holy will and commandements and walk in the same all the days of my life 6. Quest Doest not thou think that thou art bound both to believe and do what they have promised for thee Answ Yes verily I do beleeve it to be my bounden duty and by Gods help I will perform the same And I heartily thank our heavenly Father Act. 3.19 who through Baptism hath called me to this state of salvation through Iesus Christ our Saviour And I pray God to give me his grace that I may continue in the same to my lives end carefully observing this vow of my Baptism which is the general duty of every Christian 7. Quest What is the meaning of the first part of your Christian duty or vow in Baptism Answ By promising to forsake the Devil and all c. I do oblige my self to resist Eph. 6.10 c. 1 Tim. 1.18 19. 6.12 Joh. 8.34 and manfully to fight under the banner of Christ against all temptations whether arising from the Devil the world or the flesh and not suffer my self to be vanquished by them and be led captive to the service of sin And this is that which is also call'd Repentance from dead works Heb. 6.1 Act. 26.18 Eph. 4.22 c. 1 Pet. 2.1 c. Heb. 12.1 2. where 't is remembred as the first of the principles of the
This is alway to be annext to my prayers Mat. 6.9 c. Luk. 11.3 either before or after for 't is both the Pattern according to which I am to pray Mat. 6.9 And the form also I am to use when I pray commanded Luk. 11.3 O Holy Jesu who hast taught me to pray unto God aright give me the heart with all religious carefulness and devotion of soul to observe thy directions and commands herein and daily to powre forth my soul unto God in that divine and heavenly inspired prayer which thou hast taught me And let my prayers be ever acceptable unto God through thy blessed mediation and intercession for me who art my only Advocate and Mediator blessed for ever Amen CHAP. IV. Of the Sacraments Quest WHat other means hath God ordained for the conveyance of his graces into our hearts Answ The use of Sacraments Quest How many Sacramente hath Christ ordained in his Church Answ Two only as generally necessary to salvation Exo. 31.13 15. Ephes 5.31 32. Act. 13.3 Mat. 28 19. 26.26 27 28. Rom. 6.3 Gal. 3.27 Col. 2.7 Joh. 6.53 54 55 56. There are other external representations of Gods mercies and rites of conveying the same but there are only two commanded as absolutely necessary to salvation that is to say 1. Baptism 2. And the Supper of the Lord By Baptism we are admitted members of Christs Church by the Lords Supper we are confirmed and grow up to be perfect men in Christ therefore children are admitted to the Sacrament of Baptism but not to the Lords Supper till they be grown up to ripeness of years Quest What meanest thou by this word Sacrament Answ I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace given and ordained by Christ himself as a means whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof Or thus Because the graces and mercies of God in Christ are inward and invisible 1 Pet. 3.21 1 Cor. 11.26 therefore Christ complying with the weakness of our souls which understand not but by bodily organs hath ordained in his Church certain Rites called Sacraments which are not only visible and apparent signs of his invisible and hidden Graces but also the means whereby we are made partakers of his Graces and pledges to assure us of them Quest How many parts be there in a Sacrament Answ Two 1. The outward visible sign or thing signifying 2. The inward invisible Grace or thing signified Quest What is the outward visible sign or form in Baptism Answ That which we see with our eyes in Baptism is Water Act. 10.47 wherein the person baptized is dipped or sprinkled with it And the form of words to be used when the person is so washed is In the Name of the Father Mat. 28.19 of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Quest What is the inward or spiritual Grace thereby represented Answ The washing of the soul from sin 1 Cor. 6.11 Ephes 5.26 Act. 22.16 Rom. 6.3 4. Phil. 3.10 1 Joh. 3.14 Joh. 3.5 Psal 51.5 Ephes 2.3 Joh. 1.12 and sanctification to the sacred service of God which is called in holy Scripture A death unto sin and a new virth unto righteousness for being by nature born in sin and the children of wrath we are hereby made the children of grace Quest What is required of persons to be baptized Answ Two things Act. 2.38 8.36 37. 1. Repentance whereby they forsake sin and consequently the service of the world the flesh and the Devil tempting unto sin 2. Faith whereby they stedfastly believe the promises of God made to them in that Sacrament Quest Why then are children baptized when by reason of their tender age they can neither believe nor repent Answer They have Faith and Repentance in the possibility Mar. 10.14 though not in the actuall being thereof and they do perform these duties though not by themselves yet by their sureties who promise and vow both Faith and Repentance in their names 2 Pet. 2.20 which when they come to age themselves are bound to perform otherwise they forfeit the benefits of their Baptism Quest Why was the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ordained Answ For two reasons chiefly 1. For a Sign 2. For a Seal 1. For a Sign to signifie and represent unto us the sacrifice of Christs death for the sins of the world Luk. 22.19 Joh. 6.56 whereof we ought to have the continual remembrance 2. For a Seal to convey or pledge to assure us of the great benefits we receive by the death of Christ Quest Since in every Sacrament you say there are two parts the outward sign and the inward grace what is the outward part or sign of the Lords Supper Answ The outward elements in this Sacrament are Bread and Wine 1 Cor. 11.23 Luk. 22.19 which the Lord hath commanded to be administred and received saying Take eat drink ye all of this do this in remembrance of me Quest What is the inward part or thing signified by the Sacramental Bread and Wine Answ The body of Christ Joh. 6.51 broken upon the Crosse by the Bread and his bloud powred out by the Wine and as the Bread and Wine are truly taken and received corporally so verily and indeed is the body and bloud of Christ taken and received spiritually of every true faithful soul in the Lords Supper Joh. 6.56 63. 1 Cor. 10.16 if rightly administred Quest What are the benefits whereof we are made partakers by the right receiving of the Lords Supper Answ Our souls are thereby strengthned with divine grace Mat. 11.28 Rom. 8.32 Phil. 4.13 Ephes 1.7 8. 1 Pet. 2.3 Ephes 5.30 Joh. 6.55 56. Psal 104.15 and refreshed with the sense of Gods mercy by the vertue of Christs body and bloud spiritually received even as our bodies are strengthened and refreshed in the use of common and material bread and wine Quest What is required of them that come to the Lords Supper that they may be made partakers of the benefits thereof Answ To examine themselves 1. 1 Cor. 11.28 2 Cor. 6.14 Psal 24.4 26.6 Whether they repent them truly of their former sins stedfastly purposing to lead a new life 2. Whether they have a lively faith in the mercies of God through Christ 2 Cor. 7.1 Heb. 6.4 5 6. Joh. 3.15 16. 6.25 7.38 Jam. 2.14 17 20 24 26. 1 Cor. 11.24 25. 2 Pet. 1.15 Psal 53.2 3. Mat. 5.23 24. 1 Tim. 6.18 Heb. 13.16 Mat. 6.14 15. Ephes 4.32 Col. 3.13 now the life of faith is obedience or good-works for faith without works is dead 3. That they have a thankful and devout remembrance of Christs death 4. That they be in charity with all men which charity is exercised in giving and forgiving 1. Giving unto others what their necessities require and our abilities afford 2. Forgiving others in what they have any way provok'd or injur'd us O Holy Jesus who hast vouchsafed not only to redeem me unto God in thy bloud but also to ordain Sacraments whereby I may not only be engraffed into thee but also nourished by thy most precious body and bloud O fill my heart with true thankfulness unto thee for such unspeakable mercies and grant that in the wise and pious use hereof I may grow up into thee in all grace and godliness to the hopes of a full and immediate enjoyment of thee face to face in glory blessed Jesus Saviour and Redeemer Amen THE END Lately printed for R. Royston a Book in 4º Entituled A Discourse 1. Of the Holy Spirit of God his Impressions and workings on the Souls of Men. 2. Of Divine Revelation Mediate and Immediate 3. Of Error Heresie and Schism the Nature Kindes Causes Reasons and Dangers thereof with Directions for avoiding the same By R. Sherlook B.D. at Borwick-Hall in Lancashire