It is to applie a common thing to an holy vse Q. Who may do this A. God onely we at his commaundement Q. Doth the consecration or blessing chaunge the substance of the Elements A. No but it chaungeth the vse onely Q. How long then remaine they holy A. So long as they are vsed in that action Q. What are they after that vse A. Common things as before Q. Do the Sacraments profite all the receiuers when they are administred A. No seeing they are receiued by some without faith for a time Q. Then the wordes of consecration haue no force A. They haue no force to imprint any qualytie in the elements of vertue or holines Q. To whom then are they spoken A. To the receauers and not to the Elements Q. What is the office of those wordes of Blessing A. To testifie the will of God to the people Q. In what language should they be spoken A. In the Receauers owne language Q. Where should the Sacramentes bee administred A. Publikely before the congregation Of the Receauers Q. To whome shoulde the Sacramentes bee giuen A. To all the members of the Church in due time Q. How should the Sacraments be receiued A. In a liuely faith and true repentance Q. What if faith and repentance be not A. Then double condemnation is sealed vp Q. Can the sinnes of the Ministers or others hurt vs. A. No for they are Gods ordinances Q. How should we prepare our selues A. We should trie our knowledge faith and repentance Q. Should these giftes be perfect in vs A. Not so but they should be sound and without hipocrisie The causes and number of the Sacramēts Q. To what end are the Sacraments vsed A. For the nourishment of our faith and for anopen protestation of our religion before men Q. To what other end serue they A. They craue the increase of newnesse of life with brotherly loue and concord Q. Did the Sacraments of the olde Testament serue for the same vses A. Yes no doubt as the Prophets and Apostles do testifie Q. How many Sacramentes hath Christ giuen vs. A. Two onely Baptisme and the Lordes Supper Q. Wherefore haue we onely these two Sacraments A. Because we neede both to be receaued and also feede in Gods familie Q. The Fathers had verie many sacraments V. Yet they had but two principals that is Circumcision and the Passeouer Q. What did these two testifie to them A. Their receiuing and continuall feeding in Gods houshold Of the Sacrament of Baptisme Q. What is the signification of Baptisme A. Remission of our sinnes and regeneration Q. What similitude hath Baptisme with remission of sinnes A. As washing clenseth the bodie so Christes bloud our soules Q. Wherein doth this cleansing stand A. In putting away of sinne and imputation of iustice Q. Wherein standeth our regeneration A. In mortification and newnes of life Q. How are these things sealed vp in Baptisme A. By laying on of the water Q. What doth the laying on of the water signifie A. Our dying to sinne and rising to rightepusnes Q. Doth the externall washing worke these things A. No it is the worke of Gods holy spirite onely Q. Then the Sacrament is a bare figure A. No but it hath the veritie ioyned with it Q. Do all men receiue these graces with the Sacrament A. No but onely the faithfull Q. What is the ground of our regeneration A. The death buriall and resurrection of Christ Q. When are we partakers of his death and resurrection A. When we are made one with him thorow his Spirite Q. How should we vse Baptisme aright A. Wee shoulde vse it in faith and repentaunce Q. How long doth Baptisme worke A. All the daies of our life Of the Baptisme of Children Q. How then may little children receaue Baptisme A. Euen as they receiued circumcision vnder the lawe Q. Upon what ground were they circumcised A. Upon the ground made to the Fathers and their seede Gene. 17. Act. 7. verse 8. Q. Haue we the like promise for vs and our children A. I no doubt seeing Christ came to accomplish the same to the faithfull Q. What if our children die without baptisme A. Yet they are saued by the promise Q. Why are they baptised seeing they are yong vnderstand not A. Because they are the seede of the faithfull Q. What comfort haue we by their baptisme A. This that we rest perswaded they are inheritours of the kingdome of heauen Q. What should that worke in vs. A. Diligence to teach them the waye of saluation Q. What admonition haue they hereby A. That they should be thankefull when they come to age Q. What thing then is Baptisme to our children A. An entrie into the Church of God and to the holy Supper Q. How doth Baptisme differ from the Supper A. In the Element Action Rites and signification Q. Wherefore is Baptisme once administred only A. Because it is inough to be once receyued into Gods familie Q. Why is the Lords Supper so often administred A. Because we haue neede to be fedde continually Q. Why is not the Lords Supper ministred also to infants A. Because they can not examine themselues Of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Q. What signifieth the Lords Supper to vs A. That our soules are fedde with the body and bloud of Christ Q. Why is this represented by breade and wine A. Because what the one doth to the bodye the same doth the other to the soule spiritually Q. But our bodies are ioyned corporally with the Elements or outwarde signes A. Euen so are our soules ioyned spiritually with Christ his body Q. What neede is there of this vnion with him A. Otherwise we can not enioy his benefits Q. Declare that in the Sacrament A. As we see the Elements giuen vs to feeds our bodies Euen so we see by saith Christ giue his body to vs to feede our soules Q. Did he not giue it vpon the Crosse for vs A. Yes and here he giueth the same body to be our spirituall foode which we receiue and feede on by faith Q. When is his body and bloud our foode A. When we feele the efficacie and power of his death in our consciences Q. By what way is this done A. By his offring and our receyuing of it Q. How doth he offer his bodie and bloude A. By the worde and Sacraments Q. How receiue we his bodie and bloude A. By our owne liuely faith onely Q. What followeth vpon this recyuing by faith A. That Christ dwelleth in vs and we in him Q. Is not this done by the Worde and Baptisme A. Yes but our ioyning with Christ is more euident and manifest here Q. Wherefore is it more euident A. Because it is expressed by meate drinke ioyned with vs inwardly in our bodies The parts of the Sacrament and their signification Q. What signifieth this breade and wine to vs A. Christes body and bloud once offered vppon the Crosse for vs and
now giuen to vs to be the foode of our soules Q. What signifieth that breaking of that breade A. The breaking and suffering of Christs bodie vpon the Crosse Q. What meaneth the powring out of the wine A. The shedding of his bloud euen to the death Q. Whereunto then doth the Supper leade vs A. Directly to the Crosse and death of Christ Q. Should we offer him againe for our sinnes A. No for Christ did that once for all vpon the Crosse Q. What things are we commanded to do here A. To take it eate it and drinke it in his remembrance Q. what meaneth the giuing of that bread wine A. The giuing of Christes body and bloud to our soules Q. Is it not first giuen to our bodies A. No for it is the onely foode of our soules Q. What signifieth the taking of that breade and wine A. The spirituall receyuing of Christes bodie in our soules Q. What meaneth our corporal eating and drinking here A. Our spirituall feeding vpon the bodie and bloud of Christ Q. By what way is this done Q. By the continuall exercise of our faith in Christ Q. What meaneth the neare coniunction we haue with meate and drinke A. That spiritual vnion which we haue with Jesus Christ Q. What signifieth the comfort which we receiue of meate and drinke A. The spirituall fruites which we receiue of Christ Q. Why is both meate and drinke giuen here A. To testifie that Christ onely is the whole foode of our soules Q. Doth the Cuppe appertaine to the common people A. Yes and the wisedom of God did so teach and command Mat. 26. 27. Q. Is Christes body and bloud in that breadâ— and wine A. No his body and bloud is only in heauen Q. Why then are the Elements called his bodie and bloud A. Because they are sure seales of his bodie and bloud giuen to vs. Christes naturall bodie is receyued Q. Then we receiue onely the tokens and not his bodie A. Wee receiue his very substantiall bodie and bloud by faith Q. How can that be proued A. By the truth of his worde and nature of a Sacrament Q. But his naturall bodie is in heauen A. I no doubt but yet we receiue it in earth by faith Q. How can that be A. By the wonderfull working of the holie spirite Q. What thing should we behold in this SacrameÌ„t A. The visible foode of our bodies and the inwarde foode of our soules Q. Should we seeke the foode of our soules in the elements of bread and wine A. No for they were not giuen to that ende Q. To what ende then were they giuen A. To leade vs directly to Christ who onely is the foode of our soules Q. What profite shall our bodies haue by this Sacrament A. It is a pledge of our resurrection by Christ Q. Wherefore that A. Because our bodies are partakers of the signe of life The order and vse of this Sacrament Q. How should this Sacrament bee administred and vsed A. As Christ with his Apostles did practise and command Q. May the Minister alone vse it in the name of the rest A. No for it is a common publike banquet Q. What thing maketh this action holy A. Christes ordinance practised by the lawfull Minister Q. How is it made fruitfull A. Through the true faith of the receyuers Q. To whome should this Sacrament be giuen A. To all that belieue and can examine them selues How we should prepare our selues Q. What should they examine A. If they be the liuely members of Christ Q. How may they knowe this secret A. By their owne faith and repentance Q. How may faith and repentance be knowne A. By their fruites agreeable to the first and second table Q But al mens faith repentance is imperfect A. Therefore we come to the Sacrament for remedie Q. What kind of faith repentance is required A. That which is true vpright and not counterfaited Q. What receyue they that come with guiltie conscience A. They eate drinke their own damnation Q. How can Christ receyued bring damnation A. He is not receyued with the wicked but refused and that by dissimulation and abuse of the Sacrament Q. Then it is best to abstaine from the SacrameÌ„t A. We are not so commanded but to examine and prepare our selues Q. What if men can not examine them selues A. Then â—hey should reade the Scriptures and consult with their pastors Q. What if men will not vse these meanes A. Then they deceiue them selues and abuse the Sacrament Q. What if the Minister admitte such carelesse men A. He doth then prophane this holy sacrament Of the Ministery of men and the discipline Q. How shoulde men bee excluded from the Sacrament A. By the iudgemeÌ„t of the elders of the church Q. What kinde of men should be excluded A. All infidels and publike slaunderers of the Church Q. What if their crime be secrete A. TheÌ„ they should be left to their own iudge Q. Wherefore are men excluded from the Sacramentes A. Least they should hurt themselues slaunder the Church and dishonour God Q. By whom and when should such persons bee admitted A. By the Eldershippe after iust tryall of their repentance Q. Who established this order in the Church A. Iesus Christ by his worde his Apostles Q. What is the office of this eldership A. They should watch vpon the manners of men and exercise the discipline Q. What authoritie haue they A. Authoritie to binde and lose in earth Q. May they do this at their owne pleasure A. No for their authoritie is bounde to the worde Q. Wherein then serueth the ciuill Magistrat A. He should cause all things to be done according to Gods word and defend the discipline Q. Doth the care of the religion appertaine to him A I no doubt seeing he is raised chiefly for this cause Q. May the Magistrat vse the office of the Ministers A. No but he chargeth them to vse their own office Q. What may the Eldershippe doe to the Magistrate A. Admit him to the Sacraments or exclude according to the word of God Q. May the Minister vse the office of the Magistrate A. No for they should not be entangled with worldly affaires Two Iurisdictions in the Church Q. Howe manie Iurisdictions are then in the Church A. Two one spirituall and another ciuile Q. Howe do they agree in the Church A. As the mouth and hande of God Q. To what ende were they established in the Church A. For the planting and preseruation of the same Q. How far should we obey these Iurisdictions A. So farre as their commandement agreeth with the worde Q. What should we doe when they are both against the Church A. We should remaine with the Church of GOD. Q. But they will say the Church must needes be with them A. We should try their sayings by the tokens of the true Church Q. What are these tokens or markes
God through Jesus Christ and to honour him aright Q. What are these foure partes of Gods honour A. They are his onelye seruice pleasyng him Q. What are these foure partes to vs. A. Infallyble seales of our election and saluation Q. By whom are we kept in this estate A. By the power of the holy spirite Q. What instruments vseth hee for this purpose A. The worde the sacraments ministerie of men The 8. part is Of the outward instrumets of our saluation Of the word of God Q VVHere shall we finde the worde A. In the holy Scriptures Q. How should we behaue our selues towards the word A. We should loue receiue and obey it as Gods eternall truth Q. But it commeth to vs by men onely A. Yet alwaies we should receiue it as sent of God Q. Who can assure vs of this A. The holy spirite onely working in our hearts Q How should we vse the word A. We should reade it and heare it reuerently Q. May the common people reade the Scriptures A. They may and are commaunded to reade them Q. May they haue them in their owne language A. I no doubt for otherwise they coulde not profite Q. Is not priuate reading sufficient for vs A. No if publike teaching may be had Q. How may that be proued A. Thus as the ministers are commaunded to teach euen so are we commaunded to heare them Q. How farre should we obey their doctrine A. So far as it agreeth with the word Q How long should we continue in hearing A. As long as we liue and teaching may bee had Q. What neede is there of this continuall hearing A. Because we are both ignorant and forgetfull Q. What shall wee iudge of them that will not heare A. They refuse the helping hand of God Q. What shall we do when preaching can not be had A. We should reade the scriptures with all diligence Q. What if we can not reade them A. We should haue recourse to them that can reade Q. But the Scriptures are obscure and hard A. The holy Spirite will helpe the well willers Q. What if we be once well iustructed by our Pastors A. Yet wee must continue in this schole to the ende Q. Wherefore that if we be once sufficiently instructed A. God hath established this order in his Church because we neede continually to be instructed Q. What followeth vpon this A. The Ministers or Pastors are needefull for vs. Q. But they are commonly neglected and contemned A. Who so contemneth them contemneth God and his own saluation Q. What should this continuall exercise worke in vs A. Increase of faith and godlines of life Q. What if these two things followe not A. Then in vaine is our reading and hearing Q. What other thing is ioyned with the word for our comfort A. The holy Sacraments of Jesus Christ Of the Sacraments in generall Q. What is a sacrament A. A sensible signe and seale of Gods fauour offered and giuen to vs. Q. To what ende are the sacraments giuen A To nourishe our faith in the promise of God Q. How can sensible signes do this A. They haue this office of God and not of themselues Q. It is the onely office of the spirite to nourish our Faith A. Yet they are added as effectuall instruments of the spirite Q. From whence then commeth the efficacie of the Sacraments A. From Gods holy spirite onely Q. What moued God to vse this kinde of teaching A. Because it is naturall to vs to vnderstand heauenly things by sensible and earthly things Q. May we be saued without the sacraments A. Yes for our saluation doth not absolutely depend vpon them Q. May we refuse to vse the Sacraments A. No for then we should refuse the fauour of God Q. Do all men then receaue the fauour of God by them A. No but onely the faithfull receaue it Q. How then are they true seales to all men A. They offer Christ truely to all men Q. When are the Sacraments fruitfull A. When we receaue them with faith Q. Is there any vertue inclosed in them A. None at all for they are but signes of heuenly misteries Q. What should our faith seeke by them A. To be led directly to Jesus Christ Q. If they require faith first how can they nourish faith A. They require some faith first and then they nourish the same Q. Are wee not infidels when wee neede signes A. No but rather we are weake in faith Q. What then is our estate in this life A. We are alway imperfect and weake in faith Q. What then should we do A. We should vse diligently the word and the Sacraments How the Sacraments and the word differ and agree Q. How do the Sacraments differ from the word A. They speake to the eye and the worde to the eare Q. Speake they other things then the word A. No but the same thing diuersly Q. But the word doth teach vs sufficiently A. Yet the Sacraments with the worde do it more effectually Q. What then are the Sacramentes to the word A. They are sure and authentike seales gyuen by God Q. May the Sacraments be without the word A. No for the worde is their life Q. May the word be fruitfull without the Sacraments A. Yes no doubt but it worketh more plenteously with them Q. What is the cause of that A. Because more senses are moued to the cōfort of our faith The partes of the Sacraments Q. What are the principall partes of a Sacrament A. The eternall action and the inward signification Q. How are they ioyned togither A. Euen as the word and the signification Q. What similitude haue the Sacramentes with the thing signified by them A. Great similitude in substance in qualities Q. What signifieth the substance of the Elements A. The verie substance of Christes bodie Q. What if the substance of the Elements were not there A. Then they were not true Sacraments of Christes bodie Q. What meane the naturall qualities of the Elements A. The spirituall qualities giuen by Christ Q. What signifieth our neare coniunction with the Sacraments A. Our spirituall vnion with Jesus Christ and among our selues Q. What meaneth the outward giuing and taking A. The spirituall giuing and taking of Christ Q. What meaneth the naturall operation of the Elements A. The spirituall operation of Christ in vs. Q. Are these things onely signified by the Sacraments A. No but they are also giuen and sealed vp by the Spirite Q. Who may giue the seale of these things A. God onely may giue the seale of his promise Of the Minister and order of the sacraments Q. Who may administer the Sacraments A. Onely the minister of the worde of God Q. After what manner should they be ministred A. According to the order giuen by Christ Q. How are they sanctified consecrated or blessed A. By the practise of the order commaunded by Christ Q. What is it to consecrate or blesse a Sacrament A.