Oeconomiae Dispensationis c. But if respect be had to that Dispensation in which the Father in the Son and both through the Holy Ghost hath perfected our Salvation admirabilis est dulcedinis c. it is of wonderful sweetness and doth produce most exuberant Fruits of Faith Hope and Charity Considence and Trust Fear and Obedience in the Hearts of the Faithful Dispur Publica Sexta Sect. 12. Oper. 4 p 192. But his Followers in other Opinions leave him here where they should follow him as the learned Professors of Leiden shew Censura in Confessionem c. 3. p. 56,57 where they shew the practical Vse of the Doctrine of the Trinity Nor do they shew the injustice of the Censure but plead for their Silence and Caution Exam. Censurae p. 51. The English Reader that can may consult reverend Dr. Cheynel of the Divine Trin-Vnity cap. 9. Mr. Baxter of the Knowledge of God p 8 c. 5. Much has been written about Baptism controversially and but little that I have seen about the practical Vse of it It is a great Duty and Grace to improve it to the Ends of it and much neglected Parents are generally importunate to have their Children baptized and as generally negligent to train them up as baptized Members in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord and so we have so many ignorant and ungodly in the visible Church I wish what is written upon the Subject were more common and more understood by the reverend Dr. S. Ford of the practical Vse of Infant Baptism Dr. Manton's Sermon of the Improvement of Baptism in the Supplement of the Morning-Exercise at Cripple gate Mr. Joseph Whiston his Essay to revive the primitive Practice of Infant Baptism And Mr. Daniel Rogers of the Sacraments speaks with Light and Life Though having room here to speak thus much in this place for these things I have said but little in that first Chapter because limited 2. In the second Chapter I have shewed the Vse which may be made of the Catechism to accommodate the sincere fervent Soul with Matter for Prayer It is a Temptation to neglect the Duty when there is want of Mattter to utter before God. If any will object that this will be to bring People to pray by rote as they say their Catechism by rote and to bring them to a Form I answer to the first this Objection may be set up to neglect Catechizing and Teaching and so is impious and erroneous Again As God hath blessed Catechizing to his Church so by often and serious Meditation upon the particular Points of Catechism their Knowledge increaseth and comes to be enlarged beyond the Words of the Catechism so it may work upon the Affections also and then they may also enlarge in Prayer beyond the Lines of this Prayer if they can and when need is But as what is necessary and profitable to be learnt and believed is comprehended in the Catechism so what is generally necessary to be asked is contained in the Prayer And they who are convinced and believe the Truth of the Doctrine taught according to the Scripture will pray with Vnderstanding and by Faith believing and knowing what they pray And if some are commended for turning Sermons into Prayer I see as much reason for turning a Catechism into Prayer Yea but this is to bring them to a Form. What then Take away Formality and senseless Customariness and running a Stage or a Round of Prayer without Preparation Attention or Care what Answers are made and what can be judiciously or charitably said against a Form of Prayer Whereas many holy and very able Ministers as well as private Christians have in Judgment chosen a Form at least ordinarily And a Form is necessary to others because of Weakness Do you who object against all use of Forms really think that whoever is regenerate and sanctified hath the Spirit for Extempore Prayer by which I mean a present Ability to vary Words and Matter upon all Occasions And that none have the Spirit of Christ or Adoption but such as can do or such as do so and that they who keep ordinarily to the same Matter and Words are destitute of the Spirit Or do you think that Professors in these Days have more of the Spirit than holy Men had in former times You will never be able to prove these things and you are confutable by Clouds of Examples of holy and able Men excellent for Gifts If you say the Spirit is limited in a Form of Prayer take heed you do not limit the Spirit to a sort of Men. The Spirit of Grace doth excite his own Graces in the Soul that prayeth and those Graces act according to the Capacity of them that pray and also brings many things to mind which were not thought of before and when God brings in Matter he doth help to utter it but not all alike I condemn lary heartless Formality mine own practice is known to many but I honour the Name and Memory of holy and eminent Men and Fathers who had the Spirit of Holiness in a great measure who used Forms on ordinary stated Times and Occasions And I would not discourage sincere weak ones from using a good Form lest I dis-hearten them from praying at all Let me add I do not teach any to be tied up to a Form the same number of Words and Petitions for all times but give Directions for Matter and Vse of Prayer with a Prayer that may be daily used with Acceptation if prayed with Vnderstanding and Faith and other Graces It hath been the Study of many and some of them able good Men much an Prayer to publish Prayers fitted to several Occasions But alas what can they do if the Hearts of them that use them are not fitted for them It is not Devotion that is printed in a Book but what is kindled in the Heart And he is poor indeed that hath not a Prayer for his Mouth except his Book be in his Pocket or before his Eyes There is great reason for these Exhortations Pray without ceasing and Continue in Prayer for we have continual cause to draw near to God. And we that are Ministers have to do with many Souls in various Conditions and general Praying is no more effectual than general Preaching In the one there are particular Applications of the Word to Men's Hearts from God in the other particular Applications to God on the behalf of Men according to particular Conditions And there is a more excellent way than making a Prayer of Patches taken out of Books of Devotion The holy Scripture is the Prayer-book it affords Matter for Prayer as well as Preaching And how can that Man preach that cannot pray And this of praying with and for particular Persons in private and also in publick if the Case require it according to their particular Cases is one of those Every good Work for which we should be furnished 2 Tim 3.16 Those Men whom God
honoured most in the Reformation and Edification and Comfort of his Church have been most like to Elijah for praying And we should study to shew our selves Men approved of God in this part of our Ministry with sound Judgment heavenly Wisdom and holy Affections Epaphras was wont to labour fervently in Prayer Col. 4.12 And the Apostle besought the Romans to strive together with him in Prayer Rom 15.30 But yet this striving though in some active Spirits it cannot be confined to a set Form of Words doth not require us to lay aside all Forms which many holy Men that I could name have used out of Judgment and Choice and have prevailed with God by Faith and Fervency And let those who speak much of praying and daily or frequently pray apart and together took well to the matter and to their Spirits and see that they do not offer the Sacrifice of Fools nor be rash to utter a Matter before God. And it were better with the Church of God if we did put on Charity if we were cloathed with Humility if we disputed less about Forms and prayed more with all manner of Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit Ephes 6.18 Vnbelief and Hypocrisie are a dead Load upon the Heart and keep Prayer from ascending When a Man's Heart is God's and when the Prayers we make are our own Sense offered up in the Name of Christ by the Spirit of Adoption according to the Will of God we shall be heard Yet I would not be understood as if Prayer were not a Duty of Natural Religion or that only regenerate Persons should pray but they be sure pray acceptably Wrangle not your selves into Breaches of Communion and Dis-union of the Spirit and let all things be done in Peace And so I offer this Help to such as need it as God shall be pleased to make it serviceable Of Forms and Extempore Prayers you may see Bishop Downham of the Lord's Prayer p 137. And Mr. Baxter's Cases 3. The last Chapter of this Part contains Directions for Self-Examination and Preparation for the Table of the Lord Behaviour at it and after it Much hath been printed upon this Subject and yet Communicants are comparatively few and prepared ones we fear are fewer The low and distracted broken state of the Church of Christ is matter of Grief and Mourning How unlike are we to a Body animated by the same Spirit joined to the same Head How many live and die grown to Years that never tasted of the Supper How many but very seldom How many are ignorant prophane negligent stupid do we what we can Oh that Longing after and Love to Christ had more power with many than the Observation of Customs and Seasons and the Laws of Men Some are affected with the Duty and Privilege and seem earnestly to desire it who fall off again How many are afraid of it lest this Table of the Lord become a Snare How many break Communion upon distaste of a Form of Administration though very sound or some dis-liked Communicants against whom they do not proceed as they ought How many labour under great Desections Melancholy and Fear How many put themselves off and abide in Vnsettlement that separate from publick and do not join with other Assemblies What! Do they wait for some higher Dispensation Or do they seek for what is no where promised or keep in suspence as afraid to renew Covenant with God Or what other Reason But can they live without Communion with the Lord How can they think of dying How many incorporate with particular Churches that with hold Communion from all others for meer Accidents and Circumstances Oh take heed lest between this Way and that Way you do not keep out of the Way which the Lord himself hath commanded you to shew forth his Death I should rejoice to see Matters of just and rational Offence taken away and Access to the Lord's Table to be as free and open as the Way to Heaven is But hour or when shall it be as long as that which is an Offence to one is a Duty to another Oh let us remember our Covenant with God our being incorporate with the Body of Christ labour to grow together in him who is not a little Head of a Sect or Party but of all that call upon him in all places I look upon Breaches in and about and from this holy Ordinance next to breaking the Vnity of the Spirit to be of all Breaches the most deadly Let us not divide for meer Accidents but look to the main The substance of the Ordinance and what is left as perpetual to the Church is delivered us by the holy Apostle who received it from the Lord 1 Cor. 11.23 c. where there is no Rehearsal of the Circumstances of Place Gesture and other Accidents of the first Supper but the standing Ordinance and Institution And where the Institution is observed the Ordinance is pure The next necessary Injunction is Self-Examination Let us look more to our own Hearts and fit them for Communion with the Body and Blood of our Lord and we shall not be so given to divide as we are And as for Communicants pray for them admonish them proceed regularly make not their Sin yours and their Presence doth not pollute you 2. The Design of these three Chapters being to carry them further on who had been conversant in the forementioned Catechism hath given occasion to bring it forth once more to Light with some few Propositions to fill up some spaces between one Point and another and to explain them with Quotations of Scripture It is not hard to see how some will be offended at this for its first Name and Title But without detracting from the Church Catechism or any other Form of sound Words by which Christ hath edified his Church I cannot easily conceal nor express my due Admiration of this 1. For the Soundness of the divine Matter clearly and excellently expressed 2. For the Comprehensiveness of it 3. For the Method and Connexion of Parts 4. For its Consonance with the holy Scripture by which it is proved and upon which it is built Whereby it appears the Faith of the Learner is not made to stand upon the Word of Man Decrees of Councils or Synods but the Word of God. Every Answer is full and clear but that which raiseth up my Heart in praise of God for it is the rare Description of my glorious Redeemer and the Doctrines that belong unto it In them we have as much Truth as can be laid together and as many Heresies cast out from them as can be summed up in so few Words There is an Antidote against the Prison of Cerinthus Ebion Arrius Samosatenus Nestorius Eutyches the Socinians and other Hereticks which appeared with the Reformation and gave those blessed Souls who were the Lights of the World much trouble The Harmony of the whole with the Doctrine of our Church has been judiciously shewed by Mr. Thomas
bodies he shall wound the heads over many countreys and restraining and conquering all his and our Enemies 32. Christ as our Redeemer did execute these three Offices both in the State of his Humiliation when he was upon Earth and still doth execute them in Heaven in his Exaltation 33. Q. Wherein did Christ's Humiliation consist A. Christ's Humiliation consisted (i) Luke 2.7 And she brought forth her first born Son and wrapped him in swadling clothes and laid him in a Manger because there was no room for them in the Inn. in his being born and that in a low condition (k) Gal. 4.4 And when the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law. made under the Law (l) Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God. V. 3. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds Isa 53.2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender Plant and as a Root out of a dry ground he hath no form nor comliness and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him V. 3. He is despised and rejected of men a Man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs and we hid as it were our faces from him he was despised and we esteemed him not undergoing the Miseries of this Life (n) Phil. 2.8 And being found in fashion as a Man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross the Wrath of God (m) Luke 22.44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground Matth. 27.46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying ELI ELI LAMASABACHTHANI that is to say My God my God why hast thou forsaken me and the cursed Death of the Cross (o) 1 Cor. 15.4 And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures in being buried (p) Matt. 2.40 As Jonas was three days and three nights in the Whales belly so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth Acts 2.24,25,26,27 31. V. 24. Whom God hath raised having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it V. 25. For David speaketh concerning him I foresaw the Lord always before my face for he is on my right hand that I should not be moved V. 26. Therefore did my heart rejoice and my tongue was glad moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope V. 27. Because thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell neither wilt thou suffer thine holy One to see corruption V. 31. He seeing this before spake of the Resurrection of Christ that his Soul was not left in Hell neither did his flesh see corruption and continuing under the power of Death for a time 34. Q. Wherein consisteth Christ's Exaltation Christ's Exaltation consisteth in (q) 1 Cor. 15.4 And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures his Rising again from the dead on the third day (r) Mark 16.19 So then after the Lord had spoken to them he was received up into Heaven and sat on the right hand of God. in ascending up into Heaven (Å¿) Ephes 1.20 Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places in sitting at the right hand of God the Father (t) Acts 1.11 Which also said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Chap. 17. V. 31. He hath appointed a day in the which he shall judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead and in coming to judge the World at the last Day 35. Christ our Mediator wrought Redemption from that State of Sin and Misery into which we fell and purchased a happy State of Life and Salvation for all to whom it is applied 36. Q. How are we made partakers of the Redemption purchased by Christ A. We are made partakers of the Redemption Purchased by Christ (u) John 1.11 He came unto his own and his own received him not V. 12. but as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name by the effectual Application of it to us (x) Tit. 3.5 Not by works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost V. 6. Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour by his holy Spirit 37. Q. How doth the Spirit apply to us the Redemption purchased by Christ A. The holy Spirit applieth to us the Redemption purchased by Christ (y) Ephes 1.13 In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the Word of Truth the Gospel of your Salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise V. 14. Which is an earnest of our Inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory John 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out V. 39. And this is the Fathers Will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given I should lose nothing but should raise it again at the last day Ephes 2.8 By Grace ye are saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the Gift of God. by working Faith in us and thereby (z) Ephes 3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. uniting us to Christ in our effectual Calling 38. Q. What is effectual Calling A. Which effectual Calling is the Work of God's Spirit (a) 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy Calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began 2 Thess 2.13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth V. 14. Whereunto he hath
Chastity in Heart Speech and Behaviour but have sinned by unchaste Thoughts or Speeches or Actions We have not studied to procure and further the Wealth and outward Estate of our selves and Neighbour but have often hindred both We have not laboured to maintain and promote Truth between Man and Man and of our own or our Neighbour's good Name but have either by Imprudence Inconsiderateness Want of Zeal Credulity or some corrupt Affection spoken or entertained what is prejudicial to Truth and injurious to our own and our Neighbour's good Name O Lord we have not been sully contented with our own Condition nor have always had a right and charitable frame of Spirit towards our Neighbour and all that is his but have been subject to Discontentment to envy or grieve at the Good of our Neighbour and to many inordinate Motions and Affections For these our manifold Iniquities Transgressions and Sins yea for the least of them we deserve thy Wrath and Curse both in this Life and that which is to come but for Jesus Christ's sake have Mercy upon us O Lord thou hast been pleased out of thy meer good Pleasure to decree to bring thine Elect out of the State of Sin and Misery by the Lord Jesus Christ the only Redeemer He was graciously pleased to humble himself to the Death of the Cross to satisfie thy divine Justice to reconcile us to thee and now he ever liveth making Intercession for poor Sinners Supplication or offering up our Requests in the Name of Christ O thou the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Mercies and the God of all Grace for the sake of thine Eternal and Beloved Son have Mercy upon us and apply to us by thy Holy Spirit the Redemption purchased by Christ by working Faith in us and thereby uniting us to him For Effectual Calling We humbly pray thee convince us of our Sin and Misery enlighten our Minds in the Knowledge of Christ renew our Wills and perswade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the Gospel For Justification Oh that thou wouldst justifie us freely by thy Grace and pardon all our Sins and accept of us as righteous in thy sight only for the Righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to us For Adoption Oh that thou wouldest receive us who are by Nature Children of Wrath into the number of and give us a right to all the Privileges of the Sons of God. For Sanctification Gracious Father by the mighty working of the Spirit of Sanctification renew us in our whole Man after thine own Image and enable us more and more to die to Sin and to live unto Righteousness For the Benefits which accompany or flow from Justification c. And being justified sanctified and adopted we beseech thee vouchsafe us Assurance of thy Love Peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy Ghost Increase of Grace and Perseverance therein unto the End. And when we come to our End we humbly pray thee at our Death to make us perfect in Holiness to bring us immediately unto Glory and let our Bodies being still united to Christ rest in their Graves till the Resurrection At the Refurrection we pray thee to raise us up in Glory openly to acknowledge us and acquit us in the Day of Judgment and to make us perfectly blessed in the full Enjoyment of thee our God to all Eternity For Grace and a Biessing upon the Means of Grace And Gracious and blessed Lord since thou hast appointed Ways and Means by which we may attain these Blessings we humbly intreat thee to work in us Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and Repentance unto Life and to make us diligent in the use of all outward Means whereby Jesus Christ doth communicate to us the Penefits of our Redemption We beseech thee by thy Holy Spirit to make the Reading and Preaching of thy Word an effectual Means of convincing and converting Sinners and building up us and others in Holiness and Comfort through Faith unto Salvation We pray thee teach us to attend to thy Word with Diligence and Preparation and to receive it with Faith and Love to lay it up in our Hearts and practise it in our Lives Continue to thy Church thy holy Institutions and Sacraments Bless the one to be a Sign and Seal of our Engrafting into Christ and partaking of the Benefits of the Covenant of Grace and to engage us to be the Lord's Bless the other also that by Faith the worthy Receivers of it may be Partakers of the Body and Blood of Christ with all his Benefits to our spiritual Nourishment and Growth in Grace For all Men and for outward Mercies O Lord thou hast commanded us to pray for all Men We beseech thee to grant unto the King and all our Superiors the Spirit of Wisdom and Grace to perform the Duties of their several places Help them so to rule that our Lives Chastity Wealth and outward Estate that our good Names and Truth between Man and Man may be secured maintained and promoted that under them we may lead peaceable and quiet Lives in all Godliness and Honesty Grant that in all our Conversation among Men we may behave our selves humbly reverently and obediently towards our Superiors and may live in Peace neither doing Violence to the Life of our Neighbour nor suffering from them That we may live soberly chastely honestly not hindring but furthering the good Estate of each other promoting of Truth and the good Name and Repute without slandering or reproaching not witnessing falsly against one another learning to be contented with our own Condition without Envy or Grief at each other's Good and suppressing all inordinate Motions and Affections contrary thereunto Against our bodily and spiritual Enemies O thou who hast all Power both in Heaven and in Earth be graciously pleased to exercise thy Soveraign Kingly Office in subduing us wholly to thy self in ruling and defending us in restraining and conquering all thine and our Enemies both within us and without us Sin Satan and the World and make us more than Conquerors over all even our last Enemy Death For the Calling and Conversion of the Elect c. Gracious Lord who of thy meer good Pleasure didst elect some of the Posterity of fallen Man and enteredst into a Covenant of Grace to bring them out of the State of Sin and Misery and to bring them into an Estate of Salvation by Jesus Christ be pleased according to the Riches of thy Grace to make known the Lord Jesus Christ the only Redeemer in all his Offices to the World. Reveal by thy Word and Spirit thy Will for the Salvation of poor Sinners and cause thy Word to be preached read and heard that it may be effectual to convince and convert Sinners and to build them up in Holiness and Comfort through Faith unto Salvation Before you go to the Word O Lord who hast Compassion on the
Ignorant and of them who go out of the way who hast by thy Holy Spirit made the Reading but especially the Preaching of thy Word an effectual Means of convincing and converting Sinners and of building them up in Holiness and Comfort through Faith unto Salvation be pleased for Christ's sake to prepare our Hearts that we may attend to thy Word and receive it as new-born Babes 1 Pet. 2.1 by Faith and Love and lay it up in our Hearts and practise it in our Lives Before the Sacrament or Communion Most holy wise and merciful Lord God when all Mankind was fallen into an Estate of Sin and Misery it pleased thee to enter into a Covenant of Grace to bring thy People out of that sinful and miserable Condition into an Estate of Salvation by thy beloved Son the only Redeemer thou art graciously pleased to teach us convince convert build up and comfort us by thy Word and for our furtherance in Faith Holiness and Comfort to represent to us Jesus Christ and all the Benefits of the New Covenant by sensible signs the Bread and Wine broken poured out given and received and not only to represent Christ to us but also to seal and apply him and the Benefits of the New Covenart Be thou pleased by thy Spirit of Grace to help us to receive the Bread and Wine according to thy divine Appointment that we may receive them worthily and be Partakers by Faith of his Body and Blood with all his Benefits to our spiritual Nourishment and Growth in Grace We pray thee help us to examine our selves and so let us eat Oh let us not eat and drink unworthily not discerning the Lord's Body but give us a clear and saving Knowledge to discern the Lord's Body a lively Faith to feed upon him a renewed Repentance to Life a pure and fervent Love and quicken us to walk in new Obedience to all thy Commandments Oh help us to remember him and shew forth his Death both by our Profession and holy Conversation till he come again For the Lord's Day O Lord our God who hast commanded us to remember to keep holy the Sabbath day for Jesus his sake forgive us our great Forgetfulness both in preparing for it and performing the Duties of it Thou hast been very merciful to us in allowing us six Days for our own Employments Thou hast strictly enjoined us to sanctifie this whole Day and to move us thereunto thou hast set before us thine own Example both of finishing all thy Works in six Days and resting the seventh and hast blessed the Day and sanctified it Yet we have not considered nor regarded these Reasons annexed to this thy holy Commandment to perswade and quicken us to this great and holy Duty Pardon us O Lord according to the Riches of thy Grace this our Transgression and seeing thou givest us hopes of enjoying another Sabbath we beseech thee help us by thy Holy Spirit to sanctifie this Sabbath by an holy Resting all this Day even from such worldly Employments and Recreations as are lawful on other Days In reading hearing singing Psalms Meditation Prayer Conference and to spend the whole time in the publick and private Exercises of thy Worship except so much as is to be taken up in the Works of Necessity and Mercy which thou shalt call us to And keep us by thy Grace from the Omission or careless Performance of the Duties required from prophaning the Day by Idleness or any thing in it self sinful or by unnecessary Thoughts Words or Works about our worldly Employments or Recreations And bless the whole Day to us For Morning for every Day according to Ans 11. Most holy the All-wise and Almighty Lord God who dost by thy most holy wise and powerful Providence preserve and govern all thy Creatures and all their Actions we do most earnestly beseech thee to give us thy Holy Spirit to preserve our Souls from Sin and Temptations to govern our Thoughts Wills Affections our Words and Actions that they may be holy Over-rule our vain sinful Thoughts Imaginations Designs Purposes Motions and Affections to Evil. Raise in us Holiness of Design in our Conversation that we may aim at thy Glory Give us Wisdom and Discretion to order all our Affairs according to thy Laws Give us Ability and Strength that by thy Power we may carry on all the Affairs and Works of our particular Calling preserve us by thy Power therein from our Enemies and from all Harm and Danger We humbly commit our selves to thy holy wise and powerful Providence we desire thy Grace to depend thereupon and to ascribe the Glory of all our Success to thy Blessing Let us see and acknowledge thee in whatsoever shall come to pass this Day for all things are by thee and through thee and for thee to whom be Glory for ever For Night O Lord who hast created the Evening and the Morning and hast by thy great Wisdom ordained the Night for Rest and that part of our Time on Earth should be spent in Sleep and Rest that being refreshed thereby we might be enabled for thy surther Service When we are at rest we have neither Knowledge to discern nor Wisdom to fore see nor Power to resist the Evils that may befal us But thou by thy holy wise and powerful Providence preservest and governest all Creatures in all their Actions Therefore we adore thy Providence and in considence of thy Wisdom Power and Goodness cast our selves upon thee this Night humbly beseeching thee to preserve our Souls from Sin that we imagine not Evil upon our Beds our Persons our Relations our Habitation our Comsorts from Danger and Destruction from all Creatures who are subject to thy Command Keep us that we sleep not the Sleep of Death let neither Men nor Devils nor any other Creature disturb or hurt us And thou who governest all Creatures and all their Actions govern us our Imaginations Affections Senses Actions that sleeping or waking we may be thine And all we beg as in the Name of Christ so for the sake of Christ AMEN Directions to use this Form Perswasions to Family-Prayer especially and Resolution of some Questions briefly touched section 1 YOu see what store of spiritual and divine Matter your Catechism doth afford you to enable you for Prayer and Thanksgiving You shall not have cause to complain of want of Matter such as you ought and such as you may make use of You need no more to say you know not what to pray for for here is a Treasure digged up in your own Ground if indeed you make this little Catechism your own Now labour with your own Hearts and in this small Treatise and the Lord by his own Spirit teach you how to pray I perceive these Prayers to grow to such a length that I sear some will be discouraged from the length and seeming tediousness of all this therefore receive these few Counsels and Directions section
Catechism made Practical THE CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTED I. In the Principles of Christian Religion positively in the shorter CATECHISM II. In what he is to refuse and what to hold fast in the greatest Points of Controversie And how to confute Errors and defend the Truth III. In the Practice of several Duties VIZ. 1. The Practical Improvement of the Holy Trinity 2. Baptism 3. Prayer And 4. Preparation for the Lord's Supper Joh. 12.35 Walk while ye have the Light lest Darkness come upon you LONDON Printed for Jonathan Robinson at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church Yard 1688. The AUTHOR'S PREFACE TO Ministers Governors of Families and People under their Charge ESPECIALLY To his much honoured Friends and next Relations THere are three things most worthy our Ministerial Work and Endeavours and most desirable to be found in the Flocks committed to our Charge and Oversight 1. The saving Knowledge of the Truth 2. A Judgment to discern between Truths and Errors especially such as concern Faith and Holiness the Principles of the Oracles of God and the things which accompany Salvation 3. A gracious lively Spirit sincerely devoted to God in Christ and strongly inclined to holy Exercises and practice of Religious Duties Or if you will take all in three short Sentences 1. Conviction of Judgment of Saving Truth and damning Errors 2. Sound Conversion to God. 3. A Conversation according to the Will of God revealed in the Gospel The Church is called God's Husbandry and God's Building 1 Cor. 3.9 and Ministers are highly dignified when called Workers together with God 2 Cor. 6.1 and Labourers together with God 1 Cor. 3.9 The Field is God's the Seed is his the Husbandry is his and the Increase is given by him We are Labourers together with him enabled by him and working by his power and influence under him and for him All our Sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3.5 without him we are nothing and can do nothing Who then is Paul and who is Apollos but Ministers by whom ye believed as the Lord gave to every man. I have planted Apollos watered but God gave the increase So then neither is he that planteth any thing nor he that watereth but God that giveth the increase 1 Cor. 3.5,6,7 As we are Husband-men we must sow and plant but that is not all we must also mound and fence our Fields and Plantations As we are Builders we must lay the Foundation carry on the Building by Edification in Faith 1 Tim. 1.4 and secure the Building that it fall not like an House built upon the Sand. This Husbandry is elsewhere called a Garden and this Building called an House How graciously doth the Most High condescend to delight himself in and to be entertained by his Church as by a Royal Spouse with his own Graces and Gifts the Fruits of his Holy Spirit when they are in Act put forth and exercised as in a Garden of Spices and Orchard of Pomegranates or at a Table prepared for him Cant. 4.14,15,16 chap. 5.1 and 1.12 What a blessed Life may we lead by walking with God appearing before him calling upon him praising him and hearing him speak There is ordinary not mean but rich and plentiful and extraordinary Entertainment for hungry feeding Believers in the Ordinances of the Gospel In the Gospel there is a Feast prepared and that a Wedding-Feast a Wedding-Feast of a King's Son his only Son the Prince of Life but they who sit at it must have a Wedding-Garment the Ornament of Grace Faith Repentance and Love a Suitableness of heart and Preparation Matth 22. 2. Towards this most desirable End there are three things to be found in this little Book 1. Here are the Foundations of Faith and Godliness laid a View of the Principles of Christian Religion according to the Word of God out of which they are gathered and by which they are proved and agreeing with the appproved Doctrine of the Reformed Churches 2. Here are the most important Doctrines briefly touched in these Principles cleared proved desended and rescued out of the hands of them who have handled the Word of God deceitfully and have led many into the Errors of the Wicked that the studious Christian may know what he ought to contend for and to continue in and how to maintain his Ground 3. Here are Directions for Practice of several great Duties of all baptized Christians 1. How to improve the Doctrine of the most holy Trinity the Mystery of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and his Baptism or Entrance into Covenant with God. 2. Direction for Prayer with a Prayer taken out of the Catechism for the most part 3. Direction for the Communion in the Lord's Supper 3. Of these three Parts be pleased to take this following Account 1. Some time since a little Book was printed called Principles made practical directing the poorer and weaker sort of Christians who had learnt the shorter Catechism and could not buy nor spare time to read other profitable Books to make use of their Catechism to furnish them with matter for Prayer and Preparation for the Lord's Table As mean and defective as it was it was attended with a Blessing to many that embraced it as an help to them and therein I rejoice That Impression being sold off and worn out in the hands of many long ago another Edition of it hath been much desired and called for from many places I have re-viewed it corrected the Faults in the Sence of it and begged of God to open a passage for it and seeing it was blessed before in a plain homely dress I have not at all trimmed or adorned it To those two Duties I have now added another Chapter of the practical use of the Doctrine of the glorious eternal Trinity and improvement of Baptism upon these Considerations 1. The Doctrine of the Trinity hath been and is looked upon as a meer Speculation under a Veil of Mysteriousness as if it were as dangerous to look into it as it was into the Ark Whereas though it be an high and glorious Mystery to be adored and with profoundest Reverence and Humility to be studied and taught yet it is revealed by God himself as the Object of our Faith and Worship See Calvin 's Instit l. 1. c. 13. Sect. 28 21. Perfecta scientia est sic Deum scire ut licet non ignorabilem tamen inenâ—…rabilem sciâ—… Hilar. De P. â—it Unitate So God reveals himself in the Creation of the World in the Creation of Man and in the Covenant of Grace When we are admitted into Covenant and made visibly free of the City of God we are devoted to God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost This Doctrine is a Fundamental of our Christian Faith and therefore to be explained to the People of God in Covenant with him as far as it is revealed in his Word and that is enough for our present State. 2. The very Titles and Appellations of the Persons in
Q What do the Scriptures principally teach A. The holy Scriptures principally teach what Man is bound to believe concerning God and what Duty God requires of (e) 2 Tim. 1.13 Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3.16 see before Man. 4. Q. What is God A. God is a (f) Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth Spirit (g) Job 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection V. 8. It is as high as heaven what canst thou do Deeper than hell what canst thou know V. 9. The measure thereof is longer than the earth and broader than the sea Infinite (h) Psal 90.2 Before the mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God. Eternal and (i) James 1.17 Every good and perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of Lights with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning Unchangeable in his (k) Exod. 3.14 And God said unto Moses I am that I am and he said Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel I AM hath sent me unto you Being (l) Psal 147.5 Great is our Lord and of great power his understanding is infinite Wisdom (m) Rev. 4.8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him and they were full of eyes within and they rest not day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come Isa 6.3 And one cried unto another and said Holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts the whole earth is full of his glory Power (n) Rev. 15.5 Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name for thou only art holy for all nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgments are made manifest Holiness (o) Deut. 32.4 He is the rock his work is perfect for all his ways are judgment a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Justice (p) Exod. 34.6 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth V. 7. Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the guilty visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the childrens children unto the third and fourth generation Goodness and Truth 5. Q. Are there more Gods than one A. This God is one and there is and there can be but one only the living and true * Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. Jer. 10.10 But the Lord is the true God he is the living God and an everlasting King at his breath the earth shall tremble and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation 1 Cor. 8.4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is none other God but one V. 6. But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him God. 6. Q. How many Persons are there in the Godhead A. There are three Persons in the Godhead or Divine Being and Nature the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and these three are one God the same in substance equal in (q) 1 Joh. 5.7 For there are three that bear record in heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one Matth. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13.14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen Joh. 10.30 I and my Father are one Phil. 2.6 Who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God. Compare Isa 6.3,5,8 with Joh. 12.41 and Acts 28.25 Acts 5.3,4 But Peter said Ananias why hath Satan filled thine heart to lye to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land Whiles it remained was it not thine own and after it was sold was it not in thine own power why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart thou hast not lyed unto men but unto God. Power and Glory and all divine Perfections 7. This one God the Father the Son and Holy Ghost is the first efficient Cause or Creator the preserving and disposing and the final Cause of all things Rom. 11.36 For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen 8. What soever God hath done and brought forth he did according to his Eternal Purpose and Decrees Ephes 1.11 Who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will. 9. Q. What are the Decrees of God A. The Decrees of God are his Eternal Purpose according to the Counsel of his Will whereby for his own Glory he hath fore-ordained whatever comes to (r) Ephes 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love V. 11. In whom also we obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Rom. 9 22. What if God willing to shew his wrath and to make his power known endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction V. 23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory pass 10. Q. How doth God execute his Decrees A. God executeth his Decrees in the works of Creation and (Å¿) Ephes 1.11 Who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will. Providence 11. Q. What is the Work of Creation A. The Work of Creation is God's making all things of nothing by the Word of his Power in the space of six days and all very (t) Gen. chap. 1. throughout Heb. 11.13 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things that do appear good 12. Q. How did God create Man A. After all the rest of his Works God created Man Male and Female after his own Image in Knowledge Righteousness and Holiness with Dominion over the (u) Gen. 1.26 And God said Let us make Man in our own image after our likeness and let them have dominion over the rish of the sea and over the fowl of the
said unto him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee As he saith also in another place V. 6. Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck V. 7. Who in the days of his flesh when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him who is able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared of a Priest and (z) Psal 2.6 Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion Isa 9.6 For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his Name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace V. 7. Of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and justice from hence forth even for ever the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this Matth. 21.5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion Behold thy King cometh unto thee meek and sitting upon an ass and a colt the foal of an ass Psal 2 8. Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession thou shalt break them with a rod of iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel V. 10. Be wise now therefore O ye kings be instructed ye judges of the earth V. 11. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling of a King both in his Estate of †Phil. 2.8 And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross V. 9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name V. 10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth V. 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Humiliation on Earth and Exaltation in Heaven 29. Q. How doth Christ execute the Office of a Prophet A. Christ as our Redeemer executeth the Office of a Prophet ‖ Heb. 1.1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets V. 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the worlds in revealing to us by his †Joh. 1.18 No man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him 1 Pet. 1 10. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you V. 11. Searching what or what manner of time the spirit of Christ which was in them did signisie when it testified before-hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory which should follow V. 12. Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven which things the angels desire to look into Word and Spirit the * Joh. 15.15 Henceforth I call you not servants for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doth but I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you Will of God for our Salvation ‖ Joh. 20.31 These things are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing you might have life through his Name 30. Q. How doth Christ execute the Office of a Priest A. Christ as our Redeemer executeth the Office of a Priest (a) Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God. V. 28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation in his once offering up of himself a (b) Ephes 5 2. And walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour sacrifice to satisfie Divine Justice and (c) Heb. 2.17 In all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people Rom. 5.9 Much more then being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him V. 10. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life reconcile us to God and in making (d) Heb. 7.24 But this man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priest-hood V. 25. Wherefore he is able to save to the utmost those that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them continual Intercession for us 31. Q. How doth Christ execute the Office of a King A. Christ executeth the Office of a King (e) Psal 110.1 The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool V. 2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion rule thou in the midst of thine enemies V. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth Acts 15.14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles to take out of them a People for his Name V. 15. And to this agree the words of the Prophets as it is written V. 16. After this I will return and build again the Tabernacle of David which is fallen down and I will build again the ruins thereof and I will set it up in subduing us to himself (f) Isa 33.22 The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King he will save us in ruling (g) Isa 32.1 Behold a King shall reign in Righteousness and Princes shall rule in Judgment V. 2. And a Man shall be as an hiding-place from the wind and a covert from the tempest as Rivers of Waters in a dry place as the shadow of a Rock in a weary Land. and defending us (h) 1 Cor. 15.25 For he must reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his feet Psal 110.5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through Kings in the day of his wrath V. 6. He shall judge among the heathen he shall fill the places with the dead
with psalms V. 3. For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods V. 6. Oh come let us worship and bow down let us kneel before the Lord our Maker us in these words For I the Lord. his Propriety in (d) Psal 45.11 So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty for he is thy Lord and worship thou him us in these words Thy God and the Zeal he hath to his own (e) Exod. 34.13 But ye shall destroy their altars break their images and cut down their groves V. 14. For thou shalt worship no other God for the Lord whose name is Jealous is a jealous God. Worship in these words For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children c. 9. Q. Which is the third Commandment A. The third Commandment is Exod. 27.7 Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain Q. What is required in the third Commandment A. The third Commandment requireth the holy and reverend use of God's (g) Matth. 6.9 After this manner therefore pray ye Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy Name Dent. 28.58 If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law written in this book that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful Name THE LORD THY GOD. Names (h) Psal 68.4 Sing unto God sing praises to his name extel him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH and rejoice before him Titles (i) Rev. 15.3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb saying Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy ways thou King of saints V. 4. Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorisie thy Name for thou only art holy for all nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgments are made manifest Attributes (k) Mal. 1.11,14 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place incense shall be offered unto my Name and a pure-offering for my Name shall be great among the Heathen saith the Lord of Hosts V. 14. But cursed be the deceiver that hath in his flock a male and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing for I am a great King saith the Lord of Hosts and my Name is dreadful among the Heathen Ordinances (l) Psal 138.1 I will praise thee with my whole heart before the gods will I sing praise unto thee V. 2. I will worship towards thy holy temple and praise thy Name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name Word and (m) Job 36.24 Remember that thou magnisie his work which men behold Works Q. What is forbidden in the third Commandment A. The third Commandment forbiddeth all prophaning or abusing of any thing whereby God maketh himself (n) Mal. 1.6 A son honoureth his father and a servant his master If then I be a Father where is mine honour And if I be a Master where is my fear saith the Lord of Hosts unto you O priests that despise my Name and ye say Wherein have we despised thy Name V. 7. Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar and ye say Wherein have we polluted thee In that ye say The table of the Lord is contemptible V. 12. But ye have prophaned it in that ye say The table of the Lord is polluted and the fruit thereof even as wheat is contemptible Chap. 2. V. 2. If you will not hear and if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my Name saith the Lord of Hosts I will even send a curse upon you and will curse your blessings yea I have cursed them already because ye do not lay it to heart Chap. 3.14 Ye have said It is in vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts known Q. What is the Reason annexed to the third Commandment A. The Reason annexed to the third Commandment is That however the Breakers of this Commandment may escape punishment from Men yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous (o) 1 Sam. 2.12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial they knew not the Lord. V. 17. Wherefore the sin 〈◊〉 the young men was very great before the Lord for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. V. 22. Now Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation V. 24. Nay my sons for it is no good report that I hear ye make the Lord's people to transgress 1 Sam. 3.13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth because his sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not Deut. 28.58 If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful Name THE LORD THY GOD V. 59. Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful and the plagues of thy seed even great plagues and of long continuance and sore sicknesses and of long continuance Judgment 10. Q. Which is the fourth Commandment A The fourth Commandment is Exod. 20.8,9,10,11 Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy son nor thy Daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thy cattel nor thy stranger that is within thy gates for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and hallowed it Q. What is required in the fourth Commandment A. The fourth Commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set time as he hath appointed in his Word expresly one whole Day in seven to be an holy Sabbath unto the (q) Deut. 5.12 Keep the Sabbath-day to sanctisie it as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee V. 13. Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work V. 14. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter nor thy man-servant nor thy maid servant nor thine ox nor thine ass nor any of thy cattel nor thy stranger that is within thy gates that thy man servant and thy maid servant may rest as well as thou Lord. Q. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly
Sabbath A. From the beginning of the World to the Resurrection of Christ God hath appointed the seventh Day of the Week to be the weekly Sabbath And the first Day of the Week ever since to continue to the end of the World which is the Christian (r) Gen. 2.2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he made V 3. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctisied it because that in it he rested from all his work which God created and made 1 Cor. 16.1 Now concerning the collection for the saints as I have given order to the churches of Galatia even so do ye V. 2. Vpon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come Acts 20.7 And upon the first day of the week when the Disciples came together to break bread Paul preached to them ready to depart on the morrow and continued his speech until midnight Sabbath Q. How is the Sabbath to be sanctified A. The sabbath is to be sanctified by an holy resting all that (Å¿) Exod. 20.8 Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy V. 10. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt do no manner of work thou nor thy son c. day even from such worldly Employments and Recreations as are lawful on other (t) Nehem. 13.15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine-presses on the Sabbath-day and bringing in sheaves and lading asses as also wine grapes and figs and all manner of burthens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath-day and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals V. 16. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein which brought fish and all manner of wares and sold on the Sabbath-day unto the children of Judah and in Jerusalem V. 17. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah and said unto them What evil thing is this that ye do and prophane the Sabbath-day V. 18. Did not your fathers thus and did not God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by prophaning the Sabbath V. 19. And it came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath I commanded that the gates should be shut and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath and some of my servants I set at the gates that there should be no burthen brought in on the Sabbath-day V. 21. Then testified I against them saying Why lodge ye about the wall If ye do so again I will lay hands on you From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath V. 22. And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves and come and keep the gates to sanctifie the Sabbath Remember me O my God concerning this also c. days and spending the whole time in the publick and private Exercises of God's (u) Luk. 4.16 And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custom was he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath-day and stood up for to read Acts 20.7 And on the first day of the week c. Psal 92. Title A psalm or song for the Sabbath-day Isa 66.23 And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before me saith the Lord. Worship except so much as is to be taken up in the works of (x) Matth. 12. from V. 1 to 13. At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath-day through the corn and his Disciples were an hungred and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat But when the Pharisees c. V. 12. Is it lawful to do well on the Sabbath-days Necessity and Mercy Q. What are the Sins forbidden in the fourth Commandment A. The fourth Commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless performance of the Duties (y) Ezek. 22.26 Her priests have violated my law and prophaned mine holy things they have put no difference between the holy and prophane neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and clean they have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths and I am prophaned among them Amos 8.5 Saying When will the New Moon be gone that we may sell corn and the Sabbath that we may set forth wheat making the ephah small and the shekel great and falsifying the balances by deceit Mal. 1.13 Ye said also Behold what a weariness is it and ye have snuffed at it saith the Lord of Hosts and ye brought that which was torn and the lame and the sick thus ye brought an offering Should I accept this of your hand saith the Lord. required and the prophaning the Day by (z) Acts 20.7 And upon the first day of the week when the Disciples came together to break bread Paul preached unto them ready to depart on the morrow and continued his speech until mid-Night V. 9. And there sate in a window a certain young man named Eutychus being fallen into a deep sleep and as Paul was long preaching he sunk down with sleep and fell down from the third loft and was taken up dead idleness or doing that which is in it self (a) Ezek. 23.38 Moreover thus they have done to me They have defiled my Sanctuary in the same day and have prophaned my Sabbaths sinful or by unnecessary Thoughts Words or Works about our worldly Employments or (b) Jer. 17.24 And it shall come to pass if ye diligently hearken unto me saith the Lord to bring in no burthen through the gates of this city on the Sabbath-day but hallow the Sabbath-day to do no work therein V. 25. Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David riding in chariots and on horses they and their princes the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and this city shall remain for ever V. 26. And they shall come from the city of Judah and from the places about Jerusalem and from the land of Benjamin and from the plain and from the mountains and from the south bringing burnt-offerings and sacrifices and meat-offerings and incense and bringing sacrisices of praise unto the house of the Lord. Isa 58.13 If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shall honour him not doing thine own ways nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words Recreations Q. What are the Reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment A. The Reasons annexed to press the Observation of the Sabbath-day to the fourth Commandment are God's allowing us six Days of the Week for our own (c) Exod. 20.9 Six days shalt thou labour and
3.16 2 Pet. 1.21 Heb. 1.1 1 Thes 2.13 Apocrypha not Scripture 2. The Books called the Apocrypha are neither the Books of Moses nor the Psalms nor the Prophets therefore not Scriptures given by inspiration See Luke 24.4.27.44 nor were they committed to the Church or kept by it as the Oracles of God Rom. 3.1 The Scriptures are a perfect rule 3. The Scriptures are able to make a Man Wise to Salvation and to make the Man of God the Minister of God the New Testament Prophet perfect and throughly furnished to all good Ministerial Works therefore they are a perfect rule for Doctrine Worship and Manners 4. Unwritten Traditions of the Church are not of equal authority nor to be received with the same pious affection with the Holy Scriptures Those Doctrines which were delivered by one teacher to another or by Oral Teaching to the Church are now written 2 Tim. 2.2 2 Thes 2.15 As much as our Lord thought necessary John 20.30 and sufficient 2 Tim. 3.15.16 are writen Our faith is limited to things written Jo. 20.31 2 Pet. 1.19 These traditions pleaded for were not committed to faithful Men nor faithfully kept by Men who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost We have enough and our Lord would not leave us too much Joh. 21.25 Had we been bound to believe more more had been written 5. The Holy Scriptures are plain in all things necessary to salvation clear as the Sun to those uses intended by our Lord Ps 19.8 Ps 119.105,131 They are a shining light 2 Pet. 1.19 If they were not clear how could Timothy know them as he did from a Child 2 Tim. 3.15 How could the Bereans examine Doctrines by them Acts. 17.11 There are sufficient means to help the unlearned to understand so much as to make them wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Ephes 4.11 to 16. Acts 8.29 to 37. 6. The laity or common People ought to have the free use of the holy Scriptures God spake to all Exod. 20. Deut. 32.46 Chap. 6.1,2,6,7,8 Exod. 24.7 Deut. 31.11,12 The laity are to be saved by faith in Christ and his word and the Scriptures were written to direct and help them Joh. 20.31 All were wont or commanded to search them Joh. 5.39 All are blessed that meditate in them Ps 1.1,2 They are part of the spiritual armour for all Christians Ephes 6.17 Unless we should expect the Priests and the Learned would fight for the laity and save them the trouble of that warfare 7. The translation of the Scriptures is necessary approved of God and ordain'd by him except there should be but one language among Men or that none should believe and be saved but them who understood the Original God spake in a known Tongue so did the Prophets and Apostles and they who did not are reprov'd 1 Cor. 14.9,12,13 c. The Apostles sent to preach to all Nations had the gift of Tongues that every Nation might receive the Gospel in their own language The end of writing is the same with speaking 8. Scriptures translated and copied from the Originals or first writings under the hands of the Scripture-pen-men are the word of God the foundation and rule of Faith. The Scriptures read in the Synagogues and in common use among the Jews were but copies transcribed yet our Saviour refers the Jews to them John. 5.39 The Eunuch had no other Acts 8. nor the Bereans Act. 17.11 The Ephesians were Greeks and probably had the Greek translation and yet they were built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Ephes 2.20 God being the God of every one who believeth and shall be saved of every Nation as well as of the Jews hath taken care and doth to stir up and fit holy Men tho not infallible as the Prophets and Apostles were for this work and wherein some have failed others have help'd We give a secondary honour to Translations as such but an equal honour to the word of God translated which we give to it in the Original the change of the Language doth not alter the will of God. An Embassy delivered by an Interpreter is the Kings Embassy 9. The best interpreter of the Word is the Holy Spirit Knowledge in Original Languages is necessary to a translator and to Doctors or Teachers for their better teaching But he who hath most of the Holy Spirit doth best understand the mind of the Spirit All have these helps to understand them 1. The Grammar and plain literal sence the scope coherence and continual reading with prayer and comparing hard places with plain help us to understand the Scriptures 2. Universal reason and true with undeceived senses help us to understand many Doctrines See Acts 17.11 1 Cor. 1.13 Rom. 15.4 2 Tim. 3.15,16 Luke 24.32 Ephes 1.17,18 10. There is no visible standing infallible Judge of controversies in Faith and Religion And there is no need of any because there is none constituted In a great controversy the Apostles themselves did search the Scriptures and inquire into the mind of the Holy Ghost and consented to it Acts 15.15,28 The Holy Ghost is the infallible Judge and he speaks in the word Acts 28.24,25 The Scriptures themselves judge as the Law doth in controversies among Men. There is a ministerial publick judgment for edification Ephes 4 6,7 Rom. 12.6 and a private judgment of discerning given by the holy Spirit to believers without which they could not discern truth from error nor believe nor try the Spirits nor judge of what is spoken to them 1 Cor. 2.15 Phil. 1.10 1 Joh. 4.1,2 1 Cor. 10.15 11. The Holy Scriptures are not mute and dumb Speech and voice are attributed to them and God speaks by them Rom. 3.19 It saith to them that are under the Law Isaias now dead crieth Rom. 9.27 see ver 17. 12. The Scriptures are not a dead letter the Law is so called in opposition to the Gospel 2 Cor. 3.6 yet it killeth and therefore is no dead letter void of power it is the Ministry of condemnation denouncing death against transgressors v. 7. and the Gospel is the power of God therefore no dead letter 13. There is a Divine efficacy and power in the Scriptures in their kind as the means and instruments of Salvation Rom. 1.16 They are able to make a Man wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 And the sword of the Spirit Ephes 6.17 14. The Scriptures are the word of God Ephes 6.17 by which we understand the written word and not Christ See also Mar. 7.13 compared with Mat. 15.6 15. The Holy Spirit is the principal cause of all the knowledge and wisdom to Salvation which any Man hath Ephes 1.17 What was given by the spirits inspiration is understood by his illumination a natural understanding cannot see 16. The promise of the spirit Joh. 16.13 doth not intimate such a dispensation as is above the Holy use of Scriptures They are given by inspiration and to continue in their use to the end of the World
is not revealed The Son was brought forth before all time Prov. 8.22 His goings forth are from everlasting Mic. 5.2 the Father hath given to the Son to have Life in himself as the Father hath Life in himself Joh. 5.26 It is the property of the Father to have Life in himself and to give Life to his Son It is the property of the Son to have Life in himself from the Father I live by the Father Joh. 6.57 The personal action of the Father and the Son towards the Holy Ghost is to send him Joh. 15.26 The personal action of the Holy Ghost is to come to proceed to receive to give Joh. 16.7,8,13,14 to testify Joh. 15.26 as a distinct witness from Christs own and the Father 's of him Joh. 5.37 2. What a Person in the Godhead is The Greek Church used the word Hypostasis Heb. 1.3 and the Latin Church Personâ—… and from them we borrow the word Person There is great reason why we should retain the word tho' we will not divide from any for the use of a Term that acknowledge what is reveal'd in Scripture and can express the truth better A Person in the Eternal God head transcends a Person in Nature A Person in Nature is usually desined or described to be a Compleat Perfect Singular Living Understanding Being or Substance subsisting by it self not sustained by another nor a part of another The Persons in the God-head differ from a Created Person as will appear in these particulars 1. Every particular Man partakes of the same common general and special Nature but these particulars cannot be one Man but every Person in the God-head is that one only living and true God. 2. As Persons are multiplyed in Nature so the nature is multiplyed in Persons but there is but one God the Divine essence is one and not multiplied 3. One Person in nature is not another nor in another but the Father is in the Son and the Son in the Father and yet distinguished John 10.38 chap. 14.11 Joh. 17.21 4. One Person in nature is not only distinguished from another but is separated from another in time and place and many other respects But 1. The God-head or God being eternal the Persons in the God-head are Co-eternal none is before the other 2. Where one is the other is the nature being indivisible The Son is where the Father is tho' the humane Nature be not Omnipresent 3. What the one hath the other hath Joh. 16.15 All that the Father hath are mine said the Son and the Holy Ghost hath what the Son hath He shall take of mine and shall shew it unto you 4. If you know the Son you know the Father also Joh. 12.4 chap. 14.9,10,11 5. What one doth the other doth John 5.19 None of these things can be affirmed of different Persons in humane Nature The three Persons in the Divine essence must not be measured by individuals or singular Persons in Nature but as one Person is really distinguished from another by a Personal property so because the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are so distinguished we call them Persons tho improperly in a sence peculiar to them Now a Person in the God-head is God as related to himself I humbly conceive it thus God the Father is related to God the Son and God the Holy Ghost God the Son is related to God the Father as a Son to a Father and to God the Holy Ghost And God the Holy Ghost is related to the Father and the Son. You saw before the relative property of each Glorious Person A Person in the Trinity is not a compound of an essence and a property for the Divine Nature is infinitely perfect most pure simple or uncompounded This relation is eternal and primary They bear a voluntary relation to the Creatures as Creator Redeemer Comforter This was intended before time but actual in time And to remove all gross imaginations of the incomprehensible Trinity of Persons tho' we take Person and Body in our Language for the same let us take heed of imagining three Bodies when we say three Persons III. These three Glorious Persons are one God in essence 1. It is most certain there is one God and but one Deut. 6.4 Is 44.8 1 Cor. 8.4 2. It is certain there are three Persons as explained 3. The father is confessedly that one God 1. Cor. 8.4 It is as true that the Son the word is God Joh. 1.1 and the Holy Ghost is God Acts 5.4 Therefore these three are that one infinite God. It is contrary to reason to say there are three Gods It is not contrary to reason that these three should be one because it is revealed and they must be one God or not God at all for there is not to us Christians nor to Mankind more than one God. But before I produce more evidence for this truth I make hold to premise Suppose an Infidel should desire a Socinian to instruct him in the nature of the true God and to shew him the essential difference between God and all Creatures whatsoever Surely he must shew him how God hath made himself known And how is that but by his Glorious Names Titules Properties Attributes and Operations which are above the power of Creatures and by which Creatures are produced Now if the very same Characters by which he declares the true God to an Infidel be ascrib'd to the Son and Holy Ghost then as his demonstration of the nature of God is good so our demonstration of the essential Deity of the Son and Holy Ghost must needs be as good If Christ be God by donation of eminent power office or near conjunction with God if the Holy Ghost be a quality or God by office they are but Creatures and if Creatures tho the highest have those properties which are essential to God then it will follow God hath nothing peculiar to his own infinite Being which is impious and irrational But God is distinguished from all Creatures and the properties of God are truly ascribed to the Son and Holy Ghost therefore they are the true God and not Creatures The three Persons are one God. There being no dispute against the Father I shall apply my self to prove the Son and Holy Ghost to be the true God. Proved by their essential Name 1. The Name which Jehovah signifies Eternal Being is proper to God and not common to any Creatures That they may know that thou whose Name alone is Jehovah art most high over all the Earth Ps 83.18 This name is translated Lord and its signification given Rev 1.4 which is which was and which is to come This Name is the Name of the Son as it is the Name of the Father Ps 110.1 Jehovah said to my Lord that is Christ Mat. 22.42 The Son is called Jehovah Is 40.3 Prepare the way of Jehovah i.e. Christ Mar. 1.23 Luke 1.76 The Angel appearing in the Bush was Jehovah Exod. 3.2 Compare v. 4.5 with
Acts 7.30,31,33 Not a Created or common Angel but the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 Declared by Christ I am the God of thy Fathers Acts 7.32 The Holy Ghost is also meant by the name Jehovah Is 6.3 called Adonai v. 8. Acts 28.25 As the Prophets were wont to say Thus saith the Lord so the Apostles say Thus saith the Holy Ghost Acts 21.11 'T is true magistrates are called Elohim but they are not Gods by nature for they shall die like Men Ps 82.6,7 But he who is called Jehovah is God by nature and is not mortal like Men. By essential properties 2. The property of unity is attributed to God Deut. 6.4 and these three are one 1 Joh. 5.7 a Text tho wanting in some Copies yet in other Copies and agreeable to the Text Joh. 10.28,29,30 I and the Father are One One in Power therefore One in Being and Essence The Spirit the Water and the Blood agree in one as Witnesses but are not one in Nature but the Father Word and Spirit are One which is more than to agree in One. The Father is One Ephes 4.6 1 Cor. 8.6 Christ is One 1 Cor. 8.6 Ephes 4.6 the Holy Ghost is One 1 Cor. 12.4,11 Ephes 2.18 and these three are One not in Testimony only but in Being 3. They are Eternal From everlasting to everlasting thou art God Ps 92.2 see Is 44.6 ver 4. chap. 48.12 The Father is eternal Rev. 1.4 That Christ the Son is the Alpha and Omega the First and Last and therefore co-eternal with the Father is clear Rev. 1.5,6,7,8 v. 11. chap. 21.6 chap. 22.13 The Holy Ghost is eternal the Mystery of Christ which was kept secret since the World began is made known by the Commandment of the Eternal God Rom. 16.26 Now he who made it known is the Holy Ghost therefore he is the Eternal God Ephes 3.5 He moved Holy Men to speak 2 Pet. 1.19 The Apostles were at his command either to preach Acts. 10.19,20 or not to preach Acts 16.6 Therefore he is God. By essential Operations 3. The immediate and essential difference between God and the Creatures is that he is their Maker and that they are created The Creation of the World is the proper Work of God without Instrument or Co-worker Ps 33.9 for he spake and it was done c Ps 148.5 If there were an instrument that instrument was either infinite or finite not infinite for the infinite is the first cause and the instrument cannot be the first cause nor was it finite for a finite instrument cannot receive power to produce so vast an effect as exceeds its capacity The Son is not the instrument of the Father by whom he made all things nor the Holy Ghost He that made all things is God Heb. 3.4 Gen. 1.1 I am the Lord that spreadeth abroad the World by my self Is 44.24 By my self how not as by an instrument but by no other than my self Or who was with me see Is 45.6,7 This Glorious Work is the Work of the Father 1 Cor. 8.6 Heb. 2.10 of the Son or Word Joh. 1.3,10 Heb. 1.10 Col. 1.16 and of the Holy Ghost Job 26.13 By his Spirit he hath garnished the Heavens his Hand hath formed the crooked serpent or that constellation in the milky way like a Serpent Certainly Job was not mistaken in his Creator He said the Spirit of God hath made me and the Breath of the Almighty hath given me life Job 33.6 There is an order of Creating and producing all things observed by the Father Son and Holy Ghost but the one is not the instrument of the other they are one infinite first cause therefore one God. See and take notice of the three Persons together Ps 33.6 By the word the eternal essential word the Son of Jehovah were the Heavens made and all the host of them by the breath or Spirit of his Mouth the Holy Ghost And he by whom and through whom and to whom are all things is one God to whom be glory for ever Rom. 11.36 Objections closely answer'd Before I conclude I will lay down some truths which contain the answers to several objections or corrupt expositions contrary to this Doctrine 1. God is one indivisible essence therefore there can be no participation of it therefore Christ is not the Son of God by participation of some degree of the God-head or in some respect God is called the God of Gods Magistrates are called Gods Ps 50. 1. Ps 82. But no where called Jehovah nor said to create the World by him Kings Reign Prov. 8.15 therefore they are not as much God as he is 2. Christ affirmed I and the Father are one Joh. 10.30 that he did the work of God v. 37. That the Father was in him 38. which is more than that he was sanctified and sent into the World. He was Man but more than Man. 3. We do not say that the Son and Holy Ghost are God meerly because they are joined with the Father in the form of Baptism But farther 1. We are Baptized into the Name of God as God in Covenant 2. When meer Creatures are joined with God the difference between God and them is made known but here the Son and Holy Ghost are joined with the Father as our God and superiors An order is declared but no inferiority 3. Moses was a typical mediator in the Covenant with Israel but they were in Covenant with God as the superior party who was the Lawgiver by the Ministry and hand of Moses But Christ is both a Mediator and God in Covenant Of the practical use of this Doctrine of the Trinity I shall speak Part III. Chap. I. SECT IV. Of the Decrees of God. NOthing can be objected against the Decrees of God but what reflects upon his counsel and right to dispose of his Creatures He worketh all things according to the Counsel of his own will Ephes 1.11 Angels and Men had no more of their own than the meanest of Creatures therefore it is meet that they should be as subject to the will of God as any other of his Creatures There is no repugnance between the Decrees of God and his revealed Will and the judgment to come As his Laws so are his Decrees Holy Wise Righteous Stable and Certain The execution of his Decrees is the best exposition of them God is not the Author of Sin nor a mover to Sin nor a forcer of Mans will. In the last judgment we shall see that the Blessed of the Father were first elected to eternal Life and that it was of Grace before the foundation of the World Ephes 1.4,5 2 Tim. 1.9 and that the rest are condemned as Workers of Iniquity Mat. 25. ult and for iniquity SECT V. Of the Creation of Man. 1. BY the renovation of the Image of God we understand what it was before it was lost Ephes 4.24 Col. 3.10 It did not consist only or principally in Dominion over the Creatures Had not Man been Wise Holy
general Rules of his Word A Form of Words is necessary in some parts of Worship and is but a manner or mode of doing and corrupteth not the Substance Circumstances are variable and must answer to the End of Worship Commandment III. 1. Christians may lawfully swear when lawful Power Matter Cause and End require it and when it is in a due manner The Light of Nature taught it Gen. 21.15 chap. 24.3,9 chap. 31.52 chap. 47.31 Holy Men used it and directions are given for it Jer. 4.2 Swearing by the Creatures or causless prophane Swearing is only contrary to our Saviour's Law Math. 5.37 Calling for or imposing Oaths on slight Occasions calls for Mourning and Repentance in our days 2. Christ and the Holy Ghost are God Jehovah It is lawful to swear by none but by God Jehovah It is lawful to swear by God and Christ say the Socinians Rom. 1.9 2 Cor. 1.23 chap. 11.31 Phil. 1.8 1 Thess 2.5,10 and by the Holy Ghost Rom. 9.1 therefore Christ and the Holy Ghost are God Jehovah He whom we honour by lawful Swearing is no other than Jehovah thy God. Commandment IV. 1. There was a Sabbath from the beginning of the World the first Seventh after the Sixth of the Creation was a Sabbath Gen. 2.2,3 Exod. 20.11 2. A Day of Rest is as necessary under the Gospel as before if it be not kept holy we are worse and not better for it We are not discharged from Ceremonial Burthens to take more liberty to contrive Business make Bargains travel coach about receive and pay Visits meet in Coffee-houses speak our own Words or do our own Deeds 3. The Commandment is contained in these words Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy The Confirmation and Establishment of it runs in these words Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and sanctified it We are obliged to a weekly Sabbath or Day of holy Rest and not to the Seventh any more than a First when the Lord thought fit to make a Change. Beside the Duty laid down there are many words added by way of Explication and Motive only 4. The Observation of the First Day was universal in all Christian Churches 1 Cor. 16.1,2 As I have given order in the Churches of Galatia so do ye upon the first day of the week c. This Order given for Charity doth strongly intimate the Observation of the First Day weekly And this Order was given to the Churches of Galatia who are blamed for observing the legal Sabbaths Gal. 4.10 They vanished the First Day is established 5. The believing Gentiles received the Observation of the First Day together with the Faith and the Christian Jews made no Controversie about it 6. It is called The Lord's Day Fev 1.10 as instituted by him and as consecrated to him Easter Day is only the first Lord's Day in order every first Day of every Week is of the same nature and for the same end 7. The word Remember doth not imply that it is a Ceremonial Precept but rather a strictness of Command and a Caveat against carelesness and forgetfulness of it Religion grows or decays is preserved or lost according as this Day is observed or not 8 Sabbath signifying Rest our Lord's Day may be called Sabbath without Judaizing as it is in our Homilies 9. A Day of bodily Rest is necessary for spirituâ—l 10. Parents Masters and Governors must see that it be sanctified To sanctifie it is a Moral Duty and though the Fourth Commandment be not a prime Moral Precept as the First is yet it hath a consequential Morality in it Commandment V. 1. All the Duties of this Commandment are enjoined under the Name of Honour teaching us a mutual Estimation of all Ranks of Men. 2. Parents must not provoke their Children by Rigour or unjust Commands Ephes 5.4 yet they may wisely correct as well as instruct them into due Obedience Heb. 12.6,7,8 And they who do the duty of Parents are to have the honour 3. Children in the power of Parents ought not to marry without their Consent if possible by dutiful means Col. 3.20 Ephes 5.1 In all things and In the Lord. 4. To make Vows and enter into Orders of Religion without Consent of Parents or to violate Marriage-Covenants for the same reason or to seduce any so to do is sinful Numb 30.4,5,6 Col. 3.20 Matth. 19.6 1 Cor. 7.5 5. Vows of blind Obedience are not seasonable therefore sinful Act. 4.19 1 Cor. 11.1 Rom. 12.1 6. All Orders of Men are subject to temporal Laws and must answer when accused Act. 26.2 Peter taught Subjection to all in Authority 1 Pet. 2.13,14 Rom. 13.1 7. Belivers under the Old Testament had spiritual Promises and not only temporal They had the Promise of Christ therefore all in him Gen. 3.15 chap. 12.3 of the Spirit Gal. 3.14 lived by Faith Heb. 11.13 looked for Eternal Life Joh. 5.39 and were Godly therefore had the Promises of the Life to come 1 Tim. 4.8 Under the Gospel we have better Promises Heb. 8.6 because we are put into a better State. Commandment VI. 1. It is lawful for a Christian to be a Minister or Servant of God therefore to be a Magistrate and to bear the Sword Rom. 13.4,6 Captains left not their Places by becoming Christians Matth. 8. Act. 10.3 Soldiers are directed Luk. 3.14 The Promises of great Peace Isa 2 4. Mic. 4 3. Zech. 9.10 intimate the nature and influence of the Gospel which is not brought in by the Sword nor propagated by it 2. It is our duty to live peaceably c Rom. 12.18 yet a Man ought to maintain his own right Acts 21.37 chap. 22,23 to 26. But hatred and revenge are great sins Gen. 4.6 chap. 31.24 Levit. 19.18 Love and Righteousness must be promoted and maintained Commandment VII 1. Marriage is of the Law of Nature and not peculiar to the Church Plurality of Wives at once is contrary to the first institution Mat. 2.13,14,15 One should die before another be taken Rom. 7.2,3 1 Cor. 7.39 It is not Lawful to divorce for every cause Mat. 19.1 to 10. to marry in the Lord 1 Cor. 7.39 and Love intirely Ephes 5.25 are preventives of many sins 2. Fornication is a great sin 1 Cor. 6.13.18 ver 9. 3. It is better to marry than to burn 1 Cor. 7.9 All have not the gift chap. 7.2 therefore a single Life is not more perfect in it self And for Ministers it is Lawful in such cases Heb. 13.4 1 Cor. 9.5 1 Tim. 3.2,4 chap. 5.12 Peter's Wife had a Mother therefore he had a Wife Mar. 1.30 and we believe Philip had a Wife for he had four Daughters Acts 21.9 Commandment VIII 1. Men have a distinct property in goods 2. Every Man should peaceably enjoy his own 3. yet alienation by sale commutation charity contracts and payments of tribute and debts is Lawful I believe Paul well understood the manner of the King 1 Sam. 8.11 c. yet speaks of no more than of tribute
in the Bread and Wine But they tell us we must believe Well then we believe our Saviour was alive when they did eat that he was not dead before he was Crucified therefore the Disciples did not eat his Body nor drink his Blood. If they did not eat and drink that Body and Blood did he create a Body and Blood for them to eat and drink did he create one for them all or did every one of them eat a several body Take either way it will then follow they did not eat his Body and drink his Blood who rose from Table as whole as he sate down We believe that what those Communicants did eat and drink all believers do still eat and drink they did not eat and drink it therefore neither do we They understood our Saviours meaning it was a Sign a memorial as Circumcision was called the Covenant Gon. 17.3 See Gen. 41.26 Joh. 15.1 chap. 10.9 1 Cor. 10.4 3. The Cup of blessing belongs as much to every Communicant as the Bread Our Saviour and his Ministers gave both and Communicants received both See Mat. 26.26 1 Cor. 10.16 1 Cor. 11.25,26 Besides these I shall lay down several truths contrary to so many errors 1. There is a distinction between Ministers and Stewards and the family of Believers 1 Cor. 4.1 As Christ and the Apostles did so Ministers and Stewards take Bread and Wine bless break give 1 Cor. 10.16 which we bless c. The Communicating believers do join with the Pastor in prayer and thanksgiving and then they take and eat and drink and that is all they ought to do Except the Bread and Wine are Consecrated to that end according to our Saviours institution it is no Sacrament It is not true therefore that the Lords Supper was instituted that the Faithful might break the Bread. 2. In shewing the Lords Death we shew 1. The nature and end of his death as a Sacrifice to God for sin 1 Cor. 5.7 1 Cor. 11.24,25 Mat. 26.28 Mark 14.24 Luke 22.19,20 2. The painfulness of his death 3. The All-sufficiency satisfaction and merit of it 4. We humbly shew it by Faith to God as a propitiation and price of Redemption and plead it and rest upon it 5. We shew it against accusations of Conscience and all other from Satan and the World. 6. We shew it to all the Churches as one Body 1 Cor. 10.11 Therefore to shew the Lords Death is more than to thank Christ for his love and to celebrate the good turn of his suffering with praise 3. The resurrection ascension and intercession of Christ are his own mediatory actions therefore that is no good reason why Christ ordained this remembrance of his death because it was the chief or most properly his own action 4. We receive Covenant Blessings as well as give thanks at his Supper 1 Cor. 10.16 5. Assurance of pardon is not necessary before we eat and drink this Supper it is a help to assurance but it is a feast for the weakest believers that thirst that discern the Lords Body and examine themselves 6. This in the words This is my Body doth not comprehend all the Sacramental actions each of which hath its particular edifying instructing signification 7. We do not only partake of Christ's benefits but have Communion with his Body and Blood 1 Cor. 10.16 8. To bless is ill expounded to use it To use the Cup is not a Sacramental Scripture Phrase To bless it according to the institution of our Saviour is peculiar to the Minister the congregation joining with him and beholding the Sacramental actions and hearing the words This is my Body Take eat This do c. In those congregations where the houshold of God do not receive every one from the hand of the Minister but take themselves the whole is first blest broken poured out and the words of institution and command repeated or it is no Sacrament as was said before See 1 Cor. 11.24 All do use it as they say but all do not bless it 9. True believers have spiritual real nourishing and comforting Communion by Faith with the Body and Blood of Christ and not a figurative Benefits flow from Communion See again 1 Cor. 10.16 SECT XXVI Of the Lords Prayer 1. TAke both Evangelists Matthew and Luke together and it appears that this prayer is both a form of prayer and a pattern for prayer and yet it is rather a form of matter than of words seeing both those Holy Writers do not keep to the same words And why it may not be used as a prayer as well as the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God the Father and the Communion of the Holy be with you let them who use the one but disuse the other consider of it yea much rather because there is not so much as pray or bless the Assembly after this manner said of that solemn form of dismission which is said of this prayer 2. The matter and method of it is Wonderful and deserves our study that it may be understood We are taught how to conceive of God as a Glorious Father that his glory should be our aim above all things how we should be affected towards him and his Kingdom how our Wills should come in to his Will concurr with it and submit to it in all things we are taught how small a portion of the World should content us how we should acknowledge him to be the giver of all to have our dependance upon him and to have daily recourse to him by prayer We are taught to confess our sins to him and be earnest for pardon and to what degree of grace we should grow even to forgive and love our enemies We are inform'd of our greatest dangers and evils and to pray for deliverance from evil and temptations to evil and how we should praise and magnify him as glorious in our eyes 3. We are not tied to the very words and syllables of it as is before intimated yet it is as strange that it is not used at all by some as that it should be the only prayer in the account of others 4. We do not conclude our other prayers with this as if this made our other prayers acceptable we are heard for our faith in Christ and sincerity of our hearts and not for these words 5. All our petitions are ultimately referr'd to the glory of God our highest end in the first petition 6. Great care should be taken that all our prayers both private and publick do agree with this holy rule of prayer All Christians should conspire to pray the same things and be alwaies disposed to maintain Communion with God and with all his People as Brethren and Children of the same Heavenly Father 7. We should so pray as being in earnest and maintain our fervency to the last sealing our prayers with an Amen of fervent desire Faith and trust The end of the second Part. PART III. The Christian instructed
first and wilt not be false 4. It is an unspeakable Mercy Honour and Blessing to be Sons and Daughters in Covenant with God Will you forfeit it 5. Your present and future Happiness depends upon your observing loving honouring serving God and walking before him 6. God will judge you by his Son Christ in the last Day And what will he do to them in that Day who are ashamed of him now Oh! re-turn and repent ye Revolters Lastly Improve your Baptismal Relation and Covenant by Mediation by Prayer by Thanksgiving by Communion at his Table and all by Faith with Love and Reverence Let it not be a small thing in your Eyes to be the Sons and Daughters of the Almighty God who is a great King. Secondly Improve your Baptism for others Parents for your Children 1. Before they are baptized 2. After they are baptized 1. Before From the Water of Baptism learn and lay to heart gross Pollution and Corruption such as no Soap or Nitre no Tears or Blood or Righteousness of our own could purge away 2. Bless God heartily for the Blood of Jesus and the Sanctification of the Spirit 3. See the Necessity and Benefit thereof 4. And then address your selves to God as Father Son and Holy Ghost for your Seed 1. Beg that the Infant may be taken into the Covenant of Grace with you 2. That the Child may ever continue under the Grace and in the Duty of the Covenant 3. Pray for the inward Grace and rest not in the outward Privilege To that end 1. Be sensible of the sinful Defilement Death and Misery of the Infant by Nature Humble your Souls in the Sight of God under the Consideration of it 2. Look unto the Promise or free Covenant of Grace and the part that Infants have in it Act. 2.39 and the Grace expressed by Christ to Infants Mar. 10.13 c. 3. Exercise Faith in the free Grace and Love of the Father the Love and Redemption of the Son the Grace and Power of the Holy Ghost 4. Do not look upon Baptism as an empty Sign but as an Ordinance of God established by a Word of Command and Promise for great Ends and of great Efficacy to those Ends by the Operation of the Spirit It is not a Sign of nothing nor a Seal of nothing but look to the Grace of it 5. Taking Encouragement from Free Grace apply your selves to the Father Son and Holy Ghost for the Infant by earnest Prayer The matter of which may be 1. That God would be so merciful as to receive the Infant to Baptism 2. That God would be his Father Redeemer and Sanctifier and be his God according to the Grace of every Relation 3. That the poor Infant may be taken out of the old corrupt Stock and planted into Christ so as to receive Life and Nourishment from him Rom. 6.3 c. 4. That he may in time have Faith and the Adoption the Privileges of a Child and the Grace to continue in the Duties 5. That he may never turn after the Flesh World and Devil or if he do that he may return to God in Covenant and never revolt again 6. Look upon the Grace and the Obligation of Baptism together the Grace and the Duty Water in Baptism is as significant and conducive to its End as Bread and Wine in the Lord's Supper 2. Improve Baptism for them that are baptized Thus 1. Respect your Infants as the Children of God committed to your Charge for Education as more God's than yours Make a difference between them and the Breed of Insidels Atheists Worldlings and Devils 2. Continue in fervent Prayers for them from their Infancy 3. Begin to instruct them and train them up for God as you feed them plainly frequently seasonably sensibly They will soon take notice of things which they see of the Moon and Stars c. Make known to them the invisible God his Wisdom Power Goodness and Providence 4. As they grow in Capacity labour to fill them and labour that Knowledge may enter into their Souls Make frequent Applications to them when you are taken with their Comeliness Beauty Features Actions Speeches and how pretty they are when dress'd Make spiritual use of these things to your selves and them 5. Take Considerations from their Baptism to plead for them with God 1. When you observe them to be dull and backward to Goodness and forward to Naughtiness when you see them negligent forgetful untractable and are afraid of them Oh say as you mourn to God This Child is dedicated to thee in Covenant with thee Oh make him thine own Work upon his Soul what I cannot Give what I have not to give Teach him redeem him convert him sanctifie him rule him O thou who didst once receive him do not now reject him 2. When you are cross'd and afflicted contend with them for God upon Covenant-Engagement and plead with God for them upon Covenant-Mercies and Promises Shew unto them what an Honour Liberty Mercy it is to be God's Covenant-child how much they are obliged to keep Covenant with the Heavenly Father Son and Spirit how happy it will be for them in the great Day to be called Ye blessed of the Father and how terrible it will be to depart as cursed Revolters and treacherous Unbelievers and impenitent Workers of Iniquity to be tormented in Everlasting Fire with the Devil and his Angels The Lord teach you to profit CHAP. II. Of Prayer Shewing whence and how the Matter of Prayer is drawn out of the Catechism with a Form or Pattern of Prayer thence deduced section 1 OBserve what Prayer is Prayer is the offering up our Desires to God for things agreeable to his Will in the Name of Christ with Confession of our Sins and thankful Acknowledgment of his Mercies When your offer up your Desires to God how will you conceive of him What Titles will you give him Look to Ans 4. God is a Spirit c. as followeth in the Prayer You cannot expect to speed for your own sakes nor presume to go in your own names or in the name of any Creature Saint or Angel but in the Name that is by virtue of the Mediation of Jesus Christ Here look to Ans 30. And in making continual Intercession for us In your Prayers you offer up your Desires to God for things agreeable to his Will. What are your Desires You want all spiritual and heavenly Blessings and temporal good things which God hath promised and directed us in his Word to ask particularly in that Prayer called The Lord's Prayer Particularly pray for the Application of the Benefits of Redemption and the Benesits which they who are effectually called partake of in this Life And what Believers do receive at their Death and at the Resurrection see from Ans 40 c. You must also pray for the Means of Grace by which you obtain these Graces Privileges and Blessings as the Continuance of the Christian Sabbath as in the
Righteousness and counting thine own even all things but Loss for him Phil. 3.8,9 2. In esteeming thy Life to be wrapped up in him 1 Joh. 5.12 Col. 3.3,4 section 5 Secondly Examine thy Love to him as thy Prophet 1. Dost thou love and delight in his Word and Ordinances Dost thou keep his Word and treasure it up in thy Heart Joh. 14.23 2. Dost thou submit thy carnal Reason to the Spirit and Word of Christ Dost thou embrace the Motions of his blessed Spirit though contrary to the Inclinations of thine own carnal Affections and Lusts Thy Obedience to his teaching will prove thy Love to him and thy Delight to hear him section 6 Thirdly Examine thy Love to him as King. 1. Art thou glad that there is a Law forbidding Sin that there is a Law in thy Mind warring against the Law in thy Members Dost thou yield thy self to his Rule and Government And dost thou account it thy Liberty and thy Happiness to be under his Command 2. Dost thou bring all thy Lusts to his Cross to be crucified and deliver up thy most beloved Sins to be mortified by his Spirit This is a sure Sign of Love to him when we do not tolerate any Lust against his Will. 3. Art thou for Christ against all that rise up against him Dost thou seek his Glory endeavour that his Sceptre and Throne may be set up and exalted in the World and in thine own Heart 4. Art thou prepared to follow him the Captain of thy Salvation to leave all and follow him as one that goes a Warfare after Christ to sight the good Fight of Faith and withstand the Flesh World and Devil Thus far of the Love to the Second Person with the Reasons and Effects of it section 7 The third Head of Examination is of our Love to the Holy Ghost There is unspeakable Cause for it 1. For his infinite Excellencies as God. 2. For his Work and Office which is to apply to us the Benefits of our Redemption The Spirit of God doth these things for thee in order to thy Salvation for which thou art infinitely obliged to love him 1. He reveals the deep things of God the Mysteries of Redemption 1 Cor. 2.10,11,12 2. He enlightneth thy Mind to see and know the things of thy Peace Eph. 1.17 3. He doth convince thee of thy Sin and Misery and thereby he prepares thee for Cure and Deliverance Joh. 16.8 4. The Renewing of the Will is from him who is the Spirit of Regeneration Joh. 3.5 5. He perswades and enables every one to believe and embrace Jesus Christ that shall be called and saved Ezek. 36.27 6. He sanctifieth the Heart yea the whole Man throughout and makes thee holy that thou mayest see God if ever thou see him 2 Thes 2.13 7. He teacheth thee to cry Abba Father as the Spirit of Adoption Gal. 4.6 8. He seals all that are sealed to the Day of Redemption Ephes 4.30 9. And all the spiritual true Joy Peace and Comfort which any one hath come from him Gal. 5.22 together with all Ability for any Service Fruit and Benefit from Ordinances which would not have been effectual to Salvation if he had not blessed them So that if you love Grace or hope for Glory you cannot but adore and love the Holy Ghost even as the Father and the Son. Shew and manifest your sincere Love to the Holy Ghost by your Love to the Word given by his uspiration and all holy Ordinances And for what do you love the Word and Ordinances Try it Is it not for the heavenly Wisdom Holiness and the divine Efficacy and Tendency of them to make you wise to Salvation 2. If you love the Holy Ghost you will desire and improve Communion with him in all divine Institutions and Ordinances in which he is graciously pleased to communicate his Graces As in preaching the Word Isa 61.1 in Prayer Rom. 8.26,27 in Sacraments Matth. 3.11 He makes the Christian within Rom. 2.29 engrafting us into the Body 1 Cor. 12.13 He makes the Flesh of Christ to be Bread indeed and his Blood to be Drink indeed and his Words to be Spirit and Life Joh. 6.63 Ephes 5.18,9 3. You will walk in the Spirit and bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 and 16. And thus much of our Love to God. section 8 2. The second general Branch of Examination is of your Love to Man to every Man being your Neighbour in true Sence Your Neighbour is either a Brother or an Enemy 1. Try your Love to all the Saints and holy Brethren not only in that particular Society of Christians with whom you hold personal and local Communion but to all that are scattered abroad though under different Governments and Administrations as to Circumstances of Worship even all that are in the Body and that love our Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity Ephes 6.24 1 Cor. 1.2 You cannot love Christ except you love the Brethren 1 Joh. 4.20 Joh. 13.34,35 1 Cor. 10.17 For we being many are one Body Examine your selves 1. Do you love them as being all one in Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 16.24 as Fellow-heirs of the same Grace Ephes 3.6 And do you love them for the Truth 's sake and for the sake of Grace even against all the Prejudices of Custom Education and smaller private Differences See Gal. 3.27,28 1 Cor. 12.13 2. Do you love them though they excel you in Gifts and Graces Degree and Place or them that are many Steps below you in the World See 1 Cor. 12.24,25 chap. 13.4 3. Can you sympathize with them and suit Affections to their various Conditions 1 Cor. 12.26 Bear one anothers Burthens Gal. 6.1,2 Can you visit them and take part with them in their Reproaches and Sufferings for Christ and Righteousness Act. 7.23 Heb. 11.25,26 4. Doth your Love extend to all the Saints Ephes 6.34 1 Cor. 16.24 5. Can you break with all the World rather than with them and do and suffer more for them than for any other and count Jerusalem your chief Joy Psal 137.6 section 9 2. Try your Love to Enemies We must do good to all and love Men as Men. 1. Do you pray for them that God would turn them and forgive them Mat. 5.44 Act. 7.60 Luk. 23.34 2. Can you forgive them their Trespasses Luk. 11.4 as far as they are against you As they are against the Law of God you cannot forgive but so considered you must pray for them But as the Sin is an Offence against you Charity requires you to forgive them Eph. 4.32 Col. 3.13 and not only the Offence is to be forgiven but the Injury and Damage if it be small and tolerable But if you cannot without Sin remit the Damages yet you must seek your Right with a charitable Heart 3. Can you feed your Enemy when hungry and cloath him when naked Rom. 12.20 In a word Endeavour to carry your self according to the Law of Love Rom. 13.10 5.
the Godhead inform us of the exceeding great usefulness of the Knowledge of the Trinity Hath God revealed himself as a Father and would he not have his Children know him and be the better for it Hath he made known himself as the Son and Holy Ghost and not intend us a particular Kindness by it He most graciously conveys to his People the Knowledge and Assurance of most astonishing incomprehensible Love Grace Power and Goodness to allure and draw us into his Covenant to oblige us to take him for our God and become his Sons and Daughters that we ignorant lost miserable helpless Sinners might become happy for ever in him 3. As the Plurality of Persons or one God and three Persons are revealed to us so the practical Vse and Benefit of it is also revealed and therefore it is to be opened to his Covenant-people As soon as we know the Covenant and our Entrance into it we know our God to be the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost And this Knowledge is not laid up for the Wise and Learned which hath been most depraved by and lost in those proud and subtile and learned Wits in all Ages but laid open before the Faith of the weakest Believer to whom it is revealed I am verily perswaded saith the judicious Mr. Lawson that the Mystery of the Trinity is more clearly and fully delivered in the Scripture than we understand it Theopolitica p 32. N. 3. And I have wondred how familiarly that Man of Search and Reach Dr. Thomas Goodwyn speaks of it as if he saw how it was in his excellent Discourse of the Knowledge of God 2 Vol. Fol. We must humbly follow the Scripture-Light and dive into this Deep no further than our Line doth reach growing more and more in Grace and Knowledge till we come to see him face to face and to know him as we are also known I cannot but observe the Doctrine of the excellent and modest Melancthon These things are wonderful and above the Creature 's reach Sed scimus c. But we know these Mysteries are revealed to the Church that we may worship and call upon God aright c. Christ would have the sum of the Gospel to be comprehended in this first Ceremony of Baptism wherefore he testifies at once that we are received of God and teacheth us who God is and what God we invocate and what he doth bestow upon us I baptize thee in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost that is to say I testifie that thou art received of the Eternal Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost that by their Mercy and Power thou mayest be delivered from Sin and eternal Death and be endowed with Righteousness and eternal Life He makes a Covenant with thee in Baptism and affirmeth that he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and that he appointed the Son to be a Propitiation and sent the Holy Ghost to begin in thee Righteousness and eternal Life Loc. Commun de 3. Personis it de Filio The glorious infinite God Father Son and Holy Ghost is the Object and Foundation of our Faith and Hope the bottomless incomprehensible Spring of all Grace Promises Blessings and Privileges granted in the New Testament and being so made known we by Faith acknowledge him as such and promise Love and Obedience to him We receive from the Father through the Son by the Holy Ghost Grace and Life even all manner of Grace and all that are alive live by them upon them and to them Therefore again the Knowledge of this Mystery is practical and necessary to Salvation for except we believe and worship God as he hath revealed himself except we keep Covenant with him as God in Covenant and that as he hath declared himself therein how can we be saved By him as thus made known we are quickned strengthned encouraged and comforted in all our Services and every step of Duty in our way to Heaven The reverend and learned Beza observes That Arrius Sabellius Actius and other ancient Hereticks did many ways pollute and prophane the most holy Mystery of the Trinity but none of them ever grew to that degree of Impudence as to rank the Knowledge of it among things unnecessary and which if known make no Man the better Vol. Tractat. Theol. fol. p. 100. De Haeret. Puniendis The necessity of knowing and believing the Father Son and Holy Ghost To Be that is according to their meaning that there is a Son and Holy Ghost as well as the Father but not Co-essential is professed by the Socinians Racov. Catech c. 6. p. 30,31 So that he is no Christian who doth not believe it But what they say is not sufficient As the Being of one God is the Foundation of all Religion so that this God is Father Son and Holy Ghost as the God of all Grace in Covenant is the Foundation of the Christian Religion and distinguisheth it from that of Heathens Mahumetans and Jews And it is such a Foundation as is a living Root to the Tree of spiritual Knowledge and eternal Life to every true Believer Our Orthodox Divines assign it the chief place in Fundamentals and practical Doctrines and therefore it is of great use and benefit to have it and the Benefits of it declared So doth the most reverend Archbishop Usher often profess Serm. before King James I on Ephes 4 13. Bishop Prideaux Praelec 17. de Sancta Trinitate N. 3 7. Hornbeck Socin Confutat lib 1 cap. 9. it Disputat Theol. 4. inter vetera nova lib. 2. cap 2. Unicum est Religionis Fundamentum saith Beza Loc Citat Zanch de 3. Flohim lib. 5 cap 9. Partis Secundae Mr. Baxter Theol. Method p 76 Q2 it p. 122. N. 10. Ursin Catech. Explicat à Pareo p. 159 Q8 Dr Owen of the Trinity and of the Holy Ghost lib 1. p. 8. p. 44. Sect 4. p. 126. Dr. Potter c 4. The practical use and benefit of it being known it is a great inducement to Christians to study it and a furtherance of their Faith Hope and Joy and all other Graces and it will engage them to hold fast the revealed Doctrine of it which is most necessary in these Days when they who display their Banners against our Church and one Factor for them who hath served and dis-served his Principals borrowed an Argument of the same stamp but he will write no more would drive us into a Belief of Tâ—ansubstantiation because we believe a Trinity and an Incarnation which if we should admit they might not only brand us as the foulest Hereticks that ever were since Christ left the World but for being so But this Insinuation of an Antichristian Error of theirs hath brought forth an excellent Discourse in two Parts The Doctrine of the Trinity and Transubstantiation compared Of the practical Vse of the Mastery of the Trinity the words of Armenius are notable At verò