family nor one person old or young would deny us this request which we make to our own Labour but for your Good First that you would take some pains to Learn over the Creed with out Expository Profession the Ten Commandments and the Lords Prayer our small Catechism and the Assemblies shorter Catechism Secondly that you would see that all your Children and Servants that are capable learn them especially on the Lords day Thirdly that you would not refuse to come when you are called to give your Teachers an account of your Knowledge and how little soever you have learned yet to receive Instruction by them And think it not too much that we desire you to come to us for as you know it is a more regular and certain way for all to come to one place then for us to go seek after every person not knowing where and when to find them so is it no more then you owe to your Teachers in order to your own good when God hath made them Stewards of his household to give them their meat in due season Luke 12.42 Tit. 1.7 1 Cor. 4.1 2. and hath Commanded you to obey them that have the Rule over you for they watch for your souls as those that must give account that they may do it with Joy and not with Grief for that is unprofitable for you And Mal. 2.7 For the Priests lips should keep Knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth for he is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts If the Lord bow your hearts sincerely to yield to this our advice it will be the Joy of your Families the honour of your Towns Parishâ—s and Country a good example for the whole Nation to imitate and it will be the Comfort of your Teachers and a good preparative to your own everlasting Peace so great Benefits will follow a Small a Certain a Reasonable duty But if after all that we can say or do you unthankfully and obstinately refuse the help that is freely offered you your Blood will be upon your own heads and your Consciences shall bear us witness that we made you this offer and this our Exhortation shall rise up in Judgement for a witness against you And then Christ will have the glory of his Justice on all that set so light by the Riches of his Grace May 4th 1655. These are the Testimonies Warnings and Requests of us the servants of Christ for the saving of your souls whole names are before written The Ancient Western CREED I Believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and earth And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord which was Conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified dead and buryed he descended into Hell The third day he rose again from the dead he ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the Right hand of God the Father Almighty from thence he shall come to Judge the quick and the dead I believe in the Holy Ghost the holy Catholike Church the Communion of Saints the forgiveness of sins the Resurrection of the Body and the Life everlasting The Lords Prayer Math. 6. OVR Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from Evil For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever Amen The ten Commandments Exod. 20. GOD spake all these words saying I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the house of bondâ—ge Thou shalt have no other Gods before me Thoâ— shalt not make unto thee any grauen Image or any likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above or that is in the eaâ—â—h beneath or that is in the water under â—he earâ—h â—hou shâ—lt not how down thy self to them nor â—erve hâ—m Fâ—â—â—â—he Lord â—hy God am a jealous God visitâ—ng â—he iniquiries of the Faâ—hers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments 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 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy six daies 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 the stranger that is within thy gates For in six daies 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 Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy daies may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife nor his man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his ox nor his ass nor any thing that is thy neighbours The fuller profession of our Faith taken out of Scripture for the better understanding of the Creed I Believe that there is One only God * or in three Persons the Father The Son and the Holy Ghost The Father Infinite in Being the Father The Son Wisdom Goodness and Power the Maker Preserver and Disposer of all things and the most Just and Merciful Lord of all I Believe that Mankind being fallen by sin from God and Happiness under the wrath of God the curse of his Law the Power of the Devil God so loved the world that he gave his only son to be their Redeemer who being God and one with the Father did take to him our nature and became man being conceived of the Holy Ghost in the Virgin Mary and born of her and named Jesus Christ and having lived on earth without sin and wrought many Miracles for a witness of his truth he gave up himself a sacrifice for our sins and a Ransome for us in suffering death on the Cross and being Buried he rose again the third day and afterward Ascended into Heaven where he is Lord of All in Glory with the Father And having Ordained that all that truly Repent and Believe in him and love him above all things and sincerely Obey him and that to the death shall be saved and they that will not shall be damned and commanded his ministers to preach the Gospel to the world He will come again and raise the bodies of all men from Death and will Judge all men according to what they have done in the body and the Righteous shall go
understandings and soften and open their hearts and turn them from the power of Satan unto God by faith in Christ that bâ—ing joyned to Christ the Head and into one Church which is his body and freely justified and made the sons oâ— God they may be a sanctified peculiar people unto him and may overcome the flesh the world and the devil and being zealous of good works may serve God in Holyness and Righteousness and may live in the special love and Communion of the Saints and in hope of Christs coming and Everlasting Life Acts 1.11 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes 4.16 17 18. Joh. 5.22 27.2 Cor. 5.10 Rom. 2.6 7. Mat. 25.2 Thes 1.8 9 10. 2.12 2 Tim. 4.8 18. Luk. 10.11 Joh. 17.24 19.27 Mat. 13.40 Qu. 8. What shall be the end of the Righteous and of the wicked 8. The Lord Iesus Christ will come again at the end of this world and will raise the bodies of all men from the dead and iudge all men according to their works And the Righteous shall go into Everlasting Life and the rest into everlasting punishment Qu. 9. What aâ—e the Publike means which Christ hath appointed to salvation 9. Mat. 28.19 20. Mat. 16 15. Rom. 10.7 8.14.15 2 Tim. 2. â— Act. 14 1â— Act. 2.42 20.7 28. Eph. 4. 11 12 14. Ezek. 3.17 18 21. Mal. 2.7 1 Cor. 12.17 28 29. Col. 1.28 Act. 18.26 Jam. 5.14 Nâ—h 11 17. 9.5 8.4 5 6 8. 1 Cor. 10.16 9.13 11.24 Nam 6.23 24. Deut. 10.8.1 Chr. 23.13 Heb 7.7 1 Cor. 4 1. 1 Tim. 4.13 14 15. Joâ— 1.10 Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.2 Mar. 16.2 9. Joh. 20.1 1â— Tit. 2.15 1.9 11. 1 Tim. 5.1 19 20. 3.5 Tit 3.10 1 Cor. 5.4 5 11 13. Acts 2.42 Heb. 13.7 17 24. 1 Thes 5. â—2 1â— 1 Tim 5.17 1 Cor. 16.16 Luk. 12.42 10.16 1 Cor. 1.10 3.3 Râ—m 16 17. Eph. 4.2 15 16. Col. 2.2 2 Cor 13.11 Christ hath appointed that fit men shall be ordained his ministers to disciple the uncalled and baptize all that are Disciples in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and to Congregate his Disciples and to Ouersee and Guide the several Congregations and each member thereof Particularly to Teach them the woâ—d of God to Pray and Praise God wiâ—h them and for them to administer the Lords supper in remembrance of him and to Bless them in the name of the Lord Especially on the Lords day which he hath appointed for holy Communion in such works Also to rebâ—ke with Authority the scandalous and unruly and to reiect those that are obstinately impenitent and unreformed It is therefore the Peoples duty to ioyn with such Churches in the foresaid worshâ—p of God and to know hear submiâ— to and obey these their Guides that are over them in the Lord and to avoid discord and division and to live in Vnity Love and Peace Qu. 10. What are the secret holy Duties which every one must use 10. Psal 104.34 119.97 99. 1 2. 63.6 77. â—2 143.5 119.59 Hag. 1.5 Deut. 32.29 Psal 50.22 2 Cor. 1â— 5 Psal 4.4 Pro. 4.13 Maâ— 5. â—â— 12.34 15.18 19. Psal 119.113 39.1 Mar. 13.33 Luk. 21.8 34. 1 Cor. 10.12 Col. 3.5 Heb. 3.12 13 14. Mat. 2â— 4 Luk. 1â— 15 Rom. 13 13 14. 1 Cor 3.18 Jer. 17.9 1 Pet. 2.1 2 Tim. 1 6. 4.7 Acts 24.16 Mat. 26. 4â— 1 Cor. 16.13 Eph. 6.11 to 19. 1 Thes 5.17 Act. 10.9 Luk. 6.12 The secret Duties of Holyness are frequent and serious meditation of God and his works and word especially of our own sin and danger of our Redemption of our dâ—ty of Death Iudgement and the endless Ioy and Torment after it The diligent examination of our own hearts and watching over our Thoughts Affections Words and Actions The mortifying of our sinâ— especially Vâ—belief Error hardness of heart Pride worldliness flesh-pleasing and Hypâ—crisie The exercise of all graces watching against Temptations and resolute resisting them And secret prayer to God Qu. 11. What Private Duties of Holiness must be performed with others 11. Eph 6.4 9. Deut. 6.11 12 Jos 24.15 Psal 101.2 3. Actâ— 10 â—0 Gen. 18.19 Pro. 22.6 15. 25.13 1 Sam. 2.23.29 Col. 3.20.12 Eph. 6.1 5 6 7 8. Deut. 21.18 20. Mal. 2.7 Jer. 6.16 50.5 1 Cor. 14 35. Acts 2.37 16.30 Rom. 15.14 Col. â— 16 〈◊〉 â— 1â— Eph. 4.29 1 Pet. 3.1 2. Jam 3.23 Jam. â— 16 Act. 12. 5 12. Col. 1.3 4 3. 1 Thes â— 10 Joh. 20.19 Act. 20.9 Act. 12 12. 10.30 Phil. 4.6 â— Cor. 9.12 Psal 50. â—4 1 Cor. 7.5 Rom. 1â— 15 The Priuate Duties of Holyness to be performed with others are these parents and Masters must teach their children and servants the word and fear of God pray with them and for them and hinder them from sin children and servants must willingly Learn and Obey we must seek advice in the matters of our salvation Especially of one Teachers we must daily admonish and exhort one another using gracious and Edyfying Conference and a winning conversation Confessing our faults one to another and praying with and for one another Especially on the Lords Day and on extraordinary occasions of Humiliation or Thanksgiving Deut. 1 17. 2 Chron. 19.6 7. Deut. 17.18 Jos 1 8. sa 56.1 Zach. 7.9 Rom. 13.1 2 3. 1 pet 2.13 Eph. 6. 1 5. Col. 3.20 22 23 24. Mat 19 19. â—2 â—9 7.12 Eph. 4.2 Phil. â— 3 â—5 Mat 10.16 Eph. 4.25 Tit. 2.12 Col. 3.25 1 Cor. 6.7 8. Mat. 5.21 22 27 28 39 44 45. Eph. 4.28 Exo. â—3 1 2â— 16 Psal 15.3 Ex. â—0 17 Col 3.13 Eph. 4.2 Mat. 5.44 Gal. 6.10 Heb. 13. â—6 Mat. 25. Phil. 2.4.20 21. 2 Cor. 8.11.12 Qu. 12. What are the necessary Duties of Righteousness and mercy towardâ— men 12. The necessary Duties of Righteousness and Mercy to men are these Superiors must Rule for God and the Common-good with Iustice and mercy Inferiours must willingly Obey them in the Lord. We must loue our neighbours as our selves and do as we would be done by behaving our selves to all men in lowliness and meekness harmlesness sobriety and truth not wronging any in their Bodies Chastity Estates or Names no not in Desire but forbearing and forgiving one another loving our very Enemies and doing good to all according to our Power FINIS
the Love of Christ shed abroad in your hearts by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 And the Spirit to write Christs Law within you Heb. 10.16 Then would you long for more of Christ and run after him in his Ordinances with thirsting souls and delight in his Law and meditate in it day and night and love his Teaching and delight to do his will Rom. 7.22 Psal 1.2 3. Psal 10.8 119.24.77.35 40.1.2 These things would not only be your business but your Pleasure even your meat drink Job 23.12 O that you did know in this your day the things that belong unto your Peace before they are hid from your eyes Luke 19.41 42. And that you would once soberly Consider what it is to be in Everlasting Joy or Torments and that you would live as men that believe these things indeed We do yet again beseech you in the name of him that Made you and Redeemed you and for the sake of your own immortal souls that you will not be so stout or self-conceited or so careless or so contemptuous of the Grace of the God as to refuse to come to your Teachers to be Catechised and Instructed or to bestow your labour in learning these Principles You can lose but little by it and only that which however you shall shortly lose You may get that which shall never be lost O what a Glory would it be to our Parishes and to the Land if you would all joyn as with one mind to learn and study the things of Christ what a Joy would this be to the hearts of your Teachers to see you readily with one accord to come to them for Instruction and obey the word All the wealth of the world would not so glad them or do them so much good as this would do But what a Grief is it to our hearts at present to think that so many of you do live in wilful Darkness and will not use the means to get out and to think what is like to bâ—come of you for ever if death shall find you in this sad Condition Now we are neer you and fain would see your hearty change But then betwixt us and you what a gulf would there be set Luk. 16.26 The word of God will certainly be made good And he hath expresly said that if the Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them 2 Cor. 4.3 4. And people perish where vision faileth and for lack of Knowledge Prov. 1.22.29 29.18 Hos 4.6 And when a people have no understanding he that made them will not-save them he that formed them will shew them no Favour Isai 27.11 that the heart be without knowledge it is not good Prov. 19.2 To know God and his son Christ is Eternal life John 17.3 How sadly doth God call even to the Heaven and Earth to hear his Complaint against his people Isa 1.3 4. because he had brought up a people and they rebelled against him the Ox knew his Owner and the Ass his Masters Crib but Israel knew not God his people would not Consider Give not God cause to complain thus of you lest you prove your selves the complainers in the end It grieveth us also to see so many untaught children and families among you to see the Lords day so idly spent when you have so much of this necessary work to do To see so many of you either live without the Lords Supper and the holy Communion of the Church or else expect it when you know not what you do And it much grieveth us when we come to visit the sick and would fain speak Comfort to their departing souls and find them in so Ignorant and Carnal a state that we dare not do it O what a trouble must this needs be to our minds You look that we should speak Peace to you at the hour of Death that will nor learn the way of Peace in your life but rather abhor it and wilfully reject it But that is a thing that we may not do and if we should do it we should but deceive you Brethren take time and mercy while the God of mercy doth offer it you Think not a little labour too much to learn that which must be Learned upon pain of Damnation and which may make you Happy for ever It is the highest the noblest and sweetest work that you can mind or be imployed in Other things are drudgery to this and must give place to it Harden not therefore your hearts against the Instruction and help that is offered you It is none of our purpose to question you in matters of Scholarship but of meer Christianity nor to shame the Ignorant but to teach them nor to puzzle you with hard unnecessary Questions but to speak to you according to your several Capacities You can learn a trade to live by And could you not leaâ—n the way to Heaven if you were as willing and diligent you pray that the will of God may be done and will you not learn to do it you pray that his Kingdom may come and his Name be Hallowed and will you not learn to Know the nature and dignity of his Kingdom and how to hallow his blessed Name God is willing to Teach you and therefore hath sent his Son to be your Teacher All Christians are his Disciples or Schollars and it s an ill Schollar that Refuseth to Learn or be taught Christs way of Teaching is joyntly by his Ministers Word and Spirit If you Refuse these you refuse Christ And though you may think it is but a man that you despise yet God himself saith He that despiseth despiseth not man but God 1 Thes 4.8 And he that despiseth you despiseth me Luke 10.16 And he that despiseth him shall be lightly esteemed and despised by him in the day of his Necessiâ—y 1 Sam. 2.30 Prov. 1.24 to the end And he that deâ—piseth Knowledge shall be destroyed Prov. 13.13 O how much better would it seem to us if you would go along with us Cheerfully in the way of Salvation then to force us to be witness against you to your Condemnation For Christ hath said that if people receive not his Mâ—ssengers and hear them not they must depart shake off the dust of their feet as a testimony against them And he haâ—h assured us that it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgement then for that City Mark 6.11 Math. 10. 14 15. Finally Brethren we conclude with the repetition of our former request that if God have so much interest in you if Christ and the holy Ghost have so much Interest in you if your own Salvation be any of your Interest or if we your Teachers and friends have any Interest in you we earnestly beseech you that not one