God or any Creature or by the Blood Death or Wounds of Jesus or any other Oath whatever Thou shalt not take any Oath of thy self or swear unless called to it by Authority no promissory Oath especially or Oath by which thou dost promise any thing shall be taken by thee of thy own accord For the Communication of a Christian should be Yea yea and Nay nay Thou shalt not contentedly and patiently endure to hear the Name of God dishonoured by Oaths Blasphemies or otherwise Thou shalt by no means entertain any murmuring unkind or irreverent Thoughts of God Thou shalt not mention the name of thy God and Saviour irreverently wantonly vainly and for every trifle Thou shalt not mention it without just and solemn Occasion much less in telling Fortunes in Lots Jests and Charms Thou shalt not Blaspheme or Curse God or Repine and Murmur against him or Curse any Creature by him Thou shalt not prophane any thing dedicated to the Honour of his Name As holy Churches holy Utensils of the Church holy Customs holy Sacraments Thou shalt make no unlawful rash Vows neither shalt thou break a lawful Vow As these things are forbidden in this Commandment so are we commanded in it To magnifie exalt Duties commanded and glorifie the Holy Name of God 1. In Thought by thinking reverently of him 2. In Word by speaking reverently of him and his Attributes by Praises and Thanksgivings 3. In our Actions by a holy Conversation To perform all our faithful Promises and Vows To use the Name of God with a religious Reverence and Awe whenever we are called to a lawful Oath To have a due regard for all Things Persons and Places that have his Name and Stamp upon them To perform carefully and conscionably all our lawful Oaths And among our Vows faithfully to perform our Baptismal Vow and all our repeated Vows of amendment that so we may not name the Name of Christ in vain So that if we consider as we ought what 't is that is enjoined us in this Commandment and what is forbidden in it and then reflecting upon our own lives find any of the Duties of it neglected by us or any â—f the Sins against it sadly adventured on in Thought Word or Action how affectionately should we say with the Church Lord have Mercy upon us and incline our Hearts to keep this Law That is Lord pity and pardon all our past Breaches of this Commandment and so incline our Hearts to Love and Obedience for the future that by the Grace we may very sincerely keep this Law of thine for the remainder of our Days IV. COMMANDMENT Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day Sir days shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do c. THE meaning is Thou shalt set apart some Portions of thy time for the publick Offices of Religion Duties commanded and the Glorification of God That if God or his holy Church have appointed One Day in Seven for religious Purposes we are carefully to employ it to these Uses That as the Jews kept the Seventh Day by divine Command in memory of the Creation so we Christians are to keep Holy the First Day of the Week or Lord's Day from Apostolical Practice in memory of our Lord's Resurrection and our Redemption That this Day be spent in holy Offices religious Duties in publick and private Worship in all Actions 1. Of Piety 2. Of Charity I. Of Piety As 1. in frequenting the Assemblies of the Saints 2. In Attendance on the Word in reading or hearing it read preach'd or expounded to us That we may have leisure and ease and freedom from the distractions of the World with Tranquillity of Mind to hear our Lord speak to us from thence and acquaint us with his Will and upon what Conditions we may be admitted to him 3. In attendance on the Sacraments in having leisure for the receiving those Tokens and Pledges of the divine Love to us 4. In Catechising or Instructing those under our Charge 5. In pious Conferences and devout Meditations 6. In Praises and Thanksgivings to the sacred Name of God Beginning that bless'd Imployment here below which shall be continued perfected and compleated in the Mansions of Eternity above 7. In stating Doubts and Scruples to the Guides of Souls and desiring Peace and Satisfaction 8. To reflect on and consider the great Works of the eternal God The great Work of the Creation of the World and the greater Work of the Redemption of it and the Resurrection of our Saviour II. In Actions of Mercy and Charity according to our Abilities and Opportunities As 1. To reconcile Differences 2. To provide for the Necessities of the Poor and Needy 3. To visit the Sick 4. To give ease and rest to our Servants and refreshment from their ordinary Labours Nay to give ease to our very Cattle is a Mercy to them 5. To provoke one another to good Works 6. To reprove exhort and edifie one another in Love To do these or any other instances of Mercy and Charity is a proper Work of the Lord's-Day That the Fasts and Festivals of the Church should in some measure be attended to and observed by us as she prescribes has always been esteemed fit to be reduced to this Commandment That we on the Lord's Day rest from all Desires Lusts Words Works and Pleasures which are our own I mean proceeding from our corrupt Nature and which are not seasoned with Grace that so we may on the Lord's Day keep a truly Spiritual Sabbath And lastly Devoutly then to remember this our Christian Sabbath is but a Type that is a Figure or shadowing out of that eternal Rest and Sabbath which we expect in Heaven This being commanded what we are forbidden in it is Sins forbidden To do or compel or cause others to do any servile Works on this Day except Works of Necessity or Charity Decency or Mercy To put no difference between this and the common Days of the Week All Judaizing Severity is to be laid aside by us Christians that is we being delivered from the Rigour though not the Piety of the Jewish Sabbath are not so to observe it as if Works of Necessity Mercy Decency and Charity were not to be done by us on it We are forbidden to spend it in Idleness and Wantonness in Sleep and Recreations or any part of it in unlawful Recreations in Vanity and Folly Gluttony or Drunkenness Drowsiness and Inconsideration Worldly-mindedness and Lust Sin and Iniquity To refuse to come to the publick Assemblies or neglect the Duties of the Day Publick or Private To Buy or Sell or Travel to manage Business or any worldly Undertaking and Imployment without Necessity It has ever been accounted by the Church unfit if not unlawful to Fast upon the Lord's-Day Superiors are not to suffer those under their Authority to be absent from and neglect holy Duties nor to refuse to allow them liberty time and leisure for them
If we now consider as we ought what 't is that is enjoined us in this Commandment and what 't is that is forbidden in it and then reflecting upon our own lives find any of the Duties of it neglected by us in Thought Word or Action how affectionately should we say with the Church Lord have Mercy upon us and incline our Hearts to keep this Law That is Lord pity and pardon all our past Breaches of this Commandment and so incline our Hearts to Love and Obedience for the future that by thy Grace we may very sincerely keep this Law of thine for the remainder of our Days But before we pass from this Fourth Commandment it may not be amiss to touch upon the Reasons of the Change of the Jewish Seventh Day into the Christian Lord's Day the First Day of the Week This Precept of keeping Holy the Seventh Day or Sabbath is partly Ceremonial and partly Moral Now the Ceremonial part of the Jewish Law is done away but the Moral part of it is confirmed perfected and compleated by the Gospel The Ceremonial part of this Commandment was that God be publickly worshipped precisely on the Jewish Sabbath or the Seventh Day The Moral part of it is That a certain and determined time be set out for the publick Worship of the Eternal God And divine Love and Gratitude in us Christians should engage us not to come behind the Jews in the return of our solemn Days of publick Worship Nay Equity requires we should set out One Day in the Week to the more immediate Glorification of God and our religious Duties So that the Jewish Sabbath being abolished as they kept the Seventh Day in memory of the Creation so the Apostles and the Primitive Church and all Ages of it since kept the First Day of the Week in memory of our Lord's Resurrection and our Redemption For as the Redemption of the World was a greater Mercy than the Creation of it and as God rested from his Labours of the Creation on the Seventh Day and our Saviour rested from his Laboure of the New Creation or his Labours of our Redemption on the First Day of the Week when he arose from the Dead so the Apostles and the Church in all Ages since have set apart the First Day of the Week as the Jews were to set apart the Seventh for the peculiar Worship and Service and Glorification of God That our Lord rose from the Dead upon the First Day of the Week we see St. John xx That the Disciples assembled together on the First Day of the Week we are told St. John xx 19. That St. Paul preached and the Disciples met to break Bread that is to receive the Sacrament on the First Day of the Week we read Acts xx 7. That the Holy Ghost descended on the Apostles on the First Day of the Week is certain Acts ij 1. And that Saint John expresly calls it the Lord's-day we read Rev. i. 10. So that as the Moral Equity of the Commandment as well as divine Love and Gratitude obliges us to set apart One Day in Seven for a holy Rest and for religious Purposes so by the Practice of the Apostles and all following Ages of the Church the First Day of the Week was substituted in the room of the Jewish Sabbath which compared with the Scriptures before-mentioned is sufficient to warrant our Practice So that to sum up the whole They the Jews celebrated the Seventh Day by divine Command we the First Day by Apostolical Practice They the Seventh Day or last Day of the Week under the Law of Moses we the First Day of the Week by divine Law under the Gospel Their Seventh Day or Sabbath was Blessed and Sanctified by the Lord's command our First Day was Blessed and Sanctified by our Lord's Resurrection Their Seventh Day was Hallowed by God's resting on it from the Works of the Creation our First Day was Hallowed by our Lord 's resting on it from the Works of the New-Creation when he arose from the Grave Their Seventh Day was kept by them in memory of the great Work of the Creation of the World our First Day kept by us in memory of the greater work of its Redemption Their Seventh Day called the Lord's Sabbath Lev. xxiij 38. and elsewhere in the Old Testament our First Day called the Lord's Day in the New Rev. i. 10. As for any distinct Text in the Gospel for Christ's Abrogating the Judaical Sabbath there is no more reason to expect it than the like for Sacrifices or Circumcision or the Judaical Priesthood Vid. Dr. Hammond in St. Matthew xij 8. a. V. COMMANDMENT Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy days may be long c. THE meaning is Thou shalt pay a due Respect and Love Duties commanded and Reverence in Heart in outward Speech and Behaviour to all Superiors Thou shalt Reverence and Honour and Love and Pray for thy Natural Parents thy Father and Mother Thou shalt obey their lawful and just Commands and support them in their Needs if thou art able Thou shalt obey honour and love the King pray for him and pay him Tribute Thou shalt obey Magistrates If thou art a Servant thou shalt be faithful and obedient to thy Master and serve him with a conscionable care and diligence Thou shalt esteem respect and love and obey the Doctrines of thy Pastor which are faithfully tendred to thee from the Gospel and pay him his just Dues and Maintenance Thou shalt respect and honour the Aged thy Betters and those that are above thee in Learning Wisdom Goodness or any other Gifts and Graces It is here to be remembred too that all Superiors are to perform their Duties to their Inferiors Kings and those in Authority to protect defend and govern their Subjects Parents to nourish baptize provide for and instruct and bless their Children by their Example and their Prayers Husbands to be faithful to love to defend to protect the Wife as the Wife is to be obedient faithful and affectionate to the Husband Masters to be just to admonish to instruct to be examples to their Servants Ministers to feed the Flock faithfully and diligently by Life and Doctrine Sins forbidden These things are commanded in it and the contrary Vices are forbidden As Inferiors are forbidden to behave themselves proudly scornfully and rudely toward their Betters in Age Gifts or Estate Children forbidden to be undutiful stubborn disobedient and unkind to their Parents Subjects forbidden to rebel against dishonour disobey the King or those in Authority under him People forbidden to despise reject hate or defraud their lawful Pastor Servants forbidden to be stubborn negligent unfaithful or disobedient to their Masters And to encourage all to the Duties of this Commandment as well as to disswade them from the Sins forbidden in it here is added a Promise to the conscionable observers of it of a prosperous and peaceable living upon Earth a long and happy life
Yes Is not Perjury or forswearing ones self a dreadful Sin Yes Is it not a heinous Sin to break a lawful Oath Yes Is it not Perjury to swear to what is uncertain unknown and doubtful Yes Is it not Perjury to affirm it upon Oath though it should happen to be true Yes May we have irreverend thoughts of God No. Are not all voluntary Oaths or swearing to which we are not called by a Magistrate unlawful Yes Especially all voluntary and promissory Oaths Yes May we patiently endure to hear God dishonoured No. Should a Christian promise any thing unless he intend to perform it No. Should we not labour to glorifie and honour the Name of God by a Christian Conversation Yes IV. COMMANDMENT Remember that thou keep holy c. MUST a Christian that hopes for Heaven when he dies keep holy the Sabbath-day Lord's-day or Sunday Yes Should not a Christian worship God on that day both in publick and in private Yes May this day be spent in Sleep and Idleness Sports and Pastimes No. Should any work be done upon this day except Works of Necessity or Works of Charity No. Should this day be spent in Hearing Reading Prayer Thanksgiving and Meditation at home and in the Congregation Yes Is it enough to do it at home unless it be done in the Congregation too No. Would it not be piously and christianly done of us to observe the Fasts and Festivals of the Church Yes Should we not worship God every day as well as Sunday Yes V. COMMANDMENT Honour thy Father and thy Mother c. MUST we not give Respect and Honour to all that are above us Yes May a Christian be undutiful or unkind to his Father or Mother No. May a Christian in any case rebel against his King No. May a Christian disobey his King except the command be plainly unlawful No. May a Christian disesteem or despise or hate his Minister No. May a Servant be stubborn or unfaithful to his Master or Mistriss No. Should a Christian behave himself proudly or scornfully toward his Betters or Elders No. VI. COMMANDMENT Thou shalt do no Murther SHould a Christian labour to preserve his own and his Neighbour's Life and Health Yes Is not the taking away the Life of another by Murther a dreadful sin Yes Should a Christian follow Peace with all men Yes May he hurt his own or any other man's Life or Health No. May a Christian be a Quarreller or a contentious and brawling Person No. Should a Christian strike wound or maim any Man No. Should we abuse any Man by foul Language No. May a Christian that hopes to see God bear Malice or desires of Revenge in his Heart No. May a Christian use bitter or provoking Words or calling of Names No. May a Christian fight a Duel No. May a Christian willingly vex grieve disquiet or wish ill to another No. VII COMMANDMENT Thou shalt not commit Adultery OUght not a Christian to be chast in heart in tongue and in behaviour Yes Is not Chastity of Body and Purity of Soul a most acceptable Sacrifice to God Yes May a Christian commit Incest Adultery Fornication or any other Uncleanness No. Must a Christian that hopes to see God have a chast and pure Hand and Eye and Heart Yes May a Christian have lustful Desires and Imaginations and delight in them No. May a Christian use unchast Words or Language No. Should a Christian have a chast Ear Yes That is should he listen willingly to filthy Communication and unchast Discourses No. Can a Christian allow himself without sin in any Unchastity of the Hand Eye Tongue or Heart No. Should a Christian avoid all kinds of Uncleanness upon himself or with any other Yes Should a Christian avoid all things that provoke or excite Lust Yes Are not all Thoughts and Actions of that Sort utterly unlawful save only in lawful Marriage Yes VIII COMMANDMENT Thou shalt not steal MAY a Christian take or keep against his Neighbour's Knowledge or Will what belongs to him No. Are not Theft and Robbery great Iniquities Yes Should a Christian give every man his due Yes Should a Christian further his own and his Neighbour's outward Estate by all lawful means Yes May a Christian wrong any man by Deceit or Cozenage or Extortion or any Injustice No. Must a Christian be just and upright in buying and selling Yes May we raise Gain by any unlawful Arts and Practices No. May we advise or encourage consent to or share with those that do No. Can we detain necessary Relief from our poor Brethren without sin No. May a man use false Weights or Measures No. If we find any thing may we keep it from the Owner if we know or can learn who ' t is No. May a Christian steal small things because he is poor No. May a man refuse to pay his Debts if he be able No. May he refuse to pay what he is bound for if the Principal cannot or will not No. Should a Christian take Use of them who are poor No. May a Christian be guilty of Extortion from any man No. Should a man take advantage of the Ignorance or necessity of them he deals with No. May a Christian break his Trust or faithful Promise No. If a man have taken any thing wrongfully from any man should he not make Restitution of it if he be able Yes If he be ashamed or afraid to do it himself should he not do well to go to his Minister or some other good man to do it for him Yes IX COMMANDMENT Thou shalt not bear false Witness c. MAY a Christian bear false Witness against any man No. Should we not avoid all injurious prejudicing our Neighbour's Reputation Yes Should we not endeavour to preserve the good Name of our Neighbour Yes May a Christian stander or back-bite any man No. May a Christian causelesly raise Suspicions of any man No. May we tell a Lye No. May not a Christian tell a Lye to cover a Fault No. Should a Christian flatter any man No. May we defame or detract from our Neighbour No. May we spread ill Reports of him to breed in the minds of men an ill Opinion of him No. Doth not Charity oblige us to think the best of our Neighbour Yes Should we not be candid in our Opinions and Discourses concerning others Yes Should we not forbear all rash and hard Censures of others Yes May a Christian bragg and boast himself No. May a Christian be a Tale-bearer No. Should a Christian publish any man's faults without doing thereby Charity or Justice to some other No. May a Christian be a Whisperer or Evil-speaker No. Should a Christian avoid all things prejudicial or destructive to his Neighbour's good name Yes X. COMMANDMENT Thou shalt not covet c. MAY a Christian covet what 's another Mans No. That is to say should a Christian in the least desire to come by it unjustly No. Should a Christian be content with his
declare and own our selves to be so The First of these the Sacrament by which we begin our journey for Heaven and Immortality the Second of them the Sacrament by which we continue it onward to the end of our days To conclude seeing the first Sacrament that of Baptism was administred to us in our Infancy before we knew it and we are now come to the knowledge of it far be it from us to withdraw our selves from the other Sacrament of our Lord's Supper lest we be found in any degrees to have renounced or dispised our Baptism or to have renounced or neglected the Communion of Saints But as we happily begun for Heaven and Immortality by the Waters of Regeneration so let us by our constant preparation to receive the blood of the Covenant and to attend on these holy Mysteries keep pace with our Lord to the end of this our Pilgrimage here till we come to meet him in his Kingdom And seeing in our Baptism when we were admitted into Covenant with God we promised on our part Faith Repentance and a sincere Obedience to him but by reason of our Infirmities in this imperfect State we have too frequently broken our Conditions of it Oh let us ever take all advantages and opportunities of renewing it with our God again in the Sacrament of our Lord's Supper still labouring to grow from Grace to Grace till all shall end in Glory And may we be so constant in our devout Attendances on this Ordinance so pant and sigh and languish after the divine Grace and Favour by our frequenting it that as the Sacrament of Baptism was one of the First Blessings we received in this World so the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper may be one of the Last Amen THE Church-Catechism Resolved into Scripture-Proofs PART III. Question WHat is your Name Answer N. or M. Question Who gave you this Name Answer My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism wherein I was made a Member of Christ the Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven Prove that you were made a Member of Christ in your Baptism 1 Cor. 12.12 13. For as the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body So also is Christ For by one Spirit are we all baptized in to one Body Eph. 5.30 For we are Members of his Body Prove that every one that nameth the Name of Christ is to depart from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from Iniquity Prove that we are not to introduce into the Church the custom of having no Godfathers and Godmothers or to be contentious about it 1 Cor. 11.16 If any Man seem to be contentious we have no such custom neither the Churches of God Prove that you were made a Child of God when you were baptized Gal. 3.26 27. For ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Prove that you were made an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven when you were baptized Rom. 8.17 And if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and joint Heirs with Christ Mark 10.14 Suffer the little Children to come unto me and forbid them not For of such is the Kingdom of God Question What did your Godfathers and Godmomothers then for you Answer They did promise and vow three things in my Name First that I should renounce the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanity of this Wicked World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh Secondly that I should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith And thirdly that I should keep God's Holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of my Life Prove that you are bound to renounce the Devil as they promised Jam. 4.7 Resist the Devil Eph. 4.27 Neither give place to the Devil Prove that you are to renounce the works of the Devil 1 Joh. 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil Eph. 5.11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness Shew me what are the works of the Devil And first prove Lying to be a Work of the Devil John 8.44 He is a Lyar and the Father of it Prove slandering or false accusing to be a Work of the Devil Rev. 12.10 The accuser of our Brethren is cast down which accused them before our God day and night Prove Envying a Work of the Devil Jam. 3.14 15. But if ye have bitter Envying and Strife in your Hearts glory not and lye not against the Truth This Wisdom descendeth not from above but is Earthly Sensual Devilish Prove Pride to be a Work of the Devil Isa 14.12 13 14. How art thou fallen from Heaven O Lucifer Son of the Morning For thou hast said in thy Heart I will ascend into Heaven I will exalt my Throne above the Stars of God I will be like the most High Ver. 15. Yet thou shalt be brought down to Hell Prove tempting others to Sin to be a Work of the Devil Matth. 4 1-3 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit in the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil Ver. 3. And when the Tempter came to him Prove Murther to be a Work of the Devil John 8.44 He was a Murtherer from the beginning Prove going to a Witch or Conjurer to be a Work of the Devil 1 Chron. 10.13 14. So Saul died for his Transgression And also for asking Counsel of one that had a familiar Spirit to enquire of it and enquired not of the Lord therefore he slew him Lev. 20.6 And the Soul that turneth after such as have familiar Spirits and after Wizards to go a Whoring after them I will even set my Face against that Soul Prove the committing any wilful known Sin to be a Work of the Devil 1 Joh. 3.8 He that committeth Sin is of the Devil Prove the word Pomps to be in Scripture Isa 5.14 Therefore Hell hath enlarged herself and opened her Mouth without measure And their Glory and their Multitude and their Pomp and he that rejoiceth shall descend into it Isa 14.11 Thy Pomp is brought down to the Grave Acts 25.23 Bernice came with great Pomp. Prove that you renounc'd the Pomps of the World that is all the Temptations of it all the vain and sinful customs of it Or all Pride Vain-glory and excess in Food and Raiment and in all things else of it Rom. 12.2 And be not conformed to this World 1 Joh. 2.15 Love not the World neither the things that are in the Word i. e. Set not your Heart upon it so as to get or keep any part of it by any unlawful means Prove that you are to renounce the sinful Lusts of the Flesh Gal. 5.24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts Prove or shew what these
sinful Lusts of the Flesh chiefly are Gal. 5.19 20 21. Now the Works of the Flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies Envyings Murthers Drunkenness Revellings and such like Of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Prove that you are to believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Heb. 10.23 Let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering Prove that you are to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments Rom. 12.2 That ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God 1 Joh. 5.3 For this is the Love of God that we keep his Commandments Prove that you are to walk in the same all the days of your Life Eph. 2.10 For we are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Rom. 6.4 Even so we also should walk in newness of Life Luke 1.75 In Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of our Life Question Dost thou not think that thou art bound to believe and to do as they have promised for thee Answer Yes verily and by God's help so I will And I heartily thank our Heavenly Father that he hath called me to this State of Salvation through Iesus Christ our Saviour And I pray unto God to give me his Grace that I may continue in the same unto my Lives end Prove that you are bound to perform this Vow and Promise Psal 22.25 I will pay my Vows before them that fear him Deut. 23.21 When thou shalt vow a Vow unto the Lord thy God thou shalt not slack to pay it For the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee 1 Thes 2.12 That ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory Prove that we are bound heartily to thank God for calling us to this state of Salvation Col. 1.12 13. Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Who hath delivered us from the power of Darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son Prove that we are to pray unto God for his Grace to assist us to continue in the same Matth. 7.7 Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you Heb. 4.16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Psal 84.11 The Lord will give Grace and Glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Prove that you are to continue in this Faith to your Life's end Matth. 24.13 He that endureth to the end the same shall be saved The Creed follows I believe c. Prove the first Article of your Creed that there is but one God Mark 12.29 Jesus answered him the first of all the Commandments is Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. Prove that he is our Father Joh. 8.41 We have one Father even God Matth. 6.9 Our Father which art in Heaven Prove that he is Almighty Gen. 17.1 I am the Almighty God Prove that he is the Maker of Heaven and Earth Acts 17.24 God that made the world and all things therein seeing that he is the Lord of Heaven and Earth Prove that you are to believe in Jesus Christ Acts 16.31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house Prove that he is the only Son of God St. Joh. 3.18 But he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed on the name of the only-begotten Son of God Prove that he is our Lord. Acts 2.36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made the same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ Prove that he was conceived by the Holy ghost St. Luke 1.35 And the Angel answered and said unto her The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God St. Matth. 1.20 That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost Prove that he was born St. Luke 2.6 7. And so it was that while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered And she brought forth her first-born Son Luke 2.11 Unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Prove that he was born of a Virgin St. Matth. 1.22 23. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet saying Behold a Virgin shall be with Child and shall bring forth a Son Prove that this blessed Virgin 's name was Mary St. Matth. 1.18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise whenas his Mother Mary was espoused to Joseph Prove that he suffered under Pontius Pilate St. Matth. 27.2 And when they had bound him they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the Governour Prove that he was crucified St. Matth. 27.35 And they crucified him Prove that he was dead St. Luke 23.46 And when Josus had cried with a loud voice he said Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit and having said thus he gave up the Ghost Prove that Jesus Christ was buried St. Matth. 27.59 And when Joseph had taken the body he wrapped it in a clean linen cloath and laid it in his own new Tomb. Prove that he descended into Hell Eph. 4.9 10. Now that he ascended what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the Earth He that descended is the same also that ascended Acts 2.31 He seeing this before spake of the Resurrection of Christ that his Soul was not left in Hell neither his Flesh did see corruption Prove that he rose again the third day from the dead 1 Cor. 15.4 He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures Acts 10.40 Him God raised up the third day Prove that he ascended into Heaven St. Luke 24.51 And it came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into Heaven Acts 1.9 And when he had spoken these things while they beheld he was taken up and a Cloud received him out of their Sight Prove that he sitteth at the Right-Hand of God that is that he is exalted to the greatest Power and Glory in Heaven Mark 16.19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them he was received up into Heaven and sat on the Right-Hand of God Eph. 1.20 21 22. Which he wrought in Christ
do this Use lawful means pray to God and trust him Yes Must we not trust in God for his Grace Yes But do we trust aright if we do not pray for it and do not carefully use and imploy that Grace which we have already No. Must we trust in God for a supply of our bodily wants Yes But do we trust aright if we do not use honest industry and labour No. Of Cares Is all carking vexatious distrustful and immoderate care unlawful Yes Is a prudent moderate Care unlawful No. Must we not therefore faithfully use our own endeavours and then look up to God for a Blessing on us Yes ¶ Sunday II. ¶ Of humility IS not humility towards God a Christian Duty Yes Is not this humility such a sense of our own meanness and his Excellency as may make us lowly and submissive to him Yes When God commands us any thing should not this humility make us chearfully set about it In respect of obedience Yes Is the proud Man apt to obey God No. Though we do sincerely obey God should not this humility keep us from any high conceits of our own performances Yes In respect of our own performancer If we do entertain any high and proud conceits of our own performances will they be acceptable to God No. Are not the best of our Works full of Infirmity and full of pollution Yes In respect of Patience Is Patience a duty towards God Yes Is Patience a willing and quiet yielding to whatever Affliction it pleases God to lay upon us Yes Can this Patience become easie to us without humility towards God No. Will the patient Man repine and grudge and murmur at that which God lays upon him No. When God afflicteth us doth he not aim at our good Yes Does not God correct and punish us to bring us to amendment of Life or for a trial of our Patience Yes And does not God often afflict and chastise us here Thankfulness for Afflictions that there may be nothing of evil left for another World Yes Well then should we not be thankful for Afflictions Yes Fruitfalness under them Should we be unfruitful under Afflictions No. Should we be so fruitful as to examine what Sin it might be that did provoke God to sinite us and to reform it Yes When any afflictions befal us from Man is it not by God's permission and sufferance Of Afflictions from Men. Yes Instead of looking upon them therefore with rage and revenge should we not look up to God and acknowledge his Justice in the Affliction Yes When God commands us to believe some things which seem impossible to us doth not Humility teach us to believe them Yes When God commands us to do any thing which is contrary to our fleshly reason and humour must we not do it Yes Submission to Divine Providence Is that Condition best for us whatever it be which God has put us in Yes Can we chuse better for our selves than God can for us No. When God denies us any thing of this world as Wealth Honour Beauty and the like is it not some way or other for our good Yes Is it not our Duty to Honour God Honour Yes That is are we not to have a very high esteem of God in our hearts Yes If we truly honour God should we do any unworthy Action in his Sight No. Of honouring God in his House Are we not to honour God in his House which is the Church Yes Should we not enter into his House with Awe and Reverence Yes in his Possession Must we not Honour God in his Possessions Yes What are these Possessions are they not Tithes and Offerings Yes Can we with-hold them from the Minister without sin No. in his Day Are we to Honour God in his Day Yes Is the Lord's Day to be spent in the Worship and Service of God Yes In Prayer Reading and Meditation Yes May any works except works of Necessity and Charity be done upon that day No. Should not a good Christian those of leisure especially besides the Lord's Day spend some other Days in the solemn Worship of God according as the Church has appointed Yes Should he not keep Christmas-Day Of Festivals with a thankful remembrance of the Nativity of our Saviour Yes Should he not keep Easter-Day with a thankful remembrance of Christ's rising from the Dead Yes Should he not keep White-Sunday with a solemn and thankful remembrance of the coming down of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles Yes Should not a good Christian if he have leisure keep other Holy-Days of Saints-days in memory of the Apostles and other Saints Yes Can any good Man desire to be excused from celebrating their Memory and blessing God for their Example and their Doctrine and desiring Grace to follow them No. Can any good Man blame the Church for setting apart and appointing these Days for this purpose No. Did not these Apostles and Saints reveal Christ and the way of Salvation to us Yes And should we not be thankful for this Yes Should we not at least upon these Holy-Days stir up our selves to the imitating their good Example Yes Fasts of the Church Are there not some Days of Fasting and Humiliation of our selves before God to be kept by the devout Christian Yes Are we not to miss a meal to give Alms to afflict our selves to confess and bewail our Sins before God upon these days Yes Are not Ash-Wednesday and Good-Friday two great Fasting-days Days of penitential Humiliation Yes Is there any Popery or Superstition in penitential Exercises Fastings and Humiliation on those days No. Of honouring God in his Word Are we not to Honour God in his Word Yes Is not this Word of God contained in the Scripture Yes Should we not read it study it and frame all the Actions of our lives by it Yes Should we perform those Duties which God commands us there to perform Yes Should we commit those things which God there forbids us No. Of Catechising Is the Word of God explained to us by the Catechizing and Preaching of God's Minister Yes Are Parents and Masters to Catechize and instruct their Children and Servants Yes If Persons have not been Catechized and Instructed when they were young should they be content to live ignorant when they come Elder No. of Preaching Should we frequently hear Sermons Yes But will hearing only make us good Christians No. Must we not labour to remember and practise what we hear Yes The Sacraments Are there any more Sacraments generally necessary than Two No. Do not these Sacrament convey great Blessings and Benefits to us Yes Of Baptism Did we not enter into Covenant with God when we were baptized Yes The Covenant of Grace What was the Covenant on God's Part was it not a promise of pardon of sin his sanctifying Grace and eternal Glory Yes