say wherein have we despised thy name Q. 2. What is the first thing especially required in the third Commandment A. It requires the most aweful and reverential frame of our hearts in all our approaches to God Psal. 89.7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints and to he had in reverence of all them that are about him And in his Worship Ioh. 4.24 God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth Q. 3. What 's the second thing required in this Commandment A It requires truth in our witness-bearing as knowing God seeth our hearts and is witness to all that we think or speak Zech. 5.4 I will bring it forth saith the Lord of hosts and it shall enter into the house of the thief and into the house of him that sweareth â—alsly by my name c. Q. 4. What 's the third thing required in this Commandment A. That in all our Appeals to God in secret or doubtful matters we be sure that the Appeal be necessary aweful and true Ier 17.16 As for me I have not hastened from being a pastour to follow thee neither have I desired the woful day thou knowest that which came out of my lips was right before thee Psal. 139.23 24 Search me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts And set if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting Q. 5. What doth this Commandment especially forbid A. It forbids and condemns all profane Oaths as most injurious to the Name of God Matth. 5.34 37. Swear not at all neither by heaven for it is Goâ—s throne c. but let your communication be yea yea nay nay for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil Q. 6. VVhat is the danger of profane or false Swearing A. Such are reckoned Enemies to God Psal. 139.20 Thine enemies take thy name in vain The Curse of God enters into such Families Zech. 5.4 I will bring it forth saith the Lord of hosts and it shall enter into the hoâ—se of the thief and into the house of him that sweareth falsly by my name c. And the Lord will not hold them guiltless Q. 7. VVhat else is forbidden in this Commandment A. It forbids and condemns all heedless wandering and drowsie performance of Gods Worship Isa. 29.13 14. VVherefore the Lord said forasmuch as this people drew near me with their mouth and with their lips do honour me bâ—t have removed their heart far from me and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men Therefore behold I will proceed to do a marvellous work amongst this people even a marvellous work and a wonder for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid And 2 Kings 10.31 But Iehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart for he departed not from the sins of Ieroboam which made Israel to sin Q. 8. What other sin is forbidden in this Command A. It forbids all light and irreverent use of the Scriptures especially in our jests or by way of scoffing Ier. 17.15 Behold they say unto me where is the word of the Lord let it come nowe Jer. 6.10 Behold the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach they have no delight in it Q. 9. By what Argument doth God enforce the third Commandment on men A. That the breakers of this Command shall surely be punished by the Lord either in this life Deut. 28.58 59. 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 Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful and the plagues of thy seed even great plagues and of long continuance and sore sickness and of long continuance Or in that to come Rom. 2.5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God Except they repent and reform Q. 10. What 's the first Instruction from the third Commandment A. That great and infinite is the Patience of God in forbearing provoking Sinners so long as he doth Romans 9.22 VVhat 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 Q. 11. VVhat 's the second Instruction from hence A. That God is to be justified in the severest of his Judgments by which at any time he manifests his displeasure against the profaneness of the World Hos. 4.1 2 3. Hear the word of the Lord ye children of Israel for the Lord hath a controversie with the inhabitants of the land because there is no truth nor mercy nor knowledge of God in the land By swearing and lying and killing and stealing and committing adultery they break out and bloud toucheth bloud Therefore shall the land â—ourn and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven yea the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away Q. 12. What 's the third Instruction from hence A. That God takes special notice of and greatly delighteth in them that fear and reverence his Name Isa. 66.5 Hear the word of the Lord ye that tremble at his word Your brethren that hated you that cast you out for my names sake said let the Lord be glorified but he shall appeaâ— to your joy and they shall be ashamed Mal. 3.16 And a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his name Q. 13. What 's the last Inference from hence A. That those Parents have much to answer for that by their Examples teach or by their Negligence encourage their Children to profane Gods Name Ier. 5 7. How shall I pardon thee for this Thy children have forsaken me and sworn by them that are no Gods c. Of the Sabbath Quest. 57. WHich is the fourth Commandment A. The fourth Commandment is 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 Cattle nor thy Stranger which is within thy Gates For in six dayes 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 Quest. 58. 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 Lord. Quest. 59. Which day of the seven hath God
not any works of our civil Calling be ordinarily done on that day A. No it is sinful to put our hands ordinarily to our Callings on that day and God usually punishes it Neh. 13.15 16 17 18. In those dayes saw I in Iudah some treading wine-presses on the sabbath and bringing in sheaves and lading asses as also wine grapes and figs and all manner of burdens which they brought into Ierusalem on the sabbath day and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals There dwelt men of Tyre also therein which brought fish and all manner of ware and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Iudah and in Ierusalem Then I contended with the nobles of Iudah and said unto them What evil thing is this that ye do and profane the sabbath day Did not your fathers thus and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath Q. 3. May we not refresh our Bodies by Recreations or our Minds by thoughts of Earthly Business or Discourses on that day A. Recreations of the Body which are lawful on other days are sinful on this day and all the Recreations of the Mind allowed on this day are Spiritual and Heavenly Isa. 58.13 14. 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 shalt honour him not doing thine own ways nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Iacob thy father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Q. 4. What works may lawfully be done on that day A. Christs example warrants works of necessity and works of mercy but no other Matth. 12.3 4. But he said unto them have ye not read what David did when he was an hungred and they that were with him How he entered into the house of God and did eat the shew-bread which was not lawful for him to eat neither for them which were with him but only for the priests And ver 7. But if ye had known what this meaneth I will have mercy and not sacrifice c. Q. 5. What are the holy Duties of the Sabbath A. The publick Worship of God in reading and hearing the Word preached 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. Luke 4.16 And as his custom was he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day and stood up for to read And Prayer Acts 16.13 14. And on the sabbath day we went out of the city by a river side where prayer was wont to be made c. And receiving the Sacrament Acts 20.7 And upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread Paul preached unto them c. Q. 6. At private Duties in our Families required as well as publick on the Sabbath A. Yes it is not enough to sanctifie the Sabbath in publick Ordinances but God requires it to be sanctified in Family and private Duties Lev. 23.3 But the seventh day is the sabbath of rest an holy convocation ye shall do no work therein it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings Q. 7. With what frame of Spirit are all Sabbath duties both publick and private to be performed A. They are to be performed with Spiritual delight 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 c. And all grudging at and weariness of Spiritual exercises is a sin forbidden 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 Amos 8.5 When will the new moon be gone that we may sell corn and the sabbath that we may set foâ—th wheat c. Q. 8. What is the first Reason annexed to this Command A. The first Reason is the sufficient and large allowance of time God hath given us for our civil Callings and earthly business Six days in the week is a large allowance Q. 9. What is the second Reason annexed to this fourth Command A. The second Reason is Gods sanctifying and separating this day by a special Command and Institution for his service so that to profane this time is to sin against an express Divine Statute Q. 10. What 's the third Reason annexed to this Command A. The third Reason is Gods own Example who rested the seventh day from all his works and blessed this day by vertue of which Blessing we are encouraged to sanctifie it Q. 11. Is it not enough to sanctifie this day in our own persons A. No if God hath put any under our Authority their profaning the Sabbath will become our sin though we be never so strict in the observation of it our selves Q. 12. May we continue our civil Employments to the last moment of our common time A. Except Necessity or Mercy urge us we ought to break off before and allow some time to prepare for the Sabbath Luke 23.54 And that day was the preparation and the sabbath drew on Q. 13. What is the first Inference fâ—om hence A. That we have all great cause to be humbled for our Sabbath transgressions either in our unpreparedness for it our want of delight and spirituality in it or the due government of our Families as God requires Q. 14. What is the second Inference from hence A. That Christians on the Sabbath day have a fair occasion and help to realâ—ize to themselves the Heavenly state in which they are to live abstract from the World and God is to be all in all to them Of the fifth Commandment Quest. 63. WHich is the fifth Commandment A. The fifth Commandment is Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Quest. 64. What is required in the fifth Commandment A. The fifth Commandment requireth the preserving the Honour and performing the Duties belonging to every one in their several places and relations as superiors inferiors or equals Quest. 65. What is forbidden in the fifth Commandment A. The fifth Commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of or doing any thing against the honour and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations Quest. 66. What is the Reason annexed to the fifth Commandment A. The Reason annexed to the fifth Commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity as far as it shall serve for Gods glory and their own
our obedience to God and not to man whatever we suffer for it Acts. 4.19 Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God judge ye Q. 6. Why must we obey God rather than Man A. Because God is the Supream and Sovereign Lord of our Consciences and no Creature hath power to command our Obedience but in and from him Isa. 33.22 For the Lord is our judge the Lord is our lawgiver the Lord is our King he will save us Q. 7. Have the People Liberty to compare the Laws of God and Men and judge how they agree or differ A. Yes their Judgment of Discretion is both commanded 1 Cor. 10.15 I speak as to wise men judge ye what I say And commended Acts 17.11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Q. 8. What is the only Rule for our Obedience to God A. The will of God revealed in the Scriptures is our only Rule of Obedience Isa. 8.20 To the law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Q. 9. But if a man have a voice a vision or a dream seeming to hint the secret will of God may he not obey it A. Yes if it be consonant to the revealed will of God in the word otherwise not Deut 29.29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever that we may do all the words of this law Q 10. What is the first Instruction hence A. That it 's highly sinful and dangerous to disobey the known will of God in any thing Rom. 1.18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness Luke 12.47 And that servant which knew his Lord's will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes Q. 11. What is the second Instruction A. That 's a blessed man who conscienciously labouâ—s to obey the will of God so far as he can discover it Iohn 13.17 If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Gal. 6.16 And as many as walk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy Q. 12. What is the third Inference A. It is highly sinful and dangerous to command others or obey commands from others which are not according to God's Command Hos. 5.11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment because he wilingly walketh after the commandments Jer. 7.31 And they have built the high places of Tophet which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire which I commanded them not neither came it into my heart Of the Moral Law Quest. 40. WHAT did God at first reveal to Man for the Rule of his Obedience A. The Rule which God at first revealed to Man for his Obedience was the Moral Law Q. Where is the Moral Law summarily comprehended A. The Moral Law is summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments Q. 1. Is every man under the Direction and Obligation of a Law A. Yes being a reasonable Creature is capable of and fitted for Government by Law which other Creatures are not and being an accountable Creature to God must needs be under a Law Rom. 2.15 Which shew the works of the Law written in their hearts their consciences also bearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another Q. 2. How could man be under a Law before the Law was given by Moses A. Before ever the Law was given at Sinai all the race of Adam had a Law written in their Hearts viz. the Light of Reason and Dictates of natural Conscience Rom. 2.14 For when the Gentiles which have not the law do by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the law are a law unto themselves And besides this the Church had the revealed will of God to direct them 2 Pet. 1.19 20. We have also a more sure word of Prophesy whereunto ye do well to take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day down and the day-star arise in your hearts Knowing this first that no prophesy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation Q. 3. What is the meaning of the Moral Law A. 'T is not a Law to direct and order our Manners but a Law that binds universally and perpetually as the Ten Commandments do those to whom they are promulged and the Light of Nature doth all others Rom. 2.14 For when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves Luke 16.17 It is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass than one tittle of the Law to fall Q. 4. Why is it said to be summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments A. Because much more is included in every Command than is exprest as our Saviour shews in his Exposition of it Mat. 22.40 On these two Commandments hang all the law and the prophets Q. 6. Doth the Moral Law bind Christians under the Gospel A. Yes it doth as a Rule to order their Conversations by Iam. 2.8 9 10. If ye fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self ye do well but if ye have respect to persons ye commit sin and are convinced of the law as transgressors for whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point is guilty of all Q. 6. Is the Moral Law the same thing with the Covenant of Works and imposed for the same end A. God never designed the Law to be the way of Man's Justification since the Fall Gal. 3.21 22. Is the law then against the promises of God God forbid for if there had been a law-giver which could have given life verily righteousness should have been by the law but the Scripture hath concluded all under sin that the promise by faith of Iesus Christ night be given to them that believe But it was promulged to convince Men of Sin Rom. 7 7 What shall we say then Is the law sin God forbid Nay I had not known sin but by the law for I had not known lust except the law had said Thou shalt not covet And bring them to Christ. Gal. 3.24 Wherefore the law was our School-master to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith Q. 7. What is the first Inference from hence A. Hence we learn the abominable Nature of Popery The Pope being that lawless One who will not be bound to the Laws of God himself 2 Thes. 2.8 Then shall that wicked one be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth
which are known by Travellers to be small not capable of plunging into Q. 10. What are the benefits accruing to us by Baptism A. The benefits are twofold some external called the fatness of the Olive-tree i. e. Ordinances and visible Membership Rom. 11.17 And thou being a wild olive-tree were grafted in amongst them and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive-tree And some spiritual and saving 1 Pet. 3.21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ. Q. 11. What engagements are said on the Baptized A. They are engaged to be the Lords people and walk suitable to that engagement Rom. 6.4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life Q. 12. Is Baptism to be reiterated as the Lords Supper A. No for the Lords Supper is a Sacrament for nourishing but this for implantation Rom 6.4 5. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection Q. 13. Doth Baptism regenerate men and confer saving Grace A. No it doth not in its own vertue convey Grace no more than the Lords Supper but the Spirit of God is the Author of Grace and works it as he pleases before or after Baptism Of the subjects of Baptism Quest. 95. TO whom is Baptism to be administred A. Baptism is not to be administred to any that are out of the visible Church till they profess their Faith in Christ and Obedience to him but the infants of such as are members of the visible Church are to be Baptized Q. 1. Who are to be Baptized A. Believers and their insane off-spring Acts 2.39 For the promise is to you and your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Q. 2. How doth it appear that the infant seed of Believers ought to be Baptized A. It appears by this that they being Abrahams Seed were taken into Covenant with God and ordered to have the sign of the Covenant applyed to them and that Grant was never reversed Gen. 17.7 10. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee This is my covenant which ye shall keep between me and you and thy seed after thee every man-child among you shall be circumcised Q. 3. But was not that the Covenant of Works and so will not â—old to infer their priviledge under the Covenant of Grace A. No it was not for God never did nor will become a God by way of special interest to any people by vertue of the Covenant of Works since the breach of it by the fall Q. 4. But if it were the Covenant of Grace how doth it appear the right of Believers Infants is still the same it was before in Abrahams time A. It appears plainly from the Apostles own words and arguments Acts 2.39 For the promise is to you and to your children c. Q. 5. But though Infants then were members of Gods visible Church among the Iews how doth it appear they are so now when God hath vast them off A. It appears the membership and priviledges are as sure and ample to them now that are the Children of Gentile-believers as ever they were to the Iewish Infants Rom. 11.17 And if some of the branches be broken off and then being a wild olive-tree wert grafted in amongst them and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive-tree Q. 6. How else doth it appear they are within the Covenant A. It appears by this that they are pronounced holy 1 Cor. 7.14 Else were your children unclean but now are they holy Which is a foederal holiness and none out of Covenant can be holy by Covenant Q. 7. But may not that place mean only their legitimacy A. No it cannot for then the Apostle must pronounce all the Infants in the World bastards that descend not at least from one believing Parent Q. 8. But Infants are not capable to Covenant with God or perform Covenant Duties and therefore why should they be admitted to Covenant Priviledges A. A Child now of eight dayes old is as capable of being admitted into Covenant with God as Children of the same age were in Abrahams dayes and then it 's manifest they were admitted Q. 9. Though they were admitted by Circumcision then will it follow they may be so by Baptism now seeing that Ordinance is abolished A. Yes it will for though Circumcision cease yet Baptism is come into its place Col. 2.10 11 12. And ye are complete in him which is the head of all principality and power In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ buried with him in baptism c. Q. 10. But Circumcision was a Seal of the Covenant of Works and the argument will not hold from a Seal of the Covenant of Works to a Seal of the Covenant of Grace A. Circumcision never was nor was intended to be a Seal of the Covenant of Works but of the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 4.11 And he received the sign of circumcision a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had yet being uncircumcised c. Q. 11. But have we no express command in the New Testament to baptize Infants A. There needed no new command their priviledge had been setled many ages before upon them and never reversed by Christ or his Apostles but their former right declared to continue still to them Acts 2.39 For the promise is to you and your children c. Q. 12. But if they have a right we might expect to find some examples of their baptizing A. 'T is manifest that Believers housholds were baptized with them Acts 16.15 33. And when she was baptized and her houshold c. Ver. 33. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes and was baptized he and all his straightway And if Infants are not named so neither are any of Age born of Christian Parents Q. 13. But many trust to their Infant-baptism as to their Regeneration and so much mischief 's done A. They do so yet the Duty is not therefore to be neglected The preaching of Christ is to some a stumbling block yet Christ must be preached for all that Q. 14. But many baptized Infants prove naught