proofe hereof A. Their union whith Christ wich is the form of that Church is knowne onely unto God Q Name a sixth difference A. The Catholike Church and all the members of it continue for ever n but particular churches by persecutions and corruptions may come to be utterly dissolved and extinct o Q. What is a last difference betweene them A. The ordinary ministery appointed by christ is for the instituted and particular churches but not for the church catholike as such because that church hath no Pastor nor Bishop but Christ Q. How may this appeare that ministers are not ministers of the universall Church but only of some particular congregation A. The church to whom the ministery belong is to chuse her owne ministers p but the unversall church never comes together to make any such choice Q. How else may this appeare A. There is no part of the church to which the ministery belongs but it stands in need of ministers q but a good part of the catholike Church is glorious in heaven with Christ and therefore hath no such need Q. What may be a third ground hereof A. The flock of God over which the Holy ghost doth make men overseers is such as may be attended and watched over even the whole flocke and ministers thereof r Q. And why may not the same be said of the Catholike Church A. Because that Church is so large that it is not possible for any man to attend it or watch over it Q. Is there any evill in it for one man to be a Bishop or minister to all Christians where ever they be disposed of and not onely to one congregation A. Besides that such a man must needs neglect the greatest part of his charge it is a great part of the usurpation of the Bishop of Rome for which he is truely called Antichrist that he will take upon him to be universall Bishop s over all the Christians in the world Q Who is the head of the catholike church A. Onely Iesus Christ t as giving influence of life sense and motion to the same as the head doth unto the body Q Who are the members of that church A. Only they and all they that are effectually called to be true beleevers in Christ Rev. 17. 14. Iohn 15. 19. Q. What are the parts of the Catholike church A. According to the degrees of communion which they have with Christ so that church may be distinguished into that which is militant and that which is triumphant Q. VVhat is the church militant A. It is that part of the catholike Church which is warring and fighting here on earth against spirituall enemies the divell the world and the flesh Eph. 6. 12. Phil. 1. 30. 2 Cor. 10. 4. 1 Tim. 1. 18. Q. And what is the Church Triumphant A. It is that part of the Catholike church which are now in heaven gloriously triumphing over all those enemies which in this world they did conflict and combate withall Eph. 4. 13. Heb. 12. 23. Eph. 5. 27. CHAP. 29. Of the instituted Church or perticular churches Q. WHat is the matter of particular or visible churches A. By the appointment of Christ all churches ought to consist onely of true beleevers a and all that are true beleevers ought to joyn themselves unto some church b Q. If the matter of particular churches for the quality of it ought to be true beleevers in Christ what ought to be the quantity thereof Q No more in number in the dayes of the new Testament but onely so many as may ordinarily meet together in one congregation Acts 2. 46. 5. 12. 3. 2. 14. 27. 15. 25. 1 Cor. 5. 4. and 11. 17 18. and 14. 23. Q. Is any thing else needfull to the being of a visible church but onely the matter above mentioned A. Timber and stones are not an house untill they be compacted and joyned together and as the humane soule and body are not man unlesse they be united so beleevers are not a visible church without some visible bond and union Q. And what is that bond that doth unite them A. An holy agreement and covenant c with God and one another to walke together in such duties of worship to God and edification of one another as the Gospell of Christ requireth of all Churches and the members thereof Q. How many kinds of Churches are there A. The visible Church if we speake of that which is truely so called is one and the same in essence from the beginning of the world to the end thereof namely a company of people united together in the profession of the true religion Q. But may not the true church be some way distinguished A Yes for there is the church of the old Testament and the churches of the new there are pure churches and churches that are corrupt and besides these that are true there are also some that are false Churches Q. What is the Church of the old Testament A A company of people united together in the profession of such a Religion or faith whereby men beleeved on Christ then to come Q. What is a Church of the new Testement A. A company of people united together in the profession of such a religion or faith whereby men beleeve on Christ already come Q What are pure churches and churches that are corrupt A. A pure Church is such a church whose matter forme doctrine worship and ministery is accordding to the appointment of Christ in the word Q. And what is a corrupt Church A. Such an one as in the things last mentioned or in some of them doth swerve from the appointment of Christ yet still holding the foundation of salvation Q. How if their swerving be such as overthroweth the foundation A. Then they cease to be a true church and become either no church or at the best a false church Q. What is a false church A. One that is so exceedingly corrupt in regard of their constitution doctrine worship ministery that if men beleeve and walke according thereunto they cannot be saved Q. And may not thus much befall a true church A. No a true Church is either pure in these things or if corrupt yet not so corrupt as to overthrow salvation CHAP. 30. Of the power or liberty of churches and of church officers Q. WHat is the power or liberty of particular Churches A. It is not civill or worldly for Christs kingdome is not of this world a neither is it independent and supreame for that belongs only to Christ b but their power is Spirituall and ministeriall Q. And wherein have they such power A. They have such power from Christ to exercise all the Ordinances of true Religion and to assemble together for the exercise thereof and in particular to choose Officers to themselves and to practice Discipline or censures Q. Whether have Churches absolute power from Christ to assemble together for the exercise of
is Christ a King A. Over all creatures in Generall h over the visible Church in speciall i and over the elect in a most speciall manner above all other k Q How is he King over all creatures A. In sustaining and disposing of them all by his providence as may be for his glory and the good of the elect Heb. 1. 3. Col. 1. 16. Pro. 8. 15 16. Isa. 43. 14 15. Q. And how is he King of the visible Church A. In that he gathereth men into it l appoints Ordinances and Officers unto it m and prescribeth laws n for the manner of carrying on all things therein Q How doth Christ all these things in the Church A. He doth them all by his word which is therefore called the word of the Kingdome Mat. 13. 19. Q. And how is Christ King of the Elect A. Not onely by his providence as over all creatures nor only by his Word and Ordinances as to the visible Church but also by the speciall working of the grace of his holy Spirit in their hearts Ezek. 36 26. Eph. 1 22. Col. 1 18. Q. Hath not the Kingly office of Christ some that are enemies unto it A. Yes sin and the world the divel and death Q. VVhat are the acts of Christs Kingly office in respect of those his enemies and the enemies of his Church and elect people A. To bridle o and subdue p them all Q. VVhat are the properties of Christs Kingdom A. It is lawfull q spirituall r powerfull s righteous t large u and everlasting w CHAP. 19. Of Christ his humiliation Q. HAving spoken of the person Offices of Christ how are we in the next place to consider of his actions A. In a twofold estate his state of humiliation and his state of exaltation Q VVhat are the generall acts of his humiliation A. Laying aside the full manifestation of his divine Majesty for a time a and assuming unto him the nature of man b Q. VVhat else A. It was a great act of his humiliation that he became subject to the law c and not onely a man but in the meanest condition of men d Q. VVhat may be evidences that he was a man of a very mean condition and state A. His poore birth his afflicted and poore life his shamefull and accursed death with the things that follow afterward do evidently shew the same Q. What was his poor birth A. He was born of a poor Virgin for his mother who was espoused to a Carpenter for her husband and when he was born was wrapped in swadling clothes and layd in a manger because there was no room for his poor mother in the Inne Luke 2. 7. Q. What else was the testimony of his poore birth A. When he was presented to the Lord in the temple with an offering the offering was but a paire of turtle doves or two yong pigeons which was an offering appointed at the birth of children of the poorest sort of people Luk. 2. 24. Levit. 12. 8. Q. What was his poore and afflicted life A. His fleeing into Aegypt from the rage of Herod e his poverty in outward estate f and his subjection to his parents g as any other child Q. VVhat else were testimonies of his afflicted life A. His temptations from the divell h his wearysome journeys from place to place i and his manifold persecutions from the hands and tongues k of wicked men Q. What was his shamefull painefull and accursed death A. It was his crucifying or death upon the Crosse l which was a death accursed by the Law m Q. Wherein was the shame of that death A. It was shamefull in that he was Crucified in the midst betwixt two theeves n and Barabbas a Murtherer counted more worthy then he o Q. What else was the shame and paine of that death A. He was Crowned with thornes and otherwayes derided by the people and priests his hands and feete were nailed to the Crosse and his side was pierced with a Speare to the effusion of water and blood Math. 27. 29. 30. 31. Iohn 19. 34. Q. What else was there in his death A That which was the greatest of all was that he endured a grievous agony with his fathers wrath Mat. 26 37. 38. and 27. 46. Q What followed after his death A. He was buried in the grave p and continued under the power and dominion of death for a time q Q. What was the end of all this Humilation of Christ Q. That he might make satisfaction to the justice and honour of God which had been wronged by our sinnes r and to procure for us reconciliation with God and eternall life s Q. How came Christ to be liable to make satisfaction for our sinnes A. Because he voluntarily became our Surety and so was to pay the debt that we were in unto God Heb. 7. 22. Psal 40. 7. CHAP. 20. Of the exaltation of Christ and his Resurrection from the dead Q. HAving considered of Christs Humiliation how are wee in the next place to consider of his exaltation A. The exaltation of Christ is to be considered both in respect of his Godhead and his manhood and in the severall degrees thereof Q. What is his exaltation in respect of his Godhead A. It is nothing else but the manifestation of that divine power and glory of his which had beene so much concealed in all the time of his humiliation Iohn 175. Rom. 1. 4 Q And what is his exaltation in respect of his Manhood A. It consists partly in laying aside all those infirmities which it had beene subject unto in the time of Humiliation by hunger thirst wearinesse and the like which are all of them removed and done away 1 Cor. 15. 43. Q. Wherein else doth this exaltation consist A. In that the humane nature of Christ was filled with all the glorious excellencies that a creature is capable of and this both in respect of his soule a and in respect of his body b Q. Doth the bodie of Christ by meanes of his exultation or Glorification become infinite or Omnipresent or in many places at once A. As the soule of Christ being Glorified doth still retaine the nature of a soule so his bodie doth still retaine the essentiall properties of a bodie c and therefore is not infinite nor omnipresent for that were to destroy its essentiall properties Q. VVhat are the degrees of Christs exaltation A. His resurrection from the dead his ascention into heaven and his sitting at the right hand of God Q. VVhat meane you by his resurrection from the dead A. I meane that his body which was dead was quickned againe d by the uniting together of his soule and body againe which in death had been separated and also that being quickned he came forth again out of the grave e Q. VVhat certainty is
to grow unto more communion with his n body and blood and spirituall strength of grace thereby Q. Who ought to receive the Lords Supper A. Such members of the Church as are endewed with knowledge o spirituall affections p faith q repentance r love s and thankfulnesse t CHAP. 27. Of prayer and some other means of increasing faith Q. WHat is the generall nature of prayer A. Not onely a wish or desire after this or that for a man may have so much and never pray Iam. 4. 2. Q. VVhat is it then A. Prayer is an opening of the desire of the heart before God a whether it be by ffighes and groanes b or by words c and other means d Q To whom must we pray A. To him that knoweth the heart e and is almighty and so able to help f to him that is to be worshipped g and believed in h which is none but God Q. Whether must we pray to God directly and immediately or through a Mediator A. Onely through the mediation of Jesus Christ Iohn 146. 16. 23. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Heb. 7. 25. Q. What are the parts of prayer A. Petition and Thanksgiving Phil. 4. 6. 1 Thess. 5. 17 11. Q. What is Petition A. A prayer wherein we aske the preventing or removing of things hurtfull and the bestowing of things needfull Mat 7. 7 8 9 10. Q What is Thanksgiving A. A prayer wherein we desire that honour and glory may be given to God for what we have received i or do believe we shall receive hereafter k Q. Whether is not confession of our sinnes and miseries and vows and promises unto God parts of prayer A. They may be called adjuncts of prayer because they are to be expressed or understood in every prayer Q. How may that appeare A. By this because to come to God for mercy without an acknowledgement of our unworthinesse and misery and to desire him to perform what he requires of us is little better then a mocking of God Q. Are there any for whom we must not pray A. Yes we must not pray for the dead because we cannot do it of faith as having neither precept nor example nor any good warrant for it in the world Rom. 14. 23. Q. VVhy else may we not pray for the dead A. Because such prayers cannot availe at all but are altogether vain 1 Pet. 3. 19. Heb. 9. 27. Q. For whom else must we not pray A. We must not pray for the salvation of all men living universally for that is contrary to the revealed will of God l nor for any in particular that have sinned the sinne against the Holy Ghost m Q. For whom then must we pray A. For all other sorts of men now living n both our selves and others o whether they be friends or enemies p and for some that shall live hereafter q Q. Is there any rule of direction according to which we ought to frame our prayers A. Yes the whole will of God revealed for this purpose in the word r and that pattern of prayer given by Christ unto his Disciples s Q. Seeing God knoweth all our wants afore we pray and hath determined with himselfe what he will doe for us wherefore then should we pray A. Not to inform him as if he were ignorant of our estates for he understandeth our thoughts afarre off t nor to change his minde for his purpose is unchangeable u Q. Why then A. We are therefore to pray because God hath appointed prayer to be the way and means w whereby he will accomplish that which he hath purposed to doe for us Q. How must we pray that we may be accepted A. The persons praying must be righteous x humble y and upright z and the matter of prayer must be something lawfull and promised a Q. And what must be the manner of praying and the end aymed at therein A. The manner must be in sense and feeling of our wants b with faith c fervency d and perseverance e and the end must not be that we may consume it upon our lusts but for the glory of God f Q. What other means are there for the increasing of faith A. Diligent reading of the holy Scriptures g and serious meditation therein h with frequent and holy conference with others i CHAP. 28. Of the Church Catholike or Mysticall and the Difference between it and particular instituted Churches Q. WHo is the subject of Redemption or of all that deliverance obtained by Christ A. Not the blessed Angels because having never fallen they needed no Redeemer nor all the race of mankind for Christ would not pray for the world Iohn 17. 9. Q. Who then were redeemed by Christ A. He gave himselfe for none others but only for his Church Eph. 5. 25. Acts 20. 28. Iohn 10. 15. 11. 52. Q. What is meant by the Church in the holy Scriptures A. It is usually taken in Scripture either for the Catholique Church a which is called the Church mysticall or else it is taken for the Church instituted or particular Churches b Q. What is the difference between the catholike universall and mysticall Church and the instituted or particular churches A. They differ in their number for the catholike Church is but one Church one body c but of the other sort in the dayes of the new Testament there are many Churches d Q Wherein do they differ in respect of the matter A. The Catholike Church hath none in it but Saints and all true beleevers are in it e but particular Churches have some times many wolves within f and many sheepe without g though it ought not so to be Eph. 5. 23 25 26 27. Heb. 12. 23. Q. What is a third defference betweene them A. The forme which constitutes the Catholike Church is their union which Christ by faith h but the forme of the other is the bond of an holy covenant i to walk together in all the waies of Christ Q. Is there not some difference between them in regard of place A. Yes for some parts and members of the Catholike Church are now in heaven and the rest shall all come thither in Gods appointed time k but the members of particular or instituted Churches are all of them upon the earth for the present and some of them must never come in heaven l Q. What may be a fifth difference A. Whereas particular churches are visible to themselves and others also especially in times of peare m the Catholike church is properly a Church invisible Q How is that proved that the Catholike Church is invisible A. Because some parts thereof are now in heaven and those that are on earth never were nor will be all together that they might be seen Q. What may be a further
covenant between God and man the covenant of works and the covenant of grace and the difference between them 51 16. Of the Propheticall Priestly and Kingly Office of Christ and specially of the Propheticall 55 17. Of the Priesthood of Christ 58 18. Of the Kingly Office of Christ 61 19. Of Christs humiliation 63 20. Of the exaliation of Christ and of his resurrection from the dead 67 21. Of Christs ascension into Heaven 71 22. Of Christs sitting at the right hand of God and his return to the last judgement 74 23. Of Faith and union with Christ 76 24. Of Iustification and of Adoption 81 25. Sanctification and the difference between that and justification and of some other benefits of Christ unto believers 85 26. Of the necessity of Faith its perfection at the first and the meanes whereby it may be increased Of hearing the Word of Baptisme and the Lords Supper 88 27. Of Prayer and some other means of increasing faith 93 28. Of the Church catholike or mysticall and the difference between it and particular instituted Churches 97 29. Of the instituted Church or particular Churches 102 30. Of the Power or Liberty of Churches and of Church Officers 104 31 Of Church-discipline or censures 109 32. Of the life that believers in Christ ought to live in the world and of the Law of God 111 33. Of death the resurrection of the body and the last judgement 120 FINIS a Heb. 6. 2. b Heb. 5. 12. c Heb. 6. 1. d Ps. 119. 130. e Heb. 5. 12 13. 1 Cor. 3. 1 2. f 2 Tim. 1. 13. g Heb. 5. 12 23. 6. 1 2. 1 Cor. 3. 1 2. h Eccles. 12. 13. Deut. 4. 13. Matth. 22. 37 38 39 40. 2 Tim. 1. 13. Mat. 6. 9. i Psa. 119. 130. k Heb. 5. 12 13. l Prov. 22. 6. m 2 Pet. 2. 14. 3. 16. n 2 Tim. 1. 13. o Eccles. 12. 13. Heb. 8. 1. Deut. 4. 13. Matth. 22. 40. 6 9 10. c. p Heb. 5. 12. 1 Cor. 3. 2. Mar. 4. 33. 1 Cor. 14. 19. q Luke 2. 47. Act. 2. 38. 1 Pet. 3. 15. r Prov. 22. 6. Deut. 4 9 10. Psa. 78. 5 6. 34. 11. Mat. 21. 15 16. Luke 2. 47. Eph. 6. 4. s Heb. 5. 12 13 1 Cor. 3. 1 2. u Prov. 4 13. 8. 32 33. 23 12 23. x Prov. 1. 5. 10. 17. 12. 1. Iob 34. 32. Act. 18. 26. a Heb. 1. 1. b Num. 12. 6 8. c Iob 33. 14 15. Gen. 40. 8. d Gen. 32. 24. Exod. 13. 21. e Gen. 22. 15. Exod. 20. 2. f Is. 30. 8. g Deut. 31. 9. Psa. 102. 18 h Isa. 8. 20. 2 Pet. 1. 19. i 2 Cor. 3. 14. k 2 Tim. 3. 15. Rom. 1. 2. l Act. 1. 16. 4. 25. m Luke 13. 28. 2 Pet. 1. 21. n Tit. 1. 1. 1 Tim. 6. 3. 2 Tim. 3. 17. o 2 Tim. 3. 16. p 2 Pet. 1. 21. q Heb. 4. 12. 1 Cor. 14. 25. 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. r Psal. 19. 8 c. 119 93 103. s Iohn 20. 31. t 2 Tim. 3. 15. u 2 Tim. 3. 17. w Gal. 1. 8 9. Revel. 22. 18. x Deut. 17. 18 19. Iosh. 1. 8. y 2 Tim 3. 17. 1 Tim. 4. 13. z Deut. 6. 7. a Ps. 19. 7. Prov. 1. 4. b Acts 18. 26. 2 Ioh. 1. c Psa. 119. 9. d 2 Tim. 3. 15 a Iohn 17. 3. Col. 2. 2 3. b Exod. 20. 3. Isa. 42. 8. Heb. 11. 5. Iohn 17. 3. c Rom. 1. 20. Psal. 9. 1. Iob 12. 7 8 c. a Ioh. 5. 32. 8. 16 17 18. b Ioh. 1. 1. 1 Ioh. 2. 1. Phil. 2. 6. c Ioh. 14. 16. 15. 26. Is. 48. 16. d Ps. 2. 7. Ioh. 3. 16. e Ioh. 1. 18. Heb. 1. 13. f Ioh. 15. 16. g Matth. 10. 20. h Gal. 4. 6. Rom. 8. 9. i Col. 29. Isa. 9. 9. Ioh. 1. 1 Rom. 9. 5. Prov. 8. 22. c. Ioh. 17. 5. Col. 1. 16. k Acts 5. 3. 4. 28. 25. with Is. 6. 9. 1 Cor. 6. 19. with 2 Cor. 6. 16. Iob. 33. 4. 1 Cor. 2. 10. l Deut. 29. 29. m Exod. 33. 23. n Exod. 34. 6 7. o Psal. 19. 1. 8. 1. Iob. 36. 24. c. 37. 1. 2. c. p Iob. 12 13. Rom. 11. 33. 16. 27. q Gen. 17. 1. 18. 14. Matth. 19. 26. Psal. 115. 3. r Matth. 19. 17. Psal. 119. 68. s Psal. 108. 4. Rom. 3 4. Tit. 1. 2. t Psal. 92. last Zeph. 3. 5. Rom. 9. 14. Iob. 8. 3. 34. 10. 36. 23. u Psal. 103. 11. Iam. 5. 11. w 1 Kings 8. 27. Isa. 66. 1. Ier. 23. 24. Psal. 139. 7 c. x Ps. 90. 2. 93 3. 102. 26 27. a Exod. 21. 13. Prov. 16. 33. b Prov. 21. 1. Ps. 33. 15. c Act. 2. 28. 4. 28. d Matth. 20. 29. 30. e 1 Pet 1. 20. Rev. 13. 18. f Ephes. 1. 4. 2 Tim. 1. 9. 1 Thes. 5 9. g Iud. 4. Rom. 9. 22. h Iob. 14. 5. 14. i Act. 17. 31. k Eph. 1. 11. Psal. 115. 3. 135. 6. l Rom. 9. 19 20. m Acts 27. 24. Eph. 1. 4. 2 Thes. 2. 13. Deut. 29. 29. o Luk. 22. 22. Mat. 18. 7. p Rom. 9. 11 c. Eph. 1. 4 5 11. Math. 25. 34 41 Luk. 10 20. q Eph. 1. 5. 11. Rom. 8. 29. r Rom. 9. 3. Ier. 31. 3. s Eph. 1. 5. Rom. 9. 15. 2 Tim. 1. 9. t Eph. 1. 4. Ier. 31. 3. u 2 Tim. 2. 19. Act. 13. 48. w Eph. 11. 5. Rom. 8. 29. x 1 Thes. 5. 9. Rom. 9. 23. y Ephes. 1. 3 4. Ioh. 17. 2. z Ephes. 1. 6. Rom. 9. 23. a Rom. 9. 11 15 18 21. b Iude. 4. c Mat. 7. 23. Rev. 13. 8. 17. 8. d Iude. 4. Rom. 9. 21 22. e Rom. 3. 9 19. f 9. 17 22. a Ioh. 1. 3. 10. Col. 1. 16. b Iob 26. 13 and 33. 4. c Isa. 44. 25. Iob. 9. 8. d Gen. 1. 3. psal. 33. 6. 9. and 148. 5. Heb. 11. 3. e Psal. 33. 9 f Gen. 1. Exod 10 11. a Act. 17. 18. 1. Tim. 4. 10. Ps. 36. 6. b Psal. 29. 10. 103. 19. c Neh. 9. 6. d Ps. 104. 29. e Psal. 145. 15 16. and 104. 21. 147. 9. Luk. 12. 6. f Prov. 16. 1. 33. Ioh. 14. 5. Psal. 31. 16. Eph. 1. 10. Ioh. 8. 20. g Dan. 4. 25 32 Psa. 76. 12. Iob. 12. 17 18 19 20. Ps. 135. 7. 113. 7 9. Mat. 10. 29. Prov. 16. 1. 1. King 20. 23. h Amos 3. 6. Isa. 45. 7. Lam. 3. 37 38. i Prov. 16. 1 33. Exod. 21. 13. 1 King 22. 34. k Ezek. 14. 9. Deut. 2. 30. Isa. 29 9. 10. Gen. 45. 8. 2. Sam. 12. 11. l Deut. 29. 3 4 2 Chron. 32. Act. 14. 16. m 1. King 22. 22 23. 1 Sam. 16. 15. 16. n Iam. 1. 13. o 1. Ioh. 2. 18. p Isa. 6. 3 9. 10. q Eccle. 7. 29 r Gen. 2. 17. Rom. 7. 12. s Eccles. 7.