belonging to the Persons In the life to come ROM chap. 6. vers 23. For the wages of sinne is death but the gift of God is eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Q. SO much of the guilt of sinne what is the Punishment thereof A. All those Iudgements and Curses that are denounced in the word of God against sinne or which at any time are inflicted vpon sinners all which are comprehended vnder this word death and in regard of the equity are called the wages or reward of Sinne. Q. Are all the Iudgements and Curses which are or shall be inflicted for sinne laid downe in the word A. They cannot all in particular bee laid downe Deut. 29. 20. 28. 61. they are so manifold and diuers and therefore it is said that they shall come written and vnwritten Q. How farre doth the punishment of sinne extend it selfe A. Euen to the whole estate of him that sinneth for whereas Executions vpon Obligations vnto men are so directed as they can charge but either the person alone or his Goods lands alone so as if the Creditor fall vpon the one hee freeth the other as if he fall vpon the person he can proceed no further then vnto his body vpon that only till death the execution that goeth out from God for the obligatiō of sin is extended Luk. 11. 4. 5. to the whole estate of the sinner and that for euer Q. Can you draw this great number and diuersitie of Iudgements to certaine heads A. Yea for they are either in this life or in the life to come Q. What are they in this life A. They are either in the persons themselues or in the things that belong vnto them Q. What are they in the Persons themselues A. They are either in the whole person body and soule ioyntly or in the parts seuerally Q. What are they in the whole ioyntly A. a 1. Cor. 15. 56. Rom. 5. 20. 6. 20. 1. Job 1. 8. Mat. 12. 34. A necessity of sinning but without all feare or constraint on Gods part and that vntil they be borne againe by the Grace of God Q. What are they in the Persons seuerally A. In the soule and in the body apart Q. What are they that are in the soule apart A. A Spirit of Ignorance and of want of iudgement Ephes 4. 17. 18. 19. to discerne betweene good and euill Forgetfulnesse of holy things A strange Sottishnesse and dulnesse to conceiue of them Hardnesse and stupiditie of heart void of all sense and apprehension of sauing goodnes and of any affection or desire thereunto which Iudgements though for a time they are least felt yet are more fearfull and dangerous then those which are presently apprehended and the sense whereof is sharpe and bitter Q. What are they vpon the body apart A. Hunger thirst wearinesse want of sleepe all Deut. 28. kind of diseases euen to the itch in the least of which though few make account of them we ought to haue a sensible feeling of the anger of God and of his iust iudgement for sinne Q. What are they in the things which belong vnto them A. Calamities vpon their wiues children families Mat. 15. 22. 7. 1. 2. goods and good name Q. Hitherto of the punishments in this life What are they in the life to come A. They are most horrible and vnspeakable first the soules of the wicked after this life are sent immediately Luk. 16. 22. 23. to hell vntill the day of Iudgement then at Matth. 10. 28. Luk. 16. 25. the day of Iudgement their Bodies shall bee ioyned to their Soules and both together shall be tormented in hell fire euerlastingly and so much the more tormented there by how much they haue had more freedome from paine of body and anguish of soule and losse of outward things in this life Q. Is the punishment of all sinnes alike A. No For as the guilt encreaseth so doth the Joh. 19. 11. Mat. 11. 20-25 punishment and as the smallest sinne cannot escape Gods hands so looke how wee shall multiplie sinnes here he will heape his Iudgements then CHAP. 12. Of the Word of God The meanes of mans recouerie in the Word of God Which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old Testament viz. the Law 5. bookes of Moses Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers Deuteronomie Prophets which are either Poesie Doctrinal only as Prouerbs Ecclesiastes Canticles Lamentations Iob. Both doctrinal foretelling things to come as the Psalmes Prose Historical Iosuab Judges Ruth Samuel 2. bookes Kings 2. bookes Ezra Nehemiah Hester Chronicles 2. bookes Doctrinal and foretelling things to come Greater Prophets Esay Ieremie Ezechiel Daniel Smaller Hoseas Ioel. Amos. Abdias Ionas Micheas Nahum Abakkuk Zephanie Aggei Zacharie Malachy New Testament Historicall of Christ Matthew Marke Luke Iohn His Apostles the Acts. Doctrinall Onely as the Epistles to the Romans 1. Corinth 2. Galath 1. Ephes 1. Philip. 1. Coloss 1. Thess 2. Timoth. 2. Titus 1. Philemon 1. Hebr. 1. Iames. 1. Pet. 2. Ioh. 3. Iude. 1. Propheticall also Apocalyps Consisteth of two parts Chap. 13. 2. TIM chap. 3. vers 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 13. But euill men and seducers shall waxe worse and worse deceiuing and being deceiued 14. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them 15. And that from a child thou hast knowne the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise vnto saluation through faith which is in Christ Iesus 16. All Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse 17. That the man of God may be perfect thorowly furnished vnto all good workes Q. THus farre of the miserable and vnhappie estate of man by sinne guilt and punishment where are wee to seeke remedie for recouerie from this cursed and damnable Estate A. In the word of God as may appeare by the words of the Apostle 2. Tim. 3. Q. What is the word of God A. The reuealed wil of God concerning the means of mans saluation Rom. 15. 4. 1. Tim. 4. 16. Ioh. 5. 39. Q. Where is the word of God to be found A. In the writings of the Prophets and Apostles called the Scriptures Ioh. 5. 39. Q. What were these Prophets and Apostles A. Holy men that writ by diuine Inspiration 2. Pet. 1. 21. 2. Tim. 3 16. Q. How are the Scriptures diuided A. Into the Old and New Testament Q. How is the Old Testament diuided A. Into the Law and the Prophets Q. Where is the Law contained A. In the fiue bookes of Moses called Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers Deuteronomie Q. What are the Prophets A. Expositions of the Law written either in Poesie or Prose Q. What are they that are written in Poesie A. They are either Doctrinall only as the Prouerbs of Salomon Ecclesiastes the Canticles the Lamentations of Ieremie and Iob
spirit applying vnto our soule the blood of Christ by a liuely faith worketh in vs newnesse of life whence this Sacrament is called the Baptisme of Repentance Mark 1. 4. Q. VVhat learne you hereby A. That although sinne doth dwell in our mortall bodies and many leaud motions rise and rebell in vs yet if we be the children of God we shall finde it mortified by the death of our Sauiour Christ and although we bee by nature sluggish to good things yet shall we find our selues quickened by him Q. VVhat persons are to receiue this Sacrament A. All that by the Lawes of Charity are to Act. 10. 47. be esteemed within the Couenant of grace of what nation sexe or age soeuer Q. VVho are to be esteemed to be within the couenant of grace A. First those which being of yeeres of discretion Mat. 3. 6. 28. 29. Act 2. 41. Mark 16. 10. Act. 8. 15. 37. 10. 46. 47. giue assent vnto the doctrine of the Gospell and professe faith and repentance Q. How are those that are at yeeres of discretion to prepare themselues to the receiuing of this Sacrament A. First they are to submit themselues to bee instructed in the a Heb. 6. 1. principles of religion commonly called the Catechisme Secondly they are to make solemne b Mat. 3. 6. Act. 2. 41. Mat. 3. 6. Act. 8. 37. profession of their faith confession of their sinnes with faithfull promise to forsake them Thirdly As a testimony of their faith vnfained repentance after this they are to desire Baptisme of them that haue the dispensation therof and to procure the same assoone as they can Q. Who else are to bee esteemed within the couenant of grace and consequently to haue a title to Baptisme A. The infants of those Parents that are themselues Act. 2. 39. Gen. 17. 7. Luk. 18. 16. within the Couenant and haue been baptized Q. Is it necessarie that both the Parents bee in the Couenant A. No it is sufficient for the intitling of the child 1. Cor. 7. 14. to baptisme if either of them be Q. How doe you proue that Infants are to be baptized A. There is the same vse of Baptisme vnder the Gospell that was of Circumcision vnder the Law and the Infants of Christians are vnder the Couenant as well as theirs and Baptisme is a signe of the Couenant as well as Circumcision if therefore a Gen. 17. 12. Col. 2. 11. 12. Infants were circumcised and Baptisme possesse the roome of Circumcision except there can bee shewed a speciall prohibition or restraint in Gods word it will follow that Infants also may be baptized Further the Apostles are said to baptize a Act. 16. 15. 18. 1. Cor. 1. 16. whole families amongst which it is ordinarie that there be some children and there is no reason to limit the words to them that are at yeeres And this vse hath continued in the Church since the Apostles times and was neuer gainsaid by any but those that by the vniuersal Church haue been iudged hereticks Q. Is Baptisme absolutely necessarie to the saluation of Infants or are we to iudge all those damned that die vnbaptized A. Such a conceit is both vnchristian and vncharitable and without all ground offering wrong to the grace of God and the vertue of his Couenant wherein he promiseth that he will be the God of the faithful and their seed And seeing this Sacrament is not the cause but a testimonie and seale onely of saluation and the fault is not in the Infant that hee is not baptized and seeing in cases of meere necessity where there is no contempt of the means but the party doth as much for the obtaining of them as he can doe God doth not tie himselfe to the meanes but can and often doth giue the thing without the meanes neither haue we herein more warrant to iudge the Infants of Christians damned that without any default of their owne die without Baptisme then the Infants of the Israelites that died before the eighth day or whilest they were in the wildernesse Q. What preparation is to bee required of Infants that are to be baptized A. None can be required of them who in regard of age are but meere patients but that which is to bee performed is to be done of them that bring the child to Baptisme and that are present at the baptizing thereof Q. Who are they A. The Parent or the rest of the Church Q. What is the Parent to performe A. First hee is to consider of the goodnesse of God that hath receiued not onely himselfe but his Gen. 11. 17. child and therefore to reioyce in this loue and fauour of God and then to confirme himselfe in this hope that as God hath quickened him after his Baptisme so will hee his child Secondly hee is to present 1. Sam. 1. 20. Luk. 1. 60. 63. the child Thirdly to giue or to take order for the giuing of some such name as may put the child in remembrance of some good dutie by the signification of it or by setting before him in it the example of some whose faith and vertues are commended in the Scriptures Fourthly after Baptisme when the child Ephes 6. 4. is capable he is to catechize and to bring it vp in the feare and information of the Lord or to procure it to bee done by others that are more able Q. What are the duties of the rest of the Church A. First to reioyce and to giue thankes to God for the encrease of his Church Secondly to giue attendance to the doctrine and to pray that the child may be made partaker of Christ and his benefits Thirdly when it commeth to age to doe such duties vnto it as one member oweth to another CHAP. 38. Of the Supper of the Lord. Wherein consider The parts Signes Elements Actions about them Things signified The circumstances Time Persons MATTH chap. 26. vers 26. 27. 28. 29. 26. And as they were eating Iesus tooke bread and blessed it and brake it and gaue it to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my body 27. And he tooke the cup and gaue thankes and gaue it to them saying Drinke ye all of it 28. For this is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes 29. But I say vnto you I will not drinke henceforth of this fruit of the vine vntill that day when I drinke it new with you in my Fathers kingdome Q. SO much for Baptisme What is the Lords Supper A. It is the other Sacrament of the Gospell whereby is sealed vnto vs our continuance minishment 1. Cor. 11. 20. and growth in Christ and in his body which is his Church Q. What are the outward signes in this Sacrament A. Bread and wine and the sacramentall actions in and about the same Matth. 26. 26. c.. Q. VVhat manner of bread is fittest A. Ordinarie bread
backe the confession of her concupiscence which shee ought especially to haue confessed as being that without which the Serpent could not haue hurt her Q. How commeth it to passe that the old Serpent the author of all is not called to be examined A. Because that the Lord would shew no mercy vnto him wherfore he only pronounceth iudgement against him Q What learne you from thence A. That it is a mercy of God when we haue sinned to be called to account and to be examined whether immediately by God or mediately by those whom God hath placed ouer vs as by the father of the household or by the magistrate or by the gouernour of the Church and it is a token of Gods fearfull iudgment when we are suffered to rot in our sinnes without being Hos 4. 4. drawne to question for them Q. Hitherto of the examination and conuiction of the offenders now followeth the sentence What obserue you in the sentence against the Serpent A. That the first part contained in the 14. verse is against the instrument of the Diuell and that the other part contained in the 15. verse is against the Diuell Q. What learne you of this proceeding to sentence A. That according to Gods example after the cause well knowne iudgement should not be slacked Iudg. 19. 30. Eccles 8. 11. by those which are his vice-gerents on earth Q. Why doth God pronounce sentence against the Serpent that knew not what it did A. It was for mans sake and not for the beasts sake Q. Why for mans sake A. To shew his loue to mankind by his displeasure against any thing that shall giue any helpe to doe hurt vnto him In which respect he commandeth that the oxe that killeth a man should bee slaine and that the Exod. 21. 18. flesh thereof should not bee eaten Like a kind father that cannot abide the sight of the knife that hath maimed or killed his child A. What manner of curse is this when there is nothing laid vpon the Serpent but that which he was appointed to at the beginning before this seruice he was abused vnto A. It is like that he crept vpon his bellie before and ate dust before But his meaning is that he shall creepe Esay 65. 25. with more paine and lurke in his hole for feare and eate the dust with lesse delight and more necessity Q. What learne you from thence A. Not to suffer our selues to be instruments of euill to any in the least sort if we will escape the curse of God For if God did punish a poore worme which had no reason or will to chuse or refuse sinne how much lesse will he spare vs which haue both Q. What is the sentence against the diuell A. The ordinance of God that there shall bee alwaies enmitie betweene the Diuell and his seed of the one side and the woman and her seed on the other side together with the effect of this enmity Q. What doe you vnderstand by the seede of the Diuell seeing there is no generation of the Diuels for that there is no male or female amongst them neither haue they bodies to ingender A. The seed of the Diuell are all both wicked men Iohn 8. 44. 1. Iohn 3. 8. Act. 13. 10. and Angels which are corrupt as hee is and carrie his image in which respect the wicked are called the children of the Diuell and oft times the sonnes of Beliall Q. What learne you from thence A. That the warre of mankind with the Diuell is a lawfull warre proclaimed of God which is also perpetuall Iam. 4. 7. 1. Pet. 5 9. and without all truce and therefore that here it is wherein we must shew our choller our hate our valour our strength not faintly and in shew only but in truth where wee being collered with our enemie leaue our fight with him to fight against our brethren yea against our owne soules whereas he continually and without ceasing fighteth with vs and not against Matth. 12. 24. his owne as the blasphemous Pharisies said Q. Concerning the seed of the woman the treatise of it belongeth to another place tell me therefore what is the sentence against the woman A. First in the paine of conception and bearing Secondly in the paine of bringing forth wherein is contained the paine of nursing and bringing them vp Thirdly in a desire to her husband Fourthly in her subiection to her husband Q. Was she not before desirous and subiect vnto her husband A. Yes but her desire was not so great through conscience of her infirmitie nor her subiection was so painfull and the yoke thereof so heauie Q. What is the sentence against Adam A. First his sinne is put in the sentence and then the punishment Q. What was his sinne A. One that he obeyed his wife whom hee should haue commanded then that hee disobeyed God whom he ought to haue obeyed the first being proper to him the other common to his wife with him Q. What was the punishment A. A punishment which although it be more heauie vpon Adam yet it is also common to the woman namely the curse of the earth for his sake frō whence came barrennesse by thistles and thornes c. Whereof first the effect should be sorrow and griefe of mind Secondly labour to the sweat of his browes to draw necessarie food from it and that as long as hee liued Lastly the expulsion out of Paradise to liue with the beasts of the earth and to eate of the herbe which they did eate of Q. What learne you from thence A. That all men from him that sitteth in the throne Psal 104. 23. 128. 2. to him that draweth water are bound to painfull labour either of the body or of the mind what wealth or patrimonie soeuer is left them Q. But it was said that at what time soeuer they ate of it they should certainly die A. And so they were dead in sinne which is more fearefull then the death of the body as that which is a separation from God whereby they were already entred vpon death and hell to which they should haue proceeded vntill it had been accomplished both in body and soule in hell with the diuell and his angels for euer if the Lord had not looked vpon them in the blessed seed Q. How doth it agree with the goodnesse or with the very Iustice of God to punish one so fearfully for eating of a little fruit A. Very well for the sinne was horrible and manifold being first a doubting of the truth of God Secondly a crediting of the word of Gods enemie and theirs Thirdly a charge against God that hee enuied their good estate Fourthly intolerable pride and ambition in desiring to bee equall in knowledge to God himselfe Last of all which much aggrauateth the sin for that the commandement hee brake was so easie to be kept as to abstaine from one onely fruit in so great plentie and variety Q. What
of the true worship of God should marrie an Idolater or an apparent prophane and irreligious person Q. What other things are here forbidden A. All such Ecclesiasticall ceremonies and rites of Religion as are repugnant to Gods word or not warrantable by the generall grounds thereof Q. What is to be obserued of that it is said Thou shalt not bow downe to them nor worship them A. Heereby is noted a further degree of Idolatrie which heere also is forbidden as when men shall 1. King 19. 18. shrine clothe and couer Images with precious things Ezra 16. 18. 19. kneele and creepe vnto them light candles before thē such like or when men shall not only vse but commend and extol and by authority vrge the inuentions of men wherein the grosse Idolatrie of Poperie is condemned which though it bee taken away from amongst vs yet the corruption cleaueth still to the harts of many as may be seene in them that make courtesie to the chancell where the high altar stood and who giue the right hand vnto standing crosses Crucifixes c. Q. What kind of Images are heere forbidden to bee worshipped A. All kinds whether such as are made with mans hands of which Esay speaketh saying One peece of wood Esay 44. 15. 17. Hos 8. 4. is cast into the fire and another of the same tree is made an Idoll or such as in themselues are the good creatures of God as those which Hoseah speakes of saying They worship their gold and siluer Yea of whatsoeuer things it may be said that they haue eyes see not mouthes and speake not eares and heare not noses and smell not feet and goe not vnto them is this worship forbidden to be performed Although therefore the Papists worship not Iupiter Mars and such like Heathen Idols but the holy Saints as they say in and by their Images yet by that which hath been said it appeares that euen that worship of theirs is impious and abominable Idolatrie Q. VVhat further is forbidden here vnder the worship of Images A. To vse any thing that God hath commanded 1. King 18. 4. 1. Chron. 15. 13. for his worship otherwise then hee himselfe hath appointed for the brasen Serpent abused was worthily broken in peeces and the Israelites for carting the Arke were worthily punished Q. VVhat else is forbidden A. To pray for such things as God hath made no promise of or for such persons as he hath made no promise vnto as when men pray for soules departed or for those that sin to death or to giue thankes to God 1. Ioh. 5. 14. 16. for things vnlawfully gotten Q. Proceed to the rest of the things forbidden A. The abuse of the Sacraments which in Poperie Luk. 22. 25 26. 1. Pet. 5. 23. are made Sacrifices also the abuse of the Ministery to other ends then those for which it is ordained as whē Ministers exercise tyrannicall Lordship ouer the flocke or their fellow-seruants as the Bishops of the Church of Rome vse to doe Or when in the execution of their function they seeke themselues and not the edification of Gods people c. Q. So much of the things forbidden What are the things commanded A. Generall or speciall Q. What is the Commandement in generall A. To vse such outward meanes onely in the worship of God as himselfe doth approue in his word Q. What are the things specially commanded A. The outward Substance and Circumstances of Gods worship Q. Wherein consisteth the outward Substance of Gods worship A. Partly in such things as wee giue to God and partly in such things as God giueth to vs. Q. What are the things that we giue to God A. They are ordinarie or extraordinarie Q. What are the ordinarie A. Prayer for such things as we lacke and thankesgiuing for such things as wee haue receiued which all men are bound to vse both publikely and priuatly Q. What are the extraordinarie A. Fasting and feasting to God Q. What are the things God giueth vs A. His creatures in the first place also his Word and Sacraments his Ministerie and the Censures of the Church Q. How doe we worship God in these A. In the Creatures by beholding his glory in them in his Word by diligent hearing it and carefull beleeuing and practising it in his Sacraments by receiuing them duly in the Ministery and Censures by submitting our selues vnto them Q. VVherein consist the outward circumstances of Gods worship especially A. In the reuerend gestures of the body which being forbidden to be giuen to Images are therein commanded to be giuen to God Q. How can there be any vse thereof to God sith hee is a Spirit and looketh to the heart A. Very well for first the whole man and consequently the body it selfe oweth a duty to God Secondly it is a glasse wherin the affections of the mind are beheld Thirdly the mind is the better holpen and furthered in the inward worship when both body and minde doe goe together Q. VVhat gestures are most conuenient for the body A. Diuerse according to the diuerse exercises of Religion as at the reading of the Word standing at Prayer kneeling casting downe our eyes in witnesse of humility and lifting them vp to witnesse our confidence c. except our infirmities or the like lets shall hinder vs herein Q. So much of the Commandement what are the parts of the Reason A. A threatning to restraine from disobedience and a promise to allure to obedience Q. What is the summe of the threatning A. That hee will punish the offender both in himselfe and children to many generations the greatnes of which punishment hee shewes by comparing his wrath to the rage of a iealous husband vpon the vnchast behauiour of his wife Q. Declare the same more plainly A. If any being ioyned vnto God in Christ haue promised in Baptisme to serue him alone and yet notwithstanding wil serue and worship others how good soeuer they be whether Angels or Saints they shall not escape Gods wrath for if corporall adultery bee so seuerely punished much more shall spirituall Q. But how doth that agree with the righteousnesse of God to punish one for another A. Very well for if Princes whose iudgments are shallow in comparison of Gods the depthes whereof are past finding out doe with equitie dis-inherit and put to shame the posterity of Traitors the Lord may much more iustly doe the like For the wicked child following his fathers steps is a Traitor himselfe hauing both his fathers sinne and his owne vpon his head Q. Why will God be so extreamely reuenged of them A. Because they are as it is said here Haters of him Q. Is there any that hate God A. Yes a Ioh. 15. 18. Rom. 1. 29. 30. 8. 7. 5. 10. Coloss 1. 21. verily for so many as worship him otherwise then himselfe hath commanded doe hate him for although euery Idolater will say that hee loueth God yet here
his maladie and yet notwithstanding is nourished so is it in such faithfull ones as doe not so sensibly feele the working of God in and by the Sacraments through the weaknesse of their faith And although wee cannot feele it immediately yet after by the fruits thereof we shall be able to discerne of our profiting thereby CHAP. 37. Of Baptisme The Sacraments in speciall are Baptisme wherein note the First the Description Parts Persons that are to receiue They that are of yeeres of discretion The children of the faithfull The Lords Supper Chap. 38. MATTH chap. 3. vers 5. 6. 5. Then went out to him Hierusalem and all Iudea and all the region round about Iordane 6. And were baptized of him in Iordane confessing their sinnes MATTH 28. 19. 19. Goe ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Q. HOw many Sacraments are there A. To omit how many there were vnder the Law vnder the Gospell there are but two onely viz. Baptisme and the Lords Supper Q. How may that be proued A. First because we reade of no other Sacraments instituted by Christ in the new Testament a Mat. 3. 15. 21. 25. but onely these two Secondly these two doe sufficiently and fully seale vnto vs b 1. Cor. 12. 13. 10. 1. 2. 3. 1. Tim. 6. 8. Gal. 3. 27. 1. Cor. 10. 16. the couenant of grace and all the benefits that God offereth therein as our regeneration and ingrafting into Christ and of our growth and continuance in him Thirdly vnder the Law when the number of Sacraments might haue been of more vse there were but two fixed and ordinarie Sacraments viz. Circumcision and the Passeouer vnto which Baptisme and the Lords Supper doe answere And those other Sacraments of the old Testament which were temporarie and extraordinarie haue also a correspondence with these for a Gen. 7. 6. the passing the floud b Exod. 14. 22. through the red sea and the c Exod. 13 21. staying vnder the cloud were but a kind of Baptisme And Manna d Exod. 16. 14. 15. from heauen and water e Ioh. 6. 31. Exod. 17. 6. 1. Cor. 19. 1. 2. 3. out of the Rocke were but answerable to the Supper of the Lord. Fourthly Christ hath giuen precepts to his Ministers for the a Mat. 28. 19. 1. Cor. 11. 23. administring of these and hath not appointed the administration of any other Neither did Christ himselfe partake of any other therefore those fiue other of the Church of Romes addition viz. Matrimony Orders Penance Confirmation and extreame Vnction the three first whereof though they bee diuine ordinances yet are not of the nature and number of Sacraments and the two latter are meerly coyned by the Papists as they are vsed by them Q. What is Baptisme A. It is the first Sacrament of the Gospell wherein Tit. 3. 5. Gal. 3. 17. Mat. 28. 19. by the washing or sprinkling of our bodies with water into the name of the Father Son and holy Ghost our regeneration or new birth or our entrance and ingrafting into Christ into the body of Christ which is his Church is represented and sealed vnto vs. Q. Why call you it the first Sacrament A. Because our Sauiour Christ requireth of his Matth. 28. Exod. 12. 48. Disciples in that commission which he gaue them to teach all nations that after they haue taught men to beleeue they should bee baptized and thereby as it were be enrolled amongst those of the houshold of God or entred into the number of the Citizens and burgesses of the heauenly Ierusalem Secondly to note an abuse of the ancient Church who vpon an erroneous conceit that those which fell after Baptisme could not repent and so bee saued deferred Baptisme till the houre of their death Thirdly to note that it ought to be administred but once onely at our first admittance into the visible Church of Christ For first it is said the Church continued Act. 2. 42. in prayer and breaking of bread not in baptizing Secondly it is a pledge of our new birth now as a man being borne once hath no need to be borne againe so hee that is once baptized needs not to bee baptized any more and although in the Epistle to the Hebrewes mention bee made of the doctrine of Baptismes yet thereby is not meant that Christians were then taught to be often baptized but that they were to acknowledge and seeke for a double Baptisme the one outward of water the other inward of the spirit both which the faithfull receiue at one and the same time Q. Why is it required that we be baptized into the name Mat. 28. 19. of the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost A. Because by Baptisme wee are consecrated to Mat. 28. 19. Act. 11. 26. Gen. 48. 16. Esa 4. 1. God to beare his name as a wife beareth the name of her husband or as a child beareth the name of his father Q. Is it necessarie that we that are baptized should bee ingrafted into Christ A. Yea for being naturally after the fall cut off from God wee must needs bee ingrafted into him againe as new plants if we looke to liue by him euerlastingly Q. What force hath Baptisme in this ingrafting A. It is a seale and a pledge of it and not that by which the ingrafting or incorporation it selfe is effected considering that wee are baptized in the right onely of being members of Christ before Besides ordinarily such of Gods elect as are baptized at yeeres Mat. 3. 6. Act. 8. 36. 37. 38. of discretion are so farre as man can iudge actually ingrafted into Christ before they receiue this Sacrament and such of them as are baptized in their infancie liuing till they come to yeeres of discretion are ordinarily ingrafted into Christ afterwards by the spirit through faith gotten by the hearing of Gods word Q. What fruit ariseth from this ingrafting into Christ A. A new birth of which also this Sacrament is a seale and pledge and wherof we being once partakers can neuer be depriued Ioh. 3. 5. Q. VVhat are the outward signes in Baptisme A. Water and the washing or couering with water the partie baptized Q. VVhat doth the water signifie and represent A. The spirit and the blood of Christ applied by the spirit in the worke of our Regeneration Q. VVhat doth the washing or couering with water signifie A. Our Regeneration and putting on of Christ the couering of our sinnes through the imputation of Gal. 3. 27. Christs death our Righteousnesse by Christs obedience Rom. 6. 3. 4. Coloss 2 12. 1. Cor. 10. 2. in the fulfilling of the Law The buriall of the old Adam with our Sauiour Christ and as after the water is applied to the body and it taken out of it the body appeareth white and cleane and as it were raised againe from the dead so Gods
our vowes A. First those things or actions that are in our choyce and in our owne power to giue or performe it being a folly to promise that vnto God which wee are not able to performe as the Papists doe in vowing perpetuall abstinence from marriage c. Secondly things lawfull it being a double indignity to God to promise to doe that which he hateth and forbiddeth to be done as the Iewes did that vowed Matth. 14. 7. Act. 23. 14. to kill Paul Thirdly those things which are of some worth and acceptance and not base and vile or contemptible matters such as neither God nor man maketh any account of it argueth a base esteeme of God to promise vnto him by way of speciall thankfulnesse any vile or contemptible matter And what thankfulnesse can it bee vnto God to pay such a vow or what comfort in his trouble can any man take by a purpose of the performance thereof Such things as imply no contempt or light regard of any of those creatures of God which he hath made and appointed both in his wisedome and goodnesse for our vse as when the cause of such and such meats either alwaies or vpon such and such dayes are abiured in our vowes Fifthly those things which are either parts of Gods worship in themselues or furtherances thereof or of any part of his Law as founding of Lectures building of Colledges and Schooles for maintenance of true religion learning and building Almes-houses and such like workes of mercie and piety for the reliefe of the poore and that with some straine of our ability Q. What is the end of vowes A. First in generall the glory of God and the aduancement of his worship or the profit of our neighbour Secondly in speciall either to testifie our speciall thankfulnesse to God for blessings receiued Gen. 28. 20. Iosh 6. 10. or to chastise our selues to preuent Gods wrath 1. Cor. 11. 31. or to make vs more warie heedfull of those sins that we haue formerly fallen into or to bind our selues the more strongly to obedience or to strengthen the weaknesse of our faith and hope c. Q. What is the dutie of those that haue vowed A. First to haue a diligent care to performe their Eccles 5. 4. Psal 76. 11. vowes else wee deale worse with God then wee dare deale with many men Secondly not to delay the performance of them Gen. 35. 1. Deut. 22. 21. Eccles 5. 3. Q. Is the necessity of performing vowes so great that it may not be omitted or put off in no case A. No for to the end that a greater and more necessarie Ier. 35. 9. 10. 11. duty may bee performed a man may omit his vow for a time and after returne to the obseruation thereof and yet be no vow-breaker as the Rechabites for safety of their liues came and dwelt in Ierusalem notwithstanding a former vow that they would not dwell in any house and yet God witnesseth that their vow was not broken therby so to help our neighbours in some present necessity wee may Mat. 12. 7. cease from any vowed duty at that time and not sin Wherein the Papists greatly faile who hauing vowed vnlawfully yet think they may not intermit the same Q. If a man in vowing doe not consider sufficiently of the greatnesse of the matter may be not breake that vow if he hath not so aduisedly made it A. No the vow being otherwise lawfull in this Psal 15. 4. case his rashnesse is to bee repented but the vow must be kept Q. What are we to learne of all this A. That we be aduised what we vow and not after we haue made them to find some starting hole where to get out but either let vs not vow at all or remember our vowes and diligently performe them in their due time CHAP. 52. Of the Church Militant The persons which are the second sort of outward meanes appertaining to the kingdome of Christ are the Church militant Before the comming of Christ After the comming of Christ Vniuersall Particular MATTH chap. 28. vers 15. to the end 15. So they tooke the money and did as they were taught And this saying is commonly reported among the Iewes vntill this day 16. Then the eleuen Disciples went away into Galilee into a mountaine where Iesus had appointed them 17. And when they saw him they worshipped him but some doubted 18. And Iesus came and spake vnto them saying all power is giuen vnto me in heauen and in earth 19. Goe ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost 20. Teaching them to obserue all things whatsoeuer I haue commanded you and lo I am with you alway euen vnto the end of the world Amen 1. Cor. chap. 12. vers 6. to the 28. 6. And there are diuersities of operations but it is the same God which worketh all in all 7. But the manifestation of the spirit is giuen to euery man to profit withall 8. For to one is giuen by the spirit the word of wisedome to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit 9. To another faith by the same spirit to another the gifts of healing by the same spirit 10. To another the working of miracles to another prophecie to another discerning of spirits to another diuers kinds of tongues to another the interpretation of tongues 11. But all these worketh that one and the selfe same spirit diuiding to euery man seuerally as he will 12. 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 13. For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Iewes or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and haue been all made to drinke into one spirit 14. For the body is not one member but many 15. If the foot shall say Because I am not the hand I am not of the body is it therefore not of the body 16. And if the eare shall say Because I am not the eye I am not of the body is it therefore not of the body 17. If the whole body were an eye where were the hearing If the whole were hearing where were the smelling 18. But now hath God set the members euery one of them in the body as it hath pleased him 19. And if they were all one member where were the body 20. But now are they many members yet but one body 21. And the eye cannot say vnto the hand I haue no need of thee nor againe the head to the feet I haue no need of you 22. Nay much more those members of the body which seeme to be more feeble are necessarie 23. And those members of the body which we thinke to bee lesse honourable vpon these we bestow more abundant honour and our vncomely parts haue more abundant comelinesse 24. For our comely parts
before the comming of Christ What are the nearer tokens of the latter day A. They are either such as shall come within an age of the second comming of Christ or such as shall be nearer to it as it were ioyned with it Q. VVhat is the first A. That there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders Q. VVhat haue we here to consider A. Two things especially first the errour secondly the remedie against it Q. VVhat is the errour A. That it shall be said heere is Christ or there for there shall be false Christs which shall pretend the very person of Christ otherwise then Antichrist who tearmeth himselfe the vicar of Christ These also shall haue their ministers namely false Prophets which shall get credit vnto the false Christ Q. VVhat learne you by this A. That the Church of God shall be put vnder triall first of their knowledge and vnderstanding whether they can discerne betweene errour and truth secondly of their loue and fidelity whether after they know the truth they will sticke by it or no. Q. VVhat doe you note of this kind of errour A. The danger of it in that it maketh shew of the corporall presence of Christ whereunto we are naturally greatly giuen as appeareth not onely by the Papists but by the holy Apostles themselues which were too much addicted to the corporal presence of Christ secondly also by reason of the great meanes they shall haue to preuaile through the wonderfull miracles they shall doe especially considering that the true Ministers of God shall not haue for any warrant we haue out of the word any such power as hath already been shewed Q. VVhat further doe you learne of this A. The extreame impudencie of the diuell in those daies which hath neuer been heard of before that shal so possesse the spirit of a sinfull mortall man that hee shall take vpon him to be the sonne of the most High for notwithstanding there were many that tooke vpon them to bee the Messias before and after the first comming of our Sauiour Christ yet they imagining the Messias to be a bare man were neuer so impudently arrogant as to challenge to themselues to be the very naturall sonne of God Q. What note you of this that if it were possible the very elect should be deceiued A. First the certainty of their happie estate from whence they cannot fall Secondly that the same hath a foundation not in any thing that is in men but in the purpose and counsell of God which cannot be deceiued Q. So much of the errour VVhat is the remedy against it A. First an admonition then a confutation Q. What is the admonition A. First not to goe out that is so certainly to be resolued of the vntruth of the thing notwithstanding the greatnesse of the miracles as not once to enquire after it for those that haue itching eares and wanton rolling eyes to heare and see things are oftentimes by Gods iust iudgement deceiued although they haue a purpose to the contrary Secondly although by reason of some particular calling they bee constrained to be present at the place where such are or otherwise bee brought forcibly vnto them yet not to beleeue them when they see or heare those things Q. What is the confutation A. That it cannot bee Christ that they should goe out into the wildernesse to see first because hee shall come with great brightnesse as the lightning commeth from the East and shineth vnto the west neither shall one need to goe vnto the wildernesse to see him because his light shal be seene in all places of the world alike Secondly he will not come on the earth but will shew himselfe in the aire only Thirdly he shall come suddenly as in a moment wheras before he had space to goe from place to place Fourthly neither shall it auaile then to goe out after and seeke him because as speedily as the Eagles are gathered to the dead carkasse so the children of God being compared vnto Eagles shall suddenly bee gathered to our Sauiour Christ who is compared to a dead body in respect of his death Q. So much of the tokens which come within an age of the latter day What are the nearest tokens or rather such as are ioyned with the second comming of Christ A. The nearest are that the Sunne shall bee darkened and the Moone shall not giue her light the Starres shall fall from heauen the Sea shall rore terribly the earth shall tremble and in a word all the powers of heauen and earth shall be shaken Q. At what time shall these signes come to passe A. Immediately after the false Christs and Prophets which as hath been spoken shall raise vp a maruellous errour and by meanes thereof great vexation and therefore it is said after the tribulation of those daies shall the immediate signes of the comming of Christ be accomplished Q. VVhat is the cause of these signes appearing and of the comming of Christ immediately vpon them A. The faithfull prayers of the Saints of God which cry vnto him to make an end of these dangerous wicked dayes Q. Is not the day and houre of the comming of Christ reuealed vnto man A. No verily man may gather by the signes going before that it is not far off but the day and the houre no man knoweth no not the Angels Mat. 24. 36. Q. VVhat gather you of this A. Not that there is any want of loue in God towards vs in conceiling the day of his comming for as much as the Angels who are said to bee full of eyes in Ezech. 1. 18. Mat. 24. 36. Mark 13. 32. regard of their singular wisedome know it not yea and that which is more Christ himselfe who is much wiser then Angels is ignorant of it Q. But how can that bee that hee which gouerneth all things should be ignorant of that day A. As he is God he knoweth it but not as he is the sonne of man especially vnglorified that is to say before his ascension into heauen Q. VVhat is meant by this that one generation shall not passe till all be fulfilled Mat. 24. 34. A. That as it was said before that one generation should not passe vntill the destruction of Ierusalem were accomplished which indeed was effected about fortie yeeres after So it is likely that after all the signes aforesaid before one age shall passe the day of Iudgement aforesaid shall come Q. Wherefore is this vehement asseneration vsed That heauen and earth shall passe away but my words shall not passe away Mat. 24. 35. A. Against those mockers which shal come in the latter times and shall charge the ministery of the Gospell with vntruth because they see no alteration in the course of nature Q. VVhat is the reason of this concealement A. First that the Lord thereby might trie the humility of men whether they would be so impudently bold as to go about to breake
al one with his power to gather the dead as the quick Yea they shall be changed suddenly in a moment and in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump 1. Cor. 15. 52. Q. What furtber learne you of this A. The infinite knowledge wisedome and power of God in coupling euery bone to his proper ioynt in his owne body with the proper flesh and sinewes thereof notwithstanding the confused masse of all things that they shall bee turned into whether dust aire or other element whatsoeuer Notwithstanding also that they are so diuersly distracted in place Q. What is the reason thereof A. That those that haue glorified God in their bodies might be also glorified in the same and contrariwise 2. Cor. 5. 10. those that haue dishonoured him in their bodies might receiue dishonour of God Q. How shall the sound of the trumpet raise vp the dead A. No otherwise but by the quickening of God through the power of his spirit wherby it shall come to passe that the dead shall bee raised out of the dust and of mortall shall be made immortall Q. But cannot God doe this without the sound of a trumpet A. Yes verily hee is able to doe it without any such instrument as hee is also able to saue men extraordinarily without the preaching of his word yet he hath determined to vse this meanes at that day for the raising of his Saints from bodily death as he vseth his word for an ordinarie meanes to call them from the death and out of the graue of sinne For the very like power of Christ is exercised in vs whilest wee liue here who quickeneth vs by the Gospell to his obedience that are by nature dead in sinne and so not only vnable but also vnwilling and auerse to any thing that is good wherefore God ioyneth power to his word to raise from death to life as well spiritually in the first Iohn 5. 28. as corporally in the second resurrection which first resurrection is a manifest pledge of the second there Reuel 20. 6. being greater difficultie in the first then in the second for in the second resurrection though there be no will Rom. 8. 7. to rise yet there is no enmity or gainsaying which in the first is great Q. After what manner shall the resurrection be A. First the godly shall arise to euerlasting saluation then the wicked to eternall damnation 1. Thes 4. 16. Q. In what manner shall all men then be ranged and ordered A. That is set forth by a parable of the shepheard Mat. 25. 31. and the sheepe for as the shepheard when the euening commeth gathereth his flocke and separateth the sheepe from the goats so in the euening of the world our Sauiour Christ shall gather all nations by the ministerie of the Angels and then there shall bee a full separation the godly being set on the right hand and the wicked on the left Q. What learne you of this A. The difference betweene the iudgements of God and the iudgements of men where both the innocent and the guilty are confusedly presented at one barre but then there shall be two barres through a separation of the wicked and the godly which separation the Angels can most easily make in discerning betweene them as otherwise so euen by their cheerfull or fearfull countenances Q. Shall not some vngodly men be saued for the godlie's sake with whom they conuerse A. No for our Sauiour saith that then two shall be in the field one receiued another left two in one bed one taken another reiected c. Luk. 17. 34. 36. Q. What learne you of this A. That then it shall not auaile a wicked man to be in the companie of the godly for as much as they shall then be separated wheras in this world the wicked Ge◠18. 32. 19. 21. John 4. 15. are sometimes spared for the godlie's sake Q. What further instruction doe you gather from this A. That we should so vse our societies here that in the life to come wee may haue comfort in the continuance of them Q. Is not this separation now in these daies A. Yes verily here it beginneth when the Gospell Luk. 12. 51. 53. 8. 13. Reuel 21. 27. Psal 1. 5. and afflictions seuer the wicked and the godly but then shall bee a full separation when neither Canaanite Iebusite or Moabite shal be amongst the children of God Q. What speciall effects shall there bee of this glorious preparation A. There shall be some in the wicked and othersome in the godly Q. What are those that shall be in the wicked A. Mourning and lamentation for feare and terrour of the power and Maiesty of Christ and his Angels comming in the clouds which shall bee a beginning of hell vnto them before they shall feele it euen Reuel 1. 7. as guiltie prisoners shall bee terrified at the sight of the Iudges before there bee any execution of iudgement against them Q. What gather you of it A. First that at the bare sight of these signes the wicked shall bee so terrified how much more when they hauing receiued the sentence of damnation the same shall bee executed Againe if the godly hauing Luk. 1. 12. their sins forgiuen them are afraid at the appearance of one Angell much more the wicked who haue their sinnes tied fast vpon them will bee afraid at the sight of so many Angels And if a sparke of godlines Mark 6. 20. without any appearance of glory in a godly man bee terrible to the wicked much more will the Maiesty of the Sonne of God altogether holy and glorious strike an infinite feare into them and make them desire that the rocks and mountaines falling vpon them might hide them from his sight Luk. 23. 30. Reuel 6. 16. Q. VVhat are the effects of Christs comming in the godly A. They shall reioyce and bee glad at this glorious comming which they looked and prayed for euen as a faithfull seruant is glad when his master commeth with much honour and good speed in all his affaires the honour and glory of his master seruing to his further aduancement Q. How doth our Sauiour Christ garnish and enlarge this doctrine A. By a parable of the fig-tree which elegantly declareth the certainty and comfort of the former doctrine Mat. 24. 32. that whē the fig-tree bringeth forth her leaues wee know the summer is neare so when wee see the signes aforesaid come to passe the day of the Lord is euen at the dores and the summer of the Church of God is at hand Q. What learne you of this A. That as the summer is the most pleasant season and most of all others to be desired so we should long after the comming of Christ when wee shall enioy a perpetuall summer without all manner of winter stormes or troubles CHAP. 56. Of the sentence of the Iudge The parts of the iudgemēt are the Sentence of