in the sight of them all carried him through the Air into Heaven where he now sits to prepare a place for us and intercedes to God for all faithful penitent Sinners I believe he sits at God's right hand that is that he is there exalted to the greatest Power and Glory Not that God has Hands as we have for God is a Spirit and a Spirit has no Hands as we have But as with us the right Hand is a Place of Honour so I am fully perswaded that Jesus Christ is exalted in Heaven to the greatest Honour Power and Glory and there pleads and mediates with God for all those that believe in him repent of their Disobediences and live a New and Christian Life And thus I believe that he ascended in Heaven and sitteth at the right Hand of God VII ARTICLE From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead THE meaning is I do freely and fully assent to this as an undoubted Truth That Jesus Christ who is both God and Man at the End of the World shall certainly come again with Power and great Glory from the same Heaven into which he ascended attended by his Holy Angels to Judge all Mankind according as they have lived here That every Eye shall see him and they that pierced his Hands and Feet shall behold his Majesty his Terror and his Glory I believe that the World being dissolved and the Earth and all things thereon being burnt up the Lord Jesus shall sit in the Air in a Glorious Throne and shall judge the quick that is all those that shall be alive at his Coming and the dead that is all those that were dead before since the World began That the Records of their Conscience shall be laid open that is all that ever they thought or spake or did shall be brought to their Memory I believe firmly That he will judge them Righteously and them that have lived unholily irreligiously and died impenitently he shall sentence to eternal Darkness But them that have believed in him repented of and reformed their Sins and lived holy and good lives he shall adjudge to dwell with him in Heaven and Happiness for ever And thus I believe he shall come to judge the quick and the dead VIII ARTICLE I believe in the Holy Ghost THE meaning is I firmly believe That the Third Person in the adorable Trinity the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is God as well as the Father and the Son I believe him to be a Person distinct from both the Father and the Son eternally proceeding from both and equally sent by both and joint Author with both of our Salvation That though these are Three Persons yet are they but One God and though this cannot be fully understood in this World yet I believe it firmly I believe That as God the Father created me and God the Son redeemed me so this God the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit sanctifies me offers me his Grace and Assistance to do the Will of God is my Comforter and always 't is he that puts into my Mind good Desires and pious Purposes So that I believe intirely that he is not only of perfect Holiness in himself but also that he is the immediate Cause of all Holiness in us that by him all the Servants of God are enabled to do all things necessary to Salvation which by the force of Nature they cannot do That 't is he who enlightens our Understandings sanctifies our Will orders and commands our Affections that 't is by his Assistances imparted to us that we speak or do any thing of our Duty Thus I believe God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost not to be Three Gods but Three Persons and but One God And though I shall never in this Life fully comprehend this Mystery of the Trinity yet I firmly believe it And thus I believe in the Holy Ghost IX ARTICLE I believe in the Holy Catholick Church The Communion of Saints THE meaning is I do freely profess to believe That Jesus Christ did by the Preaching of the Apostles gather unto himself a Church consisting of Thousands of beliving Persons to which he daily added such as should be saved and will successively and daily add to the same to the End of the World That this Catholick that is Universal Church is the Corporation or general Family of all true Believers Or that Body or Society of Persons that profess Christ and his Gospel and is governed and continued under Bishops and Pastors lawfully called to that Office by whom the Word and Sacraments are duly Preached and administer'd under Christ their Head I firmly believe this Church of Christ to be One Holy and Catholick One in respect of our Faith One in respect of the Sacraments One in respect of being guided and directed by the same Spirit One in respect of One and the same Head Christ Jesus and One in respect of the same Hope of Glory and Immortality Holy in respect of its Head the Holy Jesus Holy by baptismal Dedication Holy in respect of its Design and End Holy in respect of the Holy Offices performed in it all which tend to produce Holiness and Holy in respect of its Calling Profession and Hope Catholick in respect of that Catholick Faith Truth and Doctrine which it teaches Catholick or Universal in respect of that Universal Obedience which it obligeth all Men to Catholick in respect of time that is it shall universally be continued to all Ages to the End of the World Catholick or Universal because 't is made up of all the particular Churches in the World Catholick in respect of that universal War which it always is to hold against all its Ghostly Enemies Catholick or Universal in this Sense that it is not limitted or confined to one Nation as the Church of the Jews was but by the Command and Appointment of Christ to be spread abroad and gathered from all Nations under Heaven I believe That of this Catholick Church part is on Earth and part in Heaven that is the Saints departed are the triumphant part of the Church and all true Believers Lovers and Obeyers of Jesus are the Church Militant And as I ever desire to be a Member of this Holy Catholick Church so I believe there is and ought to be a Communion of the Saints in it that is a Society or Fellowship one with another in all Holy Things As all Saints on Earth or all true Believers have in common One God One Christ One Holy Spirit One Lord One Faith One Baptism So I believe they ever did and ought to keep up a Holy Fellowship or Society with each other in all the common Christian offices and duties in Faith in professing the Gospel in hearing the Word in receiving the Sacraments in Charity and doing good to each other and in all common Christian offices of Piety and Devotion And I fully am perswaded that while the Saints or true Believers on Earth
Heart Yes Should a Christian then follow the evil and corrupt Desires of his Heart No. Did they not promise in your Name that you should believe all the Parts of the Christian Religion Yes Shall you be saved if you do not believe them No. Did you not promise by your Sureties sincerely to obey God's Commandments Yes Seeing they promised these things for you when you were a little Child should you not labour to perform them now Yes Shall you ever go to God and Heaven unless you do sincerely perform them No. But can you do these things without God's Help No. Should you not pray to God for his Grace to keep you alway in this happy Covenant Yes Well then is it not your Duty to renounce the Temptations of the. World Flesh and Devil according to this Promise Yes Is it not your Duty to believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith according to this Promise Yes And do you firmly believe them Yes Can he be a true Christian that denies any one of them No. Is it not your Duty to keep God's Commandments as was promised for you Yes Can you without infinite danger live in the Breach of any one known Command of his No. Well then it seems this was promised for you that you should renounce the Temptations of the World Flesh and Devil believe the whole Christian Faith and keep God's Commandments was it not Yes And has not God promised upon these Conditions to give us pardon of Sin Grace and Glory Yes Suppose a Man after he is baptized should commit a Sin can he be saved unless he repent of it and sincerely forsake it No. Should we not then by this our Covenant of Baptism live a Godly and a Christian Life Yes If we do in Sincerity of Heart keep our Conditions of it shall we go to Heaven when we die Yes Will not Heaven and Happiness be a sufficient Reward for our renouncing of the Temptations of the World Flesh and Devil Yes Will not Heaven and Happiness be a sufficient Reward for our constant believing all the Articles of the Christian Faith Yes Will not Heaven and Happiness be a sufficient Reward for our keeping God's holy Will and Commandments here Yes Will not the Pleasure of Sin for a Season be a sufficient recompense for the Loss of Heaven and Happiness No. Well then was not this a Gracious Covenant which was made in your Name when you were baptized Yes Should we ever cease to be thankful to God for calling us to this State of Salvation No. When we were fallen was it not Jesus Christ that made this gracious Covenant between God and us Yes Did not God shew his great Hatred of Sin and his Willingness to have us save in sending his Son to die for us Yes Should you ever cease then to love God and Christ No. Should you cease to obey God and Christ No. Or to pray to God and Christ No. When we come to Years of Discretion should we not own all that our Godfathers and Godmothers promised in our Name Yes If we will not own it our selves do we not lose all our Title to Pardon Heaven and Glory Yes SECT II. Credendae Catechist REhearse the Articles of thy Believe Answer I believe in God the Father Almighty c. Question What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles c. Answer First I learn to believe in God the Father c. Of the Creed and the practical Belief of it ARTICLE I. I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth DO you believe in God Yes Do you believe in Jesus Christ Yes Do you believe in the Holy Ghost Yes Are there any more Gods than one No. Is not God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost three Persons and but one God Yes Though we cannot fully understand how three Persons can be but one God must we not firmly believe it Yes Is not this easie to God though it be hard to us Yes Shall we be saved without this Faith or Belief No. Do you love God Yes Do you hope to live with God when you die Yes Can any man be saved and go to Heaven without believing and trusting in Jesus Christ No. Do you love your Saviour Jesus Christ Yes Do you love the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit Yes Is it not the Holy Ghost that puts into your mind good Desires Yes Is not this good Spirit grieved when you do an evil Action Yes Is not God a Spirit Yes Can we see God with our mortal Eyes No. Do you believe that God made Heaven and Earth and all things out of nothing Yes Is not God an infinite and glorious Spirit Yes Is not God a Merciful Righteous Holy and Good Spirit Yes Is there any thing that God doth not know No. Can we do any thing and God not see it No. When you think upon any thing does not God know what you think on Yes Is not God a just a wise and powerful God Yes Is there any thing which God cannot do No. Will this good and great God love you if you keep his Commandments Yes ARTICLE II. And in Iesus Christ his only Son our Lord IS not Jesus Christ the Son of God Yes Is not Jesus Christ our Saviour God and Man too Yes Had Jesus Christ any Father besides God No. Did not God by his Holy Spirit cause him to be born of a Virgin Yes Is not Jesus Christ that Lord of ours by whom we hope Salvation Yes If God hear our Prayers at any time doth he not do it for Jesus Christ's Sake Yes If God do pardon our Sins when we repent of them will it not be for Jesus Christ's Sake Yes If God save us will it not be for Jesus Christ's Sake Yes And have we not reason to love Jesus Christ Yes Should we ever cease to obey Christ No. ARTICLE III. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary WAS Jesus Christ begotten by Man No. Was he not conceived by the Holy Ghost after a wonderful manner Yes Was not Jesus Christ born of a holy and pure Virgin Yes Was not this Blessed Virgin 's Name Mary Yes Was he not born of this holy Virgin an Infant as other Men are Yes Because Man had sinned against God was it not necessary that Jesus Christ should die for our Sins Yes Could any thing satisfie an Infinite Justice but an Infinite Satisfaction No. Could any thing therefore satisfie God's Justice for our Sins but the Sufferings and Death of Christ No. Was it not fit that he should be both God and Man who was to reconcile God and Man Yes And have we not reason to love and obey him Yes ARTICLE IV. Suffered under Pontius Pilate Was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell DID not a Man called Pontius Pilate cause our Saviour Jesus Christ to be put to death Yes Did not this Pontius Pilate sentence him to be crucified Yes Was
Is it not very fit that a good Christian should do his Alms by his own hand and not by another Person Yes Motives to Bounty If we are not able to give should we not pity and pray for them that need Yes Is there any Duty which our God so often and earnestly recommends to Christians as Charity and Alms No. Are there such great promises to any one Duty as to this No. Is not this the Duty by which God shall chiefly pronounce the Sentence at the day of Judgment Yes Will it not procure a Blessing here and hereafter Yes Is not reckoned as done to Christ whatever we do to our poor Brother Yes Is not Charity and Mercy one great sign of our Predestination to Life eternal Yes Does it not crown all other works of Religion and Piety Yes Should we neglect to perform a Duty which has so many advantages and promises Charity in respect of the Credit Yes Are not Christians to exercise Charity to the Credit of their Neighbour Yes Is it not an Unchristian thing causelesly to destroy the good name of another Yes If an innocent man be slandered should we not in Charity clear him if we know his Innocence Yes Should we not in Charity conceal the faults of our brethren unless it be necessary to discover them or unless they are so notorious as that they will be sure to betray themselves Yes But suppose we hear ill of our brother and know not whether it be true or false should we not be apt to judge and hope the best Yes Should we not endeavour to preserve the Credit of our Neighbour as far as we may Yes The great Rule of Charity Should we not ever labour to do to all men as we would have them do to us Yes Well then if we were in need would we not willingly have our Necessities relieved Yes Can we therefore refuse to do the like to others that are in need No. Are we not all willing to have our good name defended Yes Can we therefore in Charity by slanders or reproaches or evil speakings or rash Judgings destroy the good-name of others No. Are we not unwilling to have our own Bodies maimed or beaten or wounded Yes Ought we not therefore to forbear the doing the like to others Yes Ought we not to be willing of our own Souls Health Yes And if we love our Neighbours as our selves should we not desire their Souls good an Salvation Yes Is not Peace-making a great act of Christian Charity Peace-making Yes Should we not therefore as much as in us lies reconcile Enemies and end their grudges and quarels Yes Can those be Charitable that cause Strife and Contentions among any No. Ought not he that would be a Peace-maker to be a peaceable Man himself Yes Of going to Law May not a peaceable Man go to Law in some cases Yes But is he a peaceable Man who goes to Law for Trifles or inconsiderable matters No. Is he a charitable or peaceable Man who goes to Law out of stoutness of humor or contentiousness No. Is he charitable or peaceable who goes to Law out of Revenge No. That is should a peaceable Man go to Law merely because another sued him No. Rules for doing it Christianly Does not he deal most Christiantly who is content to part with somewhat of his right for Peace-sake Yes May a Christian then go to Law where the Damage is great and considerable if he can have satisfaction no other way Yes But must we not still carry a friendly and Christian temper towards the Party we go to Law with Yes Should we suffer our Hearts to be estranged from him No. Now we have seen all the parts of Charity in our Actions must we not shew them to our bitterest Enemies Charity of the Actions too must reach to enemies Yes Did I not say before that we are to forgive Enemies Yes And is not this the way to try the sincerity of our forgiveness by being ready to do them good and to relieve their needs as we have opportunity Yes Should not a Christian turn out of his Heart self-love Yes Is not self-love an immoderate love of our own Interests that causes us to be unjust or uncharitable towards others Yes Can we perform these Self-denial and many other Christian Duties without the Practice of self-denial or taking up the Cross No. Must we not deny our own corrupt inclinations in obedience to the Commands of God Yes And must we not take up the Cross and endure affliction shame or reproaches when we cannot otherwise perform a Christian Duty Yes Prayer a means for all Graces Can we hope to perform these or any other Duties without Prayer and begging God's Assistance No. If we suffer any thing for Christianity-sake have we not reason to rejoice in it Yes Have we any reason to faint or grow weary of our Christian Duties when there is a Crown of Glory at the end of them No. Shall we be losers by any thing we can do or suffer here for Righteousness sake No. Should we not therefore instantly set about the performing all known Duty Yes And should we not instantly endeavour to reform all known Sin Yes Should we put off the serious consideration of these things from day to day No. Danger of delaying our turning to God Should we put it off to our Death-bed No. Can we delay to turn to God without infinite hazard of our immortal Souls No. FINIS Books Sold by Henry Bonwicke at the Red Lion in St. Paul's Church-Yard THE General History of the Reformation of the Church Written in Latin by John Sleiden faithfully English'd To which is added a Continuation to the end of the Council of Trent by E. Bohun Esq in folio Two useful Cases resolved I. Whether a Certainty of being in a State of Salvation be attainable II. What is the Rule by which this Certainty is to be attained in 4o. Pia Desideria Or Divine Addresses In Three Books Illustrated with Forty-seven Copper Plates Written in Latin by Herm. Hugo Englished by Edw. Arwaker M. A. in 8o. A Discourse proving from Scripture and Reason That the Life of Man is not limitted by any absolute Decree of God By the Author of The Duty of Man c. In 8o. Liturgia Ecclesiae Anglicanae Lat. 12o. The Best Guide to Devotion Being short Prayers Meditations and Thanksgivings taken only out of the Scriptures and fitted to all Occasions In 24o. THE END
not this Pontius Pilate a Governour of the Country where Christ lived when he was on Earth Yes Was there any Sin or Fault in Christ No. Was he not accused by the Jews out of meer Malice Yes Was he not crucified that is nailed to a Cross till he was dead Yes That is were not his Hands and Feet nailed to a piece of Wood till he died Yes Was he content to suffer all this for our Salvation Yes Did not Christ by his Death satisfie God's Justice for our Sins if we repent of them and leave them Yes Shall any partake of the Benefits of Christ's Death but the true pernitent Sinner No. Before Christ was crucified was he not buffeted and spit on scourged and spightfully used Yes Did Christ give up the Ghost and really die upon the Cross Yes When he was dead was he not put into the grave and buried as other dead Men are Yes Did he not continue in the State of the dead for a time Yes When Christ descended into Hell did he suffer any Pains or Torments there No. Did he only descend to triumph over the Devil in his own Kingdom Yes Did he not suffer all this for our Sakes that we might be saved Yes And have we not infinite reason to love and obey him Yes ARTICLE V. The third day he rose again from the dead THough Christ were buried in the Grave does he continue in it to this Day No. Did not Christ come alive again the third day and rise out of the grave by his power Yes Did he not rise again out of it for our Justification Yes That is did he not by his coming out of the Prison of the grave shew that he had paid our debt that God's Justice was satisfied and he acquitted upon our Faith and Repentance Yes And can we ever cease to love and obey him No. ARTICLE VI. He ascended into Heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty DID not Jesus Christ about forty days after he came alive again ascend up to Heaven Yes Was he not carried up to Heaven in a Cloud Yes Is not Jesus now at this present at God's right Hand making Intercession for us Yes You say at the right hand of God why Is not God a Spirit Yes Has a Spirit any hands as we have No. When we say that Christ sitteth at the right hand of God do we not mean that he is exalted to the greatest power and glory Yes Is he not there our Advocate to intercede and plead for us Yes And can we for this pay him less than Love and Obedience No. ARTICLE VII From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead DO you believe there shall be a Day of Judgment Yes Shall not Christ come in that day to judge the World and all Men Yes Shall any Man escape the Judgment of Christ No. Shall he not then turn the wicked into Hell Yes Shall he in that day of Judgment place all good Men in Heaven Yes And should we not prepare our selves for that Judgment Yes Must we not then give an account of what we have done here Yes Must we give an account of our Thoughts Words and Actions Yes Shall any Man be able to hide his Sins from this Judge No. Is there any thing that we do which this Judge sees not No. Is there any thing that we think which Judge hears not No. Is there any thing that we think which this Judge knows not No. What does he see and know our very Thoughts Yes But will he not be a merciful Judge to all truly reformed Penitents Yes And for that reason should you not love and obey him Yes ARTICLE VIII I believe in the holy Ghost DO you believe in the holy Ghost or Spirit Yes Is there any Difference between these words Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit No. Is not the Holy Ghost God Yes Doth not this good and Holy Spirit convert us sanctifie us and comfort us Yes Is not this good and Holy Spirit ready by his Grace to assist us in doing our Duties Yes Is he not said to be grieved when we do not make use of the Grace and Strength afforded us Yes And should we grieve this Holy Spirit by a careless and disobedient Life No. Is it not this holy Spirit that puts into your mind good Desires Yes And should we refuse or neglect to perform them No. ARTICLE IX The Holy Catholick Church The Communion of Saints DO you believe that the whole Company or general Family of true Believers professing the Gospel under Christ their head are the Catholick Church Yes Is not Catholick Church as much as to say Universal Church Yes Are not the preaching of the Word and the due Administration of the Sacraments under Bishops and Pastors lawfully called are not these the Marks of it Yes Is it not Catholick in respect of Persons and Place Time and Doctrine Yes Are all the Believers of this Catholick Church holy by their Calling and Profession Yes Should you ever cease to bless God for being a Member of this Catholick Church No. Were you received into this number of Believers when you were baptized Yes Do you firmly believe the particular Church of England to be a sound part of the Catholick Church Yes Of the Catholick Church is not part on Earth and part in Heaven Yes Is not that part of it which is on Earth called the Church Militant Yes And is not that part of it which is in Heaven called the Church Triumphant Yes Do you believe that there is and ought to be a Communion of Saints Yes Is not this Communion of Saints a Communion one with another in all holy things Yes That is to say are we not to keep a Communion one with another in Faith in Love in Charity in Prayer in hearing the Word and receiving the Sacraments Yes May we forsake or withdraw our selves from the Communion or Fellowship of Christians in holy things No. Do you believe that while the Saints or true Believers on Earth do keep up their Communion with each other in all holy things that they have a Fellowship or Communion with the Blessed Trinity the Angels and the Saints departed Yes ARTICLE X. The Forgiveness of Sins DO you believe there is Forgiveness of Sins to be had in the Church of Christ Yes Can this Forgiveness be had unless we believe in Jesus Christ and repent of them and reform them No. If we do believe in Christ and repent of our Sins and leave them and live a new and Christian life shall we be forgiven Yes Is not Repentance this A turning from Sin to God a lasting durable State of new Life and Reformation Yes If the Sinner then have chosen amiss should he not speedily turn to God and chuse better Yes Is he wise or safe if he neglect to do it one day No. ARTICLE XI The Resurrection of the Body DO you believe that the Bodies of them that
If we now consider as we ought what 't is that is enjoined us in this Commandment and what 't is that is forbidden in it and then reflecting upon our own lives find any of the Duties of it neglected by us in Thought Word or Action how affectionately should we say with the Church Lord have Mercy upon us and incline our Hearts to keep this Law That is Lord pity and pardon all our past Breaches of this Commandment and so incline our Hearts to Love and Obedience for the future that by thy Grace we may very sincerely keep this Law of thine for the remainder of our Days But before we pass from this Fourth Commandment it may not be amiss to touch upon the Reasons of the Change of the Jewish Seventh Day into the Christian Lord's Day the First Day of the Week This Precept of keeping Holy the Seventh Day or Sabbath is partly Ceremonial and partly Moral Now the Ceremonial part of the Jewish Law is done away but the Moral part of it is confirmed perfected and compleated by the Gospel The Ceremonial part of this Commandment was that God be publickly worshipped precisely on the Jewish Sabbath or the Seventh Day The Moral part of it is That a certain and determined time be set out for the publick Worship of the Eternal God And divine Love and Gratitude in us Christians should engage us not to come behind the Jews in the return of our solemn Days of publick Worship Nay Equity requires we should set out One Day in the Week to the more immediate Glorification of God and our religious Duties So that the Jewish Sabbath being abolished as they kept the Seventh Day in memory of the Creation so the Apostles and the Primitive Church and all Ages of it since kept the First Day of the Week in memory of our Lord's Resurrection and our Redemption For as the Redemption of the World was a greater Mercy than the Creation of it and as God rested from his Labours of the Creation on the Seventh Day and our Saviour rested from his Laboure of the New Creation or his Labours of our Redemption on the First Day of the Week when he arose from the Dead so the Apostles and the Church in all Ages since have set apart the First Day of the Week as the Jews were to set apart the Seventh for the peculiar Worship and Service and Glorification of God That our Lord rose from the Dead upon the First Day of the Week we see St. John xx That the Disciples assembled together on the First Day of the Week we are told St. John xx 19. That St. Paul preached and the Disciples met to break Bread that is to receive the Sacrament on the First Day of the Week we read Acts xx 7. That the Holy Ghost descended on the Apostles on the First Day of the Week is certain Acts ij 1. And that Saint John expresly calls it the Lord's-day we read Rev. i. 10. So that as the Moral Equity of the Commandment as well as divine Love and Gratitude obliges us to set apart One Day in Seven for a holy Rest and for religious Purposes so by the Practice of the Apostles and all following Ages of the Church the First Day of the Week was substituted in the room of the Jewish Sabbath which compared with the Scriptures before-mentioned is sufficient to warrant our Practice So that to sum up the whole They the Jews celebrated the Seventh Day by divine Command we the First Day by Apostolical Practice They the Seventh Day or last Day of the Week under the Law of Moses we the First Day of the Week by divine Law under the Gospel Their Seventh Day or Sabbath was Blessed and Sanctified by the Lord's command our First Day was Blessed and Sanctified by our Lord's Resurrection Their Seventh Day was Hallowed by God's resting on it from the Works of the Creation our First Day was Hallowed by our Lord 's resting on it from the Works of the New-Creation when he arose from the Grave Their Seventh Day was kept by them in memory of the great Work of the Creation of the World our First Day kept by us in memory of the greater work of its Redemption Their Seventh Day called the Lord's Sabbath Lev. xxiij 38. and elsewhere in the Old Testament our First Day called the Lord's Day in the New Rev. i. 10. As for any distinct Text in the Gospel for Christ's Abrogating the Judaical Sabbath there is no more reason to expect it than the like for Sacrifices or Circumcision or the Judaical Priesthood Vid. Dr. Hammond in St. Matthew xij 8. a. V. COMMANDMENT Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy days may be long c. THE meaning is Thou shalt pay a due Respect and Love Duties commanded and Reverence in Heart in outward Speech and Behaviour to all Superiors Thou shalt Reverence and Honour and Love and Pray for thy Natural Parents thy Father and Mother Thou shalt obey their lawful and just Commands and support them in their Needs if thou art able Thou shalt obey honour and love the King pray for him and pay him Tribute Thou shalt obey Magistrates If thou art a Servant thou shalt be faithful and obedient to thy Master and serve him with a conscionable care and diligence Thou shalt esteem respect and love and obey the Doctrines of thy Pastor which are faithfully tendred to thee from the Gospel and pay him his just Dues and Maintenance Thou shalt respect and honour the Aged thy Betters and those that are above thee in Learning Wisdom Goodness or any other Gifts and Graces It is here to be remembred too that all Superiors are to perform their Duties to their Inferiors Kings and those in Authority to protect defend and govern their Subjects Parents to nourish baptize provide for and instruct and bless their Children by their Example and their Prayers Husbands to be faithful to love to defend to protect the Wife as the Wife is to be obedient faithful and affectionate to the Husband Masters to be just to admonish to instruct to be examples to their Servants Ministers to feed the Flock faithfully and diligently by Life and Doctrine Sins forbidden These things are commanded in it and the contrary Vices are forbidden As Inferiors are forbidden to behave themselves proudly scornfully and rudely toward their Betters in Age Gifts or Estate Children forbidden to be undutiful stubborn disobedient and unkind to their Parents Subjects forbidden to rebel against dishonour disobey the King or those in Authority under him People forbidden to despise reject hate or defraud their lawful Pastor Servants forbidden to be stubborn negligent unfaithful or disobedient to their Masters And to encourage all to the Duties of this Commandment as well as to disswade them from the Sins forbidden in it here is added a Promise to the conscionable observers of it of a prosperous and peaceable living upon Earth a long and happy life
here as well as an eternally happy Life hereafter For what length of days in Canaan was to the Jews that to us is immortal Life in Heaven what being excluded thence was then that now is everlasting Death or Banishment into the Regions of Misery So that here again if we reflect on what is injoined us in this Commandment as we ought and what is forbidden in it and then reflecting upon our own Lives find any of the Duties of it neglected by us or any of the Sins against it adventured on in Thought Word or Action how earnestly and devoutly should we say with the Church Lord have Mercy upon us and incline our Hearts to keep this Law That is Lord pity and pardon all our past Breaches of this Commandment and so incline our Hearts to Love and Obedience for the future that by thy Grace we may most sincerely keep this Law of thine for the remainder of our Days VI. COMMANDMENT Thou shalt do no Murder Sins forbidden THE meaning is Thou shalt not commit either the murder of the Heart the murder of the Tongue or the murder of the Hand and Actions Thou shalt not be guilty of the murder of the Heart by Malice Envy Revenge Contention inward Cruelty or Hatred for he that hateth his Brother is a murderer Or by inward ill Wishes Curses or Desires of mischief to his Life or Health Thou shalt not be guilty of the murder of the Tongue by any virulent bitter intemperate and contumelious speaking railing or reviling by any rash causeless immoderate or implacable Anger that expresses it self in foul provoking and reproachful Language calling of names Fool Raca or the like Thou shalt not commit the murder of the Hand and Actions by beating maiming wounding killing any other or by doing hurt to the Body Life and Health of thy Neighbour Thou shalt by no means fight a Duel Thou shalt not procure Abortions or Miscarriages Thou shalt not be a quarreller or unpeaceable or contentious person or sow strifes and dissentions Here also is forbidden all unjust and unlawful War Thou shalt not willingly hasten thy own or any others Death Thou shalt not by oppression or violence so imbitter any Man's Spirit as to make his Life sad and miserable or his Death hasty Thou shalt not conceal the dangers of thy Neighbour which thou canst safely discover Thou shalt not willfully vex threaten keep in fear disquiet or grieve thy Neighbour Thou shalt not contrive with or imploy any other to harm him Much less shalt thou murder or injure the Souls of others by encouraging ensnaring tempting commanding or any way drawing them to sin Thou shalt not be guilty of unmercifulness cruelty inhumanity grudging repining and rancour and disdain against others Thou shalt not be a person given to irreconciliation frowardness implacableness mocking scoffing brawling clamour detraction or censoriousness Duties commanded So that these things being forbidden it follows that what we are here commanded is That we use all lawful endeavours and means to preserve our own and our Neighbour's Life and Health and Safety As much as in us lies to preserve and follow Peace with all Men. To prevent as far as possible and hinder all murther of the Tongue Heart or Hand To be merciful bountiful and charitable to all that are necessitous and in distress To be gentle long-suffering courteous affable and kind to all Men. To love one another forbear one another forgive one another to do all offices of Charity for one another to be easily pacified and reconciled to one another ready to return good for evil to repay injuries with kindness to compassionate succour and relieve one another in necessity misery or danger according to our abilities and opportunities to be compassionately zealous to save the Life the Eternal Life of Souls by endeavouring to reclaim the Wicked by friendly seasonable and affectionate advice reproof and exortation And now if we consider here as we ought what 't is that is enjoined us in this Commandment and what is forbidden in it and then reflecting upon our own lives find any of the Duties of it neglected by us or any of the Sins against it adventured on in Thought Word or Action how affectionately should we always say with the Church Lord have mercy upon us and incline our Hearts to keep this Law That is Lord pity and pardon all our past Breaches of this Commandment and so incline our Hearts to love and obey thee for the future that through thy Grace we may most sincerely keep this Law of thine for the remainder of our Days VII COMMANDMENT Thou shalt not commit Adultery THE meaning is Thou shalt watchfully preserve thy Soul and Body in the Purity and Chastity either of single Life Duties commanded or lawful Marriage Thou shalt keep all the Parts of thy Body which is the Temple of the Holy Ghost chast and undefiled Thou shalt be Chast in Heart in Tongue and in Behaviour Thou shalt have a Chast Hand and Eye and Ear. Thou shalt avoid all opportunities means occasions and instruments of defiling either thy Neighbour or thy self Thou shalt use that sobriety temperance and moderation in Meats and Drinks and that modesty in Behaviour and Apparel as may be most conducive to the preservation of Chastity and Purity Thou shalt by Watching Fasting and Prayer by keeping sober honest and chast Company by avoiding Idleness or by Lawful and Holy Marriage offer up to God that most acceptable Sacrifice of a pure Soul and a chast Body These things being here commanded us we are forbidden as follows Thou shalt not commit or be Sins forbidden guilty of any actions of uncleanness with thy self or any other Thou shalt not use any filthy or unchast words immodest or impure Communications or Gestures Thou shalt not violate thy Neighbour's Bed or break thy own Marriage Vow or cause others to break theirs by Adultery Thou shalt not commit Incest Beastiality Sodomy Polygamy or having more Wives than one Whoredom or Fornication Thou shalt not willingly admit or delight in unchast and unclean thoughts fancies desires and imaginations Thou shalt not commit the Adultery or Fornication or unchastity of the Eye Hand or Heart Thou shalt not be guilty of wanton dalliances with others or of pollution of thy own Body Thou shalt not tempt or betray thy self or others to the least degrees of Uncleanness by those things that provoke and feed Lust as Lascivious Company or Discourse Songs Books or Pictures by Luxurious Diet Idleness wantor Dresses and immodest Actions Here also if we seriously consider as we ought what 't is that is enjoined us in this Commandment and what is forbidden in it and then reflecting upon our own Lives find any of the duties of it neglected by us or any of the Sins against it sadly adventured on by us in Thought Word or Action how affectionately should we say with the Church Lord have Mercy upon us and incline our Hearts
what he Commands with that Love that Zeal that Readiness that Chearfulness that Sincerity Universality and Constancy as may make our Obedience like the Holy Angels above in Heaven We pray also in this Petition That we may be enabled not only to do his Will but that we may submit to his holy Will and his Wisdom in all things That his Will may be done by us and his Will may be done in us That so instead of murmuring at his Providence we may humbly submit to and patiently acquiesce in his Will and instead of inclining to do the Will of the Flesh or the Devil we may ever chearfully readily and faithfully obey his Will here below as the Angels do above Give us this day our daily bread THE meaning is We pray that God would give us all the Necessaries of this Life Health Serength Food and Raiment and a competent Portion of the good Things of this World That he would bless our lawful Endeavours to this End and Purpose That seeing by our own Industry alone we cannot procure the outward Comforts of this Life he would so bless that Industry as to give us what may conveniently support and suffice us here and bear our Charges to Heaven That seeing these our Bodies are liable to hunger and thirst cold and nakedness inconveniencies and dangers weariness and want he would by his providential Care and fatherly Provision supply all our Needs and give us such a portion of Temporal Things as may enable us with Comfort to do our Duty Here then we are taught to beg but for Bread that is such a competency as our Father sees fittest for us not for Vanities Excesses and Superfluities Daily bread this Day that we may be content with our present Portion and not be anxiously distractedly and distrustfully careful for the Morrow That as we shall need it again to Morrow so we may be put in mind and invited too to beg it again to Morrow Our Bread that is that which is our own by lawful Labour or a lawful Title and not the Bread of others We pray also in this Petition not only for Bodily Bread but for the Bread or Food of the Soul that is the Food of continual Grace For as the Body cannot sustain it self without daily Food so neither can the Soul sustain its self in its daily Temptations without the constant supply of Grace We therefore beg in this Petition that God would give us day by day for the remainder of our Days all Things necessary for our Souls and Bodies And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive them that trespass against us BY Debts and Trespasses is meant Offences or Sins against God So that the meaning is We pray that through the Satisfaction of the Holy Jesus we may be acquitted from the Guilt and Punishment of all our Sins whether of Omission or Commission thought word or deed known or secret But in this Petition here is a caution or a qualification to be in us whereby we may be capable of receiving God's Pardon As we forgive them that trespass against us That is as we forgive them that have injured us so freely as not to desire to revenge our selves on them But on the contrary do endeavour sincerely to love Enemies and to do good upon all occasions to them that hate us whenever they need our relief or assistance Now although in weightier and considerable matters we may seek and sue for reasonable Satisfaction for Damages and Injuries yet if it be not done without rigour spite malice and desires of Revenge it cannot be lawful for a Christian If in this seeking satisfaction and legal reparation where the Loss and Damage is great and considerable we give way to revengeful Desires or do it only to satisfie our revengeful Humour it is still vnlawful As for the Prosecuting a Malefactor as Murtherer Thief Robber or the like this is not made utterly unlawful by Christ nor inconsistent with the safe and devout use of this Petition provided it be not done barely to satisfie our own revengeful Humour But in Obedience to the King and the Laws who command it for the good of the Common-wealth which is injured by the Impunity of Malefactors for an example to others and alway with Pity Compassion and Charity to the Person Prosecuted For although we may and ought to forgive Injuries done to our selves yet we may not dispose of the Rights of the Prince and the Community Besides in criminal Cases the Plea is in the behalf of the King and not the injured Person So that at least in greater Cases not to Prosecute is Disobedience to the King a plain Breach of the Laws and an Act of Injustice and Uncharitableness to the Community Further yet 't is a known Rule That the Receiver is as bad as the Thief and the Accessary in some proportion is punishable as the Principal and the Concealer is certainly an Accessary Though still when all is done we should have a very watchful Eye upon our selves that we neither desire nor design the gratifying our own revengeful Humour in such Prosecutions and to that end alway labour to subdue and mortifie all such vile Affections as incline us to Revenge So that we pray in this Petition that God would forgive us our Offences against him as we forgive our Brethren so as not to desire to revenge our selves on them here or that they may fare the worse for their wrongs toward us in the Day of Judgment We pray also in this Petition for the Grace of Charity and Forgiveness That God would vouchsafe us Hearts to forgive others their Offences against us according as we expect forgiveness from God That we may see and consider the easie condition of Pardon that is set us to forgive our Brother a few Pence in this Life to have Ten thousand Talents forgiven us in the next So that this Petition cannot piously and safely be used by us unless we lay aside all hatred malice and desires of Revenge towards our Brethren And if ever in Case of great and considerable Damages we do seek for legal Satisfaction it ought to be without such hatred spite and intentions of Revenge and managed with a charitable and friendly temper and disposition toward the Person or else it cannot be innocent Behold here the absolute necessity of Humility and Charity Meekness and Self-denial Forbearance and Forgiveness in a Christian or Disciple of the Holy Jesus who cannot so much as sue rightly for reparation or satisfaction for Losses and Damages done him by others unless it be without hatred of the Person and for considerable Matters not for trifles and without Malice Spite Rigour or intentions of Revenge And may the good God grant us the Knowledge and the Practice both of the true Christian Charity and Meekness that by this Character the Holy and Meek Jesus may discern us to be his Sons and Servants And that the difficulty of this Duty may never
discourage us from the practice of it especially considering we are undone for all Ages if we are not forgiven a thousand times more by God than ever we can forgive our Brother And considering too that we have such glorious Rewards before us that it is a shameless Impudence to expect so great Glories at a less rate than the bearing Christ's easie Yoke and light Burthen at a lower rate than one short but holy Life here And lead us not into temptation THE meaning is We pray that the allurements of the World the Flesh and the Devil may be so restrained by God that if we should by any of them be tempted to sin against him he will not leave us to be overcome by the temptation and fall into sin by it Or if at any time we shall fall into a sin by their Temptations which God forbid we pray that we may not impenitently live in it Thus we pray in this Petition that seeing we are neither willing nor able of our selves to resist and overcome their temptations that God by his Grace would enable us to do it That seeing we have vile Inclinations and corrupt Affections of our own ready to betray us seeing we have a tempting World ready to deceive us and seeing there is a busie crafty watchful Devil that studies to undoe us and all of them constantly alluring us to Sin or discouraging us from our Christian Duties we pray that God would not withdraw his Grace from us so as to leave us to be overcome by them But by the assistance of that Grace by being always upon our guard by holy Resolutions and a watchful Spirit we may be enabled when we are in danger and are tempted to resist subdue and conquer the Temptation In short we pray in this Petition that whenever we are tempted God would please either to restrain the Temptation or give us Grace to withstand it But deliver us from evil THE meaning is We pray that God would please to deliver us from all the Evils of this Life and that to come Especially from the Evils to which we are tempted That he would deliver us from the Evil of Sin from the Evil One that is the Devil From the power of the Tempter From all Evils and Miseries of Soul and Mind and Body either temporal spiritual or eternal Evil Thoughts Evil Words and Evil Actions And if in his Wisdom and Mercy he see it fit for us to be our Lot and Portion to suffer some Evils or Afflictions here in this Life yet that he will reserve nothing of his Wrath in store for us in another but deliver us from an Evil Eternity the unknown Evils of the Kingdom of Darkness the intolerable Evil of Everlasting Burnings which he has prepared for the Devil and his Angels The CONCLUSION For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever THE meaning is This is no Petition but a praising and glorifying of God that we may hence learn not only to pray for what we want but return him Love and Praise and Adoration for what we receive and the end of all may be his Glory So that as we begun this Prayer with Hallowed or Sanctified and Glorified be thy Name so when we have begged of God all necessaries for our Souls and Bodies we then conclude our Prayers with Praises as it is fit we should Thine is the Kingdom Thou art King the great King of Heaven and Earth and we are thy Subjects Vouchsafe us thy Subjects what we humbly petition for and beg Thou hast commanded us O our good and great King to come to thy Throne of Grace and ask and thou hast said Ask and ye shall have Be thou then intreated by us to hear and grant our Petitions For thine is the Kingdom thine is the Soveraignty and Dominion over all the World and therefore hast an infinite right to dispose of all things Thine is the Power That is thou art Omnipotent or able to do all things and therefore sure able to grant what we humbly ask and sue for It were to no purpose to come and ask a thing of him that were not able to bestow on us what we seek for Here therefore we acknowledge God's infinite Power In all Requests or Suits the two chief things to be considered in the Person we address to are these 1. That he be able to grant us And 2. That he be willing to grant what we beg for Now here in the end of this Prayer we acknowledge God to be able to grant when we say Thine is the Power In the beginning of it we acknowledge him to be willing when we call him by the endearing name of Our Father for what Father will not readily grant a Child what he sees necessary for him Lastly we not only praise God by ascribing to him the Kingdom and Dominion over all the World and by ascribing to him the Power of being able to do all things but by ascribing to him all Glory and Honour And this also is necessary in all our Petitions not only because God says Them that honour me I will honour 1 Sam. 2.30 but because the right end of our Prayers should be the Glory of God Thine is the Glory To thee we give Honour Praise and Adoration in these and all our Devotions and if thou please to answer our Petitions and grant what we beg to thee shall be returned the Praise and Glory for all Ages Amen By Amen we declare our firm Belief that he can grant us what we pray for and our earnest Hope and fervent Desire that he will do it for the sake of him in whom all the Promises are Yea and Amen even the Lord Jesus Question What desirest thou of God in this Prayer Answer I desire my Lord God our heavenly Father who c. THE meaning is I desire God who is my Heavenly and compassionate Father and from whom every good and perfect gift comes and from whom alone I have Grace and Strength to do my Duty that I may Worship him aright when I say Hallowed be thy Name I desire Grace to serve him sincerely and acceptably here and the favour to enjoy him for ever hereafter in Glory by Praying that his Kingdom of Grace may come to us here and we may come to his Kingdom of Glory hereafter This we do when we say Thy Kingdom come We desire that we may obey him as we ought to do and in acceptable degrees and measures as the Holy Angels do in Heaven when we say Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven We pray unto God to send us all things needful both for our Souls and Bodies when we say Give us this day our daily Bread We request him to be Merciful to us and forgive us our Sins when say And forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us We pray that he will please to save and deliver us in all
himself is effectually and really but spiritually given and exhibited to all worthy Communicants And 2. It was appointed for a Seal or Confirmation and renewing of that Covenant of Grace which God made with us in and by Christ Jesus which is the great Benefit we receive by his Death 'T is true we were as I said admitted into this Covenant by Baptism and 't is as true that we have since that time by Disobedience broken our part of it But here we are graciously admitted to confirm it we renew it here Here we come to own that though we are Sinners yet we are no Apostates have not fallen from the Christian Faith Here we come solemnly to own our Crucified Master and to declare that as we were admitted into a gracious Covenant with God in Baptism so we now desire to confirm it desire to renew it humbly desire to receive the benefit of it to all Ages So that by coming to this last Sacrament of the Lord's Supper for the constant remembrance of his Death for us for the real and effectual receiving him and for a renewing of the Covenant of Grace with God we solemnly own whose we are to whom we belong what Religion we are Professors of We here most solemnly distinguish our selves from Jews Infidels and Mahometans We come to own and evidence solemnly to God and the World whose Name we profess and own and upon whose account 't is we hope Salvation We come to own for whose Death and Sufferings-sake 't is that we do humbly expect and hope to be blessed for ever happy for ever secure for ever so sit down in peace and glory for ever We shew by frequenting it upon whose account 't is we humbly hope to be safe then when the whole World shall be in Flames and the Earth with the Works thereof shall be burnt up Here we come solemnly to own upon whose account 't is we hope to have all our Prayers heard and to have our Obedience though imperfect accepted and all our religious Actions and Instance of Duty to be united to his Merits and his Intercession Question What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper Answer Bread and Wine which the Lord hath commanded c. THE meaning is As the outward part or sign in the One Sacrament is Water wherein the Person is Baptized In the name c. So the outward part or sign of the Other Sacrament is Bread and Wine Here now an ill Person may say 'T is strange there should be so much in pouring a little Water on an Infant and in eating and drinking a little consecrated Bread and Wine To this I answer This is a great instance of our Lord's Love and Tenderness and Mercy to us that he would enjoin us no such painful troublesom and chargeable ways of Service of him as were in the Jewish Church when That was the true Church Their Circumcision was a painful way of admitting them into Covenant with God Their Bullocks Sheep Goats and Lambs were offered up in Sacrifice to him But our Blessed Jesus requires of us no such expensive and painful Rites and Sacrifices in his Service and his Worship No he will please to admit us into Covenant with him into his Church and his Favour by being Baptized with Water In the name c. if we afterward sincerely stand to our Conditions of Faith Repentance and Obedience these easie and reasonable terms Then again in the other Sacrament of the Lord's Supper he permits and invites us to renew this Covenant and injoins us to remember the Death and Sufferings of him our Master not by any painful troublesom chargeable ways of Sacrifice or the like but by coming with Faith and Repentance Charity and Devotion to his holy Table there to Feast together on his Body and Blood represented and exhibited to us by Bread and Wine Question What is the inward part or thing signified Answer The Body and Blood of Christ which are verily c. THE meaning is As Bread and Wine are the outward parts or signs of the Lord's Supper to be seen by the Eye so the thing signified or inward part is this All faithful receivers do after a spiritual manner feed on the Body and Blood of Christ as truly and really as they do on the Bread and Wine They are by this heavenly Duty united more closely to him They behold in the broken Bread his Body broken on the Cross for us They behold and see represented in the Wine poured out his Blood shed for us Having beheld this they then truly spiritually and effectually receive the Body and Blood of Jesus in this Supper that is their crucified Saviour is really exhibited and given to the Souls of all faithful Communicants all the benefits of his Death and Sufferings conveyed to them Question What are the Benefits whereof we are made partakers thereby Answer The strengthening and refreshing of our Souls by c. THE meaning is That all penitent faithful sincerely worthy Communicants are by the receiving of the body and blood of our Saviour strengthened and refreshed both They are strengthened by the Grace of God hereby conveyed to them and they are refreshed by the comfortable hope of Pardon and of being admitted to his Favour Thus By this heavenly Duty their Faith is strengthened by beholding the lively representation of their crucified Saviour's Body broken and Blood shed before their Eyes By this Duty their Hope is strengthened when they see before them what great Things Christ has done and suffered for their Salvation how willing he is to be reconciled and that now there is nothing wanting to their Pardon and Salvation but a sincere Repentance Reformation and a persevering new Obedience By this Duty their Love to God is strengthened by considering and beholding his Love to them in sending his Son to die for their Sins and by beholding the Love of Jesus in laying down his Life for their Redemption By this Holy Duty their Love and Charity towards each other is strengthened when we consider how freely Christ laid down his Life for us all and that we are all Members of his Body how must this needs unite us with Peace and Love as we are Travelling on together to Jesus and Jerusalem By this Duty our Repentance would be strengthened and made more serious deep and persevering when we behold what bitter sufferings our Iniquities brought our Jesus to and in these sufferings behold the great hatred of God to Sin By this Duty our resolutions of Obedience would be strengthened For as the Representation of the sufferings of our dearest Lord for our Interest would encrease our Love so would that Love fix and endear our Obedience By the frequent and devout performance of this Duty our Souls would through the Grace of God then conveyed to them in it be strengthened in a lively and active Faith in a Seraphick Love in Divine Obedience and in a Primitive Piety As in this Duty
do this Use lawful means pray to God and trust him Yes Must we not trust in God for his Grace Yes But do we trust aright if we do not pray for it and do not carefully use and imploy that Grace which we have already No. Must we trust in God for a supply of our bodily wants Yes But do we trust aright if we do not use honest industry and labour No. Of Cares Is all carking vexatious distrustful and immoderate care unlawful Yes Is a prudent moderate Care unlawful No. Must we not therefore faithfully use our own endeavours and then look up to God for a Blessing on us Yes ¶ Sunday II. ¶ Of humility IS not humility towards God a Christian Duty Yes Is not this humility such a sense of our own meanness and his Excellency as may make us lowly and submissive to him Yes When God commands us any thing should not this humility make us chearfully set about it In respect of obedience Yes Is the proud Man apt to obey God No. Though we do sincerely obey God should not this humility keep us from any high conceits of our own performances Yes In respect of our own performancer If we do entertain any high and proud conceits of our own performances will they be acceptable to God No. Are not the best of our Works full of Infirmity and full of pollution Yes In respect of Patience Is Patience a duty towards God Yes Is Patience a willing and quiet yielding to whatever Affliction it pleases God to lay upon us Yes Can this Patience become easie to us without humility towards God No. Will the patient Man repine and grudge and murmur at that which God lays upon him No. When God afflicteth us doth he not aim at our good Yes Does not God correct and punish us to bring us to amendment of Life or for a trial of our Patience Yes And does not God often afflict and chastise us here Thankfulness for Afflictions that there may be nothing of evil left for another World Yes Well then should we not be thankful for Afflictions Yes Fruitfalness under them Should we be unfruitful under Afflictions No. Should we be so fruitful as to examine what Sin it might be that did provoke God to sinite us and to reform it Yes When any afflictions befal us from Man is it not by God's permission and sufferance Of Afflictions from Men. Yes Instead of looking upon them therefore with rage and revenge should we not look up to God and acknowledge his Justice in the Affliction Yes When God commands us to believe some things which seem impossible to us doth not Humility teach us to believe them Yes When God commands us to do any thing which is contrary to our fleshly reason and humour must we not do it Yes Submission to Divine Providence Is that Condition best for us whatever it be which God has put us in Yes Can we chuse better for our selves than God can for us No. When God denies us any thing of this world as Wealth Honour Beauty and the like is it not some way or other for our good Yes Is it not our Duty to Honour God Honour Yes That is are we not to have a very high esteem of God in our hearts Yes If we truly honour God should we do any unworthy Action in his Sight No. Of honouring God in his House Are we not to honour God in his House which is the Church Yes Should we not enter into his House with Awe and Reverence Yes in his Possession Must we not Honour God in his Possessions Yes What are these Possessions are they not Tithes and Offerings Yes Can we with-hold them from the Minister without sin No. in his Day Are we to Honour God in his Day Yes Is the Lord's Day to be spent in the Worship and Service of God Yes In Prayer Reading and Meditation Yes May any works except works of Necessity and Charity be done upon that day No. Should not a good Christian those of leisure especially besides the Lord's Day spend some other Days in the solemn Worship of God according as the Church has appointed Yes Should he not keep Christmas-Day Of Festivals with a thankful remembrance of the Nativity of our Saviour Yes Should he not keep Easter-Day with a thankful remembrance of Christ's rising from the Dead Yes Should he not keep White-Sunday with a solemn and thankful remembrance of the coming down of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles Yes Should not a good Christian if he have leisure keep other Holy-Days of Saints-days in memory of the Apostles and other Saints Yes Can any good Man desire to be excused from celebrating their Memory and blessing God for their Example and their Doctrine and desiring Grace to follow them No. Can any good Man blame the Church for setting apart and appointing these Days for this purpose No. Did not these Apostles and Saints reveal Christ and the way of Salvation to us Yes And should we not be thankful for this Yes Should we not at least upon these Holy-Days stir up our selves to the imitating their good Example Yes Fasts of the Church Are there not some Days of Fasting and Humiliation of our selves before God to be kept by the devout Christian Yes Are we not to miss a meal to give Alms to afflict our selves to confess and bewail our Sins before God upon these days Yes Are not Ash-Wednesday and Good-Friday two great Fasting-days Days of penitential Humiliation Yes Is there any Popery or Superstition in penitential Exercises Fastings and Humiliation on those days No. Of honouring God in his Word Are we not to Honour God in his Word Yes Is not this Word of God contained in the Scripture Yes Should we not read it study it and frame all the Actions of our lives by it Yes Should we perform those Duties which God commands us there to perform Yes Should we commit those things which God there forbids us No. Of Catechising Is the Word of God explained to us by the Catechizing and Preaching of God's Minister Yes Are Parents and Masters to Catechize and instruct their Children and Servants Yes If Persons have not been Catechized and Instructed when they were young should they be content to live ignorant when they come Elder No. of Preaching Should we frequently hear Sermons Yes But will hearing only make us good Christians No. Must we not labour to remember and practise what we hear Yes The Sacraments Are there any more Sacraments generally necessary than Two No. Do not these Sacrament convey great Blessings and Benefits to us Yes Of Baptism Did we not enter into Covenant with God when we were baptized Yes The Covenant of Grace What was the Covenant on God's Part was it not a promise of pardon of sin his sanctifying Grace and eternal Glory Yes
And what was our part of the Covenant was it not that we would believe in Jesus Christ repent of our Sins and sincerely obey him all our Days Yes The Vow of Baptism in renouncing the Devil Seeing we renounced the Devil in our Baptism may we any way deal with him as by Conjuration or Witcheraft No. When Men go to Conjurers and Witches for any help do they not in some degree forsake God Yes Are the Works of the Devil all Sin particularly Pride Lying Malice Envy Murder and tempting others to Sin Yes Must not a Christian forsake all the Pomps of the World the World Yes Are not the Pomps of the World all Excess in Diet Sports or Apparel or what 's above our Degree and Quality Yes Are we not to forsake all Temptations of the World Yes All the vain and sinful Customs of the World Yes All things of the World that may be an occasion of sin to us Yes All that friendship of the World that is enmity with God Yes All things of the World that may take off my heart from God Yes Should a Christian either covet or greedily and inordinately seek the Riches Honours and Pleasures of the World No. Must we so forsake the World as to get or keep no part of it by unlawful means nor set our heart on it Yes Must we forsake all wicked Companies and all wicked Customs of the World Yes Should a Christian be led by the sinful Lusts the Plesh or the unclean desires of the Flesh No. Are we not to forsake all those Lusts of the Flesh which St. Paul mentions Gal. 5.19 c. Yes Promise of Faith in Baptism and Obedience Do you believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith which your Godfathers and Godmothers promised you should believe Yes Will you labour to keep God's holy Will and Commands as they promised in your name Yes Are we not highly concerned to keep this Covenant with God which we made at our Baptism Yes Can we reasonably expect that God should make good his part of this Covenant if we do not sincerely make good our part No. ¶ Sunday III. ¶ Lord's Supper ARE not all Christians to receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper as often as conveniently they can Yes meaning of it Do we not come to the Sacrament thankfully to remember Christ's Death for us and to renew that Covenant with God which we made at our Baptism Yes Can any good Christian desire to be excused from doing this No. Renewing of the Covenant of Grace Does not the Covenant which we renew contain Mercies on God's part and Duties on ours Yes Are not the Mercies on God's part as was said before Pardon of Sin Grace here and Glory hereafter Yes And are not the Duties on our part Faith or a stedfast belief in Christ Repentance for all known sin and future sincere Obedience Yes Should we neglect to examine our seives before Examination wherein we have broken our Covenant by sinning against God No. Should we not examine how wilful how great how frequent our sins against God have been Yes Humiliation and Contrition Ought not this sight of them to bring us to Humiliation and Contrition Yes Is not the true Contrition a sorrow out of Love to God Yes That is should we not sorrow because we have offended so good a Father so tender a Saviour and grieved his Holy Spirit Yes Should we not privately in Prayer Confesion confess our Sins to God and mention in particular the chiefest of them Yes Must we not beg God to cleanse us from secret Sins those which we have forgot by saying with David Cleanse thou me from my secret faults Yes Resolutions of Obedience When we have sorrowed for them and confessed them may we still keep them and live in them No. Must we not renounce them and resolve to obey God better for the future Yes When we have examined our selves Faith and confessed our Sins to God and sorrowed for love of him and purposed sincerely to obey him for the future are we to believe that our sins shall be pardoned through Christ Yes Must we not bring with us to the Sacrament Charity Charity and Love to our Brethren Yes May we come with malice and hatred in our hearts No. Must we not labour to reconcile them to us whom we have injured and seek forgiveness and make our peace with them before we come Yes And must we not be ready to forgive them that have injured us Yes Must we not bring with us Devotion Devotion and put off all thoughts of the World Yes Vsefulness of a Spiritual Guide If we doubt of any thing before should we not do well to ask the advice of a Minister Yes Should we be ashamed or afraid to discover the griefs or doubts of our Soul to him No. Would a good Man like us much the better for so doing Yes Meditation when receiving When we are at the Lord's Table should we not humbly meditate on our own Unworthiness Yes And should we not thankfully meditate on Christ's sufferings for us Yes Was not Christ the Sacrifice which was offered up for our Sins Yes Could there be a greater instance of Love than for Christ to die for us and our Salvation No. For this Love of Christ's can we return him less than Love and Obedience No. Thankfulness afterward After the Sacrament should we not thank God for the benefits and mercies there received Yes Mindfulness of our good Purposes Should we forget any of our good Resolutions there made No. Is it not very dangerous willfully to break them Yes Should we not often renew our Covenant with God in the Sacrament Yes ¶ Sunday IV. ¶ Honouring God's name SHould we not honour God in his name Yes May a Christian dishonour it by swearing No. May we dishonour him by speaking any evil or thinking any evil of God No. Of Perjury and Oaths Is not Perjury or false-swearing a dreadful sin against God Yes Should not a Christian be very careful never to swear vainly rashly or falsly Yes Should he ever swear at all unless he be lawfully called to it No. Ought not every Christian to lay to heart the great sin and danger of swearing vainly rashly and falsly Yes ¶ Sunday V. ¶ MUST not a Christian Worship God in his Soul and Body Yes Worship Must not a Christian pray frequently and constantly Yes Prayer When we pray to God should we not confess our Sins to him and beg his Pardon Confession and his Grace to amend our lives Yes Should not a Christian pray in private as well as publick Yes Should not a Christian in Prayer beg of God for those Graces which he most wants Yes Should not the Lyar beg of God the Grace to speak Truth the Lustful Man for Chastity the Proud Man for Humility and the like
Yes Petition for others as well as our selves Should we neglect to pray for others as well as our selves No. Should we not pray for Parents Children Husband Wife Friends and Benefactors and the like Yes Should we forget to thank God for all his Mercies when we pray to him No. Thanksgiving Publick and private Prayer Should not a good Christian pray to God publickly in the Church and in the Family and privately by himself alone Yes Can he do it seldomer than Morning and Evening No. Frequency in it Should not those that have leisure do very well to pray oftner Yes Advantages of it Is it not an Honour a blessed and a Pleasant thing that we can pray to God and beg Mercies of him Yes How to pray May we ever ask of God any thing unlawful No. When we pray must we not pray faithfully and humbly and earnestly and mind what we are about Yes May we think upon other things when we are praying to God No. He that would pray rightly should he not cleanse his heart from all affections to sin Yes Should we not kneel when we pray whether at Church or at Home Yes Of Repentance Is not Repentance a turning from Sin to God Yes Should we not daily repent of our sins Yes May we put it off to our Death-bed No. Is it not a most desperate and dangerous Madness to do so Yes Times for it Besides our daily Repentance should we not set apart some times solemnly to humble our selves before God for sin Yes Should we not do well sometimes to keep a fasting day or to miss a meal and spend that time in humbling our selves before God for our sins Yes Is not the afflicting our selves or the revenging our selves for sin by fasting acceptable to God Yes Can such revenge upon our selves for sin satisfie for our Offences No. Is there any thing but the Blood of Christ that can make Satisfaction for our Offences No. But shall that Blood be applied to any but Penitent sinners No. Branches of it or steps to it Are not these then the steps to Repentance The confessing our sins in Prayer to God the sorrowing for them resolutions of forsaking them and of a new obedience Yes Should not a good man set apart these times for fasting or missing a meal Fasting and caling himself to an account for his sins and returning to God by Repentance as often as he may conveniently Yes Would it not be a happy course if we did it once a week or once a month Yes May a Christian give divine Worship to a Saint or Angel or to any Image No. Is it not Idolatry to do so Yes Idolatry Is it not an Idolatry to love or fear or trust in any thing more than God Yes Sunday VI. To our Selves OUght not a Christian to be humble Yes Humility Is not Humility to have a mean and low opinion of our selves and to be content that others should have so too Yes Does God love the Proud Man No. Pride Is not Pride then a very dangerous sin Yes May a man be proud of Beauty Strength Wit or Grace No. Should we not watch against the beginnings of Pride in the Heart and pray against it Yes Should a Christian hunt after the praise of Men No. Should he not be content to be without it and labour only for the Praise of God Yes Is it not a sinful and dangerous thing Vain-glory. to thirst after the praise of Men Yes Will a good Action be accepted if it be done out of vain-glory No. Whenever we do a good Action should we not seek the praise of God and not the praise of Men Yes Of Meekness Is not Meekness a Christian Duty Yes Is not Meekness a calmness and quietness of Spirit so as not to be apt to be wrathful angry and enraged Yes Will not this Duty liken us to Christ Yes Should not a Christian be of a meek and quiet Spirit toward God and Man toward Superiors Equals Inferiours Friends and Enemies Yes Should a Christian be ever causelesly or immoderately angry with any Man No. May a Christian in his Anger call Names as Rogue Rascal Fool or the like No. Should not a Christian labour to prevent and suppress the first beginnings of Rage and Wrath and Anger Yes Would it not be a good way to do it to shut up the lips Yes Seeing Meekness will so liken us to Christ should we not labour for it and pray for it Yes Is not Consideration a Christian Vertue Yes Consideration Is not the want of Consideration the cause of most of our Sins Yes Should we not often consider the state of our Soul how it stands toward God Of our state or whether we have reason to hope it is in God's Favour Yes Is he in God's Favour that continues in any one willful sin No. And if he die in it can he hope for Mercy at his Hands No. Is not the neglect of Consideration a dangerous things Yes Should we not before we do any action consider whether it be lawful or not Yes Of our Actions When upon consideration we find any action done to be unlawful should we not instantly repent of and amend it Yes Would it not be a good course every night to try and examine the actions of the day past Yes And if any of them were Evil to beg God's Pardon and resolve instantly upon amendment Yes Sunday VII IS not contentedness a Christian Duty Yes Contentedness Should a Christian be pleased with that Condition that God has placed him in Yes May he murmur or repine at it No. May a Christian be a covetous Person No. Is contentedness a good remedy against Covetousness Yes Is not Covetousness the setting our Heart upon Wealth Covetousness or the consenting to any desires of getting or keeping it by any unlawful means Yes May a Christian omit any Duty or commit any Sin to get Wealth No. Can he that is covetous ever perform his Duties either to God himself or Neighbour No. Should not a Christian strive for the vertue of Contentedness and pray for it Yes Is not Diligence a Christian Vertue Yes Should not a Christian diligently watch against all Sin Yes Diligence Watchfulness and Industry Should he not watch most narrowly against that Sin to which he is most inclined Yes And must he not labour to avoid all occasions of it Yes Should we not diligently husband and imploy all the gifts of the Soul so as may bring in most glory to God Yes May we imploy any of them in the Devil's Service or the Service of Sin No. Must we not diligently imploy and use the talent of Grace which God has given us Yes If we do imploy and husband it faithfully will God give us more Yes If we do not imploy and husband what we have will God take it away Yes Must
we pray for more Grace as well as imploy what we have already Yes Is not Chastity or Purity a great Christian Vertue Chastity a lovely and a Heavenly Vertue Yes May he that would be chast allow himself in any acts of Lust or Uncleanness No. Are all acts of that nature utterly unlawful except only in lawful Marriage Yes May a Person commit any act of Lust upon himself No. Of the Hand and Eye Tongue and Heart Are not Incest Adultery and Fornication great Sins against God Yes Are not the Lusts of the Hand and Eye utterly unlawful Yes May our Words or Discourse be filthy or immodest No. Are lustful and foul desires and imaginations unlawful Yes Has not God threatned heavy Vengeance upon these Sins Yes Helps to it Should not he that would be pure and chast resist the very first beginnings of this Temptation Yes Should he not cast away the very first fancy of Lust with anger and indignation Yes Should not he that would be chast avoid Idleness Yes Should he that would be chast think upon any unclean passages of his former Life No. Should he go into the company of light and wanton Persons No. Should he earnestly pray to God for the Spirit of Purity Yes Ought not those to marry who cannot live innocently without Marriage Yes Temperance in eating Ought not a Christian to be temperate in Eating Yes Should a Christian pamper his Body to serve his Lust No. Should a Christian eat for Health and not for Pleasure Yes Should he be too curious or costly in his Food No. ¶ Sunday VIII ¶ OUght not a Christian to be temperate in Drinking Yes Are not Drunkenness and Gluttony great Sins against God Yes In Drinking Is it not a Sin to make any other Person drunk Yes Is there not a Woe pronounced against it Yes May a Christian drink so much as to distemper his Reason and Understanding No. Though a Person can bear Drink yet may he drink hard without Sin No. Should a Christian hearken to the perswasions of them that would have him drink beyond measure No. Should a Christian be afraid of their Reproaches that would tempt him to this Sin No. If he be ever reproached for Temperance or any other Vertue is it not a blessed thing Yes Ought not every one as he loves his Soul carefully to abstain from the sin of Drunkenness Yes Are they not therefore carefully to avoid that company or occasion in which they may be tempted to it Yes ¶ Sunday IX ¶ Temperance in Sleep and recreations OUght a Christian to be moderate and temperate in sleep Yes Is not sloth and immoderate sleep a Sin against God Yes Are any Recreations lawful for a Christian Yes Are those lawful which are dishonourable to God or injurious to our Neighbour No. Must we be temperate in them so as not to spend too much time at them Yes May we set our Heart too much upon them No. Is not the end of Recreation to be a refreshing of our selves Yes Are we to use them only to pass away our time No. Should we play at any game meerly out of Covetousness or to get Money No. May we cheat or cozen in our Recreations No. Temperance in Apparel Ought a Christian to be temperate in Apparel Yes Should he not wear such as agrees with his condition and quality Yes May we be proud of Apparel No. Should a Christian strive to go beyond his Rank No. Is it a Sin to bestow too much time care or cost about it Yes May a Christian pinch his Body either in Food or Raiment to fill his Purse No. Sunday X. Duty to our Neighbour ARE not Justice and Charity Justice the two great Duties which we owe our Neighbour Yes May a Christian spitefully and causelesly vex and grieve the Mind of another No. Of drawing others into Sin May we draw any other man into Sin by any means No. Is it not a great wickedness to entice any Man to Sin Yes May we command any Man to Sin No. May we perswade or advise any Man to Sin No. May we assist or help others in contriving or acting a Sin No. May we lead any Man to sin by our Example No. May we encourage any Man in Sin No. May we defend or justifie any Man in Sin No. May we affright or discourage any from Holiness and Christian Living No. Is it not a great wickedness to have drawn any to Sin by any of these means Yes Is it not sadly to be repented of Yes Should we not labour to win those to Repentance whom we have drawn into Sin Yes Should we not labour to do it though it cost us much self-denial and difficulty Yes Of Murther Is not Murther a dreadful Sin Yes Can he be excused from Murther who is the cause of another Man's death either by false Witness or by Drinking or by setting others at variance No. Maiming a great Injury Is the maiming our Brother a degree of Murther Yes Should not he that has been guilty of maiming another make what satisfaction he can for so doing Yes As by assisting him in that maintenance which he is disabled to get Yes Wounds and Stripes Is not wounding and striking any Man a degree of Murther and a Sin Yes Murther of the tongue and heart Are not bitter revilings or reproaches of others the murther of the Tongue and a Sin Yes Is not malice and hatred and ill wishes the murther of the Heart Yes In all these cases should we neglect to make what satisfaction we are able to the Person injured No. Should we labour to reconcile them to us to regain them and seek their Favour whom by any of these means we have injured Yes ¶ Sunday XI ¶ IS not Adultery a heinous crying Sin Adultery Yes Is it not Lust and Perjury too Yes Malicious Injustice Is not the spoiling the Goods of any Man out of Spite and Malice a heinous Sin Yes Can a Man repent of it truly without he make satisfaction and restitution No. May a Man covet to gain the Goods of another to himself No. That is to say may he covet to gain them by Oppression or Violence or any unlawful means No. Or by wearying them out of them by Power or vexatious Law-suits No. Is it not a great Sin to oppress another by Extortion or by taking advantages Oppression and making them pay for their needs Yes Should we not lend to the Poor freely and without Use Yes Should a Landlord rack a Tenant beyond the worth of the thing No. Is not the oppressing the Poor the Fatherless and Widows or spoiling by Violence a crying Iniquity Yes Theft May a Christian steal in any case No. Not paying what we borrow what we have promised or are bound for Is it not as bad as stealing to refuse to pay Debts or what we borrow Yes Is it not
as bad as stealing to withhold what a Man has voluntarily promised Yes Though a Man have promised something which is much to his own disadvantage is he bound to make it good Yes Ought a Man in Conscience to pay those Debts which he is bound for in case the principal cannot or will not Yes Is it not a crying sin to withhold the wages of the Servant or the hire of the Labourer Yes ¶ Sunday XII ¶ Not to receive or buy stollen Goods IS not Robbery on the way or plundering a great Iniquity Yes May a Christian receive stollen Goods if he know or believe them to be stollen No. May a Christian buy stollen Goods if he know or believe they are stollen No. If a Man conceal those Goods which he finds Of things found Deceit in trust and does not restore them if he can learn out the owner is he not a Thief Yes May a Christian be deceitful or unfaithful in any Trust whether to the Living or the Dead No. Can Executors or Guardians for Children or Servants be unfaithful to their Trust without Sin No. In traffick Is it not deceit in selling any thing to conceal the faults of it Yes If a Man know any faults by the thing he sells and if the Chapman find them not out should a Christian in Justice tell him Yes Deceit in Buying and Selling. May a Seller use deceitful arts to hide the faults of what he sells No. May Sellers pick out silly and ignorant Chapmen to put off their deceitful Wares to No. Are false Weights and Measures an abomination to the Lord Yes If a seller find his Chapman ignorant should he therefore over-rate him No. May a seller take advantage upon the necessities of him that buys No. Is not that Extortion and Oppression Yes Should a Seller raise the Rate of any thing above moderate allowable gains because the Buyer greatly fansies the thing and resolves to have it No. If a Seller knows not the worth of what he sells may the Buyer take advantage of his Ignorance No. When a Man's Wants and Necessities compel him to sell any thing speedily should the Buyer for this grate upon him and beat him down much below the worth of the thing No. Should not Buyers and Sellers both labour for a strict Justice in Traffick Yes Does not Deceit and Injustice in buying and selling commonly bring a Canker and a Curse with it Yes The necessity of Restitution Is a Christian bound to make Restitution to those whom he has wronged as far as he can before he can be a true Penitent Yes But what if the Party be dead must not the Restitution be made to his Heirs or Executors Yes But what if a Man have wronged so many that he cannot now remember who they were is not the Restitution to be made to the Poor Yes Ought the Restitution to come short of the Injury No. Should it not rather exceed it Yes Has every Man Restitution made him and Justice done him when himself is satisfied though by a Word or a Farthing Yes Though this business of Restitution be so much a stranger to many in the World ought not a Christian seriously to consider it Yes Should a Christian neglect to make Restitution for any known injury for fear of shame or reproach No. If he find any other difficulties in the Case of Restitution should he not ask counsel and direction of a Minister Yes ¶ Sunday XIII ¶ Credit of our Neighbour False Reports IS it not a great sin to lessen the good name of our Brother by false Reports Yes Should a Man report Ill of his Neighbour though he have some slight surmise that the thing is true No. Should a Christian be apt and forward to believe ill of his Neighbour No. When we hear ill of another Man should a Christian report it to others No False witness Is not the bearing false Witness in Courts of Justice a heinous sin Yes Railing and Is not railing backbiting or slandering a great sin Yes Is not the Whisperer Whispering that privately vents his slanders and spreads ill reports secretly under a great guilt Yes Should any Man that would secure his Charity and his Peace give ear to Tale-bearers and encourage them No. Seessing for infirmities or calamities May we dispise or scoff at another for any infirmity of Body or Mind No. May we despise or scoff at another for his Calamities or Afflictions No. Or Sins May we despise and scoff at another for his sins No. Is it not a sin to judge any Man rashly Judging and censure him Yes May a Christian bear any malice in his heart toward his Neighbour or hate any Man No. May we wish any evil in our heart to any Man No. May we rejoice in any evil that befals another No. May we take any pleasure in the sin of his Soul or the hurt of his Body No. May we envy our Neighbour any good thing he enjoys No. Envy Repairing the injury of defamation Seeing the taking away a Man 's good name by spreading false reports slandering whispering railing and the like are such great sins ought not a Christian to make what satisfaction he can Yes Should not the Restitution be made by endeavouring to restore his Neighbour to that degree of Credit which he deprived him of Yes Or at least should he not make him satisfaction by confessing his fault begging his pardon and making his peace with him Yes Can a Man be a true Penitent for such Injuries without Restitution No. Of Lying May a Christian tell a Lye No. May he not do it out of fear to avoid danger or to hide a fault No. Is it not a sin to tell Lyes by way of Story Yes Or out of Malice Yes Or to tell Lyes out of Covetousness or to cheat another Yes Is it not a sin to tell Lyes out of Pride or to set a Man's self out Yes Should not a Christian be of a courteous Behaviour toward all Men Yes May a Christian render evil for evil or railing for railing by any means No. Is not a proud and churlish Behaviour hateful to God and Man Yes Churlishness Ought not a Christian to be meek and gentle and patient toward all Yes Should not a Christian do good even to those that hate him Yes If any Enemy were in distress should not a good Christian relieve him if he could Yes Should not all brawling Brawling quarrels bitter reproaches and revilings and causeless anger be far from a Christian Yes May a Christian in his anger curse any man No. Is not cursing any Cursing quite contrary to the Duty of praying for them that despitefully use us Yes Should a Christian pray for them who injure him and despitefully use him Yes Seeing Christ himself did so should we not follow his Example Yes Respect due to Better◠Should we not bear a
must she obey him then too Yes Can any thing warrant the Wife 's not obeying besides the unlawfulness of the Command No. Is the Wife to be faithful to the Husband's Bed Yes Fidelity And faithful and careful of his worldly affairs Yes May the Wife strive for Rule and Dominion over her Husband No. Is the Wife tenderly to love her Husbands Yes Love Can the faults of a Husband justifie the frowardness of a Wife No. Husbands Duty Love Faithfulness Does the Husband owe the Wife a tender Love Yes Is the Husband to be faithful to her Bed Yes Is not unfaithfulness to the Bed in either Perjury as well as Adultery Yes May the Husband deny the Wife maintenance No. Maintenance and Instruction Is the Husband to instruct the Wife according to his knowledge and ability Yes To pray for each other Should the Husband and the Wife pray for each other and advance one anothers good Yes Is it not a great sin to marry any that is promised to another Yes May those marry that are within the degrees of Kindred which are forbidden by God No. If a person marry one that is too near of Kin to his deceased Wife is not that as bad as if she were too near of kin to himself Yes Must not a Christian be faithful to his Friend Yes May he betray the Secrets committed to him by his Friend No. Friendship Its Duties Should he not assist his Friend in his needs and pray for him Yes Should he kindly admonish him of his Faults Yes Should we be constant to our Friend Yes Servants Duty Obedience Diligence Is a Servant to obey his Master in all lawful Commands Yes Ought not a Servant to be diligent in his labours as well in his Master's absence as when his Eye is over him Yes Ought a Servant to be faithful in those things which are committed to his trust Yes Faithfulness c. May a Servant waste or purlion his Master's Goods No. Or convert them to his own use No. Ought a Servant to be meek and patient under his Master's Reproofs Yes May a Servant give his Master or Mistress rude and surly Answers No. Ought not a Servant to be diligent in his Master's business Yes Should a Servant give himself to Idleness and Company-keeping No. Ought not Servants to be present at Family-Prayers Yes Masters Duty Ought not Masters to be Just to their Servants and to perform what they have promised Yes Is it not a great Oppression Justice and crying Sin to with-hold the Wages of the Hireling and the Servant Yes Ought not Masters to admonish and reprove their Servants Admonition when they sin against God Yes And should they not exhort and perswade them to Religion and Virtue Yes Instruction May Masters use Servants Cruelly and Tyrannically No. Should they not remember that they have a Master in Heaven Yes Should Masters be moderate and reasonable in their Commands Yes Should not Masters give them a good Example Good Example c. Yes Ought not Masters to provide them means of Instruction in Religion Yes Should they deny them time and opportunity for Prayer and the Worship of God No. Should Masters permit their Servants to live idly and neglect their Duty No. Should not Masters encourage them in well doing Yes Sunday XVI IS not Charity a great Christian Duty Charity Yes Are not all the parts of it to be seriously considered and conscientiously practised by all that will be true Christians Yes Is not Charity a sincere love of God and of our Brethren for God's sake Yes Does not Charity ingage us to desire and wish good to others In the Affections Yes Can a charitable Man wish any hurt either to the Soul or the Body or the Goods or the Credit of any Man No. To Mens Souls Is not a charitable Man first of all to wish all good to the Souls of all Men Yes Is it not a great uncharitableness to wish the damnation of any Man Yes Effects of this Charity If we love our Neighbour as our selves may we wish that evil to him which we would not have befal our selves No. Is not the charitable Man to be meek and peaceable with all Yes Is the charitable Man contentions or easily provoked No. Is not the charitable Man to be compassionate towards the miseries of others Yes Should not the charitable Man rejoice in the good and prosperity of others Yes Is it not the property of the charitable Man to pray for the good of others Yes Can a charitable Man be envious or grieve at the prosperity of another Man No. Will not true Charity cast Pride out of the Heart Yes Is the charitable Man apt rashly to judge or censure others No. Is not the charitable Man forward to believe the best and hope the best of all Men Yes Can a truly charitable Man be a Dissembler or pretend a false Love No. This Charity to be extend to Enemies Is that Charity where a Man loves another only because he may get by him No. Does not the true Christian Charity cast out of the Heart all malice and desires of revenge Yes May Christians desire to be revenged on their Enemies No. Can a malicious revengeful Man be charitable No. Must a Christian love and be ready to do good to his spitefullest Enemy Yes Should we make them any returns for their Injuries besides Blessings and Prayers No. Though this seem to be a hard Duty must not Christians chearfully obey it Yes Will not Heaven and Happiness make amends hereafter for our conscionable Practice of all such self-denying Duties Yes Should Enemies Persecutors slanderers Revilers or any that have wronged us conquer our Love toward them No. Should we endeavour to overcome the evil they do us by doing good to them Yes Should not Christians carefully practise such a Charity as this to Enemies though it be contrary to the customs and fashion of the World Yes Motives to it If any man should jeer you or despise you for such a Charity will not that liken you to your dear Saviour Yes And is it not a blessed thing to be likened to him Yes The command of Christ Seeing this Charity to and forgiveness of Enemies and returning kindnesses for affronts and injuries seems hard would you know how much you are ingaged to practise it Yes Well then is it not an express Command of Christ's Yes And should a Disciple desire to be excused from obeying so great a Command of his master's No. Example of God and Christ If the Command of our Saviour prevail not with us should not the Example of God and our Saviour prevail with us Yes When we were Enemies to God did he not send his Son to die for us Yes Did not Christ lay down his Life for his Enemies Yes And should we refuse to copy out his Example in
loving and forgiving Enemies No. Are not our offences against God much greater than the offences of our Brethren against us Yes Can this Charity to Enemies then be an unreasonable Duty No. Is it not a Godlike Vertue Yes Pleasantness of this Duty c. Do you not think it pleasanter to be of the peaceable and charitable Spirit than of the malicious and revengeful one Yes If we forgive not our Brethren will God forgive us No. Does not the malicious and revengeful Person forfeit his Pardon from God Yes Seeing God has shewn so much mercy to us should not we shew mercy to our Brethren Yes Is it not therefore an ungrateful thing to God to keep any Malice or grudge to any Person whatever Yes But what if my Neighbour has trespassed me considerably may I not seek satisfaction Yes But may I by any means carry an uncharitable malicious revengeful Heart toward him No. Should I still be kind and loving and charitable toward him Yes Are not all these parts of Christian Charity to be seriously considered and conscionably practised by us Yes Should we labour therefore to prevent and subdue all rising of rancour and revenge in our Breasts Yes Should not a Christian labour more to please God by passing by and forgiving Injuries than to please the Devil by revenging them Yes Charity in the Actions Must we not shew Charity in the Actions as well as shew it in our Affections Yes Is it not a Charity to comfort them that are in heaviness as we are able Yes To the Soul Should we not be charitable in doing good as much as in us lies to the Souls of others Yes May we be so uncharitable to the Souls of others as to draw them into Sin by any means No. Is it not a great Charity to Mens Souls to instruct them if they are ignorant Yes To reprove them sinning Yes And to encourage them in Vertue Yes If we can do no other good to the Souls of others should we not give them our good Example Yes To the Body May we refuse to shew Charity to the Bodies of others No. Are we not in Charity to ease and relieve them who are in Pains if we are able Yes Are not feeding the hungry cloathing the naked harbouring the stranger and visiting and comforting the Sick acts of Charity to the Bodies of others Yes If a Man be in danger to destroy his health by Intemperance is it not a Charity to prevent it Yes Sunday XVII Charity in respect of the Goods IS there not a Charity to be shewn to the Goods or Possessions of others Yes Should we not advance our Neighbour's thriving in them by all charitable and friendly Offices Yes Can a Man truly love God if he love not his Brother also No. Is not Alms-giving or Charity towards the Poor Alms-giving a great Christian Duty Yes Motives to it Is not this a Sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God Yes Should we not perform this Duty out of Obedience and Thankfulness to God Yes Can he be truly thankful who will not part with something to God who gives him all No. Is not Alms-giving a giving back again to God Yes Manner of Alms-giving Should we not give with a tender fellow-feeling of his wants to whom we give Yes Is there not an eternal reward promised to this Duty Yes Should we not endeavour by this means to lay up a Treasure in heaven Yes Not to be seen of Men. Should we by any means give to be seen of men or to get their praise No. Should we not watch over our hearts narrowly lest this desire to be seen of men should steal in Yes Would it not be a foolish thing of us to miss of a glorious reward for a little vain praise Yes May we give grudgingly or with murmuring Yes Does not God love him who gives chearfully Chearfully Yes Is there not a great pleasure to be found think you in this Duty Yes Should a Christian be afraid of coming to want by his Alms-deeds and Charity No. Nay though he should come to want by it yet seeing 't is a command of God should we not chearfully obey it Yes But is there any Reason for such a Fear No. Has not God promised the contrary that such shall never come to want Yes Is not Charity in Alms-Deeds the putting our Wealth into God's Hands or lending to him Yes What we thus bestow in Alms is it not the putting it into a sure hand then Yes Can we think that the God of Truth will fail of his Promise to repay it No. Will not Alms-Deeds therefore make us rich returns here Seasonably or hereafter or both Yes Should we not give seasonably that is without unnecessary delays when our Brother is in great need Yes If we delay it would not the Devil be apt to disswade us from giving at all Yes Should we not give prudently Prudently that is most where there is most need Yes Are not those the best Objects of Charity who are not able to labour or have a greater Charge than their Labour can maintain as poor House-Keepers Yes Lending an Act of Charity Is not lending too to such an act of great Charity and Mercy Yes But must we not lend freely and without Use or Interest when we thus lend on Charity Yes May we be so uncharitable as to clap up poor Debtors in Prison when we know they have nothing to answer the Debt No. Should we not sometimes lend to these in need with a purpose that if the Borrower prove unable to pay we will forgive some or all as we see occasion Yes Should a Christian be niggardly in Alms-giving Liberally No. When our brothers Necessities require it should we not give whatsoever is above our need Yes Have we not great Reason for this Duty seeing Christ became poor for us Yes Can we deny therefore to relieve his poor Members that bear his Name No. Will not our reward hereafter be more or less according to the degree of our Alms Yes Is it not pity therefore to lose much of our future reward by being sparing in our Alms here according to our Ability Yes May not a poor Man that gives little be more liberal than a rich Man that gives more Yes Should we not do well upon our Fasting-days or those days which we set apart to consider the State of our Soul in and to humble it before God for sin to set apart something for the uses of Charity Yes May a Man give to the Poor what is none of his own or stollen No. Should not a good Christian abate from his unnecessary idle expences to give the more in Alms Yes Must we give Alms not out of Custom but out of a true Sense of our Brother 's needs and out of compassion Yes Should we Christians by any means neglect to relieve the needs of our Enemies No.
God or any Creature or by the Blood Death or Wounds of Jesus or any other Oath whatever Thou shalt not take any Oath of thy self or swear unless called to it by Authority no promissory Oath especially or Oath by which thou dost promise any thing shall be taken by thee of thy own accord For the Communication of a Christian should be Yea yea and Nay nay Thou shalt not contentedly and patiently endure to hear the Name of God dishonoured by Oaths Blasphemies or otherwise Thou shalt by no means entertain any murmuring unkind or irreverent Thoughts of God Thou shalt not mention the name of thy God and Saviour irreverently wantonly vainly and for every trifle Thou shalt not mention it without just and solemn Occasion much less in telling Fortunes in Lots Jests and Charms Thou shalt not Blaspheme or Curse God or Repine and Murmur against him or Curse any Creature by him Thou shalt not prophane any thing dedicated to the Honour of his Name As holy Churches holy Utensils of the Church holy Customs holy Sacraments Thou shalt make no unlawful rash Vows neither shalt thou break a lawful Vow As these things are forbidden in this Commandment so are we commanded in it To magnifie exalt Duties commanded and glorifie the Holy Name of God 1. In Thought by thinking reverently of him 2. In Word by speaking reverently of him and his Attributes by Praises and Thanksgivings 3. In our Actions by a holy Conversation To perform all our faithful Promises and Vows To use the Name of God with a religious Reverence and Awe whenever we are called to a lawful Oath To have a due regard for all Things Persons and Places that have his Name and Stamp upon them To perform carefully and conscionably all our lawful Oaths And among our Vows faithfully to perform our Baptismal Vow and all our repeated Vows of amendment that so we may not name the Name of Christ in vain So that if we consider as we ought what 't is that is enjoined us in this Commandment and what is forbidden in it and then reflecting upon our own lives find any of the Duties of it neglected by us or any â—f the Sins against it sadly adventured on in Thought Word or Action how affectionately should we say with the Church Lord have Mercy upon us and incline our Hearts to keep this Law That is Lord pity and pardon all our past Breaches of this Commandment and so incline our Hearts to Love and Obedience for the future that by the Grace we may very sincerely keep this Law of thine for the remainder of our Days IV. COMMANDMENT Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day Sir days shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do c. THE meaning is Thou shalt set apart some Portions of thy time for the publick Offices of Religion Duties commanded and the Glorification of God That if God or his holy Church have appointed One Day in Seven for religious Purposes we are carefully to employ it to these Uses That as the Jews kept the Seventh Day by divine Command in memory of the Creation so we Christians are to keep Holy the First Day of the Week or Lord's Day from Apostolical Practice in memory of our Lord's Resurrection and our Redemption That this Day be spent in holy Offices religious Duties in publick and private Worship in all Actions 1. Of Piety 2. Of Charity I. Of Piety As 1. in frequenting the Assemblies of the Saints 2. In Attendance on the Word in reading or hearing it read preach'd or expounded to us That we may have leisure and ease and freedom from the distractions of the World with Tranquillity of Mind to hear our Lord speak to us from thence and acquaint us with his Will and upon what Conditions we may be admitted to him 3. In attendance on the Sacraments in having leisure for the receiving those Tokens and Pledges of the divine Love to us 4. In Catechising or Instructing those under our Charge 5. In pious Conferences and devout Meditations 6. In Praises and Thanksgivings to the sacred Name of God Beginning that bless'd Imployment here below which shall be continued perfected and compleated in the Mansions of Eternity above 7. In stating Doubts and Scruples to the Guides of Souls and desiring Peace and Satisfaction 8. To reflect on and consider the great Works of the eternal God The great Work of the Creation of the World and the greater Work of the Redemption of it and the Resurrection of our Saviour II. In Actions of Mercy and Charity according to our Abilities and Opportunities As 1. To reconcile Differences 2. To provide for the Necessities of the Poor and Needy 3. To visit the Sick 4. To give ease and rest to our Servants and refreshment from their ordinary Labours Nay to give ease to our very Cattle is a Mercy to them 5. To provoke one another to good Works 6. To reprove exhort and edifie one another in Love To do these or any other instances of Mercy and Charity is a proper Work of the Lord's-Day That the Fasts and Festivals of the Church should in some measure be attended to and observed by us as she prescribes has always been esteemed fit to be reduced to this Commandment That we on the Lord's Day rest from all Desires Lusts Words Works and Pleasures which are our own I mean proceeding from our corrupt Nature and which are not seasoned with Grace that so we may on the Lord's Day keep a truly Spiritual Sabbath And lastly Devoutly then to remember this our Christian Sabbath is but a Type that is a Figure or shadowing out of that eternal Rest and Sabbath which we expect in Heaven This being commanded what we are forbidden in it is Sins forbidden To do or compel or cause others to do any servile Works on this Day except Works of Necessity or Charity Decency or Mercy To put no difference between this and the common Days of the Week All Judaizing Severity is to be laid aside by us Christians that is we being delivered from the Rigour though not the Piety of the Jewish Sabbath are not so to observe it as if Works of Necessity Mercy Decency and Charity were not to be done by us on it We are forbidden to spend it in Idleness and Wantonness in Sleep and Recreations or any part of it in unlawful Recreations in Vanity and Folly Gluttony or Drunkenness Drowsiness and Inconsideration Worldly-mindedness and Lust Sin and Iniquity To refuse to come to the publick Assemblies or neglect the Duties of the Day Publick or Private To Buy or Sell or Travel to manage Business or any worldly Undertaking and Imployment without Necessity It has ever been accounted by the Church unfit if not unlawful to Fast upon the Lord's-Day Superiors are not to suffer those under their Authority to be absent from and neglect holy Duties nor to refuse to allow them liberty time and leisure for them