God or any Creature or by the Blood Death or Wounds of Jesus or any other Oath whatever Thou shalt not take any Oath of thy self or swear unless called to it by Authority no promissory Oath especially or Oath by which thou dost promise any thing shall be taken by thee of thy own accord For the Communication of a Christian should be Yea yea and Nay nay Thou shalt not contentedly and patiently endure to hear the Name of God dishonoured by Oaths Blasphemies or otherwise Thou shalt by no means entertain any murmuring unkind or irreverent Thoughts of God Thou shalt not mention the name of thy God and Saviour irreverently wantonly vainly and for every trifle Thou shalt not mention it without just and solemn Occasion much less in telling Fortunes in Lots Jests and Charms Thou shalt not Blaspheme or Curse God or Repine and Murmur against him or Curse any Creature by him Thou shalt not prophane any thing dedicated to the Honour of his Name As holy Churches holy Utensils of the Church holy Customs holy Sacraments Thou shalt make no unlawful rash Vows neither shalt thou break a lawful Vow As these things are forbidden in this Commandment so are we commanded in it To magnifie exalt Duties commanded and glorifie the Holy Name of God 1. In Thought by thinking reverently of him 2. In Word by speaking reverently of him and his Attributes by Praises and Thanksgivings 3. In our Actions by a holy Conversation To perform all our faithful Promises and Vows To use the Name of God with a religious Reverence and Awe whenever we are called to a lawful Oath To have a due regard for all Things Persons and Places that have his Name and Stamp upon them To perform carefully and conscionably all our lawful Oaths And among our Vows faithfully to perform our Baptismal Vow and all our repeated Vows of amendment that so we may not name the Name of Christ in vain So that if we consider as we ought what 't is that is enjoined us in this Commandment and what is forbidden in it and then reflecting upon our own lives find any of the Duties of it neglected by us or any â—f the Sins against it sadly adventured on in Thought Word or Action how affectionately should we say with the Church Lord have Mercy upon us and incline our Hearts to keep this Law That is Lord pity and pardon all our past Breaches of this Commandment and so incline our Hearts to Love and Obedience for the future that by the Grace we may very sincerely keep this Law of thine for the remainder of our Days IV. COMMANDMENT Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day Sir days shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do c. THE meaning is Thou shalt set apart some Portions of thy time for the publick Offices of Religion Duties commanded and the Glorification of God That if God or his holy Church have appointed One Day in Seven for religious Purposes we are carefully to employ it to these Uses That as the Jews kept the Seventh Day by divine Command in memory of the Creation so we Christians are to keep Holy the First Day of the Week or Lord's Day from Apostolical Practice in memory of our Lord's Resurrection and our Redemption That this Day be spent in holy Offices religious Duties in publick and private Worship in all Actions 1. Of Piety 2. Of Charity I. Of Piety As 1. in frequenting the Assemblies of the Saints 2. In Attendance on the Word in reading or hearing it read preach'd or expounded to us That we may have leisure and ease and freedom from the distractions of the World with Tranquillity of Mind to hear our Lord speak to us from thence and acquaint us with his Will and upon what Conditions we may be admitted to him 3. In attendance on the Sacraments in having leisure for the receiving those Tokens and Pledges of the divine Love to us 4. In Catechising or Instructing those under our Charge 5. In pious Conferences and devout Meditations 6. In Praises and Thanksgivings to the sacred Name of God Beginning that bless'd Imployment here below which shall be continued perfected and compleated in the Mansions of Eternity above 7. In stating Doubts and Scruples to the Guides of Souls and desiring Peace and Satisfaction 8. To reflect on and consider the great Works of the eternal God The great Work of the Creation of the World and the greater Work of the Redemption of it and the Resurrection of our Saviour II. In Actions of Mercy and Charity according to our Abilities and Opportunities As 1. To reconcile Differences 2. To provide for the Necessities of the Poor and Needy 3. To visit the Sick 4. To give ease and rest to our Servants and refreshment from their ordinary Labours Nay to give ease to our very Cattle is a Mercy to them 5. To provoke one another to good Works 6. To reprove exhort and edifie one another in Love To do these or any other instances of Mercy and Charity is a proper Work of the Lord's-Day That the Fasts and Festivals of the Church should in some measure be attended to and observed by us as she prescribes has always been esteemed fit to be reduced to this Commandment That we on the Lord's Day rest from all Desires Lusts Words Works and Pleasures which are our own I mean proceeding from our corrupt Nature and which are not seasoned with Grace that so we may on the Lord's Day keep a truly Spiritual Sabbath And lastly Devoutly then to remember this our Christian Sabbath is but a Type that is a Figure or shadowing out of that eternal Rest and Sabbath which we expect in Heaven This being commanded what we are forbidden in it is Sins forbidden To do or compel or cause others to do any servile Works on this Day except Works of Necessity or Charity Decency or Mercy To put no difference between this and the common Days of the Week All Judaizing Severity is to be laid aside by us Christians that is we being delivered from the Rigour though not the Piety of the Jewish Sabbath are not so to observe it as if Works of Necessity Mercy Decency and Charity were not to be done by us on it We are forbidden to spend it in Idleness and Wantonness in Sleep and Recreations or any part of it in unlawful Recreations in Vanity and Folly Gluttony or Drunkenness Drowsiness and Inconsideration Worldly-mindedness and Lust Sin and Iniquity To refuse to come to the publick Assemblies or neglect the Duties of the Day Publick or Private To Buy or Sell or Travel to manage Business or any worldly Undertaking and Imployment without Necessity It has ever been accounted by the Church unfit if not unlawful to Fast upon the Lord's-Day Superiors are not to suffer those under their Authority to be absent from and neglect holy Duties nor to refuse to allow them liberty time and leisure for them
If we now consider as we ought what 't is that is enjoined us in this Commandment and what 't is that is forbidden in it and then reflecting upon our own lives find any of the Duties of it neglected by us in Thought Word or Action how affectionately should we say with the Church Lord have Mercy upon us and incline our Hearts to keep this Law That is Lord pity and pardon all our past Breaches of this Commandment and so incline our Hearts to Love and Obedience for the future that by thy Grace we may very sincerely keep this Law of thine for the remainder of our Days But before we pass from this Fourth Commandment it may not be amiss to touch upon the Reasons of the Change of the Jewish Seventh Day into the Christian Lord's Day the First Day of the Week This Precept of keeping Holy the Seventh Day or Sabbath is partly Ceremonial and partly Moral Now the Ceremonial part of the Jewish Law is done away but the Moral part of it is confirmed perfected and compleated by the Gospel The Ceremonial part of this Commandment was that God be publickly worshipped precisely on the Jewish Sabbath or the Seventh Day The Moral part of it is That a certain and determined time be set out for the publick Worship of the Eternal God And divine Love and Gratitude in us Christians should engage us not to come behind the Jews in the return of our solemn Days of publick Worship Nay Equity requires we should set out One Day in the Week to the more immediate Glorification of God and our religious Duties So that the Jewish Sabbath being abolished as they kept the Seventh Day in memory of the Creation so the Apostles and the Primitive Church and all Ages of it since kept the First Day of the Week in memory of our Lord's Resurrection and our Redemption For as the Redemption of the World was a greater Mercy than the Creation of it and as God rested from his Labours of the Creation on the Seventh Day and our Saviour rested from his Laboure of the New Creation or his Labours of our Redemption on the First Day of the Week when he arose from the Dead so the Apostles and the Church in all Ages since have set apart the First Day of the Week as the Jews were to set apart the Seventh for the peculiar Worship and Service and Glorification of God That our Lord rose from the Dead upon the First Day of the Week we see St. John xx That the Disciples assembled together on the First Day of the Week we are told St. John xx 19. That St. Paul preached and the Disciples met to break Bread that is to receive the Sacrament on the First Day of the Week we read Acts xx 7. That the Holy Ghost descended on the Apostles on the First Day of the Week is certain Acts ij 1. And that Saint John expresly calls it the Lord's-day we read Rev. i. 10. So that as the Moral Equity of the Commandment as well as divine Love and Gratitude obliges us to set apart One Day in Seven for a holy Rest and for religious Purposes so by the Practice of the Apostles and all following Ages of the Church the First Day of the Week was substituted in the room of the Jewish Sabbath which compared with the Scriptures before-mentioned is sufficient to warrant our Practice So that to sum up the whole They the Jews celebrated the Seventh Day by divine Command we the First Day by Apostolical Practice They the Seventh Day or last Day of the Week under the Law of Moses we the First Day of the Week by divine Law under the Gospel Their Seventh Day or Sabbath was Blessed and Sanctified by the Lord's command our First Day was Blessed and Sanctified by our Lord's Resurrection Their Seventh Day was Hallowed by God's resting on it from the Works of the Creation our First Day was Hallowed by our Lord 's resting on it from the Works of the New-Creation when he arose from the Grave Their Seventh Day was kept by them in memory of the great Work of the Creation of the World our First Day kept by us in memory of the greater work of its Redemption Their Seventh Day called the Lord's Sabbath Lev. xxiij 38. and elsewhere in the Old Testament our First Day called the Lord's Day in the New Rev. i. 10. As for any distinct Text in the Gospel for Christ's Abrogating the Judaical Sabbath there is no more reason to expect it than the like for Sacrifices or Circumcision or the Judaical Priesthood Vid. Dr. Hammond in St. Matthew xij 8. a. V. COMMANDMENT Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy days may be long c. THE meaning is Thou shalt pay a due Respect and Love Duties commanded and Reverence in Heart in outward Speech and Behaviour to all Superiors Thou shalt Reverence and Honour and Love and Pray for thy Natural Parents thy Father and Mother Thou shalt obey their lawful and just Commands and support them in their Needs if thou art able Thou shalt obey honour and love the King pray for him and pay him Tribute Thou shalt obey Magistrates If thou art a Servant thou shalt be faithful and obedient to thy Master and serve him with a conscionable care and diligence Thou shalt esteem respect and love and obey the Doctrines of thy Pastor which are faithfully tendred to thee from the Gospel and pay him his just Dues and Maintenance Thou shalt respect and honour the Aged thy Betters and those that are above thee in Learning Wisdom Goodness or any other Gifts and Graces It is here to be remembred too that all Superiors are to perform their Duties to their Inferiors Kings and those in Authority to protect defend and govern their Subjects Parents to nourish baptize provide for and instruct and bless their Children by their Example and their Prayers Husbands to be faithful to love to defend to protect the Wife as the Wife is to be obedient faithful and affectionate to the Husband Masters to be just to admonish to instruct to be examples to their Servants Ministers to feed the Flock faithfully and diligently by Life and Doctrine Sins forbidden These things are commanded in it and the contrary Vices are forbidden As Inferiors are forbidden to behave themselves proudly scornfully and rudely toward their Betters in Age Gifts or Estate Children forbidden to be undutiful stubborn disobedient and unkind to their Parents Subjects forbidden to rebel against dishonour disobey the King or those in Authority under him People forbidden to despise reject hate or defraud their lawful Pastor Servants forbidden to be stubborn negligent unfaithful or disobedient to their Masters And to encourage all to the Duties of this Commandment as well as to disswade them from the Sins forbidden in it here is added a Promise to the conscionable observers of it of a prosperous and peaceable living upon Earth a long and happy life
do thus stedfastly keep up this Communion with each other in all holy things in Faith and Worship Love and Obedience they all have a Communion or Fellowship with the Blessed Trinity with the holy Angels and with the Saints departed So that as I am a member of Christ's Catholick or Universal Church so I ever desire to keep Communion or Fellowship with them in all Holy Things and that as Christ is our Common Head and we his Members and I never withdrawing my self from this Communion so my Faith may be accepted with theirs my Prayers offered up with theirs my profession of the Gospel may appear with theirs my Duty Love and Obedience may be accepted with theirs in the Day of the Lord Jesus And thus I believe the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints X. ARTICLE The forgiveness of Sins THE meaning is I believe that whereas every Sin whether of Thought Word or Action is a transgression of the Law of God and for every transgression the Sinner is liable to Eternal Punishment by the infinite Justice of God Yet that God in his unspeakable Mercy gave his Son Jesus and the Son gave himself to become a Surety for this Debt of ours and did offer up himself a Sacrifice by his Death to God's Justice and a satisfaction for us Thus reconciling God's punishing Justice with his pardoning Mercy Provided that the Sinner who had chosen amiss chosen the ways of Sin and Death would in Faith and with Repentance and new Obedience turn seasonably to God and chuse better I firmly believe the first remission is obtained by the Holy Sacrament of Baptism All original and actual Sin being there washed away to every one that duly partakes of that Sacrament But whereas alas 't is too true we have some way or other stained the white Robes which we had put on when we came from the waters of Baptism and because every disobedience since is a recession or going back from our Baptismal Purity for all such Sins God in much Mercy through the death of Jesus hath given us the Covenant of Repentance Which being but this a turning from Sin to God a lasting durable state of new Life and Reformation he has promised through the Merits and the Death of Jesus that if I have but this to offer up to him from a sincere and contrite Heart it shall be accepted to my Pardon and Forgiveness and he will be reconciled to me And thus I believe the forgiveness of Sins XI ARTICLE The Resurrection of the Body THE meaning is I do profess solemnly that I am fully perswaded of this infallible truth That as 't is appointed for all Men once to die so 't is determined that all Men shall arise from death That the Souls separated or parted from our Bodies are in the Hand of God and live That the Bodies of the Dead although turned to dust mouldered into ashes consum'd in flames or swallowed up of the waters devoured by beasts or fishes or any way scattered shall be gathered together again all the scattered dust pack'd together and in an instant be revived and come alive by the Soul 's being united to it again The same Flesh which died shall live the same Body which fell shall rise the same Soul infallibly be united to the same Body So that the Soul and Body are parted asunder by Death yet at the last day they shall be joined together at the Resurrection and shall no more be parted And this Resurrection I firmly believe shall be Universal of all Mankind no Man shall be left in the Grave or Dead That this shall be at the end of the World when Christ shall come to Judgment when the Trump shall sound or when the Arch-Angel shall lift up his Voice like a Trumpet the just and unjust shall both arise out of their Graves and live The Just shall arise to the Resurrection of Life and the Unjust to the Resurrection of Damnation And thus I believe the Resurrection of the Body XII ARTICLE And the Life Everlasting Amen THE meaning is I do freely declare that I believe this to be an undoubted truth That besides this Life here in this World which is but for a short time there shall be another Life in the other World which shall last for ever I firmly believe that after this finite Life here is over and the Soul departed and the Body dead that the Soul still lives and shall live for ever and after the Resurrection the Body shall live also and both shall live together for Eternity The Soul and Body of the unbelievers disobedient and impenitent shall live for ever and be Partners with the Devil and his accursed Spirits in Hell And that the Souls and Bodies of the Righteous after the Resurrection and after their Sentence shall enter into the fullness of their Master's Joy beyond all possibility of Sin and Sorrow suffering and temptation doubts or scruples fears or dangers where they shall have their Understandings clarified and enriched where the Will shall be satisfied where the Affections shall be all Love and all Joy where they shall securely and peacefully possess all that they breathed after panted sighed and languish'd for here and enjoy it not for Years or Ages but for all Eternity Amen THE meaning of that Word at the end of the Creed is I do declare that I do stedfastly believe all this and desire to live accordingly Question What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles c. Answer First I learn to believe in God the Father c. THE meaning is I do according to this my confession of Faith firmly and as I hope to see the Face of God believe in God the Father who is the first Person of the adorable Trinity who created me and all Men who made the whole World and all Things therein out of nothing Secondly I do likewise firmly believe in God the Son Jesus Christ my Saviour who is the second Person of the Adorable Trinity Perfect God and perfect Man equal to the Father as touching his Godhead but inferiour to the Father as touching his Manhood who redeemed me and all Men by his Death and who has satisfied God's Justice for my Sins upon my Faith and my Repentance my future Love and Obedience Thirdly I do also firmly believe in God the Holy Ghost or holy Spirit who is the third Person of the adorable Trinity who proceeds from the Father and the Son and is co-equal and co-eternal with them It is he who is my Guide my Sanctifier my Comforter who puts into my Mind good desires pious purposes and devout resolutions who offers me his Grace and Assistance to do God's Will so truly that he is said to be grieved when I refuse it And although I cannot fully understand in this Life how these three Persons can be but one God yet I do fully and firmly assent to it as an undoubted truth that it is so without which Belief I cannot
I determined not to know any thing among you save Iesus Christ and him Crucified 1 Cor 2.2 Iesus saith to Simon Peter Simon Son of Ionas lovest thou me He saith unto him yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee He saith unto him Feed my Lambs St. Iohn 21.15 I. Sturt sculp THE Art of Catechising OR THE COMPLEAT CATECHIST In Four Parts I. The Church-Catechism resolved into easie Questions to be Answered only by Yes or No. II. An Exposition of It in a continued full and plain Discourse III. The Church-Catechism resolved into Scripture-Proofs IV. The Whole Duty of Man reduced into Questions to be Answered by a single Yes or No. Fitted for the meanest Capacities the weakest Memories the plainest Teachers and the most un-instructed Learners IMPRIMATUR Z. Isham R.P.D. Henrico Episc Lond. Ã sacris Feb. 4. 1690 1. LONDON Printed by J. L. for Henry Bonwicke at the Red-Lion in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1691. THE PREFACE THE Neglect of Catechising is complained of by a great many and even by some of them who add something to the Cause of the Complaint The Mischiefs of which Neglect will soon appear as great now as ever For the numerous Enemies of the best establish'd Church in the World are all at work and with united Voices crying Down with it down with it to the Ground One of the best Remedies that I know of next to our Prayers and Tears for its Preservation is to take great Care that our Youth be well instructed in the Principles of that holy Religion which we profess whatever Self-denial or Pains or Difficulties or Humility or Condescension or letting down of our selves it cost us I have found by my own Experience that to do it well and conscionably has more of all these in it than Preaching it self and when all is done it shall please much less But when I consider that my Business is to please God and not Man and that my Hopes and Consolations will at last result from my having with Purity of Intention designed the Former more than the Latter When I consider that a poor Soul placed under my Charge and Conduct for whom the great Lover of Souls has provided no other Ordinary Means of Salvation but what is to be conveyed to him by me by my Assistances and Ministration if it should want these too it will have none and may for ever be undone for me When I consider that when he admitted me to cultivate a corner of his Vineyard as he did me a greater Honour than he did thousands of others so he expected more Glory more Love and more Obedience from me too that he might confer on me a peculiar Coronet of Glory When I consider that he never meant the Ministery to be a Station of Ease and Indiligence When I think how reasonable a thing 't is that I should shed some of the Sweat of my Brows for them for whom he was well contented to shed the Blood of his heart When I in a close and piercing thought reflect on these things I find I can be content with that Contempt and Scorn those Pains and Difficulties that Self-denial and humble Condescension which will most times accompany the conscionable Discharge of this very useful and very necessary Duty It were well if the Devout Pastor would sometimes when he is retired and with-drawn from the World with pious Emotions and devout Affections with panting sighing languishing Aspirations say as St. Peter thrice did John 21.15 16 17. Lord thou knowest that I love thee but in the same devout and affectionate thought to imagine he hears the holy Jesus giving him the same Answer Feed my Lambs And then that he would please to consider whether his Love of Jesus would permit him to be content well pleased and easie while he refuses to give him this his own way of demonstrating both That and his Obedience If any plain Man who is a Master or a Father an Housholder or Guardian and who has in part that great Trust committed to him of the Care of a Soul shall derive any Assistances or Intimations for its Conduct and Institution from this Book I do earnestly request the Good Man to put me into his Litanies and that his Prayer for the Author may be this That my Passage over the World being safe and holy I may come to sit at the Feet of them who with primitive Affections have loved and obeyed Jesus in the Mansions of Glory Amen THE Art of Catechising OR THE COMPLEAT CATECHIST PART 1. Question WHAT is your Name Answer N. or M. Question Who gave you this Name Answer My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism wherein c. Question What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you Answer They did promise and vow three things in my Name First c. Question Dost thou not think that thou art bound to believe c. Answer Yes verily and by God's help so I will And I heartily c. SECTION 1. Of our Baptism Of The Benefits of Baptism The Vow of Baptism and Our promising to perform it WAS not your Name given you when you were baptized Yes Were you not made a Disciple of Jesus Christ when you were baptized Yes Was it not a great Happiness and Favour to have been baptized Yes Should we ever forget this Mercy of God toward us No. Were you not made a Member of Christ and his Church when you were baptized Yes Were you not made a Child of God when you were baptized Yes Were you not made an Heir of Christ's Kingdom when you were baptized Yes Can we think upon this Favour without Love and Thankfulness to our God and Saviour No. When you were baptized did not they who brought you to Baptism make a Covenant between God and you Yes Is not God's part of the Covenant this That he will give you Pardon of Sin Grace and Glory Yes Is not your part of the Covenant this That you will believe in Christ repent of your Sins and obey his Laws Yes Should you neglect to perform your part if you expect God should perform his No. Should we not stand to this happy Covenant when we come to Age if we will be saved Yes Did not they who brought you to be baptized covenant in your Name that you should renounce the Temptations of the Devil and all his Works Yes Are not all Sins and specially tempting others to sin Works of the Devil Yes Should a Christian therefore do any of the Works of the Devil No. Did not they who brought you to Baptism promise for you that you should renounce the Temptations of the World Yes Did they not promise for you that you should renounce the Pomps that is all the vain and sinful Customs of the World Yes Should a Christian therefore do according to the vain and sinful Customs of the World No. Did they not promise for you that you should renounce all the evil and corrupt Desires of the Flesh and your own
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
hope Salvation SECT III. Of the Commandments Question You said that your Godfathers and Godmothers did promise for you that you should keep God's Commandments tell me how many there be Answer Ten. Question Which be they Answer The same which God spake in the twentieth c. I. COMMANDMENT Thou shalt have no other Gods but me Duties commanded THe meaning is thou shalt acknowledge but one God and that there is none besides him Thou shalt so acknowledge me to be the only true God as to Love me above all things To fear me above all things that is to be afraid to offend me To pay a Reverential Love and awful Fear to none as God besides me And to no Man equally with me Thou shalt so acknowledge me to be God as to hope in me That is comfortably to hope for my Promises whilst thou sincerely performest the Conditions As I am God thou shalt in all humility submit to my Will in doing and suffering it that is by Obedience or Patience Thou shalt trust in me as God that is thou shalt so rely on me and my Providence in all needs and dangers as never to seek to deliver thy self out of them by any unjust or unlawful means Thou shalt so acknowledge me to be God as to Honour me that is alway to carry within thee that awful regard and reverence which is due from a Creature to his Creator As God thou shalt pay me that Worship which is due from a Creature to his Creator Thou shalt pay this Worship both in Soul and Body in the Soul by Prayer and in the Body by approaching to me in those humble and reverent gestures as may best express the inward humility of the Soul All thy breaches of the Commands of me thy God thou shalt repent of thou shalt shew the truth of thy Love by thy Obedience and the truth of thy Repentance by thy Reformation So that they sin against this Commandment who are Atheists Sins forbidden that is who deny dis-believe or doubt the being of a God Or who have more Gods than one for though the adorable Trinity Father Son and Holy-Ghost are three in Person yet they are but one God Or who pay that Worship which is due to God to any Creature whether Saint or Angel Or who love themselves or any of the Creatures inordinately or equally with God Or who despise or neglect any of his Commands Or who make contracts with the Devil or use any Conversation with him Who have recourse to Witches or Conjurers either to recover Health or things lost Or who use Charms Spells superstitious Words or superstitious Customs either to cure Diseases or to recover stollen Goods or to inquire into Secrets Or who are wilfully ignorant of his Laws and his Commands Or who take to themselves the glory of any Action or Power or Excellency that is in them and do not give the Glory to God Or who dis-believe any one Article of the Creed Or who dis-believe any part of the Holy Scripture or put false Interpretations upon it to serve their own ends and purposes Or who are passionate and earnest in the things of this World and cold and indifferent in the things of God and of Religion Or who are Hypocrites in Religion or make Religion serve ill ends who do good to evil purposes or evil to good purposes Or who blaspheme God who think or speak dishonourably of him who repine and murmur against him Or who believe him so little as not to look upon him to be present every where and not to be a Witness to all their Thoughts Words and Actions Or who believe him so little as not to be devout in his Worship obedient to his Commands and penitent for every breach of them In short all those Thoughts Words or Actions of ours which are contrary to our Belief of him to our Love of him to our Fear of him to our Hope in him to our submission to his Will to our Trust in him to his Reverence and Honour to his Worship or to our Repentance for any disobedience to him are here forbidden us If we consider as we ought what 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 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 II. COMMANDMENT Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image c. THE meaning is That as we are to take the true God for our only God so we are not to make or frame any Image or Picture of the Godhead Any Image by which to represent the shape of the invisible God or to fansie any likeness to him We are by no means to Worship any Image so made That is any pretended Image of the true God the Idols of false Gods or the true God by an Image Thou shalt not pay that Worship which is due to him to any Creature Sins forbidden So neither shalt thou neglect the Worship of him the true God or prophane or abuse or dis-esteem any thing that belongs or relates to his Worship or behave thy self carelesly irreverently or indecently in it So that as these things are forbidden so we are here commanded to worship God in Spirit and in Truth Duties commanded To believe him to be a Spirit or Spiritual substance without any visible form or shape and therefore not to be represented by an Image or Picture or Resemblance We are here commanded to worship the true God in all the substantial and eternal parts of his Worship as Prayer hearing of the Word attendance on the Sacraments and all other Ordinances of his 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 III. COMMANDMENT Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord c. Sins forbidden THE meaning is Thou shalt not forswear thy self or be guilty of the dreadful Sin of Perjury And this either by affirming upon Oath what is untrue or by affirming upon Oath what is uncertain unknown to thee and doubtful or by breaking or not keeping a lawful Oath Thou shalt not swear rashly vainly and prophanely in common Discourse either by
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
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 through thy Grace we may most sincerely keep this Law of thine for the remainder of our days VIII COMMANDMENT Thou shalt not steal Duties commanded THE meaning is Thou shalt render to every Man this due and permit all Men peaceably to enjoy their own Thou shalt by just and lawful means not only further thy own but also thy Neighbour's Wealth and outward Estate Thou shalt in all things do unto others as thou wouldst they should do unto thee were they in thy condition and thou in theirs Thou shalt live in a Lawful Calling and be diligent in that Calling that so thou mayest avoid all temptation to the breach of this Commandment Thou shalt be Just and Upright in all thy Bargains Contracts and Dealings Thou shalt be so frugal and provident of thy Estate and so contented with it that thou mayest fly all Inticements to Fraud and Injustice Thou shalt buy and sell by Just Weights and Measures Thou shalt conscionably pay Debts and Wages Not only thy own proper Debts but also those for which thou art bound and become a Surety if the Principal cannot or will not Thou shalt use this World so as not to abuse it but be upright and faithful in trusts trade and agreements Thou shalt be willing to give and lend and remit and forgive according to thy Ability and Prudence and thy Brother's Necessities Although thou mayest go to Law for a considerable and just Right yet if thou art forced to do it thou shalt contend more for Right than Victory and still carry a friendly Christian and charitable temper towards the Party Thou shalt manage all thy temporal Blessings or the Goods of this World with Thankfulness to God Sobriety to thy self and Charity and Justice to all beside Thou shalt surely make restitution or satisfaction according to thy Power for such wrongs as thou hast done to any when they come to thy knowledge Thou shalt either by thy self or others make that restitution to himself if he be living and thou canst find him Or to his Heirs or Executors if he be dead Or to the Poor if thou knowest him not This being commanded the chief things forbidden are these Thou shalt not injure any Man in his Possessions or Estate by open Violence or Robbery by secret theft by fraud or cozenage extortion oppression or any injustice Thou shalt not use false Weights or Measures If thou find any thing thou shalt not by any means keep it from the owner if thou know him or canst understand who ' t is Thou shalt not refuse to pay thy Debts if thou art able It is not fit thou shouldst take Use Sins forbidden or Interest of the Poor and Needy Thou shalt not rob God of his Dues by Sacrilege and detaining Tithes Nor the King of his Dues by withholding his Tribute and Custom Thou shalt inherit nothing of another's that is committed to Trust and Charge Thou shalt not use deceit fraud and cozenage in Bargains Contracts Buying and Selling and Coin If thou art a Seller thou shalt not conceal the faults of the thing sold either by denying them or by using arts and tricks to hide those faults of it If thou art a Seller thou shalt not pick out ignorant Chapmen that thou mayest by reason of their unskifulness put off thy faulty Wares upon them If thou art a Seller thou shalt not take advantage of the ignorance indiscretion or necessity of the Buyer to over-reach him or over-rate the thing sold If thou art a Buyer thou shalt not take advantage of the Ignorance of him that knows not the worth of what he sells If thou art a Buyer thou shalt not take advantage of the necessities of the Seller nor grate and lie hard upon him because his wants compel him to sell though at any rate Thou shalt not be guilty of the Sin of Covetousness by getting or keeping any thing by unlawful unjust or uncharitable means or to permit any Interest to rob thee of thy Innocence or thy Duty Thou shalt not torment thy self with immoderate inordinate anxious vexatious distracting and distrustful Cares Thou shalt not be guilty of commencing Contentions and Vexatious Law-suits either for Revenge Stoutness of Humour or to defend an inconsiderable Right Thou shalt not refuse to pay what thou hast borrowed Thou shalt not defraud Orphans Widows or detain Hirelings Wages Thou shalt not take Bribes to pervert Equity and Justice Thou shalt not break thy Faithful Promises tho' made to thy own disadvantage or refuse to stand to thy Bargain Thou shalt not refuse to make Restitution Thou shalt not by wasteful Prodigality Negligence Sloth or Idleness or covetous Gaming waste thy own or other Mens Estates and Possessions Seeing all these things are breaches of this Commandment if we seriously consider as me ought what it is that is enjoined us in it as well as what 's forbidden 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 thy Love and Obedience for the future that through thy Grace we may most sincerely keep this Law of thine for the remainder of our Days IX COMMANDMENT Thou shalt not bear false Witness against thy Neighbour THE meaning is When thou art called by a Magistrate to be a Witness Duties commanded thou shalt speak the truth of thy Neighbour that is any other Man Thou shalt labour as much as lieth in thee to preserve the good name of thy Neighbour Thou shalt as far as thou canst with Justice and Charity to others conceal or excuse thy Brother's Infirmities Thou shalt judge the best and speak the best of him Where thou knowest him innocent thou shalt be ready to vindicate his good-name on all occasions Thou shalt put as candid and fair Interpretations upon his Actions as they will bear Thou shalt be loth to hear slow to believe and unwilling to spread an evil Report Thou shalt be courteous and affable to all Men. Thou shalt religiously observe Truth in Speaking Thou shalt be charitably tender of thy Neighbour's good-name for how can I love him if I take that from him which I know to be very dear to him As these things are commanded so the things following are forbidden Sins forbidden Thou shalt neither in Judgment nor in ordinary Discourse speak what is untrue of thy Neighbour Thou shalt raise a false Report of non Man Thou shalt wound no Man with the Sword of the Tongue openly or secretly Thou shalt not by whispering
slandering backbiting detraction or defamation injure the good-name of any Man Thou shalt not raise Jealousies and Suspitions of thy Neighbour causelesly Thou shalt bear no false Witness of thy self by bragging or boasting thy self Thou shalt not be a Tale-bearer thy self nor readily hear and encourage Tale-bearers Thou shalt not be a Dissembler or Flatterer Thou shalt in no case tell a Lye or counsel or pervert Right and Truth by Equivocations Thou shalt not mock and scoff at the Infirmities of others Thou shalt not be guilty of false Accusations false Pleadings false Testimonies or false Sentences in Courts of Judicature or Judgment Thou shalt not give rash severe and unmerciful Censures of other Men. Thou shalt not be a Railer or Reviler nor report and scatter false or doubtful Reports of thy Brother Thou shalt not be a Busie-body in other Mens matters Thou shalt not be guilty of false Acts or Forgery in any Deed or Writing Thou shalt neither deny conceal or oppose the truth Thou shalt not observe and judge other Mens Words and Actions severely and without Mercy Thou shalt not divulge or publish the faults of others without a design to do thereby Charity or Justice to some other Person Here now if we duly consider and seriously weigh what 't is that is enjoined us in this Commandment and what is forbidden in it and then reflecting upon our own Hearts and Actions find any of the Duties of it neglected by us or any of 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 obey thee for the future that through thy Grace we may sincerely and acceptably keep this Law of thine for the remainder of our Days X. COMMANDMENT Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbour's House c. Sins forbidden THE meaning is Thou shalt not wish or desire to be possessed of what is thy Neighbour's by his loss or without his Consent Thou shalt not consent to any motions of thy Heart of contriving how thou mayest unjustly come by any thing that is another's Thou shalt not envy the Prosperity of any Man or grieve at it Thou shalt not repine or murmur or be discontented with thy own state and condition Thou shalt not inordinately seek or desire Riches Honours or Pleasures Thou shalt not torment thy self with vexatious carking distracting perplexing distrustful Cares Thou shalt not by Idleness and refusing to labour in an honest Calling bring upon thy self the temptation of coveting what is another's Thou shalt not neglect to stifle Sin in the first inward seeds and motions of it in the very Thoughts and Intentions for even those are hateful to a Holy God These things being forbidden the things commanded are Duties commanded If thou hast any Temptation to come by any thing of thy Neighbour's unjustly thou shalt resist it and labour to mortifie crucifie and subdue it Thou shalt cast off all such motions of thy Heart Thou shalt be content with thy own state and condition whatever it is without any desire of change murmuring repining or disquieting of others Thou shalt be well pleased and thankful for the Portion which God in his Wisdom has chosen for thee Thou shalt keep thy Heart clean from all consent approbation desires and intentions of Injustice Wrong or Uncharitableness to any Man Thou shalt diligently and honestly labour in the Vocation to which God hath called thee Thou shalt be well pleased that those things be thy Neighbour's which God hath given him Thou shalt stop and stifle all Sin whatever in the beginning and never permit thy Heart to consent to it This being the last of the ten Commandments if now upon the whole we duly weigh and seriously consider as we ought what 't is that is enjoined us in this and the other Commandments as also what is forbidden in them and then reflecting upon our own Hearts and Lives find any of the duties of them neglected by us or any of the Sins against them sadly adventured on in Thought Word or Action how affection rely should we say with the Church Lord have Mercy upon us and write all these thy Laws in our Hearts we beseech thee That is Lord pity and pardon all our past breaches of these Commandments and so incline our Hearts to Love and Obey thee for the future that through thy Grace all these Laws of thine may be written in our Hearts and expressed in our Lives most sincerely and acceptably kept for the remainder of our days Question What dost thou chiefly learn by these Commandments Answer I learn two things My Duty towards God and my Duty towards my Neighbour THE meaning is I learn by these Commandments the chief parts of my Duty towards God and Man By my Neighbour is meant any other Person besides my self though he be of another Nation and Religion yea though he be my spiteful and professed Enemy Which Commandments and Holy Will of God's I am to obey and keep and walk in all the days of my Life as was promised in my Name I should do when I was Baptized And I will henceforward labour to do accordingly Question What is thy Duty towards God Answer My Duty towards God is to believe in him to c. THE meaning is 'T is my indispensable Duty to God to believe him to be the only true God To be three Persons and but one God To fear him that is to be afraid to offend him To fear him in all actions more than Man so to fear him as alway to chuse rather to displease any Man than God To love him with all my Heart Mind Soul and Strength is so to love him as to love nothing equal with him or above him To love him so as above all things to desire to please him and to desire to enjoy him To Worship him with my Soul and Body Inwardly with my Soul and outwardly with my Body In Prayer to worship him with an humble Soul and an humble Body With the devout affections and humiliations of the Soul and with the lowly and reverent gestures of my Body To give him Thanks for all his Mercies temporal and spiritual whether to my Soul or Body either with reference to this Life or that to come To put my whole Trust in him in all needs wants and dangers whatever whether of Soul or Body for deliverance support and aid So to trust in him as never to seek to deliver our selves by any unjust or unlawful means To call upon him in all such needs and dangers for relief and assistance by Prayer So to Honour his Holy Name as not to use it irreverently vainly falsely or wantonly by any Perjuries Oaths or other Prophanations of it So to Honour his Word as to believe all the parts
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
when he raised him from the Dead and set him at his own Right-Hand in the Heavenly Places Far above all Principality and Power and Might and Dominion and every name that is named not only in this World but also in that which is to come And hath put all things under his Feet Prove that he shall come to judge the quick and the dead Acts 17.31 Because he hath appointed a Day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness Acts 10.42 It is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of the quick and the dead Prove that you are to believe in the Holy-Ghost or Holy Spirit 1 Joh. 5.7 There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost and these three are one 1 Thes 4.8 God who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit Matth. 12.32 Whosoever speaketh against the Holy-Ghost it shall not be forgiven him Prove that Christ hath a Church upon Earth Acts 2.47 And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be Saved Prove that this Church of Christ is Holy Eph. 5.27 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy Heb. 12.14 Follow Peace with all Men and Holiness without which none shall see the Lord. Prove that this Church is Catholick that is Vniversal or to consist of People of all Nations And not limited to one Nation as the Jewish Church was Matth. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father c. Rev. 5.9 For thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation Prove that there is and ought to be a Communion of Saints or fellowship one with another in all holy things 1 Joh. 1.7 But if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have fellowship one with another Eph. 4.4 5. There is one Body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism 2 Cor. 13.14 The Communion of the Holy-Ghost be with you all 1 Cor. 10.17 We being many are one Head and one Body for we are all partakers of one Bread Prove that we must not forsake the Communion of Saints in holy things Heb. 10.25 Not forsaking the assembling your selves together as the manner of some is Rom. 15.6 That ye may with one Mind and one Mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Prove that there is forgiveness of Sins to be had upon Repentance in the Church Acts 3 19. Repent ye therefore and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out Acts 13.38 Be it known unto you therefore Men and Brethren that through this Man is preached unto you forgiveness of Sins 1 Joh. 1.1 2. If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the propitation for our Sins Prove that there shall be a Resurrection of the Body 1 Cor. 15.21 22. For since by Man came death by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead For as is Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive Acts 24.15 There shall be a Resurrection of the Dead both of the Just and Unjust Prove that there is an Everlasting Life after Death Matth. 25.46 And these shall go away into Everlasting Punishment but the Righteous into Life Eternal Joh. 5.28 29. The hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Question What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy Belief Answer First I learn to believe in God the Father who hath made me and all the World Secondly in God the Son who hath redeemed me and all Mankind Thirdly in God the Holy-Ghost who sanctifieth me and all the Elect People of God Prove that God made you and all the World Acts 17.24 God that made the World and all things therein seeing he is the Lord of Heaven and Earth Acts 17.28 In him we live move and have our being Prove that God the Son redeemed you Luke 1.68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his People Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law Prove that he did redeem you and all Mankind Heb. 2.9 But we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the Angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour that he by the Grace of God should taste death for every Man Prove that God the Holy-Ghost or holy Spirit sanctifieth you and all the Elect People of God 2 Thes 2.13 But we are bound to give Thanks alway to God for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Prove or shew where you find the Ten Commandments Exod. 20.2 to the 18th I am the Lord c. Question What is thy Duty towards God Answer My Duty towards God is to believe in him to c. Question What is thy Duty towards thy Neighbour Answer My Duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as my self and to do c. Prove that you are to perform your Duty towards God and towards your Neighbour Matth. 22.37 38 39. Thou salt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind This is the first and great Commandment And the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Prove that you are to believe in God 2 Chron. 20.20 Believe in the Lord you God so shall you be established Prove that you are to fear God Eccl. 12.13 Fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole duty of Man Prove that you are to love him with all your Heart Soul Strength and Mind Luke 10.27 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Strength and with all thy Mind Prove that you are to worship God Matth. 4.10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Prove that you are to give him Thanks 1 Thes 5.18 In every thing give thanks for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you Prove that you are to put your whole Trust in him Psal 62.8 Trust in him at all times ye People pour out your Heart before him God is a Refuge for us Prove that you are to call upon him Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt
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
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