sins stedfastly purposing to lead a new life have a lively faith in Gods mercy through Christ with a thankful remembrance of his death and be in charity with all men Q. You say That they that come to partake of the Lords Supper are required to examine themselves What must they examine themselves of 176 A. They must examine themselves of three things 1. Whether or no they truly repent of their former sins stedfastly purposing to lead a new life 2. Whether or no they have a lively Faith in Gods mercy through Christ together with a thankful remembrance of Christs death 3. Whether or no they be in Charity with all men Q. How may a man know whether he truly repent of his former sins 177 A. Then doth a man truly repent of his former sins when he not only sees owns and confesses all his sins nor only is grieved and sorry for them but also abhors and forsakes them and doth not willingly sin any more Q. How may it be known Whether a man do stedfastly purpose to lead a new life 178 A. Then doth a man stedfastly purpose to lead a new life when his purposes are so strong that nothing prevails with him to return to his former sins but he is brought over to lead a new holy and obedient life Q. How may a man know Whether he hath a lively Faith in God's mercy through Christ 179 A. Then hath a man a lively Faith in Gods mercy when he so believes the mercifulness of God as that he sincerely uses the means and performs the conditions of obtaining the mercies of God Q. Which are those mercies of God through Christ 180 A. The chief mercies that God gives through Christ are 1. Pardon of all our sins 2. The assistance and grace of his holy Spirit 3. Eternal glory and happiness in Heaven Q. Why are these called the mercies of God through Christ 181 A. They are said to be through Christ 1. Because the mercies of God are bestowed on us for the sake of Christ and of what he was did and suffered for us 2. Because they are conveyed to us by Christ 3. Because they are bestowed in Christ's way by those means and upon those conditions that Christ hath appointed Q. How may a man know whether he be in Charity with all men 182 A. He that is in Charity with all men neither designeth nor wisheth nor furthereth the harm of any man but designeth wisheth and furthereth the good of all men to his power Q. What if upon Examination we find that we truly repent have a lively Faith and are in Charity with all 183 A. If when we have examined our selves we find that we truly repent and have a lively Faith and are in Charity with all men then we may safely and will chearfully and comfortably partake of the Lord's Supper Q. What if upon strict Examination we find that we do not truly repent of our former sins have not a lively Faith or are not in Charity with all men 184 A. Such a man is in a most wretched condition unprepared to live well unprepared to dye well unfit to partake of the Lord 's Holy Supper which he must abstain from until he be duly qualified for it Q. What ought such an one to do 185 A. He ought immediately to make himself sensible of his miserable estate and to pray earnestly for the grace and aid of God's holy Spirit and to sincerely endeavour by all God's appointed means to bring his mind to a true Repentance to a lively Faith and to universal Charity and then to come and partake of the Lord's Supper for the strengthning and refreshing of his soul FINIS Daily Acts of DEVOTION REmember my good Child that as ever you would be happy as ever you would keep the love of God and men as ever you would save your Soul from Sin Satan and Hell you must not only know and own your duty to God and your Neighbour but you must actually do it all the days of your life §. I. MORNING DEVOTIONS THerefore when thou first awakest in the morning look up to Heaven and say I thank thee O Lord my heavenly Father that by thy great mercy thou hast defended me from all the perils and dangers of this Night through thy onely Son our Saviour Jesus Christ Amen After sufficient sleep immediately quit thy Bed and give no way to sloth nor occasion to bad thoughts As thou art dressing suffer no vain talk nor worldly matters to prepossess thy mind but cast thy thoughts round the World consider the Heaven the Sky the Air the Waters the Earth and Hell and the Creatures in them particularly think on thy self and the excellent estate that Adam and Eve were made in and say How Mighty How Wise How good is that God that thus made all these things Blessed be God the Father who hath made me and all the World Then think into how sad an estate Adam and Eve by their sin brought themselves and all their Children and how much worse it would have been if God had not sent his Son to save men from it and say How wretched are men who are spoiled by Sin enslaved to the Devil and liable to Hell Blessed be God the Son who hath redeemed me and all Mankind Then think of the aids of the Holy Ghost and the many ways and means he useth to sanctifie Christians and say Blessed be God the Holy Ghost who sanctifieth me and all the elect people of God Next you may think how great a mercy it is that you are made a Member of Christ a Child of God and an Heir of the Kingdom of Heaven and say I heartily thank my Lord God our heavenly Father that he hath called me to this estate of salvation through Jesus Christ our Saviour When you are ready venture not out till you have withdrawn into the privatest place you can and there think how far you have broken your promise at Baptism and what faults you have committed and then with all humility of soul and sorrow of heart cast your self on your knees or face and say with reverence as in God's presence O Great Creator Sovereign Lord and Just Judge of Men I have been baptized into the Name and service of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and have promised and vowed that by God's help I would renounce the Devil and all his Works the pomps and vanity of this wicked World and all the sinful lusts of the Flesh Thou O God! hast not refused me thy help But to my shame I confess I have too often yielded to the Temptations of the Devil and done his Works in Pride in Malice in Lying c. I have been foolishly taken with the pomps and vanities of this wicked World and with covetous desires after its needless Braveries Riches Pleasures and Honours I have beastlily followed the sinful Lusts and been led away by the carnal desires of the Flesh in
slothfulness intemperance uncleanness c. O God! be merciful to me a Sinner I then also promised to believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith But O how shamefully have I neglected duly to consider them Openly to own and profess them And Conscientiously to live suitably to them Yea farther I vowed to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments and to walk in the same Commandments of God not now and then but all the days of my life from my Baptism to my death But O my God I confess with sorrow and shame that I have too often resisted thy Holy Will and disobeyed thy Commandments and have not made Conscience to keep them nor walk in them all the days of my past life Dispose my mind O my God! to true Repentance and so for Jesus Christ's sake graciously forgive the sin of thy servant Inable me Conscientiously to renew my Covenant with God and give me grace sincerely to keep it Then lift up thy Heart thy Eyes and thy Hands towards Heaven and say I do verily think that I am bound To renounce the Devil and all his Works The Pomps and Vanity of this wicked World And all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh And here before God and his Angels I renounce them all And that I am bound to believe and profess all the Articles of the Christian Faith And to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments and to walk in the same all the days of my life And by thy help O God so I will And because I know that I am not able to do these things of my self nor to walk in the Commandments of God and to serve him without his special grace therefore I now will call for it by diligent Prayer Then say Our Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily Bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us And lead us not into Temptation But deliver us from Evil. For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for Ever and Ever Amen Then add O my Lord God our heavenly Father the Giver of all Goodness I beseech thee to send thy Grace to me and to all People that we may worship thee serve thee and obey thee as we ought to do And I pray unto thee that thou would'st send us all things that be needful for our Souls and Bodies And that thou would'st be merciful unto us and forgive us our sins And that it would please thee to save and defend us in all dangers ghostly and bodily that neither our souls nor bodies be harmed And that thou would'st keep us from all sin and wickedness and from our ghostly Enemy the Devil and his Instruments and from everlasting Death And this I trust O Lord thou wilt do of thy mercy and goodness through our Lord Jesus Christ and therefore I say Amen so be it Then rising up you may consider with your self thus How patient how good and gracious is my Lord Who hath prolonged my life and good estate to this day Who hath provided me plenty of good things and yet allow me the means of grace and aids of his Spirit Who hath entrusted me with one day more to strengthen my faith to repent of my sins to serve my God to do good to my Neighbour and to work out my own salvation in with fear and trembling What manner of person ought I to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness Satan is malicious and cunning The World tempting evil Company inticing My flesh weak and deceitful But God's Eye is upon me The love of Christ constrains me I am under the Promises and Vows of Baptism My Soul and its eternal state lies at stake God's glory my Neighbour's good and my own welfare are deeply concerned in my carriage this day I shall be judged according to this days works Hell is open and gapes for the unfaithful and wicked breakers of God's Covenant Eternal Glory is before me the assured reward of faithful perseverance in well-doing Grant O Lord that I may this day truly do my duty in that state of life unto which thou hast called me Then read a Psalm and a Chapter in your course and when you have thought what work you have to do that day sit down on your knees and say O Lord my heavenly Father Almighty and Everlasting God who hast safely brought me to the beginning of this day defend me in the same by thy mighty power and grant that this day I may fall into no sin nor run into any kind of danger but that all my doings may be ordered by thy governance and I may do always that which is righteous in thy sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen §. II. EVENING DEVOTIONS I Advise thee my dear Child as ever thou wouldest be truly Religious and happy when the day is done before thou art drowzy and unfit for such a work to get alone and having composed thy thoughts with reverence fall down on thy knees and say O Lord my heavenly Father thou hast safely brought me to the latter end of this day and hast defended me in the same by thy mighty power and hast kept me by thy grace from falling into many sins and from running into many kinds of danger and hast sent me all things needful for Soul or Body for all which I humbly and heartily thank thee through Jesus Christ our Lord. And I beseech thee to give me thy grace to help me to consider what I have done this day and to praise thee for what I have well done and to see confess and repent of what I have done amiss therein Amen Then take a view of all thou hast done that day and consider what duty to God to men or to thy self thou hast omitted and what thou hast thought or said or done amiss and say If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us but if we confess our sins with a due sense of them hearty sorrow for them and utter detestation of them and so forsake them God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness Then fall again on thy knees and say O God the Father Who hast made me and all the World have mercy on me a miserable sinner O God the Son Who hast redeemed me and all mankind have mercy upon me a miserable sinner O God the Holy Ghost Who do'st sanctifie me and all the elect People of God have mercy upon me a miserable sinner I confess before thee O Lord that I have been too negligent of my duty towards thee in not believing in thee not fearing thee not loving thee with all my heart and with all my mind and with all my soul and with all my strength but have over-loved other things besides thee O how have I neglected to worship
Articles of the Christian Faith Q. Which is the third thing that they promised for you at your Baptism 16. A. Thirdly They did promise for me and vow that I should keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and that I should walk in the same Commandments of God all the days of my life Q. How long did they promise that you should do these three things 17. A. They promised that I should do thus all the days of my life from my Baptism to my Death §. IV. Of our owning and promising to perform the Baptismal Vow Q. Dost thou not think that thou art bound to believe and to do as they have promised for thée 18. A. Yes verily and by Gods help so I will and I heartily thank our heavenly Father that hehath called me to this state of Salvation through Iesus Christ our Saviour and I pray unto God to give me his grace that I may continue in the same unto my lives end Q. You think then that as they have promised for you so you are bound to believe and to do 19. A. Yes verily I do think that I am bound to believe and to do as they then promised for me And by Gods help so I will Q. What will you by Gods help do 20. A. First by Gods help I will renounce the Devil and all his works I will renounce the pomps and the vanities of this wicked world and I will renounce all the sinful lusts of the flesh Secondly by Gods help I will believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith And thirdly I will by Gods help keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and I will walk in the same Commandments of God all the days of my life Q. Do you promise to do these things without Gods help or with it and by it 21. An. I said that by Gods help I will believe and do these things Q. If then you were duly Baptized upon such Promises and Vows and if you do truly take upon you to believe and do as was then promised for you into what state are you thereby brought 22. A. I am thereby brought into a state of Salvation wherein I may be saved Q. Ought you not to be thankful from your heart to God who hath brought you into this happy estate of Salvation 23. A. Yes and I heartily thank our heavenly Father that he hath called me to this state of Salvation Q. Through whom for whose sake and by whose means hath God called us to this state of Salvation 24. A. Through Jesus Christ our Saviour for his sake and by his means Q. Do you not need Gods Grace to inable you to continue in this happy state and will you not pray unto God to give it you 25. A. Yes and I pray unto God to give me his grace that I may continue in the same state of Salvation to my lives end §. V. The twelve Articles of the Creed Q. You told me that by Gods help you would believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith Therefore Rehearse the Articles of thy Belief 26. A. I. I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth II. And in Iesus Christ his only Son our Lord. III. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary IV. He suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into Hell V. The third day he rose again from the Dead VI. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right right hand of God the Father Almighty VII From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the Dead VIII I believe in the Holy Ghost IX The Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints X. The forgiveness of Sins XI The resurrection of the Body XII And the life everlasting Amen Q. Which is the first Article of our Belief 27. A. I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth Q. What do you profess to believe in this first Article 28 A. In the first Article I profess 1. That God is 2. That he is the Father Almighty 3. That he is the maker of Heaven and Earth And that I believe in him as such Q. Which is the second Article of the Christian Faith set down in the Creed 29. A. And I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. Q. What do you profess to believe in the second Article 30. A. In the second Article I profess 1. That Jesus is the Christ 2. That Jesus Christ is the only Son of God the Father 3. That he is our Lord. And that I believe in him as such Q. Which is the third Article of the Creed 31. A. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary Q. What do you profess to believe in the third Article 32. A. In the third Article I profess to believe 1. That Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit 2. That he was born of Mary 3. That Mary his Mother was a Virgin at his Birth Q. Which is the fourth Article of the Belief 33. A. He suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into Hell Q. What do you profess to believe in the fourth Article 34. A. In the fourth Article I profess to believe 1. That Jesus Christ suffered dreadful Sufferings under Pontius Pilate when Pontius Pilate was Governour of Judaea and by his order 2. That he was then crucified nailed to a Cross 3. That he was dead that he died on that Cross 4. That he was buried 5. That he descended into Hell that his Soul went into the invisible state where Souls departed were Q. Which is the fifth Article of our Creed 35. A. The third day he rose again from the dead Q. What do you profess to believe in the fifth Article 36. A. In the fifth Article I profess to believe 1. That Jesus Christ arose again from among the dead 2. That he arose again upon the third day after his death and burial Q. Which is the sixth Article of the Creed 37. A. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty Q. What do you profess to believe in the sixth Article 38. A. In this sixth Article I profess to believe 1. That our Lord Jesus Christ did after his rising from the Dead ascend and go up into Heaven 2. That he hath his seat and abode now there 3. That he sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty that he is in highest Place Power and Authority next unto God the Father Q. Which is the seventh Article 39. A. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead Q. What do you profess to believe in this seventh Article 40. A. In this seventh Article I profess to believe 1. That Jesus Christ shall come again from thence that is out of Heaven 2. That he shall come thence to judge men 3. That he shall judge all men both the quick and the dead that is both those that
then shall be alive and those that shall then be dead Q. Which is the eighth Article of your Creed 41. A. I believe in the Holy Ghost Q. What do you profess to believe in the eighth Article 42. A. In the eighth Article I profess 1. That there is an Holy Ghost or Spirit 2. That this Spirit is Holy halloweth and sanctifieth the elect people of God 3. That I do believe in him as the Holy sanctifying Spirit Q. Which is the ninth Article in the Creed 43. A. I believe the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints Q. What do you profess to believe in the ninth Article 44. A. In the ninth Article I profess to believe 1. That there is one Church of Christ 2. That this Church is Holy made up of Saints separated and consecrated to God in Baptism 3. That this Holy Church is Catholick comprehending all Christians in all Nations Times and Places 4. That there is and ought to be a Communion of these Saints or Christians sacred to God in Christian fellowship in mutual love and all good offices towards one another Q. Which is the tenth Article of the Creed 45. A. I believe The forgiveness of Sins Q. What do you profess to believe in this tenth Article 46. A. In this tenth Article I profess to believe 1. That the sins of men stand in need of forgiveness 2. That there is forgiveness of the sins of all those that truly repent and believe Q. Which is the eleventh Article of the Creed 47. A. I believe The Resurrection of the Body Q. What do you profess to believe in the eleventh Article 48. A. in the eleventh Article I profess to believe That the bodies of all men that die shall be raised again to life at the last day Q. Which is the Twelfth Article 49 A. And the Life Everlasting Q. What do you profess to believe in this Twelfth and last Article of your Creed 50 A. In this Twelfth Article I profess to believe That there is and shall be an Everlasting Life of the Righteous in Heaven and of the Wicked in Hell for ever Q. What meaneth Amen at the End 51 A. Amen signifieth So be it and So it is And therefore I say Amen So it is All these things are certainly true and I believe them to be so And so let it be they are excellently good and I am duely affected towards them and will live and act suitably to them Q. What doest thou chiefty learn in these Articles of thy Belief 52 A. 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 Q. Why say you That by the Articles of your Belief you chiefly learn these three things 53 A. I say chiefly because there are other things besides these that I learn and profess in the Creed but these three are the chief Q. First Whom do you profess to believe in 54 A. First I profess to believe in God the Father Q. What hath God the Father done 55 A. He hath made me and all the world Q. Secondly Whom do you learn to believe in 56 A. Secondly I learn and profess to believe in God the Son Q. Who is meant by God the Son 57 A. Jesus Christ is God the Son Q. What hath God the Son done hath he not redeemed all the world 58 A. God the Son hath redeemed me and all mankind not Angels nor Devils nor Beasts Q. Thirdly In whom do you learn to believe 59 A. Thirdly I learn and profess to believe in God the Holy Ghost Q. What doth God the Holy Ghost do Doth he not sanctifie all the World or at least all Mankind 60 A. No but he sanctifieth me and all the Elect People of God and no other Q. If then you learn to believe in God the Father and in God the Son and in God the Holy Ghost do you not learn to believe in three Gods 61 A. No but I believe in the Father and Son and Holy Ghost and these three are one God §. VI. The Ten Commandments Q. You said that your Godfathers and Godmothers did promise for you That you should keep Gods Commandments Tell me how many there be 62 A. Ten. Q. Which be they 63 A. The same which God spake in the twentieth Chapter of Exodus saying I am the Lord thy God who brought thée out of the Land of Egypt out of the House of Bondage Q. Who spake these Ten Commandments 64 A. God spake these Ten Commandments Q. Where are these Ten Commandments written down 65 A. They are written in the twentieth Chapter of Exodus Q. What did God say before he spake the Ten Commandments 66 A. God spake to the Nation of Israel saying I am the Lord thy God who brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage and slavery And therefore keep thou all the Commandments of him who is the Lord thy God and hath redeemed thee from Egyptian slavery Q. Which is the First Commandment 67 A. I. Com. Thou shalt have none other Gods but me Q. What doth God require in this First Commandment 68 A. In the First Commandment God requireth That his redeemed People have him for their God Q. What doth God forbid in the Sâ—… Commandment 69 A. In the First Commandment God forbiddeth them to have any other God but him Q. Which is the Second Commandment 70 A. II. Com. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven image nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the water under the earth Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mercy unto thousands in them that love me and keep my Commandments Q. What doth God forbid his People in the Second Commandment 71 A. In the Second Commandment God forbiddeth his People To make any graven image or any likeness of any thing in heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the water below the earth to bow down to them or worship them Q. What doth God say to afrighten them from bowing down and worshipping the image or likeness of any thing 72 A. He saith For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and worship images Q. What doth he say to encourage them to keep this Commandment 73 A. To encourage his People to keep this Commandment he saith And I shew mercy to thousands in them that love me and keep my Commandments particularly who keep this Commandment and do not worship Images Q. Which is the Third
sure as we duely receive the outward sign so sure shall we receive the inward and spiritual grace Q. So then How many parts are there in each Sacrament 147 A. In each Sacrament there are two parts 1. The outward visible sign 2. And the inward spiritual grace Q. What is the outward visible sign in Baptism 148 A. In Baptism the outward visible sign is water wherein the person is baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Q. VVhat is the inward and spiritual grace signified by our being washed with water and given to us thereby 149 A. The inward and spiritual grace signified and given in Baptism is A death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness for being by nature born in sin and the children of wrath we are hereby made the children of grace Q. What are we by nature 150 A. By nature we are born in sin and are the children of wrath Q. What are we made by being duely and rightly baptized 151 A. By being duely and rightly baptized we are made the children of grace Q. What doth that grace engage and enable us to do 152 A. The grace given at Baptism doth engage and enable us to dye unto sin and to be born anew to live a new life unto righteousness Q. VVhat is required of persons to be baptized 153 A. There is required of persons to be baptized First Repentance whereby they forsake sin And secondly Faith whereby they stedfastly believe the promises of God made to them in that Sacrament Q. Here then are two things requir'd of all persons before they are to be baptized which is the first 154 A. Repentance is the first thing requir'd Q. What sort of Repentance is it that is requir'd 155 A. Not that Repentance only whereby a man acknowledges his sins nor that only whereby he is grieved and sorry for his sin but that Repentance is requir'd whereby men forsake sin and all sin Q. Which is the second thing requir'd of persons to be baptiz'd 156 A. Faith is the second thing Q. What Faith is it that is requir'd 157 A. That Faith is requir'd of persons to be baptized whereby they stedfastly believe the Promises of God made to them in that Sacrament of Baptism Q. What Promises hath God made to men that come truly to the Sacrament of Baptism 158 A. The chief Promise is set down in the 16th Chapter of Mark in the 15 and 16 verses thus Jesus said unto his Disciples Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Q. Who are they that do indeed thus believe 159 A. They and they only do thus believe who are so satisfied of the truth and goodness of the Gospel that they are persuaded to undertake the Baptismal Vow and to be baptized into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and to live according to their Promise Vow and Engagement Q. Can Infants in their tender Age repent and believe 160 A. No Infants by reason of their tender Age cannot perform Repentance and Faith They cannot forsake sin nor stedfastly believe the Promises and Word of God Q. Why then are Infants baptized when by reason of their tender Age they cannot perform them 161 A. Because they promise them both by their Sureties which Promise when they come to Age themselves are bound to perform Q. You say Infants promise them both both what 162 A. They promise by their Sureties both Repentance and Faith both to forsake Sin and to believe the Promises of God Q. What are they hereupon bound to 163 A. They are bound themselves to perform this Promise and themselves to repent and believe Q. When are they bound to perform this themselves 164 A. When they come of Age to do it Q. Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained 165 A. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was ordained for the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ and of the benefits which we receive thereby Q. When Jesus Christ so loved us that he dyed on a Cross for us what was his death 166 A. The death of Christ was a Sacrifice offer'd to God for us and accepted by him Q. Do not we receive some benefits by the Sacrifice of the death of Christ 167 A. We receive many and great benefits thereby the pardon of our sins the help of his grace and Spirit and the promised hopes of eternal glory c. Q. May we forget the Sacrifice of the death of Christ and the benefits which we get by it or should we keep them in continual remembrance 168 A. The Sacrifice of Christ's death and the benefits that we receive thereby should be had in continual remembrance to the worlds end and therefore Christ ordained the Lord's Supper to keep up the continual remembrance thereof Q. What do they then do who refuse to celebrate the Lord's Supper 169 A. They that refuse and neglect to celebrate and partake of the Lord's Supper 1. Do refuse to do that which is to keep up the continual remembrance of Christ's love in dying a Sacrifice for us 2. They refuse to do that which is to keep up the continual remembrance of the many and great benefits we Christians receive by the sacrifice of his death 3. They refuse to do that which their Lord Christ hath ordained to keep up the continual remembrance of these things to the worlds end Q. Which is the outward part or sign in the Lord's Supper 170 A. The outward part and visible sign in the Lord's Supper is Bread and Wine which the Lord hath commanded to be received Q. Is it not enough that only Bread or only Wine be received in the Lord's Supper 171 A. The Lord hath commanded that both Bread and Wine be received by all that eat the Lord's Supper Q. Which is the inward part or the thing signified by the Bread and Wine 172 A. The thing signified by the Bread and Wine in the Lord's Supper is The Body and the Bloud of Christ which are verily and indeed taken and received by the Faithful in the Lord's Supper Q. VVhat are the benefits whereof we are partakers thereby by faithfully receiving the Lord's Supper 173 A. The benefits that we are partakers of thereby are The strengthening and refreshing our souls by the body and bloud of Christ as our bodies are strengthened and refreshed by the bread and wine Q. Is there nothing requir'd of persons before they come to the Lord's Supper that they may be strengthened and refreshed thereby 174 A. Yes some things are requir'd of persons before they come to the Lord's Supper that so they may be strengthened and refreshed thereby Q. VVhat is required of them that come to the Lords Supper 175 A. It is requir'd of them that come to the Lords Supper To examine themselves whether they truly repent of their former
thee the great God in Spirit and Truth To give thee thanks for all thy mercies to put my whole trust in thee to call upon thee to honour thy holy Name and thy Word and to serve thee truly this and other days of my life Convert me O my God more to thee and forgive me I have also uncharitably and unjustly neglected my duty to others not loving my Neighbour as my self not doing to all men as I would they should do unto me I am bound to love honour and succour my Father and Mother to honour and obey the King and all that are put in Authority under Him I should have submitted my self to all my Governors Teachers spiritual Pastors and Masters I should have order'd my self lowly and reverently to all my Betters But the Lord knows I have failed in these Duties How oft have I hurt others by word or deed How oft have I been untrue and unjust in my Dealing How oft have I wretched sinner born malice and hatred in my heart I promised to keep my hands from picking and stealing and my tongue from evil speaking lying and slandering others and to keep my body in temperance soberness and chastity But God and my Conscience witness that I have fail'd in these things Too oft have I coveted and desired other mens Goods and through sloth have neglected to learn and labour truly to do my duty in that state of life unto which it hath pleased God to call me Prevail with me O my God to amend and forgive my sin for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Then rising up read a Psalm or Chapter or both taking good heed as to the Word of God and pray God you may be bettered by it Then fall again on thy knees and say Be merciful to me O Lord take the care of me refresh me with good rest and by thy great mercy defend me from all perils and dangers of this Night for the love of thy only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ Amen God the Father Son and Holy Ghost whose I am and whom I serve into whose Name I was baptized and to whose Faith Fear and Love I am devoted direct sanctifie and govern my heart and body enlighten my mind engage my will and enliven all my powers in the ways of my duty and in the works of his commandments guide bless and prosper me here and bring me to the heavenly Kingdom Amen Bless O Lord God I beseech thee my Sovereign Lord the King and all that are put in Authority under Him Bless the Pastors of thy Church the Ministers of thy Word and Sacraments Bless my honoured Parents my Brothers and Sisters and all the rest of my Kindred my Teachers spiritual Pastor and Master all my Benefactors and good Friends yea mine Enemies Bless this Family and all in it all my Neighbours and Companions with all Blessings bodily and spiritual temporal and eternal through Jesus Christ Amen The Grace of my Lord Jesus Christ the Love of God my Father and the Fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with me now henceforth and for ever Amen Grace before Meat O God in whom I live and move and have my being bless thy good Creatures I beseech thee to my use and me to thy service through Jesus Christ Amen Grace after Meat The God of all Power Grace and Glory who hath created me redeemed me sanctifieth me and hath at this time graciously fed me his holy Name be blessed and praised for ever and ever Amen Pag. 4. lin 20. for truely baptized read duely THE END
THE Church Catechism Analysed Explained and Improved The First Part. WHEREIN I. The Text is set down whole and entire II. It is broken into Questions and Answers in the very Words of the Catechism III. The Terms of it are explained and such short Questions and Answers added as are occasioned by it and seem needful to the discovery of its true meaning and use At the end is added Matter and Direction for all Acts of DEVOTION for Morning and Evening mostly in the Words of the Catechism The whole accommodated to the capacity and use of them that are yet to learn it and recommended to the Rich to bestow among the Poor Train up a Child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Prov. 22.6 Children obey your Parents in the Lord for this is right And ye Fathers provoke not your Children but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Ephes 6.1,4 Jesus said to Simon Peter Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me more than these Feed my Lambs John 21.15 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give account Hebr. 13.17 London Printed for Robert Gifford 1683. CONSIDERATIONS Proposed to those that use this Book TRain up a Child saith the wisest of men by the direction of the Spirit of wisdom in his way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it where I. The life of man in this world is represented as a Way which when walked in assuredly brings the Traveller tâ—… and lodges him in the Place to which it leads II. A Charge is laid upon every one whom it concerns to train up those under their care even while Children in the right Way wherein they should go III. Assurance is given to incourage so needful a Practice that he that is indeed trained up in the right way will not depart from it but follow it till he arrive at the desired end Let it then in the fear of God be duely considered 1. That all and every one in whom we are concerned are passing apace on each in his way to a certain fixed end and unrepealable state being immortal Spirits that must never die 2. That according as the way they walk in and the course of life they pursue is right or wrong so will they infallibly be brought to an end either of full perfection and entire happiness with God in the most happy Place among the most happy Society in the most felicitating enjoyments and imployments to all eternity or of deplorable wretchedness and misery with Devils in endless easeless and remediless torments which in other words is called a being judged according to their works a receiving the things done in the Body whether good or evil a saying to the Righteous come ye Blessed and to the Wicked go ye Cursed 3. That there is a tremendous danger of missing the right way or departing from it Which will quickly appear when we have observed that the uninstructed faculties are so prone to act that Children begin to walk and take some way before they are able to know chuse or walk in the right That they are depraved by Nature ill Nurture and worse Education inclined to take the wrong ways into which they are misled by unexperienced Sense foâ—lish Informations and bad Examples and strongly habituated to these they have been used to That they are apt to mistake or forget or reject true Directions and obnoxious to abundance of false That there are thousands of By-ways and turnings to the right hand and to the left That our Travellers companions will oft be his seducers many going the Broad-way that leads to destruction who will early prejudice him against the narrow Way and the few that find it or pursue him with Scoffs and Affronts which he must persevereingly encounter that he will be daily exposed to a thousand Solicitations of the Devil the World and the Flesh That there are many stumbling Blocks in the way and even his Fellow-travellers will oft be a scandal and a discouragement to him All which and much more evidence the mighty hazard of being seduced and make it no marvel that God should concern himself and the wisest Man to warn us to train him up in the way wherein he should go 4. That therefore if we have not devested our selves of common humanity natural affection and Christian compassion towards those lovely Images of God the dear purchase of the Blood of Christ and the peculiar charge of the Sanctifying Spirit sacred to the Holy Trinity in Baptism the Children of God the Members of Christ and the Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven the hopeful Members of our Church our State and our Families which are entrusted to our care and be not resolved persidiously to leave them to apparent ruine and perdition we will bestir our selves for them and conscientiously obey the Charge training every one of them up in the way that he should go no care no pains surely can be thought here too much 5. That to train up imports no less than these three necessary things I. To present to them a full and fair prospect of the designed Place and the way to it keep open their eyes to view it and carry a Light before them a Lamp to their feet furnish them with true and never-failing directions to find the right and shun the wrong way and acquaint them with all the dangers in their Travel that a Voice may ever accompany them saying this is the way walk in it II. To conciliate their Affections to the blessed end and the way to it to get within them reach their hearts and possess them with a vigorous sense of their concernment therein to enamour them and make them in love with the way of life to excite their fears of missing it to enkindle their desires confirm their hopes of certain success and to ascertain their consent to walk yea to run with patience the race that is set before them and To hate every false way III. Actually to engage them to walk in the way excite and assist their powers anticipate their straying form their steps and early enter them into the way appoint them such easie Stages as they are able to travel furnish them with all the helps and provisions necessary to the Journey remove the affrightments and Stumbling-stones out of it see that they constantly follow their directions and the footsteps of the great and good that have gone before them so recall them when gone astray raise them when fallen encourage them when desponding refresh them when spent strengthen them against difficulties in a word so hedge in their Paths by a constant strict but gentle discipline so conduct them go before them and inure them to the Journey that their feet may certainly be guided into the ways of peace and that they may walk and not faint run and
unto which it shall please God to call me §. VIII Of the Lords Prayer Q. My good Child doest thou know whether thou art able of thy self to do these things to renounce the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World and all the sinful lusts of the Flesh and to believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith and to walk in the Commandments of God and serve him without his special grace and help 102 A. I know this That I am not able to do these things of my self nor to walk in the Commandments of God and to serve him without his special grace Q. What if you should not perform your Covenant made at Baptism and which you have engaged your self to perform 103 A. He that refuses or neglects to do as he is engaged to do at Baptism continues not in the estate of salvation to which God had called him by Jesus Christ our Saviour Nor is he a true Member of Christ nor a Child of God nor an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven Q. Must you not then learn at all times to call for God's special grace by diligent Prayer to enable you to keep your promise 104 A. Yes I must call for God's special grace by diligent Prayer at all times to enable me to do these things which I am not able to do of my self Q. What Prayer are you to use to call for God's special grace by 105 A. The Lord's Prayer is both a Form for us to use and a Pattern by which we ought to make all our other Prayers Q. Let me then hear you say the Lord's Prayer 106 A. Our Father which art in Heaven 1. Hallowed be thy Name 2. Thy Kingdom come 3. Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven 4. Give us this day our daily Bread 5. And forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us 6. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Q. To whom do you pray in the Lord's Prayer 107 A. In the Lord's Prayer we pray only to God who is our Father which is in Heaven Q. Which is the first thing you pray for in the Lord's Prayer 108 A. The first thing that we pray in the Lord's Prayer is Hallowed be thy Name Q. What mean you when you say Hallowed be thy Name 109 A. When we say Hallowed be thy Name we pray that God may be honoured feared and worshipped and his holy Name had in all holy Reverence by us and all men Q. Which is the second thing we pray for in the Lord's Prayer 110 A. The second thing we pray in the Lord's Prayer is Thy Kingdom come Q. What do you mean when you say Thy Kingdom come 111 A. When we say Thy Kingdom come we pray that God may be owned and served by all as the great King of Heaven and Earth and his Laws kept and that we and all others may ever be his dutiful Subjects Q. Which is the third thing that we pray in the Lord's Prayer 112 A. The third thing which we pray in the Lord's Prayer is Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heaven Q. What do you pray for when you say Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heaven 113 A. When we say Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heaven we pray that God's Will may be obeyed and done here on earth by us and all men so as it is done in heaven by the holy Angels and Saints there Q. Which is the fourth thing we pray for in the Prayer of our Lord 114 A. The fourth thing that we pray in the Lord's Prayer is Give us this day our daily Bread Q. What do we beg of our heavenly Father in these words 115 A. When we say Give us this day our daily Bread we pray that God our heavenly Father would bestow upon us his Children every day all those things that are needful to the good either of our Souls or of our Bodies Q. What is the fifth thing that we are taught by our Lord to pray for in the Lord's Prayer 116 A. The fifth thing that we pray in the Lord's Prayer is And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us Q. What do we pray for when we say Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us 117 A. When we say Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us we pray that God our Father would mercifully forgive us all the sins and offences that we have committed against him even as we do forgive men all the offences they have committed against us Q. Which is the sixth thing that we are taught in this Prayer to beg of our heavenly Father 118 A. The sixth thing that we beg of God in this Prayer is Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Q. What mean we by these words 119 A. When we say Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil we pray that our heavenly Father would by his care and grace keep us from all those temptations whereby we may be brought to sin against him And that he would save us from the Devil the evil one who tempts us and from sin the evil act to which he tempts us and from punishment the evil misery which he would bring us to Q. What reason is there added at the end why we beg these six Petitions of God 120 A. The reason why we make this Prayer unto God is added in these words For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever That is because we know and acknowledge that in God alone is the Kingdom and Sovereignty over all all Power and glorious Wisdom and Goodness for ever and ever therefore we do thus pray unto him Q. Why say we Amen after this Prayer 121 A. After this Prayer we say Amen So be it O that it may so be and so it shall be to declare that we heartily desire and assuredly trust that our heavenly Father for Christ Jesus his sake will grant these things to them that thus pray unto him aright Q. What desirest thou of God in this Prayer 122 A. In this Prayer I desire my Lord God our heavenly Father who is the giver of all goodness to send his grace unto me and to all people 1. That we may worship him 2. Serve him 3. And obey him as we ought to do And I pray unto God 4. That he will send us all things that be needful both for our Souls and Bodies And 5. That he will be merciful unto us and forgive us our sins And 6. That it will please him to save and defend us in all dangers ghostly and bodily and kéep us from all sin and wickedness and from our ghostly enemy and from everlasting death And this