vnderstand the doctrine gathered and in heart to affect the vse made after I haue either read or heard it 5. Conference by asking of superiours and Ministers by reasoning with equals and teaching inferiours all in reuerence and humilitie to vnderstand that I know not to be resolued in that I doubt of and to call to memorie what I haue forgotten 6. Continuall prayer with practise of it in my particular calling Q. Do you thinke you are thus bound to forsake the diuell the vvorld and the flesh to beleeue in God to learne to knovv and do his vvill as they haue promised for you A. Yes verily and by Gods helpe so will I indeauour to do or else were I vnthankfull to God my Father that hath called me into the state of saluation making me his child and also vnmindfull of my sureties that haue so bound themselues for me Q. But tell me if any vndergo such a charge hovv can any be suretie to God for you that you should doe as they haue promised for you A. Being assured by faith that the seed of the faithfull are blessed they iudging me charitably to bee one of them did promise by the grace of God belonging vnto me in Christ and the meanes which they would vse J should performe the same Q. VVhat are the meanes vvhich they haue premised to vse A. That I should be taught so soone as I shall be able to learne what a solemne vow promise and profession I. haue made by them II. That they will exhort me to heare sermons and to learn all things which a Christian ought to know for his soules health but especially the principles of religion conteined in these foure the Creed the Lords prayer the ten Commaundements and the doctrine of the Sacraments The second part Q. Let vs then see vvhether they haue vsed those meanes and hovv you haue profited rehearse the articles of your beleefe A. I beleeue in God the Father almightie c. Q. VVhat do you chiefly learne out of these articles of your Christian faith A. 1. J learne to beleeue that there is a God to beleeue God and also in him 2. That he is but one in substance yet distinguished into three the Father Sonne and holy Ghost which distinction is in person propertie and manner of working 3. That this God hath a Church to which onely he is truly knowne and by the same sincerely worshipped Q Hovv can you be persvvaded that there is a God A. 1. By his created workes declaring 2. by my conscience accusing 3. by iudgements terrifying 4. by order obserued in all things 5. by heathen authors consenting 6. By the Scripture confidently auouching the same Q. VVhat is God vve cannot tell ther fore tell me vvhat a one he is A. A spirituall substance most holy and of glorious maiestie infinite in his being as euery where present in wisedome foreseeing rightly disposing all things in power doing what he list in iustice punishing whom he will iustly and in mercie to saue whom he pleaseth Q. Hovv do you behold and conceiue of this God A. Not by any bodily shape but spiritually by his word as he hath therein manifested himselfe and by his workes of creation preseruation and gouerning euery thing according to his foreknowledge and appointment therein to his owne glorie Q. VVhat beleeue you concerning God the Father A. That he is God Almightie in order the first person in the Trinitie begetting the Sonne from euerlasting of his whole substance maker of heauen and earth men and Angels and all things else very good onely by his word of nothing at the beginning in sixe dayes and still by his prouidence preserues the same for my benefite Q. VVhat vvas man especially made of A. Man consists of bodie and soule the first mans bodie was made of the dust of the earth but our bodies come by generation and are with his mortall and both his and all our soules by inspiration and are immortall Q. VVhat estate good man in by creation and vvhat a one did God make him A. In the estate of innocencie void of all sin free from any punishment and was made after Gods image that is holy and righteous hauing perfect knowledge of God and his will as much as was needfull for him and also readinesse of will in heartie affection with bodily strength to fulfill the same and had withall the rule of all Gods creatures made for his benefite Q. Hovv then came you into this vvretched estate A. By the fall of Adam and Eue my first parents who wilfully disobeyed God by the diuels enticement infidelitie and pride possessing their hearts and who stood and fell in the roome of all mankind Q. Hovv can our soules be sinfull that come not by propagation but by inspiration A. 1. For that his soule was deputie for all soules of men naturally begotten 2. Because man sinned and man is not man before body soule be knit together which being conioyned become together as man partaker of mans fal corruptiō Q. Doth any thing of that image of God remaine yet in vs A. Yes 1. In the mind a certaine generall corrupt knowledge of nature concerning good and euill to make vs inexcusable before God 2. In the conscience a power to reproue and represse in part vnbridled affections 3. In will though a free yet a weake choice in euery naturall and ciuill action Q. VVhat euils do vve receiue by this fall A. 1. In the mind ignorance of heauenly things vnaptnesse to learne them or to iudge of them aright but apt to learne euill and to inuent the same 2. In conscience impurenesse to excuse sin not to accuse beeing dead or benummed and to accuse for well or ill doing 3. In will want of power to will any true good but to resist it and onely to will that which is euill 4. In affection to hate good and runne after ill 5. In bodie fitnesse to begin sinne by receiuing outward obiects and occasions theteof by the senses and also to execute the same when the heart hath conceiued it in word and deed and this is called Originall sinne which is in euery man Q. Do all men continue in this sinfull and cursed estate for euer A. No but onely the reprobate whome God hath not decreed to saue to manifest his iustice for the elect being predestinate to eternall life are in this world in their appointed time called effectually through Gods word and his spirit iustified and sanctified and so shall continue in this estate of grace to be glorified for that God will also shew his mercie and all for his owne glorie Q. Are none of the reprobate euor in the estate of grace and Gods fauour A. No verily though many of them endued with the common gifts of the spirit may in outward appearance for a time seeme to be of the elect in the iudgement of the Church Q. Can any of the elect then be euer before God in the
state of damnation A. No indeed albeit both before the conuersion and also after they be called they falling by infirmitie and lying a time in their sinne may appeare in shew to the Church to be none of the elect yet can they not fall away wholy nor finally Q. May not men then liue as they list sithence he being a reprobate cannot be saued or an elect he cannot be damned A. Not so for that one elected cannot but vse the meanes which are ordained for him to walke in to make his election sure to himselfe which whoso doth not cannot be saued Q. VVhat beleeue you concerning God the Son A. That he is God the second Person in the Trinitie Christ Iesus the onely naturall Sonne begotten of the Father our Lord made man cōceiued and sanctified by the holy Ghost ioyning two natures into one person borne according to the promise of the Virgin Marie who perfectly fulfilled the lawe humbled and suffered vnder Pontius Pylate was crucified bearing vpon him Gods curse and hellish torments who died and was buried and being a while held captiue of death in the graue he was exalted and victoriously rose againe the third day and is ascended vp into heauen and there he sits on the right hand of God his Father hauing all power in heauen and earth to rule and gouerne his Church where his manhood doth and shall at all times though in his Godhead he be present with me euer remaine vntill he shall come from thence to iudge vs all here on earth both quicke and dead at the last day which day cannot be nowe farre off Q. VVhy should he neede to be both God and man A. That he might be the onely Mediator betwixt God and man to satisfie for sinne which neither the manhood by deseruing nor Godhead by dying alone could do Q. VVhy is he called Christ A. To declare that he was the promised Messias and to signifie his offices that he was annointed not with materiall oyle but with the gift of the spirit without measure to be our King Priest and Prophet from which name we are called Christians and are by him Kings Priests and Prophets Q. Hovv is Christ a King A. He is King not onely as God but as hee is the head gouerning the Church without any generall Vicar vnder him by his word and spirit immediatly making lawes and ordeining Ministers to the gathering together and preseruation thereof 2. By destroying Sathan his Angels vnbeleeuers idolaters heretickes Antichrist and the whole kingdome of darknesse Q. Hovv is Christ a priest A. 1. By satisfying for all the sinnes of the elect by his passion and fulfilling of the lawe 2. For that he maketh prayer continually to God for them Q. Hovv is Christ a Prophet A. By immediatly reuealing from his Father his word and meanes of saluation contained in the same Q. VVhy is he called Iesus A. To signifie that he is a Sauiour to euery true beleeuer neither is there any other meanes of ourselues or by any orher either in part or whole to obtaine saluation but onely by him alone Q. VVhy is he called Lord A. Because we owe all homage and dutie in ioue to him for our redemption Q. VVhat beleeue you concerning the holy Ghost A. That he is God the third person in the Trinitie proceeding from the Father and the Sonne who spake by the Prophets dwelling in the faithfull sanctifying them in part in this life working by the word and holy motions an vtter loathing of sinne and a heartie loue of righteousnesse leading them into all truth perswading them of Gods fauour teaching them in prayer bearing them vp in temptation quickening renewing and increasing his gifts in them that they may know beleeue loue and do that which is good which he will perfect fully in the life to come Q. VVhy did this God thus make redeeme sanctifie and hereto preserue you A. That I might prayse his name in liuing godly righteously and soberly according to all his commandements in my calling in all things whatsoeuer my estate be in this present world Q. VVhat do you beleeue concerning the Church A. That it is but one mysticall bodie whether militant or triumphant visible or invisible in heauen or in earth being a companie of the Lords elect holy by Christ catholike gathered of the dispersed abroad and hauing speciall prerogatiues aboue the rest of mankind communion with Christ and one with another by the bond of the spirit the forgiuenesse of all sinnes the ioyfull resurrection of the bodie and life euerlasting wherof I beleeue my selfe to be one and therfore that the same things belong also vnto me Q. VVhat are the markes of the true Church here on earth A. Inwardly faith and loue outwardly besides the vncertaine notes of vniuersalitie antiquitie and consent these two Christs word truly preached his Sacraments rightly administred whereto adde faithfull prayer and holy discipline Q. Js the Church of Rome a true Church of Christ A. No but of Antichrist the Pope the chiefe teacher of the doctrine of diuels Q. VVhat reason haue you to disallovv that religion A. For that it is a false religion I. The author is the diuell II. The meanes vsed to vphold it are vnlawfull 1. deceiued Councels 2. vnwritten verities and forged authors 3. falsifying the Fathers 4. corrupting Scripture by adding thereto 5. by taking from it by false interpreting 6. reteyning the people in ignorance by forbidding to studie the word and teaching it in an vnknowne tongue 7. pretending reuelations and shewing lying miracles 8. counterfeit holinesse 9. bloudie persecution III. The matter of their religion is vntruthes idolatrie heresie and nouelties inuented by man IV. The forme in the seruice ridiculous by foolish gestures carnall by fleshly pompes and delights their worship is by hypocrisie V. The end to aduance men by worshipping of Saints and extolling mans power and merits VI. The benefite gotten therby is nothing because it keepes a man in the estate of damnation and alloweth the breach of all the ten Commaundements 1. To feare God by mens doctrines 2. To worship Images 3. Magicke and coniuring 4. Idol-seruice 5. Treason against Christian Princes 6. Assoyles for murtherers 7. Stewes and restraint of mariage 8. Wages for no lawfull labour to Masse-mongers and for deceites 9. To breake an oath to a Christian made lawfully 10. That concupiscence is no sinne 7. Gods iudgements against many of the most fierie professours thereof which is neuer seene to happen to zealous and constant professours of the truth Q. VVhat must be done to maintaine the Church and to ouerthrovv heresie that destroyes the foundation errours corrupting religion scismes breaking the peace of the Church and vices stayning our profession A. 1. To cleaue onely to the written word which is both in time before and in authoritie aboue the Church to iudge all controuersies in religion 2. To call sufficient men and ordaine them Ministers to teach allowing necessarie maintenance but suffering no
A Double Catechisme one more large following the order of the common authorized Catechisme and an exposition thereof now this second time published the other shorter for the weaker sort both set forth for the benefit of Christian friends and wel-willers By Richard Bernard Master of Arts and Preacher of Gods word at Worsop in Nottingham-shire 1. TIM 4. 1. 2. I charge thee before God and before the Lord Iesus Christ which shall iudge the quicke and dead at his appearing and in his kingdome preach the word be instant in season and out of season r. Pet. 2. 2. As new-borne babes desire that sincere milke of the word that ye may grow thereby CAMBRIDGE Printed by Iohn Legate 1607. To the right Worshipfull the towardly young Gentleman and of great good hopes M. William Cavendish sonne and heire to the right Honorable William Lord Cavendish increase of all true honour and happines is most hartily wished RIGHT Worshipfull it is written of one a kings sonne that he asked 3. things at Gods hands outward prosperitie inward comforts and such glorie as shold be neither false nor fained What more to be happy The first of these you haue by birth and your parents wealth honor the second Salomon tels you how you may haue by the getting keeping a good conscience which is a continual feast and the third is purchased for you by Christ if you by faith can take hold of him by whom which is the true and greatest glorie we are made the sonnes of God and coheires with him of the Paradise of God and the vnspeakable ioyes thereof All these three must concurre to make a man blessed no happinesse in the first without the second no soundnesse in the second to abide without the third Loose Christ a dew conscience comforts and outward goods and honour without inward health of grace is an estate carnally of estimation but indeed hopelesse of the Saints blessed condition Great wealth noble birth without the soules spirituall breath is as a shippe vnder full saile in a tempestuous Sea without sterne or Pylote a case most daungerous more like it is there should be shipwracke than that it should come in safety to the hauen Your ship is not yet at the sea you are but launching out hitherto you haue lyen in harbour ballance your soule with sound knowledge and holy affections before you aduenture take with you your prouision and be sure you season your flesh with the salt of Gods word lest it corrupt at sea and you want necessaries and be forced to go a shore before you come vnto your determined place Salomon telleth vs that the young man which cheareth his heart vp in the dayes of his youth to walke in the euill waies thereof and in the sight of his eyes must know that for these things God will bring him to iudgement and therefore he aduiseth him to remember his Creator in the dayes of his strength before the time come when he shall confesse that sinne hath as much left him as he it Surely Sir if you betimes as I hope you do remember the Lord and seeke him as Dauid said to the child Salomon he will be found of you which he of his mercy graunt but if you forsake him he will forsake you which God of his goodnesse forbid The aduancement of Ioseph amongst Pharaoes Princes and Daniels honour aboue the great Bassaes of Babylon may shew you the truth of the one and that young mans miserable end beautifull Absolon and Dauids deare sonne may ratifie the certaintie of the other Gods fauour is the fountaine of blisse and in those onely he delighteth that feare him The good tokens of your good affectiō towards me and towards the preachers of Gods word the loue you do shew to further the passage of the Gospell both in word and liberall deeds hath mooued me to offer this my labour vnto you both to testifie my thankfulnesse and to manifest vnto the world our good hopes of you which I desire that you may daily occasion by holy fruites of obedience to be iustified of many to Gods glory and your owne welfare The Lord Almightie protect you and that honorable house whereof you are and enlarge the name thereof as with earthly renowne so euer much more with spirituall blessings that it wishing well to the Israel of God peace and mercie may be vpon it and the louing countenance of God now shine vpon all therein that hartily desire the welfare of Sion and the peace of Ierusalem for euer Amen Worsop the 28. of Nouember Your Worships euery way readie in all things in Christ Iesus Richard Bernard The Catechisme Q. HOVV many things are needfull for you to vnderstand that you may knovv both God and your selfe A. These 6. things I. rightly to conceiue of God what he is by his word and workes II. to vnderstand the creation III. mans miserie by the fall IV. our redemption V. our sanctification VI. the certaintie of our glorification Of God Q. VVho made yovv A. God Esa 42. 2. Gen. 26. 27. Q. VVhat a one is God A. God is a spirit Joh. 4. 24. Holy Exod. 15. 11. Iust Exod. 34. 6. and Mercifull Exod. 34. 7. Q. Hovv many Gods are there A. But onely one God Deut. 6. 4. yet three persons Mat. 3. 16. 1. Ioh. 5. 7. Q. VVhich are the three persons A. The Father begetting the Sonne begotten and the Holy Ghost proceeding 2. Cor. 13. 13 Mat. 28. 19. and these three are God Ioh. 1. 1. 1. Ioh. 5. 7. Act. 5. 3. 4. Q. VVhich of these three became man A. The second Person Iesus Christ both God and man Esa 9. 6. Heb. 2. 17. Of our Creation Q. Of vvhat did God make man A. His bodie was of dust the womans of Adams ribbe Gen. 2. 7. Q. VVhat a one did God make him A. Both good Gen. 2. 31. holy and righteous Gen 1. 26. Eph. 4. 28. Col. 3. 9. Q. VVhat vvas then mans estate and happines A. It was the state of innocencie without sin or miserie and to God was he acceptable Gen. 1 27. 31. 2. 25. 1. 28. Of mans fall and miserie Q. Are you novv such a one by birth as he vvas by creation A. Alas no I am by nature full of sinne Ps 51. 5. Iob. 25. 4. 5. 6. Rom. 3. from vers 9. to 19. and so most miserable Iob 14. 1. 2. Rom. 5. 14. Eph. 2. 1. 2. 3. Rom. 3. 23. 2. 8. 9. and to God detestable Psal 11. 5. Gal. 3. 10. Mat. 7. 23. 25. 41. Q. VVhat is sinne A. The breaking of Gods commandements by thought word or deed 1. Ioh. 3. 4. Q. Hovv many commaundements are there A. Tenne Deut. 10. 4. diuided into two Tables Deut. 4. 13. Q. VVhich be the commandements A. I am the Lord thy God c. Exod. 20. Deut. 5. 6. Q. Do these ten commaund or forbid but onely vvhat is there set dovvne in shevv A. No they commaund or
necessarie 6. My hope to waite without appointing God either the time place manner or quantitie of the matter 7. My will to vse afterwards all the honest meanes appointed to obtaine the same Q. VVhat be the true properties of prayer A. 1. That it be in true loue for we must remember to pray for all our brethren not departed this life for there is no Purgatorie 2. It must bee made onely to God for him only can we call heauenly Father neither to Saints nor Angels 3. In the name of Christ through whom onely he is our Father by adoption 4. In faith for that he is a Father and will not deny his children 5. Without a carnall conceipt of God vaine babling or wandering thoughts for he is in heauen Q. VVhich be the sixe petitions A. Hallowed be thy name c. Q. VVhat do these teach you A. The summe of all the things which I can lawfully aske at Gods hand for body or soule wherof the first three concerne the glorie of God and the latter three the good of man Q. VVhich is the first petition and vvhat desire you in it A. The first is Hallovved be thy name and I desire therein in the first place that I and all other may acknowledge God so truly in his word and workes as in euery of our thoughts wordes and deeds he may be highly worshipped and praysed Q. VVhich is the second and vvhat desire you in it A The second is Thy kingdome come and desire that he will send vs the meanes thus to honour his name that is his word and spirit with all things that do further thereunto that so the elect may be gathered and Christ come to the last iudgement to giue vs his kingdome of glorie Q. VVhich is the third petition and vvhat desire you in it A. The third is Thy vvill be done and I desire that as we haue the meanes to glorifie him so here we pray to do not ours but his will as all his commaundements and word teacheth vs and as the blessed Saints and Angels do in heauen heartily wiâ—hout hypocrisie willingly without grudging readily without lingring faithfully without sinister respects ioyfully without murmuring and constantly without wauering vnto the end Q. VVhich is the fourth petition and vvhat desire you in it A. The fourth is Giue vs this c. and I desire that he will provide those necessaries for our bodies without which we cannot serue him and that we may depend patiently vpon his prouidence vsing diligent labour and all honest meanes to helpe our selues and others Q. VVhich is the fifth petition and vvhat desire you in it A. The fifth is And forgiue vs our trespasses c and I desire that he would forgiue all of vs friend or foe our sinnes lest they either hinder vs of the former mercies or cause them to be taken froÌ„ vs and that he will perswade our consciences that we are forgiuen by giuing vs grace to forgiue freely and to forget those offences whereby in any thing or any way our neighbours haue bene grieuous vnto vs. Q. VVhich is the sixt and last petition and vvhat desire you in it A. The sixth is Leade vs not into temptation c. and I desire that as he will pardon vs so he would also giue vs the gift of continuance that though we be tempted yet may we ouercome and be deliuered from sinne and Sathan and neuer fall againe any more from God Q. VVhich is the confirmation A. For thine is the kingdome c. Q. VVhat learne you by this A. I do learne hereby two things 1. that it is a reason not to moue God but to stir vp our affections and to strengthen our faith in asking Q. Hovv doth it this A. When it teacheth me to acknowledge the kingdome to God our Father that is his dominion and right ouer all and that his power is the greatest to compell all to do what he will and as he will and his glorie the highest which himself maintaines and we seeke aboue all Q. VVhat is the second thing vve learne A. 2. A thanksgiuing and praysing of God which we ought to vse in the end as the second part of prayer which is done in giuing to God his owne the rule power and glorie which we desire him to manifest by graunting our petitions and we will acknowledge the same not for a time but for euer and euer Q. VVhich is the conclusion A. This word Amen Q. VVhat meane you by this vvord A. That I am perswaded by the aforesaid reasons that my request is graunted and shall bee performed as my father shall see it conuenient for me and his glorie in time and place And therefore I say it is so or so it shall be which is Amen The fifth part Q. VVhat is a Sacrament A. It is a visible signe and seale of inuisible graces commaunded and ordained with a promise by Christ in the Church to be administred publikely by a lawfull Minister with the preaching of the word which Sacrament with all the rites thereof doth represent and conuey by proportion and relation in the present vse inuisible graces first Christ and then all his benefites for further assurance of the same things which God hath made by the promise of his word vnto a true beleeuer who is with Christ by the holy Ghost vnited and made one Q. VVhat meane you by Christ all his benefits A. Whole Christ God and man with his righteousnesse iustice holines and redemption who as he is Christ one person of two natures is truly said to be really present in the Sacraments not properly in his humanitie but by the communion of properties Q Hovv may you be sure that you haue receiued true benefite by the Sacraments A. If I do feele a dying to sinne and liuing vnto righteousnesse getting strength and also increasing therein daily by the force of Christes death and resurrection Q. Hovv many Sacraments are there A. Two and no moe Baptisme and the Lords Supper VVhat is Baptisme A. It is the first Sacrament in the new Testament by which such as are within the couenant are either washed sprinkled or dipped in the water in the name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost Q. VVhat is the outvvard signe and rite A. Water and washing Q. VVhat is the inuisible grace A. The bloud of Christ which cleanseth vs of all sinne originall and actuall past and to come Q. Are vve then no more sinners A. Yes in ourselues for originall sinne still is sinne in vs but we are washed from it because it shall not be imputed nor any sinne else vnto me a true beleeuer Q. VVho are to be baptized A. Not onely such as be of yeares that can do testifie their faith but also infants of either father or mother professing Christ and baptized for the promise of saluation belongs to them and to their children Q. Is baptisme so necessarie to saluation that vvithout it children cannot be
saued A. It is necessarie to all that may haue it but not of necessitie to such as cannot rightly come by it for not the want but the carelesse neglect and contempt thereof condemneth Q. Hovv oft should vve be baptized A. But once for we may not be baptized againe after true baptisme for being once borne we cannot be borne againe naturally nor spiritually Q. VVhat is the Lords Supper It is the latter Sacrament in the new Testament whereby we are nourished and preserued in the Church to eternall life Q. VVhat be the outvvard signes B. Bread and wine Q. VVhat be the things signified A. The bodie and bloud of Christ Q. VVhat are the rites A. The actions of the Minister and receiuer Q. VVhat are the actions of the Minister A. 1. To take the bread wine into his hands 2. to blesse it 3. To breake the bread and powre foorth the wine 4. to offer and giue them to the receiuer Q. VVhat are the actions of the receiuer A. 1. To take the bread and wine offered into his hand 2. to eate the one and drinke the other and so digest and concoct them as that they feele nourishment to the bodie Q. VVhat learnâ— you by all these actions A. I am assured that the visible actions of the Minister doth represent the spirituall actions of God the Father to my soule who hath decreed his Sonne and elected him the Mediator to haue his bodie broked and his precious bloud shed for me being offered to all but giuen onely to the true beleeuer that can by the hand of faith take hold of him who shewes as liuely the vertue of his death to preserue his soule as the vertue of the bread and wine is felt to nourish the bodie Q. 〈◊〉 the bread turned into Christs bodie and is the wine into his very bloud A. No verily for then 1. it were no Sacrament 2. it is against reason 3. against Scripture 4. against an article of our Creed 5. against the iudgment of anncient Fathers true writings 6. against the iudgement of reformed Christian Churches 7. against the opinion of holy Martyrs who shed their bloud for the contrarie 8. it is against experience of our senses that the bread should bee flesh or wine bloud neither is Christs bodie in with or about the same Q. Is there then no difference of this bread and vvine from that vvhich vve vse commonly A. There is no difference in the substance but in the holy vse being at that time set apart to be signes of Christs bodie and bloud Q. May euery one offer to receiue the vvill A. No but onely such as come prepared and be fit that both are able in knowledge to examin and also by a good conscience will iudge themselues whither they be in any measure prepared thereunto Q. VVhat if you come vnprepared A. I am an vnworthie receiuer prouoking Gods wrath against me and so eate and drinke my owne damnation Q. VVho are those that ought not to come A. Open impenitent sinners fooles madde persons children all that be of yeares and yet ignorant not being able to trie and iudge themselues and if such prophane ones do offer themselues they are not to be admitted Q. VVhat be those things vvhereof you must try and iudge your selues A. I. Of my knowledge concerning my miserable estate through sinne of Gods mercie and our deliuerance by Christ and the vnderstanding of this Sacrament II. Of my beleefe in Christ which I may do by the Creede III. Of my repentance towards God for old and new sinnes examined by his commaundements IV. Of my brotherly loue which I do owe to euery one which I may trie and iudge by my forgiuing others as I desire God to forgiue me and by my seeking to satisfie whom I haue offended of my knowledge either in word or deed Q. May any by omitting these duties be free from sinne if therefore they vvill not receiue the Sacrament vvith others A. No for as to come vnprepared is damnation so to neglect to prepare for any earthly occasion is a great wickednesse such liuing in disobedience without repentance and charitie Q. VVhy do you go to the Lords supper A. 1. To testifie my loue in obedience to God commaunding 2. To strengthen my faith beeing weake 3. To maintaine and increase the holy coÌ„munion and fellowship of brotherly loue amongst vs the members of Christ and 4. to keepe a remembrance of his death till his second comming Q. Hovv must you be exercised in the time of administration and aftervvards A. I must 1. meditate vpon the death and passion of Christ how grieuously I haue sinned 2. Gods endlesse mercie 3. the vnitie and fellowship that is amongst the true members of the Church with Christ and one with another reioycing in heart and praysing God therefore with the congregatioÌ„ Afterwards 1. I must giue almes to the needie brethren and do other good works of charitie in token of thankfulnesse that day especially for so great a mercie 2. Grow from thenceforth in obedience faith and vnfained loue to my liues end The sixt part Q. Can you briefly shâ—vv me any rules to be obserued that you may do so as you haue bene taught A. I. Euery morning before other businesse I must 1. thanke God for my safetie 2. desire pardon of sinne 3. Gods further protection against ghostly and bodily enemies II. I must know that that day and all other times after giuen me to liue in are for more earnest repentance encrease of knowledge faith practise of godlinesse and therefore of these continually I must be mindfull setting some part of the day aside for reading hearing or meditating vpon heauenly things that the vanities of the world short and vncertaine carie me not away III. I must haue or else prepare my selfe to some particular calling fit to keepe me from idlenesse and to exercise the duties of religion in which calling must I be both honest and profitable to others to which 1. I must betake me speedily that no time be lost 2. to do therein as I wold be done vnto 3. to seeke first in my labour Gods glorie then my owne good with my neighbours profite 4. labour therein painefully and constantly in aduersitie vsing good meanes hoping for prosperitie in prosperitie neglecting no humble duties for feare of aduersitie 5. my present estate I must account it euer the best for me and most for Gods glorie 6. I must not feare to spend where God and charitie requireth sparing from idle expences and onely lay vp for the time to come whâ—tsoeuer shall remaine when I haue discharged necessarie duties honestly religiously IV. I must recreate my selfe sometime from my wearisome labour when 〈◊〉 see need which must be 1. at times conuenient 2. in things lawfull 3. short delightsome to the mind healthfull for the bodie 4. to make me more chearefull to returne to labour and not to draw me to loiter to idlenes no