his advantage since even thus it is not invocated by but on them and thence would fain perswade his Readers that Jacob here exhorts his Sons to pray to him when dead and to their forefathers Though I can hardly think this Author himself was so perswaded but offerred as much violence to his conscience as to the Text when he alledged it as a proof of that to which it hath not the least reference being spoke onely of his taking Ephraim and Manasseh into the number of his Sons according to ver 5. of that Chap. and so they were afterwards reckoned with the rest as Heads of their respective Tribes Is it any wonder by the way if this sort of men have such a low esteem of Scripture when they can have no more service from it at their greatest needs Upon this occasion it was that before the Exposition of the Lords Prayer I have in an Answer or two shewn to whom it is we ought to direct our prayers viz. to God onely through Jesus Christ of which I have there I hope given sufficient evidence So plain and justifiable is the doctrine and practice of our Church in this and all other matters of moment in controversie betwixt us and the Church of Rome they themselves not daring to disapprove of what we doe whilst we justly reject and sufficiently disprove their additions to Christianity wherewith they have loaded and corrupted it Throughout the explication of the Creed there being seldome any need under the other Heads I have been careful to annex Scripture-Proofs to all those points which might in the least seem to need them and were capable of that way of Proof In the end I have added two Forms of prayer useful for families that have no better helps two also for the younger sort together with two graces to be used before and after meat In the drawing up of which I have been so careful that I hope there lies no considerable objection against the matter of them And then as for those who think a Form it self unlawful I shall not stand to concern my self with their objections or censure May but these weak endeavours conduce any thing to the promoting of the knowledge and practice of that Doctrine which is according to Godliness that is of our Christian Religion all whose doctrines and Precepts are every way sitted to make men godly here and blessed hereafter I shall then have my end and let God have the praise AN EXPLICATION OF THE CREED Q. SInce by your Baptism you have taken upon you the profession of Christianity what is required of you to make good this profession A. I must believe all that God by Jesus Christ hath revealed and do all that he hath commanded Q. What brief Summary have you of the Christian Faith A. The Creed commonly called the Apostles Q. Rehearse the Articles of your Creed A. I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ his onely Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into hell the third day he rose again from the dead he ascended into heaven sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty from thence he shall come to judg the quick and the dead I believe in the Holy-Ghost the holy Catholick Church the communion of Saints the Forgiveness of Sins the Resurrection of the Body and the life everlasting Amen Q. What mean you by saying you believe in God c A. I believe there is one first and most glorious Being without beginning or end the Maker of all things who is infinite in wisdom power goodness and all perfections Q. What reason have you to believe there is such a Being since you cannot see him A. Because I see those things which can come from no other cause Q. What be those A. This great world and all the Creatures in it which arè made and governed in so wonderful a manner Q. How was the world made A. Out of nothing by the word of God in the space of six days Q. Are there more Gods than one A. No there is but one Q. Why do you call God Father A. Principally as he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in a peculiar and unspeakable manner Q. Have you any other reason A. Yes as also he is the Father of Spirits both Angels and men and especially of those who love and serve him as dear children Q. What mean you by saying God is Almighty A. I thereby mean that God hath power to do all things that contradict not his wisdome and goodness and hath right and authority to dispose of all things as he pleaseth Q. How is Iesus Christ the Son of God A. As he was begotten by the Father before all worlds in a manner peculiar to himself alone and by us not to be declared or understood Q. What do you apprehend of Christ by this eternal generation A. That he is true God one with the Father being the Second person of the blessed Trinity Q. But is he not man as well as God A. Yes he is both God and man in one person the humane nature being united to his Divine person Q. How did the Son of God become man A. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary and in this respect also he is styled the Son of God Q. Wherefore was this wonderful conception A. One reason was that he might be pure from all sin wherewith the nature of others is polluted Q. Why should so glorious a person stoop solow as to become man A. That he might be fit to obtain Redemption and salvation for mankind Q. What is signified by his names Jesus and Christ A. Iesus signifies Saviour and Christ Anointed to let us understand that he is anointed or set apart to be our Saviour and Redeemer Q. How came man to stand in need of a Redeemer A. By reason of that sinful and miserable estate into which he fell Q. How came sin and misery first into the world A. By the disobedience of our first Parents Adam and Eve Q. In what estate were they created A. In an holy and happy estate Q. What was the particular Sin by which they fell A. Their eating of the fruit of a certain tree in the Garden of Eden of which God had commanded them not to eat called the Tree of knowledge of good and evil Q. What mischief did this their sin and fall bring upon us A. By one mans disobedience many were made sinners and the Fountain being unclean so are the streams Q. And what is our danger by reason of this our sinful condition A. We are liable to the wrath of God and to whatever miseries it shall please him to inflict either here or for ever hereafter Q.
justifying and rewarding the righteous Q. Who is the Holy ghost A. The third person of the sacred Trinity proceding from the Father and the Son being one God with the Father and the Son Q. Why is the Divine Spirit called Holy A. Not only as he is holy in himself but also as it is his peculiar office to make men holy Q. What hath he done or still continues to do toward the making men holy A. He hath revealed the will of God in the holy Scriptures and carries on the interest and design of Christ in the world by turning mens hearts from the world to God from sin to holiness Q. For what reasons do you believe that the holy Scripture was wrote by men inspired by the Holy ghost A. Because the Doctrines of it are so worthy of God and have the confirmation of such miracles Q. Is the will of God perfectly revealed in Scripture A. God hath so perfectly revealed his will and our duty therein that nothing ought to be required of us either to be believed or practised as necessary to salvation which is not plainly contained in this his holy word Q. Are there not some Traditions as needful as the Scripture and of equal value with it A. We need no Traditions beside the Scripture but the Tradition or delivery of Christian Religion and the Holy Scriptures from one generation to another ever since the time of Christ and his Apostles gives us great assurance of their truth and helps us to judge what books belong to the Canon of Scripture and what do not Q. How does the Holy Ghost carry on the work of Christ upon the souls of men A. By enlightning their minds to discern the vanity of the world and the evil of sin and thereby enclining them to come to Christ that through him they may be reconciled to God and made happy in his love Q. How does the Spirit work these â—ffects upon the Soul A. By opening our hearts to attend to the word wherein our duty with the motives to it is revealed and by keeping the truths thereof upon our minds till they become effectual to our conversion though the way of its working cannot be distinctly told Q. Can a man be saved without the help of the Spirit A. No for if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Q. To what end is the spirit so necessary A. Both to implant grace in our hearts and to confirm and encrease the same to comfort and guide us to strengthen us against temptations and to help us in the performance of all duties Q. To whom do we owe the praise of any good thing wrought in us or performed by us A. To the Spirit of God who works in us both to will and to do Q. But where lies the fault if men live all their days in sin and are never converted and brought home to God A. Wholly on themselves and not on God in the least Q. But how can that be since his Spirit alone can sanctify them can they help it if they are not sanctified A. Yes for by their sloth and wilfulness they grieve the good Spirit of God and hinder his workings and by their not improving that grace they have already received are themselves the cause why they receive no more Q. Is there then any thing to be done by us in order to our own conversion and salvation A. Yes for God commands us to work out our own salvation Q. What is it that we are to do A. We must hear and read the word of God and consider of it examine our hearts and keep continual watch over our ways and earnestly beg of God his holy Spirit to enable us to do what he requires of us Q. What do you mean when you say you believe the Holy Catholick Church A. I do hereby profess to believe that Jesus Christ hath a Church upon earth made up of all his true and living members which may be called that Body whereof he is the Head Q. Is there not some one Person here in earth appointed to be visible head over this Universal Church who is to be held Christs Vicar on Earth A. We read of no such thing in Scripture and therefore have no reason to believe it but under Christ Princes and Pastours are the Heads and Governours in their respective dominions and Churches Q. Why is this Church called holy A. Because the members thereof are separated from the rest of the world dedicated to God and engaged to holiness in heart and life Q. Who are they that belong to this Church A. As to outward appearance all such who are baptized into the name of Chriâ—t and do credibly profess their belief of the Gospel and their resolution to obey it Q. Who are the true and living members of this Church A. Such whose belief and life is agreeable to their profession Q. Why is it called the Catholique or Universal Church A. To shew that it is not confin'd to any particular place or nation as the Church of the Jews was but is spread abroad over the face of the earth Q. Is it proper then to give the name of Catholick onely to those who are of this or that particular Church or Sect A. No not at all but very unreasonable Q. How is it then that some say that the Church of Rome is the Catholique Church A. There is neither sense nor charity in it since it is as much as to say that one part and a bad one too is the whole and that no man can be a true Christian except he be of the Church of Rome Q. Are not all Christians in the world bound to be subject to the Church of Rome A. No not though it should be Reformed any more than they are bound to be subject to the Church of England or Scotland which are but parts of the Universal Church And many good Christians there were in the world before there was a Church at Rome and many have been since who perhaps never heard of any such place Q. Is it not all one then to be Papists and Catholicks A. Upon no account since Papists how many so ever they be are but a particular Sect of Christians as Anabaptists or Quakers are and a Sect that hath done a world of mischief to the Church of God by their dangerous innovations both in opinion and practice Q. Who then is properly and truly a Catholick Christian A. He that heartily believes all that Jesus Christ hath revealed and sincerely endeavours to do all that he hath commanded is the true Catholick of what Church or nation soever he be Q. What is one of the best signs of such a true Catholick A. To have a great deal of charity for all his fellow Christians though they are not in all things of the same opinion with himself Q.
earnest in these our prayers and help us to live as those that believe the great truths of thy Gospel that we may ever have such a sense of them upon our minds that we may not dare at any time upon any account to allow our selves in any one sin or in the neglect of any known duty but by patient continuance in well doing may seek after and make sure of that glory and immortality which thou hast promised through Iesus Christ to them that love and serve thee With us shew mercy to the whole world Let the Gospel of thy Son run and be glorified throughout all the earth let it be made known to Heathens and Infidels let it be obeyed by all that are called Christians Let all popish darkness ignorance and Idolatry with all other errours and heresies be driven away by the light and truth of thy pure Gospel and let the coming of Christ in glory be hastned Be merciful to these nations wherein we live and grant we may be so humbled and reformed that we may be pardoned and spared Be gracious to our dread Soveraign with all his royal Relations and enrich them with the graces of thy holy Spirit Make all our Magistrates faithful and zealous in punishing and suppressing wickedness and in promoting vertue and godliness and make us and all other Subjects loyal and obedient to our King and to all in power under him Let thy blessing be upon the faithful Preachers of thy Gospel encrease daily their number and let their labours be blest and succeeded Let all our differences be so composed that we may live in peace and love and with one heart and one mouth may glorifie thee our God Bless ad our friends and relations and make them thy faithful and obedient servants Visit in mercy all the children of affliction whatever their particular necessities and burthens are whether of soul or body do thou seasonably and suitably comfort and relieve them We humbly bless thy name for the mercies of this day that thou hast safely brought us to the end thereof and earnestly we beg thy pardon of whatever sins we have been guilty whether of omission or commission in thought word or deed Take us we beseech thee and all that is ours into thy care this night and keep us if it be thy will from all evil of body especially of soul And so refresh us with rest and sleep that we may be fitted for thy service and our lawful imployments in the following day And all we humbly beg for Christ Jesus our Saviours sake with whose words we conclude our imperfect prayers saying as he himself hath taught us Our Father which art in heaven c. Two Forms of Prayer especially intended for the Younger sort MORNING PRAYER GReat and Glorious Lord God Thou hast commanded us to remember thee our Creatour in the days of our youth and here am I thy unworthy servant desirous to manifest my remembrance of thee I praying to thee according to thine own appointment My only hope of acceptance is in thy goodness and mercy who art a loving and tender Father to us thy poor creatures and art ready to accept of the weak services and prayers of those who do heartily desire to please thee and obtain thy favour Wherefore I now most humbly beseech thee to be gracious and favourable to me a worthless sinful creature I have indeed been a transgressour from the womb and have shewn my evil and wicked nature by my great forwardness to run into any kind of wickedness that I have been capable of When I could do little else I had soon learnt to sin against thee very early I began to be stubborn and self-will'd proud and slothful quarrelsome and revengeful And to this very day have I continued in my sins which have encreased together with my years and have been given up to the pleasing of my self and satisfying my own vain and childish inclinations but have taken little thought for the pleasing and serving of thee my Maker and Preserver Though I have had so much reason that I could love my Parents and Friends those that did me good and have been afraid of displeasing them and of being corrected by them yet have I had little love for thee my God who art the giver of all good nor have I been afraid of thy wrath who canst destroy both body and soul in Hell This oh Lord hath been my great folly and a very great cause of all my other sins that I have lived most of all by sight and have little minded any thing but what is now before me Therefore have I forgotten thee and lived as if there was no God because I could not see thee with bodily eyes and have preferr'd any foolish pleasure now in hand before the everlasting joys of heaven which are yet to come and because I could not see Hell-torments nor hear the roarings and out-cries of those who are damned for their sins therefore have I made so light of sinning against thee But of this my folly and all my wickedness the fruit of it I desire to to be ashamed before thee confessing that I have herein behaved my self more like a bruit Beast than a reasonable creature whilst I have been led by my senses more than by my reason or by the belief of thy holy word And most justly mightest thou deal with me accordingly and mightest shut me out of those joys which I have so little loved and sought after and mightest make me for ever feel those torments of which I have not been afraid But I humbly beseech thee oh merciful Father for thy Son Iesus sake take pity on me and freely forgive me all my sins and save me from those miseries which for my sins I have deserved And I beseech thee to give me thy holy Spirit that I may thereby have my mind enlightned my heart softned and my nature so throughly renewed and changed that I may be taken off from the love of all sin and may take such pleasure in thy service here that I may live with thee in happiness for ever hereafter Since through thy great mercy I have been baptized in my infancy and thereby given up to thee my God and engaged to be thy servant do thou help me rightly to understand and carefully to perform the duties to which by my Baptism I am bound that I may in heart and life renounce the Devil and all his works the lusts of the flesh and the pomps and vanities of this world and may remain Christs faithful servant unto my lives end Let thy grace preserve me from all those snares and temptations which in these my younger years I am most in danger of Oh keep me that I may never fall into rioting and drunkenness whoredom or any kind of wantonness and uncleanness Do thou help me at all times to watch over my ways that I may not wilfully run into any temptations and occasions of sin that I may