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.
And does that sign agree to that Sect who absurdly call themselvos Romane Catholicks A. Less than to any other Sect whatever for they are bound by the definitions of Popes Councils which if they contradict they cannot be Papists to judge all men damn'd that are not of their Sect thereby condemning many millions of Christians far better than themselves which horrid uncharitableness is enough to keep wise men from amongst them Q. Are the Churches which be reformed from Popish innovations parts of the Catholick Church of Christ A. Yes and the best and soundest parts thereof agreeing in all matters of substance with the Church of Christ in all ages and nations of the world Q. How prove you that A. In that these reformed Churches as particularly our Church of England do profess to hold nothing as necessary to salvation which is not contained in the holy Scriptures which same Scriptures are received and believ'd by all other Christian Churches who do thereby approve of all that we hold as necessary Q. But why did these reformed Churches at first depart from Communion with the Church of Rome A. Because the Romish Church imposed such new fangled doctrines and practises as were plainly contrary to the word of God and therefore it was in those things to be departed from by all those who would conform themselves to the ancient Church as it was settled by Christ and his Apostles Q. What mean you by Communion of Saints A. That Communion which Saints have with God and Christ their Head by partaking of his Holy Spirit and with one another in their mutual likeness and love and in their assembling together for the worship of God Q. What mean you by saying you believe the Forgiveness of Sins A. I hereby profess to believe that they who repent of their sins trust in and obey the Lord Jesus shall for his sake find God so gracious to them as to free them from that condemnation and punishment to which their sins made them liable Q. What mean you by Resurrection of the Body A. I hereby profess to believe that at the last day God will raise up all that were dead and change those that are then alive and that they shall appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ. Q. What mean you by Life everlasting A. I do hereby profess my belief of a future state after this life wherein the Righteous shall enjoy everlasting happiness and the wicked shall be sentenced into everlasting torments Q. But does it not seem very harsh to think that God should punish any the worst of sinners with everlasting torments A. No not when we consider what graciou terms were proposed to them for their obtaining of glory and escaping of this misery and how they themselves did wilfully refuse the offers of grace when they knew this misery would follow upon that refusal Q. What then is safest for us all to do in this case A. So to believe and fear these terrible threatnings of Christ as to take the only sure way to escape them by obeying his commands rather than to quarrel with them or presume they will prove false So much for the Articles of your Belief HAve you also a brief Summary of the whole duty of man in reference to is practice A. Yes the ten commandments Q. Rehearse the first A. I am the Lord thy God which brought the out of the land of AEgypt out of the house of bondage Thou shalt have no other Gods before me Q. What learn you from the first commandment and the Preface set before it A. I hence learn that we are bound to acknowledge that God who is our Maker Owner and the giver of all our mercies to be the only true and living God and to behave our selves toward him accordingly Q. How doth it beseem us creatures to behave our selves toward this our God A. We are bound to love him with our highest love to put our whole confidence in him to reverence admire and rejoyce in him to pray to him and praise him to obey all his commands without grudging and to submit to all his providences without murmuring or repining Q. Which is the second Commandment A. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth thou shalt not bow down thy self to them nor serve them for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments Q. What are we taught in the second Commandment A. The second Commandment teacheth us to worship God according to his own appointment and to take special heed that we make not any image or picture of him nor give religious worship to an Image upon any pretence whatsoever Q. What reason do you find given for the engaging our obedience to this Command A. The reason here given is that God is a jealous God who therefore will not suffer himself to be dishonoured by mens making and worshipping any thing as an Image of him but will severely punish such idolaters and their posterity whilst the true lovers and worshippers of him shall be plenteously rewarded even to many generations Q. What other reason do you find given in the repetition of the Law Deut. 4. 12 15 16. c. A. We there find this farther added that when God spake to the children of Israel they only heard a voice but saw no similitude or bodily shape and therefore it is unreasonable to make any image or resemblance of him Q. How ought we then to conceive of God when we worship him A. We ought not to conceive of him under any bodily shape but as a spiritual Being infinitely wise and powerful holy just and good who fills both heaven and earth with his presence and in his essence is unsearchable Q. What is the third commandment A. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain Q. What are we taught in the third Commandment A. The third Commandment enjoyns us to have so great reverence for God as not to take his name in vain Q. Who are they that take Gods name in vain A. Chiefly they who dare swear falsly by the name of God and they also who in their passion or ordinary discourse break forth into swearing Q. What Rule hath Christ given for our ordinary communication that we may avoid swearing A. That we should barely affirm or deny a thing using yes or no or the like expressions without oaths or imprecations Q. Is it enough to justifie these common oaths that some men will not as is pretended believe others except
they swear A. No this is but a vain excuse since sober and good men are easily believed on their bare word and common swearers are seldome thought to make conscience even of what they swear Q. Is it not enough to justifie these oaths that what is sworn is truth A. No for an oath must be taken only when we are lawfully called thereto in some weighty case which cannot otherwise be well determined Q. Who else may be said to take the name of God in vain A. They who are careless and irreverent in the worship of God and they who upon every light occasion cry out oh God or oh Lord when they have no sense nor thought of that glorious Majesty whose sacred name they rashly mention Q. What reason is urged to keep us from this sin A. The consideration of that vengeance which sooner or later God will certainly execute upon those who are guilty of this profaneness and contempt of his Majesty Q. What is the fourth Commandment A. Remember the Sabboth day to keep it holy six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work but the seventh day is the Sabboth of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy Son nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thy cattel nor the stranger that is within thy gates for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabboth day and hallowed it Q. What are you taught in the fourth Commandment A. The fourth Commandment teacheth us that it is our duty to set apart one day in seven for the solemn worship and service of God Q. What reason is here mentioned for the enforcing this Command A. Gods allowance of six days in the week for our worldly employments and his own example in resting on the seventh when he had made the world in six days before Q. Which day in the seven did the Jews keep their Sabboth A. They kept the seventh day which we now call Saturday Q. Why do we Christians keep the first day of the week A. In remembrance of our redemption wrought by the Lord Jesus especially of his Resurrection which was upon the first day of the week Q. What warrant have we for so doing A. The example of the Apostles and primitive Christians recorded in Scripture where this day is styled the Lords day the practice of the Church of God in all ages since as also the custom of our own Church and the commands of our Rulers both in Church and State Q. How ought we to spend the Lords day A. In the worship and Service of God both publick and private especially in meditating on and praising him for his works of Creation and Redemption Q. Are there no works lawful on this day A. Yes works of necessity and mercy whether to man or beast but we ought to abstain from such employments and recreations as either prevent the duties of this day or else hinder our due profiting by them Q. What is to be done in private that we may best profit by the publick service of this day A. We ought by prayer and serious consideration to prepare our selves before-hand for the publick worship of God and when we come home to meditate on what we have heard and Masters of Families ought to pray with and instruct those that are under their charge Q. Who are they then that do not remember this day to keep it holy but profane it A. They who without any necessity take journeys or follow their employments on this day or else spend the same in idleness and pleasure neglecting the service of God in publick or in their Family accounting it a burden to spend a day in works of Piety and devotion Thus much of the Commandments of the first Table which enjoyn the duties we owe more immediately to God Now follow those of the second Table which respect our duty to man What is the fifth Commandment A. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy days may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Q. What are we taught in the fifth Commandment A. The fifth Commandment teacheth us to honour our Parents obeying all their lawful commands succouring and maintaining them if they stand in need of our help Q. Are there none beside our natural Parents to whom we owe obedience A. Yes we are also bound to reverence and obey all those who by their place and power may well be called our Parents to wit the civil Magistrate and our Spiritual Pastours and Teachers Servants must be subject to their Masters shewing all diligence and faithfulness and we must give due honour and respect to all those who are in any regard our Superiours Q. What promise is made to those who keep this Commandment A. A promise of long life and prosperity so far as God shall see it for their good Q. What reason may be given why this promise was made peculiarly to the keeping of this Command A. Because obedience and Subjection both in families and kingdomes ordinarily produce that peace and quietness which tends very much to our happiness even in this world Q. What is the sixth Commandment A. Thou shalt not kill Q. What is forbidden in this Commandment A. The murdering of our selves or any other person Q. Is it sufficient if we abstain only from murder A. No but we moreover ought to abstain from all rash anger inward malice and revenge from railing and provoking language from quarrelling and fighting Q. But what if others shall injure us in word or deed may we not return the like to them A. No but we must bless them who curse us do good to them that hate us forgive and love our very enemies that so we may overcome evil with good Q. Is there then no way of seeking our own right when we are injured and abused A. Yes by just and lawful means we may seek our right but without any malice or revenge in our hearts Q. Is there any case wherein the taking away of a mans life may be allowed A. Yes in execution of publick justice upon malefactours in a lawful war or when we are constrained to it in the just defence of our own lives Q. Who may be said to break this Command by taking away their own lives A. Not only they who lay violent hands on themselves but all those who by immoderate eating and drinking or any such wicked and wilful course destroy their health and so shorten their days Q. What is the seventh Commandment A. Thou shalt not commit adultery Q. What is forbidden in the seventh Commandment A. The seventh Commandment forbiddeth adultery and fornication with all the occasions and beginnings of these sins Q. From what particularly ought we to abstain in obedience to this Commandment A. We ought carefully to abstain
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