Jesus Christ and trust in him alone for thy Salvation Mat. 12.21 Submit thy self to him and seriously endeavour to do all those things which he requires of thee in his word and Gospel and thou shalt be saved and inherit life Eternall What Duties God requires of thee whether as a Child or a Servant I have plainly shew'd thee from the word of God Read thy Duty oft and never sail to do it This is the way to bring down God's Blessing upon thee and to become happy in his favour When thou comest to be of a competent Age that of sixteen years is the ordinary time prepare thy self for the right receiving of the Blessed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Know that in thy Baptism a solemn Covenant was sealed whereby thou wast obliged to forsake the World the Flesh and the Devill and to believe in God Iack. 1.74 75. and serve him in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of thy life Now know if the Vanities and Pleasures of this world gratifying thy natural appetites and Inclinations have drawn off thy mind and heart from the Remembrance Love and Service of God thou hast broken thy Baptismal vow For in stead of forsaking the World for God thou hast forsaken God for the world and thereby gratified thine own Flesh and Satan to the certain hazard and hindrance of the salvation of thy Soul But in the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper God is pleased to invite thee to renew thy Covenant with Him for thy Re-instatement in thy forfeited Felicity and thy more firm establishment in a happy state of Grace and Salvation For herein upon thy hearty Repentance and stedfast Faith in Christ he will seal unto thee the free and full Pardon of all thy past Sins and a Right to all the Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace and Felicities of the Kingdom of Glory Oh think it a happy Opportunity wherein thou may'st begin the world anew with God and be in as fair a State of Favour with him and have as firm a Hope of Happiness in Heaven as if thou hadst never sinn'd against him For the Bloud of Christ is exhibited in its Virtue in that Sacrament Mat. 26.28 to cleanse thee from all Sin 1 Joh. 1.7 Isa 1.18 so that tho' thy Sins were as Scavlet or Crimson thy Soul shall become as white as wool or snow in Salmen in the sight of God And moreover hereby thou mayst expect a Communication of those graces and comforts of the Spirit of God which may enable thee to that chearfull obedience to his holy Commands which will fit thee for the fruition of all the Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace and prepare thee for all the Felicities of the Kingdome of Glory That thou may'st not fail of these inestimable Benefits do not neglect this Blessed Ordinance but when thou hast an opportunity to receive it seriously prepare thy self for it For this purpose get by heart the Catechism for Communicants And when the time of the Administration approaches withdraw thy self from all Company into thy private chamber or some convenient place and there setting thy self as in the sight and presence of Almighty God seriously set upon the necessary work of Self-Examination This I have made very plain and casie to thee in that Pattern or example of it which I have set before thee Read it only with a serious attention and Self-application and thy work is done For hereby thou may'st clearly discern thy Spiritual State which is the great end of Self-examination And when hereby thou discoverest thy Sins and Defects humbly and heartily bewail them before God and earnestly beg Mercy and Grace stedfastly resolving to lead a new Life and to honour God by a better obedience for the time to come This thou may'st doe in the use of that Confession and Prayer which is here fitted for that purpose Fall down on thy knees therefore and with all the seriousness humility and devotion thou canst make thy Confession and Prayer to God and so may'st thou with safety and comfort go to the Lords Table that the Pardon of thy sins and the Promises of the Covenant may be seal'd up to thy Soul in the Bloud of thy Saviour and that all thy Defects and VVants may be supply'd from his abundant Grace and so thou mayst be furnished with strength for his service and filled with comfort and Joy in the hopes of his Salvation Having thus seriously engag'd thy self in a holy course of life persevere in it to the end Know now Heaven is before thee Hell behind thee it 's wofull to draw back to Perdition and therefore persevere to the saving of thy Soul Heb. 10.39 To this end be instant in Prayer Rom. 12.12 and endeavour to make a constant Progress in Piety to grow in knowledge and Grace 2 Pet. 3.18 whereby thou wilt daily make a nearer approach to the Kingdome of Glory Let no day pass without Prayer Consider in the morning it was God that kept thee the last night and if he do not keep thee and sustain thee thou canst not live another day And why should he keep thee if thou wilt not praise him for thy preservation nor pray to him to preserve thee Go not out then without Prayer lest God be angry and either cut off thy life from the Earth or shut thee out of Heaven At night kneel down on thy knees to pray before thou liest down on thy bed to sleep lest presuming to sleep in the guilt of sin thou should'st awake in the flames of Hell Make thy peace with God therefore by a hearty sorrow for the sins of that day with an earnest Prayer for pardon So mayst thou lie down in peace Psal 4.8 and sleep in safety under God's protection But still think this night this day may be my last and so demean thy self as if at the end thereof thou wast to appear before God in judgment For thy help in this holy course I have here furnished thee with certain Forms of Prayer and praise do thou add Spirit and life to them by offering them up daily with a holy fervour of affection to God The tongue may repeat the words but 't is the heart must make the Prayer For that 's no Prayer to God which is not offer'd up with a holy motion a pious affection of the heart and Soul of man Pray then that thou mayst have grace to live well and then live as thou prayest and live for ever And that thou may'st so live here as that thou may'st for ever live with God in glory diligently observe those Rules of good life which I have given thee out of the word of God Read them often on the Lord's Daies and especially on those daies on which thoureceivest the Holy-Sacrament of the Lord's Supper and therein renewest thy resolution and obligation to honour God by a Holy life Live according to these Rules carefully shun every known sin and
crave of God those Aids and Supplies of his Grace which may enable me to honour him by a Holy Obedience for the time to come I must put forth in my Soul the Acts of Faith Mat. 5.6 brotherly Love and Charity and stir up in my Heart hungring Desires after Christ and the Participation of his saving Benefits in his Holy Supper Q. Why must you thus examine and prepare your self before you come to the Lord's Supper A. Lest I should receive it unworthily Q. What is the Sin and Danger of unworthy receiving A. 1 Cor. 11.27 28. He that receiveth unworthily is guilty of the Body and Bloud of the Lord as the wicked Jews Acts 7.52 who were his Betrayers and Murderers and eateth and Drinketh * Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 render'd in the Marg. Judgment See v. 30 31 32. Judgment or Damnation to himself being for this Sin liable to temporal Afflictions yea to eternal Damnation in the just Judgment of God Q. When doth a man receive unworthily A. When he presumeth to come to the Lord's Table in the guilt of any known Sin unrepented of or wanting that Faith Love and Charity which are required in a worthy Receiver Q. If the Sin and Danger of unworthy Receiving be so great is it not safer to forbear than to come to the Lord's Table A. He that forbears to come to the Lord's Table incurs a greater guilt and Danger for to the guilt that would make him an unworthy Receiver Luk. 22.19 he adds the Contempt of Christ's Command and of the Benefits of his Bloud 1 Cor. 10.16 freely offer'd to him in this Holy Supper Q. What then must you do that you keep your self clear from this Guilt and safe from this Danger A. I must be very carefull and serious in examining my self and finding my self guilty 1 Cor. 11.28 31. I must judge and condemn my self that I may be graciously acquitted by the Lord and accepted as a worthy Receiver Q. If you rightly receive this Blessed Sacrament what Benefit shall you have thereby A. Mat. 26.28 God will seal to my Soul the Pardon of all my Sins in the Bloud of Christ with a Right to all the Blessings and Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace Q. If after you have received this Holy Sacrament you should return to your former sins what will your State and Condition be A. Luk. 22.20 Heb. 10.28 29. 2 Pet. 2.20 21 22. VVorse than before For I shall greatly provoke the wrath of God by the Breach of a solemn Covenant ratifi'd with the Bloud of Christ Q. How must you demean your self then after you have received A. 1 Joh. 5.18 Col. 2.6 7. I must carefully keep my self from Sin that Sin especially to which I am most inclin'd and humbly walk with God in the ways of Holiness Psal 18.23 being diligent in every good Duty Q. What will be the Issue of this Holy Course A. I shall at length see my Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ glorified in Heaven 1 Joh. 3.2 Joh. 17.22 24. who was Crucifiâ—d for me on Earth and shall for ever live and reign with him in Glory COL 11.6 7. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in Him rooted and built up in Him and established in the Faith as ye have been taught abounding therein with Thanksgiving If any by reason of the Weakness of their Memory or want of Ability to read cannot learn by Heart the fore-going Catechisin that they may not be kept from the Lord's Table nor come unprepar'd I have comprehended the most necessary things in the following Abridgment Let such then when they can repeat the Creed the ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer learn this Shorter Catechism But if they learn this onely at their first Admission they shall do well for an Increase of Knowledge to endeavour to learn the other also for their greater Benefit in their after-receiving A Shorter Catechism for the Younger Communicants Q. WHAT Religion is the onely sure way to Salvation A. The Christian Religion Q. What doth the Christian Religion comprehend A. Faith Obedience Prayer and Sacraments Q. What is the Sum of your Faith A. I believe in God the Father Almighty c. Q. What is the Rule of your Obedience A. The Law of God which is comprehended in Ten Commandments Q. Rehearse them A. God spake all these Words c. Exo. 20.1 17. Q. What is the Pattern of your Prayers A. The Lord's Prayer Q. Rehearse it A. Our Father which art in Heaven c. Mat. 6.9 13. Q. What are the Sacraments A. Seals of the Covenant of Grace Q. What is the Tenour of the Covenant of Grace A. I will be their God and they shall be my People Q. How many Sacraments are there A. Onely two Baptism and the Lord's Supper Q. Of what Vse are these to us A. By Baptism we enter into Covenant with God and renew it in the Lord's Supper Q. How else do they differ A. Baptism is a Sacrament of our New Birth the Lord's Supper of our Spiritual Nourishment and Growth in Grace Q. How oft must we receive them A. Baptism but once the Lord's Supper often for we can be but once born but must be oft fed Q. What must we consider in the Sacraments A. The outward Signs the Things thereby signifi'd and the spiritual Benefits thereof Q. What is the outward Sign in Baptism A. Water Q. What doth the water in Baptism signifie A. The Grace of God's Spirit Q. VVhat doth the washing of the Body with water signifie A. The cleansing of the Soul from Sin Q. VVhat is the Benefit of Baptism A. Regeneration or a New Birth Q. VVhat is Regeneration A. A Renewing of the Nature of man by the Spirit and Grace of God Q. In whose Name is Baptism to be Administred A. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Q. VVho are to be Baptiz'd A. Converts to the Christian Religion and the Children of Christians Q. To what are you bound by your Baptism A. To forsake my Sins believe in Christ and obey him Q. VVhat are the outward Signs in the Lord's Supper A. Bread and Wine Q. VVhat do they signifie A. The Body and Bloud of Christ Q. Hath Christ a true Body A. Yes the same Body which was crucified on Earth is glorified in Heaven Q. Is the Bread in the Sacrament the very Body of Christ and the Wine his Bloud A. No They are but the Signs of his Body and Bloud Q. What doth the breaking of the Bread signifie A. The Breaking of Christ's Body in his Crucifixion Q. What doth the Minister's giving of the Bread and Wine to the Communicants represent A. God's giving of Christ and His Benefits to Believers Q. What doth the receiving eating and Drinking signifie A. Our receiving and applying of Christ by Faith Q. What are the Benefits of this Holy Supper A. The
more than God Have I not lived in much Forgetfulness of God Jer. 2.32 and estrangement from Him Have I not feared men more than God Mat. 10.28 Have I not set my self up above God serving my own Will Joh. 5.30 Rom. 15.1 2 3. more than His and seeking to please my self more than him 2. Tho' I have not worshipped Idols II. Com. ave I not neglected the Worship of God or shew'd less Reverence to Him than the poor Pagans do to dead and dumb Idols Have I diligently attended the Ordinances of God's Worship and so demeaned my self therein as under his Eye Have I watch'd over my Heart and not suffer'd my Thoughts to wander from the Holy Service I have had in Hand Have I been very serious and sincere in the Service of God Isa 29.13 Have I not oft drawn near to God with my Mouth and honour'd him with my Lips when my Heart hath been removed sar from Him III. Com. 3. Have I not taken the Name of God in vain using it lightly and customarily in my Communications saying O Lord and O God when I have not thought of Him or abusing it in Oaths and Curses Mat. 5.34 Has my Heart accompanied my Tongue as oft as I have used the Name of God in my Prayers Have I never made a Jest of any Thing that is Sacred Have I endeavour'd so to adorn the Doctrine of God my Saviour in all things Tit. 2.10 that the Name of God might not 1 Tim. 6.1 thro' me be blasphem'd by any 4. Have I remembred God's Day IV. Com. and disposed my self to the keeping of it Holy Have I with as much Diligence and Seriousness Constance and Chearfulness attended the Service of God and the blessed Means of the Salvation of my Soul on the Lord's Day as I have my worldly Business or Disports on my own Daies Have I not been soon weary of the Service and presence of God Mal. 1.13 Am. 8.5 wishing the Sermon ended and the Sabbath done that I might be let loose to my worldly Employments or Recreations Have I not oft spent the most part of that Day which is consecrated to the Service of God in idle Talk or worldly matters Isa 58.13 or carnall Delights without serious minding of the great Concerns of my immortal Soul V. Com. 5. Have I so honour'd and obey'd my Father and Mother my Master and Superiours as I ought to have done Have I not despised their Authority and refused to obey their Commands Phil. 2.14 Have I done all things without Murmurings and Disputings Have I hearkened to their Admonitions and received their Reproofs without Cavilling Tit. 2.9 or answering again 6. VI. Com. Mat. 5.22 1 Joh. 3.15 Tho' I have not been guilty of gross Murder or killing any body yet have I not been angry with my Brother without a Cause Have I not hated him in my Heart and so been a Murderer in the Sight of God Gal. 5.20 Prov. 12.18 Rom. 12.19 Col. 3.13 Have I not been given to Quarrelling and Contention Have I not given provoking Words And when I have thought my self wrong'd have I not born Malice in my Heart and meditated Revenge 7. VII Com. Have I not by wanton Looks or Gestures Words or Thoughts Mat. 5.27 28. committed Adultery in my Heart or by any vile Acts or Provocations of Lust made my self unclean in the Sight of God Eph. 4.19 Have I endeavour'd by Temperance and Sobriety to keep my Body pure and my Mind chast and undefiled Col. 3.8 Have no vile Lusts lodg'd in my Heart and has no filthy Communication at any time come out of my mouth 8. VIII Com. Have I injur'd any one by Theft Deceipt or Cousenage Have I been just and true in all my Trusts and Dealings Have I not wasted much Time in sloth Idleness and Vanity Eph. 4.28 Have I not wasted what I had in Sports and Gaming Have I not consented to or conceal'd the Frauds or Wrongs that have been done by others Psal 50.18 9. IX Com. Have I not been guilty of Lying and Slandering Have I not taken pleasure in hearing my Neighbour reproacht and evil spoken of behind his back Psal 15.3 Have I not abetted to the injuries done him by others by bearing false witness against him Have I not sometimes scoft at men for those Infirmities which I ought to have cover'd in Love 1 Pet. 4 8. Have I been carefull to keep my word and to perform all my Promises to every man 10. X. Com. Have I been truly content with my own State and Condition without coveting any Thing which is another man's Have I not envy'd others their Happier Estate and repin'd at the meanness of my own Condition Have I not more complain'd of the Wants and Evils I have sustain'd according to my Deserts than I have been thankfull for many undeserved Mercies and Blessings A. Jam. 3.2 I confess I have offended in many Things I am guilty of very many Transgressions in so much as if God should enter into Judgment with me Psal 143.2 He might most justly condemn me But I hope in His Mercy who hath promised Pardon to all that truly repent Acts 3.19 But Q. 3. Repentance Do I truly and heartily repent of all my Sins and am I stedfastly resolved by the Grace of God to lead a new Life A. I am heartily sorry for all my Sins which I have committed against that God to whom I owe my Life and Being and who hath been very good and gracious to me all my Life long and I do stedfastly resolve forthwith to forsake all my Sins and to endeavour to lead my Life in all Things according to the Holy Law of God and Rules of the Gospel for the Time to come and I do heartily beseech Almighty God to enable me by his Grace so to do Q. 4. 4 Faith in Christ Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ Am I fully persuaded that He is the Son of God and Saviour of the World and that all He hath revealed and said in his Holy Gospel is most certainly true Do I heartily take Him for my Lord and Redeemer and trust in Him alone for my Salvation Jam. 2.18 And can I shew my Faith by my Works A. I do stedfastly Believe that God the Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 Joh. 4.14 Acts 8.37 that Jesus Christ who died at Jerusalem is the Son of God and I do heartily take Him to be my Lord and Col. 2.6 Saviour and submitting my self to his Soveraignty I trust in Him alone for my Salvation Mark 1.15 I am fully persuaded that whatsoever He hath said or revealed in his Gospel is most true And I shall endeavour by God's Grace to persist in this Faith and to demonstrate the Truth of it by my Works Jam.