Cor. 6.11 Iohn 14.26 15.26 acknowledge beléeue the third Person of the Trinitie the Holy Ghost procéeding from the Father and the Sonne to be the Sanctifier and comforter of Gods Elect making effectuall vnto them whatsoeuer Iesus Christ hath wrought suffred who worketh and preuaileth in me which I perceiue not only by the graces of * * Ephes 4.22 23 24. Rom. 7.15 to the end true holinesse and righteousnes begun and increasing in me and by my diligent striuing against the remnants of my corruption and lusts but also x x 2 Cor. 1.22 Rom 8.15 16 23 26. by the earnest of the same Spirit in my heart inabling me to call God my Father and to pray with sighes and grones within any selfe for the perfect adoption The holy Catholike Church And further I do acknowledge a y y Iohn 10.16 Act. 2.42 c. 14.22 1 Cor. 1.26 27. 2 Tim. 3.12 companie of people called by Gods frée grace in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit few in number in comparison of the rest and ordinarily consisting of the baser sort and the same exercised with many affliction z z Deut. 12.30 31 32. 29.29 Seruing God according to his word a a Gen. 4.26 Rom. 10.13 invocating his name b b Heb. 13.17 submitting themselues vnto the Ministerie of the Gospell and c c Act. 19.5 1 Cor. 11.24 25. professing Iesus Christ in the vse of the Sacraments Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. d d Ephes 5.26 27. 1 Thes 4.7 Holy because both Christs holines is imputed to them beléeuing in him and also for that there doth procéed from their holy faith a holy life and conuersation And Catholike because this companie of people is e e Ephes 4.12 13 16. Iohn 11.52 Esai 2.2 3. vniuersally scattered ouer all the world of whose number without the which there is no saluation I doe certainly know and professe my selfe to be one f f Iohn 6.27 10.27 Act. 2.47 24.14 because I féele in my selfe an hungring after the Word and Sacraments with all other the Ordinances of the Lord as the meanes of my spirituall nourishment and doe willingly submit my selfe to be guided by the spirit and word of God the Communion of Saints In which Church I acknowledg g g 1 Ioh. 1.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Psal 16.3 1 Cor. 12.26 that there is a partaking of gifts and graces from Christ to them Esai 11.6 7 8 Phil. 2.1 2 3 c. Col. 3.11.12 13 14. amongst themselues mutually vnto the best good and saluation of euery member which I for my part doe professe and practise both ioyning my selfe vnto them in all godly exercises and labours and féeling my selfe vnfainedly knit vnto them in all holy affections mercifulnesse h h Act. 13.38 39. Psal 103. â— 2 3 4 11 12. Esai 38.17 Mic. 7.19 Zach. 12.10 Rom. 7.19 10. Matth. 5.44 45. 6.14 Ephes 4.32 Lâ—â—â— 23.34 Act. 7.60 the forgiuenesse of sinnes And forasmuch as this onely true Church doth apply Iesus Christs righteousnesse vnto it selfe euery member particularly and for his sake whom they haue pierced by their sinnes do heartily repent I do beléeue that God wil forgiue them their sinnes and do assure my selfe that hée will forgiue me all mine for the which cause I cannot choose but be thankfull to the Lord in waging warre against euery sinne and in forgiuing and praying for all them that haue vniustly and greatly offended thée euen my sorest enimies the resurrection of the body Finally I acknowledge and beléeue that at the last day i i Ioh. 5.28 29. Job 19.25 1 Cor. 15. Eccles 12.14 2 Cor. 5.10 Matth. 25. all the soules of the dead shall returne and be put into the very same bodies wherein they once liued and so be raised vp to liue againe and the quicke changed all in a moment through the vnspeakable power of God to the end they may all come to iudgment wholy both bodies and soules togither and sentence may bée giuen vpon them When k k Phil. 3.21 Revel â—0 6 21.4 Rom. 6.11 13. 1â— 1 2â— for my part I trust to haue a ioyfull and glorious resurrection my selfe as all other the faithfull shall haue whereof we haue a plaine earnest giuen vs already in the Resurrection of Christ our head frée from any more miserie and hauing all teares wiped away from mine eyes because I féele my selfe rising daily vnto newnesse of life and my bodie conformed sitted in all the parts and faculties of it more and more to serue the Lord for I know I shall not be condemned because I verily beléeue l l Rom. 8.1.3 2 Cor. 7.11 Iesus Christ hath béene in a sort condemned for me and hath made mée condemne my selfe in remorce of conscience for my sinnes to such effect that I walke not after the flesh that is in following and satisfying the swindge of my naturall corruption but after the Spirit that is in framing my waies agreable to the gift and state of regeneration wrought in my heart by the Holy Spirit m m 2 Cor. 5.1 2. c. 1 Tim. 4.8 Revel 21.22 22.1 2 3 4 5. and the life euerlasting From that day the Godly shall possesse the kingdome of heauen in the presence of God for euermore Iohn 10.9 10 11 15 17 28. Phil. 3.20 1 Thess 4.17 the most happy and blessed life which God hath prepared for them and whereof I looke to bee partaker forasmuch as Christ hath both merited it for me and wrought so in me that my conuersation is in heauen that is such as tendeth driueth towards the heauenly glory n n Reuel 22.3 with Luk. 2.14 There shall he be praised of me and of all other his elect for euer o o Rom. 10.10 2 Cor. 1.20 Apoc. 22.20 Tit. 3.7 Rom. 8.23 Amen All these things I doe truly beléeue with my heart and confesse with my mouth that they are so indéed and doe desire and waite for the full performance accomplishment of them vnto the praise and glory of God Parent What is Regeneration or Sanctification Child p Iohn 3.3 Luk. 3.3 8. 1 Thess 5.23 A singular grace of God whereby I am truly changed from my sinnes and made the obedient child of God Parent What are the parts of Regeneration Child q Ephes 4.22 23 24. The mortifying of the olde man and the quickning of the new Parent What is the mortifying of the old man Child r Rom. 6.3 6 c. 8.13 Col. 3.5 Gal. 5.24 The abating and crucifying of sinne and of the power thereof through the vertue of Christs death and buriall Seruant How must you vse Christs death that it may slay your sinne Scholler Å¿ Zach. 12.10 Gal. 2.20 Heb. 6.6 1 Cor. 2.8 with 1 Pet. 4.1 2. Bethinking my selfe that my sinnes were the
a longer space or lesse commandment 6 6. The sixth all duties teacheth me to others and my selfe Mans person eke with due regard of soules and bodies health commandment 7 7. The seuenth Precept doth injoyne the rule of Chastity In heart and tongue and euery part to leade my life thereby commandment 8 8. The eight Cōmandement biddeth me for goods and maintenance To yeeld the right to euery one to pore his sustenance commandment 9 9. The ninth concerning mans good name all duties doth command In publike and in private both God lookes for at my hand commandment 10 10. The last of all bids keepe my heart from ill concupiscence And pleasing-sinfull thoughts before consent to such offence * Then out alas and welladay what shall of me become That euery day doe breake Gods law euen from my mothers wombe I wretched soule haue spent my time each day and night in sinne By thought by word and deed yet I haue seldome knowne wherein From sinne therfore which I not feele I little care to flee Nor if I did could I escape by any meanes in mee Against Gods Law a Rebell I to God and selfe a foe And in that state fast held I am by Satans snares also Gods curse is mine by due desert euen hellish condemnation Who then can worke my liberty my peace and my saluation Secondly Of Christ and his Gospell O Heauēly father thou sent'st forth the second person hye Thine onely Son who was conceiu'd in wombe of maid Marie By holy ghost and in due time was borne our nature in In all respects a very Man excepting onely sinne Christ Iesus hee both God and man Gods holy Law obai'd And yet the endlesse curse thereof for vs on him was laid His soule was heauy to the death his bodie hang'd on tree Till wrath of God was satisfy'd It 's finisht then said he His bloud he shed to saue our soules he put to shamefull death For to preuent our hellish paine our sinnes did stop his breath So in our stead himselfe he gaue an holy sacrifice Imputed to the faithfull flocke that serue him in right wise For Faith beleeues Christ loued mee himselfe for me he gaue Embracing firm Christs righteousnes which Gods Elect doth saue This Faith if true will comfort yeeld to each repentant heart And certainly repentance shall performe a happy part Thy minde full sore shall grieued be for all offences past Because therby thou piercedst Christ full bitter shall they taste And them to leaue Repentance will thee teach and sanctifie In holinesse and righteousnesse to lead thy selfe godly Such thankefulnesse will faith bring forth from secret heart within That Christ his will to know and doe forthwith thou shalt begin And then thy conscience shall be built vpon his holy Word To serue him so and for to wait onely vpon the Lord. Ye further eke his crossing crosse thy minde shall not abhorre To take it vp with Patience and beare it lesse or more And finally to giue thy selfe entirely vnto him Thy heart will melt for his great loue and pardoning thy sinne But as for vnbeleeuing soules conuerting not to God Vnthankfull and impatient they to kisse his blessed Rod. They worke their owne inuentions Christs word they doe neglect They doe but prate and make a shew sure Christ will them reiect Therefore deare Christian take good heed and follow not their guise Their course is nought their hope also is vanitie and lies And for to traine thy silly soule to walke the way aright Behold Gods rich prouision to giue thee true insight His Law doth shew thy foule great sin thy misery and curse And terrifie thy heart that is conuict but yet the worse But Christs Gospell doth shew thee grace speakes peace and giues thee Faith And leads thee straight to obey the law as holy Scripture saith Thirdly of the Word of God and of Prayer FIue Exercises Christ hath fram'd for thee to labour in To purge thy heart from vnbeleefe corruption and sinne * The first and chiefest is his Word both truly preach'd and heard Next often read and thought vpon and soberly conferd * And Prayer is the second thing in Christ his name with Faith With puritie and feruencie such shall be safe he saith For God hath sanctified this course to be his Ordinance Thereby to blesse whom euer hee will with louing countenance The Lords Prayer To God therfore the gracious Lord to call be not thou dull He is become through Iesus Christ Our Father mercifull And pray with reuerence and withall belieue that helpe he giues And say which art in Heauen still thy power and mercy liues petition 1 1. And looke that thou doe zealously desire to glorifie Gods holy name before all things and each necessitie For Hallowed be thy name Christ made the first Petition Now Hallowed meaneth magnified Gods name himselfe alone petition 2 2. And secondly Christ bid vs pray Thy kingdome come apace Enlarge thy Kingdome here O Lord by thy good meanes of grace Thy spirit let worke effectually and holy word let runne And quickly end these sinfull daies euen so Lord Iesus come petition 3 3. The third Request thy will be done in earth to wit that we May doe his will as 't is in heauen where Angells perfect be And that withall we may submit our selues his will to bide In time of our aduersitie when crost on euery side petition 4 4. The fourth Petition Christ taught vs Giue vs this day O Lord Our daily bread each needfull thing conuenient for this world Yet so in case it be thy will none otherwise we pray These earthly things doe sometimes helpe and sometimes turne away But sauing grace most absolute without an If or And We aske and seeke without a Nay at thine Almighty hand petition 5 5. The fifth is And forgiue vs Lord our debts and trespasses Remit our sinnes vs iustifie and giue Christs righteousnesse As we forgiue them that trespasse against vs great and small For thy free grace doth mollifie our hearts to debters all For why our brothers dreatest debt is but an hundreth pence But ours to God who knowes how much ten thousand great talents petition 6 6. Our last suit is And lead vs not into temptation But Lord deliver vs from ill Satans suggestion Oh mortifie our nature vile and quicken vs afresh Thy speciall ayd wee need each day for weakenesse of our flesh And Lord I ground my heart onely to haue these things from thee For thine is eke the kingdome and the powre and the Glory For euer So full right and power sure thou hast ouer all And al things dost to thine own praise all times perpetuall Amen so be it and so it is and so shall be for aye Therfore till God shall grant my suite I will not cease to pray Fourthly Of the Sacraments the Communion of Saints and the consideration of Gods workes THe third Meane is Christs Sacraments Baptisme and Supper his The seales of
assuredly Child u Rom. 8.34 Heb. 6.19 20. 9.24 Reuel 1.5 Because he sitteth at the right hand of God his Father and so is become our continuall Remembrancer Parent How is Christ the King of his Church Child * Luk. 1.32 33. 1 Cor. 15.25 c. By ruling it in this world and glorifying it in the world to come Parent How doth Christ rule his Church in this world Child First x Phil. 2.13 by working grace in the heart Secondly y Psal 121. by protecting and defending it Thirdly z Rom. 8.28 by disposing all things to its greatest good Parent What Graces doth Christ the King of his Church *** The first way of Christs ruling of his Church in this world worke in the heart Child a Phil. 1.29 1 Cor. 6.11 Faith and Sanctification or Regeneration Parent What is Faith Child b Eph. 3.12 17. Rom. 4.18 21. Faith is a true perswasion of my heart grounded vpon the Promises of God that whatsoeuer Christ hath wrought for the saluation of Man he hath done it as well for me as for any others Parent In what words is Faith in Christ taught Child Gal. 2.20 The Sonne of God hath loued me and giuen himselfe for me Seruant What is the least measure of true Faith that any one can haue who is of yeeres of discretion Scholler d Gen. 4.13 Rom. 8.9 23.24 25. Ephes 3.17 Math. 5.6 Psal 51.8 9. compared When one is perswaded that his sinnes may be forgiuen and withall prayeth from the bottome of his heart that whatsoeuer els God doth for him he would forgiue him Seruant But when Faith groweth to some strength how may you know then that you haue a true and liuely faith Scholler First e Rom. 5 1. Gal. 4.6 by the inward peace of my conscience féeling Gods loue in Christ and assuring me of the forgiuenesse of all my sinnes Secondly f Act. 15.9 Rom. 6.19 Iam. 2.14 15 16. c. by my good workes which are the fruits of a liuely faith * See more of Faith in Part. 4. and in Part. 5. Seruant Where are the chiefest points of Faith as touching the things themselues that are to be beleeued of a Christian comprised and set all togither in one short summe for the help of the more ignorant sort of weake memories Scholler In the Confession of Faith commonly called the Articles of our Beléefe and by some The Apostles Creed Seruant Why is it called The Creed Scholler Of the Latine word Credo which is the first word in this Confession and signifieth in our English tongue I beleeue Seruant And why beareth it the name of the Apostles Scholler Because it was taken out of the doctrine of the Apostles Seruant Vnto whom was it prescribed Scholler Vnto euery one to confesse in his owne person as being indéed the Summe of all Religion Parent Rehearse the Creed Child The forme of Confession of Faith I beléeue in God the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord who was conceiued by the Holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Marie suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell The third day hée rose againe from the dead He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty From thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beléeue in the Holy Ghost the holy Catholike Church the Communion of Saints the forgiuenesse of Sinnes the Resurrection of the Bodie and the Life euerlasting Amen Parent I pray you Pastor giue vs a short Explanation of the Creede which we may vse to read deliberately in our house vnto our ignorant people now and than and at the least vpon the Lords day where better means of edification cannot be had before or after we haue beene at the publike Ministerie of the word In which Explanation we would haue you to direct vs how to vnderstand and apply euery seuerall point to ech one of our selues particularly and withall set vs downe in the margent some of the plainest testimonies of holy Scripture to proue that your exposition is grounded thereon Pastor I will so that you will not forget nor neglect to vse it weekely till such time as you and your Families be better instructed and setled in the truth Parent I pray God make me and my companie not only mindfull and diligent to vse it but also giue vs grace to profit by it Pastor Amen Now than a Christian man or woman should vnderstand and apply to his or her selfe the Articles of Faith as if he or she should say a litle more largely thus The Explanation of the Creede The Creed it self being the Summe of the holy Gospell Forasmuch as g g Heb. 11.1 2 3 c. Iam. 1 12 13. 1 Tim. 1.5 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9. true Faith is the onely Mother and ground-worke of all sauing graces and whereby also they become acceptable to God and that euery person who looketh to bée saued must attaine saluation by his h h Hab. 2.4 Iohn 3.15 16 18. Gal. 3.22 26. Heb. 10.38 11.6 owne faith and not by the faith that is in any others out of himselfe And forasmuch as the same true faith i i Rom. 10.10 2 Cor. 4.13 Matth. 10 32 33. Act. 8.37 will necessarily shew it self by Confession I doe here make confession of it with my mouth as I haue receiued and do stedfastly hold it in my heart not from the traditions or sayings of men but as I sée it warranted in Gods most holy word vnto the praise and glory of God my owne comfort and the good example of others in this forme following to wit I beleeue in God the Father Almighty Maker of heauen earth I doe acknowledge and beléeue k k Deut. 4.39.1 Iohn 5.7 one onely God distinguished into thrée persons l l Math. 28.19 the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost to be m m Iohn 14.1 20.28 my God n n Ephes 1.11 Act. 15.18 27.20 21 22 c. who decréed before all worlds o o Gen. 1. 2. chapters made and fashioned in time p p Act. 4.24 28. Gen. 14.19 Rom. 11.36 disposeth and possesseth all things whatsoeuer with all their seuerall actions circumstances in most holy manner according to his infinite power and wisedome vnto his owne glory and specially Angels in heauen and Men on earth who is both willing able to blesse me q q Rom. 8.28 Psal 115.11 13 15. and who I know maketh all things worke togither for good vnto me whom he hath called to loue feare and obey him maugre all enimies r r Iohn 20.17 because hee is Christs father and my father almighty in strength Which Father ſ ſ Gen. 3.1 7. Iohn 8.44 Rom. 7.12 23. Deut. 27.26 when wée wretches fel shamefully
Christes righteousnes and pledges of his blisse Baptisme For why In Baptisme sure there is assured vnto thee Thy sinnes are washed by his blood and thou renew'd shalt bee And thou art entred once for all into the fellowship Of Father Sonne and Holy Ghost at no time thence to slip This holy Trinitie is thy God and thou his Child become His grace is thine thou not thine own through Christ these things are done And Faith is it that consecrates thee to the Lord alone Yea Faith I say in Christes death and Resurrection Therefore vnto the Lord see thou thy selfe do dedicate To dye to sinne and liue to him in state regenerate As water skowreth filth away so makes it faire and cleane Thinke not thy sin is washt when yet thou wicked dost remaine The Supper of the Lord. * So in the Supper of the Lord this gratious Couenant Is otherwise set forth to thee that art the Lords seruant The broken bread doth signifie Christs bodie put to death The powred wine his pretious blood doth note vnto thy Faith When Bread and Wine are ministred by Minister to thee Thinke with thy selfe Christ offereth himselfe and grace to mee And when thou eatst drinkst the same perswade thy selfe withall Christs Merits now belong to me to set me free from thrall Thy Baptisme once was ministred the Supper often ought The new birth needeth oft releefe though once t was truly wrought Wherefore as bread and wine do fresh our bodies oftentimes So comforts Christ the conscience with guilt of sinne that pines And as mans bodie gathers heart by bread and wine to liue So by this sacred food the Lord more spirituall strength will giue To doe his will with thankfulnesse more perfect for to be And better able sinne to leaue this is the veritie And finally as thou dost joyne and that in open place Amids Gods people that receiue before Christ Iesus face See then that peace and loue in thee vnfained be to Men And specially to faithfull folke else thou art none of them Stirre vp thy knowledge and thy faith repentance and thy loue Be zealous of this holy food vnworthy lest thou proue Examine well thy heart before to God thy prayer powre And look try how thou dost thriue in grace from that same howre * The fourth good Meane or Exercise that Christ bids thee to vse Is speciall fellowship with Saints the bad thou must refuse The Saints will teach comfort thee and many waies thee aide The bad will badly teach and will make thee of grace afraid * The fifth and last is noting well Gods creatures workes and hand His iudgements and his benefits God cause thee to vnderstand His patient long-sufferance and doings good alway Repentance and Obedience do teach thee euery day Fifthly Of the right vse of the Meanes of Grace and the Reward thereof DRaw neere to God with vpright heart and vse these meanes of grace Then Christ will be thy King Priest and Prophet in ech case Thy King to worke rule thy heart according to his will Most ready for to do thee good and saue thee from all ill Thy Priest for why he offred vp himselfe to death for thee And will apply his precious merits thy heart to purifie And of this thing thou maist be sure because he rose againe From death to life ascended vp and raigneth now in heauen And thence it is he worketh by his scepter and his rod Making his Meanes effectuall to bring thee vnto God And thence he is thy Prophet eke by Ministers that teach His holy word which thou must heare and diligently search Directing all thy wayes thereto with good and honest hart Christ wholly thine thou wholly his by true indeuour art Then God will surely saue thy soule for Christes sake his Sonne And prosper thee in all thy wayes what ere is said or done Hee 'l turne thy suffrings to the best and Satan eke confound His Promises he will fulfill if that thy heart be sound Beleeue then firmely in thy minde that God will count thee pure Full freely and full gratiously Christs Gospell is most sure Repent thee turne and grow in grace be thankfull and rejoyce In suffering with thy Sauiour obey his holy voice And keepe thy selfe within thy lot thy calling and degree Take paines be iust meeke mercifull and God will harke to thee And alwaies watch for Christ shall come to iudge both quicke and dead Thy Bodie shall be raisd from dust and to thy soule joyned Thy sinnes he will not mention the iust he will declare But iudge he will the Reprobate their sinnes he will not spare Their damned state thou shalt behold Christs sentence to commend Yet thou the joyes vnspeakable shalt haue without all end 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Forme of Prayer after Conference Parent WE Coloss 1.9 pray thée O God to fill vs with the knowledge of thy will in all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding to giue vs grace to walks worthy of thée Lord vnto all pleasing being fruitfull in euery good worke and increasing in the knowledge of God to strengthen vs with all might according to thy glorious power vnto all patience and long-suffering with ioyfulnesse and to make vs truly thankfull vnto thée O Father who hast made vs méete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light and for that thou hast and wouldst deliuer vs from the power of darknes and translate vs into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne in whom we haue redemption through his blood euen the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and Rom. 9.5 who is God ouer all blessed for euer Child Amen Seruant Amen Scholler Amen HEB. 6.1 Let vs goe on to perfection FINIS