into the visible Church (l) 1 Cor. 12. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jewes or Gentiles bond or free and are all made to drink into one Spirit and enter into an open and professed ingagement to be wholly and onely the Lords (m) Rom. 6. 4. Therefore we are buried by baptisme with him into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of his father so we also should walk in newnesse of life Q. Unto whom is Baptisme to be administred A. Baptisme is not to be administred to any that are out of the visible Church and so strangers from the Covenant of promise till they professe their faith in Christ and obedience to him (n) Act. 8. 36 37. And as they went on their way they came to a certain water and the Eunuch said see here is water what hinders me to be baptized v. 37. And Philip said If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest And he answered and said I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and he baptized him Act. 2 38. Then Peter said repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost but infants descending from parents either both or but one of them professing faith in Christ and obedience to him are in that respect within the Covenant and to be baptized (o) Gen. 17. 7-9 And I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee And God said unto Abraham Thou shalt keep my Covenant therefore thou and thy seed after thee in their generations this is my Covenant c. Compared with Gal. 3. 9 -14 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham v. 4. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith And with Col. 2. 11 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in cutting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ v. 12. Buried with him in Baptisme wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead And with Act. 2. 38 39. Then Peter said repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost v. 39. For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call And with Rom. 4. 11 12. And he received the sign of Circumcision a seal of the Righteousnesse of faith which he had being yet uncircumcised that he might be the father of all them who believe though they be not circumcised that righteousnesse might be imputed unto them also v. 12. And the father of Circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision onely but also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had being yet uncircumcised 1 Cor. 7. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy Mat 28. 19. Go ye therefore teaâ—h all nations baptizing them in the name c. Luk. 18. 15 16. And they brought unto him also infants that he should touch them but when his discsples saw it they rebuked them v. 16. But Jesus called them unto him and said suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven Rom. 11. 16. For if the first fruits be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy so are the branches Q. How is our Baptisme to be improved by us A. The needful but much neglected duty of improving our Baptisme is to be performed by us all our life long especially in the time of temptation and when we are present at the administration of it to others (p) Col. 2. 11 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ V. 12. Buried with him in baptisme wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead Rom. 6. 4-6-11 Therefore we are buried by baptisme with him into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of his father so we also should walk in newnesse of life V. 6. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin V. 11. Likewise reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin buâ— alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. by serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it and of the ends for which Christ instituted it the priviledges and benefits conferred and sealed thereby and our solemn vow made therein (q) Rom 6. 3 4 5. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death V. 4. Therefore we are buried by baptisme with him into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of his father so we also should walk in newness of life V. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likenesse of his death we shall be also in the likenesse of his resurrection by being humbled for our sinful defilement our falling short of and walking contrary to the grace of Baptisme and our ingagements (r) 1 Cor. 1. 11 12 13. For it hath been declared unto me of you my brethren by them which are of the house of Châ—oâ— thaâ— there are contentions among you V. 11. Now this I say that every one of you saith I am of Paul and I am of Apollo and I of Cephas and I of Christ V. 13. Is Christ divided was Paul crucified for you or were ye baptized in the name of Paul Rom. 6. 2 3. God forbid How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein V. 3. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin and of all other blessings sealed to us in that Sacrament (Å¿) Rom. 4. 11 12. And he received the sign of circumcision a seal of righteousness of faith which he had being yet uncircumcised that he might be the father of all them who believe though they be not circumcised that righteousness might be imputed unto them also V. 12. And the father
the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Eph. 2. 4 5-7 8 9. But God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us V. 5. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickned us together with Christ by grace ye are saved V. 7. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus V. 8. For by grace ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God V. 9. Not of works lest any man should boast Rom. 9. 11. For the children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of works but of him that calleth he doth in his accepted time invite and draw them to Jesus Christ by his Word and Spirit l 2 Cor. 5. 20. Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God Compared with 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. We then as workers together with him beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain for he saith I have heard thee in a time accepted and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation Joh. 6. 44. No man can come to me except the Father who hath sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day 2 Thess 2. 13 14. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth Whereunto he hath called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ savingly inlightning their mindes m Acts 26. 18. To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith which is in me 1 Cor. 2. 10 -12 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea even the deep things of God V. 12. Now we have not received the Spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that ye might know the things freely given us of God renewing and powerfully determining their wills n Ezek. 11. 19. I will give them one heart and I will put a new Spirit within you and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and will give them an heart of flesh Ezek. 36. 26 29. A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh V. 29. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses and I will call for the corn and increase it and lay no famine upon you Joh. 6. 45. It is written in the Prophets And they shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me so as they although in themselves dead in sin are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his call and to accept and imbrace the grace offered and conveyed therein o Eph. 2. 5. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickned us together with Christ by grace ye are saved Phil. 2. 13. For it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure Deut. 30. 6. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul that thou maist live Q. Are the Elect effectually called A. All the Elect and they onely are effectually called p Act. 13. 48. And when the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed although others may be and often are outwardly called by the ministery of the Word q Mat. 22. 14. For many are called but few are chosen and have some common operations of the Spirit r Mat. 7. 22. Many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord Have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name cast out Divels and in thy name done many wonderful works Mat. 13. 20 21. But he that received the seed into stony places the same is he that heareth the word and anon with joy received it yet hath he not root in himself but dureth for a while for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word by and by he is offended Heb. 6. 4 5. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come If they c. who for their wilful neglect and contempt of the grace offered to them being justly left in their unbelief do never truly come to Jesus Christ Å¿ Joh. 12. 38 39 40. That the saying of Esaias the Prophet might be fulfilled which he spake Lord who hath believed our report and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed V. 39 Therefore they could not believe because that Esaias said again V. 40. He hath blinded their eyes and hardned their heart that they should not see with their eyes and understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them Act. 28. 25 26 27. And when they agreed not among themselves they departed after that Paul had spoken one word Well spake the Holy Ghost by the Prophet Esaias unto our Fathers saying V. 26. Go unto this people and say Hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and not perceive V. 27. For the heart of this people is waxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes have they closed least they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them Joh. 6. 64 65. But there are some of you that believe not For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who should betray him V. 65. And he said Therefore said I unto you that no man can come unto me except it were given him of the Father Psal 81. 11 12. But my people would not hearken to my voice and Israel would have none of me so I gave them up to their own hearts lusts and they walked in their own counsels Q. What is the Communion in Grace which the Members of the Invisible Church have with Christ A. The Communion in Grace which the Members of the Invisible Church have with
of his soul and be satisfied by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities V. 12. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he hath poured out his soul unto death and he was numbred with the transgressors and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors Heb. 7. 22. By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better Testament Rom. 8. 32. He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers V. 19. But with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot imputing his righteousness to them e 2 Cor. 5. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him and requiring nothing of them for their Justification but Faith f Rom. 3. 24 25. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ V. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God which also is his gift g Eph. 2. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God their Justification is to them of free grace h Eph. 1. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace Q. What is justifying Faith A. Justifying Faith is a saving Grace i Heb. 10. 39. But we are not of them who draw back to perdition but of them who believe to the saving of the soul wrought in the heart of a Sinner by the Spirit k 2 Cor. 4. 13. We having the same Spirit of faith according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak Eph. 1. 17 18 19. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him V. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints V. 19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power and word of God l Rom. 10. 14. How then shall they call on him on whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher whereby he being convinced of his sin and misery and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition m Act. 2. 37. Now when they heard this they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall we do to be saved Act. 16. 30. And brought them out and said Sirs What must we do to be saved Joh. 16. 8 9. And when he is come he will convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgement Of sin because they believe not in me Rom. 5. 6. For when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly Eph. 2. 1. And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins Act. 4. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved not onely assenteth to the truth of the promise of the Gospel n Eph. 1. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise but receiveth and resteth upon Christ and his righteousness therein held forth for pardon of sin o Joh. 1. 12. But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name Act. 16. 31. And they said Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thine house Act. 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the fight of God for salvation p Phil. 3. 9. And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is by the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith Act. 15. 11. But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they Q. How doth Faith justifie a Sinner in the sight of God A. Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God not because of those other graces which do alwayes accompany it or of good works that are the fruits of it q Gal. 3. 11. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident for the just shall live by faith Rom. 3. 28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law nor as if the grace of Faith or any act thereof were imputed to him for his justification r Rom. 4. 5. But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness Compared with Rom. 10. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation but onely as it is an Instrument by which he receiveth and applieth Christ and his righteousness Å¿ Joh. 1. 12. But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name Phil. 3. 9. And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is by the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith Gal. 2. 16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified Q. What is Adoption A. Adoption is an act of the free grace of God t 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons
possessed of z Eph. 2. 5 6. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickned us together with Christ by grace ye are saved And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus and as an earnest thereof enjoy the sense of Gods love a Rom. 5. 5. And hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us Compared with 2 Cor. 1. 22. Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts peace of conscience joy in the Holy Ghost and hope of glory b Rom. 5. 1 2. Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ V. 2. By whom also we have access by faith into the grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Rom. 14. 17. For the kingdome of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost as on the contrary the sense of Gods revenging wrath horror of conscience and a fearful expectation of judgement are to the wicked the beginning of their torments which they shall endure after death c Gen. 4. 13. And Cain said unto the Lord My punishment is greater then I can bear Mat. 27. 4. Saying I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood And they said What is that to us see thou to it Heb. 10. 27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries Rom. 2. 9. Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile Mark 9. 44. Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched Q. Shall all men die A. Death being threatned as the wages of sin d Rom. 6. 23. For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternaal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. it is appointed unto all men once to die e Heb. 9. 27. And as it is appointed unto all men once to die but after death the judgement for that all have sinned f Rom. 5. 12. Wherefore as by one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Q. Death being the wages of sin why are not the righteous delivered from death seeing all their sins are forgiven in Christ A. The righteous shall be delivered from death it self at the last day and even in death are delivered from the sting and curse of it g 1 Cor. 15. 26 -55 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death V. 55. O death where is thy sting c. Heb. 2. 15. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage so that although they die yet it is out of Gods love h Isa 57. 1 2. The righteous perisheth and no man layes it to heart and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come V. 2. He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness 2 King 22. 20. Behold therefore I will gather thee unto thy fathers and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place to free them perfectly from sin and misery i Rev. 14. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Eph. â— 27. That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish and to make them capable of further communion with Christ in glory which they then enter upon k Luk. 23. 43. And Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Phil. 1. 23. For I am in a streight betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Q. What is the communion in Glory with Christ which the members of the invisible Church enjoy immediately after death A. The communion in Glory with Christ which the members of the invisible Church enjoy immediately after death is in that their souls are then made perfect in holiness l Heb. 12. 23. To the general assembly and Church of the first-born which are written in heaven and to God the judge of all and to the Spirits of just men made perfect and received into the highest heavens m 2 Cor. 5. 1 -6-8 For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens V. 6. Therefore we are alwayes confident knowing that while we are present in the body we are absent from the Lord V. 8. We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. Phil. 1. 23. For I am in a streight betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Compared with Act. 3. 21. Whom the heavens must receive untill the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began And with Eph. 4. 10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things where they behold the face of God in light and glory n 1 Joh. 3. 2. Beloved now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 Cor. 13. 12. For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then I shall know even as also I am known waiting for the full redemption of their bodies o Rom. 8. 23. And not onely they but our selves also who have the first fruits of the Spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of our body Psal 16. 9. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoyceth my flesh also shall rest in hope which even in death continue united to Christ p 1 Thess 4. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him and rest in their graves as in their beds q Esa 57. 2. He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness till at the last day they be again united to their souls r whereas the souls
the stedfastness of your faith in Christ vain credulity d 1 Joh. 4. 1. Beloved believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world unbelief e Heb. 3. 12. Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God heresie f Gal. 5. 20. Idolatry Witch-craft Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies Tit. 3. 10. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject misbelief g Act. 26. 9. I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth distrust h Psal 78. 22. Because they believed not in God nor trusted in his salvation despair i Gen. 4. 13. And Cain said unto the Lord My punishment is greater then I can hear incorrigibleness k Jer. 5. 3. O Lord are not thine eyes upon the truth thou hast stricken them but they have not grieved thou hast consumed them but they have refused to receive correction they have made their faces harder then a rock they have refused to return insensibleness under judgements l Isai 42. 25. Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger and the strength of battel and it hath set him on fire round about yet he knew it not and it burned him yet he laid it not to heart hardness of heart m Rom. 2. 5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God pride n Jer. 13. 15. Hear ye and give ear be not proud for the Lord hath spoken it presumption o Psal 19. 13. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins let them not have dominion over me then shall I be upright innocent from the great transgression carnal security p Zeph. 1. 12. And it shall come to pass at that time that I will search Jerusalem with candles and punish the men that are setled on their lees that say in their hearts The Lord will not do good neither will he do evil tempting of God q Mat. 4. 7. Jesus said unto him it is written again Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God using unlawful means r Rom. 3. 8. And not rather as we be slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say Let us do evil that good may come whose damnation is just and trusting in lawful means Å¿ Jer. 17. 5. Thus saith the Lord Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the Lord. carnal delights and joyes t 2 Tim. 3. 4. Traitors heady high-minded lovers of pleasure more then lovers of God corrupt blind and indiscreet zeal u Gal. 4. 17. They zealously affect you but not well yea they would exclude you that ye might affect them Joh. 16. 2. Yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God good service Rom. 10. 2. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge Luk. 9. 54 55. And when his disciples James and John saw this they said Lord wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them even as Elias did V. 55. But he turned and rebuked them and said Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of luke-warmness * Rev. 3. 16. So then because thou art luke-warm and neither cold nor hot I will spew thee out of my mouth and deadness in the things of God x Rev. 3. 1. And unto the Angel in the Church of Sardis write These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead estranging our selves and apostatizing from God y Ezek. 14. 5. That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart because they are all estranged from me through their Idols Isa 1. 4 5. Ah sinfull Nation a people laden with iniquity a seed of evil-doers children that are corrupters they have forsaken the Lord they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger they are gone backward V. 5. Why should ye be stricken any more ye will revolt more and more the whole head is sick c. praying or giving any religious worship to Saints Angels or any other creatures z Rom. 10. 13 14. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved V. 14. How then shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher Hos 4. 12. My people ask counsel at their stocks and their staff declareth unto them for the spirit of whoredomes hath caused them to erre and they have gone a whoring from under their God Act. 10. 25 26. And as Peter was coming in Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him V. 26. But Peter took him up saying stand up I my selfe also am a man Rev. 19. 10. I fell at his feet to worship him and he said unto me See thou do it not I am thy fellow-servant and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus worship God for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy Mat. 4. 10. Then said Jesus unto him Get thee hence Sathan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shall thou serve Col. 2. 18. Let no mâ—n beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels intruding into those things which he hath not seen vainly puft up by his fleshly mind Rom. 1. 25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more then the Creator who is blessed for ever Amen all compacts and consulting with the devil a Lev. 20. 6. And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits and after wizards to go a whoring after them I will even set my face against that soul and will cut him off from among his people 1 Sam. 28. 7-11 Then said Saul to his servants Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit that I may go to her and enquire of her and his servant said unto him Behold there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor V. 11. Then said the woman whom shall I bring up unto thee and he said bring me up Samuel Compared with 1 Chron. 10. 13 14. So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord even against the word of the Lord which he kept not also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit to enquire of it V. 14. And enquired not of the Lord therefore
he slew him c. and hearkening to his suggestions b Act. 5. 3. But Peter said Ananias why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land making men the Lords of our faith and Conscience c 2 Cor. 1. 24. Not for that we have dominion over your faith but are helpers of your joy for by faith ye stand Mat. 23. 9. And call no man your father upon earth for one is your father which is in heaven slighting and despising God and his commands d Deut. 23. 15. But Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked thou art waxed far thou art grown thick and thou art grown thick and thou art covered with fatness then he forsook the God that made him and lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation 2 Sam. 12. 9. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord to do evil in his sight thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword and hast taken his wife to be thy wife c. Prov. 13. 13. Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded resisting and grieving of his spirit e Act. 7. 51. Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears ye do alwayes resist the Holy Ghost as your fathers did so do ye Eph. 4. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption discontent and impatience at his dispensations charging him foolishly for the evils he inflicts on us f Psal 73. 2 3-14 15-22 But as for me my feet were almost gone my steps had well nigh slipt V. 3. For I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked V. 13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed mine hands in innocency For all the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning V. 15. If Isay I will speak thus behold I should offend against the generation of thy children V. 22. So foolish was I and ignorant I was even as a beast before thee Job 1. 22. In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly and ascribing the praise of any good we either are have or can do to fortune g 1 Sam. 6. 7 8 9. Now therefore make a new cart and take two milch kine on which there hath come no yoke and tie the kine to the cart and bring the calves home from them V. 8. And take the Ark of the Lord and lay it upon the cart and put the jewels of gold which ye return him for a trespass-offering in a coffer by the side thereof and send it away that it may go V. 9. And see if it goeth on by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh then he hath done us this great evil but if not then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us it was a chance that happened to us Idols h Dan. 5. 23. But hast lifted up thy self against the Lord of heaven and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee and thou and thy Lords thy wives and thy concubines have drunk wine in them and thou hast praised the Gods of silver of brass iron wood and stone which see not nor hear nor know and the God in whose hand thy breath is and whose are all thy wayes hast thou not glorified our selves i Deut. 8. 17. And thou say in thy heart my power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth Dan. 4. 30. The King spake and said Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the Kingdom by the might of my power and for the honour of my Majesty or any other creature k Hab. 1. 16. Therefore they sacrifice unto their net and burn incense unto their drag because by them their portion is fat and their meat plenteous Q. What are we especially taught by these words before me in the first Commandment A. These words before me or before my face in the first Commandment teach us that God who seeth all things takes special notice of and is much displeased with the sin of having any other God that so it may be an argument to disswade from it and to aggravate it as a most impudent provocation l Ezek. 8. 5. to the end Then said he unto me Son of man lift up thine eyes now the way towards the North so I lift up mine eyes and behold at the gate of the Altar this image of Jealousie in the entry And he said so on Psal 44. 20 21. But if we have forgotten the name of our God or stretched out our hands to a strange God shall not God search this out for he knoweth the secrets of the heart as also to perswade us to do as in his sight what ever we do in his fervice m 1 Chron. 28. 9. And thou Solomon my son know thou the God of thy father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts if thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever Q. Which is the second Commandment A. The second Commandment is Thou shalt not make unto thee 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 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 n Exod. 20. 4 5 6. Q. What are the duties required in the second Commandment A. The duties required in the second Commandment are the receiving observing and keeping pure and entire all such religious worship and Ordinances as God hath instituted in his word o Deut. 32. 46 47. And he said unto them Set your hearts unto all the Words which I testifie among you this day which ye shall command your children to observe to do all the words of this law V. 47. For it is not a vain thing for you because it is your life and through this thing ye shall prolong your dayes in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it Mat. 28. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and â—o I am with you alway unto the end of the world Act. 2. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayer 1 Tim. 6. 13. 14. I give thee charge in the fight of God who quickeneth all things and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession V.
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH Together with The LARGER and LESSER Catechismes Composed by the Reverend ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES Sitting at WESTMINSTER Presented to both Houses of Parliament Again Published with the Scriptures at large and the Emphasis of the Scriptures in a different Character To which is annexed two sheets of Church-Government with the SCRIPTURES at large The second Edition Deut. 6. 6 7. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou fittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up London Printed by E. M. for the Company of Stationers and are to be sold by John Rothwel at the Fountain in Cheapside 1658. The LARGER CATECHISM Agreed upon by the ASSEMBLY of DIVINES At VVESTMINSTER Quest WHat is the chief and highest end of man A. Mans Chief and Highest End is to glorifie God a Rom. 11. 36. For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen 1 Cor. 10. 31. Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God and fully to enjoy him for ever b Psal 73. 24. to the end Thou shalt guide me with thy counsels and afterwards receive me to glory Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none on earth that I desire besides thee My flesh and my heart fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever For lo they that are far from thee shall perish thou shalt destroy all them that go a whoring from thee but it is good for me to draw nigh to God I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy works John 17. 21 22 23. That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me and the glory which thou gavest me have I given them that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me Quest How doth it appear that there is a God Ans The very light of Nature in man and the works of God declare that there is a God c Rom. 1. 19 20. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse Psal 19. 1 2 3. The heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy-work Day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night sheweth Knowledge There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard Acts 17. 28. For in him we live and move and have our being but his Word and Spirit only do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their salvation d 1 Cor. 3. 9 10. But as it is written Eye hath not seâ—n nor ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them that love him But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works Isai 59. 21. As for me this is my Covenant with thee saith the Lord my Spirit which is upon thee my words which I have put into thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy Seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Q. What is the word of God A. The Holy Scriptures of the old and new Testament are the Word of God e 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration 2 Pet. 1. 19 20. We have also a more sure word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts V. 20. Knowing this first that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation V. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost the only rule of Faith and Obedience f Eph. 2. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone Rev. 22. 18 19. For I testifie unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book if any man shall adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this book V. 19. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city and from the things which are written in this book Isa 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Luke 16. 29 31. They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them if they believe not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead Gal. 1. 8 9. But though we or angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed As we said before so say I now again if any man preach any other Gospel unto you then that ye have received let him be accursed 2 Tim. 3. 15 16. Before Q. How doth it appear that the Scriptures are the word of God A. The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of God by their Majesty g Hos 8. 12. I have written to them the great things of my law but they were counted as a strange thing 1 Cor. 2. 6 7 13. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect yet not the wisdom of this World nor of the Princes of this World that come to nought but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory Which things also we speak not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth
shall I flee from thy presence Almighty d Rev. 4. 8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him and they were full of eyes within and they rest not day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come Knowing all things e Heb. 4. 13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do Psal 147. 5. Great is the Lord and of great power his understanding is infinite Most wise f Rom. 16. 27. To God only wise be glory through Jesus Christ for ever Amen Most Holy g Isa 6. 3. And one cryed unto another and said Holy holy is the Lord of hosts the whole earth is full of his glory Rev. 15. 4. Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy name for thou only art holy for all nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgements are made manifest Most Just h Deut. 32. 4. He is the rock his work is perfect for all his wayes are judgement a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Most Merciful and gracious Long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth i Exod. 34. 6. The Lord passed by before him and proclaimed the Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodnss and truth Q Are there more Gods then one A. There is but one onely the living and true God k Deut. 6. 4. Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. 1 Cor. 8. 4. 6. As concerning therefore the eating of things offered in sacrifice to Idols we know that an Idol is nothing in the world and that there is none other God but one But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him Jer. 10. 10. But the Lord is the true God he is the living God and an everlasting King at his wrath the earth shall tremble and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation Q. How many persons are there in the Godhead A. There be three persons in the Godhead the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and these three are one true eternal God the same in substance equal in power and glory although distinguished by their personal properties l 1 John 5. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one Mat. 3. 16 17. And Jesus when he was baptized went up straightway out of the water and loe the heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him And lo a voice from heaven saying This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13. 14. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen Joh. 10. 30. I and my Father are one Q. What are the personal properties of the three Persons in the Godhead A. It is proper to the Father to beget the Son m Heb. 1. 5 6. 8. For unto which of the Angels said he at any time Thou art my son this day have I begotten thee And again I will be to Him a Father and He shall be to me a Son And again when he brings in the first begotten into the world he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him But unto the Son he saith Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy Kingdom and to the Son to be begotten of the Father n John 1. 14 18. And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth No man hath seen God at any time The onely begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him and to the Holy Ghost to proceed from the Father and Son from all eternity o Joh. 15. 26 But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me Gal. 4. 6. And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Q. How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father A. The Scriptures manifest that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equall with the Father ascribing unto them such names p Isai 6. 3 5-8 And one cried unto another and said Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts the whole earth is full of his glory Then said I Woe is me for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying Whom shall I send and who will go for us then I said here am I send me This compared with Joh. 12. 41. These things said Esaias when he saw His glory and spake of Him And with Act 28. 25. And when they agreed not among themselves they departed after that Paul had spoken one word Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet to our Fathers 1 Joh. 5. 20. And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is the true God and eternal life Act. 5. 3 4. But Peter said Ananias why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land whiles it remained was it not thine own and after it was sold was it not in thine own power why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart thou hast not lied unto men but unto God attributes q John 1. 1. In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God Isai 9. 6. For unto us a Son is born unto us a child is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace Joh. 2. 24. 25. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he knew all men and needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. But God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God For
Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins Rom. 6. 23. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Mat. 25. 41 -46 Then shall he say also to them on the left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels V. 46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal Jude v. 7. Even as Sodom and Gommortha and the cities about them in like manner giving themselves over to fornication and going after strange flesh are set forth for an example suffering the vengeance of eternall fire Q What are the punishments of sin in this world A. The punishments of sin in this world are either inward as blindness of mind e Ephes 4. 18. Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindnesse of their heart a reprobate sense f Rom. 1. 28. Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them over to a reprobate mind and to do those things which are not convenient strong delusions g 2 Thess 2. 11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie hardness of heart h Rom. 2. 5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God horrour of conscience i Isai 33. 14. The sinners in Zion are afraid fearfulness hath surprized the hypocrites Who among us shall dwell with devouring fire who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings Gen. 4. 13. And Cain said unto the Lord my punishment is greater then I can bear Mat. 27. 4. Saying I have betrayed innocent blood and they said What is that to us see thou to that and vile affections k Rom. 1. 26. For this cause God gave them up to vile affections for even their women did change their naturall use into that which is against nature or outward as the curse of God upon the creatures for our sakes l Gen. 3. 17. And unto Adam he said Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee saying Thou shalt not eat of it Cursed is the ground for thy sake in forrow shalt thou eat of it all the dayes of thy life and all other evils that befall us in our bodies names estates relations and imployments m Deut. 28. 15. to the end But it shall come to passe if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe to do all his Commandments and his Statutes which I have commanded thee this day that all these curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee Cursed shalt thou be in the City and cursed shalt thou be in the Field Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body and of thy land c together with Death it self n Rom. 6. 21-23 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed for the end of those things is death V. 23. For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternall life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Q. What are the punishments of sin in the world to come A. The punishments of sin in the world to come are everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of God and most grievous torments in Soul and Body without intermission in Hell-fire for ever o 2 Thess 1. 9. Who shal be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power Mark 9. 44-46-48 to go into Hell where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched Luke 16. 24. And he cryed and said Father Abraham have mercy upon me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame Q. Doth God leave all mankind to perish in the state of sin and misery A. God will not leave all men to perish in the estate of sin and misery p 1 Thess 5. 9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ into which they fell by the breach of the first Covenant commonly called the Covenant of works q Gal. 3. 10 12. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the law to do them V. 12. And the law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall live in them but of his meer love and mercy delivereth his elect out of it and bringeth them into an estate of salvation by the second Covenant commonly called the Covenant of Grace r Tit. 3. 4 5 6 7. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared V. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the holy Ghost V. 6. Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour V. 7. That being justified by his grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternall life Gal. 3. 21. Is the law then against the promises of God God forbid for if there had been a law given which could have given life verily righteousness should have been by the law Rom. 3. 20 21 22. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge of sin V. 21. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and by the Prophets V. 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them hat believe for there is no difference Q. With whom was the Covenant of Grace made A. The Covenant of Grace was made with Christ as the second Adam and in him with all the elect as his seed Å¿ Gal. 3. 16. Now to Abrahaem and to his seed were the promises made he saith not to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ Rom. 5. 15 to the end Of which before Isa 53. 10 11. Yet it pleased our Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his dayes and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand V. 11. He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities Q.
Law u Gal. 4. 4. But when the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law which he perfectly fulfilled * Mat. 5. 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill Rom. 5. 19. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous and by conflicting with the indignities of the world x Psal 22. 6. But I am a worm and no man a reproach of men and despised of the people Heb. 12. 2 3. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds temptations of Satan y Mat. 4. from v. 1. to v. 12. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to he tempted of the Divel c. Luke 4. 13. And when the Divel had ended all the temptation he departed from him for a season and infirmities in his flesh whether common to the nature of man or particularly accompanying that his low condition z Heb. 2. 17 18. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a mercifull and faithful High-Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 4. 15. For we have not an High-Priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Isa 52. 13 14. Behold my servant shall deal prudently he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high As many were astonished at thee his visage was so marred more then any man and his form more then the sons of men Q. How did Christ humble himself in his death A. Christ humbled himself in his death in that having been be rayed by Judas a Mat. 27. 4. Saying I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood and they said What is that to us see thou to that forsaken by his Disciples b Mat. 26. 56. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the Prophets might be fulfilled then all the Disciples forsook him and fled scorned and rejected by the World c Isai 53. 2 3. For he shal grow up before him as a tender plant and as a root out of a dry ground he hath no form nor comeliness and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him He is despised and rejected of men a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and we hid as it were our faces from him he was despised and we esteemed him not condemned by Pilate and tormented by his Persecutors d Mat. 27. from ver 26. 10 v. 50. Then released he Barrabbas unto them and when he had scourged Jesus he delivered him to be crucified c. John 19. 34. But one of the souldiers with a spear pierced his side and forthwith came thereout blood and water having also conflicted with the terrors of death and the powers of darkness felt and born the weight of Gods wrath e Luke 22. 44. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground Mat. 27. 46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voyce saying ELI ELI LAMA SABACTHANI that is to say My God my God why hast thou forsaken me he laid down his life an offering for sin f Isa 53. 10. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed he shall prolong his dayes and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand enduring the painful shameful and cursed death of the cross g Phil. 2. 8. And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross Heb. 12. 2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God Gal. 3. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on the tree Q. Wherein consisted Christs humiliation after his death A. Christs humiliation after his death consisted in his being buried h 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and continuing in the state of the dead and under the power of death till the thirdday i Psal 16. 10. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption Compared with Acts 2. 24 25 26 27 -31 Whom God hath raised up having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it V. 25. For David speaketh concerning him I foresaw the Lord alwayes before my face for he is on my right hand that I should not be moved V. 36. Therefore did my heart rejoyce and my tongue was glad my flesh also shall rest in hope V. 27. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in the grave nor wile thou suffer thine holy One to see corruption V. 31. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his soul was not left in hell neither did his flesh see corruption Rom. 6. 9. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him Matth. 12. â—0 For as Jonas was three dayes and three nights in the whales belly so shall the Son of man be three dayes and three nights in the heart of the earth which hath been otherwise expressed in these words He descended into Hell Q. What was the estate of Christs exaltation A. The estate of Christs exaltation comprehendeth his resurrection k 1 Cor. 15. 4. And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scripture Ascention l Mark 16. 19. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them he was received up into heavâ—n and sate on the right hand of God sitting at the right hand of the Father m Eph. 1. 20. Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set hâ—m
salvation in any other but in Christ alone Å¿ Acts 4. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven given amongst men whereby we must be saved who is the Saviour onely of his body the Church t Eph. 5. 23. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body Q. Are all they saved who hear the Gospel and live in the Church A. All that hear the Gospel and live in the visible Church are not saved but they onely who are true members of the Church invisible u Joh. 12. 38 39 40. That the saying of Esaias the Prophet might be fulfilled which he spake Lord who hath believed our report and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed Therefore they could not believe because that Esaias said again He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them Rom. 9. 6. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect for they are not all Israel who are of Israel Mat. 22. 14. For many are called but few chosen Mat. 7. 21. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven Rom. 11. 7. What then Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for but the election hath obteined it and the rest were blinded Q. What is the visible Church A. The visible Church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the World do profess the true Religion * 1 Cor. 1. 2. Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours 1 Cor. 12. 13. For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit Rom. 15. 9 10 11 12. And that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his mercy as it is written For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentâ—les and sing unto thy name V. 10. And again he saith Rejoyce ye Gentiles with his people V. 11. And again Praise the Lord all ye Gentiles and laud him all ye people V. 12. And again Esaias saith There shall be a root of Jesse and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles in him shall the Gentiles trust Rev. 7. 9. After this I beheld and lo a great multitude Which no man could number of all nations and kinreds and people and tongues stood before the throne and before the lamb clothed with white robes and palms in their hands Psal 2. 8. Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Ps 22. 27 28 29 30 31 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord and all the kindreds of the earth shall worship before thee V. 28. For the Kingdom is the Lords and he is the Governour among the nations V. 29. All they that be fat upon the earth shall eat and worship all that go down to the dust shall bow before him and none can keep alive his own soul V. 30. A seed shall serve him it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation V. 31. They shall come and shall declare his righteousness Psal 45. 17. I will make thy name to be remembred in all generations therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever Mat. 28. 19 20. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alwayes unto the end of the world Amen Esai 59. 21. As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My spirit which is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever and of their children x 1 Cor. 7. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now they are holy Act. 2. 39. For the Promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Rom. 11. 16. For if the first-fruits be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy so are the branches Gen. 17. 7. And I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee Q. What are the special priviledges of the visible Church A. The visible Church hath the priviledge of being under Gods special care and government y Isa 4. 5 6. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Sion and upon her assemblies a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence V. 6. And there shall be a Tabernacle for a shadow in the day-time from the heat and for a place of refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain 1 Tim. 4. 10. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men especially of those that believe of being protected and preserved in all ages notwithstanding the opposition of all enemies z Ps 115. throughout Not unto us O Lord not unto us but to the end Isai 31. 4 5. For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me like as the lion and the yonglion roaring on his prey when a multitude of Shepherds are called forth against him he will not be afraid of their voice nor abase himself for the noise of them so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for mount Sion and for the hill thereof V. 5. As birds flying so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem defending also he will deliver it and passing over he will preserve it Zech. 12. 2 3 4-8 9. Behold I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and Jerusalem V. 3. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burthensom stone for all people all that burthen themselves with it shall be cut in pieces though all the people of the earth be
sons of the stranger that joyn themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love the Name of the Lord to be his servants every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold of my Covenant V. 7. Even them will I bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine Altar for mine house shall be called c. and in the New Testament called the Lords day z Rev. 1. 10. I was in the spirit on the Lords day and heard behind me c. Q. How is the Sabbath or Lords day to be sanctified A. The Sabbath or Lords day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all the day a Exod. 20. 8 -10 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy V. 10. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shall not do any work thou nor thy son c. not onely from such works as are at all times sinful but even from such worldly imployments and recreations as are on other dayes lawful b Exod. 16. 25 26 27 28. And Moses said Eat that to day for to day is a Sabbath unto the Lord to day ye shall not finde it in the field V. 26. Six dayes shall ye gather it but on the seventh day which is the Sabbath in it there shall be none V. 27. And it came to passe that there went out some of the people on the seventh day to gather and they found none V. 28. And the Lord said unto Moses How long refuse ye to keep my Commandments and my Laws Neh. 13. 15 16 17 18 19 -21 22. In those dayes saw I in Judah some treading Wine-presses on the Sabbath day and bringing in sheaves and lading â—sses as also wine grapes and figs and all manner of burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals V. 16. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein which brought fish and all manner of wares and sold on the Sabbath day unto the children of Judah and in Jerusalem V. 17. Then contended I with the Nobles of Judah and said unto them What evil thing is this that ye do and profane the Sabbath day V. 18. Did not your fathers thus and did no God bring all this evil upon us and upon this City yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath V. 19. And it came to passe that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath I commanded that the gates should be shut and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath and some of my servants I set at the gates that there should be no burden brought in on the Sabbath day V. 20. So the merchants and sellers of all sorts of ware were lodged without Jerusalem once or twice V. 21. Then testified I against them saying Why lodge ye about the wall If ye do so again I will lay hands on you From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath V. 22. And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves and come and keep the gates to sanctifie the Sabbath Remember me O my God concerning this also c. Jer. 17. 21 22. Thus saith the Lord Take heed to your selves and bear no burden on the Sobbath day neither bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem V. 22. Neither carry forth a burden out of your house on the Sabbath nor do ye any work but hallow ye the Sabbath day as I commanded your fathers and making it our delight to spend the whole time except so much of it as is to be taken up in works of necessity and mercy c Mat. 12. from ver 1. to ver 13. At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn and his Disciples were an hungred and began to plack the ears of corn and to eat But when the Pharisees saw it c. in the publick and private exercises of Gods worship d Isa 58. 13. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbaâ—h a delight the Holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own wayes nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words Luk. 4. 16. And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custome was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read Act. 20. 7. And upon the first day of the week when the Disciples came together to break bread Paul preached to them ready to depart on the morrow 1 Cor 16. 1 2. Now concerning the collection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye V. 2. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come Psal 92. Title A Psalm or song for the Sabbath day Isa 66. 23. And it shall come to passe that from one new Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before me saith the Lord. Lev. 23. 3. Six dayes shall work be done but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest an holy convocation ye shall do no work therein it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings and to that end we are to prepare our hearts and with such fore-sight diligence and moderation to dispose and seasonably to dispatch our worldly business that we may be the more free and fit for the duties of that day e Exod. 20. 8. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Luk. 23. 54 -56 And that day was the preparation and the Sabbath drew on V. 56 And they returned and prepared spices and ointments and rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandment Exod. 16. 22 -25 26 -29 And it came to passe on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread two Omers for one man and all the Rulers of the Congregation came and told Moses V. 25. And Moses said Eat that to day for to day is a Sabbath unto the Lord to day ye shall not find it in the field V. 26. Six dayes shall ye gather it but on the seventh day which is the Sabbath there shall be none V. 29. See for that the Lord hath given you the Sabbath therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two dayes abide you every man in his place let no man go out of his place on the seventh day Neh. 13. 19. And it came to passe that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath I commanded that the gates should be shut and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath And some of my servants set I at the gates
that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world 2 Joh. ver 4. I rejoyce greatly that I found of thy children walking in the truth as we have received a Commandment from the father 3 Joh. ver 3 4. For I rejoyced greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee even as thou walkest in the truth V. 4. I have no greater joy then to hear that my children walk in the truth sorrowing for o 2 Cor. 2. 4. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many teares not that you should be grieved but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly towards you 2 Cor. 12. 21. And least when I come again my God will humble me among you and that I shall bewail many who have sinned already and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed and covering of their infirmities p Prov. 17. 9. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends 1 Pet. 4 8. And above all things have fâ—rvent charity among your selves for charity shall cover a multitude of sins freely acknowledging their gifts and graces q 1 Cor. 1. 4 5 -7 I thank my God alwayes in your behalfe for the grace of God which is given by Jesus Christ. V. 5. That in every thing ye are enriched by him in all utterance and in all knowledge V. 7. So that ye come behind in no gift waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 1. 4 5 Greatly desiring to see thee being mindful of thy teares that I may bâ— filled with joy V. 5. When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee which dwelt first in thy Grand mother Lois and thy mother Eunice and I am perswaded that in thee also defending their innocency r 1 Sam. 22. 14. Then Ahimelech answered the King and said And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David which is the Kings-son-in-law and goeth at thy bidding and is honorable in thy house a ready receiving of a good report Å¿ 1 Cor. 13. 6 7. Charity rejoyceth not in inâ—quity but rejoyceth in the truth V. 7. Beareth all things beleeveth all things hopeth all things endureth all things and unwillingness to admit of an evil report concerning them (t) Psal 15. 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue nor doth evil to his neighbour nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour discouraging tale-bearers (u) Prov. 25. 23. The North wind driveth away rain so doth an angry countenance a bâ—ckbiting tongue flatterers (*) Prov. 26. 24 25. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips and layeth up deceit within him v. 25. When he speaketh fair believe him not for there are seven abominations in his heart and slanderers (x) Psal 101. 5. Who so privily slandereth his neighbour him will I cut off c. love and care of our own good name and defending it when need requireth (y) Prov. 22. 1. A good name is rather to be chosen then great riches and loving favour then silver and gold Joh. 8. 49. Jesus answered I have not a devil but I honour my Father and ye do dishonour me keeping of lawful promises (z) Psal 15. 4. He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not studying and practising of whatsoever things are true honest lovely and of good report (a) Phil. 4. 8. Finally brethren Whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise think on these things Q What are the sins forbidden in the ninth Commandment A. The sins forbidden in the ninth Commandment are all prejudicing the truth and the good name of our neighbours as well as our own (b) 1 Sam. 17 28. Eâ—iab his elder brother heard when he spake unto the men and Eliabs anger was kindled against David and he said why camest thou down hither and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness I know thy pride and the haughtiness of thy heart c. 2 Sam. 16. 3. And the King said and where is thy masters son And Ziba said to the King behold he abideth at Jerusalem for he said To day shall the house of Israel restore me the Kingdom of my father 2 Sam. 1. 9 10-15 16. He said unto me again stand I pray thee upon me and slay me for anguish is come upon me because my life is yet whole in me v. 10. So I stood upon him and slâ—w him because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen and I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelets from his arm and have brought them hither to my lord v. 15. And David called one of the young men and said go fall upon him And he smote him that he died v. 16. And David said unto him thy blood is upon thy head for thy mouth hath testified against thee saying I have slain the Lords anointed especially in publick judicature (c) Lev. 19. 15. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honour the person of the mighty but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour Hab. 1. 4. Therefore the law is slaâ—ked and judgment doth never go forth for the wicked doth compass about the righteous therefore wrong judgment proceedeth giving false evidence (d) Prov. 19. 5. A false witness shall not be unpunished and he that speaketh lyes shall not escape Prov 6 16 -19 There are six things which the Lord hateth yea seven are an abomination unto him v. 19. A false witness that speaketh lies and he that soweth discord among brethren suborning false witnesses (e) Act. 6. 13. And they set up false witness who said This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the Law wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause outfacing over-bearing the truth (f) Jer. 9. 3-5 And they bend their tongue like their bow for lyes but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth for they proceed from evil to evil and know not me saith the Lord. v. 5. And they will deceive every one his neighbour and will not speak the truth they have taught their tongue to speak lies and weary themselves to commit iniquity Act. 24. 2-5 And when he was called forth Tertullus begun to accuse him saying c. v. 5. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow and a mover of sedition amongst all the Jews throughout the world and a ring-leader of the sect of the Nâ—zarens Psal 12. 3 4. The lord shall cut off all flattering lips the tongue that speaketh proud things v.
4. Who have said with our tongues we will prevail our lips are our own who is Lord over us Ps 52. 1 2 3 4. Why boastest thou thy self in mischief O thou mighty man the goodness of God endureth continually v. 2. Thy tongue deviseth mischief like a sharp razor working deceitfully v. 3. Thou lovest evil more then good lying rather then to speak righteousness Selah v. 4. Thou lovest all devouring words O thou deceitful tongue passing unjust sentence (g) Prov. 17. 15. He that justified the wicked and he that condemneth the just even they both are abomination unto the Lord. 1 King 21. from ver 9. to the 14. And Jezebel wrote in the letter saying Proclaim a fast and set Naboth on high and set two men sons of Belial before him to bear witness against him saying Thou didst blaspheme God and the King and then carry him out stone him v. 11. And the men of the city even the Elders and the Nobles did so as Jezebel had sent unto them And they stoned him with stones that he died calling evil good good evil rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous and the righteous according to the work of the wicked (h) Isai 5. 23. Who justify the wicked for a reward take away the righteousness of the righteous from him forgery (i) Psal 119. 69. The proud have forged a lye against me but I will keep c. Luke 19. 8. And Zacheus stood and said unto the Lord Behold Lord the half my goods I give to the poor and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation I restore him four-fold Luke 16. 5 6 7. So he called every one of his Lords debtors unto him and said unto the first how much owest thou unto my Lord v. 6. And he said an hundred measures of oil And he said unto him Take thy bill and write fifty v. 7. Then said he to another c. concealing the truth undue silence in a just cause (k) Lev. 5. 1. And if a Soul sin and hear the voice of swearing and is a witness whether he hath seen or known of it if he do not utter it then he shall bear his iniquity Deut. 13. 8. Thou shalt not consent unto him nor hearken unto him nor shall thine eye pity him nor shalt thou spare nor shalt thou â—onceal him Act. 5. 3-8 9. But Peter said Ananias why hath Satan filled thy heart to lye to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land v. 8. And Peter answered unto her tell me whether you sold the land for so much And she said yea for so much v. 9. Then Peter said unto her How is it that ye have agreed together to temp the Spirit of the Lord Behold the feet of c. 2 Tim. 4. 16. At my first answer no man stood with me but all men forsook me I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from our selves (l) 1 King 1. 6. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying why hast thou done so Lev. 19. 17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy brother and not suffer sin upon him or complaint to others (m) Isai 59. 4. None called for justice nor any pleadeth for truth they trust in vanity and speaklyes they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity speaking the truth unseasonably (n) Prov. 19. 11. A fool uttereth all his mind but a wise man keepeth it till afterwards or maliciously to a wrong end (o) 1 Sam. 12. 9 10. Then answered Doeg the Edomite who was set over the servants of Saul and said I saw the son of Jesse coming to Noh to Abimelech the son of Ahitub v. 10. And he enquired of the Lord for him and gave him victuals and the sword of Goliah the Philistim Compared with Psal 52. 1 2 3 4. A Psalm of David when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul c. v. 1. Why boastest thou thy self in mischief O mighty man the goodness of God c. and so on to v. 5. or perverting it to a wrong meaning (p) Psal 56 6. Every day they wrest my words all their thoughts are against me for evil Joh. 2. 19. Jesus answered and said unto them Destroy this Temple in three dayes I will raise it up Compared with Matt. 26. 60 61 At the last came two false witnesses v. 61 And said This follow said I am able to destroy the Temple of God and to build it in three dayes or in doubtful and equivocal expressions to the prejudice of truth or justice (q) Gen. 3. 5. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as Gods knowing good and evil Gen. 26. 7-9 And the men of the place asked him of his wife and he said She is my sister for he feared to say she is my wife lest c. speaking untruth (r) Isai 59. 13. In transgressing and lying against the Lord and departing away from our God speaking oppression and revolt conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falshood lying (Å¿) Lev. 19. 11. Ye shall not steal nor deal falsly nor lie one to another Col. 3. 9. Lie not one to another seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds slandering (t) Psal 50. 20. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother thou slanderest thine own mothers son backbiting (u) Psal 15. 3. He that backhiteth not with his tongue nor doth evil to his neighbor nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour detracting (*) Jam. 4. 11. Speak not evil one of another Brethren he that speaketh evil of his brother and judgeth his brother speaketh evil of the law and judgeth rhe law but if thou judg the law thou art not a doer of the law but a judge Jer. 38. 4. Therefore the Princes said unto the King we beseech thee let this man be put to death for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in the city and of all the people in speaking such words unto them for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people but the hurt tale-bearing (x) Lev. 19. 16. Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale bearer among thy people neither shalt thou stand against the good of thy neighbour I am the Lord. whispering (y) Rom. 1. 29 30. Bring filled with all unrighteousness fornication wickedness covetousness maliciousness full of envy murder debate deceit malignity whisperers v. 30. Back-biters haters of God c. scoffing (z) Gen. 21. 6. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian which she had born unto Abrabaâ— mocking Compared with Gal. 4. 29. But as then he that was born after
are all his ordinances especially the Word Sacraments and prayer all which are made effectual to the elect for their Salvation (l) Mat. 28. 19 20. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost v. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alwaies even unto the end of the world Act. 2. 42-46 47. And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers v. 46. And they continuing daily with one accord in the Temple and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart v. 47. Praising God and having favour with all the people And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Q. How is the word made effectual to Salvation A. The Spirit of God maketh the Reading but especially the Preaching of the word an effectual means of enlightning (m) Neh. 8 8. So they read in the book in the Law of God distinctly and gave the sense and caused them to unstand the reading Act. 26. 18. To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them who are sanctified by Faith that is in me Psal 19. 8. The Commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the eyes convincing and humbling sinners (n) 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. But if all prophecy and there come in one that believeth not or one unlearned he is convinced of all he is judged of all v. 25. And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest and so falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is in you of a truth 2 Chro. 34. 18 19 -26 27 28. Then Shaphan the Scribe told the King saying Hilkieh the Priest hath given me a book And Shaphan read it before the King v. 19. And when the King had heard the words of the Law he rent his cloths v. 26. And as for the King of Judah who sent you to enquire of the Lord so shall ye say unto him Thus saith the Lord God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard v. 27. Because thy heart was tender and thou didst humble thy self before God when thou heardst his words against this place and humblest thy self before me and didst rent thy cloaths and weep before me I have heard thee also saith the Lord. v. 28. Behold I will gather thee to thy fathers and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace c. of driving them out of themselves and drawing them unto Christ (o) Act. 2. 37 -41 Now when they heard this they were pricked to their hearts and said unto Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall we do to be saved v. 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about 3000 Souls Act. 8. from ver 27. to ver 39. And behold a man of Ethiopia an Eunuch of great authority c. was returning and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the Prophet v. 29. Then the Spirit said to Philip Go neer and join thy self to this Charioâ— v. 30. And Philip ran thither to him and said Understandest thou what thou readest c. v. 35. Then Philip began at the same Scripture and preached unto him Iesus V. 36. And the Eunuch said See here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized v. 37. And Philip said If thou believest with all thine heart thou maist And he answered and said I believe that Iesus Christ is the Son of God V. 38. And they went down both into the water and he Baptized him of comforming them to his Image (p) 2 Cor 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. and subduing them to his will (q) 2 Cor. 10. 4 5 6. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds v. 5. Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledg of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ v. 6. And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled Rom. 6. 17. But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you of strengthening them against temptations and corruptions (r) Mat. 4. 4 -7 10. But he answered and said It is written Man shall not live c. v. 7. Iesus said unto him It is written Thou shalt not tempt the Lord c. v. 10. Then said Jesus unto him get thee hence Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship c. Eph 6. â—6 17. Above all taking the shield of Faith whereby ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked v. 17. And take the helmet of Salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God Psal 19. 11. Moreover by them is thy servant warned and in keeping of them there is great reward 1 Cor 10. 11. Now all these things hapned unto them for ensamples and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are câ—mâ— of building them up in grace (Å¿) Act. 20. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus v. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness v. 17. That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works and establishing their hearts in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation (t) Rome 16. 25. Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mysterie which was kept secret since the world began 1 Thes 3. 2-10 11 -13 And sent Timotheus our brother and minister of God and our fellow labourer in the Gospel of Christ to establish you and comfort you concerning your faith v. 10. Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith v. 11. Now God himself and our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way unto you v. 13. To the end he may
stood upon a pulpit of wood which they had made for the same purpose c. v. 5. And he opened the book c. v. 6. And he blessed the Lord the great God and all the people answered Amen Amen with lifting up their hands and they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground c. Exod. 24. 7. And he Moses took the book of the Covenant and read in the audience of the people and they said All that the Lord hath said will we do and be odedient 2 Chron. 34. 27. Because thine heart was tender and thou didst humble thy self before God when thou heardest his words against this place and humblest thy self before me and didst rent thy clothes and weep before me I have heard thee also saith the Lord. Isa 66. 2. But to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word with a firm perswasion that they are the very Word of God (a) 2 Pet. 1. 19 20 21. We have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto you do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place till the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts v. 20. Knowing this first that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation v. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and that he onely can enable us to understand them (b) Luk. 24. 45. Then opened he their understandings that they might understand the scriptures 2 Cor. 3. 13 14 15 16. And not as Moses who put a vail over his face that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished v. 14. But their mindes were blinded for untill this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament which vail is done away in Christ v. 15. But even to this day when Moses is read the vail is upon their heart v. 16. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord the vail shall be taken away with desire to know believe and obey the will of God revealed in them (c) Deut. 17. 19 20. And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the dayes of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God to keep all the words of this law and these statutes to do them v. 20. That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren and that he turn not aside from the Commandment to the right hand or to the left to the end that he might prolong his dayes in c. with diligence (d) Act. 17. 11. These Bercans were more noble then those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily whether these things were so and attention to the matter and scope of them (e) Act. 8. 30-34 And Philip ran thither to him and heard him read the Prophet Esaias and he said understandest thou what thou readest v. 34. And the Eunuch said to Philip I pray thee of whom speaketh the Prophet this of himself or of some other man Luk. 10. 26 27 28. What is written in the law how readest thou v. 27. And he answering said Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heaâ—t and with all thy soul and with all thy strength and with all thy mind and thy neighbour as thy self v. 28. And he said to him Thou hast answered right this doe and thou shalt live with meditation (f) Psal 1. 2. But his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in that law doth he meditate day and night Psal 119. 97. O how love I thy Law it is my meditation all the day application (g) 2 Chr. 34. 21. Goe enquire of the Lord for me and for them that are left in Israel and Judah concerning the words of the book that is found for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord to do all that is written in this book self-denial (h) Prov. 3. 5. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding Deut. 33. 3. Yea he loved the people all his saints are in thy hand and they sat down at thy feet every one shall receive of thy words and prayer (i) Prov. 2. 1 2 3 4 5 6. My son if thou wilt receive my words and hide my commandements with thee v. 2 So that thou encline thine ear to wisdom and apply thy hearâ— to understanding v. 3. Yea if thou cryest after knowledg and liftest up thy voice for understanding v. 4. If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures v. 5. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledg of God v. 6. For the Lord giveth wisdom out of his mouth cometh knowledg and understanding Psal 119. 18. Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law Neh. 8. 6-8 And Ezra blessed the Lord the great God and all the people answered Amen Amen with lifting up their hands and they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground v. 8. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly and gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading Q. By whom is the Word of God to be preached A. The Word of God is to be preached onely by such as are sufficiently gifted (k) 1 Tim. 3. 2 -6 A bishop then must be blameless the husband of one wise vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality apt to teach v. 6 Not a novice least being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation c. Eph. 4. 8 9 10 11. Wherefore he saith when he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men v. 9. Now that he ascended what is it but that he also descended c. v. 11. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers c Hos 4. 6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledg because thou hast rejected knowledg I will reject thee that thou shalt be no priest to me seeing thou hast forgotten the Law of thy God I will also forget thy children Mal. 2. 7. For the Priests lips should keep knowledg and they should seek the Law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts 2 Cor. 3. 6. Who also hath made us able ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the Spirit for the letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life and also duly approved and called to that office (l) Ier. 14. 13. Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the Prophets
Ohr. 30. 18 19. For a multitude of the people even many of Ephraim and Manasseh Issachar and Zebulun had not cleansed themselves yet did they eat the Passeover otherwise then it was written but Hezekiah prayed for them saying The good Lord pardon every one V. 19. That prepareth his heart to seek God the Lord God of his fathers though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary Mat. 26. 26. And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it c. Q. May one who doubteth of his being in Christ and of his due preparation come to the Lords Supper A. One who doubteth of his being in Christ or of his due preparation to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper may have true interest in Christ though he be not yet assured thereof (a) Isa 50. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God 1 Joh. 5. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God Psal 88. throughout Psal 77 from ver 1. to the 12. I cryed unto God with my voice c. V. 3. I remembred God and was troubled c. V. 4. Thou boldest mine eyes waking c V. 7. Will the Lord cast off for ever Is his mercy clean gone for ever Doth his promise fail for evermore V. 10 And I said This is mine infirmity but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High c. Jonah 2. 4 -7 Then I said I am cast out of thy sight yet I will look again towards thine holy Temple V. 7. When my soul fainted within me I remembred the Lord and my prayers came in unto thee into thine holy Temple and in Gods account hath it if he be duly affected with the apprehension of the want of it (b) Isa 54. 7 8 9 10. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee V. 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee but with everlastinng kindness will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy redeemer V. 9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee V. 10. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee nor shall the covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Mat. 5. 3 4. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven V. 4. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Psal 31. 22. For I said in mine hast I am cut off from before thine eyes nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplication when I cryed unto thee Psal 73. 13 -22 23. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed mine hands in innocency V. 22. So foolish was I and ignorant I was as a beast before thee V. 23. Nevertheless I am continually with thee thou hast holdenn me by my right hand and unfainedly desires to be found in Christ (c) Phil. 3. 8 9. Yea doubtlesse and I account all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledg of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ V. 9. And be found in him 10 having mine own righteousness which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith Psal 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wiâ—t prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear Psal 43. 1 2-5 Judge me O God and plead my cause against c. V. 2. For thou art the God of my strength why dost thou cast me off c. V. 5. Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God and to depart from iniquity (d) 2 Tim 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal The Lord knoweth them that are his and let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity Isa 50. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay him upon his God Psal 66. 18 19 20. If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me V. 19. But verily God hath heard me he hath attended to the voice of my prayer V. 20. Blessed be God who hath not turned away my prayer nor his mercy from me in which case because promises are made and this Sacrament is appointed for the relief even of weak and doubting Christians (e) Isa 40. 11 -19.-31 He shall feed his flock like a Shepherd he shall gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom and shall gently lead those which are with yong V. 29. He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength V. 31. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint Mat. 11. 28. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Mat. 12. 20. A bruised read shall he not break and smoking flax shall he not quench till he send forth judgment unto victory Mat. 26. 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins he is to bewail his unbelief (f) Mar. 9. 24. And straitway the father of the child cried out and said with tears Lord I believe help thou mine unbelief and labour to have his doubts resolved (g) Act. 2. 37. Now when they heard this they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall we do Act. 16. 30. And he brought them out and said Sirs what must I do to be saved and so doing he may and ought to come to the Lords Supper that he may be further strengthened (h) Rom. 4. 11. And he received the sign of Circumcision a Seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had being yet uncircumcised that he might be the father of all them that believe though they be not circumcised that righteousness might be imputed unto
Praise ye the Lord. Psal 138. 1 2 3. I will praise thee with my whole heart before the Gods will I sing praise unto thee v. 2. I will worship towards thy holy Temple and praise thy Name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy Name v. 3. In the day when I cryed thou answerest me and strengthnedst me with strength in my soul 2 Cor. 2. 14 15. Now thanks be to God who alwayes causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledg by us in every place v. 15. For we are to God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish works and whatsoever he is pleased to make himself known by (q) Psal 145. throughout I will extoll thee O God my King c. Psal 8. throughout O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy Name in all the earth c. and to glorifie him in thought word (r) Psal 103. 1. Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name Psal 19. 14. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our Redeemer and deed (Å¿) Phil. 1. 9 -11 And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledg and in all judgment v. 11. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God that he would prevent and remove Atheism (t) Psal 67. 1 2 3 4. God be merciful unto us and bless us and cause his face to shine upon us v. 2. That thy way may be known upon earth and thy saving health among all Nations v. 3. Let the people praise thee O God let all the people praise thee v. 4. O let the Nations be glad and rejoice for thou shalt judge the people righteously and govern the Nations upon earth ignorance (u) Eph. 1. 17 18. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the spâ—rit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledg of him v. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints idolatry (*) Psal 97. 7. Confounded be all they that serve graven Images that boast themselves of Idols worship him all ye gods profaneness (x) Psal 74. 18 -22 23. Remember this that the enemy hath reproached O Lord and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy Name v. 22. Arise O God plead thine own cause remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily v. 23. Forget not the voice of mine enemies the tumult of those that rise up against thee encreaseth continually and whatsoever is dishonourable to him (y) 2 Kings 19. 15 16. And Hâ—zâ—kiah prayed unto the Loid and said O Lord God of Israel which dwellest between the Cherubims thou art the God even thou alone of all the Kingdoms of the earth thou hast made heaven and earth v. 16. Lord bow down thine ear and hear open Lord thine eyes and see and hear the words of Sennacherib which hath sent him to reproach the living God and by his over-ruling providence direct and dispose of all things to his own glory (z) 2 Chron. 20. 6 -10 11 12. And Jehoshaphat said O Lord God of our fathers Art not thou God in heaven and rulest not thou over all the Kingdoms of the heathen and in thine hand is there not power and might so that none is able to withstand thee v. 10. And now behold the children Ammon and Moab c. v. 11. Behold I say how they reward us to come to cast us out of our possessions which thou hast given us to inherit v. 12. O our God wilt thou not judge them for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us neither know we what to do but our eyes are upon thee Psal 83. throughout Keep thou not silence O God hold not thy peace c. Psal 140. 4 -8 Reep me O Lord from the hands of the wicked preserve me from the violent man who have purposed to overthrow my goings v. 8. Grant not O Lord the desires of the wicked further not his wicked devices lest they exalt themselves Q. What do we pray for in the second Petition A. In the second Petition which is Thy Kingdom come (a) Matth. 6. 10. acknowledging our selves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of sinne and Satan (b) Eph. 2. 2 3. Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience v. 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the children of wrath even as others we pray that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed (c Psal 68. 1 -18 Let God arise let his enemies be scattered let them also that have him flee before him v. 18. Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led captivity captive thou hast received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them Rev. 12. 10 11. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven Now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast out which accused them before God day and night v. 11. And they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death the Gospel propagated throughout the world (d) 2 Thes 3. 1. Finally brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified even as it is with you the Jewes called (e) Rom. 10. 1. Brethren my hearts desire and prayer to God is That they might he saved the fulness of the Gentiles brought in (f) John 17 9 -20 I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them that thou hast given me for they are thine v. 20. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word Rom. 11. 25 26. For I would not brethren that ye should be ignorant of this mystery â—est ye should be wise in your own conceits that blindness in part is hapned to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in v. 26. And so all Israel shaâ—l be saved as it is written There shall come out of Zion the deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Psal 67. throughout God be merciful unto us and bless us and cause his face
and rejected of men a man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs and we hid as it were our faces from him he was despised and we esteemed him not the wrath of God (g) Luk. 22. 44. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground Mat. 27. 46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cryed with a loud voice saying ELI ELILAMA-SABACTHANI that is to say My God my God why hast thou forsaken me and the cursed death of the cross (h) Phil. 2. 8. And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross in being buried (i) 1 Cor. 15. 4. And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and continuing under the power of death for a time (k) Mat. 2. 40. As Jonas was three dayes and three nights in the whales belly so shall the Son of man be three dayes and three nights in the heart of the earth Act. 2. 24 25 26 27 -31 v. 24. Woom God bath raised having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it v. 25. For David speaketh concerning him I foresaw the Lord alwayes before my face for he is on my right hand that I should not be moved v. 26. Therefore did my heart rejoyce and my tongue was glad moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope v. 27. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell neither wilt thou suffer thine holy One to see corruption v. 31. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his soul was not left in hell neither did his flesh see corruption Q. Wherein consisteth Christs Exaltation A. Christs exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day (l) 1 Cor. 15. 4. And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures in ascending up into heaven (m) Mark 16. 19. So then after the Lord had spoken to them he was received up into heaven and sate on the right hand of God in sitting at the right hand of God the Father (n) Eph. 1. 20. Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places and in coming to judge the world at the last day (o) Act. 1. 11. Which also said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gâ—zing up into heaven this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven Chap. 17. v. 31. He hath appointed a day in the which he shall judge the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Q. How are we made partakers of the Redemption purchased by Christ A. We are made partakers of the Redemption purchased by Christ by the effectual application of it to us (p) John 1. 11 12. v. 11. He came unto his own and his own received him not v. 12. But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his Name by his holy Spirit (q) Tit. 3. 5 6. v. 5. Not by works of righteousnesse which we have done but according to his mercy â—e saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost v. 6. Which be shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Sâ—viour Q. How doth the Spirit apply to us the Redemption purchased by Christ A. The Spirit applieth to us the Redemption purchased by Christ by working faith in us (r) Eph. 1. 13 14. v. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the Word of truth the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise v. 14. Which is an earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory Joh. 6. 37 39. v. 37. All the Father giveth me shall come unto me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out v. 39. And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given I should lose nothing but should raise it again at the last day Eph. 2. 8. By grace ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual Calling (Å¿) Eph. 3. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love 1 Cor. 1. 9. God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Q. What is effectual Calling A. Effectuall calling is the work of Gods Spirit (t) 2 Tim. 1 9. Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began 2 Thes 2. 13 14. v. 13. But we are bound to give thanks alwayes to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth v. 14. Whereunto he called you by our Gospâ—l to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ whereby convincing us of our sin and misery (u) Act. 2. 37. Now when they heard this they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles men and brethren what shall we do inlightning our minds in the knowledg of Christ (*) Act 26. 18. To open their eyes and to turn them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me and renewing our wills (x) Ezek. 36. 26 27. v. 26. A new heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh v. 27. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them he doth perswade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the Gospel (y) John 6. 44 45. v. 44. No man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day v. 45. As it is written in the Prophets and they shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me Phil. 2.
13. For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Q. What benefits do they that are Effectually called partake of in this life A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of Justification (z) Rom. 8. 30. Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Adoption (a) Eph. 1. 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will Sanctification and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them (b) 1 Cor. 1. 30. Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption Q What is Justification A. Justification is an act of Gods free grace wherein he pardoneth all our sins (c) Ro. 3. 24 25. v. 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ v. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propiation through faiâ—h in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God Rom. 4. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works v. 7. Saying blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered v. 8. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin and accepteth us as righteous in his sight d 2 Cor. 5. 19. To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed to us the word of reconciliation v. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him onely for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us e Rom. 5. 17. For if by one mans offence death reigned by one much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ v. 18. Therefore as by the offence of one judgement came upon men unto condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life v. 19. As by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous and received by Faith alone f Gal. 2. 16. Knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law but by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Iesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified Phil. 3. 9. And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith Q. What is Adoption A. Adoption is an act of Gods free grace g 1 Ioh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not whereby we are received into the number and have a right to all the priviledges of the sons of God h Ioh. 1. 12. As many as received him to them gave be power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name Rom. 8. 17. And if children then heirs heirs of God and joint-heires with Christ if so be we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together Q. What is Sanctification A. Sanctification is the work of Gods free grace i 2 Thes 1. 13. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and the belief of the truth whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God k Ephes 4. 23. And be renewed in the Spirit of your mind v. 24. And that ye put on that new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness l Rom. 6. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life v. 6. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Rom 8. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Q. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from Justification Adoption and Sanctification A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from Justification Adoption and Sanctification are assurance of Gods love peace of conscience m Rom. 5. 1. Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ V. 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God V. 5. And hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto us joy in the holy Ghost n Rom. 14. 17. For the Kingdome of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost encrease of grace o Prov. 4. 18. The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day and perseverance therein to the end p 1 Joh. 5. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God 1 Pet. 1. 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last times Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness q Heb. 12. 23. To the general assemby and Church of the first-born which are written in heaven and to God the judg of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and do immediately passe into glory r 2 Cor. 5. 1. For we know that if our earthly houses of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens V. 6. Therefore we are alwayes confident knowing that whilest we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. V. 8. We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with
of Saints V. 4. Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name for thou only art holy for all nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgments are made manifest Ordinances (b) Mal. 1. 11 14. For from the rising of the Sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among rhe Gentiles and in every place incense shall be offered unto thy name and a pure offering for my name shall be great among the heathen saith the Lord of hosts V. 14. But cursed be the deceiver that hath in his flock a male and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing for I am a great King saith the Lord of hosts and my name is dreadful among the heathen Word (c) Psal 138. 1 2. I will praiâ—â— thee with my whole heart before the gods will I sing praise unto thee V. 2. I will worship towards thy holy Temple and praise thy name for thy loving Kindness and for thy truth for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name and Works (d) Job 36. 24. Remember that thou magnifie his work which men behold Q. VVhat is forbidden in the third Commandment A. The third Commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of any thing whereby God maketh himself known (e.) Mal. 1. 6 7-12 A son honoureth his father and a servant his Master If then I be a father where is mine honor and if I be a Master where is my fear saith the Lord of hosts unto you O Priests that despise my Name and ye say Wherein have we despised thy Name V. 7. Ye offer polluted bread upon mine Altar and ye say Wherein have we polluted thee in that ye say The Table of the Lord is contemptible V. 12. But ye have profaned it in that ye say the Table of the Lord is polluted and the fruit thereof even his meat is contemptible Chap. 2. v. 2. If you will not hear and if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my Name saith the Lord of hosts I will even send a curse upon you and will curse your blessings yea I have cursed them already because ye do not lay it to heart Chap. 3. 14. Ye have said it is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts Q. What is the Reason annexed to the third Commandment A. The Reason annexed to the third Commandment is that however the breakers of this Commandment may escape punishment from men yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgement (f) 1 Sam. 2. 12 -17-22.-24 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial they knew not the Lord v. 17. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord for men abhorred the offering of the Lord v. 22. Now Eâ—i was very old and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation v. 24. Nay my sons for it is no good report that I hear ye make the Lords people to transgress 1 Sam. 3. 13. For I have told him that I will judg his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth because his sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not Deut. 28. 58 59. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful Name The Lord thy God v. 59. Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful and the plagues of thy seed even great plagues and of long continuance and sore sicknesses and of long continuance Q. Which is the fourth Commandment A. The fourth Commandment is Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy six dayes shalt thou labour and do all thy work but the seventh day is the Sabbath 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 thy stranger that is within thy gates for in six dayes the Lord made heaven and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it (g) Exo. 20. 8 9 10 11 Q. What is required in the fourth Commandment A. The fourth Commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set time as he hath appointed in his Word expresly one whole day in seven to be a holy Sabbath unto the Lord (h) Deut. 5. 12 13 14. Keep the Sabbath day to sanctifie it as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee v. 13. Six dayes shalt thou labour and do all thy work v. 14. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter nor thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thine ox nor thine ass nor any of thy cattel nor thy stranger that is within thy gates that thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou Q. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath A. From the beginning of the world to the Resurrection of Christ God hath appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath and the first day of the week ever since to continue to the end of the world which is the Christian Sabbath (i) Gen. 2. 2 3. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he made V. 3. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he rested from all his work which God created and made 1 Cor. 16. 1 2. Now concerning the collection for the Saints as have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye V. 2. 7. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come Act. 20. 7. And upon the first day of the Week when the disciples came together to break bread Paul preached unto them ready to depart on the morrow and continued his speech until midnight Q. How is the Sabbath to be sanctified A. The Sabbath is to be sanctified by an holy resting all that day (k) Exod 20. 8 -10 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy V. 10. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no manner of work thou nor thy son c. even from such worldly imployments and recreations as are lawful on other dayes (l) Neh. 13. 15 16 17 18 19 -21 22. In those dayes saw I in Judah some treading wine-presses on the sabbath and bringing in sheaves and lading asses also wine grapes and figs and
(l) 2 Cor. 7. 11. For behold this self same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what revenge in all things you have approved your selves to be clear in this matter Isa 1. 16. Wash ye make ye clean put away the evil of your doings before mine eyes cease to do evil V. 17. Learn to do well seek judgment relieve the oppressed judg the fatherless plead for the widow Q. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of Redemption A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of Redemption are his Ordinances especially the Word Sacraments and Prayer all which are made effectual to the Elect for salvation (m) Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore teach all nations baptizing them in â—he Name of the father and of the son and of the holy Ghost V. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and low I am with you alway even unto the end of the world Amen Acts 2. 42 -46 47. And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers V. 46. And they continuing daily with one accord in the Temple and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart V. 47. Praising God and having favour with all the people And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Q. How is the Word made effectual to salvation A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading but especially the preaching of the word an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners and of building them up in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation (n) Neh. 8. 8. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly and gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading 1 Cor. 14 24. But if all prophesie and there come in one that believeth not or one unlearned he is convinced of all he is judged of all V. 25. And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest and so falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is in you of a truth Acts 26. 18. To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctifiâ—d by faith â—hat is in me Psal 19. 8. The statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the eyes Acts 20. 32. And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified Rom. 15 4. For whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope 2 Tim. 3. 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus V. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction c. V. 17. That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto good works Rom. 10. 14. 15. ver 14. How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher ver 15. and how shall they preach except they be sent c. and 1. 16. for I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth to the Iew first and also to the Greek Q. How is the Word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to salvation A. That the Word may become effectual to salvation we must attend thereunto with diligence (o) Pro. 8. 34. Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my gates waiting at the posts of my doors preparation (p) 1 Pet. 2. 1. Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies evil speakings V. 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby and prayer (q) Psal 119. 18. Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law receive it with faith and love (r) Heb. 4. 2. For unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them but the word preached did not profit them not being mixt with faith in them that heard it 2 Thes 2. 10. With all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved lay it up in our hearts (Å¿) Psal 119. 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee and practise it in our lives (t) Luk. 8. 15. But that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart having heard the word keep it and bring forth fruit with patience Iam. 1. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word this man shall be blessed in his dealing Q. How do the Sacraments become effectual means of salvation A. The Sacraments become effectual means of salvation not from any virtue in them or in him that doth administer them but only by the blessing of Christ (u) 1 Pet. 3. 22. The like figure whereunto even Baptisme doth also now save us not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ Mat. 3. 11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance but he that cometh after me is mightier then I whose shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire 1 Cor. 3. 6 7. I have planted Apollo watered but God gave the encrease V. 7. So then neither is he that planteth any thing neither he that watereth but God that giveth the encrease and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them * 1 Cor. 12. 13. For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been made all to drink into one Spirit Q. What is a Sacrament A. A Sacrament is an holy Ordinance instituted by Christ wherein by sensible signs Christ and the benefits of the new Covenant are represented sealed and applied to believers (x) Gen. 17. 7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant to be a God unto thee and to
thy seed after thee V. 10. This is my covenant which ye shall keep between me and you and thy seed after thee every man-child among you shall be circumcised Exod. 12. throughouts 1 Cor. 11. 23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Iesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread V. 26. For as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come Q. Which are the Sacraments of the New Testament A. The Sacraments of the New Testament are Baptisme (y) Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and the Lords Supper (z) Mat. 26. 26. 27. 28. v. 26. And as they were eating Iesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples and said Take eat this is my body v. 27. And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink ye all of iâ— v. 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Q. What is Baptisme A. Baptisme is a Sacrament wherein the washing of Water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost (a) Mat. 28. 19. See in letter y doth signifie and seal our ingrafting into Christ and partaking of the benefits of the Covenant of Grace and our engagement to the Lords (b) Rom. 6. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father even so we also should walk in newness of life Gal. 3. 27. For as many of you as have been Baptized into Christ have put on Christ Q. To whom is Baptisme to be administred A. Baptisme is not to be administred to any that are out of the visible Church till they profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him (c) Act. 8. 36. And as they went on their way they came unto a certain water and the Eunuch said see here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized V. 37. And Philip said if thou believest with all thine heart thou maist and he answered I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God Acts 2. 38. Then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost but the infants of such as are members of the visible Church are to be baptized (d) Acts 2. 38. See before V. 39. For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are a far off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Gen. 17. 10. See in letter x Col. 2. 11 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ V. 12. Buried with him in Baptisme wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead 1 Cor. 7. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy Q. What is the Lords Supper A. The Lords Supper is a Sacrament wherein by giving and receiving Bread and Wine according to Christs appointment his death is shewed forth and the worthy receivers are not after a corporal and carnal manner but by faith made partakers of his Body and Blood with all his benefits to their spiritual nourishment and groweth in grace e 1 Cor. 11. 23 34 25 26. I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night wherein he was betrayed took bread V. 24. And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me V. 25. After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my blood this do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me V. 26. For as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 10. 16. The Cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ Q. What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper A. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lords Supper that they examine themselves of their knowledg to discern the Lords body (f) 1 Cor. 11. 28 29. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. V. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body of their faith to feed upon him (g) 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith prove your own selves know you not that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates of their repentance (h) 1 Cor. 11. 31. For if we would judg our selves we should not be judged love (i) 1 Cor. 10. 16. The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ the bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ V. 17. For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread and new obedience (k) 1 Cor. 5. 7. Pâ—rge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened for even Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us V. 8. Therefore let us keep the feast not with old leaven neitheir with the leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth lest coming unworthily they eat and drink judgment to themselves (l) 1 Cor. 11. 28 29. See in letter f Q. What is Prayer A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God (m) Psal 62. 8. Trust in him at all times ye people pour out your hearts before him God is a refuge for us Selah for things agreeable to his will (n) 1 Ioh. 5. 14. And this is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us in the Name of Christ (o) Ioh. 16. 23. And in that day he shall ask me nothing verily verily I say unto you Whatsoever ye shall ask the father in my name he will give it you with confession of our sins (p) Psal 32. 5 6 I acknowledged my sins unto