summarily in the Creed What is the Creed A. It is a Forme of sound and wholesome words teaching us what we must believe concerning God and the Church of God 2 Tim. 1.13 Q. It is not then a prayer A. No it doth not contain matter of petition but of profession of faith as the gesture of standing up doth also shew It belongs to the Honour and Worship of God that we make confession of our Faith Rom. 10.9 I believe in God Q. How many Gods be there A. Onely one God distinct in three persons Deu. 6.4 Esa 446.1 Joh. 5.7 Mat. 28.19 Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped and glorified Q. How be the Persons called A. God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13.14 Q. Which of these three Persons is Jesus Christ A. The second and middle Person Joh. 16.28 Eph. 1.3 Joh. 14.26 Joh. 15.26 Q. What is God A. God is an a eternall Spirit who b hath his Being of himselfe and c giveth being to all things else and we must worship him in Spirit and in Truth a Rev. 16.5 Ioh. 1.1 2. Prov 8.30 Heb. 9.14 b Exod. 3.14 Exod. 6.3 c Act. 17.25 Ioh. 4.24 God hath a Being he is a God by Nature whether we thinke it or not 2. His Being is of Himselfe 3. And without beginning Q. When you say God is a Spirit What doe you meane A. I meane that he is an immateriall immortall substance without body parts or passions not like to man nor any thing made by art Act. 17.29 Luk. 24.39 Esay 31.3 Act. 14.15 Q. What be the properties of Gods Nature by which we may conceive of Him A. He is the immortall eternall invisible only wise God the Lord God Gratious and Mercifull long-suffering abundant in Goodnesse and Truth forgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin and that will by no means clear the guilty And such an one we shall finde him to be 1 Tim. 1.17 Exod. 34.6 7. Q. Is it needfull to know these Properties to be in God A. Yes We must have an assured knowledge that he is Almighty perfectly good the Fountaine of all Goodnesse else we should not believe on him nor feare him nor love him nor depend on him for good things Rom. 10.10 14. Heb. 11.6 Q. What is it to believe in God A. To believe God is to believe that God is and that he is true But to believe in God is to rest and relie on him for salvation and for all things else that be good for me Iam. 2.19 Eph. 1.13 Esa 26.4 Q. Why doe you say I believe in God A. Because a particular and personall faith is necessary unto salvation every one must believe with his own heart and confesse with his own mouth Rom. 10.9 Act. 8 37. Q. What then doth it import to believe in such a God A. That God is all this to me and my salvation Gen. 17.7 Num. 14.17 18. CAP. XVI Of Creation and Providence and Gods Fatherhood and Power The Father Almighty Q. WHy is the first Person in the Trinity called Father A. Because he is the Father of Christ and of all that be Christs and also because he giveth beginning to all things else He. 1.5 Eph. 1.3 17. Eph. 3.14 2. Cor. 6.18 Ioh. 1.6 Ioh. 20.17 Q. Why is he called Almighty A. Because he can doe all that he will nothing can hinder his Power if he were not Almighty He could not make the least grasse or worme that is Rev. 1.8 Ier. 32.17 27. Iob. 9.9 12. Q. Declare more fully what you mean by Gods Almightinesse A. I meane not that God hath an idle power which he doth not exercise but that all creatures be in his hand and under his governance that he ordereth and disposeth all things by his unsearchable Wisdome and Providence Maker of Heaven and Earth Q. What doe you understand by that A. I believe that God made all things both visible and invisible of nothing in the space of six daies Gen. 2.1 Heb. 11.3 Col. 1.16 Q. The Heavens What mean you by that A. That God made the Heavens and the Hoast of them and the Inhabitants of Heaven that is the Angels Col. 1.16 Iohn 1.3 Q. Did God make the evill Angels too that is the Devils A. Yes He made them Angels of light but they by their fall made themselves Angels of darknesse Inde vers 6. 2 Pet. 2.4 Mat. 8.29 Q God made the Earth and all things therein Did he make the hurtfull creatures A. God made all good but their hurtfulnesse is a part of the curse that came in by sin Gen. 3.17 18. Rom. 8.20 22. Q. Did God make all things and so leave them A. No He still a upholdeth and preserveth governeth disposeth all things both b great and small c casuall and certaine good and evill by his just and wise providence a Ioh. 5.17 Act. 17.28 Heb. 1.3 b Ioh. 38.8 11 22 41. c Mat. 10.29 30 31. Psal 19.1 2. Iosh 10.11 12.13 Iob. 37.16 17. The Kingdoms and wils of men Dan. 4.25 1 King 12.15 Rain and Droughth Plenty and Dearth Am. 4.6 7. Health and sicknesse 1 Sam. 2.6 Life and Death Dan. 5.23 Psal 31.15 All are at his command doe happen by his wise and just disposing Q. Are the Devils also and the evill wils and minds of men guided by God A. Yes He sets them all their bounds overruleth all their wickedness as shall serve most for his glory Yet God himselfe remaines Holy and untoucht of any evill Act. 4.27 28. Job 1.12 2.6 Joh 19.11 Numb 22.18 19. 2 Sam. 16.11 Q. What then doe you believe in this Article A. I believe that Almighty God who is the Father of Jesus Christ the Maker and disposer of all things is my Father and my God He is the God on whom I depend for salvation and all things needfull for this life present Esay 54.4 5. Ps 100.3 Esay 64.8 9. 46.4 44.24.26 Q. How may it appeare that you indeed doe believe all this A. By three effects which follow this my beliefe 1 It makes me submit quietly to Gods will in whatsoever estate I am knowing that he is my Father 2 Sam 15.26 2 Sam. 16.10 2 King 20.19 1 Pet 4.19 Phil. 4.6 11 12. Mat. 6.30 32. Q. What second effect of this Faith A. This my faith banisheth all base and false feares of men upon assurance that I am not left to the power and will of any creature Esay 8.12 51.12 13. Joh. 19.10 11. Mat 26.53 1 Pet 3.14 15. Q. How lastly A. This Faith makes me to depend on God in his wayes for all things I need without stepping out to any false and indirect meanes for help as to bribery sorcery fraud flattery time-serving lying oppression nor to make flesh my arme Gen. 20 11 16. Ier. 17.5 2 Chron 16.3 7 8 9 12. Mat 4.3 7. Dan 3.16 17. Esay 28.16 CAP XVII Of Faith in the Sonne of God And in Jesus
suffer all these things A. Especially in the garden where he swet clots of blood before any hand was laid on him and on the Crosse by the space of six houres Luk 22.43 44. Mat 27.46 Psal 22.1 6. Mar 14.33 34. Phil. 2.8 So heavy was the wrath of God that an Angell came to comfort him yea he roared as a man forsaken c. Q. What is the vertue and efficacy of his sufferings A. By his stripes we are healed Es 53 5. Heb 9.14 26 28. Col 2.14 Heb 10.2 10 12 14. In him we all died and were condemned and his death tooke away our condemnation 2 Cor 5.14 Rom 8.3 Q. For whom did Christ suffer all this A. For his Body the Church Christs blood is of value to save all men but it was not intended for them that perish Christ stood not in their stead for then they should not dye themselves Eph 5.25 Joh 10.15 Q. How know you that you have a part in Christ's sufferings A. Because the life and power of sin is killed in me and I now live to him that died for me Sinne is of all things most odious to me 2 Cor. 5.15 Rom. 6.3 6. 1 Joh 5.6 The merit of Christs death reacheth unto God to satisfie and pacifie him and the vertue or efficacie of it reacheth to our soules to mortifie and kill sin in them 1 Pet 4.1 2. Q. Who was Pontius Pilate A. The Roman Judge that condemned him because he said that he was the Son of God the King of Israel Joh 19 7 8 12 15 19 21. Mat 20.19 a signe that the Messiah was come because the government was taken from them and now in the hands of a stranger Gen. 49.10 Joh 18.31 Rev. 11.8 where Christ was slaine Q. Why was he thus legally condemned and not killed privily A. Because that death alone is satisfactory to the Law which publike authority doth inflict on Malefactours for though Christ were no Malefactor no guile was found in his lips he was innocent by the Judges owne mouth yet he was numbred amongst the transgressors Esay 53.12 Mat. 20.18 19. Q. What kind of death died he A. He was crucified which was a painfull shamefull and accursed death Ioh. 19.18 31. Phil. 2.8 Deut. 21.23 Q. Why that kinde of death A. Because he was to remove the curse from us therefore he was to be made a curse for us Gal. 3.13 Q. Dead Why died he A. Because death is the wages of sin and sin is not remitted without shedding of blound Rom. 6.23 Heb. 9.22 1 Cor. 15.56 57. Heb. 2.9 14. Q. Buried Why so A. That he might sweeten the grave to us and be God both of the dead and of the living Mat. 12.40 Rom. 14.9 1 Cor. 15.55 Q. Descended into Hell When Christ gave up the Ghost his Body was put into the Grave and his Soule went into Paradise being commended into the hands of God as the soule of Steven and other the faithfull are as the soule of the converted theef was What then is meant here by Christs descending into Hell A. His Soule went not into the place of the damned but thereby is meant his abiding prisoner under the dominion of Death the space of three daies Bp. Ushers answer to the Irish Jesuits challenge c. 8. As Jonas was three daies in the Whales belly and saw no corruption But David doth c. Compare Psal 16.10 with Act. 2.27 31. Act. 13.34.35 Rom. 6.9 Mat. 12.40 Q. What is the substance of that you believe in this Article A. I believe that Christ suffered the whole punishment belonging unto sinners both in his Soule and Body when he offered up himselfe a curse and a sacrifice for sin and that by his sufferings Gods wrath is pacified towards me all the spirituall enemies of my salvation are thereby vanquished CAP. XX. Of Christs exaltation sitting at the right hand of God the Father The third day he rose again from the dead Q. DID Christ still remain in the the grave A. No the third day he rose againe Luke 24.3 6. Act. 2.24 Act. 1.3 1 Cor. 15.4 8. Q Why was it needfull that Christ should rise againe A. 1. Because else we were still in our sinnes else it doth not appear that our sinnes be satisfied for 1 Cor. 15.17 1 Pet. 1.3 21. Christ was not onely to suffer Death and the Law but to conquer them which he had not done if he had been still holden of death and we must have looked out for another Saviour that could conquer it The debtor comes not out of prison till he hath paid the utmost farthing c. If any one sin had beene unsatisfied Christ had no risen from the dead Q. Why else must Christ rise againe A. That he might apply effectually unto us the merit of his death 1 Cor. 15.16 54 55. Rom. 4.25 Rev. 1.18 He ascended into Heaven Q. What became of Christ after he was risen A. After he had spent forty daies in teaching his Apostles the things belonging to the Kingdome of God he went up into Heaven in that same body which had been crucified and buried Act. â— 3.9 10 11. Eph. 4.10 Luk. 24.51 Eph. 1.20 22. Q. What good is that to us A. 1. It assureth us that he hath finished the worke of our redemption which his Father gave him to doe in an acceptable manner Iohn 16.10 Iohn 17.4 5. Heb. 9.12 25. Heb. 10.12 If Christ had not fulfilled the Law and satisfied for all out debt if he had not in all things well pleased his Father he had never got into Heaven But now God welcomes him to Heaven and bids him Sit thou at my right hand untill I make thine enimies thy Foot-stoole Heb. 1.3 9 13. Q. What else doth it assure us of A. 2. It assureth me that seeing Christ is entred into Heaven in our name hath taken possession for us of the purchased inheritance that therefore he will bring us thither in his appointed time Ioh. 12.26 Ioh. 17.24 Heb. 6.20 Sitteth at the right hand of God Q Where is Jesus Christ now A. In Heaven at Gods right hand in great glory and power Act. 7.56 1 Pet 3.22 Q. God hath no right hand nor left hand What then is the meaning of it A. It signifieth that Honour and Power which Christ received of his Father when he had finished the worke of our redemption Heb. 1.13 Mat. 22.44 Eph 1.20 22. 1 Cor 15.24 25. Q. What does Christ do there A. He makes intercession for us that is he presents our prayers and pleads his merits for our acceptance Heb 7.25 9.24 Ro 8.34 He entereth our appearance and causeth that no wrath issue out against us though our sins cry for vengeance God never said to Saint or Angel Sit thou at my right hand Heb 1.13 Q. Doe we not want him more to be with us here on earth A. No He doth us more good in Heaven appearing for us in the presence of God upon
without an Oath A. When we performe any part of Gods worship carelesly perfunctorily As when we pray without understanding and good sense or for fashion and ostentation when we preach without preparation and for civill complement or vaingloriously when we receive the Sacrament because it is the use at certain times in the year c. Now is Gods name taken in vain by us though we seem to honour him Jer 48.10 1 Cor. 14.11 See Eccl. 5.1 2. Mal 1.13 2 Tim. 2.15 Phil. 15.16 Luk. 8.18 Q. How lastly is Gods name taken in vaine without an Oath A. When we put Gods Name Cause Religion upon our own worldly carnall and base ends and enterprizes When Religion is made a cloak to carry on or to cover any vile and unjust actions then is Gods name taken in vain Jer. 7.9 10 11. Mic. 3.11 Mat. 23.14 2 Sam. 4.8 11. They put the name of God upon their wicked murther saying the Lord hath avenged thee of Saul with 1 Sam. 26.8 Q. Why must we be carefull of this Law A. Because God holdeth all prophaners of his name for most vile persons who though they escape punishment amongst men yet shall not escape Gods wrath They are under the Law in whomsoever any of these sins reigne God will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine CAP. XXXII Of the Sabbath day we consider the 1. Institution 2. Change and 2. Celebration of it Remember the Sabbath day Q. WHat is the purpose of God in this Commandment A. God will have every seventh day set apart and observed to his honour and worship in the duties of Religion and not spent to our pleasure or profit It must be separate from other daies Eze. 22.26 Esay 58.13 14. The Sabbath was instituted chiefly for the publique worship of God Exod 34.21 1. Q. Is this Law of keeping one day of seven for an holy â—est still in force A. Yes it hath been from the beginning and shall continue to the end of the world The Morality of the Sabbath it is not in the power of man to alter this proportion of time as to make the day of rest to be sooner or later as on every fift or on every eight day Gen. 2.2 3. Hel. 4.3 4. Exod. 16.22 25. Mat. 5.18 God created seven daies and no more and God rested from the beginning 2. Q. Touching the change of the day The observation of the Lords day for the Sabbath Is it from Heaven or of men A. It is of God who changed the day though not the number of the day to the first of the weeke called the Lords day Act. 20.6 7. 1 Cor. 16.2 Rev. 1.10 Joh 20.19 26. This is a rule looke what hath been continued down to us by the uninterrupted practice of the Churches in all ages from the Apostles times and the first linke of that chaine that is the example practice ground reason analogy thereof is found in Scripture that is to be acknowledged of divine authority and not meerly of man Now such is this of the Lords day and baptizing of Infants the Commandement limits out the quotient and God by particular designation hath pointed out the day from which none but God can againe alter it 3. For the celebration of the Lords day two sorts of duties are required of a Christian Some Before the day come When the day is come Q. What is required of us before the day come A. We must remember it that is we must be mindfull of it before hand so to contrive and order our affaires and affections that they may not hinder us in the Lords worke on the Lords day Ex. 16.5 23. Q. What followes hereof A. Therefore it is a sinne first to reserve some od choares or journies or merry meetings to that day secoÌ„dly to encumber our selves with more businesse then we can conveniently dispatch in six daies As to take in more worke more writing more Merchandize c. In this kinde Brewers Tailers Millers Treaders of Wine-fats and men of other occupations doe greatly offend as many as doe not order their businesse to end with the weeke that so their calling may stand still and their hearts be fitted to meet God in his Ordinances Q. When the day is come What is our duty A. It is two-fold First we must rest from all businesses of our callings in heart in act and in tongue both we and ours The law is spirituall and binds the inward man Neh. 13.15 16 17. Exo. 34 21. Exod. 31.15 16. Jer. 17.24 Q. What secondly A. This rest must be an holy and sanctified rest it must not be a brutish rest There is a difference between the rest of an Ox and of his Master Esa 58.13 Q. What duties are required to an holy rest A. Foure First we must prepare our selves for a publick worship in the morning by examination of our wants waies and by Prayer both by our selves alone and with our families for Gods blessing on the ordinances for the edification of our selves and others They that come without praying goe away usually without a blessing Exod 19.10 Q. What second duty is required A. We must be diligent to come to the publike assemblies timely reverently and with our company if we have any Act 15.21 Luk 4 16. Ezek 46.10 Act. 10.33 Psal 42.4 Heb. 10.25 Q. What thirdly A. I must religiously joyne with the Congregation in the duties there performed as in a Prayer b praising and singing c attending to the Word read or Preached and d participation of the Sacrament Eccl. 5.1 1 Cor. 14.26 27. a Act. 16.13 Mat 81.19 2 Chron 5.13 Col 3.16 c Act 13.15 16. Luk. 4.20 d 1 Cor. 11.21 Act 2.42 Act 20.7 It is a fault in the congregation to divert our selves from the exercise in hand to private reading or talking or gazing about we must make one in every exercise of Gods worship Q. VVhat fourth duty is required to the sanctifying of a Sabbath A. After the Assembly is dismissed I must spend the other time in meditation and reading of Gods word in prayer and conference of that we have heard to the edification of our selves and families Act. 17.11 12. 1 Cor. 14.35 Gen. 18.19 These be the duties of the day Q. Is all work simply unlawfull to be done on the Sabbath day Three sorts of workes lawfull on the Sabbath day A. No workes of mercy to a man or beast b workes about the worship of God and workes of true necessity may be done God will have mercy rather then sacrifice It is therefore lawfull to ring bels to call the people together to travell to a Sermon to dresse our Meat to Milk our Kine to set watch ward such things as belong to the meet comfort of mans life man is not made for the Sabbath but the Sabbath for man a Luk. 13.11 15. Luk. 14.1 5. Exod. 12.16 1 King 8.65 Mat. 12. 1 7 11. b Mat. 12.5
are set up and prevaile and are countenanced in any heart family Parish or Country Matth. 21.43 Rev. 2.5 13 14. Eph. 2.2 Gen. 20.11 Q. What do we pray for here A. That the Gospel of Christ may be set up in its power and purity in all hearts and in all places that God would protect and increase the number of the faithful till the time come that the Kingdom of grace here begun be finished in the Kingdome of glory 2 Thes 3 1. Col. 4.3 Psal 122.6 Rom. 10.1 Q. What doe we pray against A. We pray that God would destroy the kingdome of Sathan and all devices against his Church and Gospel and that all wickednesse may be beaten down more and more Till this Kingdome be finished in the glory of the Saints and finall destruction of the enemies ps 68 1 18. Rev. 12.10 11. We pray against the dominion power of the Divel the World and the flesh Rom 6.12 13 14. Q. What followes hereof A. Therefore they be Christs enemies they crosse their owne Prayers that submit not to the Gospell of Christ that discountenance or any wayes hinder the Preaching and spreading thereof or be friends and favourers of bad men and bad causes Such as the silencing and vexing of Godly quiet Ministers or depriving them of due maintenance preferring the unsound c. any inlet to prophanenesse setting up a Chaire for Sathan against the Pulpit of Christ these and the like persons doe pray for Christs Kingdome and fight for Sathans among swearing railing loose riotous persons families and Parishes whose Kingdome is there set up Christs or Sathans Luke 19.14 27. Acts 4.18 CAP. XLV The 3d Petition Thy will be done Q. WHat doe we pray for in this Petition A. Here we pray for grace and strength to obey Gods will in all things both in a doing and in b suffering Psal 143.10 Jam. 1.22 25. b Luke 22.42 Acts 20.24 Acts 21.14 Q. What is here meant by Gods will A. Gods will is that which God in the Scripture hath willed commanded us to do Mat. 7.21 Rom. 12.2 1 Thes 4.3 1 Pet 4.2 1 Pet. 3.17 Q. When is Gods will done A. When setting aside our own wills desires we apply our selves to doe the things which are pleasing unto him Joh. 14.21 1 Joh. 5.3 Mat. 21.29 31 Joh. 6.38 Heb. 10.7 We desire that Gods will may take place and that there may be but one will between God and us Q. When is it undone A. When setting aside the Commandement of God we fulfill the lusts of on own hearts or other mens carnal wils Eph. 2.3 1 Pet. 4.3 Iohn 8.44 Luke 12.47 Q In Earth as it is in Heaven What do we desire in that A. We desire that as farre as Earth is wide Gods will may take place and be obeyed with that cheerfulnesse and faithfulnesse as the Angels doe in heaven We desire a conformity of the Church militant to the Church triumphant Heb. 1.5 7. Psal 103.20 21. Es 6.2 3. Here be two things in this Petition 1. The matter of our obedience it must be the will of God revealed in the Scripture 2. The Maâ—ner of our obedience as the Angels in Heaven do it Q. What is the summe and substance of this petition A. We pray that whatsoever God requires of us in his Word he would give us hearts to obey it with cheerfulnesse and faithfulnesse submitting all our opposite wills to his will We pray that amidst all and above all Gods will may be fulfilled and obeyed and that all desires wills in us or others that be repugnant to his good pleasure may be subdued Mat. 20.39 1 Sam. 3 18. 2 Sam. 15.26 Ps 140. â— 1 Sam. 15 13 20 22. Q. What followes hereof A Therefore like hypocrites they crosse their own prayers who pray they may doe Gods will yet endeavour it not nay perhaps live in known sinnes against check of conscience setting up their own ends profits contentments above the wil of God Be honest else never pray it c. Mat. 19.22 Luke 16 11. Ezek. 14.7 Acts 8.23 Luke 12.47 The 4th Petition Give us this day Q. What is meant by bread A. All outward blessings needful for this present life Under one sort of temporal blessings we beg all the rest as raiment houses preservation from dangers c. Deut. 8.3 Q. What is meant by Daily bread A. Such a proportion of outward things as is fit for us agreeable to our places callings And if we have so much we have our daily Bread Pro. 3.8 Gen. 28.20 Luke 12.15 Q. This day or day by day Why are we to begge it every day and but for a day A. To teach us that as God keeps and feeds us a day by day And as every day we stand in need of new supplies from heaven so every day we b should depend on God for the same We do not receive all at once but as yesterday so this day and to morrow c. a 2 Cor. 8.15 Exod. 16.4 5 19. b Luke 12 19 20 28 29. 1 Pet. 5.7 Psal 104.21 Mat. 6.26 Q. What is called our Bread A. That which our heavenly Father assigneth to every one of us in our lawful vocation There is our bread and there is stolne bread Thess 3.12 Q. How is God said to give us our bread A. When he doth blesse our labours in our honest callings or otherwise raise up helps to bring the creatures to us for our support and comfort He gives gâ—asse â—eed and barnes and almes and power to eate he raiseth up friends he giveth and breaketh the staffe of bread Deut. 8.17 18. 2 Cor 9.10 Ier 37.21 Dan. 1.15 So the way be Gods way in which any help commeth whosoever is the instrument to convey it God is the giver Q. When is bread taken away A. When God doth curse the earth our labours that they shal not yeeld their increase or else doth curse his blessings to us that they shall dot doe us good as by taking away the staffe of bread by adding sorrow sinne discontent with our estates Hag. 1.6 9 11. Mal. 2.2 Numb 11.33 Ezeck 14.13 Hos 9.11 12. Q. What doe we pray for in this Petition A. That God would preserve us from outward miseries and wants so blesse the â—arth and our labours that we may have such a measure of outward things as is needfull for us that through his blessing they may be for our good and comfort Through Gods blessing it is that the creatures doe satisfie our natures content our minds or doe us any good 1 Kings 8 35 37. Prov. 10.22 Prov. 30.8 Ps 106.15 1 Kings 17.14 1 Chron. 29.12 Q. What learne you from this A. We must professe enjoy and use every outward thing as from God and unto God Our own prayers will condemn us if we be beholding to Satan for bread â—f we dare stretch out our hands farther then our prayers or if we shall use the