know you not that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates him of their (g) 1 Cor. 11.31 For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged Repentance (h) 1 Cor. 10.16 The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ V. 17. For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread Love and (i) 1 Cor. 5.7 Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened for even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us V. 8. Therefore let us keep the feast not with old leaven neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth new Obedience lest coming unworthily they eat and drink Judgment to (k) 1 Cor. 11.28,29 themselves § 3. The third outward and ordinary Means whereby Christ communicateth to us the Benefits of Redemption is Prayer Q. What is Prayer 1. A. Prayer is an Offering up of our Desires unto (l) Psal 62.8 Trust in him at all times ye people pour out your hearts before him God is a refuge for us Selah God for things agreeable to his (m) 1 Joh. 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 Will in the Name of (n) Joh. 16.23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing Verily verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you Christ with Confession of our (o) Psal 32.5 I acknowledge my sins unto thee and mine iniquity have I not hid I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Selah V. 6. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found surely in the floods of great waters they shall come nigh unto him Dan. 9.4 And I prayed unto the Lord my God and made my confession and said O Lord the great and dreadful God keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him and to them that keep his commandments Sins and thankful Acknowledgment of his (p) Phil. 4.6 Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Mercies Q. What Rule hath God given for our Direction in Prayer 2. A. The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in (q) 1 Joh. 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 Prayer but the special Rule of Direction is that Form of Prayer which Christ taught his Disciples commonly called The (r) Matth. 6.6,10,11,12,13 After this manner therefore pray ye Our Father c. Luk. 11.2 And he said unto them When ye pray say Our Father c. Lord's Prayer PART IV. A short Exposition of the Lord's Prayer IN the Lord's Prayer there are three Parts 1. A Preface 2. Six Petitions 3. The Conclusion 1. Q. What doth the Preface of the Lord's Prayer teach us A. The Preface of the Lord's Prayer which is Matth. 6.9 Our Father which art in Heaven teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy Reverence and Confidence as Children to a Father ready to (a) Rom. 8.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear but we have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Luk. 11.13 If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him help us and that we should pray with and for (b) Acts 12.5 Peter therefore was kept in prison but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him 1 Tim. 2.1 I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men V. 2. For kings and for all that are in authority c. others 2. Q. What do we pray for in the first Petition 1. A. In the first Petition which is Hallowed be thy Name Matth. 6.9 we pray that God would enable us and others to glorifie him in all that whereby he maketh himself (c) Psal 67.2 That thy way may be known upon earth thy saving health among all nations V. 3. Let the people praise thee O God let all the people praise thee known and that he would dispose all things to his own (d) Psal 83. throughout Glory Q. What do we pray for in the second Petition 2. A. In the second Petition which is Mat. 6.10 Thy Kingdom come we pray that Satan's Kingdom may be (e) Psal 68.1 Let God arise let his enemies be scattered let them also that hate 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 destroyed and that the Kingdom of Grace might be (f) Rev. 12.10 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 down which accused them before God day and night V. 11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death advanced our selves and others brought into it and kept in (g) 2 Thess 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 Rom. 10.1 Brethren my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved Joh. 17.9 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 it and that the Kingdom of Glory may be (h) Rev. 22.20 He which testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so Come Lord Jesus hastened Q. What do we pray for in the third Petition 3. A. In the third Petition which is Mat. 6.10 Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven we pray that God would make us able and willing to know obey and submit to his Will in all (i) Psal 67. throughout Psal 119.36 Encline my heart to thy testimonies and not to covetousness Matth. 26.39 And he went a little farther and fell on his face and prayed saying O my Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt 2 Sam. 15.25 And the king said unto Zadock Carry back the
ark of God into the city if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord he will bring me again and shew me both it and his habitation Job 1.21 And said Naked came I out of my mother's womb and naked shall I return thither the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord. things as the Angels do in (k) Psal 103.20 Bless the Lord ye his Angels that excel in strength and do his commandments hearkening unto the voice of his word V. 21. Bless the Lord all ye his hosts ye ministers of his that do his pleasure Heaven Q. What do we pray for in the fourth Petition 4. A. In the fourth Petition which is Mat. 6.11 Give us this day our daily bread we pray that of God's free Gift we may receive a competent Portion of the good things of this Life and enjoy his (l) Prov. 30.8 Remove far from me vanity and lyes give me neither poverty nor riches feed me with food convenient for me V. 9. Lest I be full and deny thee and say Who is the Lord And lest I be poor and steal and take the name of my God in vain Gen. 28.20 And Jacob vowed a vow saying If God will be with me and keep me in this way that I go and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on 1 Tim. 1.4 For every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving V. 5. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer Blessings with them Q. What do we pray for in the fifth Petition 5. A. In the fifth Petition which is Mat. 6.12 And forgive us our Debts as we forgive our Debtors we pray that God for Christ's sake should freely pardon all our (m) Psal 51.1 Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving-kindness according unto the multitude of thy mercies blot out my transgressions V. 2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin V. 7. Purge me with hysop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter than snow V. 9. Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities Dan. 9.17 Now therefore our God hear thou the prayer of thy servant and his supplication V. 19. O Lord hear O Lord forgive for thine own sake Sins which we are the rather encouraged to ask because by his Grace we are enabled from the Heart to forgive (n) Luk. 11.4 And forgive us our sins for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us Matth. 18.35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses others Q. What do we pray for in the sixth Petition 6. A. In the sixth Petition which is And lead us not into Temptation but deliver us from Evil Mat. 6.13 we pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to (o) Matth. 26.41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into Temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak Sin or support and deliver us when we are (p) 2 Cor. 12.8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me tempted 3. Q. What doth the Conclusion of the Lord's Prayer teach us A. The Conclusion of the Lord's Prayer which is Mat. 6.13 For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever Amen teacheth us to take our Encouragement in Prayer from (q) Dan. 9.4 And I prayed unto the Lord my God and made my confession and said O Lord the great and dreadful God keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him and keep his commandments V. 7. O Lord righteousness belongeth unto thee but unto us confusion of faces as at this day to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and unto all Israel that are near and that are far off through all the countries whither thou hast driven them because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee V. 8. O Lord to us belongeth confusion of face to our kings to our princes to our fathers because we have trespassed against thee V. 9. To the Lord our God belongs mercies and forgivenesses though we have rebelled against him V. 16. O Lord according to all thy righteousness I beseech thee let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from the city Jerusalem thy holy mountain because for our sins and for the iniquities of our fathers Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us V. 17. Now therefore O our God hear the prayer of thy servant and his supplications and cause thy face to shine upon the Sanctuary that is desolate for the Lord's sake V. 18. O my God incline thine ear and hear open thine eyes and behold our desolation and the city that is called by thy Name for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness but for thy great mercies V. 19. O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord hearken and do deferr not for thine own sake O my God for thy city and thy people are called by thy Name God only and in our Prayers to praise him ascribing Kingdom Power and Glory to (r) 1 Chron. 29.10 Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation and David said Blessed be thou Lord God of Israel our father for ever V. 11. Thine O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine thine is the kingdom O Lord and thou art exalted as Head above all V. 12. both riches and honours come of thee and thou reignest over all and in thine hand is power and might and in thine hand it is to make great and to give strength unto all V. 13. Now therefore our God we thank thee and praise thy glorious Name him And in testimony of our Desire and Assurance to be heard we say (Å¿) 1 Cor. 14.16 Else when thou shalt bless with the Spirit how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at the giving of thanks seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest Rev. 22.20 He which testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Jesus V. 21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all AMEN Amen or So be it The Ten Commandments EXODUS XX. GOD spake all these words saying I am the LORD thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage I. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me II. 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 thy self to them nor
said unto him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee As he saith also in another place V. 6. Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck V. 7. Who in the days of his flesh when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him who is able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared of a Priest and (z) Psal 2.6 Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion Isa 9.6 For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his Name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace V. 7. Of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and justice from hence forth even for ever the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this Matth. 21.5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion Behold thy King cometh unto thee meek and sitting upon an ass and a colt the foal of an ass Psal 2 8. Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession thou shalt break them with a rod of iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel V. 10. Be wise now therefore O ye kings be instructed ye judges of the earth V. 11. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling of a King both in his Estate of †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 V. 9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name V. 10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth V. 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Humiliation on Earth and Exaltation in Heaven 29. Q. How doth Christ execute the Office of a Prophet A. Christ as our Redeemer executeth the Office of a Prophet ‖ Heb. 1.1 God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets V. 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the worlds in revealing to us by his †Joh. 1.18 No man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him 1 Pet. 1 10. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you V. 11. Searching what or what manner of time the spirit of Christ which was in them did signisie when it testified before-hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory which should follow V. 12. Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven which things the angels desire to look into Word and Spirit the * Joh. 15.15 Henceforth I call you not servants for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doth but I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you Will of God for our Salvation ‖ Joh. 20.31 These things are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing you might have life through his Name 30. Q. How doth Christ execute the Office of a Priest A. Christ as our Redeemer executeth the Office of a Priest (a) Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God. V. 28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation in his once offering up of himself a (b) Ephes 5 2. And walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour sacrifice to satisfie Divine Justice and (c) Heb. 2.17 In all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people Rom. 5.9 Much more then being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him V. 10. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life reconcile us to God and in making (d) Heb. 7.24 But this man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable Priest-hood V. 25. Wherefore he is able to save to the utmost those that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them continual Intercession for us 31. Q. How doth Christ execute the Office of a King A. Christ executeth the Office of a King (e) Psal 110.1 The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool V. 2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion rule thou in the midst of thine enemies V. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth Acts 15.14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles to take out of them a People for his Name V. 15. And to this agree the words of the Prophets as it is written V. 16. After this I will return and build again the Tabernacle of David which is fallen down and I will build again the ruins thereof and I will set it up in subduing us to himself (f) Isa 33.22 The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King he will save us in ruling (g) Isa 32.1 Behold a King shall reign in Righteousness and Princes shall rule in Judgment V. 2. And a Man shall be as an hiding-place from the wind and a covert from the tempest as Rivers of Waters in a dry place as the shadow of a Rock in a weary Land. and defending us (h) 1 Cor. 15.25 For he must reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his feet Psal 110.5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through Kings in the day of his wrath V. 6. He shall judge among the heathen he shall fill the places with the dead
God through our Lord Jesus Christ V. 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice 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 (t) Rom. 14.17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Increase of Grace (u) 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 (x) 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 45. Q. What benefits do Believers receive from Christ at death A. The Souls of Believers are at their death made perfect in (y) 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 Holiness and do immediately pass into (z) 2 Cor. 5.1 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 confident knowing that whilst 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 the Lord. Phil. 1.23 For I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Luk. 23.43 And Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee to day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Glory and their Bodies being still united to (a) 1 Thess 4.14 For if we believe Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him Christ do rest in their (b) Isa 57.2 He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness Graves till the (c) Job 19.26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God. V. 27. Whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my reins be consumed within me Resurrection 46. Q What benefit do Believers receive from Christ at the Resurrection A. At the Resurrection Believers being raised up in Glory (d) 1 Cor. 15.43 It is sown in dishonour it is raised in glory it is sown in weakness it is raised in power shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the Day of Judgment (e) Mat. 25.23 His Lord said unto him Well done thou good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Matth. 10 32. Whosoever shall confess me before men him will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven and made perfectly blessed in full enjoying of God (f) 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 but in part but then I shall know even as I am also known to all Eternity (g) 1 Thess 4.17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we be ever with the Lord. V. 18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words PART II. What Duties God requires of Man in his holy Law. 1. Q. What is the Duty which God requireth of Man A. The Duty which God requireth of Man is Obedience to his (h) Mic. 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God 1 Sam 15.22 And Samuel said Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord Behold to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams revealed Will. 2. Q What did God at first reveal to Man for the Rule of his Obedience A. The Rule which God at first revealed to Man for his Obedience was the Moral Law (i) Rom. 2.14 For when the Gentiles which have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the law are a law unto themselves V. 15. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts their consciences also bearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another Rom. 10.5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law that the man which doth those things shall live by them 3. Q. Where is the Moral Law summarily comprehended A. The Moral Law is summarily comprehended in the (k) Deut. 10.4 And he wrote on the tables according to the first writing the ten commandments which the Lord spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly and the Lord gave them unto me Matth. 19.17 And he said unto him Why callest thou me good there is none good but one that is God but if thou wilt enter into life keep the commandments ten Commandments 4. Q. What is the sum of the Ten Commandments A. The sum of the Ten Commandments is To love the Lord our God with all our Heart with all our Soul with all our Strength and with all our Mind and our Neighbour as our (l) Matth. 22.37 Jesus said unto him Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind V. 38. This is the first and great commandment V. 39. And the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self V. 40. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets selves 5. Q. What is the Preface to the Ten Commandments A. The Preface to the Ten Commandments is in these words Exod. 20.2 I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage 6. Q. What doth the Preface to the Ten Commandments teach us A. The Preface to the Ten Commandments teacheth us That because God is the Lord and our God and Redeemer therefore we are bound to keep all his (n) Luk. 1.74 That he
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 III. Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy God in vain for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain IV. Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy Six days 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 eattel nor the stranger that is within thy gates For in six days the 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 V. Honour thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee VI. Thou shalt not kill VII Thou shalt not commit adultery VIII Thou shalt not steal IX Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife nor his man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his ox nor his ass nor any thing that is thy neighbour's The LORD'S Prayer MATTH VI. OVR Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this Day our daily Bread. And forgive us our Debts as we forgive our Debtors And lead us not into Temptation but deliver us from Evil For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever Amen The CREED I Believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth And in Jesus Christ his Only Son our Lord which was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into * i. e. Continued in the state of the Dead and under the power of Death till the third Day Hell the third Day he arose again from the Dead he ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty from thence he shall come to judge the Quick and the Dead I believe in the Holy Ghost the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints the Forgiveness of Sins the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting Amen FINIS PART II. A sensible Demonstration of the existence of God. SECT I. God is I. ALL Religion and Righteousness is grounded upon this foundation That God is Besides the belief I have in God by revelation and Spiritual sense I am convinced that he is by these evident proofs laid all together 1. I am certain that I was come into the World before I knew of my coming 2. I am certain I made not my self I was before I knew my self to be what I am 3. I am certain my Parents and other Persons and Creatures were in being before me 4. I am certain that no Being is so likely to make himself and all other things as Man is because he is a rational Being of great invention and contrivance 5. No Men of this inquisitive and learned Age pretend to make or to be present at the making of the admirable frame of the Universe and if any Man or Men of former Ages had made the World we of this Age should have found them in it For 1. They who could make themselves could preserve themselves 2. They who could make themselves and the World must needs be great and happy 3. They who were once great and happy and always continued to be so For 1. if they did depose or divest themselves of their happiness freely and of choice they were defective in Wisdom to exchange a happy Being for a less happy or for nothing and by consequence were not wise enough to make the World. 2. If they grew weary of themselves they were not happy 3. If they were constrained to unmake themselves they were not superior but subject to other Powers Therefore I believe there were no such Men no such self-makers and makers of other things I conclude that I am made by another who made all things else and he is the first infinite Cause in which my thoughts and belief do rest who is infinitely Wise Great and Good to whom be glory for ever Again it is impossible to prove there is no God for all things are mediums to prove that he is and there is no medium to prove that he is not Lastly all Men Die they who are prepared and willing do believe in God they who are unwilling cannot refuse to Die therefore there is a Superior Power that is Lord of Life and Death and he is the living God. SECT II. Of the Holy Scriptures The Scriptures are of God. 1. NO Man can know the mind and will of the infinite God Creator and Governor of the World except he be pleased to make it known That his will should be known is necessary or else we could not worship nor please him by doing his Will. 2. Besides the light of Nature we have his will made know by revelation by which God who made the World is so revealed and declared that as sure as I am that God made the World so sure am I that God gave the Scriptures to direct us in the way of Duty and Happiness 3. I find the Book of God in the possession of his Church and People like a Royal Charter in a City by which the City is constituted and governed and enjoy their privileges When I peruse the Charter I know it to be the King 's and no private Mans invention or forg'd instrument I know the great Charter of the City of God to be his Word 1. By the matter of it For instance Who can describe or declare the infinite God by his Glorious Names and Titles and attributes but himself Who can declare his relation to himself as Father Son and Holy Ghost but himself Who can prescribe his Worship make Laws set down rewards and declare what shall be in the World to come but himself 2. I observe the Style and Manner of speaking the manner of revealing the admirable consent of the Old and New Testament tho given the one so long before the other the scope of the whole their perfection and efficacy as able to make a Man Wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 by the operation of the Holy Ghost Authority of the Scriptures 1. The Scriptures derive their Authority from God their Author The Church is not the Author of the Scriptures therefore they derive not their Authority from it The Testimony and Tradition of the Church is but Ministerial We are directed to place our faith in the Word as it is Gods who gave it by inspiration 2 Tim.
in the Bread and Wine But they tell us we must believe Well then we believe our Saviour was alive when they did eat that he was not dead before he was Crucified therefore the Disciples did not eat his Body nor drink his Blood. If they did not eat and drink that Body and Blood did he create a Body and Blood for them to eat and drink did he create one for them all or did every one of them eat a several body Take either way it will then follow they did not eat his Body and drink his Blood who rose from Table as whole as he sate down We believe that what those Communicants did eat and drink all believers do still eat and drink they did not eat and drink it therefore neither do we They understood our Saviours meaning it was a Sign a memorial as Circumcision was called the Covenant Gon. 17.3 See Gen. 41.26 Joh. 15.1 chap. 10.9 1 Cor. 10.4 3. The Cup of blessing belongs as much to every Communicant as the Bread Our Saviour and his Ministers gave both and Communicants received both See Mat. 26.26 1 Cor. 10.16 1 Cor. 11.25,26 Besides these I shall lay down several truths contrary to so many errors 1. There is a distinction between Ministers and Stewards and the family of Believers 1 Cor. 4.1 As Christ and the Apostles did so Ministers and Stewards take Bread and Wine bless break give 1 Cor. 10.16 which we bless c. The Communicating believers do join with the Pastor in prayer and thanksgiving and then they take and eat and drink and that is all they ought to do Except the Bread and Wine are Consecrated to that end according to our Saviours institution it is no Sacrament It is not true therefore that the Lords Supper was instituted that the Faithful might break the Bread. 2. In shewing the Lords Death we shew 1. The nature and end of his death as a Sacrifice to God for sin 1 Cor. 5.7 1 Cor. 11.24,25 Mat. 26.28 Mark 14.24 Luke 22.19,20 2. The painfulness of his death 3. The All-sufficiency satisfaction and merit of it 4. We humbly shew it by Faith to God as a propitiation and price of Redemption and plead it and rest upon it 5. We shew it against accusations of Conscience and all other from Satan and the World. 6. We shew it to all the Churches as one Body 1 Cor. 10.11 Therefore to shew the Lords Death is more than to thank Christ for his love and to celebrate the good turn of his suffering with praise 3. The resurrection ascension and intercession of Christ are his own mediatory actions therefore that is no good reason why Christ ordained this remembrance of his death because it was the chief or most properly his own action 4. We receive Covenant Blessings as well as give thanks at his Supper 1 Cor. 10.16 5. Assurance of pardon is not necessary before we eat and drink this Supper it is a help to assurance but it is a feast for the weakest believers that thirst that discern the Lords Body and examine themselves 6. This in the words This is my Body doth not comprehend all the Sacramental actions each of which hath its particular edifying instructing signification 7. We do not only partake of Christ's benefits but have Communion with his Body and Blood 1 Cor. 10.16 8. To bless is ill expounded to use it To use the Cup is not a Sacramental Scripture Phrase To bless it according to the institution of our Saviour is peculiar to the Minister the congregation joining with him and beholding the Sacramental actions and hearing the words This is my Body Take eat This do c. In those congregations where the houshold of God do not receive every one from the hand of the Minister but take themselves the whole is first blest broken poured out and the words of institution and command repeated or it is no Sacrament as was said before See 1 Cor. 11.24 All do use it as they say but all do not bless it 9. True believers have spiritual real nourishing and comforting Communion by Faith with the Body and Blood of Christ and not a figurative Benefits flow from Communion See again 1 Cor. 10.16 SECT XXVI Of the Lords Prayer 1. TAke both Evangelists Matthew and Luke together and it appears that this prayer is both a form of prayer and a pattern for prayer and yet it is rather a form of matter than of words seeing both those Holy Writers do not keep to the same words And why it may not be used as a prayer as well as the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God the Father and the Communion of the Holy be with you let them who use the one but disuse the other consider of it yea much rather because there is not so much as pray or bless the Assembly after this manner said of that solemn form of dismission which is said of this prayer 2. The matter and method of it is Wonderful and deserves our study that it may be understood We are taught how to conceive of God as a Glorious Father that his glory should be our aim above all things how we should be affected towards him and his Kingdom how our Wills should come in to his Will concurr with it and submit to it in all things we are taught how small a portion of the World should content us how we should acknowledge him to be the giver of all to have our dependance upon him and to have daily recourse to him by prayer We are taught to confess our sins to him and be earnest for pardon and to what degree of grace we should grow even to forgive and love our enemies We are inform'd of our greatest dangers and evils and to pray for deliverance from evil and temptations to evil and how we should praise and magnify him as glorious in our eyes 3. We are not tied to the very words and syllables of it as is before intimated yet it is as strange that it is not used at all by some as that it should be the only prayer in the account of others 4. We do not conclude our other prayers with this as if this made our other prayers acceptable we are heard for our faith in Christ and sincerity of our hearts and not for these words 5. All our petitions are ultimately referr'd to the glory of God our highest end in the first petition 6. Great care should be taken that all our prayers both private and publick do agree with this holy rule of prayer All Christians should conspire to pray the same things and be alwaies disposed to maintain Communion with God and with all his People as Brethren and Children of the same Heavenly Father 7. We should so pray as being in earnest and maintain our fervency to the last sealing our prayers with an Amen of fervent desire Faith and trust The end of the second Part. PART III. The Christian instructed