thine is the Kingdome c. Q. These words are for matter and forme a thanksgiving What do we ascribe to God therein A. We acknowledge that Kingdome a over all the world and b power to doe what he will and c glorious excellencies do belong to God our Father in Heaven And we ascribe the praise thereof to him The excellency of Grace Majesty Mercy Power any thing whereby one may be magnified and extolled is the Lords peculiarly and transcendently 1 Chron 29.11 Rev 4.10 11. a 1 Tim. 1.17 Psal 103.19 Dan 5.21 b Psal 115.3 Psal 62 11. Rev 4.8 9. Deut. 32.31 c Esay 6.3 5. Esay 43.7 Rom 9.17 Q. What is required to an holy and right praising of God A. Two things 1. We must labour to have our hearts a affected with his glorious excellencies and greatnesse Conditions in right Thanksgiving as being the fountaine b of all the good we are or have a Esay 12.4 Psal 126.2 3. b 1 Chron 29 11 12. Psal 116.12 13 14. Mic. 7.18 Q. What 2ly must we doe If we desire to praise God aright A. We must endeavour to Live and Dye unto him who loved us first we must use all mercies which we receive from Him unto his Honour and service Psal 50.23 Ps 18.1 2. Rom 14.8 2 Cor. 5.15 Rom 12.1 2. Q. Wherefore is this clause added to the end of the Lords prayer A. To teach us that the hearing answering of our Prayers is grounded on a Gods own goodnesse b greatnesse and c glory and by them he is engaged to hear us We must presse God with the interest of his own glory power and Kingdome for hearing and helping of us a Ezek. 36.22 32. b Mic. 4.8 Dan. 3.16 17. 2 Chron. 14.11 c Ier 14.8 21 22. Exod 32.11 12. Iosh 7.9 Q. What must they do that ascribe all these to God A. We must set a up God in our hearts as â—upream King make him our Rock and Fear not b giving any part of his glory to any creature a Matth. 10.37 Luke 12.5 Ier. 10.7 Esa 8.12 13. b Dan. 2.30 Q. For ever What doth that word import A. That Gods a Kingdome power and glory in and over the Church is everlasting it failes not and that the Church shall b ascribe the same unto him in all ages and throughout all eternity When all Kings and Kingdomes shall cease when we are dead and gone yet Christ remainâ— a King of the Church and shall be magnified in it a Dan. 7.14 Esa 50.2 Esa 46.3 4. b Eph. 3.21 Rev. 5.13 14 according to that antient doxologie used in the Churches of Christ Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost Hooker Pol. lib. â— 8. 42. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Rom. 11.36 Rev. 5.13 AMEN Q. What doth that Word import A. Amen being set after any prayer or thanksgiving it doth imply our consent confidence and desire that the thing shall be as is uttered Deut. 27.15 16. Jer. 11.5 Jer. 28.6 1 Kings 1.36 2 Cor. 14.16 Q. What followes hereof A. That we must understand attend unto and affect the things prayed for else how shall I say Amen They that pray in an unknown tongue or gaze up and down or fiddle about their cloathes and other matters and complements in time of prayer do not bear a part in Prayer their Amen is fruitlesse and vaine 1 Cor 14.16 Rev. 22.20 CAP. XLVIII Of the right Vse and Abuse of the Lords Prayer Q. HOw may a Christian make a right use of the Lords prayer A. We may use it both for a Rule of prayer to measure our requests make other prayers by and also for a prayer it selfe as it was delivered by Christ Christ puts matter words into our mouthes Christ taught his Apostles to pray as John taught his Disciples that is He did not only give Rules of Prayer a patterne but a form for them to use Mat. 6.7 9. Luke 11.1 2. If you ask May we pray our Father c our Lord Christ gives the Answer when you pray say Our Father c. Of set Formes Prayer Q Is a Set Forme of Prayer lawful either of our own making or delivered to us in a book A. Yes it is else Christ and the Prophets would never have delivered set formes to be used by the Church God appointed Formes and therefore formes be not â— themselves unlawful the prayer is not evill because it is a formed prayer Num 6.23 26 Ioel 2 17. 1 Chron. 16.7 35. 2 Chron. 29.30 He gives the forme he sets them the words to be used and it was at a solemne Fast too Q. But is a set forme of Mans making lawfull to be used by us A. Yes If the prayer for matter and substance be lawful and such as concernes us we may safely use it We may use the words of Moses Daniel Nehemiahs prayer Q. Is stinted prayer lawfull that is set prayer to which one is confined and tied to use no other Of stinted prayer A. That 's unlawfull both in publick and private he that confines himselfe to book-prayers or to the prayers of others with whom he joynes or to set prayers of his own devising can never discharge the duty of right praying Ps 50.15 Jer. 14.7 21. Ezra 9.6 Dan. 9 5. They changed their Prayers with the occasions Q. Why so A. Because 〈◊〉 prayers must be made according to our necessities and neither book nor men with whom we joyne in prayer can expresse all o u wants and griefs nor I my selfe this day what I shall need pray for to morrow Yet it concludes not that set prayer or prayer with others for so much as it doth contain of meet matter to be asked is hereby unlawfull Because by such prayers we are not stiâ—ted but have liberty both the Ministers in their Congregations and our selves in private to enlarge our prayers as causâ— requireth There is addes between lawâ—â—ll and sufficient such a measure of Petitions is sufficient for the publike or the family which is not sufficient every way to all my occasions and that prayer may be sufficient at one time which is not at another Q. But in praying must we not exercise the spirit of prayer And can that be done in a set or book prayer A. Yes the spirit of prayer is when we begge in faith with feeling and fervency with sights and groanes and that is done when we joyne with others or use set formes as well as in sudden ex tempore conceived prayers As a Begger in true want beggs hard if there be any hope of obtaining and yet peradventure the next day or to the next man useth the same words or to the like effect the varying of a phrase doth not make it the spirit of prayer Mat. 26.39 42 44. with Heb 5.7 2 Cor. 13.14 with 2 Thes 3.17 18. Col. 3.16 The songs are not lesse
Infants did not knew what was done unto them yet Christ gave them both his blessing an outward signe of it He layd his hands on them 2. Next Christ gives a reason why he did this because to them belongs the Kingdome of Heaven and remission of sins Now if Christ esteeme it a sufficient reason why Infants should be admitted to the signes of his blessing because the Kingdome of Heaven belongs to them then who shall dare forbid them or debarre them from baptisme the first signe of the Covenant of Grace Q. What if the immediate parents be believers onely in shew may their Children be baptized A. Yes for First the profession of the faith is sufficient 2ly Children of professors have right to Baptisme by vertue of the first Covenant with Abraham in whom we have as true an interest as the Jewes ever had Acts 8.12 13 37. with Acts 10.47 Gal. 3.29 Rom. 11.17 So that the wickednesse of the immediate parent doth not prejudice the right of the child for then Hezekiah should not have been circumcised because he had a wicked father No covenant or condition of mans making must be set above the covenant conditions set by Christ to make them void to beleevers Godly parents have sometimes gracelesse children Carnal Parens have sometimes gracious children Q What can Baptisme profit Infants seeing they have no faith A. Very much for as men by deed and seale convey lands to heirs that shall bee borne as well as to them that be already born so doth God by his Promise which takes its effect in due time As Gods Promise that Abrahams seed should inheri-Canaan did not take effect till 430 years after yet then it spake and failed not And as our children are taken Tenants and made members of some Manour or Lordship by the delivery of a white wand or the like ceremony when they be little the which Tenements they enioy when they come to age so doth Gods covenant of peace and Grace made in Baptisme take its effect in due time God is the great Landlord of Heaven he puts our Childrens life into that coppy c. Q. What if they doe not perform the condition when they come to age A. Then they can have no good of their Baptisme 1 Pet. 3.21 Neh. 5.13 God will shake them out of his Church Rom. 2.28 As you put a childs life into a Living when he is of age he enjoys it But if he refuse to do Homage or to pay the Lords rent then he forfeits his Living so c. CAP. LI. Of the Lords Supper Q. WHat is the outward signe in the Lords Supper A. Bread and Wine given and received as Christ hath ordained Q What is the thing signified and remembred in and by them A. The death of Christ when he offered up his righteous soule a sacrifice for sin gave his body to be broken and his bloud to be shed for sinners Esay 53.6 8 10. Luke 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.24 25 26. Q. The Bread and Wine then are not turned into the very body and blood of Christ by the consecration of the Elements as if Christ should be there bodily present A. No by no means Against Transubstantiati for the Heavens must containe his body till he come again for our full redemption And it is as impossible for Christs body to be in Heaven and Earth in ten thousand places R. 1 at once as it is for one of us This conceit of Papists is not only against our senses of sight and taste and feeling but also against an Article of Faith namely the truenesse of Christs humane nature in his Incarnation and against that Article of Christs sitting at the right hand of God Gods Omnipotency doth not make a true body to be in many places at the same instant of time Act. 3.20 21. Luke 24.6 Q Shew some other reasons against Transubstantiation and the reall presence of Christ in the Eucharist R. 2 A. The Bread which is broken in the Sacrament cannot be his very body because his very body is whole and the Sacrament sets forth Christ broken for us Therefore it is a remembrance not a transubstantiation 1 Cor. 11.24 We set forth his death we do not kill him again Q. Shew a third reason R. 3 A. All that eat the flesh of Christ and drink his bloud in the Scripture sence are saved But all that eate of the Masse are not saved Therefore the Masse and the Scripture-eating agree not Iohn 6.51 53 54 57. Q. Shew a forth reason against the bodily eating of Christ R. 4 A. Because if one should eat a piece of his flesh as his finger or foot c. that would not profit Ioh. 6.52 61 63. What if the Souldier that pierced him had tasted of the blood which came out of his side could that have done him any good surely no for our redemption stands in the satisfaction which by his dying he made unto the Law and the means by which we eat his Flesh and drink his Blood is not with the Mouth and Teeth but Faith in the heart Q Then Christ is not offered up a Sacrifice for the quick and dead in the Eucharist as the Papists teach Catechismus Rom. part 2. c. 4. A No for as Christ cannot dye and suffer often so neither is he offerâ—d often But by one sacrifice of himself once offered he hath put away sinne for ever He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified by once dying else were his sacrifice weak and imperfect like the sacrifices of Aarons Priests Our duty in the Sacrament is to receive him by faith not to offer him in sacrifice to God In the Sacrament God offers Christ to us we do not offer him to God Heb. 9.25 26 28. with Heb. 10 10 11 12 14 Rom. 6.10 Ioh. 1.29 The offering of Christ once made is a perfect redemption propitiation and satisfaction for the sinnes of the whole World both originall and Actuall and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone Art 31. of Ch. Eng. Q. What followes hereof A. Therefore the Masse is a very Idoll and they that use it Papists be Idolaters or adore it or ascribe to it the vertue of Christs sacrifice are very Idolaters The sacrifice of Masses in the which it was commonly said that the Priests did offer Christ for the quick dead to have Remission of Paine and Guilt were blasphemous fables and dangerous deceipts ibid. Q. What then is the meaning of these words This is my body A. Paul tells us it is the Communion of the body bloud of Christ that is an ordinance wherein the faithfull have exhibited to them a fellowship in the merits and vertue of the Sacrifice of Christs death 1 Cor. 10.16 17. Exod. 24.8 as the Cup is called the New Testament Christ is called our Passeover 1 Cor. 5.7 The Lords supper is a Sacrament of our redemption by Christs death insomuch that to
satisfaction the debt is never pâ—â—d Gods Justice is better contented in Christs sufferings for a time then in the creatures for evermore and for the sinnes of the Elect then for the sinnes of the damned Q. If God be satisfied then we are discharged from the curse of the Law and all our debt to Gods Justice A. We are soâ— because Christ our surety hath fully answered the Law for us so that nothing remaines to be charged on us Gal. 3.10 13. Rom. 8.33 34. Q. But how did Christ answer the Law for us A. By a bearing all that punishment which is due to breakers of God Law and by b fulfilling all that obedâ—ence which it requireth of us a Phil. 28. Ro. 5.19 b Mat. 5.17 Joh. 8.29 Mat. 3.15 Rom. 8.3 We that are sinners stand bound to God in a double debt 1. Of satisfaction for sins past 2. Of obedience for time coming This the Law requireth of us and thus much Christ hath performed for us Q. What is the second part of Christs Priestly office A. To make intercession for us Of Christs intercession Rom 8.34 Heb. 7.25 Q. What meane you by Christs intercession A. Christ stands between God and us he presents us and our prayers to God pleads his merits for our acceptance Christ appears in the presence of God for us as the high Priests did with the names the twelve Tribes in the Holy of Holies Heb. 9.24 1 Joh. 2.1 Rev. 8.2 3. Exod 28.28 29 38. Q. What then be the parts of Christs intercession A. They be two 1. To present and tender to his Father his owne bloud which he shed for our sins And 2ly To make requests for us Thus did the high Priest who was a Type of Christ enter into the Holy of Holies which was a figure of Heaven with the bloud of a Bullock a Goat which did signifie Christs bloud and with Incese which did signifie his prayers for the people Thus did the High Priest when he went into the Holy of Holies to make atonement and reconciliation for the people Lev. 16.5 12 13 14 15 16 19. And thus doth Christ our High Priest for us now in Heaven Rev. 8.2 3. Heb. 9.12 23 24. Christ carried his own bloud into Heaven Q. What is the effect and fruit of this part of Christs Priestly office 1 Pet. 2.5 Heb. 7.25 Heb. 9.14 A. By this applying and pleading of his sacrifice for us both our persons and our services are accepted with God Exod. 28 38. Q. What followes of all this A. Therefore we must go to God only by Christ and not by any Creature Saint or Angâ—ll 'T is Christs office not theirs to appeare in our behalfe before God Heb 4.14 16. with Heb. 5.4 5. Q. How doth it appeare that he is a Priest to you A. Because he gives me peace of conscience in his bloud and hath made me a Priest to offer up spirituall sacrifices to God by him Rev. 1.6 1 Pet 2.5 Rom. 12.1 CAP. XII Of Christs Kingly or Ruling office Propheticall Teaching office ALL the Benefits obtained by Christs Priestly Office are conveyed unto us by his Kingly and Propheticall office Q. Is Christ the King of the Church A. Yes 2. Of Christs Kingly office Christ is the only King over the Church It is such an Honour that God thinkes it fit for none but his Son Heb. 1.8 9. Col. 1.15 18. Christ is the first borne of every Creature He is the Head and Husband of the Church and therefore he alone is fit he alone is able to gather a Church to rule his Church and to deliver it from those mighty Principalities and Powers which fight against our soules Mat. 2.2 Rev. 19.16 1 Tim. 6.15 Rev. 15.3 Q. What kind of Kingdome or dominion hath Christ over the Church A. It is not of this world nor like the Kingdomes of earth But it is a spirituall Kingdome ordering the businesse of the soule and the affaires of Heaven Col. 1. 13. Rev 1.18 3.7 All things belonging to it are spirituall the means of gathering and governing it are spirituall the weapons of our warfare are spirituall the blessings and priviledges are spirituall the enemies of it are spirituall c. Q. What be the parts of this spirituall Kingly office of Christ A. They be foure 1 To deliver us out of the hands of our spirituall enemies to turne us from darknesse to light from the power of Satan unto God and so to translate us into the Kingdome of Jesus Christ Act 26 18. Col. 1.13 Luk. 1.74 Q. What be those spirituall enemies out of whose hands Christ doth deliver us A. Foure 1ª Sinne. 2 b Satan 3 c The curse of the Law And Lastly d Death All these be enemies to our salvation and over them all Christ doth give us the victory a 1 Pet 4.2 1 Joh 3.8 Mat 12.20 Rom 6.7 b Rom. 16.20 1 Ioh 4.4 c Rom 7.1.4 8.33 d 1 Cor. 15.55 57. Q. What is the second part of Christs Kingly office A. To give us Laws and Rules to order and governe us being thus gathered in the wayes of truth and righteousnesse Esay 9.6 7. Gal 6.16 Mat 28.20 Q. Then they wrong Christ in his Kingly office that challenge a power over the conscience to bind it with sin or duty A. They doe so because it is Christs prerogative to give Lawes to the conscience Esay 33.22 Mat. 23.8 10. Iam. 4.12 Men may order the outward man by their Lawes Col. 2.11.21 12. but the conscience is Christs peculiar they may not meddle with that to bind where Christ hath set free And where Christ hath bound no man can set us free 1 Cor. 7.24 2 Cor. 11.20 Gal. 5.1 Q. What is the third part of Christs Kingly office A. To subdue our lusts to rule in our hearts by his Word and Spirit and to keep us in obedience to his Lawes Psal 110.2 3. 45.5 2 Cor 10.4.5 Luk 19.14 27. Ezek 34.23 24. Q. What is the fourth part of Christs Kingly office A. To defend and preserve us amidst all tentations unto his Kingdome of glory Christ doth take order with the Enemies of his Church Kingdome he discovers and confounds their plots and devices He restraines their rage and sets bounds to their malice at last he casteth them into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Rev. 2.10 Luk. 18.7 8. Esa 43.2 Amos 9.9 Ezra 6.8 11 22. Esth 3.8 13. with Esth 6.1 6. with Esth 8.5 8 11. with Esth 9.1 22. Rev. 19.20 Q. By what means doth Christ gatheâ— him a Kingdome and carry on the Government thereof A. a Not by the arm of flesh b buâ— by spirituall weapons viz. His Word Sacraments and the exercise of the keyes which we call discipline a 2 Cor. 10.4 Esa 11.4 Eph. 6.11 12. b Joâ— 20.23 Mat. 18.17 18. Q. Then it is not lawfull for Christians by force of Armes to erect Christs Kingdome much lesse is it
Christ Q. WHat is the substance of this Article A. To acknowledge Jesus Christ the Son of Mary to be the Son of God the Saviour of the World the true Messiah that was to come Mat. 16.16 17. Joh. 9.35 38. Q. Why is Faith in the Sonne of God joyned to the former Article A. Because it is necessary to salvation to know God in Christ out of Christ no man knows God aright Joh. 17.3 6.29 8.24 14.1 Whatsoever God is to his Church he is it in Christ the Attributes of God are sweetned unto us in Christ Q. What is Jesus Christ A. The eternall Sonne of God both God and Man God before all time and Man in the fulnesse of time Col. 1.15 16. Ioh. 8 57 58. Rom. 1.3 4. Col. 2.9 Q. Why is he called Jesus A. Because he saveth his people from their sinnes Mat. 1.21 Heb. 5.9 Q. Why is he called Christ A. Because he is anointed of the Father Act. 10.38 Ioh. 3.34 Q. What doe you meane by this anointing A. It signifieth that Christ is sealed fitted and furnished with all Graces Power and abilities to save us Ioh. 10.36 Ioh. 6.27 Esay 42.6 Esay 61.1 Col. 1.19 Q. Unto what Offices and Workes was Christ set apart and fitted A. To a threefold office First To be a Priest by the offering up of himselfe in death to pacifie his Fathers wrath towards us Heb. 9.7 26. Levit. 4.20 Q. To what second Office was he anointed A. To be a King of soules to deliver his people from the power of Sinne and Satan and to guide them through all temptations to Heaven Luk. 1.74 Eph. 1 21 22. 1 Cor. 15.25 Q. To what office else A. To be a Prophet effectually to teach his Church Joh. 6.45 Joh. 1.18 2 Cor 3.3 Luk. 4.18 Q. God hath given these Offices to Christ with intent to bestow the benefit fruit and profit of them upon his Elect. How doth it appeare that Christ is a Christ to thee or that Christ is thy Christ A triall whether we be Christians A. Because in some measure I am made partaker of Christs anointing that is of his fulnesse I have received Grace to know him to conquer my corruptions and am willing to sacrifice my dearest contentments to his will am enabled in some measure to serve him acceptably Rom. 12.1 1 Pet. 2.5 1 Joh. 2.27 Jer. 50.20 His onely Son our Lord. Q. Is Christ the only Son of God A. Christ is the only Son of God by Nature that is of the same substance and essence with the Father we are the Sons of God by favour and adoption we are not so born but by grace we are made partakers of that dignity to be the Sons of God Joh. 10.30 Gal. 3.26 Gal. 4.5 Q. Why is he called our Lord A. Because having bought us he hath a propriety in us and dominion over us as a Lord to rule and command us and none else hath power over us He is made both Lord and Christ to rule all things of his Fathers Kingdome both in Heaven and Earth 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Cor. 7.23 Luk. 1.32 33. Esay 9.7 Esay 26.12 13. 2 Pet. 1.9 Act. 10 36. 1 Cor. 15.25 27. Q. What do you believe in this Article A. I believe that the eternall and consubstantiall Sonne of God who is every way fitted and abled to save soules is my Saviour and that by him delivering me from Sinne and Satan I am become the Sonne of God Mat. 16.16 17. CAP. XVIII Of the Incarnation of the Son of God Which was conceived by the Holy Ghost THE conception of Christ stands in three thing 1. The framing his Body of the Virgin Mary 2. The seperating of originall sinne from it 3. The uniting of that Nature to the Godhead in the instant of his conception Q. Christ is God equall with his Father from all Eternity How came he to be Man A. In the fulnesse of time he took flesh of the Virgin Mary and was born of her as we be of our mothers a perfect man as we are so that there is true God and perfect man in one person Joh. 1.14 Gal. 4.4 Phil. 2.6 7. Heb. 2.17 Esay 7.14 Joh. 3.13 Rom. 9.5 Q. Why did he take mans nature on him A. That he might be put under the Law to stand in our room and in our nature to satisfie for our sinnes at his Incarnation he entred into our bonds as being God he could neither suffer death nor be made obedient to the Law Heb. 2.14 Heb. 9.22 Heb. 10.5 10. Q. How was he conceived A. Not by the power of nature as we are of two Parents but by the power of the holy Ghost which did frame his body of the substance of the Virgin Mary and united it to the Godhead Luk 1.35 Joh. 3.13 Eph. 4.9 Q. All that be borne of women be sinners How came Christ to be conceived and borne without sin A. Because he was conceived by the power of the holy Ghost who did separate originall sinne from his nature Luk. 1.35 that holy thing Heb. 7.26 Heb. 4.15 Q. Why must Christ be without sin A. Because else he could not save sinners Heb. 7.27 28. Else he must like the High Priest offer for his own sins as well as for the peoples Q. Why was he borne of a Virgin A. To answer the Prophesies that hereby it might appeare that he was the true Messias spoken of by the Prophets Esay 7.14 Ier. 31.22 Heb. 7.3 Q. Why of that Virgin of the stock of David and Abraham A. Because the promised seed was to come out of the loynes of Abraham Salvation is of the Jewes Gen. 12.3 Gen. 22.18 Gal. 3.16 Joh. 4.22 Q. What do you believe in this Article A. That the eternall Son of God remaining God did take my nature on him and in that nature did satisfie for my sins In which being now advanced to Gods right hand he doth execute as Mediator all things belonging to the Kingdome of God Q. How doth the true beliefe of this Article affect our hearts A. In that wonderfull Person I admire Gods infinite wisdome and love in contriving and working mans salvation As he is in himselfe a wonderfull Person so he is to me I look to the man that is Gods fellow and dwels in the everlasting burning Eph. 3.8 9 10. Zach. 13.7 CAP. XIX Of Christs sufferings the vertue of them Suffered under Pontius Pilate Q. DID Christ suffer for himselfe A. No He was no debtor to the Law and therefore what he suffered was for us and in our stead as our surety Esa 53.4 5 6. Heb 9.9 1 Pet. 3.18 2 Cor. 5.21 Heb 7.22 Mat. 3.14 15. Dan. 9.26 Rom. 4.25 Q. What did Christ suffer in our stead A. The whole punishment due to out sinnes the whole wrath of God in his soule and body which we should have suffered Esay 53.4 10. Mat 26.38 39. Rev. 19.15 1 Pet 2.24 Psal 22.14 Rom. 8.32 Q. When did he