them were to receive and from which none of them might swerve Question 59. What is it to believe the Articles of the Christian faith Answer To believe rightly and fully contains in it these 4 things 1 Knowledge for how shall we believe in him of whom we have not heard It 's impossible for a man to believe a thing which he never knew Rom. 10.14 2 Consent without wrangling against the Christian faith So Agrippa is said to believe that is he gave consent to the things written in Scripture as to the truth of God 1 Tim. 6.3 Acts 26 27. 3 Cleaving or sticking to the Christian faith for faith is a hand that holds every thing fast and though many men may seem to believe yet he is not a Disciple nor a believer indeed that doth not continue in the word of Christ John 30.31 4 Though they may be truly said to be believers and Christians in whom the three former things are yet that our faith may be a saving faith we must apply the Doctrine of the Gospel and Jesus Christ who is the sum of it unto our own soules 1 Tim. 1.15 Question 60 What help is there for this applying of Christ to our owne soules Answer 1 It is needfull that we see and feele our miserable condition out of Christ both in respect of the corruption that bears sway within us and of the condemnation that is due unto us and if a Remedy be not provided remains for us John 16.8 9. Rom. 3.19 20. Ephes 2.3 2 We must hearken unto God preaching Jesus Christ unto us as our onely and effectuall remedy with a gracious offer and assurance of ease by him if we feeling our need of him come unto him Mat. 11.28 3 Having so great a need and hearing so gracious an offer we are by the grace of God brought to fly unto and cast our selves upon Jesus Christ that so we may have the benefit of his merits to free us from the condemnation of sin and of his Spirit to free us from the corruption of sin and this flying and cleaving to Christ with full purpose of heart and a resolution to receive him upon his own tearms is that saving applying of him whereof the question here is made Question 61. And what is to be done by us after this application Answer As we doe apply Christ unto our selves that we may be saved by him so must we apply our selves unto Christ that he may be served by us being no lesse willing that he should rule us then desirous that he should save us Col. 2.6 Acts 9.6 Question 62. What generall use is there to be made of this second part of our promise to wit the believing of the Christian faith Answer A Four-fold use 1 To learne to know God in Christ in which knowledge alone eternall life is to be lookt for John 11.3 This puts a difference between Christians and Heathens who acknowledge a God but not in Trinity 2 To goe out of our selves and fly to the righteousnesse of Christ wherein especially true Christianity confists this puts a difference between us and Jewes us and Papists us and civil honest men who while they will be saved by the Law of Moses and rest upon their own righteousnesse are of all other men the most unchristianly 3 To live righteously for that also the Christian faith teacheth Tit. 3.8 2.10 11. And this puts a difference between us and prophane men who living in unclean and filthy sins be Heathens though they be baptized for good Christians doe not so learne Christ Ephes 4.19 20. 1 Thess 3.4 4 To cleave to the Christian faith constantly John 6.68 And this puts a difference between us and Hypocrites who declare themselves to be Christians in shew onely not in deed because they continue not in Gods word John 8.31 Question 63. Why shall not a man be saved if he live honestly in any Religion Answer No He that believes not shall be damned Mark 16.16 Our fore-fathers the Martyrs might have liv'd honestly and kept from the fire but they knew they were bound to believe and to stick to every Article of their Christian faith and therein they kept faith fully the Vow of their Baptism even with the loss of their lives Question 64. What further thing is there promised in Baptism besides the forsaking of the Devill the world and the flesh and the believing of the Articles of the Christian faith Answer To lead a godly and a Christian life Question 65. Wherein doth that consist Answer 1 In keeping Gods holy will and Commandement 2 In walking in the same and that all the dayes of our life Question 66. What is meant by Gods holy will and Commandements Answer That will of God which is revealed to us in his word for the commanding and ordering of our conversation Question 67. Why is it said to be Gods holy will Answer Because it is holy in it self Rom. 7.12 Prov. 30.5 and makes those holy that be due observers of it Psal 19.9.119.9 Question 68. What is it to keep Gods holy will and Commandements Answer It may signifie in generall the placing settling of Gods word in our hearts and soules Deut. 6.6 In particular it may imply these three things 1 The receiving of it into our minds by faithfull knowledge Col. 3.16 For learning and keeping goe together Deut. 5.1 A man cannot keep what he hath not that is that he understands not Mat. 13.19 2 The laying of it up in our memories Mal. 4.4 For what a man forgets is lost not kept Prov. 3.1 3 The observing regarding and reverencing of it in our hearts it being hid there so as to keep us from sinning against God Psal 119 11. Question 69. For what purpose ought we thus to keep Gods Commandements Answer That we may walk in the same all the dayes of our life Hence it is said Deut. 5.1 Keep them to doe them which must not be for a time onely but all the dayes of our life Deut. 6.2 5.29 Deut. 6.14 18. You shall keep 17. and thou shalt doe 18. Question 70. It being a generall truth and of large extent that we should make the word of God the guide of our walk for all our time here and the orderer of our wayes declare unto me some speciall heads whereunto the word of God is to be applyed and wherein the use of it may appear in the whole course of our life Answer The Rule of Gods word that we may be Governed in all things by direction of it is to be applyed 1 To our generall calling 2 To our particular calling 3 To all our carriage 4 To our condition Question 71. In regard of our generall calling and as we be Christians how is the Rule of the word of God to be set before us Answer So as to shew unto us 1 What duties are to be done and in what manner 2 At what time they are to be done Question 72. What 's the
4 Paines 5 Pain in the farewell and parting with it He hath cut off his right hand and pluckt out his right eye with this one hand and cast it from him too 4 He carefully and continually searcheth himselfe and goes down with light into his heart 5 He is jealous of his owne heart for 't is deceitfull and fears it for 't is desperate and therefore goes not with it without a sword the word he will not trust it in holiest practices and most heavenly perswasions 6 He doubts of none but of himself suspects most his own graces and the witnesse of his own spirit lest Satan shine like an Angel of light and say 't is the testimony of Gods Spirit with ours 7 He walks daily with God humbly and heavenly wishing that none saw his good but God and men his evill he cares not if Christ loves him how he appears 8 He eats and drinks as if Christ sate at the Table his bodily food is sweetned and seasoned with some heavenly meditations or holy discourses his speech is powdered with salt he feeds not heartily but riseth hungry till then 9 He is verily afraid of indifferent things and avoids all appearance of evill 10 He is carefull of his Calling onely in love to Gods Command with feare of the world 11 He buyes and sells not to gain but to godlinesse they are but poor professors that live no better then they bargain they trade as all at the best as most doe and is not this the broad way where many goe You shall know a Christian as by his Church so by his shop 12 His dayes of Humiliation are his Holi-dayes his delights are Christians Sabbaths and society of Saints not only publick but in private he fears many times he is not one but desires ever and is earnest to be one of the excellent ones the secret ones and sincere ones 13 He is open hearted and open handed to all he can no more keep sin close then his Coin he can give well and lend as well as borrow and can take as well a reproof as a kind nesse he is simple in evill he cannot cover or excuse it in the Lords work he is carefull and cleanly and a good workman but in the Devils work he is a very bungler he cannot bandsomely sin or excuse it 14 He is content to have his spirituall estate tryed by any not only by a searching Minister in publick but by a private friend he opens his heart freely for others to ask and gives Answer of his hope with meeknesse and fear 15 His thoughts are bound in with a holy compasse and his words are not idle he speaks not to spend the time in impertinent powerlesse or discoverlesse things but to minister grace to men glory to God and to doe good or receive good his life is a light and leads and provokes to goods works 16 He doth not a good duty in grace but he goes to the utmost of it he aimes not at the Butt but at the midst of the white he is zealous in good works fervent in spirit serving the Lord pressing hard to the price of the high Calling perfecting holinesse in fear 17 He hath heard no more then he practiceth and prayes not only in fear of Gods Command and his own conscience but in love to have a communion with God in Christ by the Spirit 18 His ears are open to the whole word he believes the threats and trembles he fears also the Promises lest he come short 19 He hath a respect to every Command such a respect I say as a man hath to his betters his heart stands in awe to every Commandement 20 He prayes in the holy Ghost his Petitions and intercessions are made by the Spirit and sent up with sighes by the intercession of Christ unto God the father the Spirit cries before he cries he speaks not first and then he looks for the Spirit to quicken his words but his words follow the Spirit with much affection fervency faith and fear 21 He hath found out the Hell of his heart and feels the flames of it in secret self-love hidden hypocrisie horrible blasphemy c. and somtimes pride possessed with the whole damned Crew mentioned 2 Tim. 3.2 3 4 5. and elswhere In a word he hath found an emptinesse and an enmity to all good 22 He sets his face against the body of sin and every member of it he seeks and receives some power daily from Christs Crosse to crucifie every lust and he watcheth the Sepulchre lest it rise again 23 He daily desires the virtue of Christs Resurrection and he is risen and walks in new obedience in holinesse and heavenly mindednesse 24 He is ever poor in spirit and is known 1 By his continuall complaints 2 B importunate Prayers 3 By uncessant paines for righteousnesse 25 He is never found in his own but if he can be in Christs Righteousnesse all the rest is dung 26 He ever forgets others sins and his own graces observes others graces and his own sins 27 He not only loves the Saints but honours the excellent ones and rejoyceth at Gods glory and at any good done by others as done by himself 28 He mourns in secret for his 1 Owne sins 2 Others 3 For the dishonor of God 4 For the danger of the Gospel 5 For the disgrace of Gods people 29 He walks humbly with God lying ever at his feet looking up ar the Throne of grace to the Lord in Jesus Christ 30 He lives by faith eats and drinks and sells and buyes in Christ In a word he will not receive any earthly Creature a spirituall Crosse nor a heavenly grace and blessing but by the hand of Christ 31 He looks for and longs and loves the appearing of Christ he hastens his coming Amen even so Lord Jesus come quickly 2 Tim. 4.5 2 Pet. 3.12 Rev. 22.28 A Christian CATECHISM Opening the first Principles and most fundamentall points of RELIGION As they are expressed in the BELIEF Question WHat is the Belief Answer It is a profession of our Christian faith Question Is it a Prayer Answer No. Question How doth a profession of faith differ from a Prayer Answer Prayer is a speech directed to God wherein we desire that something may be given or forgiven us but a profession of faith is a speech directed usually to men wherein we expresse to them what we do believe Question Why doth every one in particular say I believe I believe Answer Because every man must in particular know what he himselfe doth believe and so be ready to declare what is his faith upon which he groundeth his hope of eternall life Question What doe you mean when when you say I believe in God In God Answer I mean that I know and am assured that God is such a one as he hath in his word declared himself to be and that I doe trust in him Jer. 31.34 Isa 26.4 Question What is that word
businesse or from thy sleep rise the earlier that thou and thy family may pray together in the morning Mark 1.35 work the harder that businesse being dispatcht thou and thy Family may have a time to read and to pray together in the evening Question 116. What Help or Motive is there for the establishing of a course of prayer in private Families notwithstanding all worldly businesses Answer There are these two helps 1 Have serious thoughts of God Take a time to hear and pray for God can tell very well what time thou hast yea make a time dispatch businesse out of the way for God can tell very well what time thou mayest have and whether it be thy worldly busines that hinders thee or an abominable lothnesse to be about any spirituall businesse 2 Have reverend thoughts of prayer Men have base and Atheisticall thoughts of Religious exercises to wit that so much time is lost in them without any good at all to be expected from them Hence it is that they are so willing rather to loose a prayer then a penny but look upon prayer as a familiar communing with the most glorious God Gen. 18. last as the supplyer of all our wants Luke 11.9 10. as a shelter from all danger Ezra 8.21 22. as the setler sanctifier prosperer of all businesse Gen. 24.12.15.27 I say conceive thus of it and neglect it if thou canst Worthy thoughts of better things will devise wayes to enjoy them but infidelity abandons duty Mal. 3.4 Question 117. Is not a speciall time also to be taken as there shall be occasion for speciall and extraordinary exercises Answer By all means come to fasting and humiliation from any work from any content Joel 2.16 1 Cor. 7.5 Be more willing to loose a day than a duty then such a duty although a day is no more lost in such a service than that day is lost that a man spares to get a thousand pound debt struck out or to get a pardon for his life Such godlinesse is great gaine Question 118. Hitherto of the applying of Gods word unto the duties of our generall calling shew me now what directions we may have from it as concerning our particular calling Answer Concerning that the word of God directs us three wayes 1 It shewes that every man must have a Calling 2 It guides a man for the choosing of his Calling 3 It teaches him how to behave himself in it Question 119. How doth it appear that every man is to have some calling or other Answer The first Adam and the second the two only innocent men that ever lived upon the earth had both of them a calling Adam drest the Garden and Christ was a Minister of the Circumcision Gen. 2.15 Rom. 15.8 And that all men generally ought to have a Calling appears by these three things 1 We be Christians and therefore must not live disorderly 2 Thess 3.10 12. but abide in a Calling 1 Cor. 7.20 2 We be Servants and therefore must not live idlely and licentiously that Christ our Master should find us sleeping or drinking 1 Thess 5.3 6 7. Mat. 24. end but waiting and working doing and so doing as belongs to us in our places Luke 12.36.43 3 We be Stewards and therefore must not live carelesly or improvidently for we must give an account of our stewardship Talents we have to Trade withall and from them yea if we have but one of them advantage is expected Neither will our Master be content to receive his own again but he must receive his own with usury Mat. 25.27 And in ill case are idle persons whether Beggars or Gentlemen yea in a damnable condition because God wil take not onely the abominable but the unprofitable Servant and cast him into outer darknesse and that most justly nothing being more unreasonable than that a man should be a Servant and that of God himself and doe no work Question 120. How may a man judge according to Scripture what Calling to make choise of Answer A man may judge of that two wayes 1 By his own gifts and disposition For we shall still find in Scripture that God either chose or made men fit for those employments to which he called them David that was to be a victorious King had courage and might 1 Sam. 17.26.32 2 Sam. 17.10 Solemon that was to be a glorious King had wisdome and a large heart Jehu was apparently a man fit to be what God called him to be a through Executioner 2 Kings 9.20 and Timothy was in sight a man fit to make a Minister of 1 Tim. 1.18 2 By Gods calling and disposing to wit by ordinary lawfull means and the motions and desires of men in the society wherein we live who taking notice of our gifts accordingly take order to dispose of us as Gen. 47.6 1 Kings 11.28 Question 121. May not a man in some cases change his Calling Answer A man may change his Calling in three cases 1 If there be a mistake and a man by his owne error or others over-ruling be fallen upon a Calling unsuitable to his gifts and crosse to his naturall inclination The reason of this is because all outward calls must be regulated by the inward Mans call must be corrected by Gods call and a mans employments should be sooner or later sutable to his Talent and endowments 2 Though a man be apt for the Calling wherein he is yet if he be able also for a greater he may for the publick good change a meaner for a more excellent Calling 3 When a mans Calling cannot maintain himselfe and his family he is inforced to change it for some other profit able Calling which he is able to manage out of respect to his own necessity But for a man to change his Calling for another below his gifts because he loves his ease and profit Or for another that is above his gifts because he desires a greater gaine and affects an estimation above his worth this is unlawfull and unjustifiable Question 122. How must a man be conversant about his Calling Answer 1 Providently Prov. 27.23 c. 2 Kings 20.23 Boaz had one to oversee his servants yet he comes to the field to oversee them and the overseers too Ruth 2.4 5. 2 Diligently Pro. 27.23 Lazinesse is next to idlenesse and doing sluggishly to doing nothing what a man undertakes he should doe it with all his power Eccles 9.10 with Genesis 31.6.40 3 Faithfully not trusting to our own toiling as if it were in our owne power to get wealth Deut. 8.18 but building upon Gods blessing Pro. 10.22 4 Moderately that is 1 Not hindring our selves in the exercises of Religion Luke 10.39 40. To be so busie as that the six dayes will not serve as to have no leisure for private and family prayer to have so much to doe with the world as to shut out God that he can say nothing to us nor we to him this is to be peny wise and to labour after the food
Q. What is that everlasting death which sin brought upon our first parents A. It is that death which is caused by the everlasting separation of the whole man from the presence and glory of the Lord which wicked and ungodly men shall suffer in Hell fire Rev. 20.6 Zech. 1.9 Q. Did our first parents bring themselves only into this miserable estate by their sin A. No by this grievous offence of our first parents they and all their children to the world end were made children of wrath subject to death and him who hath the power of death Rom. 5. Ephes 2.32 Q. How could the sin of our first parents make their posterity subject to so much misery Answer Very well because they sin'd not only as particular persons but as the root or fountain of mankind and so their corruption floweth from them with their corrupt nature unto all who by ordinary generation receive their nature from them Question Must all men then dye and perish everlastingly Answer No although Almighty God might in Justice condemn all men yet he is pleased in mercy to save some Psa 130.3 Question What means hath God in mercy for the salvation of men Answer He hath given his Son Jesus Christ our Lord that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3.16 Question Doe you then believe in the Son of God Answer Yes I believe in Jesus Christ his onely Son our Lord. And. Question What is it to believe in Jesus Christ Answer It is from an inward evidence of heart concerning that unseen salvation which is in him to cleave unto him as the one and onely author of eternall salvation Heb. 11.1 John 6.68 69. Heb. 5.9 Question Why was the Son of God called Jesus In Jesus Answer Because he was to save his people from their sins as the word Jesus importeth which sign fieth a Saviour Mat. 1.21 Question Why was our Lord Jâ—sus called Christ Christ Answer Because he was the great Messiah or anointed one of the Lord spoken of of the Prophets for so much the name Christ signifieth an anointed one importeth John 4.25 Dan. 9.25 Question Why was our Saviour called the anointed one of the Lord Answer Because those three great Offices the Kingly Priestly and Propheticall to which men were by Gods appointment anointed in their perfection in him who was appointed by God to be the heavenly King or Governour of his Church the heavenly Prophet or instructer of his Church and the eternall Priest who by one Offering of himself perfected for ever them that are sanctified and ever appeareth in the true holy place Heaven it self to make intercession for them 1 Kings 1.39 Exod. 29.7 1. Kings 29.16 Psal 2.6 Acts 7.27 Heb. 7.25 Heb. 10.14 Heb. 4.24 Question How was our Saviour anointed to these Offices Answer He was anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power Acts 10.38 Question What benefit hath the Saints by these Offices of our Saviour Answer Much every way for they need fear no spirituall enemy who have such a King to defend them they may with boldnesse come to God who have such a Priest appearing in the presence of God for them they may be sure of the knowledge of God who have such a Prophet to instruct them 1 John 4.14 Luke 1.74 75. Heb. 10.22 John 15.15 Question Seeing the Saints receive so great benefit by our Saviours Offices are there no duties which they owe to him in respect of them Answer Yes as he is their King so they must obey him as he is their Priest so they must rest upon his all sufficient Sacrifice and intercession and as he is their Prophet so they must attend unto him that they may be instructed by him 2 Cor. 10.5 Heb. 10.19 Mat. 17.5 Question How doth our Saviour being now in Heaven execute his Kingly and Propheticall Office in his Church on Earth Answer By his holy Spirit and holy word whereby he inwardly and outwardly Governes his Church as a King and instructeth it as a Prophet Rom. 8.9 Psal 110.2 Ephes 3.5 Col. 3.16 Question Whose Son is our Saviour Jesus Christ His. Answer He is the Son of God the father Almighty Mat. 3.17 Question Hath the Almighty any more Sons Answer Only Son No Christ Jesus is his only Son John 1.14 Question How then doth the Scripture call all the Saints the Sons of God Answer The Saints of God are his by his gracious adoption but our Lord is his only begotten Son by miraculous and unutterable Generation Rom. 8.15 John 1.14 Question Why is our Saviour Jesus Christ called Lord Our Lord. Answer He is called Lord both in regard of his Godhead wherein he is one Lord with the father and the holy Ghost and also in regard of the great Lordship and power which is settled upon him by God the father Mat. 28.10 18. Acts. 20.36 Question VVho are they that may in a speciall manner call Christ Jesus our Lord Answer All the Saints of God who are traâ—slated out of the power of darknesse into the spirituall Kingdome of Jesus Christ the dear Son of God and are therefore his subjects and servants and so have him for their Lord Col. 1.15 Rev. 1.9 Question VVas Jesus Christ our Lord ever in the world Answer Yes in the fullnesse of time appointed by his father he came into the world Gal. 4.4 Question How came our Lord Jesus Christ into this world Who was conceived Answer He was conceived of the Holy Ghost and born into the world of the virgin Mary Luke 1.35.12.6 7. Question VVas our Saviour conceived by the power or means of any man Of the holy Ghost Answer No the Holy Ghost without man conceived our Lord Jesus in the bowells of his blessed mother being still a pure virgin Mat. 1.18 Isa 7.14 Question VVhy then is Joseph the husband of Mary in the Scripture called our Lord Christs father Answer Because he was his mothers espoused husband and so supposed to be his father though indeed he was not his true and naturall father Luke 3.23 Question VVhat doe you learn by knowing that our Lord Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost Answer I learn thereby two things 1 That he was God 2 That he was altogether without sin Question How doe you learn that Christ Jesus our Lord was God by knowing that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost Answer Because I know that the Holy Ghost is God and therefore that he who was conceived of him was God as he who is conceived of man is man Luke 1.35 Question VVas our Lord Jesus Christ God then Answer Yes he was eternally and now is and for ever shall be one with the father and the holy Ghost God blessed for evermore Isa 9.6 John 1.1 Rom. 9.5 Question How doe you learn that our Lord Jesus Christ was altogether without sin by knowing that he was conceived by the holy Ghost Answer Because our Saviours conception of the