the Câ—mmandments of God Ps. 103. 17 18. Dan. 9. 4. 9. Assure your selves if you neglect this duty God will require their blood at your hands Gen. 9. 5. with Acts 20. 26. It is here with Parents as with Ministers if you do not warn and teach them God will require their blood at your hands Ezek. 3. 18. Object But teaching is the work of the Minister Answ. It is not only his but yours his in publick yours in your Families 10. Sin and corruption is so inherent in Children in their nature that all the care of Ministers in publick and Parents at home will be little enough to heal this plague of original corruption This plague is like the Leprosie There must be scraping and if cleansing will not do there must be pulling down So that you see all is little enough without teaching your Children may perish and you smart for it Object 1. But Children may do well that are not thus carefully instructed Answ. 1. They may do well as to the outward man they may prosper in the world God may cause his Sun to shine upon the unjust and the unthankful But Parents are to wish that their Children may do well as to the inward man and prosper in their Souls as John for his friend Gaâ—us 3 Joh. 2. 2. They may perish eternally for want of Knowledge Hos. 4. 6. 3. If some Children happen to come to good no thanks to such careless graceless Parents that neglect instruction at home Object 2. But we have known them that have been taught well enough to have made bad proof A. 1. This is too sadly true to be denied But the fault may be in one of the Parents by their bad example And Children as well as the conclusion in syllogizing will follow the worse and weaker part yet this is blame-worthy in Parents 2. Good Parents have severely smarted for their neglect of strict Discipline in their Families and their over great fondness in cockâ—ring their Children as you may read in Eli and David 1 Sam. 3. 13. 2 Sam 13 and 14 and 15. 1 Kings 1. 6. 3. But if the Children of good Parents prove bad this should make us more diligent If a Garden well weeded and kept down prove thus ill Is this any encouragement to sloth but rather a spur to double diligence Two or three Motives to excite to the Duty of Catechizing Let it be remembred that you are not perswaded to invade the ministerial office or to become of this or that Opinion or Party but to fall forthwith upon the practice of a manifest yet indispensable Duty 1. How doth the love of God dwell in your hearts when they are hardened against your Children Simon lovest thou me then feed my Lambs They are Gods Children and therefore you must bring them up in the â—â—ture and admonition of the Lord. The Children of any in Covenant with God are called his Children Ezek. 15. 21. When the woman of Samaria knew Christ she desired that all her Neighbours might also know him 2. Are they not your Children You shall diligently teach them to your Children they are bone of your hone and flesh of your flesh Are we to instruct one another and not our own Children 3. What a comfort will this be to you if you faithfully discharge this most profitahle Duty For 1. Such Parents shall have joy of their Children Prov. 23. 24. Ruth 4. 15. David and Bathâ—sheba had much comfort of Solomon which they had not of their other Children 2. You shall have spiritual rejoycing 2 Joh. 4. 3. You will gain a good evidence of the truth of grace in your hearts 4. You that thus propagate piety shall sow good seed that will endure to many Generations Jer. 33. 18. 5. You may avoid many crosses and heart-breaking sorrows which negligent Parents ordinarily meet with Abraham taught his Children and see what comfort he had of them He had a numerous Family 318. instructed Servants born in his own house Gen. 14. 14. and yet no disorder or disturbance there He had a numerous Family and yet a peaceable Family 1. Abraham Circumciseth Ishmael and yet it was a painful Sacrament 2. Isaac makes no oppâ—sitiâ—n when to be made a sacrifice to the Will of God 3. Yâ—u have a religious Servant Gen. 15 and 24. 4. At his death he gives what portions he pleaseth and yet you find no discord among them Gen. 25. 5 6. As you therefore desire peace in your Families and in after Generations bring them up in the fear of the Lord. On the contrary you Parents that teach your Children Arts and Trades and not Gods Commandments why you are making way for your own cross and vexation what heart-breaking will they be to you As 1. In their matching Prov. 17. 21 25. Gâ—n 26. 34. 35. 2. Their sins will be put upon your score and have you not sins enough of your own 3. Their perishing will be put upon your account Oh what fretting and cursing will there be at your meeting your Children in Hâ—ll Have you not heard of Children that have cursed Parents upon the Gallows Oh when the Word of God tells you that some evil will befall your Children how should this trouble you As it was said of Jeroboam that he made Israel to sin for all that succeeded pursued his sins even so you by your cursed ignorance negligence and slâ—th may propagate sin and misery from Generation to Generation to your Children We are to look upon this duty as one of the prime Ordinances of divine institution there was Family teaching before there was any other teaching 'T is the opinion of an eminent Divine that more Children are seasoned with grace by iâ—steâ—ction of Paâ—ents than by preaching Towns are made up of Families and where they are wicked in Towns Kingdoms cannot â—e righteous Our misery begins in bad Families This duty of Catechizing therefore is of as great weight as any which is commanded in the word of God Thus far he whose name I shall conceal because I have published it without his privity and consent though I hope not against his liking and approbation If any of you shall please diliâ—ently and impartially to examine Concordâ—nces and most Catechisms you will soon find that the former do furnish us rather with sounds than sense and that in the latter upon comparing the truths and the alledged Texts together there is so wide a distance that you will the better perceive the dâ—fficulty of our present undertaking notwithstanding all the forementioned helps than at first possibly you have imagined If you find any pertinency of the Scriptures produced for confirmation of the truths they refer unto in this Explication I know it will be acceptable to you and it is no less than what I have endeavoured after If you espie many proofs under any Principle of Religion it is either because that the truths there are more weighty or that the cavils against them are more
whereby we are received into the number and have a right to all the Priviledges of the Sons of God Explic. Q. Whos 's act is Adoption A. God the Fathers act Q. What moved him to it A. Only his free-grace Q. What is it for men to Adopt Children A. To take strangers into their Families and account them their Children and accordingly to take care of them as it they were their own Q. What is it for God to Adopt Children A. To take them which are strangers and by nature Children of wrath into his Family and to receive them into the number and give them right unto all the Priviledges of the Sons of God Q. What are those Priviledges which the Adopted Children of Gâ—d have a right unto A. The Priviledges which the Adopted Children of God have a right unto are 1. Gods Fatherly protection of them from temporal and spiritual evils 2. Gods Fatherly provision of all needful things both for their Soul and Body 3. Gods Fatherly correction of them 4. Gods Audience and return to their Prayers 5. A sure Title to the Inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven Q. 35. What is Sanctification A. Sanctification is the work of Gods free-grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the Image of God and are enabled more and moâ—e to die unto sin and live unto Righteousness Explic. Q. Whos 's work is Sanctification A. It is Gods work Q. What moved him to sanctifie us A. His free-grace alone Q Wherein doth our Sanctification consist A. In our Renovation Q. What is the subject of our Sanctification A. The whole man Understanding Will Conscience Memory Affections which are all renewed and changed in regard of their qualifications and all the Members of our Body in regard of their use being made instruments of righteousness Q. According to what Pattern is this work wrought A. After the Image of God which consists in knowledge righteousness and true holiness Q. Wherein is our Sanctification begun A. In our Regeneration and effectual calling wherein our minds are first enlightened and the habits of all graces are infused Q. How is our Sanctification carried on A. It is carried on by degrees as God doth bless all dispensations especially his Ordinances through them to communicate further measures of his Spirit and Grace Q. Wherein is our Sanctification perfected A. In our Glorification when we shall be made perfectly free from sin and fully conformable to the Image of God Q. You have described the habit of Sanctification which lies in being renewed in the whole man after the Image of God wherein stands the exercise of Sanctification A. In dying unto sin and living unto righteousness Q. What is it to die unto sin A. To cease to love and practise it Q. What is it to live unto Righteousness A. To spend the whole strength and time of our lives in the practise of righteousness Q. Is this work done perfectly and all at once here upon earth A. No we are enabled more and more so to do Q Wherein doth Sanctification differ from Iustification and Adoption A. 1. Justification and Adoption are acts of God without us Sanctification is a work of God within us 2. Justification and Adoption do make a relative change Sanctification doth make in us a real change Q But since Scripture calls Iustification our righteousness as well as Sanctification why do you make them to differ A. 1. Justification is an imputed righteousness Sanctification is an inherent 2. Justification is a righteousness that makes a change in the sinners state whereby he becomes absolved at the Bar of divine Justice for Justification is a Law-state it abolisheth the convincing power of sin or its Guilt but Sanctification is a righteousness wrought in the sinners person whereby he becomes a new creature Q. 36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from Iustification Adoption and Sanctification A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from Justification Adoption and Sanctification are Assurance of Gods Love peace of Conscience joy in the Holy Ghost increase of Grace and perseverance therein to the end Explic. Q How many sorts of benefits are there which do belong to those which are Iustified Adopted and Sanctified A. There are three sorts 1. Benefits in this life 2. Benefits at death 3. Benefits at their Resurrection Q. What benefits belong to them in this life A. These five 1. Assurance of Gods Love 2. Peace of Conscience 3. Joy in the Holy Ghost 4. Increase of Grace 5. Perseverance in Grace to the end Q What are the benefits which do accompany or flow from the sight and sense of our Iustification Adoption and Sanctification A. Assurance of Gods Love peace of Conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost Q. What mean you by the Assurance of Gods Love A. Our knowing our selves to be in â— a justified estate Or the knowledge of Gods unchangeable Love towards us Q. What by peace of Conscience A. That serenity of mind which ariseth out of a true sense and right apprehension of the Love of God towards us in Christ. Q. What do you mean by joy in the Holy Ghost A. The Spirit 's bearing witness with our spirit that we are the Children of God and that our names are written in Heaven Q Doth the Scripture warrant any distinction between the Faith of Affiance and the Faith of Evidence or the assurance of Gods Love A. That it is one thing to be Justified which is done by the Faith of Affiance and another thing to have it manifest to our Consciences that we are so which is done by the Faith of Evidence is very clear from 1 Ioh. 5. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have Eternal Life Q Do the other benefits increase of Grace and Perseverance therein to the end accompany or slow from the Being of Iustification Adoption and Sanctifiâ—aâ—tion A. Yes Q. How may a Child of God get assurance or a sure Evidence of his Iustification and Adoption A. By his Sanctification Q. What is a sure Evidence of that A. Increase of Grace Q. Do all truly Iustified and Adopted persons increase in Grace A. 1. Negatively they do not at all times Actually increase in Grace for some of them may at some times be under declinings and decaies of Grace 2. Affirmatively they are alwaies of a growing disposition and desirous to grow in Grace and at some time or other they grow And many times they do grow when they do not perceive themselves to grow but fear that they decline Q. Do all truly Iustified Adopted and sanctified persons persevere in Grace to the end A. They do persevere in Grace to the end and shall assuredly attain the heavenly Inheritance Q. How prove you that A. 1. From the
you that A. 1. Because the Will of God as secret is a peculiar Treasure which he hath put in his own power and will keep to himself 2. Because a man may sometimes sin in fulfilling the secret Will of God and be ashamed repenting in dust and ashes that he hath done it 3. Because all Creatures do this Will of God and none ever resisted it Q. Is the revealing of an event which God hath determined or those Actions whereby that event shall be brought to pass the Rule of Mans obedience A. No Q. But are not Gods own positive and ceremonial Laws this Rule of Mans obedience A. No. Q. How prove you that A. 1. Because they were so burdensome a yoke that neither we nor the Jews themselves were ever able to bear them 2. Because they were never pleasing to God irrespectively of themselves neither did he at all ever take delight in these Laws themselves simply considered 3. Because these positive Laws were such by which men should never obtain Eternal Life Q. What Law then is that which is the Rule of Mans obedience A. The Moral Law Q. Why is it so called A. Because it hath a perpetual binding power in all Ages unto the end of the world Q. When was this revealed A. At first Q. How understand you that A. Two waies 1. This Law was at first given to Adam in Innocency God having written it on his heart some small remainders whereof abide yet in mans nature 2. This Law was first revealed by Gods immediate voice after written in Tables of Stone and given to the Church as a perpetual Rule for their obedience Q. 41. Wherein is the Moral Law summarily comprehended A. The Moral Law is summarily comprehended in the ten Commandments Explic. Q What is it for the Moral Law to be summarily comprehended in the ten Commindments A. To have the summ and chief Heads of the Law contained in them Q. 42. What is the summ of the ten Commandments A. The summ of the ten Commandments is to Love the Lord our God with all our Heart and with all our Soul and with all our Mind and with all our Strength and our Neighbour as our selves Explic. Q In how many Tables were the teâ— Commandments at first written A. In two Tables of Stone Deut. 10. 1 2 4. Q. How many Commandments are comprized under the first Table or first great Commandment A. The soâ—r first Q How many under the second Table or second great Commandment A. Six Q. Do the Papists well in leaving out the second Commandment and in their dividing the tenth into two A. No Q. What is the comprehensive Duty of all the Commandments written in these two Tables A. Love Rom. 13. 9. For this Thou shalt not commit Adultery Thou shalt not Kill Thou shalt not Steal Thou shalt not bear false Witness Thou shalt not Covet And if there be any other Commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying Namely Thou shalt Love thy Neighbour as thy self The like may be said of all the Commandments of the first Table Q What is the summ of the first Table of the Law A. To love the Lord our God with all our Heart and with all our Soul and with all our Mind and with all our Strength Q. What mean you by the word Summ A. A general or chief Head which comprehends other particulars in it Ibid. Rom. 13. 8. Q. What is it to love the Lord our God with all our Heart c A. It doth imply the supremacy ardency and activity of our Love whereby we chuse the Lord cleave to him and delight in him as our chief Good and employ all our faculties and powers in his service in obedience to him out of Love Q. What is the summ of the second Table of the Law A. To love our Neighbour as our selves Q Who is our Neighbour A. Every man Luk. 10. 29 38. Q. What is it to love our Neighbour as our selves A. To love him with the same truth and constancy of Love as we do our selves Q. But are we not bound to love our Neighbour with the same Degree of Love as we do our selves A. No. Q. 43. What is the Preface to the ten Commandments A. The Preface to the ten Commandments is in these words I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the house of Bondage Q. 44. 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 Commandments Explic. Q. How many reasons or arguments are there in the Preface to oblige and perswade us to keep all Gods Commandments A. Two 1. God is the Lord. I am the Lord. 2. God is our God and Redeemer I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the house of Bondage Q. How are we bound and obliged to keep Gods Commandments as he is the Lord A. As he is the Lord he is our Creator and supream Soveraign and we owe him obedience as we are his Creatures and Subjects Q. You say you owe God obedience as you are his Creatures and Subjects what mean you thereby A. We mean that once we were not were made and are preserved by God or that we derived our Being from anâ— hold it of God and that we are undâ—â— the unlimited and absolute Dominioâ— and Soveraignty of God and thereforâ— ought to serve and glorifie God in 〈◊〉 Body and in our Spirit which 〈◊〉 Gods and to be in perfect subjection 〈◊〉 the Laws of Heaven Q. How are we bound and obliged 〈◊〉 keep Gods Commandments as he is our God and Redeemer A. As our God and Redeemer our Father and Benefactor he hath brought us into the special relation of Children to himself and hath entred into Covenanâ—â—â— with us to bring us out of spiritual Egypt and Bondage under sin as he brought his people of old out of the earthly Egypt and the Bondage of men These two Rules must be learn'd for the understanding of the Commandments Rule 1. That when any sin is forbidden the contrary Duty is required and when any Duty is required the contrary sin is forbidden Rule 2. That where any sin is forbidden all the Kinds and Degrees of it temptations and incentments to it are likewise forbidden and when any Duty is required all the kinds and the highest perfection of it together with all the means and helps to it are also required Q. 45. What is the first Commandment A. The first Commandment is Thou shalt have no other Gods before me Q. 46. What is required in the first Commandment A. The first Commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God and our God and to worship and glorifie him accordingly Explic. Q Is