have at Judgment A. They shall be acknowledged and acquitted Q. After what manner shall they be acknowledged and acquitted A. Openly Q. Will God acquit them from all their sins and the wicked slanders A. Yes Q. And acknowledg and own them before all the world A. Yes Q. When shall they be thus acknowledged and acquitted A. In the day of Judgment Q. What benefits shall they have after Judgment A. They shall be made perfectly blessed Q. Wherein A. In the enjoyment of God Q. What kind of enjoyment of God shall they then have A. A full enjoyment Q. What without interruption or intermission A. Yes Q. For how long A. To all eternity Q. Doth true blessedness stand in the enjoyment of God A. Yes Q. And perfect blessedness in the full enjoyment of God to all eternity A. Yes Hitherto are the matters of faith which make up the first part of the Catechism or what man is to believe concerning God Now follows the second part concerning the duty of which God requires of man Q. 39. What is the duty which God requireth of man A. The duty which God requireth of man is obedience to his revealed will Q. Is there any duty which God reqâ—ireth of man A. Yes Q. What is that duty A. Obedience Q. To what A. To his will Q. Is Gods secret will the rule of our duty A. No. Q. What then A. His revealed will Q. Where is the will of God revealed A. In his Word Q. And is that the rule of our duty A. Yes Q. 40. 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 Q. Did God at first give any Law to man for the rule of his obedience A. Yes Q. What the Ceremonial or judicial Law A. No. Q. What Law then did he give at first for the rule of mans obedience A The Moral Law Q. Doth God rule man by Law A. Yes Q. Why was Gods Law revealed to man A. For the rule of his obedience Q. Is man then in his obedience to look that it be according to the Law as his Rule A. Yes Q. 41. Where is the Moral Law summarily comprehended A. The Moral Law is summarily comprehended in the ten Commandments Q. How many Commandments are there A. Ten. Q. Is that which you call the Moral Law the same that we have in the ten Commandments A. Yes Q. Is the whole Law of God and duty of man shortly summed up and briefly comprehended in these Commandments A. Yes Q 42. 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 selves Q. What is the comprehensive duty of all the Commandments A. Love Q How manifold is this love A. To God and our neighbour Q. How must we love God A. With all our heart and with all our soul with all our mind and with all our strength Q. How must we love our Neighbour A. As our selves Q. Who is our Neighbour A. Every man Q. Must we love our Neeghbour with the same degree of love as we do our selves A. No. Q. Must we love our Neighbour with the same truth of love as we do our selves A. Yes Q. Is this the sum of all the Commandments to love God with all our hearts and our Neighbour as our selves A. Yes 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 hath brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the house of bondage 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 Commandments Q. Are we bound to keep Gods Commandments A. Yes Q. Which of his Commandments A. All his Commands Q. Is there any reason why we should keep Gods Commandments A. Yes Q. How many are the Reasons why we should keep Gods Commandments A. Three viz. 1. God is the Lord. 2. And our God 3. And our Redeemer Q. Is this a Reason why we should keep his Commandments because he is the Lord A. Yes Q. And because he is our God A. Yes Q. And because he is our Redeemer A. Yes Q. Where are we taught that because God is the Lord and our God and Redeemer therefore we must keep his Commandments A. In the Preface to the ten Commandments Q. Which words in the Preface do teach us that God is the Lord A. These words I am the Lord Q. Which words do teach us that he is our God A. These words Thy God Q. Which words do teach us that he is our Redeemer A. These words That brought thee out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of bondage Q. Were we ever in Egypt or the house of bondage A. Yes in a spiritual Egypt and bondage under sin These two Rules must be learnt for the understanding of the Commandments R. 1. That when any sin is forbidden the contrary duty is required and when any duty is required the contrary sin is forbidden R. 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. Which 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 acknowledg God to be the only true God and our God and to worship and glorifie him accordingly Q. Is there something required as well as something forbidden in this and every Commandment A. Yes Q. Are we required to know God A. Yes Q. May we lawfully or safely live in ignorance of God A. No. Q. Against what Commandment is ignorance A. Against the first Q. Is it sufficient to know there is a God though we do not own nor acknowledg him to be a God to us A. No. Q. How must we own or acknowledg God A. To be the only true God and our God Q. Doth the first Commandment require us to have a God A. Yes Q. And to have the true God for our God A. Yes Q. May we have any other God besides him A. No. Q. May we have any other God with him A. No. Q. Must we own him for the only true God A. Yes Q. And for our only God A. Yes Q. Doth the First Commandment determine then of the only right Object of Divine worship or whom only we must worship A. Yes Q. Is it enough for
do they signifie and convey to us A. Christ and the benefits of the New-Covenant Q After what mannâ—r are Christ and the benefits of the New-Covenant shewed forth and conveyed to us in the Sacraments A. They are represented sealed and applied Q. Are the sacraments then the seâ—les or the confirming of the New Covenant A. Yes Q. Do we seal cur covenant with God and God his covenant with us at the Sacrament A. Yes Q. To whom are Christ and the benefits of the new Covenant sealed and applied A. To believers Q. To all believers A. Yes Q. And to none but believers A. No. Q 91. Which are the Sacraments of the New Testament A. The Sacraments of the New Testament are Baptism and the Lords Supper Q. Were there other Sacraments under the old Testament as Circumcision and the Passeover A. Yes Q. Do these remain in use now A. No. Q. What Sacraments hath Christ appointed under the New Testament in the room of these A. Baptism and the Lords Supper Q. Are there no other Sacraments but these two A. No. Q. 92. What is Baptism A. Baptism is a Sacrament wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost doth signifie and seal our ingrafting into Christ and partaking of the benefits of the Covenant of Grace and our engagement to be the Lords Q. What kind of Ordinance is Baptism A. A Sacrament Q. What is the Elemental sign in Baptism A. Water Q. What is the Ceremonial sign A. Washing or application of the water Q. In whose name is the person baptized to be washed with water A. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Q. What do you mean by baptizing in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost A In the authority and into the faith profession and obedience of Father Son and Holy Ghost Q. What is signified sealed and engaged to as to be done on Gods part in Baptism A. Our ingrafting into Christ and being made partakers of the benefits of the Covenant of Grace Q. What is sealed to on our part in Baptism or what do we engage to A. To be the Lords Q. Are our ingrafting into Christ partaking of the benefits of the Covenant of Grace and our engagement to be the Lords signified and sealed to in Baptism A. Yes Q. 93. To whom is Baptism to be administred A. Baptism is not to be administred to any that are out of the visible Church till they profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him but the infants of such as are members of the visible Church are to be baptized Q. To whom is Baptism not to be administred A. Not to any that are out of the visible Church Q. Till when is it not to be administered to such A. Not till they profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him Q. What kind of profession must such make then before they be baptized A. Of faith in Christ and obedience to him Q. May infants be baptized A. Yes Q. What all infants whatever A. No. Q. Whose infants then A. The infants of such as are members of the visible Church Q. 94. What is the Lords Supper A. The Lords Supper is a Sacrament wherein by giving and receiving Bread and Wine according to Christs appointment his death is she wed forth and the worthy receivers are not after a corporal and carnal manner but by faith made partakers of his Body and Blood with all his benefits to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace Q. What kind of Ordinance is the Lords Supper A. A Sacrament Q. What are the Elemental signs in the Lords Supper A. Bread and Wine Q. What are the Ceremonial signs A. Breaking the Bread giving and receiving the Bread and Wine Q. What is signified by the Bread A. The Body of Christ. Q. What by the Wine A. The Blood of Christ. Q. What by the giving of the Bread and Wine A. Gods giving all Christ to us Q. What by our receiving A. Our taking All of Christ. Q. What by breaking of the Bread A. Christ being broken bruised and tormented for us Q. Why are the Bread and Wine given apart and not together A. To shew forth Christs death in the parting his blood from his body Q. What are we made partakers of in the Supper A. Christs body and blood with all his benefits Q. How are we not partakers of his Body and Blood A. Not after a corporal and carnal manner Q. How are we partakers A. By Faith Q. Who are made partakers of Christs body and blood A. The worthy receivers Q. What do you mean by worthy receivers A. Such as are in some measure qualified fitted and prepared for receiving Q. To what end are we here made partakers of Christs body and blood A. To our spiritual nourishment and growth in Grace Q. 95. What is required in the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper A. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lords Supper that they examine themselves of their knowledg to discern the Lords body of their faith to feed upon him of their repentance love and new obedience lest coming unworthily they eat and drink judgment to themselves Q. What is the great duty of those that are to come to the Lords Supper A. To examine themselves Q. How many things must they examine themselves about A. Five viz. 1. Knowledg 2. Faith 3. Love 4. Repentance 5. New Obedience Q. Must every one that cometh to the Lords Supper have knowledg A. Yes Q. And examine himself of his knowledg A. Yes Q Why is knowledg necessary A. To discern the Lords body Q. Are all persons that are grosly ignorant unworthy receivers A. Yes Q. And do such eat and drink damnation to themselves A. Yes Q Cannot a man be a worthy receiver wishout faith A. No. Q. And must he examine himself in his faith A. Yes Q. Why is faith necessary A. To feed upon Christ. Q. Whom do we feed on in the Lords Supper A. On Christ. Q. By what A. By faith Q. Must we have love as well as faith love to God and love to the brethren if we would worthily partake of the Lords Supper A. Yes Q. And is the having and trying of repentarc and new obedience necessary to worthy receiving A. Yes Q. Is there any danger if we come unworthily A. Yes Q. What is the danger A. We should eat and drink damnation to our selves Q. Are all that come to the Sacraments without faith love repentance and new obedience unworthy receivers that eat and drink their own damnation A. Yes Q. 96. What is Prayer A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to his will in the Name of Christ with confession of our sins and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies Q. Do we offer up any thing to God in Prayer A. Y s. Q. What our words only A. No.
state of salvation And must not this be a pinching thought to a compassionate teacher to think that he cannot for his heart perswade men but that the most of them will wilfully throw away themselves Is it not a woful sight to behold the devils driving a great part of our miserable flocks as they did once the herd of swine the keepers themselves amazed looking on I say driving them violently down the hill till they be choked in the water drowned irrecoverably in the gulph of endless perdition Ah miserable spectacle what through the loosness and sensuality of some what throngh the wilful blindness of others what through the halving and cold and customary religion of others how great a number of our flocks is Satan like to carry utterly away from us after all that hath been done to save them Yet I cannot but call after them Hearken unto me O ye Children How long will you love vanity and follow after leasing and trust in lying words As the Lord liveth you are lost except you turn wherefore turn your selves and live ye Ah how mercy woeth you how it waiteth to be gracious to you Hear O sinners hear See you not how the merciful Saviour of the world stretcheth forth his hands all the day long and spreadeth forth his wings and calleth you as a hen doth her chicken Hear you not the soundings of his bowels he hath no need of you yet how do his compassions melt over perishing sinners his heart is turned within him and shall not this turn your hearts his repentings are kindled together and shall not this lead you to repentance Behold he standeth at the door and knocketh O man wilt thou keep Jesus at the door and lodg Barabbas in thy bosom and prefer thy cruel lusts before thy compassionate Lord Oh his melting love to sinners he calleth after them he weepeth over them he cryeth to them How long ye simple ones will you love simplicity will you not be made clean when shall it once be why will you die Turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my spirit unto you Sinner art thou not yet melted Oh come in at his loving calls Come out from thy sins touch the scepter of grace and live why shouldest thou be dashed in pieces by his iron rod kiss the Son why shouldst thou perish in the way set up Jesus as thy King lest he count thee for his enemy because thou wouldest that he should not reign over thee and so thou be called forth and slain before him Oh how dreadful will this case be to perish under the pitiful eyes of his mercy and to die by the hand of a Saviour Oh double hell to have thy redeemer become thine executioner and the hand that was so long stretched forth to save thee to be now stretched forth to slay thee and the merciful heart of Christ himself hardned against thee so as that he should call thee forth and with his own hand hew thee in pieces as Samuel did Agag before the Lord. But I have been too too long in prefacing to what I intended forthwith to have fallen upon indeed I am apt to run out in matters that do so nearly touch upon your greatest concernments Beloved I despair of ever bringing you to salvation without sanctification or possessing you of happiness without perswading you to holiness God knows I have not the least hope ever to see one of your faces in heaven except you be converted and sanctified and exercise your selves unto godliness This is that I drive at I beseech you study to further personal godliness and family godliness 1. Personal godliness Let it be your first care to set up Christ in your hearts See that you make all your worldy interests to stoop to him that you be entirely and unreservedly devoted unto him If you wilfully and deliberately and ordinarily harbour any sin you are undone See that you unfeignedly take the Laws of Christ as the rule of your words thoughts and actions and subject your whole man members and mind faithfully to him If you have not a true respect to all Gods Commandments you are unsound at heart Oh study to get the image and impress of Christ upon you within Begin with your hearts else you build without a foundation Labour to get a saving change within or else all external performances will be to no purpose And then study to shew forth the power of godliness in the life Let piety be your first and great business 'T is the highest point of Justice to give God his due Beware that none of you be a Prayer-less person for that is a most certain discovery of a Christless and a graceless person of one that is a very stranger to the fear of God Suffer not your Bibles to gather dust See that you converse daily with the word That man can never lay claim to blessedness whose delight is not in the Law of the Lord. Let meditation and self-examination be your daily exercise else the Papists yea the Pagans will condemn us That the short questions which I have given you as a help to self-examination may be daily perused by you is the matter of my passionate request unto you If ever you come to any growth in holiness without the constant use of this practice I am grosly deceiv'd and therefore I would beseech yea even charge you by the Lord that you would daily examine your selves by these questions till you have found a better help to this duty But Piety without Charity is but the half of Christianity or rather impious hypocrisie We may not divide the Tables See therefore that you do justly and love mercy and let Equity and Charity run like an even thread throughout all your dealings Be you temperate in all things let Chastity and Sobriety be your undivided companions Let Truth and Purity Seriousness and Modesty Heavenliness and Gravity be the constant ornaments of your speech Let patience and humility simplicity and sincerity shine out in all the parts of your conversations See that you forget and forgive wrongs and requite them with kindness as you would be found children of the most High Be merciful in your censures and put the most favourable construction upon your brethrens carriage that their actions will reasonably bear Be slow in promising punctual in fulfilling Let meekness and innocency affableness yieldingness and courtesie commend your conversations to all men Let none of your relations want that love and loyalty that reverence and duty that tenderness care and vigilancy which their several places and capacities call for This is throughout godliness I charge you before the most high God that none of you be found a swearer or a lyar a lover of evil company or a scoffer or malicious or covetous or a drunkard or a glutton unrighteous in his dealing unclean in his living or a