Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	lord_n	love_v	saint_n	5,636	5	6.4232	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28901	A light from Christ leading unto Christ by the star of his word, or, The rich jewel of Christian divinity practically explained in the principles enlightening the children of God how to meet Christ in his ordinances and by strength from Christ to walk comfortably with Christ in the whole course of their lives ... by way of catechism or dialogue, not to answer verbatim or by wrote ... but each one according to his own sence and understanding of the question / by Immanuel Bourn of Ashover in the county of Derby, now preacher of the Gospel to the congregation in Sepulchres C.L.	Bourne, Immanuel, 1590-1672.	1646 (1646)	Wing B3855; ESTC R35779	307,398	743

their dayes Constantine the Great and other Christian Princes in later Ages Yea Isa 49.23 to be as Nursing Fathers and Nursing Mothers to Christs Church In the Primitive times the Church was exceeding vigilant for this duty of Catechizing they had their Catechumens Noble Theophilus was Catechized in the way of the Lord Luk. 1.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for so the Greek importeth That thou maist know the truth of those things in which thou hast been Catechized Acts 18.25 And Apollos was Catechized and many Catechumens were after in the Church therefore they had their Catechists or Catechizers also after the Apostles times Cyprian Epist 24. Eusebius Eccl. hist lib. 3 c. 12 their Docto● s audientium as St. Cyprian calls them Teachers of the Catechumens such a one was Pantenus such was Origen Clemens Alexandrinus and others And for this end divers holy and learned men have both in Ancient and Modern times composed Catechisms as helps and furtherances for this excellent work Heb. 5.12 6.1 2 3. The Apostle to the Hebrews sets down a brief Catechism containing the first Principles of the Oracles of God Learned Hierom tells us there was a Catechism written by Cyril Bishop of Jerusalem and another by John Bishop of the same place Betulaeus Com. ad Lact. lib. 2. cap. 11. which Betulaeus mentioneth in his Commentaries upon Lactantius I passe many other in after Ages our late learned Writers Mr. Calvin Musculus Peter Martyr Ursinus Bucanus Beza Danaeus Zanchius Alstedius Mr. Virel Our English Mr. Nowel Mr. Perkins Mr. Egerton Mr. Dod Mr. Baal Mr. Downame Mr. Allen Dr. Twisse Dr. Majer and many other laborious workmen in the Lords Vineyard What are their sums of Divinity but Catechisms some larger some lesse and all witnesse as their desire so their approbation of this most necessary work of Catechizing Now the great benefit that I have found by experience in this way of Catechizing excellent light somtimes communicated to poor aged people as well as Children And my experience of the present necessity of all that true light which is or may be afforded by any of the Lords Servants Labourers in his Vine-yard the better to prevent Ignorant and Scandalous persons from approaching the blessed Sacrament and to remove dark ignorance and give light to heal the diseases of poor wandring souls hath moved me to cast my Mite into Christs Treasury Luk. 21.1 c. and to hold forth in this Catechism following what Light I have received from Christ to lead unto Christ on whom waiting in use of all good means a fulness of light may be communicated in Gods good time to poor hungry souls and that to their joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 I most humbly present it to Your Honours not that I think any thing of mine in it is worthy of such an Honour but what is in it of the Lord Jesus Christ and his Spirit of Truth and Grace to whom all the Honour belongs Nor that I am not perswaded of Your Honorable and Religious care already for what is or may be fitting in this kinde Nor to prevent the learned and godly labours of any of my Reverend Brethren the Religious Assembly of Divines whose indefatigable endeavours I pray God to direct and blesse to his glory and the good of his Church but to be a light to those who stand in present need and want better directions And to conclude Luk. 2.32 Ioh. 1.9 that the true Light of Christ may more fully shine forth into darkned souls longing after Light Isa 8.20 and all false Lights daily and more duly be discovered that the true light Christ Jesus and his commands may be more fully followed Is 9.6 7. and all false light of Error or Heresie avoided that the light of the Sun of Righteousnesse may not only more richly enlighten Your Honours who are as so many glorious Stars in the firmament of the Common-wealth but may shine gloriously in all the dark corners of the Land Mat. 4.15 15. that as the glorious God hath so highly Honoured You already to begin and lay the foundation stone in the beautiful building of his House the blessed work of Reformation so he will Honour You further to lay the Top stone thereof Zac. 4.7 that all the Christian Princes and Churches in the world may with rejoycing cry Grace Grace unto it And all this by the strength of the great Jehovah For nor by might nor by power Zac. 4.6 but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts That Your Excellencies may be enabled in Gods due time to take particular notice of the Thousands of Churches or Congregations in the Kingdom which want not only learned able faithful and honorable Pastors and Teachers to Preach and Catechize and hold forth the light of Christ unto them but want honorable and comfortable maintenance or encouragement fit for so honorable and great a work of the Lord Christs Ambassadors the faithful Ministers of the most high and mighty Prince the Lord Jesus Christ In a word that if it be the will of God our Soveraign Lord King Charls may be truly enlightned by the light of Christ to see the false light of all evil counsels either from his own heart or any others and may return fully convinced in conscience and rest fully satisfied by his evident experience of the mighty works of Jehovah the great God of Battel in the most faithful Counsels of thi● High Honorable and Highly Honoured Parliament that He and His Posterity may love and Honour You and Yours from Generation to Generation as those who have been His best and most faithful Counsellors that Gods blessing may be upon all the three Kingdoms that Truth Peace Unity and Unanimity in the true light of the Lord Jesus with the God of Truth and Peace of Love Unity and Unanimity may dwell amongst us in Grace until that great King Christ shall come in the Clouds of Heaven and translate us all with all his Saints unto Eternity in Glory All which is and shall be the most humble faithful sincere and hearty Prayer of Your Honours most unworthy most humble daily Orator at the Highest Throne of Grace IMMANUEL BOURN London from my Study in Sepulchres May 1. 1646. To the Right Honorable Thomas Adams Lord Mayor The Right Worshipful Sir Nicholas Rainton Knight Isaac Pennington Sir John Wollaston Knight Thomas Atkin Sir John Cordel Sir Thomas Soam Sir Iohn Gayer Sir Iacob Gerrard Knights Iohn Warner Abraham Reynardson Sir George Garret Sir George Clark Knights Iohn Langham Thomas Andrews Iohn Fowke Iames Bunce William Gibbe Richard Chambers Thomas Cullum Simon Edmons Samuel Avery Iohn Bide George Witham Aldermen Thomas Foot and Iohn Kendrick Aldermen and Sheriffs of the Honorable City of London With the several Families of and within the said City and the Lives of Communication and especially the Beloved Congregation and particular Families of

Exo. 12.18 Rom. 2.28 29. and as uncircumcised of old so those unregenerate and impenitent are not fit to come to the Lords Table Quest 5. What Reason can be given why Christian love and charity ought to be in such as come to this Saceament Ans Because where Christian love is not in a Communicant he cometh together with Saints not for the better but for the worse 1 Cor. ii 17 c. 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Mat. 5.23 24. Mat. 22.12 13. forgetting the love of Christ to poor sinners sealed in the Sacrament which should move him to love his brother to do good to his poor brother and seek reconciliation if he be offended without which neither person nor sacrifice is accepted as coming without the Wedding garment Quest 6. What knowledge of God is requisite comfortably to meet Christ in this holy Ordinance Ans A true knowledge of God 1. In his excellent nature 2. In his persons 3. In his Word And 4. in his works And especially in the great work of mans Salvation Quest 7. What is to be known of God concerning his excellent nature Ans First what God is in his essence and Divine being And secondly what he is in his essentiall properties or Divine attributes declaring his essence and in some measure cōmunicable to his people Quest 8. What is God in his essence and Divine being Ans * Ioh. 4.24 Exo. 3.14 Isa 44.6 Isa 46.9.10 c. Act. 11.25 26. Rom. 11.36 Act. 17.28 1 Cor. 8.5 6. God is one spirituall self-living-essence having life and being of himself from all eternity and giving life and being to all creatures Quest 9. What is God in his essentiall properties Deu. 6.4 Mar. 12.30 Rom. 11.35 Deut. 33.27 Psa 147.5 Ier. 10.10 Iob 11.7 8 9. Ier. 23.23 24. Iob 22 3. Gen. 17.1 Rev. 19.6 Exo. 34.5 6. 1 Tim. 1.17 Mat. 19.17 1 Tim. 6.16 Mal. 3.6 or Divine Attributes Ans He is most single of himself one eternall infinite omnipresent incomprehensible omnipotent self-immortall most wise God most mercifull gracious and most holy just true perfect pure and powerfull yea All-sufficient self-sufficient and Independent originally and unchangeably good and blessed for ever Quest 10. How are the properties or Divine Attributes distinguished Ans They are distinguished into two sorts of Attributes First such as are incommunicable to the creature Secondly such as in some manner and degree are communicable and communicated to Angels and men Quest 11. What are those Attributes which are incommunicable Ans They are divers but we may chiefly take notice of these First The simplicity or singlenesse of God Exo. 3.14 Rom. 11.33 c. 1 Cor. 8.6 being single and a most pure essence without all manner of composition most abolute of and in himself for ever And this no creature is Quest 12. What is a second Ans A second is the infinitenesse of God 1. In respect of eternity Deut. 33.27 Col. 1.17 Rev. 1.8 1 Kings 8.27 Ier. 23.23 24. Iob 11.7 8 9. Acts 17.24 c. he is without beginning or end and so is no creature 2. In respect of incomprehensiblenes 1. No place can contain God yet he is omnipresent 2. No understanding of any creature can comprehend him yet he is not far from every one of us And so is no Creature 3. In respect of power God is omnipotent of himself so is no Creature Rev. 19.6 psa 135.6 but the Lord hath and can do whatsoever he will 4. In respect of knowledge Psa 139.2 3 c. Acts 15.18 Psa 147.5 Heb. 4.13 Mal. 3.6 Isa 46.9 10. 1 Tim. 6.15 16. Gen. 17. i. Iob 35.6 7 8. he is omniscient he knoweth all things so doth no Creature in the world Quest 13. What is a third Attribute Ans In a word the Lord is self-immortall and unchangeable in and of his own nature and so is no Creature in the world Quest 14. What is a fourth Property incommunicable Ans The Lord Jehovah is All-sufficient self-sufficient blessed in himself for ever Quest 15. What are those Attributes of God which are communicable and in part communicated to Angels and to men especially to his Sons and Daughters in Christ Ioh. 5.26 Exod. 34 5 6 7. Gen. 2.7 Acts 17.28 Deut. 31.39 1 Tim. 1.17 2 Chron. 1.10 c. Iudg. 16.3 Mat. 5.1 2 3 c Ans Amongst other these The life wisdom strength will goodnesse justice mercy truth and blessednesse for ever All these are absolutely fully and most perfectly in God as of himself and communicated to the creature in measure for Gods glory and the good of his children As wisdom was communicated to Solomon and strength to Sampson So blessednesse and other Divine Properties to Gods Children Quest 16. Are there not some speciall Properties peculiar to the persons in this Divine essence Ans Yes It is the speciall Property of God the Father to beget the Son And the speciall Property of God the Son Ioh. 1.18 3.18 15.26 Gal. 4.6 to be begotten of the Father And the speciall Property of God the holy Ghost to proceed both from the Father and the Son Quest 17. How many Persons are there in this Godhead Ans Three Persons and yet but one God Gen. 1.1.26 1 Sam. 2.2.3 Psal 33.6 Isa 6.3 63.9 10. Mat. 3.16.17 Mat. 28.19 1 Joh. 5.7 Rom. 9.5 Acts 5.3 4. Three one Quest 18. Which is the first Person Gal. 1. i. Eph. 1.3 Isa 43.10 c. Psal 2.7 Ans God the Father of himself from all Eternity begetting the Son Quest 19. Which is the second Person Ans God the Son from all Eternity begotten of the Father Ioh. 1.14 Heb. 1.1 2 3. Ioh. 10.28 c. being the brightnesse of his glory the expresse Image of his Person and God equall blessed for ever Quest 20. Which is the third Person Ans God the holy Spirit Act. 5.3 Heb. 9.14 1 Ioh. 5.7 God from all Eternity equall with the Father and the Son and proceeding from them both Quest 21. Which is the greatest or most Ancient of these three Persons Ans In these three Persons none is afore or after another 1 Ioh. 5.7 Ioh. 1.1.2 Ioh. 10.30 none is greater or lesse then another but all three Persons are co-eternall together and coequall a Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity to be glorified Quest 22. I conceive the Divinity of God the Father is evident by the testimonies and grounds before mentioned and will appear by further light also But what other ground is there to assure you of the Divinity of the Son of God Ans Besides the testimonies of Scripture alledged the Divine Properties attributed to the Son of God do plainly evidence the Divinity of the Son because they are such as can agree to none but to God himself Quest 23. What are these Properties thus manifesting the Son to be God Ans First the infinitenesse and Eternity of his nature Rev. 1.8.11 Heb. 7.3

Thirdly he loved David as his own soul with a love of beneficence or well doing to David he gives David his Robe and Garments even to his bow and his girdle and his sword ver 4. Fourthly Ionathan loved David with a love of acquiescence or resting in his love Quest 12. You have described what love is in general But what now is this grace of Christian love and charity to be examined and enlivened before we come to the Lords Supper Ans True Christian love and charity is a grace freely given of God wrought in the heart and soul of a believing man or woman by the spirit of Christ by which a man or woman who is enlightned with the true knowledge of God of himself and ol his neighbour is inabled in true affection of soul to love with love of union and complacency or well pleasing and in action of life to declare his or her love in beneficency and well doing First towards God above all as the chiefest good according to his revealed will giving up our selves to God Secondly towards our selves next under God seeking our own salvation and good temporal and eternal Thirdly towards our neighbour in and for God as we love our selves 2 Thes 3.5 Ioh. 1.16 Gal. 5.12 Rom. 5.4 5 6. Deut. 6.4 5 6 7 8 9 Mat. 22.37 39. Rev. 4.10 11. 1 Cor. 10.3 Eph. 6. Luk. 10.27 Mat. 7.12 Psa 42.1 2. Cant. 3.4 Phil. 2.12 Cant. 1.4 6 8. 1 Ioh. 4.19 20. and 4.7 12. 1 Cor. 13. Eph. 4.15 16. Rom. 12.10 13 14 15 16. Quest 13. But what is this love or wherein is this Grace of love to be exercised and who is my neighbour to whom I should shew this Christian love and charity and vvhat light from Christ to reveal this and so lead to Christ Ans I shall shew more fully who is our neighbour and in what duties as it concerneth all in general This love is to be exercised when I come to unfold the ten Commandements in the last part Luk. 10.3 4. But now in brief every man is my neighbour which the Lord presents to me as an object of mercy or love to do good unto Gal. 6.10 but in special and more particularly the houshold of Faith and our fellow Saints in the Church of Christ Quest 14. I remember in the fourteenth Classis when you did speak of the Church although you did describe principally the Church of Gods elect yet you said the Church is or may be said to be a visible company of men and women professing the Faith of Christ and obedience thereunto Rom. 16.26 and so as there have been so there may be some hypocrites in the Church not discerned how then shall I know who are these Saints upon whom and to or with whom I should exercise this Christian love and charity Ans Howsoever there are and may be some hypocrites in the Church yet whosoever is a visible Saint or Saint in profession and outward appearance at least Act. 8. called by the word and spirit to the visible profession of Faith and holinesse and fitly admitted in to the society and fellowship of the Church This man or woman is to be esteemed of the household of Faith and a fellow Saint to or with whom a child of God ought to exercise and communicate this grace of Christian love and charity Quest 15. But what do you mean by right and fit admission into the fellowship of the Church and houshold of God or how or when or by what way and means may a man or woman be admitted and received as a Member of Christs-Church and of the houshold of God and fellowship or communion of Saints Ans There is a two fold entrance into the Church of Christ or to be the children of God in Christ Iesus the first an inward or spiritual the second an outward corporal or visible entrance Quest 16. What or how manifold is that inward and spiritual entrance you speak of Ans This inward or spiritual entrance is the work of God making Christians First in election Eph. 1.4 5. Luk. 10.20 2 Tim. 2.19 Rev. 13.8 Col. 1.20 2 Cor. 6.17 18. Rom. 1 7. 2 Tim. 1.9 10. Act. 26.18 writing and enrolling the names of all those whom the Lord knoweth to be his in the Book of life of the Lamb of Christ slain from the foundation of the world Secondly making inward Christians in redemption by Christ who hath made our peace by the blood of his Crosse Thirdly they are made Christians in effectual vocation when we are called out of the world by the perswasion of the spirit of Christ in the Word and drawn unto Christ by the Father to believe and receive and rest on Christ for salvation Ioh. 6.44 2 Cor. 4.13 Gal. 3.16 1 Cor. 6.17 Eph. 2.19 and thus as a believer is united inwardly by the spirit as a member of Christ unto Christ the Head of his Church as one not onely mutually joyned in heart and affection unto Christ but as one that enrolleth and entreth his name in heart and minde in the registry of Saints as a servant of the Lord Christ and fellow Souldier and Citizen with the Saints and of the household of God Fourthly we are made Christians in justification act 13.38 39. Eph. 1.6 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. Revel 2.17 Mat. 17.5 when God doth justifie in and by Christ when the Lord Christ doth give us the white stone of justification and in that doth write our new name of Christians justifying a believer before God his Father and God the Father accepts us for Christians in Christ Iesus Ioh. 1.12 Ioh. 3.3 Rom 6.4 5 6. Gal. 3.27 1 Cor. 12.12 c. Fifthly we are not almost but altogether made Christians in and by inward regeneration and sanctification of the spirit of Christ when we are baptized into Christ and by one spirit into one body of which Christ is the Head and put on Christ and are made new creatures and so are entred or admitted into the Church of Christ and fellowship or communion of Saints 2 Cor. 5.17 Sixthly Eph. 1.5 Gal. 4.5 6. Rom. 8.16 17. Rev. 3.12 Rev. 2.17 G●l 4.4 5 6. 1 Ioh. 2.19 Ioh. 10.30 31. Gen. 17.1 2. Ier. 1.5 Luk. 1.15 act 9 6 15 c. we are made not almost but altogether inward Christians by adoption when the Lord doth take a man or woman for his son or daughter yea makes us heires with and in Christ Iesus and giveth that new name promised in the Scriptures And all that are thus inwardly and spiritually entred and admitted into the Church of Christ are Saints indeed and shall remain Saints for ever These are truly of the Church and a man or a woman an elect childe of God may thus inwardly be a Saint and admitted by Christ as a member of his Church before they be outwardly admitted as Abraham and others before circumcision and many catechumene's or instructed persons were

Paul despairing Quest 10. What is the third comfort Ans Thirdly that though the faith of Gods childe be asleep for a time like Christ in the ship and the life of grace be covered as fire in the Embers not to be seen though like a tree in winter the faithful soul seem dead or as a sick man doth lose his taste of soul-refreshing-meat for a time or a childe of God like the Moon be Ecclipsed and all darknesse who can see no light ready to complain with the Psalmist Isa 50. lo Rom. 70.22 13. Mat. 8.24 Psal 77.7 8 9. Is his mercy clean gone for ever and will he be no more entreated hath God forgotten to be gracious and hath he shut up his loving kindnesse in displeasure Yet when Christ is pleased to cast a good look of grace upon their souls then life grace and sense of sin and sorrow for unthankfulnesse and for losse of first love will return as ni Peter noted before and as Christ looks for Rev. 2.4 5. Quest 11. What is a fourth consolation Ans That when the Lord Christ is pleased to draw near with his bright beams of light and love Mal. 4.2 then the soul will be enlightned and be enlivened with longings after Christ and a re-union with him in love and renewed acquaintance as in times past Quest 12. What is a fifth consolation for such a poor Saint Ans That when the spring time of grace returns and showers of Divine love and dews of spiritual refreshments from Christ fall upon the soul then will childe and declare he hath loved her freely that he will be as the dew to his daughter Hos 14.4 c. Isa 61.3 and that she shall grow in grace as the Lilly and the root of grace shall be fastned as the Trees of Lebanon and their beauty shall be as the Olive tree and she shall bring forth fruits as a tree of righteousnesse that the Lord hath planted that God may be glorified Yea she shall greatly rejoyce in the Lord and be joyful in her God she shall finde that he hath clothed her with the garments of salvation and covers her with the robes of his righteousnesse Isa 61.10 Psal 45.13 14. as a Bridegroom decketh himself with his Ornaments and as a Bride adorneth her self with her Jewels Quest 13. These are comfortable and good encouragements if it please the Lord by the power of his spirit to apply and give strength to apply them to her soul But what if still she finde her faith weak and her holinesse so feeble that she yet is doubtful and fearful to meet Christ in his Ordinances or to come at the invitation to feast with him at his Table Ans Let her know that its not her act of believing or strength of holinesse doth justifie before God or maketh her acceptable in his sight but it is the object of her faith Christ Jesus and his righteousnesse and merits for which God is well-pleased with her Mat. 17.5 As it is not the hand that receiveth the Plaister and apply eth it to the sore Simile but the Plaister it self and the vertue of that with Gods blessing that healeth the wound So though faith be an instrument or hand to receive Christ and so an instrumental cause of Justification yet it is Christ and his merits and righteousnesse that is the meritorious cause and that which giveth true and full peace to the soul And this rest on Christ will prove a glorious rest in the end Isa 11.10 And therefore if your friend do but see the day light or renewing and requickning grace begin to dawn in the soul if but a wishing for the day as Pauls company in that long and sad night on the Sea of danger Acts 27.29 let her wait on Christ in his Ordinances and take her to the sure word of Gods gracious promises until the day light of grace dawn and the day star of joy appear in her heart 2 Pet. 1.19 If she finde any hunger though but a weak stomack like a man or woman new recovered or recovering from some long and tedious sicknesse yet let her weak soul almost fainting for lack of Christ as sorrowful for her former failings yet hungring after Christ and rejoycing at Christs invitation draw near to Christs Ordinances the Word Preached and Sacraments administred waiting to see the face of her beloved the Lord Iesus Christ Cant. 5.8 that she may tell him she is sick of love and be revived with the light of his countenaunce that she may sit down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit may be sweet to her taste Conclus And thus I have endeavored to satisfie your doubts to heal and help a tender conscience or comfort a drooping soul in time of a spiritual desertion that such a soul may not Excommunicate her self from Christs Ordinance but rather come and finde soul-refreshings of unutterable value 2 Tim. 1.1.2 1 Pet. 1.8 and believing on Christ and trusting Christ with her soul she may rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory Quest 14. I will propound but one doubt more What shall a poor soul do if in use of all these helps for comfort he or she still walk in darknesse and can see no light of comfort or peace to their souls What light from Christ to such a poor disconso-spirit late Ans Although the childe of God walk in darknesse Isa 50.10 Hab. 2.3 4. Heb. 10.35 36. Isa 40.29 c. and can see no light of comfort no light of sense of the favour of God in the soul yet the poor weak soul must not despair but labour by the power of Christ to live by faith and dependent upon God in Christ until the Lord Christ Iesus that Sun of righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings Gal. 2.20 Mal. 5.4 1 Pet. 1.9 and peace and joy be communicated through believing unto the soul to life and salvation the end of faith Quest 15. But how or by what means may a poor weak soul gain strength from Christ to live this life of faith when it walketh in darknesse Is there any light from Christ for this Ans By waiting upon Christ in the means of faith and endeavouring by strength from Christ to make use of those helps and furtherances which are held forth in Scripture Phil. 4.13 2 Cor. 5.7 to stregthen the foul and enable it to live this life of faith when evident sight and sense is absent Qued 16. What are these helps Ans There are divers but you may observe these that follow First to consider the nature of this life of faith First as a life of excellency by which the creature is enabled to glorifie the Creator as Abraham being strong in faith gave glory to God Rom. 4.20 Secondly as a life of suavity delightful and pleasant Mat. 6.25 c to live by dependence upon God in Christ 1 Pet. 5.7 Gal. 2.20 in the

Christ by faith O my soul and rightly endeavour to declare thy thankfulnes to God in Christ again and shew forth my thankfulness to my Lord Jesus in daily remembring of him until he translate thee to eternal glory Quest 23. What are the subsequent graces to be acted and duties to be exercised and practised in manifestation of your thankfulnesse to your God in Christ all the dayes of your life And what light from Christ have you received for direction herein Gal. 2. 20. 2 Cor. 5. 14 .. Mat. 22.37 .. Gal. 5. 13 14. Eph. 4.1 c. Ans There is one root-grace flowing into my soul from Christ and Christs wonderful love to me Christ loving me and giving himself for me And this is the grace of love that love of Christ with a holy gracious power as a precious Loadstone doth draw my soul to my God in Christ and sweetly constrain me to love Christ again who loved me first moving me powerfully to live henceforth not to my self but to him that dyed for me and role again and the fruits of this love are to be made evident by the power of Christ dwelling in me 1. Towards God the Father in Christ 2. Towards my self in true charity 3. Towards my Neighbour in love and unity all the dayes of my life all comprehended in one Grace Love And all this as fulfilling the Law of Christ Gal. 6.1 2. Iohn 13.34 25. and 15. 12 c. and because I finde God hath loved me first in the Lord Iesus John 4.19 Quest 24. What is the fruit that spring from this root Grace of your Christian Walking the free love of God to you in Christ assured by the spirit and faith and the reflex of that love as the eccho of love in your souls answering love again Ans The manifestation of my thankfulnesse or thankful remembrance of Christ of Christ Ioh. 4.9 c. love held forth to me in this Sacrament by a conltant and continued acting and exerciting of that grace of love wrought in me by the power of Christs spirit in my soul 1. Towards God my Father Iohn 20.17 2. Towards my self as to a childe of God in Christ Luke 10.17 3. Towards my Neighbour and especially towards the Houshold of saith the Church and Saints of the most High God and my fellow-members in Christ Iesus Gal. 6.10 Quest 25. Wherein ought you to declare your thankfulnesse and exercise your love towards God and your Neighbour in Christ Ans In yielding obedience to the will of God as my Father in Christ Iohn 5.39 6.68 First in believing whatsoever truth the Lord my God holdeth forth to be believed in the Scriptures Secondly Iohn 14.21 in doing or suffering whatsoever is by the will and pleasure of God my Father to be done or suffered by me according to his will Thirdly in praying to or praising God all the dayes of my life Quest 26. What light from Christ or what directory or rule is there of your faith or of tbose truths in which you are to declare in thankfulnesse your love and duty to God your Father by believing Ans The holy Scripture or whole Word of God recorded in Gods Book Ioh. 5.32 2 Pet. 1.19 20. Gen. 3.15 22. Isa 53. Ioh. 3.16 the holy Bible is my light but that which is especially for my comfort is the promises of the Gospel or Covenant of grace held forth unto me in the Old and New Testament by the Lord himself or by men of God as they were inspired by the holy Ghost Quest 27. What brief or sum is there to be believed of that which is taught at large as the Doctrine of faith in the holy Scriptures Ans Those twelve Articles in that symbole of faith or brief sum commonly called the Apostles Creed explained further in those other ancient Creeds received in the Church of Christ and known by the Names of Nicene Creed and Athanasius Creed Quest 28. Which call you the Apostles Creed Ans That which begins thus I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth And in Iesus Christ his onely Son our Lord c. as is expressed at large in my lesser Catechism Quest 29. Which call you the Nicene Creed Ans That Creed which beginneth as followeth I believe in one God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth and of all shings visible and invisible and in one Lord Iesus Christ the onely begotten Son of God begotten of his Father before all Worlds God of God Light of Light very God of very God begotten not made c. Quest 30. Which call you Athanasius Creed Ans That Creed which begins and follows thus Whosoever will be saved before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholike Faith Which Faith except every one do keep whole and und●filed without doubt he shall perish everlastingly And the Catholike Faith is this That we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Vnity Neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the Substance For there is one Person of the Father another of the Son and another of the Holy Ghost But the Godhead of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is one The glory equal the Majesty co-eternal c. as is also Printed at large in my lesser Catechism Quest 31. But are these Creeds the ground or rule of Faith 2 Pet. 1.19 2. Iohn 5.39 Ans The holy Scripture is the most proper ground of Faith and most perfect rule for judging all Controversies But these Creeds as they are grounded on the Scriptures and holy Wod of God are and may be an obj●ct and directory of our faith and so they have been and are yet received in the Church of Christ and are very profitable for our help and furtherance in the knowledge and remembrance of the Doctrine of Faith Iohn 5.39 Romans 15.4 2 Timothy 3.15 16 17. 2 Peter 2.19 20. The thirtieth Classis or company of Questions 1 Question VVHat directory or rule is there of your thankfulnesse and declaration thereof in doing or suffering the will of God as your God and loving Father in Iesus Christ What light from Christ for instruction in our Christian walking with God all our life long Deut. 4.1 c 6.1 c. Psa 119.105 Isa 8.20 Matthew 5 6 7 c. Ans The will and command of God my God and Father held forth to his Church and to me in the Decalogue or ten Commandments and the Explication and meaning of them by Moses and the Prophets in the Old Testament and by Christ and his Apostles in the New Testament as is evident by many places of Scripture in the Book of God Quest 2. What light is there from Christ Or what is that directory or rule of the Decalogue or ten Commandments held forth as a light to older our obedience and thankfulnesse is unto God as to our Father who hath brought us out of the

all in the Lord for Gods glory Quest What is the sin contrary unto this love Ans First not to love our Neighbour or not to declare our love unto our Neighbour 1 Cor. 13.1 James 2.15 16. 1 John 3.3 when he needs and we may do it Secondly to hate our Neighbour much more to hate our Friends Brethren Sisters Husband Wife Children Parents and especially and that be Gods children or of the household of Faith Thirdly to love Husband Wife Parents Children Friends or any creature above God and Jesus Christ whom he he hath sent or against God or Gods glory and revealed wil especially to love them that hate Lord. Fourthly 1 Sam. 2.30 2 Chron. 19.2 any inordinate or hypocriticall love love in shew and not indeed disembling love all this is sinne Especially to love them that hate the Lord 2 Sam. 20.9.10 or any inordinate or hypocriticall love love in shew not in deede dissembling love Quest 11. May a child of God hate any man Ans As he may hate himselfe that is his own Corrupt sinfull conditions against or contrary to Gods holy nature and at emnity with God Psal 139.20 21 22. so he may hate them that hate God as they are enemies to God and haters of God and his Saints and servants But yet with humility love and piety desiring and endeavouring their conversion if it be Gods will and so to love them and seeke their good Quest 12. What are the speciall graces in which this Christan love and charity is to bee exercised towards our Neighbour Ans There are divers you may observe these First Christian Humanity by which in Offices of civility hospitality peaceablenesse and good Neighbourhood doing as wee would be done by Isaia 16.3 4. Rom. 12.15 16 17 18. Rom. 16.2 2 Cor. 5.14 15. in counsells comfort visiting in affliction or any other manner of assistance we helpe and so declare our love to our Neighbour and win our Neighbours love and respect againe unto us and all this as in and from that kinde respect of God to us in Christ Quest 13. What is a sinne contrary unto this 1 Sam. 25.14 25. Mat. 7 8 Z●ch 1.14 15. Amos 1.9 Mat. 7.12 Ans Inhumanity incivility churlish unquietnesse or any kind of ill Neighbourhood neglecting or refusing to visit in affliction or to assist with counsell or comfort much more they sinne who do any way rejoyce in misery of Neighbours or helpe forward their afflictions doing ill offices against Charity Religion and the rules of good Neighbourhood held forth in holy Scriptures when men do not as they would be done by Quest 14. What is a second grace in Christian friendship Ans Benevolence or good will in which in God and for God Isaia 66.10 Luk. 15.10 wee desire and endeavour the good of our Neighbour When occasion is offered and congratulate our Neighbours prosperity from our very hearts Rom. 12.15 John 3.2.3 as Christians rejoycing in the good one of another Quest 15 What is the sin centrary unto this Ans Wicked envy at the prosperity of our Neighbour Gen. 26.14 Mat. 20.11 Acts 13.45 James 3.14 15 16. or malevolent ill will or unfriendlinesse towards our Neghbour any manner of way against the Word of God Quest 16. What other Graces are there in which our love may be declared to our Neighbour Ans There are diverse other in particular which I refer to a Christians search in the Scripture and shall handle many in the particular Commandements of this second Table onely one I note this is true Christian Justice or righteousnesse to be exercised towards our Neighbour Quest 17. What is this Christian Justice and righteousnesse required in this second Table Ans Justice is a vertue by which a man doth give to every man his right and Christian Justice is a gratious vertue or a grace by which a believing man or woman by vertue and grace of Christ doth in a right manner according to Gods Word from a right Principle Gods love in Christ to the Christians and to a right end Gods glory give right and due to every one Quest 18. How manifold is this Christian Justice or righteousnesse to be practized of Saints Ans Divines divide it into two parts first distributive righteousnesse which is exercised in distribution of good things and of rewards and punishments in a due proportion and order according to the condition merit and worth or desert of every person as will appeare further in the unfoulding of the particular Commandements Quest 19. What is the second Ans Commutative Justice or Righteousnesse is that which is to be communicated to every one according to the equality or inequality of things or matters concerned or according to right and Justice to be communicated as will also appeare further with the sinnes contrary to Justice in the duties commanded and sinne forbidden in the particular commands of the second Table Quest 20. Which is the first Command of the second Table Answ The first Commandement in Order of the Decalogue namely as it is expressed in the twentieth Chapter of Exodus verse 12. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may belong in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Quest 21. What may be observed for the unfoulding of this fifth Commandement Answ Three things especially First the Duty required Honour Secondly the Persons to be honoured all Superiours set down here under the names of Father and Mother Thirdly the reason or Motive to draw to a willing obedience the blessing of long life that thy Dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Quest 22. What is meant or to be understood by Honour Answ First an inward reverent respect and Honourable esteem of a Superiour in Age Birth Place Rom. 13 7. or Worth according as is due to such a Superiour Secondly an outward manifestation of this R●verence and Honourable respect in words actions and fitting behaviour upon all occasions as becometh inferiours toward their Superiours in Birth Age Place or Worth both in a Civill and Chri●tian relation and in particular expressions and examples will be further manifest Quest 23. What Persons are understood by Father and Mother as superiours unto whom honour must be given as a duty Answ All Parents and those that are in place of Parents in Naturall Civill or Spirituall Relation Quest 24 What are those Parents and Persons in particular States and Conditions to be honoured as superiours and what are the particular inferiours who relatively are bound in duty to give honour unto these as to their superiours and what light from Christ revealing these Answ First in the Oeconomicall or Houshold Estate 1 Husbands the Persons are First husbands wives c. secondly naturall parents Father and Mother these are the superiours to be honoured and the inferiours are their Children Sonnes and Daughters by Nature Adoption or Tuition as are Committed to them as to

Passeover and may partake of that Ordinance being rightly prepared although not named in the institution Quest 11. You have answered concerning the spiritual Seed of Abraham the elect children of beleevers that they may be Disciples by way of Covenant and by right of Election and so may have a right and interest to Baptism the seal of the Covenant which is not denied by some chief adversaries of Pedobaptism if they could be known to be such But now what say you for other children of beleevers which it may be are none of Gods elect nor disciples by way of that internal Covenant of Grace nor inward sanctification of the Spirit What right or title can such Infants have to baptism in infancy or until they be discipled by publike Teaching and Declaration or profession of themselves to be beleevers and converted to the Faith of Christ and such to be admitted by vertue of Christs Institution Go Disciple all Nations and Baptize as is opened before Ans I answer for all children of beleeving Parents though they be none of Gods Elect yet I conceive they may have as good a priviledge now and be under outward Administrations as Ishmael and Esau had if these were not elected or as any of the beleevers children before Christ had not being elected by way of priviledge as children of beleevers to partake of outward Ordinances and priviledges as children of the faithful especially when as it is not known of us who are elected and who are not Why may it not be that Esau was made partaker of this outward priviledge for Jacob and Abrahams sake And for the elect childrens sake all in general who are children of beleevers in the Church of God might and may have this outward badge of Christianity as a note of distinction between children of Iews Turks and Pagans who deny and reject Christ and children of such faithful who beleeve and embrace Christ and the Gospel in truth and sincerity And thus you have one ground of Scripture opened and applyed for Pedobaptism which may evidence That it is not a meer humane invention and absolute will-worship as some have affirmed whom I dare not for this one opinion against Infants baptism utterly condemn excommunicate and cast out of the Churches of Christ as enemies to Christ and the Gospel but rather look upon some of them as weak Brethren to be drawn in by bands of Love and cords of Amity by all means seeking to inform them and reveal that light the Lord hath opened in the Cannonical Books of the Old and New Testament praying God that every Saint may joyn in love and humility in prayer to God every day more and more to reveal and settle Truth in his Churches that God may be glorified and truth and peace established in Christ Jesus Quest 12. I am of your minde not to condemn all as utter enemies to Christ who are adversaries to childrens baptism But yet their Divisions and Separations they have made in the Church their unchurching of the Churches of Christ their contempt of Christs Ministers for difference of Opinion in things of lesser importance with divers such like cannot be answered or justified I think before God or men as being contrary to that Christian love and unity required by Christ in and amongst all that professe the Name of the Lord Jesus But tell me I pray you what other grounds of Scripture have you to prove the lawfulnesse of childrens Baptism Ans There are divers Grounds of Scripture discussed and handled at large by several learned men I will onely name a few and leave the more full opening of them to those who have undertaken the controversie in their larger Treatises And first That encouragement which the Apostle giveth to those Converts Acts 2.38 39. to repent and be baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for remission of sins because the Promise is to them and to their children and not to them onely and their children but to as many as are afar off even as many as the Lord our God should call that is to the faith of Christ or to be beleevers in Christ and why not to their children also as being children of beleevers as well as to the former whether they were far off of the Iews or far off of the Gentiles who should be or are since brought in to beleeve on Christ and so their children have an encouragement to be baptized as well as other If you ask what the promise here spoken of was I cannot see why it should not be that promise made to Abraham and to beleevers in him as being in some respect the Father of the Faithful I will be thy God and the God of thy Seed and then as circumcision was especially the seal of that spiritual Covenant to Abraham and his spiritual Seed so virtually to beleevers and their spiritual children is there a signe and seal belonging And this is not circumcision which is vertually forbidden in that Institution of Baptism by Christ in the Gospel as Baptism is Matth. 28.19 20. and may be vertually commanded to children of beleevers though not expressed by Name in that Institution of Baptism aforesaid In like manner as women are not expressed by Name in the Institution of the Lords Supper and yet are vertually by Christs Ordinance to be admitted and made partakers of that holy Sacrament Quest 13. But may not there be the same Arguments for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be given to children of beleevers now as for the Sacrament of Baptism since the children of the Israelites are conceived to eat the Passeover Exod. 12. as well as they were circumcised Ans I conceive there is not the same Reason of Baptism and the Lords Supper For in the Act of Baptism both men of ripe yeers and children are meer patients suffering themselves to be baptized which a childe is capable of and may suffer as well as a man of ripe yeers But in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper there is action not onely of eating and drinking for that a childe may do But of eating and drinking in remembrance of Christ of shewing the Lords death until he come of offering up an Eucharistical Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for the death and passion and Resurrection and Assention of Christ and all benefits thereby and an Act of renewing our Covenant with God in Christ at the Sacrament which an Infant cannot do N●●● 10 2● as not being of knowledge and understanding and so an Infant may not he be capable of the Lords Supper though he be capable of Baptism or inchoate admission into the Church of Christ But this is discussed at large by others therefore I passe to the next Quest 14. What is that third ground you finde produced for childrens Baptism Ans That priviledge of the children of beleevers in Christ above the children of Turks Pagans and Infidels unto whom I perceive there are divers priviledges and

You have explained and held forth the Author Matter and Form of the Sacrament now what is your knowledge concerning the Vse Benefit and End of the Sacrament to faithful and right Communicants Ans The Ends Use and Benefits of this Sacrament are divers for the unspeakable benefit of faithful receivers Quest 11. What is a first End Ans First to seal and confirm the Covenant and promise of Gods free Grace in Christ Mat. 26.26 27. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. to our souls with Christs vertue and merits and all the benefits which Christ hath procured for us in his Passion Death Resurrection Ascention yea his whole active and passive obedience to his Fathers will as our Surety with his whole Humiliation and Glorification as mediator between God and us all sealed in this Sacrament Quest 12. What is a second End Ans On our part to renew and seal our mutual Covenant of thankfulnesse Rom. 12.1.2 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Psal 116.12 Psal 119.105 and obedience to our God and Father again in and by the vertue and power of Christ to be manifested in our lives according to that light of his will revealed by his Word and Spirit to our souls from Christ our chief Prophet and director in the way to happinesse Quest 13. What is a third End of this Sacrament of the Lords Supper Ans To hold forth Christ by remembring and shewing the Lords death until he come for the strengthening of our Faith and refreshing of our souls in the lively representation of Christs love to us Ioh. 15.13 1 Cor. 11.24 c. giving his body to be crucified and his blood to be shed for our sins evidently held forth in the sacramental breaking of the Bread powring out of the Wine seen by the eye of the body as the inward graces are by the faithful eye of the soul in every Communicant Quest 14. What is the fourth End and Benefit of this Sacrament Ans It is a sealing and confirming 2 Cor. 8.9 Eph. 3.8 Ioh. 6.56 1 Cor. 1.9 Ioh. 17.20 Eph. 3.8 16 c. 1 Cor. 6.15 Col. 3.2 3. 1 Cor. 12.12 13. First of our union and communion with God in Christ and of our right and title to all the riches and treasures of Christs Kingdom of Grace and glory And secondly of our union and communion one with another in Christ and with the whole Church of God as fellow members of the same mystical body of which Christ our Lord and Saviour is the head for the comfort and benefit of his Church Quest 15. Are there no other Ends of this Sacrament Ans Yes their are divers other ends and uses As Acts 2.46 47. First the profession of our Faith that we are Christians not Iews Turks or Infidels Secondly the profession of our love unity Acts 2.46 47. and charity one towards and with one another Thirdly 1 Cor. 11.17 18. Ephes 9.3 4 5. the conservation of our fellowship and communion with Saints Fourthly Our strengthening of all graces in us by participation and meditation of Christ held forth in this Ordinance in all times of temptations and divers other ends and uses but the former are principle in this Sacrament John 6.32 33 34 35 50 51. The ninteenth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question YOu have declared your knowledge concerning the Author matter form and end of this Sacrament now what do you know concerning the outward circumstances of partaking of this Sacrament time place and gestures What light have you from Christ for these Answ I do not finde that the Lord Christ hath directly and expresly commanded any set time place or gesture when where and in what manner of gesture sitting or kneeling or standing we should receive the Sacrament But the Spirit of Christ in his holy Apostle Paul hath held forth two general Rules 1 Cor. 14.40 and 11.34 Col. 2.5 Rom. 14.17 18 19. 1 Cor. 10.23 and 14.25 Rom. 14.1 2 c. and 15.1 2. First That all things should be done according to decency and order And secondly That all be done to edification Quest 2. But may not the consciences of Gods children be ordered and bound up to particulars in these things Ans I am perswaded that no Law or Rule ought to be made to binde the tender conscience of any man or woman where the Lord Christ the chief teacher doth not binde nor ought any liberty of conscience be given where the Lord Iesus Christ giveth no liberty But all Churches ought to be content if they cannot agree in circumstance and ceremony yet lovingly to agree in matters of substance which Christ hath plainly holden forth unto his Church in the holy Scriptures Quest 3. But may not Christian liberty be used in these things which are onely circumstantial in this Sacrament Ans Yes Christian liberty may be used in these things Rom. 14.1 2 c. and 15.1 2 3. Gal. 6.1 2 3. and the stronger ought not to tyrannize over the conscience of the weaker brother or sister but to bear one anothers burden and so fulfil the Law of Christ yea the stronger brethren and the Elders of the Church ought in all love and tendernesse to endevour the instruction of the weaker and to inform the judgement rather then by force upon the outward man to compel the conscience Quest 4. But may not the weak Christians absolutely and peremptorily use what circumstances they please Ans The weak ought in all humility to seek information of judgement and satisfaction in scrupulous or tender doubtful cases of conscience that if it be possible he or she may conform to the Directory of that particular Church Eph. 4.1 2 3. Psal 133.1 c. of which he or she is a member or if not to behave themselves humbly peaceably and Christian like rather then to break or endanger the breaking of the bond of unity amity and uniformity in that Church wherein God in his providence calls them to partake in this holy Ordinance Quest 5. Verily I do desire to conform my self to the Order and Directory of that Church and Congregation where I live and I long often to meet Christ in this holy Ordinance But I have some doubts trouble me in the present Directory for giving and receiving the bread and wine at the Lords Table And first I am not satisfied upon what ground the gesture of kneeling so much pressed formerly as if it had been a matter of absolute necessity is now changed into a Table gesture of sitting about or at the Lords Table Ans To satisfie you in this I desire you first to consider that the gesture of kneeling at the Sacrament hath no example much lesse any command either in Old or New Testament Search the Scriptures and you can finde none and so no binding necessity can presse the continuance of it The real presence bodily advanced by Pope Innocent about 1215. Secondly If you read all the History of the Church

new builded there are onely some few rooms pull'd down where the Officers for execution of Discipline lodged and some such particulars But the main house stands still the preaching of the Gospel as glorious as ever the Word and Prayer and the Sacraments and admission and growth of grace in the Churches of Christ yea even in our mixed Congregations and so still true Churches for matter and form and visible Saints to be found to and with whom we may exercise this grace of christian love and charity Quest 48. This is enough I conceive to shew our lawful membership in and of the Church of Christ and to evidence our Church a true Church in respect of admission into the fellowship of the Saints and communion of the faithful both for matter and form But now wherein should a childe of God declare and shew forth his Christian love and charity to such visible Saints and members of Christs Church Ans In all lawful christian union and communion one with another in actions of piety and charity according to the rules of the Gospel edifying one another in the knowledge of Christ receiving the weak brethren in all wisdom humility and love to build them up in the necessary truth of the Gospel and that in all godly prudence to win them to a more high prizing of Christ and all the wayes of Grace and godlinesse but not receiving weak brethren or sisters to doubtful Disputations Rom. 14.1 2 c. so much as in things indifferent and so not in matters of higher nature they being not able to judge of the force of Arguments in dispute 1 Tim. 1.4.6 and vain jangling too common in the world and so may be drawn to Errors have their consciences remain lesse satisfied in the truth Acts 2. 5. but to exercise all love towards them especially Ministers to the flock satisfying tender consciences out of Gods Word and one christian communicating to another in outward things especially to the poor in the Churches of Christ not that there is such a community of goods Rev. 2. and of all things as the wicked Nicolaitans did Acts 2. and some of later times do imagine by wrong interpreting Scripture but that in christian charity the richer christians should be careful to relieve the necessities of their poor Brethren and do good to them especially as being of the houshold of Faith Gal. 6.10 And this is enough to manifest the truth of members of particular Congregations that were baptized in Infancy and Catechized and professing Faith holinesse and renewing Covenant with God in Christ before their partaking of the Lords Supper as according to the true ancient order of the Church they have been in many Congregations Parochial in England where faithful Ministers have been and not onely in this respect but in respect of our Ministers Word and Sacraments and effects of grace wrought in the hearts of Gods children evidence our Churches true Churches whatsoever violent seducing Separatists whisper to their deceived Disciples to the contrary Thus you may see a communion of Saints in England to whom and with whom we may exercise our christian love and charity Ier. 15.19 which every day will shine more gloriously as Reformation separates the precious from the vile more fully which we hope and pray for daily The two and twentieth Classis or company of Questions Question 1. YOu have in some good measure declared these four Graces in the Wedding garment Divine knowledge lively Faith Evangelical Repentance and Christian love and charity Now is there no more required but the habits of these Graces to fit us for the comfortable partaking of the Lords Supper and to fit us in our walking with Christ in the whole course of our lives What light is there for Christians for direction herein Ans Yes we ought to wait on Christ in all good means that these graces may be enlivened actuated awakened as a man from sleep yea strengthned and lively 2 Tim i. 6 Rev. 3.2 stirred up and quickned by the quickning vertue and power of Christ that we may more sweetly meet Christ and gain soul-cherishing vertue from Christ in that holy ordinance and walk with Christ to eternal glory As man may have an habit of sight yet except awakened he cannot see Eph. 5.14 so we in habits of Grace must be awakened and quickned by Christ Quest 2. What helps or meant are there to be used in which we should wait on Christ for the quickning of these Graces and our further preparation for the Lords Table and walking with Christ in our lives And what light have you from Christ to direct in this particular Ans These helps are chiefly of three sorts revealed by Christ unto us 2 Chron. 30.3 c. Lev. 23.27 c 1 Cor. 11.17 c. First Publike preparation in the Ministery of the Word Prayer Catechizing confession or profession of these graces of Knowledge Faith Repentance and love especially in a day set apart for preparation for the meeting of Christ in this Ordinance that a man or woman may be approved of by the Ministers and Elders of the Church as being not onely in some competent measure freed from ignorance and without scandal but also endued with truth of grace as far as may be discerned in judgment of charity and so such as are to be admitted to joyn in communion with the Saints and partake with comfort in this this holy communion at the Table of the Lord. Quest 3. But is it fit that men or women should willingly make profession of their graces and approve themselves to the Church as well as examine themselves in secret before they presume to come to the Lords Supper Ans Howsoever it is not necessary that every one should make this profession every time he or she comes to the Sacrament yet it is certain that every one ought to make this profession or be known to be such a one until he or she be approved of by the Church as fit members to be admitted as children baptized when they come to age of discretion ought to professe the Faith in Christ 2 Cor. 2.5 c. 1 Cor. 5.3 c. 2. And if any fall into open sin after profession and admission it is fit they should declare their Repentance before they presume to come or be re-admitted to this feast of the Lord. Quest 4. What ground have you for this in holy Scriptures or what light from Christ to discover this Truth Ans Because if we must be alwayes ready to give an Answer to every one that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in us with meeknesse and fear 1 Pet. 3.15 and 5.1 c. Iud. 20.21 c. as is noted in the first Classis much more to the Church or to the Ministers of Christ or Elders set over the Congregation desiring not as Lord to tyrannize over our consciences or to shame us for our

meditation of this great and inestimable love of God in Christ and most free love of Christ to my soul God the Father not onely loving me to give Christ his Son for me and the Lord Christ so loving me as to give himself for me and to give the Gospel of grace to manifest this his invaluable love but also to give the Sacraments and this Sacrament of the Lords Supper in particular to seal this wonderful surpassing love of God in Christ to my soul manifested in his death and passion for me and God the holy Ghost to witnesse this to me and in this meditation to be perswaded and assured by the strength of Christs spirit that I have a most sure right title and interest to Christ to his Death Passion Resurrection and Ascention and Intercession and to all the fruits and benefits of all these to my soul and that all these are most surely and firmly sealed and confirmed to me in this Sacrament to the glorious strengthning of my faith and rejoycing of my soul in Christ Iesus having loved me and given himself for me Gal. 2.20 Quest 27. What is the third act orr operation of the soul in which by the power of Christs spirit you may improve this Sacramental obsignation to your self to your joy and comfort Ans A spiritual and faithful application First of this blessed Sacrament as appointed and instituted by Christ as a seal to confirm my faith and an application of Christ and his glorious benefits sealed and assured to my soul and sealed to all Saints who have a holy union and communion with me in this Sacrament and a communion in and with Christ held forth and communicated in this Ordinance Reason For the bread broken is the communion of the body of Christ and the cup which is blessed is the communion of the blood of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 17. and we that are many are one bread and one body for we are all partaker of that one bread and so I have both union and communion with Christ and with the Saints both sealed to me in this Sacrament Simile For as a Princes Broad or commonseal annexed to an Evidence confirmeth or sealeth up to the party to whom the Deed or Evidence is made the truth of all those Promises and Covenants which are contained in that Deed or Evidence or Letters or Patents So this Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ being as it were great Broad Seal of the Prince of Heaven and Earth Christ Iesus it sealeth to my soul all the promises and covenants in that great Charter the Covenant of Grace for my confirmation and establishment in Christ and Christs righteousnesse received by faith As circumcision of old Simile and Baptism in the time since Christs Ascention seals my entrance into Christ and clothing upon with Christ and his righteousnesse and ingrafting into Christ for nourishing vertue to life eternal So that I may still conclude with the Apostle certainly Christ loved me and gave himself for me Romans 4.11 Isaiah 61.10 Galathians 3.27 1 Peter 1.4 5. Galathians 2.20 The twenty ninth Classis or company of Questions 1 Question YOu have made profession of your faith and knowledge of all those present acting concomitant graces and gracious acts and operations of your soul which are to be exercised at the Lords Table in every Sacramental act and object of your senses corporal and spiritual to your refreshing and strengthning in the Lord Jesus by vertue from Christ the heavenly husband of your soul Now what light from Christ have you for those subsequent graces or gracious following acts or operations of soul or body in the inner man which are to be exercised and acted by you after the partaking of Christ in this holy Ordinance that a Christian may walk comfortably with Christ in the whole course of his or her life And what light have you received from Christ to lead you to Christ in this respect Ans There are two kindes of graces or gracious acts some to be put in practise presently and immediatly before we depart from the Ordinance and some after in the whole course of our lives and callings general and special Quest 2. What are those to be acted and put in execution in and upon the act of receiving before you depart from this holy Sacrament in which you may wait on Christ for a sweet and full assurance of Christs love unto you and of all those rich and invaluable benefits which the Lord Christ doth communicate and seal to your soul at the Lords Table Ans The first is a spiritual repletion Sacramental satisfaction glorious rest and full contentment in this rich Banquet at the Lords Table not in the action alone as resting in the thing done but having now fully fed on Christ Psal 63.1 c. and being satisfed with Christs sweetnesse as with marrow and fatnesse Quest 3. How are your affections now bent towards Christ Ans I desire now heavenly dainties and resolve by the power of Christ to feed no more at the Table of Devils upon the prodigals husks of sinful profits and pleasures Hos 14.8 Luke 15.16 221 30. 1 Cor 10. Ier. 50.4 5. Psa 65.4 but to keep my Covenant with my God in Christ for ever and to meet Christ upon all opportunities in his Ordinances that I may feed on Christ often at his Table of grace till I come to feast with him at his Table of glory Quest 4. In what manner or how may you wait on Christ in those three acts of your soul and inward man viz. 1. Serious observation 2. Divine meditation And 3. Faithful application for improvement of this rest satisfaction and spiritual content in this heavenly refreshing by Christ at the Lords Table What light from Christ for this duty 1 Pet. 2.3 Ans First for observation I may mark diligently divers particulars First what refreshings I finde in the ordinance Ioh. 13. Secondly what sign of Christ and his love to my soul in dying for my sins Thirdly how my affections are wrought upon with grief and godly sorrow in my soul 1. That my sins have crucified Christ 2. That I have been so unthankful and so often forgetful of this inestimable love to me Fourthly how I am cheered up with a joyful assurance that yet God accepteth me in Christ and that the pardon of my sins is now sealed to my soul in this Sacrament Quest 5. What assurance is gained from these Ans That Christ will make me strong in time to come 1. To resist all sin in thought word nnd deed And 2. More able to honour God in all estates and conditions 3. And more enlivened to delight in Christs presence of grace then ever before Cant. 5. Quest 6. What further grace way be observed Ans That in Christ I am more hungry after the Word of God 4. More longing to feast wit Christ in this Sacrament Acts 14.22 Luk.

Commandements of my Heavenly Father and so these foure first Commandements or first Table of the Law of God Psal 119.101.128 and to refrain from every sinwhatsoever Quest 49. What is the finall cause or chiefe ends at which your soule doth or ought to aime at in this your obedience Ans The prime and chiefe end is the glorifying of God 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Cor. 10.31 1 Pet. 2.9 1 John 5.10 11 12. my God and Father in Christ And the next the Declaration of my love and thankfulnesse to the Lord my God and to shew forth his praises who called me out of darknesse to light and hath freely given me life eternall and everlasting salvation in Christ Jesus The Thirty two Classis or company of Questions Question 1. YOu have profitably and plainely endevoured to declare the duties commaded and the sinnes forbidden in the first Table of the Law of God and held them forth as a light to the feete of Gods Saints by the helpe of the spirit of Christ And in the performance of our Duties and Declaration of our more immediate love unto our God in Christ Now what I pray you do you call the second Table of the Law of God and what are the Commandemtnts comprehended in this second Table what light from Christ to teach this Ans This second Table is that which holdeth forth rules for the manifestation of our love to our Neighbour Mat. ●2 38 39 40. in and for God as our selves and these Rules are comprehended in the six last Commandements of the Decalogue or ten words of Gods Minde to his people Ex. 34.28 Quest 2. What then you doe conceive to be the generall duties of this second Taeble of the Law Ans That which the Lord Christ and the spirit of Christ in the Prophets Mat. 22.39 Levit. 19.18 Rom. 13.8 9. and Apostles holdeth forth unto us namely to love our Neighbour as our selves Quest 3. What is the sinne contrary to this duty of loving our Neighbour as our selves Ans Not to do as we would be done be done by Mat. 7.12 Levit. 19.17 18. Isai 58.7 or instead of love to hate our Neighbour and to hide our selves from our own flesh Quest 4. You say the Lord requireth that we should love our Neighbours as our selves Therefore it seemeth to mee that the Lord requireth his child to love himselfe Now what is this love of a mans selfe according to which hee ought to love his Neighhour Ans Certainly the Lord doth require that a man should in a right manner love himselfe M●t. 22 37 38 39. Ph●l 2.12 Eph. 5.29 and this love of a man towards himselfe is that love wherewith a Believer should in and for and after God love his owne soule and body in seeking the temporall and eternall good of both for Gods glory and his owne eternall happinesse and salvation Quest 5. What are sinnes contrary to this true and right ordered love of a Man or Womans selfe Ans There are diverse sins contrary to a right and true love of a mans self first a perverse and wicked hatred of Mans selfe Acts 18.6 either of a Mans soule and body by an obstinate rejecting of grace and meanes of grace or willfull Rebellion against God or hatred of his body and life by a Mans desperate rejecting and refusing the meanes of preserving the body and health and life of it or by a desparate destroying of the body and life by any meanes whatsoever An example of this I have seen in divers who in strength and violence of Satans temptations or a kinde of frensie and braine distemper have utterly rejected meanes of comfort some for the soule some for the body some for both as Francis Spira did in Germany after his fall from the Gospell History of Francis Spirra to subscribe to Popery continuing in that sad condition to the day of his death I say nothing of Ahitophel and Iudas 2 Sam. 17.23 Mat. 27.5 who wickedly destroyed themselves contrary to the sixt Commandement of which I shall speak in its place Quest 6. What is a second sinne contrary to the true love of a mans selfe Ans Philauty or corrupt and inordinate love of a mans selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either above God which is a wicked Idolatrous love making an Idoll of a mans selfe and setting up an Idoll in his heart and preferring that above God 2 Tim. 3.2 Or to be so inebriated and drunk with selfe love as to admire onely himselfe and turne his affections of love wholy into himselfe as that Misanthrop●s who hated every man but himselfe ● Cor. 4.14 Thirdly to love a mans selfe from and for himselfe not from and for God in Christ or from Christ Quest 7. But may there not be a good and holy hatred of a mans selfe Ans We must distinguish of a mans selfe there is a threeford selfe First a mans soule and body or person consisting of both considered in themselves as Gods creatures 1 Thess 5.23 Secondly the old Adam in a mans selfe or the corruption of soule and body by sinne Rom. 6.6 either originall or actuall that Law or power of corruption in our members rebelling against the Law of our minds or Thirdly a mans spirituall selfe or the new Adam and image of Christ in the soule the regenerate part Galat. 5.14 the spirit that fighteth against the flesh Now to hate the first of these selfe our soule or body or person is against nature Ephes 5.29 no man ought to hate himselfe though he may loose himselfe for Christ which is love and no hatred And to hate the third the selfe of grace or grace of Christ in a mans selfe The life of grace in us this is against grace this self must be loved and cherished by all means in and through Christ But for the second selfe spoken of namely our corrupt old Adam in us our body of sinne Coloss 3.5 This ought to be hated as the enemy of the well being both of soule and bodie for ever Job 42.6 as Iob abhorred himself and Paul chastised his body and the converted People of God loathed themselves as they were loathsome to God in their sinnefull corruption Ezek. 36.31 Quest 8. You have satisfied mee in this question how a man ought to love and not to love himselfe now what say you in generall of the love of our Neighbour before we come to the Commandements in particular Ans I have described that in generall before That we must love our neighbour in God and for God as our selves Quest 9. Who is our Neighbour towards whom we ought to exercise our Christian love and Charity Ans All that stand in neede of our helpe or love whether they be our own kindred or strangers Luk. 10.36 37. 1 Tim. 5.8 Mat. 5.48 Prov. 25.21 Galat. 6.10 yea our very enemies and especially the household of faith but

what are the sinnes contrary to these duties John 16.8 what light from Christ to reveile these to convince of these Ans There are divers sinnes contrary to these I will note but these fix First 2 Tim. 3.2 a corrupt selfe-love of themselves and not one of another Secondly a want or absence of love when Mariage is for by ends not joyned with true love one of anothers person but rather of estate or outward worldly Profits or pleasure without true love Thirdly hatred Eph. 5.29 disagreement and dissention and unquiet quarrelling such as becommeth not Man and Wife Fourthly denyall of mutuall benevolence forsaking the mariage bed and so giving way to the devill to tempt to worser wickdnesse 1 Cor. 7.4 Fifthly neglecting communication of goods and other mutuall helps and comforts in a fit manner Lastly separation one from another except necessity of calling 1 Cor. 7.5 require or with consent for a time according to the Scriptures Quest 3. Now you have declared the common mutuall duties betweene Husbands and Wife what are the particular duties first of the Husband towards his Wife what light from Christ to see these Ans The Husband is the head of the Wife Eph. 5.23 and love is an ingredient in every duty 1 Pet. 3. First the Husband is to manifest his love to his Wife in dwelling with his Wife as a man of knowledge Gen. 24.67 as a loving husband in a loving manner endeavouring to instruct his Wife 1 Cor. 14.35 yea governe his Wife in love to direct guide counsell and advise her in all things necessary to be knowne both for this life and that which is come and all in love Secondly to cherish and give his Wife honour and respect as the weaker vessell Eph. 5.29 and as one who hath given her selfe to him as her Husband under God amongst other for this end 1 Pet. 3.7 Thirdly to preserve protect Ezek. 16.8 Ruth 3.9 and defend her in all lawfull and convenient causes according to his ability especially in the maintaining of her true chastity Gen. 16.5 6. and honour by all lawfull and good meanes and more especially in the house amongst her servants as Abraham did Sarahs honour and authority over her servant Hagar Fourthly 1 T●m 5.8 Ruth 3.1 providing her things necessary according to his ability that shee may finde rest in the house of her Husband to Gods glory and the mutuall joy and comfort one of another Quest 4. I doe now see the speciall duties of the Husband towards his Wife what are the sinnes of the husband contrary to these duties what light from Christ to know these sins Ans First not behaving himselfe as a loving head to his Wife Gen. 3.16 1 Cor. 11 3. 1 Tim. 2.11 12. 1 Kings 11 4. but to be as an inferiour contrary to the order of nature and Gods Ordinance Secondly to be overmuch uxorious foolishly drawne away by his Wife or Ruled by her to do that which is either unlawfull or inconvenient dishonorable to God or to himself or hurtfull to any whatsoever as Solomon doted in his old age Thirdly to be too bitter and dominering and tyrnanicall over his Wife Coloss 3. Ruling her not in love as a companion but commanding her as a tyrant doth his slave or compelling her to that which is unlawfull or uncomely in the sight of God or man Gen. 2 18 1 Thess 5.12 God having created her as a helpe meate for him not as a slave under him and him over her but yet in the Lord as in other ordinances of Christ Fourthly the Husband sinnes in not providing for protecting and preserving his Wifes life chastity and honour by all lawfull and good meanes according to his power in a convenient and fit manner much more he sins in prostituting or betraying his Wives life chastity or honour 1 Tim. 5.8 Levit. 19.29 which for a Husband to doe to his Wife is as base as against his owne child and both abominable and contrary to the holy Law and word of God Fifthly to hate strike or abuse his own flesh which his wife now is by the Ordinance of God 't is against the Law of God and Nature it self Eph. 5.25.30 Sixthly and Lastly the Husband sins if he neglect as the Prophet and Priest in his house to Pray for and with his wife 1 Pet 3.7 Job 15.4 1 Sam. 12.23 Phil. 4.13 or restraine prayer before God that by strength from Christ both Husband and Wife may better perform their duties in Gods sight and enjoy Gods blessing upon their daily endeavours Quest 5. The Husband may hence receive a light from Christ to know his duty to his wife now what light from Christ is there shining forth in holy Scripture to shew forth the duties of the wife towards her Huband Answ First the wives duty is to love Ephes 5.23 33. esteem acknowledge and honour her Husbahd as her Head and Lord whom God hath placed over her 1 Pet. 3.6 and she hath chosen as her Lord far her Good Secondly the duty of the wife Coloss 3.18 1 Pet. 3.1 2 c. is to be subject and obedient to her Husband in all things lawfull are expedient in the Lord. Thirdly the wife ought to be loving and amiable Titus 2.4 5. and delightfull to her Husband seeking to win his love and affections more and more to her in the Lord cherishing him in sicknesse Prov. 5.19 Gen. 2.18 and in health as becometh a sweet helper to him according to Gods Ordinance Fourthly the wives duty is to be helpfull as a Coadjutrix to her Husband in Government of the Family 1 Tim. 5.14 Prov. 31.10 11 12 c. not onely as a good wife for the estate credit and well-being of her Husband and Houshold for their Bodies Dyet and Cloathing 1 Pet 3.7 but to be a Good Home-keeper for Communication of spirituall good Prov. 31.27 28 29 30 31. T●tus 2.4 5. as well as corporall to pray with and joyn in Prayer with her Husband and Family to the joy of her Husband and Houshold whom she helpeth to Governe in the fear of God and that with wisedom and understanding many daughters do excellently but such a one surmounteth them all Quest 6. We conceive the wives duty to her Husband now what are the sinnes contrary to this and what light from Christ in Scripture to reveale these Answ First it is a sinne in the wife not to acknowledge her Husband for her head and not to honour and reverence her Husband as her head 2 Sam. 6.16.20 c. who is over her in the Lord and by the Lords Ordinance but to despise and dishonour her Husband as Michal did David Secondly 1 Tim. 2.12 It is a sinne in the wife to domineer and usurp authority over her Husband and directly contrary to the Apostles Rule Thirdly it is a sin in a

and benefits for his Church and children and what they are in particular Election Redemption Vocation and the excellent priviledge of Justification for comfort of Saints Classis 14. Quest 1. p. 142. 143 c. VVHat is the great blessing and benefit of adoption the difference betweene a naturall and an adopted Sonne and Daughter and how we may know we are the adopted children of God in Christ Jesus and heires with Christ of glory Qu. 2. p. 144 c. What is the great benefit of the new creation and how a man or woman may know they are now creatures Qu. 3 p 146 147 c. What is the benefit of the presence of Christs Spirit and what other particular graces Christ communicates to his Church Qu. 4.149 150 c. What a true Church of Christ is who are the members how manifold it is what are the markes of it and whether there bee so many Independent Churches as there are particular Congregations of Porfessors in the world Whether there may be a separation from a true Church for some corruption in Doctrine or manners and how far Qu. 5. p. 154 c. Whether the Church of Christ may erre in Fundamentalls totally and finally P. 206 297. Qu. 6. p. 157 158 c. with the grounds of preseverance and whether this doctrine of assurance doth open a way to libertinisme Classis 15. VVHat knowledge of the Sacraments is necessary for a comfortable partaking of the Lords Supper Qu. 1. p. 160 c. what kinde of mystery a Sacrament is How it is a signifying and sealing action and the Covenant of Grace which is sealed How many Sacraments there are of Christs institution Qu. 2. p. 164 c. what difference between those before and since the comming of Christ who may administer and what are the outward and inward matter and forme of the Sacraments in generall with the union between the signe and the thing signifyed Classis 16. Qu. 1. p. 170 c p. 290. VVHo are the subjects or persons to be Baptized according to the institution of Christ and whether Infant Children of believing Parents and what evidence and light from Christ to prove this against the adversaries of Poedobaptisme Qu. 2. p. 194 c. What meanes to difference the Church from the world without Rebaptization of men and women professing their faith with the profit of Baptisme if Infants in the Church Classis 17. Qu. 1. p. 210 c. VVHat the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is by whom instituted and when what are the outward things signified and sealed and what kind of body of Christ the receiver doth partake of or hath communion and union with in the Ordinance the naturall or Sacramentall or spiriticall or Mysticall Body of Christ and how and in what manner each or any of these is in the Sacrament What are the outward and inward form in the Sacrament Qu. 2. p. 217 c. and what the Analogy and agreement betweene the signes and the things signified and in particular betweene the Bread and the Body of Christ Classis 18. VVHat is the Analogy and similitude between the Wine in the Sacrament and the bloud of Christ Qu. 1. p. 221 222 c. and how the things signified are present with the outward signes to a faithfull communicant if neither by transsubstantiation as Papists nor by consubstantiation as others whether by a locall presence or Sacramentall or spirituall or virtuall and what every of these kind of presence are and how to he understood What are the ends why the Lords Supper was ordained Q. 2. p. 22● c. and the sweet union and communion we have with Christ and the Saints for our strengthening in th●● sacred Ordinance Classis 19. Qu. 1. p. 229 230 c. VVHat is fit to be knowne concerning the outward circumstances of time place and gestures in giving or receiving the Sacrament whether Christian churches and particular members may not use liberty of conscience in these particularly in standing kneeling or sitting and upon what grounds Qu. 2. p. 23● c. VVhether it be necessary that the Minister deliver the Bread and Wine to every communicant in particular and whether Christ did so whether all ought not to endevour a uniformity with the Directory and practice of that church of which hee or shee is a member and what hath beene the practice of antiquity in things indifferent as seeking Vnity and Peace in the Church Classis 20. VVHat the grace of Faith is Qu. 1. p. 241 c. the severall acceptations of faith in Scripture what justifying faith is and when a man or woman is rightly disposed by Christ and his Spirit to believe and receive Christ for salvation Who is the principall worker of faith Qu. 2 p. 244 c. who the instrumentall what is the matter and forme of faith what are the lively effects of it what the ends of it namely the glory of God and salvaiion of our soules Classis 21. VVHat the grace of Evangelicall Repentance Qu. 1. pag. 249. and conversion to God is with the author or meanes and manner of working the subject matter the whole Man or Women soule and body The forme mortification of the old man and vivification of the new and the end of it the glory of God the edification of our Neighbour and assurance of our eternall salvation Qu. 2. p. 255 c. What the necessary grace of Christian love and charity is wherein and with whom it is to be ex●rcised in the Church namely to every one that is our Neighbour but especially the household of faith and our fellow Saints in the church of Christ Q. 3. p. 258 c. How we may know who are of the household of Faith and rightly admitted to be fellow Saints or Members of the church and of the twofold entrance and admission into the Church the first inward and spirituall the second outward corporall and visible with the severall degrees of spirituall entrance into church-fellowship or christianity not almost but altogether And how the church may be sayd to be universall nationall provinciall or congregationall Q. 4. p. 264 c. How manifold the outward corporall on visible entrance and admission is into the visible church namely but one in substance yet diversly acted in the church both in men and woemen of ripe yeares and children before Christ and of the Jnfant ●dmission of children into the Church and Proselytes in and after Abrahams time Q 5 p 273 c. Whether circumcision was unto Abraham a seale of the covenant of workes or of the covenant of grace and how that place is to bee understood Galat. 5. hee that is circumcised is bound to keepe the whole Law What was the outward manner of admission into the Church since Christs time for men of ripe yeares Q. 6. p. 278 c. and

How may we make use of this the Catechismel or the lesser to best profit of private families or others First the Master or some one in the Family may read the Question and then first every one in order declare their knowledge or shew their ignorance and inability to answer Secondly the Master or any other may Reade the Answer in the Booke and let every one in order render the Answer again not verbatim word by word but as hee or shee understands the Question Thirdly let this be practized untill every one is able to give the sence of the Answer onely upon Reading of the Question without Reading the Answer The like a Christian man or woman may do in their closets by Reading and Meditation and questioning themselves And if young Scholars in the Vniversities or elsewhere make use of it at times convenient onely Reading the Questions and Answers out of the English into Latine or Greek I conceive it might be helpefull to receive some light from Christ by which they may sooner be prepared to hold forth the light of Christ for the good of Christs Church Which for the benefit of the Vniversities Cities and Kingdomes is the dayly Prayers of Yours Theirs and the Churches Servant in Christ IMMANUEL BOURNE London Printed for John Wright in the Old Bayly at the signe of Kings Head 1646. FINIS A light from Christ leading unto Christ by the Star of his word and to a lively refreshing in and by Christ at the Lords-Table OR A Divine Help and Directory for preparation to a sweet Communion with Christ in the more comfortable partaking of the Lords Supper Divided into thirty three severall Classes or companies of Question the better to order practise and help the memory The first Classis or company of Questions 1 Question IS every man and woman who professe themselves Christians bound in conscience to make confession or profession of their Faith and Hope in Christ to whomsoever is fit to require it in a fit time and place to Gods glory and the good of Gods Church and Children Answer Yes verely the holy Spirit of Truth holdeth forth this in the Scripture of Truth Mat. 16.23 14 15 16. Luke 9.25 26. 1 Pet. 3.14 15 16. as a Christian duty not to be ashamed of Christs Word or afraid of men but to sanctifie the Lord God in our hearts and to be ready to give an Answer to every man that asketh a Reason of the hope that is in us with meeknesse and reverence Quest 2. But doth not the holy Apostle Paul require a man to examine himself and prove himself What then need any man or woman 1 Cor. 11.28 29. 2 Cor. 13.5 1 Pet. 3.14 15. Gal. 6.4.5 Gal. 2.8 Col. 3.20.22 He. 13.17 1 Tit. 14,26 1 Tit. 5.17 2 Tim. 2.24 c. or childe give an Answer to the Examination or Question of another Ans The Apostle Paul indeed doth strictly require self-examination but neither he nor any other in Scripture doth forbid or gainsay that which the same Spirit of God in St. Peter requireth as a duty namely give a reason of the hope that is in us especially to our Superiours in order of nature or office in the Church as to Parents or masters to Teaching or Ruling Elders especially when it is desired discreetly holily humbly as in Gods presence with meeknesse compassion and love for Gods glory our own Edification and the good of Gods Church Quest 3. Is Catechizing or Instruction of the ignorant Children and others of ancient practice and approved authority in the Church of God Ans Most certainly it is Gen. 18.18 Mat. 16.16 17. Heb. 5.12 13. Heb. 6.1 2 3. Eusebius l. 5. c. 9.10 Hicronim in catalo Eusebius l. 6. c. 56. Faithfull Abraham instructed his Family Christ Catechized his Disciples the Apostles gave both milk for Babes and meat for strong men laying down the principles of the Doctrine of Christ and Catechisme hath still been continued in the Church of Christ as Catechismes and Catechists witnesse at large and in particular Pantaenus a Catechist in the Primitive times succeeding the Apostles After him Clemens Alexandrinus Origen and others Quest 4. But may not all those who call themselves Christians and have been Baptized when they were Infants be admitted to the Sacrament when they come to riper years although they were never Catechized or be they never so ignorant And if so Then what need Catechismes or Catechizing or any Examination other then wha man can examine himself Ans All are not Israel that are of Israel nor are all true Christians that call themselves Christians Rom. 9.6 Rev. 3.9 as some said they were Iews and were not but were of the Synagogue of Satan so it is now there are many Christians in name or Baptized persons not only secret Hypocrites undiscerned of whom we cannot judge but open carelesse and notoriously ignorant of Christ and Christianity yea without the knowledge of God or of themselves or of Christ or of the Sacrament in any competent measure requisite to enable them to examine themselves as the Scripture 1 Cor. 11.28 and the Spirit of Christ in the Scriptures require and these I conceive though some men account them visible Christians and although neither their lives are so scandalous nor their ignorance such as for which they may be fitly Excommunicated from the preaching of the Gospel and all communion with the Saints they being willing to hear the Word Preached and not rejecting Christs ministers yet their very ignorance is such that in my judgement they are not fit to be admitted to the Sacrament 1 Example I will give you an Example or two of my own experience I did know one W.W. whom I found ignorant of Christ although he was above threescore years old and telling him that the wages of sin is death Rom. 6.23 and that he must know some one that had died for him or would die for him to satisfie Gods Justice for his sins or else being a sinner he could not be saved He Answered me That none had dyed for him and none should dye for him but he would stand between God and himself This man verely was unfit in my minde to be admitted to the Sacrament of the death of Christ who did neither know nor believe that Christ dyed for sinners Rom. 4.25 nor rose again for their Iustification And when he did presume thus ignorant to come to the Lords Table 1 Cor. ii 29 30. he sinned in so doing and did eat Iudgement to himself not discerning the Lord Body And yet I conceive he was not so scandalous in life or ignorant as to be Excommunicated from the Preaching of the Gospel For when after I did shew him his misery by sin Ioh. 3.16 and the greatnesse of Gods love in giving Christ to dye for poor sinners the tears ran down his cheeks for joy and he confessed he never understood so much before And yet

knowledge of God Ioh. 5.39 17.3 Rom. 15.14 and of Iesus Christ whom he hath sent Quest 14. What is the sum of the Scriptures held forth since the fall of Adam to this end that we may be happy for ever Ans First the Gospel or promising part holding forth Christ and Salvation in Christ by Faith Gen. 3.15 17.1 Exo. 20. Mat. 5. Iam. 7.2 Secondly The Law or commanding part manifesting that life and Rule of life in thankfulnesse by obedience Quest 15. Whence hath the holy Scriptures its Authority to require belief and obedience unto it Ans From God himself who did write part of it with his own finger Exod. 31.18 32.16 35.1 Deut. 9.10 2 Pet. 1.20 21. or by himself and his own power and the Prophets Apostles and Pen-men were the Pen-men of God the holy Ghost writing the Word of the Lord and what was directed by his holy Spirit for Gods glory and the good of his Church Quest 16. But doth not the Scriptures Authority depend upon the Authority of the Church and doth not the Churches Testimony prove the holy Scriptures to be the Word of God Ans Certainly although the Scripture may be believed with some kinde of Faith to be the Word of God by the Testimony of the Church especially by men out of the Church moved by the Churches testimony to receive the Scripture as Gods Word as holy Augustine did yet the Authority of the Scriptures depends upon God himself and the Saints are moved to believe it as by the excellency of the Scripture it self so by the testimony of the spirit witnessing unto their consciences that it is indeed the very Word of God Quest 17. How may this be illustrated further to us Ans By that Example of the Samaritans Iohn 4. they first believed on Christ for the testimony of the woman who said Christ had told her all things that ever she did But when they had heard Christ Ibid. now say they to the woman We do not believe on Christ for thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know indeed that this is very Christ So likewise at the first Augustine was and others may be drawn to believe the scriptures by the testimony of the Church but when once the minde is enlightned by the holy Spirit to see the Scriptures excellency Heb. 4.12 and the power of God in the word how it is quick and alive yea mighty in operation sharper then a two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joynts and marrow of us and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart and that the Spirit of God is in the word 2 Cor. 3.8 and the Gospel is the Ministration of the Spirit Now the soul doth not believe and rest upon the witnesse of the Church for the truth and Authority of the Scripture but by the power of the Spirit of truth it self The childe of God seeth and knoweth that the holy Scriptures are the Scriptures of truth Iohn 16.13 and the very word of God himself and so to be believed and obeyed of all that look for Salvation Quest 18. But is not the Scriptures obscure and difficult to be understood and so dangerous to be read especially of ignorant and weak people Ans The holy Scriptures in respect of that Doctrine the knowledge of which is absolutely necessary to Salvation is not obscure but plain and easie by the assistance of the Spirit for every regenerate soul to understand the eyes of whose minde is enlightned Psa 119.105 yea it is a light to our feet and a lanthern to our pathes unto which we ought to give heed 2 Pet. 1.19 as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the day star and glory of the Gospel arise in our hearts But it is true it is dark and offensive to blinde eyes 1 Cor. 1.18 and to all that perish as in whom the God of this world hath blinded their mindes 2 Cor. 4.4 l●st the light of the glory of God should shine unto them and it is obscure and difficult to be understood in some parts even to Gods Children though not alwayes First that the Elect people of God might not trust to their own wisdom for understanding of the Scripture Eph. 1.18 19. but might be stirred up to pray for the help of the Spirit of Christ Luk. 24.45 Eph. 3.16 c and that Christ might dwell in their hearts by Faith and open their wills to understand that they may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the height and length and depth and to know the love of God which passeth knowledge that they may be filled with the fulnesse of God Secondly That the Saints may be stirred up to diligent reading meditation and study of the Scriptures that so they may better gain the right understanding of places difficult and obscure Thirdly That the Saints may see that sometimes they stand in need of an Interpreter Iob 33.23 Acts 8.30 31. one of a thousand to understand the Scriptures As the Eunuch did stand in need of Philip and therefore might be taught to see the necessity and excellency of the speciall office of Christs Ministers 1 Cor. 4.1 2. 1 Tim. 5.17 and esteem of them and honour them as the Ministers of Christ unto whom the Lord in a more speciall manner hath given and communicated by his Spirit the speciall gift of understanding and Interpreting of the Scriptures 1 Cor. 12.28 c. Mal. 2.7 Nehem. 8.7 8. 1 Tim. 4.13 2 Tim. 3.15 16. and of opening the true sense of the holy Scriptures to the glory of God and good of Gods Church and verely the Scriptures may and ought to be read and searched of all sorts whose hearts God moveth to desire the knowledge of Christ for it hath been observed of old the Scripture is a Sea wherein the Elephant may swim and the Lamb may go on foot the greatest Doctors may finde work to understand and the poorest Saint may see and feel and finde comfort Quest 19. What or how manifold is the sense and meaning to be sought out in the holy Scriptures for our instruction Ans Howsoever the Scriptures in many places may be applied to our use and instruction by Typicall Tropologicall Figurative Analogicall and Parabolicall Interpretations Yet notwithstanding there is but one immediate literall genuine certain sense of a place of Scripture which is the true scope and intent of the holy Ghost in that place and this is to be sought out with all diligence as being the Grammaticall Historicall or positive meaning of the Spirit of God to be rested in as the truth of God Quest 20. But from whence must we seek the true interpretation of the Soripture Ans From the Spirit of Christ speaking not in the breast of the Pope falsly challenging

and Iudgement to come These evidence plainly an immortality of the soul whatsoever foolish vain man can think or imagine to the contrary Quest 21. What is a last Reason you please to produce from Scripture to prove the souls immortality Ans The longings of the Saints to be dissolved and to be with Christ as blessed Paul did Phil. 1.23 I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is far better This certainly the Apostle did intend of this being with Christ in his soul when his body was dead and therefore did verily believe the immortality of the soul and a hope of happinesse when this life is ended Rev. 14.13 1 Cor. 15.19 otherwise Gods people were of all men most miserable when as the holy Ghost pronounceth them blessed that die in the Lord Therefore without doubt our souls are immortall Quest 22. What use is to be made of all this Ans To teach all men to prize their immortall souls above all the world Mat. 16.26 For what is a man profited if he shall win the whole world and lose his own soul Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul And who will not most willingly wait upon Christ in the Gospel that he may be drawn in to receive Christ for the Eternall salvation of his soul The sixth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question VVHat is the work of Gods Providence as of the world in generall so of Angels and men in particular Ans That excellent government by which God doth wisely justly and graciously preserve rule and order the world provides for all and disposeth of all things therein even the afflictions of his own people for his own glory and the good of his Children Gen. 22.8.13 45.5 1 King 17.1 c. Iob 48.41 Psal 36.6 7. Prov. 15.3 Mat. 10.29 30 31. 1 Tim. 4.10 Rom. 8.28 Psal 119.67 71. Heb. 12.6 7 8. Quest 2. What is the work of Gods Providence concerning Angels or their service in respect to his Children or to the wicked Ps 104.4 Heb. 1.14 Ps 34.8 91.10 11. 2 Kings 6.16 17 19.35 Ans They are all ministring Spirits sent forth for their sakes that are heires of Salvation yea for preservation of Saints destruction of the wicked both in this life and at the day of Iudgement Luk. 24.23 Mat. 13.41 42. 25.30.31 Quest 3. What else is the office of the Elect Angels Ans They are glorious attendants on Gods Majesty in heaven Dan. 7.9 Luk. 2.13 14. Rev. 5.11 12. Psa 103.20 2 Pet 2.11 Isa 6.23 delightfully singing forth his praises and readily waiting at all times to do his pleasure Quest 4. How long have the Angels been provided to do God service Or when did God make them for his ministration Ans The certain day of their Creation is not expressed in the holy Scriptures Gen. 1.2 3. Iob 38.4 5 6 7. Mat. 24.30 But it is most likely they were Created the first day when the Heavens were made wherein they dwell the Angels being witnesses at the Creation of the earth and rejoycing at the excellency of Gods works at the beginning Quest 5. How many Angels did God make for this service in the beginning Ans The certain number is not revealed in Scriptures Dan. 7.10 Mat. 26.53 Heb. 12.22 but it is evidently held forth that God hath Thousand thousands of Angels and Ten thousand times ten thousand legions and miriades yea an innumerable company to attend upon his Majesty and do him service Quest 6. In what state and condition did God create the Angels Ans They were all very good Gen. 1.31 perfect in holinesse and righteousnesse Lu. 9.26 Iob 1.8 Act. 6.15 2 Cor. 11.14 Iob 39 7. Heb. 12.9 pure and glorious Spirits Angels of light after the likenesse of God their Father Quest 7. Are the Angels all alike in nature Ans In respect of their nature they are all alike holy Spirits Mar 4.11 Iude v. 9. Isa 6.2 Ezek. 10.1 2. Col. 1.16 c. Eph. 1.20 c. Mal. 3.1 2 3. but in respect of their offices objects and services about which they are conversant they are held forth in Scripture by divers names titles and degrees as Angels Archangels Seraphins Cherubims and the like but the head of all is Christ the Angel of the Covenant Quest 8. How is the Lord Christ the head of the Angels H● 8.12.22 c. Iohn 1.1 2 3. 1 Cor. 8.6 Col. 1.16 c. Eph. 1.20 c. Phil. 2. 1 Tim. 5.21 Heb. 1.2 c. Ans Not as a head as Mediator of or by Redemption as he is to men for the Elect Angels never fell But as head or supreme by Creation Conservation and Confirmation in that state of happinesse and purity in which they were first Created Christ the Eternall Son of God upholding all things and being highly ex●lted above all things as head of the Church and of all the Sons of God Angels and men Quest 9. Have the Angels any care of or respect unto men in particular Ans They are ready at Gods charge for preservation of Saints they desire their good and rejoyce at the conversion of a sinner and delightfully look into the mystery of mans Redemption being ready to oppose the Devils and all enemies and to carry the souls of Saints departing into Abrahams bosome that Paradise of heaven to be with Christ for ever Psal 91.11 12. Dan. 10.13 21. Zach. 1.12 13. Joh. 5.4 Luke 15.10 1 Pet. 1.10 c. Eph. 3.8 9 10. Zach. 3.1.2 Acts 12.7 8. Rev. 12.7 c. Gen. 32.2 Mat. 18.10 Luke 26.22 and 23.43 Quest 10. Are Angels to be worshipped or prayed unto Ans No by no means Iudg. 13.16 Zac. 13.7 Rev. 19.20 22.1 9. Heb. 1.4 c. It is a sacrifice and service which belongeth to God himself and to that God-man Christ the Angel of the Covenant who is Gods fellow and this worship is an honour which the Angels themselves have refused to accept Quest 11. Mat. 33.1 2 3. Gen. 19.1.20 31 11 c. 34.24 c. 48.15 16. But did not the Patriarchs bow and pray to Angels and Iacob in particular Gen. 48.16 Ans That was the Angel of the Covenant the Lord Christ the second Person in Trinity who appeared to Jacob and other Patriarchs Heb. 11.18 Isa 41.8 Col. 2.18 and so worship was and is due to him but not to any Created Angel whatsoever Quest 12. What profit is this knowledge of Angels to the Saints and Servants of God Gen. 31.2 2 King 6.16 19.35 Mat. 26.53 44. Psal 68.17 Ans Of great profit and comfort that we may know the greatnesse of Gods love and care for his Church that if all the wicked men and Devils in the world do conspire against Gods Children yet besides Gods own infinite power God hath created Armies of mighty Angels to preserve his Saints and to destroy the wicked

to save himself or make a right use of those means of grace which tend to Salvation Ans Yea Eccles 7.29 Gen. 1.27 3.3 4 5. certainly there is great difference between the Covenant of works the Covenant of grace for in the first Covenant although God gave our first Parents a holy nature and ability if they would Isa 42.6 7. Acts 5.31 Ier. 31.33 Heb. 8.10 2 Cor. 3.8 to keep the Covenant and be happy Yet did not God give them a grace and confirmed will to persevere in that holinesse or be preserved from falling But in the Covenant of Grace the Lord gives Christ for a Covenant and in and by Christ his Spirit knowledge Faith Repentance love a new heart freedom from dominion and damning power of sin and perseverance in grace and all things that pertain to life and godlinesse God writes the Law not in Tables of stone as on Mount Sinai but in the heart and as he requireth Faith as with an empty hand to receive Christ so he giveth Faith Phil. 1.29 1 Pet. 1.3 4. and works it by his word and Spirit keeping the Saints by his power through Faith unto Salvation Gen. 3.15 17.17 Isa 5.3 Gen. 2.17 18. Ma. 1.21 Luke 2.10 c. Ioh. 1.14 1 Ioh. 3.14 c. Mat. 17.5 1 Tim. 1.1 5. Quest 14. What is the Covenant of grace Ans The Covenant of grace is that Covenant which God made with our first Parents in Paradice after their fall promising Christ the seed of the woman to break the Serpents head and in Christ life Eternall freely This Covenant renewed to Abraham held forth before Christ more darkly in Types and Figures but more fully since Christ in the glorious and clear Sun-shine of the Gospel Quest 15. You have explained what man was in the state of Creation and how miserable by nature after the fall Now what is mans condition by Grace and in the state of Grace when God hath drawn him to come into Christ and to seek Christ alone for Salvation by vertue of this Covenant Ans Man who could destroy Hos 13.9.14 1 Pet. 1.18 19. 2 Cor. 5.18 19. Phil. 1.29 Act. 5.31 Rom. 5.1 8.30 8.17 Gal. 5.4 5. but not save himself nor be Redeemed by silver and gold or by any other creature is now according to this Covenant of grace a Redeemed one by Christ reconciled to God in Christ called enabled to believe and Repent Iustified Sanctified Adopted to be a childe of God and in Christ an Heir of glory Quest 16. Are all men in this happy condition who live under the Gospel and hear the Preaching of this Covenant of Grace by Gods faithfull Ministers Ans No certainly not any in the ordinary way who are of years of discretion but only those who first waiting on Christ in his Ordinances in some measure by his Word and Spirit according to the working of Gods mighty power have their eyes opened Secondly Are made sensible of sin and misery by sin Thirdly Enabled to deny themselves Fourthly And by faith to apprehend apply Christ as their surety and redeemer Fifthly To rest on Christ alone for Salvation And Sixthly Declare their thankfulnesse by serving God in righteousnesse and true holinesse all the dayes of their lives 2 Chron. 34.19 c. Isa 66.2 Acts 2.37 38. and 16.17 18. Eph. 1.17 c. Rom. 7.23 24. Mat. 16.24 John 1.11 12. Mat. 11.28 29. Rom. 12.1 2. Luke 1.73 c. Quest 17. You have held forth and professed what you believe concerning the Providence of God in the state of man by Creation and his most miserable condition by the fall and declared in part what Gods Children are in the state of grace Now let me hear in brief what you believe concerning the Children of God in the state of glory And what is Gods works of Providence and government in the Heavenly Kingdom Ans First For the present Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord even so faith the Spirit they rest from their labours their immortall souls return to God that gave them and being dissolved from their bodies they are with their th●ir heavenly husband Christ Iesus in glory Revelation 14.13 Ecclesiastes 12.7 Phil. 1.21 c. Luke 23.43 Rev. 19.6 c. Secondly At the day of Iudgement their bodies being raised from the dead 1 Cor. 15.19 c. Mar. 25.34 Rev. 21.4 Mat. 5.8 1 Iohn 3.1 2 3. 17.20 c. 1 Thes 4 13. to 18. Ioh. 10.27 to 30. Mat. 25.46 Rev. 4.8 c. 5.11 c. 7.10 c. their souls and bodies re-united by the power of Christ the sentence of blessednesse shall be pronounced to them And Thirdly there shall be no more death but all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes God shall be all in all to them Fourthly They shall enjoy the vision of God in glory and by union and communion with God in Christ remain happy with the Lord in that Kingdom of glory in life everlasting praising and glorifying of God for ever and ever Quest 18. What shall become of unbelievers impenitent and wicked men and women who neglect Christ and Salvation tendred in the Gospel of grace and follow the course of this world and their own sinfull lusts ignorantly or presumptuously to their ends What is Gods government concerning them Ans When they die their souls desend presently to misery and the bodies shall be raised again at the last day by the power of God and appear before the Iudgement seat of Christ to receive that direfull sentence of condemnation Go ye cursed and be excluded Heaven and cast into the fire of Hell to be tormented with the Devil and his Angels in darknesse for evermore Luke 16.22 23. Heb. 2.2 3. Joh. 3.18 19 30. John 4.28 29. and 12.48 Acts 13.46 and 18.5 6. Rom. 2.8 9 12. 1 Cor. 6.9 Gal 5.19 c. Eph. 5.24 36. Phil. 3.18 19. Mat. 22.12 13. and 25.41 Rev. 21.15 Quest 19. But who shall be Judge of believers and unbelievers at that great Day to separate the precious from the vile the Wheat from the Tares the righteous from the wicked and to reward every man and woman according to their works Ioh. 1.12 Mat. 24.30 Iohn 5.22 23. Act. 10.42 Mat. 25.31 c. 1 Thes 1.9 c. Ans The Lord Iesus Christ who is the only begotten Son of God who stiled himselfe also as he is the Son of Man to whom God the Father hath committed all Iudgement and ordained him to be the Iudge of quick and dead He shall come in glory of his Father with his Angels and shall separate the sheep from the goats believers from unbelievers and pronounce the sentence of blessednesse to the one and of the curse and damnation to the other according to their works and the just rule of truth and righteousnesse Quest 20. But shall all both quick and dead good and bad be brought before Christ to receive

or division in the Body or Church of Christ as the Apostle St. Paul excellently holds forth unto us Quest 35. But may there not be a Separation from a true Church when corruptions and faults are found in it in Doctrine or practise of life and conversation Ans First I conceive there is a great deal of difference between the Errors or faults of a Church and of particular Members of a Church and also between failings of a Church in substantials and fundamentals which destroy the Essence and being of a Church and between failings and faults in circumstantials only If any Church or company of people should fall away the greater part of them in substantial truths and fundamental unto Error and Heresies which cannot stand with the foundation and being of a Church then I conceive such company may be rather said to have left the true Church though it be the lesser part in number then the lesser part to have left the Church The greater part Rom. 8.1 1 Tim. 1.19 20. as the seeming Church of Rome having left their first Faith and the truth of God in those Fundamental verities of Christ and his Offices and Graces without the holding and believing of which no company of people can be a Church of Christ Secondly If particular Members or a Church or company of professors fail in some particulars not Fundamentals but circumstantials only and such as it may yet be and is a true Church of Christ both in respect the Preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments Then I believe there ought not to be presently an unchurching or a Separation from this Church Eph. 4.1 c. but rather a labour and industry for a Reformation the preservation of unity and avoyding of Schisms and Rents and Divisions in the Church of Christ Quest 36. What do you call that company of people which fall away to Error and Heresies destroying the Foundation and in that respect separate from Saints Ans The name of Church cannot be given unto them but abusively and improperly only But these are a Heretical company rather then Church leaving the true Church of Christ 2 Ioh. 2.18 19. because they were never truly of the Church and so departing to their own destruction Quest 37. What do you call those who agree in the Fundamentals of Faith with the Orthodox and true Churches of Christ yet for some External Rites or things indifferent or some particular failings in manners or different Opinions in Dispensation of Ordinances or Discipline and these not Fundamental unchurch the Orthodox Reformed Churches of Christ and Separate themselves as if it were from Rome or Babylon Ans These are truly called Schismatical congregations who intentionally without cause do separate and unchurch the Churches of Christ and making Schismes 1 Cor. 3.3 11.18 so much complained against by the Apostle do divide themselves from the unity of the Churches condemning the true Churches as not Churches of Christ Quest 38. But whether is the Church of Christ subject to erre in fundamentals finally and totally or to perish for ever Ans Certainly no Mat. 16.18 Ioh. 10.27 c. Psa 125.1 2. howsoever particular Churches have erred in many particulars yet the universal Churches of Christ cannot erre in Fundamentals neither totally nor finally in any particular necessary to salvation nor can the Church of Christ perish it being built upon the Rock Christ but shall abide firm for ever Quest 39. Yet tell me I pray you what firm ground is there that the Church and Children of Christ shall be inabled to persevere and continue in grace unto Eternal glory and not fall from Christ and grace to perdition Ephes 1.4 14. 2 Thes 2.13 Matth. 24.24 2 Tim. 2.19 Acts 26.17 18. 2 Tim. 2.9 10. Rom. 8.28 Rom. 11.29 Isa 42.1 Luk. 17.5 Luke 22.32 Rom. 14.1 2 3 4. 1 Cor. 15.10 Isa 53.11 Ier. 23.6 Acts 13.38 39. Rom. 5.1 2 3 4 5. Rom. 8.1 Col. 1.20 Answ We might hold forth unto you many grounds But you may observe these First The certainty and infallibility of our Election by God the Father in Jesus Christ both unto grace and glory Secondly The certainty of our vocation or calling from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God a holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ before the world was Thirdly The certainty of our Faith being true though sometimes weak yet receiving relying and resting on Gods promise in Christ is sure to hold out not by our own power but by the grace of God in Christ Fourthly The certainty of our justification in and by Christs righteousnesse and merits by which we are freed from condemnation and have peace with God in Christ for ever Fifthly The certainty of our regeneration and new creation and glorification begun here and to be perfected in glory 1 Pet. 1.23 2 Cor. 5.17 and 3.18 Rom. 8.30 Phil. 1.6 Sixthly 2 Pet. 1.7 8 c. 1 Cor. 2.9 10. Our entrance already into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ endeavouring by the grace of God in Christ to make our calling and election sure Seventhly 1 Thes 5.23 ●4 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5. Iohn 10.29 30. Iude 4. Our assurance of faithfulnesse and mighty power of God to keep his children through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last times Quest 40. But doth not this Doctrine of Assurance open a way to Libertinism and so to sin Answ Certainly Iohn 8.31 32 36. the children of God have an excellent liberty and true freedom in and by Christ 1. Rom. 8.1 Gal. 3.13 2 Cor. 5.19 Rom. 8.2 Rom. 6.12 c. Ephes 2.1 2 3. Rom. 14.1 2 3 23. 1 Cor. 14.26 40. Rom. 6.1 15. From the condemning or damning power of the Law sin and curse due to sin having our pardon sealed in Christ 2. From the commanding power of sin and Satan unto both which by nature we were in bondage 3. From tyranny and rigid imposition of things indifferent to binde the conscience where Christ bindes not Christian charity and order guiding us to our comfort and the peace of the Church Yet there is no liberty for a childe of God to commit the least sin What shall we sin that grace may abound Rom. 6.11 12. 2 Pet. 2.19 20. Psal 19.13 God forbid How shall we that are dead to sin take any liberty to sin as the wicked do but rather pray continually by the power of Christ to be kept from sin Quest 41. What should the childe of God do that wants this assurance of perseverance in grace to glory Gal. 1.16 Gal. 2.20 Ioh. 13.1 2 Cor. 1.20 Iob 44.14 Iohn 17.24 Answ Waite on God in Christ in all good means of grace till the Lord be pleased to reveal Christ in you and his love and assurance of his free-love in

of their hands to receive the Bread from me and so the hand by which the hand of Faith is remembred was made of no use in the action which you will say ought not to be in this Sacrament For the hand of Faith receives Christ the Lord of our souls for the spiritual refreshing as the hand of the body receives the Bread and Wine Thirdly If you rightly observe the sacramen●al action or act or ministration you sh●ll finde and see the Minister of Christ having broken the Bread according to the institution command and example of Christ to take the Bread in a Silver or other Charger or Dish in which it is broken and present and give it to all in general at the Table with Christs invitation take and eat and so the cup take and drink ye all of this which doth imply every particular man or woman at the Table So our taking the Bread all out of one dish doth sweetly hold forth reaching out of a living hand of Faith a Christian union and communion in Christ as the Apostle intimates 1 Cor. 10.17 And thus I hope I have satisfied your doubts so that you may come with comfort to the Lords Table Quest 9. But what if a tender conscience cannot be satisfied about circumstances may not Saints agree to meet Christ in the Sacrament and receive the outward Elements in divers gestures of the body some sitting some standing or the like as well as they agree daily to hear the Word preached as they please or can be fitted without any such asking question for conscience Ans These Ceremonies I conceive are not worth contending for 1 Cor. 11.16 if men cannot agree or a tender conscience not satified nor ought to be excommunicated or delivered over ●o Satan for these things yet it is good yea a duty for all to study to be all of one minde and in one manner to meet Christ if it were possible according to the Directory of that Church wherein they live Quest 10. But have you any antiquity of your opinion herein Dan. 7.8 Psa 122.6 Eph. 4.3 4 5 6. Eusebius l. 5. c. 26. Anselm Epi. 327. of Ireneus to Victor and others Ans Yes the ancient of dayes God himself holdeth forth this in the Scriptures That Gods people should endeavor unity and the Saints in former ages have been of the same judgement in that controversie between the E●stern and Western Church about the celebration of Easter though they differed in opinion in circumstance yet they agreed in substance and received the Sacrament together and so in the d fferent manner of celebrating the Lords ●upper and the like when the unity of charity was observed in the substantial matters of Faith divers customes in circumstance did not nor ought to separare but Saints ought to unite in love as the reformed Churches do at this day The twentieth Classis or company of Questions 1 Question YOu have answered concerning the first grace in the Wedding Garment namely knowledge first of God secondly of our selves thirdly of Christ and fourthly of the Sacrament Now what light is there from Christ to manifest Faith the second grace to be examined and enlivened before we come to the Lords Table Ans To know what Faith is we must understand that the Word is diversly held forth by Christ in holy Scriptures First Gal. 1.23 Rom. 10.6.8 1 Tim. 1.16 1 Tim. 3.9 1 Tim. 4.1 Iames 2.17 c. for the Doctrine or Word of Faith which is preached and believed by the Church of Christ Secondly Faith is taken for historical Faith only when assent is given to the truth of the Word without application or fruit it is a dead Faith Thirdly Faith is taken for a temporary Faith which hath not only assent to the truth of the Gospel but profession with a kinde of joy and delight for a time Mat. 13.20 21. Mat. 13.22 Mat. 17.19 20. 1 Cor. 13.2 till temptation and tribulation cometh because of the Word and then it dieth and withereth Fourthly Faith is taken for the Faith of working miracles a special Faith given in the Primitive times to the Saints for confirmation of the truth of the Gospel Rom. 3.3 Mat. 13.23 Fifthly Faith is taken for faithfulnesse truth and constancy in word and promises as the Faith and promise of God to his people and of men to men Rom. 5.1 Tit. 1.1 2 Pet. 1.1 Acts 13.48 Isai 53.1 2. Phil. 1.29 Rom. 13.6 c. Rom. 8.1.5.10 2 Cor 4.13 Mat. 13.11 Ioh. 17.3 Sixthly and lastly Faith is taken for a true lively justifying faith the proper and pretious Faith of Gods Elect. Quest 2. What is this pretious justifying Faith of Gods Elect Answ This Faith is an admirable peculiar and special Grace and free gift of God by which a man or woman rightly prepared by the power of the Word and Spirit of Christ First doth know assent unto and embrace and trust to God in Christ in the free promises of the Gospel or Covenant of Grace Secondly know desire earnestly single out and make choyce of Christ the rich treasure and pearl held forth in the Gospel and Gospel promises as his onely Surety Redeemer Advocate and Mediator between God and him Thirdly lively believe receive apprehend take and apply Christ to himself as his Saviour and acquiesce or rest on Christ and Christs merits and righteousnesse alone for salvation Ioh. 3.14 c. Romans 1.1 c. and. 4.16 Gal. 3.16 c. Ioh. 17.3 1 Cor. 2.2 Phil. 3.7 c. Heb. 1.22 and. 8.6 c. and. 12.14 Ioh. 3.36 and. 1.12 Phil. 3.12 Mat. 11.28 29. Gal. 2.20 and 3.14 2 Chr. 14.11 2 Tim. 1.12 Rev. 5.11 12 13 14. Act. 4.12 2 Thes 2.13 14. Act. 13.37 38 39. Quest 3. How or in what sence do you call this Faith a justifying Faith Ans Not vertually and meritoriously of it self 1 Tim. 1.9 10. Titus 3.4 c. as it is a work or act of our understanding to know and of our will sanctified to elect and embrace Christ but instrumentally as it doth apprehend and apply Christ to the soul It is not the act of our Faith receiving but the object of our Faith Christ and his merits and righteousnesse received which meritoriously justifieth poor sinners before God as not the hand which applieth but the plaister and vertue of that which cures the wound to which it is applied Quest 4. When is a man or woman rightly prepared or his heart by the power and spirit of Christ disposed to believe and thus to receive and embrace Christ for his salvation Ans When by the strength and mighty power of Christ and his spirit in the word a man or woman is in some measure First enlightened with the knowledge of God and Christ and himself by the good pleasure of God held forth in the Word of God in general and in the promises of the Gospel in particular And Rom. 8.15 Secondly Inabled by

from hell and damnation Thirdly A being affected by the power of Christ with recipiscence or beginning to be wise again with a shame and confusion of soul for sins past Hos 14.1 2 c. Fourthly with a renewing of spirit and change of minde and judgement of heart will affections desires and whole man and all by the powerful vertue of Christ and the Holy Spirit of the Father and the Son Ezek. 36.31 Fifthly A dislike and loathing of sin and former evil courses as contrary to the nature of God and new nature of grace in the soul Sixthly Acts 11.18 2 Cor. 7.10 Rom. 12.2 Ioh. 3.5 2 Cor. 5.17 Psal 51.14 Luke 22.32 2 Cor. 5.19 20. Rom. 8.15 Psal 51.1 2 3 c. Luke 22.61 62. 2 Cor. 7. as 2 Kin. 23.2 3. It is inabled by Christ unto an aversion and turning from all sin and Satans Kingdom in thought word and deed and a conversion unto God and all goodnesse with a love unto and a delight in righteousnesse and true holinesse And this not onely in our first conversion or repentance as a work of grace begun in us But all the dayes of our lives perfecting holinesse by the vertue of our Saviour to the glory of God good of our neighbours and comfort of our own souls in Christ Jesus especially in the renewing of our Covenant when we meet Christ in the holy Sacrament Quest 2. You have given a large discription of Repentance to give in the substance of what repentance is in fewer words as you understand and conceive of it in your minde Ans Repentance is a grace Act. 5.31 Iere. 31.19 1 Sam. 7.2 Iob 34.32 Hos 14.8 and free gift of God in Christ by which a poor sinner upon sight and sence of sin and misery and bondage revealed by the spirit is affected with true sorrow and shame for his original and actual transgression and though he despair in himself yet by faith resting on Gods free love in Christ Zach. 12.10 11. Prov. 28.13 2 Thes 2.13 Eph. 4.20 c. 1 Thes 5.23 is drawn to a hatred of sin that crucified Christ and is converted by Christs vertue from all sin to God forsaking of all sin daily more and more and the Image of God daily renewed in him more and more that he may glorifie God in grace on earth till Christ bring him to glory in Heaven Quest 3. Who is the author and efficient cause of this Evangelical Repentance Regeneration Renovation and Conversion from sin to God in Christ Rom. 1.7 and 1.4 1 Thes 5 23. 2 Thes 2 13 14. 2 Cor. 5.10 Ans The whole Trinity in common and in special the Holy Spirit that Spirit of sanctification sent of God the Father and the Son with the Word into the mindes and hearts of poor sinners to this end that they may repent be born again converted and changed from glory to glory by the vertue of Christ Quest 4. What is the internal moving cause of this Repentance and Regeneration and Conversion of poor sinners unto God Titus 3.4 5. Iohn 1.12 13. Ephes 2.4 5 c. Ans The free-grace and good will of God in Christ giving and working this grace of his own goodnesse in the hearts of his children Quest 5. What is the internal principle meritorious vvorking cause by vertue vvhereof this change is vvrought in our souls Ans This is Christ himself Eph. 5.25 26 27. Revel 1.5 6. and his merits and blood by which we are cleansed sanctified and changed that we may be presented blamelesse before God Quest 6. What is the instrumental outvvard cause of this Repentance Regeneration and Conversion or turning unto God in Christ Ans Ordinarily the Word of God Exod. 19.18 20. Acts 2.36 37 38 39. Luke 3.9 10. Rom. 3.20 Acts 9.1 2 c. 1 Pet. 1.23 Acts 16.25 c. both Law Gospel brought home to the soul in the powerful preaching of it by the work of Christs spirit and sometimes extraordinary means as thunders lightnings judgements of God afflictions fears terrors and such like with which God worketh as he pleaseth to this end Quest 7. What is the subject matter of this Repentance and nevv birth and sanctification and turning unto God or that vvhich is thus converted to God in Christ Ans The whole man all the powers and faculties of the soul understanding will memory affections conscience and all the parts 1 Thes 5.23 24 Rom. 6.19 20 21. Rom. 12.1 2. Acts 15.9 1 Cor. 10.32 and 6.15 c. Rom. 6.3 4 c. Ephes 2.1 2 c. Isai 1.16 17 c. Eph. 4.21 c. Isai 5.7 Col. 3.9 10. Gal. 2.20 and members of the body eyes ears hands feet heart all purified and sanctified to glorifie God by Christ Iesus Quest 8. What is the form or manner of this Repentance Regeneration and Renovation unto nevvnesse of life or vvherein doth this form consist Ans In the mortification of the old man and the vivification or quickning of the new man the old man or old Adam being crucified and the body of sin destroyed and the new man created and enlived by Christ living in the soul and so an aversion from all evil and a turning or conversion unto good by the vertue of Christ Quest 9. What is the end of this grace of Repentance Renovation and Conversion to God in Christ Ans The cheif end is the glory of God the edification of our neighbour and the assurance and enjoynment of our own eternal salvation 2 Tim. 2.21 2 Thes 1.11 12. Matth. 5.16 Gal. 1.22 23 24. 2 Pet. 7.8 9 10 11. 2 Thes 2.13 Quest 10. You have made profession of your knowledge and of the grace of Faith and concerning Evangelical repentance now what light hath Christ revealed to you concerning the fourth and last Grace we noted in the wedding Garment to be examined and enlivened before we come to the Lords Supper Ans The grace of Christian love and charity is a necessary Garment to be worn as at all times so especially when we meet Christ in the Ordinance of the Lords Table Quest 11. What is this grace or affection of love and charity as you have learned from Christ Ans First in general love is an affection of the soul moving in the heart of a man or woman to embrace some known good thing First with a desire of union with it Secondly a Sympathy or good will of beneficence or well doing to it Thirdly an acquiescence 1 Sam. 17. 1 Sam. 18.1 2 3. or rest in the fruition or enjoyment of it as under God the chief present joy and satisfying delight of the soul as the love of Ionathan to David of husband and wife parents and children or the like First Ionathan observed David and knew him to be a valiant good man 1 Sam. 19.4 1 Sam. 20.4 2 Sam. 9.1 2 c. Secondly in his heart desiredd union and was knit to Davids heart

after the Lord 1 Sam. 7.1 2. Quest 9. What is the fifth help Answ Application of the Sacrament to my self as a seal of the covenant of grace 1 Cor. 10 16 17. Rom. 4.11 Gal. 2.20 Rom. 9.23 24. and of my confirmation in the faith and love of God to me as my God and Father reconciled to me in Christ untill I prize it as a rich treasure and part of the riches of Christs kingdome of grace for my preparing to glory Quest 10. What is the sixth and last help Answ Prayer to God with faith in the name of Christ zeal and constancy and humble waiting untill I can understand by the help of Christs Spirit Ios 16.23 Iam. 1.6 Iam. 5.16 1 Cor. 10 1 2 3 4. 1 Cor. 10 16 Cant. 5.8 G●n 30.1 Esther 5.13 Luke 22.20 1 Cor. 11 25. the excellency of this ordinance and that glorious union and communion which a prepared humble faithfull soul enjoyes with Christ feeding on Christ spi●itually and feasting with him at the Lords Table and untill my soul be so far sick of love for Christ that I can truly say as Rachel did of children O my God give me the holy Sacrament and to feast with Christ in it or else I dye Or as Haman did of all his riches and honours and of Hesters banquet in another kinde what is all this so long as I enjoy not Christ and banquet not with Christ at the Supper of my Lord. Quest 11. You have declared how you conceive the grace of knowledge both of God and of our selves and of Christ and of the Sacrament may be enlivened waiting on Christ in these or the like helps now how do you conceive the grace of faith may be enlivened by the power of Christ so as you may come with greater comfort to the Lords Table What light from Christ to enlighten in this work of grace Answ First time and secondly place being observed as before Thirdly I conceive I may wait on Christ in a serious examination of my faith as it is held forth before in this catechisme First distinguishing this lively faith from all other kindes Secondly examining and trying my faith 1. In the nature of it an entertaining receiving applying faith 2. In the means disposing my heart to believe 3. In the heavenly author or efficient and instrumentall causes of faith the word of promise and spirit of Christ 2 Cor. 4.13 4. In the matter and object of faith 5. In the form and life of faith 6. In the effects and fruits of faith all proved and set forth already Fourthly I may enliven my faith by waiting upon Christ in self-application of all those rules of tryall to my own heart to see how the truth of this grace is in my soul Fifthly I may wait on Christ in a solid and devout meditation of the grace of saith in my heart of the promises of Free-grace in Christ and especially the sacramentall promises now to be looked upon in the Sacrament This is my body Mat. 26.26 27. this is my blood which is given which is shed for you untill my soul findes and feeleth that it believes more firmely receiveth and rests on Christ for salvation more fully Sixthly wait on Christ in prayer to God the Father in the name of Christ Isa 11.10 Isa 66.11 1 Cor. 10 21. That I may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of consolation and feed with joy at the Lords Table Quest 12. How or in what manner may you wait on Christ to quicken and renew your Evangelical Repentance or daily turning more and more from sin to God in minde will affection and conversation that you may with more comfort come to the Lords Supper What light is there from Christ to lead you to Christ in this grace and duty Ans First Time Secondly Place observed as before Thirdly I am to set my self as in Gods presence and examine Ier. 31.18 19. First My first conversion to God to finde evidence of the truth of that by considering 1. The meritorious cause Christ 2. The Nature 3. Author And 4. Means of working this grace in my soul as far as I can discern 5. The matter of it the whole man soul and body 6. The manner And 7. The end and effects of this conversion and repentance as in this Catechism is held forth or a I finde in other Catethisms or word from Christ Ezek. 36.31 Psal 51.10 Mat. 26.57 Secondly To examine the progresse and growth of it daily in my soule not only loathing but turning from sinne to God and lamenting my f●●ling with sorrow if I have fallen as David Peter or other Saints of God and ungratefully forgotten the love of my Saviou● Fourthly meditating of my sinnes and vile ingratitude against so good a God to me in Christ Fifthly a right application all to my own soul in particular Psa 51.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Isa 2.1 2 3. Psal 122 1 2 3 4. Cant. 1.7 8. And lastly prayer to God in the name of Christ untill I finde an increase of power over my sinfull corruptions and a more ful assurance of my pardon new heart and spirit-restored joy which that it may better be communicated from Christ to my soule I long to meet Christ in his ordinances Quest 13. But what help and light from Christ have you to finde out not only your originall sin and sinfull nature in generall before your repentance and conversion to God but you daily actuall sals an A failings by which you do dishonour God grieve the Spirit of Christ and wound your own conscience and make your self more unfit to come to the holy Sacrament Answ I conceive I may wait on Christ and his Spirit looking for light from Christ into a threefold glasse or book which reveils sins to my soul by the power and light of Christs Spirit Quest 14. What is the first Answ The first is the book of the law or commanding part of Gods will or Word revealed by Christ held forth in the ten Commandements in particular Isa 8.21 and in the whole Scriptures of God in generall Quest 15. What is the second glasse Ioh. 3.17 18 19 20. Ioh. 16 8 9. Hebr. 2.2 3. Mat. 22.1 2 3 4 5 6. 9 10 11 12. Mat. 25.19 c. Answ Secondly the book ot the Gospel or gracious promising part of Gods Word against which I have sinned by unbelief too little regard of the tender of grace to improve my talent of faith other graces communicated to Saints and to my soul in and by Christ Iesus Quest 16. What is the third glasse or light from Christ to see this truth Answ The book of my own conscience enlightned which as Register recordeth my sins and will upon search by the help of Christs Spirit and light from Christ set my sins before my face with the circumstances Rom. 2.14 15. Rom. 9.1 2. Gen.

42.21 Iohn 3.16 Iohn 15.5 Rom. 8.37 Colos 1.10 Rev. 1.4 5. order and severall aggravations of them by which I may more see my own vilenesse and admire Gods goodnesse in giving Christ whom I stand daily in need of not only for more assurance of pardon but for increase of power to overcome temptations and walk more thankfully to God who hath so freely loved me in Iesus Christ For if naturall conscience do this much more conscience enlightned by the Spirit of Christ Quest 17. How can you finde all your sins and failings by the glasse of the law or ten Commandements Answ First reading and observing the Commandements as they are recorded in the 20 Chapter of Exodus with the exposition and explication of them by the Prophets in the Old Testament Mat. 5.6 c. and by Christ himself 〈◊〉 the fifth sixth seventh Chapters of the Gospel according to S. Matthew and by the Apostles in the New Testament Secondly by questioning my conscience upon intergatories drawn both from the affirmative and negative part of every Commandement as I hope I shall be able to declare more fully in the next part of this Catechisme Luke 10 25 c. as Christ did Catechize the Pharisee Quest 19. But is repentance of every sin originall and actuall required in that man or woman who will come with comfort to the Lords Table Answ Certainly that soul that lives senselesly and securely either in the state of nature unregenerate or in any known actuall sin as Atheism wilfull affected ignorance or unbelief and prophanenesse against the first Commandement Or superstitious will-worship or neglect of love against the second Commandement Or blasphemy cursing swearing against the third Commandement Or irreligious prophanenesse of the Lords day and neglect of Gods Ordinances against the fourth Or in wilfull carelesse omission of duty or commission of sins against superiours as Parents Magistrates Ministers against inferiours or equals as children servants brethren or neighbours against the fifth Commandement Gen. 4.5 1 Cor. 10 1 2 c. Tit. 1.15 16. Ier. 7.8 9 c. Ier. 1 10 c. Ezek. 14.1 2 c. Isa 1.12 c. Matth. 5.20 c. 1 Cor. 11 17.20 Mat. 22.11 c. Isa 66.2 c. Or in malice envie murther whoredom theft oppression cozening sacriledge drunkennesse lying slandering or in any other grievous crime yea or in wicked desires and unlawfull covetings against the ten or any other commands such cannot finde comfort in coming to the Lords Table except the Lord first give them repenting hearts for their sins faithfull and longing hearts after Christ for assurance of pardon and for power to repent more and more with a resolution by the grace of God in Christ to walk in newnesse of life because without this repentance faith and other needfull graces they come not for the better but for the worse and eat judgement to themselves and their service is abominable Quest 20. How can you finde out your sins against the Gospell Answ Especially by getting a Catalogue of the promises and finding out the unbelief of my own heart and great ingratitude to doubt of Gods love 2 Cor. 7.1 Heb. 3.12 Heb. 11.6 2 Pet. 1 3 4. 2 Cor. 1.20 2 Tim. 1 12. or not to confide in God through Christ and walk thankfully towards thee the Lord having given so many rich and precious promises which are all yea and Amen in Christ Iesus Quest 21. By what helps may you wait on Christ for the quickning and enlivening of the grace of Christian love and charity What light from Christ for exercise and quickning of this grace of love Answ Time and place being kept as before I may wait on Christ with examination of my love First to God in Christ Secondly to my self Thirdly to my neighbour 1. How I love God in his holy nature person properties word and works 2. How I love Christ in his person Name in his Ordinances Church and Children 3. How I love my self not with a self-love but as in and for God and Gods glory in Christ as well as my own good in an inferiour respect 4. How I love my neighbour yea my very enemy to doe him good for Gods glory 2 Cor. 8.1 c. Mat. 22.37 c. Iohn 14.21 Iohn 15.9 c. 1 Cor. 16 22. Mat 16.24 Tit. 1.7 1 Cor. 11.28 2 Tim 3 c. Eph. 5.28 29. Pro. 19.8 Rom. 13 8 c. Pro. 25.21 Rom. 12 20. Rom. 12.13 1 Cor. 4.4 2 Cor. 5.14 15. that I may appear to be one of the children of my heavenly Father 5. How I pitty poor Saints to relieve them for Christs sake 6. How I do and desire and endeavour to doe all this not to be justified thereby before God or to satisfie for my sins or to procure my peace all which is done by Christ but to witnesse my thankfulnesse to God in Christ for his free love to me and the great invaluable gift of his Sonne Christ who loved me and gave himself for me Quest 22. What further meant is there to quicken this love Answ Fourthly by the power of Christs spirit to meditate and think of all this love with the author and worker of it in my soul the same holy spirit by whom it is spread abroad in my heart and the object of this love my God reconciled to me in and by Christ and Gods word and people And fifthly to wait on Christ in a speciall application of this to my own soul And sixthly to wait in earnest prayer by the help of the spirit of prayer who proceeds from the father Iohn 4.16 c. Iohn 16.23 1 Iohn 5.13 c. Rom. 8.35 c. Luke 10.27 Cant. 5.5 c. and the Son untill my heart be inseparably enflamed with all this true love of God my neighbour and my self and my soul filled with unsatisfied longing to meet Christ and see his glorious face in his Ordinances that I may tell him I am sick of love to enjoy him more fully and his soul-satisfying refreshments in his gracious vertue and presence in my soule The twenty fifth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question YOu have made profession of your knowledge faith repentance and love and your experience how to enliven and strengthen the habits of those antecedent graces divine knowledge lively faith Evangelicall repentance and christian love and charity Now what are those more immediate present necessary graces or gratious affections resolutions and actions in the soul in which you may wait on Christ as in more immediate preparatives to be examined enlivened resolved upon acted and exercised immediately before or at that time when you draw near to partake of the Lords Supper Answ There are and may be diverse but chiefly these that follow Quest 26. What is the first of these to be quickned in you What light from Christ for these have you seen 2 Chro. 32 c. Isa 57.15 Isa 66.2 Mic.

9. Psa 119.17 75. 2. It may be it is to keep a childe of God from security to awaken us and help us to walk more watchfully with God as David was troubled for very faithfulnesse for good 2 Cor. 1.7 c. 12 7 c. 3. To prevent spiritual pride and self-confidence that our whole dependency may be on Gods Free-grace which is sufficient for us Cant. 3.1 2 3. 5.5 c. 4. Or because he would try our faith or wisdom or patience or obedience constancy or such other graces 5. To cause his sons or daughters to esteem better of the sense of Gods love Iob 1 2 3 4 c. or Christs presence in time to come Psal 51.7 c. Luke 22.32 2 Cor. 1.3 c Eph 4.30 6. Because we should be watchful not to grieve Gods spirit by our failings or any way dishonour God but at return of spirit be stablished to walk constantly with God in Christ for ever 7. Or that in greatest darknesse we may wait upon the Lord till he cause his Sun to shine and his beams of love to appear again to the soul Isa 50 10. For these and such like ends God suffers doubtings therefore your friend ought not to dispair because she is troubled with fears and doubtings Quest 2. But can such temptations and weaknesses befull Gods children Psal 73.12 c Ier. 20.2 Rom. 7.22 c. Ans Your friend must know that these temptations and corruptions or weaknesses may sometime be found in the best of Gods Saints who are very dear and precious jewels in the eyes of Christ bought with the price of his own most precious blood and upon whom he hath bestowed an excellent measure of grace as David Jeremiah Paul and others these weaknesses arising either from the first corruptions of nature not yet fully purged in which are the seeds of all sin Atheism Infidelity or the like Gen. 6 5. Rom. 7.18 8.7 2 Cor. 17.7 Mat. 26.74 Gen. 9.21 c. 20.2 Psal 51. Luke 22.31 Secondly or else from Satans temptations from which we cannot expect to be wholly free in this life for Paul was often buffetted with these temptations Peter was tempted and fell fearfully Noah Lot Abraham had their Resurrections from sin and David was constrained to pray Create in me a clean heart O God and therefore none of Gods Saints in this life must think to be free from assaults of spiritual Enemies and winowings lesse or more Quest 3. What more is to be considered Ans Thirdly to satisfie further let her consider she is yet a member of the Church Militant Gen. 3.1 c. Eph. 6.10 c. and must expect as a Souldier of Christ many skirmishes before she passeth the wildernesse of this world to the Canaan of Heaven temptation is one sign of the life of grace which the Devil cannot abide in any soul therefore seeks by temptations to destroy it and the Saints which enjoy it as he sought to destroy Christ Mat. 4.3 c. Fourthly You know Satan tempted the Son of God to grievous sins to Idolatry to distrust of Gods Providence to doubt whether he were the Son of God or not as your friend doth whether she be Gods childe yea to pride to vainglory nay which is more to lay violent hands upon himself and destroy his own life by casting himself down headlong from a Pinacle of the Temple and when the Devil left him it was but for a season Luke 4.13 And if Christ was tempted she must not despair in temptation because she is tempted but resist Satan by the word as Christ did 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Rom. 8.35 c. and so in time she shall be more then a conquerour through Christ that hath loved her Quest 4. But what if my friend fear she shall one day fall by the hand of Satan as David once feared he should fall by the hand of Saul 1 Sam. 27.1 Ans Fifthly In time of temptation put her in minde that God hath the Devil in chains and can bridle him as he doth the roaring waves of the Sea at his pleasure Iob 38.8 And if at any time she be ready to sink by the waves of temptation as Peter in the waves of the Sea then let her pray to Christ for strength to imitate Peter to call out to Christ for his right hand of power to preserve her soul as Peter was saved and he is ready and will be ready according to his promise to save her from drowning according to that gracious promise made to his Church when thou art in the water I will be with thee it shall not drown thee Isa 43.2 as he saved Peter Mat. 14.30 31. so will he save his servants that put their trust in him Psal 18.27 34.6 Quest 5. You have given a good direction how to seek to Christ in times of temptations But what shall she do in her doubtings concerning her Election that she may be sure that she is one of Gods Elect and chosen ones and hath life of grace in her soul as called of God in Christ to glory Ans I answer as she that would finde the Sea must take the River by the hand and follow that so she that would finde out Election must get the golden chain of Predestination and lay hold on those links first which are nearest unto her she must by the power and direction of Christ in his Word and by his Spirit first finde our the effects and fruits of Election before she can finde Election it self first finde out the consequents of Election before she can finde out the antecedents and know Gods Free-love the cause of all As the Sun rising is known by the light approaching the fire by the heat and the tree by the fruits so Election that prime grace by the effects or subsequent graces that follow the Apostle holds this forth Rom. 8.29 30. whom God did foreknow with the knowledge of approbation them he did Predestinate whom he did Predestinate them he calleth whom he calleth them he justifieth whom he justifieth them he glorifieth Now begin at Calling the first link we can take hold on and if she be inabled by the power Christ to see her effectual calling from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto Christ Phil. 3.6 c. Acts 26.18 19. and from sin and her self-righteousnesse unto his perfect righteousnesse and merits which was the end why the Lord sent Paul to Preach the Gospel Then she may be assured of her Election And therefore let her examine her calling Iohn 1.10 c. 1. Whether the Lord hath drawn her soul into Christ to receive Christ as her Eternal High-Priest Prophet and King a before 2. Cant. 3.1 2 3. Hos 2.12 20. Whether he hath affected her heart with a longing desire to be married to Christ to have union and communion with Christ as her Lord and Saviour and

to love Christ with her soul 3. Ezek. 36.3 Hos 14.8 And whether he hath made her willing and desirous to loath and dislike sin and to forsake her natural and sinful communion with sin the world the flesh and the Devil 4. Whether she be willing to take the Lord Christ for her Lord and Father 2 Cor. 6.17 18. and Heavenly husband and then no doubt she is one of the Elect of God the Lord is her Father and she is his daughter who is the Lord Almighty Quest 6. But what if she doubt still Ans Give her this one rule that she seek with an impartial eye First as not to flatter her self that she hath grace when she hath none So 2 Cor. 13.5 1 Cor. 10.11 c. 2 Tim. 1.12 4.7 8. Secondly on the other side not to deny that grace which the Lord of his Free-grace and love in Christ hath bestowed upon her soul as any measure or true knowledge of true faith of true repentance of true love of true hunger after the Word desire of assurance of the like graces Thus may she in Gods due time finde her self a dear Elect daughter in Christ and so in Christ an heir and fellow-heir of Eternall glory and in the end assurance may come Quest 7. This may be a means by the power of Christ to stay her soul from despair in that temptation But what do you say to her decay in grace What light have you from Christ to reveal any comfort to her soul in this respect Ans I say the Apostle gives a caveat to his Christian Thessalonians 1 Thes 5.19 to take heed of quenching the spirit and yet no doubt they had the spirit of grace in them but they must be careful not to quench the spirit Gods dear children may be in danger to quench the spirit for a time and may lose the acts and vigor of grace for a time as Peter did when he denied Christ Mat. 26. though not finally and totally therefore if your friend finde some decay of grace in her soul or want of holinesse she ought not to conclude presently she is none of Gods childe or exclude the favour of God in Christ from her For First as there is no wheat but there is some chaff groweth with it so the best of Gods children have some imperfections Phil. 3.12 13. Secondly In this life we are not like the Sun perfect in brightnesse and light but like the Moon receiving our light of grace from Christ as the Moon doth her light from the Sun and like the Moon 1 Iohn 1.8 we are subject to have some changes some decrease as well as increase some spots of darknesse in the center of our hearts And Thirdly take this for a certain rule as sight and sense of weaknesse of body is a sign of bodily life for a dead man feels nothing so a sight and sense of spiritual weaknesse Rom. 14.15 c. is an evident argument of spiritual life of grace in her soul as it was in blessed Paul Eph. 2.1 1 Tim. 5.9 Rev. 3.2 3. Isa 40.30 31. Fourthly A dead man cannot see nor feel his own weaknesse at all a dead man complains not of sicknesse and therefore your friend ought not to despair because of sight and sence of failings which is an evidence of the life of grace but wait on Christ for more light and life till the soul recover strength and what is ready to dye be quickned and she finde peace in the end Quest 8. But I have heard my friend complain that sometimes she neither feels any signes of life of grace nor doth she feel any want of life of grace she is dead ●nd senslesse no hunger after the Word or Sacraments or Prayer or to meet Christ in any good duty she is sometimes so far from resting in a duty or setting it up in stead of Christ that she is carelesse of any duty at all as if all were in vain as to her her faith is dead and without life her soul and life is dead in respect of grace or any sense of want of grace in her soul like those Isaiah 64.6 7. no stirring of life in her And what comfort can be given to one in such a condition Ans Your friend hath no cause to despair but to live by faith For First did she ever finde or feel any signes or sense of life of grace in her soul any sight and sense of her sin and misery by natural corruption any sweetnesse or delight in meeting Christ in the Word or Sacraments or Prayer any combating or stirring in her soul between the flesh and the spirit Then although now she be as dead to all these let her know that the state of the childe of God in this life and the life of grace may be sometimes 1. Like a childe in the Mothers Simile 1 womb alive though not felt to stir or to have any motions of life at all 2. Or like a man in a trance wherein Simile 2 his own sense being as it were without sence or understanding yea and in the judgement of others may seem to be dead and yet after revive and come to himself again and so may a dear childe of God in respect of the life of grace Assuredly David after his fall until Example 1 Nathan came to him he had little sense of life of grace little remorse for his sin especially while after his sin of Adultery with Bathsheba he went on to plot and procure the making of Vriah drunk and after to take away his life so addes sin to sin Exam ∣ ple 2 The like may be said of Peter between his first and third time of denying Christ until the Cock did crow and Christ cast a look of mercy 2 Sam. 11 12 c. Mat. 26.69 75. Psal 51.1 c. and pity and love upon his poor soul then indeed he went out and wept bitterly as David repented and bewayled his folly and sinful fall in the end and prayed earnestly to the Lord to restore unto him the joy of his salvation and to stablish him with his free spirit Quest 9. What other around of comfort Ans Let her consider that Gods childe doth not sin as the wicked do with full heart consent and freedom because his seed of grace remaineth in him 1 Iohn 3.8 9. but like a man in a crowd or throng sometimes carried forwards and sometimes backward 1. Carried forwards in grace willingly the will regenerate and sanctified striving together with one consent with the grace given and good motions of Gods spirit assisting as in Christ Iesus to presse on to perfection And 2. Sometimes carried backward by corruptions and the violence of Satans temptations as it were against our will Simile to an ebbing in grace as in the Tide the water runneth back as the Moon decreasing Rom. 7.23 c. as Peter sinking in the water of presumption senslesnesse or despair as

use of the means without carking care for this life or dismal despair for the life to come Thirdly as a life of certainly 2 Tim. 2.19 2 Cor. 1.10 Rom. 4.21 1 Thes 5.23 2 as depending not upon our own changeable strength but upon the foundations of the sure decree promises power faithfulnesse and Oath of an unchangeable God Fourthly as a life of necessity 2 Chron. 20.12 Gen. 42.2 3 4. Col. 3.3 4. 2 Cor. 3.4 5. Gal. 9.5 2 Tim 2.7 8. a poor soul not having life or power of life in and of it self and therefore must needs go out of it self by faith to serch life and strength from God in Christ and so of necessity must live the life of faith both for grace and glory and assurace of both Quest 17. What other helps are there Ans Observe secondly thy present condition estate danger or temptation whereby thou art troubled for the Church of God in general and for thy self 2 Pet 1.12 or any other in particular for the want of assurance of Iustification or Sanctification or for want of particular graces or strength and growth of grace of knowledge of faith or repentance of confidence on God in time of prosperity and not on uncertain riches or friends or husband wife children parents or any creature-comfort whatsoever or for want or losse of any of these or of their help and comfort in time of adversity or for want of assurance of glory Quest 18. What is a third help Isa 43.2 3 4. Heb. 13.5 Ans Thirdly search the Scriptures and look out some promise general or particular for comfort of thy soul to depend upon God even as a ground of thy confidence to live by faith and that God will not fail thee Quest 19. What is a fourth help Ans To wait on Christ in the use of all good means 2 Pet. 1.19 and so live by faith taking heed to the sure word of promise until the day dawn and the day star Christ arise in thy soul And thus the life of faith upholds a poor soul in greatest doubts and fears whatsoever Quest 20. Now let me ask you one Question before I conclude this part of Catechism What is a sixth immediate preparatory grace or gracious act of the soul to be enlivened or acted and exercised immediatly before you draw near to the Lords Table Ans To attend the invitation of Christ by his Ministers and to draw near and come to the Lords Table as with all humility and reverence so as becomes my presence at so great an Ordinance to meet my Lord and Saviour so with joyful confidence holy hunger and faith yea with spiritual cars and eyes and mouth of faith to hear and see and receive and feed on Christ in my soul as well as with ears and eyes and hands and mouth of body 1. To hear and see the Bread and Wine blessed consecrated and set apart to this holy Sacramental use Matthew 26.26 27. 2. To see the Bread broken and the Wine powred out 3. To hear the Sacramental welcom Take ye and eat ye and Take ye and drink ye Mat. 26.27 4. And all this with a thankful remembrance of Christs death and passion who loved me and gave himself for me Luke 22.19 1 Corinthians 11.24 25. Gal. 2.20 Conclus Thus Sir I have made my profession of what I have learned concerning a right preparative the wedding garment to meet Christ at the Lords Table that I may walk more comfortably with Christ all the dayes of my life Quest 20. But do you think it is necessary that every one be thus prepared with Knowledge Faith Repentance and Love and the habits of graces so examined enlivened and quickned before he or she come to the Lords Table What light hath Christ left for resolution of this doubt Ans It is certain a competent measure of true knowledge true faith true repentance and true love is of necessity required and howsoever it may be the good Lord God may be gracious to any of his children whose hearts are up right towards God and who have life of grace in them and hunger after Christ though he or she be not so fully prepared according to the preparation of the Sanctuary as 2 Chron. 30.18 19 20. yet assuredly that soul that cometh lesse prepared and the life of grace and living graces lesse enlivened in the soul doth ordinarily receive lesse comfort at the Lords Table when as that soul that is more carful to wait upon Christ in all good wayes and means of preparation not resting upon performances or preparation but with a self-denying and humble heart and soul of faith waiting on Gods goodnesse in Christ and Christs righteousnesse and merits may with a much more glorious assurance of comfort hear that gracious voyce of Christ speaking to his or her soul as to his welbeloved Spouse in the Canticles I am come into my Garden my Sister my Spouse I have gathered my mirrhe with my spice I have eaten my hoay-comb with my hony I have drunk my wine with my milk eat O friend drink ye abundantly O Beloved not drink abundantly of the outward Bread or Wine but feed on Christ by faith abundantly for thy spiritual refreshing to the eternal joy and rejoycing of thy soul yea a joy unspeakable and full of glory as Cant. 5.1 1 Pet. 1.8 The twenty seventh Classis or company of Questions 1 Question YOu have made profession of your preparation and enjoyment of the wedding garment in respect of the Antecedent graces and immediate enlivening of the preparative graces and gracious actions and quickning of them Now what are the third sort the present concomitant or accompanying graces and gracious affections and spiritual senses actions and operations of the soul and body which do accompany and are to be exercised and quickned in these Sacramental acts or actions of receiving as of the Elements outwardly so of Christ and his quickning and soul-refreshing vertue inwardly for the spiritual strengthning of your soul and life of grace to life of glory Ans There is a twofold nourishment which we receive and feed on in the Sacrament at the Lords Table The first outward and corporal the Elements of Bread and Wine which nourish and refresh the body The second inward and spiritual Christ himself and his Body and Blood or the living vertue and merits of Christ his Life and Death and Passion and Resurrection and Ascention and Intercession which feeds strenghneth and nourisheth our souls and the life of grace in our souls to life Eternal And so there are two sorts of sences as I may so call them to be exercised 1. Of the body 2. Of the soul or inward man and two sorts of actions to be acted in this Sacrament Quest 2. What are these two sorts of actions in the Sacrament Ans First the actions of the body and organical parts or by the instruments of the body The bodily eyes must see Mark

14.22 23. the bodily ears must hear the bodily hand must receive and the bodily mouth must eat and feed on the outward Elements of Bread and Wine in the Sacrament And secondly the acts or operations of the soul or of the inward man The spiritual eye of the soul must see the ear of faith must hear the hand of faith must receive and apply Christ the mouth of faith must feed on Christ So you see there are two sorts of eyes the eys of the body the eys of the soul And two sorts of ears the ears of the body and the ears of the soul And two sorts of hands the hands of the body and the hands of the soul And two sorts of mouthes the mouth of the body and the mouth of the soul Rom. 10.6 c. Iohn 6.54 c. And so all the objects and Sacramental acts or actions at the Lords Table So by faith we spiritually feed on Christ Quest 3. Are there not two sorts of objects about which these bodily and spiritual senses are to be exercised Ans Yes there are first outward visible objects of Bread and Wine with all the audible and visible acts and operations of Christs Ministers Mat. 26.26 c. and Christs people in the several Sacramental actions and branches of the Lords Supper Secondly Inward invisible and heavenly acts of Christ and graces from Christ in the institution of this Sacrament and participation thereof presented and communicated to faithful receivers at the Lords Table and each of these corporal and spiritual answering one another in every particular object branch or Sacramental action in this sacred Ordinance in and about which the acts and operations of the soul and body and inward man are to be chiefly exercised in time of this solemn feast with the Lord Jesus Quest 4. What are these acts and operations of the soul and body thus to be exercised at the Lords Table Ans There are chiefly these three First diligent Observation of every Sacramental action and object of the soul or body The second Divine Meditation of every of them Thirdly spiritual and faithful Application of all to my own soul for my joy and comfort in this holy Ordinance Quest 5. What or how many are the Sacramental actions or objects of senses corporal or spiritual in which these senses and operations of the soul and body are to be exercised and these acts of the soul to be busied at the Lords Table Ans There are divers but chiefly these ten which follow First a Sacramental preparation of Bread and Wine on the Lords Table Secondly a Sacramental invitation to draw near to the Lords Table with eyes of body or soul when we are come rightly prepared Thirdly Sacramental Consecration first of the Bread to be received and after of the Wine to be drunk at the Lords Table Fourthly Sacramental Representation of Christs Death and Passion by breaking of the Bread and powring out of the Wine upon the Lords Table to shew the Lords death till he come Fifthly Sacramental Commemoration and doing this in memory of Christ with a thankful remembrance of Christs Death for my sins and for my salvation Sixthly Sacramental Congratulations or Christs welcom to his guests at his Table Take eat Take drink Seventhly Sacramental Foederation or Covenant-promises held forth by Christ when he took the Bread and said This is my Body and took the Cup and said This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood shed for many for remission of sins Eigthly Sacramental Participation by the mouth of the body of the outward Elements and by the mouth of faith feeding on Christ himself and his benefits to my soul Ninthly Sacramental Vnion and Communion with Christ and all his merits and benefits with my head and with the Saints as my fellow-members of the same mystical body of Christ with whom I do partake and have communion at the Lords Table Tenthly Sacramental Obsignation or sealing and communication of this spiritual union and communion with Christ and of all graces from Christ to my believing-Covenanting-soul renewing my general and particular Vows and Protestations to God in Christ as Christ reneweth and re-confirms his Covenant of grace and love to my soul in this Sacrament at the Lords Table Matthew 22.1 2 3 4. and 26.26 c. 1 Cor. 11.25 26. and 10.16 17. Quest 6 What is the first Sacramental action word or object of your bodily or spiritual sences about which the acts and operations of the soul or body are to be exercised when you are to draw near to the Lords Table Ans Sacramental invitation when the voyce of the Minister of Christ having expressed 1. The inestimable benefits communicated to the Saints in this Sacrament 2. The Author 3. The Institution 4. The ends 5. The use of it to Believers 6. The profit of it 7. The great preparation required And 8. The danger of coming unprepared 9. The solemn Admonition and Dehortation to all ignorant scandalous and prophane persons that they stand back and presume not to approach the Lords Table least they eat judgement to themselves and drink their own damnation as 1 Cor. 11.19 And 10. Invitation calling and embracing and emboldening me with all Saints truly prepared to draw neer and partake of that blessed feast which according to the institution example and command of Christ is there prepared for me and them at the Lords Table as Matthew 22.4 Quest 7. What must you do when you hear this voyce of the Minister of Christ sounding to the ears of your body and inviting you to draw near to the Lords Table Ans I should be careful by the power of Christ to wait on Christ in these three acts noted before 1. Rightly to observe and consider what is spoken by the Minister of Christ in this invitation 2. To meditate and think by the power of Christs spirit what this invitation is and what a joyful thing it is to be invited to the Table of the Lord Jesu 3. To labour by the same power of Christs spirit Psa 104.34 to apply this invitation to my own soul as to one believing and longing for refreshing from Christ to the joy and comfort of my soul and the reviving of my spirit in Christ Jesus Quest 8. How must you exercise the ear of your faith Ans In attention as if I heard the voyce of Christ from heaven Cant. 5.1 calling me spiritually to feast with him at his Table Quest 9. What is the second object or Sacramental action or object which answereth your corporal sence of Seeing in the Celebration of this holy Sacrament Ans The Sacramental preparation of the outward Elements of Bread and Wine which I see set upon the Table or made ready to be consecrated Mark 14.22 23. and set apart for that holy Ordnance when I am come to the Lords Table Quest 10. What is that spiritual sense and spiritual object which answereth the spiritual sense of

sence of seeing both bodily by eyes of your body and spiritually by eyes of faith Ans I must still by the power of Christ exercise these three spiritual acts or actions of my soul to be exercised in every particular sacramental action 1. Diligent observation 2. Divine meditation 3. Faithful application and appropriation of all to my own soul Quest 21. How must observation be exercised by you What light shineth from Christ for your direction Ans I ought diligently by the spirit of Christ to observe the sacramental action of breaking bread Luk. 22.17 c. or powring out or giving of the wine according to the institution of Christ as it is a sacrament●l act●on for the end for which Christ appointed it Q● st 22. How ought you to exercise medi ation Ans By help of Christ I ought so to meditate and think of the breaking bread and powring out of the wine as to meditate of Christ crucified his body broken with torments as before noted and his blood shed for my sins Gal. 3.1 Q●est 23. How ought you to exercise spiritual and faithful Application and appropriation of all to your self Ans By the strength of Christ and Christs spirit strengthning and communicating strength of life from Christ to my soul I ought to apply by faith and appropriate all this that Christ hath done or suffered as done and suffered by Christ for me and my Redemption and as loving me and giving himself for me his soul to be made an offering for my sin his body to be broken with torments and his blood to be shed to the death for my eternal Redemption and salvation Isaiah 53.10 Galathians 2.20 Heb. 9.12 The twenty eighth Classis or company of Questions 1 Question VVHat is the fifth Sacramental action or obj●ct of your sences corporal or spiritual Or upon which your sences or acts of life in your soul and body are to be exercised when you are at this holy Sacrament Ans Sacramental commemoration of the death and passsion of the Lord Iesus Christ Luk. 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. and of his Institucion of this blessed Sacrament the same night in wh●ch he was betrayed his passion crucifying and death so lively set before my eyes in the celebration of this Sacrament and by Christs command to be commemorated and remembred as it is shewed forth until he come Quest 2. What are you to do in this act of commemoration Ans To exercise those three acts before specified 1. Diligently to observe how this Sacrament doth remember me of that sacrifice of the death of Christ of his inestimable love in dying for me and of the most glorious benefits that I am made partaker of in a right meeting of Christ at the Lords Table Quest. 3. What is the second 1 Ioan 4. Divine meditation I ought by the power of Christs spirit 19. Ioh. 17.20 21. to think of this memorial of Christs Death Passion and Resurrection and benefits till I be so affected with it as to rejoyce with it and never to forget this love of Christ but to be delighted with his love as to love Christ again until I come to glory with Christ Quest 4. What is the third Ans By the power of the spirit of Christ and by faith to apply the memorial of this action and passion of Christ unto my soul that it may be engraven upon my heart to be recorded and set before my eyes for ever that evening and morning and mid-day I may remember what Christ hath done for my soul and Christs love may for ever be in my heart and I may say as the Apostle Gal. 2.20 Christ loved me and gave himself for me Q●est 5. What is a sixth Sacramental action object or act on Christs part or on yours which is the object of your senses corporal or spiritual or in which these senses operations or actions of the soul and body are to be exercised in this holy Ordinance of Christ Ans Christs congratulation or Sacramental welcom he gives to his faithful prepared guests Take eat Take drink yea all of this and thus bidding them welcom 1. As in the Institution of Christ is evidently set forth unto us Mat. 26.26 27 28. Luke 22.19 20. 2. As Christ invited his Spouse his Church and children Canticles 5.1 Eat friends and drink abundantly O beloved that is eat abundantly not of the outward bread and drink abundantly not of the outward Wine but eat spiritually of the body of Christ by faith and the merits of Christ crucified for me and drink abundantly of the vertue of Christs blood which was shed for me For Christs flesh is meat indeed and Christs blood is drink indeed Ioh. 6.51 c. If I thus eat of Christs flesh and drink of Christs blood I shall live for ever Quest 6. What is to be acted by you And how are your corporal and spiritual sences to be exercised in this congratulation or heavenly welcom which Christ gives your soul at this Table Ans First a diligent observation of this welcom when I hear it with the ears of my body from the voyce of Christs Minister speaking comfortably cheerfully to me from Christ as to a prepared believing penitent humble hungry communicant Take and eat Take and drink in the Name of Christ bidding me welcom to Christs Table as Mat. 26. Luke 22. Quest 7. What is a second thing to be acted Answ A Divine meditation as if by the ears of my soul I did at the same time hear the voyce of Christ as once he spake to his Disciples at his last Supper so now speaking to my soul from heaven and bidding me welcom Eat my friend and drink my beloved I have loved thee I have given my self for thee I have given thee my body crucified my bloodshed for thee and for many for remission of sins feast and refresh thy soul with abundance of assurance of my love to thee at my Table O poor believing hungry and humble soul thou art welcom here in and amongst my congregation of Saints at my Table of grace and thou shalt one day be welcom and eat and drink heavenly and gloriously with me at my Table of glory in the Kingdom of heaven for ever Matthew 22. Luke 22.19 Quest 8. What is the third Ioh. 4.14 15. 6.33 c. Answ A sweet and short ejaculation or ejaculatory and darting prayer to this or this like in effect Even so Lord Iesus I blesse thy name for this sweet assurance of being welcom to thy Table strengthen my faith enliven mine eyes and hand and mouth of faith that I may see and discern thy body and thy blood I may so receive and feed on thy body and blood that I may finde and feel and enjoy such an everlasting vertue and sap and juyce of life from thee my Saviour which may enliven and strengthen thy life of grace in me here in this life to life everlasting in the

vertue of the same promise of Christ who hath performed and sealed now in the Sacrament what he promised Receive assurance that Christ hath given his body to be crucified and given his blood to be shed for my sins And thirdly by the same Sacramental promise I am now assured that I shall receive all the vertue merits and efficacy of the body and blood of Christ necessary for assurance of my Justification sanctification and salvation as assuredly as if I had been present when Christ spake those words or made that promise to his Disciples or that I did now hear the bodily voyce of Christ now speaking unto me from heaven by the ear of my body as he speaks to the ear of my body by his Minister and now speaks to the ears of my believing soul by the voyce of his spirit perswading and enabling me to believe the truth of these Sacramental promises Fourthly Therefore I conclude that I may eat and drink at this Table to my joy and comfort Now I may be assured that Christ gave his body to be crucified and his blood to be shed for my sins or that he loved me and gave himself for me Quest 15. What now is to be acted by you when you hear and see the Sacramental promises held forth unto you Ans I may follow the former Directory in a threefold respect 1. Diligent observation of the promisory words This is my body given for you broken for you This is my blood shed for you and for many for remission of sins Take and eat Take and drink 2. A divine meditation of this promise the same or like effect as before is declared in the Paraphrase of it in answer of the former Question 3. A sweet and rejoycing Application by faith of this promise to my own soul Mark 14.22 23. for my comfortable emboldning and encouragement to take and eat take and drink and feed on Christ to my souls cherishing comfort and the refreshing of life of grace in my heart Quest 16. What is the eighth Sacramental action object or subject in this Ordinance of Christ in and about which your senses acts or actions corporal or spiritual may be exercised when you are at the Lords Table Ans Sacramental participation 1. In taking and eating of that Bread the Sacramental body of Christ and taking and drinking that Wine the Sacramental blood of Christ with the hand and mouth of the body Matthew 26.26 27. 2. In taking and feeding on Christs body crucified 1 Cor. 10.16 and taking and drinking of Christs blood shed for me and of the vertue power and merits of Christ and all the benefits of Christs Passion Death and Resurrection not corporally or carnally with hand or mouth of my body but spiritually by a true and lively feeling apprehending and applying faith which is the hand and mouth of my soul to strengthen and nourish my soul and body my life of grace in me to life Eternal Quest 17. What may be done for better quickning your soul in this participation of Christ and this blessed feast at Christs Table Ans 1. I may and ought to observe diligently this rich feast upon which I feed Isa 25.6 as a feast of fat things which the Lord promised his people a feast of fat things full of marrow a feast of wines on the lees well refined Yea not onely Bread and Wine for my body but Christ himself and all his rich benefits to feed my soul Iohn 6.27 c. to strengthen my life of faith by the living vertue of Christ ingrace till I get possession of glory Quest 18. What is the second Ans A divine meditation of Christ as of the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God Gen 2.9 3.22 Re. 22.2 22.17 Ioh. 4.14 Phil. 4.11 c. of which whosoever eateth shall live for ever as a Tree of Life yea a Tree of life which beareth twelve manner of fruits and yield fruit every moneth and oftner if I meet Christ oftner in his Ordinances yea living fruit which hath a living vertue to revive and quicken a dying fainting soul to strengthen a weak and almost decaying grace as of Knowledge Faith Repentance Love Joy Peace contentment in my heart yea the very leaves of this Tree Christ are good to heal all diseases and infirmities in a soul every taste of Christ in this feast is restaurative filling my dead heart with cheerful and soul-rejoycing spirits of life vital spirits indeed as from Christ himself that everliving fountain of water of life springing up in me to life eternal so that I may and can do all things and glorifie God with sweet contentment and rejoycing delight in every condition through Christ that strengthneth me Quest 19. What is the thing in exercise whereof your soul may be more fully revived and strengthned in the participation of Christ at the Lords Table Ans 3. A lively faithful application Psa 27.8 Cant. 5.1 Psal 19.10 Iohn 6.57 58. in feeding by faith upon Christ and the assurance of Christs love unto me a sweet spiritual eccho answering of Christs welcom as if thou shouldst say Lord thou bidst me eat and drink and welcom yea eat thy flesh and drink thy blood in and by believing that thou gavest thy body to be crucified and thy blood to be shed for my sins Now by faith I do eat by faith I do drink I do feed on thee I do rejoyce in thee I finde sweetness in thee above all the sweetness in the world sweeter then the hony and the hony-comb still feed thou my soul and shew me thy gracious and thy glorious refreshings more and more until I come to feast with thee in glory Quest 20. What is the ninth Sacramental object act action fruit or benefit in this feast of the Lord in and about which you should exercise your senses acts and operations of body or soul in or at this blessed Sacrament Ans That Sacramental union or communion with Christ and the Saints of God fellow-members of Christ and those most refreshings from Christ in the enjoyment of Christ and his spiritual and most joyful presence to my soul held forth in these Sacramental promises which Christ the God-man hath spoken in his holinesse and which makes my soul rejoyce within me and having the present possession of Christ in feeding on Christ spiritually eating his flesh and drinking his blood and so having an admirable union communion with Christs Iohn 6.56 Psal 16.12 in enjoyment of all his benefits Christ now dwelling in me and I in him as one day I shall in his presence have fulnesse of joy and pleasures for ever more Quest 21. What may you now do by vertue of Christ Or What acts of your soul may you exercise Or in what may you wait on Christ for your greater profit and comfort in this most gracious union and communion with Christ and the Saints Rom. 8.17 the heirs

22.30 and more inabled to powre out my soul in prayer more assured that although I may passe through many aafflictions yet I shall one day feast with Christ in the Kingdom of glory Quest 7. What further may you stir up in your soul Ans To observe how I am delighted and fully satisfied with this heavenly and joyful feast yea that I am so satisfied as never any more to feast at Satans Table or to have the least communion with the Devil the World or the Flesh or any sinful feast of sinful profits or pleasures whatsoever Isa 55.3 Iohn 6.34 35. as being now fully contented with Christs presence in this life and with assurance of Christs presence in that life eternal which is to come Quest 8. How may you wait on Christ in the second of these Divine meditations Gant● 2.3 c. Ans In fixing the eye of my soul so fully upon Christ in this feast I may meditate by the power of Christs spirit so exactly upon every particular dainty which my soul meeteth with at the Lords Table Quest 9. What else mayyou meditate upon Ans Upon those glorious refreshings and strengthnings of my soul in grace by the lively holding forth of Christ and my so near union and communion with Christ and with all the Saints until my soul say Cant. 2.1 c. It is enough Lord I desire no more but still to enjoy thee the delight of my soul and most thankfully to remember thy love above all the delights and loves of the world for ever Quest 10. How may you wait on Christ in the third and last faithful application of all to your own soul in particular Ans By the power of Christs spirit and faith I now by secret medication in faith may and do apply Christ and the love of Christ in all this rich feast to my own soul Quest 11. What benefits do you enjoy by this Ans First now by the eye of faith I see evidently that God my Father so loved me that he gave his Son for me that I now believing shall not perish Iohn 3.16 but have everlasting life Quest 12. What is a second Ans Secondly I now see by the eye of faith that my Lord Christ loved me and gave himself for me thar he is now become the Author and finisher of my faith yea Gal. 2.20 Heb. 12.2 the Author of eternal life to and for me to whom he hath given power to obey him in and by believing Quest 13. What is a third Ans Thirdly I now see by the eye of faith that all this great feast was prepared for me and lor my refreshing and souls contentment and is a sure and infallible sign Mat. 22.1 c. Iob 19.25 26. and seal and pledge of God my Fathers love to me in the Lord Christ who is my strength and my Redeemer Quest 14. What is a fourth Acts 3.20 21. Psa 24.7 Can. 5 1. Luk. 22.23 c Ans Fourthly I now see that although my Lord and Saviour my great King of glory who hath entred into the everlasting door of my soul keep his residence in his most glorious Court of heaven yet he hath been present with my soul in this rich feast of grace he hath fed me with his delicates he hath cheered up my spirits with his wines of joyes O the sweet meats of comforts that have made my soul fat this day I am filled with the loves of my Lord my heavenly husband who hath married me to himself for ever and made me sit with him at his Table Quest 15. What may I consider further Ans Fifthly How great was my unworthinesse and how invaluable was his love and Free-grace to my soul when he saw me in my blood and said live yea when I was in my blood dead in my sinful blood he gave me life when I was an Infant new born Exek 16.3 4. cast out to the loathing my person when my Father an Amorice and my Mother was an Hittite could not relieve me then my Christ my Lord did graciously succour me he cherished me he bred me up while I was grown in grace he cast his skirt of love over me and I became his and he made me glorious in grace through the comelinesse that he hath put upon me Quest 16. what is the sixth grace or benefit Ans Surely as I may so I will greatly rejoyce in my Lord and my soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation Isa 61.10 and he hath covered me with the robes of righteousnesse as a Bridegroom decketh himself with Ornaments and as a Bride adorneth her self with Jewels Quest 17. What is the seventh benefit Answ Seventhly when I was in danger of my life through the plots and conspiracies of bloody enemies the World the Flesh and the Devil I drew near into the presence of my Lord with a true heart in full assurance of faith Est 5.2 Heb. 10.22 Can. 4.6 having my heart sprinkled from an evil conscience and my body washed with pure water my Lord held forth his golden Scepter of grace and revived my spirits which formerly hid been fainting for want of his gracious presence Quest 18. What may you conclade from these Ans Now I may truly and assuredly conclude I am my Beloveds and my Beloved is mine I will hold fast the profession of my faith without wavering Can. 6.4 Heb. 10.23 c. 1 Thes 4.16 c. Luk. 22.36 Ioh. 17.24 for he is faithful that promised I will consider my brethren and sisters in Christ to provoke unto love and to good works and I will not forsake the assembling of our selves together to meet our Lord at his Table as the manner of some is but exhort one another while it is called to day because the day approacheth when our Lord and King Jesus will call us all by his last Trumpet to feast at his Table in heaven where we shall be with him and see his glory for ever and ever Amen Quest 19. What is a second grace or gracious action to be put in present execution before your departure from the congregation and communion of Saints in this sacred feast Ans A present manifestation of my thankfulnesse and love to Christ my Lord and Saviour again in the work of charity Neh. 8.8 Acts 20.7 2.46 1 Cor. 16.1 2 3. 2. Tim. 1.16 3. Ioh. 5 6 7 8. 2 Cor. 9.4 c. Ioh. 2.34 c. according to my ability to the poor Saints my fellow-members of the same body of which Christ my Lord is the Head that I may refresh their hungry bodies as the Lord Christ hath refreshed my hungry soul with plentiful refreshings at his Table Quest 21. What is the third grace or gracious action to be acted and exercised by the power of Christ to Gods glory and your own comfort before the Congregation be dismissed after partaking this

Sacrament Ans First I am to joyn with the Minister of Christ 2 Cor. 2.14 Col. 1.12 13. and the congregation of Saints in solemn thanksgiving unto God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost for the inestimable gift of the Lord Iesus Christ for his taking our humane Nature upon him that he might be a fit Mediator betwixt God and my soul to reconcile me to God for his Passion Death Resurrection Ascention and Intercession and all his rich merits and benefits of my Redemption Vocation Iustification Sanctification and Glorification so gloriously set forth and sealed and so graciously communicated in this Sacrament to my soul and to all Saints with me at the Lords Table Secondly Humbly and faithfully to joyn in Petition for assurance that all failings and infirmities in my performances are pardoned in Christ my pardon sealed my person whole service accepted with the sweet merits and incense of Christs righteousness upon the golden Altar with a continual influence of power and vertue from Christ that all the congregation of Saints may keep covenant with the Lord and declare our thankfulnesse by our fruitfulnesse in all good works as becometh the people of God who have received so great ahd assuring plesges of the love of God to us in Christ and of our eternal salvation in and by the Lord Iesus Quest 21. What is the fourth and last thing to be acted or joyned in with the Congregation Ans Divers particulars 1. After the example of Christ to glorifie God in a holy Hymn or Psalm if it be thought fit praising the Lord for his goodnesse to his Church in Christ Iesus and to his congregation present in his Ordinance And secondly waiting for the blessing giving in and with which the congregation is dismissed according to the practise of Christ the Apostles and Churches of Christ as of old to leave the people of God with a blessing as Numb 6.22 c. 2 Sam. 6.17,18 1 Kings 8.55 c. Luke 22.50 51. And the blessing which the Apostle gave when they took leave of the Church in several Epistles as Rom 16.24 c. 2 Corinthians 3.15 And thirdly I should return home with rejoycing as the Eunuch did after he was baptized or the two Disciples who met with Christ as they went to Emmaus and take notice my self and tell others how my heart burned within me and how my souls was affected 1. With grief for my sins And 2. With joy in my Saviour while I heard Christ talking with me 1. Outwardly by the voyce of his Minister 2. Inwardly by the voyce of his spirit at his Table and how it was declared out of the Scriptures that Christ ought to suffer that his most bitter Passion and cursed Death for my sins and to rise again for my Iustification and so to enter into his glory And 3. How Christ was known to me in the breaking of the Bread in the powring out of the Wine and in Christs giving and my receiving of those soul-reviving and soul-cherishing refreshing which I enjoyed at his Table And 4. And lastly by the strength of Christ and this refreshing from Christ I am resolved with the assistance of the spirit of God the Father and God the Son and of God the holy Ghost daily to keep in memory that feast of the Lord with that sweet welcom I had at the Lords Table and in this or the like manner to bespeak my soul every morning O my soul thou hast this night received a sweet refreshing from the Lord for thy body praised be the Name of thy God and Father in Christ who is the keeper of Israel who never slumbreth not sleepeth who hath kept thee from the dangers of this night past and brought thee to the light of this day who hath awakened thee out of sleep and given thee a kinde of Resurrection from the dead Quest 22. How may I stir my soul to this Ans In this or the like manner Now O my soul be thou awakened and break thy fast with Christ and call to minde the sweet refreshing the Lord did give thee the last Sacrament at his Table and in what thou didst see and hear 1. His invitation to draw near and partake of the feast that he hath prepared 2. Didst thou not see Bread and Wine set upon the Table and with the eye of faith didst thou not behold Christ himself prepared for thy spiritual refreshing 3. Didst thou not hear the Minister of Christ consecrate those Elements to that holy use and with the ear of faith hear how God the Father had consecrated and sealed his beloved Son Iesus for thy Redemption 4. Didst thou not see the Bread broken and Wine powred out and by the eye of faith see Christs body broken with torments and his blood shed to the death for thy sins to Redeem thee from Hell and death eternal 5. Didst thou not hear Christ bidding thee welcom Take eat this is my body Drink this is my blood which is shed for thee and for many for remission of sins Mat. 26.26 27 c. 6. Didst thou not observe and believe those Sacramental promises assuring that Christ loved thee and gave himself for thee and as verily as Christs Minister having blessed and broken the Sacramental Bread and blessed and powred out the Sacramental Wine did present and give them unto thee to eat and to drink so verily hath Christ given and did Christ present and give and reach out himself for a spiritual and heavenly refreshing to thee to nourish thee to life eternal according the the Govenant of Grace 7. O my soul didst thou not take and eat the Bread and take and drink the Wine and so spiritually feed on the body and blood of Christ that in strenght thereof thou mightest walk thy great journey of this life not as Elijah fourty dayes and fourty nights to Horeb the Mount of God but to Heaven Gods Kingdom of glory 8. O my soul didst thou not actually renew thy Covenant with the Lord as God in gi●ing and thou in actual receiving and partaking of these seals and pledges of his love consider thy self what hast thou now to do any more with sin and Satan with the World the Flesh or the Devil with any sin of omission or commission that may grieve the spirit of life Remember thy Covenant thy Promises thy Vow thy Protestations to thy God and be conscientious by the power of Christ to keep them all the dayes of thy life 9. O my soul was there not a soul-satisfying feast set before thee at that time never to let thee to return to the feast of sin again 10. And was it not the command of Christ to celebrate that Sacrament in remembrance of him Acts 8.39 Luk. 14.13 Phil. 4.11 c. 2 Tim. 4.7,8 and what he hath done for thee O then remember that holy feast every morning when thou awakest every evening when thou goest to bed Thus thou maist feed daily on

Aegyptian Bondage of Sin and Satan and from the power of Death and Hell Ans The same which God spake in the Twentieth Chapter of Exodus saying I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt and out of the house of Bondage 1. Thou shalt have no other Gods but me 2. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor the likenesse of any thing that is in Heaven above nor in the Earth beneath nor in the Water under the Earth Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God and visit the sins of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me and shew mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments c. Quest 3. These Commandments or ten Words first are or may be the heads of direction for a Christians life who is reconciled to God in Christ and at peace with the Law of God in and by Christ the condemning power of the Law being taken away Rom. 8.1 2. in respect of that man or woman who hath his or her pardon sealed in Christ And secondly it may be as a light to them who are in Christ and have the spirit of Christ to assist and direct to a right understanding of this will of God the Father in Christ But what are the particular branches of duty and obedience to God our Father according to which a Christian ought to declare his or her thankfulnesse and love to the Lord the holy blessed God reconciled to you in Jesus Christ Ans The Lord Christ hath given a more short distribution of these ten Commandments dividing them into two principal Tables or Branches Mat. 22.35 1. Of the love of God 2. Of the love of our Neighbour Quest 4. But are there not in both these Tables many particular sins forbidden as evidences of ingratitude and contrary to the holy will and nature of our God and many particular duties required and directories of our special duties held forth as rules of our thankfulnesse not onely in these two Tables of the Law in general but in every Commandment in particular Ans Yes verily there is not a Commandment either Affirmative requiring a duty or Negative forbidding a sin Isa 1.20 but it infolds several particulars elswhere expressed in the Word of God and necessarily implyed in Luke 10.25 c. Psa 119.125 Gen. 5.24 6.8 9. Luk. 1.6 and to be referred unto the particular Commandments of the first and second Table as lights of truth from the spirit of Christ for our more comfortable christian walking with God by the strength of Christ that great Prince and Law-giver of his Church Quest .. 5. I conceive there are many sins forbidden and many duties commanded But what rules may be observed for finding out particular sins forbidden and duties commanded in every precept of the first or second Table Ans First observe that in the first Table are four Commandments 1. Rule The three first of which are Negative precepts forbidding sin expresly 1. Against God 2. Against his Worship 3. And thirdly against Gods name 4. And the fourth which concerneth Gods Sabbath is partly Affirmative partly Negative This you may finde if you consider the four first Commandments Secondly again the like you may observe in the second Table 5. The fifth Commandment which is the first of the second Table is Affirmative holding forth the duties of children to Parents and so of inferiours to superiours The five last are all set down Negatively forbidding sins 6. First against the life of our Neighbour in the sixth Command 7. Secondly against the charity of our Neighbour in the seventh 8. Thirdly against our Neighbour in his goods in the eigth 9. Fourthly against the good name of our Neighbour in the ninth 10. Lastly against the coveting or desire of doing our Neighbour wrong in any of these even in our hearts in the tenth and last Quest 6. This is the first rule What is a second Ans Secondly consider that in every Negative precept whatsoever sin is forbidden the contrary duty is commanded As in that of Psalm 34.14 Eschew evil and do good both the Negative and Affirmative are expressed First Negative Thou shalt do no evil And Secondly Affirmatively Thou shalt do good So in every Commandment Negative though the contrary good is not expressed yet it is implyed and expressed in other places of Scripture and so to be referred to these Commandments Quest 7. What is a third Rule Ans Thirdly consider that in every Affirmative precept commanding a duty to God or to our Neighbour the contrary sin is forbidden As for example if God command that I should love my Neighbour as my self there he doth by that forbid all hatred of my Neighbour for love and hatred as light and darknesse cannot agree together 2 Cor. 6.14 This is a third Rule Quest 8. What is a fourth Rule Ans Every Commandment forbidding any sin mediatly or immediatly against God or our Neighbour forbids all means occasions kindes and degrees of that sin inward or outward in thought word or deed intention or motion to sin Exod. 34 20. so perfect is the law of God in every particular of these ten Words or ten Commandments For Example in that sixth Commandment Thou shalt do no murther or Thou shalt not kill thy Neighbour In this is forbidden all kinde of murther all rash anger Mat. 5.21 c. all evil provoking words or deeds all murthering thoughts all malice or hatred in the very hearts and so all occasions of murther as our Saviour himself interprets the Law to his Disciples Matthew 5. and so in other commands as forbidding Adultery or the like 2. Again every Commandment requiring the performance of any duty to God or to our Neighbour it requireth that we should by the power of Christ wait upon God in the use of all good means and occasions to perform that duty with every kinde and degree of that duty Mat. 5.44 c. inward and outward even to perfection of sincerity and sincere endeavour at least to Gods glory and the good of our selves and others As when the Lord requireth in the fourth Commandment Isa 58.13 That we should remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy he commands we should sanctifie it in making it our delight not doing our pleasure on Gods holy day or speaking our own words Eph 4.29 but sucn as may be for Gods glory and edification of our selves and others glorifying God and waiting on God for power in Christ in hearing of the Word Preached Prayer Sacraments catechising conference meditation and the like acts of piety charity or necessity Quest 9. Is there any other rules to be observed Ans There might be divers but I will name but one more Every Commandment Affirmative or Negative is spiritual A command of God bindes

Ordinances that thou mayst be more and more enlightned by Christs presence power and grace And shall not a poor soul fall in love with this true light of the Lord Iesus O be it far from thee my soul to hate this light Iohn 3.19 20. as those who love it not because their deeds are evil Light is comfortable to sinners and so is Christ to a live pure-seeing soul who by a lively faith can look on Christ though the eye of Faith be never so weak sighted Christs light is a healing light which fills the soul wich life in the end enabling a poor Saint to follow this light of grace until it brings the soul to life ana light eternal And thus by light from Christ we may see the use of the second Commandment and the many errors of wandring false light leading to false worship and the true light of Christ direcing to serve God in spirit and in truth O my soul let this lighc of Christ be a light to thy feet Psa 119.105 and lanthern to thy paths in all Ordinances of Word Sacraments Prayer and life to life everlasting And my soul Christ ac Scripturarum lucifuga lament those Christ and Scripture-light-flyers who cannot away with the light of Christ and of the Scriptures but love darknesse rather then lights because their deeds are evil Iohn 3.19 20. The light of Christ in this or other Commandments might teach them how to finde not their many sins against God against his true spiritual worship against the honour of his Name his Sabbath his Sacrament the seals of the Covenant of Grace which so many multitudes in the world do prophane by coming blindly unto them never examining whether they have any light or authority from Christ to come to that sacred Banquet or whether they be drawn by the light of custom or formality only 2 Tim. 3.5 to do as their Neighbours do and their fore-fathers have done never considering whether their desire after the Sacrament be a holy hunger after Christ spiritually Iohn 6.56 57. to eat the flesh of Christ and drink his blood that Christ may dwell in them and they in Christ that they may live by Christ the life of grace here and glory hereafter They never look to this light of Christ 1 Cor. 11.28 29. whether they have light of knowledge and be able to examine themselves or whether they walk in darknesse and are ignorant and blinde not able to discern the Lords body and so eat and drink unworthily are guilty of the body and blood of Christ and eat and drink their own Judgement or Damnation 1 Cor. 11.28 c. if the Lord deal in judgement with them They never examine by any true and impartial light from Christ whether they be prophane and scandalous in their lives common swearers c. To conclude they never question their own souls whether they have found by any light from Christ that they have the life of grace spiritual eyes to see and hands to receive and mouth to feed on Christ that they may finde refreshing indeed at the Lords Table and spiritual feet and affections of their souls to walk with Christ in their lives But O my soul do thou with the Saints of God most high daily look after this true light of Christ that thou lose not Christs presence but travel with Christ and in his light held forth in this Commandment and all other commanding parts of Gods word by faith in all the promises of Grace through the wildernesse of this word to the Canaan of Heaven Quest 40. You have given the use of the Commandement in generally but now what doe you conceive of the Reason of the Commandement which followeth in particular in the next words 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 we and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandements Answ I conceive the Lord holdeth forth in this Reason principally two things First Ex. 34.6 7 Deut. 6.13 14 15 Deut. 7.4 Deut. 29.19 20 21 Ezekel 18 13 14 15 16 17. Canticles 8.6 a threatening of severe punishment to wicked Idolaters and all others who corrupt the service of God to them and to their posterity if they go on to hate the Lord and continue in their Fathers sins and to terrifie men the more from this sinne The Lord declares himselfe to be a jealous God and one that will not hold the wicked innocent Quest 41. What is the second that the Lord holds forth to perswade to obedience and what light from Christ herein Ans Eccl. 8.13 Isaias 3.11 Jer. 32.18 A gratious promise of his owne free mercy and goodnesse though man can merit nothing but when hee hath done be can he may and must say he is an unprofitable servant Luk. 17.10 yet the Lord of his own free love wil manifest his goodnesse to them that low him and keepe his Commandements Gen. 17.7 Prov. 20.7 Psal 112.1 2. and to their Posterity to thousands of Generations so abundant is the Lord in his goodnesse to his children in Christ Jesus Quest 42. What should the meditation of this threatning and promise by Christ spirit worke in the hearts of men what light from Christ to direct in this duty Answ First sinners should take notice of their misery Ezek. 18.21 22 23. and as they tender their owne happinesse or the happinesse of their poore children waite in the meanes of Grace on Christ till Christ convert them 2 Tim 2.25 26. Ezek. 18.14 Num. 16.31 32. Gen. 9.25 and direct them to repentance that they and their children after them repenting may enjoy sweet freedome from Gods Terrible Visitation which is sure to fall upon the wicked and impenitent and their children Secondly for Saints to instruct them to waite on Christ for power to glorifie God Gen. 18.19 Joshua 24.11 and to teach their children also to serve him in a right manner in Spirit and Truth Deut. 3.29 knowing this that in and for Christ it shall goe well with them and with their children for ever The third Section of the thirteth Classis The third Commandment Quest 1. YOu have now unfolded the second Commandement J pray you which is the third Ans Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine Quest 2. What is considerable in this command Ans Theve are two things considerable First the prohibition Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine Secondly the reason For the Lord wil not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine Quest 3. What do you understand is meant by the Name of God Ans Whatsoever the Lord hath manifested himself to be known by Deut. 12.5 as men are

place in their presence or as men of right civill much more of Religious breeding use to do when the Judges or Justices of assize come to the Bench or seate of judgement or the Lord Major or Governour of a City to his place Secondly when a superiour commeth towards an inferiour then in an honorable respect to goe to meete them and give them that honour that is due to them and becommeth their place and dignity Gen. 18.1 2 c. uncovering the head and bending the knee or bowing downe a mans selfe towards the ground in civill reverence of them as Religious Abraham did when three men came towards him which proved Angels and one of them the Lord Christ Malachy 3.1 Gen. 23.7.12 the Angell of the covenant as the Prophet Malachy calleth the Lord Jesus or as Abraham did to the children of Heth. Thirdly the duty of the inferiour in respect to the superiour as of children to Parents servants to Masters or the like is to stand up before them and waite upon them as place and dignity and occasion require Job 29.8 Gen. 18.8 as those did in Iobs presence or as Abraham waited on his honorable guests giving all civill respects due to each person according to place and calling Fourthly the inferiour as children to parents or any other in like relation ought to declare their respects in giving precedency in place giving the right hand and any the like honour as King Solomon did to his Mother he rose up to meet her 1 Kings 19 2. he bowed himselfe to her he caused a seate to be set for her and preferred her to sit on his right hand an excellent example for all children to honour and respect their Mothers as well as Fathers and so servants and all others in their severall Relations Fifthly the younger and inferiours are to declare their respect to superiours in a wise silence holding their peace and to refrain from talking whiles their ancients are in speaking Job 29.9 10. or in place as the Princes did before Iob except as Syracides in his excellent Ethicks giveth leave and wisely directs young men how to behave themselves Eccl. 32.7 8 Speake young man if there be need of thee and yet scarce when thou art twise asked Let thy speech be short comprehending much in few words be as one one that knoweth and yet holdeth his tongue Sixthly inferiours ought to keepe themselves in a right distance from superiours not making themselves equall to those that are above them in age place or dignity Eccl. 32.9 Rom. 12 16. It is the sum of Syrahs morall counsell and well comprehended under this command of the morall Law or Law of good manners becomming a Christian If thou be amongst great men make not thy selfe equall with them and when ancient men are in place use not many words coloss 4.6 and as Apostle saith let your speech be alwayes With grace seasoned with salt that you may know how to answer every man Seventhly inferiours ought to give words of reverence and respect to superiours children to parents 1 Pet. 3.6 Gen. 31.35 servants to Masters and so others in their respective relations Gen. 42.10 as Sarah obeyed her husband Abraham calliag him Lord and as Rachel spake honorably to her Father let it not displease my Lord and Iosephs brethren to him as to a Rule calling him Lord and so a reverent regard is to be had of superiours even in our words 1 Sam. 1.15 as Hanna to Samuel the Prophet shee called him Lord giving Gods Minister the honour of his place Lastly I will name no more here Inferiours ought to be ready to serve th●ir superiours in love and duty Mat. 8.9 Coloss 3. ●2 according to their severall relations and respects with readinesse singlenesse of heart as unto Christ As the Centurians servants I say to this man go and he goeth and to another man come and he commeth Saith he not as those two sonnes the one said to his Father when he sent him into his Vineyard I go Sir but he went not The other sayd I will not go yet went and in this did the will of his father that hee did go but yet sinned in his behaviour saying he would not goe the children and servants and inferiours ought to honour and serve their Parents Rom. 12.10 and Masters and Superiours both in word and deede in giving honour to go one before another And thus you have the generall duty of Inferiours towards their superiours Quest 30. What now are the sins contrary to these or any of these Ans I need not expresse them in particular each one who maketh conscience to find out and performe his or her duty may consider whether his carriage be answerable to these directions or in an unmannerly way contrary to them manifesting any disrespect or disobedience which is a sin The Thirty three Classis or company of Questions Question 1. YOu have declared sufficiently the generall duties both of superiours towards inferiours and of inferiours towards superiours in generall Now I pray you what are the particular duties of each to other according to their particular estates Relations and Callings And first in the Oeconomicall or household estate what are the duties of the Husband towards his Wife and of the Wife towards her husband First the common duties of Husbands towards his Wife Ans But first of the common duties of the Husband towards the Wife and of the Wife towards the Hushand and of these I note these First Love a Roote uniting grace their soules and hearts and affections must be married together as well as their bodies Gen. 2.24 Ephe. 5.25 the Husband must love his wife and the Wife ought to love her Husband above all others in the world Secondly mutuall good will or conjugall benevolence to be communicated each to other as the Scripture holdeth forth unto us i Cor. 7.1 2 3 4 5. Prov. 5.18 19. Prov. 2.16 17 18. Malac. 2 15 Jer. 23.24 Thirdly conjugall fidelity not communicating their bodies to any other as the strange woman But preserving each others chastity according to the mariage covenant in thought word and deed as being alwayes in Gods presence Fourthly in the mutuall communication of their goods and all endevours for the due mutuall good Eph. 5.33 comfort and benefit one of another both for soules and body Gen. 2.18 1 Pet. 3.7 and good name and fame as becommeth the Gospell of Christ and those that are fellow helpers one of another and fellow heires of the grace of life Lastly mutuall cohabitation dwelling one with another that they may be more conveniently helpefull each to other upon all occasions with mutuall love and respect to each other 1 Pet. 3.7 1 Cor. 7.10 Ex. 18.7 8 Ruth 1.16 Parents and kindred Quest 2. You have declared the common and mutuall duties of Husband to Wife and of Wife to Husband now

our faith who for the joy that was set before him edured the Crosse despi●●ng the shame and is set downe at the right hand of the Throne of God Quest 27. You have explained and held forth the duties of Superiors and Juferiors in the oeconomicall or househould estate now what are the duties in the Ecclesiasticall Church or state 1 Cor. 4.15 and Spiritnall Parents or superiours in the Church as Pastors and Treachers or Ministers to the people of God committed to their charge Acts 20.28 und over whom the Holy Ghost hath made them overseers 1 Pet. 2.25 1 P●r. 5.4 1 Cor. 4.1 2. 2 Tim. 3.15 Ans First the holy Scripture holdeth forth the Lord Christ himselfe to be the chiefe Shepheard and overseer and as he is the great Pastor to teach so he hath appointed Pastors and Teachers in his Church And as the Lord Christ is faithfull not as a servant but as a son over his owne house Heb. 3.5 6 1 ●or 4.1 2. 1 Tim. 2.15 so it is the duty of the Mini●●ers and servants of Christ to be faithfull as stewards in the house of Christ the Church of the living God Quest 28. Wherein is this faithfulnesse to be manifested by Ministers in the performance of their duties and what light from Christ to m●ke this evident Ans First Act. 20.28 2 Cor. 5.19 20. in taking heede to themselves as Ambassadors sent of Christ and to all the flock over which the holy Gho●● hath made them overseers 2 Tim. 4.2 to feede the Church of God which he hath purchaz●d with his owne bloud To Preach the Word of God and be instant in season and out of season to Reproove Rebuke Exhort with all long suffering and Doctrine Secondly Rom. 12.8 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3. 2 Cor. 4.5 to feede the flock of God taking the Rule and oversight of them with diligence not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready minde neither as Lords over Gods heritage but as servants to the Church for Jesus sake Thirdly the Overseers Elders Acts 20.28 1 Pet. 5.1 1 Tim. 3.2 3 4. or Ministers of Christ they are Pastors and Teachers and Rulers they ought to be of unblameable life and conversation 1 Pet. 5.3 examples to the flock husband of one wife vigilant 1 Tim. 4.6 c. sober apt to teach not given to Wine no striker not given to filthy lucre but patient not a brawler not covetous 1 Tim. 6.11 12. one that ruleth his own house well having his childen in subjection with all gravity no novice least hee be lifted up with pride 2 Tim. 2.24 Here are foureteene properties in one place the Epistles of blessed Paul to Timothy and to Titus hold forth diverse more Titus 1.6 7 8 9. Titue 2.7 Thus the servant of Christ ought not to strive but in meeknesse to instruct and be a patterne of good work Quest 29. What are the sinnes of Ministers contrary to these duties Ans First unfaithfullnesse running before they be sent Isai 56. to 11. and not feeding the flock of God where they come not Preaching Catechizing administring of the Sacraments J●● 23.1 2 and Prayers and other Ministeriall acts for good of the Church Ezek. 34.1 2 3. being ignorant idoll Shepheards or idle and negligent Sheepheards Not regarding that great charge and honorable office they have taken upon them not performing that trust committed unto them and of which they must give an account to the chiefe Sheepheard Christ Jesus 1 Pet. 5.4 Secondly unfaithfulnesse in not ruling as Elders and not Governing the Church of God with watchfulnesse Eze. 34.4 5 1 Pet. 5.3 4. 3 Iohn 9. Isai 56.11 12. wisedome and humility according to the Rule of Christ but in pride or tyranny as lording it over Gods heritage loving the preheminence contrary to the direction of the Spirit of Christ Thirdly Ministers sinne in unfaithfulnesse in not feeding them by good example of life and conversation being as Iohn the Baptist burning and shining lights Iohn 5.35 But walking disorderly as Eli's sons to the dishonour of their callings and evill example of others any manner of way unbeseeming the Ministers and servants of Christ Jesus 1 Sam. 2.17 22. Quest 30. You have declared the duties of those who are Ministers of Christ 1 Pet. 5.1 1 Cor. 4.15 spirituall Fathers Elders Overseers Pastors and Teachers in the Church and their sins and failings Now what are the duties of spirituall children of the Congregation and people to their Pastors and Teachers Ans The duty of people and congregations 1 Thess 5.17 to their faithfull Pastors and Teachers as Mat. 11.40 1 Thess 5.12.1 Gal. 4.14 1 Cor. 4.1 1 Thess 5.13 1 Tim. 5.17 First to receive and acknowledge them as sent of Christ and over them in the Lord as the Apostles expression is Secondly to Love Reverence and esteeme those Ministers and Elders especially that labour in the word and very highly in love for their worke sake and with double honour as is fit for Ministers and officers of Christ Thirdly to obey them in the Lord as those that have the Rule and over-sight of them Heb. 13.17 Heb. 13.24 and watch for their soules and must give an account that they may doe it with joy and not with greif for that will not profit for those that disobey Gods Ministers and Elders over them in the Lord. 1 Thess 5.22 Gal. 4.15 1 Tim. 5.17 18. Luke 10.5 6 7. Galat. 6.6 7. 1 Co● 9.13 14. Fourthly readily and cheerefully to communicate give or pay unto them that honorable maintenance which is due unto th●m for their labour in the worke of the Mini●try according to the word of God and ordinance of Jesus Chri●t Quest 31. But is there any payment of maintenance due now to Gods Ministers as Ministers of Christ in the new Testament by any Divine-right the neglect or keeping back of which is a sinne because I have heard some affirme that howsoever in the old Testamenet the Lord had the reserved portion of his owne inheritance the Tenth which he gave to his Ministers for their labour and for the honorable and comfortable maintenance of them and theirs besides their Cities and their Suburbs for their cattell Numb 18.20 21 30.31 Levit. 27.30 31 32.1 2.3 4 c. Numb 35. and for their goods and for all their beasts and ●ther helpes more yet in the new Testament since Christ ascended into Heaven the Lord hath nothing peculiar to himselfe and Christ Ministres have nothing due to them for their labour and maintenance by any Divine Right 2 Cor. 5.20 But they must live of Almes and accept of there reward for their labour and maintenance at the pleasure of the people Ans Truely I should have wondred that any one who had professed the least measure of love to Christ should dare to manifest so little

weaknesse in knowledge Faith and other Grace But as Ministers of Christ Fathers or Brethren in all love humility and tendernesse of compassion to help and further our preparation to meet Christ with comfort in this blessed Sacrament Quest 5. What is a second help for the quickning of these graces to the glory of God in our lives and specially before we draw near to the Lords Table and what light from Christ for this to your soul Ans There may be a private lawful day or time of preparation in our Families or with some Christian friends joyning in conference and prayer and reading of the Scriptures so there be no neglect of publike places and times of worship nor disquiet of the state nor contempt of the lawful and good orders of the Church the better to fit us to meet Christ not resting on the thing done or the duty performed but waiting in these or the like duties until Christ be pleased to reveal Himself Zach. 12.10 c. Luk. 15.5 6 9. Act. 12.5.12 1 Pet. 3.7 Ier. 10.15 and communicate his vertue to our souls for our more comfortable enjoying of Christ in his holy Ordinance As we may call in neighbours to rejoyce and praise God with us So to pray with us Quest 6. What is the third help or means in which we should wait on Christ for his quickening vertue to honour God in his Ordinances and in our whole life what light from Christ for this end Ans This is a waiting on Christ in secret duties between God and our own souls And for this I conceive I may wait on Christ in six severall helps Quest 7. What are these several helps in particular Ans First I may set some time a part from all other imployments onely to attend Christ in secret for the obtaining of this grace as Isaac did Gen. 24.28 2. As day a of Atonement of old Lev. 23.27 28. 3. Or as Christ himself and Peter and other Saints Mat. 14.23 Acts 10.9 have set times apart for secret communion with God in Christ Iesus And so I may wait on Christ in a time convenient for this work Quest 8. What is a second help Ans To chuse a convenient place where I may be quiet in the sweet and secret soliloquies Mat. 6.6 14.23 Acts 10.9 or soul-conferences with God and my own heart and conscience Quest 9 What is a third Ans Examination of my self 1 Cor. ii 28 2 Cor. 13.5 and of the Graces before mentioned Knowledge Faith Repentance and Love Quest 10. What is a fourth help to this enlivening of Graces and preparation for the Sacrament by the vertue of Christ Ans Meditation both of God Luke 2.19 Psal 4.4 and my self and of Christ and the Sacrament and all these graces that they may be quickned to my own soul by the mighty power of Jesus Christ Quest 11. What is a fifth help in Christ for this renewing of grace Ans Application of all rightly to my self Ioh. 20.28 Iob. 10.25 26. Gal. ●2 20 Psal 110.1 by vertue of the life of Christ in my soul that all graces may be more enlivened in me and I may meet Christ with more cheerfulnesse and be enlivened by him for my more profitable enjoyment of Christ in the Ordinances Quest 12. What is a sixth help or means And what light further from Christ to strengthen and direct our souls in this particular Gen. 32.10 c. Ezek. 46.37 Luke 17.5 Rom. 8.26 27. Mark 9.24 Eph. 3.16 c. Acts 4.31 Ans Prayer to God in the name of Christ in which I may wait on God in Christ for the enlivening of the graces of God in me and right preparation to meet Christ in this Sacrament till God give a return of my prayer to my great joy in Christ Jesus as Jacob till an answer be given to my soul Quest 13. What is the first of these graces by these or the like helps to be enlivened by Christ and our spirit to our souls Ans Divine knowledge of God and of our selves and of Christ and of the Sacrament Quest 14. In what manner should we wait on Christ to enliven in us our knowledge of God Ans First Having set a fit time apart And Secondly Gen. 24.63 Gen. 32 2● c. Dan 6.10 Mat. 14.23 Acts 1● 9 2 Cor. 13.5 Mat. 13.51 16.13.15 Acts 8.30 1 Pet. 3.15 Made choice of a fit place to be separated from all worldly thoughts and to be devoted wholly to this work by the spirit of Christ that my soul may be in love with God Thirdly To Catechize and examine and question my self concerning my knowledge of God according as he is held forth unto me in this Catechism before or as far as I am enlightned with the knowledge of God what God is in himself in his excellent Nature Divine being and Essential properties perfections word and works especially the great work of mans salvation and I may examine my knowledge and see how able I am in Gods presence or before the Saints if need were to make a solemn profession of this my knowledge to the comfort of my self and edification of others Quest 14. How else should a Christian or you in particular wait on Christ to enliven this knowledge or have it enlivened by Christs spirit in his or her soul or in soul be fit to meet Christ Ans Fourthly As a Christian man or woman so I may meditate think ruminate and ponder of my knowledge of God in my heart Gen. 24.63 Psal 104.33 34. Luke 2.19 Psal 42.1 2 3 4. and endeavour to fix the eye of faith in my soul upon God in all these respects by the power of Christ until my soul be ravished with a glorious delight in God in his excellency fulnesse and all-sufficiency until that my soul and spirits by the spirit of Christ be drawn up into a holy and admirable union and communion of life with this blessed God now at one with me in Iesus Christ Quest 15. What or how thirdly may this be done Isa 64.7 2 Tim. 1.6 7. 2 Pet. 1.13 Ans Thirdly I may labour by the power of the spirit of Christ to improve my interest in this great and good God by stirring up and exercising the grace of Faith in the special application of God and his goodnesse as my God in Christ with joy and gladnesse to my own soul in particular So it is meet we stir up our selves and Graces in us Quest 16. What or in what manner lastly may you enliven this knowledge of God in your soul Ans In powring out of my soul by the strength of Christs spirit unto God in prayer to blesse this my seeking out of union and communion with God in Knowledge Sam. 1.15 Rom. 8.26 27. Phi. 30.8 9. Exo. 34.29 30. 2 Cor. 4.6 7. 1 Pet. 1.7 8. waiting on Christ till I finde the enlivening vertue of Christs spirit quickening and making alive my