Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	david_n	great_a	lord_n	5,127	5	3.9179	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64969	The principles of the doctrine of Christ, or, A catechism in which is contained the sum of the Christian religion, or what is necessary to be believed and done in order to salvation, the answers being but seventeen in number, and in very plain words easie to be understood : unto which is added A catechism for conscience, wherein the consciences of the ignorant, the grosly profane, the young, the meerely mortal, and the hypocrites are examined in order to their instruction and awakening, and the consciences of the sincere Christians are tried in order to their peace and comfort / by Nathanael Vincent.	Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697.; Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697. A catechism for conscience.	1691 (1691)	Wing V418; ESTC R25704	37,318	113

Assemblies Catechism is indeed above my commendation and will commend it self to them that are considerate whoever go about to disparage it But This which I have Composed being much more brief and having words somewhat easier to be understood I hope may not be unuseful I have added a Catechism for Conscience and have applied my self to the Consciences of several sorts of Persons And though in a special manner I design your Edification yet if these few Sheets shall through the blessing of that God who is and works all in all be made profitable to a great many more the greater will be the satisfaction and rejoicing of Your Affectionate Pastor and Servant for Jesus Sake Nathanael Vincent THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST OR A Catechism In which is contained the Sum of the Christian Religion or what is necessary to be believed and done in order to Salvation The Answers being but Seventeen in number and in very plain words easie to be understood By Nathanael Vincent M. A. Minister of the Gospel London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chapel 1691. Unto which is Added A Catechism for Conscience Wherein The Consciences of the Ignorant the grosly Profane the Young the meerly Moral and the Hypocrites are Examined in order to their Instruction and Awakening and the Consciences of the Sincere Christians are tried in order to their Peace and Comfort THE PRINCIPLES OF THE Doctrine of CHRIST IN A very Short And Plain Catechism By Nathaniel Vincent M. A. Minister of the Gospel Qu. 1. WHat do you believe concerning God Ans God is eternal every where present a Spirit most wise powerful righteous and merciful the whole Worlds Creator and Governour God is Eternal Psal 90 2. From everlasting to everlasting thou art God God is every where present Jer. 23. 24. Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord. Do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord. God is a Spirit without bodily parts like Man Joh. 4. 24. God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth Rom. 1. 22. 23. They became fools and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an Image made like to corruptible Man God is most Wise Rom. 16. 27. To God only wise be glory through Jesus Christ for ever Amen God is most Powerful Psal 62. 11. God hath spoken once twice have I heard this that power belongeth unto God God is Righteous Psal 119. 137. Righteous art thou O Lord and upright are thy Judgments God is Merciful Psal 103 8 11. The Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy As the Heaven is high above the Earth so great is his Mercy towards them that fear him God is the whole Worlds Creator Rev. 4. 11. Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for Thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created God is the Worlds Governour Psal 103. 19. His Kingdom ruleth over all Q. 2. Are there more Gods tha● One A. God is but One yet he is distinguished into Father Son and Holy Ghost who have the same Eternal Power and Godhead and concur in the work of Mans Salvation God is but One yet he is distinguished into Father Son and Holy Ghost 1 John 5. 7. There are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are One. Baptism that is in the Name of the true God is in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Mat. 28. 19. The Son has the same Godhead and Power with the Father Rom. 9. 5. Of whom as concerning the Flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever The Holy Ghost is likewise God Acts 5. 3 4. Why hath Satan filled thy Heart to Lie unto the Holy Ghost Thou hast not Lied unto Man but unto God The Father concurs in the work of Mans Salvation John 3. 16. For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life The Son concurs in the Saving of Man Luke 2. 11. Vnto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord. The Holy Ghost concurs in this work of Saving John 3. 5. Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Q. 3. In what Estate did God at first Create Man A. God created Man after his own Image having true Knowledge and Holiness and Dominion over the Creatures and enter'd into a Covenant of Life with him upon condition of perfect obedience God created Man after his own Image Gen. 1. 27. So God created man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him male and female created he them The Image of God did lye in Knowledge Col. 3. 10. And have put on that new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of Him that created him The Image of God does lye in Holiness Eph. 4. 24. And that ye put on that new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness The Image of God lyes also in Dominion over the Creatures Psal 8. 5 6. Thou madest him a little lower than the Angels and Crownedst him with Glory and Honour and madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands God enter'd into a Covenant of life with Man upon condition of perfect obedience Rom. 10. 5. The Man that doth those things shall live by them Q. 4. Did Man continue in this blessed state in which he was created A. The first Man Adam sinn'd in eating the forbidden Fruit and all his Posterity sinn'd in him are Born the Children of wrath derive from Him a corrupted Nature being backward to good and prone to evil The first Man was Adam 1 Cor. 15. 45. The first Man Adam was made a living Soul Adam sinn'd in eating the forbidden Fruit. Gen. 3. 6. The Woman took of the fruit thereof and did eat and gave also to her Husband with her and he did eat All his Posterity being represented by him sinn'd in him Rom. 5. 19. By one Mans disobedience many were made sinners his Posterity though never so many All are Born the Children of wrath consider'd as Adam's Children Eph. 2. 3. And were by nature the Children of wrath even as others Rom. 5. 18. By the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation All derive from Adam a corrupted nature Eph. 4. 22. The old Man or Adam is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts All naturally are backward to good prone to evil Rom. 8. 7. The carnal man is enmity against God and is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can it be Gen. 6. 5. God saw that the wickedness of Man was great in the Earth and that

ruin Q. 11. Is not being burthened with sin now the way to be eased of the load and to prevent thy sinking under it into Hell A. I fear my fears and that sin is not my burthen only the punishment threatned the vengeance of Eternal Fire does affright me Q. 12. Is there not a difference made between thee who fearest that God who can kill the Body and destroy the Soul in Hell and those stupid sinners who live without God in this World as if there were no Heaven or Hell in the next A. I grant there is some difference made for my Conscience that now is awakened and troubled was once very fast asleep and senseless Q. 13. Art thou still a worker of iniquity A. No I dare not sin presumptuously I dare not allow my self in the practice of any known wickedness but still in many things I am continually offending Q. 14. Dost thou think that none have true grace unless they are perfectly free from all sin Does not Solomon say There is not a just man upon Earth that does good and sins not Eccles 7. 20. Does not the Apostle acknowledge that sin dwelt in him and that when he would have done good evil was present with him Rom. 7. A. You little think how great the sins are which I have been guilty of though now I cease the practice of them I am exceedingly amazed at their nature number and aggravations Q. 15. Does not the Lord promise he will abundantly pardon the wicked man that forsakes his evil way Isa 55. 7. Is thy sin too great for the righteousness of Christ to cover who in point of sufficiency is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world Where sin has abounded does not the grace of God much more abound A. Still the greatness of sin terrifies me Oh wretch that I am what have I been and done Q. 16. How great a sinner was David with what horrid aggravations did he sin being such an experienced Saint so wonderfully deliver'd and advanced and so great a Prophet besides and yet does he despair of mercy Does he say Because my sin is great I fear it will not be forgiven Nay does he not use the greatness of his sin as an argument to prevail for pardon because Divine mercy and the Name of God would be the more magnified in justifying one so guilty Did he not pray and prevail too when he prayed for thy names sake pardon my iniquity for it is great Psal 25. 11. A. God pardons not the sins of any whether great or small that repent not and I fear I never have sorrowed after a godly sort Q. 17. When thou confessest sin to God dost thou hide any because of the love thou bearest to it Art thou not grieved and displeased with thy self because thou hast sinn'd and art thou not willing to forsake all the sins thou doest know and acknowledge if so is not the promise very express That thou shalt have mercy Prov. 28. 13. A. You cannot imagine what vile thoughts and lusts and passions there are in my Heart which I cannot get rid of Q. 18. Are not these thoughts and lusts very unwelcome Guests wouldst not have them mortified and brought into captivity and obedience to Christ and don 't you desire a clean Heart may be created and a right Spirit renewed in you A. I think 't is meerly fear of Hell that is the principle from which such desires flow If there were no Hell 't is likely my longing after purity would be at an end Q. 19. Why shouldst thou make a supposition that there were no Hell Art thou not to look upon things as they are and are they not indeed as in Scripture they are represented If there were no future rewards and punishments who knows what the best would be and do the main foundation and reason of religion and goodness being gone Does not the Apostle himself say What advantageth it me if the dead rise not let us eat and drink for to morrow we die 2 Cor. 15. 32. A. Well but still I fear I am sincere in nothing which I do because I seem to be acted meerly by the fear of punishment Q. 20. Do not all Hypocrites and wicked men that are under awakening convictions and fear Hell most fear the loss of their sinful pleasures and gains more Do they not therefore endeavour to smother these convictions that they may serve their fleshly and worldly lusts without disturbance But art not thou of another mind fearing lest thy Conscience should fall asleep again and desiring it may be more thoroughly awakened A. I would fain have my Conscience made truely tender Q. 21. And wouldst thou not have thy heart thoroughly renewed A But my Will I think is influenced meerly by a dread of Eternal Damnation and Misery Q. 22. Is not Eternal Condemnation a thing that ought to be dreaded Why is Hell made naked before us in the Word but that we may fear the falling into it And while these fears are very high is it any wonder that the actings of love are not so evident VVhen a Child fears his Fathers anger though he has a true love to his Father yet is his love so plainly apparent in the very height of his fear A. Oh! how shall I be able to dwell with devouring Fire and to inhabit Everlasting Burnings Q. 23. Does the Scripture any where say that an Hypocrite by the fear of Hell may be carried so far as to be willing to be truely and thoroughly sanctified to be willing to be made right as to the principle manner and end of his obedience and yet remain a Hypocrite still A. I do not remember that ever any Hypocrite consented to be a Saint indeed for fear of punishment and yet still was branded for an Hypocrite Q. 24. Do we not read that the will to be sincere is wrought of God Phil. 2. 13. and that it is a Day of power when he thus makes a willing people Psal 110. 3. why then shouldst thou make light of this willingness in thee to part with all sin both in heart and life and to become an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile A. Christ saves Believers only he that believes not shall be damned I am afraid I have no saving Faith and that Christ never has indeed been received by me Q. 25. Art thou willing to receive Christ undivided Christ a Prophet effectually to instruct thee Christ a Priest to make reconciliation by his death for all thy iniquities and interceeding for thee to procure the acceptance of thy duties Christ a King to subdue thy lusts and Satan and to rule thee according to the holy Laws in the Bible which are the Laws of his Kingdom A. I must needs say I have no exception against any of Christs Offices and I should be glad if He would do all this for me that you have mention'd Q. 26. And as thou art willing to receive Christ undivided so art

every imagination of the thoughts of his Heart was only evil continually Q 5. What is Sin A. Sin is a transgression of the Law of God and the desert and wages of it is Death and Hell Sin is a transgression of the Law of God 1 John 3. 4. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law for sin is a transgression of the Law The desert and wages of Sin is Death Rom. 5. 12. Death passed upon all men for that all have sinned The desert and wages of Sin is Hell Psal 9. 17. The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Q. 6. Who is the Saviour from Sin and Hell A. Jesus Christ the Son of God took Mans Nature and died upon the Cross that he might put away Sin and deliver Man from Wrath by the Sacrifice of himself and he arose from the dead and sat down at the Right Hand of God Jesus Christ the Son of God took Mans Nature John 1. 14. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Christ died upon the Cross Luke 23. 33. And they Crucified Him and the Malefactors one on the right Hand and the other on the left Christ by his Death puts away Sin Heb. 9. 26. But now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Christ delivers from Hell and Wrath. Rom. 5. 9. Being now justified by his Blood we shall be saved from wrath through Him Christ arose from the Dead Luke 24. 34. The Lord is risen indeed Acts 13. 37. Rising the third day he saw no corruption Christ Ascended into Heaven and sat at God's Right Hand Heb. 1. 3. When he had by himself purged our sins sat down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on High Q. 7. What are the Offices of Christ Jesus A. Christ has a threefold Office He is a Prophet to teach a Priest by his satisfaction and intercession to reconcile and a King to govern and defend his Church and People Christ is a Prophet to teach Acts 7. 37. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren Him shall you hear Luke 24. 45. Then opened He their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Christ is a Priest to reconcile Heb. 2. 17. It behoved him in all things to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the People Christ reconciles by his Death which was satisfactory to God who had been by sin offended and by his Intercession Rom. 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather is risen again who also maketh intercession for us Christ is a King to govern his Church and People Col. 1. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son Christ defends his Church against all Enemies Rom. 8. 37 Nay in all these things we are more than Conquerors through Him that loved us Q. 8. How is Christ made known A. Christ is made known by the Word in the Holy Scripture which is given by Inspiration of God The Old Testament gave a discovery of Him but in the New Testament he is more fully revealed Christ is made known by the Word in the Holy Scripture Col. 1. 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory The Holy Scripture is given by Inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God The Old Testament gave a discovery of Christ John 5. 46. If ye had believed Moses you would have believed Me saith Christ for He wrote of Me. Acts 26. 22 23. Saying none other things than what Moses and all the Prophets did say should come that Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and shew light to the People and to the Gentiles In the New Testament Christ is more fully revealed 2 Cor. 3. 18. We all with open face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image Q. 9. How are we made partakers of Christ and interested in Him A. We are drawn to Christ by the Spirit working Faith in us whereby we receive Christ and rest upon him alone for Salvation unto which Faith Repentance is joined whereby we sorrow for sin and turn from it to God with the whole Heart We are drawn to Christ by the Spirit working Faith in us 2 Cor. 4. 13. We having the same Spirit of Faith Phil. 1. 30 Vnto you it is given in the behalf of Christ to believe on him By Faith we receive Christ John 1. 12. To as many as received him he gave power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his Name By Faith we rest upon Christ alone for Salvation Phil. 3. 8 9. I count all things but dung that I may win Christ and be found in Him not having my own Righteousness which is by the Law Acts 4. 12. Neither is there Salvation in any other Unto Faith Repentance is joined Acts 20. 21. Testifying both to the Jews and to the Greeks Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance is a sorrowing for Sin Jam. 4. 9. Be afflicted and mourn and weep let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness Repentance is a turning from Sin to God with the whole Heart Isa 55. 7. Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Joel 2. 12. Therefore now also saith the Lord turn ye even unto me with all your heart Q. 10. What is that Covenant which God hath made with them that repent and believe A. God hath made a New Covenant with penitent Believers wherein he hath promised to be their God to justifie them from and pardon all their Sins to renew and write his Laws in their Hearts and to give them Grace till they come to Glory God hath made a New Covenant commonly called the Covenant of Grace Heb. 8. 8. Behold the days come saith the Lord when I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel and of Judah They that repent and believe are in Covenant An Heart to repent and believe is from God Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh The Lord in the Covenant promises to be his peoples God 2 Cor. 6. 16. I will dwell in them and

walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people God promises to justifie them from and pardon all their Sins Heb. 8. 12. I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more God promises to renew and to write his Laws in their Hearts Heb. 10. 16. This is the Covenant I will make with them after those days saith the Lord I will put my laws in their hearts and in their minds will I write them God will give his people Grace sufficient till they come to Glory 2 Cor. 12. My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in ●e●kness 2 Tim. 4. 18. The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me to his heavenly Kingdom to whom be glory for ever and ever Rehearse the Laws of God Exod 20. which by Faith are Established and are our Rule to walk by God spake all these words saying I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the House of Bondage Com. I. Thou shalt have none other Gods before me Com. II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any Graven Image or any Likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath or that is in the Water under the Earth thou shalt not Bow down thy self to them nor Serve them for I the Lord thy God am a Iealous God visiting the Iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy unto Thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments Com. III. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain Com. IV. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work but the Seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy Man-servant nor thy Maid-servant nor thy Stranger that is within thy Gates for in Six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the Seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it Com. V. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy days may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Com. VI. Thou shalt not Kill Com. VII Thou shalt not commit Adultery Com. VIII Thou shalt not Steal Com. IX Thou shalt not bear false Witness against thy Neighbour Com. X. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours House thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Wife nor his Man-servant nor his Maid-servant nor his Ox nor his Ass nor any thing that is thy Neighbours Q. 11. What is the Sum of the Law contained in the Ten Commandments A. The Sum of the Law is Love to God which will cause us to Worship him in Spirit to Sanctifie his Name and Day and Love to our Neighbours as to our Selves which will hinder us from doing any thing contrary to the Dignity Life Chastity Estate or good Name of our Neighbour and all motions of the Heart to work ill to him The Sum of the Law is Love to God Mat. 22. 37 38. Jesus said unto him Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind this is the first and great Commandment So great that it comprehends all others And Love to our Neighbour ver 39. The second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Rom. 13. 10. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour and therefore love is the fulfilling of the law Q. 12. How is grace to be obtained whereby we may keep Gods Commands A. Grace to keep the commands of God is obtained by Prayer wherein 't is our Duty to offer up our desires to God in Christ's Name by the Spirits assistance confessing Sin and giving thanks for Mercies Grace which strengthens us to keep Gods Commandments is obtained by Prayer Psal 119. 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee Oh let me not wander from thy Commandments Psal 138. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul Prayer is our Duty Luke 18. 1. Men ought always to pray and not to faint always i. e. at their set times and all fit seasons In Prayer we offer up our desires to God Psal 38. 9. Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee Prayer must be in Christs Name Joh. 16. 23. Verily verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you Prayer must be by the Spirits assistance Rom. 8. 26 27. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered And be which searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Prayer should be with confession of Sin Psal 51. 3. I acknowledge my iniquity and my sin is ever before me There ought to be a giving thanks for Mercies Col. 4. 2. Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving Q. 13. What is the Rule for our direction in Prayer A. The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in our Supplications but especially the Lords Prayer which he taught his Disciples The whole Word of God directs us in Prayer for it reveals his Will according to which our Prayers ought to be made 1 Joh. 5. 14. And this is the confidence we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his Will he heareth us The Lords Prayer which he taught his Disciples is our special direction how to pray Mat. 6. 9 10 11 12 13. After this manner therefore pray ye Our Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily Bread And forgive us out Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us And lead us not into Temptation but deliver us from Evil for thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever Amen Q. 14. How hath God confirmed his New Covenant A. God hath confirmed his New Covenant by the Sacraments which are the Signs and Seals of it and these Sacraments under the New Testament are Two Baptism and the Lords Supper Sacraments are Signs and Seals of the New Covenant What the Apostle speaks of the Sacrament of Circumcision in the Old Testament is true of the Sacraments under the New Rom 4. 11. He received the sign of Circumcision a seal of the righteousness of Faith and where the righteousness of Faith is

me nor what I say or do Q. 5. Brutish Heart when wilt thou be wise He that planted the Ear shall he not hear and He that formed the Eye shall not He see But while thus ignorant and regardless of God in what condition dost thou think thou art A. I cannot certainly say but I hope and believe well And truely I see no hurt or danger near me Q. 6. How see no danger Dost thou not know thou art a Sinner A. I know not very well what sin is but I am no more a sinner nor worse than others of my Neighbours Q. 7. Art thou willing to understand thy sin and how exceeding miserable thy sin makes thee A. I am at peace pray do not you disquiet me I have heard of some that have run stark mad and have made away themselves when they have heard preaching of sin and damnation Q. 8. Why hast thou not considered that passage of the Prophet Isa 57. 21. There is no peace saith my God to the wicked Is it wisdom in thee to say peace and safety when God speaks quite the contrary and says Wo to the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given him Isa 3. 11. A. He that made me I hope will save me Q. 9. Dost thou think he will save thee in thy ignorance and wickedness whilst thou dost not desire to be delivered from either How plainly does the Prophet speak Isa 27. 11. It is a people of no understanding therefore He that made them will not save them and he that formed them will shew them no favour A. I am not Book-learned and I hope my ignorance will excuse me Q. 10. Art thou not willingly ignorant And will not the condemnation of them be sore who love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil Joh. 3. 19. Are not they threatned with distress and anguish and destruction as a Whirlwind And told that God will laugh at them in their calamity who hate knowledge and do not chuse the fear of the Lord Prov. 1. 29. A. Pray trouble not your self about me every one shall answer for himself and as the saying is Every Tub shall stand upon its own bottom Q. 11. If a Man were blind and ready to fall into a deep Ditch full of Water should he be angry at one that has Eyes and would stop him and prevent his drowning And dost thou well to be displeased with me who seeing thee in Hells Road and not perceiving thy self whither thou art going endeavour to stop thee and hinder thy falling into that place of Torment A. I do not love to hear of Hell Fire Q. 12. What will it be then to feel it and to be for ever tortur'd in the Flames that are unquenchable A. I find some fears raised in me and begin to doubt all is not well with me Q. 13. Dost thou believe the Bible to be the Word of God and certainly true A. Yes what Christian Man denies that Q. 14. Why then art thou so unacquainted with the Holy Scriptures which when searched and rightly believed make the Believers wise unto Salvation A. I have had other things to do a Trade to mind a Family to provide for and the time I have to spare I spend in merry Company in Sports and Pleasures Q. 15. But is it not unreasonable and Heathen-like only to take thought what thou shalt eat and drink and wherewithal thou shalt be clothed and never to inquire what thou must do to be saved A. I begin to blame my self for my past negligence and carelesness about my Souls health and that I am still so ignorant who have lived so long where there has been so much good preaching Q. 16. How dost thou spend thy time and days A. I mind the World and the profits and pleasures of it all the day long When first I wake in the morning the World presently comes into my thoughts and I continue thinking of it and contriving how to get more of it and how to keep what I have gotten Thus my mind is imployed till I go to Bed at night The World is that which is suitable to me the thing which I most desire and delight in Q. 17. How Earthly minded art thou Does not the Apostle affirm that they are Enemies to the Cross of Christ and that their end will be destruction who mind earthly things Phil. 3 18 19. But tell me Dost thou never pray in secret or in thy Family A. I have long thought that to say Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us when we are sick or come to die had been sufficient Q. 18. Dost thou think that cries forced meerly by fear of calamity will be regarded Does not the Lord speak plainly concerning such who are burthened only with affliction but not with sin who are in fear of death but not desirous to be turned unto God They shall call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me Prov. 1. 28. A. Still my fears increase upon me Q. 19. How is the Lords day spent A. I sit up late on the Saturday night lye long a-bed on the Sunday morning Many times I go not to Church at all if I do go I come away as I went not at all wiser or better And I have wisht Sundays were over that I might return to my worldly business again I have heard of a Book called the Book of Sports I thought it was a very good time when they were allowed of and that those Sports would make Sundays pleasant days indeed Q. 20. What a contempt of God and of his Service and Grace do these words of thine discover and what a wretched carelesness of thy own precious Soul How unfit art thou to keep an Eternal Sabbath in Heaven who now does grudge unto God one day in seven A. I see it had been better to have lived otherwise than I have done Q. 21. As thou hast omitted thy duty so hast thou not allowed thy self in committing iniquity A. Alas with shame I must confess that my Ignorance has not been alone but I have fallen into Drunkenness and Whoredom sometimes I have been guilty of Swearing and Lying to serve a turn and for my own advantage And so I could but do it cleverly I have not stuck at doing unjustly in wronging of my Neighbour Q. 22. How shall the pardon of such sins as these be obtained A. I hope by now saying my Prayers and going constantly to Church and leaving my sins to make amends to God Almighty for them Q. 23. Hast thou never heard of Jesus Christ A. Yes Jesus Christ is our only Saviour Q. 24. Why then dost thou speak of thy praying and duties and performances as if by these thou couldst save thy self A. Certainly sin is to be forsaken and duties are to be done Q. 25. But how shall good duties which when best done have much of