❧ A Treatise of the way to life, divided into three parts. The first part showeth how, by sin we have deserved God's curse. The second part showeth me, how we are freed from the curse, and the law satisfied. The third part teacheth us, what duties and thankfulness we own to the Lord, for this benefit of our redemption. ❧ Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson. ¶ The first part showeth our misery, and how by sin we have deserved Gods curse, and eternal damnation. Q TO whom dost thou profess thyself to belong? A To the living God a Gen. 1.1. Act. 14.15. maker of heaven & earth: whose b Ephe. 2.10. workmanship I am, for that he hath made and created me. Q. Wherefore hath God created thee? A. That I might serve to a Ephe. 1.4.5. his glory, by doing his will in b Ephe. 4.24. righteousness and holiness all my life. Q. Did God then create man that he could do his will? A. Yea verily, for he created man a Gen. 1.27. to the likeness of his own image, in true b Col. 3.10. Ephes. 4.24. holiness and righteousness. Q. Canst thou then of thyself do his will, and keep his law? A. Nothing less, for in a Rom. 5.18. Adam we are all fallen from the state of innocency, and b Ephes. 2.3. are by nature the children of wrath, c Rom. 3.23. and void of all grace, d Rom. 6.20. & servants of sin. Q. What is sin? A. It is the breach a 1. john. 3.4. or transgression of God's law. Q. What is the reward of sin? A. Eternal a Rom. 6.23. Mat. 25.41.46. death and damnation both of body and soul. Q. How comest thou to the knowledge of sin? A. By a Rom. 3.20. & Rom. 7.7. the law of God which I find myself not able to perform, & therefore am guilty of death. Q. What is the law of God? A. It is a rule of perfect obedience, b 1. The. 4.1.3 teaching us how to walk & please God, contained in the ten commandments. Q. Rehearse them. Exod. 22. A. God spoke and said: I am the Lord thy God, etc. Q. What meaneth this Preface: I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. A. I note first, that God setteth down his authority before his law saying: I am the Lord, moving us to fear him alone: secondly, adding thy God, he giveth forth most loving promises of his mercies concerning this life, and the life to come, to move us to love him alone, and trust only in him: thirdly, repeating his benefits, he addeth matter of faith and thankfulness. Q. How is this law divided? A. Into a Mat. 22.37 39 Luke 1.75 1. Table. two principal heads, 2. Tables. or tables. Q. What is contained in the first table? A. a Luke 1.75. Mat. 22.37. Ephe. 4.24. Holiness, or the true worship of God, commonly called our duty to God, contained in the first four commandments. Q. What teacheth the first commandment: Thou shalt have none other Gods before me. A. It teacheth us to honour a Deut. 6.4. God alone, that is to worship him with b Deut. 10.12 20. fear, to believe in him, and call upon him through faith, and testify our c Deut. 6.5. Marc. 11.30. love toward him with thanksgiving, having our d Luke 10.27. soul, heart, mind, and thoughts, consecrate unto God, and forbiddeth us to e Deut. 18.9.10.11. hear false teachers, or to regard sorcerers, witches, or any such. Q. What teacheth the 2. commandment, Thou shalt not make to thy, etc. A. It teacheth us that we should not liken God to a levit. 26.1. any creature whatsoever, nor worship him in any similitude, neither after our o●●e phantazie, or by good intentes, not grounded on his word, but only b john 4.23. in spirit and truth, after the true c Deut. 12.32. rule of his word. Q. What teacheth the third commandment, Thou shalt not take the name, & c? A. It forbiddeth us to a jer. 5.7. swear be any creature whatsoever, or by God's name b levit. 19.12 falsely or c Eccle. 19.1. rashly, but in d jere. 4.2. truth, judgement, and justice, with all e Deu. 4.8.58 reverence of his name, and chargeth us with the care f 1. Cor. 10.31. Col. 3.17. of god's glory in hearing, speaking & thinking of his word & works, and in all our doings. Q. What teacheth the fourth commandment: Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath, & c? A. We are taught to a Act. 20.7. assemble to hear God's word, and use his sacraments with b Rom. 4.11. faith and c Mat. 3.2.6 repentance, and to pray to him also to d Esay 56.2 & 58.13. rest from sin, and our own ways, to profit in true mortification and sanctification e Exod. 31.13 which God worketh in his Saints. Q. It seemeth then that these four precepts teach the true service due to God, now tell me what is taught in the second table? The 2. Table. A. The second table teacheth us a Luke 1.75 Mat. 22.39 Ephe. 4.24 righteousness, or our duty to men in the Lord, containing the six last commandments. Q. What learn we in the first commandment: Honour thy Father, & c? A. We learn to fear, love, a levit. 19.3 and obey our Parents, b Exod. 22.28 Princes, c Rom. 13.1.2 Governors, teachers, d 1. Thes. 5.12 Pastors, Masters and e Levi. 19.32 Elders, and all our betters. Finally, it teacheth all superiors to be as fathers to their inferiors, & the inferiors to obey in the Lord. Q. What teacheth the sixth commandment, Thou shalt do no murder, & c? A. It teacheth us to shun all occasion of discord, in thought, deed, and word, all quarreling, fight, a levit. 19.17 18. 1. john 3.15 hatred, or desire of revengement, and teacheth to do b Mat, 5.43.44. good to all men, even to our enemies. Q. What teacheth the seventh commandment: Thou shalt not commit adultery? A. It forbiddeth all a Ephe. 5.3. fornication, b levit. 18.12 unorderly, and wanton lusts, c Ephe. 5.4. talks & songs, proud d Deut. 11.12 apparel, lechery, drunkenness, excess and e Ezec. 16.49 idleness. Finally, all occasions leading to uncleanness, & requireth all soberness, chastity, and temperancy. Q. What teacheth the eight: Thou shalt not steal, & c? A. It forbiddeth all a Exod. 25.14 17. deceit, b jer. 8.10.15 covetousness & c 1. Thes. 4.6. injury in any dealing, & in all callings, and commandeth all true & d Levi. 19.13. just dealing in judgement, measure, & weight, & teacheth every man to be content with his estate e Ephes. 4.28. and to help others. Q. What teacheth the ninth commandment: Thou shalt not bear false & c? A. It forbiddeth all a Exod. 23.1. Psal. 15.3. hearing, and b Levi. 19.16. speaking of slanders and untruths against our neighbours, all flattering, lying, upbraiding, and dissembling, and chargeth us with the care of the good name of our neighbour, and charitably to witness the truth to the establishing of love. Q. What teacheth the tenth commandment: Thou shalt not covet thy, & c? A. It teacheth that not only a consent to the desires of evil, is sin, but the motion of sin itself is against God's a Rom. 8.7. & 7.7. Gal. 5.17. law, and bewrayeth our concupiscence, and convinceth us of the breach of the law. Q. Sith then that we cannot observe the law, to what use serveth it? A. To show a Gal. 3.19 man his weakness, to b Rom. 3.20 & 7.7. accuse and condemn man, and maketh the faithful to c Gal. 3.24 flee to Christ, and acknowledge the free grace of God to be the only cause of their health, it increaseth the knowledge of Gods will in them, d Gal. 2.16.19 humbleth the flesh, and stirreth up the spirit to e Heb. 8.10.11 obedience by God's spirit, which maketh the law f Psal. 19.17 profitable & sweet to the faithful. The second part teaching how we are freed from the curse, and the law satisfied. Q. BY what means then is the law satisfied, and this curse answered for us? A. God of his infinite a joh. 3.16 love, in the b Gal. 4.4.6 fullness of time, sent his son made of a woman, and subject to the law, and redeemed us from the slavery of it, c 2. Cor. 5.19 reconciling us to God by not imputing our sins unto us, and so was d Rom. 8.3.4 2. Cor. 5.21 made sin for us, that we in him might be righteous before GOD, and so e Gal. 3.13 freed from this curse, and the law satisfied. Q. It seemeth then that we obtain not righteousness by the law. A. No verily, but a Gal. 2.16. & 3.11.12. by faith in jesus Christ, b Gen. 15.6 Rom. 4.13.16 in whom our faith is counted for righteousness. Q. What is faith then? A: It is a certain a Ephe. 4.13. 1. joh. 5.23 knowledge & sure b Mar. 11.22 persuasion of the free good will of God towards us in Christ, c Heb. 8.10 sealed in our hearts by his spirit. Q. How come we by faith? A. By a joh. 17.8.20 Rom. 10.17 hearing the word of God preached. Q. Have we faith then by bare hearing of the word? A. No, but it is the a joh. 6.44 Ephe. 6.23. & 2.8. Phil. 2.13 work of God's spirit in us. Q. Is faith then needful? A. Yea, a Mar. 16.16 john. 8.24 for without faith we cannot be saved. Q. What profit then have we by faith? A. We are a Rom. 3.23. & 5.1. justified thereby & b john 1.12. Gal. 3.26. made the sons of God. Q. Rehearse the sum of this thy faith? A. I believe in God the Father almighty. & c? Q. What is the brief sum of all this? A. I learn four things: first that God a Gen. 1.1 Ephe. 4.6 Deut. 32.58 Mat. 2.10. the father is creator and preserver of all things in heaven & earth. Secondly, that God the son b joh. 3.16.17 Gal. 4.5. 1. joh. 2.12 is redeemer of the world. Thirdly, that God c 2. Thes. 2.13 1. Pet. 1.2. the holy Ghost is the sanctifier of his people. Fourthly, that by this means GOD hath d Ephe. 5.26 purchased to himself a Church, and made it holy to serve his glory in life Q. Are there three Gods that thou namest, God the father, God the son, and God the holy Ghost? A. No verily, but a Ephe. 4.6 one only eternal God, in one essence and being, yet b Mat. 4.16.17. & 28.19 1. john 5.7 distinguished in three persons, because of their several operations, effects and properties. 1. part. Q. Why is the first person in trinity called father? A. Because he hath a Gen. 1.1. created all things, and b joh. 20.17. 1. john 3.1. adopted the faithful to be his children in Christ. Q. Why is he said to be almighty? A. Because his power is over all things, and ruleth them all by a jer. 10.13. Herald 1.3. & 11.3 2. Pet. 3.5.6 his word. Q. Why is he called maker of heaven and earth? A. Not only because he made heaven and earth, and all things in them, but also because he a Esay. 40.26. jer. 10.12.13 ordereth, and b Esay 42.5. preserveth them all by his providence. Q. What followeth in the second article, 2. part. and in jesus Christ his only son our Lord? A. Here beginneth the history of our redemption, wrought by the second person in trinity, God the son. Q. What signifieth this word jesus? A. It signifieth a Mat. 1.21 a Saviour. Q. Why is Christ called a Saviour? A. Because he Mat. 1.21 saveth his people from all their sins. Q. What doth this word Christ signify? A. It signifieth anointed, and is so called because he was anointed with a Psal. 45.7 joh. 3.34. the holy Ghost, to be the b Luke. 1.32 king, c Psal. 110.4 Heb. 4.14. priest and d Luke 24.10 Heb. 1.2 prophet to GOD his father. Q. What is his kingdom? A. It is spiritual and a john 18.36 heavenly, whereby he governeth his church by his word and spirit, and b Col. 1.13 Heb. 2.14 triumpheth over Satan's kingdom in c Col. 1.22 Heb. 1.3 1 Pet. 2.24 his own person for us. Q. What profit have we by his kingdom? A. We have a Luke 1.71.74. Rom. 8.2.15 liberty of conscience, regeneration, b Ephe. 6.16 Apoc. 12.11 strength and victory against Satan, death, hell and sin, and finally, are made c Ephe. 4.7.8. partakers of Christ his graces and spiritual treasures. Q. Why is he called a priest? A. Because he was the a Heb. 2.17 & 9.11.12 true high priest, to offer his own body a sacrifice for our sins. Q. What doth his priesthood profit us? A. It assureth us that he is our a Rom. 8.24 Heb. 7.25 mediator, to reconcile us to God, and satisfy for our sins, & to b Rom. 5.2 Ephe. 2.18 make an entry for us, to come c Rom. 8.15 before our God with boldness, to pray to him, & d Heb 13.15 1. Pet 2.5 offer spiritual sacrifices. Q. Why is he called a Prophet? Esay 55.4 Heb. 1.1. A. Because he is the full interpreter of his Father's will unto us. Q. What profiteth it us to believe this? A. Much verily: for hereby our faith is stayed on the a john 3.33.34 Heb. 1.2. & 2 3 doctrine of Christ, so that we look for no other doctrine or revelations then his gospel though b Gal. 1.8. revealed from heaven by an Angel. Q. Sith thou callest Christ the only son of GOD, how is it that the faithful are also the sons of God? A. Christ is only the son a john 1.18. & 3.16. of God by nature, b Gal. 4.5.6. Ephe. 1.5 the faithful by grace & adoption in Christ. Q. Why is he called our Lord? A. Because he is the a Ephe. 1.22. & 4.15. Col. 1.18 only head of his Church, and b Apoc. 17.14. ruler of men and Angels, and we are assured of his defence. Q. What teacheth the 3. Article: which was conceived by the holy Ghost, borne of the Virgin Mary? A. It teacheth that as Christ was a Rom. 9.5 Col. 2.9. perfect God, so he was also perfect b Mat. 5.25. man c Gal. 4.4. borne of a woman, yet by a holy seed, that he may d Heb. 2.11. sanctify others. Q. Was it needful that he must be both God and man? A. Yea, or else he could not be a Saviour for man, for the a Gal. 2.9. godhead dwelled in him bodily, that so in b Heb. 2.14. our nature, he might by death destroy the power of Satan and sin, and c Gal. 3.13. bear our curse. Q. What profit have we by his manhood? A. Christ therein discharged us a Herald 2.14.17 of his father's anger, and in taking our nature, b john 1.16. Ephe. 2.5.6. parteth to us his graces. Q. What learnest thou in the fourth article: He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried: he descended into hell. A. We learn what anguish of death Christ the a 1. Pet. 3.18. just suffered on the cross for us that are unjust, that we might be healed b 1. Pet. 2.24. by his stripes. Q. Wherefore did Christ thus suffer and die? A. For our a Rom. 4.2.6 sins. Q. What profit have we by his death? A. The a Ephe. 1.7 forgiveness of our sins, the b Rom. 6.5 mortification of our flesh, and c Col. 1.20 the appeasing of God's wrath. Q. What meaneth his descending into hell? A. Even this, that for a time a Esay 53.3.5 he felt his father's wrath, and the b Act. 2.24 dolours of eternal death in his c Mat. 26.38 42 Luke 22.43. Heb. 5.7 soul and conscience here on earth, that he might be a redeemer as well of the soul as of the body. Q. What teacheth the fift Article: the third day he rose again from the dead? A. It teacheth that Christ a Col. 2.15 Heb. 2.14 1. Cor. 15.57 overcame death, and broke the kingdom of Satan for us. Q. What use have we of his resurrection? A. We have a Rom. 9.25 justification, a b 1. Cor. 15.20.22 gage of our immortality, and c Rom. 6.4 newness of life. Q. How art thou assured that thou art in Christ, and hast part in his death and resurrection indeed? A. By this, that a Rom. 8.9 2. Cor. 5.5 1. john 4.13 God hath given me of his spirit, which b Ro. 8.10.11 subdueth sin in me, and so c Rom. 8.13. & 6.6 mortifieth my flesh, bringing me in hatred with sin and Satan, and for that I feel d Rom. 6.4 sanctification, and a new life to be begun in me by his resurrection, which certifieth my conscience, that I am in Christ, and so of God. Q. It should seem then, whosoever taste not at all of true a 1. joh. 3.3.6 mortification, and newness of life, howsoever otherwise boasting of the mercies of God, of Christ's death, and forgiveness of sins by him, yet hath he no part in the redemption of Christ? A. It is very true, for as a Rom. 4.25 Christ died for our sins, and rose again for our righteousness, so he restoreth strength to the faithful b Rom. 6.6.18 ●. Pet. 2.24. to subdue sin in some measure, and to walk in a new life and righteousness here on earth. Q. Now tell me what followeth in the sixth article: He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God & c? A. We learn that Christ having accomplished, all that was needful for our salvation, went into a Mar. 16.19 Act. 1.9 heaven with his body, and b Heb. 10.12 stayeth there till he come to judgement. Q. Hath Christ then clean forsaken his Church? A. No, but is present with his a Mat. 28.20 john 14.16.17 in spirit, to the end of the world. Q. What meaneth the sitting at the right hand? A. The right hand is taken for the power of God, noting that Christ hath all a Mat. 28.18 john 17.2 Phil. 2.9 Heb 1.3.5 power of his father, both of things in heaven and earth. Q. What profit cometh to us by his ascension? A. Heaven is a Ephe. 2.6 open to the faithful, which our sins had shut up, and we are assured that b Rom. 8.34 he is our mediator, and by this means c john 7.39. & 16.7 the holy Ghost is given to the faithful, Q. What teacheth the seventh article: From thence he shall come to judge both the quick and the dead? A. We learn that a 2. Cor. 15 10. Apoc. 20.12 all men, both good and bad shall appear before the tribunal seat of Christ. Q. Have we any comfort or profit by this? A. Yea, for it is happy that he which hath saved us, shall judge us, for he shall come to acquit & a Col. 3.4 glorify the faithful, but to judge and condemn the b 2. The. 1.8 10 unbelievers and disobedient. 3. part. Q. What teacheth the 8. article: I believe in the holy Ghost? A. This article teacheth that the third person in trinity, GOD a john 6.63 & 14.26. & 16 13 the holy Ghost maketh all this profitable to the faithful, and b 1. Pet. 1.2 2. Thes. 2.13 sanctifieth and c john 3.6.8 regenerateth them to be new creatures, and a holy Church unto God. 4. part. Q. What followeth in the 9 article: the holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints? A. This concerneth the fourth point of our faith, assuring us that a Psal. 125.1 GOD hath his Church on earth always. Q. What signifieth this word Catholic? A. It signifieth universal, noting that Christ's Church a Mat. 8.11 john 10.16 is dispersed in all places, & yet but b Col. 1.18.24 Ephe. 4.15.16 one body of one head which is Christ. Q. Why is added the communion of saints? A. To show the a 1. john 1.3 fellowship which the faithful have with Christ, and with themselves in the b Ephes. 4.3 13 unity of faith, and one mind, teaching us c Act. 4.32 to communicate our graces one to another. Q. What are the true marks of the visible Church? A. The sincere a Rom. 10.14 15 preaching of the word, the true ministering b Act. 20.7 of the Sacraments, c Gen. 12.8 Psal. 65.1 Psal. 18.4.4 prayer, & discipline, according to the word. Q. Can there be no Church where any of those do want? A. Yes indeed: although blemished, for the word preached, and Sacraments truly ministered, show that there is a Church, for they are a token of God's face and a Act. 10.33 Heb. 4.12.13 presence, and the prints of the b Ezek. 43.7 soles of his feet. Q. It should seem then that the Romish Church is not the true Church, having neither the word sincerely preached, nor the Sacraments perfect, neither in substance nor form, and their discipline clean besides the word. A. It is very true, neither can the family of love be the true Church, refusing the vocal word, vocal prayer, banishing the Sacraments, and true discipline. Q. Show me the meaning of the tenth article: the remission of sins? A. It assureth us of the a Psal. 32.1.2 Ephe. 1.7 free forgiveness of all the sins of the believers, both of the fault and punishment. Q. Do we not merit forgiveness of any one sin by works? A. No certainly: but Christ a Act. 13.38.39 alone is the full satisfaction b Tit. 2.14 1. john 1.7 for all our sins. Q. Are not works then needful, sith they do not merit? A. Yes, nothing more, first, to testify our a Col. 3.17 thankfulness and b 1. john 5.2 love to God, & to c Tit. 3.8 jam. 2.18 prove our faith: secondly, to d 1 Pet. 2.12 give good example to men: thirdly, to e Mat. 5.18 1. Cor. 10.31 glorify God. Fourthly, to assure our conscience that we are the sons of God. Q. What teacheth the eleventh article: the resurrection of the body? A. We are assured that the a job. 19.25 bodies of the faithful shall rise to behold God, and b Phil. 3.21 shall be made like to the glorious body of Christ, and their souls immediately after this life c Eccle. 12.7 2. Cor. 5.6.7 return to God. Q. Do no the wicked rise also? A. Yes verily, both the a Act. 24.15 just and unjust, the just to life, and the wicked to death and judgement. b john 5.29 Q. What understandest thou in the eleventh article: the life everlasting? A. I understand, that after this resurrection there is no more change, but the faithful a john 3 36 shall live with Christ for ever in joy, the wicked shall be without Christ b Mat. 25.46. in eternal pain. Q. Then all this teacheth us that the obedience of the law is only performed by Christ, in whom we are freely justified through faith, wrought by God's spirit, which giveth us the true knowledge of GOD and his mercies in Christ, in whom only we please God, and our obedience is acceptable. A. It is even so. ¶ The third part teacheth us what duties and thankfulness, we own to the Lord for this benefit of our redemption. Q. By what means is this faith & obedience nourished or increased in us? A. By a Rom. 10.17 Gal. 3.2 hearing of the word of God, by the true b Rom. 4.11 use of the Sacraments, & c Rom. 8.15 & 10.14 by prayer, by which means also we testify our faith and obedience, & glorify God. Q. Do these of themselves nourish our faith? A. No, but only a Rom. 8.6 ● Cor. 3.18 God's spirit maketh them effectual unto us. Q. How is our faith nourished by the word? A. By diligent a Rom. 10.17 hearing, reading, meditation, conference, b Act. 20 32 Herald 10.24.25 exhortation, & application of the word, assuring us of the truth thereof, and of God's promises, c jam. 1.21 submitting ourselves wholly to the same, that it may be d Rom. 1.16 a word of power unto salvation in us. Q. What is a Sacrament? A. It is an outward a Gen. 17.11 Rom. 4.11 seal joined unto the word which visibly representeth unto us spiritual things, & assureth our faith of God's promises declared in his word. Q. How many Sacraments are there? A. Two: Baptism, and the supper of the Lord. Q. How doth Baptism profit or nourish our faith? A. First, by assuring us that we are a Rom. 6.3 1. Cor. 12.13 Gal. 3.27. one with Christ. Secondly, that we are b john 3.3.5 begotten again c Col. 2.11 from sin, into a new life. Thirdly, by being a pledge d Tit. 3.5 of the forgiveness of our sins, for as the water cleanseth the body, so our souls by the e 1. Pet. 3.21. blood of Christ are purged from sin. Q. What profit hath our faith by the Lord's supper? A. Even this, that as outwardly we a 1. Cor. 10.16 & 12.26 receive the bread and wine to nourish our bodies, so inwardly we receive Christ by faith, even as our own, whose b Col. 1.14.22 body and blood cleanseth us from sin and nourisheth us to eternal life. Q. Do we receive the very body and blood of Christ really in the bread? A. Nothing less, but only a john 6.63 spiritually by faith. Q. How shall we receive this Sacrament worthily or profitably? A. When we come with faith & repentance. Q. How shall we know that we come with faith? A. First, if we acknowledging our own poverty and wants, confess the mercies of God a 1. Cor. 11.24 with thanksgiving: secondly, when we assure ourselves of the b Mat. 26.28 forgiveness of our sins by the death and sacrifice of Christ only. Q. How shall we know that we come with repentance? A. First, if we a 1. Cor. 11.28 examine our hearts, and are truly b Psal. 32.5.6 grieved for our sins, c Mat. 3.6 confessing them before God: secondly, when we d Mat. 3.8 walk in a new life, that is, in holiness to God, and true love to our neighbour, e Mat. 5.23 24 reconciling ourselves one to another, and f Mat. 6.14 15 Col. 3.13 forgiving, that we may be forgiven. Q. What differeth Baptism from the lords supper, sith they both betoken the remission of sins? A. Baptism grafteth us into Christ by regeneration in hope of remission of sins, the supper nourisheth us, 1. Cor. 12.13. being grafted to feel the power of the death and resurrection of Christ daily strengthening our faith into a new life. Q. What is prayer, which is the third means to increase our faith? A. It is to ask all good things of God by faith, and to give him thanks for all things received. Q. How doth prayer nourish faith, when it is rather an effect or exercise of faith? A. It nourisheth it when we having asked, do also obtain, and so our faith is strengthened and comforted, but it is an effect of faith, because where faith is, Rom. 10.14 there followeth prayer & thanksgiving. Q. What is required in true prayer? A. a Eccles. 5.1 1. Tim. 2.8 A pure affection to GOD and his word, a b Gen. 32.10 Luke. 18.13 true feeling of our own unworthiness, wants & sins, azure c jam 1.6 Mat. 7.7. faith in the favour and promises of God, and to ask all things d Rom. 8.28 according to his will. Q. Are we thus prepared to prayer of ourselves? A. No, but God's a Rom. 8.15 26 Gal. 4.6 spirit only teacheth us to pray faithfully, & b Heb. 11.6 without faith prayer, is not acceptable. Q. Rehearse the Lords prayer? A. Our father which art in heaven. etc. Mat. 6. Q. What meaneth these words: Our father which art in heaven? A. Herein God assureth us, first of his fatherly love to bolden us to prayer: secondly, adding (in heaven) he assureth us of his great power, and lifteth our hearts to seek him in heaven. Q. What require we in the first petition: hallowed be thy name? A. We pray for grace, that we may glorify God in his word and works, & in all our doings, and that his name may appear glorious even as it is, all ungodliness being defaced. Q. What ask we in the 2. petition: Thy kingdom come? A. We pray that God would by his word & a Ephe. 3. 1● spirit, govern & increase the number of his elect, & that b 1. Cor. 15.24.25 Satan's kingdom may be utterly confounded. Q. What ask we in the 3. petition: Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven? A. We pray that we may obediently resign our wills to Gods will, that he would a Psal. 51.10 11 create new hearts and affections in us by his spirit, and we pray for the grace of b 1. Thes. 4.3 sanctification, that as the c Psal. 103.20 Angels in heaven do willingly please God in all motions, so we may study to d 1. Thes. 4. ● please him on earth. Q. What ask we in the 4. petition: give us this day our daily bread? A. We pray that God will a Prou. 10.22 Deut. 28.10 12 bless all things that he hath lent us on earth, and to teach us to b Psal 145.15 16 Mat. 4.4 wait on his providence in all estates of life, that he will cause all things to serve our necessities, and the furthering of us in our callings c levit. 26.20 26.34 Ezech. 4.16. & 5.16 without whose blessing they all perish and want their uses and effects. Q. What ask we in the 5. petition: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us? A. We here call on God for the quiet estate of our own conscience, and for a jer. 31.33 1. King. 8.33.36 the forgiveness of our sins, to be confirmed in us by this, that we b Mat. 6.15 Luke 11.4 are willing to forgive others, and we pray also that we may have patience to c Mat. 5.23 Col. 3.13 forbear and forgive others offending us. Q. What ask we in the 6. pet. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil? A. We pray that God would give us his spirit to increase our faith, that we may a 1. Cor. 10.13 overcome the motions and temptations of sin in us, that sin b Rom. 6.12 may not reign with us unto death, but that we may be freed from it more and more, c Rom. 6.18 and set at liberty to serve righteousness. Q. Doth God lead into temptation, that we pray he would not lead us into temptation? A. God doth a jam. 1.13 not tempt to sin, but he is said to lead into temptation, when he b Esay 63.17 withholdeth his graces from men, or giveth them over c Rom. 1.24 26.28 to a reprobate sense, or d Exo. 9.16 Rom. 9.18 hardeneth their heart, e Psal. 81.12 Esay 29.10 by leaving them to themselves, but God f Psal. 125.5 Heb. 3.13 stayeth his children from this extremity, which else are ready to run to all sin, and therefore needful to pray that God would not lead us into temptation. Q. What meaneth this which followeth, For thine is the kingdom, the power and glory, for ever and ever? A. It is a confirming of our faith in the power of God, to teach us that all come of God his goodness, and not of ourselves, and therefore that all should redound to a 1. Cor. 10 31. his glory by our b Psal. 50.14 & 102.18 thanksgiving, which is the c Heb. 13.15.16 only service that pleaseth God. Q. Now tell me briefly the sum of all this which thou hast said? A. First, we learned by the law, that we all have cast off the image of God, whereunto we were created, & are become by nature sinners, children of wrath, deserving Gods curse, & damnation through our transgressions. Secondly, we learn that the means which answered this curse, and took away damnation from the faithful, was the only death and sacrifice of Christ, who by his spirit daily restoreth the image of God in the faithful, and worketh faith, and obedience in them. Thirdly, we learned that by the practice of faith & obedience we should glorify God in his word, Sacraments, & by prayer, by making all our life a thanksgiving and praise unto God for all his benefits in Christ. Which grace God for his Christ's sake grant to me and all his people. Amen. B. A. A brief and short prayer containing the sum and effect of this Catechism. O Eternal God and most merciful father, we thy poor servants do humbly acknowledge before thy presence our manifold & grievous sins, whereby we have broken thy most holy law, and have justly deserved thy curse, and eternal death and damnation: yea, and these our sins have grown up with us from our cradle, we being conceived and borne in sin and iniquity, and we daily have procured thy wrath against us by neglecting thy will, and following our own corrupt ways. So that we can find no cause in ourselves to procure thy savour, but are forced to flee out of ourselves, & to betake ourselves wholly unto thy fatherly clemency. Wherefor● (most gracious father) sith in thy heavenly wisdom, and eternal council, thou shall fore appoynted thy son jesus Christ to be our only mediator, in whom we may boldly come before thee, & by whose death & cleansing sacrifice, it hath pleased thee to satisfy thine own justice in pardoning the sins of thy children, & turning away thy displeasure from them, we most humbly beseech thee in the tender bowels of jesus Christ, to forgive us all our sins, and bury them in the death and obedience of thy dear son jesus Christ, & we most heartily thank thee (most loving father) for our election, creation, preservation, especially for our redemption wrought by the death and bloodshedding of jesus Christ & for all thy abundant mercies and graces, so plentifully bestowed upon us in him and for him. Also we beseech thee (dear father) to give us thy good spirit to work a lively faith in us, whereby the benefit of the death & resurrection of Christ, may be applied unto us, and become effectual in us, that we may have a true sight and feeling of our sins, and such a godly sorrow for them, as may bring forth 〈◊〉 repentance unto salvation not to be repent of: so that we may mortify our sins, especially, our several sins, that have most prevailed against us. 〈◊〉 that we may live in all holy obedience, and a new life before thee on earth, that so we may have comfort to our consciences both that we are thy children, and also that we shall rise to eternal life in the resurrection of the just. Furthermore, (O heavenvly father, sith thou hast given us thy word to teach us all things needful to salvation, & to instruct us in thy ways, we humbly pray thee incline our hearts to embrace & practise the same, make us truly thankful, for such gracious & sovereign means of our salvation, as thou hast offered us, & give us grace to use thy word, Sacraments & prayer, reverently, & with faith & repentance, as true exercises & testimonies of our faith, & obedience: so that we may increase in all godliness & righteousness before thee all the days of our life, grant these & all other thy graces needful for us & for thy whole church, we beseech thee for jesus Christ his sake, in whose name we pray together with thy whole church, & for thy church as he hath taught us saying. O our Father etc. O Lord increase our faith. Amen