THE ELEMENTS of the beginning of the Oracles of GOD. Containing the whole Grounds of Christian Religion, in A Short catechism for young Children, And A larger Method of catechizing. AT LONDON Printed by John Beale, 1619. A catechism for little Children. Question. WHo made Man? Answ. God. Gen. 2. 7. Q. In what estate made he him? A. Perfectly holy in Gen. 1, 27 Ephe. 4. 24. Body and soul. Q. How fel he from that good estate? A. By breaking the Commandement Gen. 3. 7. of God. Q. What punishment followed thereupon? A. Death and condemnation to him, Rom. 5. 18, 19. & 6. 23. and his posterite. Q. How are wee delivered from death and condemnation? A. By the free mercy of God in Iesus Christ. joh. 3. 16. Ephe. 2. 5. Q. What kind of person is Iesus Christ? A. He is very God, and very Man, in one person. Iho. 1. 14. joh. 3. 13. Q. Why call ye him very God? A. Because he is the eternal son Heb. 1. 2. 3 Phil. 2. 6. 1 joh. 5. 7. of God, of one and the self same Godhead with the Father and holy Ghost. Q. Why call ye him very man? A. Because he is like us in al things, Heb. 2. 17. Heb. 4. 15. sin onely excepted. Q. why was he without sin? A. That he might be an unspotted Heb. 9. 14 Ephe. 5. 2. 2 Pet. 1. 18 19 1 Joh. 3. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 18. sacrifice for sin. Q. what hath he done for our deliverance? A. He died for our sins, and rose Rom. 4. 25. again for our justification. Q. Are all men that perished in Adam, saved by Christ? A. No, but onely they that haue Joh. 3. 16. 17 18. & 36. true faith in him. Q. what is true Faith? A. It is the true knowledge of Iesus Joh. 6. 69. Joh. 17. 2. Rom. 4. 21. Christ, with assurance of salvation in him. Q. Rehearse the Articles of your faith. A. 1. I Beleeue in God, the Father Almighty maker of heaven and Earth. 2. And in Jesus Christ his onely son our Lord. 3. Who was conceived by the the holy Ghost: born of the Virgin Mary. 4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and butted, he descended into hell. 5. The third day he rose again from death, 6. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. 7 From thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead. 8. I beleeue in the Holy Ghost. 9. The holy Church universal. 10. The communion of Saints, 11. The forgiveness of sins, 12, The resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Q. By what means doth Gods spirit work this faith in you? A. By the word of God. Q. what call ye the word of God? Ephe. 2. 8. Gal. 2. 2●. Rom. 10. 17. A. The Holy Scripture of the old and new Testament. 2 Pet. 1. 21. 2 Pet. 3. 15. 16 1 Pet. 1. 25. Q. By what means doth Gods spirit confirm this faith in you? A. By the same Word, and by the Act. 15. 32. 1 Pet. 2. 2. Act. 20. 32. Rom. 4. 11. Sacraments. Q. what call ye the Sacraments? A. They are visible signs & seals Rom 4. 11. ordained of God, for the confirmation of my Faith. Q. How do they confirm your faith? A. By receiving them as pledges, 1 Cor. 11. 24. Mar. 16. 16. that Christ crucified( represented and offered in them) is given to me in particular to bee my saviour. Q. How many Sacraments be there? A. Two: baptism, and the Lords Supper. Mat. 28. 19. 1 Cor. 11. 23 Q. why were ye baptized being an Infant? A. That thereby I might be engrafted Rom. 6. 3. 4. 5. in Christ, & entred in his Church, which Gal. 3. 27. 1 Cor. 12 13 Ephe. 1. 23. 1 Cor. 12. 12 is his mystical body. Q. what profit haue you by your baptism now? A. It seals up the remission of my Act. 2. 28. Mar. 1. 4, 5. Eph. 5. 26. 27 Tit. 3. 5. sins in Christs blood, and furthers the renovation of my heart in his Spirit, which are my spiritual washing. Q. what call ye the Lords Supper? A. It is the Sacrament of my spiritual joh. 6. 53. nourishment on the body and blood of Christ. Q. How do you eat his body, and drink his blood? A. By believing assuredly that his body was broken, and his blood was joh. 6. 47 48 Joh. 6. 54. Joh. 5. 36. shed for me. Q. What thankfulness owe you to God, for giuing his son to shed his blood for you? A. I am bound to deny myself, and Mat. 16. 24. 1 Cor. 5. 15. Luk. 2. 74, 75 1 Pet. 1. 17. 18. 19. Tit. 2. 14. live to him, walking in his Commandements all the daies of my life. Q Rehearse the Commandements? A. hearken and take heed Israel, for I am the Lord Exod. 20. thy God which haue brought thee out of the land of egypt, and out of the house of bondage. 1 Thou shalt haue no other Gods but me. 2 Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness 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 aiealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers vpon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and show mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandements. 3. 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. 4. Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath day: six dayes shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt do no manner work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man seruant, thy maid seruant, thy cattle, nor the stranger that is within thy gates: for in six dayes the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and restend the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day & hallowed it. 5. Honour thy Father and thy mother that thy dayes may bee long in the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 6. Thou shalt do no murder. 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 8. Thou shalt not steal. 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 10. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife, nor his seruant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his. Q. What is the sum and effect of these Commandements? A. Thou shalt love the Lord thy Mat. 22. 37. God with all thy heart, mind, and strength; and thy neighbour as thyself. Q Is any man able to do these things perfectly in his life? A. None at all. 2 Chr. 6. 36. Ecle. 7. 22. Q why so? A. Because no man is perfectly sanctified Rom. 7. 14. 1 joh. 1. 8. Pro. 20. 9. Ro. 7. 23. 24. in this life. Q. Yet must not wee strive to perfection in fulfilling of Gods Commandements? A. doubtless, for otherwise there 1 Thes. 4. 1, Pro. 4. 18. Act. 15. 9, 2 Tim. 2, 19. Job 1, 1, is neither faith nor fear of God in vs. Q. what must wee do then, when we break any of these commandements. A. We must run to God by repentance Act. 2, 37. and Prayer. Hos. 14. 2. 3. Q. what is Repentance? A. It is the turning of my heart to Deu. 4. 29. 30 Joel 2. 13. 2 Cor. 7, 10. Ezek. 18. 27. 28. 31. 32. Psal. 39. 1. job 31. 1. God, with an unfeigned sorrow for offending his majesty, and a constant resolution to amend my life. Q. what is Prayer? A. It is calling on God, in the Psal. ●0. 15 joh. 14. 14. Mat. 3, 33. name of Christ, for things belonging to Gods glory, and our necessity. Q. why is it not lawful to pray to Creatures, as to Angels, and Saints glorified? A. Because God hath commanded Col. 2. 18. Reu 22. 9. Mat. 4, 10. us to worship him alone. Q why must wee pray onely in Christs Name? A. Because he is our onely Mediator 1 Tim. 1, 2, 5. joh. 14, 6. and intercessor. Q How then should wee pray? A. According to that pattern of prayer Luke 11. 2. which our Master hath set before us, saying: When ye pray, say, our Father which art in heaven: 1. hallowed be thy Name. 2. Thy kingdom come. 3. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. 4. give us this day our daily bread. 5. And forgive us our trespasses, as wee forgive them that trespass against vs. 6. And led us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen. Q How are you assured that God will hear your Prayers? A. By Christs own Word, promising Joh 16. 23. that whatsoever we ask the Father in his name, it shall be given vs. Q. what is the end of this your whole Religion? A. Hereby God is glorified, and I Mat. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 1. 6. am saved, through Iesus Christ my Lord, to whom be everlasting praise and glory. Amen. ¶ Prayers and Graces for Children. Morning Prayer. MY graceous God, I bless thee with my whole heart forthy fatherly providence, watching over me this night. And I beseech thee to continue thy mercy with me both this day, and the whole course of my life, that being always guided by thy grace, and guarded by thy providence, I may spend this time of my pilgrimage in thy fear, & end it in thy favor, through Iesus Christ my blessed Lord & saviour, Amen. evening Prayer at going to bed. IT is of thy vndeserued mercy( O God) that I haue passed this day in safety without some notable inconvenience, in those infinite dangers wherein I continually cast myself through my folly. Now I beseech thee( good Lord) let it please thee of thy gracious goodness, protect me also this night; and grant me quiet rest in soul and body, that I may better serve thee in both, through Iesus Christ my gracious Lord and saviour. Amen. I will lay me down in peace and sleep: for thou Lord onely makest me dwell in safety. Psal 4. 8. ¶ Grace before meate. THe eyes of all things do look up & wait on thee( O Lord) thou givest them meate in due season: thou openest thy hand & satisfieth the desire of every living thing: good Lord bless us, & those gifts which we receive of thy large liberality, through Iesus Christ our Lord. So be it. Another before meate. PArdon our sins O God and give us thy blessing with thy benefits, that they may haue strength to nourish us, and wee may haue grace to serve thee our gracious God, in Iesus Christ. Amen. ¶ Grace after meate. THe God of glory and peace, who hath created us, redeemed us, and presently hath fed us, be blessed both now and ever. So be it. Another after meate. MOst mighty Lord and most merciful father, we yield thee hearty thankes for our bodily sustentation, requiring also most entirely thy gracious goodness, so to feed us with the food of thy heavenly grace, that we may worthily glorify thy name in this life, and after bee partakers of thy everlasting glory, through Iesus Christ our Lord. So be it. Another after meate. Matth. 4. 4. LOrd thou hast said it, & we believe it, that man lives not by bread onely, but by every word that proceedeth out of thy mouth: Therefore give us( we beseech thee) thy blessing with thy benefits, that in the strength of thy blessing this life being maintained, we may spend it in thy service, till we attain to life everlasting, through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely saviour. Amen. ¶ To any of these or the like graces that shall be said after meate, let these or the like prayers be added for the Church and for the King. &c. GOd save thy Church universal, God comfort the confortlesse. Lord increase our faith. O Lord for Christ thy sons sake, bee merciful to the common wealths where thy gospel is truly preached, and the afflicted members of Christs body relieved, and illuminate according to thy good pleasure, all Nations with the brightness of thy word. God save our most gracious King james, the hopeful Prince Charles: Prince Palatine, and his Lady Elizabeth, and their princely progeny, guide thou their harts, O God, by thy grace, that they may rule thy people aright, to the terror of evil doers, & the comfort of all those that fear thee, and love thy truth. Amen. A brief of the ten Commandements. 1. HAue thou none other gods but me, 2. unto no Image bow thy knee. 3. Take not the name of God in vain. 4. do not the sabbath day profane. 5. Honour thy Father and Mother too, 6. And see that thou no murder do. 7. From whoredom keep thy body clean. 8. And steal not though thy state be mean. 9. Of false reporting shun the blot, 10. What is thy Neighbours covet not. O Lord to thee our souls convert, And writ thy laws into our heart. A Method of catechizing. Of Religion in general. Question. WHich is the onely way to true happiness? answer. The true Acts 4. 12. Psal ●, 12. John 3, 36. christian Religion.. Q. What is the true Christian Religion? A. That which is agreeable to the 2 John 9, Doctrine of Christ. Q. Where is that Doctrine to be learned? A. Onely in the holy Scriptures, for they are able to make us wise unto salvation, John ●, 39. 2 Tim. 3, 15. 16 17. and perfect and meet for every good work. Q. Wherein consists the true Christian Religion? Joh. 3. 36. 1 Joh. 2. 3. Jam. 1. 27. Eccle. 12. 13 Tit. 3. 8. A. In true Faith, & good works. Q. Are both Faith and good works necessary to salvation or true happiness? A. Both are necessary: for the Scripture saith of the first, a Mar. 16. 16 he that believeth not, shall be condemned; and of the second, b Mat. 3 10. every three that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be hewn down and cast into the fire. Q. May not true faith bee without good works? A. Impossible: For Faith without good works, is dead in itself. Iam. 3. 17. Q. May not good works bee without true Faith? A. works without faith may be good in the eyes of men, but not so before Gen. 4. 3, 4, 5 Heb. 11. 4. Heb. 11. 6. Rom. 14. 23. God: for without faith it is inpossible to please God: And all that is done without fath, is sin. The first Part, Of Faith. Q. WHat do you call true Faith? A. It is a joh. 6. 69. Joh. 17. 2. the true knowledge of God in Christ, b Rom. 4. 11. & 21. Heb. 11. 1. Heb. 10. 22. with assurance of salvation in him Q. rehearse the Articles of your Faith? Ans: I beleeue in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven & Earth, &c. Q. How divide you this form of confession? A. In two parts: the first concerns Gods nature and works; the second concerns Gods Church, and his gifts towards it. Of Faith in God. Q. What beleeue you concerning Gods Nature? A. That he is one vndiuided Godhead, or divine essence, distinct in three 1 Cor. 8. 6. 1 joh. 5. 7. Joh. 1. 14. joh. 15. 26. Persons; the Father, who from all eternity hath begotten the son; the Son, who from all eternity is begotten of the Father; and the Holy Ghost, who proceedeth from the Father & the Son. Q. Must wee not worship this one Godhead in the three Persons, and the three persons in this one Godhead? A. a 2 Cor. 13. 13. doubtless: and therefore I say in my Créede b joh. 14. 1. I beleeue in God the Father, and in his son, and in the holy Ghost; c Heb. 11. 6. joh. 3. 33. Mat. 25. 8 9. The first & chief part of Gods worship, being this, to believe in God. Q. Why say you, as for yourself alone, I beleeue? A. Because every man must bee saved Heb. 2. 4. joh. 3. 36. Mat. 25. 8. 9. by his own Faith. Q. What is it to beleeue in God? A. It is not onely to know and aclowledge him to be such a God, as he Acts 19, 15. Heb, 10, 19, 22 Heb, 11, 1, Psal. 2, 12, hath revealed himself in his word, but also to put my trust & confidence in him. Q. Which are the props, and pillars of your confidence in God? A. His a Joh. 3. 16. 1 joh. 3. 1. Fatherly affection, whereby he is willing, and his b Luk. 1. 37. Almighty Power, whereby he is able c Ephe. 3. 20 to give me all good things and d 2 Tim. 4. 18 avert from me all evil, e Rom. 8. 28. or turn them to my good. Of the Creation and providence. Q. Wherein doth he show his fatherly affection, and almighty Power? A. In his works of Creation, and Act. 17. 24. 28 John 3. 16. Ro. 1. 19. 10. Heb. 1. 3. Rom. 1. 4. Eph. 1. 19. 20. job 12. 9. 10. Heb 1. 3. Rom. 11. 36. Acts, 17. 25. 27 28. redemption. Q. And say you nothing of his wise & wonderful providence, whereby he governs the World? A. I comprehend it under the Creation; because as the World once by Creation was made and set in order, so it hath ever since been continued in being and order by the providence of God. Q. Is the providence of God extended towards all things that hath being? A. Yea, even to the sparrows, and Mat. 10. 29. 30 hairs of our head? Q. Hath his providence place also in things which bee evil? A. Yea in the badst actions of the Gen. 50. 20. 2 Sam. 16. 10 job. 1. 21. Acts. 2. 23. Acts 4. 27. wicked: for even in those he worketh well, and directeth them to his own glory, and to our comfort. Q. Then it appears that nothing in this world doth fall out by chance? A. Nothing at all: for whatsoever Pro. 16. 30. Exod. 21. 30. job. 14. 5. Acts 17. 28. Act. 4 27. 28. falls out in this World, is directed, ruled, and moved by God, according to the determinate counsel of his good will, which was before all worlds. Q. I see now, how God being called the maker of heaven and Earth, must bee understood to bee also the governor of all things; therefore tell me concerning the Creation of Man, in what estate God made him? A. In the a Gen. 1. 31 beginning God made all things very good, and b Gen. 1. 26 27. above the rest he made Man according to his own Image Eph. 4. 24. in righteousness and true holinesse. Of the Fall of Man. Q. How fell we from that good estate? A. By the disobedience of our first Gen 6. 3. 6. 1 Tim. 2. 14. parents Adam and eve. Q. Whence came their disobedience? A. From satan, and the abuse of Gen. 3. their own frée-will. Q. How so? A. satan, when he had lost his original, Jud. 6. John 8. 44. 1 Tim. 2. 14. 2 Cor. 11. 3. and fallen from the truth himself, became a murderer of them by enticing them, and they willingly giuing way to his temptation, made filthy apostasy from God. Of original sin. Q. Are we guilty of their sin? A. doubtless, because we sinned in them being in their loins, to stand or Ro. 5. 12. 18. Heb. 7. 9. fall with them. Q. What punishment haue we incurred by their transgression? A. Thereby wee are made guilty of Ro. 5. 16. 18. Ro. 3. 10. &c. Gen. 6. 5. Psal. 51. 5. death and condemnation, wee haue lost the Image of God, and are polluted in all the powers of soul and body, even from our conception. Q. How far hath this corruption prevailed over us? A. So far that we all by nature are joh. 8. 34. Rom. 6. 16. Rom. 3. 12. Rom. 8. 7. 1 Cor 2. 14. Gen. 6. 5. slaves to sin, unable for all good, and bent to all evil. Q. What produces this corruption in us? A. All manner of actual sins, in Rom. 7. 17. Jam. 1. 15. thought, word and deed. Q. Is not God angry with us, both for our original and actual sins? A. Wonderfully: and punishes both Eph. 2. 3. Rom. 5. 14. Deut. 27. 28. Mat. 25. 41. with his fearful curse, in all kind of plagues in this world, and hell fire in the world to come. Of Mans deliverance. Q How are wee delivered from this infinite misery? A. By the free mercy of God in Iesus 2 Tim. 1. 91 Eph. 2. 5. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Christ, who is given of the Father to be our wisdom, righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption. Of Christs Person. Q. What kind of Person is Iesus Christ? A. He is one Person, very God, equal Philip 2. 6. He. 2. 14. &c. Heb. 4. 15. Heb. 7. 16. 2 Cor. 5. 21 with the Father, and very Man, like us in all things, sin onely excepted. Q. How confess you him to be very God? A. I confess him to bee God, professing a joh. 14. 1. jer. 17. 5. that I believe in him; b John 1. 18. that he is the onely begotten or natural Son of the Father; c Rom. 1. 4. jo. 10. 17. 18 and that he rose from death by his own power. Q. How confess you him to be Man? A. I confess him to be Man when I say that he was born of a Woman: and that he died by the sentence of a judge. Gal. 4. 4, Luk. 23. 24. Q. How confess you him to bee without sin? A. By ascribing his conception, not to the power of nature, but to the Luk. 1. 4, 5. Holy Ghost. Q Why was it necessary that he should be without sin? A. Because every sinner stands in Heb. 13. 14. Deut. 4 24. 1 Pet. 3. 18. need of a Mediator for himself. Q Why was it requisite that he should be both God and Man? A. It behoved him a Heb. 2. 14. 15. to be man, that he might die for man; b Rom. 1. 4, and to bee God, that in dying he might overcome death, c joh. 5. 21. Joh. 17. 2. 22. & give eternal life to every true beléeuer. Q. Why say you, he was both God and man in one person? A. Because the eternal Son of God Heb. 2. 16. in his miraculous conception, assumed, not the person, but the nature of man in the unity of his own person. Q. How then must we consider the two natures in one person? A. a 1 Pet. 3. 18. Acts 20. 28. Gal. 4. 4, Joh. 3. 13. Without confusion of the Natures, b Tim. 3. 16. or division of the person. Q. Why say you without confusion of the Natures? A. Because the divine and human Rom 1. 3, 4. 1 Pet. 3. 18. natures remain distinct both in themselves, and in their properties. Q. Why say you, without division of the Person? A. Because the Lord Iesus is the Rom. 1. 3, 4. John 1. 14. son of God, and the Son of Man: and yet but one person; his man-head subsisting not in itself, but in the eternal word Q. Doth not this personal union of the human nature with the eternal word and Son of God, tend greatly to the glory of the human nature of Iesus Christ? A. Out of question: for hence it is that in both the natures( that is, as he is God-and-man jointly) a 1 Tim. 2. 5 he is the Mediator, b Mat. 1. 21. the saviour, and c Eph. 1. 22 head of his Church; d Joh. 5. 23. Heb. 1. 6. Reu. 5. 12. 13. 14. to be adored, e joh. 14. 1. 1 Tim. 1. 16. believed in, and f Act. 7. 59. called on. Of Christs office. Q. having spoken of his Person, now show me concerning his office: and first why call you him Iesus, that is, a saviour? A. So he is called, because he saves his people from a Luk. 2. 11. sin, and b Heb. 2. 14. 15. death, & gives unto them c 1 Cor. 1. 30 jer. 23. 6. righteousness, and d joh. 10. 18. life. Q. Then is our whole salvation in him, and from him? A. Certainly, for the Scripture testifies that all fullness is in him; that in him we are complete and that there is no salvation Col. 1. 19. Col. 2. 3. 10. Acts 4. 12. in any other. Q Why is he called Christ: that is anointed? A. Because a John 6. 27. 1 Pet. 1 20. by the Father he was appointed b Isa. 61. 1. Psal. 45. John 3. 34. Col. 1. 19. Col. 2. 3. 9. Joh. 1. 14. 16. and endowed with gifts, to be unto us his people, a Prophet, a Priest, and a King. Q. Why was he made a Prophet? A. That he might reveal unto us the Deut. 18. 18 John 1. 18. John 15. 15. Joh. 16. 13. 14 Jsa. 61. 1. 1 Pet 3. 19. whole counsel and will of God, concerning our salvation. Q. Why was he made a Priest? A. That by the Sacrifice of himself once offered, he might reconcile us unto Heb. ●. 26. Heb. 7. 25. God, and continually make intercession for vs. Q. Why was he made a King? A. a Iam. 2. 8. Jam. 4. 12. Rom. 3. 27. Mat. 28. 20. That he might give us a royal Law, whereby to believe, and live; b Heb. 10. 16 Heb. 12. 2. Acts 16. 14. Heb. 2. 11. that he might incline our hearts to the obedience of his Law, c Deu. 33. 29 Psa. 119. 114 that he might powerfully defend, and d 1 Cor. 15. 58. Heb. 6. 10. 2 Tim. 4 8. John 10. 28 bountifully reward his faithful Subiects, e Psal. 110. 1 and make all his enemies his footstool. Q. Why call you him our Lord? A Because he hath delivered us from the power of darkness, to bee a peculiar Col. 1. 13. Tit. 2 14. people to himself. Of the execution of his Office. Q. How hath he accomplished this deliverance? A. By his humiliation, & axaltation. Eph. 4 9. Rom. 4. 25. Phil. 2. 7, 8, Q. Wherein stands his Humiliation? A. In his incarnation and suffering. Q. What comprehends his incarnation? Phil. 2. 7. 8. A. His Conception and Birth. Q. under whom suffered Christ? A. under Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Q. Why was he condemned by a mortal Man? A. That we might be absolved by the Ro. 5. 18. 19. immortal God. Q. In what nature suffered he? A: Onely a 1 Pe. 3. 18 in his human nature: for b Jam. 1. 17, the divine nature is impassable, and not subject to suffering. Q. In what part of his human nature suffered he? A. Both in his Body and soul. Q. What suffered he in his body? A. He was crucified, in a Gal. 3. 13. token that he bore the curse of the Law for us: b Heb. 2. 14. 1 Cor. 15. 55. 56. 57. he died to free us from death: and was c Rom. 1. 4. butted for the greater certainty of his death, & the greater glory of his resurrection. Q. Why say you he hath saved us from death, since it is a Heb. 9. 27 appointed for all men once to die? A. Our death is b Rom. 5. 1. no satisfaction for sin, c Rom. 6. 7. 1 Cor. 15. 26. but the abolishing of sin in us; d Phil. 1. 23. and a passage to life everlasting. Q. What suffered he in his soul? A. Being, in a manner, a Mat. 27. 46 left of God for a season, he b Mat. 26. 37 38. 39. Gal. 3. 13. suffered extreme anguish and horror, under the sense of the fearful wrath and curse of God, which héere is called his descending into hell. Q What benefit haue we by his suffering? A. All that he suffered in soul and Body was for me; to free my soul and 1 Pet. 3. 18. Heb 9. 28. 2 Cor. 5. 23. 1 Cor. 6. 20. 1 Thes. 5. 23. body from everlasting torments, which I deserve for my sins. Q. How could it stand with the Iustice of God to punish him for our sins, the righteous for the unrighteous? A. The Lord Iesus made our sins his own, by his willing taking them on 1 Pet. 2 24. 2 Cor. 5. 23. 1 joh. 3. 5, 1 Tim. 2. 6. him, as our surety and pledge. Q But how could his sufferings that were shortly ended, free us from everlasting punishment? A. Albeit his sufferings were finite in time, yet in value they were infinite: because they were the sufferings of the eternal 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. Acts 20. 28. son of God. Q. having spoken of his Humiliation, tell me which are the degrees of his exaltation? A. His Resurrection from Death; his Ascention into heaven; and his sitting Luk. 24▪ Acts 1. Heb. 1. at the right hand of God. Q. What benefit haue wee by his Resurrection from death? A. Thereby a Hos. 13. 14. Heb. 2. 14. Rom. 1. 4. he hath manifested his victory over death, he b Rom. 4. 25. makes us partakers of the righteousness purchased by his death, c Rom. 6. 4. he raises us up to newness of life, d Rom. 8. 11. and assures us of our resurrection. Q. Why ascended he up to heaven? A. That there he might a Joh. 14. 3. prepare a place for us, and b Rom. 8. 34 make intercession for us; and that wee might follow him, c Col. 3. 2 in our affections while we are here, d Phil. 2. 23. Luk. 23 42. in our souls at the hour of death, e 1 Thes. 4, 17 and in our bodies at the day of the Resurrection. Q. What Imports his sitting at the right hand of God? A. By this speech, a ● Kin 2. 19 borrowed from the manner of men, is signified b Mat. 28 18 Eph. 1. 22. that the Father hath set him over all things, to be the head of the Church; c Joh. 5. 22. and the judge of the World. Q. What profit haue we by this glory of Christ, our head? A. He employs this glory and power to our utility, a Eph. 4. 8. 10 11. in powring out his gifts b Eph. 4. 12. on us his members c joh. 14. 16. 26. 1 Cor. 6. 11. by his holy Spirit; d joh 10. 28. Psal. 29. and in protecting us against our enemies. Q. When shall this glory of our Lord be manifested to all the world? A. In the last day, when he shal come 1 Thes. 4. 15. 16. 17. 1 Pet. 4. 5. to judge the quick and the dead. Q. What shall become of those that shall be living at his coming? A. They shall all be changed, and this 1 Cor. 15. 52 change shall be in place of death to them. Of the Holy Ghost. Q. By whom is this redemption thus accomplished in the humiliation, and exaltation of our saviour, applied unto us? A. By the holy Spirit in our Sanctification. 1 Pet. 1. 22. Eph. 1. 13. Gal. 5. 5. ● Cor. 2. 12. 2 Cor. 1. 21. 22. Q. Why is the third Person of the Trinity peculiarly called the Spirit: a John 4. 24 1 Cor. 3. 17 Seeing God the Father, and the son also, is a Spirit? Rom. 8. 9. A. He is so called from his Personal property; b Joh. 15. 26. because he procéedes from the Father & the Son, c Isa. 61. 1. Rom. 8. 9 11 Gal. 4. 6. as the Spirit of both. Q. Why is he particularly called Holy, a Jsa. 6. 3. Jos. 24. 19. seeing holinesse is an essential property of God, and so is common to al the three Persons A He is called holy not from his essential property, but from his work of Sanctification and holinesse wrought in us; b Rom. 8. 13. because he is the immediate worker thereof. Of the Church. Q To whom doth this Redemption, purchased by Christ, and applied by the Spirit, belong? A. To the whole Church universal, John 17. 20. 21. &c. Acts. 13. 48. and every particular member thereof. Q. What call you the Church universal? A. The whole company of the faithful, Mat: 16. 18. Heb. 13. 23. Eph. 1. 4. Ro. 9. 23. 24 whom God hath chosen to life in Christ, before all worlds. Q. Why is this Church called Holy? A. Because every true member thereof, is a 2 Tim. 1. 9. by an holy calling, b joh. 17. 65 9. 14. separated from the world, c 1 Pet. 1. 15. 16 Deut. 14. 2. 1 Pet. 2. 9. to bee holy to the Lord; is d Gal. 3. 27. Rom. 13. 14. clothed with the perfect holinesse of Christ, e Eph. 4. 24. Tit. 3. 5. and is endowed with the Image of God in true holinesse, f Eph. 5. 25. 26. 27. 1 Cor. 1. 8▪ Phil. 1. 6. 1 Thes. 4 13. begun here, to be accomplished in the world to come. Q Why is the Church called Uniuersal? A. Because it comprehendeth the whole number of the elect and faithful, Heb. 12. 23. Eph. 1. 10. Epc. 2. 16. of all times, places, and people. Q. Which are the parts of this Church universal? A. The Church militant on earth, and Eph. 6 12. 2 Tim. 4. 7. 8 the Church triumphant in heaven. Q. May not the Church militant vpon the earth, amongst all Nations, be called universal? A. Yes, and so the Christian Church Deut. 4. 7. 8. Rom 9. 23. 24. 25. of old was called: to distinguish it from the synagogue of the Iewes; which was tied to one people and place: but here the whole is called universal, and that more properly then any part of the whole can be called. Q Why say you not, I beleeue in the Church, as you said before; I beleeue in God? A. Because we must believe in God Mat. 4. 10. Jer. 17. 5. Psal. 118. 8. Psal. 146. 3. 1 Tim. 6. 17 onely. Q. And why say you; I beleeue there is a Church? A. Because Faith is the evidence of Heb. 11. 1. Rom. 2. 29. 2 Tim. ●. 19. Rom. 2. 29. things that are not seen: and this Church is invisible to mortal eyes, as being the company of Gods elect and secret ones, who are known to God alone. Q What than call you a visible Church? A. Any particular Congregation in ● Tim. 1. 7. 8. Psal. 22 22. any place, making profession of the Faith Rom. 16, 5. Phile. 2. of Christ. Q. Are al the Congregations that make profession of the Faith of Christ, true visible Churches? A. No: but onely those a joh. 10. 27 Rom. 10. 17. where Gods Word is Preached, b Mat. 28. 19 20. Act. 2. 41. 42 the Sacraments are ministered, and c joh. 4. 22. Deut. 6. 13. God alone is worshipped, according to his Word. Q. Are all such Churches alike pure? A. No, but as the purity of Doctrine Gal. 3. 1, 2. 3. Gal. 4. 9. 10. 11. &c. Heb. 8. 5. 2 Tim. 1. 15. & worship hath degrees, so these Churches are purest, where the Doctrine and worship is most pure: that is, most agreeable to the word of God. Q. Are all they that are of a visible Church, members also of that Holy catholic Church which wee beleeue? A. No: but of a visible Church, are Mat. 13. 47. 48. 49. Rom. 9. 27. Rom. 2. 27. 28. 29. Mat. 20. 16. both clect and reprobate, good and bad, which make outward profession of the faith, being externally called by the ministry of the Word and Sacraments. Of the ministry. Q. To whom belongs it to Minister the Word and Sacraments? A. Onely to those that are called by a Mat. 28. 19. 20. Rom. 10. 15. Eph 4. 8. 11. Jsa. 50. 4. Christ and his b Tit. 1. 5. 1 Tim. 5. 22. Act. 6. 3. 5, 6, Church unto that holy Function. Q. What power hath Christ given unto them that are thus called? A. He hath given them the power of Binding and losing of sins. Mat 16. 19. Mat. 18. 18. joh. 20. 23. Q. Wherein stands this Power? A. In the ministery of the word, of the 1 Cor. 2. 15. 16. 1 Cor. 11. 27. 29. Mat. 16. 19. Luk. 11. 52. Reu. 3. 7. Sacraments, and of the censures; which therefore are called the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Q. How doth the Ministers of Christ open, and shut with these keys? A. They open by anouncing remission of sins to the penitent; and they shut, by joh. 3. 16. 35. 36. Act. 2. 36. Eph. 5. 5. Mar. 16. 16. Mat. 18. 15. 16. 17, 1 Cor. 5. 11. 12. 13. joh. 2. 10. denouncing Iudgement to the impenitent: & this they do more generally by the ministry of the word, and more particularly, by the ministry of the Sacraments and Censures. Q. What is the end of this ministry in the Church? A. The purging of the Church from offences, and the gathering of the Saints unto Christ, that by him in time they 1 Cor. 5. 6 Eph. 4. 12, Eph. 1 4. 5, may enjoy the benefits allotted to them before all Worlds. Q. Which be those benefits? A. They be two in this World, the communion of Saints, and the remission of sins: and two in the World to come: The resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Communion of Saints. Q. What call you the Communion of Saints? A. It is that fellowship which they 1 John 1. ●. Col. 2. 12. Rom. 12. 5. 1 Cor. 10. 16. 17. that are sanctified haue with Christ their head by faith, and amongst themselves by love. Eph. 4. 4, Eph. 3. 6, 17. Phile. 5 6. 7. 1 Cor 12. 13. Q. Wherein consists our fellowship with Christ our head by Faith? A. In this, that Christ is ours, and 1 Cor. 3. 23. Cant. 6. 2. John 15 4. Col. 1. 14. John 17. 19. 1 Cor. 1. 30. we are Christs; that his suffering is our satisfaction; and that all the benefits procured by his suffering are also ours. Q. wherein stands our fellowship amongst ourselves by love? 1 Cor. 12. 26. Rom. 12. 15. Eph 6. 18. 19. 1 Tim. 2. 1. Acts 4. 32. Rom, 12. 1 Cor, 12. Phil. 2. 4. A. In our mourning and rejoicing together, in our praying every one for another; and in extending the gifts bestowed on any of us, to the common benefit of the body. Remission of sins. Q. What call you Remission of sins? A. a Act. 26 18. Rom. 4. 5, 6, 7 8, 9. otherways it is called justification, b Rom 8. 33. Mat. 9. 8. & it is that action of God, c Tit. 3. 4, 5, 6, 7. Rom. 3. 20. 24. 28. Phil 3 9. where by of his free grace, without our deserving, he d 2 Cor. 5. 19 Rom. 4. 5, 6. 7, 8. Mich. 7. 19. Jsa. 38. 17. jer 31. 34. reputes and pronounces us to be righteous, as if we had never sinned: and that for the obedience and righteousness of e 2 Cor. 5 21. Rom. 5. 19. Phil 2. 8. Jsa. 53. 5. Christ, applied f joh 1. 12. Gal. 3. 14. Act. 26. 18. to us by Faith. Q. Then your meaning is, that a joh. 1. 12. Gal. 3. 14. Act. 16. 18, Rom. 3. 2. Rom. 5. 1. Phil 3. 9. Faith is the Instrument which taketh hold on Christs righteousness, whereby we are justified, b Rom. 5. 19. Rom. 3. 24. and that the whole merit and cause of our justification, is in the righteousness of Christ, c Rom. 3▪ 28. and not in the apprehension of our Faith A. So I do think, and steadfastly believe. Q. Why reckon you the Resurrection of of the body, amongst the gifts of God in Christ bestowed on his Church, seeing the wicked also shall rise in the last day? A. The resurrection of the wicked is no benefit to them; but the resurrection of 2 Cor. 5. 10. Joh. 5. 28. 29 Ro. 20. 12. 13 Acts 24. 15. the just, is an inestimable benefit to them. Q. Why is the resurrection of the wicked no benefit to them? A. Because they are not partakers of the first resurrection, which is from Reu. 20. 5. 6. sin, in this life. Q. What followeth thereupon? A. Hence it is, that in the second resurrection Mat. 25. Dan. 12. 2. they rise in sin, in shane, & sorrow; by the power of Christ being forced to get up, and present themselves before the angry judge of the world, to héere their sentence condemnatorie, and accordingly to be cast into hell, there to sustain the iudgement of everlasting fire. Q Why is the resurrection of the godly an inestimable benefit to them? A. Because in this life they are made Reu. 20. 6. partakers of the first resurrection; therefore in the world to come the second death shall haue no power over them. Q. How then do they rise, and to what end? A: They rise in righteousness, in Phil 3. 20. Mat. 13. 43. glory, and ioy, being quickened by the Spirit of Christ their head, to bee presented in the presence of their gracious Lord and saviour: that from his mouth they Mat. 25. 34. 2 Tim. 4. 8. may hear sentence of absolution pronounced vpon them, and accordingly may enter in full possession of life everlasting. Q What call you life everlasting? A. It is a Ep. 4. 18. 22. joh. 17. 2. John 5. 24. Col. 3. 10. 1 Cor. 1. 9. that life of God begun in my soul héere, & for ever b 2 Tim. 4. 8. 1 joh. 3. 2. Col. 3. 3. 4, Psal. 16. 11. Jsa. 60. 18. 19 Phil. 3. 21. 1 Cor. 2. 9. joh. 17. 2●. to be continued in perfect happiness of soul and body hereafter, when God shall be c 1 Cor. 1●▪ 28 all in all to me. Of particular assurance. Q do you beleeue that these foresaid benefits do belong to you in particular? A. Yea, by the grace of my God I do so believe: the Lord help my unbelief. Q. How are you assured that they belong Mar. 9. 24. to you in particular? A. I know by the gospel, a joh: 3. 16. that they belong to all that believe, and b 1 Cor. 4. 13 2 Cor. 2. 11. being privy to myself that I am one of those that believe, according as I confess in my Créede, c 2 Tim. 4. 8. why should I doubt, but these benefits do belong to me? Q. But is it of yourself that you believe these things? A. a Ephes. 2. 8. No, it is of the Holy Ghost; who therefore is called b 2 Cor. 4. 13 the Spirit of Faith, c Eph. 1. 13. Rom. 8. 15. Gal. 4. 6. the spirit of promise, the seal, and witness of God unto us, and the earnest of our inheritanes. Of the covenant. Q. By what means doth he work it in you? A. By the Word of God. Q. What call you the word of God? A. The Doctrine of the Prophets and 2 Pet. 1. 21. 1 Pet. 1. 25. Eph. 2. 20. Apostles, contained in the books of the old and new Testament. Q. Which is the chief subject or matter handled in the Word? A. The covenant. Heb. 8. 8. 9. 10. &c. Acts 3. 25. Q. What covenant? A. even that covenant of grace and peace, which the Lord God was graciously Gen. 3. 15. 2 Tim. 1. 9. 10 pleased to make with man, after man had broken that former covenant made with him in his Creation. Q. What do you call that first covenant which God made with man in the Creation? A. I do call it the covenant of Gen. 2. 16. 17. works, and of Nature. Q. Why do you call it so? A. Because in it God promised that Gal. 3, 12. man should live in happiness for ever, under condition that he should continue in the holy works of Gods perfect obedience according to the purity of his nature. Q. Is any man able to get life now by that first covenant made with Adam? A. None at all: for Adam by breaking Rom. 3. 20. Gal. 2. 16. Gal. 3. 11. 21. Rom. 8. 3. the condition of that covenant, not onely deprived himself, and us, of life promised in the covenant, but also made us unable to fulfil the condition thereof. Q. Why then doth God in his Law urge us with no less pain than his curse, to fulfil that impossible condition of perfect obedience to the Law? A. a Rom. 7. 7, 13. That the wickedness of sin may appear; b Rom. 3. 19. that every mouth may be stopped, all being declared to be guilty of the condemnation of God; c Rom. 10. 4. Gal. 3. 22. 23 and that every one of us may be urged to betake us to Christ, and to the covenant of grace Gal. 3. 22. 23. 24. made by him. Q. What is promised to us in the covenant of grace made in Christ? A. Remission of sins, righteousness, Heb. 8. 8, 9. 10. 11, 1●. Heb. 9. 12. 15 Joh. 3. 16. and life everlasting. Q. Under what condition is this promise made? A. under condition of Faith, and new obedience. joh. 13. 34. Joh. 15. 10 joh. 13. 17. Gal. 6. 16. 1 Tim. 1 19. Q. Why is it called the covenant of grace, seeing the promise in it is not made freely, but under a condition to be performed on our part? A. Because God not a Gen. 3. 15. Eph. 2. 7. 8, onely of his free grace made this covenant with man after his fall, b Tit. 2. 11. Isa 9. 6. 1 John 4. 9, John 4. 10. but also of the same grace giveth unto him Christ, c Heb. 9. 15. Jsai. 42. 6. the Mediator of the covenant, and d Phil. 1. 29. Ephes. 2. 8. faith in him, to fulfil the condition thereof. Q. Why is it called the covenant of peace? A. Because the end thereof, is peace Ephes. 2. 14. 2 Cor. 5. 18 19. and reconciliation with God. Q. Were the patriarchs, and Prophets of old saved by this covenant? A. They were: For Iesus Christ Reu. 13. 8. was a lamb slain from the beginning of the world. Q. Declare that more plainly? A. The death of Iesus was not onely Gal. 3. 8. John 8. 26. decreed from all eternity; but also was promised, was shadowed, and was effectual from the beginning of the world, to save them that believed the promise, and by faith did see his day. Q. Are we than the same way saved as they were? A. a Act 15. 11. 1 Cor. 10. 1, 2. 3, &c. certainly, b Heb. 13. 8. Mar. 16. 16. joh. 3 17. 18. for Iesus Christ, yesterday, to day, and for ever is the same: that is all men that ever were saved that now are saved, or hereafter shall be saved, had, haue, and shall haue salvation by Iesus Christ alone. Q. Then it appears there is no salvation unto man, but by believing the promise of this covenant of grace, which is the gospel? A. Nothing more certain. Acts 4. 12. Q. And what if a man seek salvation by the works of the law, and refuse to embrace the condition of this covenant? A. He is under the curse of the Law, Gal. 3. 10. Heb. 10. 26. John 3. 36. neither is there any sacrifice for his sin, but the wrath of God abides vpon him for ever. Of the Sacraments in general. Q This Doctrine stirs me up to seek strengthening of my faith, therefore, as you taught me whence, and by what means wee attain to faith; show me likewse, I pray you, by whom, and how it is confirmed? A. The Lord, a Heb. 12. 2. 1 Cor. 1. 8. who is the Author and finisher of our faith, b Rom. 1. 17 1 Pet. 2 1, 2, Act. 20. 3●. confirms it by the same word of the covenant, whereby it is wrought, c Rom. 4. 11. and by the Sacraments. Q. What call you the Sacraments? A. They are visible signs, and seals Gen. 17. 11. Rom. 4. 11. Mat. 28. 18. 1 Cor. 10. 16 of the gospel, or covenant of grace, ordained of God to confirm my faith in the promise thereof. Q. How do they confime your faith in the promise of the gospel? A. By receiving them as sure pledges Mat. 26. 26. 27. from God, that Christ crucified is given to me in particular, to be my saviour. Q. How many Sacraments be there? A. Two: baptism, and the Lords Mat. 28. 18. 1 Cor. 11. 23. 1 Cor. 10. 2, 3, 4, Supper. Of baptism: Q What is baptism? A. It is the Sacrament of a Rom. 6. 3. 4, 5. Col. 2. 12. my incorporation in Christ, b Eph. 5. 26. Joh. 1. 33. Act. 9. 36. 38. by dipping, washing, or sprinkling with water, c Act. 22. 16. sealing up my spiritual washing from sin, in his d 1 joh. 1. 7. blood, and e joh. 3. 5. Spirit. Q. What understand you by your washing the blood of Christ? A. The remission of my sins in the Rom. 5. 9: Rom. 6. 3. Gal. 3. 27. merit of his blood. Q▪ What understand you by your washing in the Spirit of Christ? A. The renovation of my heart by John 3. 5. Tit. 3. 5. Mat. 3. 11. the virtue of his Spirit. Q. When you think your baptism Gods seal to you, whereby your faith is further confirmed in the remission of your sins, and your heart is more deeply marked with the print of Sanctification? A. Albeit I could not know that Rom. 4. 11. Tit. 3. 5 1 Cor. 9. 2. when I was baptized, being an infant, yet now, through the grace of my God, I feel not onely my faith further confirmed, but my heart also further renewed, in consideration of my baptism. Q. And why are the children of Christians Baptized? A. Because the promise of the covenant Mat. 19. 14▪ 15 1 Cor. 7. 14. Col. 2. 11. 12. belongs to them, and their children. Of the Lords Supper. Q. What is the Lords Supper? A. It is the Sacrament of my spiriall Joh. 6. 50 5● Eph. 4. 13. 1●. nourishment, and further growth in Christ. Q How doth the Lords Supper confirm your faith in the promise of the covenant? A. Being thereby assured, that as my 1 Cor 10, 16 Joh. 6. 50. 51 53. joh. 6. 35 & 47 body liveth feedeth, and groweth by meat and drink, so my soul liveth, feedeth, & increaseth on, and by Iesus Christ, who died for me, that I might live. Q. Which are the external signs in the Sacrament of the Supper? A. The signs are; first, the elements 1 Cor. 11. 23. 24. &c. of bread and wine, next, the sacramental rites and actions; which are, breaking, powring, giuing, taking, eating, drinking. Q. What is represented, and sealed, by these elements, and actions. A. Iesus Christ, his sufferings, and 1 Cor. 10. 16. 1 Cor. 11. 24 benefits, together with our communion with him, his sufferings, and benefits. Q. What then are the bread and wine in the Sacrament? A. They are the body and blood of the Lord. Q. Are the bread and wine changed in the Lords body and blood? A. No; for the Sacrament changes 1 Cor. 11. 28 their use, but not their substance. Q. Yet they are verily his body and blood? A. I believe them verily so to bee, because Joh. 14. 6. Christ, who is the verity itself, hath said it. Q. As you are surely persuaded that they are his body and blood, are you also resolved how they are his body and blood? A. That is a mystery, wherein I do 1 Cor. 4. 6. not crave to bee wise above that which is written; but, so far as I am taught by the word, I believe them so to bee called, because by them the Lords body and blood are not onely represented and offered, but John 3. 36. also truly given to the true beléeuer. Q. Hence it must follow, that we eat his body, and drink his blood by believing assuredly, that his body was broken, and his blood was shed for us? A. certainly: For this Sacrament is the communion of the body and blood of 1 Cor. 10. 16 Eph. 3. 16. 1 Cor. 6. 17. 1 joh. 3. 24. 1 John 4. 13 John 1. 12. Joh. 6. 61. 63. Gal. 3. 14. Act. 26. 18. Christ, & as our whole communion with Christ is spiritual, not carnal; so wee receive him, we eat his body, and drink his blood, not carnally, but spiritually, and by faith. Q▪ You haue satisfied me concerning the elements, now show me touching the sacramental actions, and first, what is the breaking of the bread, and powring out of the wine? A. The breaking and powring represent 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. Mat. 26. 28. Js. 53. 5. 10. the sufferings of the Lord, and the benefits procured by his suffering; for those two cannot be separated. Q. What imports the giuing, taking, eating, and drinking? A. Those be signs, and seals whereby the holy Ghost represents and applies joh. 3. 16. Gal. 2. 20. John 1. 12. Gal. 3. 14. Act. 26. 18. joh. 6. 47. 48 Christ, his sufferings, and benefits to the believing receiver. Q. Is it requisite that we distinctly consider all these mystical actions, when we receive? A. Yes verily, if we would haue our 1 Cor. 11. 29 Rom. 4. 11. knowledge made more clear, & our confidence made more sure. Q. How should wee be prepared when wee come to receive? A. We should come: first, with a Mat. 3. 2. Zach. 12, 10. repentance, mourning for our sins that procured the Lords death: Secondly, with b Act ●. 36. 37. faith, believing the remission of our sins in the Lords death: Thirdly, with love c Mat. 5. 24. being reconciled to them that wee haue offended, d Eph. 4. 32. Col. 3. 13. and freely forgiving them that haue offended us, even as God for Christ sake hath freely forgiven vs. Q What if a man communicate, being voided of repentance, faith, and love? A. He eateth and drinketh unworthily, to his own damnation; and is guilty of 1 Cor. 11. 27. 30. the body and blood of the Lord. Q. Should those, who in their lives are manifestly wicked, bee admitted unto the holy Communion? A. a Mat. 7. 6. lieu. 10. 10. Num. 5. 2, 3, 1 Cor. 10. 21 By no means: For so b 1 Cor. 11. 27. Isa 66. 3. Psal. 50. 16. Mal. 1. 7, the covenant of God is profaned, & the c 1 Cor. 11. 30. wrath of God is kindled against the whole congregation: Therefore d Mat. 18. 17 the Church using the keys of the Kingdom of heaven, according to the command of Christ and his Apostles, should hold such a man back from the Sacrament, unto e 2 Cor. 2. 7, 8. the time he repent and amend his life. Q. But, if after trial, a man find in himself a very great measure of sin, and a very small measure of grace, may he come to the Lords Table without danger? A. Yea, and a Mat. 11. 28 Mat. 9. 12. Luk. 14. 21. with great profit, if he be deeply displeased for his sinful imperfections, and ardently b Mat. 5. 6. thirst for a further measure of perfection in Iesus Christ. The second Part, Of good works. Q. IN the beginning you said; that true Religion consisted in Faith and good works; therefore, having spoken of Faith, show me which be those you call Good works? A. These I call good works, which Act. 15. 9. 1 Tim. 1 5. Heb. 11. 6. are done in faith, to the glory of Gods name, according to his command. Q▪ Why must they bee done to the glory of Gods name? A. Because howsoever wee must do good works, a Jam. 2. 18. 1 Joh. 1. 6▪ 7, to testify our faith in God, b Psa. 116. 12 13. to testify our thankfulness to God, c 2 Per. 1. 10 to make our election sure, d 1 Pet. 3. 1. and to winue others by our good example; e 1 Cor. 10. 31. Col. 3. 17: yet in al these our chief purpose should be, that we may glorify God in all. Q Why must they bee done according to Gods command? A. Because God accepteth no service of us, howsoever right in our eyes, but Deu 12. 8. 14 Deut. 4. 2 Mat. 15. 9. that which is warranted by his Law and Commandements. Of the moral Law. Q Which is that Law of God, whereby our actions must be warranted and ruled? A. The moral Law, set down in the Exod. 20. 1. Deut. 5 6. 20. of Exodus. And God spake all these words, &c. Q. How is this Law divided? A. In two Tables. Deu. 10. 2, 3. Q. What contains the first Table? A. In four Commandements, it prescribs 2 Pet. 1. ●, 7. 1 Tim. 4 7. Mich. 6. 8. al the dutis we owe to God, which are properly called the works of piety. Q. Which are these works of piety? A. 1. That wee worship God alone: 2. According to his word, not our will: 3. That we think and speak reverently of him, his titles, word, & works: 4. And that wee separate ourselves on the Sabbath for his public worship. Q. Which is the sum of these four precepts, and duties of piety? A Thou shalt love the Lord thy God Mat. 22. 37. 1 Tim. 1. 5. with all thy mind, with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with thy whole strength. Q. What contains the second Table? A. In six Commandements it prescribes 2 Pet. 1. 3, 7. Rom. 13. 9. all the duties wee owe to men, which are usually called the works of charity. Q. Which be these? A. That wee strive by all means to advance our Neighbours 1. Estate, 2. Person, 3. chastity, 4. Goods, 5. Name, 6. And that we do not so much as think an evil thought, albeit without consent of the will, against our Neighbour his estate, person, chastity, goods, or name. Q. Which is the sum of these six precepts, and duties of charity? A. Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thyself: or, do to him as thou wouldst haue him do to thee. Of the spiritual power, and perfection of the Law. Q: Which are the essential properties of this Law, necessary to be known of us? A. even these whereby it excels all Rom. 7. 14. Psal. 19. 7. Psal. 119. 96. laws of earthly Kings; to wit, that it is spiritual, and perfect. Q. Why call you it spiritual? A. Because it reacheth to the soul and Heb. 4. 12. 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5 all the powers thereof. Q How so? A. It chargeth the a Isa. 1. 3. jer. 4. 22. understanding to know every duty: it chargeth the b Rom. 2. 18. 19. 1 Cor. 10. 15 Heb. 5. 14. iudgment to discern betwixt good and evil, the c Exo. 20. 8. Eccl. 12. 1 memory to retain, the d Deu 30. 19 Ios. 24. 15. 1 Thes. 5. 20. will to choose what is better, and leave what is worse, e Psal. 45. 7. and the affections to love good, and hate evil. Q Why call you it perfect. A. Because it chargeth not onely the soul, f Mat. 22. 37. 39. but the whole soul: not onely to know, discern, retain, will, and follow good, but also to do the same g Jam. 2. 10. perfectly: h Phil 4. 8. and because as it commands all good, so it i Rom. 7. 7. condemns all evil. Q. Yet all the Commandements, except the fourth, & fift, appears only to forbid evil? A. even these under the evil forbidden expressly, k Mat. 5. 28. job. 31. 1. forbids not onely the occasions therof, but also l Deut. 6. 13. Eph. 4. 25. 28. 1 Pet. 3. 9. 11. commands the good contrary thereto. Of Mans inability to fulfil the Law. Q Is any man able perfectly to keep that so strict and perfect Law? A. No, m Gal. 3. 22. Prou. 24. 16. not one. Q. Why so? A. Because even n Rom. 7. 23 Gal. 5. 17. in those that haue attained greatest measure of Sanctification, the flesh fighteth against the spirit. Q. How far prevails it by fighting? A. So far o Rom. 7. 19. that it either hinders the good works we would do, or at least p Iam. 4. 3. stains them with some sinful imperfection. Of the use of the Law. Q. Then it appears we cannot be justified, or live by the Law? A. That is most certain: for the Law is Rom. 3. 20. 18. Gal. 3. 10. 11 Act. 13. 39. sealed up with this threatening; Cursed be every man that abideth not in every thing that is written in the Law, to do it. Q. Then apparently the Law is able to condemn us? A. As it cannot justify us, a Rom. 8. 3. because we cannot fulfil it, so b Rom. 8 1. neither can it condemn us, because wee are in Christ, c Gal. 4. 4, 5, Mat. 3. 15. Gal. 3. 13. who for us hath fulfilled it. Q To what use serves the Law then? A. It serves for two uses: First, it Gal. 3 22, 23 24. Act. 13. 39. Rom. 10. 4. Act. 4. 12. prepares us for the gospel, urging us to betake us to Christ, & to seek life in him, where onely it is to be found. Q. How doth it that? A. By humbling us under the sense Gal. 3. 10. 11. Act. 2. 27. 2●. of sin, and the fear of Gods curse for sin. Q. What is the second use of the Law? A. When I haue found life in Christ 1 Tim. 1. 9. Tit. 2. 11. 1 〈◇〉. 2. 24. Col. 1. 21. Ephes 1. 4. ● joh. 3. 3, by the gospel, the Law serves to be the rule of my conversation in thankfulness towards my Lord, for his diamond mercies. Q How can God accept of your works, which you study to frame according to that rule, they being but imperfectly good? A. My person and works be acceptable Rom 12. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 5. 1 Joh. 2. 1. Psal. 32. 1. to God in Iesus Christ, by whose perfect obedience the imperfections both of my Person and works are covered and pardonned. Q. But when shall wee and our works be altogether agreeable unto the Law? A. When our Sanctification shall be 2 Pet. 3. 13. Reu. 21. 4. 27. perfected, in the life to come. Q What must we do in the mean time, while we attain to that blessed estate? A. we must continually strive to 1 Thes. 4. ● 10. Phil. 3. 12. 13 14. 15. 1 Tim. 4. 7. perfection, by exercising ourselves in all manner of good works; especially in Repentance, and Prayer. Of Repentance. Q. What is Repentance? A. It is our turning from darkness Act. 26. 18. Hos. 14. 2. to light, and from the power of satan unto God. Q. Are wee able to turn to God of ourselves? A. No, our conversion is Gods work, Act. 5. 31. Act. 11. 18. and gift. Q. Why then do you reckon it amongst our good works? A. First, the Lord of his grace turns jer. 31. 18. 19▪ us; then, we assisted by the same grace, as working with God, do turn and repent. Q. By what means doth the Lord work our conversion? A. By the preaching of the Law, and Luk. 24. 47▪ gospel. Q. Which are the Parts of Repentance? A. The mortification of the old man, Eph. 4. ●2. 2● 2●. and the quickening of the new man. Q. Wherein stands the mortification of the old man? A. It stands in a godly sorrow for ● Cor. 7. 10. Rom. 6. 6. Iud. 23. Col. 3. 8. 9. offending God, and in a detesting and flying of sin. Q. Wherein stands the quickening of the new man? A. It stands in a ioy unspeakable, arising Rom. 5. 1: Job 19. 23, 24. 25. Rom. 6. 4. of the sense of Gods mercy in Christ, and in an ardent study of newness of life. Q. By what special mean are wee kept in the way of Repentance? A. By earnest, and continual Prayer. Mat. 26. 41. Iam. 5. 16. Luk. 18. 1. Of Prayer. Q. What is Prayer? A. It is a calling a Psa. 50. 15 vpon God, in the b joh. 14. 6. 14. name of Christ, for c Psal. 33. 1. 12. such things as concern Gods glory, and our necessity. Q. Why is it not lawful to pray to Creatures, as to Saints glorified, and Angels? A. Because God hath commanded us Mat. 4. 10. Rom. 10. 14. to worship himself alone. Q. Why should we pray onely in the name of Christ? A. Because he is our onely Mediator 1 Tim. 2. 5. joh. 14. 6. and intercessor, and none cometh to the Father but by him. Q. How should wee Pray? A. According to that perfect pattern of prayer, which our Lord himself taught Luk. 11. 2. his Disciples: saying, When you pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, &c. Q In how many parts do you divide this Prayer? A. In three parts: In a Preface, six petitions, and a conclusion. Q Which is the Preface? A. Our Father which art in heaven. Q. What are we taught by this Preface? A. Thereby wee are taught to come to God, both with boldness, because he Heb. 4. 16. Eccle. 4. 17, is our Father; and reverence, because his majesty filleth the heauens. Q. What crave wee in the first three Petitions? A. we crave things directly belonging to Gods glory: As namely 1. that his glory may bee advanced, 2. by the coming of the kingdom of Christ, 3. and by our ready obedience to our King. Q. What crave we in the last three Petitions? A. we crave things belonging to our own necessity 4. both temporal, for this present life, as bread; and 5. spiritual for the life to come, as remission of sin already committed: 6. & strength against temptations, that wee may stand fast in time to come. Q. what contains the conclusion? A. A reason of our Petitions, taken from the kingdom, Power, and Glory of God: and a seal of our desire and assurance to obtain, in the word, Amen. Q. what imports the word, Amen? A. It signifies either( So be it) as a note of desire, or( so it is) as a note of assurance, teaching us to pray both with desire, and confidence to obtain. Q. How shall wee haue confidence to obtain our desire? A. By leaning to the promise of God, Mat. 7. 8. Joh. 14. 13. 14. certifying us, that whatsoever wee ask of him in the name of Christ, it shall be given unto vs. Q. having spoken of Faith, and of good works in general, and in particular of repentance and prayer, now in the end show me what is the fruit of this your Religion? A. The fruit and end of this my Religion, 2 Thes. 1. 11. 12. is the glory of my God in the everlasting salvation of my soul, through Iesus Christ my Lord, to whom bee glory and praise for ever, Amen. Instructions for worthy receiving of the Lords Supper. THe Lord commandeth his people Israel,( Exo. 12.) to eat the paschal lamb with bitter herbs, and unleavened bread, having their shoes on their feet, their staues in their hands, and their loins girded up, as ready prepared, to take journey out of Egypt to Canan. In the which institution, they were instructed, to consider the time bypassed, their present disposition, & their resolution for the time to come. In respect of the time by-gone, they were to eat their lamb with bitter herbs; to put them in remembrance of their bitter captivity, & servitude in Egypt. In respect of the time present, al they that did eat were circumcised, and all leaven was removed; to show that all Gods sealed people, they must presently depart, not having space nor leisure to leaven their bread. And as for the time to come, they must bee resolved instantly to leave Egypt, and take theit journey to Canaan. Now Christ our Passeouer is sacrificed for us, and who would worthily eat this Passeouer, must of necessity consider these same things; His bypassed life, his present disposition, and his resolution for the time to come. First, if thou wilt run the back, tread of thy life, and remember what thou hast been, and what thou hast done; questionless thou shalt find much occasion of bitter mourning. When thou seest thy many & great offences, what in thought, what in word, what in dead; what of omission, what of commission; what of ignorance, what of knowledge: in remembrance of this thy vile servitude, in the Egyptian darkness of sin, and ignorance, under that spiritual pharaoh, prepare to thyself the bitter herbs of remorse and sorrow; that therewith thou may eat thy Passeouer. For the better effectuating hereof, examine the bypassed time of thy life, according to all the commandements, and finding thy sins to bee many and grievous, and thy God to be very angry with thee, and all the curses of the Law justly to belong unto thee for them, with grief of heart, and contrition of Spirit, Pray in this form, or sense. A Prayer. O Lord, to fulfil the commandements of thy law is impossible, to sustain the curse of thy law is intolerable. And I, alas, miserable wretch, haue broken all thy commandements, yea, and many of them witting, and willingly: therefore as a seruant knowing his Masters will, & not doing it, I deserve to be beaten with many stripes: if one transgression of one commandement deserves thy fearful curse, O what a burden of wrath haue I drawn on my silly soul, by my infinite transgressions? But what shall I do, Lord? shall I drown my soul in the deepest gulf of desperation? No good Lord, thy Word is my comfort; there thou calls them unto thee that are weary and loaden, promising to ease them, to refresh them, to release them. Lift up thy head, O my soul, and taste of the sweetness of this consolation; the Lord calls on thee, promises to relieve thee and to refresh thee; for thy Lord sees thee not onely burdened with thy sins, but also weary of thy burden. Thou bids me come, O Lord; behold here am I ready at thy gracious call: but how shall I come to thee, except thou draw me? draw me, O Lord, and I shall follow thee: the burden of my sins, more heavy then a mountain, so bears me down, that I cannot stir one foot towards thee, till thou put under thy hand and free me of my loading. And if I might creep to thée-ward under it, how durst I present myself before thee in my sins? should I not be consumed as stubble before the fire? Lord I do believe thy own testimony, thou so lovedst the world, that thou gave thy only son for the world, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but haue eternal life: Lord I believe in him, keep thy promise to me, let me not perish as I deserve; but give me life, that my poor soul may live by thee, in thee, and with thee: through Iesus Christ my blessed Lord and saviour, Amen. Secondly, wee must consider the time present, how wee are, and how we eat; we must take heed both to the disposition of our person, and to the manner of our eating; all they that did eat the passover, were circumcised, and did eat with unleavened bread. So must we be, so must we do; except we be circumcised in our hearts, wee can haue no fellowship with Iesus Christ: if any man bee in him, he must be a new Creature, for he that hath not the Spirit of Christ, the same is not his. Ahimelech would not give of the show bread to david his seruants, till he understood that the young man were sanctified; but here is a more holy bread then that: here is the Bread of Life, which was sent down from heaven, to give life unto the World: No man, says our saviour, putteth new wine in old vessels; this is new wine, this is the Lords blood of the new covenant. See therefore that the vessel of thy soul be not geisned, for then it will run out; see it be not foisted, for then it will turn this wholesome medicine into poison. Thus touching the disposition of thy person. Next, for the manner of thy eating, thou must eat thy passover with unleavened bread. The Israelites did put all leaven out of their houses; thou must search the corners of thy heart, and cast forth all sorts of leaven. First, cast out the leaven of the pharisees, that is, false opinions; next, cast forth the leaven of malice, that is, foul affections: a little leaven will leaven the whole mass. One false opinion in the grounds of Religion, as that of transubstantiation; one soul affection, as hypocrisy or malice will make all thy service unprofitable, yea, abominable. Therefore that thou mayest be holy both in thy person and carriage, as becometh one that banquets with the Lord at his Table; put up thy humble suite unto the Lord, in this manner, or sense. O Lord, thou wilt bee sanctified in all them that approach unto thee, yea, without sanctification none can see thee: therefore, good Lord, sanctify my heart, that I may draw near unto thee; sanctify my mind, that I may see thee; circumcise the foreskin of my heart, remove from me all leaven of ignorance, of malice, and hypocrisy; that I may eat my Passeouer, even the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, with the unleavened bread of truth, of love, and sincerity: that in the strength of that heavenly food, my soul may grow in faith, in hope, in patience, and all spiritual graces; to the glory of thy great Name, and the salvation of my poor soul, through Iesus Christ, my blessed Lord and saviour, Amen. In the third place, take good heed to thy Resolution, in respect of the time to come; in regard whereof, thy feet must be shod with the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace; the staff of Gods promises must bee in thy hand, to sustain thee in thy journey; & thy loins must be girded up with the girdle of verity, to make thee expedite for thy journey. Thus thou must be ready prepared and resolved, to take thy journey out of Egypt, to thy promised Canaan. Thou must resolve to make no longer stay in Egypt, to serve satan that spiritual pharaoh there: for it is toomuch, and more then toomuch, that thou hast misspent any part of thy bypassed life, in that filthy and miserable servitude. Now must thou make a covenant with thy eyes, that they behold no vanity; with thy hart, that it follow not the ways of thy eyes; and with thy feet, that they neither stand, nor walk in the way of the wicked. That thou may attain hereto, pray as after followeth. alas, Lord, I haue been a great sinner in times past, and woe is me that I haue so long continued in a sinful course of life, to the great offence of thy majesty: Now am I resolved by thy grace to take up a new course, to make no longer stay in Egypt, to serve sin and satan no longer, but to go from strength to strength, till I come to the Land of promise: only Lord, as thou hast given me a heart to resolve, so grant me grace and power to perform; for it is thou alone that workest both the will and the deed, through the effectual power of the Spirit of Iesus Christ my Lord, to whom be glory for ever, Amen. A Prayer to be said immediately before the receiving. MY heart is prepared, O God, my heart is prepared; my lamp is dressed and trimmed, that I may meet my saviour, who is graciously pleased to call me to the wedding. But alas, neither is the preparation of my heart, nor the cléernesse of my lamp, nor the measure of my oil answerable to that that thou requirest, or to that that I desire: Yet thou, O merciful God, that quenchest not the smoking, flax, and breakest not the bruised reed; for Iesus Christs sake, accept, I humbly beseech thee, of these small beginnings of grace, as of the first fruits of thy own Spirit: and when it shall please thy goodness to enlarge my heart, and to bestow vpon me a larger measure of grace, I vow to offer up unto thee a fatter Sacrifice. In the mean time according to thy gracious promise, accept of the will for the deed, and let me be acceptable, not for that that I haue not, but for that that I haue. I presently sacrifice my soul, my body, my affections, my words and actions, my goods and all to thee, promising and vowing henceforth to bestow myself and all that I haue on thee and thy glory, because thou hast bestowed thy onely and well beloved Son on me and my salvation. Onely Lord, as thou hast given me a heart to promise, so give me also help for to perform, for Iesus Christ thy sons sake. Amen. thanksgiving, and Prayer after the Communion. WHat shall I render unto thee, O Lord, for all thy benefits towards me? for giuing thy son to die for me? for covering my shameful nakedness with his glorious righteousness; for healing my wounded soul with his stripes; for giuing his flesh to me for meate, for giuing his blood to me for drink? What can I render, O Lord, for thy unspeakable love toward me? If Nathans poor man loved his sheep well, that he fed with his own bread and water.( 2 Sam. 12. 3.) O what a love hath my good shepherd born to me his silly lost sheep, which he feedeth with his own flesh and blood? What then shall I render, O Lord? surely I shall love thee, who hast loved me, and washed me from my sins in the blood of thy son; surely I shall praise thy goodness so long as I live; surely I shall henceforth live to thee, who hast given thy son to die for me. Here I renounce myself, my own wit, my own will, my own affections. Here I consecrate and sacrifice myself, and all that is in me or belongs unto me, to thee my God, and to the glory of thy Name. O Lord, in token of thy acceptation of my offering, kindle thou it with a coal from thy Altar, that it may smell sweetly in thy presence. Lord suffer not my soul again to go a whoring from thee, after any thing beside thee: let me fear none but thee; love none but thee; delight in none beside thee. Be thou always at my right hand, that I fall not, and that I may rise when I fall. As I haue received Christ Iesus my Lord this day, so make me walk in him from henceforth even for ever. Lord make me always feel the powerful effects of his presence: I know my Lord is not idle in the heart where he dwelleth. If the bones of a dead Prophet could revive a dead carcase,( 2 King. 13. 21.) shall not the lively Spirit of Iesus, quicken the hart wherein he remaineth? O Lord thou blessedst the house of Obed-Edom, because of the presence of thy ark;( 2 Sam. 6. 11.) much more then shalt thou bless my soul, because of the presence of thy son. The poor Woman with the bloody issue was cured, not by touching the hem of his Garment; but because shée touched him by faith, therfore she drew virtue out of him, & was made whole:( Mar. 5. 28.) Lord Iesus my blessed saviour, it is not the participation of these earthy elements, which are but as it were the hem of thy Garment, that will staunch the bloody issue of sin in my soul; if my soul hath touched thee by faith, it hath drawn virtue out of thee. Let me know, Lord, by thy virtue curing the bloody issue of my soul, that by Faith I haue touched thee. My Lord, thou art the Bread of Life, let me feel thee living in my soul, that thereby I may know that I haue truly eaten of that bread: Lord let me feel the power of that Spirit of life, which is in thee, quickening my soul to eternal life, and mortifying sin in my soul. As thou, O Lord, this day hast renewed thy covenant with me, so here I vow unto thee amendment and newness of life: Onely, Lord, as by a holy resolution, thou hast entred me this day in a good course, so give me grace to persevere therein unto the end, that I return not as a dog to my vomit; or, as a sow that is washed, to wallow in the mire of my filthiness. O Lord, make me at all times hereafter to bemoue, to distaste, and abhor my former iniquities; knowing that the unclean spirit, if ever he can get into my soul again, after that it is swept and garnished, he will enter with seven other divels worse then himself; and my end shall bee worse then my beginning. Onely thou, O Lord, the stronger man, who hast disarmed that strong armed man, and thrust him out of his possession, thou onely canst hold him out, and keep my soul, thy darling, to thyself. Thou therefore, my sweet saviour, who art the Author and finisher of my faith, who givest not onely to will, but also to perform; accomplish thy good work in me, which thou of thy goodness hast begun, to the glory of thy blessed name, and the salvation of my poor soul, Amen. Morning Prayer for a Family. OH Lord our God, let our Prayers ascend into thy presence like sweet incense, and in the name of Christ let this our morning sacrifice of thanksgiving, bee acceptable unto thee. Great cause haue wee to praise thee, O God; for thy mercies towards us in number pass our reckoning, and in greatness surmount our estunation; and wee poor Creatures are less then the least of them. We bless thy holy Name, for making us to thy Image, when we were flight, for redeeming us with the precious blood of thy beloved son, when wee were worse then nought; for revealing unto us that great redemption in thy blessed gospel, and for making us partakers of the salvation of the gospel by thy holy Spirit, Wee yield thee hearty thanks also for all thy temporal benefits, for giuing unto us food, raiment, health, and peace. O Lord, the current of thy compassions doth never fail towards us, but thy mercies are renewed every morning; whereas this last night, thou mightest haue suddenly surprised us by death, and brought us to iudgement, because of our manifold offences against thy holy majesty: thou hast not onely mercifully spared us, but hast also given us quiet rest, and brought us to the light of this day. O Lord, thou art a gracious God, slow to anger, and rich in mercy; and the more blessings thou bestowest vpon us, the more bent are we to beg for further: therfore as thou hast raised our bodies from sleep, so be thou graciously pleased, to raise our souls from sin and security; and as thou hast made the light of the day to shine on our bodily eyes, so let the light of thy Word and Spirit illuminate the eyes of our understanding, that we as the children of Light, may walk in all thy holy commandements this day. O Lord let thy gracious presence accompany us, that we this day may keep faith and a good conscience towards thee, and towards all men, in all our thoughts, our words, and deeds. O Lord, bless us; bless all our purposes and actions, which wee shall take in hand, that they may tend to thy glory, to the good of others, and to the comfort of our own souls, in that day when wee shall make our final accounts unto thee for them. O Lord, thou knowest how many snares Satan lays for us to entrap us, when we resolve to walk in thy ways: Therefore, O God, bee thou not far from us: let thy favour compass us as a shield; give thy Angels charge over us, to guide us in all our ways, that we may be saved from the malice and cruelty of that evil one. Into thy hand, O Lord, we do commend our souls, our bodies, our affairs, and all that we haue, to bee guided by thy grace, and guarded by thy power. Lord, thou art a faithful Creator, and wilt suffer nothing to take harm that is committed into thy tuition and custody. Therefore our very souls do rest and repose in the assurance of thy merciful protection. Good Lord, mortify the old man more and more in us; give and increase in us, faith, hope, love, humility, patience, meekness, chastity and all other Christian virtues. turn our hearts from the love of earthly things, & set them on things that are above, where Christ is at thy right hand. Furnish unto us solid comfort in all our tribulations, and in thy strength at last let us be victorious over all temptations whatsoever: make us spend this life in purity, and end it in peace, that we in the last day may rise in ioy to life everlasting, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Gracious God be merciful to thy whole Church and chosen Children, wheresoever they bee vpon the face of the earth: defend them from the rage and tyranny of the divell, the world, and Antichrist: give thy gospel free passage through the World, for the gathering of thy Saints, and the conversion of al those that belong to thy Election and kingdom: bless the Churches & kingdoms wherein wee live, with continuance of Iustice, Peace, and true Religion. Defend the Kings M. from all his enemies; grant him a long life, in health, and happiness to reign over vs. bless the hopeful Prince Charles, Prince Palatine of the rhine, the virtuous Lady Elizabeth, his wife, and their progeny. Grant that all Magistrates and Subiects, husbands & wives, fathers and children, masters and seruants, may faithfully do their duty, and thy will. Lord continue the light of thy glorious gospel, with us and our posterity: increase the number of the faithful Preachers of thy Word; and open thou the hearts of their hearers, that they may believe and obey the same unto salvation. Lord wee commend unto thee all our kinsmen and acquaintance, all our friends and benefactors: recompense abundantly unto them all the good they haue done. Let our ways please thee, O Lord, that all our enemies may bee at peace with vs. Comfort the comfortless, bee near all them that call vpon thy Name. Hasten thy coming, our blessed saviour, & make us ready with the oil of grace and faith in our lamps to meet thee our sweet bridegroom at thy coming. These and all other things thou knowest to be needful, we beg at thy hands for ourselves, and all thy Saints on earth, in the name of thy beloved Son, our blessed saviour Iesus Christ, according to that most perfect form of prayer, which he hath taught us: Our Father which art in heaven, &c. evening Prayer for a Family. O Lord God, who art infinite both in might and mercy, in greatness and goodness: we thank thee from the very bottom of our hearts, for mightily and mercifully protecting us from our mothers womb, to this present hour: And we beseech thee, howsoever this day we haue sinned against thee, by the deceit of the flesh, the evil example of the world, or the slight of Satan; in thought, word, or deed; in omitting of good, or committing of evil; of ignorance, or knowledge; let it please thy majesty graciously to forgive us, in the blood of Iesus Christ. Good Lord, let not our iniquities separate betwixt us and thy favour, or spoil us of thy fatherly protection: But under the coverture of the wings of thy merciful safeguard, let us rest this night free from all dangers of body and soul; that to morrow we may rise in safety to praise thy name, and may serve thee with ready mindes, with pure hearts, and chast bodies, in true ioy and hearty thanksgiving: through Iesus Christ our Lord: in whose name we humbly beg these, and all other blessings thou knowest to bee expedient for us, and all thy chosen children on the earth, in that perfect form of Prayer, which he hath taught us: Our Father which art in heaven, &c. FINIS.