The Grounds of Religion necessary to be known of every one that may be admitted to the Supper of the Lord. (⸫) Plainly set down in Questions & Answers, by M. DUDLEY FENNER, Preacher of the word of God, in Midlebrugh. 1587. AT MIDLEBRUGH Imprinted by Richard Schilders. Those grounds of Religion, which are necessary to be known of every one that may be admitted to the Supper of the Lord. QUESTION. Of God. WHat is God? ANSWER. He is a. john 4.24 a Spirit, b. Exo. 3.14. jam. 1.17. 1. joh. 1.1.5 and 4.16. Esay. 43.12. jere. 4.25. job. 36.5. and 37.22. Nah. 1.2.3. Hab. 3.3 4 5 Gen. 1.31. Psal. 145.17 who hath no qualities or shadow of change in him, but whose very being is most mighty, most just, most merercifull, and therefore hath made all things good, and governed all things well, Qv. What is the blessed Trinity? AN. Three c. Hag. 2.5, 6 1. john. 5.7. Math. 28.19 joh. 14.26. Gal. 4.6. 2 Cor. 13.13 persons distinguished by their proper difference, but not separated one from another, because every one of them is one and the same God: d. Pro. 8.22. Ioh 1.1.14 24 1 Cor. 8.6. The Father of none: e. Math 3.17 Luk. 2.49. The Son begotten of the Father before all beginnings: f joh. 15.26 john. 3.16. & 3.18. 1 joh. 4.9. Psalm 2.7. Heb. 1.5. Act 16.7. Rom. 8.9.11. Cor. 2.12. The Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father & the Son. Qv. Seeing we were g. Gen. 1.26 Eph 4.24. Col. 3.10. were all in Adam made good, according to God his image, how and in what sort are you corrupted? AN. By the h Eccle. 7.31. Rom. 5.13.14. willing fall of Adam, I with all men in his loins, The corrupt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 man. deserved to be a joh. ●. 25 Ephe 2.1. borne so dead in sin, as I can have no true seed or beginning of goodness in me, until both b. 〈…〉 3●. ●● 2. Cor. 3.3. my stony heart be taken away and a new heart be wholly given me of God, without whose especial grace (although I can by the common gift given to all men, understand, reason, will, and desire) yet I have no power to c. Gen. 6.5. & 8.21. incline or move any of these as I should do according to God his will. Q. In what case stand you by means of this corruption? AN. I am the d. Ep. 2.1.2 child of wrath and everlasting damnation. Qv. What doth the least sin, as every evil m●●●…n, or the not perfect co●●●●●ance in doing the whole Law of God deserve, both before and after faith? AN. That which the Apostle saith, e. Gal. 3.10. Cursed, that is, everlastingly condemned as he, that continueth not to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is written in the books of the Law. Qv. Then can we not be ●●●●…sled, that is, acqu●●●…ed before God ●is judgement seat, by those ●●od works, which proceed from faith? AN. No: for the most worthy obedience of Abraham, coming from his faith, did not justify him, but only f. Rom. 4.3.4.5. his faith which was accounted to him for righteousness: And if the Lord will mark what is done amiss by his righteous servant, Psa. 130.3. and 143.2. who can abide it? Qv. How are we then acquitted before God his judgement seat? The restoration of man in Christ. AN Only by the imputation of Christ his death & obedience, a. Gal. 3.13. 2. Cor. 5.21. isaiah. 53.3.4. who was made a curse to redeem the elect from the curse of the law, who knowing no sin, was made sin for the elect, that is, had all their sin so accounted to him, as that he might bear the punishment of it: to this end, that they might by the same way, be made God his righteousness in him, not in themselves. Qv. How can we be made partakers of this justification in Christ b. joh. 17.2.3 1. joh. 5.7. Rom. 1.31. and 9.5. after we know one God and three persons, the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost: and that Christ is perfect God and perfect man? AN. Only by c. 2 Tim. 1.3 Tit. 1.1. Gal. 3.26.27 Ephe. 3.17. the unfeigned faith of the elect, which is that faith, whereby we are able to receive Christ. Qv. How do ye know that ye have that faith? AN. By the true mark which the Apostle giveth, saying: d. 2 Cor. 13.5. Prove yourselves, whether ye be in the faith or no, whether Christ be in you or no. Qv. How may we know Christ to be in us? AN By the three e. 1. joh. 5.6.7. benefits wherewith he cometh unto us, blood, water, & spirit. Qv What is meant by Blood? AN. f. l. Pe. 1.2.3. Rom. 4.25. Act. 20.28. Our justification consisting in Christ his righteousness, & the forgiveness of sin by his bloud-sheadding. Qv. What is meant by Water? AN. Our g. Heb. 10.22 Tit. 2.11.12 sanctification, when the grace of God teacheth us to deny ungodliness, unrighteousness, and worldly lusts, to live godly, righteously, and soberly in this present world. Qv. How shall we know that we feel both this true mortifying or denying of sin, and true living to righteousness? AN. When both from a true h. 2. Co. 7.11 1. Pet. 4.2 sorrow according to God, for every thing we know forbidden of God (yea the least) as all light oaths, idle words, profitable lies, or vain actions, we feel a study to avoid the first motions to them, a clearing of ourselves from all suspicion of them, by annoying all appearance of evil, an indignation for all such things past, a fear, lest such things by our corruption should fall out again: a great desire to prevent them: a zeal against them, and a punishing of them by exercising all due authority which God hath given us against sin: as also a great study to spend all the rest of our time, not according to the will of men, but according to the will of God. Qv. What is meant by the Spirit? AN. That full assurance which the i. Gal. 4.6. Rom. 8.15.16. Ep. 1.13.14. and 4.30. 1. Pet. 1.5. Holy Ghost worketh in our hearts that we are God his children, whereby we are sealed unto the day of redemption, that is, fully assured that we shall be kept by the power of GOD through faith unto salvation. Qv. By what ordinary means is that true faith and that which followeth it, wrought in us? AN. By the preaching of the gospel. The means of the working, exercising, confirming, and increasing of faith, and the fruits of it. Ron 10.14 Qv. What is the cause that so many hear the preaching of the Gospel, yea do receive it wit● some * Ma. 13.20 21. Heb. 6.4.5. taste, joy, & understanding, and yet obtain not this faith and the fruit of it? AN. † Matt. 11.25.26. Luke. 11.34 Act. 13.48. Rom. 8.30. Ro 9.11.12 18.22.23. Eph. 1.4.5. 1. Thes. 5.9. 2. The. 2.13 1. Pet. 2.8. jud. 4. The cause is the unchangeable purpose of God from before all beginnings, wherein he hath (being moved only by his own holy will) appointed freely to choose some to Christ unto salvation through faith, for the praise of his rich grace: And justly to cast away others, when they should by their own default deserve the same. Now this foundation standeth sure, and hath this seal, that the Lord knoweth who are his: but for our own assurance, Let every one depart from iniquity which calleth on the name of jesus. Qv. What means beside the service of God at home, must we chiefly use, to exercise, confirm, and nourish this faith and the fruits thereof? AN. We must diligently use all the works of the public Ministry, which are prescribed of God, a. Act 2.42. Ro 12.5.6.7 1 Cor. 12.28 as prayer, doctrine, exhortation, the Sacraments, & communicating unto the poor. Qv. What is a Sacrament? AN. It is b. 1. Cor. 12.13. 1. Pet. 3.21. Rom. 4.11. a seal wherein by the outward and public works, respecting both the Minister & the Church, prescribed of God, and joined with the inward works answering unto them, is more (than in the word only preached) lively represented, and truly offered unto all, but assuredly applied to the true members of Christ only, Christ Jesus and the covenant of grace, fully ratified in him. For the lively representing they are called signs: for the effectual assuring and applying seals. Qv. What are the outward works? AN. They are c. Ma. 28.19. Act. 2.42 & 19.4.5. and 20.7. Ephe. 5.26. Act. 22. ●6. Ma 16.26.27 1. Co. 10.16 17. & 11.23 24.25.26. for the Minister, first to put apart the outward element or sign, by opening the institution and covenant of God, by praying and giving thanks. Secondly, to apply the same as is commanded. d. Lu. ●. 59. Act. 2.42. 1. Co. 10.16 17 & 11.22. For the people to join in hearing and prayer, and to have this sign so applied. e. 1 Co. 10.1 2.3 & 12.13 Now of Sacraments, there are only these two: Baptism, and the lords Supper. Qv. What is Baptism? AN. f. Mat, 3.11. Act. 22.16. 1. Pet. 3.21. Ro. 6.1. etc. The first Sacrament, wherein by the Ministers once washing with water, into the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, is more firmly applied, Christ his once engrafting of us into himself, for the washing of us by the holy Ghost, for our full justification and continual sanctification in his righteousness, death, burial, and his resurrection. Qv. What is the lords Supper? AN. g Matt. 26.26.27. 1 Co. 10.1.2.3.15.16.17. 1 Cor. 12. 1● The second Sacrament, wherein by the Minister his putting apart, his breaking pouring forth and giving of bread and wine, by the Churches receiving, eating & drinking of the same, the faithful have more fully applied their daily & more effectual receiving by faith, of the body and blood of Christ, for the spiritual nourishing of their souls in justification and sanctification unto eternal life. Qv. When we come to the Supper of the Lord, how must we prepare ourselves before, behave ourselves in the present work, and reap fruit by it continually after? AN. h Esa. 66.2. ● 1. Co. 11.28 31. & 10.1.2 2 Chr 30.19 ●. Cor. 13.5 Psa. 29.3.4. Ma. 5.23.24 Before we must try our saith and repentance, not only whether they be true, but also how we grow in them, what is the dullness and weakness of them, that we may the more fervently seek the quickening and strengthening of them in this Sacrament. In the present work, we must have i. 1. Cor. 10.16. with joh. 17 1.2.3. etc. in every outward action, the inward feeling of that which is signified by it, as in the putting apart of the bread and wine, we must feel more assuredly, that Christ's body & blood was put apart by his prayers, to be the food of our souls: k. Mark. 14.24. 1. Co. 11.24 isaiah. 5.3.5. by the breaking of the bread, and pouring forth of the wine, that his body was crucified. & his blood shed for us: by the giving and receiving l. 1. Co. 10.15.16 and 11 23.24.25. Mark. 14. 2●.23.24. of them, that his body & blood is presently more lively given unto us, and received by faith, m 1. Co. 10.2.3. 1. Co. 12.13. Mat. 14.22.23.24.25, 26 Psal. 26.7.8 by the eating & drinking, for the nourishing of our bodies, that our souls so joyfully feed on Christ by faith, as we are more fully assured of the forgiveness of all, especially particular sins, of greater grace to leave them, of eternal life in soul and body, as we do with heavenly consolation, sing praises unto God, for the redemption of the world. After, by the meditation hereof, n. Psa. 51.6. Can 2.5. 2. Co. 13.3.4.5. we must be strengthened in all temptations, which are against our iustifiction & sanctification. Th● means of ●ecoueringe a ●inner. Qv. What means are left to recover those sinners which are fallen into any sin known to man, whom the preaching of the word of itself doth not reform? AN. a. ●. Math. 18. ●5. 10. ● am. 5.16. ●9. Th●re are left for pivate offences (that is, such as are observed of us, and not otherwise notorious) private admonition: first by ourselves, and if that work not reformation, in the presence of one or two more. b. Mat. 18.16.17. 1. Thes. 5.12 Rom. 12.6.7.8. 1. Co. 12.28 Heb. 13.17. For public offences, (of which sort also are private offences where amendment followeth not the second degree of admonition, the same being declared to the governors of the same particular Church,) the rebukes and exhortations of the Ministers and Elders. If that work not amendment, c. 2. The. 3.14. 1. Co. 5.11. Luk. 6.22. Gen. 4.2.3.4 job. 42.7.8. jere. 36.5. Ma. 5.23.24 1. Co. 11.28 Nu 14.42.44 A marking of them out by separating them from the Communion. And last of all, if they amend not by that d. Ma. 18. 1● 1. Co. 5.1.7 3. etc. Gen. 17.14. levit. 7.25.26.27. Heb. 10.8. Num. 19.13 Gal. 5.12. 1. Tim. 1. 1● after orderly notifying it to the Church with the consent of the same, which is when no just exception is taken, Excommunication, or delivering to Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, & saving of the spirit in the day of the Lord: so that upon good tokens of repentance, and public confession, e. 2. Cor. 2.6.7.8. etc. he be received into the Church again. COLOS. 3.16. Let the word of God dwell plenteously in you with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing your own selves in Psalms & Hymns and spiritual Songs, singing with a grace in your heart to the Lord. FINIS.