A CANDLE LIGHTED AT THE LAMP OF SACRED SCRIPTURES. Or A Catechism containing all truths fundamental, and none but fundamentals. By Richard Bifield, Minister of God's word, and Pastor in Long Ditton. 2 Tim 3. 15. From a Ch●ld thou hast known the Holy Scripture●, which a●e able to m●k● th●e w●se to salua●io● 〈…〉 is i● Christ jesus. 〈◊〉; no● Argumen●o. Ambrose de Spir●●u sancto. l. 3. c. 11. I leave to the simplicity of Scripture, not the sub●●●●y of argument Imprinted at LONDON 1627. A Precept to Parents. These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deut. 6. 6. 7. To children and servants. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. 1 peter. 3. 15. TO THE CHILDREN AND youth of Long-Ditton, Kingston upon Thames, and East Molsey: Grace be unto you and peace, from him which was, and which is, & which is to come. LIttle children and youth, I am debtor to you als●, and am taught by john, 1 joh, 2 12, 13. the Disciple whom our Saviour loved: to pay this debt by writing. I Dedicate therefore this little book to you jointly: where in▪ you my little babes, may see the mercies of God in forgiving your sins for Christ's name sake; and may learn even in the milk to know, and knowing to call God Father. Wherein likewise you young men, may, as out of the Lords armoury, have weapons ready fitted to your hand & use, wherewith ye shall overcome that wicked one. And if ye receive by faith this doctrine, and let it abide in you, to love it to obey it, you shall increase your strength; and the better with stand future assaults, in all of them, being more than conquerors. For, in the first part, ye have orderly framed in words of Stripture, the whole body of divinity, which we are to believe concerning the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour jesus Christ, after a familiar way of Catechising: no one matter of opinion mixed therewith, but only fundamental truths; laid down so that all Heresies-now being, or formerly rooted, or that may hereafter spring up, as tares amongst the wheat, are cut off; not by humane wi●t and School distincti●ns: but by divine word & holy writ. here you have much, yea all in a little, yet without obscurity. Here ye have that faith which ever was held & professed universally in the Church: as will be manifest to the judicious that are acquainted with Scripture, with Counsels with the authentic Creeds, with the public confessions of christian m●n & Churches. The truth I dare boldly ●ay, the enemies themselves being judges. In a word: ye have here the heads of Doctrine, which in every particular in the audience of the Congregation of Kingston upon Thames, was with fear and trembling (being part of full three years labours their) discoursed off at larg●; showing in all and every point, the Harmony of both Testaments, the untiing of difficulties and knots in them, by way of explication, the wiles of Satha● and the flesh, beguiling us of the fruit of such knowledge and belief in deeds, while our mouths professed the same in words, the conclusions profitable and famous which depend upon such prime truths. And lastly, the Instructions, consolations and reproofs which these doctrines afford us, for the reformation of heart and life. In the second part, I present you with the rules of holy life, whereby you are taught as the truth is in jesus, to put off concerning the the former conversation, the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and being renewed in the spirit of your mind, to put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Here I have divided the precepts of the Gospel: from those of the Law, to avoid confusion: that they are distinct is a thing not hitherto heeded, yet (as to them will appear that consider it without prejudice) most certain. The words of Christ have as much force to bind, as the words of the Decalogue or ten commandments. Likewise the voice of Repentance, is no voice of the Law; and so of the rest. That I have cast them into ten, is not out of any superstition of the number: nor any conceit of mine that there are just ten, but only to help memory; they also fitly arising to that number, and ●or aught I see, the whole comprehended. I have in the margin set two different marks upon certain answers or phrases in those answers, by which I would have you to take notice of your estate before God. If those or any one of those graces or privileges be manifest upon your hearts wrought by the word, which are signed with this sign * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being that Angelical mark, Ezek. 9 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they prove you actually the children of God. If the sins or kind of offending be yet found in you which is marked with that mark * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first letter in the word Letzim P●●l. 1. 1. signifying scorners. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you are unregenerated and wicked sinners, and remain s●ch till you wash them away by true repentance, and Faith in the Lord jesus. Take these & digest them thoroughly, yea eat them up; as reached forth to you from God, tho●gh by the unworthy hands of a mean Labourer in God's Vineyard: whose prayer is, that you may increase in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. Richard Bifield. A CANDLE LIGHTed, at the Lamp of Sacred Scriptures. The first part containing the grounds of Faith. WHere may we learn that knowledge which will make a man wise to his salvation. Answer. In the holy scripture. 2. Tim. 3. 15, 16. 17. john 5. 37. Quest. How was all Scripture of the old and new Testament given? A. By inspiration of God: for the 2 tim. 3. 16 2 Pet. 1, 20 21. holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Q. Hath God revealed all things therein necessary to salvation? A. Yes: no man may add thereto, Deut. 12 32. Prou. 30. 6. or take there from. Q. May a simple man learn so much by them? Psal. 119, 130. 2. Cor. 4. 4. A. The entrance into God's word giveth light, it giveth understanding unto the simple. Q. Seeing they are so plain in all necessary truths, tell me what they teach you concerning God? A. That there is but one God: an Idol is nothing in the world. 1 Cor. 8. 4. Q. What else? A. That their be three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the word 1 joh. 5. 7. and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. Q What is this one God who is three in persons? A. He is a Spirit, whose name is, joh. 4. 24. Exod. 3. 14 1 Tim. 1 17 Gen. 17. 1 Mat. 19 17 I AM, the eternal, the Almighty, the only wise and good. Q. Wherein did God manifest his wisdom power & goodness? A. In that he made the world and Gen. 1 Heb. 11. 3. Rom. 1. 20. all things therein in the beginning, of nothing, and all very good. Q. How did he make man? A. Male & Female, after his own Gen. 1. 27. image. Q. What was this image chief? A. Knowledge, righteousness and true holiness. Ephe. 4. 24 Col. 3. 10. Q Did man remain thus righteous? A. No: they sought out many inventions. Eccle. 7. 29 Q▪ How did they fall? A. Adam and Eve did eat of that Gen. 3. 1. 6▪ fruit of which God had said ye shall not eat of it, Eve first was beguiled by the Serpen●, then gave to her husband, and he did eat. Q But that they sinned and fell, what is that to us? A. By one man sin entered into Rom. 5. 12 the world, and death by sin, and so death passed on all men, in whom all have sinned. Q. What is our estate then by nature? A. All men are borne in sin & Rom. 3. 23 Psa. 51, 5, job, 11. 12 &, 15. 14. Gen. 8. 21, 1, joh. 3. 4 live therein from their youth up. Q. What is sin? A. The transgression of Gods Law. Q What is the wages of sin? A. Death. Q When God had made the world. Rom. 6. 32 doth he leave it without regard? A. Not so: he seethe and upholdth Pro. 15. 3, Heb, 1, 3 all by the word of his power. Q. Doth this his providence reach to all? A. Yea to the sparrow lightning Mat, 10, 29 30, on the ground, and the numbering of the hairs of our head. Q. He saveth then both man & beast? Psa, 39, 6 1 Cor, 9 9▪ 10, 1 Tim. 4, 10, A. True, but his care is general over all; but more especially towards them that believe Q. Yet many miseries befall men? A. The Lord doth it. Amos 3. 6. Q. But if the Lord guide all, how cometh sin into the world, is he the author of sin? A. No; yet he hath made all things for himself even the wicked for the psal 5. 4, 5. Pro. 16. 4. day of evil. Q. God is holy then, when we are wicked: what shall be come of man? A. He must perish for ever but for the Christ of God. Hos 13. 9 Mat. 16. 26 Q. Who is the Christ, the Son of God that was promised should come into the world? A. jesus of Nazareth. joh 11. 27. & 8. 24, Q. What was his office? A. To save his people from their Mat. 1. 21. sins, and therefore called jesus the Saviour. Q. Did any help in this work? A. Not any; there is but one mediator 1 Tim. 2. 5. between God and man. Q. Were our works or ought in us, the cause of this salvation? A. We are saved according to God's grace i● Christ jesus, and not according to our works or ought in us. 2 Tim. 1. 9 Q. How then are we saved by Christ? A. A new covenant or agreement jer. 31. 31▪ 32. 33. 34. joh. 3. 16 1. joh. 2. 25 is given to us in him, wherein God promiseth to be our God and to give forgiveness of sins and life everlasting to every one that beleiueth in Christ. Q. How came we to understand this? Act. 3. 22. 23. john 118. & 17. 26. A. Christ jesus is the great Prophet, and hath revealed the whole council of his father. Q. When? A. By the Prophets and Apostles, and in these last days by himself here Heb. 1. 1. on earth. Q. But our sins separate God & us? A. He is a Priest for ever after the Heb. 6. 20. & 2. 17. psal. 110. 4 order of Melchisedech to make reconciliation for our sins. Q. But the enemies of our salvation, he flesh the world & the devil are mighty? A. He is our King and Lawgiver. Esa. 33. 22. 24. Q. What kind of Kingdom is his? A. His kingdom is not of this joh 18. 36. Rom. 14. 1● ●orld, neither consisteth in meat and ●rinke, but in righteousness, peace, ●nd joy in the Holy Ghost▪ Q. Who may be subjects ●● this kingdom? A. Any of all Nations. Psal. 2. 8. Q. How long lasteth it? A. For ever. Luke, 1. 33 Dan, 2, 44. Q. When was he ordained of God to this great work? A. From before the foundation of 1 Pet, 1, 20 the world. Q. When was he manifested? A. In these last times, the fullness Gal, 4, 4 of time. Q. How? A. The son of God took on him the seed of Abraham, and was in Heb, 2, 16, & 4, 15 all things like us, sin only excepted. Q. How did he become flesh? A. He was conceived by the Holy Luke, 1, 35 Mat, 1, 18. 23, Ghost and borne of the virgin Mary. Q. He was not then sinful as we are? A. He did not sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. 1 Pet, 2. 22 Q. That he is righteous, what is that to us? A. He is the end of the Law for Rom, 10, 4 5. 6, 7, 8, 9, righteousness, to evety one that believeth. Q. What else did he for us and for our salvation? A. He humbled himself and became obedient to the death, even the Phil, 2, 6. 7. 8, death of the cross. Q. That was an accursed death? A. He was made a curse for us. Gal, 3, 13, Q, Did he suffer any thing else? A. He was buried and laid three 1 Cor, 5, 4 days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Mat, 12, 40 Q: Was n●thing here to be considered but the malice of the jews▪ A. Yes chief we must note he was Act, 4, 27▪ 28 delivered thereunto, by the determined counsel of God. Q Why was the Lord pleased thus to bru●s● him? A. He was our surety & was wounded Heb, 7. 22, Esa, 53, 5, 6 for our transgressions, and on him was the chastisement of our peace; for the Lord laid on him the iniquities of us all. Q. What benefit reap we thereby? 1 Pet, 2, 24 Eph, 2, 14, 16 Col, 1, 20, 21 Act, 2, 24, 1 Cor, 1●, 4, A. Our peace is made with God & with his stripes we are healed. Q. Was he holden down of death? A. It was impossible he should, he rose again the third day, according to the scriptures. Q. What followed after his resurrection▪ A. He ascended up on high and Psa, 68 18, Ephe, 4, 8▪ led captivity captain: and gave gifts to men, even to the religious that the Lord might dwell among them. Q. What is that glory the father hath bestowed on him? Psal 110. 1. Heb, 8. 1. A. He sitteth on the right hand of the Throne of Majesty in Heaven. Q. How long must he thus sit? A, He must reign till the Father 1. Cor. 15. 15. hath put all his enemies under his feet. Q. What is his special work now at the right hand of his Father? A. He ever liveth there to make Heb. 7. 25. 26. request for us. Q. For whom maketh he request? A. Not for the world, but the elect joh, 17, 9 only. Q. Do not Angels and Saints make intercession for us? A. Abraham is ignorant of us and Israel knoweth us not. Esa, 63, 16, Q. How long must the heavens receive our Saviour? A. Until the time of the restitution of all things. Act, 3, 21. Q. When shall that be? A. At the day of judgement? Q. Shall their be such a day? A. Yea: God hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world Act, 17, 31 in righteousness: Q. When shall this be? A. Of that day and hour knoweth no man, but it shall be in the end Mar, 13▪ 32 Mat, 13, 40 joh, 6, 44. Rev. 10, 6. of the world, at the last day, in the last time; when time shall be no more. Q. Who shall be judge? A. jesus Christ as he is the son of man, whom we shall see come in like joh, 5, 22. 27. Act, 1, 11. manner as the disciples saw him go up into Heaven. Q. Who shall be judged? A. All both just and unjust, small 2 Tim, 4, 1, Reu, 20. 12, 13. Rome 14 12. and great, quick and dead, every one shall give account of himself too God. Q. Of what shall they be judged? A. Of all they have done in their bodies, that is while they lived in 2 Cor 5. 10. Eccles. 12, 14, Mat, 10. 36, their bodies, even every secret thing, every idle word, the hid things of darkness and the counsel of their hearts. Q. How shall men receive their judgement? A. According to that they have done, whether good or bad. 2 Cor. 5, 10. Q. Well is it with them that are in Christ, for to them is no condemnation: who are in him? A. They that have the Spirit of Rom. 81. 9 Christ. Q. What is this Spirit? A. The Holy Ghost, who proceedeth joh. 15. 26. Act. 5. 3▪ 4. Mar. 3. 19 from the Father & the Son and is God equal with the father and the Son. Q. Where might we partake of this spirit? A. In the word whereby he worketh still, as once he spoke by the Prophets Esa. 59 21. and Apostles. Q. What is his special and peculiar work in them that shall be saved? A. The new birth, for he is the sanctifier of the Church. Io●. 3. 5. Q. What else doth he? A, He preserveth us in the estate of holiness for ever. Q. How? A. By leading us into all truth, by joh. 14. 26. 1 joh. 2. 27 Rom 8. 14▪ Z●● 12. 10. Ephe. 4. 30. bringing all things to our remembrance, by being in us a spirit of adoption, of prayer, of counsel, of truth, & sealing us▪ up to the day of redemption. Q. What is sanctification? A. To die to ●in and to rise again Rom▪ 6. 4. & 8. 10 1 per 2. 24. to newness of life. Q. Is this of absolute necessity? A. Else we shall never see God. Heb 12, 14 Math. 5. 8. Q. Are any perfectly holy in this life? A. No: we know in part, and believe 1 Cor, 13. 9 10. in part. Q. May one then have a good hart to God who is of an evil life? A. Those that are sanctified, are 1 Thes. 5. 23. sanctified throughout both in soul and body and spirit. Q. Can such sin to death? A. He that is borne of God cannot 1 joh. 3. 9 & 5. 16. 17. 18. sinne, because his seed abideth in him. Q: What is the chief grace of the spirit in our new birth? A. Faith which purifieth the heart, 2 Cor. 4. 13. Act 15. 9 Gal 5. 6. and worketh by love. Q. What is faith? A. The belief of the truth, or the 2 The 2. 13 john 1. 12. receiving of Christ as he is offered in the promises of the gospel. Q. How doth the Holy Ghost work this faith in us? A. By hearing the word preached. Rom 10. 14 Q. In whom is this sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth wrought? A. In those only whom God hath from the beginning chosen to salvation. 2 The 2. 13 Act 13. 48. And praedestinated to the adoption of children by jesus christ to himself. Eph. 1. 4, 5. Q. Is faith a common gift? A. No; all men hath not faith therefore it is called the faith of Gods elect. 2 Thes. ●. 2. Tit. 1. 1. Q. What moved God to choose some & pass by others? A. The good pleasure of his own Ephe. 1. 5. 6. will, to the praise of the glory of his grace. Q. How doth he bring his chosen to salvation? A. Whom he foreknew, them he predestinated to be conformed to the Rom. 8. 29 30. image of his son, whom he predestinated, them he calleth, whom he calleth them he justifieth, and whom he justifieth, them he glorifieth. Q. What are those his chosen called? A. The Church, because they are joh. 17. 14. a company called out of the world by the voice of God's criers, his ministers. Q. Was there ever a church of God upon earth, and shall there be so to the end? A. Yes, the foundation of God's election remaineth sure, and Christ 2 Tim. 2. 19 is the rock on which it is builded so that the gates of hell shall not prevail Mat. 16. 1●. against it. Q. How is this Church noted out? A. She is holy. Ephe. 5. 2●, 27. Q. How else? A. She is catholic for in every Act. 10. 34. 35. nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him. Q. Who is the head of this Church? A. jesus Christ alone. Ephe. 1. 22. 23. Col. 1. 18. Q. What is the condition of the Church in this life? A. She is militant, subject to crosses, Mat. 16. 24. 25. Ephe. 6. 12. afflictions, temptations and persecutions of all sorts. Q. Doth the benefit of Christ death & resurrection belong to all? A. No, they belong only to the Ephe. 5. 25. Church. Q. Where is this Church to be found? A. Where the word of God is sencerely preached, and embraced, and Ephe. 5. 26. Mat. 28. 19, 20. the Sacraments according to Christ's institution administered, there the Lord hath his Church. Q. What is the sign of a true visible Church? A. That she be Apostolic, that is built on the foundation of the Prophets Ephe. 2. 19, 20, 22. and Apostles doctrine. Q. Is there not unity in the Church? A. There is but one body, one spirit, one hope of your calling, one Ephe 4. 4. 5. 6. Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, through all, and in them all. Q. What ariseth hence? A. The communion and fellowship of all the Saints who are copartners 1 Cor. 12. 14. 25. 26. 27. in all good things. Q. What special benefit is purchased by Christ, and conferred on his Church in this life. A. Forgiveness of sins. Ephe. 1. 7. Q. But the Church is holy? A. True, but by virtue of forgiveness of sins, for seeing in this life none is without sin, therefore the Psal. 32. 1. Church cannot consist here, without forgiveness, every day. Q. Must every member of the Church know that he is a sinner? A. Every one must feelingly know what need he hath of forgiveness, in 1, john 1. 8 10. Psal, 32. 3. 4. 5. Psal. 18. 23. respect both of his corruption of nature, transgressions of heart and life, and the personal sins to which he is more inclined. Q. What is this forgiveness? A. It is, when the Lord esteemeth Psal. 32. 1 Mic. 7. 18. 19 our sins as if they had never been commited, so that he will neither punish us for them in this world, nor the world to come. Q. May these that have their sins forgiven, live as they list? A. No indeed, forgiveness is granted Luke 13. 3 only to them that truly repent & bring forth fruits worthy amendment of life. Q. What is in man to move God to forgive? A. It is only Gods free grace, and Rom. 3. 24. nothing in man. Q. Can this stand with his justice, to account a sinner righteous he being yet a sinner? A. Christ's righteousness is given of 1 Cor. 1. 30▪ 2 Cor. 5. 21. God to be ours, and our sins are forgiven through the death and blood shedding of Christ, whereby the justice of God is fully satisfied. Q. How are we made partakers of this righteousness of Christ? A. By faith only. Rom. 3. 25 28. Q. Doth not God justify us for our works? A. By the works of the Law, no flesh can be justified in the sight of God. Rom. 3. 20. Q. What is the fruit of this justification by faith? A. Being justified by faith we have Rom. 5. 1. peace with God. Q Who are apppointed of God to dispense this grace? A. The Ministers of the gospel: so that whose sins soever they remit joh. 20. 23. Mat. 16. 18. according to this word, they are remitted, and whose sins they retain according to the same gospel, they are retained. Q. What benefit do we believe we shall receive from Christ in another world? A. The resurrection of our bodies now laid in the dust: in which resurrection job. 19 25, 26, 2●. Act. 24. 15. joh. 5. 28, 29. both just & unjust shall be raised, those that have done evil to the Resurrection of condemnation, and those that have done well, to the Resurrection of life. Q. Is life eternal the wages of righteousness: as death is the wages of sin? A. No, it is the end of an holy life, but altogether the gift of God Rom. 6. 22. 23. through jesus Christ our Lord. Q. How hath God confirmed to us this mercy and redemption wrought by jesus Christ, for the strengthening of our faith? A. By word, by oath, and by his Heb. 6. 17, 18. seals. Q. What are those Seals? A. His two Sacraments, Baptism, and the Lords supper. Q. What is a Sacrament? A. A sign given of God to be a Rom. 4. 11. Seal of the righteousness of faith. Q. What is this righteousness of faith? A. The righteousness of jesus Christ, brought in by his obedience to the death, which is made ours by faith only. Q. How are the Sacraments to be used by us. A. As bonds and vows, and solemn professions of our desires and Rom. 6. 3. endeavours after the beginning and finishing of our faith and repentance. Q. What is the outward sign in Baptism? A. The ministers washing or sprinkling Mat. 28. 19 the believer with wa●er in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Q. What is signified and sealed hereby to the believing penitent? A. The washing of the new birth Tit▪ 3. 5. Heb. 9 13. 1 Pet. 1. 2. by the spirit of Christ, and the purging of the conscience from dead works, by the sprinkling of Christ's blood thereupon by the same spirit of faith. Q. What else doth baptism assure us of? A. Of our adoption, our engrafting Gal. 3. 27. Col. 2. 11. 12. Rom. 6. 5. Math. 3. 7. 1 Pet. 3. 17 18. Gal. 3 27. 1 Cor. 12. 13. & 15. 29. Rom. 6. 8. into Christ, our deliverance from God's wrath, the forgiveness of our sins, the communion with the saints, and the resurrection of our bodies to life eternal. Q. What is the outward sign in the Lord's supper? A. Bread and wine, blessed, broken, Mat. 26. 26, 27. poured out, and given by the minister, and received, eaten and drunk by the faithful. Q. What is signified & sealed hereby? A. The body and blood of Christ crucified and shed on the Cross for 1. Cor. 11. 24, 25. the remission of our sins: which is offered by Christ in the word of promise, and verily and indeed, received by the believer in this sacrament. Q. Is it enough to receive the bread and wine? A. No, for we may eat and drink 1. Cor. 11. 27. 29. our own damnation, if we discern not the Lord's body. Q. What is then to be done before we come? A. We must examine ourselves, and judge ourselves for our sins, and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 11. 28. 31. 1. Cor. 5. 7. must purge out the old leaven of hypocrisy, false doctrine, malice, and wickedness. Q. And what are you to do in receiving? A. To keep a solemn remembrance of Christ's death for my sins, and to eat this Lamb with the sour 1 Cor. 11. 25. 26. Exod 12. 8. herbs of godly sorrow. Q. How ought you to be affected towards the godly? A. With the affections of brotherly love, as being one bread and one body, cleaving to their fellowship and forsaking all idolatrous and wicked society. 1 Cor. 10. 16. 17. 21. Psal. 26. 4. 5 6. Q. What is to be done after you have received? A. To live all our days in holy joy, keeping the feast in unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, and never to entertain the leaven of our former 1. Cor. 5. ●. sins. Q. How must our thirst after this Sacrament be raised in us? A. By weighing the multitude of our sins, and the necessity of being 1 Tim. 1. 15. joh, 6. 53. made partakers of Christ's death, that they might be forgiven us, together with the force of this ordinance to make us partakers thereof. Q. What is the force of it? A. In the right use of it, it is the communion of Christ's body & blood, 1 Cor. 10. 16. Mat. 26. 26. 28. it is his body and blood crucified on the Cross for us. Q. What else might excite this thirstin us? A. The command of Christ who saith, do this in remembrance of me: & 1 Cor. 11. 24, 25. the weakness of God's graces in us. The second part containing the rules of life. Q. What doth the grace of God which bringeth salvation teach us? A. To deny ungodliness and worldly Tit. 2. 11, 12, 13. lusts, and to live godly, righteously and soberly in this present world, looking for the blessed hope of the life to come. Q. How may I know godliness from ungodliness, and worldly lusts from righteousness and sobriety? A. By the law of God contained in Rom. 7. 7. 9 10. Heb. 4. 12. with Ier 17. 10. ten Commandments, and by the precepts of the Gospel. Q. But we are not under the law, but under grace? A. We are not under the curse of it, Gal 3, 13. Rom 10. 5. 6. jam 1, 25▪ Psa, 119, 1. Mat. 5, 17 18, 19 nor under it as it is the covenant of works which saith, do this and live: but as it as a glass to show us our spots and the rule of holy life. Q. Give me the sum of the ten Commandments? A. Thou shalt love the Lord thy Mat. 22, 37▪ 38. 39 God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbour as thyself. Q Rehearse the first Commandment? A. I am the Lord thy God: Thou shalt have no other Gods but me. Exod. 20. 1. 2. Q. What is here required? A. First to have the Lord jehovah for our God. jerm 24. 7. & 9, 23, 24 Rom 1. 19, 20. Pro. 2. 1 5, 6. jer. 8. 9 2 Chro. 20. 20. Deut. 6. 4, 5. psa. 37. 4. Mal. 1. 6. Deut. 10. 20. Psal. 37. 7. and 142. 6. and 628. Deut. 10. 12, 13. and 11. 26, 27, 28. Mic. 6. 6. 8. Q. What is it to have God for our God A. It is to have him in our minds, to know him as he hath revealed himself in his word and works; and in our hearts and affections to believe in him; love him, delight in him, and fear him, to pour out our souls to him, & to obey him as God, humbling ourselves to walk with him. Q. What hath the knowledge of God in the nature of it. A. The acknowledgement of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Titus. 1. 1. Hose. 6. 3. Amos. 5. 6. job. 22. 21. Esay 64. 5. Psal. 16. 8. and his truth, else we may know an Idol: the seeking after God, because we know but in part, the acquainting ourselves with him, and the remembrance of him setting him always before us. Q. What hath faith in it? A. The persuasion of the truth of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 11. 23. Lam 3. 24. Psal. 119. 111. his word, and the cleaving to God as our portion, and to his promises as our heritage. Q. What is the nature of love? A. To unite our hearts unto God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. ●3. 8. & 73. 25. alone, and to cause us to rest in the fruition of him, using all things beside to this end. Q. That m●st needs breed delight: what is found in the nature thereof? A. Spiritual satisfaction, a joyful 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. 63. 5. ●●nt. 1. 2. Psa 111. 2. & 71. 15, 16. & 34. 2. entertainment of all the passages of his love, a delightful contemplation of his mercies, an extolling of his praises & the souls boasting herself in him. Q. What is in the fear you spoke of? A. The reverence of God's majesty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deut. 28. 58. Esa. 66. 2▪ Psal. 5. 8. in his names, worship, word and works, the dreading of his holy justice, jer. 5. 22. Reu. 15. 3, 4 Psal. 90. 11. Hose. 3. 5. and the fear to offend him that is so gracious. Q. What is the nature of hope? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8. 24, 25. Psa. 37. 7. & 39 9 & 4, 5. 1 Sa. 3. 18. Psal. 37. 4. A. To wait on God with patience, with silence in our souls from restless thoughts, and resignation of ourselves and our ways to his disposing. Q. How are these graces exercised? A. In pouring out our souls before the Lord in prayer and praises. Psa. 62. 8. all the psalms and prayers of God's Saints. Q. How is the truth of them tried? A. By obedience to God in all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 joh. 2. 3. Rom. 16. john 14. 15. Psal. 119. 6. & 18. 22. & 106. 3. & 101. 2. things, at all times, and in all places. Q. How are they preserved? A. By humbling our souls in the thought of our own unworthiness, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gen. 32. 10 Gal. 1. 16. Mat. 6. 10. giving up our reason as not worth the obeying, and our wills as not worth the following. Q▪ What is the due proportion they ought to have? A. The utmost and highest pitch Ro. 12. 11. Reu. 3. 19 of fervency in spirit, which is called Zeal. Q. What is the second thing required in the first Commendement? A. That we have the Lord only for Esa. 44. 8. Exod. 20. 23. our God, and no other besides or with him. Q. What is then charged on us? A. Sincerity, giving the Lord the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Kin. 18. 21 Hose. 10. 2. Psal. 12. 2. Ephe. 4. 24. truth of our hearts, and the whole part of them. Q. What is the third thing required? A. That we have the Lord always for our God. 2 Pet. 2. 19▪ 20, 21. Q. What then is charged on us: A. Perseverance and constancy against through & above all lets without 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reu. 1. 10. Mat. 24. 13. Rom. 2. 7. Gal. 6. 9 Hebr. 12, 12, 13. job. 23. 11, 12. weariness, discouragement, wavering or declining. Q. Tell me generally what is condemned herein. A. Atheism, ignorance, the want or Psal. 14. Ephe. 4. 18. Esai. 51. 7. jer. 17. 5. 1 joh. 2. 15. Phil. 3. 19 Col. 3. 5. weakness of these graces', & the misplacing of our affections, whereby our hearts are estranged from God. Q. Rehearse the second Commandment? A. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graved Image: or say the whole Exod. 20. 4, 5. commandment. Q. What is forbidden in this precept? A. All feigned worship though of the true God? Q. When is a man said to make to himself any thing? A. When he deviseth aught of his own head to worship God thereby Mat. 19 6. without warrant from God's word. Q. What is meant by Graved Image? A. Either any image to resemble God Deut. 4. 12, 14. thereby, whether in our heads or in the Church, or whatever means, whereby Leu. 26. 1. we think to worship God. Q. What is condemned in those words, thou shalt not bow to them, nor serve them. A. By bowing down is forbidden all Hos. 13. 2. reverence & gestures that are testimonies of subjection, as kissing, creeping, putting off the hat, and the like: & by serving, all parts of outward worship, as gilding, enshriving, & setting on high their images and relics, the building of altars & temples to them, pilgrimages, vows, sacrifices, priests, incense, wax candles, fasts and festival days ordained to their honour: all which the Deut. 12, 2 3, 4. judg. 17. 4, 5. heathen gave to their Idols. Q. Tell me then what is here required? A. The Lord requireth that seeing john. 4. 24. Hose. 4. 12. with Hose. 8. 2. he is a spirit we worship him in spirit, and not in an image. Q. What else? A. That we bow before him and Psal. 95. 6. Mat. 4. 9 10 1 Cor. 6. 20. Prou. 3. 9 serve him only, both with our persons and with our goods. Q. And what else? A. That we rest in that form of worship and service which he commandeth Heb. 8. 5. Deut. 12. 32. in his word, without adding thereto, or taking aught therefrom. Q. Rehearse the third Commandment. A. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Exod. 20. 7. Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Q. What doth this Commandment direct us unto? A. The holy use of all religion in heart, profession, and action. Q. What is meant by the name of God? A. God himself, his titles and attributes, Psal. 20. 1. Deut. 28. 58. & 32. 3. Act. 9 15. Mic. 4. 5. Deut. 12. 5. Rom. 1. 19, 20. mat. 5. 34, 35. his word, his religion, his ordinances and his works. Q. When are we said to take up his name. A. When in heart, pen, word, or deed, either in the service of God, or in our ordinary conversing we meddle therewith. Q. And what is it to take it up in vain. A. It is to use it irreverently, rashly and unfruitfully, but much more to use it to confirm a lie, to maintain heresy, and to defend sin. Q. Tell me then what is here charged upon us? A. That we conceive of God as Psa 24. 7 ●. Deu. 28, 58 Psa, 66, 16. Mat, 5. 26. Leu. 22, 3● 33. Eccle. ● 3, 4. psa. 5● 14 deu. 10. 20. jer. 5, 7. Heb. 6, 16. 1, Cor. 10, 31. King of glory, and speak of him, his word and religion with all reverence: that we adorn our religion with a life answerable to our high calling, that we pay our vows, and swear by him alone in truth, in judgement and in righteousness, that we make his glory and the advancement of his kingdom the end of all our actions? Q. What is condemned? A. All unreverent and vain use of God's name and word, all cursing, and Psa 139. 20 profane swearing. Q. When is swearing profane? A. When we swear by that which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ierm. 5, 7. Math. 5. 34 35. Eccle. 9 2. jam 5. 12. Zac. 5. 2. 4. 1 Sa, 25. 22 Psal, 24. 4. is not God, or swear in our common talk, and fear not an oath, * or swear outrageously, falsely and deceitfully. Q. May we be guilty herein any other way? A. Yes, if we hear another swear and utter it not, or reprove him not, Leu. 5, 1. & 19 17. if we cause others to swear by false 2. joh. 3 7. M●t. 5. ●7. jam. 5. 12. gods: yea what in our ordinary talk is above yea and nay, as vain and idle protestations. Q. What else is condemned? A. To dishonour our religion by evil 1 Sa. 2. 30. 2 Sa. 12. 14 mat. 4▪ Deu▪ 18. 10. Mic. 6. 9 life, to abuse God's word in charms jests, and defence of sin and heresy: To call on God's name in conjuring, witchcraft and sorcery; to set it before any wicked writing: to contemn his judgements, and to slight his mercies. Q. Rehearse the fourth Commandment? A. Remember that thou keep Exod. 20. 8, 9, 10, 11. holy the Sabbath day etc. Q. What is the intent of this Commandment? A. To direct us to set apart the seventh partt of our time wholly to the worship of God, as the former commandments taught us our every day's duty. Q. To whom is it chief given? A. To the magistrates and masters Verse 10. of families. Q. What is enjoined therein? A. To remember the Sabbath before it come, and to finish our works Gen. 2. 2. on the six days, so that neither our he●ds be troubled with cares, nor our hands tempted to labour, nor a necessity brought on us by our negligence, which might have been prevented. Q. How is the day to be kept? A. By resting from our works of labour, pleasure, or sin; yea, our cartel must rest, that so all occasions of Esa. 56. 2. & 58. 13. man's labour may be cut off for that day: and by keeping the rest that we might do the works of holiness. Q. What are the works of holiness? A. The duties of God's service public & priu●t●, & the works of mercy. Q. When are they done in a Sabbath-like manner? A. If we perform them with delight, Esa. 56. 6. & 58. 13. Deu. 5. 12▪ Exod. 31. 16. Leu. 23. 3. Ps. 9●. 2. Exo. 20. 11. Eze. 46. 2. 5. with observance that no duty be omitted, with entireness sanctifying the whole day, and with belief that God will bless that day and the duties thereof to our increase in grace. Q. What are required as means to sanctify this day? A. A place of assemblies, and persons Leu▪ 19 30. & 21. 6. 2 Chr. 15. 3. Hagg. 1. 1. 1 Cor. 9, 9▪ to do the duties of the public worship, and maintenance of both. Q▪ What are the open breaches of the Sabbath? A. Buying and selling, carrying of Neh. 1●. 16 20. jer. 17. 22. Exo. 16 29 ne●. 1●. 15. Exod, 32, 6. burdens, taking of journeys, unless it be to the house of prayer; the finding our pleasure in sports and pastime, idleness, and sinful works. Q What are the secret breaches which are no● regarded? A. To omit the duties of the day, not to remember before it come, to Ezek. 46, 10. Leu. 13. 3. Amos 8, 5. psa. 92. title with 13 14 Ezech. 22, 26 Esa, 58, 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neh 13. 15 19 jer. 17 19 25. desire it were passed, not calling it a delight, to * hide our eyes f●om seeing the authority and duties of this day, to speak our own words, not to flourish according to the means God giveth us, and having power not to reform in others the abuses of the Sabbath. Q▪ These four Commandments teach our duty to God, what is taught in the six following? A. Our duty to our neighbour, which is fulfilled in one word, to love him as ourselves. Rom, 13, 9 Q. And who is our neighbour? A. Every man whether friend or Luc. 10. 29. 30, 37. fo●▪ stranger of our own house. Q. How is this love showed? A. In preserving his dignity, person, chastity, goods and good name, Matt, 7, 12. as my own, and as I would he should do mine, not wronging him in any of them, no ●ot in the first rise of my thoughts & affections against him. Q. Rehearse the fift Commandment? A. Honour thy father and thy mother, Exo. 20, 12 Deu, 5, 16. etc. Q. Is any thing meant by father and mother more than our natural parents? Pro. 23. 22. Exodus 18. 18, 24. hest. 2, 7, 20. Esa 22, 21. 2 Kings 2. 12. 2 Kin. 5 13. ● Tim. 5. 1, 2. job. 29, 16. Gen 4. 20. 22. & 45. 8. A. Yes, parents by law, parents that adopt children, parents of the Country, as Kings and all magistrates, parents of the Church, as ministers & all Church governors, parents of the family, as the Husband, the Master & Dame, parents in age and gifts, as our ancients, patrons, tutors, instructors and protectors. Q. What is meant by honour? A. It implieth a dignity and excellency in our neighbour, and signifieth 2 Pet, 2. 10. all that duty and respect, in heart, words and behaviour, whereby his dignity may be preserved. Q. By this me thinks the beams of fatherhood are light, though diversely, upon all? A. It is so: therefore we are charged 1 Pet. 2. 17. to honour all men, according to the degree of dignity God hath bestowed on them. Q. Why then is the Commandment given to children and parents chiefly▪ A. Because the bonds of affections are herein most strong, just and sweet, and being the first and that which all pass through, is the best rule to guide the carriage of superior and interior in all degrees. Q Tell me then what own parents' to their children? A. To bring them up in the flare Ephes. 6. 4. Pro. 20. 11. & 2●. 6. 2 Cor. 12. 14. Pro. 19 14. 1 Cor. 7. 36. Pro. 13. 24. Col. 3. 21. Hos. 9 14. of God, and some ho●●st trade of life, to provide for their estates and marriage, and to give them due correction, and all this guided by love: and in special the mother ought to nurse her child if she be able. Q. And what is the honour children own to their parents? A. Reverence in heart and behaviour, Exo. 20. 12 Col. 3. 20, Ephes. 6. 1. Gen. 24. Leu●. 19 3. G●n. 9 21. 22. 1 Tim 5. 4. obedience in all things, but especially in the choice of their calling and marriage, fear to displease, a covering of their in firmities, and thankful recompense, by relief if they be in need & by preserving their honour in life and death. Q. Seeing all governors are called parents, and the governed are children, do they owe in some measure the like duties each to other? A. Yes: The governors own the love, provision, protection and nurture Rom, 13, ●, 7. of a father, and the governed own the reverence, obedience, fear, covering of infirmities, and the thankful recompense of a child. Q. Rehearse the six● Commandment? A. Thou shalt not kill. Exo, 20, 13. Numb, 35, 33. Q. Is any thing condemned here besides the embruing of the hands in blood? A. Yes, all hurt to our own or any other man's person, and all cruelty to the Dumb creatures. Q. Which way are we selfe-murtherers beside by laying violent hands upon ourselves? A. By committing such crimes Nurse, 16, 38. which deserve to be punished by the magistrate, by evil wishes, by rash attempts Mat, 4, 6. 1 Cor, 7, 10. without a calling, by worldly sorrow, envy, and distempers of the mind, by neglecting our health in Pro, ●●, 22 & 15, 13. Esa, 38, 21, want of convenient diet, sleep, labour and recreation, and by refusing the help or disobeying the directions of the physician when need is: and lastly Pro. 23, 1, 2, 3. 29. 30, 31, 32. by intemperance in meat & drink as gluttony and drunkenness. Q. All this is against our bodily life: How do we kill our souls? A. By hating wisdom, * and breaking the commandments, and by despising 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pro. 8, ●9. Pro 19 16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our own way. * Q. Wherein may we be murderers of our neighbour? A. In our hart, gestures, words & deeds. Mat, 15. 19 Q. What is the murder of the heart? A. Unadvised anger, hatred, * hardhartednessè, Mat, 5, ●2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. joh. 3 15. pro, 21 13. Gen 26 14. & 37. 11. * and envy. Q. What is the murher in the gestures? A. The interjections of anger, as Mat, 5, 22. Gen 4, 5. Mat. 27. 39 20, 15. psal, 31. 15, 19 Act. 7, 54. Ez●●. 25. 6. Esa▪ 58. 9 2 Sa, 16. 13 tush, aha, fie; the falling of the countenance, nodding of the head, making of mows, sharpening of the eyes, winking with the eye, gnashing of the teeth, stamping with the feet, clapping of the hands, the putting forth of the finger, casting dust into the air, clamour, & all expressions of the inward Ephe. 4. 31 Tit. 3, 2. Pro. 12. 18 Rom 14. 10 Gal. 5. 15, ●0 Pro. 29, 20. mat, 5. 22. gall 4. 29. Ephe. 5. 4. 1, Pet, 3, 9 hatred of the heart. Q. What words are murderous. A. All bitter, censorious, brawling, hasty, threatening, reviling, and jesting words. Q. And who murders him in his deeds? Lue, 10. 31. 32. exo. 21. 28, 29. psal. 37. 12. Leu. 19, 33. Rom 13, 13. pro. 20. 3. & 6. 16, 19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A. He that relieves him not in misery if he be able, that keepeth harmful cattles whereby he is hurt, he that plotteth against him by fraud, or vexeth him by violence, & he that is contentious and sowet● discord. * Q. Are there not some degrees of murder more directly against the bodies of our neighbours. A. Yes: all fightings, though but by making an assault, much more if it Exo. 21, 24 mat. 26. 2● 1, Kin. 22. 24. exod. ●1 22. be a wound or blemish given, whether in scorn or fury: or any hurt to a woman with child. Q. Who more especially must beware of killing? A. The physician, the chirurgeon, and the midwives. Exod. 1. 17. Q. How are we guilty of murdering the soul of our neighbour? A. By evil example, by omission of Mat. 5, 16. 19 Leu. 19, 17. mat. 18. 6. Rom. 14. 13. 1. Cor, 8, 11. 13. instruction & reproof when we may and aught, & by giving offence to the weak. Q. Who in special must take heed of soule-murther? A. The ministers, who murder Esa 56, 10. Tim. 4. 14 ●oules when they teach no●, or teach false doctrine, or true doctrine in such 1, Tim, 4, 14. jet, 23, 13. Eze, 13, 18. Ier, 23, 11, 14, manner that the godly are discouraged, and the wicked strengthened: or when they are profane in life. Q. Is it unlawful to wrong a private man, and may we wrong societies? A. God forbidden. Q. How are they wronged chi●●●▪ A. By treasons against King ● state. Q. How else? 2 Tim, 3, 4. A. In peace, by setting up or tolerating a false god, or false worship, by Deut, 7. ●6. judge, 17, 6. 2 Kin, 18, 4. 1 Kin, 20, 33, 42. making unwholesome laws, and by letting incurable and infectious members escape; or any ot●er way of secret or open practice that weakeneth estates. Q. How in war? A. By unjust war, by not offering first conditions of peace, by destroying 2 Sa, 20, ●8. Dent, 20, 19, 20. fruit trees, and grain, by insulting cruelty in victory, and rashness in attempts. Q. May any wrong be offered to our neighbours dead; A. Yea: Inhumanity, in not burying their corpses, or the like, are murders. Psa, 79, 2, 3 Q. You said that cruelty towards the beasts is condemned? A. Very right; for saith Solomon, Pro. 12. 1● the righteous regardeth the life of his beast: wherefore the overlabouring of cattles, the sports or Bearbaiting, Bull-baiting and Cockpits are unlawful. Q. Rehearse the seaventh Commandment. A. Thou shalt not commit adultery? Exo. 20. 14 Q. What is condemned under adultery? 1 Cor. 6. 9 18. Mat. 15. 19 Col. 3. 5 1 Cor. 7. 2. Mat. 5. 27. Gen 39 7. Ro 13, 13. Esai. 3. 16. Col, 3, 8. Ephe. 5. 4. Not the uncleanness of married persons alone, but also fornication, unclean thoughts, inordinate affections, burning lusts, a wanton eye or unchaste looks, chambering and wantonness in our gestures, and filthy speaking. Q. What else? The painting of the face, the attire or dress that is whorish, as the garments 2 Kin, 9, 30. 22. Deu, 22 9 Host, 2, 2. 1 Cor, 11. 1 Tim, 2, 9 1 Pet, 3, 3. Esa. 3. 16. 18, 24, Zep 1, 8. Esa, 3, 2●, 23. Prou. 7. 10. of another sex, naked breasts, the uncovered hair in women, all art in the hair to move others, the enticements of perfumes, strange apparel, the fashions of infamous persons, and all dress that is against shamefastness and modesty, with all the instruments that belong to this vanity of apparel. Q. What else is condemned? A. The occasions of uncleanness as idleness, pride and fullness of bread, Mat ●. Ez● 16, 49. pro, 7, 11. 1 Tim ●, 13. Zeph 1, 9 mar, 6, 22. 1 The. 5 23. 1 Cor, 5 ●, ●. 1 Cor. 7, 2, 8. prattling and gadding from house to house, lascivious dance, books, songs, pictures, and stage plays, the companying with fornicators, the resorting to lewd houses, the maintaining of stews, the making light of others fornication, and the not marrying when we have not the gift of continency. Q. Are there not some monstrous transgressions condemned here? A. Yes, buggery, Sodomity, incest, polygamy, self pollution, the unnatural Gen, 38, 9 Mal, 2, 11. filthiness of women with women, the transgression of Onan, the marrying of the daughter of a strange god, the putting Mat, 19 9 away one's wife & not for fornication, & the marrying of the betrothed, or unjustly divorced. Q. To avoid these evils more to keep chastity in body and spirit, and to possess our vessels in holiness and honour. Rehearse the eight Commandment? A Thou shalt not steal. Q. What is here charged upon us? A. That we study no● our own so much as every man another's wealth. ● cor 10. 2● Q. What is stealing? A. The unjust taking away or keeping back of persons or things pertaining to God or man. Q. How do men steal from God? A. By devouring that which is holy, Pro. 20. 25 Mal. 3. 8. 9▪ 10. Act. 8, 18 19 & 1●▪ 24. 25. that is, which is consecrated to the maintenance of God's worship, and of schools and universities, and to the relief of the poor; by setting to sale the gifts of God's spirit, and faculties to dispense those gifts, and by making gain of things hindering piety & furthering superstition. Q. How do men steal from themselves? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 The. 3, ●● Eph, 4, 28. prov, 18, 9 19, 15 & 21 25. 23, 21. joh 6, 12. Pro. 11. 1●. Eccle 5. 19 A. By living without a calling, * by idleness in their calling, by prodigality in diet, apparel or otherwise, by unthriftiness, not saving that we have, that nothing be lost, and by rash suretyship and by niggardliness. Q. How steal we from our neighbours by withholding more than is meet? A. When we employ not our own jam, 5. 2, ● Pro. 11, ●● 26. jam, ●. ● Psa. 37. 21. Prov 3, 27. 2●. mat, 21. 41. Leu. 6. ● Luc. 19 8. goods, when we withhold corn or wages, or debt, or relief from the poor, or things left in trust, or things found if we know the owner, or things unjustly gotten without making restitution, with the better if we be able. Q. How steal we by taking away? A. By force as robbery and piracy, Pro, 28, 28. Pro, 20, 2●. Deut, 15, 9, 10, & 18 9, 10, 11. Pro. 22. 6. Gal. 3. 19 1 The. 4. 6. Pro. 29. 24, 34. or fraud in bargaining or out of bargaining; as is usury, oppression, fa●●e weights, the practice of unlawful arts, gaming, the falsifying o● the ●i●l of the dead, with all deceit, or p●rtakeing with o● concealing of th●s●●●ef●s. Q. By these sins we may easily know the contrary duties enjoined. Rehearse the ninth Commandment? A. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Q. What ways may this be done? A. In judgement and out of judgement. Q. Out of judgement how? A. By tales, by backbiting, whispering, Leu. 19 16. Pro. 16. 28. jer. 20. 10. Rom, 1, 29. 30. Ephes. 4. 25. Prov. 27. 24. and 15. 15. 24. 24. lying, and slandering, by flattery and vain glory, by censuring and evil suspicious, and by justifying the wicked. Q. In judgement how. A. When the witness is wholly 1 Kin. 21. 13. Mat. 26. 61 john. 2. 29. 1 Sa. 22. 9 Zep. 3. 4. Exod▪ 23. 1. Psa, 15. 5. false, or in part, or if true, yet it is of envy, and when the judge wrists the law, or furthers evil causes, or taketh Bribes though for the innocent. Q. Who ●lse bears false witness▪ A. He that con●emne 〈…〉 without Deu. 19 15. Reu. 21. 8. Leu. 5. 1. witness, he t●●t is fearful to bear witness ●o the truth, he that co●cealeth the tru●h and he that betrayeth cause ●● collusion. Q. Rehearse the tenth Commandment A. Thou sha●t not covet etc. Q. What is meant by coveting? A. The fi●st inclinations & rise Rom. 7, 7. jam. 1. 14. of the thoughts and affections inordinately, which tickle the heart with some joy and delight, and entice it, called Col. 3. 5. evil concupiscence. Q. Why is there added, thy neighbour's wife, his servant, his maid, his ox or ass, or any thing that is his▪ A. To show, that the first motions of the soul in lusting against our neighbonrs dignity, life, wife, possessions, and good name are evil, though I never give full consent to them. Q. What is here required▪ A. The purity of the heart, and the jer. ●. 14. Gal. 5. 17. holy concupiscence and the lusting of the spirit. Q. You have unfolded the precepts of the Law: Give me now the precepts of the Gospel A. First it chargeth all men every Act. 17. 30. 31. Mat. 9 13. Luc 17. 3. where to repent, for Christ came to call sinners, but to repentance, & therefore assureth us that except we repent, we shall all perish. Q. How is this work to be done? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 4, 4. Lam. 2. 40, 1 joh. 1. 9 Psal 38. 18. 1 Cor. 11. 31. p●al 51 17. Zac. 12. 10. 11. pro. 28. 13. hos. 14. 2. In this work the Lord requireth a spirit without gui●e. Rom. 10. 9 joh. 8. 24. A. We must commune with our own hearts in secret, & try our ways by the law to find out our sins, and then we must confess them to God, and judge ourselves for them, till the Lord give us a broken and a contrite spirit, so that we can mourn for our sins as much as for the loss of an only son: and then we must forsake them for time to come. Q. What is the second precept? A. That we believe the glad tidings of our salvation by jesus Christ, and the forgiveness of our sins through his most precious death. Q. What is here to be done? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 13. 5. jude 20. 21 Rom. 10. 14 A. To examine ourselves whether we be in the faith or no, & to build up ourselves in our most holy faith daily. Q. How may this faith and repentance be wrought in us? A. By the word preached? Q. How may they be increased? 1 Cor. 1. 21 A. By the conscionable use of the Luc. 8. 15. 1 Cor 11. 25 Col. 2. 12. jude 20. 1. Cor. 14. 24. 26. means of his worship which he hath prescribed to us, as the hearing of the word with an honest and good heart, the receiving of the Sacraments and prayer in the holy Ghost: * which is a third precept of the Gospel. Q. How may we know our increase of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Esa. 55. 1. ●. 1 Pet. 2. 2. job. 23. 12. & 27. 10. 1 The 2, 13 faith and repentance? A. By our holy thirst after, and love unto these ordinances of Christ. Q. Through whom must out prayers be offered up to G●d? A. In the name of Christ only. Col 3. 17. Q. What is the rule of prayer? A. That prayer which our Saviour Mat 6. 9 Luc. 11, 2. taught us to say and to pray after this manner. Q. Rehearse it? A. Our father which art in heaven Q. When must we pray? A. Continually watching in the Col. 4. 2. Luc. 18. 12. same with thanksgiving. Q. Where? A. Every where so that we lift up pure hand without wrath & doubting 1 Tim. 2. 8. Q. What is a fourth precept of the Gospel? A. That we love the Brotherhood, 1 Pet. 2. 17 Ephes. 3. 6. even those who are partakers with us of the same promise of the Gospel. Q. How must this love be manifested? A. By choosing their fellowship as Psal, 119. 63. & 16. 3 1 Cor. 12. 7. Rom. 12. Phil. 1. 27. Heb. 13, 2. 1 Pet. 4. 9 Gal. 6. 1, 2. the only excellent ones, by employing our gifts for their good, by being of like affection, by being of one heart and one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel, by being harberous, and bearing one another's burdens. Q. What must be avoided that we may keep and express this love? A. All schism and divisions, judging 1. Cor. 1, 10 & 12. Rom. 14. Phil. 2. 4. jam. 2. 1. ● joh. 3. 18. 3 joh, 5. one another about things indifferent, vain glory, respect of persons, dissimulation, untrustiness, inconstancy, and suits in law. Q. What is a Saint? A. That we walk wisely towards Col. 4, 5. Phil. 2. 15. Psal, 112. Mat. 11. 29 Phil. 4. mat. 5. 16. prov. 24. 25. & 28. 4. gall, 4. 18. 1, Pet. 2. 13. 15. Dan. 6. 5. them that are without, in harmlessness, discretion, meekness and lowliness, patience under wrongs, fruitfulness in the works of mercy, zeal & undauntedness in a good cause, and subjection to authority. Q. What is the sixth precept? A. That the first day of the week 1 Cor 16. 1. 2 is the Lords day. Q. What is a seventh? A. That we quench not, nor grieve, nor resist, much less that we despite * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 1 The. 5. 19 Ephe. 4, 30. Act. 7. 51. Heb. 10. 26. 29. not the Spirit of grace and the work thereof in our own hearts or the lives of others, which is the sin against the Holy Ghost. Q. What is the eight you may give; A. That being watchful against temptations to sin, we put on the whole armour of God every day: building 1 Cor. 16. 13. Ephe. 6. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Luc. 14. 26. all our desires upon the foundation o● selfe-deniall * and ready to suffer for his sake. Q. What is the ninth? A. That we prepare for death. Psal. 39 ●. & 90. 12. Q. How? A: By learning that skill to die daily; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 15. 31 Heb. 11. 13. 1 Cor. 7. 31. and by living as pilgrims and strangers here, using the world as if we used it not. Q. What is the tenth? A. The lively hope of heaven and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 1 Pet. 1. 3. 1 The. 1. 10 2 Pet. 3. 12. daily waiting for the coming of Christ to judgement. Q. What direction is given to discharge this sincerely? A. That we come every day to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 joh. 3. 22. light of God's word, to see whether our deeds be wrought in God or Noah. Q. What comfort have we in this work? A. We have the love of God as a Hos. 14. 4. a. Cor. 6. 18. Rom. 8. 32. 1 Cor. 6. 19 1. Pet. 1. 8. psa. 65. 4. Esa. 2●. 8. Ma●. 11. 24 Heb, 1. 19 Psa. 34. Ephe. 2. 19 Rom. 8. 28. joh. 10▪ 28. 29. & 6. 39 Rom. 4. 13. 1 Tim. 4. 8. 9 Psa. 73. 24. Prarogatives of the Saints. father, Christ with all his benefits is ours, we are the temples of the Holy Ghost, who often comforteth us with joys unspeakable and full of glory, we have freedom to God's House, audience of our prayers, the guard of Angels, the communion with all Saints, the sanctification of our afflictions, preservation from final and total Apostasy, the inheritance of the earth while w● live, and heaven when we die. FINIS. Soli Deo trin uni Glo●ia,