The Principles of the Christian Religion
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A64670.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
THE PRINCIPLES OF Christian Religion : Sūmarily set down according to the word of God : TOGETHER WITH A Breife Epittomie of the Body of Divinity.
By James Usher Bishop of Armagh.
LONDON, Printed by R.B. for Geo. Badger, and are to be sold at his shop, in St. Dunstans Church Yard, in Fleet Street. 1645.
〈1 page duplicate〉THE PRINCIPLES, OF Christian Religion, Summarily set down according to the word of God.
Question. WHat sure grounds have we to build our Religion upon?
Ans. The Word of God contained in the Scriptures.
What are those scriptures
Ans. Holy writings indicted by God Himself, for the perfect instruction of his Church
What gather you of this that God is the Author of those writings?
Ans, That therefore they are of most certain credit, and highest authority.
How serve they for the perfect instruction of the Church ;
Ans In that they are able to instruct us sufficiently, in all points of faith, that we are bound to believe, and all good duties that we are bound to practice.
What gather you of this ;
Ans. That it is our duty to acquaint ourselves with these holy writings, and not to receive any doctrine, that hath not warrant from thence.
What is the first poine of Religion, you are to learn out of GOD'S Sacred word?
Ans. The Nature of God.
What is God?
Ans. God is Spirit, most perfect most wise, Almigh • y, and most, holy.
What mean you by call • ng God a Spirit?
Ans, that he hath nobody at all, and therefore must not be thought like to any things, which may be seen by the eye of man.
How many God's are there?
Ans. Only one God, but three persons.
Which is the first person?
Ans. The father , who begetteth the Son:
Which is the second?
Ans. The Son begotten of the Father.
Which is the third?
Ans. The HOLY GHOST proceeding from the Father and the Son.
What did God before the world was made?
Ans. He did before all time, by his unchangeable council, ordain, whatsoever should come to pass.
In what manner had all things the beginning?
Ans. In the beginning of time, when no creature had any being, God by His Word alone, in the space of six days, created all things.
Which are the principal Creatures?
What is the nature of Angels?
Ans. They are wholly spiritual, having nobody at all.
What is the nature of man?
Ans. He consists of two divers parts, a body, and a Soul.
What is the body?
Ans. The outward and earthly part of man made at the beginning of the dust of the earth.
What is the soul?
Ans. The inward and spiritual part of man which is immortal, and never can die.
How did God make man at the beginning?
Ans. According to his own likeness, and Image.
Wherein was the Image of God principally seen?
Ans In the perfection of the understanding and the freedom, and holiness of the will.
How many men were created at the beginning?
Ans. Two, Adam the man & Eve the woman from both whom, afterwa • ds all mankind did proceed.
What doth God after the Creation ;
Ans. By his providence he preserveth, and governeth his c • eatures with all things belonging unto them.
What befell Angels after their Creation?
Ans Some continued in the holy estate, wherein they were created, some of them fell, and became Devils.
May the good Angels fall hereafter?
Ans. No, but they shall always continue in their holiness, and happiness.
Shall the wicked Angels ever recover teeir first estate?
Ans. They sh • ll not, but be tormented in hell, world without end.
How did God deal with man, after that he made him.
Ans, He made a covenant or agreement with Adam and in him with all mankind.
What was man bound to do by this covenant?
Ans. To continue as holy, as God at the first made him, to keep all God's commandments and never to break any of them:
What did God Promise unto man, if he did thus keep His Commandments ;
Ans The continuance of his favor and everlasting life.
What did God threaten unto man if he did sin, and break his Commandments?
A. His dreadful curse, and everlasting death.
Did man continue in that obedience, which he did owe unto God?
Ans. No: For Adam and Eve obeying, rather the persuasion of the devil, then the Commandments of God, did eat of the forbidden fruit, and so fell away from God.
Was this the sin of Adam, and Eve alone; or are we also guilty of the same?
Ans. All we that are their children, are guilty of the same sin, for we all sinned in them.
Wh • t followed upon this sin?
Ans. the loss of the Image of God, and the corruption of nature in man called Original sin.
Wherein standeth the corruption of man's nature?
Ans. In six things principally.
What is the first?
Ans. The blindness of the understanding, which is not able to conceive of the things of God.
What is the second?
Ans. The forgetfulness of the memory unfit to remember good things.
What is the third?
Ans. The rebellion of the will, which is wholly bent to sin, and altogether disobedient unto the will of God.
What is the four • h?
Ans. Diso • der of the affections, as joy, heaviness, love, anger, fear, and such like.
What is the fifth?
Ans. Fear and confusion in the conscience, condemning where it should not, and excusing where it should condemn.
What is the sixth?
Ans. Every member of the body is become a ready instrument, to put sin in execution.
What are the fruits that proceed from this natural corruption.
Ans. Actual sins, whereby we break the Commandments of God in the whole course of our life.
How do you break God's Commandments?
Ans. In thought, word and deed, not doing that which we ought to do, and doing that which we ought not to do.
What punishment is mankind subject to, by reason of original and actual sin?
Ans. He is subject to all the plagues of God in this life, and endless torments in hell after this life.
Did God leave man in this woeful estate?
A. No, but of his free and undeserved mercy, entered into a new covenant with mankind.
What is offered unto man in this n • w cov • nant?
A. Grace and life everlasting, is freely offered, unto all that shall be reconciled unto God, by his Son Jesus Christ, who alone is Mediator betwixt God and man.
What are you to consider in CHRIST the Mediator of this Covenant?
Ans. Two things, his nature, and his Office.
How many natures be there in Christ?
Ans. Two, the God-Head, and the man-hood joined together in one person.
Why must Christ be God?
Ans. That his Obedience and suffering, might be of infinite worth, and value, as proceeding from such a person, as was God equal to the Father, that he might be able to overcome the sharpness of death (which himself was to unde • go) and to raise us up from the death of sin by sending his holy Spirit into our hearts.
Why must Christ be man:
Ans. Because the God-head could not suffer, and it was further requisite that the same nature which had offended should suffer for the offense, and that our nature which was corrupted in the first ADAM should be restored to his integrity in the second Adam Christ Jesus our Lord.
What is the Office of Christ?
Ans, To be a Mediator betwixt God & man.
What was required of Christ for making peace & reconciliation betwixt God and man?
Ans. That he should satisfy the first covenant whereunto man was tied.
Wherein was Christ to make satisfaction to the first covenant ;
Ans. In performing that righteousness which the Law of God did require of man, in bearing the punishment which was due unto man for breakīg of the same law.
How did Christ perform that righteousness which God's law requireth of mā?
Ans. In that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, without all spot of original corruption, and lived most holy all the days of his life, without all actual sin.
How did he bear the punishment which was due unto man for breaking God's Law?
A. In that he willingly for mā • sake made himself subject to the curse of the Law, both in body and soul, and humbling himself even unto the death, offered up unto his Father, a perfect sacrifice for all the sin of God's children.
What is required of man for obtaining the benefits of the Gospel?
Ans. That he receive Christ Jesus whom God doth freely offer unto hī.
By what means are you to receive Christ?
Ans. By faith, whereby I believe the gracious promises of the Gospel.
How do you rec • ive Christ by faith ;
Ans. By laying hold of him, and applying him with all his benefits to the comfort of my own soul.
What is the first main benefit which we do get by thus receiving Christ?
Ans. Justification, whereby in Christ, we are accounted righ • eous and so are freed from condemnation, and have assurance of everlasting life.
Wherein standeth this justification?
Ans. In the forgiveness of our sins, and imputing of Christ's righteousness unto us.
Whereby then must we • look to be justified in the sight of God.
Ans. Only by the merrits of CHRIST JESUS, received of us by faith.
What other main benefit do we get by receiving Christ?
Ans. Sanctification whereby we are freed from the tyranny of sin and the image of God is renewed in us.
Wherein is this sanctification seen?
Ans. In Repentance, and new Obedience, springing from thence.
What is Repentance?
Ans. Repentance is a gift of God, whereby a godly sorrow is wraught in the heart of the faithful, for offending God their merciful father, by their former transgressions, together with a resolution for the time • o come, to forsake their former, courses and to lead a new life:
What call you new obedience.
Ans. A careful endeavor which the faithful have to give unfeigned Obedience to all GODs Commandments, according to that measure of strength, wherewith God doth enable them.
What rule have we for the direction of our obedience?
Ans. The Moral Law of God, the sum whereof is contained in the ten Commandments.
What are the che • fe parts of this Law?
Ans.. The duties which we owe unto God, set down in the fi • st Table, and that which we owe unto man in the second.
What is the sum of the first Table.
Ans. That we love the Lord our God, with all our hear • , with all our Soul, and with all our mind.
How many Comm • ndements belong to this Table?
What duty is employed in the fir • t commandment?
Ans. That in all the inward powers, and faculties of our soul • s, the true eternal God be entertained and he only.
What duty is enjoined in the Second Commandment?
Ans. That all outward means of Religion, and solemn worship be given unto the same God alone, and not so much as the best degree thereof) even of the bowing of the body, be communicated to any Image or representation, either of God or anything else whatsoever.
What is enjoined in the third commandment?
Ans. That in the ordinary course of our lives, we use the Name of God (that is his tithes word, works, judgments, and whatsoever he would have himself known by (with reverence, and all holy respect, that in all things he may have his due glory given unto him.
What doth the fourth Commandment require?
Ans. That we keep holy the Sabbath day, by resting from the ordinary business of this life and bestowing that leisure upon the exercises of religion, both public and Private.
What is the sum of the second Table?
Ans. That we love our Neighbors as ourselves.
What Commandments belong to this Table?
Ans. The six last.
What kind of duties are prescribed in the fifth Commandment, which is the first of the second Table?
Ans. Such duties as are to be performed w th a special respect of superiors, inferiors, and equals, as namely, reverence to all superiors, obedience to such of them, as are in authority, and wha • soever special duties concern the husband, and Wife, Parents and Children, Masters, and Servants, Magistrate, and people, Pastors and Flock, and such like.
What doth the sixth Commandment enjoin?
Ans. The preservation of the safety of men's persons with all means tending to the same.
What is required in the seventh Commandment?
Ans. The preservation of the chastity of men's persons, for the keeping whereof, wedlock is commanded unto them that stand in deed thereof.
What things are ordained in the eight Commandment?
A. Whatsoever concerneth the goods of this life, in rega • d either of our selves, or of our Neighbors. Of ourselves, that we labor diligently, in an honest, and profitable calling, contenting our s • lves, with the goods well gotten, and with liberality employ them to good uses of our Neighbors, that we use just dealings unto them in this respect, and use all means that may tend to the furtherance of their estate.
What doth the ninth Commandment require?
Ans. The using of truth in our dealing, one with another, especially to the prese • vatiō of the good name of our neighbors.
What doth the tenth and last Commandment contain ;
Ans. It condemneth all wandering thoughts, that disagree from the love which we owe to our Neighbors, although we never yield our consent thereunto
What means doth God use to offer the benefits of the Gospel unto men, and to work, and increase his graces in them?
Ans. The outward Ministry of the Gospel.
Where is this Ministry executed:
Ans. In the visible Churches of Christ.
What do you call a visible Church?
Ans. A Company of men that live under the means of salvation.
What are the principal parts of this Ministry?
Ans. The administration of the Word, and Sacraments.
What is the word?
Ans. That part of the outward Ministry w ch consisteth in the delivery of doctrine.
What is a Sacrament?
Ans. A Sacrament is a visible sign, ordained by God, to be a Seal for confirmation of the promises of the Gospel unto the true members in Christ.
What are the Sacraments ordained by Christ in the New Testament?
Ans. Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Ans. The Sacrament of our admission into the Church, sealing unto us our new birth, by the communion, which we have with Christ Jesus.
What doth the elements of water in Baptism, represent unto us?
Ans. The blood and merits, of Jesus Christ our Lord.
What doth the cleansing of the body • epresent?
Ans. The cleansing of the Soul by the for givenesse of sin, and imputation of Christ's righteousness.
What doth the being under the water, and the freeing from it again, represent?
Ans. Our dying unto sin, by the force of Christ's death, and living again unto righteousness, through His Resurrection.
What is the Lord's Supper?
Ans. A Sacrament of our preservation in the Church, sealing unto us our spiritual nourishment, and continual increase in CHRIST.
What doth the elements of Bread and Wine in the Lord's supper represent unto us?
Ans. The Body, and Blood of Christ.
What doth the breaking of the Bread, and pouring out of the Wine represent?
Ans. The sufferings whereby our Savior was broken for our iniquities, the shedding of His precious blood and pouring out of His Soul unto death.
What doth the r • ceiving of the Bread, and Wine represent?
Ans, The receiving of Chr • st by faith.
What doth the nourishmrnt, which our body receiveth (by virtue of this outward meat) seal unto us?
Ans. The perfect nourishment, and continual increase of strength w ch the inward man, enjoyeth by virtue of the Communion with Jesus Christ, after the course of this life is ended.
What shall be the state of man in the world to come?
Ans. Everyone to be rewarded according to the life, which he hath lead.
How many kinds be there of this judgment?
Ans. Two, the one particular, the other general.
What call you the particular judgment?
Ans. That which is given upon the Soul of every man, as soon as it is departed from the body.
What is the state of the Soul of man, as soon as he departeth out of this life?
Ans. The Souls of God's Children be presen • lie received into heaven, there to enjoy unspeakable Comforts; the souls of the wicked are sent into hell, there to endure endless tormēnts.
What call you the general judgment?
Ans. That which Christ shall in a solemn manner, give upon all men at once, when he shall come at the last day, with the glory of his father, and all men, that ever have be • n from the beginning of the world until that day shall • ppeare, • ogether before him, bo • h in body, and soul, whether they be qui • ke or dead.
How sh • ll the dead appear before the judgment seat of Christ ?
Ans. The Bodies which they had in their life time, sh • ll by the Almighty power of God be restored again, and quickened with their souls and so there shall be a Resurrection from the dead.
How shall the quick appear?
Ans. Such a • then remain all • ve, sh • ll be changed in the twinkling of an eye, which shall be to them instead of death.
What sentence shall Christ pronounce upon the righteous?
Ans. Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you, from the foundations of the world.
What sentence shall he pronounce upon the wicked?
Ans. Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, which is prepared for the Devil, and his Angels.
What shall follow this?
Ans. Christ shall deliver up the kingdom to His FATHER, and GOD shall be all in all.
A Brief Method OF Christian Religion WITH A more particular Declaration of some particular heads of Doctrine, which for more plainesse sake were shortly touched in the former Sum.
Heb. 6.1.
Therefore leaving the Doctrine of the b • ginning of Christ. &c.
By James Usher Bish. of Armagh.
London, Printed for Geo. Badger. 1646.
THE Method of the Doctrine OF Christian Religion.
Question. WHat certain rule have we left us for our direction in the knowledge of the true Religion whereby we must be saved?
Ans. The holy Scriptures of the Old, and New Testament, which God delivered unto us, by the Ministry of his servants the Prophets, and Apostles, to inform us perfectly in all things that are needful for us to know in matters of Religion.
What be the general heads of Religion, which in these holy writings are delivered unto us?
Ans. The knowledge of God's nature and kingdom.
What are we to consider in God's nature?
Ans. First, his Essence or being, which is but one, and then the persons which are three in number.
What do you consider in God's Essence or being?
Ans. His Perfection and Life.
How are we to conceive of God in regard of his Perfection?
Ans. That he is a Spirit most single and infinite, having his being from himself, and having need of nothing which is without himself.
Why do you call God a Spirit?
Ans. To declare his being to be such as hath nobody, and is not subject to our outward senses, that we admit not any base conceit of his Majesty, in thinking him to be like unto anything which can be seen by the eye of man.
What understand you by this singleness or simplicity of God's nature?
Ans. That he hath no parts nor qualities in him, but whatsoever is in him is God, and God's whole Essence.
What gather you of this that God hath no parts nor qualities?
Ans. That he neither can be divided, nor changed, but remaineth always in the same state without any alteration at all.
In what respect do you call God's Essence infinite?
Ans. In that it is free from all measure, both of time and place.
How is God free from all measure of time?
Ans. In that he is eternal without beginning, and without ending, never elder nor younger, and hath all things present, unto him neither former or later, past or to come.
How is God infinite in regard of place?
Ans. In that he filleth all things and places both within and without the world, present everywhere, contained nowhere.
How is he present everywhere? hath he one part of himself here, and another there?
Ans. No, for he hath no parts at all whereby he might be divided, and therefore must be wholly wheresoever he is.
What do you call the life of God?
Ans. That by which the divine nature is in perpetual action, most simply and infinitely moving itself, in respect whereof the Scripture calleth him the Living GOD.
What gather you of the comparing this infiniteness and simplicity (or singleness) of God's nature, with his life and motion?
Answ. That when strength, justice, and mercy are attributed unto God, we must conceive that they are in him without all measure, and further also that they be not divers virtues whereby his nature is qualified; but that all they and everyone of them is nothing else but God himself, and his entire Essence.
Wherein doth the life of God show it self?
Ans. In his alsufficiencie, and in his holy will.
Wherein standeth his Alsufficiency?
A. In his All-knowing wisdom, and his Almighty power.
Wherein doth his wisdom consist?
Ans. In perfect knowledge of all things that either are or might be.
In what sort doth God know all things? doth he as we do, see one thing after another?
Ans. No, but with one sight he continually beholdeth all things distinctly, whether they be past, present, or to come.
How is He God Almighty?
Ans. Because he hath power to bring to pass all things that can be, howsoever to us they may seem impossible.
Wherein is the holiness of his will seen?
Ans. In his goodness and in his justice.
Wherein doth he show his goodness?
Ans. In being beneficial unto his creatures, and showing mercy unto them in their miseries.
Wherein showeth he his justice?
Ans. Both in his word, and in his deeds.
How showeth he justice in his Word?
Ans. Because the truth thereof is most certain.
How showeth he justice in his deeds?
Ans. By ordering and disposing all things rightly, and rendering to his creatures according to their works.
What do you call Persons in the Godhead?
Ans. Such as having one Essence or being equally common, are distinguished (not divided) one from another by some incommunicable property.
How cometh it to pass that there should be this diversity of Persons in the Godhead?
Ans. Though the Essence or being of the Godhead be the same, and most simply as hath been declared; yet the manner of this being is not the same, and hence ariseth the distinction of persons, in that beside the being which is common to all, and the selfsame in all, they have everyone some especial property which cannot be common to the rest.
Which are these persons, and what are these personal Properties?
Ans. The first Person in order is the Father, who begetteth the Son. The second is, the Son begotten of the Father. The third is, the Holy-Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son.
Doth the Godhead of the Father beget the God-head of the Son?
Ans. No, but the Person of the Father begetteth the Person of the Son.
Thus much of God's nature, what are we to consider in his Kingdom?
Ans. First, the decree made from all eternity; and then the execution thereof accomplished in time.
How was the decree made?
Ans. All things whatsoever should in time come to pass, with every small circumstance appertaining thereunto, was ordained to be so from all eternity, by God's certain and unchangeable counsel.
Did God then before he made man, determine to save some, & reject others?
Ans. Yes surely, before they had done either good or evil, God in his eternal counsel set some apart, upon whom he would in time show the riches of his mercy, and determined to withhold the same from others, on whom he would show the severity of his wrath.
What should move God to make this difference between Man and Man?
Ans. Only his own pleasure, whereby having purposed to create man for his own Glory, forasmuch as he was not bound to show mercy unto any, and his Glory should appear as well in executing of justice, as in showing mercy; It seemed good unto His Heavenly wisdom to choose out a certain number towards whom he would extend his undeserved mercy, leaving the rest to be spectacles of his justice.
Wherein doth the execution of God's decree consist?
Ans. In the works of the Creation and providence.
What was the manner of the Creation?
Ans. In the beginning of time when no creature had any being, God by his Word alone, did in the space of six days create all things, both visible and invisible, making everyone of them good in their kind.
What are principal creatures which were ordained unto an everlasting condition?
Ans. Angels altogether spiritual and void of bodies: And Man consisting of two parts, the body which is earthly, and the •• ule which is spiritual, and therefore not subject to mortality.
In what regard is man said to be made according to the likeness and Image of God?
Ans. In regard especially of the perfections of the powers of the soul; namely, the wisdom of the mind, and the true holiness of his free-will.
How are you to consider of God's Providence?
Ans. Both as it is common unto all the creatures which are thereby sustained in their being, and ordered according to the Lord's will, and as it properly concerneth the everlasting condition of the principal creatures; to wit, Angels, and men.
What is that which concerneth Angels?
Ans. Some of them remained in that blessed condition wherein they were created, and are by God's grace forever established therein. Others kept it not, but willfully left the same, and therefore are condemned to everlasting torment in Hell, without all hope of recovery.
How is the state of mankind ordered?
Ans. In this Life by the tenor of a twofold Covenant, and in the World to come, by the sentence of a twofold judgment.
What is the first of these Covenants?
Ans. The Law, or the covenant of works, whereby God promiseth everlasting life unto man, upon condition that he perform entire and perfect obedience unto his Law, according to that strength wherewith he was endued by nature of his creation, & in like sort threateneth death unto him if he do not perform the same.
What Seal did God use for the strengthening of his Covenant?
Ans. The two Trees which he planted in the middle of Paradise, the one of life, the other of knowledge of good and evil.
What did the Tree of life signify?
Ans. That man should have assurance of everlasting life if he continued in obedience.
What did the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil signify?
Ans. That if man did fall from obedience, he should be surely punished with everlasting death, and so know by experience in himself, what evil was, as before he knew by experience that only which was good.
What was the event of this Covenant?
Ans. By one man sin entered into the World, and Death by sin, and so Death went over all men, forasmuch as all men have sinned.
How did sin enter?
Ans. Whereas God had threatened unto our first Parents, that whatsoever day they did eat of that forbidden fruit they should certainly die. They believing rather the word of the Devil that they should not die, and subscribing unto his reproachful blasphemy, whereby he charged God with envy towards their estate, as if he had therefore forbidden the fruit, least by eating thereof they should become like God himself, entered into action of rebellion against the Lord who made them, and openly transgressed his Commandment.
What followeth from this?
Ans. First, the corruption of nature, called original sin, derived by continual descent from Father to Son, wherewith all the powers of the soul and body are infected, and that in all men equally, and then actual sin ariseth from hence.
Shew how the principal powers of the soul are defiled by this corruption of our nature?
Ans. First, the understanding is blinded with ignorance and infidelity. Secondly, the memory is prone to forget the good things which the understanding hath conceived. Thirdly, the will is disobedient unto the will of God, understood and remembered by us, the freedom and holiness which it had at the first being lost, and is now wholly bent to sin. Fourthly, the affections are ready to overrule the will, and are subject to all disorder. Lastly, the conscience it self is distempered and polluted.
In what sort is the conscience thus distempered?
Ans. The duties thereof being two, especially to give direction in things to be done, and to give both witness and judgment in things done: for the first, it sometimes giveth no direction at all, and thereupon maketh a man to sin in doing of an action, otherwise good and lawful; sometimes it giveth a direction, but a wrong one, and so becometh a blind guide, forbidding to do things which God alloweth, and commanding to do things which God forbiddeth. For the second, it sometimes giveth no judgment at all, nor checking the offender as it should; but being benumbed, and as it were seared with an hot iron; It sometimes giveth judgment, but falsely condemning where it should excuse, and excusing where it should condemn, thereby filling the mind with false fears, or feeding it with vain comforts, and sometimes giveth true judgment, but uncomfortable and fearful, tormenting the guilty soul as it were with the flashes of hell-fire.
What are the kinds of actual sin • ?
Ans. Such as are inward in the thoughts of the mind and lusts of the heart, or outward, in word or deed, whereby the things are done which should be omitted, and those things omitted, which should be done.
What is the death which all men are subject unto, by reason of these sins?
Ans. The curse of God both upon the things that belong unto them (such as are their Wife and Children, honor, possessions, use of God's Creatures) and upon their own persons in life and death.
What are the curses they are subject to in this life?
Ans. All temporal calamities both in body (which is subject unto infinite miseries) and in soul, which is plagued sometime with madness, sometime with the terror of a guilty conscience, sometimes with a benumbed and seared conscience, sometime with hardness of heart, which cannot repent; and finally, a spiritual slavery under the power of the world and the devil.
What is the death that followeth this miserable life?
Ans. First, a separation of the soul from the body, and then an everlasting separation of the whole man from the presence of God with unspeakable torment in hell-fire, never to be ended, which is the second death.
If all mankind be subject to this damnation, how then shall any man be saved?
Ans. Surely by this first Covenant of the Law, no flesh can be saved, but everyone must receive in himself the sentence of condemnation; yet the Lord being a God of mercy, hath not left us here, but entered into a second Covenant with mankind.
What is the second Covenant?
A. The Gospel or the Covenant of grace, whereby God promiseth everlasting life unto man, upon condition that he be reconciled to him in Christ; for as the condition of the 1. was the continuance of that justice, which was to be found in man's own person; so the condition of the second is the obtaining of that justice which is found without himself in the person of the Mediator Jesus Christ.
What are we to consider in Christ our Mediator?
Ans. Two things, his nature and his office.
How many natures be there in Christ?
Ans. Two, the God-head, and the Manhood; remaining still distinct in their substance, properties and actions.
How many persons hath he?
Ans. Only one, which is the person of the Son of God, for the second person in the Trinity took upon him, not the person, but the nature of man; to wit, a body and a reasonable soul, which do not subsist alone, (as we see in all other men) but are wholly sustained in the person of the Son of God.
What is the use of this wonderful union of the two natures in one Person?
Ans. Our nature being received into the Union of the Person of the Son of God, the sufferings and the obedience which it performed became of infinite value, as being the sufferings of him who was God, equal with the Father.
What is the Office of Christ?
Ans. To be a Mediator betwixt God and Man.
What par • of his Office did he exercise concerning God?
What are the parts of his Priestly Office?
Ans. The satisfaction of God's justice, and his intercession.
What is required of Christ for the satisfaction of God's justice?
Ans. The paying of the price which was due for the breach of the Law committed by mankind, and the performance of that righteousness, which man by the Law was bound unto, but unable to accomplish.
How was Christ to pay the price which was due for the sin of mankind?
Ans. By that wonderful humiliation, whereby he that was equal with God, made himself of no reputation, and became obedient unto the death, sustaining both in body and soul, the curse that was due to the transgression of the Law.
What righteousness was there required of Christ in our behalf?
Ans. Both original which he had from His conception (being conceived by the Holy-Ghost, in all pureness and holiness of nature) and actual which he performed by yielding perfect obedience, in the whole course of His life, unto all the precepts of God's Law.
What is the Intercession of Christ?
Ans. That part of His Priesthood, whereby He maketh request unto His Father for us, and presenteth unto Him both our Persons, and our imperfect obedience, making both of them (however in themselves polluted) by the merit of His satisfaction, to be acceptable in God's sight.
Thus much of that part of the office of the Mediator which is exercised in things concerning God; how doth He exercise himself in things concerning man ?
Ans. By communicating unto man that grace and redemption which he hath purchased from His Father.
What parts of His Office doth He exercise here?
An. His Prophetical and Kingly Office.
What is His Prophetical Office?
Ans. That whereby He informeth us of the benefits of our redemption, and revealeth the whole will of His Father unto us, both by the outward means which He hath provided for the instruction of His Church, and by inward enlightening of our minds by His Holy Spirit.
What is the Kingly office?
Ans. That whereby He ruleth His Subjects, and confoundeth all his enemies.
How doth He rule His Subjects?
Ans. By making the Redemption which He hath wrought effectual in the Elect, calling those whom by His Prophetical office He hath taught to embrace the benefits offered unto them, and governing them being called both by these outward Ordinances which He hath instituted in the Church, and by the inward operation of His blessed Spirit.
Having thus declared the Natures and Office of Christ, the Mediator of the New Covenant; What are you now to consider in the condition of mankind which hold by Him?
Ans. Two things, the perticipation of the grace of Christ, effectually communicated by the operation of God's Spirit unto the Catholic Church, which is the Body and Spouse of Christ, out of which there is no salvation; and the outward means ordained for the offering and effecting of the same, vouchsafed unto the Visible Church.
How is the Grace of God effectually communicated to the Elect, of whom the Catholic Church doth consist?
Ans. By that wonderful Union, , whereby Christ and His Church are made one; so that all the Elect being engrafted into him, grow together into one Misticall Body, whereof He is the Head.
What is the bond of this union?
Ans. The communion of God's Spirit, which being derived from that Man Christ Jesus, upon all the Elect, as from the Head unto the Members, giveth unto them Spiritual life, and maketh them partakers of Christ with all His benefits,
What are the benefits which arise to God's children from hence?
Ans. Reconciliation and Sanctification.
What is Reconciliation?
A. That grace whereby we are freed from God's curse, and restored unto His Fatherly favor.
What are the branches of this Reconciliation?
Ans. Justification and Adoption.
What is Justification?
Ans. That Grace whereby we are freed from the gilt of sin, and accounted righteous in Christ Jesus our Redeemer.
How then must sinful man look to be justified in the sight of God?
Ans. By the mercy of God alone, whereby he freely bestoweth His Son upon him, imputing man's sins unto Christ, and Christ's Righteousness unto man, whereby the sinner being possessed of Jesus Christ, obtaineth of God remission of sins, and imputation of Righteousness.
What is Adoption?
Ans. That grace whereby we are not only made friends with God, but also His Sons and heirs with Christ.
What is Sanctifica ••• n?
A. That grace whereby we are freed from that bondage of sin remaining in us, and restored unto the freedom of Righteousness.
What be parts of Sanctification?
Ans. Mortification, whereby our natural corruption is subdued, and vivification or quickening, whereby inherent holiness is renewed in us.
Is there no distinction to be made among them that thus receive Christ?
Ans. Yes, for some are not capable of knowledge, as Infants, and such as we term Naturals. Othersome are of discretion in the former sort, we are not to proceed further then God's election, and the secret operation of the Holy-Ghost. In the other there is further required, a lively faith bringing forth fruit of true holiness
Is it in man's power to attain this Faith and Holiness?
Ans. No, but God worketh them in his children according to that measure which he in his children seeth fit.
What do you understand by Faith?
Ans. A gift of God, whereby man being persuaded not only of the truth of God's Word in general; but also of the promises of the Gospel in particular, applieth Christ with all his benefits, unto the comfort of his own soul.
How are we said to be justified by Faith?
Ans. Not as though we were just, for the worthiness of this virtue, for in such respect Christ alone is our righteousness; but because faith, and faith only is the instrument fit to apprehend and receive, not to work or procure our justification, and so to knit us unto Christ that we may be made per • akers of all his benefits.
What is that holiness which accompanieth this justifying faith?
Ans. A gift of God, whereby the heart of the believer is withdrawn from evil, and converted unto newness of life.
Wherein doth this virtue show it self?
Ans. First, in unfeigned repentance, and then in cheerful obedience springing from the same.
What are the parts of repentance?
Ans. Two, a true grief wrought in the heart of the believer, for offending so gracious a God by his former transgressions. And a conversion unto God again, with full purpose of heart, ever after to cleave unto him, and to refrain from that which shall be displeasing in his sight.
What is the direction of that obedience which God requireth of man?
A. The moral Law, whereof the ten Commandments are an abridgement.
Ans. Love.
What be the parts thereof?
Ans. The love which we owe unto God, commanded in the first; and the love which we owe unto our Neighbors, commanded in the second Table.
How do you distinguish the four Commandments which belong unto the first Table?
Ans. They do either respect the conforming of the inward powers of the soul, to the acknowledgement of the true God, as the first Commandment; or the holy use of the outward means of God's worship, as in the three following.
What are the duties which concern the outward means of God's worship?
Ans. They are either such as are to be performed every day as occasion shall require, or such as are appointed for a certain day.
What Commandments do belong unto the first kind?
Ans. The second concerning the solemn worship of Religion; and the third, concerning that respect which we are to have of God's honor in the common carriage of our life.
What Commandment belongeth to the second kind?
Ans. The fourth, enjoining the special sanctification of the Sabbath day.
How do you distinguish the six Commandments belonging to the second Table?
Ans. The first five do ordain such actions as are enjoined with consent of the mind at least: The last, respecteth the first motions that arise in the heart before any consent be given.
What are the duties • ppertaining to the first kind?
Ans. They are either due unto certain persons, in regard of some special bonds; or to all men in general, by a certain rite; the first sort is set down in the first Commandment; the other, in the four next.
What is the outward means whereby the Gospel is offered unto mankind?
A. The Ministry of the Gospel, which is exercised in the visible Church of Christ.
Of whom doth the visible Church cons • st?
Ans. Of public Officers, ordained to be Ministers of Christ, and disposers of Heavenly things, according to the Prescript of the Lord, and the rest of the Saints, who with obedience are to subject themselves to the Ordinance of God.
What are the parts of the outward Ministry?
Ans. The administration of the Word, and of the Ordinances exercised thereunto, which are especially Sacraments and Censures.
What is the Word?
Ans. That part of the outward Ministry which consisteth in the delivery of Doctrine, and this is the ordinary instrument which God useth in begetting Faith.
What order is there used in the delivery of the Word for the begetting of Faith?
Ans. First, the Covenant of the Law is urged to make sin and the punishment thereof known, whereupon the sting of conscience pricketh the heart with a sense of God's wrath, and maketh man utterly to despair of any ability in himself to obtain everlasting life; after this preparation the mercies of the Gospel are propounded, whereupon the sinner resuming hope of pardon, sueth unto God for mercy, and particularly applieth unto his own soul those comfortable promises, and hath wrought in him by the Spirit of God, an earnest desire at the least to believe and repent.
What is a Sacrament?
Ans. A visible sign ordained by God, to be a seal for confirmation of the promises of the Gospel, unto those who perform the conditions required in the same.
How is this done by a Sacrament?
A. By a fit similitude between the sign and the things signified; the benefit of the Gospel is represented unto the eye, and the assurance of enjoying the same, confirmed to such as are within the Covenant: Wherefore as the preaching of the word is the ordinary means of begetting Faith; so both it and the holy use of the Sacraments, be the instruments of the Holy-Ghost, to increase and confirm the same.
How many kinds of Sacraments be there?
Ans. Two, the first of Admission of God's children: into the Church, there to be partakers of an everlasting communion with them; the second, of his preservation or nourishment therein, to assure him of his continual increase in Christ, in which respect the former is once, the lat • er often to be administered.
What do you understand by Censures?
Ans. The Ordinance which God hath appointed for the confirmation of the threatenings of the Gospel against the disobedient.
How are these Censures exercised?
Ans. First, by the word alone by admonition. Secondly, by afflicting a penalty, either by shutting up the offender in the Lord's prison, till such time as he show tokens of repentance, or by cutting off the rotten member from the rest of the body.
Hath this administration of the Gospel been always after the same manner?
Ans. For substance it hath always been the same, but in regard of the m • nner proper to certain times, it is distinguished into two kinds, the old and the new.
What call you the old Ministry ▪
A. That which was delivered unto the Fathers, to continue until the fullness of time, wherein, by the coming of Christ it was to be reformed.
What were the Properties of this Ministry?
Ans. First, the Commandments of the Law were more largely, and the promises of Christ more sparingly and darkly propounded, these la • ter being so much the more generally and obscurely delivered, as the manifesting of them was further off. Secondly, these promises of things to come were shadows, with a similitude of Types and Figures; which when the truth should be exhibited were to vanish away.
What were the chief States and Periods of this old Ministry?
Ans.. The first from Adam to Abraham, the second from Abraham to Christ.
What were the special Properties of the latter of these two Periods?
Ans. First, it was more especially restrained unto a certain Family and Nation. Secondly, it had joined with it a solemn repetition and declaration of the first Covenant of the Law. Thirdly, besides the Ceremonies which were greatly enlarged under Moses, it had Sacraments also added unto it.
What were the ordinary Sacraments of this Ministry?
Ans. The Sacrament of Admission in the Church was Circumcision, instituted in the days of Abraham: The other of continual preservation and nourishment, the Paschal Lamb instituted in the time of Moses.
What is the new Administration of the Gospel?
Ans. That which is delivered unto us by Christ to continue unto the end of the world.
What are the Properties thereof?
Ans. First, it is indifferently propounded unto all people, whether they be Jews or Gentiles, and in that respect is Catholic or Universal. Secondly, it is full of grace and truth, bringing joyful tidings unto mankind, that whatsoever was formerly promised of Christ, is now accomplished, and so instead of the ancient types and shadows exhibited, the things themselves, with a large declaration of all the benefits of the Gospel.
What be the principal points of the word of this Ministry?
Ans. That Christ our Savior (whom God by his Prophets had promised to send into the World is come in the flesh, and hath accomplished the work of our redemption: That he was conceived by the Holy-Ghost, borne of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified and died upon the Cross: That Body and Soul being thus separated, his body was laid in the grave, and remained under the power of death, and his soul went into the place appointed for the souls of the righteous; namely Paradise, the Seat of the Blessed. That the third day body and soul being joined together again, he rose from the dead, and afterwards ascended up into Heaven, where he sitteth at the right hand of His Father, until such time as He shall come unto the last Judgment.
What are the Sacraments of this Ministry?
Ans. The Sacrament of Admission into the Church is B • ptisme, (which sealeth unto us our Spiritual Birth) the other Sacrament of our continual preservation is the Lord's Supper, which sealeth unto us our continual nourishment.