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IN what does true Religion consist?
In the knowledge of the one true God,* 1.1and,* 1.2 whom he hath sent Jesus Christ, and in the worshipping and serving them.
What doest thou believe con∣cerning God?
1. That there is is a God:
2. That he is One,* 1.3 3. Eternal,* 1.4 4. Al∣mighty: * 1.55. That he hath made all the world:* 1.6 6. That he knows all things:* 1.7 7. That he is a Spirit; not of any shape,* 1.8 or figure, or parts, or body:* 1.9 8. That he is present in all pla∣ces:* 1.10 9. That his seat is in Heaven,* 1.11 and he governs all the world,* 1.12 so that nothing happens without his order and leave:* 1.13 10.* 1.14 That he is the Foun∣tain of Justice,* 1.15 11. Of Mercy,* 1.16 12. of Bounty or Goodness:* 1.17 13. That he is unalterably happy,* 1.18 and infinitely perfect:* 1.19 14. That no evil can come near him:* 1.20 15. And he is the Rewarder of them that diligently seek him.* 1.21* 1.22* 1.23* 1.24* 1.25* 1.26* 1.27* 1.28* 1.29* 1.30* 1.31
What other Mystery is re∣vealed concerning God?
Person is called* 1.36[The son, and the Word of the Father.]* 1.37 The third is [The Spirit and promise of the Fa∣ther.]* 1.38 And these are Three and One after a secret manner,* 1.39 which we must believe, but cannot understand.
What is this God to us?
He is our Creator and Fa∣ther,* 1.40 and therefore he is our Lord;* 1.41 and we are his Creatures, his Sons,* 1.42and his Servants.* 1.43
Wherefore did God create and make us?
That we might do him honour and service,* 1.44 and receive from him infinite felicities.* 1.45
How did God make man?
By the Power of his word out of the slime of the Earth,* 1.46 and he breathed into him the breath of life.
Was man good or bad when God made him?
Man was made pure and innocent.* 1.47
How then did man become sinful and miserable?
By listening to the whis∣pers
of a tempting spirit,* 1.48 and break∣ing an easy Commandment which God gave him as the first tryal of his obedience.
What evils and chages followed this Sin,
Adam, who was the first man and the first sinner,* 1.49 did both for himself and his posterity fall into the state of death,* 1.50 of sickness and misfortunes, and disorder both of Body and Soul: we were thrown out of Paradise, and lost our Immor∣tality.
Was man left in these evils without Remedy?
No;* 1.51 but God, pitying his creature promised,* 1.52 That of the seed of the Woman he would raise up a Saviour and Redeemer,* 1.53 who should restore us to God's favour,* 1.54* 1.55 and to the felicity which we lost.
How did God perform the promise?
By sending Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature,* 1.56 to die for our sins, to become our Lord,* 1.57and the Author of holiness, and life,* 1.58 and Salvation to mankind.
Who is Jesus Christ?* 1.59
He is the Son of God,* 1.60 the Second Person of the holy Tri∣nity,* 1.61 equal with the Fathe,* 1.62 rtrue God without beginning of life or end of daies.* 1.63
The Son of God in the fulness of time, by the miracles of his Mercy,* 1.66 took upon him Humane nature,* 1.67 and united it after a won∣derful manner to his Godhead;* 1.68 so that he was both God and Man.* 1.69 He was born of a Virgin,* 1.70 who con∣ceived him not by any natural means,* 1.71 but by the power of the holy Ghost, and was called Jesus Christ; and his Mother's name was Mary of the seed of Abraham,* 1.72 of the fa∣mily of David.* 1.73 And all these things came to pass when Augustus Cae∣sar was Lord of the Roman Empire.
How did Jesus Christ work this promised Redemption for us?
By his holy and humble life,* 1.74 and his obedient dying a painful death for us upon the Cross.
What benefits do we receive by the life and death of Jesus Christ?
We are instructed by his Doctrine,* 1.75 encouraged by his ex∣cellent Example,* 1.76 we are reconciled to God by his death;* 1.77 He hath gi∣ven us an excellent Law, and glori∣ous Promises,* 1.78 and himself hath re∣ceived power to make good all those Promises to his Servants, and fear∣fully to destroy them that will not have him to reign over them.
What Promises hath Jesus Christ made us in the Gospel?
He hath promised to give us all that we need in this life;* 1.79 That every thing shall work together for our good;* 1.80 That he will be with us in tribulation and persecution.* 1.81 He hath promised his Graces and his holy Spirit to enable us to do our duty;* 1.82 and if we make use of these Graces,* 1.83 he hath promised to give us more.* 1.84 He hath promised to forgive us our sins;* 1.85 to hear our prayers;* 1.86 to take the sting of death from us;* 1.87 to keep our souls in safe custody after death;* 1.88 and in his due time to raise
our bodies from the grave, and to joyn them to our Souls, and to give us eternal life, and joys that shall never cease.
How is Jesus Christ able to do all this for us?
When he had suffered death,* 1.89 and was buried three days,* 1.90 God raised him up again,* 1.91 and gave him all power in Heaven and Earth made him head of the Church,* 1.92 Lord of Men and Angels,* 1.93 and the judge of the quick and dead.* 1.94
By what means doth Jesus Christ our Lord convey all these Bles∣sings to us?
Jesus Christ had three Offices,* 1.95 and in all he was Mediator between God and man;* 1.96 He is our Prophet, our Priest, and our King.
What was his Office as he was a Phophet?
This Office he finished on earth;* 1.97 beginning when he was thir∣ty years old to •…•…each the Gospel of the Kingdom,* 1.98 Faith and Repen∣tance.* 1.99
When began his Priestly Office? and wherein does it consist?
It began at his death;* 1.100 for he was himself the Priest and the Sacrifice,* 1.101 offering himself upon the Altar of the Cross for the sins of all the World.
Did his Priestly Office then cease?
No: He is a Priest for ever,* 1.102 that is, unto the end of the world, and represents the same Sa∣crifice to God in Heaven, interce∣ding and praying continually for us in the virtue of that sacrifice, by which he obtains relief of all our ne∣cessities.
What doth Christ in Hea∣ven pray for on our behalf?
That our sins may be par∣doned,* 1.103 our infirmities pitied,* 1.104 our necessities relieved,* 1.105 our persons de∣fended, our temptations overcome, that we may be reconciled to God, and be saved.
How is Jesus Christ also our King?
When he arose from his grave, and had for forty days toge∣ther
conversed with his Disciples,* 1.106 shewing himself alive by many infal∣lible tokens,* 1.107 he ascended into Hea∣ven,* 1.108 and there sits at the right hand of God,* 1.109 all things being made sub∣ject to him,* 1.110 Angels,* 1.111 and Men, and Devils, Heaven and Earth, the Ele∣ments, and all the Creatures; and over all he reigns, comforting and defending his elect, subduing the power of the Devil, taking out the sting of Death, and making all to serve the Glory of God, and to turn to the good of his Elect.
How long must his King∣dom last?
Till Christ hath brought all his enemies under his feet,* 1.112 that is, till the day of judgment:* 1.113 in which Day shall be performed the greatest acts of his Kingly power; for then he shall quite conquer Death,* 1.114 triumph over the Devils, throw his enemies into Hell-fire, and carry all his Elect to never∣ceasing glories: and then he shall deliver up the Kingdom to his Fa∣ther, that God may be all in all.
How is Christ a Mediator in all these Offices.
A Mediator signifies one that stands between God and us. As Christ is a Prophet,* 1.115 so he taught us his Father's will, and ties us to obe∣dience: As he is a Priest, he is our Redeemer,* 1.116 having paid a price for us even his most precious blood; and our Advocate, pleading for us, and mediating our Pardon and Salva∣on: As he is a King, so he is our Lord, our Patron, and our Judge; yet it is the Kingdom of a Mediator,* 1.117 that is, in order to the world to come, but then to determine and end. And in all these he hath made a Covenant between God and us of an everlasting interest.
What is the Covenant which Jusus Christ our Mediator hath made between God and us?
That God will write his Laws in our hearts,* 1.118 and will pardon us and defend us,* 1.119 and raise us up again at the last day,* 1.120 and give us an inheritance in his Kingdom.
To what Conditions hath he bound us on our parts.
Faith and Repentance.* 1.121
When do we enter into this Covenant?
In our Baptism, and at our ripe years, when we understand the secrets of the kingdom of Christ,* 1.122 and undertake willingly what in our names was undertaken for us in our infancy.
What is the Covenant of Faith which we enter into in Bap∣tism?
We promise to believe that Jesus Christ is the Messias,* 1.123 or he that was to come into the world;* 1.124 That he is the Anointed of the Lord, or the Lord's Christ; That he is the Son of God, and the Son of the Virgin Mary; That he is God incarnate,* 1.125 or God manifested in the flesh;* 1.126 That he is the Mediator between God and Man;* 1.127 That he died for us upon the Cross,* 1.128 and rose again the third day, and ascended into Heaven, and shall be there till the day of Judgment; that then he shall be our Judge; in the mean time he is the King of the world, and head of the Church.
What is the Covenant of Repentance?
We promise to leave all our sins,* 1.129 and with a hearty and sin∣cere endeavour to give up our will and affections to Christ,* 1.130 and do what he hath commanded (accord∣ing to our power and weakness.)* 1.131
How if we fail of this Promise through infirmity, and com∣mit sin?
Still we are within the Covenant of Repentance,* 1.132 that is, within the promise of pardon,* 1.133 and possibility of returning from dead works and mortifying our lusts: and though this be done after the manner of men, that is, in weakness, and with some failings; yet our endea∣vour must be hearty, and constant, and diligent, and our watchful∣ness and prayers for pardon must be lasting and persevering.
What Ministeries hath Christ appointed to help us in this duty?
The Ministery of the Word and Secraments,* 1.134 which he will accompany with his Grace and his Spirit.* 1.135
What is a Sacrament?
An outward Ceremony or∣dained by Christ, to be a sign and a means of conveying his grace unto us.
How many Sacraments are ordained by Christ?
What is Baptism?
An outward washing of the Body in Water,* 1.138 in the Name of the Father,* 1.139 Son,* 1.140 and Holy Ghost:* 1.141 in which we are buried with Christ in his death,* 1.142 after a Sacramental manner,* 1.143 and are made partakers of Christ's Death and of his Resurrection, teaching us, that we should rise from the death of Sin to the life of Righteousness.
VVhat is the Sacrament of the Lords Supper?
A ceremony of eating Bread and drinking Wine,* 1.144 being blessed and consecrated by God's Minister in publick Assemblies,* 1.145 in remembrance of Christ's Death and Passion.* 1.146
What benefits are done un∣to us by this Sacrament?
Our Souls are nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ,* 1.147 our Bodies are sealed to a Blessed Resurrection and to Immortality;* 1.148 our Infirmities are strengthned, our Graces encreased, our Pardon made more certain: and when we pre∣sent our selves to God, having re∣ceived Christ's Body within us, we are sure to be accepted, and all the good prayers we make to God for our selves and others are sure to be heard.
Who are fit to receive this Sacrament?
None but baptized Chri∣stians,* 1.149 and such as repent of their Sins, and heartily purpose to lead a good Life.
What other Ministeries hath Christ ordained in his Church to help us, and to bring so many great purposes to pass?
to comfort and instruct, to restore and reconcile us, if we be o∣vertaken in a fault, to visit the sick, to separato the vile from the preci∣ous, to administer the Sacraments, and to watch for the good of our Souls.
What are we tied to per∣form towards them?
To pay them honour and maintenance,* 1.153 to obey them in all things according to the Gospel,* 1.154 and to order our selves so that they may give account of our Souls with chearfulness and joy.* 1.155
Which are the Command∣ments and Laws of Jesus Christ?
John 17.3.
1 John 2. 23.
Deut. 6. 2.
Exod. 20. 2, 3.
Rev. 1.4.
Psal. 90. 2.
1 Tim. 1. 17.
Gen. 1. 1.
Exod. 20. 11.
Heb. 3. 4.
Isa. 40. 12.
Job 42. 2, 3.
Psal. 139. 1, &c.
Psal. 147. 5.
Exod. 34. 6, 7.
1 Tim. 6. 1, 16.
John 4. 24
1 King. 8. 27.
Amos 3. 6.
Psal. 139. 1, 9.
Acts 7. 48, 49. PS. 2. 4. & 103. 16. & 115. 3.
Isa. 11. 4. & 44. 6.
Job. 9.4, &c.
Deut. 32. 39.
Gen. 18. 25.
Deut. 32.4.
Exod: 34. 7.
Psal. 103. 8. & 25. 8. & 86. 5.
Psal. 51. 2
Jam. 1.17.
Heb. 11.6.
Mat.28.19.
Joh. 14. 16, 26. & 15. 26.
1 Cor. 12. 4, 5, 6.
2 Cor.13. 13.
1 John 5. 7.
1 John. 1. 18. & 3. 16.
Luke 24. 49.
Acts 1. 4.& 3. 33.
Colos. 1. 16.
Acts 1. 7. 24.
1 Cor. 8. 6. & 1 Cor. 6. 18.
Gal. 1. 4. Phil. 2. 22. Dan. 2. 47. Zach. 4. 14. & 14. 9. Mat. 11. 25.
Psal. 145. 10, 11.
Acts 14. 15.
Gen. 2. 7.
Eccles. 7. 29. Ecclus 15. 14.
Gen. 2. pro tot.
Rom. 5. 12. & 3. 23 & 6. 20.
Eph. 2. 3.
Gen. 3. 15.
Gal. 4. 4.
1 Pet.1.20.
John 3. 16.
Heb. 2. 14, 15, &c.
Joh 8. 25, 18.
Heb. 2. 9.& 16, 17, 18.
Luke 1. 74, 75.
Isa. 9. 6.
1 Tim. 3. 16.
1 John. 5. 20.
Isa. 35. 4, 5.
Joh.1.2 & 18. & Joh. 8. 5, 8.Rev. 1. 8. Heb. 13. 8. & 1.8.
Phil. 2. 6.
Rom. 9. 5.
Gal. 4. 4. Rom. 1. 3.
Acts 2. 30. & 3. 32.& 3. 22.
Heb. 1. 1. & 2. 11.
Acts 13.23.
Deut. 18. 15.
Mat. 1. 18.
Mat. 1. 21.
Luk. 2. 4, 5, &c.
Heb.29.10.
Read the 3.& 4. & 5.
Chapters to the Hebr.
Eph. 2. 13, 14, 15.
Luk. 19. 27. & 24. 46, 47.
Mat.6.25,&c.
Rom.8.28.John 13.33.Acts 14.22. 2 Cor.1.4.
Mat.8.11,12. & 11.20,21.
Joh. 6.44,45.2 Pet.3.4.
Acts 2.38.& 3.19,
Luke 18.7.
Mat.7.7.
Col.2.13.
1 Cor.15.54,55,57.
Rev. 14. 13. 1 Cor. 15. 22. 1 Cor. 6. 14. 2 Cor. 4. 14. John 6. 40.
Mat.28 6,18.
Phil.2.9, &c.
Heb. 2. 9. & 5.6. & 1.8.
Tit.2.13,14.
Eph. 3.14,15,20.
1 Cor. 11. 3. Eph. 5. 23. Col. 2. 10. Acts 10. 42. 2 Tim. 4. 1. & 8 17, 31. 1 Pet. 4. 5.
1 Tim.2.5.
Heb.8.6. & 9.15.& 12.24.
John 1.18.
Luke 3.23. John 5.43.
Luke 24. 19. Acts 3.23,&c.
Heb.5.5,7,8, &c.
Heb.7.per tot.
Heb.7.24,25.
Rom.8.33,34.
1 John 2.1.
Heb.4. 14, 15,16.
Heb.1.3,8.
Psal.110.1.
1 Thes.1.10.
Acts 1.3.
Luke 24.51. & 1.33.
1 Pet.3.23.
Psal.110.1.
1 Cor. 15.24.25,28.
Mat.25.34.41.
Gal.3.20.
Heb.8.6. & 9.15. & 12.24.
•…•…Cor.15.24.
Heb.8.6. & 10. 13.
Heb.10.16. & 12.24.
Jer. 31. 31.
Mark 16. 16. Matth. 4. 17. Acts 8.37. & 2. 13.
Acts 2.38.41. & 3.19.
1 John 2.9.
Matth. 16. 16. & 1. 18.
1 Tim. 3.16.
Rom.14.9.
Acts 1.9. & 3.21. & 17.31.
Rev. 1. 5. & 17. 14.
Luke 1.75.Tit. 2.11,12.
1 Pet.2.1,2,3.2 Pet.1.4, &c.
Heb.12.1,2.
1 John 2.12. & 5. 16,17.
Gal. 6.1. & 5.24,25.
Rom.10.15. Eph.2.20. & 4.11,12.
1 Cor. 12. 28. 2 Cor. 5. 20. Mat.28.20.
Mat.28.19. & 26.26.
1 Cor.11.21.
Gal.3.27.—Eph.5.26.
1 Cor.12.23.—Col.2.11,12.
Rom.6.4.—Acts 2. 38.
John 3.5.—Acts 22.16.
Tit.3.5.—Heb.10.22.
1 Pet.3.21.
1 Cor.11.23,24,25.
Matth.26.26.
Mark 14.22.Luke 22.19.
1 Cor.10.16.
Matth.26.28.
1 Cor.11.27,28,29.
2 Cor.5.18.
Acts 20.28.1 Pet.5.2.
Gal.1.16.James 5.14.
Gal.6.6.
1 Tim.5.17.
Heb.13.17
Read also Rom. 12.
Eph. 5, & 9.
Chapters. 1 Thes. 5.