The apostles catechisme consisting of sixe articles, plainly expounded very profitable for all, but especially for the benefite of the vnlearned and those that desire more knowledge / by Iohn Foorthe, minister of the word of God.

The second Article of faith toward God.

Question.

VVHat say you of faith toward God, which is the second Article of the Apostles Catechisme?

A. Three things.

First, what faith is.

Secondly, what God promiseth.

Thirdly, what we must beleeue.

Q. What is faith, or how describe you it?

A. Faith (resting vpon the promises of God declared in his word. Rom 10.17. is the ground of things hoped for, and the e∣uidence of things not seene. Heb. 11.1. for wee looke not at the things which are seene, but at the things which are not seene: for the things which are seene, are temporall, but the things which are not seene, are eternall. 2 Cor. 4.18. for eye hath not seene, care hath not heard, neither haue entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him. 1. Corinthians 2.9. and therefore it is said in an other place, we

walke by faith and not by sight.

Q. What say you then of the promises which God hath made to his Church.

A. Two things.

First, what they are.

Secondly, how God performeth them.

Q. What are the promises which God hath made to his Church?

A. They are of two sorts.

1. Some to be performed in this life.

2. Some to be performed in the life to come.

Q. What are the promises that belong to this life, and are in this life to be performed?

A. They are many, but I will mention onely foure.

1. The first is, that great and gratious promise of mans redemption, made pre∣sently after the fall of Adam. Gen. 3.15. the seede of the woman shall breake the head of the Serpent and when the fulnesse of time was come, performed by Christ. Gal. 4.4. but when the fulnesse of time was come, God sent forth his Sonne made of a woman, made vnder the law, to redeeme them that were vnder the Law, that wee might receiue the adoption of sonnes.

2. The second is, that he will make a speciall and an euerlasting couenant with

the faithfull, and with their seede after them to bee their God, and the God of their seede after them. Gen. 17.7.

3. The third is, that he will make the faithfull his peculiar people. Exod. 19.5. Now therefore if yee will obey my voice indeede and keepe my couenant, then yee shall be a peculiar treasure vnto me aboue all people, though all the earth be mine, which Moses repeateth Deut. 6.7. & 14.2. & 26.18.

4. The fourth is, that God will honour, blesse and prosper his faithfull flocke aboue all people in the world, in all things per∣tayning to this present life, as Moses shew∣eth at large Leuit. 26.3, &c. Deut. 28.1. &c. which two chapters are worthie to be often read, and meditated vpon conti∣nually.

Q. What be promises which God made to his chosen people for the life to come.

A. They are exceeding great and pre∣tious, whereby in this life we be made per∣takers of the diuine nature. 2. Pet. 1.4. and at the generall resurrection our mortall bodies shall be made immortall. 1. Cor. 15.42. &c. and like to the glorious bodie of Christ. Phil. 3.21. wee shall be free from all miserie. Apoc. 7.16. Apoc. 21.4. We

shall be with Christ where he is, Ioh. 14.3. and 17.24. and see God as he is. 1. Ioh. 3.2. and 1. Cor. 13.12. and shall be euer with the Lord. 1. Thess. 4.17.

And for this cause Paul saith: godlines is profitable vnto all things, hauing pro∣mises of this life that now is, and of that which is to come. 1. Tim. 4.8.

Q. How doth God performe his pro∣mises?

A. This may be answered two waies. First, more generally God performeth all his promises in Christ, as the Apostle witnesseth. 2. Cor. 1.20. for all the promi∣ses of God in him are yea and in him, Amen. For by Christ we haue redempti∣on. Eph. 2.13. and interest to the bles∣sings of God, seeing Christ is heire of all things, Heb. 1.2.

Secondly, by such ordinarie meanes as God hath appointed both for temporall and also for eternall blessings.

Q. What say you in the third place con∣cerning our selues.

A. Three things.

First, we must beleeue in God almigh∣ty, who of his meere mercy hath made vs these gratious promises, and not in idols that can doe nothing. Deut. 4.28. Jerem.

10.5. neither in secondary meanes, which God hath ordained, that wee should vse them, but not trust in them. Psal. 20.7.

Secondly, we must beleeue the forena∣med promises mentioned before in answe∣ring to your fift and sixt question, that they shall be performed according as the Lord had promised them.

Thirdly, because without faith we can∣not please God, nor obtaine his promises, and because our faith is weake; wee must labour to confirme and strengthen our faith in God and in his promises, that we may enioy his fauour, and receiue his promises.

Q. How may we strengthen our faith?

A. Three waies.

First, by reading and meditating vpon the word of God.

Secondly, by meditating vpon Gods fi∣delity.

Thirdly, by considering Gods power.

Q. How doth the reading of the Scrip∣ture confirme our faith?

A. By considering these three things.

First, that the same word which beget∣teth faith. Rom. 10.17. is sufficient also to confirme and strengthen faith.

Secondly, that it is vnpossible, the word

of God should fayle. 1. Sam. 3.19. Rom. 9.6.

Thirdly, that heauen and earth shall sooner passe away, then the words of God faile. Mat. 5.18. & 24.35. Luk. 16.17.

Q. How doth the consideration of Gods fidelity strengthen our faith?

A. Two wayes.

First, the Scripture witnesseth, that God is true and faithfull in performing what he speaketh, whether he promise mercy, or threatneth iudgements concerning his promised mercy, it is said, Psalm. 89.34. that he will not breake his couenant, nor alter the thing that is gone out of his lippes: yea he saith, Esa. 54.10. that the mountaines shall sooner remooue out of their places, then his couenant made with his Church shal faile, also that the night & the day shal cease to be, rather then his co∣denant made to his Church should faile. Ierem. 33.20. And though the Church faile in performing, yet God for his part will not faile, Ezek. 16.60. Rom. 3.3. for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Rom. 11.29. Whereupon Paul assureth the Corinthians. 1. Cor. 2.9. and the Thessalonians, 1. Thess. 5.24. of their eternall saluation, because God who had

called them, is faithfull.

And concerning the threatned and irre∣uocable iudgements of God against im∣penitent sinnets the Lord saith thus. * 1.1 Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people. Jerem. 15.2. And in another place: Though these three men Noah, Daniel, and Iob were in it, (that is in Ierusalem) they should deliuer but their owne soules by their righteousnes. Ezek. 14.14. And in this case Samuel tolde Saul that the strength (or externity, that is the God) of Israel will not lye, nor repent. 1. Sam. 15.29.

Secondly, one example sheweth the faithfulnesse of God in performing his promise: for Sara receiued strength to conceiue seede, and was deliuered of a child, when she was past age, because she iudged him faithfull which had promised. Heb. 11.11.

Q. How doth the consideration of Gods power strengthen our faith?

A. Two wayes.

First, the Scripture testifieth that God doth whatsoeuer he will, but he is in one mind, and who can turne him, and what his soule desireth, euen that he doth. Iob

23.13. And againe, but our God is in the heauen, he hath done whatsoeuer he plea∣sed. Psal. 115.3. and 135.6.

Secondly, the example of Abraham sheweth it, for hee at three seuerall times considering the omnipotent power of God, was confirmed and incouraged to beleeue the promises of God.

First, when God promised to Abra∣ham, that though hee was then childlesse, and without hope of children. Gen. 15.2. yet his seede should bee as the starres of heauen for multitude. Gen. 15.5. then Abraham aboue hope beleeued vnder hope, that he should be the father of many nations. Rom. 4.18.

Secondly, when God promised to A∣braham being almost an hundereth yeeres old, that he should haue a sonne by Sara his wise. Gen. 17.16. and 18.10, &c. then did not he doubt of the promise of God through vnbeliefe, but was strengthened in the faith, and gaue glory to God, be∣ing fully assured that hee which had pro∣mised was also able to doe it. Rom. 4.20.

Thirdly, when God commanded A∣braham to offer vp his sonne Isaack. Gen. 22.2. Then Abraham offered vp his onely begotten sonne of whom it was said, that

in Isaak shall thy seede be called. Heb. 11.17. because he considered that God was able to raise him vp euen from the dead. Heb. 11.19.

Then faith leaning vpon Gods word, truth and power comforteth the godly in this present life at all times, and assureth them of resurrection to immortality at the day of iudgement, as Iob chap. 19.25. and Dauid Psal. 16.9. openly con∣fesse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Zephan. 2.2.