The Foundation of Christian Religion, Exposition
The Exposition of the Principles.
I.
Question.
WHat is God?
A. GOD is aaIoh. 4.24. spirit, or a spirituall substāce, most wise, most holie, eternall, infinite.
Q How doo you perswade your self that there is such a God.
A. Besides the testimonie of the Scriptures, plaine reason will shew it.
Q. What is one reason?
A. When I consider bRom. 1.20. act. 14.17.the wonderfull frame of the world, me thinks the silly creatures yt be in it could neuer make it: neither could it make itselfe: and therefore besides al these, the maker of it must néedes bée God. Euen as when a man comes into a strange Countrey, and sees faire and sumptuous buildings, and yet findes no liuing creatures there beside birds and Beasts, hee will not imagine that either Birds or Beasts reared by those buildings, but he presently conceiues that some men either were or hauehave been there.
Q. What other reason hauehave you?
A. cRom. 2 15. gen. 38.10. & 13, 14.A man that commits any sinne, as murder, fornication, adultery, blasphemie, &c. albeit he dooth so conceale the matter, that no man liuing know of it, yet oftentimes he hath a griping in his conscience, and feeles the verie flashings of hel fire: which is a strong reason, to shew that there is a God, before whose iudgement seate he must answere for his fact.
Q. How many Gods are there?
A. No d1. Cor. 8.6.more but one.
Q How doo you conceiue this one God in your minde?
A. Not eDeut. 4.16. amos 4.13.by framing any image of him in my minde (as ignorant folkes doo, that thinke him to be an olde man sitting in heauen) but I conceaue him by his properties and works.
Q. What be his chiefe properties?
A. First, he is fIob. 12.13.most wise, vnderstanding all things aright, and knowing the reason of them. gEsay. 6.3. exod. 20.5.6.Secondly hee is most holy, which appeareth in that hee is most iust and mercifull vntounto his creatures. Thirdly, hee is eternall, hIsay. 41.4.without either beginning or ende of dayes. Lastly, hee is infinite, iPsal. 139. allboth because hee is present in all places, and because hee is of power sufficient to doo whatsoeuer hee kIob. 9.4. deut 10.17.will.
Q. What be the workes of God?
A. lIere. 10.12. psal. 33.6.The creation of the world, and of eueryevery thing therein, and the preseruation of them beeing created by his speciall prouidence.
Q. How knowe you that God gouerneth eueryevery particular thing in the world by his speciall prouidence.
A. To omit the mMatt. 10 30. prou. 16.33.Scriptures, I see it by experience: nLeuit. 26.26 matt. 4.4.Meate, Drinke, and cloathing being void of life, could not preserue the life of man, vnlesse there were a speciall prouidence of God to giuegive vertue vntounto them.
Q. How is this one God distinguished?
A. o1 Iohn 5.7. matth. 3.12.Into the Father which begetteth the Sonne: into the Sonne who is begotten of the Father: into the holie Ghost, pIoh. 15.26.who proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne.
II.
Q. Let vsus now come to our selues, and first tel me what is the natural estate of man?
A. Euerie man is by nature, qEphes. 2.1. 1. tim. 5.5.dead in sinne as a loathsome carrion, or as a dead corps lieth rotting and stincking in the graue.
Q. What is Sinne?
A. Any r1. Ioh. 3.4. rom. ….7. gal. 3.10.breach of the Lawe of GOD, if it bee no more but the least want of that which the Lawe requireth.
Q How many sortes of sinne are there?
A. Sinne is either sColoss. 3.9. psal. 15.5.the corruption of nature, or any euil actions that proceede of it as fruites thereof.
Q. In whome is this corruption of nature?
A. In all men, tRom. 3.10,none excepted.
Q. In what part of man is it?
A. In euerie uGen 6.5. 1. thess. 5.23.part both of bodie and soule, like as a Leprosie that runneth from the crowne of the head, to the sole of the foote.
Q. Shew mee how euerie parte of man is corrupted with sinne?
A. First, in the x1. Cor. 2.14. rom. 8.5.mind there is nothing but ignorance and blindnesse concerning heauenlie matters. Secondly, yTit. 1.15. ephe. 4.18. esay. 57.20.the cōscience is defiled, being alwaies either benummed with sin, or els turmoyled with inward accusations and terrours. Thirdly, zPhi. 2.13. iob. 15.16.the wil of man only willeth and lusteth after euill. Fourthly, the aGal. 5.24.affections of the heart, as louelove, ioy, hope, desire, &c. are moued & stirred to that which is euil to embrace it, and they are neuer stirred vntounto that which is good, vnlesse it be to eschewe it. Lastly, the bRom. 6.19.members of the bodie are the instruments and tooles of the minde for the execution of sinne.
Q. What be those euil actions that are the fruites of this corruption?
A. Euill cGen. 6.5.thoughts in the mind… which come either by a mans own conceiuing, or by the dIoh. 13.2. act. 5.3. 1. chro. 21.1.suggestion of the Diuell: euill motions and lusts sturring in the heart, and from thes… arise euill words and deedes, when any occasion is giuen.
Q. How commeth it to passe that al… men are thus defiled with sinne?
A By eRom· 5.12.18, 19. gen. 3.Adams infidelitie and disobedience, in eating the forbidden fruite… euen as wee see great personages b… treason doo not only hurt themselues but also staine their bloud, & disgrac… their posteritie.
Q. What hurt comes to man by his sinne?
A. fGal. 3.10.He is continually subiect to th… curse of God in his life time, in th… end of his life, and after this life.
Q What is the cursse of GOD in this life?
A. In gDeut. 28.21, 22.27.65, 66, 67.the body diseases, aches paines: in the soule, blindnesse, hardnesse of heart, horrour of conscience: in goods, hinderances and losses: in name, ignominie and reproach: lastly, in the whole man, bondage vnderunder sathan the Prince of darkenesse.
Q. What manner of bondage is this?
A. This hHeb. 2.14. ephe. 2.2. 2. cor. 4.4. luk. 11, 21.bondage is when a man is the slaue of the Diuell, and hath him to raigne in his heart as his God.
Q. How may a man knowe whether sathan be his God or not?
A. He may know it by this, if hee giuegive obedience to him in his heart, and expresse it in his conuersation.
Q. And how shall a man perceiue this obedience?
A. If he iIoh. 8.44. 1. ioh. 3.8.take delight in the euill motions that Sathan puts into his heart, and doo fulfill the lusts of the Diuell.
Q. What is the cursse due to man in the end of his life?
A. kRom. 5.12.Death, which is the seperation of bodie and soule.
Q. What is the cursse after this life?
A. lGal. 3.10. rom. 3.10.Eternall damnation in hell fire, whereof euerie man is guiltie, and is in as great danger of it, as the Traitor apprehended is in danger of hanging, drawing, and quartering.
III.
Q. If damnation be the reward of sinne, then is a man of all creatures most miserable. A Dog or a Toade when they die, all their miserie is ended: but when a man dieth, there is the beginning of his woe.
A. It were so indeede, if there were no meanes of deliuerance. but God hath shewed his merciemercy in giuing a Sauiour to mankinde.
Q. How is this Sauiour called?
A. mMatt. 1.21.Iesus Christ.
Q. What is Iesus Christ?
A. The nHeb. 2.16. ioh. 1.14.eternall Sonne of God made man in all things, euen oHeb. 5.7. mar. 13.18.in his infirmities like other men, saue onelie in sinne.
Q. How was hee made man voide of sinne?
A. He was pMatt. 1.18.conceiued in the womb of a Virgin, and sanctified by the holy Ghost, at his conception.
Q. Why must our Sauiour bee both God and man?
A. He q1. Tim. 2.5.6must be a man: because man hath sinned, and therefore a man must die for sinne to appease Gods wrath: hee must bee God to sustaine and vphold the manhood, to ouercome and vanquish death.
Q. What be the offices of Christ to make him an al-sufficient Sauiour.
A. He rPsal. 45.7. luk. 4.18. deut. 18.15.18. luk. 1.33. psal. 100. allis a Priest, a Prophet, a King.
Q. Why is he a Priest?
A. To worke the meanes of saluation in the behalfe of mankinde.
Q. How doth he worke the meanes of saluation?
A. sMatth 20.28 heb. 7.25, 26.First, by making satisfaction to his Father for the sinne of man: secondly, by making intercession.
Q. How doth he make satisfaction?
A. By two meanes: and the first is by offering a Sacrifice.
Q. What is this sacrifice?
A. tEsay. 53.10.Christ himselfe, as hee is man, consisting of bodie and soule.
Q. What is the uApoc. 8.3. heb. 13.10.Aulter?
A. Christ as he is God, is the Aulter on which he sacrificed himselfe.
Q. Who was the Priest?
A. None but xHeb. 5.5, 6.Christ, and that as he is both God and man.
Q. How oft did he sacrifice himself?
A. Neuer but yHeb. 9.28.once.
Q. What death did hee suffer when he sacrificed himselfe?
A. A death vponupon the Crosse, peculiar to him alone: for zEsay 53.5. ioh. 12.9. reuel. 19.15. luk. 22.44.besides the seperation of body and soule, hee felt also the panges of hell, in that the whole wrath of God due to the sinne of man, was powred foorth vponupon him.
Q. What profit commeth by this sacrifice?
A. Gods aHeb. 9 26.wrath is appeased for sin.
Q. Could the suffering of Christ, which was but for a short time, appease Gods wrath?
A. Yea, for seeing Christ suffered *Act. 20.28. 2. cor. 5 19.GOD suffered: and that is more than if all men in the world had suffered for euer.
Q. Now tell mee the other meanes of satisfaction.
A. It is the perfect fulfilling of the Lawe.
Q. How did he fulfill the Lawe?
A. By b1. Cor. 1.30. rom. 2.19. 2. Cor. 5.21.his perfect righteousnes: which consisteth of two partes, the first, the integritie and purenesse of his humaine nature; the other, cRom. 5.18. rom. 4.8.his obedience in performing all that the lawe required.
Q. You hauehave shewed how Christ dooth make satisfaction, tell mee likewise how he doth make intercession?
A. Hee alone dooth continually dRom. 8.34. 1. pet. 2.5.appeare before his Father in Heauen, making the faithful & all their praiers acceptable vntounto him, through the merits of his owne perfect satisfaction.
Q. Why is Christ a Prophet?
A. To eIoh. 6.45. matth. 3.17.reueale vntounto his Church the way and meanes of saluation, and this hee dooth outwardly by the Ministerie of his word, and inwardlie by the teaching of his holy Spirit.
Q. Why is he also a King?
A. That fEsay 9.7.hee might bountifullie bestow vponupon vsus, and conuey vntounto vsus all the foresaid meanes of saluation.
Q. How dooth hee shew himselfe to be a King?
A. In gActs. 10.40. ephes, 4.8. act. 1.9.that, being dead and buried, he rose from the graue, quickned his dead body, ascended into heauen, and now sitteth at the right hand of his Father, with full power and glorie in heauen.
Q. How else?
A. In hEsa. 9.7. and 30.21.that he doth continually inspire and direct his seruants by the diuine power of his holy spirit, according to his holy word.
Q But to whome will this blessed King communicate all meanes of saluation?
A. Hee iIoh. 1.11. 1. ioh. 2.2.offereth them to all mankinde, and they are sufficient to saue all mankinde: but all shall not bee saued thereby, because by faith they will not receiue them.
IIII.
Q. What is Faith?
A. Faith, is a kIoh. 1.12. & 6.35. gal. 3.27. coloss. 2.12.wonderfull grace of God, by which a man doth apprehend and applie Christ and all his benefits vntounto himselfe.
Q How dooth a man apply Christ vntounto himselfe, seeing we are on earth, and Christ in heauen?
A. This l1. Cor. 1.12. rom. 8.16.applying is done by assurance, when a man is verily perswaded by the holy spirit, of Gods fauour towards himselfe particularly, & of the forgiuenesse of his owne sinnes.
Q. How dooth God bring men trulie to beleeue in Christ?
A. First he prepareth their hearts, that they might bee capable of faith: and then he worketh faith in them.
Q How doth God prepare mēs harts?
A. mEzech. 11.19 hos. 6.1, 2.By brusing them, as if one would breake an hard stone to pouder: and this is done by humbling them.
Q. How doth God humble a man?
A. By working in him a sight of his sinnes, and a sorrow for them.
Q How is the sight of sin wrought?
A. By the oRom. 3.20. & 7.7, 8.Morall law: the summe whereof is the ten commandements.
Q. What sinnes may I finde in my selfe by them?
A. Ten.
Q. What is the first?
A. aCōmand. I.To make some thing thy God which is not God, by fearing it, louing it, so trusting in it more than in the true God.
Q What is the second?
A. bII.To worship false Gods or the true God in a false manner.
Q. What is the third.
A. cIII.To dishonour God in abusing his titles words, and workes.
Q. What is the fourth?
A. dIIII.To breake the Sabaoth in dooing the works of their calling and of the flesh: and in leauing vndone the workes of the spirit.
Q. What be the sixe latter?
A. To do any thing that may hinder thy neighbours eV.dignitie, fVI.life, gVII.chastity, hVIII.wealth, iIX.good name; kX.though it be but in the secret thoughts and motions of thy heart, vntounto which thou giuest no liking nor consent.
Q. What is sorrow for sinne?
A. It is lAct. 2.37, 38. cant. 5.4.when a mans conscience is touched with a liuely feeling of Gods displeasure for any of these sinnes: in m1. Tim. 1.15 luk. 15.21.such wise, that hee is wholly out of heart with himselfe, acknowledging that hée hath deserued shame, and confusion eternally.
Q. How doth God work this sorrow?
A. By the terrible curse of the law.
Q. What is that?
A. He nGal. 3.which breakes but one of the commandements of God, though it be but once in all his life time; & that onelyonly in one thought, is in danger of eternall damnation thereby.
Q. When mens hearts are thus prepared, how doth GOD ingraft faith in them?
A. By working certaine inwarde motions in the heart, which are the seeds of faith, out of which it breedeth.
Q. What is the first of them?
A. When a man humbled vnderunder the burden of his sinnes, dooth oEsay 55.1. ioh. 7.37. luk. 1.53.acknowledge and feele that he stands in great neede of Christ.
Q. What is the second?
A. An pReuel. 21.6hungring desire and a longing to be made partakers of Christ and all his merits.
Q. What is the third?
A. qHeb. 4.16,A flying to the throne of grace, from the sentence of the law, pricking the conscience.
Q. How is this done?
A. By rLuke. 15.18, 19. mat. 15.22, 23. act. 8.22. 2. cor. 12.1.praying, with sending vp lowde cries for Gods fauour in Christ in the pardoning of sinne: and with feruent perseuerance herein, till the desire of the heart be graunted.
Q. What followeth after all this?
A. GOD then, sMath. 7.7. esay. 65.24.according to his merciful promise, lets the poore sinner feele the assurance of his louelove wherewith hee loueth him in Christ; which assurance is a liuely faith.
Q. Are there diuers degrees and measures of true faith?
A. tRom. 1.17. luk. 17.5.Yea.
Q. What is the least measure of true faith that any man can hauehave?
A. When a man of an humble spirit by reason of the uEsay. 42.…. matt. 17.20. luk. 17.5.littlenes of his faith, doth not yet feele the assurance of the forgiuenes of his sinnes, and yet he is perswaded that they are pardonable, and therefore desireth that they should be pardoned, & with his heart prayeth to God to pardon them.
Q. How doo you know that such a man hath faith?
A. These xRom. 8.23.24 gal. 4.6. matt. 5.6desires and prayers are testimonie of the spirit, whose propertie it is to stirre vp a longing and a lusting after heauenly things, with sighes and groanes for Gods fauour and merciemercy in Christ. Nowe yRom. 8.9. ephe. 3.17.where the spirit of Christ is, there is Christ dwelling: and where Christ dwelleth, there is true fayth how weake soeuer it be.
Q. What is the greatest measure of fayth?
A. When a man is fully perswaded of GODS louelove in Christ towardes himselfe particularly, Rom. 8.38, 39 cant. 8.6, 7and of the forgiuenes of his owne sinnes.
Q. When shall a Christian heart come to this full assurance?
A. Not b2. Tim. 4.7, 8 psal. 23.6. with 1, 2, 3, 4,at the first, but in some continuance of time, when hee hath been well practized in repentaunce, and hath had diuers experiences of Gods louelove vntounto him in Christ: then after them will appeare in his heart the fulnes of perswasion: which is the ripenes cRo. 4.20, 21.and strength of faith.
Q. What benefites doth a man receiue by his fayth in Christ?
A. Hereby d1. Cor. 1.39. act. 15 9 rom. 4.3.hee is iustified before God and sanctified.
Q. What is this to bee iustified before God?
A. It eRom 8.33.compreheneth two things the first, to be cleared from the guiltinesse and punishment of sinne: the second, to bee accepted as perfectly righteous before God.
Q. How is a man cleared from the guiltines and punishment of his sinne.
A. By Christs fCollos. 1.22. 1. pet. 2.25. 1. ioh. 1.17sufferings and death vponupon the Crosse.
Q. Howe is he accepted righteous before God?
g2 Cor. 5.21.A. By the righteousnes of Christ imputed to him.
Q. What profit comes by being thus iustified?
A. Hereby hRom. 4.17. apoc 21 27and by no other means in the world, the beleeuer shall bee accepted before Gods iudgement seate, as worthie of eternall life by the merits of the same righteousnesse of Christ.
Q. Doo not good works then make vsus worthie of eternall life?
A. No: for GOD who is perfect righteousnesse it selfe, will finde in the best workes wee doo, more matter of damnation than of saluation: & therefore kPsal. 143.2 esay. 64.6wee must rather condemne our selues for our good works, than looke to be iustified before God thereby.
Q. How may a man know, that hee is iustified before God?
A. He neede not ascend into heauen to search the secret counsell of God: lRom. 8.1 1. iohn. 3.9.but rather descend into his own hart to search whether he be sanctified or not.
Q. What is it to be sanctified?
A. It comprehendeth two things: the first to be purged from the corruption of his owne nature: the second to be indued with inward righteousnes.
Q. Howe is the corruption of sinne purged?
A. By the nRom. 6.4. 1. pet. 4.1, 2merites and power of Christs death, which being by faith applyed, is as a corasiue to abate, cō sume, & weaken the power of all sinne.
Q. Howe is a man indued with inherent righteousnes?
A. Through the oRom. 6.5, 6 phillip. 3.10.vertue of Christs resurrection, which being applied by fayth, is as a restoratiue to reuiue a man that is dead in sin to newnes of life.
Q. In what part of man is sanctfication wrought?
A. In p1. Thess. 5.23eueryevery part of body & soule▪
Q. In what time is it wrought?
A. It is qRom. 8.23. 2. cor. 5.2, 2.begun in this life, in which the faythfull receiue onelyonly the first fruits of the spirit, and it is not finished before the end of this life.
Q. What graces of the spirit do vsually shewe themselues in the heart of a man sanctified?
A. The hatred rPsa. 119.113 & 40.9 &. 101 3. rom 7.22.of sinne, and the louelove of righteousnes.
Q. What proceedes of them?
A. Repentance, which is sPsal 119 57.112a settled purpose in the heart, with a careful indeuour to leaue all his sinnes, and to liue a Christian life.
Q. What goeth with repentance?
A. A continual fighting and strugling against the assaults of a mans owne flesh, against the motions of the Diuell, and the enticements of the world,
Q. What followeth after a man hath gotten the victory in any temptation or affliction?
A. tRom 5.3. 2. cor. 1.5.Experience of Gods louelove in Christ and so increase of peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost.
Q. What followes, if in any temptation he bee ouercome, and through infirmitie fall?
A. After a while u2. Cor. 7.8.9. matth. 26.72.there wil arise a godly sorrow, which is, whē a man is grieued for no other cause in ye worlde but for this onelyonly, yt by his sin he hath displeased GOD, who hath bin vntounto him a most merciful & louing Father.
Q. What signe is there of this sorowe?
A. The true signe x1 Pet. 2.19.of it is this, when a man can be grieued for the very disobedience to God in his euill worde or deede, though hee should neuer bee punished, and though there were neither heauen nor hell.
Q. What followes after this sorowe?
A. Repentance y2. Cor. 7.11.renewed a fresh.
Q. By what signes will this repentance appeare.
A. Ay z2. Cor. 7.11.seauen. 1. A care to leaue the sinne into which hee is fallen. 2. An vtter condemning of himselfe for it, with a crauing of pardon. 3. A great anger against himselfe for hi… carelesnesse 4. A feare least hee shoul… fall into the same sinne againe. 5. desire euer after to please God. 6. zeale of the same. 7. Reuenge vpo… himselfe for his former offence.
V
Q. What outward meanes mus… wee vse to obtaine faith and all blesssings of God which come by faith.
A. The preaching aProu. 28.19. rom. 10.14. mat. 28.19, 20.of Gods word… and the administration of the Sacraments, and prayer.
Q. Where is the word of God to be found?
A. The whole word of God needefull to saluation is set down in the holy Scriptures.2. Tim. 3.16.
Q. How know you that the Scriptures are the word of GOD and no… mens pollicies?
A. I am assured of it. First, bEphes. 1.13.because the holy Ghost perswadeth my conscience that it is so. Secondly, I see it by experience: for the preaching of the cHeb. 4.12. 1. cor. 14.25.Scriptures hauehave the power of GOD in them to humble a man when they are preached, and to cast him downe to hell: and afterward to restore and raise him vp againe.
Q. What is the vse of the word of God preached?
A. First it dRom. 1.17. 2 cor. 2.16 hebr. 4.2.breedeth and then it increaseth faith in them which are chosē to saluatiō: but vntounto them that perish it is by reason of their corruption an occasion of their further damnation.
Q. How must we heare Gods word, yt it may be effecuall to our saluation?
A. Wee eIam. 1.19 act. 16.14. hebr. 4.2 esay. 66.2 luke 2.51. psal 119 11.must come vntounto it with hunger-bitten hearts, hauing an appetite to the worde; we must mark it with attention, receiue it by faith, submit our selues vntounto it with feare and trembling, euen then when our faults are reproued: lastly, wee must hide it in the corners of our hearts, that wee may frame our liues and conuersations by it.
Q. What is a Sacrament?
A. A fRom. 4.11 gen. 17.12 gal. 3.1signe to represent, a seale to confirme, an instrument to conuey Christ and all his benefites to them that doo beleeue in him.
Q. Why must a Sacramēt represent the mercies of God before our eyes?
A. Because we are dull to conceiue and to remember them.
Q. Why doth the Sacrament seale vntounto vsus the mercies of God?
A. Because we are full of vnbeleefe and doubting of them.
Q. Why is the Sacrament the instument of the spirite to conuey the mercies of God into our hearts?
A. Because we are like Thomas, we will not beleeue till wee feele them in some measure in our hearts.
Q. How many Sacramēts are there?
A. Two g1. Cor. 10.1, 2.3.and no more. Baptisme, by which wee hauehave our admission into the true Church of God: and the Lords supper, by which wee are nourished and preserued in the Church after our admission.
Q. What is done in Baptisme?
A. hAct. 2.38 tit. 3 5. act. 22.16. matth. 28.19Solemnly in the assembly of the church a couenant is made betweene the Lord and the party baptized.
Q. In ye making of this couenāt what doth God promise to ye party baptized?
A. *Gal. 3.27. 1. pet. 3.21.Christ with all blessings that come by him.
Q. To what condition is the party baptized, bound?
A. To iMark. 16.16.receiue Christ, and to repent of his sinne.
Q. What meaneth the sprinkling or dipping in water.
A. The couenant being solemnly made, is therby sealed and confirmed.
Q. How commeth it to passe that many after their baptisme for a long time feele not the effect and fruit of it, and some neuer?
A. The fault is not in GOD, who keepes his couenants; but the fault is in themselues, in that they doo not keepe the condition of the couenant to receiue Christ by faith, and to repent of all their sinnes.
Q. When shall a man then see the effect of his Baptisme?
A. At what kHebr. 10.20. 1. pet. 3.21.time soeuer he doth receiue Christ by faith, though it bee an hundred yeares after, hee shall then feele the power of GOD to regenerate him, & to work al things in him, which he offered in Baptisme.
Q. Howe if a man neuer keepe the condition, to which he bound himselfe in Baptisme?
A. His damnation lDeut. 23.21, 22. eccl. 3.4.shal be the greater, because hee breaketh his vowe made to God.
Q. What is done in the L. supper?
A. The former couenant made in Baptisme, is renued in m…. Cor. 11.23, 24, 25, and 12, 13the Lords supper, betweene the Lord himselfe & the receiuer.
Q. What is the receiuer?
A. EueryEvery one n1. Cor. 11.28.31. matth. 5.22, 23. esay 66.2, 3.that hath been baptized, and after his baptisme hath truly beleeued in Christ: and repented of his sinne from his heart.
Q. What meaneth the bread & wine, the eating of the bread, & drinking of the wine?
A. These outward actions o1. Cor. 10.16 17.are a second seale, set by the Lordes owne hand vntounto his couenant. And they doo giuegive eueryevery receiuer to vnderstād, that as God doth blesse the bread & wine, to preserue & strengthen the bodie of the receiuer: so christ receiued by faith, shall nourish him, and preserue both bodie and soule vntounto eternall life.
Q. What shall a true receiuer feele in himselfe after the receiuing of the Sacrament?
A. p1. Cor. 10.16 17. & 11.24.The increase of his faith in Christ, the increase of sanctification, a greater measure of dying to sinne, a greater care to liue in newnes of life.
Q. What if a man after the receiuing of the Sacrament, neuer finde any such thing in himselfe?
A. Hee may well suspect himselfe, whether he did euer repent or not.
Q. What is another meanes of increasing faith?
A. Praier.
Q. What is praier?
A. r1. Iohn. 5.14.A familiar speach with God: s1. Tim. 2.1. phil. 4.6.in which either we craue things needful, or giuegive thanks for things receiued.
Q. In asking things needfull, what is required?
A. Two things, an earnest desire, and faith.
Q. tMark. 11.24.What things must a Christian mans heart desire?
A. Sixe things especially.
Q. What are they?
A. 1. aPetition. I.That he may glorifie God: 2. That bII.God may raigne in his heart & not sinne: 3. cIII.That he may do Gods will, and not the lusts of his flesh: 4. dIIII.That he may rely himselfe on Gods prouidence for all the meanes of this temporall life: 5. eV.That he may be iustified, and be at peace with God: 6. fVI.That by the power of God hee may be strengthened against all tēptatiōs.
Q What is faith?
A. A gAmen.perswasion, that these things which we truly desire, God will grant them for Christs sake.
VI.
Q. After that a man hath led a short life in this world, what followeth thē?
A. Death, which is the parting asunder of body and soule.
Q. Why doo wicked men and vnbeleeuers die?
A. That qLuc. 16.22.23.their bodies may goe to the earth, and their soules may be cast into hell fier.
Q Why doo the godly die?
A. That rLuc. 23 43. act. 7.70. 1. thess. 4.3. heb 2.14. 1. cor. 15.5.their bodies may rest for a while in the earth. & their soules may enter into heauen immediatlie.
Q. What followeth after death?
A. The day of iudgement.
Q. What signe is there to knowe this day from other dayes?
A. s2. Pet 3.11, 12.Heauen and earth shall bee consumed with fier immediatlie before the comming of the Iudge.
Q. Who shall be the Iudge?
A. Iesus Christ the sonne of God.
Q. What shall bee the comming to iudgement?
A. He t1. Thess. 4.16 17.shall come in the clouds in great Maiestie and glorie with infinit companie of Angels.
Q How shall all men bee cited to iudgement?
A. At the uMatt. 24.3.sound of a trumpet, the liuing shall be changed in the twinckling of an eye, and the dead shal rise againe euerie one with xIob. 19.26.his owne bodie, and all shall be gathered together before Christ: and after this, the good shall bee seuered from the bad, yMatt. 25 32.33.these standing on the left hand of Christ, the other on the right.
Q. How will Christ trie and examine eueryevery mans cause?
A. The aReue. 20.12. dan. 7.10.bookes of all mens dooings shall bee laide open, and euerie man shal be tried by the workes which he did in his life time, because they ar… open and manifest signes bIoh. 3.18. & 5.24.of faith o… vnbeliefe.
Q. What sentence will he giuegive?
A. He wil giuegive cMatth. 25.34.41.sentence of saluation to the elect and godly, but he will pronounce sentence of damnation agains… vnbeleeuers and reprobates.
Q. What state shall the godly be in after the day of iudgement?
A. They dMatt. 25.34. apoc. 21.2, 3, 4.11.shal continue for euer in the highest heauen in the presence of God hauing ful fellowship with Christ Iesus, and raigning with him for euer.
Q. What state shall the wicked bee in after the day of Iudgement?
A. In eternall perdition and destruction in hell fire.
Q. What is that?
A. It e2. Thess. 1.8, 9. esay. 66.24. apoc. 21.8.stands in three things especially, 1. a perpetuall seperation from Gods cōfortable presence, 2. fellowship with the diuel and his angels, 3. an horrible pang and torment both of bodie and soule, arising of the feeling of the whole wrath of God, powred foorth on the wicked, for euer, worlde without end.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Perkins, The Foundation of Christian Religion (1591)