The Christians Alphabet, Part – Part 2
A
ACknowledge aPro. 3 6. 1 Chro. 28.9.God as hee hath bDeu. 29.29. Ro. 15.4.reuealed himselfe in his written word.
For no man can be saued without the knowledge cIo. 17.3. 2 Thes. 1.8.of God, neither can a man knowe God vntounto saluation d2 Tim. 3.15. Io. 5.39.but by the Scriptures.
B
BEleeue in eDeu. 6.4. Isa. 44.6.one only God.
For to f1 Cor. 8.4.5.6. Eph. 4.5.6vsus Christians there is but one God▪ and they that hauehave many Gods, hauehave no God at all gEph. 2.12. 1 Co. 10.20but the Deuill. And to beleeue that there is one God, and not to beleeue in him is no better then the hIam. 2.19faith of Deuils.
C
COnceiue in this one God, i1 Io. 5.7.three persons, the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost.
For so it hath pleased God to kLuk 3.21.22.reueale himselfe from heauen: and lMath. 28.in this name eueryevery Christian is baptized: and it is the forme m2 Cor. 13.14.of Christian blessing.
D
DIstinguish the persons in the God head, but neither confound them, nor diuide the substance.
For the Father is of none, n1 Cor. 8.6 Ro. 11.36.but of himselfe: the Sonne is oPsal. 22.7 Ioh. 1.14.begotten of the Father: the holy Ghost pIo. 15.26.proceedeth from them both. And eueryevery person qEph. 4.6. 1 Cor. 15.24. Io. 1.1. 1 Io. 5.20. Act. 5.3.4.distinctly by himselfe is God: yet ar… they not three Gods, but r1 Io. 5.7.onelyonly one God, sIo. 1.2. and 17.5. Gen. 1.2.coeternall,tPsal. 2.6. 1 Cor. 12.4.5.6.11. coequall.
E
uPsal 90.2. 1 Tim. ….17.ETernall, xIer. 23.22.24. Psal 139 7.infinite, yIam 1.17. Mal. 3.6immutable, zCol. 1.…5. Io. 4.24.invisible, aGe. 17.1. Reu 15.3.almighty, bPs. 147.5.most wise, cIsaiah. 6.3. 1 Pet. 1.15.holy, dMath 19.17. Psal 145.9▪good, ePsal. 145.8.9. Iam. 5.11.mercifull, fDue. 3 2.4. Psal. 145.17.and iust, is this one God.
For thus God is gExod. 34.6.pleased to describe himself vntounto vsus in his word: because otherwise no man h1 Tim. 6.16. Exod. 33.18. &c.can see, or know the nature of God.
F
FRamed and iGen. 1.1. Act. 17.24. Col. 1.16.made was the whole world, by kPs. 33.6. and 148.5.the word of God, and that of lHeb. 11.3nothing, mGen. 1.31. Exo. 20.11in six dayes, nGen. 1.31.and all very good.
For nothing oPs. 100.3.can make it selfe: neither pHeb. 3.4.can bee without some cause: nor qPs. 5.4. Iam. 1.17.can bee euill, being made of God.
G
rPro. 15 3 Matth. 10.29.30. Ps. 135.6.GOuerned and sPs. 36.6. and 145.15.preserued are all things by the prouidence of God.
For otherwise tIob. 1.11. and 2.5. Mat. 8.3….Satan and wicked uIo▪ 19.11. Act. 4 27.men might doe what they list: yea, and eueryevery xAct. 1.7.25.28. Ps. 119.91, Deu. 8.3.creature would perish in a moment.
H
HE, euen this God alone yMatth▪ 4.10. Reu. 22.8.9.is to be worshipped and zPs 50 15 Luk. 1….2.called vponupon: and that onelyonly aIo. 16.23 1 Tim. 2.5.in the name of Christ,b1 Cor. 14.15. with vnderstanding, cDeu. 12.3…. Mat. 15.9.and as himselfe hath commanded.
For thus dGen. 4.26. Ps. 2 4.5. Mat. 6.9. Phil. 4.6. Eph. 3.14. Io. 9.31. Io. 4 2….13euer did the true Church of God: and to worship and pray vntounto any other, eIsa. 4….8.is to giuegive Gods glory to a creature.
I
IN the beginning God made fGen. 1.27 and 5.2.man, consisting gGen. 2 7 Mat. 10.28of soule and body: the body of the hGen 39 and 18.27.dust, in it selfe mortall, yet iGen 2.17. Rom 5.12.possibly immortall, if man had not sinned: the soule of spirituall substance, kEccl. 12.7. Matth. 16.26.immortall in it selfe: in both a lPs 8.4.5most excellent creature, aboue all others, except the Angels.
For he was created in the image mGen 1.27.or likenesse of God: and had dominion and nGen. 1.26 28. Psal. 8.6.rule ouer all other creatures in the world.
K
oCol. 9 8.10KNnowledge, righteousnes, pEph. 4.24and true holinesse are the chiefe things, wherein qOr likenesse. Gen 1.26. For Christ onelyonly is the substanti…ll image of God. 1 Cor 4 4. Col. 1.15.the image of God doth consist.
For otherwise the word of God would not cal… vponupon vsus to rEph. 4.2…. &c.renew that image in Christ: and without these graces man had not beene fit to rule the creatures, sP…. 49.20.nor▪ et himselfe.
L
LEarne, that man tEph. 4.…4.hath lost that image of God, wherein hee was created, uRom. 5.…8.19.by the si…ne of Adam the first man, xGen. 2.16.17. and 3 17.in eating the forbidden fruit.
For Adam hauing power yEccl. 7.29.not to sinne if he w…u…d, being seduced by zGen. 3.6.12. 1 Ti 2.14.the woman, and the woman a2 Cor. 11.3 Gen. 3.1.by the serpent, bReu. 12.9. and 20.2which is the Deuill, did cEccl. 7.29.willingly yeeld to the temptation.
M
MAnkinde being dRo. 5.17 18.19.tainted by Adams sinne, is become most eRo. 7 24.wretched and miserable, both in respect of sin and punishment.
For hereby all men are fPs. 51.5.conceiued and borne in sinne, and are so g1 Io. 1 8.corrupted with sinne h1 Thes. 5.23.both in soule and body, that they cannot i1 Cor. 2.14.perceiue, kGen 6.5.thinke, lRo. 8.7.will, mRom. 3.13 14.speake nPs 14.1.2.3.or doe any good thing: but are become oRom. 6.16.17.subiect to sinne, p2 Tim. 2.26.Satan, the qEph. 2.3.wrath rGal. 3.10and curse of God, to sRo. 6.23.death, and to t2 Thes 2.12.eternall damnation.
N
NO meanes can free vsus from that damnable estate, but vAct 4.12 Mat. 1.21.onelyonly Iesus Christ, the xIo. 3.16. 1 Io. 5.20.eternall sonne of God.
For he being both yRo. 9.5.God and z1 Tim. 2.5.man, hath aHeb. 7.2. … and 10 14.perfectly saued vsus: in that he tooke bHeb 2.16 17.our nature vponupon him, being cLuk. 1.35. Matt. 1 20.conceiued by the holy Ghost, dIsa. 7 1…. Mat. 1 18.borne of the Virgine Mary: liued in perfect ePhil. 2.8 Ro 5.19.obedience, to God: fIsai. …3.5. 1 Pet. 3 18. and 2 2 4. Gal. 3.13.suffered the cursed death of the Crosse: gRo. 4 2…. 1 Cor 15.3.4.rose againe the third day: ascended hPs. 68.18. Luk. 4.51.into heauen: iCol. 3.1. Ro. 8.34. Act. 3.21.sitteth at the right hand of God: and all for vsus.
O
kHab. 2.4. Gal. 2.2… Rom. 3 23. and 11.6.ONly by faith, lIo 1 11 12. Eph. 3.17receiuing Iesus Christ into the heart, eueryevery man that with a mPs …1 17contrite heart nPs. …2 5.confesseth his sinnes to God, and truly oLuk 1….3repenteth, pRo. 4.6.7is pardoned all his sinnes, and so doth stand iustified before God.
For we can merit qRo. 4.2. Ps. 130.3.nothing with God, our best works being rIsa. 64.6. Lu 17.10.imperfect. And the promise of God is … onelyonly made to them sGal. 3 22 Act 2.39.that beleeue: being tAct 1… 48 Eph. 1.3.elected of God before the world was.
P
PReaching of the word of God is the ordinary meanes to worke uMat. 4.17 Act. 20.20repentance and xRo. …0.14.17.faith.
For God yI… ▪ 1.17.that giueth all grace, and so z2 Tim. 2.25.repentance and aEph. 2.8.faith, worketh outwardly by bIam. 1 18the word, as by an instrument, and inwardly by his c1 Cor. 12.3.11.spirit.
Q
QValities of faith inseparable vntounto it, are these: to dEph 2.13.1….vnite vsus to God in Christ. to eRo. 5.2 5. Heb. 1 1. Ro. 8.35.38.39.assure vsus of Gods louelove in him: to fAct. 15.8.9. 1 Tim. 1.5.purifie the heart: and to gGal 5.6,worke by louelove.
For vntill we beleeue, wee hEph. 2 12are without God, without Christ, and without hope: but when iRo 5.1. and 8.1.once wee beleeue, wee hauehave peace with God: and cannot but kIo. 15.5. Tit. 2.14.be fruitfull in all good workes.
R
REmember that faith, and so all other graces are increased and confirmed by the hearing of the word of God lAct. 1.41 42. 1 Pet. 2.2.preached, as also by m2 Ti. 3.15.reading, nPs… 11.…. 97. &c.meditation, oMal. 3 16 Heb. 3 13.conference, pIo. 7.17.practise, qCol. 1.9. Ps. 119 18.prayer, and rRo. 4.11. 2 Pet. 3.21Sacraments.
For as God requireth of eueryevery Christian a daily s2 Pet. 3.18. Heb. 5.12.increase of grace, so he hath appointed these tEph 4.12 Deu. 31 11 Io 5.39. Col. 3.16. Reu 1.3. Ios. 1.8. Psal. 1.1. Heb. 10.23 24.25. Ps▪ 50.23. Mar. 7.7. Pro. 2.3.5. Gen 17 10 Ro. 4 11.meanes to that end.
S
SAcraments are outward visible uGen 17.10.11.signes of the couenant and promise of God in Christ, xMat. 28.19. Luk. 21.19ordained by Christ himselfe; to yGen. 17.11. 1 Cor. 11.26.signifie, and to seale or zRo. 4.11.confirme, and as instruments or meanes, to aEph. 5.26 Tit. 4.5. 1 Cor. 10.16.conuay sauing grace to eueryevery bMar. 16.16. 1 Cor. 11.29.true beleeuer, and to bee as badges or tokens of our Christian cAct. 2.38 41.profession. And they are in number onelyonly two, dIo 19 34 1 Io. 5.6.namely, Baptisme and the Lords Supper.
For such helpes our weake e1 Cor. 13.9.12.faith doth require: and these fMat. 28.19. and 26 27.only hath Christ ordained, and no more: being answerable to the two Sacraments vnderunder the Law, that is, Circumcision and the Passouer: and are alone in that kinde sufficient both for the beginning and continuing of sitting grace.
T
THe sacrament of Baptisme is, when the persons baptized, professing gMar. 1.4.5.repentance, and hAct. 8.37faith in Iesus Christ, and the iGe. 17.8. Act. 2 39.children of such are by the Minister kMat. 28.19.20.of the word washed with water, lMat 3.11in the name of the Father, the sonne and the holy Ghost: being thereby admitted into the communion m1 Cor 12.12.13.of the body of Christ, which is the Church: assured of the nAct. 22.16remission of their sinnes: do o1 Pet. 3.21. Gen 17 10vow and promise, and are by Baptisme confirmed in grace, pRo. 4.11.to beleeue in Iesus Christ, and to liue no more in sinne, but in newnesse of life.
For Baptisme is the signe of our regeneration, qIo. 3.35. 1 Pet. 2.2.or new birth: and therefore is once onelyonly to bee receiued, as it is sufficient to be once bor…e and yet the virtue of Baptisme is rEph 5.26.27.perpetuall.
V
VNderstand that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, is when bread and wine sMat. 26.26.29.representing the body t1 Cor. 11.24. Luk. 22.19.20.and blood of Christ, broken and shed for vsus, being by the Minister taken and blessed, is broken and poured forth, and so deliuered to all the faithfull pr…sent: uMar. 14.22 23.and of them receiued, by eating the bread and drinking the wine, in x1 Cor 11 26.remembrance of Christs death, as also to y1 Cor. 10 16. Io 16.29.35.47 51.communicate vntounto vsus the very body and blood of Christ spiritually by faith: zGal. 3.1. Io. 20.27.and so to confirme our faith in Christ and a1 Cor. 10.17.louelove one to another.
For this Sacrament is the signe of our new life, bIo. 6.55 57.58.as Baptisme is of our new birth. And therefore as we hauehave neede of often nourishment, so wee ought to receiue c1 Cor. 11 26.often, and that with due preparation.d1 Cor. 11.28.
W
WE must know and beleeue, that all men eHeb 9.27 Ps. 89.48.dying the fEccl. 12.7 Luk 16.22 23.soules of the godly goe immediatly to heuenly ioy, the wicked to hell torments: and all of them shall gIo. 11.24. 2 Tim 4 8.at the last day rise hIo. 5.29 Reu 2….12. Act. 24.15 1 Cor. 15.againe in their i2 Cor. 5.10. Iob. 1….26.owne bodyes, by the kIo. … 28.power of Christ, the godly to life lIo. 5.2….eternall, the wicked to euerlasting damnation.
For Christ came mHos. 13.14. 1 Cor. 15.54.to destroy death for vsus: and is himselfe n1 Cor. 15 13.14.20.risen from death, that wee o1 Thes. 4 1…. 1 Cor. 15.21.22.might rise with him: and if there were no resurrection, the preaching of the word, p1 Cor. 15 14.and our faith should bee in vaine.
X
EXCeeding glorious in it selfe, ioyous to the godly, and fearfull to the wicked, shall be the day qAct 17.31of iudgement: wherein Christ rRo. 2 16.sh…ll call to account, and iudge all sRo 1.12men, of all tEccl…. 2.1….things done in thi… life,vR…u. 20.1…. according to the…r works.
For he shall come with glory xMat. 25.31. Act. 3.19. Iud. 1….in the clouds, accompanied with innumerable Angels: and sitting vponupon his throne of Maiestie, shall vponupon yRo. 2.12. Io. 12 48.due triall of eueryevery mans workes (the zReu. 20.12. Ps. 139 16 Iob 20 27 Ro. 2.15. Reu. 20.2bookes being opened) pronounce the sentence aMat. 25.…4.of saluation to the Godly, and of damnation to the wicked.
Y
YOu that are wicked, shall by the power of the voyce of Christ, bMat 25.41 46.goe away into cMat. 5.29 30. and 1….28. Isa. 30.23hell: being d2 Th…s 1.9separated from God, eMat. 2….41.consorted with the Deuils, fLuk. 15.24 and 13.28depriued of all comfort, punished with vnspeakable gR…u 19.…. Mar. 9.44.torments both in soule and body, hMar. 10.15. and 23.14.according to your sins, and that i2 Thes. 1.9 Reu 20.10eternally without case or end.
For it is iust with God, k2 Thes. ….6. Rom 2.5. Luk. 16.25so to punish the wicked, and that they who hauehave liued heere in the pleasures of sinne, should be recompenced with answerable torment.
Z
ZEalous godly men, the iudgement being ended, shall immediatly goe lMat. 25:34.46.with Christ into heauen, hauing in him immediate m1 Thes. 4.17.communion with God, who shall be all in all n1 Cor. 15.28. Reu 21.22.23.vntounto them: and so shall be freed from oReu. 21 4; all euills, and possessed of all good things, as perfection p1 Cor. 13.12 1….of grace, brightnes qCol. 3.4. Mat 1… 43of glory, and fulnesse of rPs. 16.1….ioy, in their seuerall s1 Cor. 15.41. Dan. 12 3.degrees, and that t1 Cor 29.vnspeakable and u1 Cor. 4.17.euerlasting.
For it stands with the certainty of Gods x2 Tim. 3.19. Ro 8.20.election; with the yIo. 3 16. Reu. 2 10.truth of his promise; and with his z1 Cor. 6.2…. 1 Pet 1.1….19.iustice for the merit of Christ, thus to aRo. ….4.5.reward the faithfull: that so all their sorrowes may bee turned into bIo. 1… …0 Luk. ….21.ioy.