A Model of Divinity, Table of contents – Errata
❧ The Catechiſme defined, and diſtributed.
CHAPTER I. Of Faith in God.
Queſtion.
WHat inducements to Religion are prefixed before your Catechiſme?
Anſwere.
Foure; firſt, the giuing vp of my name to God in Baptiſme, and that in the dreadfull name of Father, Sonne, and holy Ghoſt. Secondly, that being not able to giuegive it vp my ſelfe, it was done by others, according to the auncient cuſtome of the Church, ever conioyning Baptiſme and confeſſion together, Math. 3.6. Aug. epiſt. 24. Papiſts would hauehave it to contract ſpirituall kindred, but ſurely it maketh honeſt louelove amongſt neighbours. Thirdly, they that gaue it vp for me, did promiſe in my name, that I ſhould liue according to Religion. Fourthly, I beleeue in conſcience, that I am bound to performe what they hauehave promiſed. Thus becauſe I am Gods, and bound to him by ſureties, vowes, promiſes, and Conſcience it ſelfe, It is my dutie being now come to yeares of diſcretion, to learne to beleeue in him, and obey him.
Q. What then is Religion?
A. It is the acknowledgement of the truth, which is after godlineſſe, Tit. 1.1.
Q. What are the parts?
A. Faith and workes; the ſumme of the one is contained in the Creed: of the other, in the ten Commandements, Lords Prayer, and the Sacraments. Tit. 3.8.
Q. What is Faith?
A. A confidence in God, grounded vponupon knowledge, Ioh. 16.30. We know and by this beleeue.
Q. How is faith grounded vponupon knowledge?
A. In regard of God and his Church: the maker of the Covenant, and the people with whom it is made, Ier. 31.33.
Q. How in reſpect of God?
A. As we beleeue in one God, and three perſons for our happineſſe, Ioh. 14.1.
Q. How in one God?
A. In reſpect of nature, eſſence, and being. Deut. 4.35.
Q. How in three perſons?
A. Three in regard of divine relation, or reall reſpects in that one moſt pure eſſence, Math. 28.19.
Q. What is the eſſence?
A. That whereby God is of himſelfe, the moſt abſolute and firſt being. Iſa. 41.4.
Q. What is a perſon?
A. That one pure God, with the relation of a Father, Sonne, and holy Ghoſt, 1 Ioh. 5.7.
Q. Doth the relation adde any thing to the eſſence?
A. Nothing but reſpect or relation, as Abraham the Father of the faithful hath the ſame nature as he is a Father and as he is a man.
Q. What is the Relation?
A. It is either to ſend or be ſent, and both theſe are done either by nature, or counſell. Ioh. 15.26. the ſpirit proceedeth from the Father and Sonne by nature, and is ſent to vsus by counſell.
Q. Is there no other Relation?
A. Yes; either to beget, or be begotten, and the Father begets his onelyonly Sonne by nature, and the reſt of his children by Counſell. Heb. 1.3. Iam. 1.18. A man hauing the relation of a Father is ſaid to beget Children by nature, or counſell, as adopted children are freely begotten, not of the bodie but the will. Iam. 1.18. Of his owne will beget he vsus, not ſo his onelyonly Sonne, who is as naturall to his Father, as burning to the fire, and as Iſaac to Abraham.
Q. What then is the firſt perſon?
A. God the Father, who by nature begets his Sonne, and by his counſell creats the world. Heb. 1.2.5.
Q. What is the propertie of the Father?
A. To beget, and not to be begotten. Ioh. 3.16.
Q. What is his manner of ſubſiſting?
A. To be the firſt perſon; for, the begetter is before the begotten, and yet being Relatiues they are together in nature, for no man is a Father before he hauehave a ſonne, though in order the Father be firſt.
Q. What is the Fathers worke?
A. Creation; for, I beleeue in him as maker of heauen and earth: and the reaſon is, becauſe he is the firſt perſon, to whom the firſt worke belongs.
Q. What is Creation?
A. A worke of the Father, who of himſelfe by his ſonne and ſpirit, makes the world of nothing, exceeding Good, Gen. 1.31. Heb. 1.3.
Q. What is giuen to the Father in reſpect of Creation?
A. Almightie power; for, the Father in himſelfe is pure act, which act is power as it may be felt of his creatures, which are in power to be.
Q. What is omnipotencie?
A. It is that whereby the Father is able to doe all that he doth, and more then he doth, if it contradict not his owne nature, or the nature of things.
Q. How is Creation divided?
A. Into heauen and earth. Gen. 1.1.
Q. What meane you by heauen?
A. The third heauen, with the Angels, both which were made perfect in the very firſt beginning of time. Gen. 1.1.
Q. What meane you by earth?
A. All that matter which was cloſed and compaſſed about with the third heauen, and was made at the ſame inſtant with it to prohibite & keepe out vacuitie, or emptineſſe, and fill vp the whole compaſſe of it, otherwiſe the parts of themſelues would hauehave fallen together to hauehave kept out that enemy of nature. Gen. 1.1.
Q. Are we to vnderſtand no more by earth then that firſt matter?
A. Yes, wee are to vnderſtand the forming of it into the foure elements, fire, ayre, water, and earth; as likewiſe the filling of it and them with inhabitants, both aboue and below: as alſo the providence of the Father in preſeruing and governing of them all to their ends and vſes: for the Father carries the worke according to his proper manner of working, vntill we come to Redemption, and there the Sonne takes it vponupon him in a peculiar manner.
Q. What is the ſecond perſon.
A. The Sonne, who is begotten of the Father by nature, and by counſell redeemes mankind.
Q. What is the Relatiue propertie of the Sonne?
A. To be begotten. Heb. 1.5.
Q. What is his manner of ſubſiſting?
A. To be the ſecond perſon in order, not in nature, for the begotten in relation is naturally as ſoone as the begetter.
Q. What is his worke?
A. Redemption. Epheſ. 1.7.
Q. What is Redemption?
A. It is a ſatisfaction made to the Iuſtice of God the Father for Man by a Redeemer.
Q. Who is the Redeemer?
A. Ieſus Chriſt, his onelyonly Sonne our Lord.
Q. Why call you him Ieſus?
A. Becauſe he is a Sauiour of his people from their ſinnes. Math. 1.21.
Q. Why Chriſt?
A. In regard of his offices, as he is anointed our King, Prieſt, and Prophet. Pſal. 45.7. Luk. 4.18. Act. 4.27. and 10.38.
Q. VVhy his onelyonly Sonne?
A. Becauſe the Father can hauehave no more ſonnes by nature but one.
Q. Why our Lord?
A. By the right of Redemption. Rom. 14.9.
Q. How is our Redemption wrought?
A. By the humiliation and exaltation of the Sonne of God. Luke 24.26.
Q. VVhat be the ſeuerall degrees of his humiliation?
A. Seuen; There be ſome others left out of the Creed; but theſe expreſſed are the principall.
Q. What are they?
A. 1. His conception; 2. his natiuitie; 3. his paſſion vnderunder Pilate; 4. his crucifying; 5. his dying; 6. his buriall; 7. his deſcent into hell.
Q. VVhat are meant by all theſe?
A. That Chriſt muſt not onelyonly ſatisfie in generall, but that he muſt paſſe through the degrees of our ſorrowes, and beare our afflictions. Iſa. 53.4.5.
Q. VVhat be the ſeuerall degrees of his exaltation?
A. Foure; which are his Reſurrection, Aſcenſion, Sitting at Gods right hand, and returne to Iudgement. As in his humiliation he tooke our receits, and taſted the bitter potion for vsus, ſo all Phyſicke being ended of that kinde, he giues vsus his receits of Redemption, Epheſ. 1.7. Iuſtification, Rom. 3.24. Reconciliation, Coloſ. 1.20. Sanctification, 1 Pet. 1.2. Entrance into glory, Heb. 10.19. Theſe are Cordials for vsus, and for him after all his penall receits.
Q. What is the third perſon?
A. The holy Spirit, who by nature proceedeth from the Father, and the Sonne, and by counſell applyeth Chriſt to the Church, and eueryevery member thereof, the Father being the firſt perſon elects, the Sonne redeemes, and the Spirit ſanctifies. Ioh. 14.26. and 15.26. Rom. 8.16. 1 Cor. 2.12. Ioh. 3.5. 2 Cor. 1.21. Rom. 8.23.
Q. VVhat is his Relatiue propertie?
A. To proceede. Vnderſtanding begets an Image of it ſelfe, and loues it, and ſo from the beſt vnderſtanding to the beſt obiect of it, proceedes a mutuall louelove. The begetter loues the begotten, and the begotten loues the begetter, and their louelove is equall to themſelues, and proceedes from them both, and to vsus. The will of the Father, by the wiſedome of his Sonne, and power of his good Spirit is ſayd to doe all.
Q What is his manner of ſubſiſting?
A. To be the third perſon in order, for proceeding from two, he muſt needs be the third, and yet in nature as ſoone as either of them; for the louers and the loued, are Relalatiues, and therefore together in nature.
Q. VVhat is his worke?
A. Application, or Sanctification, Epheſ. 5.26.27. The Sonne hauing prepared the remedie, leaues it to be applyed by the Spirit, Ioh. 16.7.
CHAPTER II. Of the Faith of the Church.
Hitherto of Faith in God.
Queſtion.
WHat is the Faith of the Church?
Anſwere.
Whereby beleeuing in God, we alſo beleeue, that wee are of the Church, and made partakers of all good things promiſed vntounto it.
Q. VVhat is the Church?
A. That number of all thoſe that are applyed to Chriſt by the ſpirit; Now as this vnion is made by faith, it is called the militant Church, as by viſion, the triumphant.
Q. Why is it called holy?
A. Becauſe it is an holy Societie of Saints, in regard of the Spirits worke. 1 Pet. 2.9. Reu. 11.2. and 21.19.
Q. Why Catholicke?
A. Becauſe it is vniuerſall, in reſpect of all times, perſons, and places, a familie both in heauen and earth. Math. 26.13. Epheſ. 3.15. 1 Ioh. 2.1. Reu. 7.9.
Q. What are the benefits God beſtoweth vponupon it?
A. Two in this life, as the communion of Saints, and remiſſion of ſinnes: and two in the life to come, as the reſurrection of the body, and life enerlaſting, Lamen. 3.23. Pſal. 68.19. Col. 1.5. and 3.3.4. 1 Ioh. 3.2.
Q. VVhat is the communion of Saints.
A. It is our communicating with God, and the godly, both in grace and glory, or that fellowſhip that wee hauehave with Chriſt our head, and all his members. Pſal. 16.5. & 73.26. Iſa. 55.1. Act. 4.32. Gal. 6.10. Epheſ. 4.3.4.5.6. Heb. 10.24. Phil. 2.1.2. 1 Cor. 10.16. Reue. 3.18. and 6.20.
Q. What is the remiſſion of Sinne?
A. It is a worke of mercy, whereby the Father being offended, and reconciled by his Sonne, doth witneſſe to our conſciences by his holy Spirit, that all our ſinnes are diſcharged, and that we are graciouſly receiued againe into his fauour. Iob 33.27.28. 1 King. 8.47. Hoſ. 14.2. Iſa. 33.24. and 62.11. God in forgiuing our ſinnes doth both couer and cure them. 1 Ioh. 1.9.
Q. What is the reſurrection of the body?
A. It is a ſtanding vp from the dead, by the power of Chriſts reſurrection, whereby our corruptible bodies are made incorruptible, and filled with all glory and excellencie, Iob 19.25.26. Ioh. 5.28. Act. 3.19. 1 Cor. 15.42.43. 2 Cor. 5.1. Heb. 11.35.
Q. What meane you by life Euerlaſting?
A. That moſt bleſſed and happie eſtate in which all the Elect of God ſhall raigne with Chriſt their head in the third heauen, after this life, and after the day of iudgement, and that both in body and ſoule for euer and euer. Pſal. 16.11. Iſa. 64.4. Ioh. 17.20.21. 1 Cor. 2.9. and 13.12. and 15.28. 2 Cor. 12.4. Phil. 3.21. Reue. 21.22. and 22.2.
CHAPTER III. Of good Workes.
Hitherto of Faith.
Queſtion.
WHat are the workes of Faith?
Anſwere.
That ready act of faith to doe as we are bidden. Rom. 6.16. 1 Sam. 12.25. Iam. 2.14.17. Ioh. 14.15. 1 Theſ. 1.3. Tit. 3.1.8.
Q. How are theſe workes deuided?
A. They are either our walking with God, or conferring with him, or receiuing from him. 2 Cor. 7.1. Phil. 1.6. 2 Theſ. 1.11. Heb. 6.17.18. Faith bids the cleanſed, goe away and ſinne no more, but walke after the Spirit, it prouokes to prayer, and giues vsus full confirmation of Gods louelove.
Q. What is our walking with God?
A. It is our due obſeruation of his lawes in all our wayes. Pſal. 119.6.
Q. What is the law of God?
A. The rule that God hath preſcribed vsus, for the holy performance of all our actions. Iſa. 8.20. Rom. 2.15. & 7.7.
Q. How is the Law diſtributed?
A. It is either concerning the worſhip of God, or louelove of our neighbour. Mark. 12.29.30.31.
Q. What is the firſt Commandement, concerning the worſhip of God?
A. Thou ſhalt hauehave no other Gods before myface. Gen. 39.9. Iob 31.23.24. Pſal. 112.1. Pro. 3.5. Iſa. 8.13. and 51.12. Hab. 1.16. Luke 12.45. Phil. 3.19. Coloſ. 3.5.
Q. What is the ſumme of this precept?
A. The hauing of the true God, and him alone, and that with the whole man, in the beſt of all his powers.
Q. What is the ſecond Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt not make to thy ſelfe any grauen Image. Exod. 20.4.5.6. Pſal. 44.21. and 106.35.39. Deut. 4.12. Iſa. 42.2. Hoſ. 14.8. Hab. 2.18. Math. 15.9. 1 Ioh. 5.21.
Q. What is the ſumme hereof?
A. That we worſhip God with his owne worſhip, and not our owne deuiſes.
Q. What is the third Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine. &c. Deut. 28.58. Pſal. 5.16.17. Dan. 4.34. Math. 6.9. Rom. 11.33. 1 Tim. 6.1.
Q. What is the ſumme thereof?
A. Due reuerence to be ſhewed in the worſhip of God.
Q. What is the fourth Commandement?
A. Remember thou keepe holy the Sabboth day, &c. Neh. 13.15. to 22. Exod. 20.8.9.10.11. Iſa. 58.13. Ier. 17.27. Reu. 1.10.
Q. What is the ſumme of this law?
A. All diligence in publique Prayer to God, and in learning the will of God, eſpecially vponupon his owne day.
CHAPTER IIII. Of Charitie.
Hitherto of holineſſe in the firſt Table.
Queſtion.
WHat is that Iuſtice that we owe to our neighbour?
Anſwere.
That we doe to him, as we would he ſhould do to vsus. Mark. 12.31.
Q. What is the firſt Commandement of this Table?
A. Honour thy father and mother, &c. Exod. 20.12.
Q. What is the ſumme thereof?
A. Due reſpect to our ſuperiours, inferiours, and equalls, to honour all according to their place and degree.
Q. What is the ſecond precept?
A. Thou ſhalt not kill. Exod. 20.13.
Q. What is the ſumme of it?
A. Preſeruation of life, as farre as may ſtand with the good of the Church, and Common wealth.
Q. What is the third Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt not commit adulterie. Exod. 20.14.
Q. What is the ſumme of it?
A. Chaſtitie, both inward and outward, in affection and action.
Q. What is the fourth Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt not ſteale, Exod. 20.15.
Q. VVhat is the ſumme of it?
A. Iuſtice and equitie, a vertue that readily giues eueryevery man his owne.
Q. VVhat is the fift Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt not beare falſe witneſſe, &c. Exod. 20.16.
Q. VVhat is the ſumme thereof?
A. Truth, and our teſtimony thereunto as often as it ſhall lawfully be required.
Q. VVhat is the ſixt Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt not couet, Exod. 20.17.
Q. VVhat is the ſumme thereof?
A. Contentment, and reſiſtance againſt all concupiſcence.
CHAPTER V. Of Prayer.
Hitherto of the Law.
Queſtion.
VVHat is Prayer?
Anſwere.
It is a mouing of God the Father, in the name of his Son, by the power of his Spirit, with things agreeable to his will. Rom. 8.27. Ioh. 16.23.
Q. Where is the ſumme of this contained?
A. In the Lords Prayer.
Q. How is that divided?
A. Into a Preface, the Petitions, and the concluſion.
Q. What is the Preface?
A. It is the preparation of the heart in comming to God; for, as we are to come with boldneſſe, ſo muſt wee alſo come with reuerence of his Maieſtie that filleth the heauens, Pſal. 26.6. and 115.3. Eccl. 5.1. Iſa. 66.1. Luk. 15.18.
Q. VVhat are the words?
A. Our father which art in heauen.
Q. How are the petitions devided?
A. They either concerne God, or our ſelues.
Q. How many concerne God?
A. Three
Q. How are they devided?
A. They either concerne his Glory, or the meanes of it.
Q. Which is the petition concerning his Glory?
A. Hallowed be thy name. Where we deſire, that God in his nature, attributes, word, and workes, may be ſanctified by vsus, Leu. 10.3. Ezek. 38.23. Act. 12.23.
Q. What are the petitions concerning the meanes of his Glory?
A. Two; The comming of his kingdome, and the doing of his will.
Q. What is meant by thy Kingdome come?
A. That the kingdome of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, both by the inward working of his ſpirit, and alſo by the outward meanes, may be enlarged daily, vntill it be perfected at the comming of Chriſt to Iudgement. Pſal. 122.6. Iſa. 62.7. Rom. 14.17. 2 Theſ. 3.1. 2 Tim. 4.8. Reu. 22.20.
Q. What is meant by the doing of Gods will vponupon earth, as it is done in heauen.
A. That all obedience be giuen to God in the moſt holy and heauenly manner, Pſal. 86.11. and. 119.36. Mal. 1.6. Act. 24.16. Rom. 8.29. 1 Theſ, 4.3. And for want of exact performance, daily prayer for pardon, with a complaining of our wants, Pſal. 143.2. Rom. 7.18.
CHAPTER VI. Of requeſts for our ſelues.
Hitherto of bleſſings concerning our ſanctification of Gods name, comming of his kingdome, and performance of his will.
Queſtion.
VVHat bleſſings concerne our ſelues?
Anſwer.
Either ſuch as concerne this life, or a better; the bodie, or the ſoule.
Q. What is the petition for this life?
A. The giuing of vsus our daily bread, that is, that God would prouide for vsus all things conuenient for this life, walking faithfully in our vocations, and in all things ſubmitting to his heauenly will, and good pleaſure. Pſal. 37.5. Prou. 10.22. and 16.3. and 30.8. Hag. 1.6. 1 Tim. 6.8.
Q. What are the petitions for a better life?
A. I regard of the preſent, forgiueneſſe of ſinne, and for future deliuerance out of all temptations that may any wayes draw vsus to ſinne.
Q. What meane you by the firſt?
A. That all our ſinnes may be forgiuen, and neuer laid to our charge, either to condemne vsus here, or to confound vsus hereafter, and that moſt freely in Ieſus Chriſt, and as we heartily forgiue them that hauehave offended vsus, wherewith goeth an humble confeſſion of them to God. Pſal. 40.12. Luke 11.4. 1 Ioh. 1.9. Confeſſion and deprecation muſt goe together.
Q. What meane you by the ſecond?
A. The not leading or leauing of vsus in temptation, but his moſt gracious and mercifull deliuerance of vsus out of them all; and in this requeſt, we either lament our eſtate to God, or complaine of the wicked who moleſt vsus. Deut. 8.2. and 13.3. 2 Chron. 32.31. Pſal. 13.2. and 55.2.3.
Hitherto of Petition.
Q. What is thankeſgiuing?
A. A gratefull acknowledgement of all the benefits of God, and aſcribing vntounto him dominion, power, and glory, for euer and euer, Amen. And this is the ſweet concluding of all our Prayers. 1 Chron. 29.11. Pſal. 29.2.9. 2 Cor. 1.20. Phil. 4.6.
CHAPTER VII. Of Sacraments.
Queſtion.
NOw we come to the celebrating of a Sacrament; what then is it.
Anſwere.
It is a ſeale of righteouſneſſe by faith. Rom. 4.11.
Q. What are the kinds?
A. Two; Baptiſme, and the Lords Supper. Mat. 26.26. and 28.19. Gen. 17.11.12. Rom. 4.11.1 Cor. 10.1.2.3.4.
Q. What is Baptiſme?
A. A Sacrament of our entrance into Chriſtianitie, or of our ingrafting into Chriſt. Act 8.12.38.
Q. What is the outward ſigne?
A. Water, with the ſprinkling of it in the Name of the Father, Sonne and holy Ghoſt.
Q. What is ſignified by it?
A. The waſhing away of our ſinnes, and preſenting of vsus holy to God the Father.
Q. What is the Lords Supper?
A. A Sacrament of our continuance in Chriſtianitie, or our daily growing vp with Chriſt, 1. Cor. 11.23.
This memorable Banquet, proportioned in the outward Elements and inward Graces.
Q. How doe the outward Elements teach the outward man?
A. Either in themſelues, or their vſes.
Q. How in themſelues?
A. Both for ſubſtance and qualitie.
Q. How for ſubſtance?
A. As the bread is the ſtaffe of life, and as the wine glads the heart of man.
Q. How in their qualities?
A. As they are common and ſenſible, ſenſible, to the eye and cares, feeling, ſmelling, taſting.
Q. How in their vſe?
A. Either as they are handled by the miniſter, or by the receiuers.
Q. How by the Miniſter?
A. Firſt, in ſetting them apart. Secondly, in bleſſing of them. Thirdly, in breaking of the bread, & powring forth of the wine. Fourthly, in deliuering them to the Communicants.
Q. How by the receiuers?
A. Firſt, by taking the bread and drinking the wine. Secondly, by digeſting of them: firſt, in the ſtomacke, then in the liuer; laſtly, in eueryevery part, whereby they are made powerfull to humane duties.
Q. How doth all this teach the inward man in reſpect of grace?
A. In proportioning them to Chriſt, both in himſelfe, and in his vſe.
Q. How in himſelfe?
A. Both in his nature and qualitie.
Q. How in his nature?
A. As his body is the bread of life, whereof whoſoeuer taſteth ſhall neuer hunger, and his bloud is drinke indeede, that for euer makes glad the heart and ſoule.
Q. How in the qualitie?
A. As his bodie and bloud were common with ours in all things (ſinne onelyonly excepted) and that he is made ſenſible, both to the eare bored by the Spirit, the eye anointed with eye-ſalue, and to the feeling of the ſanctified affection, alſo to the ſmelling of ioy, and taſting of the hungry ſoule.
Q. How in the vſe?
A. Either as he is appointed of the Father, or receiued of vsus.
Q. How of God?
A. Firſt, as he is called to this worke. Secondly, indued with grace. Thirdly, as his body is crucified for vsus, and his bloud powred out for the waſhing of our wounds. Fourthly, as he is deliuered and giuen to eueryevery beleeuer.
Q. How receiued of vsus?
A. Firſt, he is taken by the hand of faith, and his bodie is fed on by meditation, and his bloud ſpiritually drunken to waſh our ſoules, then he is digeſted, firſt, in the vnderſtanding, and then in the will and affections; and laſtly, diſtributed to eueryevery facultie, both of body and ſoule, by which wee are made able to eueryevery good word and worke, which is the happy life of eueryevery Chriſtian. (*⁎*)
ERRATA.
Some faults eſcaped in Printing, which I intreat thee courteous Reader to correct; the materiall ones are theſe following.
PAge 2. line 33. weakened for wakened. p. 6. l. 1. our for the pa. 7. l. 3. at for as. p. 22. l. 8. our conuerſion for our conuerſation, p. 43. l. 7. to it ſelfe for in themſelues. p. 64.7. moſt excellent for the moſt excellent. p. 73. l. 36 deadly for dead. p. 149. l. 32. as diaptron for as a diaptron. p. 153. l. 34. flie for ſhie. p. 189. l. 16. found for ſound. p. 200 l. 33. art for act. p 223. l 3 take out othor. p. 232. l. 3. require for acquire. p. 256. l. 32. fit for vnfit. p. 263. l. 2.9. embatement for embaſement l. 34 rigorous for vigorous. p. 262 13. receiued for reviewed p. 266. l. 12. authenticall, Ierome for authenticall Ierome. p. 268. l. 5. babes for bagges. p. 292. l. 24. ouercome for ouercome it.