Some Helps for Young Scholars in Christianity, Part 16 – Part 17
THE FOVRTH PART of the Catechiſme.
Teacher.
REſts there any thing for vsus to doe, after that we are perfitlie iuſtified in Gods ſight, by Faith in Chriſt?
Diſciple.
Yes, Gen. 17, 1 Exod. 19.5.6. Ierem. 4.1.4.14. Dan. 9.18 19. Epheſ. 2.10. Tit. 3 8.very meikle, albeit na wayes to merite ſaluation: but only to witneſſe by the effects of thankfulneſſe, that we are truely ſaued.
Teacher.
Whilk are thir effects, whereby we are to witneſſe that we are truly ſaued?Deut. 8.10.11. Eſa 60.21. & 61.3. Zach 14.20. Mat. 5.16 Epheſ. 1.14. and 4.29. Col. 3.16.17. 1. Theſ, 5.11 1…,
Diſciple.
The glorifying of God, and the edifying of our ſelues and our neighbours, by ſhewing foorth the frutes of our new birth in ſanctification.
Teacher.
Whilk are the haly fruits of our regeneration and new birth?
Diſciple.
Mortification of the aulde man, Ezek. 36.26, Epheſ. 4.23.24.25. Col. 3 5.9.10.& quickning of the new man, whilk is called repentance, inherent iuſtice, or our begun halineſſe.
Teacher.
What call ye the auld man, and what call ye the newe man?
Diſciple.
The corruption of nature that we hauehave from Sathan by our firſte Parents, is the auld man: Rom. 6.16 & 7, 24. 2 Cor. 5.17 Epheſ. 4.7 22.23.24 Col. 2.5.9 10.11.and the meaſure of Chriſtes begun holineſſe inherent in vsus, is the new man.
Teacher.
Then eueryevery Chriſtian becumes twa, as it were in ane: the auld man and the new: the ane euer contrarious to the other, and the ane fighting againſt the vther?
Diſciple.
It is ſo: and this battell is that …oake and Croce of Chriſt that wée muſt take on, Mat. 11.29. & 7.13 14 Gal. 5.16.17.and that ſtraite way that wee muſt paſſe, whilks neuer …uffers our ſanctificatiō in our ſelues to be perfite in this life.
Teacher.
Is the newe man able to fight againſt our ſinfull corruption, & get the victorie in the end?
Diſciple.
This Battel is ſore: but the victorie is ſure through faith in him that loued vsus, Rom. 7.24 Gal, 2.20. Rom. 8, 37 Phil. 16. & 4.3.1. theſ 2.24. 1. Ioh. 5.4.and gaue himſelf for vsus, in whome we are mair then victors.
Teacher.
What is our chief armor in this Chriſtian Battell, beſide Faith and Repentance.
Diſciple.
Hearty and continual Prayer to God only, 2. Kings 8 39. Ioh, 14 14. Epheſ. 6.18, Theſ. 5.17 1. Iohn. 5.14.for al things ſeruing to his glory and our comforts, for Chriſtes ſake: as he hath taught vsus in the ſex petitions of the Lords Prayer, whilk is as followes, Our Father whilk art in heauen, and ſo forth.
Teacher.
How are theſe ſex petitions deuided?
Diſciple.
Into twa parts, Ma…. 6.9.10. &c.anſwering to the twa Tables of the Lawe: the firſte thrée, Luc. 11.2.3. &c.concernes the glory of God directly: and the other thrée his glorie in our awin weilfare, and our neighbours.
Teacher.
What ſtirres vp and ſharpens vsus to earneſt prayer?
Diſciple.
The Spirite of God, Pſal. 50.15. Rom. 8.26.27. & 5.3.4. Act. 13.3. & 14.23. Gal. 6.12, 14. Heb. 10.36. Iam. 1.4.5by meanes of ſobriety, faſting, and diuerſe afflictions, called the Croce of Chriſt, for the bearing whereof we hauehave néed of patience.
Teacher.
Then the begun halines of Chriſt in vsus, whereby at laſte wee ſall bee throughly ſanctified, is no cauſe of our ſaluation, though it muſt goe before our full enioying thairof in heauen?
Diſciple.
Ye ſay true: for if when we were enemies, 2. Cor. 7.1. 1. Theſ. 5.23. Rom. 5.10 Col. 2.10we were reconciled to God by the death of his ſonne, much more being reconciled, we ſall be ſaued by his life, in whome we are compleit.
FINIS.
N. to the Authour, touching the ſhort Catechiſme immediatlie going before
I Thanke God for your precious pearle little in quantitie, but infinite in waight. I allow and approues the perſpicuitie, ordour, and ſubſtantious compriſing of ſo great myſteries in little bounds.
The iudgement of another learned man. N.
There is not an idle word heir.
If any thing be wrang heir, it is of weakneſſe, and not of wilfulnes: and therfore is humbly ſubmitted to the louing and aduiſed correction of the godlie learned, by Gods worde.
THeſe formes of Praier, and thankſgiuing following, are onelyonly for thankful perſons to God for his benefites, and not for profane abuſers, and graceleſſe deuourers thereof: vvha the mair vvealth they hauehave by Gods gift, and the better cheere they make, the more forgetfull of God they are, and ſvvell in pride and diſdaine againſt all true thankfulneſſe, ſwaſſhing downe to the table like ſvvyne, and ſtarting vp like Dogs when they ar filled: thinking the true praiſing of God (namely at Table) to bee but Monkiſh hypocriſie, a Popiſh ceremonie, or loſte time.
Neither is anye man bounde to theſe formes but at his pleaſure, ſo the matter and ſubſtance be not omitted; but reuerently obſerued at eueryevery meale, not onelie by children, but alſo by the beſt and moſt able in the houſe: for the chiefeſt is vnvvorthie ynough to praiſe Gods halie Maieſtie. And the poſting ouer of this vvorthie ſeruice, onelie to profane boyes and ſeruing-men becōmeth not Chriſtian families.