Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

were Baptized; and unless we believe, we cannot be faved. Mark xvi. 16. He that believeth, and is Baptized, fhall be faved; but he that believeth not, fhall be damned.

2. Why do we fo often rehearse these Articles? A. Because by that means we make publick Profeffion of our Christian Faith. Rom. x. 9, 10. If thou shalt confefs with thy mouth the Lord Jefus, and fbalt believe in thine heart, that God hath raised bim from the dead, thou shalt be faved. For with the Heart Man believeth unto Righteousness, and with the Mouth Confeffion is made unto Salvation. That is the Reason why we fay it so often in our Prayers. 2. Why is the Greed put firft before the Commandments and Lord's Prayer?

A. Because we muft firft believe, before we can obey or pray to God. Heb. xi. 6. But without faith it is impoffible to please him; for he that cometh to God, muft believe that he is, and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently feek him.

I Believe

2. Why are these Words placed first of all? A. Because they run through the whole Twelve, to every Article I give my Affent, Credo; whence the whole is called the Creed.

2. Why, I believe, in the Singular Number? A. Because every one muft believe for himself, Fobn ix. 38. And be faid, Lord, I Believe. And be worshipped him. John xi. 27. She faith unto bim, Tea, Lord: I Believe that thou art the Chrift the Son of God which should come into the World. Gal. ii. 20. I am crucified with Chrift; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Chrift liveth in me: And the Life which I now live in the Flefb, I live by the Faith of the Son of God,who loved me, and gave himself for

me.

me. Hab. ii. 4. Bebold, bis Sou! which is lifted up, is not upright in him: But the juft fhall live by his Faith.

2. What is it to believe in this place?

A. To be fully perfwaded that every thing here is true. Rom viii. 38. For I am perfwaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalis ties, nor powers, nor things prefent, nor things to come. Heb. xi. 1. Now Faith is the fubftance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not feen.

2. What ground have you to be thus perfwaded?

A. Because every thing in the Creed is attested by God, who cannot lye. Tit. i. 2. In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promifed, before the World began.

Where hath God attefted it?

A. In his Holy Word, 2 Tim. iii. 16. All Scripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteousness.

In God

2. What doth this Article import?

A. That God is. Heb. xi. 6. But without Faith it is impoffible to please him: For he that cometh to God, muft believe that he is, and that he is a Re warder of them that diligently feek him.

2. Why do ye believe there is a God?

A. All things thew it. Rom. i. 20. For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly feen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal Power and Godhead, fo that they are without excufe. And fo atteft it: Acts xiv. 16, 17. Who in Times paft fuffered all Nations so walk in their own way. Nevertheless he left not

$ 2

bima

bimself without witnefs, in that he did good, and gave us rain from Heaven and fruitful Seafons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. Pfal. xix. 1. The Heavens declare the Glory of God, and the Firmament fheweth his handy work. Every Man's Conscience alfo attefts it: Rom. ii. 14, 15. For when the Gentiles which have not the Law, do by nature the things contained in the Law,thefe having not the Law, are a Law unto themselves, which Thew the work of the Law written in their hearts, their Confcience alfo bearing witness, and their Thoughts the mean while accufing, or else excufing one another. Pfal. xiv. 1. The fool bath faid in his heart, there is no God: they are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doth good. 2. What elfe doth this Article import? A. That there is but one God.

2. How do you prove that?

A. Deut. vi. 4. Hear, O Ifrael, the Lord our God is one Lord. Ifa. xliv. 6. Thus faith the Lord the King of Ifrael, and his Redeemer the Lord of Hofts, I am the First, and I am the Laft, and befides me there is no God. Ifa. xlv. 5,6. I am the Lord, and there is none elfe, there is no God befides me; I girded thee, though thou haft not known me: That they may know from the rifing of the Sun, and from the Weft, that there is none befides me, I am the Lord, and there is none else. 1 Cor. viii. 6, 7. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit, there is not in every Man that knowledge: For fome with Confcience of the Idol unto this hour, eat it as a thing offered unto an Idol, and their Confcience being weak, is defiled.

What is the great Duty you owe to this one God?

A. To

A. To love him above all things: Deut. vi. 5. And thou fbalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy foul, and with all thy might. And to worship and ferve him only: Math. iv. 10. Then faith Fefus unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou ferve.

2. What is God?

A. Exod. iii. 14. And God faid unto Mofes, I am that I am: and he faid, thou shalt fay unto the Children of Ifrael, I am bath fent me unto you. A Spirit: John iv. 24. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, muft worship him in Spirit and in Truth. 2. What is that?

A. A Substance without Matter or Body. Luc. xxiv. 39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I my felf: handle me, and fee, for a Spirit bath not Flesh and Bones, as ye fee me have. And fo not like to Man: Rom. i. 23. And they changed the Glory of the uncorruptible God, into an Image made like to corruptible Man, and to Birds, and four-footed Beafts, and creeping things.

9. Why then is God faid to have a Head and Hands, &c.?

A. To represent him the better to our Capaci

ties.

2. Is he therefore invifible?

A. Yes. 1 John iv. 12. No Man hath feen God at any time; if we love one another God dwelleth in us, and bis Love is perfected in us. Job ix. 11. Lo be goeth by me, and I fee him not.

2. In what Senfe then fhall we fee God?

A. 1 Jobn iii. 2. Beloved, now are we the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall fee him as he is. 1 Cor. xiii. 12. For now we fee through a Glafs darkly; but

S 3

then

then face to face: Now I know in part; but then fball I know even as also I am known. With the Eyes of our Minds, not of our Bodies; but Chrift with our bodily Eyes: fob xix. 26. And though after my skin, Worms deftroy this Body, yet in my flefh fhall I fee God.

2. What follows from God's being a Spirit?

A. That we should worship him in Spirit and in Truth, John iv. 24. God is a Spirit, and they that worship bim, must worship him in Spirit and in Truth.

2. Where is God?

A. Every where, Pfal. cxxxix. 7, 8. Whither fball I go from thy Spirit? or whither fhall I flee from thy prefence? If I afcend up into Heaven, thou art there: If I make my Bed in Hell, behold, thou art there. Jer. xxiii. 23, 24. Am I a God at hand, faith the Lord, and not a God afar off. Can any bide himself in fecret places that I shall not fee him? faith the Lord: Do not I fill heaven and earth? faith the Lord

2. How then is he faid to be in Heaven, and near us? Ifai. v. 6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon bini while he is be

near.

A. Because he manifefteth himself to us, Exod. xx. 24. An Altar of Earth thou shalt make unto me, and fbalt facrifice thereon thy Burnt-Offerings, and thy Peace Offerings, thy Sheep and thine Oxen: In all Places where I record my Ñame, Iwill come unto thee, and I will bless thee. Matth. xviii. 20. For where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them.

2. Doth he then know all things?

A. Moft perfectly, Pfal. cxlvii. 5. Great is our Lord, and of great power; bis understanding is infi

hite.

« AnteriorContinuar »