1. Every one knows more evil by him- 2. Nor speak evil of them, Tit. iii. 2. Fude, 3. Nor do any evil against them, no not 2. Unless we pray for them we cannot be 3. By this means we shall put out of our 4. In this we shall follow the steps of our III. By true Charity we do good to all, Gal.vi.10. 1. GOD is the Supreme Proprietor of the Hence when they brought their Offerings, 2. This 1 6 2. This will make us mindful of our dependance upon GOD and obligations to him, Deut. vi. 10, 11, 12. Prov. xxx. 8, 9. Mat. vi. 19, 20, 2. 3. This is the Means whereby GOD hath 2. How should this Grace be exercised? 4. 5. To a good end, not to be seen of Men, Mat. vi. 1. Nor thinking to merit Heaven by it, Luke xvii. 10. But only for the Glory of GOD, Mat. v. 16. MOTIVES. 1. This is the best way to employ your Estates, χρήματα. 2. To preserve and secure them, Prov. xix. 17. Mat. vi. 19, 20. 3. To encrease them, Mat. xix. 29. 4. All your Religion without this is nothing worth, Jam. i. 27. 5. Sentence will be past upon you hereafter according to your Charity here, Mat. XXV. 34, 4. THE L THE ARTICLES OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. W Hat do ye mean by those Articles ? A. The Sum and Substance of the Christian Doctrine. 2. Where have you that Doctrine summed up ? A. In the Creeds. 2. How many Creeds doth our Church receive? A. Three: The Apostles, Nicene, and Athanafian. 2. Which do we here mean? A. The Apostles; so called, either as gathered out of their Writings, or made by them, 2 Tim. i. 13. Hold fast the form of found words, which thou bast beard of me, in faith and love which is in Chrift Jesus. 1 Cor xv. 3. 4. For I delivered unto you first of all, that which I also received, how that Chrift died for our Sins, according to the Scriptures: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Jude 3. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common Salvation; it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints. 2. Why do ye rehearse that Creed? A. Because That contains the Substance of all other, and is universally received by all Christians. 2. Is it necessary for all to learn the Creed? A. Yes. Otherwise, unless they know that, they cannot believe as they promised, when they VOL. I. S were were Baptized; and unless we believe, we cannot be saved. Mark xvi. 16. He that believeth, and is Baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned. 2 Why do we so often rehearse these Articles? A. Because by that means we make publick Profession of our Christian Faith. Rom. x. 9, 10. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart, that God hath raised bim from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the Heart Man believeth unto Righteousness, and with the Mouth Confession is made unto Salvation. That is the Reason why we say it so often in our Prayers. 2. Why is the Creed put first before the Commandments and Lord's Prayer? A. Because we must first believe, before we can obey or pray to God. Heb. xi. 6. But without faith it is impossible to please bim, for be that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that be is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek 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 must believe for himself, John ix. 38. And he said, Lord, I Believe. And be worshipped him. John xi. 27. She faith unto bim, Yea, 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 Christ liveth in me: And the Life which I now live in the Flesh, I live by the Faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. me. Hab. ii. 4. Behold, bis Soul which is lifted up, is not upright in him: But the just shall live by his Faith. 2. What is it to believe in this place? A. To be fully perswaded that every thing here is true. Rom viii. 38. For I am perswaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. Heb.xi. 1. Now Faith is the substance of things boped for, the evidence of things not seen. 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 bope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised, before the World began. 2. Where hath God attested it? A. In his Holy Word, 2 Tim. iii. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. In God 2. What doth this Article import? A. That God is. Heb. xi. 6. But without Faith it is impossible to please him: For be that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 2. Why do ye believe there is a God? A. All things shew 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 Godbead; fo that they are without excuse. And so attest it: Alts xiv 16, 17. Who in Times past suffered all Nations to walk in their own way. Nevertheless be left not bim S2 |