3.

1. Everyone knows more evil by him

self, than by any other, Rom. xii.

10. Pbil. ii. 3. Ź. Norspeak evil of them, Tit. iii. 2. Fuden

8, 9, 10. Jam. iv. 11. Nor do any evil against them, no not

though we have received evil from them, Rom. xii. 17,20,21, 1 Thes.v.

15. i Pet. iii. 9. i Cor. xiii. 7. 2. We pray for all Men, 1 Cor. xiii. v. 1 Tim.

ii. 1. yea for our very Enemies. For, 1. We have a particular command for that,

Mat. V, 44• 2. Unless we pray for them we cannot be

said to have forgiven them, and so are not capable as yet of pardon our

selves, Mat. vi. 12, 14, 15. 3. By this means we shall put out of our

Minds all desire of Revenge, and so commit our cause wholly to GOD,

Rom. xii. 19, 20. 4. In this we shall follow the steps of our

blessed Saviour, who was Charity it

felf, Luke xxiii. 34. III. By true Charity we do good to all,Gal.vi.io. i Cor. xiii. 4. Xensévéras, 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18.

1. Why do good with what we have?
1. GOD is the Supreme Proprietor of the

Worli, and our Landlord, we his Te-
nants; and to testifie that we ought
to pay him a quit-Rent, Homage, or
Tribute, by giving of what we have

to Pious and Charitable uses. Hence when they brought their Offerings,

they are to acknowledge GOD's Dominion over and Mercy to them, Deut. *xvi. 1, 10, 12, so David, i Chron. xxix. ilj 12, 14:

I

3.

2. This will make us mindfu} of our de

pendance upon GOD and obligations
to him, Deut. vi. 10, 11, 12. Prov.

xxx. 8, 9. Mat. vi. 19, 20, 21,
This is the Means whereby GOD hath

provided for the Poor, so that you
rob them, unless you give them, Mal.

iii. 8.
2. How should this Grace be exercised ?
1. In Obedience to GOD, and for his

sake, Mark ix. 41. 1 Cor. xiii. 1, 2.
2. It must be universal, Gal. vi. 10.
3. Willingly and chearfully performed,

2 Cor. ix. 7. Rom. xii. 8. Afts xx. 35.
4. Proportionably to every Man's Estate,

I Cor. xvi. 2. 2 Cor. ix. 6. Luke xxi.

I, 2, 3
. To a good end, not to be seen of Men,

Mat. vi. I.
Nor thinking to merit Heaven by it, Luke
But only for the Glory of GOD, Mat. v.

16.
MOTIVES.
1. This is the best way to employ your E-

1tates, 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, fam. i. 27.
5. Sentence will be past upon you hereafter

according to your Charity here, Mat,
XXV. 34, 4:

xvii. 10.

THE

.

Τ Η Ε

ARTICLES

OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. 2W Hat

Hat do ye mean by those Articles ?

A. The Sum and Substance of the Chriftian Doctrine.

2. Where have you that Doctrine summed up ? A. In the Creeds. 2. How many Creeds doth our Church receive? A. Ihree: The Apostles,Niceno, and Athanafian. 2. Which do wa 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 sound words, which thou baft beard of me, in faith and love wbich is in Chrift Jesus. i l'or xv. 3. 4. For I delivered unto you firit of all, that which I also received, bow that Christ 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 uxto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith wbich was once delivered unto the saints.

Q. Why do ye rehearse that Creed?

A. Because That contains the Substance of all other and is universally received by all Christians.

Q. Is it necessary for all to learn the Creed?

A. Yes. Otherwise, unless they know that they cannot belicye, as they promised, when they

Vol. I.

were

were Baptized; and unless we believe, we cannot be saved. Mark xvi. 16. He that believeth, and is Baptized, shall be saved; but be that believerb not, shall be damned.

2 Why do we so often rehearse these Articles ?

A. Because by that means we make publick Profefsion of our Christian Faith. Rom. x. 9, 10. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and Jhalt believe in thine beart, that God bath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the Heart Man believeth unto Righteousness, and with the Mouth Confeffion is made unto Salvation. That is the Reason why we say it so often in our Prayers.

Q. 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 be is, and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek bim.

I Believe
Q. Why are these Words placed first of all?

A. Because they run through the whole Twelve, to every Article I give iny Afient, Credo; whence

I the who e is called the Creed.

Q. Why, I believe, in the Singular Number?

A. Because every one must believe for himself, John ix. 38. And be said, Lord, I Believe. And be worshipped bim. John xi.'27: sbe 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 Christ; 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 bimself for mé. Hab. ii. 4. Bebold, bis Soul which is lifted up, is not upright in bim : But the just shall live by bis Faith.

Q. What is it to believe in this place?

A. To be fully perswaded that every thing here is true. Rom viii: 38. For I ani 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.

Q: What ground have you to be thus perswaded ?

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

Where hath God attested it ? A. In his Holy Word, 2 Tim. iii. 16. All Scrip. ture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for corretion, for instruction in rigbteousness.

In God

Q. What doth this Article import?

A. That God is. Heb. xi. 6. But without Faith it is impossible to please bim : For he that cometh to God, must believe that be is, and that he is a Rewarder of tbem that diligently seek bim.

Q: Why do ye believe there is a God?

A. All things shew ir. Rom. i. 20. For the invisible things of bim from the Creation of the World are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal Power and Godbead; so that they are without excuse. And so attest ir: Acts xiv 16, 17. Wbo in Times past suffered all Nations to walk in their own way. Nevertheless be lef, not

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