The Principles
of the Christian Religion
Necessary to be
known of the faithful newly set forth to the great profit of al the readers.
By Thomas Becon.
Parker Society,
1844
[Spelling
selectively modernized. Bible citations
converted to all Arabic numerals.]
The Contents of
This Book.
Of Faith.
What
faith is. What benefits we receive of
God through faith. The articles of the
Christian faith, with confirmations of the same out of the holy scriptures.
Of Prayer.
What
prayer is. What benefits we receive of God
by prayer. The Lord’s prayer, called the
Pater nester, with confirmations of every petition out of the holy scripture.
Of the Law.
What
the law is. To what use the law was
given. The ten commandments of God, with
confirmations of every commandment out of the holy scripture.
Of Repentance.
What
repentance is. Of the fruits of
repentance, declared by the word of God.
Of Baptism.
What
baptism is. To what use baptism was
ordained.
Of the Lord’s
Supper.
What
the Lord’s supper is. To what use Christ
did institute it.
The duty of all
estates and degrees, according to the doctrine of God’s holy word. The duty of the high powers, and of the other
temporal magistrates. The duty of
subjects toward the high powers. The
duty of bishops and ministers of God’s word.
The duty of parishioners unto the ministers of God’s word. The duty of husbands unto their wives. The duty of wives unto their husbands. The duty of fathers and mothers unto their
children. The duty of children toward
their fathers and mothers. The duty of
masters to their servants. The duty of servants to their masters. The duty of
widows. The duty of old men. The duty of old women. The duty of young folk. The duty of all degrees and estates generally
both toward God and their neighbour.
To the Most
Gentle and Godly Disposed Child, Master Thomas Cecil*, Son to the Right
Honourable Sir William Cecil, Knight, and Secretary to the King’s Majesty,
Thomas Becon Wisheth the Favour of God With Increase of Virtue and Learning.
[*The Cecils are descended from the
ancient family of Sitselt, who were early seated in the principality of Wales. Robert Sitselt aided Robert Fitzhamon in the
conquest of Glamorganshire, (A.D. 1091, the 4th year of king William Rufus,)
and for his services was rewarded by Fitzhamon with lands in Herefordshire and
Gloucestershire. Fourteenth in direct lineal descent from this Robert Sitselt
was David Cyssel of Stamford in the county of Lincoln, made by Henry VIII one
of his sergeants-at-arms. He was
grandfather to Sir William Cecil, afterwards lord Burleigh, whose son it was to
whom this treatise is inscribed. Of a
personage so well known as lord Burleigh, who, after previously filling high
employments, was principal minister of queen Elizabeth for forty years, from
her accession till the period of his death in 1598, it is not necessary here to
say any thing. The character of this
sagacious statesman is delineated in every history of England. By his first wife Mary, daughter of Peter
Cheke, and sister to Sir John Cheke, lord Burleigh had his eldest son Thomas,
who succeeded him in his title, and afterwards became the first earl of Exeter.
He was yet but a youth when Becon
dedicated to him the Principles of the Christian Religion. He served as a volunteer, in the 16th year of
queen Elizabeth, in the expedition sent into Scotland, when the castle of
Edinburgh was besieged and taken. The
next year, having waited on the queen at the earl of Leicester’s, he received
from her majesty the honour of knighthood. He distinguished himself in the wars of the
Low Countries, and was in 1585 made governor of the Brille, one of the
cautionary towns which the states of Holland pledged to the English queen: this
command he held for about two years. In
1588, the memorable year of the Spanish attempted invasion, he and his brother
Sir Robert Cecil were both volunteers on board the fleet. He afterwards took a part in the suppression
of the insurrection made by the earl of Essex, and was one of the commanders of
the force that obliged that ill-fated nobleman to surrender. For these and other services he was appointed
a knight of the order of the Garter, and was installed at Windsor in 1601. His credit did not decline in the ensuing
reign: indeed fresh honours were heaped upon him. Having been one of king James’ privy-council,
he was raised by that monarch in 1605 to the dignity of earl of Exeter, this
being, it it said, the first instance of the earldom
of the principal town or city being conferred when the earldom of the county
was already possessed by another. Lord Exeter was now advanced in years; but we
find him employed even to the verge of his long life; for so late as 1620 he
was put in commission with the archbishop of Canterbury against heresies and
errors in matters of religion; and was also at the same time in another
commission with the archbishop of York for matters of ecclesiastical
jurisdiction in that province. On Feb.
7, 1622, he died at the age of 80, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, where a
monument still existing was erected to his memory. He was married, first, to Dorothy Nevil, one
of the co-heirs of John Nevil, lord Latimer, by whom he had five sons and eight
daughters; secondly, to Frances, relict of Sir Thomas Smith, master of requests
to James I, and daughter to William Brydges, 4th Lord Chandos by her he had an
only daughter. It may be added that lord
Exeter was a benefactor to Clare Hall, Cambridge, to which he gave lands for
the maintenance of three fellows and eight scholars.]
If of holy letters we be not sleepy nor
vain readers, but diligently mark what we read, we shall easily perceive that
among other commandments of God this is not at the last nor the least, which he
giveth concerning the bringing up of youth in the knowledge of his blessed
will. For the godly wisdom knoweth right
well, that except the younglings of a commonweal be virtuously brought up, and
faithfully framed according to the right rule of God’s holy appointment, it
cannot come to pass, but that his glory (the good parents being once deceased)
must needs be obscured in this world, the invocation of his name cease, and all
godly religion decay: yea, the men themselves (if they be worthy that name)
must needs become brute-like, be carried about with every strange doctrine, condemn
all laudable laws, break all good orders, follow their fleshly appetites, like
unreasonable beasts, and so at the last bring both themselves and their realms
unto utter destruction.
Therefore as God in his holy law requireth
of parents nothing more earnestly than to bring up their children virtuously
and according to his word; so likewise all godly fathers and mothers have ever
from the beginning done their uttermost endeavour to train up their younglings,
even from the very cradles, in the nurture, fear, and doctrine of the Lord;
supposing themselves then best to please God, and most to do the true office of
godly and natural parents, when they study how to garnish, not their children’s
bodies with gay and sumptuous vestures, but their minds with noble and precious
virtues; not how to lift them up unto transitory dignities and worldly honours,
which, as daily experience teacheth, are more brittle than glass and fade away
like the grass, but how to make them honourable and praiseworthy in the sight
of good men, and profitable to the commonweal, through virtue, learning,
wisdom, and counsel. And the more the
parents themselves did excel other in knowledge, wisdom, and learning, the
greater desire had they to bring their children unto the like perfection,
bearing heavily that theirs should in any point degenerate from their fathers’
virtues, and not orderly answer to the godly qualities of their noble parents.
Histories, both godly and ethnic, do
minister unto us examples abundantly in this behalf, which I would here gladly
recite, if I had not attempted the like enterprise already in my preface unto
the Governance of Virtue; again, if I were not fully persuaded, that you have
heretofore both read and also heard of your teacher the same or else the like
histories. Your right honourable and
most worthy father, knowing the good pleasure of God in this behalf, hath also,
after the example of all other noble and godly parents, painfully travailed,
both by himself and by learned teachers, to bring you up even from your cradles
in the knowledge of God’s will and of good letters, that you might, as in age,
so likewise in virtue and learning, grow and increase unto his comfort, unto
your own commendation, and unto the profit of the commonweal hereafter. And as your father is learned, and hath a
breast stuffed with all godly virtues, so is his desire to have you both
learned and virtuous; that when he shall give over to nature (God so
disposing), he may leave behind him his own image, yea, as I may so speak,
himself, not only in lineaments of body, but also in virtue, in godliness, in
wisdom, in knowledge, and by this means be counted of his posterity a worthy
member of the commonweal, both in himself and in his son.
It is your duty, therefore, to satisfy the
godly desire of so natural a father, and to answer the expectation of many
which look to find in you hereafter that virtue, learning, wisdom, and gravity,
that is evidently perceived in your most worthy father. This shall be brought to pass, if according to
your beginning ye go forth diligently to call on the name of God, to apply your
mind to good letters, to give ear to the wholesome admonitions of your most
dear father, and to take heed to the daily exhortations of your teacher, ever
framing your life according to your knowledge.
And that ye may do this the more
conveniently, I give you this little treatise, which shall abundantly instruct
you in those points of Christian religion, which at this present do most of all
become your age. In it are contained the
principles of our profession, which I have so opened with the conference of the
other scriptures, that they may worthily seem to strive with large
commentaries. I have also set forth the
duties of all estates and degrees, as they be taught in God’s word, that all
ages and all kinds of people may here learn to know their duty both toward God
and their neighbour. Neither is any
thing taught in this treatise, that is not sufficiently fortressed with the
authorities of the holy scriptures; so that I doubt not but the godly learned,
which love to hear the voice of their Shepherd Christ, will not disallow this
my diligence. Let other entreat of high
mysteries, and climb up to the highest heaven: I shall be content to write of
things according to my knowledge and your capacity, and to creep upon the
ground. Let other talk of the unknown
secrets of the blessed Trinity, of predestination, of the state of the souls
departed, &c.: I will speak of the articles of the Christian faith, of the
Lord’s prayer, of the ten commandments, of the sacraments of Christ’s church,
&c. Let other be counted the flowers
of learning, for opening I know not how secret mysteries: I force not to be
called unlearned, so that I may know Christ crucified, and in teaching him,
either by my writings or sermons, win some unto God.
But to end: embrace virtue, love learning,
garnish your breast with the fruits of God’s Spirit, be not idle, flee vain and
too much childish pastimes, spend your time fruitfully, exercise yourself in
reading God’s word. So shall God bless
you, multiply your years on earth, and give you joyful days, unto the great
comfort of yourself; and the singular joy of your honourable parents, whom with
you I wish alway prosperously to do.
Fare ye well.
The Principles of
Christian Religion.
OF FAITH.
What Faith Is.
Faith is a sure persuasion and an undoubted
belief of the heart in the merciful promises of God, made to all faithful
penitent sinners in Christ’s blood, and freely performed of God the Father for
Christ’s sake.
What Benefits We
Receive of God Through Faith.
By faith we, which afore by nature were the
children of wrath, are made the sons and children of God. [Eph.
2]
Probations out
of the holy scriptures.
“As many as received him, to them gave he
power to be the sons of God, even them that believed on his name, which were
born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor yet of the will of man,
but of God.” [John
1]
“All ye are the sons of God, because ye
have believed on Christ Jesu.” [Gal.
3]
By faith we, which afore were sinners, are
justified and counted righteous in the sight of God for Christ’s sake. [Rom. 4]
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“We plainly affirm that a man is justified
by faith, without the works of the law.”
[Rom. 3]
“We, being justified by faith, have peace
toward God through our Lord Jesu Christ.”
[Rom. 5]
“We know that a man is not justified by the
deeds of the law, but by the faith of Jesu Christ; and we have believed on Jesu
Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the deeds
of the law; because by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified.” [Gal. 2]
“As many of you as are justified by the law
are fallen from grace. We look and hope
for in the Spirit to be justified through faith. For in Jesu Christ neither is circumcision any
thing worth, neither yet uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love.” [Gal. 5]
By faith we are
married unto Christ.
Probations out
of the holy scriptures.
“I will marry thee unto myself in faith;
and thou shalt know the Lord.” [Hos.
2]
Faith is the “wedding garment,” wherewith
we be married unto Christ according to the parable, which we read in the
gospel. [Matt.
22]
By faith our
prayers are accepted and heard of God.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“ All things whatsoever ye ask in prayer,
if ye believe, ye shall receive them.” [Matt.
21]
“Let him that pray ask in faith, and doubt
not. For he that doubteth is like a wave
of the sea, which is tossed of the winds and carried with violence. Neither let that man think that he shall
receive any thing of the Lord.” [James
1]
By faith Christ’s
fulfilling of the law is counted our fulfilling.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“Christ is the fulfilling of the law to
justify all that believe.” [Rom.
10]
“Christ hath delivered us (he speaketh of
the faithful) from the curse of the law; inasmuch as he was made accursed for
our sake.” [Gal. 3]
“Be it not known unto you, ye men and
brethren, that through this man (Christ) is preached unto you the forgiveness
of sins, and that by him all that believe are justified from all things, from
the which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses?” [Acts 13]
By faith our
works are allowed before God for Christ’s sake.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” [Rom. 14]
“Thine eyes, O Lord, look upon faith.” [Jer. 5]
Abel’s sacrifice was allowed of God;
because it was done in faith. And so
likewise were all the sacrifices which the holy patriarchs and other godly men
offered in the old law. [Gen.
4]
By faith
everlasting life is given unto us for Christ’s sake.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that every one that believeth
on him may not perish, but have everlasting life. For God hath so loved the world, that he gave
his only-begotten Son, that every one that believeth in him may not perish, but
have everlasting life.” [John
3]
“He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life. But he that believeth
not on the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
“He that heareth my word, and believeth on
him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into damnation, but
is scaped from death unto life.” [John
5]
“This is the will of him that sent me, that
every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him have everlasting life.” [John 6]
The Articles of the
Christian Faith, With Confirmations of the Same
Out of the Holy
Scripture.
The First
Article – I believe in one God the Father
Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
The
Confirmations.
I believe.
“Without faith it cannot be that any man
should please God. For he that cometh to
God must believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him.” [Heb. 11]
In one God.
“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is the
Lord only.” [Deut.
6]
“I am God, and there is none but I.” [Deut. 32]
“I am the Lord, and there is else none.” [Isai. 45]
“I am the Lord, besides whom there is none
other.”
“I am the Lord, besides whom there is none
other God; a true God, and such as saveth: there is none but I alone.”
“I am he before whom there was never any
God, neither shall there be any after me. I am, yea, I am Lord alone, and besides me
there is no saviour.” [Isa. 43]
“I am the first and the last, and besides
me there is no God.” [Isa.
44]
“We are sure that there is none other God
but one.” [1
Cor. 8]
The Father.
“Thou, O Lord, art our Father and Redeemer.
Thy name is from everlasting.” [Isa. 63]
“Have not we all one Father? Hath not one God created us? Why then doth every one of us despise his own
brother, and so break the covenant of our Father?” [Mal. 2]
“Call no man your father upon the earth:
for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”
[Matt. 23]
“We have but one God, even the Father, of
whom all things are.” [1
Cor. 8]
“One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God
and Father of all, which is above all, and through all, and in you all.” [Eph. 4]
Almighty.
“I am the Almighty God. Walk before me, and be thou perfect.” [Gen. 17]
“Thou, O Lord, art the great and mighty
God, whose name is the Lord of hosts, great in counsel and excellent in work.” [Jer. 32]
“Behold, I am the Lord God of all flesh: is
there any thing too hard for me? Shall
any thing be impossible in my sight? saith the Lord of hosts.”
“With God all things are possible.” [Matt. 19]
“O Lord God Almighty, true and righteous
are thy judgments.” [Rev.
16]
Maker of heaven and earth.
“In the beginning God made heaven and
earth.” [Gen. 1]
“The heavens, O Lord, are thine, the earth
also is thine: thou hast laid the foundation of the round world, and all that
therein is.” [Psa.
89]
“The Lord made the heavens, and spread them
abroad, and set forth the earth with her increase, which giveth breath unto the
people that is in it, and spirit to them that dwell therein.” [Isa. 42]
“O Lord God, it is thou that hast made
heaven and earth with thy great power and high arm; and there is nothing hid
from thee.” [Jer. 32]
“O Lord, thou art God, which hast made
heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is.” [Acts 4]
“God made all things through Jesu Christ.” [Eph. 3]
The Second
Article – And in Jesu Christ his
only-begotten Son our Lord.
The
Confirmations.
And in Jesus Christ.
“He that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life. But he that believeth
not on the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth upon him.” [John 3]
“This is the work of God, that ye believe
on him whom he hath sent.” [John
6]
“If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall
die in your sins.” [John
8]
Christ said to the blind man whom he had
made to see: “Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is it, Lord, that I
might believe on him? Jesus said unto
him, Thou hast seen him, and he it is this that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.” [John 9]
Christ said unto Martha: “He that believeth
on me, yea, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and
believeth on me shall never die. Believest
thou this? She said unto him, Yea, Lord,
I believe that thou art Christ the Son of God, which should come into the
world.” [John 11]
“Ye believe in God, believe also in me.” [John 14]
“This is God the Father’s commandment, that
we believe on the name of his son Jesu Christ.”
[1 John 3]
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath
the witness in himself. He that
believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believed not the record that
God gave of his Son. And this is that
record, how that God hath given unto us eternal life; and this life is in his
Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and
he that hath not the Son hath not life.”
[1 John 5]
His only-begotten Son.
“The Lord said unto me, Thou art my Son,
this day have I begotten thee.” [Psa.
2]
“This is my well-beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased.” [Matt.
3]
“Thou art Christ, the Son of the living
God.” [Matt. 16]
“God hath so loved the world, that he gave
his only-begotten Son, that every one that believeth on him may not perish, but
have everlasting life. For God sent not
his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved
by him.” [John 3]
“He that believeth on him is not condemned.
But he that believeth not is already
condemned; because he hath not believed on the name of the only-begotten Son of
God.” [John 3]
“In this appeareth the love of God toward
us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might
live through him.” [1
John 4]
Our Lord.
“I am the Lord, and this is my name. My glory will I give to none other, neither
mine honour to graven images.” [Isa.
42]
“God is faithful, by whom ye are called
unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” [1 Cor. 1]
“There is but one Lord, even Jesu Christ,
by whom are all things, and we by him.”
[1 Cor. 8]
“Ye call me Master and Lord, and ye say
well; for so am I in deed.” [John
13]
The Third
Article – Which was conceived by the Holy
Ghost, born of the virgin Mary.
The
Confirmations.
Which was conceived by the Holy Ghost.
“Joseph, the son of David, fear not to take
unto thee Mary thy wife. For that which
is conceived in her cometh of the Holy Ghost.”
[Matt. 1]
“The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and
the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore that holy thing which shall be born
shall be called the Son of God.” [Luke
1]
Born of the virgin Mary.
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a
son; and thou shalt call his name Emmanuel.”
[Isa. 7]
“Unto us a child is born, and unto us a Son
is given.” [Isa.
9]
“There shall come a rod forth of the
kindred of Isay, and a blossom shall flourish out of his root.” [Isa. 11]
“Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of
whom Jesus was born, which is called Christ.”
[Matt. 1]
“She shall bring forth a son, and thou
shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall
save his people from their sins.”
“Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb,
and bear a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.”
[Luke 1]
“When the time was full come, God sent his
Son, made of a woman, and made bond unto the law.” [Gal. 4]
The Fourth
Article – He suffered under Ponce Pilate,
was crucified, dead and buried. He
descended unto hell.
The
Confirmations.
He suffered under Ponce Pilate, &c.
“The kings of the earth stood up, and the
rulers took counsel together, against Nat. a. the Lord and against his
Anointed.” [Psa.
2]
“Of a truth, O Lord, against thy holy child
Jesus (whom thou hast anointed), both Herod, and also Ponce Pilate, with the
gentiles and the people of Israel, gathered themselves together in this city,
for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” [Acts 4]
“I give thee the charge in the sight of
God, which quickeneth all things, and before Jesu Christ (which under Ponce
Pilate witnessed a good witnessing), that thou keep the commandment, and be
without spot,” &c. [1
Tim. 6]
Was crucified.
“They pierced my hands and my feet.” [Psa. 22]
“He was wounded for our offences, and
smitten for our wickedness.” [Isa.
53]
“They shall look upon me whom they have
pierced.” [Zech.
12]
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that every one which believeth
on him may not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3]
“Ye seek Jesus that was crucified.” [Matt. 28]
“We preach Christ crucified.” [1 Cor. 1]
“Christ his own self bare our sins in his
body on the tree, that we, being delivered from sin, should live unto
righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” [1 Pet. 2]
Dead.
“After this sixty-two weeks shall Christ be
slain; and they shall have no pleasure in him.”
[Dan. 9]
“When we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us.” [Rom. 5]
“Christ died for our sins, according to the
scriptures.” [1
Cor. 15]
Buried.
“His grave was given him with the
condemned.” [Isa.
53]
“First of all I delivered unto you that
which I received, how that Christ died for our sins, agreeing to the scripture,
and that he was buried.” [1
Cor. 15]
Joseph and Nicodemus took Jesus’ body, and
buried it in a new grave. [John
19]
He descended into hell.
“Thou shalt not leave my soul in hell,
neither shalt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.” [Psa. 16]
“Thou through the blood of thy covenant
shalt let thy prisoners out of the pit, wherein is no water.” [Zech. 9]
“O death, I will be thy death: O hell, I
will be thy destruction.” [Hos.
13]
“Christ hath once suffered for sins, the
just for the unjust, to bring us to God, and was killed as pertaining to the
flesh, but was quickened in the Spirit: in which Spirit he also went, and
preached unto the spirits that were in prison.”
[1 Pet. 3]
The Fifth
Article – The third day he rose again
from the dead.
The
Confirmations.
“I laid me down and slept, and rose up
again; for the Lord sustained me.” [Psa.
3]
“After two days shall he quicken us, and in
the third day shall he raise us up, so that we shall live in his sight.” [Hos. 6]
“Ye slay the author of life, whom God hath
raised up from the dead.” [Acts
3]
“Jesus Christ our Lord rose again from the
dead.” [Rom. 1]
“Christ died for our sins, and rose again
for our justification.” [Rom.
4]
“Jesus Christ rose again the third day,
according to the scriptures.” [1
Cor. 15]
“Remember that Jesu Christ, of the seed of
David, rose again from death, according to my gospel.” [2 Tim. 2]
The Sixth
Article – He ascended into heaven, and
sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
The
Confirmations.
He ascended into heaven.
“God is gone up with a merry noise, and the
Lord with the sound of the trump.” [Psa.
47]
“Thou art gone up on high, thou hast led
captivity captive, and received gifts for men.”
[Psa. 68]
“It came to pass, as he blessed them, he
departed from them, and was carried up into heaven.” [Luke 24]
“Jesus was taken up on high; and a cloud received
him up out of their sight. And while
they looked steadfastly up toward heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by
them in white apparel, which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing
up into heaven? This same Jesus, which
is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as ye have seen him go into
heaven.” [Acts 1]
“When he went on high, he led captivity
captive, and gave gifts unto men. That
he ascended, what meaneth it, but that he also descended first into the lowest
parts of the earth? He that descended is
even the same also that ascended up above all heavens; to fulfil all things. [Eph. 4]
And sitteth on the right hand, &c.
The
Confirmations.
“The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my
right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” [Psa. 110]
“When the Lord had spoken unto them, he was
received into heaven, and is sitting on the right hand of God.” [Mark 16]
“Christ ... is on the right hand of God,
and maketh intercession for us.” [Rom.
8]
“If ye be risen again with Christ, seek
those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” [Col. 3]
Christ “hath by his own person purged our
sins, and sitteth on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” [Heb. 1]
The Seventh
Article – From thence he shall come to
judge the quick and dead.
The
Confirmations.
“The Lord shall judge the world with
righteousness, and the people with equity.” [Psa. 98]
Read the twenty-fifth chapter of St Matthew’s
gospel.
“The Father hath committed all judgment
unto the Son, because that all men should honour the Son as they honour the
Father.” [John 5]
Christ “was ordained of God to be judge of
quick and dead.” [Acts
10]
“We must all appear before the judgment seat
of Christ, that every man may receive the works of his body according to that
he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
[2 Cor. 5]
“Our conversation is in heaven, from whence
we look for a Saviour, even the Lord Jesus Christ; which shall change our vile
body, that he may make it like unto his glorious body, according to the
working, whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself.” [Phil. 3]
“The Lord Jesus Christ shall judge the
quick and dead at his appearing in his kingdom.” [2 Tim. 4]
God “is ready to judge the quick and the
dead.” [1 Pet. 4]
The Eighth
Article – I believe in the Holy Ghost.
The
Confirmations.
“The Spirit of God moved upon the face of
the waters.” [Gen.
1]
“Take not thy holy Spirit from me.” [Psa. 51]
“When Christ was baptized, the Holy Ghost
came down upon Christ in the likeness
of a dove.” [Matt. 3]
“Christ commanded his disciples to baptize
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” [Matt. 28]
The Holy Ghost shall “reprove the world of
sin.” [John 16]
“There are three which give witness in
heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and they three are one.” [1 John 5]
The Ninth
Article – I believe the holy universal
congregation, which is the fellowship of saints.
The
Confirmations.
“If he will not hear the congregation, let
him be unto thee as an heathen man, and as a publican.” [Matt. 18]
“Christ loved the congregation, and gave
himself for it to sanctify it, and cleansed it in the fountain of water through
the word, to make it unto himself a glorious congregation, without spot or
wrinkle or any such thing, that it should be holy and without blame.” [Eph. 5]
“I write these things unto thee,...that
thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which
is the congregation of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth.” [1 Tim. 3]
“All that believed kept themselves
together, and had all things common, and sold their possessions and goods, and
parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they continued daily with one accord in
the temple, and brake bread from house to house, and did eat their meat
together with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God.” [Acts 2]
“The multitude of them that believed were
of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things
which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.” “And great grace was with them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked. For as many as were possessors of lands or
houses sold them, and brought the price of the things that were sold, and laid
it down at the apostles’ feet. And
distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” [Acts 4]
The Tenth
Article – I believe the forgiveness of
sins.
The
Confirmations.
“I am he, yea, I am he, which put away
thine iniquities, and that for mine own sake, and will remember them no more.” [Isa. 43]
“The Lord shall put down our wickednesses,
and cast all our sins into the bottom of the sea.” [Mic. 7]
“Look, how wide the east is from the west,
so far hath he set our sins from us. Yea,
like as a father pitieth his own children, even so is the Lord merciful unto
all them that fear him. For he knoweth
perfectly whereof we be made: he remembereth that we are but dust.” [Psa. 103]
Christ “hath taken upon him our
infirmities, and borne our diseases.” [Isa.
53, Matt. 8]
“The Son of man came to seek and save that
was lost.” [Luke
19]
“All that believe in Christ shall not
perish, but have everlasting life.” [John
3]
“This is a true saying, and worthy to be
noted, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” [1 Tim. 1]
“The blood of Jesus Christ maketh us clean
from all sin. If we say we have no sin,
we deceive ourselves; and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God is faithful
and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to make us clean from all iniquity.” [1 John 1]
The Eleventh
Article – I believe the resurrection of
the body.
The
Confirmations.
“I believe that my Redeemer liveth, and
that I shall rise out of the earth in the latter day, and that I shall be
clothed again with this skin, and see God my Saviour in my flesh. Yea, I myself shall behold him, not with other
eyes, but with these same eyes. This
hope is steadfastly set in my heart.” [Job.
19]
“Thy dead men shall live, even with my body
shall they rise again. Awake and sing,
ye that dwell in the dust. For thy dew
is even as the dew of herbs; and the earth shall cast out them that be under
her,” &c. [Isa.
26]
“O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones:
Behold, I will put breath unto you that ye may live, I will give you sinews, and
make flesh grow upon you, and cover you over with skin, and so give you breath,
that ye may live, and know that I am the Lord.”
[Ezek. 37]
“Behold, I will open your graves, O my
people, and take you out of your sepulchers.”
“The hour shall come, in the which all that
are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and shall come forth;
they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done
evil unto the resurrection of damnation.”
[John 5]
“If Christ be preached how that he rose
from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
If there be no rising again of the dead,
then is Christ not risen again. If
Christ be not risen again, then is our preaching in vain, and your faith also
is in vain.” [1
Cor. 15]
Read the whole chapter.
“We know that he which raised up the Lord
Jesus shall raise us up also by the means of Jesus.” [2 Cor. 4]
“If we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even them also which sleep by Jesus will God bring again with him.” [1 Thess. 4]
Read the latter end of the chapter.
The Twelfth
Article – I believe everlasting life.
The
Confirmations.
“Many of them that sleep in the dust of the
earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to perpetual shame and
reproof. The wise (such as have taught
other) shall glister as the shining of heaven, and those that have instructed
the multitude unto godliness shall be as the stars world without end.” [Dan. 12]
Read the second chapter of the fourth* book
of Esdras. [2
Esdr. 2]
[*That
is, 2 Esdras; the books of Ezra and Nehemiah being formerly called 1 and 2
Esdras.]
“The righteous shall go into everlasting
life.” [Matt. 25]
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them,
and they follow me, and I give them everlasting life.” [John 10]
“This is everlasting life, even to know
thee the alone true God, and whom thou hast sent, Jesus Christ.” [John 17]
“O Father, these that thou hast given me, I
will that where I am there also be they with me, that they may see my glory,
which thou hast given me.”
“The eye hath not seen, and the ear hath
not heard, neither have the things entered into the heart of man, which God hath
prepared for them that love him.” [1
Cor. 2]
“We know that, if our earthy mansion of
this dwelling were destroyed, we have a building of God, an habitation not made
with hands, but everlasting in heaven.” Amen. [2 Cor. 5]
All these articles aforesaid I with my
whole heart believe, and with my mouth unfeignedly confess to .be true and
agreeable to God’s holy word.
THE PRAYER OF
THE APOSTLES.
“Lord, increase
our faith.”
OF PRAYER.
What Prayer Is.
Prayer is a lifting up of a pure mind unto
God, wherein we ask somewhat of God that is agreeable to his holy will.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“We know not what we should desire and pray
for as we ought; nevertheless the Spirit itself maketh intercession mightily
for us with unoutspeakable groanings. Howbeit
he that searcheth the heart knoweth what the mind of the Spirit is; for he
maketh intercession for the saints, according to the pleasure of God.” [Rom. 8]
“The time cometh, and is now already, that
the true worshippers shall worship in spirit and truth. For the Father will have such to worship him. God is a spirit, and they that worship him
must worship him in spirit and truth.” [John
4]
“We are the circumcision, even we that
serve God in spirit.” [Phil.
3]
“I will that all men pray in all places,
lifting up pure hands without wrath and strife.” [1 Tim. 2]
“This people honoureth me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me: verily, they worship me in vain.” [Matt. 15]
“Ask, and it shall be given you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For whosoever asketh receiveth, and he that
seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” [Matt. 7]
“This is the trust that we have in God,
that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know
that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that
we desire of him.” [1
John 5]
What Benefits We
Receive of God By Prayer.
By prayer we are
delivered out of trouble.
Probations out
of the holy. scripture.
“When I was in trouble, I called on the
Lord; and he graciously heard me.” [Psa.
120]
“Call on me in the day of trouble, and I
will deliver thee, and thou shalt honour me.”
[Psa. 50]
“He shall call upon me, and I will hear him;
yea, I am with him in trouble. I will
deliver him, and bring him to honour,” &c.
[Psa. 91]
“When any man in his trouble did turn unto
the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of him.” [2 Chron. 15]
By prayer we are
preserved from our enemies.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“I will call upon the Lord, which is worthy
to be praised; so shall I be safe from mine enemies.” [Psa. 18]
King Ezechias by
prayer was delivered from the proud wicked tyrant Sennacherib,
both he and all
his. [2 Kings
19]
So likewise were Joseph, Daniel, Susanne,
Peter, &c.
By prayer we get
the victory of our enemies in battle.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
The people of Israel got the victory over
the Amalekites so long as Moses prayed for them. [Exod. 17]
When the black Moors came out to fight
against Asa king of Judah, Asa prayed unto the Lord, and the Lord gave him the
victory; so that all his enemies were destroyed in battle. Read the chapter. [2 Chron. 14]
Judas Machabeus, after he had called on the
name of the Lord, got a noble victory of Gorgias and his company. [1 Macc. 4]
By prayer we
obtain health of body.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
The miracles which Christ wrought upon them
that were diseased, and fled unto him for help with faithful prayer, prove this
true.
By prayer we
obtain all thing necessary for the body.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
Moses by prayer obtained manna from heaven
for the Israelites. [Exod.
16]
Helias by prayer obtained rain of God to
water the earth. [1
Kings 18]
By prayer our
sins are forgiven us.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“I said, I will confess my sins unto the
Lord; and thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin. For this shall every one that is godly make
his prayer unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found.” [Psa. 32]
“I forgave thee all that debt, when thou
desiredst me.” [Matt.
18]
The sinful publican, praying for remission
of his sins, went home more righteous in the sight of God than the proud
Pharisee. [Luke
18]
“If any be diseased among you, let him call
for the elders of the congregation, and let them pray over him, and anoint him
with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick,
and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven
him.” [James 5]
By prayer we
overcome the devil and all our ghostly enemies.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“This kind of devils is not cast out but by
prayer and fasting.” [Matt. 17]
“Watch and pray, that ye fall not into
temptation. The spirit is willing, but
the flesh is weak.” [Matt.
26]
By prayer we
obtain of God the Holy Ghost.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“If ye which are evil can give your
children good gifts, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give
the Holy Ghost to them that desire it of him?”
[Luke 11]
As the disciples of Christ were gathered
together in one place, and continued in prayer, they were all filled with the
Holy Ghost. [Acts
1 & 2]
By prayer we
obtain all good things, both for the body and the soul.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“What things soever ye desire when ye pray,
believe that, ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” [Mark 11]
“The harvest is much, but the labourers are
few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the
harvest, that he will send labourers into his harvest.” [Matt. 9]
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of
him that giveth it, even God, which giveth to all men indifferently, and
casteth no man in the teeth; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith,” &c. [James 1]
“The Lord is even at hand. Be careful for nothing, but in all prayer and
supplication let your petitions be known unto God with thanksgiving.” [Phil. 4]
Many other benefits receive we of God
through prayer, which here to rehearse were too long. Read diligently my book called “The Pathway unto
Prayer”; and that shall sufficiently instruct thee in all things concerning
prayer.
THE LORD’S
PRAYER, CALLED THE PATER NOSTER,
WITH ONFIRMATIONS OF EVERY PETITION OUT OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURE.
The disciples said unto Christ: “Lord,
teach us to pray.” Christ said unto them:
“When ye pray, say on this manner, Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be
thy name,” &c. [Luke
11, Deut. 32]
The Preface of the
Lord’s Prayer – Our Father, which art in
heaven.
The Confirmations.
Our Father.
“Is not the Lord God the Father and thine
honour? Hath he not made thee and ordained
thee? Thou, O Lord God, art our Father
and Redeemer.” [Isa.
63]
“Have we not all one Father? Hath not God made us? Why doth every one of us then despise his own
brother?” [Mal.
2]
“Should not the son honour his father, and
a servant his master? If I be now a
father, where is my honour? If I be a
lord, where is my fear?” [Mal.
1]
“Ye have not received the spirit of bondage
to fear any more; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry,
Abba (that is to say) Father. The same
Spirit certifieth our spirit, that we are the children of God. If we be children, then are we heirs also;
yea, heirs of God, and fellow heirs with Christ.” [Rom. 8]
Which art in heaven.
“Heaven is my seat, and the earth is my
footstool.” [Isa.
66]
“The Lord hath prepared his seat in heaven.” [Psa. 103]
“Our God is in heaven: he doth whatsoever
pleaseth him.” [Psa.
115]
“Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, which
dwellest in the heavens.” [Psa.
123]
“Call no man father upon earth; for one is
your Father, which is in heaven.” [Matt.
23]
The First
Petition – Hallowed be thy Name.
The
Confirmations.
“I will make the name of my holiness to be
known among my people of Israel, and I will not let my holy name to be evil
spoken of any more; but the very heathen also shall know that I am the Lord,
the Holy One of Israel.” [Ezek.
39]
“The time shall come, that whosoever
calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” [Joel 2]
“From the rising up of the sun unto the
going down of the same my name is great among the gentiles; yea, and that in
all places.” [Mal.
1]
“The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken
away. Now blessed be the name of the
Lord.” [Job 1]
“Sing unto the Lord, and praise his name:
be telling of his salvation from day to day. Declare his honour among the heathen, and his
wonders among all people.” [Psa.
96]
“I will declare thy name unto my brethren:
in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” [Psa. 22]
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower:
the righteous fleeth unto it, and shall be saved.” [Prov. 18]
“By Christ do we offer the sacrifice of
prayer always unto God, that is to say, the fruit of those lips which confess
his name. [Heb.
13]
The Second
Petition – Thy kingdom come.
The
Confirmations.
“Seek first the kingdom of God and the
righteousness thereof; and all things shall be ministered unto you.” [Matt. 6]
“The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence;
and the violent pluck it unto them.” [Matt.
11]
“Whosoever receiveth not the kingdom of God
as a child, he shall not enter into it.”
[Luke 18]
“Except a man be born of water and of the
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” [John 3]
“The kingdom of God is no meat and drink,
but righteousnesses, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” [Rom. 14]
“The kingdom of God is not in words, but in
power.” [1 Cor. 4]
The Third
Petition – Thy will be done, as in heaven
so likewise in earth.
The
Confirmations.
“Teach me, O Lord, to do thy will; for thou
art my God.” [Psa.
143]
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doth the will of my
Father which is in heaven.” [Matt.
7]
“Whosoever doth the will of my Father which
is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.” [Matt. 12]
“This is the will of him which sent me,
that whosoever seeth the Son, and believeth on him, have everlasting life.” [John 6]
“Fashion not yourselves like unto this
world; but be ye changed through the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what thing that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God is.” [Rom. 12]
“This is the will of God, even your
sanctifying, that ye abstain from whoredom, I that every one of you know how to
keep his vessel in holiness and honour, and not in the lust of concupiscence,
as the heathen do, which know not God.”
[1 Thess. 4]
“Forasmuch as Christ hath suffered for us
in the flesh, arm ye yourselves likewise with the same mind. For he which suffereth in the flesh ceaseth
from sin, that he from henceforth should live, as much time as remaineth in the
flesh, not after the lusts of men, but after the will of God. For it is sufficient for us, that we have
spent the time that is past of the life after the will of the gentiles, walking
in wantonness, lusts, excess of drinking, and abominable idolatry.” [1 Pet. 4]
The Fourth
Petition – Give us this day our daily
bread.
The
Confirmations.
“I have been young, and now am old; and yet
saw I never the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging their bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and yet have
his children God’s plenty and enough.” [Psa.
37]
“The eyes of all wait upon thee, O Lord;
and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thy hand, and fillest every
living creature with thy blessing.” [Psa.
145]
“The blessing of the Lord maketh men rich:
as for careful travail, it doth nothing thereto.” [Prov. 10]
“The Lord will not let the soul of the
righteous suffer hunger; but he taketh away the riches of the ungodly.”
“Two things have I required of thee, that
thou wilt not deny me before I die. Remove
from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches: only grant me a
necessary living; lest, if I be too full, I deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord?
and lest I, being constrained through poverty, fall unto stealing, and forswear
the name of my God.” [Prov.
30]
“Be not careful for your life, what ye
shall eat or drink; nor yet for your body, what raiment ye shall wear. Is not the life more worth than meat, and the
body more of value than raiment?” Read
forth the chapter. [Matt.
6]
“Cast all your care on God; for he careth
for you.” [1
Pet. 5]
The Fifth
Petition – And forgive us our debts, as
we forgive our debtors.
The Confirmations.
And forgive us.
“I am he, yea, I am he, which put away
thine iniquities, and that for mine own sake, and will remember thy sins no
more.” [Isa. 43]
“As for thine offences, I drive them away
like the clouds, and thy sins as the mist. Turn thee again unto me; and I will deliver
thee.” [Isa. 44]
God is that king which forgiveth his
servant the ten thousand talents. [Matt.
18]
“No man can forgive sin, but God alone.” [Mark. 2, Luke
5]
God is the most loving father which
joyfully receiveth home again his lost son, when he repent and convert. [Luke 15]
Our debts.
“They are all gone out of the way, they are
all together become abominable: there is none that doth good, no, not one.” [Psa. 14]
“Who can tell how oft he offendeth? O cleanse thou me from my secret faults!” [Psa. 19]
“Who can say, My heart is clean, I am free
from sin?” [Prov.
20]
“There is not one righteous man in all the
earth, that doth good and sinneth not.”
[Eccles. 7]
“Behold, God hath found unfaithfulness
among his own saints; yea, the very heavens are unclean in his sight. How much
more then abominable and vile man, which drinketh wickedness like water!” [Job 4, 15, 25]
“All the children of men are wicked; and
all their works are naught: neither is there any truth in them.” [1 Esdr. 4]
“All are hypocrites and wicked.” [Isa. 9]
“We are all become unclean; and all our
righteousnesses are as a cloth polluted.”*
[Isa. 64]
“We are all unprofitable servants.” [Luke 17]
“All have sinned, and want the glory of God.” [Rom. 3]
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But
if we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins,
and to make us clean from all iniquity.”
[1 John 1]
As we forgive our debtors.
“He that seeketh vengeance shall find
vengeance of the Lord, which shall surely keep him his sins. Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath
done thee, and so shall thy sins be forgiven thee also when thou prayest. A man that beareth hatred against another, how
dare he desire forgiveness of God? He
that sheweth no mercy to a man, which is like himself, how dare he ask
forgiveness of his sins? If he that is
but flesh beareth hatred and keepeth it, who will entreat for his sins? Remember the end, and let enmity pass.” [Ecclus. 28]
“If ye forgive other men their trespasses,
the heavenly Father shall forgive you. But
if ye will not forgive men their trespasses, no more shall your Father forgive you
your trespasses.” [Matt.
6]
“When ye stand and pray, forgive, if ye
have ought against any man, that your Father also which is in heaven may
forgive you your trespasses.” [Mark
11]
“Forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto
you.” [Luke 6]
“Forbear one another, and forgive one
another. If any man have a quarrel
against col. iii. another, like as Christ hath forgiven you, even so do ye
likewise.” [Col.
3]
Christ forgave his persecutors, and prayed
for them, saying: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” [Luke 23]
St Stephen forgave his enemies, and prayed
for them on this manner: “O Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” [Acts. 7]
The Sixth
Petition – And lead us not into
temptation.
The
Confirmations.
“My son, if thou wilt come into the service
of God, stand fast in righteousness and fear, and arm thy soul to temptation,”
&c. [Ecclus.
2]
“Watch and pray, that ye fall not into
temptation. The spirit is willing, but
the flesh is weak.” [Matt.
26]
“Blessed is the man that standeth fast in
temptation. For when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the
Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say, when he is tempted, that he is
tempted of God. For as God cannot be
tempted with evil, so neither he himself tempteth any man unto evil. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn
away and enticed of his own concupiscence. Then when lust hath conceived, she bringeth
forth sin; and sin, when it is done in deed, bringeth forth death.” [James 1]
The Seventh
Petition – But deliver us from the evil.
The Confirmations.
“Satan hath desired after you, that he
might sift you even as wheat. But I have
prayed for thee, O Simon, that thy faith may not fail. And when thou art converted, strength thy
brethren.” [Luke
22]
“God is faithful, which will not suffer you
to be tempted above your strength, but shall in the midst of the temptation
make a way to come out, that ye may be able to bear it.” [1 Cor. 10]
“Be sober and watch; for your adversary the
devil walketh about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour: whom
resist steadfast in the faith.” [1
Pet. 5]
“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly
out of the temptation.” [2
Pet. 2]
“We know that whosoever is born of God
sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked
toucheth him not.” [1
John 5]
The Conclusion of
the Lord’s Prayer – For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
The
Confirmations.
“Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our
Father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is might, power, glory, victory, and
praise. For all that is in heaven and in
earth is thine. O Lord, thine is the
kingdom, and thou excellest above all, even as the head of all. Thine are the riches, treasures, honour, and
dominion over all. And in thy hands is
the virtue, might, power, excellency, empire, and rule, upon and above all
things. Wherefore now, O our God, we
give laud, praise, and glory to thy most noble name.” [1 Chron. 29]
“Of him, and through him, and in him, are
all things. To him be praise for ever.” [Rom. 11]
“To God, which alone is wise, be glory
through Jesus Christ for ever.” [Rom.
16]
“Unto him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh
in us, be praise in the congregation by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world
without end.” [Eph.
3]
“Unto God, King everlasting, immortal,
invisible, alone wise, be honour and glory for ever and ever!” [1 Tim. 1]
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory,
and honour, and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy will’s
sake they were and are created.” [Rev. 4]
“Blessing, honour, glory, and power, be
unto him that sitteth upon the seat, and unto the Lamb for evermore. Amen.”
[Rev. 5]
All these petitions I undoubtedly believe
that I shall enjoy, whensoever I ask them in faith of God, my heavenly Father,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
OF THE LAW.
What the Law Is.
The law of God is a doctrine prescribing
unto us what we ought to do, and what to eschew, both toward God and our
neighbour.
The
Confirmations.
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart.” [Exod.
20]
“Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord
God in vain.”
“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
“Thou shalt not kill: thou shalt not steal.”
To What Use the Law Was Given.
First, that it should declare unto us the
will of God, how we ought to live, and what works we ought to do, that we may
please the Lord our God.
The
Confirmations.
“The law of the Lord is an undefiled law,
converting souls: the testimony of the Lord is sure, and giveth wisdom to the
simple. The statutes of the Lord are
right, and rejoice the heart. The
commandment of the Lord is pure, and giveth light to the eyes.” [Psa. 19]
“Thy word is a lantern to my feet, and a
light to my pathways.” [Psa.
119]
“He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his
statutes and ordinances unto Israel. He hath
not dealt so with any nation, neither have the heathen knowledge of his laws.” [Psa. 147]
Secondly, that it should reveal and open
unto us our sin and wickedness, while we consider how unable we be of ourselves
to do that which the holy, righteous, and good law of God requireth of us to be
done.
The
Confirmations.
“By the law cometh the knowledge of sin.” [Rom. 3]
“The law entered in, that sin should
increase.” [Rom.
5]
“What shall we say? Is the law sin? God forbid. But I knew not what sin meant but by the law:
for I had not known what lust had meant, except the law had said, Thou shalt
not lust. But sin took an occasion by
the means of the commandment, and wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. I once lived without law: but when the
commandment came, sin revived, and I was dead. And the very same commandment, which was
ordained unto life, was found to be unto me an occasion of death. For sin took occasion by the means of the
commandment, and so deceived me, and by the self commandment slew me.” [Rom. 7]
“The sting of death is sin, and the
strength of sin is the law.” [1
Cor. 15]
“The letter,” that is to say, the law, “killeth.” [2 Cor. 3]
The law is “the ministering of
condemnation.”
“Moses,” saith Christ, “gave you a law; and
yet none of you fulfilleth the law John vii. in deed.” [John 7]
Thirdly, after we have learned our
weakness, our wretchedness, our sin, our wickedness, by comparing our strength
and life with the law of God, which proveth us all sinners and worthy of
eternal damnation, lest we should fall into desperation, and so be damned, the
law was given of God to be a schoolmaster unto us to lead us unto Christ, the
alone end and perfect fulfiller of all the laws of God; that we, through faith
taking upon us his righteousness, and his fulfilling of the law, might be found
blameless through him in the sight of God, and so be made inheritors of
everlasting glory.
The
Confirmations.
“The law was our schoolmaster unto Christ,
that we should be justified by faith. But
after that faith is come, we are no longer under the schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God, because ye
believe in Christ Jesu.” [Gal.
3]
“The law brought nothing to perfection, but
was an introduction to a better hope, Heb. vii. by the which we draw nigh unto
God.” [Heb. 7]
“Be it known unto you, ye men and brethren,
that through this man Christ is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and
that by him all that believe are justified from all things, from the which ye
could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
[Acts 13]
“Why tempt ye God, to put on the disciples’
necks the yoke which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord
Jesu Christ we shall be saved.” [Acts
15]
“Christ is the fulfilling of the law, to
justify all that believe.” [Rom.
10]
“Christ hath delivered us from the curse of
the law, inasmuch as he was made accursed for us.” [Gal. 3]
THE TEN
COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, WITH CONFIRMATIONS
OF EVERY
COMMANDMENT OUT OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURE.
The First Table of
the Law, Containing Four Commandments, Wherein Is Declared Our Duty Toward God.
The First
Commandment – I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no strange gods before me. [Exod. 20]
The
Confirmations.
“The Lord he is God, and there is none
other but he alone.” [Deut.
4]
“Understand and think it in thy heart, that
the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath; neither is
there any other.”
“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is God
alone. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” [Deut. 6]
“Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and
serve him alone.”
“If thou forget the Lord thy God, and walk
after strange gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify unto you that
ye shall surely perish.” [Deut.
8]
“Now, O Israel, what doth the Lord thy God
require of thee, but that thou shouldest fear the Lord thy God, and walk in his
ways and love him, and serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all
thy soul, and keep the commandments of the Lord?” [Deut. 10]
“If thine heart turn away from God, so that
thou wilt not hear his word, but go astray and worship strange gods, and serve
them, I pronounce unto you this day that ye shall surely perish, and not live
long on the earth.” [Deut.
30]
“See now how that I, yea, that I am God,
and there is none but I.” [Deut.
32]
“I will assure thee, O Israel, if thou wilt
hearken unto me. There shall no strange god
be in thee, neither shalt thou worship any other god. I am the Lord thy God.” [Psa. 81]
“Besides me there was never any God,
neither shall there be after me: I am, I am the Lord alone, and besides me
there is no saviour.” [Isa.
43]
“There is none other God but I. A true God, and such one as saveth; there is
none but I alone.” [Isa.
45]
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” [Matt. 22]
“This is the everlasting life, even to know
thee the alone true God, and whom thou hast sent, Jesus Christ.” [John 17]
“There is none other God but one. And although there be that are called gods, whether
in heaven, either in earth (as there be gods many and lords many), yet unto you
there is but one God.” [1
Cor. 8]
“There is one God and one Mediator.” [1Tim. 2]
The Second
Commandment – Thou shalt make thee no graven
or carved image, nor likeness at all of any thing that is in heaven above, or
in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth: thou shalt not bow
before them, nor worship them. For I the
Lord thy God am a jealous God, punishing the wickedness of the parents in the
children, unto the third and fourth generation, if they hate me, and skew mercy
unto the thousands, even unto those that love me, and keep my commandment. [Exod. 20]
The
Confirmations.
“Ye shall not turn unto idols, nor make you
gods of metal.” [Lev.
19]
“Take heed unto yourselves, that ye forget
not the appointment of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and that ye
make you no graven image, nor any picture that the Lord thy God hath forbidden
thee. For the Lord thy God is a
consuming fire, and a jealous God. If ye
do wickedly, and make any manner of graven image, and work evil in the sight of
the Lord thy God to provoke him to anger, I call heaven and earth to record
against you this day, that ye shall shortly perish.” [Deut. 4]
“Ye shall overthrow the altars of the
idols, and break down their pillars, cut down their groves, and burn their
graven images with fire. For thou art an
holy nation unto the Lord thy God.” [Deut.
7]
“Cursed be the man that maketh any carved
or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the
craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.” [Deut. 27]
“Confounded be all they that worship carved
images, and that delight in vain gods.”
[Psa. 97]
“I am the Lord, this is my name; my glory
will I give to none other, neither mine honour to graven images.” [Isa. 42]
Read the forty-fourth and forty-sixth
chapters of Esay.
“Be converted, and forsake your idols.” [Ezek. 14]
“The seeking out of idols is the beginning
of whoredom, and the bringing up of them is the destruction of life. For they were not from the beginning, neither
shall they continue unto the end. The
wealthy idleness of men hath found them out upon the earth; therefore shall
they come shortly to an end.” [Wisd.
14]
“The honouring of abominable images is the
cause, the beginning, and the end of all evil.”
Read the thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth,
and sixteenth chapters of Wisdom. Read also the sixth chapter of the prophet
Baruch.
“We preach unto you that ye should turn
from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and all things that are therein.” [Acts.
14]
“My sentence is, that we trouble not them,
which from among the gentiles are turned to God; but that we write unto them
that they abstain themselves from the filthiness of images.” [Acts 15]
“They are not gods which are made with
hands.” [Acts 19]
“Be not worshippers of images.” [1 Cor. 10]
“No worshippers of images shall inherit the
kingdom of God.” [1
Cor. 6]
“Babes, keep yourselves from images.” [1 John 5]
The Third
Commandment – Thou shalt not take the
name of the Lord thy God in vain. For
the Lord will not hold him guiltless, that taketh his name in vain. [Exod. 20]
The
Confirmations.
“Ye shall not swear by my name in vain,
neither shalt thou defile the name of thy God. I am the Lord.” [Lev. 19]
“He that hath not sworn to deceive his
neighbour, he shall receive blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his
Saviour.” [Psa.
24]
“He that blasphemeth the name of the Lord,
let him be slain; and all the multitude shall stone him to death.” [Lev. 24]
“Thou shalt swear, The Lord liveth, in
truth, in equity, and righteousness.” [Jer.
4]
“My curse and vengeance,” saith the Lord, “
shall fall upon his house, that falsely sweareth by my name, and shall remain
in his house, and consume it with the timber and stones thereof.”
“Ye have heard how it was said to them of
old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord
those things that thou swearest. But I say
unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God’s seat; neither by
the earth, for it is his footstool; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of
the great King; neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not
make one hair white or black. But your
communication shall be yea, yea, and nay, nay; for whatsoever is added more
than these, it cometh of evil.” [Matt.
5]
“Above all things, my brethren, swear not,
neither by heaven, nor by earth, neither any other oath. Let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay, lest
ye fall into dissimulation.” [James
5]
“Let not thy mouth be accustomed with
swearing; for in it there are many falls. A man that useth much swearing shall be filled
with wickedness; and the plague shall never go from his house. He that sweareth in vain shall not be found
righteous; for his house shall be full of plagues. The words of the swearer bring death: God
grant that be it not found in the house of Jacob; but they that fear God eschew
all such, and lie not weltering in sin?’
[Ecclus. 23]
“O praise the Lord with me, and let us
magnify his name together.” [Psa.
34]
“All our glory is in God all the day long;
and we will praise thy name for ever.” [Psa.
44]
“Call on me in the time of trouble, and I
will deliver thee, and thou shalt honour me.”
[Psa. 50]
“Forasmuch as he hath trusted in me, I will
deliver him, yea, I will defend him, because he hath known my name. He shall call. upon me, and I will hear him: yea,
I am with him in trouble: I will deliver him, and bring him to honour. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew
him my salvation.” [Psa.
91]
“The name of the Lord is a strong castle:
the righteous flieth unto it, and is in safeguard.” [Prov. 18]
“Whosoever calleth on the name of the Lord
shall be saved.” [Joel
2]
THE FOURTH
COMMANDMENT –Remember that thou keep holy
the Sabbath day. Six days shalt thou
work and do all thy business. But in the
seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God, wherein thou shalt do no work,
neither thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy servant, nor thy maid, nor
thy beast, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and
earth, sea, and all that is therein, and the seventh day he rested; and
therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy. [Exod. 20]
The
Confirmations.
“ In any wise see that ye keep my sabbaths;
for it is a sign between me and you in your generations, for to know that I the
Lord am he that doth sanctify you,” &c.
[Exod. 31]
The man that was found gathering sticks on
the sabbath-day was stoned to death at the commandment of God. [Num. 15]
“Blessed is the man that taketh heed that
he unhalloweth not the Sabbath, that is to say, keepeth himself so that he do
no evil.” [Isa.
56]
“All they which keep themselves that they
unhallow not the sabbath, I mean that they fulfil my covenant, them will I
bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer.”
“If thou on the sabbath day turn thy feet,
so that thou do not the thing which pleaseth thyself in my holy day, but givest
God the honour, so that thou do not after thine own imagination, neither seek
thine own will, nor speak thine own words, then shalt thou have thy pleasure in
the Lord; and I will carry thee high above the earth, and feed thee with the
heritage of Jacob thy father. For the
Lord’s own mouth hath so promised.” [Isa.
58]
“There shall be a new sabbath for the other
old sabbath; and all flesh shall come to worship before me, saith the Lord.” [Isa. 66]
“There remaineth yet a rest to the people
of God. For he that is entered into his
rest hath ceased also from his own works, as God did from his. Let us study therefore to enter into that rest,
lest any man fall after the same ensample of unbelief.” [Heb. 4]
What It Is To
Keep Holy the Sabbath Day.
To keep holy the sabbath day is not to
cease from bodily labour, that thou shouldest the more licentiously give thy
mind to the wearing of gallant apparel, to banqueting, to idle talk, to vain
pastimes, and such other filthy pleasures of the flesh; but that thou, setting
aside all worldly businesses, shouldest the more freely apply thyself to read,
hear, and learn the word of God, to pray in the temple with the congregation,
to be thankful to God for his benefits, to be present at the ministration of
the holy sacraments, to be partaker of the mysteries of the Lord’s body and
blood, to give some good thing to the relief of the poor, to visit and comfort
the sick and them that are in prison, and, casting away the works of the flesh,
wholly to exercise thyself in the fruits of the Spirit.
The Second Table
of the Law of God, Containing Six Commandments,
Wherein Is
Declared Our Duty Toward Our Neighbour.
The Fifth
Commandment – Honour thy father and
mother, that thy days may be made long upon the land which the Lord thy God
giveth thee. [Exod.
20]
The
Confirmations.
“Ye shall reverence every man his father
and his mother.” [Lev.
19]
“Whosoever he be that curseth his father or
his mother, let him die; for he hath cursed his father and mother: his blood be
upon him.” [Lev.
20]
“He that smiteth his father or mother, let
him be slain for it.” [Exod.
21]
“If any man have a son that is stubborn and
disobedient, that he will not hearken unto the voice of his mother, and they
have chastened him, and he would not hearken unto them; then shall his father
and his mother take him and bring him out unto the elders of that city, and
unto the gate of the same place, and say unto the elders of the city, This our
son is stubborn and disobedient, and will not hearken unto our voice: he is a
rioter and a drunkard. And all the men
of that city shall stone him with stones unto death.” [Deut. 21]
“Cursed be he that curseth his father and
his mother. And all the people shall
say, Amen.” [Deut.
27]
“My son, hear thy father’s doctrine, and
forsake not the law of thy mother. For
that shall bring grace to thy head, and shall be as a chain about thy neck.” [Prov. 1]
“A good child will hearken to his father’s
warning; but he that is scornful will not hear when he is reproved.” [Prov. 13]
“He that hurteth his father, or shutteth
out his mother, is a scornful and an unworthy son.” [Prov. 19]
“Whoso robbeth his father and mother, and
saith it is no sin, the same is like unto a destroyer.” [Prov. 28]
“Whoso laugheth his father to scorn, and
setteth his mother’s commandment at naught, the ravens pick out his eyes in the
valley, and devoured be he of the young eagles.” [Prov. 30]
“The Lord will have the father honoured of
the children; and look, what a mother commandeth her children, he will have it
kept.” [Ecclus.
3]
“Whoso honoureth his father shall have a
joy of his own children, and when he maketh his prayer he shall be heard. He that honoureth his father shall have long
life, and he that is obedient for the Lord’s sake, his mother shall have joy of
him. He that feareth the Lord honoureth
his father and mother, and doth them service, as it were unto the Lord himself.
Honour thy father in deed, in word, and
in all patience, that thou mayest have God’s blessing; and his blessing shall
abide with thee at the last. The
blessing of the father buildeth up the houses of the children; but the mother’s
curse rooteth out the foundations. Rejoice
not when thy father is reproved; for it is not honour unto thee, but a shame. For the worship of a man’s father is his own
worship; and where the father is without honour, it is the dishonesty of the
son. My son, make much of thy father in
his age, and grieve him not as long as he liveth. And if his understanding fail, have patience
with him, and despise him not in thy strength. For the good deed that thou shewest to thy
father shall not be forgotten, and when thou thyself wantest,* it shall be
rewarded thee (and for thy mother’s offence thou shalt be recompensed with
good, yea, it shall be founded for thee in righteousness), and in the day of
trouble thou shalt be remembered: thy sins also shall meale* away, like as the
ice in the air and warm weather. But he
that forsaketh his father shall come to shame, and he that despiseth his mother
is cursed of God.”
“Children, obey your fathers and mothers in
the Lord; for that is right. Honour thy
father and mother; the same is the first commandment in the promise; that thou
mayest prosper, and live long on earth.”
[Eph. 6]
The Sixth
Commandment – Thou shalt not kill. [Exod. 20]
The
Confirmations.
“Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall
his blood be shed. For in the image of God
did God make man.” [Gen.
9]
“Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy
heart,” &c. [Lev.
19]
“Thou shalt not avenge thyself, nor be
mindful of wrong against the children of my people; but shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.”
“He that killeth any man, let him die the
death.” [Lev. 24]
“Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour
secretly. And all the people shall say,
Amen.” [Deut.
27]
“Ye have heard that it was said unto them
of the old time, Thou shalt not kill: whosoever killeth shall be in danger of
judgment. But I say unto you, That
whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of judgment,” &c. [Matt. 5]
“Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt
love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them which hurt
you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in
heaven. For he maketh his sun to arise
on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the righteous and on the
unrighteous.”
“Be ye merciful, as your Father is
merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be
judged. Condemn not, and ye shall not be
condemned. Forgive, and ye shall be
forgiven. Give, and it shall be given to
you, good measure, and pressed down, and shaken together, and running over
shall men give into your bosom. For with
the same measure that ye mete withal, shall other men mete to you again.” [Luke 6]
“Recompense to no man evil for evil.” [Rom. 12]
“If it be possible (as much as is in you),
live peaceably with all men. Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath. For it is written, [Deut.
32]
Vengeance is mine, and I will reward, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him: if
he thirst, give him drink. For in so
doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil
with goodness.”
“Be angry, and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath,
neither give place unto the backbiter.”
[Eph. 4]
“Let all bitterness, and fierceness, and
wrath, and roaring, and cursed speaking be put away from you, with all
maliciousness. Be ye courteous one to
another, merciful, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath
forgiven you.”
“He that hateth his brother is a manslayer.
And ye know that every manslayer hath
not everlasting life dwelling in him.” [1
John 3]
“This commandment have we of God, that he
which loveth God should also love his brother.”
[1 John 4]
The Seventh Commandment
– Thou shalt not commit advoutry. [Exod. 20]
The
Confirmations.
“Thou shalt not lie with thy neighbour’s
wife to defile her.”* [Lev.
18]
“Thou shalt not make thy daughter common,
that thou wouldest cause her to be an whore, lest the land also fall to
whoredom, and be full of wickedness.” [Lev.
19]
“If a man be found lying with a woman that
hath a wedded husband, they shall die both of them, both the man that lay with
the wife and also the wife; and so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.” [Deut. 22]
“There shall be no whore of the daughters
of Israel, nor whore-keeper of the sons of Israel.” [Deut. 23]
“Cursed be he that lieth with his neighbour’s
wife. And all the people shall say,
Amen.” [Deut.
27]
“The lips of an harlot are a dropping
honeycomb, and her throat is more glistering than oil. But at the last she is as bitter as wormwood,
and her tongue as sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down unto death; and her steps
pierce through unto hell.” [Prov.
5]
“Be glad with the wife of thy youth. Loving is the hind, and friendly is the roe. Let her breasts alway satisfy thee, and hold
thee ever content with her love. O my
son, why wilt thou have pleasure in an harlot, and embrace the bosom of another
woman? Every man’s ways are open in the
sight of the Lord, and he pondereth all their goings. The wickedness of the ungodly shall catch
himself, and with the snares of his own sins shall he be trapped.”
“Keep thee from the evil woman, and from
the flattering tongue of the harlot, that thou lust not after her beauty in thy
heart, and lest thou be taken with her fair looks. An harlot will make a man to beg his bread;
but an honest woman will seek about to get her living. May a man carry fire in his body, and his
clothes not be burnt? or can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be hurt? Even so whosoever goeth in to his neighbour’s
wife and toucheth her cannot be unguilty.”
[Prov. 6]
“Whoso committeth advoutry with a woman, he
is a fool, and bringeth his life to destruction. He getteth himself also shame and such
dishonour as shall never be put out.”
Read the seventh chapter of the Proverbs.
“An whore is a deep grave, and an harlot is
a narrow pit. She lurketh like a thief,
and bringeth unto her such men as be full of vice.” [Prov. 23]
“He that keepeth company with harlots shall
come to beggary.” [Prov.
29]
Read the twenty-third chapter of
Ecclesiasticus.
“My son, keep thee well from all whoredom;
and beside thy wife, see that no fault be known of thee.” [Tob. 4]
“If my heart hath lusted after my neighbour’s
wife, or if I have laid wait at his door, O then let my wife be another man’s
whore, and let other men lie with her. For this is a wickedness and sin that is
worthy to be punished; yea, a fire that should utterly consume and root out all
my substance.” [Job.
31]
“Whoredom, wine, and drunkenness, take the
heart away.” [Hos.
4]
“Ye have heard that it was said to them of
old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever
looketh on another man’s wife to lust after her hath committed advoutry with
her already in his heart.” [Matt.
5]
“If any that is called a brother be a
fornicator, with him that is such see that ye eat not.” [1 Cor. 5]
“Neither fornicators, neither advouterers,
neither weaklings, neither abusers of themselves with mankind, shall inherit
the kingdom of God.” [1
Cor. 6]
“Let us not be defiled with fornication, as
some of them were defiled with fornication, and fell in one day twenty-three
thousand.” [1
Cor. 10]
“As for fornication and all uncleanness,
let it not once be named among you, as it becometh saints; or filthiness, or
foolish talking, or jesting, which are not comely; but rather giving of thanks.
For this ye know, that no whoremonger,
nor unclean person, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” [Eph. 5]
“This is the will of God, even your
holiness, that ye should abstain from fornication; and that every one of you
should know how to keep his vessel in holiness and honour, and not in the lust
of concupiscence, as do the heathen, which know not God.” [1 Thess. 4]
“Wedlock is honourable among all men, and
the bed undefiled. As for whoremongers
and advouterers, God shall judge them.”
[Heb. 13]
“Whoremongers have their part in the lake
that burneth with fire and brimstone.” [Rev.
21]
The Eighth
Commandment – Thou shalt not steal. [Exod. 20]
The
Confirmations.
“Thou shalt not do thy neighbour wrong,
neither rob him violently; neither shall thy workman’s labour abide with thee
till the morning.” [Lev.
19]
“Ye shall not steal, neither lie, neither
deal falsely one with another.”
“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in
judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure: true balances and true weights
shall ye have. I am the Lord.”
“If thou sellest ought unto thy neighbour,
or buyest of thy neighbour’s hand, ye shall not deceive one another.” [Lev. 25]
“If thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen
in decay with thee, thou shalt relieve him, that he may live with thee. ... Thou
shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy corn for increase. ...
Thou shalt not take usury of him for vantage.”
“If one of thy brethren among you be poor
within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord God giveth thee, thou shalt
not harden thy heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother; but open thine
hand unto him, and lend him sufficient for his need which he hath.” [Deut. 15]
“The land shall never be without poor; and
therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand unto thy brother
that is needy and poor in thy land.”
“Whoso keepeth company with a thief hateth
his own soul.” [Prov.
29]
“Woe be to thee that spoilest; for thou
thyself shalt be spoiled.” [Isa.
33]
“Break thy bread to the hungry, and bring
the poor wandering into thine house. When
thou seest a naked man, cover him, and so shalt thou not despise thy flesh.” [Isa. 58]
“The thief is cursed of God; and all that
he hath shall come to naught.” [Zech.
5]
“Shame and sorrow goeth over the thief.” [Ecclus. 5]
Anna, old Toby’s wife, went daily to the
weaving work; and look, what living she could get with the labour of her hands,
she brought it home. And it happened
that she took a kid, and brought it home. And when her husband heard it cry, he
said: “Look that it be not stolen: if it be, restore it again to the owners. For it is not lawful for us to eat or touch
any thing that is stolen.” [Tob.
2]
“Give alms of thy goods, and turn never thy
face from the poor; so shall it come to pass that the face of the Lord shall
not be turned away from thee. Be
merciful after thy power. If thou hast
much, give plenteously: if thou hast little, do thy diligence gladly to give of
that little; for so gatherest thou thyself a good reward in the day of
necessity. For mercy delivereth from all
sin and from death, and suffered not the soul to come in darkness.” [Tob. 4]
“Behold, Lord,” said Zacheus, “the half of
my goods do I give to the poor: and if I have done any man wrong, I restore him
fourfold.” [Luke
19]
“Neither thieves, neither pillers, shall
inherit the kingdom of God.” [1
Cor. 6]
“Let him that stole steal no more; but let
him rather labour with his hands the thing which is good, that he may give unto
him that needeth.” [Eph.
4]
The Ninth
Commandment – Thou shalt not bear false
witness against thy neighbour.
“Thou shalt not accept a vain tale, neither
shalt thou put thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.” [Exod. 23]
“If an unrighteous witness rise up against
a man to accuse him of trespass, then both the men which strive together shall
stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in
those days; and the judges shall make diligent inquisition. And if the witness be found false, and that
he hath given false witness against his brother, then shall ye do unto him as
he had thought to do to his brother. And
thou shalt put away evil from thee.” [Deut.
27]
“Cursed be he that taketh a reward to slay
the soul of innocent blood. And all the
people shall say, Amen.” [Prov.
6]
“The Lord hateth a false witness that
bringeth up lies.” [Prov.
6]
“A false witness shall not escape
unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.” [Prov. 19]
“A false witness shall perish; but he that
is a true man boldly speaketh that he hath heard.” [Prov. 21]
“Whoso beareth false witness against his
neighbour, he is a very club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.” [Prov. 25]
“The mouth that lieth slayeth the soul.” [Wisd. 1]
“Thou, O Lord, wilt destroy all them that
speak lies.” [Psa.
5]
“In no wise speak against the word of truth;
but be ashamed of thy lying.” [Ecclus.
4]
“Use not to make any manner of lie; for the
custom thereof is not good.” [Ecclus.
7]
“A thief is better than a man that is
accustomed to lie; but they both shall have destruction to heritage.” [Ecclus. 20]
The two elders that bare witness against
Susanna were stoned unto death. [Hist.
Sus.]
“Out of the heart come false witnesses, ...
and those defile man.” [Matt.
15]
“Evil speakers shall not inherit the
kingdom of God.” [1
Cor. 6]
“Put away lying, and speak every man truth
unto his neighbour; forasmuch as we are members one of another.” [Eph. 4]
“All liars shall have their part in the
lake that burneth with fire and brimstone.” [Rev. 21]
The Tenth
Commandment – Thou shalt not covet thy
neighbour’s house. Thou shalt not covet
thy neighbour’s wife, his servant, his maid, his ox, his ass, nor any thing
that is thy neighbour’s. [Exod.
20]
The
Confirmations.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for
thereupon hangeth life.” [Prov.
4]
“God hateth an heart that goeth about with
wicked imaginations.” [Prov.
6]
“Take heed that thou lust not in thy heart
after the beauty of a strange woman.”
“Evil thoughts are abomination to the Lord.” [Prov. 15]
“Whosoever looketh upon another man’s wife,
lusting after her, hath committed advoutry with her already in his heart.” [Matt. 5]
“Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, ...
and those defile man.” [Matt.
15]
“The cares of this world, and the
deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, choke the word, and
make it unfruitful.” [Mark
4]
“Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time
your hearts be overcome with the cares of this life.” [Luke 21]
“I had not known what lust had meant,
except the law had said, Thou shalt not lust.”
[Rom. 7]
“Make not provision for the flesh, to
fulfil the lusts of it.” [Rom.
13]
“Mortify your earthy members, fornication,
uncleanness, unnatural lust, evil concupiscence,” &c. [Col. 3]
“Godliness is great riches, if a man be
content with that he hath. For we
brought nothing into the world, neither can we carry any thing out. But when we have food and raiment, let us be
content therewith. They that have a mind
to be rich fall into temptation and snares of the devil, and into many foolish
and noisome lusts, which drown men into perdition and destruction. For covetousness is the root of all evil,
which while some lusted after, they erred from the faith, and tangled
themselves with many sorrows. But thou,
man of God, flee such things. Follow righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness,” &c. [1 Tim. 6]
“Let your conversation be without
covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have already.” [Heb. 13]
“Love not the world, nor those things that
are in the world. For all that is in the
world, as the concupiscence of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of the life, is not of the Father, but it is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust
thereof. But he that doeth the will of
God, abideth for ever.” [1
John 2]
The Sum of These
Ten Commandments, and All Other Laws of God.
“Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy
mind, and with all the uttermost of thy power. This is the first and greatest commandment. The other is like unto this, Love thy
neighbour as thyself. In these two
commandments are contained the whole law and prophets.” [Matt. 22]
“Owe nothing to any man, but that ye love
one another. For he that loveth the
other hath fulfilled the law. For these
commandments, Thou shalt not commit advoutry, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt
not steal, Thou shalt bear no false witness, Thou shalt not lust, and all other
commandments are briefly comprehended in these words, Love thy neighbour as
thyself.” [Rom.
13]
“The end of the law is charity, that cometh
out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and a faith not feigned.” [1 Tim. 1]
“Whatsoever ye would that men should do
unto you, do ye even the same to them also; for this is the law and the prophets.” [Matt. 7]
Of Repentance.
What Repentance Is.
Repentance is an inward sorrow of the mind,
wrought by the Holy Ghost, for the sins tofore committed against God, joined
both with a perfect faith to be forgiven for Christ’s sake, and also with a full
determined purpose from henceforth to amend, and to lead a new life.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“I now rejoice, not that ye were sorry, but
that ye so sorrowed that ye repented. For
ye sorrowed godly, so that in nothing ye were hurt by us. For the sorrow that is wrought by God causeth
repentance unto salvation not to be repented of; contrariwise, worldly sorrow
causeth death.” [2
Cor. 7]
“The servant of God must inform them that
resist, if that God at any time will give them repentance for to know the
truth, and that they may come to themselves again out of the snare of the
devil, which are holden captive of him at his will.” [2 Tim. 2]
“Convert thou me, O Lord, and I shall be
converted; for thou art my Lord God. Yea,
as soon as thou turnest me, I repented, and as soon as thou shewest (my sins)
unto me, I smote my thigh: yea, I was confounded and right greatly ashamed.” [Jer. 31]
“O Lord, turn thou us unto thee; and so
shall we be turned.” [Lam.
5]
“I will pour clean water upon you, and ye
shall be clean: yea, from all your uncleannesses and from all your idols shall
I cleanse you. A new heart also will I
give you, and a new spirit will I put into you. As for that stony heart, I will take it out of
your body, and give you a fleshy heart. I
will give my Spirit among you, and cause you to walk in my commandments, to
keep my laws, and to fulfil them. And ye
shall be my people; and I will be your God.”
[Ezek. 36]
“O thou God of hosts, turn thou us, and
shew us the light of thy countenance; and so shall we be whole.” [Psa. 58]
Of the Fruits of
Repentance Declared By the Word of God.
“Seek the Lord while he may be found, and
call upon him while he is nigh. Let the
ungodly man forsake his own ways, and the unrighteous his own imaginations, and
turn again unto the Lord; so shall he be merciful unto him; and to our God; for
he is very ready to forgive.” [Isa.
55]
“O Israel, if thou wilt turn thee, then
turn unto me, saith the Lord. And if
thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, thou shalt not be moved.” [Jer. 4]
“Be circumcised in the Lord, and cut away
the foreskin of your hearts, that my indignation break not forth like fire, and
kindle, so that no man may quench it, because of the wickedness of your
imaginations.”
“If the ungodly will turn away from all his
sins that he hath done, and keep all my commandments, and do the thing that is
equal and right, doubtless he shall live and not die. As for all his sins that he did before, they
shall not be thought upon; but in his righteousness that he hath done he shall
live. For have I any pleasure in the
death of a sinner? saith the Lord God; but rather that he convert and live. [Ezek. 18]
“Be converted, and turn you clean from all
your wickedness; so shall there no sin do you harm. Cast away from you all your ungodliness that
ye have done. Make you new hearts and a
new spirit. Wherefore will ye die, O ye
house of Israel, seeing I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth?
saith the Lord God. Turn ye then, and ye
shall live.”
“As truly as I live, saith the Lord God, I
have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but much rather that the wicked
turn from his way and live. Turn you, turn
you from your ungodly ways, O ye house of Israel. O wherefore will ye die? [Ezek. 33]
“The wickedness of the wicked shall not
hurt him, whensoever he converteth from his ungodliness.”
“Turn you unto me, saith the Lord of hosts,
and I will turn me unto you.” [Zech.
1]
“Turn you unto me with all your hearts,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Rent
your hearts, and not your clothes. Turn
you unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, long-suffering,
and of great compassion, and ready to pardon wickedness.” [Joel 2]
“Repent of the life that is past; for the kingdom
of heaven is at hand.” [Matt.
3]
“Bring forth the fruits that belongeth to
repentance. For even now is the axe put
unto the root of the tree; so that every tree which bringeth not forth good
fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.”
“I am not come to call the righteous, but
sinners to repentance.” [Matt.
9]
“Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are
laden; and I will ease you.” [Matt.
11]
“Repent, and believe the gospel.” [Mark 1]
“I say unto you, that joy shall be in
heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just
persons, which need no repentance.” [Luke
15]
“The Son of man is come to seek and to save
that which was lost.” [Luke
19]
“Repent and convert, that your sins may be
done away.” [Acts
3]
“As ye have given your members servants to
uncleanness and to iniquity (from one iniquity to another), even so now give
over your members servants unto righteousness, that ye may be sanctified.” [Rom. 6]
“Put off that old man, which is corrupt
according to the deceivable lusts, and be ye renewed in the spirit of your
mind, putting on that new man, which after God is shapen in righteousness and
true holiness,” &c. [Eph.
4]
“Mortify your earthy members; fornication,
uncleanness, unnatural lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is
worshipping of idols; for which things’ sake the wrath of God useth to come on
the disobedient children: among whom ye walked sometime, when ye lived in them.
But now put ye also away from you all such things; wrath, fierceness,
maliciousness, cursed speaking, filthy communication. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have
put off the old man with his works, and have put on the new man, which is
renewed into the knowledge and image of him that made him. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and
beloved, put on tender mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness,
long-suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man
have a quarrel against another. As
Christ forgave you, even so do ye. Above
all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all
in the name of the Lord Jesu, giving thanks to God the Father by him.” [Col. 3]
OF BAPTISM.
What Baptism Is
Baptism is the ordinance of Christ, to wash
every believing Christian with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
St Paul calleth baptism “the fountain of
the new birth, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
[Titus 3]
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“All power is given unto me in heaven and
in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you.” [Matt.
28]
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the
gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be
damned.” [Mark 16]
“Except a man be born from above, he cannot
see the kingdom of God.” [John
3]
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a
man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God. That which is born of the flesh is
flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
To What Use Baptism Was Used.
First, to be a sure seal and an evident
testimony unto us that God the Father for his Son Jesus Christ’s sake hath
freely forgiven us all our sins, received us into his favour, and given us the
Holy Ghost; by whom we are born anew, not of mortal, but of immortal seed; by
whom also we are made the sons and heirs of God, and through faith reckoned
pure and holy in his godly sight.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved.” [Mark 16]
“Repent you of your sins, and be baptized
every one in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins; and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” [Acts
2]
“Christ loved the congregation, and gave
himself for it, to sanctify it, and cleansed it in the fountain of water
through the word, to make it unto himself a glorious congregation, without spot
or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blame.” [Eph. 5]
“Not by the deeds of righteousness which we
wrought, but according to his mercy hath he saved us, by the fountain of the
new birth, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that we, justified by his grace, should be
made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” [Titus 3]
“Baptism saveth us, not the putting away of
the filth of the flesh, but in that a good conscience consenteth to God by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is on the right hand of God, and is gone
into heaven.” [1
Pet. 3]
Secondly, to put us in remembrance that,
forasmuch as we are become the soldiers of Christ, we ought, so long as we
live, valiantly to fight against the devil, the world, and the flesh, to
mortify all unclean lusts, to die unto sin, and to rise again new men, bearing
the image of Christ, and fashioning our conversation and manners after his
example, that we may learn* the Lord our God in such holiness and righteousness
as is allowed before him all the days of our life.
Probations out
of the holy scriptures.
“Know ye not that all we which are baptized
into Jesu Christ are baptized to die with him? We are buried then with him by baptism for to
die; that, like wise as Christ was raised from death by the glory of the
Father, even so we also should walk in a new life. For if we be graft in death like unto him,
even so shall we be partakers of the resurrection; knowing this, that our old
man is crucified with him also, that the body of sin might utterly be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not be servants unto sin. For he that is dead is justified from sin. Wherefore if we be dead with Christ, we
believe that we shall also live with him.”
[Rom. 6]
“All ye that are baptized have put on
Christ.” [Gal. 3]
“Ye are buried with Christ through baptism,
in whom ye are also risen again through faith that is wrought by the operation
of God, which raised him from death.” [Col.
2]
“If ye then be risen again with Christ,
seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of
God. Set your affection on heavenly
things, and not on earthly things. For
ye are dead; and your life is hid with Christ in God. Whensoever Christ, which is our life, shall
shew himself, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” [Col. 3]
OF THE LORD’S
SUPPER.
What The Lord’s Supper Is.
The Lord’s supper is an holy and heavenly
banquet, in the which the faithful Christians, besides the corporal eating of
the bread, and the outward drinking of the wine, do spiritually through faith
both eat the body of Christ and drink his blood, unto the confirmation of their
faith, the comfort of their conscience, and the salvation of their souls.
To What Use Christ Did Institute His Holy Supper.
First, to put us in remembrance that his
body was broken and his blood shed for our redemption.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“The Lord Jesus the same night in the which
he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave
it to his disciples, saying, Take ye and eat: this is my body, which is broken
for you. This do ye in the remembrance
of me. After the same manner also he
took the cup, when supper was done, saying, This cup is the new testament in my
blood. This do, as oft as ye drink it,
in remembrance of me. For as oft as ye
shall eat this bread, and drink of this cup, ye shall chew the Lord’s death
till he come.” [1
Cor. 11]
“When they were eating, Jesus took bread,
and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to his disciples, and
said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he
took the cup, and thanked, and gave it them, saying, Drink ye all of this. For this is my blood (which is of the new
testament), that is shed for many for the remission of sins.” [Matt. 26]
“As they did eat, Jesus took bread; and
when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to them, and said, Take, eat:
this is my body. And he took the cup; and
when he had given thanks, he took it to them; and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the
new testament, which is shed for many.”
[Mark 14]
“He took bread; and when he had given
thanks, he brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given
for you. This do in the remembrance of
me. Likewise also, when he had supped, he took the cup, saying, This cup is the
new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” [Luke 22]
Secondly, to stir us up unto thanksgiving,
while we consider how precious, great, and inestimable benefits we have
received of God the Father by the death of his Son; as deliverance from Satan,
freedom from the curse of the law, forgiveness of sins, the favour and goodwill
of God, quietness of conscience, the Holy Ghost, righteousness, victory against
sin, death, and hell, salvation, and finally everlasting life. That we should not be unthankful, but rather
joyfully burst out into all kind of spiritual praises, lauding and magnifying
God the Father for these his most high and singular free gifts, the Lord Christ
did institute this holy supper. Therefore is it called of the ancient doctors Sacramentum
Eucharisticae:
“The sacrament of thanksgiving.”
Probations out
of the holy scriptures.
“All that believed continued daily with one
accord in the temple, and brake bread from house to house, and did eat their
meat together with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God.” [Acts 2]
“Is not the cup of thanksgiving, for the
which we give thanks, partaking of the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break partaking of
the body of Christ?” [1
Cor. 10]
Thirdly, to put us in remembrance, that as
the bread, which we eat at the Lord’s table, is made of many grains one loaf,
and the wine pressed together of sundry grapes is made one wine; so we being
many are one body, whereof Christ is the head. And because we all are one body, we ought all
to be beneficial one to another, one to love another, one to bear with another,
one to wish well unto another, and one to do for another whatsoever we be able,
even to the uttermost of our power, as our head Christ for our health and for
our salvation disdained not to bestow his very life, and to suffer death, even
the death of the cross, for our redemption. And as we presently, at the receiving of the
holy mysteries of Christ’s body and blood, do enjoy, through faith in God’s
promises, all the benefits which Christ obtained for us by his blessed death
and glorious passion; so likewise ought they that be partakers of the Lord’s
table (every one according to their ability), at that present to be beneficial
to the poor members of Christ, and somewhat to give that may relieve them, and
ever after also, when occasion is given, gladly to distribute unto the needy
some portion of their goods, wherewith God hath endued them. That this was the custom in the apostles’
time, and in the primitive church, yea, and long after, till the popish mass
had driven out of the church the right use of the Lord’s supper, it is evident
enough by divers testimonies both of the holy scriptures and of ancient
histories.
That We Are All One Body.
Probations out
of the holy scriptures.
“As we have many members in one body, and
all members have not one office, so we being many are one body in Christ, and
every man among ourselves one another’s members.” [Rom. 12]
“We, though we be many, yet are one bread
and one body; inasmuch as we all are partakers of one bread.” [1 Cor. 10]
“As the body is one, and hath many members;
and all the members of one body, though they be many, yet are but one body;
even so is Christ. For by one Spirit are
we all baptized to make one body, whether we be Jews or gentiles, whether we be
bond or free; and have all drunk of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many,
&c.; therefore if one member suffer, all suffer with him: if one member be
had in honour, all members be glad also. Ye are the body of Christ, and members one of
another.” [1
Cor. 12]
Of the Distribution To the Needy.
“All that believed kept themselves
together, and had all things common, and sold their possessions and goods, and
parted them to all men, as every man had need.”
[Acts 2]
“Great grace was there with all them that
believed. Neither was there any among them
that lacked. For as many as were
possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the price of the things
that were sold, and laid it down at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was
made unto every man according as he had need.”
[Acts 4]
“Distribute unto the* necessity of the
saints. Be ready to harbour.” [Rom. 12]
“As concerning the gathering for the
saints, ... let every one of you upon some Sabbath day put aside and lay up
whatsoever is meet,” &c. [1
Cor. 16]
“It is not my mind that other be set at
ease and ye brought into cumbrance; but that there be egalness* now at this
time, and that your abundance may succour their lack, and that their abundance
may supply your lack, that there may be equality [2 Cor. 8]: agreeing to that
which is written, He that had much had not the more abundance; and he that had
little had never the less,” &c. [Exod. 16]
Read the chapter.
“Of the ministering to the saints, it is
but superfluous for me to write unto you.
For I know the readiness of your mind, &c. Yet this I say, He that soweth little shall
reap little; and he that soweth (in giving) largely and freely shall reap
plenteously. And let every man do
according as he hath purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity: for
God loveth a cheerful giver. God is able
to make you rich in all grace, that ye, in all things having sufficient unto
the uttermost, may be rich unto all manner of good works; as it is written, He
hath sparsed abroad and hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for
ever.” [2 Cor.
9; Psa. 102]
“The office of this ministration not only
supplieth the need of the saints, but also is abundant herein, that for this
laudable ministering thanks might be given to God of many; which praise God for
the obedience of your consenting to the gospel of Christ, and for your
singleness in distributing to them and to all men, and in their prayers for
you, which long after you for the abundant grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. [2 Cor. 9]
THE DUTY OF ALL
ESTATES AND DEGREES.
The Duty of the High Powers and of the Other
Temporal Magistrates.
The duty of the high powers and of the
other temporal rulers is to be learned in the law of God, to maintain pure and
Christian religion, to nourish and defend the preachers and students of God’s
word, to banish all false religion and idolatry, to punish, yea, and if they
will not turn, to kill the preachers and maintainers of false doctrine, to
judge equally and indifferently without partiality, to take no bribes, nor to
oppress the common people, but to care for them as a father for his children,
to defend the good, to correct the evil, to advance virtue, and to punish vice.
That They Ought To Be Learned in the Laws of God.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“The king shall not multiply horses to
himself, ... neither ought he to multiply wives unto himself, lest his heart
turn away: neither shall he gather him silver and gold too much. And when he is set upon the seat of his
kingdom, he shall write him out a copy of this law in a book. And it shall be with him; and he ought to read
therein all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God,
and to keep all the words of this law and these ordinances for to do them, and
that his heart arise not above his brethren, and that he turn not from the
commandment to the right hand or to the left, but that he may prolong his days
in his kingdom.” [Deut.
17]
“Let not the book of this law depart out of
thy mouth, but record therein day and night, that thou mayest observe and do
according to all that is written therein. For then shalt thou make thy way prosperous,
and then shalt thou do wisely.” [Josh.
1]
“Get ye understanding now, O ye kings: be
learned, ye that judge the earth. Serve
the Lord in fear, and rejoice (unto him) with reverence. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and so ye
perish from the right way.” [Psa.
2]
“If your delight be in royal seats and
scepters, O ye kings of the people, set your lust upon wisdom, that ye may reign
for evermore.” “O love the light of
wisdom, all ye that be rulers of the people.”
[Wisd. 6]
Read the ninth chapter of the Book of
Wisdom.
That They Ought To Maintain Pure and Christian
Religion.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
How greatly king David advanced God’s
religion, and sought his glory, the holy scriptures make mention. [1 Chron. 23,
24, 26, 28; 2 Chron. 14]
“Asa, king of Judah, did that was good and
right in the eyes of the Lord his God. For
he took away strange altars and the hill altars,* and brake down the images and
cut down the groves, and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers,
and to do according to the law and commandment.” “Yea, he put away all the abominable idols
that his father had made. And he put down
Maacha his mother for bearing rule, because she had
made images in groves. And Asa destroyed
her images, and burnt them by the brook Cedron.” [1
Kings 15] “The Lord God therefore gave him and all his
land* rest and quietness.”
“Jeosaphat, king of Judah, sent to his
lords ... that they should teach in the cities of Judah, and with them he set
Levites and priests. And they taught in
Judah, and had the book of the law of God with them; and went about throughout
all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the
kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, and they fought not against
Jeosaphat.” “And the Lord stablished the
kingdom in his hand, and all they that were in Judah brought king Jeosaphat
presents, so that he had abundance of riches and honour.” [2 Chron. 17]
King Hezekiah put away the hill altars, and
brake the images, and cut down the groves, and all-to brake the brasen serpent
that Moses had made. He renewed the
feast of the passover. He ordained
priests and Levites to serve the Lord God, and provided honest livings for
them, that they might substantially apply themselves to the law of the Lord. And the Lord was with him; so that he
prospered in all things which he took in hand.
[2 Kings 18; 2 Chron. 31]
The good king Josiah, besides the purging
of Judah and Jerusalem from hill altars, groves, carved images, and images of
metal, and such other kinds of idolatry, repaired the house of the Lord his
God, renewed the feast of the passover, read in the ears of all the people the
words of the law of the Lord, and made a faithful promise unto the Lord that he
and all his people should walk according to the statutes of that book. And they turned not aside from the Lord God of
their fathers, so long as he lived. The
Lord God therefore deferred his plague that he had threatened to Judah,
suffered Josiah to live in much honour, and brought him to his grave in peace,
so that his eyes did not see the mischief that the Lord God afterward brought
immediately upon Jerusalem and upon the inhabiters of the same. [2 Chron. 34]
“Kings shall be thy nursing fathers; and
queens shall be thy nursing mothers.” [Isa.
49]
That They Ought To Punish, Yea, and If They Will Not
Turn, To Kill the Preachers and Maintainers of False Doctrine.
Probations out
of the holy scriptures.
“If there rise among you a prophet, or a
dreamer of dreams, and give thee a sign or wonder, and that sign or wonder
which he hath said come to pass, and then say, Let us go after strange gods, which
thou hast not known, and let us serve them; hearken not thou unto the words of
that prophet or dreamer of dreams. For
the Lord thy God proveth you, to wete, whether ye love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul. Ye
shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandment, and
hearken unto his voice, serve him, and cleave unto him. And the prophet or dreamer of dreams shall
die, because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God.” [Deut. 13]
“The prophet which shall presume to speak a
word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that he speaketh
in the name of strange gods, the same prophet shall die.” [Deut. 18]
Jehu, king of Israel, caused all the
priests of Baal to be slain, all the images to be fet
out of the temple of Baal, and to be burnt. He caused also his captains and men
of war to break the image of Baal, and to destroy the house of Baal; so that
Baal’s house was made a draught house unto this day. And because Jehu thus sought the glory of God,
and destroyed idolatry with the maintainers thereof, he lived quietly in his
kingdom unto his dying day, and his children unto the fourth generation sat on
the seat of Israel. [2
Kings 10]
King Josiah “put down the ministers of Baal,
whom the kings of Judah had founded to burn incense in the hill altars and
cities of Judah that were round about Jerusalem, and also them that burnt
incense unto Baal, to the sun, to the moon, to the planets, and to all the host
of heaven.” [2
Kings 23]
That They Ought To Judge Equally.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in
judgment. Thou shalt not favour the
poor, nor honour the mighty; but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy
neighbour.” [Lev.
19]
Moses said to the judges: “Hear the cause
of your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and
the stranger that is with him. See that
ye know no faces in judgment; but hear the small as well as the great: and be
afraid of no man; for the judgment is God’s.”
[Deut. 1]
King Jehosaphat said also to the judges: “Take
heed what ye do; for ye execute not the judgments of man, but of God, which is
with you in the judgment. Wherefore now
let the fear of the Lord be upon you, and take heed, and be doing the thing
that pleaseth him. For there is no
unrighteousness with the Lord our God, that should have any respect of persons,
or take rewards.” [2
Chron. 19]
“A king that sitteth in the throne of
judgment, and looketh well about him, driveth away all evil.” [Prov. 20]
“He that saith to the ungodly, Thou art
righteous; him shall the people curse, yea, the commenty shall abhor him. But they that rebuke the ungodly, in them doth
God delight, and a rich blessing shall come upon them.” [Prov. 24]
“Judge the thing that is right, O ye sons
of men.” [Psa. 58]
“O love righteousness, ye that are the
judges of the earth.” [Wisd.
1]
That They Ought To Take No Bribes.
Probations out
of the holy scriptures.
“Thou shalt take no gifts; for gifts blind
the sight, and pervert the words of the righteous.” [Exod. 23]
“Wrest not thou the law, nor know any
person, neither take any reward; for gifts blind the wise, and pervert the
words of the righteous. That which is
just and right shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and enjoy the land
which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” [Deut.
16]
“Thou shalt seek out among all the people
men of activity, and such as fear God, true men, hating covetousness; and make
them heads over the people.” [Exod.
18]
“The fire shall consume the houses of such
as are greedy to receive gifts.” [Job
15]
“Woe be unto them that give sentence with
the ungodly for rewards, but condemn the just cause of the righteous! Therefore, like as fire licketh up the straw,
and as the flame consumeth the stubble, even so their root shall be as
corruption, and their blossom shall vanish away like dust.” [Isa. 5]
“He that keepeth his hand, that he touch no
reward, and he which stoppeth his ears, that he hear no counsel against the
innocent blood, he it is that shall dwell on high.” [Isa. 33]
That They Ought Not to Oppress the Common People.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“The increase and prosperity of the commons
is the king’s honour; but the decay of the people is the confusion of the
prince.” [Prov.
14]
“Like as a roaring lion, and as an hungry
bear, even so is an ungodly prince over the poor people. Where the prince is without understanding,
there is great oppression and wrong; but if he be such a one as hateth
covetousness, he shall long reign.” [Prov.
28]
“When the righteous have the overhand, the
people are in prosperity; but when the ungodly bear rule, then that people
mourn.” [Prov.
29]
“With true judgment the king setteth up the
land; but if he be a man that oppresseth the people with gatherings, he turneth
it upside down.”
“O hear this word, ye that do poor men
wrong, and oppress the needy, ye that say to your lords, Bring hither, let us
drink. Therefore the Lord hath sworn by
his holiness, The days shall come upon you, that the enemies shall carry you
away,” &c. [Amos
4]
“O woe be to the proud wealthy, to such as
think themselves so sure, them which hold themselves for the best of the world,
and rule the house of Israel even as they list!” “Ye are taken out for the evil day, even ye
that sit in the stool of willfulness. Ye
that lie upon beds of ivory, and use your wantonness upon your couches; ye that
eat the best lambs of the flock, and the fattest calves of the drove; ye that
sing at the lute, and in playing of instruments compare yourselves unto David;
ye that drink wine out of goblets, and anoint yourselves with the best oil; but
as for Joseph’s hurt, none of you all are sorry for it. Therefore now shall ye be the first of them
that shall be led away captive; and the lusty cheer of the wilful shall come to
an end, &c. The Lord is minded to
smite the great houses. For ye have
turned true judgment unto bitterness, and the fruit of righteousness into
wormwood.” [Amos
6]
“O ye that oppress the poor, and destroy the
needy in the land, shall not your destruction come upon you as a water stream?”
&c. [Amos 8]
“O ye heads of the house of Jacob, and ye
leaders of the house of Israel, should not ye know what were lawful and right? But ye hate the good, and love the evil. Ye pluck off men’s skins, and the flesh from
their bones. Ye eat the flesh of my
people, and flay off their skin, ye break their bones, ye chop them in pieces
as it were into a cauldron, and as flesh into a pot. Now the time shall come that, when they call
unto the Lord, he shall not hear them, but hide his face from them; because
that through their own imaginations they have dealt so wickedly,” &c. [Mic. 3]
“Behold, here am I,” said Samuel to the
children of Israel: “bear record of me before the Lord, and before his
anointed. Whose ox have I taken? or
whose ass have I taken? whom have I done wrong to? whom have I hurt? or of
whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will
restore it you again. They said, Thou
hast done us no wrong, nor hurt us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s
hand. He said unto them again, The Lord
is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have no
evil in my hands.” [1
Sam. 12]
What chanced to Rehoboam, king Salomon’s
son, for the ungentle entreating of his commons, the holy histories do testify. [1 Kings 12]
Read 1 Kings 12.
That They Ought To Care for the Commons, As a Father
for His Children.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“Mercy and faithfulness preserve the king;
and with loving-kindness his seat is holden up.” [Prov. 20]
“If thou be made a ruler, pride not thyself
therein; but be thou as one of the people. Take diligent care for them, and look well
thereto; and when thou hast done all thy duty, set thee down, that thou mayest
be merry with them, and receive a crown of honour.” [Ecclus. 32]
With how fatherly a care Moses, Samuel,
David, and divers other noble princes governed their people, the holy
scriptures do evidently declare.
That They Ought to Defend the Good, and to Correct
the Evil, to Advance Virtue, and to Punish Vice.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“Learn to do right: apply yourselves to
equity: deliver the oppressed: help the fatherless to his right: let the widow’s
complaint come before you.” [Isa.
1]
“Thus the Lord commandeth, Keep equity and
righteousness: deliver the oppressed from the power of the violent: do not
grieve nor oppress the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow; and shed no
innocent blood.” [Jer.
22]
“Execute true judgment: shew mercy and
loving-kindness every man to his brother. Do the widow, the fatherless, the stranger,
and poor no wrong; and let no man imagine evil against his brother in his
heart.” [Zech. 7]
“Deliver him that suffereth wrong from the
hand of the oppressor, and be not faint hearted when thou sittest in judgment. Be merciful unto the fatherless as a father,
and be instead of an husband unto their mother; so shalt thou be as an obedient
son of the Highest, and he shall love thee more than thy mother doth.” [Ecclus 4]
“My song shall be of mercy and judgment:
unto thee, O Lord, will I sing. O let me
have understanding in the way of godliness. When wilt thou come unto me? I will walk in my house with a perfect heart. I will take no wicked thing in hand: I hate
the sins of unfaithfulness: there shall no such cleave unto me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will
not know a wicked person. Whoso privily
slandereth his neighbour, him will I destroy. Whoso hath also a proud look and an high
stomach, I will not suffer him. Mine
eyes look unto such as be faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me. Whoso leadeth a godly life, he shall be my
servant. There shall no deceitful person
dwell in my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I shall soon destroy all the ungodly that are
in the land, that I may root out all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.” [Psa. 101]
“Rulers are not fearful to them that do
good, but to them that do evil. Wilt
thou be without fear of the power? Do
well then, and so shalt thou be praised of the same. For he is the minister of God for thy wealth. But and if thou do that which is evil, then
fear; for he beareth not the sword for naught: for he is the minister of God to
take vengeance on him that doeth evil.”
[Rom. 13]
The Duty of Subjects Unto the High Powers.
The duty of subjects unto the high powers
is honourably to speak of them, heartily to love and reverence them, humbly to
obey them for conscience sake in all things that fight not with God’s word,
fervently to pray for them, and willingly to pay such charges unto them as they
reasonably require, either for the maintenance of their prince-like estate, or
else for the safeguard of the commonwealth.
Probations out of
the holy scriptures.
“Thou shalt not rail upon the gods,” that
is to say, the temporal magistrates, which execute that office of God, “neither
blaspheme the ruler of thy people.” [Exod.
22]
“Wish the king no evil in thy thought, and
speak no hurt of the rich in thy privy chamber; for a bird of the air shall
betray thy voice, and with her feathers shall she betray thy words.” [Eccles. 10]
“Let every soul submit himself unto the
higher powers. For there is no power but
of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power
resisteth the ordinance of God; but they that resist shall receive to
themselves damnation. For rulers are not
fearful to them that do good, but to them that do evil. Wilt thou be without fear of the power? do
well then, and so shalt thou be praised of the same. For he is the minister of God for thy wealth. But if thou do that which is evil, then fear;
for he beareth not the sword for naught: for he is the minister of God to take
vengeance on him that doth evil. Wherefore ye must needs obey, not only for
fear of punishment, but also for conscience sake. And for this cause pay ye tribute. For they are God’s ministers, serving for the
same purpose. Give to every man
therefore his duty; tribute to whom tribute belongeth; custom to whom custom is
due; fear to whom fear belongeth; honour to whom honour pertaineth.” [Rom. 13]
“I exhort that above all things prayers,
supplications, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be had for all men; for
kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may live a quiet and
peaceable life with all godliness and honesty. For that is good and accepted in the sight of
God our Saviour.” [1
Tim. 2]
“Warn the subjects that they submit
themselves to rule and power, that they obey the officers, that they be ready
unto every good work, that they speak evil of no man, that they be no fighters,
but gentle, shewing meekness unto all men.”
[Titus 3]
“Submit yourselves unto all manner
ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake; whether it be unto the king, as unto the
chief head; either unto rulers, as unto them that are sent of him for the
punishment of evildoers, but for the praise of them that do well, &c. Fear God, honour the king.” [1 Pet. 2]
The Duty of
Bishops and Ministers of God’s Word.
The duty of bishops and ministers of God’s
word is, first, to feed Christ’s flock with the sweet bread of Christ’s gospel,
without mingling of the Pharisees’ leaven: secondly, to lead a life agreeable
to their doctrine, that they may teach both with word and work: thirdly, to
relieve the poor and needy with such goods as they receive of the church,
either by maintaining hospitality, or else by some other godly means.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
Of Doctrine.
“Go up unto the high hill, thou that
bringest good tidings: lift up thy voice with power, O thou preacher, lift it
up, and be not afraid.” [Isa.
40]
“Cry now as loud as thou canst. Leave not
off, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their offences, and
the house of Jacob their sins.”
“I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O
Jerusalem, which shall neither cease day nor night to preach the Lord.” [Isa. 62]
“Behold, I put my words in thy mouth; and
behold, this day do I set thee over the people and kingdoms; that thou mayest
root out, break off, destroy, and make waste, and that thou mayest build up and
plant.” [Jer. 1]
“Thou son of man, I have made thee a
watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore take good heed to the words of my
mouth, and give them warning at my commandment. If I say unto thee concerning the ungodly man,
that without doubt he must die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest
unto him that he may turn from his evil way, and so to live; then shall the
same ungodly man die in his own unrighteousness; but his blood will I require
of thy hand. Nevertheless, if thou give
warning unto the wicked, and be yet forsake not his ungodliness, then shall he
die in his own wickedness; but thou hast discharged thy soul.” [Ezek. 3]
If thou lovest me, “ feed my sheep.” [John 21]
“Woe unto me if I preach not the gospel!” [1 Cor. 9]
“We preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ
our Lord.” [2
Cor. 4]
“We are not as the most part are, which
chop and change with the word of God; but out of pureness, and by the power of
God, in the sight of God, so speak we in Christ.” [2 Cor. 4]
“Though we ourselves, or an angel from
heaven, preach any other gospel unto you, than that which we have preached unto
you, let him be accursed.” [Gal.
1]
“A bishop must be meet to teach.” [1 Tim. 3]
“ Give attendance to reading, to
exhortation, to doctrine.” [1
Tim. 4]
“ Preach thou the word: be fervent in
season and out of season: improve, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and
doctrine,” &c. [2
Tim. 4]
Of Life and Conversation.
“God said to the ungodly, Why dost thou
preach my laws, and takest my testament in thy mouth? where thou hatest to be
reformed, and hast cast my words behind thee. When as thou sawest a thief, thou consentest
unto him, and hast been partaker with the advouterers.” [Psa. 50]
“Whosoever doeth and teacheth, the same
shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” [Matt. 5]
“Be unto them that believe an ensample in
word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, in pureness.” [1 Tim. 4]
“Keep thyself pure.” [1 Tim. 5]
“Study to shew thyself laudable unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, distributing the word of truth justly.” [2 Tim. 2]
“In all things shew thyself an ensample of
good works, in the doctrine with honesty, gravity, and with the wholesome word,
which cannot be rebuked; that he which withstandeth may be ashamed, having no
evil thing to say of you.” [Titus
2]
“Feed ye Christ’s flock, as much as lieth
in you, taking the oversight of them not as compelled thereto, but willingly;
not for the desire of filthy lucre, but of a good mind; not as though ye were
lords over the parishes, but that ye be an ensample to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye
shall receive an incorruptible crown of glory.”
[1 Pet. 5]
Of Hospitality.
“Distribute unto the necessity of the
saints. Be ready to harbour.” [Rom. 12]
“A bishop must be a maintainer of
hospitality.” [1
Tim. 3]
“Forget not hospitality. For thereby have divers men lodged angels
unwares.” [Heb.
13]
The Duty of
Parishioners Unto the Ministers of God’s Word.
The duty of parishioners unto the ministers
of God’s word is outwardly to honour and reverence them, to receive them as the
angels and ambassadors of God, to regard them as the ministers and stewards of
God’s mysteries, and liberally to give unto them whatsoever is necessary for
the maintenance of their degree and estate; that they may quietly give their
minds to the study of godly letters, to prayer, to the preaching of God’s word,
and to the ministration of the sacraments.
Probations out
of the holy scriptures.
“Fear the Lord with all thy soul, and
honour his ministers. Love thy Maker
with all thy strength, and forsake not his ministers. Honour God with all thy soul, and reverence
his priests. Give them their portion of
the first-fruits and increase of the earth, like as it is commanded thee.” [Ecclus. 7]
“The priests that rule well are worthy of
double honour, most specially they which labour in the word and teaching.” [1 Tim. 5]
“We beseech you, brethren, that ye know
them which labour among you, and have the oversight of you in the Lord, and
give you exhortation, that ye have them in high reputation through love for
their work’s sake, and be at peace with them.”
[1 Thess. 5]
“Obey them that have the oversight of you,
and submit yourselves unto them; for they watch for your souls, even as they
that must give accompts; that they may do it with joy, and not with grief.” [Heb. 3]
“In the priest’s lips should be sure knowledge,
that men may seek the law at his mouth; for he is the angel of the Lord of
hosts.” [Mal. 2]
“Ye despised me not, neither did ye abhor
me; but ye received me as an angel of God, yea, even as Christ Jesus. For I bear you record, that, if it had been possible,
ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.” [Gal. 4]
“He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he
that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me,” &c. [Matt. 10]
“He that heareth you heareth me. He that despiseth you despiseth me, and be
that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.”
[Luke 10]
“Let a man this wise esteem us, even as the
ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” [1 Cor. 4]
“Bring every tithe into my barn, that there
may be meat in my house.” [Mal.
3]
“The workman is worthy of his meat.” [Matt. 10]
“If the gentiles be made partakers of their
spiritual things, their duty is to minister unto them in bodily things.” [Rom. 15]
“It is written in the law of Moses, Thou
shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take thought for oxen? Saith he it not altogether for our sake? For our sake, no doubt, this is written; that
he which eareth should ear in hope; and that he which thresheth in hope should
be partaker of his hope. If we sow unto
you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your bodily things? ... Do
ye not know how that they which minister about holy things live of the
sacrifice? They which wait of the temple
are partakers of the temple. Even so
also did the Lord ordain, that they which preach the gospel should live of the
gospel.” [1 Cor.
9]
“Who goeth a warfare any time at his own
cost? Who planteth a vineyard, and
eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who
feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?” &c.
“Let him that is taught in the word
minister unto him that teacheth him in all good things. Be not deceived. God is not mocked,” &c. [Gal. 6]
“The priests that rule well are worthy of
double honour, most specially they which labour in the word and teaching. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle
the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The labourer is worthy of
his reward.” [1
Tim. 5; Deut. 25; 1 Cor. 9, Matt. 10]
The Duty of
Husbands Unto Their Wives.
The duty of a faithful husband unto his
wife is to forsake all other for her sake, to cleave only to his wife, to love
her as Christ loved the congregation, to cherish her as he would cherish his
own body, to provide for her, to teach her the law of God, to dwell with her
according to knowledge, and to give honour unto her, although the weaker
vessel, as to one that is fellow heir with him of the grace of life.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of
my flesh. She shall be called woman, because
she was taken out of man. For this cause
shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined with his wife, and
they shall become one flesh.” [Gen.
2]
“Be glad with the wife of thy youth.” “Let her breasts alway satisfy thee, and hold
thee ever content with her love. My son,
why wilt thou have pleasure in an harlot, and embrace the bosom of another
woman?” &c. [Prov.
5]
“Ye husbands, love your wives, even as
Christ also loved the congregation, and gave himself for it, to sanctify it,
and cleansed it in the fountain of water through the word, to make it unto
himself a glorious congregation, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing;
but that it should be holy and without blame. So ought men to love their wives as their own
bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth
himself. For no man ever yet hated his
own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord doth the
congregation,” &c. [Eph.
5]
“Ye husbands, love your wives, and be not
bitter to them.” [Col.
3]
“Ye men, dwell with your wives according to
knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as unto
them that are heirs also of the grace of life.”
[1 Pet. 3]
The Duty of
Wives Unto Their Husbands.
The duty of an honest faithful woman unto
her husband is to knowledge her husband to be her head, to be subject unto him,
to reverence him, to obey him, quietly to learn of him, to lead a blameless
life, to use much silence, peaceably and circumspectly to look unto her
household, and to tire herself with such apparel as becometh a sober Christian
woman.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“Ye women, submit yourselves unto your own
husbands, as unto the Lord. For the
husband is the wife’s head, even as Christ is the head of the congregation; and
the same is he that ministereth salvation to the body. Therefore, as the congregation is in
subjection to Christ, even so let the wives be in subjection to their husbands
in all things.” [Eph.
5]
“Ye wives, submit yourselves unto your own
husbands, as it is comely in the Lord.” [Col. 3]
“Let the women learn in silence with all
subjection. But I suffer not a woman to
teach, neither to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” [1 Tim. 2]
“I will that women array themselves in
comely apparel, with shamefacedness and discreet behaviour; not with braided
hair, either gold, or pearls, or costly array; but as it becometh women that
profess godliness through good works.”
“Ye wives, be in subjection to your
husbands; that even they which obey not the word may without the word be won by
the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation
coupled with fear. Whose apparel shall
not be outward with broidered hair and hanging on of gold, either in putting on
of gorgeous apparel; but let the hid man, which is in the heart, be without all
corruption, so that the spirit be at rest and quiet, which spirit before God is
a thing much set by. For after this
manner in the old time did the holy women, which trusted in God, tire
themselves, and were obedient to their husbands; even as Sara obeyed Abraham,
and called him lord: whose daughters ye are, so long as ye do well.” [1 Pet. 3]
The Duty of
Fathers and Mothers Unto Their Children.
The duty of fathers and mothers unto their
children is to train them up in the law of God, to teach them to know God and
his holy word even from their cradles, to bring them up in good learning and
necessary acts, to bridle them from the foolish and noisome lusts of youth, and
to garnish their life with sober and grave manners.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“Set your hearts unto all the words which I
testify unto you this day, and ye shall command them unto your children, that
they may observe and do all the words of this law.” [Deut. 32]
“If thou have sons, bring them up in
nurture and learning, and hold them in awe from their youth up. If thou have daughters, keep their body, and
spew not thy face cheerful toward them. Marry
thy daughter, and so shalt thou perform a weighty matter; but give her to a man
of understanding.” [Ecclus.
7]
“He that teacheth his son shall have joy in
him and need not to be ashamed of him among his acquaintance.” [Ecclus. 30]
“He that spareth the rod hateth his son;
but whoso loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”
[Prov. 13]
“Ye fathers, move not your children to
wrath; but bring them up through the doctrine and information of the Lord.” [Eph. 6]
How godly Salomon, young Thoby, Susanna,
Philip the evangelist’s daughters, Timothy, and such like, were brought up of
their parents, the holy scriptures bear witness.
The Duty of
Children Toward Their Fathers and Mothers.
The duty of children toward their parents
is in their mind to love them, outwardly to reverence and honour them, to obey
them in all things that are agreeable to God’s will, and if they chance to fall
into poverty, to help them, and to give them whereof to live.
Probations out
of the holy scriptures.
“Honour thy father from thy whole heart,
and forget not the sorrowful travail that thy mother had with thee. Remember
that thou wast born through them; and how canst thou recompense them the things
that they have done for thee?” [Ecclus.
7]
“Children, obey your fathers and mothers in
the Lord; for that is right. Honour thy father
and mother (the same is the first commandment in the promise); that thou mayest
prosper, and live long on earth.” [Eph.
6]
Read the confirmations of the fifth
commandment.
The Duty Of
Masters To Their Servants.
The duty of masters to their servants is to
entreat them gently, to give them their covenants, and to help them, that they
may afterward be able to live,
Probations out
of the holy scripture..
“Where as thy servant worketh truly,
entreat him not evil, nor the hireling that is faithful unto thee. Love a discreet servant as thine own soul:
defraud him not of his liberty, neither leave him a poor man.” [Ecclus. 7]
“Ye masters, do unto your servants that
which is just and equal, putting away threatenings; knowing that ye also have a
Master in heaven, neither is there any respect of persons with him.” [Col. 4]
The Duty of
Servants to Their Masters.
The duty of servants to their masters is
willingly and with a free courage to serve them even for conscience sake, not
with the eye but with the heart, to obey them, to honour them, gently to answer
them, not to pick or steal away their goods, but to be faithful unto them in
all things.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“Ye servants, obey them that are your
bodily masters with fear and trembling, even with the singleness of your heart,
as unto Christ; not doing service unto the eye, as they that go about to please
men; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with
goodwill serving the Lord, and not men; knowing this, that whatsoever good deed
any man doth, the same shall he receive again of God, whether he be bond or
free.” [Eph. 6]
“Let as many servants as are under the yoke
count their masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine
be not evil spoken of.” [1
Tim. 6]
“Exhort servants to be obedient unto their
own masters, and to please them in all things, not answering again, neither to
be pickers, but that they shew all good faithfulness; that they may do worship
to the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” [Titus 2]
THE DUTY OF
WIDOWS.
The duty of true ancient widows (besides
the looking to their own household, and provision-making for their living) is
to put their trust in God, to give themselves to the exercises of the Spirit, to
frequent the temple, to be present at the sermons, to visit the sick, to
relieve the needy, to be rich in good works, and to continue in supplications
and prayers both day and night. But as
touching the younger widows, lest they should wax wanton against Christ and
follow Satan, breaking their first faith and promise that they made to God at
their baptism (which is to abstain from all uncleanness both of body and mind,
and to lead a pure and honest life), and so cast themselves into the danger of
everlasting damnation, it is convenient that they marry again, bring forth
children, guide their house virtuously, and so live in the holy state of
matrimony, that no man may have occasion to speak evil of them.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“She that is a true widow and friendless
putteth her trust in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers day and
night.” [1 Tim.
5]
Judith, that virtuous widow, “in the higher
parts of her house made herself a privy chamber, where she dwelt, being closed
in with her maids. She ware a smock of
hair, and fasted all the days of her life, except the sabbaths and new moons
and the solemn days that the people of Israel kept. ... She was a woman of a
very good report with every one; for she feared the Lord greatly, and there was
nobody that spake an evil word of her.”
[Judith 8]
The godly ancient widow Anna “departed not
from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” [Luke 2]
Of the Younger
Widows.
“The younger widows refuse. For when they have begun to wax wanton against
Christ they will marry, having damnation, because they have cast away their
first faith. And also they learn to go
from house to house idle; yea, not idle only, but also tattlers and busybodies,
speaking things which are not comely. I
will therefore that the younger women marry, to bear children, to guide the
house, and give none occasion to the adversary to speak evil.” [1 Tim. 5]
The Duty of Old
Men.
The duty of old men is to avoid all
lightness, both in word, deed, and countenance, to talk of wisdom and grave
matters, to be sober, sage, and discreet, and to lead a pure and undefiled
life, that they may be an ensample of true godliness to the younger folk.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
God hateth “an old body that doteth, and is
unchaste.” [Ecclus.
25]
“Age is an honourable thing: nevertheless
it standeth not only in the length of time, nor in the multitude of years; but
a man’s wisdom is the gray hair, and an undefiled life is the old age.” [Wisd. 4]
“Exhort the elder men to be sober, sage,
discreet, sound in the faith, in love, in patience.” [Titus 2]
The Duty of Old
Women.
The duty of old women is, as in age, so in
manners, to be sober, sage, and ancient; to wear no light apparel, but such
raiment as become their age and profession; to be no tattlers, but to order
their tongues discreetly; to be no tavern hunters, nor given to drunkenness,
but to lead a sober life; to provoke no young women unto lewdness and
dishonesty, but rather to shew themselves lively glasses and natural mirrors of
all godliness and honesty.
Probations out
of the holy scriptures.
“Exhort the elder women that they be in
such raiment as becometh holiness; not being false accusers, not given to much
wine, but that they teach honest things; to make the young women sober minded,
to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste,
housewifely, good, obedient to their husbands, that the word of God be not evil
spoken of.” [Titus
2]
The Duty Of
Young Folk.
The duty of young folk is not to be proud,
but humble, lowly, and gentle; gladly to hear the discreet talk of their
elders, and to be ordered by them; not to be rash, but sober minded in all
their doings.
Probations out
of the holy scriptures.
“Ye younger folk, submit yourselves unto
the elders. Submit yourselves every man
one to another, knit yourselves together in lowliness of mind. For God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace
to the humble.” [1
Pet. 5]
“Thou young man, keep company with the
multitude of such elders as have understanding, and consent unto their wisdom
with thine heart, that thou mayest hear all godly sermons, and that the worthy
sentences escape thee not,” &c. [Ecclus.
6]
“If thou be among men of higher authority,
desire not to compare thyself unto them; and when an elder speaketh, make not
thou many words.” [Ecclus.
32]
“Exhort the young men that they be sober minded.”
The Duty of All
Degrees and Estates Generally, Both Toward God and Their Neighbour.
The duty of all degrees and estates
generally, both toward God and their neighbour, is to believe in God, to fear
God and to keep his commandments, to love God above all things, and our
neighbour as ourself, and to do none otherwise unto other than we wish to be
done unto ourself.
Probations out
of the holy scripture.
“Ye believe in God, believe also in me,”
saith Christ. [John
14]
“Fear God, and keep his commandments. For that belongeth to all men.” [Eccles. 12]
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. The second is like unto this: Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself. In these two commandments
are contained the whole law and prophets.”
[Matt. 22]
“Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,
do ye even the same to them also. For
this is the law and the prophets.” [Matt.
7]
Give the glory to God alone.