QUESTION.

WHat is the Chief End of Man?

ANSWER.

Man's chief end is to glorifie God ^a, and to enjoy Him for ever ^b.

Q What Rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorifie and enjoy Him?

A. The Word of God (which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New-Testament ^c) is the only Rule to direct us how we may glori­fie ^d, and enjoy Him ^e.

[Page 2]Q. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what Duty God requires of man.

2 Tim. 1.13. Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me, in Faith and Love, which is in Christ Jesus.

Q What is God?

A. God is a Spirit ^f, Infinite ^g, Eternal ^h, Un­changeable ⁱ, in His Being ^k, Wisdom ^l, Power, Holiness ^m, Justice, Goodness and Truth ⁿ.

[Page 3]Q 5. Are there more Gods than one?

A. There is but one only ^o, the living and true God ^p.

Q. How many Persons are there in the God-Head?

A. There are three Persons in the God-Head; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost ^q, and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory ^r.

Q. What are the Decrees of God?

A. The Decrees of God are His eternal purpose according to the counsel of his own will, whereby for his own glory, he hath fore ordained whatso­ever comes to pass.

Eph. 1.11, 12. Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will; that we should be to the praise of his glory.

[Page 4]Q. How doth God execute his Decrees?

A. God executeth his Decrees in the Works o [...] Creation ^ſ, and Providence ^t.

Q. What is the Work of Creation?

A. The work of Creation is God's making all things ^u of nothing, by the Word of his Power ^w, in the space of six days, and all ve [...]y good ^x.

10 Q. How did God create man?

A. God created man Male and Female, after his own Image ^y, in Knowledge, Righteousness, and Holiness ^z, with Dominion over the Crea­tures ^a.

[Page 5]Q. What are Gods Works of Providence?

A. Gods works of Providence, are His most Ho­ly ^b, Wise ^c, and Powe [...]ful ^d, preserving and go­verning all his Creatures, and all their Actions ^e.

Q What special act of Providence did God exercise towards man in the estate wherein he was created?

A. When God had created Man, he entred in­to a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience ^f; forbidding him to eat of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil up­on pain of death ^g.

Q. Did our first Parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?

A. Our first Parents being left to the freedom [Page 6] of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.

Eccles. 7.29. God hath made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions.

Q. What is Sin?

A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of the Law of God.

1 Joh 3.4. Whoever committeth sin, transgresseth also the Law: for sin is the Transgression of the Law.

15. Q. What was the sin whereby our first Parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?

A. The Sin whereby our first Parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden Fruit.

Gen. 3.6, 7, 8. And when the Woman saw that the Tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, & a tree to be desired to make one wise: she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her Husband with her, and he did eat, & the eyes of them both were opened, & they knew that they were naked.—And Adam & his Wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the Garden.

Q. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first Transgression?

A. The Covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his Posterity ^h, all Man­kind, descending from him by ordinary generati­on, sinned in him, and fell with him in his First Transgression ⁱ

[Page 7]Q. Into what estate did the Fall bring Mankind?

A. The Fall brought Mankind into an Estate of Sin and Misery.

Rom. 5 12 By one man Sin entred into the World, and Death by Sin: and so Death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

Q. Wherein consists the Sinfulness of that Estate whereinto Man fell?

A The Sinfulness of that Estate whereinto Man fell, consists in the Guilt of Adam's first Sin ^k, the want of Original Righteousness ^l, and the Cor­ruption of his whole Nature, which is commonly called Original Sin ^m, together with all Actual Transgressions which proceed from it ⁿ.

Q. What is the Misery of that Estate whereinto Man fell?

[Page] A. All Mankind by their Fall, lost Communion with God ^o, are under his Wrath & Curse ^p, and so made liable to all Miseries in this life, to Death it self, and to the pains of hell for ever ^q.

20. Q Did God leave all Mankind to perish in the estate of Sin and Misery?

A. God having out of his meer good pleasure from all Eternity Elected some to everlasting life ^r, did enter into a Covenant of Grace, to deliver them out of the estate of Sin and Misery, and bring them into an estate of Salvation by a Redeemer ^ſ.

Q. Who is the Redeemer of Gods Elect?

A. The only Redeemer of Gods Elect, is th [...] Lord Jesus Christ ^t, who being the eternal Son of [Page 9] God became man ^u, and so was, & continueth to be God and man, in two distinct Natures, and one Person ^w, for ever ^x.

Q. How did Christ being the Son of God become Man?

A. Christ the Son of God became Man, by taking to himself a true body ^y, and a reasonable Soul ^z, being conceived by the power of the Ho­ly Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her ^a, and yet without Sin ^b.

Q. What office doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?

A. Christ as our Redeemer executeth the Of­fice of a Prophet ^c, of a Priest ^d, and of a King ^e, both in his estate of Humiliation & Exaltation.

[Page 10]Q. How doth Christ execute the Office of a Prophet?

A. Christ executeth the Office of a Prophet, in revealing to us ^f, by his Word ^g, and Spirit ^h, the Will of God for our Salvation.

25. Q. How doth Christ execute the Office of a Priest?

A. Christ executeth the Office of a Priest, in his once offering up of himself a Sacrifice to satis­fie Divine Justice ⁱ, and reconcile us to God ^k, & in making continual Intercession for us ^l.

[Page 11]Q. How doth Christ execute the Office of a King?

A. Christ executeth the Office of a King, in subduing us to himself ^m, in ruling and defend­ing us ⁿ, and in restraining and conquering all his and our Enemies ^o.

Q. Wherein did Christ's Humiliation consist?

A. Christ's Humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition ^p. made under the Law ^q, and undergoing the miseries of this life ^r, the wrath o [...] God ^ſ, and the cursed death of the Cross ^t, in being bu [...]ied, and continuing under th [...] power of Death for a time ^u.

[Page 12]Q. Wherein consists Christ's Exaltation?

A. Ch [...]i [...]ts Exaltation consisteth in His rising again from the dead on the third day ^w, in as­cending up into Heaven, and sitting at the [...]ight hand of God the Father ^x, and in coming to judge the World at the last day ^y.

Q. How are we made partakers of the Redemption purchased by Christ?

A. We are made partakers of the Redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual Application of it to us ^z, by hi [...] Holy Spirit ^a.

30. Q How doth the Spirit apply to us the Redemption purchased by Christ?

[Page 13] A. The Spirit applieth unto us the Redemption purchased by Christ, by working Faith in us ^b, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling ^c.

Q. What is Effectual Calling?

A. Effectual Calling is the Work of God's Spi­rit ^d, whereby convincing us of our Sin and Mi­sery ^e, enlightning our minds in the knowledge of Ch [...]ist ^f, and renewing our wills ^g, he doth per­swade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the Gospel ^h.

[Page 14]Q What benefits do they that are effectually called, partake of in this life?

A. They that are effectually called do in this life [...] of Justification ⁱ, Adoption ^k, Sancti­fication, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them ^l.

Q. What is Justification?

A. Justification is an act of Gods free Grace, wherein he pardoneth all our Sins ^m, and accep­teth us as righteous in his sight ⁿ, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us ^o, and re­ceived by Faith alone ^p.

[Page 15]Q. What is Adoption?

A. Adoption is an act of Gods free Grace ^q, whereby we are received into the number, and have right to all the priviledges of the Sons of God ^r.

35 Q. What is Sanctification?

A. Sanctification is the work of Gods free grace ^ſ, whereby we are renewed in the whole man, after the Image of God ^t, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness ^u.

Q. What are the benefits which in this life do either [...]ompany or flow from Justification, Adoption and Sanctification?

[Page 16] A. The benefits which in this life do accompa­ny or flow from Justifica [...]ion, Adoption or Sancti­fication, are assurance of Gods love, peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy Ghost ^w, increase of Grace ^x, and perseverance therein to the end ^y.

Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?

A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness ^z, and do immediately pass into glory ^a, and thei [...] bodies being still uni [...]ed to Christ ^b, do rest in their Graves ^c, till the Re­surrection ^d.

[Page 17]Q. What benefits do Believers receive from Christ at the Resurrection?

A. At the Resurrection believers being raised up in Glory ^e, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of Judgment ^f, and made perfectly blessed in full enjoying of God ^g, to all eternity ^h.

Q. What is the Duty which God requires of man?

A. The Duty which God requires of man, is Obedience to his revealed Will.

Micah 6.8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good & what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.

40 Q. What did God at first reveal unto man for the rule of his Obedience?

A. The Rule which God at first revealed to man for his Obedience, was the Moral Law.

Rom 2.14 For when the Gentiles which have not th [...] law, do by nature the things contained in the law: these having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts.

Q. Where is the Moral Law summarily comprehended?

[Page 18] A. The Moral Law is summarily comprehend­ed in the ten Commandments.

Deut 10.4 And he wrote on the tables according to the first writing, the ten Commandments. Mat. 10 17. If thou wilt enter into life keep the commandments.

Q. What is the sum of the ten Commandments?

A. The sum of the ten Commandments is, to Love the Lord our God with all our Heart, with all our Soul, and with all our Strength, and with all our Mind, and our Neighbour as our selves.

Mat. 22 37, 40 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 great Commandment. & the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self. On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

Q. What is the Preface to the ten Commandments?

A. The Preface to the ten Commandments is, in these Words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt, out of the House of bondage, Exod. 20.2.

Q. What doth the Preface to the Ten Command­ments teach us?

A. The Preface to the Ten Commandments teacheth us, that because God is the Lord and our God and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all His Commandments ⁱ.

[Page 19]Q. What is the first Commandment?

A. The first Commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Q What is required in the first Commandment?

A. The first Commandment requireth us to know ^k, and acknowledge God to be the only true God and our God ^l, and to worship an [...] glorifie him accordingly ^m.

Q. What is forbidden in the first Commandment?

A. The first Commandment forbiddeth the de­nying ⁿ, or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God ^o, and our God ^p, & the giving that Worship and Glory to any other, which is due to Him alone ^q.

[Page 20]Q. What are we especially taught by these words [before me] in the first Commandment?

A. These wo [...]ds [ before me] in the first Com­mandment, teach us, that God who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with the sin of having any other god.

Psal. 44.20, 21 If we have forgotten the Name of [...]ur Go [...], or stretched out our hands to a strange god: shall not God search this out?

Q. Which is the second Commandment?

A. The second Commandment is, Thou shalt [...]ot make unto thee any Graven Image, or any like­ness of any thing that is in Heaven above, or that is in the Earth beneath, or that is in the Water under the Earth: thou shalt not bow down thy self to them, nor serve them, for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children, unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me, and shewing Mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments.

50 Q. What is required in the Second Command­ment?

A The Second Commandment requireth the receiving, ob [...]erving ^r, and keeping pure and en­tire, [Page 21] all such Religious Wor [...]hip and Ordinances, as God hath appointed in His Word ^ſ.

Q Wha [...] is forbidden in the Second Commandment?

A. The Second Commandment forbiddeth the Worshipping of God by Images ^t, or any oth [...] way not appointed in His Word ^u.

Q. What are the Reasons annexed to the Seco [...] Commandment?

A. The Reasons annexed to the Second Com­mandment, are God's Soveraignty over us ^w, His Propriety in us ^x, and the Zeal He hath to His own Worship ^y.

[Page 22]Q. Which is the third Commandment?

A. The Third Commandment is, 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.

Q. What is Required in the Third Command­ment?

A. The Third Commandment Requireth the holy & Reverend use of God's Names ^z, Titles, Attri­butes ^a, Ordinances ^b, Word ^c, and Works ^d.

55 Q. What is forbidden in the Third Com­mandment?

[Page 23] A. The Third Commandment forbiddeth all Prophaning or abusing of any thing whereby God maketh Himself known ^e.

Q. What is the Reason annexed to the Third Commandment?

A. The Reason annexed to the Third Com­mandment is, That however the Breakers of [...] Commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous Judgments.

Deut. 28.58, 59. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this Law, that thou mayst fear the glorious and fearful Name, THE LORD THY GOD; then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful.

Q. Which is the Fourth Commandment?

A. The Fourth Commandment is, Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy, six days shalt thou Labour and do all thy work, but the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt not do any wor [...]; thou nor thy Son, nor thy Daughter, thy Man servant, nor thy Maid-servant, nor thy Cattle, nor the Sranger that is within thy Gates; for in Six Dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth, the Sea, and all that in them [Page 24] is, and rested the Seventh day, wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hollowed it.

Q: What is required in the fourth Command­ment?

A. The fourth Commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his Word, expresly one whole day in seven to be a holy Sabbath to himself.

Levit. 19▪30. Ye shall keep my Sabbath, and reve­rence my Sanctuary; I am the Lord. Deut. 5.1 [...]. Keep the Sabbath Day to sanctifie it, as the LORD [...] GOD hath commanded thee.

Q. Which day of the seventh hath God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath?

A. From the beginning of the World to the Resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath ^f, and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the World, which is the Christian Sabbath ^{g g}.

60. Q. How is the Sabbath to be Sanctified?

[Page 25] A. The Sabbath is to be sanctified by an holy resting all that day, even from such World­ly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days ^h, and spending the whole time in publick and private exercises of God's worship, except so much as is to be taken up in works of nece [...]si [...]y and mercy ^k.

Q. What is forbidden in the fourth Command­ment?

A. The fourth Commandment forbiddeth the Omission or careless performance of the [...] required ^l, and the Prophaning the day by idle­ness, or doing that which is in it self sinful ^m, or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, about worldly employments or recreations ⁿ.

[Page 26]Q. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment?

A. The Reasons annexed to the fourth Com­mandment are, God's allowing us six days of the week for our own employments ^o, his chal­lenging a special propriety in the seventh ^p, his own example ^q, and his blessing the Sabbath day ^r.

Q. Which is the fifth Commandment?

A. The fifth Commandment is, Honour thy Father and thy Mother: th [...] thy dayes may be [Page 27] long upon the land, which the Lord thy God gi­veth thee.

Q. What is required in the fifth Commandment?

A. The fifth Commandment requireth the preserving the honour, and performing the duties belonging to every one in their several places and relations, as Superio [...] ^ſ Inferiors ^t, or Equals ^u.

65 Q. What is forbidden in the fifth Com­mandment?

A. The fifth Commandment forbiddeth the neglecting, or doing any thing against the honour and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations.

Rom 13.7, 8 Render therefore unto all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour: owe no man any thing, but to love one another.

[Page 28]Q. What is the Reason annexed to the fifth Com­mandment?

A The reason annexed to the fifth Com­mandment is, a promise of long life and pros­perity (as far as it shall serve for God's glory, and their own good) to all such as keep this Commandment.

Eph. 6.2, 3 Honour thy Father and thy Mother (which is the first Commandment with promise) that it may be well with thee, and thou may'st live long on the earth.

Q. Which is the sixth Commandment?

A. The sixth Commandment is, Thou shalt [...]ot Kill.

Q. What is required in the sixth Commandment?

A. The sixth Commandment requireth all lawful endeavours to preserve our own life ^w, and the life of others ^x.

Q. What is forbidden in the sixth Commandment?

A. The sixth Commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life ^y, or the life of our neighbour unjustly ^z, and whatsoever tendeth thereunto ^a.

[Page 29]70. Q. Which is the seventh Commandment?

A. The seventh Commandment is, Thou shalt not Commit Adultery.

Q. What is required in the seventh Commandmen [...] ▪

A. The seventh Commandment requireth the preservation of our own ^b, and our neighbours chastity ^c, in heart ^d, speech ^e, and behaviour ^f.

Q. What is forbidden in the seventh Command­ment?

A. The seventh Commandment forbiddeth all unchast thoughts ^g, words ^h, and actions ⁱ.

[Page 30]Q. Which is the eighth Commandment?

A. The eighth Commandment is, Thou shalt not Steal.

Q. What is required in the eighth Commandment?

A. The eighth Commandment requireth the [...]ful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward Estate of our selves ^k, and others ^l.

75 Q. What is forbidden in the eighth Command­ment?

A. The eighth Commandment forbiddeth what­soever doth, or may unjustly hinder our own ^m, or our neighbours wealth and outward estate ⁿ.

[Page 31]Q. Which is the ninth Commandment?

A. The ninth Commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy Neighbour.

Q. What is required in the ninth Commandment?

A. The ninth Commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man ^o, and of our own ^p, and our neigh­bours good name ^q, especially in witness bearing ^r.

Q. What is forbidden in the ninth Commandment?

A. The ninth Commandment forbiddeth what soever is prejudicial to truth ^ſ, or injurious to our own ^t, or our neighbours good name ^u.

[Page 32]Q. Which is the tenth Commandment?

A. The tenth Commandment is, Thou shalt not Covet thy Neighbours house, thou shalt not Covet thy Neighbours Wife, nor his Man servant, nor his Maid servant, nor his Ox, nor his Ass, nor any thing that is thy Neighbours.

80. Q What is required in the tenth Command­ment?

A. The tenth Commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition ^w, with a right and charitable frame of spirit towards our Neighbour, and all that is his ^x.

Q What is forbidden in the tenth Commandment?

A. The tenth Commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate ^y, envying or grieving at the good of our Neighbour ^z, and all inordinate motions and affections to any thing that is his ^a.

[Page 33]Q. Is any man able perfectly to keep the Com­mandments of God?

A. No meer man since the fall, is able in this li [...]e perfectly to keep the Commandments of God ^b, but daily doth break them in thought ^c, word ^d, and deed ^e.

Q Are all the transgressions of the Law equally hainous?

A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more hainous in the sight of God than others.

John 19.11. He that delivered me unto thee, hath the greater sin.

Q. What doth every sin deserve?

A. Every sin deserveth God's Wrath & Curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.

[Page 34] Gal. 3.10. Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them. Mat 25.41. Then shall he say unto them on the left-hand, Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels.

85. Q. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse due unto us for sin?

A. To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requireth of us Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance unto life ^f, with the diligent use of all outward means whereby Christ com­municateth to us the benefits of Redemption ^g.

Q. What is Faith in Jesus Christ?

A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving Grace ^h, whereby we receive ⁱ, and rest upon him alone for Salvation ^k, as he is offered to us in the Gos­pel ^l.

[Page 35]Q. What is Repentance unto life?

A. Repentance unto life is a saving Grace ^m, whereby a sinner out of the true sense of his sin ⁿ, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ ^o, doth with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God ^p, with full purpose of and endeavours after new Obedience ^p..

Q. What are the outward and ordinary mean [...] whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of Redemption?

[Page 36] A. The outward and ordinary means, whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of Re­demption, are his Ordinances, especially the Word Sacraments and Prayer; all which are made effectual to the Elect for Salvation.

Acts 2▪41, 42 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of Bread, and in Prayers

Q. How is the Word made effectual unto Salvation?

A The Spi [...]it of God maketh the Reading, but espe [...]ially the Preac [...]ing of the Word an effectual means o [...] convincing and converting Sinners ^r, & of building them up in holiness and comfort ^ſ, through Faith unto Salvation ^t.

90 Q. How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to Salvation?

A. That the Word may become effectual to Salvation, we must attend thereunto with dili­gence ^u, preparation ^w, and prayer ^x; receive it with faith ^y, and love ^z, lay it up in our hearts ^a, and practise it in our lives ^b.

[Page 37]Q How do the Sacraments become effectual means of Salvation?

A. The Sacraments become effectual means of Salvation, not from any vertue i [...] them or in him that doth administer them ^c; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of the Spirit in them that by Faith receive them ^d.

Q. What is a Sacrament?

A. A Sacrament is an holy Ordinance instituted [Page 38] of Christ, wherein by sensible signs, Christ and the benefits of the new Covenant are represented ^e, sealed, and applied to believers ^f.

Q. Which are the Sacraments of the New-Testament?

A. The Sacraments of the New-Testament, are Baptism ^g, and the Lords Supper ^h.

Q. What is Baptism?

A. Baptism is a Sacrament, wherein the wash­ing with water, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ⁱ, doth signi­fie and seal our ingrafting into Ch [...]ist, and par­taking of the benefits of the covenant of Grace ^k, and our engagement to be the Lords ^l.

[Page 39]95. Q. To whom is Baptism to be administred?

A. Baptism is not to be administred to any that are out of the visible Church, till they profess their Faith in Christ, and Obedience to him ^m, but the Infants of such as are members of the visi­ble Church, are to be baptized ^{n n}.

Q. What is the Lord's Supper?

A. The Lords Supper is a Sacrament, wherein by giving and receiving Bread and Wine accor­ding to Christs appointment, his death is shewed forth ^o, and the worthy receivers are not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by Faith made partakers of his Body and Blood, with all his [Page 40] benefits, to their spiritual nourishment & growth in Grace ^p.

Q. What i [...] required in the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper?

A. It is required of them that would worthily pa [...]take of the Lords Supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lords body ^q, of their faith to feed upon him ^r, of their Repentance ^ſ, Love ^t, and new Obedience ^u, lest coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves ^w.

[Page 41]Q. What is Prayer?

A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires to God ^x, for things agreeable to his will ^y, in the Name of Christ ^z, with confession of our sins ^a, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies ^b.

Q What Rule hath God given us for our direction in Prayer?

A. The whole word of God is of use to direct us in Prayer ^c, but the special rule of direction, is that form of Prayer which Christ taught his Dis­ciples ^d, commonly called, The Lords Prayer.

[Page 42]100 Q. What doth the Preface of the Lords Prayer teach us?

A. The Preface of the Lords Prayer, which is, Our Father which art in Heaven; teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy reverence ^e, and con­fidence ^f, as Children to a Father able and ready to help us ^g, and that we should pray with, and for others ^h.

Q. What do we pray for in the first Petition?

A. In the first Petition, which is, Hallowed be thy Name; we pray, that God would enable us & others to glorifie him in all that whereby he makes himself known ⁱ, and that he would dispose all things to his own Glory ^k.

[Page 43]Q. What do we pray for in the second Petition?

A. In the second Petition, which is, Thy King­dom come; we pray, that Satan's kingdom may be destroyed ^l, that the kingdom of Grace may be advanced ^m, our selves and others brought into it, and kept in it ⁿ, and that the kingdom of Glory may be hastened ^o.

Q. What do we pray for in the third Petition?

A. In the third Petition, which is, Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven; we pray, that God by his Grace would make us able and willing to know, obey ^p, & submit to his will in all things ^q, as the Angels do in Heaven ^r.

[Page 44]Q. What do we pray for in the fourth Petition?

A. In the fourth Pe [...]ition, which is, Give us this day our dayly Bread; we pray, that of Gods free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life ^ſ, and enjoy his blessing with them ^t.

105. Q. What do we pray for in the fifth Petition?

A. In the fifth Petition, which is, And forgive us our Debts, as we forgive our Debtors; we pray, that God for Christs sake would freely pardon all our sins ^u, which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his Grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others ^w.

[Page 45]Q. What do we pray for in the sixth Petition?

A. In the sixth Petition, which is, And lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from evil; we pray, that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin ^x, or support and deliver us when we are tempted ^y.

107. Q. What doth the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer teach us?

A The conclusion of the Lord's Prayer, which is, For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, for ever, Amen. Teacheth us to take our encouragement in Prayer from God only ^z, and in our Prayers to Praise him, ascribing King­dom, Power, and Glory to him ^a; and in testi­mony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, AMEN ^b.