Childrens Bread: OR, A BRIEFE FORME of Christian Doctrine, necessary for the instruction of such as are ignorant; and for the edification of such as have attained some measure of knowledge. By Tho: Wolfall Minister of the Gospel, and Pastour of Stanerton in NORTHUMBERLAND.
I know Abraham, that he will command his children and his houshold after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord.
Train up a childe in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
A childe left to himselfe, bringeth his Mother to shame.
London, Printed by G. M. for Iohn Bellamie, at the Sign of the three golden Lyons in Cornhil, neer the Royall Exchange.
CHILDRENS BREAD.
CHAP. I. Of God, and of the Covenant of works.
Question.
HOw may a man finde out the way to true happinesse?
A Out of the sacred Scriptures, the old and new Testament, which are the rule of faith, and manners, and able to make us wise to salvation, 2 Tim. 3.15. Eccles. 12.10. Gal. 6.16. Rom. 10.14. Psal. 12.6.
Q How doth the Scripture hold forth this unto us?
A. By teaching us the knowledge of God and his Covenant
Q What doth the Scripture hold forth concerning God?
A. First, that God is a Spirit, having his eternall being from himselfe, and is to be worshipped in spirit, and truth.
Secondly, That God is one in his Essence, and distinguished into three Persons; the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, Deut. 6.4. 1 Cor. 8.4. Matth. 28.19. 1. Iob. 5.7.
Q What else?
A. First, the propertie of the Father, is to beget the Son; the property of the Son, is to be begotten of the Father; the property of the holy Ghost, is to proceed from the Father and the Son.
Secondly, that these three are equall in power, wisdome, [Page 2]immensity, eternity, and all other Attributes, Exod. 34.6. Rom. 16.27. Iob. 35.7.
Q What doth the Scripture declare concerning the Covenant?
A. That mans way to true happinesse, before and since the fall, hath been by a way of Covenanting.
Q What was the first Covenant?
A. It was a Covenant of works, contained in the ten Commandements, which were written in mans heart, binding him to perfect, and perpetuall obedience.
Q What was mans condition under the first Covenant?
A. First, He was holy created after Gods Image, in wisdome, righteousnesse, and true holinesse, Gen. 1.26. Col. 3.10. Eph. 4.24.
Secondly, He was happy, in that he had communion with God, a quiet conscience, dominion over the Creatures, and all the contents of Paradise, Gen. 1.29. and 2.15, 16, 17. Psal. 8.6.
Q. Why then was there necessity of another Covenant?
A. Because man being inticed by the Devil, did wilfully, and wantonly breake the first Covenant, and thereby brought on himself, and on his posterity the blot and guilt of sin, Lev 5.2, 3. Rom. 3.9. 1 Cor. 15.17.
Q What harm commeth by the blot of sin?
A. Losse of mans originall beauty, in his aversion from God, and pronenesse to all sin, in thought, word, and deed, Matth. 15.11. Revel. 22.11. Isa. 1.15. Ier. 2.13.
Q. What by the guilt of sin?
A. We stand bound over to all kindes of punishment. First, temporall, the curse on the creatures, on mans body, state, and posterity, Rom. 8.20. Deut. 28.15. Rom. 6.21.
Secondly, spirituall, as blindnesse of minde, horrour of conscience, a reprobate sense, and strong delusions, Luke 19.41, 42. Mat. 27.3. Rom. 1.28. 1 Thes. 2.10, 11.
Thirdly, Eternal, the absence of God, the fire of Hell, the company of Devils, and damned persons, and blacknesse [Page 3]of darknesse for ever, Matth. 25.41. Marke 13.40. Iude. 13.
CHAP. II. Of the new Covenant, and of the Mediatour of it.
Qu. DOth the new Covenant helpe us in this wofull case?
A. Very much; for it is a Covenant of grace and reconciliation, made betweene God and lost man, through the mediation of Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. 5.18. Isa. 28.16. Luk. 22.20.
Q. How is Iesus Christ our Mediatour?
A. By taking our nature, and by undertaking our reconciliation, Heb. 2.14. 1 Tim. 2.5.
Q How did Christ undertake our Reconciliation?
A. By taking upon him the office of a Propher, Priest, and King. Acts 3.22. Heb. 2.17. Psal. 110.1.
Q Why was Christ a Prophet?
A. To declare things to come, to reveale the way to life, and to furnish his Church with an able Ministery to the worlds end, Rev. 1.1. Luke 4.18, 19. 2 Cor. 5.20.
Q. What did he as a Priest?
A. He bare our names on the brestplate of his Righteousnesse, offered himselfe a sacrifice for sin, and now appears before God, making intercession for his saints, Exod. 28.9. Heb 5.9. Rom. 8.34.
Q. What flowes from hence?
A. Redemption, and Justification.
Q. What benefit have we by our redemption by Christ?
A. The satisfaction of Gods justice, the fulfilling of Gods Law, freedome from the power of Satan, and an entrance into glory purchased, Mark. 10.45. Isa. 53.5. Mat. 5.17. Rom. 10.4. and 8.12. 1 Cor 15.15.
Q What by our Iustification?
A. Remission of sin, and imputation of righteousnesse, Rom. 8.1. Psal. 32.2, Rom. 4 7.
Q Wherein doth Christs Kingly office consist?
A. It consists in the giving of Lawes, dispensation of gifts, constant care of us, and protection over us, Eph. 4 8, 10. Mat 6.29, 30, 31.
Q What are those lawes Christ hath setled in his Church?
A The law of faith, teaching that our righteousnesse comes by faith in Christ, Rom 3 28.
Secondly, the law morall, made now a new Commandement unto Evangelicall purposes, Iohn 13.34. 1 Iohn 4.11.
Q What else?
A. Institution of new ordinances and officers, as changeing circumcision into baptisme, the Passeover into the Supper, Priests into Pastours and Teachers, and of Altars into Tables.
CHAP. III. Of the use of the Law under the Gospel, and the gifts of Christ to his Church.
Qu. BVt the Scripture saith, the law is not made for a righteous man, 1 Tim. 1.9.
A. We are bound to obey the morall law established by Christ; but being made righteous by faith in Christ, it doth not condemne, Rom. 8.34.
Secondly, It is not given to a righteous man, as the condition of the Covenant, but as an Appendix thereunto, Luke 1.75.
Q What are those Evangelicall purposes, for which the Law was established?
A. First, It was established to be a Schoole-mistris, to bring us to Christ, Gal. 3.17, 18, 20, 21.
Secondly, That it might be a rule of life to redeemed persons, Luke 1.71, 74. Rom. 2.13.
Q How prove you that the morall Law is not abolished?
A. Because Christ expoundeth, urgeth, and confirmeth the Law, Matth. 5.18, 19, 20, 21. Matth. 15.4. Secondly, [Page 5]because faith doth establish it, Rom. 3.31. 1 Cor. 7 19. Gal. 3.17.
Thirdly, Because it was given 400 years after the Promise was made, which had bin to no end, had the Law beene abolished, Gal 3.17, 18, 19, 20.
Q Rehearse the ten Commandements.
A. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me, &c.
Q. How are they divided?
A. Into two Tables; the first, containe our duty towards God, in the foure first; and our duty towards others, in the six last.
Q. What are the speciall duties required in the first Commandement?
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. A. It teacheth, that we ought to know, worship, and obey the only true God.
2. Precept. Thou shalt not make to thy selfe, &c.Q What teacheth the second?
A. That we worship the true God with such meanes and gestures as hee hath prescribed.
3. Precept. Thou shalt not take, &c.Q What teacheth the third?
A. That we use the titles, word, and ordinances of God, with reverence and godly feare.
Q. What teacheth the fourth?
Remember that thou keep, &c. A. That we set apart the Lords Sabbath, as from our ordinary labours, so from all prophane sports; as a holy time to be spent in hearing the word, reading the Scriptures, meditation, conference, and prayer.
Q. What are the speciall duties taught in the second Table? 1. Honour thy Father.
A. The first teacheth, that we honour persons according to their lawfull dignity.
2. Thou shalt not kill.The second, that wee preserve the life; The third, the chastity; The fourth, the goods; 3 Thou shalt not commit adultery. The fifth, the good name of our neighbour. 4. Thou shalt not steale.
Q What teacheth the sixth?
5. Thou shalt not bear false witnes, &c. A. That we be content with our owne condition, and heartily desire the prosperity of others.
6. Thou shalt not cover, &c.Q What are the speciall vices forbidden in these ten Commandements?
A. Whatsoever any Commandement affirmeth, the contrary thereunto is a sin, and therefore forbidden.
Q Were the Iewes, unto whom the morall law was given on Mount Sinai, partakers of the same new Covenant that Christians are now partakers of?
A. They were; for it was the same Conant for substance, they had the same Christ, the same spirit, and the same faith, Iohn 19.25. Gen. 49.10. Ezek. 36.26. 1 Cor. 10.4.
But secondly; There was a graduall distinction, they saw Christ in the shadow, and but darkly; but we with open face, and in the light; they beleeved in the Messiah to come, and we, in Christ already come, Heb 13.8. 1 Cor. 3.18.
Q. What are those gifts that Christ, as King, bestowes upon his Church?
A. Some are common as ministeriall and miraculous gifts; and some are speciall, as saving and sanctifying gifts, 1 Cor. 12.4, 5, 6, 7. Rom. 8.9.
Q Vpon whom are these speciall gifts bestowed?
A. Upon his elect, Rom. 11.5. Tit. 1.1. 1 Pet. 1.2. 1 Thes. 5.9. 2 Thes. 2.13.
Q. What is election?
A. It is the eternall decree of God, whereby he maketh choice of certain persons, out of the lost race of mankinde, to be vessels of honour, to the praise of his glorious grace, Ephes. 1.4, 6. Rom. 8.29, 30. Rom 11.7.
Q Are we in Covenant so soon as we are elected?
A. No, because the Covenant is in time, and upon conditions; but election is eternall, and absolute; yet it doth infallibly make way for the Covenant, Rom 9.13. Iam. 1.17. Ephes. 1.6.
Q. Then being elected, we may live as we list?
A. No, because election ordaining the end, Salvation; ordains also our making and keeping Covenant with God, Rom. 8.29.
CHHAP. IV. Of the observation and termes of the Covenant.
Qu. VVHat is it to keep Covenant?
A. It is to stand to those Articles contained in the Covenant, with faith, and a good conscience, Ier. 30.11. 1 Tim. 1.10.
Q. What then is it to sin?
A. Sin is every breach of Gods Covenant, Levit. 26.15. Iere. 11.10. Isa. 24. 1 Mal. 2.8, 10. Rom. 1.31.
Q Why so?
A. Because he that breaks Covenant, sins both against Law, and Gospel.
Q. What are those great sins against the Covenant?
A. Infidelity, impenitency, hypocrisie, and apostasie, Marke 16.16. Luke 13.23. Rom. 2.4. 1 Tim. 4.1. 2 Tim. 3.1. Rev. 2.4. Marke 3.28, 29.
Q. How is infidelity a sin against the Covenant?
A. In that it refuseth Christ, and neglecteth and contemneth the means, Iohn 1.11, 13. Mat. 21.33.
Q. How is impenitency a sin against the Covenant?
A. In that neither the discovery of our misery, nor the tender of mercy, will soften impenitent hearts, Mat. 11.17
Q How is hypocrisie a sin against the Covenant?
A. In that men professe Christ in words, and deny him in their deeds, Tit. 1.16.
Q How is apostasie a sin against the Covenant?
A. Either when we fall partially, and leave our first love, or finally, and never return, Rev. 2.5. 2 Pet 2.20, 21.
Q. What are the termes of the Covenant?
A. On Gods part, his taking the redeemed in Christ to be his people.
On mans part, a Christians taking of God by faith in Christ, to be his God, Hos. 2.19. Isa. 54.10. Isa. 61.8. Ier. 32.40, 41. Iohn 3.33.
Q What flowes from hence?
A. Our union with Christ, and our communion with his Church.
Q What flowes from our union with Christ?
A. Sanctification, and Adoption, 2 Cor. 5.17. Ioh. 1.12, 13
Q. What is Sanctification?
A. It is a new impression of the Image of God, whereby our natures and purposes are universally changed from the state of nature, to the state of grace, Rom. 12.2. Eph. 4.24. 2 Cor. 4.16.
Q. What are the parts of Sanctification?
A. Mortification, whereby the power of sin is destroyed, that it rules not over us; and Renovation, whereby we become new creatures, Col 3.3, 5. and 10. Rom. 8.13.
Q. By what means are these graces wrought in us?
A. By the faithfull preaching of the word, the power of the holy Ghost, serious consideration, godly sorrow, and fervent prayer, Iohn 17.17. Acts 10.34. 2 Cor. 3.9. Psal. 119.59. 2 Cor. 7.10. Iam. 1.5.
Q. What is adoption?
A. It is Gods taking of strangers from the wombe, to be his children of his free grace, Isa. 43.6. and 56.45. and 61.5, 6.
Q. What are the priviledges of our adoption?
A. A spirit of prayer, whereby we cry Abba, Father; assurance of Gods love in perseverance and glorification, Rom 8.16. and 26. Gal. 4.4.
Q. What is Prayer?
A. It is an act of the spirit of adoption, craving supply of our wants in the name of Christ, & giving thanks for mercies received
Q When doth the Spirit teach us to pray right?
A. When we pray according to the form prescribed by Christ, Matth 6.9.
Q But if we have the Spirit teaching us to pray, what need we a forme?
A Because the Spirit teacheth by the word, and by the word we try the Spirit, 1 Ioh 4.1
Q. Into how many parts is the Lords prayer divided?
A. Into three: First, a Preface: Secondly, six Petitions: Thirdly, the conclusion.
Q Our Father, which art, &c. What doth the preface contain?
A. That we pray to God as his Sons, and for others aswell as for our selves, and with hearts lifted up towards Heaven.
Q What doth the first Petition contain?
A. Hallowed be thy Name. We crave, that God would honour and advance his glory, worship, and gospel.
Q What crave we in the second Petition?
A. Thy Kingdome come. That God would destroy the kingdome of Satan, rule in our hearts by his grace, and after bring us to his heavenly kingdome.
Q. What crave we in the third Petition?
A. Thy will be done in earth, &c. That the promises of the Gospel may be performed, Prophecies fulfilled, the whole will of God as truly done on earth by us, as it is done in Heaven by the blessed Angels.
Q. What is craved in the fourth Petition?
A. Give us this day. &c. We crave things necessary for this life, contentation with them, and a blessing on them.
Q What is craved in the fift Petition?
A. Forgive us our trespasses, &c. We pray, that God will not punish, but pardon our sins, as we are willing to pardon others.
Q. What aske we in the sixth Petition.
A. And lead us not into temptation, &c. We pray that we may not be left of our God, to fall into the snares of sin or Satan, but that we may be sustained and delivered by his grace.
Q. What doth the conclusion contain?
A. Certain reasons that God will heare us: For thine is the Kingdom, &c. First, we are subjects of his Kingdome: Secondly, he is able to help us from heaven: Thirdly, that to heare us will make for his glory.
Q What is contained in the word, Amen?
A. Strong desires on our part, that out prayers may be heard.
Q What if God doth not heare us, though we pray on this manner unto him?
A. We must then examine the cause, humble our souls, continue our supplications, and wait Gods time, Lam. 3.40. Iam, 4.3. Luke 11.8. Lev. 18.1.2, 5.
Q. What is assurance?
A. Certain strong and clear testimonies evidencing unto us, that we are the children of God.
Q. What are those testimonies?
A. Three: First, Sanctification, wherby the blot of sin is purged: Secondly, Justification, whereby the guilt of sinne is removed: Thirdly, the testimony of the holy Ghost sealing both these unto us, 1 Iohn 3.7, 8. Rom, 8.13.16.
Q What is finall perseverance?
A. It is a Christians holding of faith and a good conscience to the end of his life, 1 Tim. 1.19. Gen. 5.24. Luk. 1.6.
Q What keeps a Christian that be doth not fall away?
A. The stability of the Covenant of God, the immortality of the seed of grace, and the infallibility of the power of Christ, Isa. 54.9. Iere. 32.40. and 44.5. 1 Pet. 1.23. 1 Iohn 3.9. 1 Pet. 1.5.
Q. What is glorification?
A. It is a freedome from all sin and misery, and the fruition of perfect and everlasting happinesse beyond comparison or comprehension, Eph. 5.27. Psal. 16.11.
Q. What are the chiefe means whereby this happie estate is obtained by us?
A. The preaching of the word, and the right administration of the seals, through the power of the holy Ghost, Ro. 1.16, 17. 2 Cor. 5.8. 2 Cor. 4.7. 1 Cor. 11.23, 26.
Q Who may preach the Word?
A. Such as are sent of God, being qualified with sufficient gifts, and externally called thereunto, Rom. 10.15. Mat. 28.19. Eph. 4.1 [...], 17. Heb. 5.4.
Q. What benefit have we by the preaching of the word?
A. 1. Vocation, wherby we are called from the state of sin, unto the state of grace.
2 Faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Q What is faith?
A. A resting of the soule upon Christ the Midiatour of the new Covenant, for life and salvation, Ioh. 13.15. Isa. 10.20 26.3. 2 Cor. 3.4. 1 Pet. 5.7.
Q Wherein consisteth the excellency of faith?
A. In that it conquers Satan, overcomes the world purgeth the heart, comforteth in trouble, and brings us to glory, 1 Iohn 5.8. Acts 15.9. 1 Pet. 5.9. Hab. 2.4. Rom. 1 16, 17.
CHAP. V. Of the seals of the Covenant.
Q. HOw is the new Covenant confirmed unto us?
A. By the seals thereof, Baptisme, and the Lords Supper.
Q. Why are these called seals?
A. Because by outward and visible Elements are represented and confirmed invisible graces, Ro. 4.11. 1 Cor. 10.4.
Q. What is baptisme a seale of?
A. It is a seale of our being in Covenant, and of our entrance into the visible Church, Acts 8.38. Col. 2.11, 12 Matth. 28.19.
Q. What doth baptisme seale unto us?
A. That as the partaker is washed with water, so remission of sins, and sanctification is signified and sealed, 1 Pet. 3.21. Eph 4.5. Rom 6.4.
Q. To whom doth baptisme belong?
A. To beleevers and their seed, Acts 2.38. Mal 2.15.
Q. Why so?
A. Because beleeving Parents, that first received the faith, entred into Covenant for themselves, and their posterity.
Q What is then required of persons baptized?
A. That they do beleeve in Christ, and repent them of their sins, and bring forth the fruits of righteousnesse, temperance, and godlinesse, Mat 3.2. 8. Rom. 6.4.
Q. What is the Supper of the Lord?
A. It is a seale of our Communion with Christ, and nourishment from him, 1 Cor. 10.16. 1 Ioh. 1.3. Mat. 26.26
Q What is sealed in the Lords Supper?
A. By those visible elements of bread and wine, the body, and blood of Christ is sealed to be our spirituall meat and drink, 1 Cor. 11.24.25.26.
Q What is required before we come to the Lords Supper?
A. Examination of our selves, reformation of our lives, & reconciliation unto others, 1 Cor. 11.28. Iam. 4.8. Mat. 5.24.
Q Who may come as fit receivers of this seale?
A. Such as come with the hand of faith, an humble spirit, in hungry soul, and a thankefull heart, 1 Cor. 10.16. Isa. 55.1. Mat. 11.28. Psal. 116.12, 13.
Q What if persons come that are not thus qualified?
A. They eat and drinke some heavy judgement to themselves, and become guilty of the body and bloud of Christ.
Q. What if ignorant and scandalous persons shall intrude themselves to this banquet?
A. They are to be kept back, left they runne upon their own ruine, Ezek 22.26. & 44.23.
Q. What if they continue still carelesse and impenitent?
A. They are to be admonished; and in case they remain obstinate, they are to be excommunicated, 1 Cor. 5.5, 11. 1 Cor. 4.21. 2 Thes. 3.14. 1 Tim. 1.20. Mat. 18.15, 16, 17.
CHAP. VI. Of Christian communion, and of the comming of Christ.
Q. VVHat is Christian communion?
A. It is that fellowship whereby Christians admonish and comfort one another in love, either as members of the Church in generall, or as affixed to some particular Congregation.
Q. How is the Catholike Church distinguished?
A. Into the triumphant company or glorified Saints and glorious Angels in Heaven; and into that militant company of godly and faithfull warriours, against sin and Satan here on earth, Heb. 12 23. 2 Tim. 4.7. Heb 12.4. Rev. 12.7.
Q. What is the Church in generall?
A. It is a company of people called out of the world, to the faith and profession of Christian doctrine, Cant. 2.16. Ioh. 5.4. 1 Cor. 12.12. Col. 1.24.
Q. What is a particular Congregation?
A. It is a parcell of the Church Catholike, joyned in Christian fellowship in the use of Gods ordinances, for mutuall edification according to Gospel rules, Rev. 1 4. 1 Cor. 8.19. 1 Cor. 1.2. 1 Ioh. 1.8. 1 Thes. 5.17.
Q What are the markes of the true Church?
A. The sound preaching of the Word, and the right administration of the Sacraments by lawfull Pastours and Teachers, Mat. 28.19, 20. Acts 2.42.
Q. VVhat learn we hence?
A. That Congregations should be carefull to get faithfull Pastours. Secondly, That to have a Minister that cannot preach is intolerable, because it takes away a marke of the true Church.
Q. VVhat are the priviledges of the Church?
A. The promise of Christs speciall presence amongst them, and his watchfull providence over them to the worlds end, Mat. 28.20. Psal 125.1.
Q. VVhen shall the end of the world come?
A. The set time is not revealed, but there are certain sorts of signes of it, Mat 24 36.
Q. VVhat are the first sort?
A. The universall preaching of the Gospel, bloudy persecution, and generall apostasie, Mat 24.14 Rev. 2.18. & 11.7, 8. 2 Thes. 2.9. Mat. 24.24.
Q. VVhat are the second sort?
A. The revealing of Antichrist, the ruine of Babylon, and the new frame of a glorious Church, 2 Thes. 2.8. Rev. 18.2. & 17.16 Rom. 11.25, 26. Rev. 21.2.
Q. VVhat are the last signes?
A. Carnall security, grosse impiety, strange signes in Heaven and earth.
Q. VVhat shall be done at the end of the world?
A. The dead shall rife, the books of Gods knowledge and mans conscience shall be opened, Christ Jesus shall passe a finall sentence according as mens workes shall be, Iob 19.25. Ioh. 5.26. Rev. 20.12. Rev. 22.11.
Q. VVhat will follow upon this?
A. They that have done well shall be received into everlasting glory, and they that have done evil shall be cast into everlasting torments, Mat. 25.48.