the Lord is one. And I John v. 7. There are three that bear Record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: And these three are one. These three great Works of the three Divine Persons, as they gradualy afcend in Excellency, so they narrow in their Ascent. The Work of Redemption is more excellent than Creation; and Sanctification than Redemption. But the first of these is more extensive than the second; and the second than the third. For Creation extends to all things that are; Redemption to all Men, not to any other Creatures; San&ification to the Elect, or some few chosen Persons. So that the Spirit sanctifies not all Men, but the Church. Christ redeems Man, but not all Creatures; whereas the Father is the Maker, not only of the Elect, and of all Mankind, but also of all other Creatures. The Questions and Answers. Q. What does the Word Creed fignify? A. A Belief. And it is here us'd to fignify that Confession of the Christian Faith, which is called the Apostles Creed." Q. Why fo? Is it what they preach'd taught? and why this Chrift. Faith 1 A. Yes: As to the Matter or Sense of it. Q. How does this appear? Did Christ command and commission his Apostles, to disciple, or make all Nations bis Difciples, by baptizing them ? What it is A. Yes. Mat. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, (or into the Name, i. e. into the Belief) of those three Divine Perfons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoft. Q. And was it not necessary, that they who were thus baptized, should be first taught the Meaning of these few Words, (I Believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?) A. Yes. For otherwise their Baptifm would not make them true Christians. Q. And does it not hence follow, that when the Apostles baptized Adult Persons, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, they taught them this Doctrine that is contained in the Creed? A. Yes. For the Creed is nothing else but an Explication of these Words. Q. What do you mean by the first Expression to believe. of it, (I believe)? 5.1 A. By this I mean, that I trust God, and believe his Word. The Objects Q. Is Gaod then the primary and proper Ob A. Yes. For I must first confide in him as one that cannot and will not fail me, before I can be fure of what he affirms or testifies. And then in consequence of trusting God, upon the Account of his Perfections, being so wise that he cannot be deceived, and fo good that he will not deceive others, I must necefnecessarily believe the things that are afferted by him. And so these, as was observed, are the secondary and doctrinal Objects of our Faith. Q. Does the Creed instruct you then concerning both these Sorts of Objects? A. Yes. For it not only shews us whom we must believe in, even God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; but also what we must believe concerning them. Q. How many Articles do's the Creed consist The Divifion of ? A. Twelve. of the Creed into 12 Articles or 3 Q. And how many Branches are they redu- main Bran ced to ? A. To three only; as being all concerning, either 1. God the Father, and his Work of Creation: Or 2. God the Son, and his Work of Redemption. Or 3. God the Holy Ghost, and his Work of Sanctification. Q. What Article of the Creed do's belong to the first Branch? A. Only the first Article. And by this I learn to believe in God the Father, who made me and all the World. Q. What Articles of the Creed do belong to its second Branch? A. The fix next. And by these I learn to believe in God the Son, who hath redeemed me, and all Mankind, Q. What Articles of the Creed do belong to the third Branch of is? ... : F3 A. The ches, con Cernin 1. God the Father, ant the Wark of Creation. 2. God the Son, and the Work of Redemption. : A. The five last. And by these I learn 3. God the Holy Ghost, to believe in God the Holy Ghost, who fantifies me, and all the People of God. and the Work of San Gification. The three of Gol, how Q. And in a word, do not all these teach you to worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, as neither divided in their Substance, nor confused in their Persons ? A. Yes. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. Q. What do you observe of those three great great Works Works of God, viz. the Works of Creation, Rethey differ demption, and Sanctification? Is not the first of these more extensive than the second, and the Second than the third? from one another. Applica tion. A. Yes. Creation extends to all things, Redemption to all Men, and Sanctification but to the Church. And thus, as was obferved, as they gradually ascend in Excellency, so they narrow in their Afcent. Q. Are not these Works of God common to the whole Trinity? A. Yes. They all create, redeem, and fanctify. Being one in Nature, they all do the fame thing, and all act inseparably; but the Difference is in the Manner of their acting. Catechist. And now examine yourselves, whether you are in the Faith, or (which is all one) whether the Faith be in you. Do you you practically believe indeed in each Di- Sect. 1. Of the first Article of the " I believe in God the Father Almighty, "Maker of Heaven and Earth. Catechist. In this first Article you are -taught to believe and own that there is a God; and that he is such as he hath revealed himself to be, an eternal Spirit, infinite in his Being and in all Perfections, particularly in his Power, Wisdom, and Goodness : And confequently most true, just, and merciful to his Creatures. And it neceffarily follows, that being absolutely perfect, he is one, and only one in F4 Na |