and charge, the faid exercises be conscionably performed. XI. Besides the ordinary duties in families, which are abovementioned, extraordinary duties, both of humiliation and thanksgiving, are to be carefully performed in families, when the Lord by extraordinary occafions, (private or publick) calleth for them. XII. Seeing the word of God requireth, that we should confider one another to provoke unto love and good works; therefore, at all times, and fpecially in this time, wherein profanity abounds, and mockers, walking after their own lufts, think it ftrange that others run not with them to the fame excefs of riot; every member of this kirk ought to ftir up themfelves, and one another, to the duties of mutual edification, by instruction, admonition, rebuke; exhorting one another to manifeft the grace of God, in denying ungodlinefs and worldly lufts, and in living godly, foberly, and righteously in this prefent world; by comforting the feeble-minded, and praying with or for one another: which duties refpectively are to be performed upon fpecial occafions offered by divine providence; as namely, when under any calamity, crofs, or great difficulty, counfel or comfort is fought, or when an offender is to be reclaimed by private admonition, and, if that be not effectual, by joining one or two more in the admonition, according to the rule of Chrift: that in the mouth of two or three witneffes every word may be eftablished. XIII. And, because it is not given to every one to speak a word in season to a wearied or diftreffed confcience, it is expedient, that a perfon (in that cafe) finding no ease after the ufe of all ordinary means, private and publick, have their addrefs to their own paftor, or some experienced Chriftian: But if the perfon troubled in conscience, be of that condition, or of that fex, that difcretion, modefty, or fear of fcandal requireth a godly, grave and fecret friend to be present with them in their faid addrefs, it is expedient that fuch a friend be present. XIV. When perfons of diverfe families are brought together by divine providence, being abroad upon their particular vocations, or any neceffary occafions; as they would have the Lord their God with them whitherfoever they go, they ought to walk with God, and not neglect the duties of prayer and thanksgiving, but take care that the fame be performed by fuch as the company fhall judge fitteft. And that they likewife take heed that no corrupt communication proceed out of their mouths, but that which is good, to the ufe of edifying, that it may minifter grace to the hearers. The drift and scope of all thefe directions is no other, but that upon the one part, the power and practice of godliness amongst all the minifters, and members of this kirk, according to their several places and vocations, may be cherished and advanced, and all impiety and mocking of religious exercifes fuppreffed: And, upon the other part, that under the name and pretext of religious exercises, no fuch meetings or practices be allowed, as are apt to breed error, fcandal, schism, contempt, or mifregard of the publick ordinances and minifters, or neglect of the duties of particular callings, or fuch other evils as are the works not of the Spirit, but of the flesh, and are contrary to truth and peace. FINI S. A. KER. A TABLE Of the Chief Matters contained in the CONFESSION of FAITH, and LARGER CATECHISM. Con. Signifies the Confeffion of Faith. The firft number denotes the chapter. The following figures denote the paragraph. Cat. Signifies the Larger Catechifm, and the figures denote the numbers of the Questions. A ACCEPTANCE. The perfons of be lievers are accepted as righteous in the fight of God only for the obedience and fatisfaction of Chrift, con. xi. 1. cat. 70. Which is imputed to them by God, and received by faith, con. xi. 1. cat. 70, 71, 72. How their good works are accepted in Christ, con. xvi. 6. Acceptance in prayer, through Chrift and his mediation, cat. 180. Accefs. No accefs unto the prefence of God, without the Mediator Jefus Christ, con. xii. cat. 39, 55, 181. Who hath parchafed for believers under the gospel, a greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of, con. xx. I. Actions. God orders and governs all the actions of his creatures, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and immutable decree, con. v. 1. cat. 18. See providence. Actual fins, proceed from the original corruption of nature, con. vi. 4. cat. 25. See Sin. Admonition of the church, con. xxx. 4. Adoption, the nature and privileges of it, con. xii. cat. 74. Adultery, a just ground of divorce, con. Angels, God's decree, concerning them, con. iii. 3, 4. cat. 13. How created, cat. 16. God's providence towards them, cat. 19. They are all employed at his pleafure in the adminiftrations of his power, mercy, and justice, ib. Not to be worshipped, con. xxi 2. cat. 105. Antichrift, what, con. xxv. 6. The pope is antichrift, ib. Antiquity, no pretence for ufing the devices of men in the worship of God, cat. 109. Anxiety about the things of this life, fin ful, cat. 105, 136, 142. The Apocrypha, not being of divine infpiration, is of no authority in the church, con. i. 3. Immodeft apparel, forbidden, cat. 139. Afcenfion of Chrift, con. viii. 4. cat. 53. Aflembly, See Councils. Publick affemblies for the worfhip of God not to be carelefly or wilfully neglected, con. xxi 6. Affurance of grace and falvation, attainable in this life, con. xviii. 1, a. cat. 80. Without extraordinary revelation, con. xviii. 3. cat 80. Upon what it is founded, con. iii. 8. xviii. 2. cat. 80. It is ftrengthened by good works, con. xvi. 2. Believers may want it, con. xviii. 3. cat. 80. 172. They may have it diminifhed and intern.itted: and be deprived of comfort and the light of God's conntenance, con. xi. 5. xvii. 3. xviii. 4. cat. 81. But they are never utterly deftitute of that feed of God, and life of faith and love, &c. out of which affurance may, by the fpirit, be in due time revived, con. xviii. 4. cat. 81. And by which in the mean time they are fupported from utter defpair, ib. It is the duty of all to endeavour after affurance, con. xviii. 3. And to pray for it, cat. 194. The fruits of it, it inclines not to loofenefs, con. xviii. 3. Atheifm, the denying or not having a God, cat. 105. Attributes of God, con. ii. 1, 2. cat. 7, 8, ΙΟΙ. B BAPTISM, what, con. xxviii. 1, 2. cat. 165. To continue to the end of the world, con. xxviii. I. cat. 176. But once to be adminiftred to any perfon, con. xxviii. 7. cat. 177. By whom, con xxvii. 4. xxviii. 2. cat. 176. To whom, con. xxviii. 4. cat. 166. Dipping not neceflary in baptifm. But it may be rightly administred by fprinkling, con. xxviii. 3. Baptifm not neceffary to falvation, yet it it a fin to neglect it, con. xxviii. 5. The efficacy of it, con. xxviii. 6. How to be improved, cat. 167. Wherein it agrees with the Lord's Supper, cat. 176. And wherein they differ, cat. 177. Believers, Sce faith, juftification, acceptance, adoption, fanétification, union, communion, liberty, works, perfeverance, affu rance. Benefits which the members of the invisible church enjoy by Christ, cat. 65. The benefits of Chrift's mediation, cat. 57, 58. The body of Chrift, how prefent in the facrament, con. xxix. 7. cat. 170. The myftical body of Chrift. True believers are members of Chrift's myftical body, con. xxix. 1. cat. 168. Which is the whole number of the elect that have been, are or fhall be united to Chrift as their head, con. xxv. 1. What that union is, cat. 66. See communion. The bodies of the elect after death, and at the refurrection. con, xxxii. 2, 3. cat. 86, 87. Of the wicked, ib. Lafcivious books not to be read, cat. 139. C. CALLING, See effectual calling. To have a lawful calling, and to be diligent in it, is a duty, cat. 141. Vows of Celibacy unlawful, con. xxii. 7. cat. 139. Cenfures of the church, what, con. xxx. 2, 4. Their ufe, con. xxx. 3. Who are to be proceeded against by the cenfures of the church, con. xx. 4. xxix. 8. xxx. 2. They are to be managed according to the nature of the crime and the demerit of the perfon, con. xxx. 4. Penitent finners are to be abfolved from cenfures, con. XXX. 2. Cenfuring, rash, harsh, and partial cenforing, finful, cat. 145. Ceremonial law. See Law. Charity towards our neighbour, wherein it confifts, cat. 135, 141, 144, 147. What contrary to it, cat. 136, 142, 145, 148. Giving and lending freely according to our ability and the neceffities of others, is a duty, con. xxvi. 2. cat. 141. Charms, unlawful, cat. 113. Chaflity, cat. 137. Children that die in infancy, how saved. con. x. 3. The children of fuch as profefs the true religion, are members of the visible church, con. xxv. z. cat. 62. and are to be baptized, con. xxviii. 4. cat. 166. Chrift, why fo called, cat. 42. Is the only Mediator between God and man, con. viii. 1. cat. 36. Who being very God, of one fubftance, and equal with the Father, con. viii. 2. cat. 11, 36. In the fulnefs of time became man, con. viii. 2. cat. 36, 37. The neceffity of his being God and man, cat. 38, 39, 40. He was ordained by God from eternity to be Mediator, con. viii. r. He was fanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit, to execute the office of Mediator, con. viii. 3. cat. 42. To which he was called by the Father, con, viii. 3. And willingly under. |