away Strife and quarrelling; and uniting Men in mutual Love and Charity, caufe them to become Friends who before were Enemies. And, laftly, Those are intended, who by their Counsel and Advice, heal the Differences arifing among Kings and Princes, and ftifle and extinguish the firft Sparks of War, that Blood-fhed and Slaughter may be prevented.

QUEST. LIX.

What is the eighth Beatitude?

ANSWER.

Blessed are they which are perfecuted for Righteoufnefs Sake; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. QUEST. LX.

What doth this Beatitude teach?

ANSWER.

They are the Objects of this Beatitude, who fpeak the Truth undauntedly, and reprove Men for their Sins and Faults: Notwithstanding for fo doing, they fuffer Hatred, and even Death. As did John the Baptift from Herod, (Mat. xv. 16.) and many others. In which Number are to be reckoned all the Doctors of the Church, Preachers of the Gospel, and Confeffors; who, for the Truth of their Doctrine, and the Purity of their Rules, have been hated and perfecuted, oftentimes even by their own ungrateful Hearers and Disciples.

QUEST. LXI,
What is the ninth Beatitude?

ANSWER.

ANSWER.

Bleffed are ye, when Men fhall revile you and perfecute you, and fhall fay all manner of Evil against you, falfly, for my Sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your Reward in Heaven.

QUEST. LXII.

What is contained in this Beatitude?
ANSWER.

The Apostles, Martyrs, and all those who fuffer Perfecution for the orthodox and catholic Faith; who are reviled and afflicted; defpoiled of their Goods and Poffeffions; driven into Banifhment and Difgrace; and, finally, deprived even of their Lives, and their Blood cruelly fhed, are the Poffeffors of this Beatitude.

QUEST. LXIII.

How are we to think concerning the Works to which Chrift hath promised the Reward of this Beatitude?

ANSWER.

First, That thefe good Works are so connected and joined together, that whofoever really and truly hath one of these Virtues, he poffeffes them all; and fo, likewife, that he who is entirely deftitute of any one, is void of all the reft. Secondly, You are to understand, concerning thefe good Works that we have recited, that he who doth them will not only enjoy eternal Bleffedness in Heaven, but alfo in this Life, by the divine Favour, will receive a plentiful Reward of temporal good Things. According to the Words of Chrift,

X

(Mat.

(Mat. xix: 29.) Every one that bath forfaken Houfes, or Brethren, or Sifters, or Father, or Mother, or Wife, or Children, or Lands, for my Name's Sake, hall receive an hundred-fold, and Shall inherit everlasting Life. And elsewhere, (Mark. x. 29.) There is no Man that hath left Houfe, or Brethren, or Sifters, or Father, or Mother, or Wife, or Children, or Lands for my Sake and the Gofpels, but he shall receive an hundred-fold now in this Time, Houfes, and Brethren, and Sifters, and Mothers, and Children, and Lands, with Perfecutions; and in the World to come eternal Life.

End of the Second Part.

THE

QUEST. I.

WHAT is contained in the third Part of the Orthodox Confeffion?

ANSWER.

The third Part of the Orthodox Confeffion treats of the Love of God, and of our Neighbour; and contains the divine Decalogue, or ten Commandments.

Our Lord and Saviour, JESUS CHRIST, ratified and confirmed the Authority of the Decalogue in the new Law, and enlarged and perfected the Doctrine of it by thefe Words, (Mat. v. 19.) Whofoever, therefore, fhall break one of these leaft Commandments, and fhall teach Men fo, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven: But whofoever fball do, and teach them, the fame shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

X 2

QUEST.

1

QUEST. II.

What is necessary for us towards the exact and right performing these divine Commandments? ANSWER.

First, It is to be confidered, that the Commands of God are either fuch as require us to do fome good Thing, or fuch as forbid us doing fome evil thing. Whofoever, therefore, is defirous to understand these Commandments rightly, ought, in the first Place, to learn what is meant by GOOD, and what is understood by EVIL: GOOD, therefore, IS, PROPERLY, VIRTUE, as SIN IS EVIL. Now, as it seems to us to be the most useful and agreeable Method, we shall first treat concerning Virtues and Vices, and then of the ten Commandments of our Lord and God.

QUEST. III.

How are we to think concerning the christian Virtues, or of good Works?

ANSWER.

Good Works, or the chriftian Virtues, are the Fruits of Faith; as of a good Tree. (Mat.vii. 16.) By their Fruits ye shall know them. And elfewhere, (John xiii. 35.) By this fhall all Men know that ye are my Difciples, if ye have Love one to another. And again, (John 1 Epift. ii. 3.) And kereby we do know, that we know him if we keep his Commandments. But that it may be more fully understood what we mean by christian Virtue, we fay that good Works is the fulfilling the Commandments of God; which any one doth freely by

the