A BRIEFE CATECHETICALL EXPOSITION OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. Diuided into foure Catechismes, Comprizing the Doctrine of the
- 1. Two Sacraments.
- 2. Lords Prayer.
- 3. Ten Commandements.
- 4. And the Creed.
LONDON, Printed by G. M. for Robert Bird, and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Bible in Saint Laurence-lane. 1632.
THE FIRST CATECHISME TOVCHING the SACRAMENTS.
§ 1.
Question. HOw many wayes doth the word of God teach vs to come to the Kingdome of Heauen?
Answ.Ier. 31. 1. 31, 32. 33. Two.
Q. Which are they?
A. Mar. 10. 17. 19. The Law and theRom. 1. 16. Gospel.
Q. What saith the Law?
A. Deu. 30. 16. Doe this and thou shalt liue.Ez. 20. 11. Gal. 3. 12.
Q. What saith the Gospel?
A. Mar. 16. 16. Beleeue in Iesus Christ, and thou shalt be saued.
Q. Can wee come to the Kingdome of Heauen by the way of Gods Law?
A. Gal. 3. 21. No.
[Page 4] Q. Why so?
A. Rom. 8. 3. Because we cannot doe i [...].
Q. Why can we not doe it?
A. Eph. 2. 3 Ioh. 9. 34. [...] Because we are all borne in sinne.
Q. What is it to be borne in sinne?
A. To be naturallyCol. 1. 21 prone to euill, and [...]. [...]3. 3. vntoward to that which is good.
Q. How commeth it to passe that we are all borne in sinne?
A. Rom. 5. 19. By reason of the sinne of our first Father Adam.
Q. Which way then doe you hope to come to the Kingdome of Heauen?
A. [...]. Cor. [...]. 16. By the Gospell.
Q. What is the Gospel?
A. TheEph. 1. 13 [...] Tim. 1. [...]. glad Tidings of Saluation by Iesus Christ.
Q. To whom is this glad tidings brought: To the righteous?
A. No.
Q. Why so?
A. For two reasons.
Q. What is the first?
A. 1. Ioh. 1. 8 Because there is none that is righteous,1. Kin. 8. 46. and sinneth not.Iam. 3. 2.
Q. What is the other reason?
A. Mat. 9. 1 [...]. Because if we were righteous, that is, without sinne; we should haue [Page 5] no need of Christ Iesus.
Q. To whom then is this glad tidings brought?
A. 1. Tim [...] 15. To sinners.
Q. What, to all sinners?
A. 2 Cor. [...]. 3. No.Act 13. 40
Q. To whom then?
A. To such onely as1. Pet. [...] [...], 8. beleeue and Rom. 2. 9. repent.
This is the first lesson to know the right way to the Kingdome of Heauen. And this consists in knowing the difference betweene the Law and the Gospel.
Q. What doth the Law require?
A. ThatGal. 30 10. we should be without sinne.
Q. What doth the Gospel require?
A. That we shouldMat. 3. 6 1 confesse our sinnes,Ioh. 1. 9 Ma [...]. 1. 4 amend our liues,Mat. 9. 13. and then Eph. 2. 8 through faith in Christ, we shall be saued.
Q. The Law requires what?
A. Iam. [...]. 10. Perfect obedience.
Q. The Gospel what?
A. Mar. 1. 15. Faith,Heb. 6. 1. and true repentance.
§ 2.
Q. Where doe you learne this lesson, [Page 6] that Iesu [...] Christ came into the world to saue sinners?
A. 1. Tim. [...]. In Gods word.
Q. Where els?
A. In Gods Sacraments.
Euery Sacrament teacheth vs this lesson, as we shall easily perceiue, if we vnderstand what a Sacrament is?
Q. What is a Sacrament?
A. [...]om. 4. [...]. A holy signe and seale of grace▪
Q. How many Sacraments haue you?
A. Two.
Q. Which are they?
A. Mat. 28. [...]9. Baptisme, andMat. 25. [...]6. the supper of the Lord.
Q. What is the signe in Baptisme?1. Cor. 11. 23▪
A. The [...]. Pet. 3. 2 [...]. cleansing of the childes face or body by washing it with water. [...]. Cor. 6. 11.
Q. What is the grace signified?
A. TheAct. 2. 38 & 22. 16. cleansing of the childes soule from sinne by1. Ioh. 1. 7. washing it with Christs bloud.
Q. Christ is in heauen, we are on earth: How can his bloud wash our soules?
A. Rom. 3. 25. & [...]. 9. By faith.
Q. Haue children faith?
A. No;Rom. 10. 17. for faith commeth by hearing, [Page 7] and hearing by the word of God.
Q. Why are they then baptized?
A. 1. Cor. 7. 14. God accepteth the faith of their parents.Gen. 17. 7.
Q. We are made cleane from sinne by baptisme: But are we made without sinne?
A. 1. Ioh 18 No.
Q. Why then are we said to be made cleane from sinne?
A. For two reasons.
Q. What is the first?
A. Gal. 3. 10. 13. Because we are made free from the punishment o [...] sinne.1. Thes. 2. 10.
Q. What is the punishment of [...]inne?
A. Rom. 6. 23. Death.
Q. How are we made free from it?Gen. 2. 17
Q. Gal. 3. 13 Christ died for vs.
Q. What is the other reason?
A. Rom. 6. 6. 7. 12. Because we are made free from the power of sinne.
Q. What is it to be made free from the power of sinne?
A. That sinne shallRom. 6. 14. not reigne ouer vsRom. 7. 17. though it dwell in vs.
Q. How doe you know whether [Page 8] sinne reigneth ouer you or no?
A. By repentance.
If we repent sinne doth not1. Tim. 2. 26. reigne ouer vs, otherwise it doth.
Q. What lesson doth this sacrament teach vs?
A. As truely as the water doth1. Pet 3. [...]. wash the childs face,2. King. 5. 13. and make it cleane; so truely doth the1 Ioh. [...]. [...]. bloud of Christ wash our soules and make them cleane.
§. 3.
Q. What is the signe in the Lords Supper?
A. TheMat. 26, 26. 27. eating of the bread, and drinking of the winePs. 104. 15. to the nourishing of the body.
Q. What is the grace signified?
A. The eating of Christs body, and drinking of Christs bloud to the nourishing of our soules.
Q. Christ is in heauen, we are on earth; How can we eate his body and drinke his bloud?
A. By faith.
So saith our Sauiour, Ioh. 6. 35. He that commeth to me shall neuer hunger; He that beleeueth in mee shall neuer thirst. [Page 9] Therefore to bel [...]eue in him is to drinke him. And consider in reason.
Q. What is the hunger and thirst of a Christian, as a Christian?
A. An appetite after that which conserues the life of a Christian.
Q. What is that?
A, Ps. 4. 6. 7 & 32. 3, 4, 5. The fauour of God to the par [...]oning of our sinnes, and to the sauing of our soules.
Q. What is the next way to satisfie this hunger, and to quench this thirst?
A. Ioh. 6. 54 35. To beleeue that Iesus Christ gaue his body to be crucified,Ioh 4. 14. and his bloud to be shed for our sinnes.
Q. What lesson doth this Sacrament teach us?
A. As truely as the bread that wee eate, and the wine that we drinke [...]oth nourish and comfort our bodies; Ioh. 6. 27. 33. 35. so the body, and bloud of Christ, if we eate and drinke themIoh. 6, 40 by faith, shall nourish our soules vnto euerlasting life.
Q. How many things are required to prepare vs to the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper?
A. Foure things.
Q. What are the two first?
[Page 10] A. 1. Cor. 11. 28. 29. Knowledge andLuk. [...]2. 19. 20. faith.
Q. Where is that taught vs?
A. In our Creed, and Catechisme.
Q. What are the two last?
A. Luk 22. 11. Repentance,1. Cor. 11. 30. 31. andMat. [...]. 23. Loue.
Q. Where is that taught vs?
A. In the ten Commandements.
Q. Why is knowledge required to the Lords Supper, and not to Baptisme?
A. Because baptisme is the sacrament of our birth in Christ: the Lords supper is the sacrament of our growth in Christ.
Q. What is this faith that is required?
A. Cal. 2. 20 To beleeue that Iesus Christ gaue his body to be crucified, and his bloud to be shed for our sinnes.
Q. Why is faith required?
A. Because well we may eate the bread, and drinke the wine without faith: but weIoh. 6. 35. cannot eat Christs body, and drinke his bloud without faith.
True; for the eating of his body is a spirituall eating, and the drinking of his bloud is a spirituall drinking, consisting in meditation of the wonderfull loue of God the Father, who, to saue our [Page 11] soules, spared not his owne Sonne: The wonderfull loue of God the sonne, who to saue our soules, spared not his owne selfe, but gaue himselfe to suffer a shamefull death, a bitter death, and an accursed death for our sinnes:Eph. 3. 19. 18. Here is the loue of Christ that passeth knowledge: such is the breadth and length, and depth, and height of it, that we are not able sufficiently to comprehend it.
And like as the body by feeding and drinking, doth gather strength for the better performance of all actions of nature: so the soule of a Christian by meditation on this loue of Christ in giuing his body to be crucified, and his bloud to be shed for our sinnes, doth gather more and more strength continually for the better performance of all actions of grace; whether they be actions of dependance, to depend vpon him, and put our trust in him in all states, in all conditions, euen in the time of affliction, and persecution, and at the very hou [...]e of death; Or whether they be actions of conformitie to his will, in obeying him, and walking in the wayes of his holy commandements vnto the end?
Q. Why is repentance required [...]
[Page 12] A. Gal. 5. 5. Luk. 17. 47. 50. Because faith is required.
For by faith we beleeue that Christ died for vs.
Q. What ought we then to doe for him?
A. To1. Cor. 6. 20. serue him all the dayes of our life: And sith we cannot serue him by perfect obedience; to serue him as we can, by true repentance.
Q. How many parts be there of repentance?
A. Foure parts.
Q. What are the two first?
A. ToMar. 1. 5 confesse our sinnes, and to be2. Cor. 7 11. sorry for them.
Q. What are the two last?
A. ToLuk. 18. [...]. pray to God to forgiue them for Christs sake,Mat. 3. 8 and to amend our liues: desiring God to giue vs grace that we may amend them.
Q. How many offices be there of loue?
A. Three.
Q. What is the first?
A. To doe our1. Cor. 13 [...], 5, 6, 7. neighbour no wrong.
Q. What is the second?
A. To doe him good if wee can.
Q. What is the third?
[Page 13] A. If he doth vs wrong to forgiue him.
Q. Why must we haue this loue?
A. Eph. [...] 32. Because we looke that God for Christs sake should forgi [...]e vs.
THE SECOND CAtechisme concerning the LORDS Prayer.
§. 1.
Question. SAy the Lords Prayer?
A. Our Father which art in heauen, &c.
Q. Why is it called the Lords Prayer?
A. Luk. 11. 1, 2. Because our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ taught his Disciples thus to pray.
Q. Why are you taught to say, Our Father, and not my Father.
A. For two reasons.
Q. What is the first?
[Page 14] A. Mal. 2. 10. Because God is the father of vs all.Iob 31. 15.
Q. What is the second?
A. To teach vs to prayEph. 6. 18. for others,Mat. 5. 44. as well as for our selues.
Q. Which art in heauen In what heauen doth God dwell?
A. 2. Cor. 12. 2. In the third heauen, called the 2. Chron, 6. 18. heauen of heauens.
Q. How many heauens are there?
A. Three heauens.
Q. What is the first?
A. Where the birds of the ayre are,
They are called in ScriptureGen. 1. 20. the birds of heauen.Hos. 2. 18.
Q. What is the second?
A. Where the sunne, moone, and starres are, They are called in Scripture Gen. 1. 16. 17. the starres of heauen.
Q. What is the third?
A. 1 Kin. 8. 27. 39. 43. Aboue all, where God is.
Q. Is not God euery where?
A. Psal. 139 7, 8. 9. Yes.
Q. Why then is he said to be in heauen?
A. For two reasons.
Q. What is the first?
A. Because he is there in most speciall manner.
[Page 15] Q. What is that speciall manner?
A. Mat. 10. 37. He doth communicate himselfe in glorious manner to his Saints and Angels.Reu. 3. 2.
God is in all creatures as the author of nature,Act. 17. 28. and communicating vnto them the gifts of nature: God is in speciall manner in his Church, as the authour of grace, andEz. 20. 12. communicating vnto them the gifts of grace: but in most speciall manner he is in heauen, as the authour of glorie; and communicating the riches of his glory vnto the Angels and Saints.
Q. What is the second?
A. To teach vs that when we pray, our affectious should be in heauen.
Q. Do you beleeue that God is your Father?
A. Yes.
Q. And what Father?
A. Mat. 6. 32 An heauenly Father.
That is the best Father: forCol. 3. 2. heauenly things are better then earthly things, 2. Pet. 1. 19. as the light of the sunne is better then the light of a candle.
Q. What lesson doth this teach vs?
A. ThereforeLuk. 11 13. he is willing to heare vs.
Q. For thine is the Kingdome] say [Page 16] this in plainer manner?
A. The kingdome is thine.
Q. What Kingdome?
A. Dan. [...]. 1. 8. 21. The kingdome ouer all the world.Ps. 103. 19
Q. What is the meaning?
A. Ps. 47. 7. Rom. 13. 4 2. Chr [...]n. 20. 6. Thou art King ouer all the world.
Q. Thine is the power] say this in plainer manner?
A. The power is thine.
Q. What Power?
A. Ps, 62. 11 12. Ouer all the world.Ioh. 19. 11 Mat. 28. 18.
Q. What is the meaning?
A. All power belongeth to thee.
Q. Thine is the glory] say this in plainer manner.
A. The glory is thine.
Q. What is the meaning?
A. 2. Chro▪ [...]9. 11. All Glory belongeth to thee.
Q. Doe you beleeue that God is King ouer all the world.
A. Yes.
Q. And that all power belongs to him?
A. Yes.
Q. What lesson doth this teach vs?
A. Therefore he is able to helpe vs.
[Page 17]This is the first part of the prayer, commonly called the Inuocation: And it conteines the profession of our Faith in God, both touching his goodnesse that he is our Father, and therefore willing to heare vs. And touching his power, that he is King of all the world and therefore able to helpe vs: without this faith we cannot pray. Now followeth the petition.
§ 2.
Q. How many Petitions are there?
A. Sixe petitions.
Q. Into how many parts be they diuided?
A. Into two parts.
Q. How many petitions be there in the first part?
A. Three.
Q. What doe we pray for in the three first?
A. Such things as immediately concerne Gods glory.
Q. What doe we pray for in the three last?
A. Such things as immediately concerne our owne good.
[Page 18] Q. Say the first petition?
A. Hallowed be thy name.
Q. Say this in plainer manner.
A. We pray thee that thy name may be hallowed.
Q. What is hallowed?
A. Made holy.
Q. Is not Gods name holy already?
A. Yes.
Q. Hath it any need of our making?
A. No.
Q. What then is the meaning of the word?
A. Made knowne to be holy.
Q. What is the meaning of the petition?
A. We pray thee that this holy name may be made knowne ouer all the world.
Thus we see the first thing our Sauiour would haue vs pray for, is the knowledge of God: For he well knew1. Thes. 4, 5. the want of this is the cause of all euill: And the knowledge of God is the beginning of all goodnesse.
Q. To what end doe wee pray thus?
A. To this end, that knowing him to be a God that delighteth in holines, [Page 19] we might therby be moued to1. Cor, 10 51. refer all things to the glory of his holy name.
Q. What is the next petition?
A. Thy kingdome come.
Q. Say this in plainer manner.
A. We pray thee, that this Kingdome may come.
Q. What is the meaning?
A. We pray thee that this word and Gospel may be preached ouer all the world.
Q. For in reason consider: How are the kingdomes of men planted and established?
A. Rom. 13. 4. By the sword.
Q. What is Gods sword?
A. Eph. 6. 17 His Word.Heb. 4. 12. Ps 149. 6.
In like manner, when a King giues vs lawes, and we receiue them; then he becommeth our King, and we his people; so when God giues vs lawes, & we receiue them, then he becomes our King, and we his people. Now his word contains his lawes.
Q. How many things doe we pray for in this petition?
A. For two things.
Q. What is the first?
A. Ier. 3. 15. That God will send faithfullMat. [...]. 38▪ [Page 20] Pastours to preach his word.
Q. What is the second?
A. That God will send [...] Christian Princes to giue countenance to it.
Q. What is the next petition?
A. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen.
Q. [...] this in plainer manner?
A. We pray thee that thy will may be [...] in earth as it is in heauen.
Q. How are we able to doe Gods will? Of our selues, without grace or no?
A. Ioh. 15. [...] Not of our selues without grace.2. Cor. [...]. [...].
Q. What doe we pray for then?
A. That GodHeb. 13. 21. will giue vs gr [...]ce to doe his will.
Q. As it is in heauen; by whom?
A. By [...] the Angels.
Q. Why must we pray to doe Gods will, as the Angels doe it?
A. Because [...] one day we shall be like vnto them in glory: Therefore [...] we haue cause to desire to be like vnto [...] here in grace.
Now [...] how the three petitions doe cohere together. 1. We prayed that Gods holy name might be knowne ouer [Page 21] all the world: 2. we pray that the Word and Gospel might be preached ouer all the world,Act. 26. 18. whereby we may be brought to the knowledge of him:2. Cor. 2. 14. And thirdly we pray that God will giue vs grace, not onely to know him, but to doe his will, euen as the Angels doe it in heauen. And then we are happy, as our Sauiour saith; [...] If ye know these things; Happy are ye if ye doe them.
Q. What is the next petition?
A. Giue vs this day our daily bread.
Q. Why doe we pray for Gods glory in the first place; and then for things which concerne our good in the next?
A. Because [...] first we must seeke the kingdome of God, and the righteousnesse thereof; and then all other things shall be cast vpon vs,
Q. What is meant by bread?
A. Deut. 8. [...]. All things needfull for this life.
Q. What is meant by daily bread?
A. All things needfull for euerie day.
Q. What is meant by our bread?
A. 2. Thes. 3. 12. Bread gotten by a lawfull vocation.
Q. What is meant by Giue it vs?
[Page 22] A. That we may haue it as a gift from God.
Q. What is the consequent thereof?
A. That we may haue [...] Gods blessing with it.
Q. How many benefits be there of Gods blessing?
A. Three.
Q. What is the first?
A. Hag. 1. 6. By the blessing of God it shall satisfie our natures.
Q. What is the second?
A. Pro. 13. 15. By the blessing of God it shall content our mindes.2. Tim. 6. 6
Q. What is the third?
A. Hauing eaten, and béen refreshed, by the blessing of God, we shall vse our health and strength to the seruice of God, and not toDeut. 32 15. 49. the seruice of the world,Ezec. 16. the flesh, and the diuell.
Q. How many things doe we pray for in this petition?
A. For three things.
Q. What is the first?
A. That God will giue vs all things needfull for this life.
Q. What is the second?
A. That God will giue vs his blessing with it.
[Page 23] Q. What is the third?
A. That God will giue vs grace to liue in some lawfull vocation.
Q. What is the next petition?
A. Forgiue vs our trespasses, as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs.
Q. What is a trespasse?
A. A sinne.
Q. What is a sinne?
A. The1. Ioh. 3. 4. breaking of any one of Gods commandements.
Q. What doe we pray for in this petition?
A. For forgiuenesse of sinnes past.
Q. Doth God forgiue all men their sinnes?
A. Deut. 29 20. No.
Q. Iam. 2. 13. Pro. 28. 13 Ps. 54. 5. Iohn. 2. 8. Mat. 12. 32 Whom then?
A. Such asLuk. 24. 47. beleeue andLuk. 3. 3 repent.Act 2. 38.
Q. What doe we pray for then in this petition?
A. That2. Tim. 2. 25. Act. 5. 31. & 11. 18. God will giue vs repentance, forPs. 32. 5. hereby we grow to be the more assured of Gods fauour in the forgiuing of our sinnes.
Q What is the last petition?
A. And lead vs not into temptation.
[Page 24] Q. What is the meaning of these words?
A. But deliuer vs from euill.
The latter words explaine the former.
Q. How many sorts of euill be there in the world?
A. Two sorts.
Q. Which are they?
A. The euill of sinne, and the euill of sorrow.
Q. What euill is meant in this place?
A. The euill of sinne; as appeares by the word temptation.
Q. What is a [...]entation?
A. Iam. 1. [...]4. Euery thing that tempteth vs vnto sinne.Mat. 4. 3. 1. Cor. 1. 5.
Q. What do we pray for in this petition?
A. ThatIoh. 17. [...]5. God will keepe vs from sinnes hereafter.
THE THIRD CATECHISME TOVCHING the ten Commandements.
§. 1.
Question. VVHat doth the Law of God teach vs?
A. Luk. 18. 18, 20. What we ought to doe.
Q. How many commandements be there in Gods Law?
A. Ex. 34. 28 Tenne.
Q. Into how many parts be they diuided?Deu 4. 13. & 100 4.
A. Ex. 31. 18, Into two,Deut 10. [...] 3▪ accordingly as they were written in 2. Tables.
Q. How many commandements are there in the first Table?
A. Eph. 2. 2. Foure.Mat. 22. [...]
Q. How many in the second?
A. Mat. 19. 19. Sixe.
[Page 29] Q. What is contained in the foure first?
A. Luk, 10. 27. Our duty towards God.
Q. What is contained in the sixe last?
A. Mar. 12. 31. Our duty towards our neighbor.
Q. Repeat the first commandement?
A. Thou shalt haue no other Gods but me.
Q. How many duties are contained in this commandement?
A. Thrée.
Q. What is the first?
A. Deu. 6. [...]. To loue God.
Q. What is the second?
A. Deut. 6. 21. 13. To feare God.
Q. What is the third?
A. Ps. 37. 5. To put our trust in God.Ier. 17. 5. Iob. 13. 15.
Q. How many things are forbidden?
A. Thrée things contrary.
Q. What is the first?
A. 1. Ioh. 2. 15. To loue the world.
Q. What is the second?
A. Is. 51. 12. To feare the world.Ier. 10. 2.
Q. What is the third?
A. Pro. 28. 26. To put our trust in the world.Ps. 146. [...]. & 20. 7.
Q. How doe you prooue that these latter three, are contrary to the first three?
[Page 27] A. Because the loue of the world is contrary to the loue of God. 1. Ioh. 2. 15. Is. 51. 12 13. Therefore the feare of the world,Is. 8. 12, 13. is contrary to the feare of God: And to Ps. 118. 9. Ier. 17. 5. 7 put our trust in the world is contrary to our putting of our trust in God.
Q. Ought we not to loue one another; especially inferiours to loue and feare their superiours?
A. Mat. 5. 43, 44. Yes: but forMat. 2 [...]. 39, 40. Gods sake: but God is to be loued and feared for his owne sake.
Q. What is the second Commandement?
A. Thou shalt not make to thy selfe, &c.
Q. What is forbidden in this Commandement, in one word?
A. Ps. 106. 28, 29. 38. 39. Will-worship.Num. 15. 39. Hos. 13. 2.
Q. What is Will-worship?
A. To worship God after our owne wits and wills.
Q. What is commanded?
A. Ps. 119. 113. To worship God according to his word.Is 50. 10. & 8. 20.
So parents looke to be serued of their children, not by doing that which they thinke will please their parēts; but by doing what their parents command thē: so masters look to be serued by their seruāts, [Page 28] so Princes looke to be serued of their subiects. Yet the child is made after the image of God, as well as the father: the seruants as wel as the master: the subiects as well as the Prince; and therefore are able to vnderstand of themselues what is fit to please their parents, their maisters, their Princes: But none of vs is of himselfe able to conceiue what is pleasing to God: For my wayes, are not your wayes: neither are my thoughts your thoughts, saith the Lord: but as high as the heauens are aboue the earth; so are my wayes aboue your wayes, and my thoughts aboue your thoughts, saith the Lord. Isa. 55. 8, 9.
Q. What is that worship of God which he hath commanded vs in his word?
A. It is of a different nature, according vnto different times; vnder the olde Testament, and vnder the New.
Q. What was the worship that God commanded in the time of the old Testament?
A. It consisted in varietie of ceremonies, both touchingEz. 25. 26, 27. the place of his worship, the temple in Ierusalem: [Page 29] andEx. 28. touching the persons that performed it, which were the Priests. And last of all,Leu. 1. 2 3, 4. touching the actions performed by them in varietie of sacrifices.
Q. What was chiefly meant hereby?
A. TheIoh. 1. 29 Heb. 10. 4. 16. crucifying of Christ Iesus, together with all the graces and benefits which the Church of God doth enioy through the death and passion of Christ Iesus.
Q. What be those benefits which we enioy by Christ?
A. They are in number three.
Q. What is the first?
A. Leu. 4▪ 20 Our attonement and reconcilement with God, which consists in the forgiuenesse of our sinnes?
Q. What is the second?
A. TheEzek. 20. 12. Heb. 10. 2. sanctification or purification of our natures.
Q. What is the third?
A. TheDeut. 33. 29. saluation of our soules.
Q. What is the worship of God prescribed in Gods word, in the dayes of the new Testament?
A. That which for the most part is meerely morall and perpetuall.
[Page 30] Q. How many parts be there of it?
A. Three.
Q. What is the first?
A. TheEsd. 7. 4. 7. 18. ministry of the word in the preaching and hearing of it.Luk. 4 16. 17, 18. Act. 13. 15 Eph. 4. 11, 12.
Q. What is the second?2. Tim. 2. 15.
A. The1. Tim. 2. 1. exercise of prayer.Mat. 21. 13 Act. 2. 42. Ib. 3. 1. Ib. 6. 4.
Q. What is the third?
A. TheAct, 2. 42. 20. 7. administration, and participation of the Sacraments.
Q. What is forbidden?
A. The contraries vnto these.
Q. What is contrary to the ministery of the word?
A. Two things.
Q. What is the first?
A. TheLuk. 7. 30. contempt of it.
Q. Wherein doth this consist?
A. In two things: to wit, theAct. 13. 46. disuse thereof, or the vse thereof in anLuk. 8. 11, 12. &c. vnconscionable manner.Ier. 12. 21. Ezek. 33. 32.
Q. What is the second?
A. TheIsa. 1. 1 [...]. bringing in of a worship besides or contrary to the word of God.Ier. 14. 5. 1 Kin. 12. 33.
Q. Giue some example [...] hereof?
A. Heb. 7. 23. 27. & 9. 12. 14. 22. 25. 26. 28. & 10. 12. 14 As the sacrifice of the Masse amongst Papists.
Q. What els?
A. TheEx, 20, 4. making of images to superstitious [Page 31] endes, theNum. 33 12 1 Kin. 18. 4 placing of them in Churches, & [...]x. 10. 5. Reu. 9. 20. worshipping of them.
A. What else?
A. TheIud. 9. worshipping of Reliques.Gen. 50. 25.
Q. What els?Ex. 13. 14. Iosh. 24. 32.
A. TheRom. 14. 17. consecrating of oyle, creame, salt, &c.
Q. What is contrary vnto prayer?
A. Two things.
Q. What is the first?
A. ThePs. 14. 4. neglect, or disuse of prayer.
Q. What is the second?
A. An vnlawfull vse of prayer.
Q. Wherein doth this consist?
A. In two things.
Q. What is the first?
A. InPs. 16. 4. praying without a right faith.
Q. Wherein doth that consist?
A. InPhil. 4. 6. praying vnto any other saue vnto God: In praying inIoh. 15. 24. any other name then in Iesus Christ.Heb. 13. 15
Q. Doe Papists transgresse in this?
A. Yea.1 Ioh. 2. 1.
Q. How many wayes?1 Tim. 2. 5
A. In praying vnto Saints,Reu. 8. 3. in praying vnto Angels, in praying vnto Images.
Q. What is the second?
A. In praying without right affections.
[Page 32] Q. How many wayes is that committed?
A. Two wayes.
Q. As how?
A. In praying superstitiously, or in praying profanely.
Q. How superstitiously?
A. 1 Cor. 14 In praying in a tongue they vnderstand not, as Papists.
Q. How profanely?
A. Ier. 12. 2. In praying without due reuerence, and deuotion.
Q. What is contrary to the right administration of the Sacraments?
A. Two things.
Q. What is the first?
A. TheMat. 1. 7. contempt of Gods institution.
Q. How is that committed?
A. Two wayes.
Q. What is the first?
A. Ex. 12. 3 24. By not comming to the Lords Table.2. Chron. 30. 10.
Q. What is the second?Luk. 22. 19.
A. By1. Cor. 11. 27. receiuing it vnworthily, when we doe come.
Q. What is the second way in generall?
A. ByMat. 15. [...] bringing in our owne institutions, [Page 33] as the Papists haue brought in fiue Sacraments more.
Q. What is the third commandement?
A. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine, &c.
This is both a bidding and a forbidding Commandement.
Q. What is commanded in this commandement?
A. To take Gods name.
Q. What is forbidden?
A. To take it in vaine.
Q. Vnder this generall duty of taking Gods name, How many duties are commanded in speciall?
A. Two.
Q. What is the first?
A. Ps. 30. 1 [...]. To pray vnto him.
Q. What is the second?
A. Deut. 6. 13. To sweare by him,& 10. 20.
Q. Iosh. 23. 7. What is the difference betweene prayer commanded in the second commandement:Is. 65. 16. And prayer commanded in this third commandement?Ier. 5. 7.
A. Am. 8. 14. Solemne prayer is commanded in the second:Zeph 1. 5. briefe eiaculations vpon occasion, in the course of our common affaires, is commanded here.
[Page 34] Q. How many things in speciall are forbidden, vnder the generall of taking Gods name in vaine?
A. Two.
Q. What is the first?
A. To pray in vaine.
Q. What is the second?
A. To sweare in vaine.
Q. What is it to pray in vaine?
A. ToIer. 12. 2. pray with our lips, when our hearts are farre from him.
Q. How many wayes may we sweare in vaine?
A. Thrée wayes.
Q. What is the first?
A. Ier 5. 2 [...]eu. 1 [...]. 12 By swearing falsly. For Ier 4 2. Ieremie saith, Thou shalt sweare in truth.
Q. What is the second?
A. By swearingIosh. 9. 14, 15. Leu. 5. 4. 5 rashly: forIer. 4. [...]. Ieremie saith, Thou shalt sweare in iudgement.
Q. What is it to sweare rashly?
A. To sweare without iust cause.
Q. How many iust causes be there of an oath?
A. Two.
Q. What is the first?
A. When theEx. [...], 8. magistrate putteth vs to it.
[Page 35] Q. What is the second?
A. WhenGen 21▪ 24. & 31. 53. voluntarily we take it,Ps. [...]5. 4. to end strife among our neighbours.
Q. What is the third?
A. By1. Kin. 10. 2. 1. Kin 6. 31. swearing wickedly. For Ier 4. 2. Ieremie saith, Thou shalt sweare in righteousnesse.
Q. What is it to sweare wickedly?
A. Toas befor [...] bind our selues with an [...]ath, or to vow some wicked thing.
As the Iewes;Act 23 23. 12. Forty of them bound themselues with a vow, that they would neither eate nor drinke till they had killed Paul. Such oaths are better broken then kept: all the sinne is in the making of them; for how contradictious is it, to desire that God would be reuenged on vs, if we doe not dishonour him.
Q. How many wayes els may we transgresse this commandement?
A. Three wayes.
Q. What is the first?
A. By taking Gods Word in vaine.
Q. What is the second?
A. By taking Gods Sacraments in vaine.
Q. What is the third?
A. By taking his workes in vaine.
[Page 36] Q. What are these works of God which we may take in vaine?
A. Workes of mercy, and workes of iudgement.
Q. How are Gods workes of mercy taken in vaine.
A. WhenIsa. 1. 3. Ier. 2 6. 31, 32. we are not thereby prouoked vnto thankfulnesse, and obedience.
Q. How are Gods workes of iudgement taken in vaine?
A. WhenIer. 2. 30 Isa. 1. 5. we are not thereby stirred vp vnto repentance.
Q. What is the next commandement?
A. Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabboth day, &c.
Q. What is commanded in this?
A. To keepe it holy.
Q. What is forbidden?
A. To profane it.
Q. What is it to keepe it holy?
A. To performe the duties of the day.
Q. Of how many sorts are the duties of the day?
A. Of two sorts, Publike and priuate.
Q. What are the publike duties?
[Page 37] A. ToAct. 13. 14. Luk 4. 16. come to Church to heare the word of GodAct. 13. 27. read, andAct. 13. 15. Luk. 4. 21. preached; toAct. 46. 13. pray; to1. Cor. 14. 26. sins psalmes, toAct. 20▪ 7 receiue the Sacraments. In few words, the exercise of the Word, and Prayer.
Q. What are the priuate exercises?
A. Partly common, and partly proper.
Q. What are the common?
A. The exercise of the Word and Prayer; but in reference to the publike.
Q. What are the proper exercises in priuate?
A. Conference and meditation.
§. 2.
Q. What is the first commandement of the second Table?
A. Honour thy father and thy mother.
Q. What is the dutie commanded in this commandement?
A. The duty that we owe to euery one in respect of his place in the Common-wealth.
Q. How many sorts of men are meant by father and mother.
[Page 38] A. Thrée sorts.
Q. Who are they?
A. First naturall parents.
Q.Mal. 1. 6. Leu. 19. 2, Children must honour them. And who els?
A. Masters.
Q. 1 Tim. 6. 1. Seruants must honour them. And who els?
A. Princes, and Magistrates.
Q. 1. Pet. 2. 17. Subiects must honour them. What is meant by honour?
A. Eph. 6. 1. [...]. Obedience.1 Pet. 2. 18
Q. Must they obey them in all things? [...] Pet. 2. 13
A. Act. 5. 29 No. [...]. 6. 16.
Q. In what then?Luk. 14 26
A. Col. [...]. 22. In things indifferent.
Q. What are things indifferent?
A. Such things as God hath neither commanded nor forbidden.
Q. How many things are commanded in this commandement?
A. Thrée things.
Q. What is the first?
A. The1. Pet. 2. [...]3 duty of inferiours to the [...]r superiours.Rom. 13. 1
Q. This is expressed. What els?
A. TheCol. 4. 1. Eph. 6. 9. 4 duty of superiours to their inferiours, as of parents to their children: masters to their seruants; [Page 39] Princes to their subiects.
Q. This is implyed by the rule of relatiues. What els?
A. The duties that equalls ought to performe one to another among themselues; as to respect one another; to be Eph 4. 32. courteous one to another; & toPet. 2. 17▪ Rom. 12. 10. honour one another: for all their duties can be referred to no other commandement, then to this.
Q. What is the sanction of this commandement?
A. That thy dayes may be long in the land, which the Lord thy God giueth thee.
Q. What is promised in this?
A. Long life.
Q. Haue all the children of God length of life?
A. They haue, two manner of wayes.
Q. What is the first?
A. Pro. 3. 16. They haue the blessing of long life in this world,Eccl. 8. 12. like as they haue the blessing of health euen in sicknes; and the blessing of wealth euen in pouertie; soRom. 8. 28. farreforth as all states and conditions worke for their good.
Q. What is the second?
[Page 40] A. The sooner they die here, the sooner they enter vpon life in the kingdome of heauen: so that the shorter it is here, the longer it is there.
Q. Indeed the land of Canaan was a figure of heauen: But haue not the wicked long life sometimes?
A. Is. [...]. 20. Yes, in this world; but it is a cursed, not a blessed life vnto them: And it is but a life in sinne; which the Scripture accounteth death rather then life.
Q. What is the next commandement?
A. Thou shalt doe no murther.
Q. What is forbidden in this commandement?
A. Pro. 12. 10. Unmercifulnesse, or cruelty.
Q. What is commanded?
A. Mal. 5. 7. Mercy, and all the workes thereof.
Q. The workes of mercy; of how may sorts are they?
A. Of two sorts.
Q. What are they?
A. Either concerningLuk. 10. 37. the body,Iam. 3. 17. or concerning theIud. 22. soule.
Q. What are workes of mercy concerning the body?
[Page 41] A. ToMat. 25. 35. féed the hungry; so refresh the thirsty; to cloath the naked; to succour them that are harbourlesse, to visit the sicke, &c.
Q. What are workes of mercy concerning the soule?
A. To instruct, to exhort in righteousnesse; to desire and labour the good andMat, 9, 36. Luk. 1. 77. saluation of mens soules.
Q. Which of these two sorts are the worthiest workes?
A. Workes of mercy conce [...]ing Mat. 16. 26. the soule.
Q. How many wayes may this commandement be transgressed?
A. Two wayes in generall.
Q. As how?
A. Either inwardly, or outwardly.
Q. How inwardly?
A. By two passsions, ofMat. 5. 22. anger, and 1. Ioh. 3. 15. malice.
Q. What is anger?
A. The desire of reuenge.
Q. Is all reuenge forbidden?
A. No.
Q. What is forbidden, and what is not?
A. Rom. 12. 19. Priuate reuenge is forbidden:Pro. 20. 22, & 24. 29. publike is not.
[Page 42] Q. What is publike reuenge?
A. Reuenge taken by the hand of the Magistrate, vpon a malefactour: andRom. [...]3. 4. this is lawfull; for it is Gods Ioh. 19. 11. vengeance.
Q. How many wayes is this commandement transgressed outwardly?
A. Thrée wayes.
Q. As how?
A. By lookes, by words, by deeds.
Q. How, by lookes?
A. As when a reuengefull mind, or malitious heart betrayeth it selfe by Gen. 4. 5. Mat. 5. 62. sowre lookes, or frowning countenance.
Q. How by words?
A. When the irregular passion of our hearts breakes out into euillMat. 5 22. Act. 23. 3. spéeches.
Q. How by deeds?
A. Foure wayes.
Q. What is the first?
A. ByAct. 23. 2 smiting of our brother.
Q. What is the second?
A. ByLuk. 10. 30, wounding of him.
Q. What is the third?
A. ByEx. 21. 24 29. mayming of him.
Q. What is the fourth?
A. ByEx. 2. 13. [...]en. 4, 9. killing of him. And herein [Page 43] in are diuers degrées, according as the parties murthered come néerer to vs in propinquitie of bloud;2 Kin. 3 27. Ier. 19. 5. 2. Chron. 33. 6. as the father or1. King. 6. 29. Lam. 4. 10. mother murthering the child: the childIs. 37. 38. murthering his owne father: or the brother2. Sam. 13. 29. his brother: vntill we come to the highest degree of sinne in this kind, which is, when a man layeth violent hands2. Sam. 17. 23. vpon himselfe.
Q. What is commanded in this commandement?
A. To speake nothing butGen. 31. 29. good vnto him: to doe him all the goodLuk. 10, 27. Rom. 12. 14. Eph. 4. 3. we can.
Q. What is the next commandement?
A. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Q. What is forbidden in this commanded?
A. Intemperancie, in a word.
Q. What is commanded?
A. The vertue temperance.
Q. What is temperance?
A. The moderation of the pleasures of the flesh.
Q. How many sorts are thereof?
A. Two sorts.
Q. Which are they?
A. Sobrietie, and chastitie.
Q. What is contrary to sobrietie?
[Page 44] A. In meates gluttonie: in drinks drunkennesse.
Q. What is contrary to chastity?
A. Unchastity, or the sinne of vncleannesse.
Q. How many wayes is this commandement transgressed?
A. Two wayes in generall.
Q. As how?
A. Inwardly, or outwardly.
Q. How inwardly?
A. By an vnchast, orMat. 19. 15. & 5. 28 intemperate heart.
Q. How many wayes outwardly?
A. Thrée wayes.
Q. What is the first?
A. By2. Pet. 2. 14. wanton lookes.
Q. How els?
A. ByEph. 4. 29. wanton words.
Q. How els?
A. By wanton1. Cor. 6. 9. Leu. 20. 11 Gen. 20. 6. Iob. 31. 9. deeds; whereof there are many degrees in sinne, vntill we rise to the highest in this kind, which is called the sinne ofEzek. 10 1 [...]. Rom. 1. sodomie.
Q. What is the next commandement?
A. Thou shalt not steale.
Q. How many things are forbidden in it?
[Page 45] A. Two things.
Q. What is the first?
A. ToEzech. 16. 49. Pro. 6. 6. liue without a vocation.
Q. What is the second?
A. To bePro. 27. [...]. & 30. 15. A bak. 2. 5. discontented with our meanes which we raise out of our vocation.
Q. What is the third?
A. To1. Thes. 4. 6. wrong our neighbour in his goods.
Q. What is commanded?
A. Thrée things.
Q. What is the first?
A. To2. Thes. 3. 11, 12. Heb. 13. 5. labour in some lawfull vocation.
Q. What is the second?
A. Contentment with our estate.
Q. What is the third?
A. ToEph. 4 28. helpe our neighbour in his estate.
Q. How many wayes may this be transgressed?
A. Two wayes; inwardly, or outwardly.
Q. How inwardly?
A. By couetousnesse and discontent.
Q. What is couetousnesse?
A. Eccl. 5. 9. Pro. 15. 27 A desire of riches.
[Page 46] Q. What is it to be rich?
A. To abound in thingsLuk. 12. 21. Pro. 30. 8, more then are necessary.
Q. Things necessary, of how many sorts are they?
A. Of two sorts.
Q. As how?
A. Either necessary to our person; or necessary to our vocation.
Q. Outwardly how is it transgressed?
A. Two wayes.
Q. Which are they?
A. Manifestly, or closely.
Q. Manifestly, how many wayes?
A. ByLeu. 19. 11. Ps. 62. 10. violence, orEph. 4. 28. deceit.
Q. How by violence?
A. By robbery.
Q. How by deceit?
A. By filching, stealing, couzening, &c.
Q. Closely how many wayes?
A. Thes. 4. 6. As many wayes as be trades in the world.
Q. What is the next commandement?
A. Thou shalt not beare false witnes against thy neighbour.
Q. What is forbidden herein?
[Page 47] A. All1. Tim. 1 10. Reu. 22, 15 lying, and dissimulation.
Q. What is commanded?
A. Ps. 15. 2, 3. Truth and plaine dealing.
Q. How many wayes may this commandement be transgressed?
A. Two wayes.
Q. Which are they?
A. By excesse, or by defect.
Q. How by excesse?
A. By speaking more then the truth.
Q. Is it alwayes a sinne to speake more then is truth?
A. Leu. 19. 11. Mat. 5. 37. Yes alwayes.
Q. How by defect?
A. In speaking lesse then is truth.
Q. Is it alwayes a sinne to speake lesse then is truth?
A. Gen. 20. 12. No,1. King. 22. 16. Act. 5. 8. Gen. 43. 6. vnlesse we are called to speake the whole truth.
Q. What is the last commandement?
A. Thou shalt not couet.
Q. What is forbidden herein?
A. FirstRom. 7. 7 motions vnto sinne.
Q. What are first motions vnto sinne?
[Page 48] A. Rom. 7. 23. Iam. [...]. 15. Such as arise before the will consent vnto it.
Q. What is commanded?
A. Rom. 7. 22. First motions vnto good.
Q. How may we cause these first good motions to arise within vs?
A. Ps. 1. 2. & 119. 9, 10, 11, 15. 16, 167. By frequent meditating, and talking of good things,Ps. 50. 10 and by prayer.
Q. What is the end of the Law?
A. ToRom. 7. 4 Gal. 2. 19. & 5. 24. driue vs vnto Christ?
THE FOVRTH CAtechisme expounding the Creed.
§. 1.
Question. VVHat doth the Creed teach vs?
A. a. Tim. 1 13. What we ought to beléeue.
Q. How many articles be there of our Creed?
A. Twelue.
Q. Into how many parts are they diuided?
[Page 49] A. Into two parts.
Q. The first teacheth vs what we ought to beleeue, concerning whom?
A. Concerning God.
Q. The second concerning whom?
A. Concerning Gods Church.
Q. How many articles are there concerning God?
A. Eight.
Q. How many concerning his Church?
A. Foure.
Q. How are those eight diuided which concerne God?
A. Into three parts.
Q. Whom doth the first part cōcerne?
A. God the Father.
Q. Whom the second?
A. God the Sonne.
Q. The third whom?
A. God the holy Ghost.
Q. How many articles be there concerning God the Father?
A. One, and but one.
Q. Repeat it?
A. Heb. 11. 6. I beleeue in God the Father Almighty maker of heauen & earth.
Q. What is the article called?Gen. 17. 1. Ioh. 10. 29
A. The article of Gods prouidence.
Q. Why doe you say I beleeue in him?Gen. 1. 1
[Page 50] A. Ps. 62. 8. I put my trust and confidence in him, I hope to be saued by him.
Q. What is the thing you do beleeue?
A. That there is a God the Father who is Almighty, for he made both heauen and earth.
Q. How many parts hath this article?
A. Two parts.
Q. What is the first?
A. Heb. 11. 3. Whereby we beléeue that God made all things.
Q. What is the second?
A. Rom. 11. 36. Ps. 119. 91 Ioh. 5. 17. Act. 17. 25 Whereby we beleeue that he doth preserue and gouerne all things.
Q. The things which God made, of how many sorts are they?
A. Of two sorts.
Q. Which are they.
A. Col. 1. 16. Uisible, and inuisible.
Q. What are visible creatures?
A. Ps. 8. 3. Such as may be séen; as all sorts of bodies.
Q. What are inuisible creatures?
A. Gen. 1. 1. Ioh. 1. 3 Ps. 33. 6. Such as cannot be seene, as Angels and soules of men.
Q. Of how many sorts are the Angels?
A. Of two sorts, asIud. 6. good and bad.
[Page 51] Q. What are the bad called?
A. Deuils.
Q. Did God make the diuels?
A. Iud. 6. Yes; He made the diuels; but hee did not make them diuels; He made them Angels of Light; They made themselues diuels by sinne.
Q. How many articles are there concerning God the Sonne?
A. Six.
Q. Into how many parts are they diuided?
A. Into two parts.
Q. What doth the first part concerne?
A. His person.
Q. What doth the second part concerne?
A. His office.
Q. What is the person of Iesus Christ?
A. Ioh. 1. 1 [...] Act. 20. 28. Such a person as consists of two natures, God, and man.
Q. How many articles are there concerning the person of our Lord Iesus Christ?
A. Two, as he consists of two natures, God and man.
[Page 52] Q. Repeat the article concerning his Godhead?
A. AndIoh. 9. 35 & 7. 3. I beléeue in Iesus Christ, Ioh. 1. 14 his onely sonne, our Lord.
Q. Why doe you say, I beleeue in him?
A. Ioh. 3. 16 & 14. 6. I put my trust, and confidence in him, and hope to be saued by him.
Q. What is the thing you beleeue herein?
A. That there is also a God the Son: Act. 2, 36 Ioh. 20. 28 And that Iesus of Narareth of whom we read in the Gospell is Hee.
Q. Are not we also the sonnes of God?
A. Ioh. 1. 12 Yes.
Q. Why is He then said to be the onely Sonne of God?
A. He is the Sonne of GodIoh. [...]0. 30. & 1. 14 by nature, and by personall vnion:Ioh. 1. 12 Rom. 8. 15 Gal. 3. 26. We are the sonnes of God by grace, and by adoption.
Q. Repeat the article concerning his manhood?
A. Which wasMar. 1. 20. conceiued by the holy Ghost,Mat. 1. 25. borne of the Uirgin Mary.
Q. What is the thing you beleeue in this article?
A. That this Sonne of God became [Page 53] aIoh. 1. 14 1. Tim. 2. 5 Is. 9. 6. man, but after1. Tim. 3. 16. a wonderfull manner.
Q. How doe you proue that he became man?
A. Because he was borne of a woman.
Q. How after a wonderfull manner?
A. For two reasons.
Q. What is the first?
A. Because he was conceiued by the holy Ghost.
Q. What is the second?
A. Is. 7. 14 Because he was borne of a Uirgin.
Q. Why was he thus conceiued and borne?
A. ThatHeb. 4. 11. he might be without sin.
Q. Why was he to be without sin?
A. ThatHeb. 7. 26. he might saue sinners.
Q. How many articles are there of his office?
A. Foure.
Q. What is the office of Christ?
A. The office of aMat. 1. 21 Sauiour.
Q. How many parts hath it?
A. Two.
Q. What is the first?
A. Heb 7. 27. & 9. 22 To die for vs.
Q. What is the second?
[Page 54] A. To1. Cor. 15. 3, 4, 14. ouercome death for vs.
Q. How many articles are there concerning his dying for vs?
A. One, and but one.
Q. Repeat it?
A. HeAct. 4. 27 suffered vnder Pontius Pilate, wasAct. 2. 36 crucified,Ioh. 19. 30. dead, andIoh. 19. 40, 41. buried, Eph. 4. 9. he descended into hell.
Q. What did he suffer?
A. Death.
Q. What death did he suffer?
A. The death of the crosse.
Q. What death was that?
A. Ps. 22. 14. 17. A putting to death by the racke.
Q. Vnder whom did he suffer?
A. Under Pontius Pilate.
Q. What was he?
A. The Romane Iudge that condemned him.
Q. How many articles are there concerning his victory ouer death?
A. Three; as he ouercame death by thrée degrees.
Q. What are they called?
A. The articles of his exaltation, as the former, the articles of his Phil. 2. 8. humiliation.
Q. Repeate the first?
[Page 55] A. The1. Cor. 1 [...] 3. third day he rose againe from the dead.
Q. What article is this?
A. The article of his resurrection.
Q. Why the third day?
A. Act. 2. 27. Ioh. 11. 39. Because it was prophecyed of him, that he should see no corruption.
Q. What is the second?
A. The article of his ascension.
Q. Repeat it?
A. HeAct. 1. 9. Heb. 9. 24. ascended into heauen; and there heHeb. 1. 13 sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
Q. Whither did He ascend?
A. To the right hand of God.
Q. Hath God a right hand, or a left, in proper speech, as we haue?
A. Ioh. 4. 24. Luk. 24. 39. No.
Q. How is it then spoken?
A. Figuratiuely.
Q. What then is meant by it?
A. Two things.
Q. What are they?
A. Heb. 1. 3. First the honour God hath giuen him; secondly the powerMat. 28. 18. God hath giuen him.
Q. He sitteth] Is sitting spoken [Page 56] properly or figuratiuely?
A. Act. 7, 56. Figuratiuely.
Q. What is meant by it?
A. Two things.
Q. What are they?
A. FirstHeb. 10. 12. to shew that the workes of our redemption is finished;Heb. 13. & 4. 13. secondly to represent his state, or maiestie.
Q. What is the third article?
A. The article of his comming to iudgment.
Q. Repeate it?
A. Ioh. 5. 22. 27. Act, 1. 11. 2. Thes. 18 From thence he shall come to iudge both the quicke and the dead.
Q. What is meant by quicke?
A. 1. Cor. [...]5. [...]1. 1. Thes. 4. [...]7. Those, who shall be found aliue at that day.
Q. What is meant by the dead?
A. Reu. 20. 13. 1 Cor. 15. 52. All that haue departed this life from the beginning of the world.
Q. How many articles be there concerning God the holy Ghost?
A. One and but one.
Q. Repeate it?
A. Mat 28. 19. I beléeue in the holy Ghost.
Q. Why do you say I beleeue in him?
A. IIoh. 14. 16, 17. 1. Cor. 2. 10. put my trust and confidence in him; and hope to be saued by him.
Q. What is the thing you beleeue?
[Page 57] A. 1. Cor. 2. 11. Ps. 139. 2. 1. Co. 12. 11. That there is also a God the holy Ghost.
Q. Are these three Gods?
A. 1. Ioh. 5. 7 No, though thrée persons, yet but one God.
§ 2.
Q. How many articles are there of Gods Church?
A. Foure.
Q. Into how many parts are they diuided?
A. Into two parts.
Q. What doth the first part concerne?
A. The being of the Church.
Q. What the second?
A. The benefits this Church obtaineth, by Iesus Christ.
A. How many articles are there of the being of the Church?
A. One and but one.
Q. Repeate it?
A. 1. Tim. 3. 15. I beleeue the holy Catholike Church,1. Cor. 12. 12. the communion of Saints.
Q. Why doe you say I beleeue the Church, and not in the Church?
A. Wee doe beleeue there is a Church;Ps. 62. 9. 1 Cor. 1. 13. but we doe not beleeue in the Church, but in God; The Church at the best is but a company of men.
[Page 58] Q. What is the Church?
A. Ps. 82. 6▪ Heb. 2. 10. Gal. 3. 26. A company of Gods children.
Q. How many sorts of Churches are there?
A. Two sorts.
Q. What are they?
A. Reu. 6. 11 Triumphant and militant.
Q. What is the Church triumphant?
A. TheHeb. 12. 23. company of Gods children in heauen.
Q. Why is it so called?
A. Reu. 21. 4. Because they are out of all danger, and so doe triumph.
Q. What is the Church militant?
A. The company of Gods children here on earth.
Q. Why are they thus called?
A. 2. Tim, 2. 3. Eph. 6. 12. Ioh. 16. 33. Because they fight the Lords battels against the world, the flesh, and the diuell.
Q. What Church is here meant?
A. The Church militant.
Q. What doe you learne here?
A. That God hath a Church,Mat. 16. 18. & 28. 20. Heb. 1. 8. and will haue to the end of the world.
Q. How many properties doe belong to this Church?
A. Three.
Q. What are they?
[Page 59] A. First it isIs. 4. 3. 1. Pet. 1. 2. holy: secondlyIoh. 421. Gal. 3. 28. Act. 10. 35 Catholike: thirdly it hath aGal. 3. 28. 1. Cor. 12. 12. communion betwixt the members of it.
Q. Holinesse, of how many sorts is it?
A. Of two sorts.
Q. What are they?
A. Rom. 4▪ 7 Reu. 7. 14. Holinesse of faith, and holinesse of life.
Q. Holinesse of faith, what is that otherwise called?
A. OurRom. 5. 1. iustification.
Q. What is holinesse of life otherwise called?
A. Our1. Cor. 1. 30. sanctification.
Q. Is holinesse of faith perfect or imperfect?
A. Col. 2. 10 Perfect holinesse.
Q. How so?
A. In regard of the obiect thereof.
Q. What is the obiect?
A. Gal. 3. 27 Phil. 3. 9. Christ, and his righteousnes.
Q. Holines of life, is that perfect or imperfect?
A. Imperfect.
Q. Of how many sorts is holines of life?
A. Of two sorts.
Q. Which are they?
A. There is a legall holines, according [Page 60] to the Law; or Euangelicall, according to the Gospell.
Q. What is legall holines?
A. ToRom. 7. 12. 13. 14. be without sinne.
Q. Is this holines required of Gods Church?
A. Iam. 3. 2. No.
Q. What is Euangelicall holinesse?
A. ToMat. 4. 17. Rom. 7. 16 confesse our sinnes; to be sorry for them; and to amend our liues.
Q. Is it required of Gods Church?
A. 1. Pet. 1. [...]5. Yes.
Q. What is the second propertie?
A. It is Catholike.
Q. What is Catholike?
A. Universall, or ouer all.
Q. Ouer all what?
A. Ps. 28. Ouer all parts of the world.
Q. Is the church of God ouer all parts of the world?
A. Mat 28. 29. Gal. 3. 28. It is, or may be; it is not now tyed to any place.
Q. What is the third propertie?
A. Ioh 17. 11. It hath a communion betweene the members of it.
Q. How many sorts of famous communions are there?
A. Thrée.
Q. What is the first?
[Page 61] A. Eph. 5. 31 Heb. 2. 14. A naturall communion, & that is in bloud betwéene parents & children.
Q. Is this communion here meant?
A. No.
Q. What is the second?
A. 1. Pet. 23. A ciuill communion, consisting in gouernment.
Q. Is this the communion?
A. No.
Q. What is the third?
A. Eph. 4. 3. A spirituall communion.
Q. Is this the communion incident to Gods Church?
A. Eph. 5. 23 Yes, this is it.
Q. Wherein doth it consist?
A. Ioh. 15. 5. In the root and the fruits.
Q. What is the root?
A. 1. Cor. 12. 4. 11. The Spirit of God.
Q. What are the fruits?
A. The graces of Gods Spirit.
Q. What are these graces?
A. Partly inward, and partly outward.
Q. What are the outward?
A. TheRom. 9. 4 Word of God, and the Sacraments.
Q. What are the inward?
A. Diuine, or morall.
Q. What are the diuine?
[Page 62] A. Ioh. 1. 16 Eph. 4. 7. The three theologicall vertues, faith, hope, and charity.
Q. What are the morall?
A. All morall vertues sanctified by the Spirit of God.
Q. How many benefits doth the Church obtaine by Christ?
A. Three, expressed in three articles.
Q. What is the first?
A. 1. Cor. 15. 17. Act. 2. 38. Forgiuenes of sinnes, in this world.
Q. What is the second?
A. The1. Cor. 15 17. 18. resurrection of our bodies at the end of this world.
Q. What is the third?
A. Ioh. 17. 2 Life euerlasting, in the world to come.