THE PRINCIPALL GROVNDS OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION.

Briefely and plainly pro­pounded by way of Question and Answere for the instructing of the younger sort.

By that late and Worthy Diuine Mr. N. Byfeild.

LONDON.

Printed by I. L. for Ralph Rounthwaite, and are to be solde at his shop, at the signe of the Golden Lyon in Paules Church-yard. 1625.

Christian Reader.

I Shall not neede to vse many words ei­ther of commenda­tion of this small Treatise, seeing the bare name of him that was the cheife Author therof, I suppose may be enough to obtaine sufficient esteeme for it, with those that haue knowne him, either by his learned writings, or powerfull Mini­stery. Nor of Apologie for my selfe in aduenturing to cast this little mite into the Lords Treasury from him that hath beene able to giue such abundance in greater Volumes, seeing it pleased [Page] him to commit vnto my care both this and other of his labours, earnestly desi­ring that if there were any thing found among his writings, that might bee thought profitable for the publike good, I should vse my best endeauour to haue it published; I haue therefore thought it my duty to the liuing if not to the dead, that the end aymed at by him might not be frustrated: Some of his workes haue beene published since his death, and more haue beene long since ready for the Presse; which I hope shall ere long come forth. I know it was the Authors purpose to haue made a more compleate and exact Catechisme if the Lord had prolonged his life; but he ha­uing finished his allotted taske, God tooke him home to rest from all his la­bours; howeuer it was his desire in the meane time to publish these short grounds, for the benefit of the younger sort, which are very briefely propoun­ded for the helpe of memory, and [Page] most easie and plaine for vnderstan­ding of the most simple; and yet if wee marke them, wee may perceiue very much matter comprehended in a few words. It comes vnto thine hands en­tire for the most part as it was left by him, very little being added or altered; the whole frame I haue cast into a short Table at the beginning, to the end the learner may first see and learne the whole methode and substance in a few words; as also I haue set downe the substance (at least) of those speciall proofes that confirme these Principles; to the end thou may­est saue thy labour for searching the places of Scripture quoted, as also that such as learne the Answeres, they may by degrees learne also, and know the words of the chiefe proofes; for by this meanes they may profit more soundly, when their faith shall bee grounded not vpon the weake founda­tion of humane Authoritie; but vp­on [Page] the most perfect and sure words of God; learne them therefore diligently, and the Lord giue thee vnderstanding in all things.

Farewell:
thine in the Lord, W. C.

These grounds respect either

  • 1. The Originall or Fountaine of all Diuine Knowledge, Viz: the holy Scriptures: where is considered,
    • 1. Their Authority.
    • 2. Their sufficiency.
  • 2. The obiect of Diuine K [...]ow­ledge▪ viz: God. Where is conside­red
    • 1. His Nature.
    • 2. His works either of
      • 1. Cre [...]tion.
      • 2. Prouidence consi­dered,
        • 1. In Generall,
        • 2. In speci­all, as it re­spects mans foure­fold e­state, viz:
          • 1, Of Innocencie.
          • 2. Of mise­ry in re­spect,
            • 1. Of Sinne,
            • 2. Of Punish­ment.
          • 3. Of Grace where note,
            • 1. The meanes of grace. viz.
              • 1. Election i [...] God.
              • 2. Redemption by Christ.
            • 2. The subiect of Grace▪ viz. the Church.
            • 3. The degrees of grace. viz.
              • 1. Iustificati­on.
              • 2. Sanctificati­on.
            • 4. The speciall helpes of grace. viz
              • 1. The Word read & prea­ched.
              • 2. Prayer.
              • 3. The Sacra­ments.
          • 4. Of glory where
            • 1. Of the Resurrection of the dead.
            • 2. Of the last Iudge­ment.
            • 3. Of the glory of Hea­uen.

THE PRINCIPALL GROVNDS OF CHRISTIAN Religion.

Question.

WHAT ought you to beleeue concerning the Scriptures, the fountaine of all Diuine knowledge.

A. That the whole Scriptures were giuen by the inspiration of God,The au­thoritie of the Scrip­ture. and so are the very word of God.

Proofes.

2. Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God, &c.

2. Pet. 1. 21. For the Prophecie came not in olde time, by the will of man, but [Page 2] holy Men of God, spake as they were mo­ued by the holy Ghost.

Q. What else?

A. That they are perfect euery way sufficient of themselues,The suffi­ciencie of the Scrip­tures. to direct vs in all things needfull to holinesse or saluation.

Proofes.

Psal. 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is per­fect, &c.

2. Tim. 3. 16. 17. And is profitable for doctrine, for reproofe, &c.

That the man of God may bee perfect, &c.

Q. What ought you to beleeue con­cerning God, the cheife obiect of diuine knowledge?

A. That there is but one God.

Proofes.

1. Cor. 8. 4. Wee know that an Idoll is nothing in the World, and that there is none other God but one.

Ephes. 4. 6. One God and Father of all, &c.

Q. What else doe ye beleeue of God?

A. That hee is of a most glorious na­ture,Gods na­ture. being an Eternall spirit, infinite in Essence, Knowledge, Goodnesse, and Power.

Proofes.

Esay 6. 3. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hostes, the whole Earth is full of his glory.

Exod. 34. 6, 7. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord, God, mercifull and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodnesse and power, &c.

Iob 42. 2. I know that thou canst doe euery thing, and that no thought can bee withholden from thee.

Iohn 4. 24. God is a spirit, &c.

1. Tim. 1. 17. Now vnto the King eter­nall, immortall, inuisible, the onely wise God, &c.

Q. What else doe ye beleeue of God?

A. That the God-head is distingui­shed into three persons; the Father, Son, and holy Ghost.

Proofes.

Matth. 28. 19. Goe yee therefore and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost.

1. Iohn 5. 7. There be three that beare record in Heauen; the Father, the Word, and the holy Ghost, &c.

[Page 4]Thus much of what you are to be­leeue, concerning the nature of God.

Q. What ought you to beleeue, con­cerning the workes of God, and so first of Gods worke of creation?

A. That in the beginning God,Gods work of creation. by his Word, made all things of nothing very good.

Proofes.

Colos. 1. 16. For by him were all things created, that are in Heauen, or in Earth, &c.

Hebr. 11. 3. Through faith wee vnder­stand, that the Worlds were framed by the word of God.

Gene. 1. 31. And God saw euery thing that he had made, and behold it was very good.

Q. What ought you to beleeue, con­cerning the worke of Gods prouidence in generall.

A. That God vpholds, and gouernes all things by his power,The worke of Gods prouidence in generall. according to his owne pleasure.

Proofes.

Psalm. 119. verse 91. They continue this day according to thine ordinances, &c.

[Page 5]Rom. 11. 36. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things, &c.

Psalm. 115. 3. But our God is in the Heauens, hee hath done whatsoeuer hee pleased.

Acts 17. 25. He giueth vnto all life and breath.

Q. How must you consider of the worke of Gods prouidence, in speciall to­wards man?

A. According to his fourefold estate,Gods spe­ciall pro­uidence to­wards man. viz. of Innocencie, of Misery, of Grace, and of Glory.

Q. What ought you to beleeue, con­cerning mans estate in his innocencie?

A. That God created man in the like­nesseMans e­state of In­nocencie. of himselfe, in Knowledge, Holy­nesse, and Righteousnesse.

Proofes.

Ecclesiast. 7. 29. Loe this onely haue I found, that God hath made man vp­right.

Ephes. 4. 24. And that yee put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousnesse, and true holinesse.

Genesis 1. 26. And God said, let vs make man in our Image after our like­nesse, &c.

Q. What ought you to beleeue, con­cerning mans estate of Misery?

A. That all men by nature,Mans estate of misery. are in a most miserable case, being all depriued of the glory of God.

Proofe.

Rom. 3. 23. For all haue sinned and haue come short of the glory of God.

Q. In what respect are all men now so miserable?

A. In respect of sinne, and the iust punishment thereof.

Rom. 5. 12. Wherefore as by one man sinne entred into the World, and death by sinne, and so death passed vpon all men, &c.

Q. What is sinne?

A. The transgression of Gods Law.

1. Iohn 3. 4.—For sinne is the trans­gression of the Law.Sinne.

Q. In what are all men by nature sin­full?

A. They are all sinfull, in their dispo­sitions, thoughts, affections, words, and deedes.

Proofes.

Psal. 14. 3. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthie, &c.

[Page 7]Psal. 51. 5. Behold, I was shapen in ini­quitie, and in sinne did my mother con­ceiue me, &c.

Iob 15. 15.—The Heauens are not cleane in his sight.

Verse 16. How much more abhomi­hable, and filthie is man, &c.

Genesis 6. 5. And God saw that the wickednesse of man was great, &c.

Psalm. 40. 12. Innumerable euils haue compassed me about, &c.

Quest. What is the punishment of sinne?

A. Losse of mans first glory,Punish­ment of sinne. greiuous plagues in this life, a miserable death, and euerlasting forment in hell.

Proofes.

Rom. 3. 23. All haue sinned and come short of the glory of God, &c.

Iob 31. 3. Is not destruction to the wicked, and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie.

Rom. 6. 23. For the wages of sinne is death, &c.

2. Thes. 1. 9. Who shall bee punished with euerlasting destruction, &c.

Matth. 25. 41. Goe ye cursed into euer­lasting fire, &c.

Q. How came all this misery vpon mankinde at first?

A. By the wilfull transgression of our first parents, being seduced by the Di­uell to eate of the forbidden fruite.

Proofes.

Gen. 2. 17. But of the tree of know­ledge of good and euill, &c.

Gen. 3. 13. And the woman said, the Serpent beguiled me and I did eate, &c.

Q. What are you to beleeue concer­ning the third estate of man, which is the estate of Grace?

A. That God of his frée grace,The meanes of grace are two. First, Election in God. before the foundations of the world hath elected certaine men to eternall Saluation.

Proofes.

Ephes. 1. 4, 5, 6. According as he hath chosen vs, &c.

Matth. 22. 14. Many are called but few are chosen.

Rom. 8. 30. Whom hee predestina­ted, &c.

Q. What else?

A. That God in the fulnesse of time, sent his onely begotten Sonne IesusSecondly, Redempti­on by Christ. Christ to Redeeme vs from our mise­ry.

Proofes.

Gal. 4. 4, 5. When the fulnesse of time was come, God sent his Sonne, &c.

Q. What ought you to beleeue con­cerning the person of Christ our Sauiour.

A. That he is God and man in one person.

Proofes.

Esay. 9. 6. For vnto vs a childe is borne, vnto vs a Sonne is giuen, &c.

Rom. 9. 5.—Christ came, who is God ouer all blessed for euer, &c.

1. Tim. 1. 16.—God manifest in the flesh, &c.

Luke. 1. 35.—That holy thing which shall be borne of thee, shall be called the Sonne of God, &c.

Q. What is the office of Christ in ge­nerall?

A. To be the onely Mediatour be­twéene God and man.

Proofe.

1. Tim. 2. 5. For there is one God, and one Mediatour betweene God & man, &c.

Q. What hath hee vndertaken to doe for our Redemption in particular?

A. Fiue things.

Q. Which is the first?

[Page 10] A. To reueale vnto Gods Elect allChrists Propheti­call Office. trueth necessary to their saluation.

Proofes.

Iohn 1. 18.—The onely begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father hee hath declared him.

Iohn 15. 15.—For all things that I haue heard of the Father, I haue made knowen vnto you.

Q. What is the second?

A. To bring in an euerlasting Righ­teousnesse,His Priest-like Office. by obeying the Law of God for vs.

Proofes.

Rom. 5. 19.—So by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Dan. 9. 24.—And to make reconci­liation for iniquitie, and to bring in euer­lasting righteousnesse, &c.

Q. What is the third?

A. To make satisfaction to the iustice of God for our sinnes, by the sacrifice of himselfe.

1. Pet. 2. 24. Who his owne selfe bare our sinnes, in his owne body on the tree, &c.

Hebr. 9. 28. So Christ was once offe­red, to beare the sinnes of many, &c.

[Page 11]And chap. 7. 27.—For this hee did once, when he offered vp himselfe.

Q. What is the fourth?

A. To make Intercession for vs, at the right hand of God for euer.

Proofes.

Rom. 8. 34.—Who is euen at the right hand of God, who also maketh In­tercession for vs.

Hebr. 7. 25.—Seeing hee euer liueth to make Intercession for them.

Q. What is the fift?

A. To gather,Christs re­gall Office. and gouerne all the Elect in all ages, to the end of the World, and to bring them to euerlasting Glory in Heauen.

Psal. 2. 6. Yet haue I set my King, vpon my holy hill of Sion.

Colos. 1. 18. And hee is the head of the body the Church, &c.

Psalm. 45. 4. And in thy Maiestie ride prosperously, &c.

And verse 6. Thy Throne O God is for euer and euer, &c.

Esay 49. 5. to the tenth verse.

Q. Who receiue the benefit of this Redemption wrought by Christ?

A. Onely the Church, which is a [Page 12] company of men in euery age that are Gods Elect,The sub­iect of grace is the Church. gathered by the power of Christ, & seperated from the World, vn­to the sincere profession of true Religion.

Proofes.

Ioh. 17. 9.—I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast giuen mee, &c.

Vers. 14.—They are not of the world, &c.

1. Pet. 2. 9. But yee are a chosen gene­ration, a royall Priesthood, an holy Nati­on, a peculiar People.

Iohn 5. 25. Verily I say vnto you, the howre is comming, and now is, when the dead, shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God, &c.

Quest. What are the principall bene­fits we receiue by Christ in this life?

Ans. Our Iustification,Two de­grees of grace. and our San­ctification.

Proofe.

Romanes 8. ver. 30. Moreouer whom hee predestinated, them hee called; and whom hee called, them also hee iustified, &c.

Quest. What is our Iustification?

Ans. 1. Iustifica­tion. It is the imputing of th [...] actiue, [Page 13] and passiue obedience of Christ vnto vs, whereby all our sinnes are forgiuen, and we are made iust before God.

Proofes.

2. Cor. 5. 21. For he hath made him to bee sinne for vs, who knew no sinne, &c.

1. Corin. 1. 30.—Who of God is made vnto vs, Wisedome, Righteous­nesse, &c.

Romanes 5. verse 19.—So by the obedience of one shall many bee made righteous.

Ieremiah 23. 6. The Lord our righte­ousnesse.

Romanes 4. 7. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen, &c.

Quest. To whom is the Righteous­nesse of Christ imputed?

Ans. Onely to such as haue a true Faith.

Proofes.

Romanes 3. verse 28. Therefore wee conclude that a man is iustified by Faith, &c.

Galathi. 2. verse 16. Knowing that a man is not iustified by the workes of [Page 14] the Lawe but by the faith of Iesus Christ.

Rom. 1. 17.—The iust shall liue by faith.

Hebrewes 11. verse 6. But without faith it is vnpossible to please God &c.

Romanes 3. 25. Whom God hath set forth to bee a propitiation through faith in his blood, &c.

Q. Who haue a true faith?

Answ. Onely such as relie vpon the mercies of God, and the merits of Christ for their iustification and all happinesse.

Proofes.

Rom. 4. 3.—Abraham beleeued God and it was counted to him for righteousnesse.

Acts 16. 31.—Beleeue one the Lord Iesus Christ, and thou shalt be saued, &c.

Galath. 2. 20.—And the life which I now liue, I liue by the faith of the Sonne of God, &c.

Q What is our Sanctification?

Answere. It is the worke of the [Page 15] Spirit of Christ,2. Sanctifi­cation. by which we repent vs of our sinnes, and leade an holy life.

Proofes.

Tit. 3. 5.—But according to his owne mercy he saued vs by the wash­ing of Regeneration, and Renewing of the holy Ghost.

Rom. 6. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by Baptisme into death, &c.

1 Pet. 2. 24.—That we being dead vnto sin, should liue vnto righteousnesse.

Question. What is the outward and ordinary meanes by which God doeth worke these two graces of Faith and Repentance in vs?

Answ. Hearing of the word of God preached.

Proofes.

Rom. 10. 17. Faith comes by hea­ring, &c.

Ioh. 5. 25.—And they that heare shall liue.

1 Cor. 1. 21.—It pleased God by the foolishnesse of preaching to saue such as beleeue, &c.

Acts 2. 27. Now when they heard this they were pricked in their hearts, &c.

Q. How is this Faith and Repen­tance confirmed and encreased in vs?

A. By thrée meanes especially.1. Helpe of grace, the Word.

Q. Which is the first?

A. A diligent and faithfull reading of the holy Scriptures, and hearing of the same word preached, receiuing it with all meekenesse and heartie obedi­ence.

Proofes.

1. Pet. 2. 2. As new borne babes de­sire the sincere milke, &c.

Iames 1. 21.—And receiue with meekenesse the ingrafted word, &c.

Rom. 6. 17.—But yee haue o­beyed from the heart that forme of do­ctrine taught, &c.

Q. Which is the second?

Answ. Feruent and constant pray­er vnto God in the holy Ghost,2. Helpe of grace, Prayer. both publike and priuate according to his will.

Proofes.

Iude. 20. Praying in the holy Ghost, &c.

Romanes 8. verse 26. But the Spirit [Page 17] it selfe maketh Intercession for vs, &c.

Matthew 6. verse 9. After this man­ner therefore Pray yee. Our Father, &c.

Q. Which is the third?

Answer. A right vsing and parta­king of both the holy Sacraments. viz. Baptisme,3. Helpe of grace. and the Supper of the Lord.

Quest. What is a Sacrament?

Answere. It is an outward Signe ordained of God,Sacrament what it is. and is appointed to bée vnto the worthy receiuer, as a Seale, either of our entrance into Christian profession as Baptisme, or our continuance therein, as the Lords Supper.

Proofe.

Romanes 4. verse 11. And hee re­ceiued the signe of Circumcision, a Seale of the Righteousnesse of faith, &c.

Q. How else may it be more briefe­ly defined?

Answere. It is a visible pledge of those inuisible benefites of our Sal­uation [Page 18] which we obtaine by Christ.

Quest. How is our faith and Repen­tance furthered by the Sacrament of Baptisme?

Answere. By the outward washing with Water is not onely signified, and Sealed the inward washing a­way of our sinnes, by the blood of Christ and power of his Spirit, but also our couenant made then vnto God, to forsake sinne and to leade a new life.

Proofes.

Marke 1. verse 4, 5. Iohn did Bap­tize in the Wildernesse, the Baptisme of Repentance for the remission of sinnes, &c.

Titus 3. 5.—By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the ho­ly Ghost.

1. Peter 3. verse 21. The like figure whereunto Baptisme doeth saue vs, &c.

Actes 22. verse 16.—Arise and bee baptized, and wash away thy sinnes, &c.

Romanes 6. verse 3. 4. Know ye not, [Page 19] that as many as were baptized into Ie­sus Christ were baptized into his death, &c.

Quest. How is our Faith and Repen­tance furthered by the Sacrament of the Lords Supper?

A. By the worthy partaking of the outward Elements of Bread and Wine is signified and Sealed, the gi­uing and receiuing of Christs Body and Blood by Faith to be our Spiritu­all nourishment.

Proofe.

1. Corinth. 10. vers. 16. The cup of blessing which we blesse, is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ?

Q. How else?

A. By the oft and worthy partaking thereof, we are not onely prouoked to a more serious examination of our Spi­rituall estate, but also by renewing our couenant made to God, to binde our selues more firmely to his seruice for time to come.

Proofe.

1. Cor. 11. 26. But let a man exa­mine himselfe, and so let him eate, &c.

[Page 20]Thus farre of mans third estate, viz. the estate of Grace.

Quest. What must you consider of in the last estate of man, viz. the estate of Glory?

Ans. Three things, the Resurrection from the dead,Mans e­state of glory, hath three de­grees. the last Iudgement, and the Glory of Heauen.

Quest. What must you beleeue con­cerning the Resurrection?

Ans. That the bodies of all men that die shall bee raised vp from the dead,1. Resurre­ction from the dead. by the power of Christ at the last day.

Proofes.

Iohn 5. 28.—For the houre is com­ming, in the which all that are in the graues, shall heare his voyce.

Actes 24. 15.—That there shall be a Resurrection of the dead, both of the iust, and vniust.

Reuel. 20. 12. And I saw the dead, both great and small, &c.

Verse 13. And the Sea gaue vp her dead, &c.

Quest. What must you beleeue, con­cerning the last Iudgement?

[Page 21] Answere That the World must appeare before the Tribunall seate of Christ,2. The last Iudgement. and euery man shall receiue the things done in his body, according to that hee hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Proofes.

2. Corin. 5. ver. 10. For wee must all appeare before the Iudgement seat of Christ, &c.

Actes 10. 42.—And to testifie that it was hee, that was ordained of God to be Iudge of quicke and dead.

Actes 17. verse 31. Because hee hath appointed a day, in the which hee will Iudge the World in Righteousnesse, &c.

Quest. What must you beleeue, con­cerning the Glory of Heauen?

Ans. That all the godly shall raigne with Christ in vnspeakeable Glory,3. The glo­ry of hea­uen. and eternall happinesse in Heauen.

Proofes.

Rom. 2. 7. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing, seeke for glory, &c.

Verse 10. But Glory, Honour, and [Page 22] Peace, to euery man that worketh good, &c.

Matthew 25. 34. Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, come yee blessed of my Father, &c.

Verse 46. And these shall goe away into euerlasting punishment; but the Righteous into life Eternall.

1. Peter 1. 4. To an inheritance in­corruptible and vndefiled, &c.

1. Cor. 2. 9. Eye hath not seene, nor eare heard, &c.

FINIS.

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