A Short and Plain CATECHISM Instructing a Learner OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION, what he is to believe, and what to Practise.
The Fourth Edition.
London, Printed, for Francis Tyton, at the three Daggers near the Inner-Temple Gate in Fleetstreet. 1668.
A Short CATECHISM.
Quest.
WHAT is man?
Answ. A reasonable creature.
Q. What mean you when you say you are reasonable?
A. I mean I am above a beast, and have something within me whereby I know what I do, and why.
Q. That I may see how your knowledge leads to practice: tell me, what learn you from your being reasonable?
A. That I never do any thing of which I cannot give a good account to my self and others.
Q. You said you was a creature, what mean you by that?
[Page 4] A. I mean, I once was not, but was made, and am preserved by another.
Q. What learn you hence?
A. That I must constantly live in dependance on him that made me.
Q. Who made you?
A. God.Gen. 1.26, 27.
Q. What is God?
A. God is a Being whollyIohn 4.24. spiritual, and therein above my self, mostPsal. 103.8. gracious,1 Pet. 1.5, 16. holy,Rom. 16.27. Rom. 11.33. wise,Iob 40.9, &c. powerful, infinite in all perfections, and therein above all spirits.
Q. You say God is a Being wholly spiritual, what mean you by it?
A. I mean he is a Being that hath no flesh and bones as I have,Ier. 32.18, 19. Iob. 11.7. and cannot be perceived by any of my senses, nor can I make any thing like him.
Q. You have acknowledged a God, and told me he is a Spirit, what learn you hence?
A. That I am bound to worship him,Ioh. 4.23, 24. and to worship him in spirit.
Q. You said he was gracious, what mean you by his grace?
A. I mean his readiness to do all good.Exod. 34.6, 7. Psal. 119.68.
[Page 5] Q. What learn you hence?
A. To expect from his bounty whatsoever he seeth needful for me.Psal. 13.5, 6. Psal. 39.7.
Q. You said God was holy, what mean you by it?
A. That he neither can or will do any evil,Psal. 11.7. Exod. 20.5. Hab. 1.13. and can neither love nor approve it in any other.
Q. What learn you hence?
A. Never to imagine his grace will countenance me in sin.Exod. 34.6, 7.
Q. You said God was wise, what mean you by it?
A. That he hathJer. 32.19. Prov. 15.3. knowledge of all things, andProv. 8.14, 15, 16. ability to do all things according to it.
Q. What learn you hence?
A. To do allHeb. 4.13. as in his sight, and begging direction of him to restPsal. 37.5, 6, 7. satisfied in his disposal.
Q. You said God was powerful, what mean you by it?
A. That he isGen. 5.11. almighty, and can do all things, thatJob 34.12. Tit 1.2. agree with his wisdom and holiness.
Q. What learn you hence?
A. To fear himMat. 10.28. above all creatures, being2 King. 7.1, 2. confident, that what he [Page 6]hath promised or threatned,Eph. 3.20. shall be fulfilled, though it seem impossible to flesh and blood.
Q. You added God was infinite in all perfections, what doth that teach you?
A. Never to admit any low or unworthy thoughts of God;Job 26.14. Rom. 11.33. and when I have the highest, then to remember I know him best, when I admire him most.
Q. You have told me you was made, and that God was your maker, for what end did he make you?
A. That byEccl. 12.13. faithful service to him, I mightMat. 5.8. be happy in the enjoyment of him.
Q. What learn you hence?
A. Carefully to perform my duty to God,Psal. 62.5, [...] ▪ 8, 9, 10. and never to seek happiness in worldly pleasures, and profits, or any thing below him.
Q. You were made to serve God, how will he be served?
A. According to his will revealed in the Scriptures,2 Tim. 3.15, 16, 17. wherein all things are contained, which I am to believe and practise.
Q. What learn you hence?
[Page 7] A. Diligently to read & search them.1 Tim. 4.13 Joh. 5.39.
Q. What doth the Scripture teach you concerning man, which you have not yet told me?
A. The Scriptures give the History of the creation of the world out of nothing, and of Adam the first man.
Q. How was Adam the first man created?
A. The Scripture saith, God made him in his ownGen. 1.26. Gen. 5.1. Image, that he wasEccl. 7.27. upright, and set as LordGen. 1.26. over his Works.
Q. What learn you hence?
A. To admire Gods goodness in making the world and man in it, in such an excellent estate,Psal. 104. The whole Psalm. Psal. 8.3, 4, 5, 6. since nothing made by him, could bring any profit to him.
Q. Did Adam alwayes continue in the state God made him?
A. No: he disobeyed Gods command in eating forbidden fruit,Gen. 3. and so fell from it.
Q. What learn you hence?
A. Never to charge God with mans sin,Jam. 1.13, 14. but condemn him whose behaviour was unworthy to God, and cruel to himself.
[Page] Q. What was the state into which he fell?
A. A state of sin and misery.Gen. 3. Rom. 5.12. Jam. 1.14, 15.
Q. What is the state in which you are?
A. Mine, and every mans is the same, for we all find in our selves lust conceiving and bringing forth sin, and sin finished, bringeth forth death.
Q. What learn you hence?
A. To bewail my sad and lamentable condition from which I am not able to deliver my self.Rom. 7.24.
Q. O wretched creature that thou art, Who can or will deliver thee?
A. I thank God through Jesus Christ whom he hath provided to be a Saviour.Rom. 7.25.
Q. Who is this Jesus Christ the Saviour?
A. God and man,Joh. 1.14. 1 Tim. 3.16. or God manifested in the flesh.
Q. What learn you hence?
A. To be much incouraged,Heb. 2.16, 17, 18. Heb. 4.14, 15, 16. notwithstanding my sad condition, since my Saviour being both God and man is able and willing to help me.
Q. What did Christ do for you.
A. He lived a holyHeb. 4.15. yet an afflicted [Page 9]life, and1 Pet. 3.18. dyed for our sins upon the Cross,Mat. 28.6. Rom. 4.15. rose out of the grave,Act. 1.9. Eph. 4.8. ascended into heaven, where he now sits to make intercession.Heb. 7.25.
Q. What learn you hence?
A. 2 Cor. 5. 14, 15. Cheerfully to obey him, and willingly to part with every thing for him, who parted with life for me, and is still mindfull of me.
Q. What good do you hope for from this Saviour?
A. ARom. 8.32. Phil. 4.19. supply of all my wants; especiallyAct. 5.31. Tit. 3.5, 6. forgiveness of my sins,Tit. 3.7. sanctification, and everlastingHeb. 5.9. salvation.
Q. What learn you hence?
A. In no case to entertain any despairing thoughts.
Q. How must you address your self to God, for the obtaining the mercies you hope for by Christ?
A. Jam. 4.8, 9, 10. Isa. 1.15, 16, 17, 18. Act. 8.22. First, with a deep sense of my unworthiness, unfeignedly repenting that ever I sinned against him,Heb. 10.20, 21, 22. (2) With a real sense of his undeserved goodness, humbly by faith in Christ expecting from his free grace.Isa. 55.6, 7. Act. 9.6. (3) Heartily resolving to walk before [Page 10]him in newness of life all my dayes.
Q. By your answer, you may perceive an absolute necessity of repentance, faith, and newness of life; first, what is repentance?
A. Such a sorrow for sin, that works hatred and forsaking of it.2 Cor. 7.10, 11. Heb. 6.1.
Q. What is faith in Christ?
A. A hearty perswasion that he is theJoh. 6.69. Chap. 11.27. Saviour, thatMark. 1.15. Acts 15.7. what he hath said, and what is said of him in the Gospel, is true; so as toHeb. 11.8. obey his commands,v. 7. fear his threatnings,v. 13. Rom. 4.18, 19, 20, 21. trust him for the performances of all his promises.
Q. What is newness of life?
A. It consists in denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and living soberly, righteously and godlily.
Q. When may you be said to live soberly?
A. When in all things I live temperately and chastly,Rom. 13.13. 1 Thes. 5.7, 8. Tit. 3.2. moderating all unruly passion.
Q. When may you be said to live righteously?
A. When in all my dealings I do as I would be done by.Mat. 7.12.
Q. When may you be said to live godlily?
[Page 11] A. When in my whole conversation I behave my self towards God, as myPsal. 100.1, 2. Creator and my1 Cor. 6.20. 1 Pet. 1.17, 18. Redeemer.
Q. I hope you intend to practise all this, but are you able of your self?
A. No, I am not of my self sufficient, so much as to think one good thought.2 Cor. 3.5.
Q. What must enable you?
A. Gods blessed Spirit which he hath promised.Luk. 11.13. Eph. 3.16.
Q. You say the spirit must enable you, are you then idly to lye still and do nothing?
A. No,Phil. 2.12, 13. I am therefore to work out my salvation with fear and trembling, because God works in me to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Q. If you must not be idle what means must you use?
A. 1 Tim. 4.13.15, 16. Rom. 10.17. First, reading, hearing, meditating of the Word (which is the power of God to salvation)Luk. 11.13. (2) PrayerPsal. 119.59. Act. 16.25, &c. (3) serious consideration of my actions, and of all Gods providences to my self and othersMat. 16.16. 1 Cor. 11.24, 25. (4) Use of the sacraments, Baptism, and the Lords Supper.
[Page 12] Q. I less suspect your knowledge in the rest, what is Baptism?
A. Washing with water in the Name of the Father,Mat. 28.19. Son, and Holy Ghost.
Q. Of what use may your Baptism be to you, since you was Baptised in your infancy?
A. The consideration of it provokes to newness of life,Act. 22.16. Rom. 6.4. (1) Because outward washing signifies purity.1 Cor. 1.13, 15. 1 Cor. 10.2. (2) Because my being baptized in Christs Name, engages me to own his Doctrine, and keep his Laws, Gal. 3.27.
Q. What is the Lords Supper?
A. It's according to Christs institution, bread broken and eaten, wine. powred forth and drunk,Mat. 26.26, 27, 28. 1 Cor. 11.24, 25. in remembrance of Christ, whose body was broken for us, and blood shed for the remission of sin.
Q. How is this usefull to provoke you to newness of life?
A. While the evil of sin, and the love of Christ crucified is herein set before my eyes, I am constrained to live to him who dyed for me.
Q. I pray God whensoever you receive [Page 13]this Sacrament, you may. But do all receive this benefit?
A. No,1 Cor. 11.21, &c. they cannot who understand not the ends of Christs death, nor they who desire not to enjoy them.
Q. What if you neglect these means and quench the spirit?
A. I shew that I undervalue all that Christ hath done and suffered,John 3.18, 19. Heb. 2.3. Chap. 10.29. Chap. 12.25. and provoke God to bring on me a greater measure of his wrath, for this my contempt, than if I had never heard of a Saviour.
Q. Do you believe God will bring this wrath on you, if you thus behave your self?
A. Yes,Acts 17.31. 2 Cor. 5.10. I believe God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness, and render to every man according to what he hath done in the flesh, whether it be good or bad.
Q. What shall be the condition of all men after the day of Judgement?
A. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing,Rom. 2.7, 8, 9. Mat. 25.31. &c. seek for glory God will give eternal life, but to them that obey not the truth, and live in [Page 14]unrighteousness, tribulation, and anguish, indignation and wrath, the portion of every soul that doth evil.
Q. Seeing we profess to believe these things, what manner of persons ought we to be?
A. We ought to live in all holy conversation and godliness,2 Pet. 3.11, 14.18. being diligent that we may be found of God in peace, without spot, and blameless; growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Ghrist: to whom be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
THE CREED.
I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, which was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified dead and buried, he descended into Hell. The third day he arose from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on at the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholick Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The LORDS PRAYER.
OUR Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
The X. COMMANDMENTS.
GOD spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
- 1 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
- [Page] 2 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing, that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thy self to them, nor serve them: For I the LORD thy God am a Iealous God, visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments.
- 3 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless, that taketh his name in vain.
- 4 Remember the Sabbath day to kéep it holy: Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God, in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy Cattel, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
- 5 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thée.
- 6 Thou shalt not kill.
- 7 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- 8 Thou shall not steal.
- 9 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
- 10 Thou shalt not cover thy neighbours house, thou shalt not cover thy neighbours wise, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his oxe, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbours.