A NEW CATECHISM Short and plain, and very necessary to be learned of the Younger sort, before they come to be Partakers of the Holy Communion.
Published for the benefit of Shaffham School, Norfolk.
By GEO. DOCHANT, Minister of Gods Word, and there Teacher in a private School.
LONDON, Printed, and are to be sold at the sign of the Black-spread Eagle at the West end of Pauls. ⟨feb: 21⟩ 1653.
To the Worshipful, his much honoured and approved Friend, Mr Luke Constable of Shaffham in Norfolk; together with his virtuous and religious Consort Mris Anne Constable: G. D. wisheth the fat of Earth, and the dew of Heaven.
THe rare bl [...]ssing (mentioned by that royall Prophet) is by the Father of lights, and giver of all good things; plentifully poured upon you, Childrensaith he, and the fruit of the Wombe are an inheritance from the Lord, Psal. 127. 3, 4. Wherewith your quiver is well filled: And happy are you that you are so blessed; you shall not be ashamed when you sit in the gates among your Enemies.
God make your Sonnes his servants, the Patterns of Virtue, the haters of Vice: That your Sonnes may like pleasant Plants stand about your Table: And your Daughters like the polished corner of a Palace.
This small Catechisme divulged by me. I consecrate to them and you, I have no better gift to bestow on you for your superabundant benefits which makes me presume to present this paper present.
God blesse your Virtuous Consort to you, and you to her, your children to you both, so having no present opportunity whereby I could more eminently testifie by obligations, I pray accept of this. For I call both God and the World to witnesse that this way I honour you, resting alwaies.
To the Reader.
I Am not ignorant (Christian Reader) that many Catechismes more pithy and profound then this, yea far transcending it both for Method and Matter have already been published, and this needs no more then to help the great sun with a little light; or to put a superfluous patch upon a compleat Suit. Yet notwithstanding all the books which have been or shall be edited in this kind, I may thus much say, none of them that ever I see, but in some particular have what another wanted, and some one abridged, when some other dilated: all of them being christian competitors, striving who should conduce most to shew the readiest way to the Kingdom of Heaven.
So then, if this poor peece may be any thing, but even Gotes haire towards the sanctuary of the Lord, nay may it but add one little grain to Gods great granarie, I shall be glad and give God the glory of it. Beseeching our Lord Jesus Christ that great Shepheard of his sheep to make this and all the labors of his beloved servants fruitfull Pastours for the comfort of his little flock. And the perpetuall praise of his Holy Name, Amen.
A Catechism short and plain.
Q. WHo hath made thee, and all things else?
A. God.
Q. What is God?
A. A spirit Almighty and Eternal one in essence, three in person, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Q. Wherefore hath he made thee?
A. To know him, worship him, and serve him.
Q. How is he known?
A. By his Workes, and word.
Q. How must he be worshipped?
A. In Spitit and truth.
Q What is that Truth?
A. His holy word containing the Law & Gospel.
Q. What is the Law?
A. That which is comprehended in the ten Commandements.
Q. What doth God require of us in them?
A. Love to God in the first foure: and Love to our neighbours in the six last.
Q. How is God to be loved?
A. With all the heart, with all the soul, and with all the minde.
Q. How shalt thou know when thou doest so?
A. If I preferr his glory, and worship before all things.
Q. How is our neighbour loved?
A. If we do to him as we should be done unto.
Q. Doth any man herein satisfie the Law?
A. No, and therefore all are concluded under sin.
Q. What then becometh of all men?
A. They are all cursed to perpetual death which do it not, and none doe it.
Q. How then are we delivered from the curse of death and Sin?
A. By Jesus Christ who kept the Law and was accused for us.
Q. How knowest thou this?
A. By the Gospel.
Q. What is the Gospel?
A. The power of God to salvation, proclaiming forgiveness of sin to every beleever through Christ.
Q. What is Christ?
A. the Son of the living God our Saviour, our Anointed, because he is King, Priest, and Prophet.
Q. Why a King?
A. To reign and rule over us.
Q. Why a Prophet?
A. To teach us his Fathers will.
Q. Why is he a Priest?
A. Because he hath sacrificed for us.
Q. What hath he sacrificed for us?
A. That part of himself which suffered.
Q. Did Christ then suffer but in part?
A. No, for consisting of God-head and Man-hood, his Man-hood only suffered.
Q. What suffered he in soul?
A. Hellish torments to acquit our soules.
Q. What suffered he in body?
A. Death temporal, to deliver us from death eternal.
Q. Did he then give bodie for our bodies, and soule for our soules?
A. Yes verily.
Q. How knowest thou this to be for thee?
A. By the Certifficate of Gods spirit, faith and the Sacraments.
Q. Why, what doth Gods spirit certifie the?
A. That I am the Son of God.
Q. What doth Faith?
A. Purifie my heart, assuring the same that Christ with his merits are made mine.
Q. How can this be?
A. All my sins became his, and his righteousness became mine.
Q. Whereof cometh this faith?
A. By hearing & hearing by the word of God.
Q. How is this faith strengthened and increased in us?
A. By the word preached & by the Sacraments
Q How many Sacraments be there?
A. Two, baptisme and the supper of the Lord.
Q. What is the signe in baptisme?
A. Water.
Q. What is the thing signified?
A. Christ his blood cleansing us from our sins.
Q. What benefit have we by baptisms?
A. Incorporation into the visible Church, assurance of Gods grace and promise: and that as water doth wash away the filthynesse of our bodies, so by Christ we are washed away from all evill, both of body and soul, teaching us our new birth.
Q. What benefits have you by the supper of the Lord?
A. We are taught Christ his death, it sealeth up Gods promise unto us, and teacheth us to love one another.
Q. What be the parts of these Sacraments?
A. Visible signes and invisible graces.
Q. What are the visible signes?
A. Bread and wine.
Q. What are the invisible graces.
A. Full Redemption and Justification by Jesus Christ?
Q. Why is there used both Bread and Wine?
A. To teach us that Christ is both our meat and drink.
Q. The bread then is not Christs body?
A. No, for the Heavens hold his body until the day of the resurrection of all things, but the bread represents his body, as the wine doth his blood, seeing that by one oblation he hath consecrated for ever those that are sanctified.
Q. Then Masses are blasphemous, and Massmongers, [Page] and such as seek Salvation by works, are likewise blasphemous?
A. They are so, for they rest not only on this sacrifice.
Q. Must not then works be done?
A. Yes, but not the works of our will, but such as God hath commanded; and then to have no trust in them, for when we have done all that we can we are unprofitable servants.
Q. How must we come to this Supper?
A. In examination of our selves, whether we have a godly sorrow for our sins past, and purpose of a new life. Secondly, Whether we have faith to take hold of Christ and his righteousness. Thirdly, Whether we have love, declaring us one Body. Fourthly, Whether we be thankful to God for his benefits.
Q. Whence cometh it if we come so prepared?
A. Of the grace of God.
Q. How is that obtained?
A. By prayer made in Christ his name, that we eat not, nor drink not unworthily, 'tis good that we come together in prayer, joyning together with the Minister in the Congregation, that we may worthily take it. God grant us so to do.
Amen.