A CATECHISME OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION.
AT MIDDELBOROUGH, By Richard Schilders, Printer to the States of Zealand. 1610.
A CATECHISME OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION.
Sunday First Question.
1. What is thy only cōfort in life & death?
Answere.
THat both in soule & body1 Cor. 6.19., whether I live or die,Rom. 14.8. I am not mine own, but belong1 Cor. 3.28. wholy vnto my most faithful Lord & Savior Iesus Christ who by his precious blood most fully satisfying1 Pet. 1.18. for my sinnes, hath delivered1 Iohn 3.8. me from all the power of the Devil, and so preservethIohn 6.39. me, that without the will of my heavenly Father, not so much as a haire may fallMar 10.30. Luc 21 19 from my head: yea all things mustRom 8.28. serve for my safetie. Wherefore by his Spirit also he assureth1 Cor. 1.22. me of everlasting life, & makethRom. 8 24. me ready, & prepared, that henceforth I may live to him.
2. Quest. How many things are necessarie for thee to know, that thou enioying this comfort, maist live and die happily?
Ans. ThreeLuke 24. Tit. 3.3 &c.. The first, what is theIohn 9.42 Rom. 3.10. greatnes of my sinne & miserie. The second, how I am deliveredIohn 17.3 from all sinne and miserie. The third, what thankes I oweEphe. 5.10 vnto God for this deliverie.
THE FIRST PART, OF THE MISERIE OF MAN.
Sunday. 2 3. Question.
Whence knowest thou thy miserie?
Answere.
Out of the law of GodRom. 3.20..
4. Quest. What doth the law of God require of vs?
Ans. That doeth Christ summarilie teach vs, Mat. 22.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with al thy heart, with all thy soule, with all thy minde, and with all thy strengthLuke 10.17. This is the first and the great commandment, and the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self. On these two commandements hangeth the whole Law and the Prophetes.
Sunday. 3 5. Quest. Art thou able to keepe all these things perfectly?
Ans. No truelyRom. 5.1. 1 Iohn 1.8.: For by nature I am prone to the hatred of God & of my neighbourRom. 8.7. Ephe. 2.3..
6. Quest. Did God then make man so wicked and perverse?
An. Not soGen. 1.31.: but rather he made him good and to his own imageGen. 1.26., that is, endued with true righteousnes & holines, that he might rightly know God his Creator, and hartily love him, & live with him blessed for ever, and that to laude and magnifie him2. Cor. 3.18 4.5. Col. 3.10. Ephe. 1.6..
7. Quest. Whence then ariseth this wickednes of mans nature?
Ans. From the fall and disobedience of our [Page 95]first parents, Adam and EveGen. 5.6. Rom. 6.21.: hence is our nature so corrupt, that we are all conceaved and borne in sinnePsal. 51.4. Gen. 5.3.8.6.5..
8. Quest. Are we so corrupt, that we are not at all apt to do well, and are prone to all vice?
Ans. In deed we are: except we be regenerated by the holy GhostIohn 3.5. Rom. 15. Iob. 10.4. &c..
Sund. 4 9. Quest. Doth not God then iniurie to man, who in the Law requireth that of him, which he is not able to performe?
Ans. NoIohn 3.5. Ephe. 4.24. Colo. 3.10.. For God had made man such a one, as he might perfourme it: But man, by the impulsion of the DevillLuke 10.30, and his owne stubburnesse, bereaved him selfe and all his posteritie of those Divine graces.
10. Quest. Doth God leave this stubburnesse and falling away of man vnpunished?
Ans. No: but is angrie in most dreadfull mannerRom. 5.12. Heb. 9.27., as well for the sinnes wherein we are borne, as also for those which our selves commit, and in most iust iudgement punisheth them with present & everlasting punishments, as him selfe pronounceth: Cursed be he that performeth not all the wordes of the Law to doe them Deut. 27.24 Gal. 3.10..
11. Quest. Is not God therefore mercifull?
Ans. Yea verely, he is mercifullExod. 34.6. but so, that he is also iustExod. 20.5. 2. Cor. 6.14. Wherefore his iustice requireth, that the same which is commited [Page 96]against the Divine Maiestie of God: should also be recompenced with extreme, that is, everlasting punishmentes both of body and soule.
THE SECOND PART, OF MANS DELIVERY.
Sunday 5 12. Question.
Seeing then by the iust iudgement of God, we are subiect both to temporall, and eternall punishments; is there yet any meanes or way remayning, whereby wee may bee delivered from these punishmentes, and bee reconciled to God?
Answere.
GOD will have his iusticeExod 20 5 satisfied: wherefore it is necessarie, thatRom. 8 3 wee satisfie, either by our selves, or by an other.
13. Question.
Are we able to satisfie by our selves?
Ans. Nor a whit. Nay rather we doe every dayIob 9 2, 3. and 15.15. Mat. 6.12. increase our debt.
14. Quest. Js there any creature able in heaven or in earth, which is only a creature, to satisfie for vs?
Ans. None. For first, God will notHeb. 2.14. punish that sinne in any other creature, which man hath committed. And further, neither [Page 97]can that which is nothing, but a creature, sustaine the wrath of God against sinne, andPsal. 130: [...] deliver others from it.
15. Quest. What maner of Mediator then and deliver must we seeke for?
Ans. Such a one verily, as is very man, & perfectly iust, and yet in power aboue all creatures, that is, who also is verie2 Cor. 5.14. Heb. 7.16. Esa. 7.25. God.
16. Quest. Wherefore is it necessarie that he be verie man, and perfectly iust too?
Ans. Because the iustice of God requireth that the same humane nature whiche hath sinned, doe it selfe likewise make recōpence for sinne: But heRom. 5.12. that is him self a sinner1. Pet. 3.18., can not make recompence for others.
17. Quest. Why must he also be very God?
Ans. That he might by the power of his Godhead1. Pet. 3.18. Isa. 55.3. sustaine in his flesh the burden of Gods wrath, and1 Iohn 2. Act. 20.28. might recover and restore vnto vs that righteousnes and life which we lost.
18. Quest. And who is that Mediator, which is togither both very God, and a very perfect iust man?
Ans. Even our Lord Iesus Christ,Mat. 1.23. 1 Tim. 3.16. Luke 2.11. who is made to vs of God wisedome, righteousnes, sanctification, andRom. 1.2. Heb. 1.1. redemption.
19. Quest. Whence knowest thou this?
Ans. Out of the Gospell, which God [Page 98]first made knowen inGen. 3.15. Paradise, and afterwardesGen 22.18. Rom. 1.2. Heb. 1.1. did spreed it abroad by the Patriarkes and ProphetesIohn 5.46. Heb. 10.7.: shadowed it by sacrifices & other ceremonies of the law: & lastlyRom 10.4. Heb. 13.8. accōplished it by his only begotten Son.
Sunday 7 20. Quest. Is then salvation restored by Christ to all men, who perished in Adam?
Ans. Not to all: but to those onely, who by a true faith are engraffed into him,Iohn 1.12. Rom. 11.20. Heb. 10.39. and receave his benefites.
21. Quest. What is faith?
Ans. It is not only a knowledge, whereby I surely assent to all thinges which God hathHeb. 11.13. Isa 2.19. revealed vnto vs in his word, but also an assuredRom. 4.16. Iac. 1.8. trust kindled in myRom. 1.16. 1 Cor. 1.21. Act [...] 16.14. heart by the holyMat. 16.17 Iohn 3 5. Phil. 1.19. ghost through the Gospell, wherby I make my repose in God, being assuredlie resolved, that remission of sinnes, everlasting righteousnes and lifeMat. 9.2. Rom. 5.1. is given not to others onely, but to me also, and that freelie through the mercie of God, for theRom. 5.1. merite of Christ alone.
22. Quest. What are those things which are necessarie for a Christian man to beleeve?
Ans. All thinges whiche areIohn 20.31 Mat. 28.10. promised vs in the Gospell: the summe whereof is briefly comprised in the Creed of the Apostles, or in the Articles of the Catholike and vndoubted faith of all Christians.
[Page 99] 23. Quest. Which is the Creede?
I Beleeue in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Iesus Christ his only Sonne our Lord: which was conceived by the holy Ghost: borne of the virgine Mary: suffered vnder Pontius Pilate: was crucified, dead and buried: he descended into hell: the third day he rose againe from the dead: he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almightie: from thence shall hee come to iudge the quicke and the dead. I beleeue in the holy Ghost: the holy Catholike Church: the communion of Saints: the forgivenesse of sinnes: the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. AMEN.
Sunday. 8 24. Quest. Into how many partes is this Creede divided?
Ans. Into three parts. The first is, of the eternall Father and our Creation. The second, of the Sonne and our Redemption. The third, of the holy Ghost and our Sanctification.
25. Quest. Seeing there is but one only substance of God, why namest thou these three, The Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost?
Ans. Because God hath soGen. 1.26. Esa. 1.1. Mat. 3.16. manifested him selfe in his word, that these three didistinct persons are that one true, everlasting God.
OF THE FATHER.
Sunday. 9 26. Quest. What beleevest thou, when thou saiest, I beleeue in God the Father almightie, maker of heaven and earth?
Ans. I beleeve the everlasting Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, whoGene. 1. & 2 Psal. 33.6. hath made of nothing heaven and earth, with all that are in them, who likewise vpholdeth andPsal 134.3. Mat 10.29. Heb. 1.3 governeth the same by his eternall Counsel & providence;Iohn 1.12 Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4 5 Ephe. 1. y. to be my God and my Father for Christes sake: and therfore I do so trust in him, and so relie on him, that I may not doubt, but he will provide all thingesPsal. 55.23 Mat. 6.26. necessarie both for my soule and body. And further, whatsoever evils he sendeth on me in this troublesome life, he wilRom 8.28 turne them to my safetie, seeing both he is able to do it, as beeingRom. 10.12. God almightie, and willing to do it, as beingMat. 6, &c. a bountifull father.
Sund. 10 27. Quest. What is the providence of God?
Ans. The almightie power of God everie where present,Acts 17.25 whereby he doeth as it were with his hande vpholde andHeb. 1.3. governe heaven & earth, with all the creatures therin: So that those things which grow in the earth, as likewise raine and drought, fruitfulnes and barraines, meate andIere 5.24 Act. 14.17. drinke,Iohn 9 3. health and sickenes,Prov. 1 [...].7.8.11. riches and poverty, in a word, all things come not rashly or by chance, but by his fatherlie counsell and will.
28. Quest. What doeth this knowledge of the Creation & providence of God profit vs?
Ans. That in adversitieRom. 5.3 Iac. 1.3. we may be patient, andDeut. 8.10 1 Thes. 5. thankfull in prosperitie, andRom 5.4 have hereafter our chiefest hope reposed in God our most faithfull father, being sure that there is nothing whiche mayIohn 1.1 [...] withdraw vs from his love, for as much as all creatures are so in his power, that without his will they are notRom. 8.38 able not only to doe anie thing, but not so much as once to moove.
OF THE SONNE.
Sund. 11 29. Quest. Why is the Sonne of God called Iesus, that is, a Saviour?
Ans. Because he saveth vs from all ourMat. 1.21 Luke 1.31. sinnes: Neither ought any safetie to bee sought for from any other, norActs 4.12 can elsewhere be found.
30. Quest. Doe they then beleeve in the only saviour Iesus, who seeke for happines and safetie of the Saintes, or of them selves, or els-where?
Answ. No. For although in word they boast them selves of him as their Saviour, yet in deed they denie the onely Saviour1 Cor. 1.13 Gal. 5.4 Iesus. For it must needes be that either Iesus is not a perfect Saviour, or that they who embrace him as their Saviour with a true faith, possesse all things in him, whichHeb. 12.2 Isa. 9.6.7. are required vnto salvation.
[Page 102] Sunday. 12 31. Quest. Why is he called Christ, that is annointed?
Ans. Because he was ordained of the Father, and annointed of the holy Ghost, thePsal. 45.8. Heb. 1.9. chief Prophet andIohn 1.18. and 15.15. Doctour: who hathMat. 11.27. Psal. 110.4. Heb. 7.21.1 opened vnto vs the secrete counsaile and all the wil of his father concerning our Redemption: And the High-Priest, who with that one onely sacrifice of his body, hathRom. 8.34. redeemed vs, and doth continuallie make intercession to his father for vs. And aPsal. 2.6. Luke 1.33. king, who ruleth vs by his woord and spirit, and defendeth andMat. 28.18. Iohn 10.28. maintaineth that salvation which he hath purchased for vs.
Sunday. 13 32. Quest. But why art thou called a Christian?
Ans. Because through faith I am a member ofActs 11.26. 1 Cor. 6.15. Iesus Christ, and partaker1 Ioh. 2.27 Ioel 2.28. of his annointing, that both I mayMat. 10.33. confesse his name, and present my selfe vnto him a livelieRom. 12.1. Apoc. 4.8. sacrifice of thankefulnesse, and also may in this life fight against sinne and Sathan with a free and good conscience, and afterward1. Tim. 1.18.19. enioye an everlasting kingdome with Christ over all creatures.
33. Quest. For what cause is Christ called the only begotten sonne of God, when we also are the sonnes of God?
Answere. Because Christ alone is the [Page 103]coeternall and naturall sonne of the eternallIohn 1.14. Heb. 1.2. father, and weRom. 8.5. Ephe. 1.6. are but sonnes adopted of the father by grace for his sake.
Sunday. 14 34. Quest. Wherefore callest thou him our Lord?
Ans. Because he redeeming & ransoming both our body and soule from sinnes, not with gold nor silver, but with his precious blood, and delivering vs from all the power of the Devill, hath set vs1 Pet. 1.18. 1 Cor. 6.20. free to serve him.
35. Quest. What beleevest thou, when thou saist, he was conceaved by the holy Ghost, & borne of the Virgine Marie?
Ans. That the sonne of God, whoIohn 1.1. Col. 1.15. is & continueth true & everlastingRom. 9.5. 1 Iohn 5.20. God,Iohn 1.14. Gala. 4.4. tooke the verie nature of man, of the flesheMat. 1.18. Luke 1.35. and blood of the Virgin Marie, by the working of the holy Ghost,Psal. 132.11 Act. 2.30. &c Rom. 1.3. that withall hee might bee the true seede of David,Phil. 2.7. like vnto his brethren in all things,Heb. 4.15. sinne excepted.
36. Quest. What profit takest thou, by Christes holy conception and nativitie?
Ans. That he is ourHa. 2.16.17. Mediator, and doth cover with his innocencie and perfect holinesse my sinnes, in which I was conceaved, that they may not come in the sight ofPsal. 32.1. 1 Cor. 1.30 Rom. 8.34. God.
Sunday. 15 37. Quest. What beleevest thou, when thou saist, he suffered?
Ans. That he, all the time of his life, which he led in the earth, but especially at the ende thereof,1 Pet. 2.24 Isa 53.12. susteined the wrath of God, both in body & soule, against the sin of all mankind, that he might by his passiō, as the onlyIohn 2 2. Rom. 3.25. propitiatorie Sacrifice, deliver our body and soule from everlasting damnation, and purchase vnto vs the favour of God, righteousnes, and everlasting life.
38. Quest. For what cause should he suffer vnder Pilate, as being his iudge?
Ans. That he being innocent andLuc. 23.14 Iohn 19.4. condemned before a civill iudge, mightPsal. 69.4 Gal 3:13 deliver vs from the severe iudgement of God, which remained for all men.
39. Quest. But is there any thing more in it, that he was fastned to the crosse, than if hee had suffered any other kinde of death?
Ans. There is more: For by this I am assured that he tooke vpon him selfe the curse which did ly on me. For the death of the crosse wasDeut. 21. Gal. 3.13. accursed of God.
Sund. 16 40. Quest. Why was it necessarie for Christ to humble himselfe vnto death?
Ans Because the iustice and trueth of God could by noGene. 2.71. other meanes be satisfied for our sinnes, but by the very death of theHeb. 2.9. Phil. 2.18. sonne of God.
41. Quest. To what end was he buried also?
Ans. That thereby he might make manifest, that he wasAct. 13.29. Iohn 19.38. dead in deed.
42. Quest. But since that Christ died for vs, why must we also dye?
Ans. Our death is not a satisfaction for our sinnes, but the abolishing of sinne, and our passage intoIohn 5.24. Phil. 1.23 everlasting life.
43 Quest. What other commoditie receyve we by the sacrifice and death of Christ?
Ans. That by the vertue of his death, our old man is crucified, slaine, andRom. 6.7 buried togither with them, that hencefoorth evill lustes and desires may notRom. 6.12. raigne in vs, but wee mayRom. 12.2. offer our selves vnto him a sacrifice of thankesgiving.
44. Quest. Why is there added, Hee descended into hell?
Ans. That in my greatest paines, & most grievous tentations, I may support my selfe with this cōfort, that my Lord Iesus Christ hath deliueredEsa. 53.10 Mat. 27.46. mee, by the vnspeakeable distresses, torments and terrors of his soule, into which he was plunged both before, and then especiallie, when hee hanged on the crosse, from the straites and torments of hel.
Sund. 17 45. Quest. What doeth the resurrection of Christ profite vs?
Ans. First, by his Resurrection he vanquished death, that he might1. Cor. 15 16. & 54.55. make vs partakers [Page 106]of that righteousnesse, which he had gotten vs by his death. Againe we are now alsoRom. 6.4. Col. 3.1. &c. stirred vp by his power to a new life. Lastly, the resurrection of our head Christ, is a1 Cor. 15. Rom. 8.11. pledge vnto vs of our glorious resurrection.
46. Quest. How vnderstand you that, He ascended into heaven?
Ans. That Christ, his Disciples looking on, wasAct. 1.9. Mar. 16.19. taken vp from the earth into heaven, and yet stillHeb. 4.14. Rom. 8.34. Ephe. 4.10. is there for our sakes, and will be, vntill he come againe to iudge the quicke and dead.
47. Quest.Mat. 28.20 Is not Christ with vs then vntill the end of the world as he hath promised?
Ans. Christ is true God, and true man: and so according to his manhoode, he is not now on earth: but according to his godhead, his maiestie, his grace, and spirit, hee is at no time from vs.
48. Quest. Are not by this meanes the two natures in Christ pulled asunder, if his humanitie be not wheresoever his divinitie is?
Ans. No: for seeing his divinitie is incomprehensible, and every whereAct. 1.11. Ma. 24.30. present: it followeth necessarily thatMat. 28.20 Iohn 16.18. & 17.11. the same is without the bounds of his humane nature which he tooke to him, and yet is neverthelesse in it and abideth personally vnited to it.
[Page 107] Sunday. 18 49. Quest. What fruit doth the ascension of Christ into heaven bring vs?
Ans. First, that heHeb 7.14. 1 Iohn 2.3. Rom. 8.34. maketh intercession to his Father in heaven for vs. Next, that we haue our flesh in heaven, that we may be confirmed thereby, as by a sure pledge, that it shall come to passe, that hee who is our head, willIohn 14.2. Ephe. 2.6. lift vp vs his members vnto him. Thirdly, that heeIohn 14.16. 2 Cor. 1.22. 1 Cor. 5.5. sendeth vs his spirit in steed of a pledge betweene him and vs, by whose forcible working we seeke after, not earthly, but heavenly things, where he himselfe is sitting at the right hand of GodCol 3.1. Phil. 3.20.
50. Quest. Why is it further said, Hee sitteth at the right hand of God?
Ans. Because Christ therefore is ascended into heaven, toEphe. 1.20. Col. 1.18. shewe there that he is the head of the Church, by whom the FatherMat. 28.18. Iohn 5.22. governeth all things.
Sunday. 19 51. Quest. What profit is this glory of our head Christ vnto vs?
Ans. First, that through his holy spirit, heEphe. 4.10. poureth vpon vs his members, heavenly graces. Then, that he shieldeth andPsal. 2.9. Rom. 8.23. Phil. 3.20. defendeth vs by his power against all our enemies.
Sunday. 19 52. Quest. What comfort hast thou by the comming againe of Christ to iudge the quick and the dead?
Ans. That in all my miseries and persecutions,Luk 21.28. Rom. 8.23.24 Phil. 3.20. I looke, with my head lifted vp, for the very same, who before yeelded himselfe vnto the iudgement of God for me, &2 Thes. 1.6.7 Mat. 25.41. tooke away all malediction from me, to come iudge from heaven, to throw all his and my enemies into everlasting paines, but toMat. 25.34. translate me with all his chosen, vnto him selfe, into celestiall ioyes, and everlasting glorie.
OF THE HOLY GHOST.
Sunday. 20 53. Quest. What beleevest thou concerning the holy ghost?
Ans. First, that he is true and coeternall God with the eternall father & theGen. 1.2. Isa. 48.16. 1 Cor. 3.16. sonne: Secondly, that he is alsoMat. 28.19 2 Cor. 1.2. given vnto me toGal. 3.14. 1 Pet. 1.2. make me through a true faith, partaker of Christ and all his benefites, toActs 9.31. comfort me, and toIohn 16. 1 Pet. 4.14. abide with me for ever.
Sun. 21 54. Quest. What beleevest thou concerning the holy & catholike Church of Christ?
Ans. I beleeve that the sonne ofIho. 10.11. God doeth fromGen. 26.4. the beginning of the worldeRom. 8.29. Ephe. 1.10. to the end, gather, defend andIsa. 59.21. preserve vnto him selfe by his spirit, andAct. 2.46. word out of whole mankind,Mat. 16.18. a company1 Iohn 3.21 chosen to everlasting life, & agreeing in true faith: and that I am a lively1 Ioh. 2.19. member of that cō panie, and so shall1 Cor. 8 9. Rom. 8.35. remaine for ever.
[Page 109] 55. Quest. What meane these words, The communion of Saints?
Ans. First, that all and everie one, who beleeveth, are in commonIohn 1.3. Rom. 8.32. 1 Cor. 12.13. partakers of Christ, and all his graces, as being his members. And then, that every one ought readilie and1 Cor. 13.5. Phil. 2.4.5.6. cheerfully to bestow the giftes and graces which they have received, to the cō mon commoditie and safetie of all.
56. Quest. What beleevest thou concerning remission of sinnes?
Ans. That God, for the satisfaction made by1 Iohn 2.2. 2 Cor. 5.19. Christ, hath put out all the remembranceIere. 32.34. Psal. 103.3. Rom. 8.1.2.3 of my sinnes, and also of that corruption within me, wherewith I must fight all my life time: and doeth freely endow me with the righteousnes of Christ, thatIohn. 3.18. I come not at any time into iudgement.
Sunday. 22 57. Quest. What comfort hast thou, by the resurrection of the flesh?
Ans. That not only my soule, after it shall depart out of my body, shall presently bee takenLuke 23.4. Phil. 1.23. vp to Christ, but that this my flesh also, beeing raised vp by the power of Christ, shall be againe vnited to my soule, and shall be1. Cor. 15. Iob 19.25. made like to the glorious bodie of Christ.
58. Quest. What comfort takest thou of the article of everlasting life?
Ans. That for as much as2 Cor 5.2.3 I feele alreadie in my hart the beginning of everlasting life, it1 Cor. 2.9. Iohn 17.37. shall at length come to passe, that after this life I shall enioye full and perfect blisse, wherein I may magnifie God forever; which blessednes verily, neither eie hath seene, nor eare hath heard, neither hath anie man in thought conceived it.
Sunday. 23 59. Quest. But when thou beleevest all these thinges, what profit redoundeth thence vnto thee?
Ans. That I am righteous in Christ before God, an an heire of eternall lifeHeb. 2.4. Rom. 1.17. Iohn 3.36..
60. Que. How art thou righteous before God?
Ans. OnlyRom. 3.21. &c Gal 2.16 Ephe. 2.8, 9. by faith in Christ Iesus: so that, although my conscience accuse mee, that I have grievouslie trespassed against all the commaundements of God, & have notRom. 3.9. &c. kept one of them: and further, am as yetRom. 7.23 prone to all evill: yet notwithstanding (if IRom. 3.42. Iohn 3.18. embrace these benefites of Christ with a true confidence and perswasion of minde, the ful andTit. 3.5 Ephe. 2.8.9. perfect satisfaction, righteousnes, and holines of Christ, without anyIohn 2.2. merit of mine, of the meereRom. 3.24. Deut. 9.6. mercie of God, isIohn 2.1. imputed andRom. 4.4. 2 Cor. 5.19. given vnto me, and that so as if neither I had committed any sinne, neither any corruption did sticke vnto me yea as I my selfe had perfectly1 Cor. 5.21. accomplished [Page 111]that obedience, which Christ accomplished for me.
61. Quest. Why affirmest thou, that thou art made righteous by faith only?
Ans. Not for that I please God through the worthines of meere faith: but because only the satisfaction, righteousnes and holines of Christ is my righteousnes before1 Cor. 1.33. 1 Cor. 2.2. God: and I cannot take hold of it1 Ioh. 5.10. or apply it vnto my self any other way than by faith.
Sunday. 24 62. Quest. Why cannot our good workes bee righteousnes, or some part of righteousnes before God?
Ans. Because that righteousnes whiche must stande faste before the iudgement of God, must be in al points perfect, &Gal. 3.10. Deut. 27.26. agreeable to the Law of God. Now our workes, even the best of them, are imperfect in this life, andEsa. 64. defiled with sinne.
63. Quest. How is it that our good workes merit nothing, seeing God promiseth that hee will give a rewarde for them, both in this life, and in the life to come?
Ans. That reward is not given of merit, but ofLuke 17.10. grace.
64. Quest. But doeth not this doctrine make men careles and profane?
Ans. No: For neither can it be, but they, which are incorporated into Christ thorough [Page 112]faith, should bring forth the fruites ofMat. 7.18. Iohn 15.5. thankefulnes.
OF THE SACRAMENTS.
Sunday. 25 65. Quest. Seeing then that only faith maketh vs partakers of Christ and his benefits, whence doeth it proceede?
Ans. From the holy ghost, whoEphe. 28. and 6.23. Phil. 1.29. kindleth it in our hearts by the preaching of the gospell, andMat. 28.19. 2 Pet. 1.22. confirmeth it by the vse of the Sacraments.
66. Quest. What are the Sacraments?
Ans. They are sacred signes and seales set before our eyes, & ordeined of God for this cause, that he may declare & seale by them the promise of his Gospell vnto vs, to wit, that he giveth freely remission of sinnes, &Gen. 17.11. Rom. 4.11. Deut. 30.6. Levi. 6.25. Isa. 6.6. life everlasting not only to all in generall, but to every one in particular that beleeveth, for that only sacrifice of Christ which he accomplished vpon the crosse.
67. Quest. Doe not then both the word and sacraments tende to that ende, as to lead our faith vnto the sacrifice of Christ finished on the crosse, as to the only groūd of our salvatiō?
Ans. It is even so. For the holy ghost teacheth vs by the gospell, & assureth vs by the Sacraments, that the salvation of all of vs, standeth in the holy sacrifice of ChristRom. 6.3. Gal. 3.27. offered for vs vpon the crosse.
[Page 113] 68. Quest. How many Sacramentes hath Christ ordeined in the new Testament?
Ans. Two. Baptisme, & the Lords Supper.
OF BAPTISME.
Sunday. 26 69. Quest. How art thou admonished and assured in Baptisme, that thou art partaker of the only sacrifice of Christ?
Ans. Because ChristMat. 28.19. Acts 2.38. cōmanded the outward washing of water, adioyning thisMar. 16.16. Mat. 3.11. Rom. 6.3. promise therevnto, that I am no lesse assuredly washed by his blood and spirit from the vncleanenesse of my soule, that is, from all my sinnes, than I amMar. 1.14. Luc. 3.3. washed outwardly with water, whereby all the filthinesse of the bodie vseth to be purged.
70. Quest. What is it to bee washed with the blood and spirit of Christ?
Ans. It is to receive of God forgivenes of sins freely for the blood of Christ, which heHeb. 12.24. 1 Pet. 1.2. Apoc. 1.5. shed for vs in his Sacrifice on, the crosse. And also to be renued by the holy Ghost, & through his sanctifying of vs, to become members of Christ, that we may more and more die to sinne, andIohn 1.33. Rom. 6.4. Col. 2.12. live holy and without blame.
71. Quest. Where doeth Christ promise vs that hee will as certainly wash vs with his blood and spirit, as we are washed with the water of baptisme?
Ans. In the institution of Baptisme; the words whereof are these:Mat. 28.19. Goe and teach all Nations, Baptising them in the name of the father, the sonne, and the holy Ghost, Mat. 16.16. Hee that shall beleve & be baptised, shalbe saved: but he that will not beleeve, shalbe damned.
This promise is repeated again, whereas the scripture calleth Baptisme, theTit. 3.5. washing of the new bith, and Act. 22.16. forgivenesse of sinnes.
Sunday. 27 72.Quest. Is then the outward Baptisme of water the washing away of sinnes?
Ans. It is not. For theMat. 3.11. 1 Pet. 3.11. blood of Christ alone cleanseth from all1 Iohn 1.7. 1 Cor. 6.11. sinne.
73. Quest. Why then doeth the holy ghost call Baptisme the washing of the new birth, and forgivenes of sinnes?
Ans. God speaketh so not without great cause; to wit, not onely to teach vs, that as the filth of our body is purged by water, so our sinnes also areApoc. 1.5. 1 Cor. 6.11. purged by the bloode and spirit of Christ: but much more to assure as by this divine token and pledge, that we are as verily washed from our sins with the inward washing, as we areMat. 16.16. Gal. 3.17. washed by the outward and visible water.
Quest. Are infants to be baptised also?
Ans. What else: For seeing theyGen. 17.7. belong as wel vnto the covenant & church of God, as they who are of a full age, & seeing also [Page 115]vnto them is promisedMat. 19.14 remission of sins by the blood of Christ, and theLuke 1.14. Psal. 22.11. Act. 2.39. holy ghost the worker of faith, as well as vnto those of full growth. They are by baptisme to be ingrafted into the Church of God, and to be † discerned from the children of infidels,Act. 10.47. in like sorte as in the olde Testament was done byGen. 17.14 circumcision, in place whereofColos. 2.11.12.13. Baptisme succeeded in the new Testament.
OF THE LORDS SVPPER.
Sunday. 28 75. Quest. How art thou in the Lords Supper admonished and waranted, that thou art partaker of that onely sacrifice of Christ offered partaker of that onely sacrifice of Christ offered on the Crosse, and of all his benefites?
Ans. Because Christ hath commaunded me and all the faithfull, to eat of this bread broken, and to drink of the cup distributed in remembrance of him, with this promiseMat. 26.27. Mar 14.22. Luke 22.16. 1 Cor. 10.16. adioyned: First, that his body was as certainlie broken and offered for me on the Crosse, & his blood shed for me, as I behold with my eies the bread of the Lord broken vnto me, and the cup communicated to me: and further, that my soule is no lesse assuredly fed to everlasting life with his body, which was crucified for vs, and his blood, which was shed for vs; than I receive & taste by the mouth of my body the bread and wine, the signes of the body and blood of [Page 116]our Lord, received at the hand of the Minister.
76. Quest. What is it to eate the body of Christ crucified, and to drinke his blood that was shed?
Ans. It is not only to imbrace by an assured confidence of mind, the whole passion and death of Christ, and there by toIohn 6.35.40.47.48. obtaine forgivenes of sinnes and everlasting life, but also by the holy ghost, who dwelleth both in Christ and vs, so more and more to beeIohn 6.56. vnited to his sacred body, that though hee be inActs 3.21. 1 Cor. 11.26. heaven, and we in earth, yet nevertheles are we flesh of his flesh, and bone of hisEphe. 5.29. 1 Cor. 6.15. 1 Iohn 3.24. bones; and as all the members of the body are by one soule, so are we also quickened andIohn 6.56. Ephe. 4.15. guided by one and the same spirit.
77. Quest. Where hath Christ promised that hee will as certainly give his body and bloud so to be eaten and drunken, as they eat this bread broken, and drinke this cup?
Ans. In the institution of his Supper, the wordes whereof are these:1 Cor. 11.23 Mat 26.26. Mar. 14.22. Our Lord Iesus Christ in the night that he was betraied, tooke bread: and when he had given thankes, hee brake it, and said, Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you: this doe you in remembrance of me. Likewise also be tooke the cup when he had supped, & said, Exod. 24.8. Heb. 9.20. This cup [Page 117]is the new Testament in my bloud: Exod. 13.9. this doe as often as ye shall drinke it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye shall eat this bread, and drinke this cup, ye shew the Lords death till hee come. This promise is repeated by Saint Paul whē he saith: The cup of thankesgiving, wherewith we give thankes, is it not the communion of the bloud of Christ? The bread which we breake, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 1 Cor. 10.16.17. For we that are many, are one bread and one body, because we all are partakers of one bread.
Sunday. 29 78. Quest. Are then the bread and wine made the very body and blood of Christ?
Ans. No verily. But as the water of baptisme isMat. 26.29 Mar. 14.24. not turned into the bloud of Christ, but is only a signe & pledge of those things that are sealed to vs in baptisme: so neither is the bread of the Lords supper the very body of1 Cor. 10 16 &c. and 11.26 Christ: Although according to the maner of Sacraments, & thatGen. 17.10. Exod. 26.27. Acts 7.8. Levit. 16.10. forme of speaking of them which is vsuall vnto the holy Ghost, the bread is called the body of Christ.
79 Quest. Why then doth Christ call bread his body, & the cup his bloud, or the new Testament in his bloud: and Paul also calleth bread and wine, the communion of the body and bloud of Christ?
Ans. Christ not without great consideration speaketh so: to wit, not onely for to teach vs, that as the bread and wine sustaine the life of the body, so also his crucified body and bloudshed are in deed the meat and drink of the soule, whereby it isIohn 6.51.55.56. nourished to eternall life: but much more, that by this visible signe and pledge hee may assure vs, that wee are as verily partakers of his body and bloud, through the working of the holy ghost, as we doe1 Cor. 13.6. receive by the mouth of our body these holy signes in remembrance of him: and further also, that his suffering and obedience is so certainlie ours, as though we our selves had suffered punishment for our sinnes, and had satisfied God.
Sunday. 30 80. Quest. What difference is there betwene the supper of the Lord, & the popish Masse?
Ans. The Supper of the Lord testifieth to vs that we have perfect forgivenes of all our sins for that only sacrifice of Christ, which him self once fullyHeb. 7.27. & 9.12.26. Mat 26.28. Luke 22.19. wrought on the crosse: Then also that wee by the holy Ghost are graffed into Christ, who now according to his humane nature is onely in heaven at the right hand of his1 Cor. 6.17. & 10.16. Father, and there will beHeb. 1.3. & 8.1, &c. worshipped of vs, But in the Masse it is denied, that the quick and the dead have remissionIohn 4.21. Col. 3.1. Phil. 3.10. [Page 119]of sins for the only passiō of Christ, except also Christ be daily offered of them by their sacrificers. Further also it is taught, that Christ is bodily vnder the forme of bread and wine, and therefore is to beIn canon [...] Missae: item de consecrat. distinct. 2. worshipped in them. And so the very foundation of the Masse is nothing els than an vtter deniall of that only sacrifice and passion of Christ Iesus, and an accursed idolatrie.
81. Quest. Who are to come vnto the Table of the Lord?
Ans. They only who are truely sorrowfull, that they have offended God by their sins; and yet trust that those sins are pardoned them for Christes sake: and what other infirmitie they have, that those are covered by his passion & death, who also desire more and more to goe forward in faith and integritie of life. But hypocrites, and they who doe not trulie repent, doe eate and1 Cor. 10.2 [...] and 11.28. drinke damnation to themselves.
82. Quest. Are they also to bee admitted to this supper, who in confession and life declare them selves to be infidels and vngodly?
Ans. No. For by that meanes the covenant of God is profaned, and the wrath of God is1 Cor. 10.21. Isa. 1.11. Ierem. 7.21. stirred vp against the whole assemblie. Wherefore the Church by the commaundement of Christ and his Apostles, vsing the [Page 120]keies of the kingdome of heaven, ought to drive them from this supper, till they shall repent and change their manners.
Sunday. 31 83. Quest. What are the keies of the kingdome of heaven?
Ans. Preaching of the Gospell, and Ecclesiasticall discipline: by which heaven is opened to the beleevers: & isMat. 16.19. & 18.18. shut against the vnbeleevers.
84. Quest, How is the kingdome of heaven opened & shut by the preaching of the gospell?
Ans. When by the commaundement of Christ it is publiklie declared to all & every one of the faithfull, that all their sinnes are pardoned them of God, for the merite of Christ, so often as they imbrace by a lively faith the promise of the Gospell: but contrarily is denounced to all infidels and hypocrites, that so long the wrath of God and everlasting damnation doth lie on them, as theyIohn 20.21.22.2.3. Ma [...]. 16.19. persist in their wickednes: according to which testimonie of the Gospell, God will iudge them as well in this life, as in the life to come.
85. Quest. How is the kingdome of heaven opened and shut, by Ecclesiasticall discipline?
Ans. When according to the commandement of Christ, they who in name are christians, but in their doctrine and life, shewe [Page 121]them selvesRom. 11.7.8.9. 1 Cor. 12 28. aliens from Christ, after they having been sometime admonished, will not depart from their errors or wickednes, are made knowen vnto the Church, or to them that are appointed for that matter, & purpose of the Church: and if neither then they obey their admonition, are of the same men by interdiction from the Sacramentes shutt out from the Congregation of the Church, and by God him selfe, out of the kingdome of heaven: And againe, if they professe and in deed declare amendment of life, areMat. 18.15. 1 Cor. 5.3.4. 2 Thes. 3.14. 1 Tim. 5.17. receyved as members of Christ and his Church.
THE THIRD PART, OF MANS THANKFVLNES.
Sunday. 32 86. Question.
When as we are delivered from all our sins and miseries without any merit of ours, by the mercie of God only for Christes sake: for what cause are we to doe good workes?
Answere.
BEcause, after that Christ hath redeemed vs with his bloud, hee renueth vs also by his spirit to the image of himselfe: that we receiving so great benefites, should shewe our selves all our life [Page 122]timeRom. 6.13. & 12.1.2. 1 Pet. 2.5. Thankfull to God, andMat. 5.16. 1 Per. 2.12. honor him. Secondly, that everie of vs may be2. Pe [...]. 1.10. Gal. 5.6. assured of his faith, by his fruit. And lastly, that by our honest and good conversation, we may1. Pet. 3.1. 2 Matt. 5.16. Rom. 14.19. winne others vnto Christ.
87. Quest. Can not they then bee saved, which be vnthankefull, & remaine still careleslie in their sinnes, and are not converted from their wickednes vnto God?
Ans. By no meanes. For, as the scripture beareth witnes, neither vnchast persons, nor Idolaters, nor adulterers, nor theeves, nor covetous men, nor drunkards, nor slaunderers, nor robbers, shall1. Cor. 6.9. Ephe. 5.5. 1 Iohn 3.14. enter into the kingdome of God.
Sunday. 33 88. Quest. Of what partes consisteth the conversion of men vnto God?
Ans. It consisteth of theRom. 6.4. Ephe. 4.22. Col. 3.5. 1 Cor. 5.7. mortifying of the old man, and the quickning of the new man.
89. Quest. What is the mortifying of the old man?
Ans. To be truly and hartily sorry, that thou hast offended God by thy sinnes, and daily more and more to hate &Rom. 8.13. Ioel. 2▪13. eschew them.
90. Quest. What is the quickening of the new man?
Ans. True ioy in God throughRom. 5.1. & 14.17 Isa. 57.15. Christ, [Page 123]and an earnest and readie desire to order thy life according to Gods will, and to doeRom. 6.10. Gal. 2.20. all good workes.
91. Quest. What are good workes?
Ans. Those onely which are done by a trueRom. 14.23 faith, according to1 Sam. 15.22 Ephe. 2.10. Gods lawe, and1 Cor. 10.3 [...] are referred only to his glorie: and not those which are imagined by vs, as seeming to vs to be right and good, or which areDeut. 11.32. Eze. 20.18. Mat. 15.9. delivered and commanded by men.
92. Quest. Which is the Law of God?
Ans. God spake allExod. [...]0.1.2.3 Deut. 5.6.7. these wordes:
- 1. I am the Lord thy God, Exe 20which hath brought thee out of Aegypt, out of the house of bondage, thou shalt have no other gods in my sight.
- 2. Thou shalt make to thee no graven Image, nor the likenes of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor in the water vnder the earth. Thou shalt not bow downe to them, nor worship them: for I the Lord thy God, am a ielous God, and visit the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shewe mercy vnto thousandes of them that love me, and keepe my commaundements.
- 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine: for the Lord will [Page 124]not hold him guiltles that taketh his name in vaine.
- 4.Deu. 5.12.Remember thou keepe holy the Sabboth daye, six dayes shalt thou labour and doe all, that thou hast to doe, but the seaventh day is the Sabboth of the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt doe no manner of workes, thou, and thy sonne, and thy daughter, thy man servant, and thy maid-servant, thy cattell, and the stranger that is within thy gate. For in sixe dayes the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and reasted the seaventh day: Wherefore the Lord blessed the seaventh day, and hallowed it.
- 5. Honour thy Father and thy Mother, that thy dayes may bee longe in the lande, which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
- 6. Thou shalt doe no murther.
- 7. Thou shhalt not commit adulterie.
- 8. Thou shalt not steale.
- 9. Thou shalt not beare false witnes against thy neighbour.
- 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house, nor his wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor his oxe, nor his asse, nor any thing that is his.
Sun. 34 93. Quest. How are the commaundements devided?
Ans. Into twoExod. 34.28 Deut. 4.13. & 10.34. tables, whereof the former [Page 125]delivereth in foure commaundements, how wee ought to behave our selves towardes God: The latter delivereth in six commanndements, what duties wee a owe vnto our neighbour.
94. Quest. What doeth God require in the first commaundement?
Ans. That, as dearelie as I render the salvation of my owne soule, so earnestlie should I shunne and flie all1 Cor 6.9.10 & 10.7.14 Idolatrie, sorcerie, enchantements,Levi. 19.31. Deut. 18.21. superstition, praying to saints, or anie otherMat. 4.12. Apo. 19.10. creatures: and should rightlieIohn 17.3. acknowledge the only and true GodIere. 17.5., trust in him alone,Heb. 10.36. Col. 1.11. Rom. 5.3.4. Phil. 2.14. submitt and subiect my self vnto him with all1 Pet. 5▪5.6. humilitie and patience,Psa. 104.27. Isa. 45.7. Iac. 1.17. looke for all good things from him alone, and lastly, with the entire affection of my heartDeut. 6.5. Mat. 22.37. love,Deut. 6. Mat 10.28. reverence, andMat. 4.20. Deut. 10.20. worship him: so that I am readie to renounce and forsake all creatures rather, then toMat. 5.29. commit the least thinge that may be against his will.
95. Quest. What is Jdolatrie?
Ans. It is, in place of that one God, or besides that one and true God, who hath manifested him selfe in his worde, to make or imagine, and account any other thing, wherein thou reposest thy1 Para. 16. Phil. 3.19. Gal. 4.8. Ephe. 2.12. hope and confidence.
[Page 126] Sunday. 34 96. Quest. What doeth the second commaundement require?
Ans. That we should notDeut. 4.15. Isa. 40.18. Rom. 1. Acts 17.19. expresse or represent God by any image, or shape and figure, or1 Sam. 15. Deut. 12.30. worship him any otherwise than he hath commaunded in his word him selfe to be worshipped.
97. Quest. May there then at all any images or resemblances of things be made?
Ans. God neither ought nor can be represented by any meanes: and for the creatures, although it bee lawfull to expresse them, yet God forbiddeth notwithstanding their images to be made or had, as thereby to worship orExod. 23.24 & 34.13.14. Num. 33.52. Deut. 7.5. honor either them, or God by them.
Sunday. 35 98. Quest. But may not images bee tolerated in Churches, whiche may serve for bookes vnto the common people?
Ans. No. For it is not seemely that wee should be wiser than God, who will have his Church to be2 Tim. 3.16. 2 Pet. 1.19. taught with the livelie preaching of his word, and not with dum beIer. 10.8. &c Hab. 2.18.19. images.
Sun. 36 99. Quest. What doeth God decree in the third commaundement?
Ans. That not only by cursing, orLev. 24.11. and 19.2. forswearing, but also byMat. 5.37. Iac. 5.12. rash swearing wee [Page 127]should not vse his name despitefully or vnreverently: neither should by silence or connivence be pertakers of those horrible sinnes in others.: But that weeIsa. 45.4. vse the sacred and holy name of God ever with great devotion and reverence: that hee may bee1 Tim. 2.8. worshipped and honoured by vs with a true and stedfastRom. 2.24. 1 Tim. 6.1. Col. 3.16.17. confession, andMat. 10.32. invocation of his name: and lastly in all our words and actions whatsoever.
100. Quest. Js it then so grievous a sinne by swearing or banning, to take the name of God in vaine, as that God is also angrie with them, who, as much as in them lieth, doe not forbid or hinder it?
Ans. Surely mostLevit. 5.1. grievous. For neither is there anie sinne greater, or more offending God, than the despiting of his sacred name. Wherefore also heLev. 24.15. would have this sinne to be punished with death.
Sunday. 37 101. Quest. May a man sweare also religiouslie and lawfully by the name of God?
Ans. He may: when as either the Magistrate exacteth it, or otherwise necessitie requireth by this meanes the faith & truth of anie man or thing to be ratified and established: whereby both the glorie of God may be advanced, and the safetie of others procured. For this kinde of swearing is [Page 128] Deut 6.13. Heb. 6.16. ordained by Gods worde, and therefore was wellGen. 21.24. Ios. 5.15.19. 1 Sam. 24.22. vsed of the Fathers both in the old, and new Testament.
102. Quest. Is it lawfull to sweare by Saints, or other creatures?
Ans. No: For a lawfull oath is an invocation of God,A [...]u. 20. & 17.10 & 20.12. Psal. 7.9. Reu. 2.13. whereby we desire, that he, as the only searcher of hearts, beare witnes vnto the trueth, and punish the swearer, if he wittingly2 Cor. 1.23. sweare falslie. But this honorMat. 5.34.35 agreeth to no creature.
Sunday. 38 103. Quest. What doeth God commaund in the fourth commaundement?
Ans. First, that the ministerie of the Gospell, and the schooles of learning should beFit. 1.15. 1 Tim. 3.14. 1 Cor. 9.11. 2 Tim. 1.2. maintained: and that I, especially on the Sabboth,Psal. 86.26. and 40.9.10. Acts 2.42.46. frequent studiouslie divine assemblies:1 Cor. 14 19 29.31. heare the word of God diligētlie; vse the1 Cor. 11.33 Sacramentes:1 Tim. 1.1.2.3.8.9. 1 Cor. 14.16. ioyne my prayers with the common prayers of the assemblie: and bestow something according to my abilitie,1 Cor. 26. on the poore. And further, that all my life time I be free frō misdeedes and evill actions, yeelding vnto the Lord, that he may by his holy spirit worke in me his worke: and so I mayIsa. 66.23. begin in this life that everlasting Sabboth.
Sunday. 39 104. Quest. What doeth God enioine vs in the sift commaundement?
Ans. That we yeeld due honor, love, and faithfulnesse to our Parentes, and so to all, who beare rule over vs, andEphe. 6.1.2. &c Col. 3.18. Ephe. 5.2. Rom. 13.1. submit our selves with such obedience, as is meete, to their faithfull commandementes, and chastisementes: And further also, that by our patience wePro. 23.21. 1 Pet. 2.18. beare and suffer their vices & maners, ever thinking with our selves, that God willEphe 6.4.9. Col. 3.19.21. Rom. 13. Mat. 22.27. governe and guide vs by their hande.
105. Quest. VVhat doeth God exact in the sixt commaundement?
Ans. That neither in thought, nor in gesture, much lesse indeed, I reproch or hate, or harme, orMat. 5.12. Gen. 9.6. Mat. 26.52. kill my neighbour, either by my selfe, or by another: butEphe. 4.26. Rom. 12.19. Mat. 5.25. cast away all desire of revenge. Furthermore, that IRom. 13.14. Col. 2.23. hurt not my selfe, or cast my selfe wittinglie into any daunger. Wherefore also, that murthers might not bee committed, he hathGen. 9.6. Mat. 26.52. Rom. 13.4. armed the Magistrate with the sworde.
Sunday. 40 106. Quest. But this commaundement seemeth to forbidde murther only?
Ans. But in forbidding murther, God doeth further teach that hee hateth the roote and cause of murther, to witt,Iae 1.20. Gal. 5.20. anger,Rom. 1.29. envie,1 Iohn 2.9. hatred, and desire of revenge, and doeth1 Iohn 3.15 [...] account them all for murther.
[Page 130] 107. Quest. Is it enough then, that wee kill no man in such sorte as hath bene said?
Ans. It is not enough: For when God condemneth anger, envy, hatred, he requireth that weMat. 22.39. & 1.12. love our neighbour as our selves, and that wee vseRom 12.10 humanitie, lenitie, courtesie,Ephe. 4.2. Gal. 6.1.2. Mat. 5.5. Rom. 12.18. patience, andExod. 23.5. mercy towards him, andMat. 5.45. turne away from him, as much as we may, whatsoever may be hurtfull vnto him. In a word, that we bee so affected in minde, as that weeRom. 12.20 sticke not to doe good also vnto our enemies.
Sunday. 41 108. Quest. What is the meaning of the seaventh commaundement?
Ans. That God hath inLev. 18.27. execration, all turpitude, and filthines, and therefore wee also mustIud. 22.13. vtterlie hate and detest it, and contrariwise live temperately, modestly, &1 Thes. 4.3. chastlie, whether weeHeb. 13.4. 1 Cor. 7.4. live in holy wedlocke, or in single life.
109. Quest. Forbiddeth God nothing els in this commaundement, but adulterie, and such kindes of vncleannes?
Ans. Seeing both our body and soule are the temples of the holy ghost,1 Cor. 3.16. & 6.19. 2 Cor. 6.16. God will have vs to possesse both in puritie and holines. And therefore deedes, gestures,Ephe. 5.3. 1 Cor. 6.18. wordes, thoughts,Mat. 5.27. filthy lustes, and whatsoever entiseth a man vnto these, all that [Page 131]he wholyEphe. 5.18. 1 Cor. 15.33. forbiddeth.
Sun. 42 110. Quest. What doeth God forbid in the eight commaundement?
Ans. Not only those1 Cor. 6.10. theftes, and1 Cor. 5.10. robberies which the Magistrate punisheth: but by the name of theft, hee comprehendeth whatsoever evill craftes, fetches and devises, whereby we seeke after other mens goods, and endevour by force, or with some shew of right, toLuc. 3.14. 1 Thes. 4.6. convey them over vnto our selves: of which sorte are; falsePro. 11.1. weights, false elns, vnevenEzec. 45.9. Deut. 25.13. measures, deceitfull marchandise, counterfeit coine,Psal. 15.5. Luc. 6.35. vsurie, or anie other way or meanes of furthering our estate, which God hath forbidden. To these we may add all1 Cor. 6.10. covetousnes: and the manifold wast and abusing of Gods giftes.
Sunday. 43 111. Quest. What are those things, which God here commaundeth?
Ans. That to my power I helpe and further the commodities and profit of my neighbour: and that I so deale with him, as I wouldPro. 5.16. desire to bee dealth with my selfe: and that I doe my own work painfully, and faithfully, that IMat. 7.12. may thereby helpe others also who are distressed with any neede or calamitie.
112. Quest. What doeth the ninth commaundement exact?
Ans. That I beare no falsePro. 19.5.6. and 21.28. witnes against any man, neitherPsal. 13.3. falsifie any mans words, neither backbite orRom. 1.29. reproch anie man, norMa. 7.1. &c. Luke. 6.37. cōdemne anie man rashly or vnheard, but avoid andIohn 8.44. shunne with all carefulnesse all kinde of lies, and deceipt, as thePro. 12.22. & 13.5. proper works of the divell: except I meane to stirre vp against me the most greevous wrath of God. And that in iudgements and other affaires I follow the trueth, and freelie and constantly1 Cor. 13.6. Ephe 4 25. professe the matter as it in deed is: And moreover defend and1 Pet. 5.8. encrease, as much as in me lieth, the good name and estimation of others.
Sunday. 44 113. Quest. What doeth the tenth commaundement forbid?
Ans. That our hearts be not at any time moved by the least desire, or cogitation, against anie commaundement of God: but that continuallie and from our heart, we detest all sinne, and contrarily,Rom. 7.7 &c delight in all righteousnesse.
114. Quest. But can they, who are converted vnto God, perfectlie observe and keepe these commaundements?
Ans. No: But even the holiest men as long as they live, have onely small beginnings of thisRom. 7.14. obedience: yet so, that theyRom. 7.22. Iac. 2.10. begin with an earnest and vnfained desire [Page 133]& endeavour to live not according to some onelie, but according to all the commaundements of God.
115. Quest. Why will God then have his Law to bee so exactlie and severely preached, seeing there is no man in this life, who is able to keepe it?
Ans. First, that all our life time we more & moreIohn 1.9. Psal. 22.5. acknowledge the great pronenes of our nature to sinne, and so much the more greedilyRom. 7.24. desire remission of sinnes, & righteousnes in Christ: Secondly, that wee be1 Cor. 9.24. Phil. 3.12.13.14. doing of this alwaies: and alwaies thinking of that, and implore and crave of the Father the grace of his holy spirit, whereby we may daily more and more bee renued to the image and likenesse of God, vntill at length after wee are departed out of this life, we may ioyfully attaine vnto that perfection which is proposed vnto vs.
OF PRAYER.
Sunday. 45 116. Quest. Wherefore is Prayer necessarie for Christians?
Ans. Because it is the chief part of thatPsal. 50.15. thankfulnes which God requireth of vs. And also because God giveth them onely his grace and holy spirit,Rom. 9.26. who with vnfained gronings, begge them continually of him, andMat. 7.7.1. Luk. 11.9.13. Mar. 13.12. yeeld him thankes for them.
[Page 134] 117. Quest. What is required vnto that prayer, which shall please God, and bee heard of him?
Ans. That we aske of the only true God, who hathIoh. 4.22. manifested him selfe in his word, all things, which he hath commanded to beRom. 8.26. 1 Iohn. 5.14. asked of him with a true affection and desire of our heart, and through an inwardIoh. 4.23.24 Psal. 145.18. feeling of our neede and miserie2 Par. 20.12 cast our selves downe prostrate in the presence of his divine maiestie: andPsal. 2.11. & 39. Isa. 66.2. builde our selves on this sure foundation, that we, though vnworthy, yet for Christes sake, are certainlyRom. 10.14. and 8.15.16. Iac. 1.6. &c. heard of God, evē as he hathIo. 14.13. Dan. 9.17.18. Mat. 7.8. Psal. 133.1. promised vs in his word.
118. Quest. What are those thinges, which he commaundeth vs to aske of him?
Ans. AllIac. 1.17. Mat. 6.33. things necessary both for soule and body: which our Lord Iesus Christ hath comprised in that prayer, which him selfe hath taught vs.
119. Quest. What prayer is that? Ans. OVRMat. 6.9.10.13 Luc. 11.2. &c. 3.4. Mat. 7.9. Father, which art in heaven, hallowed bee thy name; thy kingdome come: thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give vs this day our daily bread. And forgive vs our trespasses, as wee forgive them that trespasse against vs: And lead vs not into temptation: but deliver vs from [Page 135]evill: for thine is the kingdome, the power, and glorie, for ever, and ever. AMEN.
Sunday. 46 120. Quest. Why doeth Christ teach vs to call God our Father?
Ans. That presently in the very entrance and beginning of the prayer, he might stirr vp in vs such a reverence and confidence in God, as is meet for the sons of God, which must be the ground and foundation of our prayer: to wit, that God through Christ is made our Father, and will much lesse denie vnto vs those thinges, whiche wee aske of him with a true faith, than our earthly ParentesMat. 7.9.10.11. Luke 11.11. denie vnto vs earthly things.
121. Quest. Why is that added, which art in heaven?
Ans. That weIer. 23.24. Acts 17.24. conceive not basely or terrenely of Gods heavenly Maiestie: And also that weeRom. 10.12. looke for & expect from his omnipotencie, whatsoever things are necessarie for our soule and body.mat 6.9. luk. 11.2
Sunday. 47 122. Quest. What is the first petition?
Ans. Hallowed be thy name: that is, graūt vs first toIohn 17.3. Ier. 9.23.24. Mat. 16.17. Iac. 1.5. know thee aright, and to worship, praise, andPsal. 119.137.138. Luke 1.46. Psal. 145.8.9. magnifie thy almightinesse, goodnesse, iustice, mercie, and trueth shyning in all thy works. And further also, to direct our whole life, thoughts, words, & workes to this ende, that thy most holy [Page 136]name be not reproched for vs, but rather bePsal. 115.1. and 71.8. Mat 6.10 renowmed with honour and praises.
Sun. 48 123. Quest. What is the second petition?
Ans. Let thy kingdome come, that is, rule vs so by thy word and spirit, that weMat. 6.33. Psal. 119.5. may humble and submit our selves more and more vnto thee: preserve and increase thyPsal. 51.20. Church; destroy the workes of the devill, and all power that lifteth vp it selfe against thy Maiestie: make all those counsails frustrate and voide which are1 Iohn 3.8. Rom. 16.20. taken against thy worde, vntill at length thouApoc. 22. raigne fully and perfectly, when thou shalt be all in1 Cor. 15.28 all.
Sunday 49 124. Quest. What is the third petition?
Ans. Thy will he done in earth, as it is in heaven: that is, graunt that we and all men renouncing andMat. 16.24. Tit. 2.12. forsaking our owne will, may readily and without anyLuke 22.42 grudging obey thy will, which is only holy: and that so every of vs may faithfully and cheerfullie1 Cor. 7.24. performe that duety and charge whiche thou hast committed vnto vs, even as the blessed Angels doe inPsal. 103.20 heaven.
Sunday. 50 125. Quest. What is the fourth petition?
Ans. Give vs this day our daylie bread: mat 6.11 Luk 16.3. that is, give vnto vs all things which arePsal. 145.15 Mat. 25. &c. needfull for this life, that by them wee may acknowledge and confesse thee to bee [Page 137]the only fountaine, from whence all good thingsActs 17.27. flow, and all our care and industrie, and even thine owne giftes to bee vnfortunate and1 Cor. 53.53 Deut. 8.3. Psa. 27.16.17 noisome vnto vs, except thou blesse them. Wherefore, graunt that turning our trust away from all creatures, weePsa. 62.11. and 55.23 place and repose it in thee alone.
Sunday. 51 126. Quest. What is the fift petition?
Ans. Forgive vs our trespasses, Luk. 11.4 mat. 6.12. as wee forgive them that trespasse against vs: that is, Even for the blood of Christ, doe notPsal. 51.1. 1 Ihon. 2.1.2. impute vnto vs most miserable and wretched sinners, all our offences, neither that corruption, which still cleaveth vnto vs: even as we also feele this testimonie of thy grace in our heartes, that wee stedfastlie purpose vnfeignedlie from our heart, toMat. 6.14.15. pardon and forgive all those, who have offended vs.
Sunday. 52 127. Quest. What is the sixt petition? Luk. 11.4
Ans. Lead vs not into temptation, mat. 6.13. but deliver vs from evill: that is, because wee our selves are so feeble and weake by nature, that weIohn 15.51. Psal. 103.14 cannot stand so much as one moment or instant; and our most deadlie enemies,1 Pet. 5.1. Ephe 6.12. satan, theIohn 15.1. world, and our ownRom. 7.23. Gal. 5.17. flesh, doe instantly oppugne and assault vs: vphold thou vs, and establish & strengthen vs by the might of thy spirit, that wee [Page 138]may not in this spirituall combatMar. 26.41 Mar. 13.33. yeelde as vanquished, but may so long stoutlie withstand them, vntill at length wee1 Thes. 3.13. and 5.23. gett the full and perfect victorie.
128. Quest. How concludest thou this prayer?
Ans. For thine is the kingdome, the power, and the glorie, for ever, that is, we aske and crave all these thinges of thee, because, seeing both thou art our King, and art almightie; thou art both willing and able toRom. 10.11 2 Pet. 2.9. give them all vnto vs. And these things we therefore aske, that out of them, not to vs, but vnto thy holy Name, all glorie mayIoh. 14.13. Psal. 115.1. Ier. 33.8.9. redound.
129. Quest. What meaneth this particle, Amen?
Ans. That the thing is sure and out of doubt. For my prayer is much more certainly heard of God, than I feele in my hart, that I vnfaignedly1 Cor. 1.20. [...] Tim. 2.13. desire the same.