THE Grounds and Principles OF RELIGION Contained in A Shorter CATECHISM: (According to the Advice of the Assembly of DIVINES sitting at Westminster.)
To be used throughout the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales.
Corrected and Amended.
LONDON, Printed and are to be Sold by John Whitlock near Stationers-Hall. 1693.
[...] accompany, or flow from Justification, Adop [...]ion and Sanctification?
A; The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from Justification, Adoption and Sanctification, are assurance of God's love, peace ofRom. 5.1.5. conscience, joy in theRom. 14.17. Holy Ghost, increase ofProv. 4.18. grace, and perseverance therein to the1 Ioh. 5.13. 1 Pet. 1.5. end.
Q. 30. VVhat benefits do believers receive [...]om Christ at their death?
A. The Souls of believers are at their death made perfectHeb. 12.23. in holiness, and do immediately pass into2 Cor. 5.1, 6, 8. Phil. 1.23. Luke 22.43. glory, and their bodies being still united to1 Thes. 4.14. Christ, do rest in their gravesIsa. 57.2. till theIob 19.26, 27. resurrection.
Q. 38. VVhat benefits do believers receive from Christ at the Resurrection?
A. At the Resurrection, believers being [...]ed up to1 Cor. 15.43. glory shall be openly acknow [...]dged, and acquitted in the day ofMat. 25.23. Mat. 10.32. Judg [...]ent, and made perfectly blessed in full en [...]ying of1 Iohn 3.2. 1 Cor. 13.12. God, to all1 Thes. 4.17 18. eternity.
[...]. 39. VVhat is the duty that God requires of Man?
A. The duty which God requires of man, [...] obedience to his revealedMic. 6.8. 1 Sam. 15.22. will.
Q. 40. VVhat did God at first reveal to Man for the rule of his obedience?
A. The rule which God at first revealed to Man for his obedience, was the MoralRom. 2.14, 15. & 10.5. Law.
Q. 41. VVhere is the Law summarily comprehended?
A. The Moral Law is summarily comprehended in the TenDeut. 10.4. Commandments.
Q. 42. VVhat is the sum of the ten Commandments
A. The sum of the ten Commandments, is to love the Lord our God with all our hearts [Page 10] with all our soul, with all our strength, & with all our mind, and our neighbor as ourMat. 22.37, 38, 39, 40. selves.
Q. 43. What is the Preface to the Ten Commandments?
A. The Preface to the Ten Commandments is in these words,Exod. 20.2. I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the Land of Egypt, out of the House of Bondage.
Q. 44. What did the Preface of the Ten Commandments teach us?
A. The Preface to the Ten Commandments teach us, that because God is the Lord and our God and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all hisLuk. 1.74, 75. 1 Pet. 1.15, 16, 17, 18.12. Commandments.
Q. 45. Which is the first Commondment?
A. The first Commandment is, [Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.]
Q. 46. What is required in the first Commandment?
A. The first Commandment requireth us to know and acknowledg God to be the only true God, and our1 Chron. 28.9. Deut. 26.17. God, and to worship and glorifie himMat. 4.10. Psal. 29.2. accordingly.
Q. 47. What is forbidden in the first Commandment?
A. The first Commandment forbiddeth thePsal. 14.1. denying, or not worshipping and glorifying the trueRom. 1.20. God, as God, and ourPsal. 18.10, 11. God, and the giving that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone.
Rom. 1.25, 26. Q. 48. What are we especially taught by these words, before me, in the first Commandment?
A. These words, Before me, in the first Commandment teach us, that God seeth all things taketh notice, and is much displeased with the sin of having any otherEzek. 8.5. to the end. God.
Q. 49. Which is the second Commandment?
A. The second Commandment is, [Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven Image, or any likeness of any thing that is in the 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 jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the Fathers upon the Children, unto the the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shew mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments]
Q. 50.Exod. 20, 41.5, 6. What is required in the second Commondment?
A. The second Commandment requireth the receiving observing and keeping pure and entire all such Religious Worship and Ordinances, as God hath appointed in hisDeut. 32.46. Mat. 28.20. Acts 2.42. Word.
Q. 51. What is forbidden in the second Commandment?
A. The second Commandment forbiddeth the Worshipping of God byDeut. 4.15.16, 17, 18, 19. Exod. 32.5.8. Images, or any other way appointed not in hisDeut. 12.31, 32. Word.
Q. 52. What are the Reasons annexed to the second Commandment?
A. The Reasons annexed to the second Commandment are Gods Soveraignty overPsal. 95.2, 3, 6. us, his propriety inPsal. 145.11. Exod. 34.13, 14. us, and the zeal he hath to his ownPsal. 145.11. Exod. 34.13, 14. worship.
Q. 53. Which is the third Commandment?
A. The third Commandment is, [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 Exod. 20.7. vain.]
Q. 54. What is required in the third Commandment?
A. The third Commandment requireth the holy and reverend use of God's Names,Mat. 6.9. Deut. 28.58. Psal. 68.4. Titles,Apoc. 15.3, 4. Attributes,Mal. 1.11, 14. Ordinances,Psal. 138.1, 2. Word, andIob 36.24. Works,
Q. 55. What is forbidden in the third Commandment?
A. The third Commandment forbiddeth all prophaning, or abusing of any thing whereby God makes himself known.Mal. 1.6, 7, 12. & 2.2. & 3.14.
Q. 56. What is the reason annexed to the third Commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the third Commandment, is, that however the breakers of this Commandment may escape punishment from Men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous1 Sam. 2.12, 17. & 22.29. 1 Sam. 3.13. Deut. 28.58, 59. Judgment.
Q. 57. Which is the fourth Commandment?
A. The fourth Commandment is [Remember the Sabbath day to keep 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 the stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day, wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and Exod. 20.8, 9, 10, 11. hallowed it.]
Q. 58. What is required in the fourth Commandment?
A. The fourth Commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set-times as he hath appointed in his Word, expresly one whole day in seven to be a holy Sabbath toDeut. 5.12, 13, 14. himself.
Q. 59. VVhich day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath?
A. From the beginning of the world to the Resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath, and the first day of the week ever [...]nce to continue to the end of the world, which is the ChristianGen. 2.2, 3. 1 Cor. 16.1, 2. Acts 20.7. [...] Sabbath.
Q. 60. How is the Sabbath to be sanctified?
A. The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all thatExod. 20, 8, 18. day, even from such worldly imployments and recreations, as are lawful on other days,Exod. 16.25:26, 27, 28. Neh. 13.15, to 21 verse. and spending the whole time in the publick and private exercises of God'sMat. 12.11. to 13. Worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity andLuk. 4.16. Acts 20.7. Psal. 9.2. Is. 66.23. Ezek. 22.26. Amos 8.5. Mal. 1.13. mercy.
Q. 61. What is forbidden in the fourth Commandment?
A. The fourth Commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless performance of the duties required, and the profaning the day byActs 20.7, 9. idleness, or doing that which is in it selfEzek. 23.38. sinful, or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works about worldly imployments, or recreations.
Q. 62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment?
A. Jer. 17.24, 25, 26. Is. 58.13. The reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment are God's allowing us six days of the week for our ownExod. 28.9. imployments, his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own Example, and his blessing theExod. 20.11. Sabbath-day.
Q. 63. Which is the fifth Commandment?
A. The fifthExod. 20.12. Commandment is, [Honour thy Father and thy Mother, that thy days may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Q. 64. What is required in the fifth Commandment?
A. The fifth Commandment requireth the preserving the honour, and performing the duties belonging to every one in their several places, and Relations, asEph. 5.21. superiors,1 Pet. 2.17. inferiors, orRom. 12.10. equals.
Q. 65. What is required in the fifth Commandment?
A. The fifth Commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing any thing against the honor and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places andMat. 15.4, 5, 6. Ezek. 34.2, 3, 4. Rom. 13.7. relations.
Q. 66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth Commandment?
A. The Reason annexed to the fifth Commandment, is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God's Glory and their own good) to all such as keep thisDeut. 5.16. Eph. 6.2, 3. Commandment.
Q. 67. What is the sixth Commandment?
A. The sixth Commandment is, [Thou shalt not Exod. 20.13. kill]
Q. 68. What is required in the sixth Commandment?
A. The sixth Commandment requireth all lawful endeavour to preserve our ownEph. 5.28, 29. life, and the life of1 Kin. 18.4. others.
Q. 69. What is forbidden in the sixth Commandment?
A. The sixth Commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, and whatsoever tendethActs 16.28. Gen. 9▪ 6. thereunto.
Q. 70. Which is the seventh Commandment?
Exod▪ 20.14. A. The seventh Commandment is, [Thou shalt not commit Adultery.]
Q. 71. What is [...]quired in the seventh Commandment?
A. The seventh [...]mandment requireth the preservation o [...] our own, and our neighbours chastity, in1 Cor. 7.2, 3, 4, 5, 36. speech, heart andCol. 4.6. 1 Pet. 3.2. behaviour.
Q. 72. What is forbidden in the seventh Commandment?
A. The seventh CommandmentMat. 15.19. & 5.28. Eph. 5.3, 4. forbiddeth all unchast thoughts, words and actions.
Q. 73. Which is the eighth Commandment?
A. The eighth Commandment is [Thou shalt not Exod. 20.15. steal.]
Q. 74. What is required in the eighth Commandment?
A. The eighth Commandment requireth the lawful procuring, and furthering the wealth, and outward estate of our selves, andGen. 30.30. 1 Tim. 5.8. Lev. 25.35. Deut. 22.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Exod. 23.4, 5. Gen. 47.14, 20. others.
Q. 75. What is forbidden in the eighth Commandment?
A. The eighth Commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth, or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbours wealth or outwardProv. 11.17. & 23.20, 21. & 28.19. Eph. 4.28. estate.
Q. 76. Which is the ninth Commandment?
A. The ninth Commandment is [Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy Exod. 20.16. neighbour.]
Q. 77. What is required in the ninth Commandment?
A. The ninth Commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man andZech. 8.16. man, and of our own, and our neighbours goodJoh. 5.12. name, especially in witnessPr. 10.5, 25. bearing.
Q. 78. What is forbidden in the ninth Commandment?
A. The ninth Commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own, or neighbours good1 Sam. 11.22. Psal. 15.3. name.
Q. 79. Which is the Tenth Commandment?
A. The Tenth Commandment is, [Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours House, Exod. 20.17. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours Wife, nor his Man-servant, nor his Maid-servant, nor his Ox, nor his Ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbours.]
Q. 80. What is required in the Tenth Commandment?
A. The tenth Commandment requireth full contentment with our ownHeb. 13.5. 1 Tim. 6.6. condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit towards our neighbour, and all that isIob 31.29. Rom. 12.15. 1 Tim. 1.5. 1 Cor. 13.4, 5, 6, 7. his.
Q. 81. What is forbidden in the Tenth Commandment?
A. The Tenth Commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own1 Kin. 21.4. Esth. 5.13. 1 Cor. 10.10. state, envying or grieving at the good of ourGal. 5.26. Iam. 3.15, 16. neighbour, and all inordinate motions and affections to any thing that isRom. 7.7 8. & 13.9. Deut. 5.21. his.
Q. 82. Is any Man able perfectly to keep the Commandments of God?
A. No meer man since the fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the Commandments of GodEccles. 7.20. 1 Iohn 1.8, 20. Gal. 5.17., but daily doth break them in thought, word andGen. 6.5. & 8.21. Rom. 5.9. to 21. Iames 3.2, to 13. deed.
Q. 83. Are all transgressions of the Law equally heinous?
A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more hainous in the sight of God thanEzek. 8.6.13, 15. 1 Iohn 5.16. Psal. 58.17.32.56. others.
Q. 84. What doth every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserveth Gods Wrath and curse, both in this Life, and that which is toEph. 5.6. Gal. 3.10. Lam. 3.39. Mat. 25.41. come.
Q. 85. VVhat doth God require of us, that we may escape the wrath and curse due to us, for sin?
A. To Escape the Wrath and Curse of God due to us for sin, God requireth of us Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance untoActs 20.21. life, with the diligent use of all outward means whereby Christ Communicated to us the benefits ofProv. 2.1. to 8.33. to the end. Isa. 55.3. Redemption
Q. 85. VVhat is Faith in Jesus Christ.
A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a savingHeb. 10.39. grace whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for Salvation, as he is offered to us in theIohn 1.12. Isa. 33.22. Phil. 3.9. Gal. 2.10. Gospel.
Q. 87. VVhat is Repentance unto Life?
A. Repentance unto Life is a savingActs 11.18. grace whereby a sinner out of a true sense of hisActs 2.37, 38, 39. sin, and apprehension of the Mercy of God inJoel 2.13. Christ, doth with Grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it untoJer. 2.12. Jer. 31.18, 19. Ezek. 36.31. God with full purpose of, and endeavour after2 Cor. 7.11. Psal. 16.7. new obebience.
Q. 88. VVhat are the outward means, whereby Christ Communicateth to us the benefits of Redemption.
A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of Redemption, are his Ordinances, especially the Word, Sacraments and Prayer, all which are made effectual to the Elect forMat, 28.19, 20. Acts 2.41, 42. Salvation.
Q. 89. How is the VVord made effectual to Salvation?
A. The Spirit of God maketh the Reading, but especially the Preaching of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort through Faith untoNeh. 8.8. 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. Acts 6.6. Psal. 19.7. Acts 20.32. Rom. 15.4. 2 Tim. 3.15, 16, 17. Rom. 10.13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 1.16. Salvation.
Q. 90. How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?
A. That the Word may become effectual to Salvation, we must attend thereunto with1 Pet. 2.1, 2. diligence, preparationPsal. 129.18. andProv. 8.34. prayer, receive it with faith andHeb. 4.2. 2 Thes. 2.10. love, lay it up in ourPsal. 119.11. hearts, and practice it in our lives.
Q. 91. How do the Sacraments become effectual means of salvation?
A. The Sacraments become effectual means of Salvation, not from any vertue in them, or in him that doth administer them, but only by the blessing of1 Pet. 3. Mat. 3.11. 1 Cor. 3.6, 7. Christ, and the working of the Spirit in them, that by faith receive1 Cor. 12.12. them.
Q. 92. What is a Sacrament?
A. A Sacrament is an holy Ordinance instituted by Christ,Luke 8.15. Jam. 1.25. wherein, by sensible signs, Christ and the benefits of the New Covenant are represented, sealed and applied to a believer.
Q. 93. Which are the Sacraments of the New Testament?
Gen. 17.10. Exod. 12. cap. 1 Cor. 15.25, 26. A. The Sacraments of the New Testament areMat. 28.2. Baptism, and the LordsMat. 26.20, 27, 28. Supper.
Q. 94. What is Baptism?
A. Baptism is a Sacrament, wherein the washing with Water, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the HolyMat. 28.19. Ghost doth signifie and seal our ingrafting into [Page 19] Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the Covenant of Grace, and our ingagement to be theRom. 6.2. Gal. 3.27. Lords.
Q. 95. To whom is Baptism to be administred?
A. Baptism is not to be administred to any that are out of the visible Church, till they profess their Faith in Christ, and obedience toActs 8.36, 37, & 2.38. him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible Church are to beActs 2.38, 39. Gen. 17.10. Col. 2.11, 12. 1 Cor. 7.14. baptised.
Q. 96. What is the Lord's Supper?
A. The Lords Supper is a Sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving Bread and Wine according to Christs appointment, his death is shew'd forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal & carnal manner, but by Faith made partakers of his Body and Blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in1 Cor. 11.23, 24, 25, 26. and 10.16. grace.
Q. 97. What is required of the worthy receivers of the Lords Supper?
A. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lords Supper, that they examine themselves, of their knowledge to discern the Lords1 Cor. 11.28, 29 Body, of their Faith to feed upon2 Cor. 14.5. him, of their1 Cor. 11.27. Repentance,Cor. 10.16, 17. Love, and new1 Cor. 5.7, 8. obedience, lest coming unworthily, they eat and drinkCor. 13.28, 29. judgment to themselves.
Q. 98. What is Prayer?
A. Prayer is an offering of our desire toPsal. 62.8. God, for things agreeable to his1 Joh. 5.15. will, in the Name ofJoh. 16.23. Christ, with confession of ourPsal. 32.5.9. Dan. 9. S. sins and thankful acknowledgment of hisPhil. 1. [...] mercies.
Q. 99. What Rule hath God given for our direction in Prayer?
A. The whole Word of God is of use to direct us inJohn 5.14. Prayer, but the special rule of direction, is that form of Prayer which Christ taught his Disciples, commonly called, The Lords Mat. 6.9, 10.11, 12, 13. Luke 11.2.3, 4. Prayer.
Q. 100. VVhat doth the Preface of the Lords Prayer teach us.
A. The Preface of the Lords Prayer which is, Our Father which art in Heaven, Mat. 6.9. teacheth us to draw near to God with holy reverence and confidence, as Children to a Father, able and ready to helpRom. 8.15. Luke 11.13. us; and that we should pray with and forActs 12.5. 1 Tim. 2.1, 2. others.
Q. 101. VVhat do we pray for in the first Petition?
A. In the first Petition, which is, Hallowed be thy Mat. 6.9. Name, we pray, that God would enable us and others to glorifie him in all that whereby he maketh himselfPsal. 62.2, 3. known, and that he would dispose all things to his ownPsal. 6.9. glory.
Q. 102. VVhat do we pray for in the Second Petition?
A. In the second Petition, which is,Mat. 6.10. Thy Kingdom come, we pray that Satans Kingdom may bePsal. 68.18. destroyed, and that the Kingdom of Grace may beApoc. 12.10, 11. advanced, our selves and others brought into it, and kept in2 Thes. 3.1. Rom. 10.1. Ioh. 17.19, 20. it, and that the Kingdom of Glory may beApoc. 22.20. hasten'd
Q. 103. VVhat do we pray for in the third Petition?
A. In the third Petition, which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Mat. 6.10. heaven, we pray, that God by his Grace would make us able and willing to know,Psal. 67. Psal. 139.36. Mat. 26.39. 2 Sam. 15.25. Iohn. 12.21 obey, and submit to his will in all things, as the Angels do in h Heaven.
Q. 104. VVhat do we pray for in the fourth Petition?
A. In the fourth Petition, which is, Give [...]s this day our dayly i bread, we pray,Mat. 6.11. that of God's free gift we may receive a compe [...]ent portion of the good things of this Life, [...]nd enjoy his blessing withProv. 30.8, 9. Gen. 28.20. 1 Tim. 4.4, 5. them.
Q. 105. VVhat do we pray for in the Fifth [...]etition?
A. In the fifth Petition, which is, And [...]orgive us our debts, as we forgive our Mat. 6.12. Deb [...]ors, we pray, that God for Christs sake would [...] freely pardon all our sins:Psal. 51.1.2. 7, 9. Dan. 9.17, 18, 19. Which we are [...] rather encouraged to ask, because by [...]is grace we are enabled from the heart to [...]orgiveLuke 11.4. Mat. 18.35. others.
Q. 106. VVhat do we pray for in the sixth Petition?
A. In the sixth Petition, which is, And [...]ead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from Mat. 6.13. Evil, we pray, that God would either keep us from being tempted toMat. 26.41. sin, or support and deliver us when we are2 Cor. 12.7, 8. tempted.
Q. 107. VVhat doth the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer teach ut?
A. The Conclusion of the Lord's Prayer, which is, For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory for ever Mat. 6.13. Amen, teacheth us to take our encouragement in Prayer from God only and in our Prayers to Praise him, ascribingDan. 9.4, 7, 8. 9, 16. to 19. Kingdom, Power and Glory to1 Chron. 29.10, to 13. him: and in testimony of our desire and assurance to be heard, we say1 Cor. 14.36. Apoc. 20.20. Amen.
The Ten Commandments. Exodus 20.
GOD speak all these words, saying, I am the Lord th [...] God which have brought thee out of the Land [...] Egypt out of the House of Bondage.
I. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.
II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above, or tha [...] is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under th [...] earth; thou shalt not bow down thy self to them, nor serv [...] them: For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visitin [...] the iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children unto th [...] third and fourth generation of them that hate me: an [...] shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me an [...] keep my Commandments.
III. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord th [...] God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless tha [...] taketh his Name in vain.
IV. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy; six day shalt thou labour and do all thy work; but the seventh da [...] is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt not d [...] any work, thou nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man servant nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattel, nor the stranger that is within thy Gates. For in six days the Lord mad [...] Heaven and Earth, the Sea, and all that in them is; an [...] rested the seventh day, wherefore the Lord blessed th [...] Sabbath day and hallowed it.
V. Honour thy Father and thy Mother, that thy day may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
VI. Thou shalt not kill.
VII. Thou shalt not commit Adultery.
VIII. Thou shalt not steal.
IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy Neighbour.
[Page]X. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours House, thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid servant, nor his Ox, nor his Ass, nor any thing that is thy Neighbours.
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 [...]ead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the Kingdom and the power, and the glory 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 intoThat is, continued in the state of the Dead, and under the power of Death till the third day. Hell, the third day he arose again from the dead, he ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right [...]and 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.
SO much of every question is repeated in the Answe [...] as maketh every Answer an entire Proposition [...] Sentence in it self, to the end the Learner may furth [...] improve it upon all occasions, for his increase in Knowledg [...] and Piety, even out of the Course of Catechising, [...] well as in it.
And albeit the substance of the Doctrine comprised that abridgment, commonly called, The Apostles Creed, fully set forth in each of the Catechisms, so as there is [...] necessity of inserting the Creed it self, yet it is here anne [...] ed; not as though it were composed by the Apostles, [...] ought to be esteemed Canonical Scripture, as the Ten Commandments and the Lords Prayer, much less a Prayer (a [...] ignorant people have been apt to make both it and the D [...] calogue) but because it is a brief sum of the Christia [...] Faith agreeable to the Word of God, and anciently rec [...] ved in the Church of Christ.