A Brief CATECHISME Containing THE DOCTRINE OF GODLINES, OR OF LIVING UNTO GOD.
By JOHN NORTON, Teacher of the Church at Boston in New-England.
CAMBRIDG Printed by S. G. and M. J. New-England.
1660
THE DOCTRINE of Godliness.
Quest. WHat is Divinity?
Answ. The Doctrine of Godliness,Rom. 6.11. or of living unto God.
Quest.How many parts hath it?
Answ. Two 1 Faith in God.Tit. 3.8. 2. Obedience unto God.
Q. How many Gods are there? Deut 6.4. 1 Cor. 8,5 6.
Answ. One.
Q. How many Persons are there?
Answ. Three.
Q. Concerning God, Mat.3.16 & 28.19. Joh. 15.26, 2 Cor 13.13. 1 Joh.5.7 what are you to know?
A. 1. His Being or Essence. 2. The manner of his Being. 3. His Workes, all according to his Word, and our measure,Ex.37.25 who here can onely see his Back-parts.
Quest. What are you to understand by his Being?
A. God himself considered absolutely or essentially.
[Page 4] Quest. What are you to understand by the manner of his Being?
A. God considered Relatively or Personally, viz. in the Relation of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, which Relative properties are called Persons.
Qu. How do you expresse your Beliefe concerning God.
A I believe God to be Jehovah, Elohim▪ that is one absolute being, subsisting in three persons of Father, Son & Holy Ghost.
Qu. Concerning the works of this one God, Eph 1.11 Rev 4.11 Col.1.16. Psal.145.15,16 Pro.16. [...]. how do you distinguish them?
A They are either inward as his Decree, or outward as his Creation and Providence.
Qu. What is Creation? Gen. 1.
A. It is the first outward work of God, whereby (in six dayes) he made all things of nothing very good.Gen. 1.26,27. Gen.5.1,2.
Q. How did he Create man?
A. In his own Image created he him Male and Female Created he them.
Qu. Wherein did the Image of God Consist? Eph 4.24
A. In righteousness & true holiness
Qu. What is Providence?
[Page 5] A. That by which God governeth all his works,Pro. 16.4. Ro.8.28,29 and all the actions thereof as maketh most for his glory, and the good of his elect.
Qu. What do you consider concerning Gods speciall Government of man?
A. Deu. 26.16,17,18,19. Rom 9.19 His prescribing to him a Law and his ordering the events that were to follow thereupon.
Qu. What do you observe concerning those events? Rom 5.19 1 Cor. 15 21.
A. His fall and his Recovery.
Q. What do you observe in the fall of man? Gen.3.6.
A. The transgression or sin it selse and the Propagation of it.
Q. What was the Transgression? Gen.3.6,11,12.
A. The eating of the forbidden fruit.
Q. What followed thereupon?
A. Both guilt and punishment,Ro. 3.9.19. Rom 5.12 Gen 2.17 viz; death, a great part of which death, is originall sin.
Qu. What is Originall sin?
A. Rom 7.17 Heb.12.1 Gen.6.5. Rom.8.7. Jer.2.13. The hereditary and habitual contrariety and enmity of the nature of man against the whole Law of God, consisting in an aversenesse from all good, and propensenesse unto all evill.
[Page 6] Q. What is the propagation of sin?
A. [...]b 14.4. Is [...] [...].5. Rom 5.14. Eph.2.3. The conveyance of that actual sin of Adam [in eating the forbidden Fruit] and original sin the effect thereof with the guilt and punishment to all his posterity, proceeding from him by way of ordinary generation.
Q. How to Adams sin made ours?
A. Rom 5.12 By participation and imputation.
Q. After what order is sin conveyed and derived unto man?
A. The actual sin of Adam in eating the forbidden fruit, is made ours by imputation, thence proceedeth original sin, as an effect from the cause, hence actual as an act from the habit.
Q. What is the way by which God reveals all this misery?
A. By the Moral Law,Rom.7.7. the sum of which is the Ten Commandements.
Q. What do you believe concerning man in this estate?
A. That he is wholly dead in sin,Eph.2.1,2,7. the child of wrath and disobedience.
Q. What is mans Recovery? Rom.6.14. & 8.2 Gal.3.10 Acts 26▪ 18.
A. It is the redeeming of him from the bondage of sin, the curse, and Satan, [Page 7] into the liberty of the grace of the Gospel.
Q. 1 Tim 2.5 [...]. 1 Cor.15. [...]1. Who is the Redeemer of man?
A. Jesus Christ God-Man.
Q. What things are there chiefly to be considered in Jesus Christ?
A. His fitness to be a Redeemer,Acts 4.22. and the parts of his Redemption.
Q. In what doth his fitness to be a Redeemer consist?
A. In his Person and Office.
Qu. Touching the 'Person of Christ what are you to know?
A. The distinction of the two natures,Matth. 1.23. Joh.1.16 viz. Divine and Humane, and the union of them both into one person in him.
Q. What is the union of the two Natures in one person?
A. Joh.1.14 Col. 2 9. 1 Tim. 3.16. Heb 4.15 That whereby the second Person in the Trinity [viz. the Divine Essence subsisting in the relation of the Son] assumed the Manhood like unto us in all things sin only excepted, & the manner of its subsistence, for the manhood ever subsisted but in the Godhead from wch union of the Divine & Humane nature, both Natures make but one Person in him.
[Page 8] Q. Why must Jesus Christ be Man?
A. Gen 2.17 1 Cor.15 21. That hee might in our nature suffer for us.
Q. Why must he be God?
A. 2 Cor. 13.6 [...].9.14 1 Pet 3. 8 That his sufferings might be overcome by him, and be made effectuall unto us.
Q. What is the Mediatorly Office of the Lord Jesus Christ?
A. Heb.5 4, 5 6. [...].6.2 [...] Joh 10.18 Phil.2.6. [...].53.10 It is the work of Mediation committed to the Son by the Father, accepted readily and freely by the Son, thereby procuring the application of the grace of God unto the Elect, and uniting and reconciling the Elect unto God, and working all things parteining to their everlasting good and salvation.
Q. What are the parts of this Mediatorly Office?
- A. 3.
- 1. Propheticall, whence he is a Prophet.Deut.13. [...]5. Act. 3.22 Psa 110 4 Heb.7.17 Psal.2.6. Deut 2 44 [...]. 1.33
- 2. Priestly, whence hee is a Priest.
- 3. Kingly, whēce he is a King
- 1. Propheticall, whence he is a Prophet.
Q. What doth Christ as he is a Prophet?
A. He doth reveale unto his people the whole cousell of God,Heb. 3. [...]. Ma [...]. 3.1. teaching them to know the evill they are falne [Page 9] into, and all the good that God in him hath provided for them.
Q. What doth he as he is a Priest?
A. Col. 1.20,22. He by offering up himself a sacrifice upon the Crosse, took away the sin of the Elect, procured for them the mercy of God,Heb.7.25 and now lives to make intercession for them.
Q. What doth he as he is a King?
A. That which he reveales as a Prophet,Rev.1.18 1 Cor.15 24,25. and purchaseth as a Priest, that he applieth unto the Elect by his Spirit as a King, together with the everlasting overthrow of his and their enemies.
Q. What are the parts of Christs Redemption?
A. Two: His Humiliation and Exaltation.
Q. What is his Humiliation?
A. It is the state of the Person of Christ,Phil.2.8. wherein as Mediator God-Man, he was subject to the righteousnesse of God, humbled himselfe, and became obedient to the death, even the death of the Crosse.
Q. What are the parts thereof?
A. Two: his poore life, and cursed [Page 10] (though otherwise everlastingly blessed death)2 Cor.8 9 Phil. [...]. [...] Gal.3.13.
Q. What is the exaltation of Christ?
A Joh.2.19 & 10.18. Rom 8. [...] & 8 34 Heb.10.12 [...] 12.2 That state of the person of Christ wherein as Mediator God-Man after his humiliation, he arose from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God that is in a state of glory next to the glory of God himself.
Q. How is the Redemption applied?
A. 1 Cor.12.13. By the saving work of the Spirit, whence that which Christ hath purchased as Mediator, is seasonably and effectually applied unto his Elect.
Q. What are the parts of this application
A. 1 Pet.1.21. Rom.11.17. Two: Union with Jesus Christ and so with God in and by him: 2 Communion.
Q. What is Union?
A. It is a Relation founded upon the work of the Spirit on Christs part▪ and faith wrought by the Spirit on our part, whereby the Lord Jesus Christ stands as an head to the believer, and the believer as a member unto Christ for ever.
Q. When is union wrought?
[Page 11] A. At the same time with, but in order of nature following Vocation.
Q. What is Vocation?
A. A principle of life,Eph 2.1. Rom 10.17. Jam.1.18 Joh.6.44 or (as some speak) the habit of faith, infused by the Spirit into the lost soul by the means of, and together with the external call of the Gospel, in which work the soul is meerly passive, that is, a meer passive receiver.
Q. What is the effect of Vocation?
A. Iustifying faith,Joh.3.15,16. 1 Pet.1.21. by which act the soul called, answereth the call of God, and trusteth perfectly unto God by Christ for salvation.
Q. What grace is that which followeth hereupon?
A. Evangelical Repentance,Amos 5.14,15. which consists in an aversenesse from sin, sorrow for sin, and a stedfast purpose for a new life.
Q. What followeth upon Union?
A Communion.
Q. What is Communion?
A It is that by which a believer,Rom.8.32. Eph.1.13 by vertue of his Union, is orderly made partaker of all the remaining good of the Covenant of Grace.
[Page 12] Q. What are the chief benefits of communion?
A. Four: 1. Justification, 2. Adoption, 3. Sanctification, 4. Glorification.
Q. What is Justification?
A. It is a gracious act of God the Father upon a believer,Rom 3.22,24. Rom.1.5. 2 Cor.5.19. whereby he doth freely discharge him from sin, and accept him as righteous, for the righteousness sake of Christ imputed to him.
Q. How doth a Believer apply the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ?
A. Gal.3 8. Rom.9.30. Phil.3.9. By Faith.
Q. What is adoption?
A. Joh.1.12 A gracious act of God by which he doth acknowledge and declare all believers to be his sons.
Q. What is Sanctification?
A. Jer.31.33. Ezek.16.26,27. 1 Cor.5.10. 2 Cor.10 4,5. An inherent grace whereby a believer is inclined (and by assisting grace effectually inabled) to bring down every high thought and to yield Evangelicall obedience to the revealed Will of God.
Q. What are the parts of Sanctification?
[Page 13] A. Col.3.3,5. Col.3.10 Two: Mortification, and Virification.
Q. What is Glorification?
A. Rom,8.10. Rev.21.22. [...].4.17. It is that state wherein the Elect being freed from all imperfection, doe enjoy perfect blessedness in the presence of God and the Lamb for ever.
Q. What is the subject whereunto Redemption is applied?
A. The Catholick Church;Ephes.5. Eph.5.26,27. Joh.17.9,10,11. which is both the effect and subject thereof
Q. What is the Catholick Church?
A. 1 Cor.1.24. 1 Cor.10.32. Most properly it is taken for that number of the Elect and Redeemed which God hath effectually called out of the world unto faith in Christ Jesus.
Q. Whether are there more Catholick Churches then one?
A. No, there is but one.
Q. How is this Catholick Church distinguished
A. Rev.1.4. 2 Cor.8.19. It is either visible or invisible.
Q. What is a visible Church?
A. Luk.17.1. Rom.2.28,29. 1 Pet.3.4. It is a part of the Catholick Church, consisting of a competent number knit together by way of a [Page 14] visible Covenant, to exercise an holy Communion according to the Rules of the Gospel.
Q. What is the matter of this Church?
A. Eph. [...].1. 1 Cor.1.2 with 2 Cor.1.1 Visible Believers.
Q. What is the form?
A. A visible Covenant.
Q. What is the gift of Christ unto his Church?
A. Matt.16.19. The Keys of the Kingdome of Heaven, that is, the Church-instituted Worship of the Gospel, together with the power of the exercise thereof.
Q. How is this power to be exercised.
A. Mat.28,18,19. 1 Cor.12.24. 1 Tim.5.17. Matt.18.17. 1 Cor.5. 2 [...].12 2 Cor.2.6 Preaching by Office and administration of the Sacraments belong to the Teaching-Elders, Government belongs to the whole Presbytery, the rest of the power to the whole multitude, all according to order.
Q. What are the names of the Officers [...] by Christ in his Church? Rom.12.7
A. [...] 28. 1 Tim.5.1. Acts [...]. [...] Tim.3.8 Pastors, Teachers, Ruling-Elders, [who have the care of Spirituall things] Deacons, Widows, who have the case of temporal things.
[Page 15] Q. In case of incorrigibleness in the Eldership, where doth the power preservative of the whole remain?
A. With the Brotherhood, the first subject thereof.
Q. In case of difference between the Presbytery and the Brotherhood, [or otherwise] not reconcileable with the peace of the Church, what is to be done?
A Acts 15. The Church is to repair unto a Council for help.
Q. What is the power of the Council?
A. To declare the truth, not to exercise authority; the question is onely carried to the Council, the cause remains with the Church.
Q. What are the outward means by which Redemption is applied?
A. 1 Cor.3.5. Rom.10.17. Dan.10.21. Ro.4.11. Mat.7.7. Matt.21.22 & 18.15,16. 1 Cor.5.5. Four: 1 The Ministery of the Word, which Word is contained in the Scriptures of Truth: 2 The Ministery of the Sacraments: 3 Prayer: 4 Discipline.
Q. What aee the Scriptures?
A. They are the revealed will of God contained in the Books of the Old and New Testament,Rev.22.18,19. the constant, perpetual, and onely Rule of Faith and Manners.
[Page 16] Q. What is a Sacrament?
A. Rom.4.11. It is a Seal of the Covenant of Grace.
Q. How many Sacraments are there?
A. Two: Baptism, and the Lords Supper.
Q. What is Prayer?
A. John 14.13.14. Rom.8.20. It is an act of Worship wherein we doe religiously represent our defues unto God in the name of Christ.
Q Where have you the substance of things to be desired or prayed for?
A. Matth.6.9. In the Lords Prayer.
Q. How many parts are there of Prayer?
A. Phil.4.6. Three: 1. Confession: 2. Petition: 3. Thanksgiving.
Q. What other acts of worship may fall out here sometimes?
A. Ps.76.11. Heb.6.16. A Vow, an Oath, a Lot.
Q. What is Discipline?
A. Mat.16.19. and 18.15,16,17. A personall application of Rebuke or Censure, according to the Rule of the Gospel.
Q. After what order is Discipline to be exercised?
A. Matt.18.15,16,17. 1 Tim.5,20. In private offences privately, but in publike publikely.
[Page 17] Quest. After all that good of Redemption applyed, which God intended his Elect in the use of outward meanes, what do you further believe?
Answ. 2 Cor.5.10. D [...].12.2. Heb 10.35. Joh 5.28 29. The Resurrection of the Dead and the last Judgment.
Q. What doe you believe concerning the last Judgment?
A. Rom.2.16 2 Cor 5.10. Matt.25.46. That Jesus Christ shall come in Person to Judg both the quick and the dead, according to their deeds, when the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternall.
Qu. Mat. 13.40. When shall these things bee?
A. 1 Pet.1.2 1 Pet.1.14 15. Rom 6.16.18. At the end of the world.
Q. What is the second part of Godlines?
A. Obedience unto God.
Q. What is Obedience?
A. Mich 6.8 Ro.12.2 Conformity to Gods Law.
Qu. What is required to the performance of an act of Obedience, which is commonly called a good worke?
A. Three things:Isa.29.13 Mat,15.9 Ro.14.13. 1 Cor.10.31. that it be, first, commanded; secondly done in faith; thirdly, done to the glory of God.
Q. What is the rule of Obedience?
A. The Decalogue,Deu.4:13 M [...]ch.6.8 or ten Commandements, [Page 18] unto which,Math.22.37,38 39 40, what is commanded in Scripture, may be reduced.
Q How is the Decalogue divided?
A. Ex.31.18 Deu.9.10 Ex.32.16 Into two Tables, according to the two general parts of obedience.
Q. Which are those two pares of Obedience?
A. 1. Religion,Math.22.37. Ro.1.18. shewing our immediate dutie towards God, the summe of the first Table. 2. Righteousnesse, shewing our duty toward our neighbour, the summe of the second Table.
Q. How many Commandements are contained in the first Table?
A. The foure first.
Q. How many are contained in the second Table?
A. The six last.
Q. Which is the first Commandement?
A. Ex.20.3. Thou shalt have none other Gods before me.
Q. What is here Commanded?
A. Mar.4.19 Deu.6.45 That we worship God, and him alone.
Q. What are we here forbiden?
A. Je.10.25 Ro.1.21,22,23: 2 Kin.17.13. Not worshipping of God, which is Atheisme; Worshipping others, and not God, which is Idolatry; Worshipping [Page 19] others together with God, which is Polutheisme, viz: worshipping many Gods.
Q. Which is the second Commdement?
A. Exo.20.4,5,6. Thou shalt not make to thy self any Graven Image.
Q. What is here Commanded.
A Deu 4.12 Deut.12 30,31,32. That God is to be worshipped with his owne worship onely.
Q. What is here forbiden?
A. Eze.33.31. Luk.19.46. Col.2.18,22. 1 Contempt of Worship: 2 All will-worship, whether Idolatry, viz. worshipping of God at or in an Image, by which it is distinguished from that Idolatry forbidden in the first Cōmandement, or Superstition.
Q. Which is the 3. Commandement?
A. Ex.20.7. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vaine.
Quest. What is here Commanded?
A. Deu 12.5 1 Cor.14.40.26. Mal.1,11 12,13. That we worship God after due manner, and that we use his name reverently at all times.
Quest. What is here forbidden?
A. Eccl.5.1,2. All irreverence in the worship of God, or concerning the use of his name, as contempt, rashnesse, lightnesse, blasphemy.
[Page 20] Quest. Which is the 4. Cōmandement?
A. Ex.20.8,9.10,11. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, &c.
Q. What are we here Commanded?
A. Gen.2.2 3. Act.20.7. 1 Cor.16.2. Reve.1 10. The setting apart of the seventh day to the immediate service of God.
Q. What are we here forbidden?
A. 1. Any humane institution of holy dayes,Gal.4:10 Col.2.16 [...] 58.13 or holy times. 2. The employing of this time in any such way as hinders the worship of the Day.
Q. After what order is our duty towards our Neighbour taught?
- A. Concerning his
- Honour in the 5.
- Life in the 6.
- Chastity in the 7.
- Goods in the 8.
- Good name in the 9.
- Prosperity in the 10.
Q. What is the fifth Comandement?
A. Ex 20.12. Honour thy Faher and thy Mother. &c.
Q. What are we here Commanded?
A Eph.6.2. 2 King.2.12 &. 5.13,14. 1 Pet.2.7. Ro 12.10 That we walk orderly in our callings, inwardly acknowledging, and outwardly according to Rule, expressing that honour which is due to Superiours, Inferiours, Equals, according to their several relations.
[Page 21] Quest. What'are we here forbidden?
A 2 Tim 3.2 Isa.3.9. All neglect of duty in this kind
Q. What is the sixth Commandement?
A. Ex.20.13 Thou shalt not kill.
Q. What are we here Commanded?
A. Mat.5.43 44,45. Luke 10.27. The use of all due meanes that conduce to the good of our Neighbour, concerning his spiritual or temporal life.
Q. What are we here forbidden?
A. Mat.25. [...] 3. [...]. Mat. [...].22 The neglect of any meanes tending to that end, or the use of any meanes contrary thereunto.
Q. Which is he seventh Comandement?
A. Ex.20.14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Q. What are here Commanded?
A. 1 The.4 4 1 Co.7.34 The use of all due meanes for the preservation of our own and our neighbours chastity.
Qu. What are we here forbidden?
A. 1 The.4.5 Job 31.1 All uncleannesse, together with the signes▪ meanes, or accessaries thereof, or tending thereunto.
Qu. What is the eight Comandement?
A. Ex.20.15 Thou shalt not steale.
Quest. What is here Commanded?
A. Pro.22.2 2 [...] 3.12 Luk.3.14 That properties being kept indisturbed, we possess that which is our own, not anothers, & that without injury to any.
[Page 22] Qu. What are we here forbidden?
A. 1 Th 4. [...]. Prov. [...]0.10. All fraudulence & corruptnesse in our dealing, concerning matters of commutative justice.
Q. What is the ninth Cómmandement?
A. Ex.20.16 Thou shalt not bear false witnes
Q. What are we here Commanded?
A. Psa 15.2. Eph.4. [...]5 [...].7.6 To use all due meanes to know the truth, and to beare witnesse to the known truth, being called thereunto.
Q. What is here forbidden?
A. All lying by direct false testimony,Psa.12.2. Eph.4.25 Mat.2 [...].60,61. Joh.2.1 [...] with Act.6 [...].14. [...] 24.11 Pro.11,3 1 Sam.1.13. or unlawful ambiguity: 2. Concealing the truth we ought to reveal: 3 Revealing the truth we ought to conceal: 4 Also whatsoever may do harm to the truth as unjust suspition.
Q. What is the tenth Commandment?
A. Ex.20.17 Thou shalt not cover.
Q What are we here commanded?
A. Heb.13.5 1 Tim.6.6 Phil.4.11 Contentation in our present estate.
Q What are we here forbidden?
A. Desiring of,Heb.13.5 Job 5.2. or envying at the good of our Neighbour.