A SHORT CATECHISM Drawn out of the WORD of GOD
By SAMVEL STONE, MINISTE [...] of the Word at HARTFORD, on CONNECTICOT.
BOSTON in NEW-ENGLAND, Printed by Samuel Green, for John Wadsw [...] of Farminton, 1684.
A SHORT CATECHISM.
Quest. WHat is Divinity or Religion?
Answ. A Doctrine of living well, Gal. 2.19. 1 Thes. 4.1. 2 Tim. 3.12. 1 Tim. 6.3. Isai. 54.13.
Q. What is it to live well?
A. To will the good Will of God, Pro. 4.23 and 23.26. Psal. 90.12. Rom. 12.2.
Q. Which are the parts of Divinity?
A. Faith in God, and Observance towards God, Psal. 37:3: 1 Tim: 3:5, 19: 2 Tim: 1 13.
Q: What is Faith in God?
A: A confidence in trusting in the name of God for life, Psal: 9▪10: Hos▪ 6:2, 3: Amos 5:4 6: John 5:40, and 20:31:
Q: What is the object of Faith, in whom we are to believe that we may live well?
A: God, who is Sufficient to make us live well, and the Efficient cause of life, Exod: 6: 3 Rom· 4:17, 21: 2 Cor: 9:8:
Q What is the Sufficiency of God?
A: That wherby God having enough for himself, hath more than enough for us, Acts 17:25: Rom 11:35: 2 Cor: 9:8: Eph: 2:20:
Q: Wherein consisteth the sufficiency of God:
[Page 4] A: In the Divine Essence, and Subsistance, of Persons, Mat: 28:19: John 17.13: 1 John 5:7:
Q: What is the Divine Essence?
A: That whereby God is the most absolute first Being, Isa: 41:4, and 44:6:
Q: What is the first Being?
A: An Infinite, Eternal Spirit, having Life in himself, with a most blessed understanding and Will, Psal: 90:1, 2: and 145:3, and 147 5: John 4:24, and 5:26: 1 Tim: 1.11.
Q. What is a Divine Perstn or Subsistance?
A: The God-head, with a Relative individual Property, Mat: 28:19: Heb: 1:3, 5:
Q. How many are the Divine Persons of the God-head?
A. Three, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, Mat. 28.19. 1 John 5.7.
Q. What is God the Father?
A. A Divine Person begetting the Son, Psal. 2 7. Pro. 8.22, 24, 25. Heb. 1.3, [...].
Q. What is God the Son?
A. A Divine Person conceived or begotten of the Father, Pro. 8.24, 31. John 1.14. Heb. 1.3, 5
Q. What is God the Holy Ghost?
A. A Divine Person, proceeding from the Father and the Son, Isa. 63.1 [...]: Joh. 14.26, and 15.26.
Q. What is the Efficiency of God?
A. That whereby the Almighty works all [...] all, according to his ancient Decree, [...] [Page 5] Isa. 25.1. Rom. 11.36. 1 Cor. 12.6. 2 Cor. 6.18
Q. What are the kinds of Efficiency, or the works of God?
A. Creation and Providence, Nehem: 9:6 Psal. 1 [...]
Q. [...] Creation?
A: That [...]ereby God made the World of nothing very good in six dayes, Gen: 1. Acts 1 [...]:34—20
Q Why was man made the last of all, upon the sixth day?
A: Because man was to be served by the inferiour Creatures, and attended by the Angels, Gen: 1:26: to the end: Job 37:7: Hos. 2.21, 22. Heb: 1 [...] [...]4: Jude 6.
Q What is the Creation of man?
A, That whereby God made him a Reasonable living Creature, Gen: 2:7: Job 35; 11: Psa. 91.10▪
Q, What are the parts of which man was made?
A, A body made of the Earth, and a reasonable immortal Soul, which is made immediately of nothing, Gen: 2.7. Job 10.8—13: Hab. 12: 9▪
Q What is the resonable immortal Soul?
A A Spirit of life with a faculty of Reason and Will whereby a man is become a cause by counsel, Deut. 30.19. Gen. 2.7. Pro. 16.9. and 20.27▪ Mat: 16.26. Heb. 8.10.
Q What is the special perfection in which man was created?
A: The Image of God, whereby he was able to please God in a perfect manner, Gen. 1.16, to the end▪ Eccles. 7.29▪
[Page 6]Q. What is the Providence of God?
A. His exact watch over all his Creatures, whereby they are preserved and guided to their end, 1 Chron. 29.11, 12: Nehem. 9.6, Psal. 104 27—31, and 145.15, 16. Isa. 6. [...]. [...] 10.29, 30, 31.
Q. What is the special government [...] God over his reason be Creatures?
A: That whereby God leads them to an eternal estate of happiness or misery by his being pleased or displeased, Gen. 3.22. Mat. 25.46. Rom. 10.5:
Q: What is here to be considered?
A. Mans Apostasie and Restitution, Gen. 3 Rom. 5:12.
Q: What are we to believe concerning mans Apostasie or fall from obedience to that government?
A: All man by nature being condemned through Adam's transgression, are wholy infected with sin, and under the dominion of death, Gen 3:1, to the end: and 5:3: Psal: 51:5: John 3:6:18—36: Rom: 12:15—20: Eph: 2:1, 2, 3:
Q: What is sin?
A: The transgression of the Law, or any swerving from the Law of God, Dan: 9:5—12: 1 Joh 3:4.
Q. Which are the kinds of sin?
A: Original, which is the swerving of man's Nature, or Actual, which is the swerving of his actions from that rule, Psal: 14:1▪ 2:3: Jer: 6:7 Mat: 12:35▪ and 15:1 [...] ▪
[Page 7]Q: What is that death which is entered into the world by sin:
A: A miserable privation or loss of the life of joy or comfort, Gen: 2:17: 1 Sam: 25:37: Rom: 5:17, and 6:23:
Q [...] first death?
A: The death of the outward man especially; the perfection of which is the separation of soul and body, Gen: 35:18. Deut: 28:15—27:
Q: What is the second death?
A: The death of the inward man especially▪ the perfection of which, is the ejection of the whole man from God into hell, Isa: 33:14: Mat: 25:41—46, and 13:41, 42:
Q: Wherein consists the Restitution of man?
A: In Redemption and Application, John 3:5▪ and 3:14—19, and 6:27—62, 63: Eph: 1:4—11:
Q: What is Redemption?
A: The payment of a due price to Divine Justice, for his freedom of man:, Mat: 20:28, Acts 20:28, Rom: 3:24, 27, 1 Cor: 6:20. 1 Pet: [...] 18, 19▪
Q: Who is the Redeemer of man?
A: Jesus Christ God-man, Mat: 1:23, Acts 20 28, 1 Tim. 3:16.
Q. Why is the Redeemer called Jesus Christ?
A. Because he is our Saviour and anointed Mediatour; Priest, Prophet, and King, Mat. 1 23 Luke 4:18, 19, Acts 4.27, Heb. 1.9, and 7.1▪
Q. What is the Union of those two distinct Natures of Christ?
[Page 8] Answ ▪ That whereby the second person in the God-head takes the humane Nature to subsist for ever in his own person, [...] John [...] [...]4, 1 Cor▪ [...] 6, Gal: [...].4, 5: Heb. 1 16: [...]
Q, Wherein consists the Redemption of Christ?
A, In his Humiliation and Exalt [...] Phil: 2 6—11, Luke 24 26:
Q What is the Humiliation of Christ.
A, Subjection to the Law in his active and passive Obedience, Dan. 9 24, Mat: 3 15, 17, Rom▪ 10 5, Gal: 3 13, and 4 4, Heb. 7 22.
Q What is the brief Sum of the life of Christ?
A Christ being conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary kept the charge of the Lord performing his Will in a most perfect manner, Mat: 1 18, Luke 1 35, John 8 29, Heb 10 5—10.
Q What kind of death did Christ suffer?
A The first and second death which were both finished upon the Cross, Isa. 53 9, Gal. 3 13, Phil. 2 8:
Q Which are the Decrees of his Exaltation?
A His Resurrection, assention into Heaven, sitting at the right hand of God, and return to Judge the quick and the dead, Mark 16 19, Rom 8 34▪ 2 Tim. 4 [...]:
Q What is the Application of that Redemption or Purchase?
A That whereby it is extended to the Church or Seed of Christ, through the unresistable power [Page 9] of the Spirit in the Word, Isa. 53 10, and 59 2 [...] John 16 7, 8, Acts 26 18.20—28, Eph: 5 23.
Q What is the brief Sum of Application?
A A contrite and humble sinner, trusting in Christ for life, is justified before God, and also sanctified and blessed, Isai. 57 14, Mat: 5 3—9. John 12 13, and 3 6, Acts 26 11, 1 Cor. 1 30, and 6 11, Gal. 2 19, 20.
Q What is contrite or brokenness of heart?
A The cutting off the heart from sin, by a fight of it, as the greatest evil, and a sorrow for it, John [...]6 8, Acts 2 37, Rom. 11 24:
Q How may it appear that sin is the greatest evil?
A Because it is most cross to God, and separates from him, who is the end and chiefest good of the soul, Psal. 73 25, to the end, Isa. 43 7—21▪ and 59 2.
Q Why can there be no separation from sin without godly sorrow for it?
A Because no man will forsake his sin so long as it is the sweetest object to him, Job 20 11, 12, 13 Eccl: 7 26, James 4 8, 9.
Q How may it appear to a man that his sorrow is a godly sorrow?
A When the heart tasts the greatest bitterness in sin, and the greatest sweetness in Christ, Eccl [...] 26, Mal: 3 1, Mat. 13 44:
Q When is the heart of a man broken off from sin?
A When he is willing to see that truth which is most cross to his beloved sin, and that God should [Page 10] take it away by any means, Joh 24 32, Hos: 14 2 John 3 20, 21,
Q What is Humiliation?
A That whereby the sinner is cut off from resting within the compass of himself, or his own perfection, Mat. 16 24, Rom. 2 17 to 21, Gal, 2 19, 20.
Q Wherein consists his Humiliation?
A In self-despair, and self-subjection, Hos. 14 3 Luke 15 17, 18, 19.
Q Which is the first part of this self-despair?
A That whereby the sinner refuseth to rest in the shadow of the best duties, as utterly unable to answer the Law, Isa: 64 6, Mat. 3 9, and 5.3 Gal. 3 10, Phil. 3 3.
Q What is the second part of self-despair in an humble sinner?
A A distrust in his own legs, finding no strength in himself to move or go one step towards a Saviour, Psal. 61 2, Jer. 31 18, John 16 8, 9.
Q What is the self-subjection of a sinner?
A Submission to the disposing hand of Christ, to be at the carving, and to be moulded and acted by him, Jer. 31 18, Luke 15 17, Rom. 6 7.
Q How doth God draw the heart to beleive in Christ, or trust in him for life?
A By his spirit in the promise, darting in the special light and sweetness of the boundless riches of his grace in Christ, Isa. 43 1, John 6 44, 45 [Page 11] Rom. 10 14—18, 2 Cor. 4 6.
Q What is the justification of a Believer?
A That whereby the righteousness of Christ being imputed to him, he is pronounced righteous and worthy of life, Rom. 6 7, 8, and 5 18, 19 2 Cor 5.21, Phil. 3 9.
Q What is the righteousness of Christ?
A His active and passive obedience, Heb. 10 7▪ —11, Phil. 2 8. 1 Pet. 3 18. 1 John 2 2.
Q What is the imputation of the righteousness of Christ?
A The putting of the Righteousness upon the reckoning and account of a Believer, Rom. 4 6 and 5 18, 19, 2 Cor. 5 21.
Q What is the Sanctification of a Believer?
A A change or transformation into the glorious Image of Christ, whereby he is fitted for every good work, 2 Cor: 3: 18, 1 Thess: 5: 23: 2 Tim: 2: 21▪
Q When shall the Saints be perfectly blessed?
A In soul at the point of death, and in the whole man at the Resurrection at the last Judgement; when the wicked shall be damned with Divils for ever, Mat: 25: 31 to the end, 1 Cor. 13 1 [...], and 15.22, Rev. 14.13.
Q What is Observance towards God?
A The performance of duty to God, by a spirit of Faith, Mat: 28: 20, 2 Cor. 4: 13, Gal: 2: 19 20.
Q Wherein consists Observance towards God?
A In Obedience to the Law and the helps of [Page 12] Obedience, which are Invocation of God, and Celebration of Sacraments, Psal. 50.15. Mat. 38 19, 20: Jam: 1: 5.
Q What is Obedience to the Law?
A That respect to the Law, whereby a man closeth with the infinite fulness of goodness in God, or with goodness it self, Deut. 6: 4— 15, Psa. [...]3: 25, and 119: 6: Mat: 9.17.
Q Wherein consists Obedience to the Law?
A In the duty of Divine Worship and Righteousness, Mat 22.37, 38, 39, Luke 1.74, 75. Ex: [...]1.18:
Q What is the Divine worship required in the first Table of the Law?
A That whereby we embrace God for himself and his goodness, Psal: 73.25. Mat: 19.17:
Q▪ Which are the several Duties of Divine Worship, required in the four Commandments of the first Table▪
A Embracing the true God alone as our satisfying object. 2. In all his Divine Ordinance. 3. In a Reverent. 4: In a Solemn manner, Exod: 20 1 — 12: Mat 22: 37, 38:
Q What is that Righteousness which is required [...] the second Table of the Law?
A: That whereby a man loving himself in God and for his sake, loves his neighbour as himself▪ Mat: 22.39, Rom. 13 8, 9, 10, and 16: 8:
Q Which are the duties of love to our neighbour, required in the sixth Commandment of the second Table:
[Page 13] A The due preservation of his Degree, life chastity, good, name and prosperity, Exod: 20: 12— 18 Rom: 13: 8, 9, 10:
Q What is Invocation of God?
A A going to God, whereby we move him with things according to his Will, Gen: 18: 23, 27 28, 32: Psal: 50 15: Mark 6 9.14: Luk 11: 5 — 14
Q What is a Sacrament?
A A sign and seal of the Covenant between God and his People: Gen: 17: 7, 15: Exod; 12 3 [...] [...]. Luk: 22: 19, 20: Rom: 4: 11:
Q Which are the parts of a Sacrament
A The sign and the thing signified, Mat 3: 11, 26: and 26: 21 — 29.
Q Wow many Sacraments are there in the NEW-TESTAMENT?
A Only two, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper: both which must be disspensed by the Ministers of the word, Mat: 26: 26—29, and 28: 18, 19: 1 Cor: 1 16.
Q What is Baptism?
A A Seal of Admission into Covenant with God and his Church, and incorporation into Christ, which is the portion of all Church-men here, Mat. 28.19, Rev. 6.3 — 7: 1. Cor: 12: 13: Acts [...]: 39, Col [...]: 2: 11, 12, 13: 1 Pet: [...]: 11:
Q What is the sign in Baptism?
A The washing the flesh with water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Acts [...] 11, & 28.19:
[Page 14] Q What is the special thing signified?
A The blood of Christ shed for us, whereby we are washed from sin, and saved, Mark 16: 16: Act 2: 38, and 22: 16, 1 Pet. 3: 21, Col. 2.11, 12, 13.
Q What is the Lords Supper?
A The seal of our continuance in Covenant with God, and his Church, and growing up in Christ, Mat: 26: 26: 1 Cor: 11: 20— 30.
Q What is the sign?
A Bread and wine duely applyed according to the institution of Christ, Mat: 26: 26— 29: 1 Cor. 11: 11—23—28:
Q What is the thing signified?
A: A spiritual feast or banquet, nourishing the soul, and increasing the assurance of eternal life, Mat: 26: 26— 30. 1 Cor. 10: 16, 17, and 11.12— 20, and 12: 13:
Q What is signified by the Elements themselves bread and wine?
A The body and blood of Christ, who is the object of spiritual sense, and the strength and gladness of our hearts, Phil. 7 8. H [...]b. 5: 14.
Q What is signified by taking, blessing, breaking, [...]ing out and giving the bread and wine?
A That Christ who is called and blessed, [...] for us, and is given to us by God, Psal [...] Isa: 53.4, &c. Mat: 26·26—29: Luke 4▪ [...]8: 5: 4, 5:
Q What is signified by our receiving and [...] eating the bread and drinking the [...]
[Page 15]A Our receiving Christ, and feeding upon him [...]y Faith, Mat: 26: 27, 28: John 1: 12:
Q Who are the guests invited to the Lords Table?
A Church-members, who discern the Lords Body, and examine themselves, finding no satisfaction but in Christ himself, 1 Cor: 11: 28, 29: