we enquire not after no more then we enquire after the manner how Christs humanity was knit to his Deitie Q. Is the bread transubstantiated into the Body of Christ A. It is not x 1. Cor. 11.23 Bread it is before consecration y Ib. v. 24. bread at the time of Consecration and z Ib. v. 26 27 28. bread after Consecration but it is a Ib. v. 24 25. 29. the body and blood of Christ only after Consecration Q. After what manner doe wee receive the Body of Christ in this Sacrament A. By faith as the food is Spirituall so is the manner spirituall Q. What are the benefits whereof we are partakers thereby A. b Intelligo substantiâ corporis pasci animas nostras ut verè unum efficiamur cum eo Calvin in 1. Cor. 11.24 The strengthning and refreshing of our Soules by the body and blood of Christ as our bodies are by the Bread Wine We are sensible of the one let us beleeve the other For as veryly as our faint and hungry Bodies are strengthened and refreshed and comforted with bread and wine so verily is every penitent and faithfull Soule strengthened and refreshed and comforted with the body and blood of Christ Q. What is required of them which come to the Lords Supper A. To examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former sinnes stedfastly purposing to lead a new life to have a lively faith in Gods mercy through Christ with a thankfull remembrance of his death and be in charity with all men Q. This for the inward preparation what for the outward reverence A. All outward and inward reverence is little enough when we come to receive the price of Heaven and Earth By some therefore it is called a dreadfull mystery because he that rightly considers of it will not approch to this Table without dread and trembling Q. Why so A. Because there we receive this holy Sacrament either to our salvation or damnation c 1. Cor. 11.29 If unworthily we eate and drinke damnation to our selves Whereas d Ib. v. 32. if we would judge our selves we could not but see our owne unworthinesse and then we would certainly endeavour to humble our selves as we ought both before and at our approch Thus if we doe we shall not be judged unworthy of the Lord but receive it to the comfort and salvation of our soules Q. Is not inward reverence sufficient A. He that hath commanded us at all times to e 1. Cor. 6.20 glorifie God in our bodies and in our spirits will have us more efpecially at this time to glorifie him in both Where both may be had he will have both The Church our Mother conceives kneeling not only decent but necessary at this time shee therefore hath made this Injunction that f Rubricke immediatly before the delivering The Minister shall deliver the Communion in both kinds to the PEOPLE KNEELING The people therefore are to kneele Q. Is this agreeable to the usage of the ancient Church A. It is so for S. Austine tells us that g Nemo illam carnem manducat nisi prius adoraverit Aug. in Ps 98. in his time no man received but first he kneeled And Chemnicius a learned Protestant speaking of due reverence to be used at this time professeth that h Chemnic Exam. Concii Trid. part 2. c. 5. we ought to kneele adding that externall irreverence in this action is the token of a prophane mind Q. Some abstain for feare of Idolatry A. I see not how there can be any such danger We worship not bread but the God of Heaven neither worship we God by the Bread but by or with that blessed Bread and Wine we receive the body and bloud of Christ i The vvords at the delivering which preserve us body and soul to eternall life And can any man be too good to receive such a blessing upon his knees Besides we acknowledge that Christ is present at this his supper after a more speciall and peculiar manner then at other times k Si haec verè ex animo credimus fieri nec potest nec debet quin fider Christum in illa actione praesentem veneretur adoret Chemnic Ib. If this we beleeve truly and sincerely it cannot it may not be but faith will reverence and adore our Saviour present in this action Q. Is there then no danger in kneeling A. Certainly none The danger is in not kneeling for I have learned of Chemnicius that there is no true faith in that Communicant l Non vera suisset fides si non secuta fuis set invocatio scu adoratio lb. where adoration is wanting And Saint Ambrose and Saint Austine are resolute that m Ambros Aug. in Psal 98. it is so farre from being a sinne to kneele at receiving this Sacrament that it is a sinne not to kneele Q. We have done with the ordinary course of Cathechising and yet there remaine two points of n Heb. 6.1 Hicrespexit ad usitatam Catechismi formulam Calvin in Heb. 6.1 Saint Pauls Care chisme namely 1. Repentance from dead workes and 2. Imposition or laying on of hands That we may orderly proceede in these tell me first what these dead workes are A. Dead workes are such as by the Catechists of those times were done before they beleeved in Christ Which being done without faith and the least relation to Gods glory tended to death Since o Heb. 11.6 without faith it is impossible to please God and without pleasing God no life * Aug. de Fide Oper. c. 20. These workes then are to be repented of by the Elder sort before they repaire to Baptisme Q. What is Repentance A. It is an hearty sorrow for our sinnes past accompanied with a change of mind from evill to good with a resolution by Gods grace to continue in good courses If thus we p S. Mat. 4 17. repent the Kingdome of heaven is at hand Q. What meane you by Imposition of hands A. It is a signe or Ceremony by which and Prayer God conveyes his holy Spirit upon those that heretofore were baptized Q. Have not Persons baptized the Holy Ghost before Confirmation A. Yes but not in that measure nor for the same end Q. In what measure and for what end is the Holy Ghost bestowed upon us in Baptisme A. To wash and cleanse us from sinne from all sinne that is in us that so we may be cleane and pure as Adam was when he came first out of Gods fingers and that we may be the members of Christ Q. Why is he given us in Confirmation A. That q Rubrick◠before the Catechism we may receive strength and defence against all temptations to sinne and against the assaults of the world and the Divell At Baptisme we promised not to follow any of these nor to be led by them and in Confirmation God strengthens us by
preached and beleeved and obeyed in all Nations whatsoever That his word may beare such sway in our hearts that the Kingdome of sinne and Satan being vanquished we may behave our selves as the sincere Subjects of such a King that so his Kingdome of glory may be replenished in due season Q. The third Petition A. Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven That with our Saviour each Christians prayer may be n S. Luc. 22.42 Not my will but thy will be done not only in Peace plenty and prosperity but in Warre in wants and persecution His revealed will is the rule whereby all our actions must be guided Our prayer is therefore that we his Servants may be diligent to performe this his will on earth as the Angells are diligent to doe it in heaven That we may listen to him and be obsequious to his will as they are That there may not be any dissension between our earthly and heavenly parts but that the flesh being subject to the spirit both may sincerely submit to his will and doe it to the utmost of their power This is the direct way to his Kingdome of glory Q. The fourth Petition A. Give us this day our dayly bread In this petition o Catech. in Common prayer Book we pray unto God that he will send us all things that be needfull both for our soules and bodies p Hieron in Mat. 6. This as the learned observe is intimated unto us by this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies not only dayly but supersubstantiall that q Spiritaliter potiùs intelligamus Christus enim panis noster est c. Tertul. de Orat. c. 6. so we might not only remember our bodily food but that we might have a speciall eye upon the food of our soules that bread of life the blessed Sacrament of Christs body bloud which was r Eucharistiam quotidiè ad cibum salutis accipimus Cypr. de Orat. domin n. 48. Aug. de Ser. Dom. in Monte. l. 2. dayly received in the primitive Church by the first Christians Q. The fifth Petition A. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us Herein we make confession that we have trespassed against God and his word we entreat him therefore against whom we sinne to forgive us our sinnes Q. Can God only forgive sinne A. God only powerfully but the Priest ministerially God hath power in himselfe and of himselfe to forgive sinnes but the Priest hath only a delegated power neither in nor of himselfe but from God who gave this Commission to his Apostles and in them to their successors ſ S. John 20.23 Receive saith he the Holy Ghost whosoever sinnes ye forgive they are forgiven c. Christ gave them the Holy Ghost that by his power they might remit and retaine sinnes Q. Doe Priests forgive sinnes absolutely A. No but conditionally as God doth if the person confessing t Absolution in the Common Prayer-Book truly repent and unfainedly beleeve the holy Gospell God you see forgives but upon condition we beg pardon but upon condition that God would deale with us as we deale with our Neighbours that he would forgive us as we forgive them that trespasse against us Q. Must we then expect no pardon but upon this condition A. We may not our Saviour saith so u S. Mat. 18.35 unlesse yee FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER FROM THE HEART your heavenly Father will not forgive you That is * Aug. Enchirid c. 73.74 unlesse ye be ready to forgive your trespassers when they crave pardon of you look for no pardon at my Fathers hands when ye beg forgivenesse of him x S. Luc. 6.38 For the same measure ye mere it shall be measured to you againe Q. The sixth Petition A. And iead us not into temptation Q. Can God rempt us A. He cannot the Scripture is plain y S. James 1.13.14 Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evill NEITHER TEMPTETH HE ANY MAN But every man is tempted when he is drawne away of his owne lust and entised Q. Cannot God be the author of sinne A. He cannot for z Ps 5.4 He hath no pleasure in wickednesse but a Ps 11.6 Deus mali aliquid non potest velle Aug. Ep. 180. the ungodly and him that delighteth in wickednesse doth his soule abhorre It is therefore b Illo sacrilegio quo statuitur Deum esse mali authorem mihi detestabilius nihil occurrit Aug. de Ord. l. 2. c. 7. accounted most detestable sacriledge to make God the author of sinne Q. What pray wee against in this Petition A. Against Gods heavy wrath and censure namely that he would not punish one sinne with another For the later sinne is oft times a punishment of the former as Judas his murthering himselfe was a punishment of his treason We beseech God therefore c Et ne nos patiaris induci c. Cypr. de Orat Domin n. 69. Ne nos inducas c. id est Ne patiaris nos induci Tertul de Orat. c. 8. Aug. de Ser. Dom. in Monre l. 2. as our Forefathers had wont to speake not to suffer us to be led into temptation much lesse to be overcome thereby Since the withdrawing of his grace is as it were a leading or letting us into temptation so prone we are to sinne if God withhold us not Q. Which is the last Petition A. But deliver us from evill In the two former Petitions we entreated for pardon for our former sinnes and to be preserved from future sinnes but here we beseech God to deliver us from the evill of punishment both in this life and in the life to come as also from that fierce executioner of Gods vengeance the Divell Q. Why doe we begge all this at Gods hands A. I. Because he is Our Father most fit therefore that we repaire to him for help and succour II. Because he is all-sufficient Almighty or as it is added in St Matthew d S. Mat. 6.13 for thine is the Kingdome power and glory for ever and ever His Kingdome is unlimited his power absolute God give us grace to seek his glory For he will be glorified either by us or upon us either by us in the performance of his Commandements or upon us in the demonstration of his justice Q. Why adde we Amen A. Because we desire all this may be done for so this word signifies e Sciendum est Amen Halleluja quae nec Latino nec Barbaro licet in suam linguā transserre Hebraeo cunctas gentes vocabulo decantare Aug. Ep. 178. It is an Hebrew word which we translate not into any language but preserve it as our Saviour gave it Wee end our Prayers and Creed with it to manifest the assent and consent of all Christians in matters of the highest moment Q. How ought we to
behave our selves in Prayer A. With all devotion and reverence inward and outward meekly kneeling upon our knees Q. Why must we kneele at our Prayers A. I. Because it is a gesture best beseeming humble Petitioners II. It f Proprium est órationis officiuÌ„ Dei veneratio Tertul. de Orat c. 1. is a duty proper to Prayer III. The Church our Mother commands us to kneele at Prayers IV. g In oratio ne ex more geâ—ua fleximus arque incubuimus terrae Aug. de Civit. Dei l. 22. c. 8. It is agreeable to the custome of the ancient Church V. It is agreeable to the practice of our Saviour and his Apostles h S. Mat. 26.39 S. Luc. 22.41 Act 7.60 c. 9. 40. c. 20.36 who alwaies kneele or fall flat upon the ground at their prayers VI. It is Gods due in the second Commandement And our Saviour saith i S. Mat. 4.10 Thou shalt WORSHIP the Lord thy God And k Vox adorare idem significat quod prosternere se iucurvare aâ—geniculari Pet. Picherel de Imag. p. 225. to worship God is to kneele downe or fall downe before him These reasons I hope will bring us all upon our knees Q. I pray God they may Thou hast given me good satisfaction in the Creed the ten Commandements and the Lords Prayer now tell me how many Sacraments there be A. Two only instituted by our blessed Saviour as necessary for the salvation of all men to wit 1. Baptisme and 2. the Lords Supper Q. What meanest thou by this word Sacrament A. I mean an outward and visible signe of an inward and spirituall grace given unto us ordained by Christ himselfe as a meanes whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof Q. A little plainer if you can Q. A Sacrament is an outward and visible signe or element ordained by Christ to be given or bestowed upon us as a meanes whereby we may receive an inward and spirituall grace This he gives us as a pledge to assure us that as oft as we receive this Sacrament or element according to Christs ordinance so oft we receive this grace which is alwaies conveyed unto us by this Sacrament Q. How many parts are there in a Sacrament A. Two the outward and the inward Q. What is the outward part A. The matter and forme appointed and determined by Christ himselfe Q. What meanest thou by the matter A. The element or creature designed by Christ for this or that Sacrament Q. What meanest thou by the forme A. The words appropriated by Christ to this or that Sacrament Q. What is the element or matter appropriated to Baptisme A. l S. John 3.5 Water the pure element of water without art or mixture Q. What the forme or words A. m S. Mat. 28 19. I Baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Q. May no Person be baptised with other matter or words A. No for Christ who is the author of grace disposeth of his graces and the meanes whereby he conveyeth them unto us And it is in the power of no Person or Persons to alter these meanes unlesse it be also in his or their power to give grace at pleasure Q. These two then make this a perfect Sacrament A. They doe so namely n Acceldat verbum ad elementum fiet Sacramentum Aug. these words of Christ added to this element or matter prescribed by Christ Q. What is the inward and spirituall grace in Baptisme A. A death unto sinne and a new birth unto righteousnesse o Qui baptizatur ascendit liberatus à servitute corruptionis peccato factus filius Dei haeres ejus gratie cohâ—res autem Christi indutus ipsum Christum Concil Nic. Diatyp 5. For being by nature borne in sinne and the children of wrath we are hereby made the children of grace Q. Thou conceivest then that all sinnes are forgiven us in Baptisme A. I doe so so that we hinder not this grace by infidelity or impenitence Q. Why are you of this mind A. 1. Because I am taught by the Nicene Creed to beleeve one Baptisme for the remission of sinnes 2. This Church hath resolved it for p Rubricke immediatly before the Catechism a knowne truth that it is certain by Gods word that Children being baptised have all things necessary for their salvation and be undoubtedly saved 3. The Scripture assures us that q 1. S. Pet. 3.21 Baptisme doth now save us by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ that r Eph. 5.26 we are saved with the washing of water by the Word 4. That Å¿ Gal. 3.27 as many of us as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ that is as the Councell of Nice expounds it t Concil Nic. Diatyp 5. we descend foule and unclean into the Laver of Regeneration but we come forth unspotted and without sinne Q. What is required of persons to be Baptised A. 1. Repentance whereby they forsake sinne and 2. Faith whereby they stedfastly beleeve the promises of God made to them in that Sacrament Q. Why then are Infants baptised when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them A. Yes they doe perform them by their sureties who promise and vow them both in their names which when they come to age themselves are bound to perform Q. Is this agreeable to reason A. It is so It is no more then guardians do for their wards When Wards are under age their guardians undertake for them what those wards when they come to age are bound to performe Besides we sinned in others words and actions it may well therefore stand with reason that we be clensed from this sin by other mens words and actions Q. Why was the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ordained A. For the continuall remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ and the benefits which we receive thereby Q. What is the outward part or signe of the Lords supper A. Bread and Wine which the Lord hath commanded to be received Q. This the matter which the forme A. t S. Mat. 26.26 1. Cor. 11.23 c. The Lord Iesus in the same night that he was betrayed c. Q. What is the inward part or thing signified A. The Body and blood of Christ u Concludo realiter hoc est verè nobis in coenâ dari Christi corpus ut fit animis nostris in cibum salutarem Calvin in 1. Cor. 11.24 which are veryly and indeed taken and received of the faithfull in the Lords Supper Q. What body A. * Christus nobis offerâ— corpus ip sum in quo passus est ac resurrexit Calvin Ib. That body which was borne of the Virgin Mary and suffer'd upon the Crosse Q. Do we receive it after a Corporall manner A. No but after a spirituall manner That we receive it we believe but the manner we know not