sin is death Q. What is the sum of what you pray for in this Petition A. I pray that it will please God to save and defend me in all dangers ghostly and bodily and that he will keep me from all sin and wickedness and from my ghostly enemy and from everlasting death Q. The Doxology What is the Doxology or Conclusion of the Lords-Prayer A. For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Q. What is meant by Doxology A. It 's a solemn form of praise and thanksgiving used in the Church of God. 1 Chron. 29.11 Thine O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the Majesty c. Q. What is contained in this Doxology A. It contains an acknowledgment 1. Of Gods supereminent Excellencies which are the matter of our Adoration and Praise Such are his Dominion over all things call'd here the Kingdom and his Power by which he sustains and governs them and supplies the wants of all that pray to him Thine is the Kingdom and Power 2. Of the honour and thanks we are to render to him for whatever we receive and the end to which they are to be applied Thine is the Glory 1 Cor. 10.31 Whatsoever ye do do all to the Glory of God. 3. That as these perfections are perfectly and eminently originally and inseparably only in God so it 's the perpetual office of the Church Militant and Triumphant to ascribe them to him For ever and ever 1 Pet. 4.11 That God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever Amen Revel 5.13 Q. What doth the word Amen signifie A. In the close of a sentence Amen signifies consent and approbation a wishing and desiring b trust and confidence c a 1 Cor. 14.16 How shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen c b Jer. 28.6 Jeremiah said Amen the Lord do so 1 King. 1.36 c 1 Chron. 16.35 36. All the people said Amen Q. What is then the sense of Amen here A. It 's to say I trust God will do all that I have pray'd for of his mercy and goodness through our Lord Jesus Christ And therefore I say Amen So be it PART V. Of the Sacraments Q. HOW many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Church The Sacraments A. Two only as generally necessary to Salvation that is to say Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. Q. Are these two necessary to Salvation A. Yes generally necessary Q. Why are they said to be generally necessary A. Because no persons are excepted from the obligation of observing them that are capable and have an opportunity Q. How are these two necessary A. 1. As Baptism is the way of admission into the Church of Christ a out of which there is no promise of Salvation b a Ephes 2.12 Strangers from the Covenants of promise having no hope b Mat. 28.19 Go ye and teach all Nations baptizing them c. Joh. 3.5 2. The Lord's-Supper is the Testimony of our actual Communion with the Church a and a means of receiving that grace b which by Baptism we had the promise of a 1 Cor. 10.17 We being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one Bread. b Vers 16. The Cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion participation of the Blood of Christ The Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ Q. Doth the Church of Rome allow only two Sacraments as we do A. No for to these two they add five more viz. Confirmation Penance Extreme Vnction Orders and Matrimony and accurse all those that hold there are fewer or more than seven Sacraments truly and properly so called Q. But why are there no more than two Sacraments A. Because only these two have all the properties belonging to a true and proper Sacrament and which the other five are defective in Q. What meanest thou by this word Sacrament A. I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us and ordained by Christ himself as a means whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof Q. What are the Properties belonging to a true Sacrament A. 1. That there be an outward and visible sign as water in Baptism and Bread and Wine in the Lord's Supper 2. An inward and spiritual grace thereby signified as the New birth by Baptism and the Body and Blood of Christ in the Lord's-Supper 3. A Divine Institution they are to be given to us and to be ordained by Christ himself Mat. 28.19 Go ye and teach all Nations Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 11.23 I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you 4. They are to be as a means whereby we receive the same Grace and a pledge to assure us thereof Matt. 26.28 This is my blood of the New Testament Covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins Q. How many parts are there in a Sacrament A. Two 1. The outward visible Sign and 2. the inward Spiritual Grace Q. Of Baptism What is the outward visible sign or form in Baptism A. Water wherein the person is Baptized In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Q. What is Christian Baptism A. It 's a Washing either by sprinkling a pouring on Water b or dipping c a person into it in the name of the Father Son and Holy-Ghost a Numb 8.7 Ezek. 36.25 Heb. 10.22 b Mark 7.4 c Acts 8.38 Q. What is the inward and Spiritual Grace or the thing signified by Baptism A. A death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness a for being by nature born in sin and the Children of Wrath we are hereby made the Children of Grace a Rom. 6.3 4 11. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life Q. What is the state you and all mankind were in before Baptism A. We were by nature born in sin and children of wrath Eph. 2.3 Ye were by nature children of wrath even as others Q. What is the state you are now brought into A. We are hereby made the Children of Grace Eph. 2.4 5. God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins hath quickned us together with Christ by Grace ye are saved Q. How are you made a Child of Grace by Baptism A. As I am thereby taken into Covenant with God and have a title to the Grace and Blessings of that Covenant which my Baptism
is the means and pledge of 1 John 3.2 Now are we the sons of God. Acts 2.38 39. Then Peter said Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost For the promise is unto you and to your Children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Q. Is Baptism alone sufficient to Salvation A. No not alone without the new birth thereby signified without we are dead unto sin and alive unto God through Jesus Christ Rom. 6.3 4 11. Q What is required of persons to be Baptized A. Repentance a whereby they forsake sin and Faith b whereby they stedfastly believe all that is revealed by Christ and particularly the Promises of God made to them in that Sacrament a Acts 2.38 41. Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins c. b Acts 8.37 If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest be Baptized Q. Why then are Infants Baptized when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them A. Because they promise them both Repentance and Faith by their Sureties which promise when they come to age themselves are bound to perform Q. Can Children be obliged where they do not actually consent A. Yes it was so under the Law a when Children were taken into Covenant and were circumcis'd at eight days old b and thenceforward were accounted God's Children c a Deut. 29.10 11 12. Ye stand this day all of you before the Lord your captains of your tribes your little ones That thou shouldst enter into covenant with the Lord. b Gen. 17.12 13 14. c Ezek. 16.20 21. Thou hast slain my children and deliver'd them to cause them to pass through the fire to Moloch Q. What warrant is there for the Baptism of Infants though born of Christian Parents A. The same that is for grown persons born of Christian Parents and that is because the Covenant belongs to them Acts 2.39 The promise is unto you and to your children 1 Cor. 7.14 Else were your children unclean but now as born of believing Parents are they holy Q. The Lord's Supper Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained A. For the continual remembrance of the Sacrifice of the death of Christ and of the benefits which we receive thereby Q. Why is this Sacrament called the Lord's Supper A. It 's called the Lord's Supper a as it was ordained by our Lord at Supper b immediately before his death a 1 Cor. 11.20 This is not to eat the Lord's Supper b Matt. 26.26 Q. For what end did our Lord ordain it A. 1. As a Sign and Representation of the Sacrifice of his Death and a means to keep up the remembrance of it a 2. As a means to conveigh and a pledge to assure us of the benefits we receive thereby b a 1 Cor. 11.24 Take eat this is my body c. this do in remembrance of me b Matt. 26.28 This Wine is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Q. Why is Christ's Death called a Sacrifice A. It 's call'd a Sacrifice a because he was a Sacrifice for sin b a Heb. 9.26 He put away sin by the sacrifice of himself b 2 Cor. 5.21 He hath made him to be sin a Sin-offering for us who knew no sin Q. How long is this Ordinance to continue A. It 's for the continual remembrance of his death till he come 1 Cor. 11.26 As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lord's death till he come Acts 1.11 Q. What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper A. Bread and Wine which the Lord hath commanded to be received Q. Are both the Elements Bread and Wine to be equally used A. Yes for the Lord commanded both to be received 1 Cor. 11.23 24. I received of the Lord That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread c. After the same manner also he took the Cup c. Q What is the inward part or thing signified A. The Body and Blood of Christ which are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper Q. Are the Bread and Wine changed after consecration A. Not otherwise than in their use for they remain the same in Nature and Substance as before So it 's thrice called Bread 1 Cor. 11.26 27 28. Q. What is the Body and blood of Christ which are said to be verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful A. 1. Negatively It 's not the natural Body and Blood of Christ 1. Because the Catechism saith the inward part or thing signified by the Bread and Wine in the Sacrament is the Body and Blood of Christ and so the Bread and Wine are the Signs of that Body and Blood and not the very natural Body and Blood. 2. Because it 's said the Body and Blood of Christ are verily and indeed taken and received therein by the faithful in opposition to Unbelievers who as our Article 29th saith Eat not the Body of Christ in the Lord's Supper 2. I answer positively That by the Body and Blood of Christ is meant Christ himself who suffer'd in his Body and shed his Blood for us John 6.53 54 55 56. Except ye eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you c. His Flesh and Blood That is himself as it immediately follows v. 57. He that eateth me even he shall live by me Q. How is the Body and Blood of Christ verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper A. The Faithful do receive Christ who thus suffered in his Body and shed his Blood by Faith. As the Flesh and Blood of Christ are Christ himself so Eating and Receiving are the same with Believing John 6.35 I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst Ver. 51. If any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever Vers 54. Who so eateth my flesh c. ver 56 57. Q. Are the Benefits we receive by Christ another thing than his Flesh and Blood A. Yes They differ as much as Christ himself doth from the Benefits he hath purchased for us Q. What are the Benefits whereof we are partakers thereby A. The strengthning and refreshing of our Souls by the Body and Blood of Christ as our Bodies are by the Bread and Wine Q. How are our Souls strengthned and refreshed by the Body and Blood of Christ A. Our Souls are strengthned and refreshed in the Lord's Supper by our belief in Christ that suffered in his Body and shed his Blood for us a which is more especially exhibited and set forth in this Ordinance b a John 6.35 Jesus said I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst Vers 51. I am the living bread which came down from heaven If any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever And the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world b 1 Cor. 10.16 The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion or participation of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ Q. What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper A. 1. To examine themselves a whether they repent them truly of their former sins b stedfastly purposing to lead a new life c a 1 Cor. 11.28 Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread c. b 1 Cor. 11.20 21. This is not to eat the Lord's Supper For in eating at their Love-Feasts before the Communion one is hungry and another is drunken Vers 31. If we would judge our selves we should not be judged c Isa 1.16 17 18. Wash ye make you clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evil learn to do well c. Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord c. 2. To have a lively Faith in Gods mercy through Christ Act. 26.18 That they may receive forgiveness of sins by faith that is in me Act. 4.12 Neither is there Salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved 1 Cor. 11.29 He that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lord's body 3. With a thankful remembrance of his Death 1 Cor. 11.26 For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew forth the Lord's death till he come 1 Cor. 6.19 20. 4. And to be in Charity with all men 1 Cor. 10.17 We being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread Ephes 5.2 Walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God. Matt. 5.23 24. If thou bring thy gift to the altar and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee Leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way first be reconciled to thy brother whom thou hast wrong'd or offended and then come and offer thy gift FINIS The young Reader is to take notice that the Letters a b c d refer to the Scriptures that follow and which are to prove every point so marked
A BRIEF EXPOSITION OF THE Church-Catechism WITH Proofs from SCRIPTURE LONDON Printed by R. Roberts for the Author MDCLXXXIX IMPRIMATUR Liber cui Titulus A brief Exposition of the Church-Catechism H. Maurice Rmo in Christo P. D. Wilhelmo Archiep. Cant. à Sacris Decemb. 12. 1688. TO HIS HONOURED FRIEND THE Reverend Dr. BVSBY AFter so pious a Design as you have laid in Founding and Endowing a Catechetical Lecture in Westminster-Abbey for the Instruction of the Youth under your Care and my Three Years Employment therein It may seem to be a mean account of it to publish such an Exposition of our Church-Catechism as this is But setting aside my other endeavours in that way I am not concerned to offer this to you who I know estimate things not according to their Bulk but their Vse and if by the brevity order and perspicuity aim'd at in this Exposition I have contributed to so good an end I am sure not to fail of your Approbation and shall be encouraged to proceed in the finishing and publishing my larger Exposition for the use of those who have been before instructed in this I am SIR Your Faithful Servant John Williams A BRIEF EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH-CATECHISM ¶ A Catechism that is to say an Instruction to be learned of every Person before he be brought to be Confirmed by the Bishop PART I. Of the Baptismal Vow Q. What is your Name A. N. or M. Q. Why is this Question first asked What is your Name A. To put me in mind of the Faith I professed at my Baptism when I first received my Christian Name Q. Who gave you this Name A. My God-Fathers and God-Mothers in my Baptism wherein I was made a member of Christ the Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven Q. Why is it asked Who gave you this Name A. To mind me of the Duty I then promised by my God-Fathers to perform Q. Why was your Christian Name given to you in Baptism A. Because I was then dedicated to Christ and taken into Covenant with him For the like reason the proper Name was given at Circumcision as to Isaac Gen. 21.3 4. to John Baptist Luk. 1.59 to our Saviour Luk. 2.21 Q. Why was your Name given you by God-Fathers A. As according to the ancient practice in the Jewish a and Christian Church they became Witnesses and Sureties for my better performing what was then requir'd of me a Isa 8.2 3. Q. What are the Privileges you receive and are admitted to by Baptism A. The Privileges are three as I was thereby made 1. A Member of Christ 2. The child of God 3. An Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven Q. Why are you said to be made a Member of Christ c A. Because I was not so born a but made by Baptism b a Joh. 1.12 13. As many as received him to them he gave power privilege to become the Sons of God which were born not of blood nor of the will of flesh nor of the will of man but of God. b Joh. 3.5 6. Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh c. Q. What is it to be a Member of Christ A. It 's to be a member of Christ's Church 1 Cor. 12.12 As the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ or the Christian Church Vers 27. Ye are the body of Christ and members in particular Q. Why is a Member of Christ's Church said to be a member of Christ A. Because the Church is the Mystical body of Christ a and Christ is the head b of that body a Ephes 1.22 23. The Church which is his body b Ephes 5.23 Christ is the head of the Church Q. What is it to be a Child of God A. It 's to be in Covenant with God. So the Jews were the children of God a and of the Covenant b a Deut. 14.1 b Act. 3.25 Q. Why are you first said to be a Member of Christ and then a Child of God A. Because it 's through Christ I was made a child of God Ephes 1.5 Having predestinated us to the Adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself Q. What is it to be an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven A. It 's to be so by promise Thus we are said to have what God has promised and which we have a title to upon that promise Joh. 3.36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life Q What did your God-Fathers and God-Mothers then for you A. They did promise and vow three things in my name first that I should renounce the Devil and all his works the pomps and banity of this wiched World and all the sinful lusts of the flesh Secondly that I should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith. And thirdly that I should keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of my life Q. What are you obliged to renounce A. The three spiritual enemies to my present welfare and future happiness Q. What are they A. The Devil the world and the flesh Q. What is it to renounce them A. It 's inwardly to detest and actually to reject them so as not to follow nor be led by them Q. What is the Devil A. The Devil is the name of all the fallen and lost Angels a of which one is the Prince b a 2 Pet. 2.4 God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell. b Mat. 12.24 27. Beelzebub the Prince of the Devils Q. Why are you in the first place requir'd to renounce the Devil A. Because he is an irreconcilable enemy to our Saviour a and a very dangerous enemy to us b a Revel 12.7 There was war in Heaven Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angels b 2 Cor. 6.15 1 Pet. 5.8 Your adversary the Devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour Q. What is meant by the works of the Devil A. All sin 1 Joh. 3.8 The Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil Q. Why is sin call'd the work of the Devil A. Because he first sinned a then seduced man to sin b and doth still tempt to it c a 1 Joh. 3.8 He that committeth sin is of the Devil for the Devil sinneth from the beginning b 2 Cor. 11.3 The Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty c Eph. 6.11 12. Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against Principalities c. Q. What is the second enemy you are to renounce A. This wicked world a with its pomps and vanity a Gal. 1.4 Who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us