Debauchery thereof is very great and therefore it is as needful now as ever That some Persons be engaged publickly to see that children that are baptized be brought up in the doctrine of Christ and in the fear of God Q. What just exception can be made against this Custome A. None but Godfathers and Godmothers neglecting their duties now this or the like Exceptions lye against the best and most wholesome Institutions both of God and man Catechist It is indeed a very sad thing that Godfathers and Godmothers so generally neglect their duties I say therefore O that All persons would be serious in undertaking this charge and fulfill it more Conscientiously than commonly men do And then The Benefit of this Custom would convince all mankind how convenient it is that it be retained to prevent any persons making Shipwrack of Faith and of a good Conscience when they come to years of discretion Q. Why do Christians give their Children names in Baptism A. Because the Jews gave names to their children in Circumcision and Baptism succeeds in the room of it Again it is intended That their names should always put them in mind of their Christianity which they received together with their names Catechist First That Baptism succeeds in the room of Circumcision As it is clear in matter of Fact so I take it to be manifest in that one Text of St. Paul Coloss 1.11 In whom also ye are Circumcised by the Circumcision made without Hands in putting off the Body of the Sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ buried with him in Baptism 2. That the Jews gave their names when they Circumcised their Children is plain in divers instances To name but two Gen. 21.3 4. Abraham called the name of his Son which Sarah bare unto him Isaac and Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being Eight days old as God commanded him And so had John Baptist his name given to Him at his circumcision Luk. 1.59 and so had our Saviour Luk. 2.21 When 8 days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child his name was called Jesus which was so named of the Angel before he was conceived in the Womb. 3. As often as we mention or think of our names we should as much as possible call to mind our Baptismal Covenant viz. To be Christs faithful servants to our lives end and hereof St. Pauls text 2 Tim. 3.19 may serve for a good Paraphrase Let every one that nameth the name of Christ or upon whom the name of Christ is called in that he is called a Christian depart from iniquity Q. Seeing then you received both these in Baptism I ask you what is Baptism as it is in this place offered to your Consideration A. It is one of the Seals of the new Covenant Catechist Such was Circumcision and therefore such is Baptism that succeeds it Rom. 4.11 Abrahams circumcision was to Him a seal of the Righteousness of Faith which He had being Vncircumcised Q. What Covenant do you mean A. The same which God made with Adam after his fall in those words The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head and which he afterwards renewed at several times to Gods people by the Patriarchs and Prophets and at last Ratified in Christs blood called the Covenant of Grace Catechist This Covenant as made with Adam as the common parent and Representative of all mankind you have in Gen 3.15 and as it was renewed to Abraham you have Gen. 12.3 and 22.18 In thee in thy Seed i. e. in Christ as St. Paul explains it Gal. 3.8 shall all Families of the earth be blessed Which Covenant was afterwards renewed or new revealed in other words to Jacob Gen. 49.10 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah till Shilo come by Moses Deut. 18.15 A Prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you of your Brethren like unto me him shall ye hear by David by Isaiah Jeremy and the rest of the Prophets too many to recite particularly here and still in every age it was more clearly revealed then the former until the Seed came the Mediator of this covenant and ratified and established it by his Blood It will be of great Use to you Good Children if you can reach to understand thus much much more if you can attain a competent practical knowledge of the terms of this Covenant as your Catechism well understood may instruct you I ask you therefore Q. How many parts are there in this Covenant A. Two Gods part and ours Catechist For so it is in all Covenants which being between parties it obligeth them both to their respective parts and neither of them can expect the benefit of the Covenant without his own performance of what belongs to him Q. What then is Gods part or what doth God promise in the Covenant of Grace A. Forgiveness of Sins Sanctifying Grace and Eternal Life Q. How doth your Catechism express these A. It shews what Benefits we receive by Baptism to wit that of limbs of Satan we are therein made members of Christ Of Children of Wrath and of the Devil we are therein made Children of God and of heirs of Hell we become inheritors of the Kingdom of heaven Catechist These are great things Good Children for you to learn and having learnt them I beseech you do your best to consider them and see how all are grounded in the plain words of Holy Scripture Of Limbs of Satan as the Head and Father of all wicked ones we are by Baptisme made members of Christ Members you all know relate to a Body Now the Church is the Body whereof Christ is the Head and by Baptism we are made members of the Church which is the Mystical Body of Christ For Baptism is the Sacrament of Admission into the Church as the Lords Supper is the Sacrament of nourishment in the Church 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit we are all baptized into one body whether Jew or Gentile 2. Whereas we are all by nature Children of wrath one as well as other Ephes 2.3 By Baptism we are born anew of water and the spirit John 3.5 and so have the power and dignity or priviledge to be called the Children of God by Regeneration as well as by Adoption for John 1.12 To as many as received him to them gave be power to become the Sons of God even as many as believed in his name and professed that belief by being Baptized Gal. 3.26 27. Ye are all the children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ And from hence they may call God Father saying Our Father which art in heaven witness what Christ said to his Disciples John 20.17 I ascend to my Father and your Father and from hence they are brethren to Christ for Heb. 2.11 He is not ashamed to call them Brethren And being thus children and sons of God they are 3. By Baptism made Heirs of his Kingdom
by Christs Redemption and the Spirit 's Sanctification A. Only the Holy Catholick Church that is such as in any age or place are called to Faith and Repentance and do evidence the truth of a lively Faith and true Repentance by constant Obedience to Gods Will revealed in his Word Q. What mean you by a Church A. The Company of the Faithful that is such as are called to Faith and Repentance Catechist Neither can the Pope nor any one particular Person upon Earth be truly called the Church For it is a Company a Body consisting of many members And hence Christ calls it a flock though it be a little flock in comparison of the whole world that lyes in wickedness Luk. 12.32 Fear not little flock for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom And St. Peter 2 Ep. 2.9 useth these Plural and Collective words calling the Church a chosen generation a Royal Priesthood an Holy nation a peculiar people Caetus Vocatorum It is a Company of called ones such as are called out of the world to forsake its sinful ways and Customs to profess Repentance from dead works and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ Of which calling S. Paul saith 2 Tim. 1.9 They are called with an Holy calling Rom. 1.7 Called to be Saints In a word 2 Thes 2.13 They are called as well as chosen to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the Truth Q. What signifies this word Catholick A. It is a Greek word and is as much as Universal Q. What mean you by believing the Church to be Catholick or Vniversal Q. That Gods Church is not now confined to any one place or people as it was under the Old Testament but all that are called in any Age or Place are now of the Catholick Church being United into one Mystical body Catechist Under the Old Testament Psal 76.1 2. In Judah was God known His name was great in Israel Jerusalem was his Tabernacle and his dwelling place was in Sion Psal 147.19 10. He shewed his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel He dealt not so with any Other nation neither had the Heathen knowledge of his Law But now under the Gospel or New Testament The partition wall between Jew and Gentile being by Christs Death broken down Both are become one sheepfold under one Shepherd And according to Gods promise to Christ Ps 2.8 The Heathen are given to him for an Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for a possession So that now Act. 10.34 35. God is no Accepter of persons But in every nation He that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him And hence S. John saith Rev. 7.9 That he in his vision beheld and loe a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the throne and before the Lamb clothed with white robes Crying with a loud voice Salvation to our God that sitteth on the throne and to the Lamb for ever Q. Who is the Head of this Mystical Body the Catholick Church A. No man living but Christ only Catechist It is pride and presumption in the Pope to claim this Honour which belongs to Christ alone For Eph. 5.23 He alone is Head of the Church who is the Saviour of the Body Col. 1.18 He is the Head of the Body the Church Who is the beginning the first born from the dead that in all things he might have the preeminence For it pleaseth the Father that in him all fulness should dwell Q. Hath God always had a Church on Earth A. Yes and will have to the end of the world it can never be destroyed utterly Catechist It was Christs promise to his Disciples and in them to his Church All that through them should afterwards believe in his name To be with them alway to the end of the world Matth. 28.20 And he said Matth. 16.18 Vpon this Rock that is the Truth confessed by St. Peter there That he was the Christ the Son of the Living God upon this rock would he build his Church and the Gates of Hell should not prevail against it i. e. quite destroy or root it out of the world Q. Can any one Church as that of Rome call it self the Catholick Church in opposition to other Churches A. No no more than Rome can be called the whole world Catechist Rome is at the best but one Member of the Catholick Church of Christ and can no more properly be called the Catholick Church than either It or any one Particular place can be called the whole World Q. Is Christs Church always visible upon Earth A. That of sincere Christians is invisible That of all Christian professors is visible Catechist The Church Visible is the Light of the world and a City set upon an Hill which cannot be hid Mat. 5.14 It is alway visible at least to them that are of it and profess Christianity But sometimes it may be so persecuted as to flee like the woman into the Wilderness where she hath a place prepared for her for that time of persecution Rev. 12.6 and then it is not so visible as to be glorious and to prosper and flourish in the eyes of the world Q. Why is Christs Church said to be Holy an Holy Church A. Because of its better part sincere Christians in it and because of its Holy Ordinances and Gods commands and our profession of true Holiness Catechist 1 Pet. 2.9 It is an Holy Nation a peculiar people Rev. 21.2 It 's an Holy City the new Jerusalem Not but that there is a mixture of good and bad godly and prophane in the Church for our Saviour compares the Church which he calls the Kingdom of heaven Matth. 13.24 to a field wherein tares grow up with the wheat And ver 47. to a draw-net that incloseth both good fish and bad with divers others of the like Nature But the Church is Holy as for its Holy things so because all its members do or should profess Holiness it is a company or Congregation of men who are called with an holy calling or Vocation 2 Tim. 1.9 For every man that nameth the name of Christ or on whom the name of Christ is called being called Christian is bound to depart from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 Q. But who then are they that are truly Holy A. Such as believe aright and live answerably such as evidence the truth of a lively Faith and Unfeigned Repentance by constant Obedience to Gods Will revealed in his Word Catechist So I have often told you for St. James 2.18 saith Shew me thy Faith by thy works And he there argues it at large that good Works of Obedience are the only things that can evidence a mans Faith to be true and alive and not dead or no better than that Faith of Devils who believe and tremble Q. What duties doth our believing the Holy Catholick Church oblige us all to
A. Carefully to practice Holiness ourselves and by all means to take heed of Schisms Divisions and Separations from Gods Church for thereby we shall lose all visible Hopes of Salvation Catechist I therefore a prisoner of the Lord saith the Apostle Eph. 4.1 beseech you that ye walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowliness and meekness endeavoring to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of peace that is Unity in Spiritual things For as he goes on argumentatively There is one Body and one Spirit one Faith one Lord one Baptism One God and Father of all All which Ones the Apostle argueth should oblige us to be One to keep fast the Unity and by no means to separate from the one Body the Church And indeed to divide from the one Church and fall into Schisms is a sort of renouncing this Article of our Creed I Believe the one Catholick Church We cannot verily heartily believe this unless we follow the Apostles Rule Rom. 16.17 I beseech you Brethren Mark them which cause Divisions among you and avoid them And need we had to do so for there is great Truth in the old saying Out of the Church no Salvation for it is Gods way to add to the Church not to divide from it those that shall be saved Act. 2.47 Now after the Church let us consider the priviledges and promises wherewith this Church is enriched Q. What are the Churches grand priviledges A. Two in This life and two in the life To come Q. Which be those two in This Life A. The Communion of Saints The Forgiveness of sins Q. Which be those two in the Life To come A. The Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting Catechist And surely it hugely concerns you to understand each of these things well and distinctly To which purpose for the Communion of Saints in the first place I ask you Q. What do you mean by Saints A. The members of Christs Church who being in part holy here shall be perfect Saints hereafter in heavenly glory Catechist Saints is as much as Holy Ones And all the members of the Church called to be Saints Rom. 1.7 For they are called unto Holiness 1 Thes 4.7 It is their duty and profession to follow Holiness Heb. 12.14 and to go on to perfect Holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 For being redeemed by Christ and delivered from the hands of their enemies it is that they may serve God without fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of their lives Luk. 1.75 Q. With whom have those Saints Communion A. With the Blessed Trinity as Sons of God by Faith and prayer and with one another in all Ordinances of piety and all Offices of Charity as Brethren Catechist That which we have heard and seen saith S. John 1 Ep. 1.3 We declare unto you that ye may have fellowship with us and truly Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ With these the Saints have fellowship and Communion by all Acts of Faith and Love and all Holy affections and in Gods Holy Ordinances as in divers instances so particularly in that God and Christ Communicates to them the riches of his Blessings Mercies and Consolations through the merits of Christ and they acquaint him with all their wants and troubles and necessities trusting in him And as for that fellowship they have with one another it consists in divers particulars as to name some They Sympathize with and have a fellow feeling of one anothers miseries sufferings and afflictions as fellow members one of another 1 Cor. 12.26 Whether one member suffer all the members suffer with it or one member be honoured all the members rejoyce with it Rom. 12.15 They rejoyce with them that rejoyce and weep with them that weep They pray continually and praise God for each others welfare saying Our Father c. And what Gifts and Blessings any one enjoyeth He readily and willingly imployes and Communicates them for supply relief and helping others that want them whether Wisdom Wealth or Power Q. What is our duty as Believers of this Communion of Saints A. To hold fast this Communion that we may receive and impart the Benefits of Gods Mercies and each others Gifts and to take heed of all causeless separations from Gods Church or one another in matters of Faith Worship and Charity Catechist I beseech you good Children learn these lessons and lay them up in your hearts that you may walk steadily and not waver in your Holy Religion to your lives end If you truly believe the Communion of Saints you must follow the Apostles Exhortation closely 1 Cor. 1.10 I beseech you Brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ That ye all speak the same things and that there be no Divisions amongst you but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgment Phil. 2.1 2. If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord and of one mind Let nothing be done through strife c. Take heed of all Breaches of this Communion and of all that would withdraw you from it Rom. 16.17 Mark them that are for making of Schisms and Breaches in Christs Body the Church that cause divisions amongst us and follow them not but avoid them for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ whatever they pretend but their own bellies and with good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple To the next Article then Q. What is it to believe the Forgiveness of sins A. That Gods justice is satisfied through the Merits of Christs blood and through them there is mercy and pardon may be obtained for all our sins if we do but heartily repent and forsake them Catechist Psal 130.4 There is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared How comes this to pass through Christ Act. 13.38 Through this man is preached to you forgiveness of sins Upon what account because Matth. 20.28 He gave his life a ransome for us 1 Cor. 15.4 He died for our sins according to the Scriptures He was made sin for us who knew no sin 2 Cor. 5.21 that is a Sacrifice to suffer death for our sins in our stead So hath he purchased a pardon for all sinners that will but accept of it upon the condition upon which it is offered them which I shall choose to express in the words of the Evangelical Prophet Isaiah 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the Vnrighteous man his imaginations and return unto the Lord for he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Q. Who then is it that forgives sins A. God only Catechist A truth directly contrary to the Popish Priests presumption in taking this
Apostles and therefore it is presumption and Sacriledge in the Popish Priests to take the Cup from the Laity Catechist It is necessary to teach you this to arm you against Popery The words of the Institution are express Mat. 26.27 Drink ye all of this And S. Mark saith chap. 14.23 They all drank of it Here is both precept and practice against the Church of Romes presumptuous and Sacrilegious robbing the Laity of the Cup. And I may argue with the Apostle Gal. 3.15 Brethren I speak after the manner of men though it be but a mans Testament no man disannulleth or diminisheth or addeth thereto after it be confirmed by his Death And how then dare any mutilate this Sacrament which is the new Testament in Christs blood Now both fully to arm you against the other great Popish Error that of Transubstantiation and also clearly to explain the truth to you I think it needful to offer you these following Questions Q. Is the Substance of Bread and Wine changed by Consecration into the Substance of Christs Body and Blood A. No for we evidently see the Substance of Bread and Wine to remain after Consecration Catechist I told you this before and I must tell you it again that you may take due notice of it They are called Bread and Wine after as well as before Consecration in the Scriptures And our senses tell us plainly and assure us they are still bread and wine that is We see and feel and smell and tast them to be no other but bread and wine and therefore to say they are changed Substantially that is into the Substance of Christs body and blood is as well to bely our sences as the Scriptures Know this therefore what change there is made of or in the Elements by Consecration it is wholly Sacramental not in Substance but in their Use Q. But do not we then feed on Christs body and blood in the Lords Supper A. Yes as truly and really as we do on the Bread and Wine Catechist So your Catechism teacheth you they are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lords Supper and therefore though we Protestants deny the corporeal we yet do not the Real presence of Christs Body and Blood Real it is though spiritual and not at all the less real for its being wholly spiritual And for proof hereof I need but mind you of the Apostles negative questions which hath the force of the strongest Affirmation 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ and the bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ Is it not that is it certainly is so We do here as certainly Communicate of Christs body and blood as we do of the bread and wine if we be worthy Receivers I say if we be worthy Receivers for mark the words of your Church Catechism and out of it answer me the next question Q. Do all that receive the bread and wine feed on Christs body and blood A. No but the faithful only Catechist Your Catechism so expresseth it they are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful If Unbelievers and wicked men do with Judas receive the Signs yet do they receive them only not the things signified by them either Christs body or blood or their saving benefits that is the Remission of their sins increase of Grace or assurance of their Eternal Salvation Matth. 16.25 It is not meet to take the childrens bread and cast it to the dogs Such pearls belong not to Swine nay alas coming unpreparedly and eating and drinking unworthily the Apostle tells them what it is that they verily and indeed receive 1 Cor. 11.29 They eat and drink damnation to themselves not discerning the Lords body Therefore saith Holy Church in her warning to the Communicants excellently If any of you be a blasphemer of God an hinderer or slanderer of his word an Adulterer or be in envy or malice or any other grievous crime Repent ye of your sins or else come not to the Holy Table lest after the taking this Holy Sacrament The Devil enter into you as be entred into Judas and fill you full of all Iniquity and bring you to destruction both of body and of Soul It is then the Faithful only that receive real benefit of this Sacrament and really feed on Christs body and blood Now I ask you Q. Do the faithful feed on Christs body and blood carnally A. No it is after a spiritual manner only Catechist I told you this before and now call upon you to speak it yourselves that it may take deeper impression on you And I prove it by one Text Joh. 6.63 when the Disciples were offended at our Saviours telling them of eating his flesh and drinking his blood He thus explained himself The flesh profiteth nothing it is the spirit that quickneth The words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are life that is they have a spiritual and not a litteral or carnal sence and meaning And when I have asked you one question more I must needs think you have attained a competent understanding of the doctrine of this Sacrament as it is thus far taught you in your Catechism Q. Since we see nothing but bread and wine and since our hands handle and feel and our Tast perceives nothing but bread and wine how can we be sure that we do verily and indeed feed on Christs Body and Blood A. By Faith in the promise of Christ for he called the Bread his body and the Wine his Blood and therefore will undoubtedly with the Signs give the things signified Catechist And this I conceive is the great thing assured us by Christs saying Matth. 26.26 28. This is my Body and This is my Blood the Blood of the New Testament not that the Bread and Wine are at all Transubstantiated into Christs Body and Blood or that the Body and Blood are corporally or carnally in or under the Bread and Wine which is the Lutherans Consubstantiation but we are here assured by our Saviour that with the one God will certainly give the other to all worthy Receivers Christs word will be made good to us if the fault be not in ourselves It is Faith in his word and promise who if he speak the word can create a new world that assures us thereof Of receiving and feeding upon Christs Body and Blood and all the benefits of the Blessed Sacrament Q. What then are the benefits you receive thereby A. The strengthening and refreshing of our Souls by the Body and Blood of Christ as our Bodies are by the Bread and Wine Catechist Consider well this answer and then tell me Q. Do we feed our bodies in the Lords Supper A. No it is a spiritual feast for our Souls only Catechist This is no trifling question but needful as experience shews It is our Souls we come to feed here with