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
of our Saviour's Victory over Death Rom. 6 9. Christ being raised from the dead died no more death hath no more dominion over him Q. After what manner did our Saviour Ascend into Heaven Article 6. He ascended into Heaven A. He ascended Bodily Locally Visibly a and Triumphantly b a Acts 1.9 While they beheld he was taken up b Ephes 4.8 When he ascended up on high he led Captivity captive Q. Was Christ to abide Bodily in Heaven A. Yes till the end of the World Acts 3.21 Whom the Heavens must receive until the times of the Restitution of all things Q. How is this Phrase The right Hand of God And sitteth on the right band of God. to be understood A. Figuratively for God is a Spirit a and hath no Body nor parts of it b a Joh. 4.24 b Luke 24.39 A Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones Q. What doth the right Hand of God signify in a figurative Sence A. 1. It signifies Power Luke 22.69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. 2. Dignity Heb. 1.3 4. He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high being made so much better than the Angels c. 3. Dominion Acts 2.34 35. The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou on my right hand until I make thy foes thy footstool Q. What doth sitting at the right Hand of God signify A. It signifies the full Possession of that Power Dignity and Dominion Heb. 10.12 This man after he had offered one Sacrifice for sins for ever sat down on the right hand of God. Q. What doth Christ do at the right hand of God A. He appears in the Presence of God for us a as our Mediator b Intercessor c and Advocate d a Heb. 9.24 Christ is entered into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us b 1 Tim. 2.5 c Rom. 8.34 d 1 John 2.1 Q. What is the ground of his Mediation A. 1. That he is God a Man b partaker of the nature of both a Heb. 4.14 A high Priest Jesus the Son of God. b 1 Tim. 2.5 There is one Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus 2. As he pleads for us in the Virtue and Merit of his own Blood. Heb. 9.12 By his own Blood he entred in once into the holy place having obtained eternal Redemption for us Q. Is Christ the alone Mediator A. There is one Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 Q. Why is Christ the alone Mediator A. 1. Because he alone is partaker of both Natures God-Man 2. Because he only can plead for us that made an Atonement by his Blood 1 Tim. 2.5 6. There is one Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all Rom. 8.34 Q. Why is the Phrase Father Almighty Father Almighty added to this Article A. It 's to signify that Christ as our Mediator is invested by the Father with a fulness of Authority Power and Dominion in recompence of that Humiliation he submitted to Acts 5.30 31. Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a tree him hath God exalted with to his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour Phil. 2.7 8 9. Q. What is the fourth Branch of Christ's Exaltation Article 7. From thence he shall come to judgthe Quick and the Dead A. His Coming to Judgement Acts 17.31 He will judge the World in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained c. Q. Whence shall he come A. From Heaven 1 Thes 4.16 The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven c. Matth. 25.31 Q. Whom shall he judge A. All Men the Quick who now are or hereafter shall be and the Dead Acts 10.42 It is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of Quick and Dead Q. For what shall he judge them A. For all things a whether Secret b or Open. a 2 Cor. 5.10 We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad b Eccles 12.14 God shall bring every work into Judgement with every secret thing Q. Article 8. I believe in the Holy Ghost What is the Holy Ghost A. The third Person in the sacred Trinity 1 Joh. 5.7 There are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost Q. Why is he call'd the Holy Ghost A. Because of his Office which is in Christ's stead to gather sanctify and govern the Church Eph. 5.25 26. Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word c. Tit. 3.4 5. The kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Q. Article 9. The Holy Catholick Church What doth the word Catholick signify A. It signifies Vniversal Q. What is the Catholick Church A. It 's the whole Society of Christians dispersed over all the World as they are gathered under one Head Christ Jesus Col. 1.18 He is the head of the Body the Church Q. Why is the term Catholick applied to the Christian Church A. To distinguish it from the Jewish Church which was confined to one Nation a whereas the Christian Church is extended to all Nations b. a Psal 147.19 20. He sheweth his word unto Jacob c. he hath not dealt so with any nation b Matth. 28.19 Go ye teach all nations 1 Cor. 12.13 Q. Can any particular Church as that of Rome be called the Catholick Church A. No no more than the City of Rome is the whole World. Q. How is the Church said to be holy A. As the Jews were said to be a holy Nation a by being taken into Covenant with God and as we are under the obligation of being holy b a Exod. 19.6 b 1 Thes 4.7 God hath called us unto holiness Q. What are the privileges belonging to the Catholick Church A. They are four 1. The Communion of Saints 2. The forgiveness of sins 3. The Resurrection of the body 4. Life everlasting Communion of Saints Q. How is the word Saints to be understood A. It 's to be understood of all those that are visible members of Christ's Church Rom. 1.7 To all that be at Rome called to be Saints that is Christians Q. What is the first privilege A. Communion of Saints 1 Joh. 1.3 7. Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ V. 7. If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another Q. In what doth this Communion consist A. It consists in a fellowship in the Ordinances of Divine Worship a and of charity one towards another b a Act. 2.42 They continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship
from this present evil world Q. Why do you call it this wicked world A. Not from any evil in the world it self for it was made very good a but because of the evil it tempts to b and the evil use it 's put to by bad men a Gen. 1.31 God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good b 1 Joh. 2.15 Love not the world neither the things that are in the world If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him Jam. 4.1 2 4. Q. What is meant by Pomps A. Honour and worldly Glory Act. 25.23 Agrippa came with great pomp Q. What is it to renounce the Pomps of this world A. It 's to refrain from all immoderate desires after the honour and glory of the world and from all pride and ostentation in what any one enjoys of it 1 Joh. 2.16 The pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world Phil. 2.3 Let nothing be done through vain glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves Q. What do you understand by the Vanity of this world which you are to renounce A. Covetousness a or the lust of the eye 1 Joh. 2.16 a Eccles 4.7 8. I saw vanity under the Sun there is one alone and there is not a second yea he hath neither child nor brother yet is there no end of all his labour neither is his eye satisfied with riches c. 1 Tim. 6.9 10. They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and burtful lusts c. Q. What is the third enemy you are to renounce A. The sinful lusts of the flesh 1 Joh. 2.16 Q. What do you understand by the sinful lusts of the flesh A. All unlawful pleasures to which we are provoked by our sensual inclinations such as uncleanness drunkenness c. Gal. 5.19 21. The works of the flesh are manifest which are these adultery fornication c. Q. What is the second Duty you were in your Baptism obliged to perform A. To believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith Of this see the Belief Q. What is the third Duty then required of you A. To keep God's holy Will and Commandments and to walk in the same all the days of my life Of this see the Decalogue Q. Dost thou not think that thou art bound to believe and to do as they have promised for thee A. Yes verily and by God's help so I will And I heartily thank our Heavenly father that he hath called me to this state of Salvation through Jesus Christ our Saviour And I pray to God to give me his grace that I may continue in the same unto my lives end Q. Why do you think your self bound thus to believe and do what they promised for thee A. Because what was then promised was in my name and by Proxies that acted in my stead Q. Are you resolved to do according to what they promised for you A. Yes by God's help or else I must expect to forfeit the blessings belonging to that state which I was then called and admitted into Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Q. What is that state A. A state of Salvation Q. Why do you call it a state of Salvation A. Because I have thereby all the means necessary to Salvation Rom. 1.16 The Gospel is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth 2 Tim. 3.15 From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation Q. How came you into this state A. Our Heavenly Father called me to it through Jesus Christ and instated me into it by Baptism Tit. 3.5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Q. How do you think to be enabled to do and to continue in the performance of what was then required A. I depend upon the Grace of God a to prevent b assist c and confirm d me in it a 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God. Phil. 2.13 It is God which worketh in you b to will c and to do d Phil. 1.6 Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it Q. How do you think to obtain God's Grace A. I will pray unto God for it Luk. 11.9 10 13. Ask and it shall be given seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you c. If ye being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more will your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him PART II. Of the Creed or Belief Q. WHat was the second Duty undertaken in your name A. That I should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith. Q. What do you mean by the Christian Faith A. The Doctrine revealed by Christ and contained in the Holy scripture Acts 24.24 Feâ—â—â— heard Paul concerning the Faith in Christ or the Christian Doctrine Q. What do you mean by the Articles of the Christian Faith A. I thereby mean such Points of Christian Doctrine as are most necessary to be believed Heb. 6.1 The Principles of the Doctrine of Christ Q. Where are those Articles briefly contain'd A. In the Apostles Creed Q. Why is it called the Apostles Creed A. Partly because of the Apostolical Doctrine contained in it and partly because it was in the main Branches of it composed in the Apostolical times as we read of a form of sound words 2 Tim. 1.13 Rehearse the Articles of thy Belief The Creed A. 1. I believe in God the father Almighty Maker of Deaven and Earth 2. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. 3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost Born of the Virgin Mary 4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell. 5. The third day he rose again from the Dead 6. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the father Almighty 7. from thence he shall come to judge the Duich and the Dead 8. I believe in the Holy Ghost 9. The Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints 10. The forgiveness of Sins 11. The Resurrection of the Body 12. And the Life everlasting Amen Q. What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy Belief A. First I learn to believe in God the father who hath made me and all the World. Secondly In God the Son who hath redeemed me and all mankind Thirdly In God the Holy Ghost who sanctifieth me and all the elect People of God. Q. What do you observe from these three parts into which the Creed is divided A. 1. I observe a distinction of Persons the Father the Son and the
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