Eph. 5.14 17. That we being filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding may walke worthie of the Lord and please him in all things beeing fruitful in all good works Col. 1.9 10. And that this knowledge faith and fruitfulnesse in all good workes may abound in vs as the elect deer childrē of God let vs diligētly read the book of god cōtinually meditate on the same for the Prophet saith Blessed is the man that doth not walke in the counsell of the wicked nor stand in the way of sinners nor sit in the seate of the scorneful but his delight is in the Lawe of the Lord and in his Lawe doth he meditate day night for he shall be like a tree planted by the riuers of waters that wil bring foorth her fruite in due season whose leafe shall not fade so whatsoeuer he shall do shall prosper Psal 1.1.2 3. Now for the common benefit and better instruction of Gods people and thy selfe christian reader J haue caused this little and short treatise of christian points of religion to be printed and published and although it bee but small in volume yet I doubt not but if it be well read and printed in minde it shall minister great good to further thy knowledge to confirm thy faith and to increase true holines in thee And this I dare promise thee that there are some things handled in this Catechisme both in matter and manner which other Catechismes dooth not as once meddle and intreate of and other things which are intreated of some in their bookes haue J drawne in a briefe method for the benifit of the reader And whereas many things are yet in doubt among the multitude and great controuersies doo rise by them I haue breefely yet soundly opened the trueth of them finally there is not that point which I haue intreated of but I haue first defined the same and haue set downe the definitions of all the hardest words which are commonly vsed by the preachers of the word and in the large and great volumes of the learned that the simple who is altogether ignorant of the true sense of them may vnderstand not onely the Preacher and bookes which they both heare and read but also the verie words as iustification sanctification grace redemption law and such like Therefore seeing my purpose is onely to doo good vnto Gods Church and my paine great herein yet godly I hope all faithfull people will accept the same and both praise God for this litle worke and pray vnto God for mee to increase his good gifts and graces in my soule vnto my liues end Amen Thus I take my leaue from my house at Kingswood the second of September Thine in the Lord Richard Saintbarb Preacher of Gods word Certaine points of Christian Religion Question INto what faith wert thou baptised Answere Into the faith of the holie Trinitie Matth. 28.19 Question What doost thou meane when thou saiest thou art baptised into the faith of the holie Trinitie Answere It is to enter and consecrate the baptised into the faith and religion of one God First that they might beleeue the Father the Sonne and the Holie ghost to bee one God to whom alone they must giue their faith and confidence Psal 37.5 Iere. 17.5 6 7 8. Iohn 14.1 Secondly that they beleeue that the sonne and the holie ghost are nothing els but the verie essence of God 1. Iohn 5.7 Thirdly that they confesse God the Father who hath adopted them God the sonne by whome they are redeemed and God the holie Ghost by whome they are sanctified confirmed Gala. 4.4 5 6. 1. Corinthians 6.10 11. Question Where shall wee finde the summe of this faith of the holie Trinitie Answere First generallie at large in the holie Scriptures which is called the Booke of God Secondly particularlie and briefely in the Articles of the Faith called the Apostles Creede Question Why is it so called Answere For two apt causes First Because it is a briefe collection of the Articles of the Faith which haue been alwaies in Christs Church Secondly because it was taken out of the pure doctrine of the Apostles Question Why must euerie christian say I beleeue not We beleeue as well as they generally do say Our Father which art c. Answere First because euerie Christian must be saued by his owne faith and not by an others Secondly wheras we say Our Father we must note that it is a prayer and the other the beleefe of euerie Christian and therefore a plaine and great difference Haba 2.4 Ga. 3.11 Heb. 10.38 39. Question Why must we beleeue that there is a Church not in the Church as in God the Father c Answere It were great idolatrie to put our trust in meere man for Faith onely belongeth to the holy Trinitie and although Iesus Christ who is saluation it selfe is no where to be found but in the Church yet Saluation is not of the Church and therefore Ieremie accurseth them that put anie confidence in the flesh of sinfull man Iohn 17.1 2 3. Matth. 28.19 Ierem. 17.5 6. Esay 30.1 2 3 4. and 31.1 2 3 4. Question Into how manie points shall we diuide this confession of our faith Answere Into 3. The first concerning God the Father in the first Article The second concerning God the Sonne in the sixe next Articles The third concerning God the holy Ghost in the fiue last Articles Question How manie things learn you in the first article I beleeue in God the father Almightie c. Answere First what God is Secondly how he created all things Thirdly how he preserueth all his workes Fourthlie how he ruleth and gouerneth all things Question What is God Answere God is a spirite infinite euerlasting vnchaungeable incorruptible immortall most simple in nature in power most mightie incomprehensible both in greatnesse and Maiestie by whom all things were made in the beginning of nothing also distinguished into thrée persons the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost Iohn 4.24 Esay 66.1 2. Esay 40.28 Mal. 3.6 Iam. 1.17 Rom. 1.23 2. Tim. 1.17 Gen. 17.1 Rom. 11.33 34 35 36. Ier. 10.10 11 12 13. Matth. 28.19 Reuel 15.3 4. Question What is God the Father Answere Hee is the beginning and Authour of euerie thing both in heauen and in earth Who when it séemed good vnto his diuine Nature created all things of nothing in heauen and in earth both spirituall and corporall and ordered them by his eternall Sonne the which are now gouerned and mainteined by the infinite and consubstantiall power of the Holie Ghost proceeding from them both from all eternitie Gen. 1.1 2 c. Gene. 2.1 Prouerb 8.14 to the end Psalme 114.30 Gene. 1.2 Iohn 15.26 Roman 8.9 Question What is the Sonne Answere The Sonne of God is Iesus Christ who was begotten of his Father before all worlds and of his Father without a mother by whom all things were created who being appointed of
his Father from euerlasting to redeeme his elect people was when the fulnesse of time was come borne of a Virgin and became man of his mother without a father by whom we are saued Psalm 2.7 Hebr. 1.5 Iohn 1.14 18. Col. 1.16 17. Reuela 13.8 1. Peter 1.19 20. Galath 4.4 5. Luke 1.26 27 30 31. Luke 2.6 7. Question What is the Holie Ghost Answere The Holie Ghost is the essentiall power and vertue both of the Father and the Sonne eternall and consubstantiall with them in whome he resteth and abideth and from whom he proceedeth By him are we grafted into the bodie of Christ and sanctified and sealed vp to saluation Iohn 15.26 Luk. 11.20 Gen. 1.2 1. cor 12.13 14. Tit. 3.5 Question In that thou saiest there is God the Father God the Sonne and God the Holie Ghost what doost thou els but make three Gods Answere No not so for God is one in essence and simple in nature although thrée Persons distinguished out of the same Beeing of Beeings Deuter. 6.4 1. Corinth 8.6 Ephesians 4.5 6. 1. Iohn 5.7 Question How proue you this distinction of the three Persons in the one Godhead Answere This maye bee prooued most plainelie and firmlie by these places of Scripture Matthew 3.16 17. and 28.19 1. Iohn 5.7 Romanes 8.9 Question Are they three seuerall substances in that they are three distinct persons Answere No for I haue alreadie said that they are but one imcomprehensible infinite inuisible and vndeuidable substance and yet three Persons Question How are they three Persons Answere In respect of their properties and not in diuiding their nature but in distinguishing their properties Question What are their properties Answere We attribute to God the father our Creation to God the sonne our redemption and to God the holie Ghost our sanctification to the father the thing done to the Sonne the wisedome whereby it is done to the Holie Ghost the effects of the thing done Genes 2.7 Titus 2.14 1. Peter 1.2 Actes 14.15 Prouerbes 8.22 to 32. Question What things are proper to the Father alone that agree neither to the Sonne nor to the holie Ghost Answere This the begetting of the Sonne for which cause he is called the Father and fountaine of the Trinitie Iohn 3.16 1. Cor. 8.6 Iohn 16.28 and 15.26 Question What is giuen to the Sonne that is not likewise giuen to the Father nor to the Holie Ghost Answere To be begotten for which cause he is called the Sonne and seconde person in the Godhead as also that he is the Fathers word Hebrewes 2.5 1. Iohn 4.9 Matthew 28.19 Iohn 1.1 Question What is proper to the Holie Ghost that is not likewise giuen to the Father nor to the Sonne Answere To be proceeding from the Father and the Sonne and to be the third person in Trinitie Rom. 8.9 Matth. 28.19 Question Then Iesus Christ was not created in that he was the Sonne of God Answere No verelie but begotten from euerlasting and without beginning Also in that he is God he is the Creator and not a creature for by him all things were made Reuelat. 1.8 Mich. 5.2 Iohn 17.5 Iohn 1.1 2 3 4 5. Coloss 1.16 17. Question Was Iesus Christ created in that hee is man Answere Yea hee was created of God without the helpe of man onely by the worke and operation of the holie Ghost in the wombe of the virgin Marie Matth. 1.20 Luke 1.35 Galath 4.4 Question In that thou giuest Iesus Christ two Natures what dooest thou else but make two Christs Answere No Although we say that in Christ there be two natures as diuine and humane yet we make not two Christes nor two persons but one person and one Christ consisting of two natures Matth. 1.21 23. Rom. 1.3 4. Luke 1.43 Rom. 9.5 Question Is Iesus Christ as he is man the Sonne of God Answere No verelie not in that hee is man but in that he is God and he is the Sonne of man and so called in that he is man Luke 1.35 Matth. 26.64 Question Yet there is but one Sonne of God as there is but one Christ Answere It is most true There is not one eternall and naturall and another created and adopted but that onelie eternal Sonne of God who sustaineth vpholdeth the nature vnited to himselfe Yet must we note that we call the person of Christ the Sonne of God manifested in the flesh 2. Tim. 3.16 Question Then is it thy meaning that the humane nature of Christ is a person Answere No for Christes humane Nature was neuer extant or had beeing but in the Godhead wherefore the humane nature in Christ is not a Person but the humanitie subsisteth and hath his being in the person of the Word and therefore Christ is not either in imagination or in déede a double Person but one Person consisting of two Natures Iohn 1.14 Question What is the personall vnion Answere It is the taking of mans nature which is susteined and vpholden of the diuine nature that is to say such a taking or vniting that there procéedeth or commeth out of that vniting but one subsistence one beeing onely in which subsistence that diuine nature that is to saye the person of the Word beareth swaie and ruleth 1. Ioh. 1.1 2 3. Rom. 1.3 4. Question Yea but he is also called the Sonne of God in that he is God and man Answere It is true but not naturallie in respect of his manhood but by reason of the Personall vnion with his diuine nature Question Proceede vnto the Holie Ghost and tell me is he created or begotten Answere Neither but proceeding from the Father and the Sonne of the same substance and beeing with them equall with the Father and the Sonne in glorie and maiestie and from all eternities as in the definition it was shewed Question Yea but it shoulde seeme that the Father should be greater than the Sonne the Sonne greater than the holie Ghost because the one is placed before the other Answere Not so For although the Father is put before the Sonne in order and the Father and the Sonne before the Holie Ghost yet it is not because the one is greater than the other or more excellent than the other but because the Sonne was begotten of the Father and the Holie Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne Otherwise we shall read first how the Sonne is put before the Father 2. Cor. 13. And also how the Spirit is put in the first place 1. Corinth 12. Whereby we may note that the order of names doth not make difference of dignities Secondlie they be one in essence and substance 1. Iohn 5.7 Thirdly that which is giuen to the one is giuen to the other in giftes and working Iohn 5.21.26.27 1. Cor. 12.4 to 12. Question Then there is but one nature of God Answere It is most true and that vncorrupt infinite vnbegotten neither diuided by place nor included in anie place nor secluded out of anie place nor defiled by person or
To the right Honourable Sir Francis VValsingham Knight Principall Secretarie to her Maiestie and of her Highnesse most Honourable Priuie Counsell And to the godlie and vertuous Ladie the Ladie Vrsula his Wife RICHARD SAINTBARB the vnworthie seruant and minister of Christ wisheth great prosperitie in this life with encrease of grace and peace from GOD the Father and life euerlasting through Iesus Christ our life and Redeemer MIght I not Right Honourable seeme ouer bold or might my presumption therein be pardoned I should not only then hold my selfe freed from one of my chiefest cares but also it woulde minister greate ioy vnto my distrustfull and fearefull mind For now I rest doubtfull to make your Honours defenders of these my first fruites simple labours but I cannot on the sudden comfort my timorous and weake spirit with possession of such your fauours and that it were vnmeete that good thinges should be hindred buried for anie perticular respect I wil reserue vnto my selfe the hope of your good and godlie likings and so as one who as well by the report of Gods deere children both of preachers and others as in some measure himselfe hath beene made acquainted with your holie religious dispositions not onely in sauouring good things and the truth of the Gospell which is the power of God to saluation Rom. 1.16 but also in furthering by all good godly meanes the building vp of the beawtifull and precious house of God that the sanctified spouse of Christ Ephes 5. might bee edified and furthered in all sound knowledge and holie faith 2. Pet. 1.5 6 7 8. I wholly therefore depend vpon your fauourable acceptance of the cause I handle which I doubt not but throughlie assure my selfe it shall doe great good in the Church of God and bring singuler profite vnto Gods deare Saintes and thus being resolued that in regard thereof your Honours will vouchsafe to beare with my rasâ—nesse and weakenesse and take to your defence this godlie treatise of the grounds and principall questions of christian Religion my proceeding wherein I leaue to be censurâ—d by your wise and sound iudgments little regarding the carping mate and curious reader either of proud papist secret Heriticke dissembling hipocrite or blind Atheist who neuer with godlie reuerence regard the truth of Christ neither the deuiding of the worde of God aright And thus praying that GOD of his great mercies will blesse your Honours with all his good blessings I humblie take my leaue Kingswood in Wilt. the 2. of September 1589. Your Honours most humblie to commaund in the Lord Jesus Richard Saintbarb Preacher of Gods word ¶ To the christian Reader grace and peace in Jesus Christ. DEere Christians if euer good Dauid had iust cause to crie out say My eies gush out with riuers of waters because they keep not the law Psa 119.136 If the same Prophets heart did tremble and shake for feare of Gods iudgements when he saw the flowing wickednesse of his time and the heauie hand of God for the same for these are his words Thou hast troden downe all them that depart from thy statutes for their deceit is vain Thou hast taken away all the wicked of the earth like drosse therefore I loue thy testimonies my flesh trembleth for feare of thee and I am afraid of thy iudgments Psal 119.118 119 120. Jf euer Lot Ieremie and the godlie men that are recorded in Ezekiel had iust cause to mourne pine awaie with great griefe and zeale in beholding the contempt and despising of Gods sacred lawe the most abhominable life of the people in their daies How much more may the godlie Ministers and all good people weepe and consume themselues away and send foorth euerie daie fountaines of teares to behold and continuallie to see this our age and time which should be a most happie time for knowledge faith and holinesse of life considering how long a season God hath lent vnto vs his holie word and powred his benefites vppon vs which are yet a most crooked and stiff-necked generation for the hearts of the people are not onely become hard and stonie but also their eares as the Prophet Ieremie saith are become vncircumcised that they cannot abide to heare Gods word yea it is a reproach vnto them and they haue no delight therein Iere. 6.10 also how sinne aboundeth J neede not to shew for this our land lieth in sinnes and is frosen in the dregges thereof Zephaniah 1.12 Euen so much that we iustifie Zodama and Gomora Ezeki 16. for iust and holie Cities for such are the sinnes of England and so vile that it maie rather be accounted a polluted Land and a seat of iniquitie for alack how deepelie is she sunken in the sinke of sinne and how abhominablie doth shee send foorth euerie day more more all kindes of Pride Whoredomes Incests Murthers Theftes Couetousnes Oppressions Vsuries Cursings Periuries Blaesphemies and such like in so much that we may saie with the holie good Prophet Hosea Hear the word of the Lord ye childreÌ„ of Israel yea rather ye children inhabitants of England for the Lord hath a controuersie with the inhabitants of the lande because there is no truth nor mercie nor knowledge of God in the lande By swearing and lying killing and stealing and whoring they breake out and bloud toucheth bloud Therefore shall the land mourne euerie one that dwelleth therein shall bee cut off with the beasts of the field and the foules of the Heauen and also the fishes of the sea shall be taken away yet let none rebuke nor reprooue other for thy people are as they that rebuke the Priests Hosea 4.1 2 3 4. and what is the fountaine and cause of these euils and rebellious transgressions suerly infidelitie and ignorance of Gods word as the good Apostle S. Paule affirmeth in these wordes This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in vanitie of their minde hauing their cogitation darkned and being strangers from the life of God through the ignoraÌ„ce that is in theÌ„ because of the hardnesse of their heart which beeing past feeling haue giuen themselues vnto wantonnesse to worke all vncleannesse euen with greedinesse Eph. 4.17 18 19. I beseech you therefore deare brethren and good Christians by the mercies of God that ye giue vp your bodies a liuing sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your resonable seruing of God fashion not your selues like vnto this world but be yee changed by the renuing of your minde that ye may proue what is the good will of God acceptable and perfect Rom. 12.1 2. And this time of ignorance as the same Apostle testifieth God regardeth not but he admonisheth al men euerie where to repent Act. 17.30 Againe Awake thou that sleepest and stand vp froÌ„ the dead and Christ shall giue thee light wherefore be not vnwise but vnderstand what the will of the Lord is