the experience of senses nor relyeth upon strength of reason but upon the power and authority of God who can neither deceive nor ever be deceived Q. Why is it called the Apostles Creed A. To distinguish it from the other two Creeds used in the Church Liturgie viz. St. Athanasius his Creed and the Nicene Creed as also from all other Confessions of Faith as that of Calcedon c. Q. Were the Apostles then the Composers of this Creed as St. Athanasius was of his and the Nicene Fathers were of theirs Or was it gathered out of their Writings only as agreeable to their Doctrine A. The Apostles themselves were the Composers of it Q. At what time did the Apostles compose their Creed A. When they were all together at Jerusalem filled with the Holy Ghost before they dispersed themselves abroad to preach the Gospel to several Nations then they agreed upon this as the common Subject and Rule of all their Preaching that there might be no difference in their Doctrines after their departures one from another Anno Domini Christi 44. Anno Imperatoris Claudij 2. July 15. Q. Was it composed by them all together and delivered as the common result of their joynt determination like the Decrees of a General Council or did every several Apostle deliver his own particular Dictate in it and so every one give in his Article A. It is an antient and received Tradition that every one of the Apostles composed his several Article and therefore they are twelve Articles according to the number of the twelve Apostles Q. Can you tell me which Article was made by each particular Apostle A. Yes according to the Tradition St. Peter gave in the first I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth St. Andrew the second And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. St. John the Evangelist the third Which was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary St. James the Son of Zebedee the fourth Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified Dead and Buried St. Thomas the fifth He descended into Hell the third day he rose again from the Dead St. James the Son of Alpheus the sixth He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty St. Philip the seventh From thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead St. Bartholomew the eighth I believe in the Holy Ghost St. Matthew the ninth The Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints St. Simon the tenth The Remission of Sins St. Judas Thaddeus the eleventh The Resurrection of the Body St. Matthias the twelfth The life everlasting Q. Is there any probability of truth in this Tradition A. There is first the like probability that is in other Ecclesiastical Traditions in that it hath been delivered to us by Godly men who of their piety were not willing and in policy could have no reason to deceive us with a false story Then again this is plainly intimated in that Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and from thence the Latin word Symbolum which signifieth a Shot a Collation or Contribution and implyeth that every particular Apostle conferred his several Article to the whole Sum and Reckoning of the Creed Q. But hath not the Word divers other significations A. Yes And very fitly answering to the Creed As when it is called an Agreement it signifieth that it was consented to by all Sometimes it is a watch word a signal or mark of distinction by which a man may know his fellow-souldier from his enemy And so it is the badge of our Profession by which you may know the difference between a Christian and an Infidel as a Souldier is known in the field as well by the Word as by his Coat and his Colors Yet the first sense as it is a Contribution or Share or Shot is as proper as any and seemeth most to be warranted by the Derivation and Etymologie of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à conjiciendo from casting together or adding one thing to another Q. Why is it called Creed A. Creed is of the first word in Latin Credo to believe So that to say our Creed is to say our Belief that is that which is to be believed Q. Is it sufficient for a Christian man to believe those things only that are contained in the Apostles Creed A. Those things especially are the first and immediate object of our Faith and are to be believed in express terms But also with those we must believe the Canonical Scriptures out of which they may be proved and the expositions and right consequences drawn by the Church from them both and also the other Orthodox and Catholick Confessions of Faith as the Creeds of St. Athanasius Nice and Chalcedon And also those Traditions which we have received by faithful hands from the Apostles As that these and none other are Canonical Scriptures That the Jews Sabbath which was on the last day of the week to wit on Saturday is changed into our Lords-day or Sunday That the power of Governing the Church and Imposition of hands belongs to the Bishops and such like that are agreeable to the Articles of our Creed Q. But is not this to make new Articles of Faith No. These are but explanations of and deductions from the Apostles Creed As the Nicene Athanasian and Chalcedon Creeds are not new ones or other Creeds but the expositions of the old one And concerning those aforenamed Traditions 1. When I know this Creed is agreable to and to be proved by the Canonical Scriptures then I must believe that to be the Scripture which the Church by Tradition commendeth unto us for the same 2. Again When I believe there is a God and that he is to be worshipped and so that some time is to be set a part for his service then I am easily induced to believe that This day that is the Lords-day is the fittest standing time which was first begun by our Saviours Resurrection and seconded by his appearing to his Disciples confirmed by the coming of the Holy Ghost and by the meetings of the Apostles and continued unto our time by the practice of the whole Church 3. Lastly When as I believe the Holy Catholick Church to be a Communion of Saints a company of faithful people then it easily followeth in my perswasion That our Saviour Christ who is the God of order left not this Society in confusion for every man to do and teach when and what he listeth as though all Christians upon their Baptism had presently power given them to Govern Teach and Ordain in the Church as they should see occasion But that our Saviour left this power to his Apostles and they left their Authority to set things in order that should be wanting in the Church upon emergent occasions and to Ordain Priests in every City not to all Christians nay nor to all Priests but to some particular men as to St. Timothy at
Ephesus and to St. Titus in Creet c. And therefore they only that is the Bishops are to be acknowledged to have this Authority of Jurisdiction and Ordination who can derive it from the Apostles and prove themselves in these very things to be the Apostles Successors Q. VVhat do you chiefly learn out of the Articles of the Christian Faith 1. I learn to believe in God the Father who hath made me and all the world 2. In God the Son who hath redeemed me and all mankind 3. In God the Holy Ghost who sanctifieth me and all the elect people of God Q. VVhat Do you believe there be three Gods A. No There be three Persons and but one God The Father the Son and the Holy-ghost are onely one Con-substantial Co-eternal and Co-equal Essence but three persons Q. VVhat do you mean by a Person A. A Person is one who hath his own subsistence which no other besides hath proper to himself Q. How is it possible that there should be three Persons in one Essence A. With men it is impossible but not with God Indeed this is such an high and and dreadful Mystery that it is not safe to say any more of it but that I do believe it that there is three in one The Father is made of none as it is in St. Athanasius his Creed The Son is of the Father alone and the Holy-ghost is of both And by these several properties they are really distinguished each from other For the substance of God with this property to be of none maketh the Person of the Father The very self-same substance with this property to be of the father maketh the Person of the Son The same substance having added to it the property of proceeding from the other two maketh the person of the Holy Ghost So that in every Person there is implyed both the Substance of God which is one and also that property which causeth the same Perrson really and truly to differ from the other two This is the truth But how cometh it to pass I cannot say you need not nay you must not search only believe Q. Out of what words in the Creed do you learn to believe in God the Father who hath made you and all the world A. Out of the words of the first Article I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth Q. What do you observe in this Article A. 1. That there is a God 2. That there is but one God 3. That there are divers Persons in the Godhead implyed in Father 4. That God expresseth himself to us 1. By the Unity of his Essence God 2. By Trinity of Persons Father 3. By his Attributes as Almightiness Infiniteness c. 4. By his Works expresly of Creation and consequently of Preservation of Heaven and Earth and all things that are therein visible and invisible Q. Do you not believe that the Son and the Holy Ghost is also Almighty and Maker of Heaven and Earth A. Yes For as we say the Father is God the Son is God and the Holy Ghost is God and yet they are not three Gods but one God So we say the Father is Almighty the Son is Almghty and the Holy Ghost is Almighty and yet there are not three Almighties but one Almighty And so we say the Father is the Maker of Heaven and Earth and the Son is Maker of Heaven and Earth and the Holy Ghost is Maker of Heaven and Earth and yet they are not three Makers but one Maker of Heaven and Earth For although by a peculiar manner of speaking according to our capacity in respect of the Persons we call the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth because he is the first of the Persons in the Godhead And we attribute Wisdom to the Son because he is the eternal Word of the Father And Goodness to the Holy Ghost because he is the Love of them both Yet indeed these and all other outward Actions and Attributes of God are common to all the Persons of the Godhead Q. In what Articles do you learn to beleive in God the Son who hath Redeemed you and all Mankind A. In the 2 3 4 5 6 7 Articles Q. What is the reason that the work of Mans Redemption done by the second Person in the Trinity is more largly and in more Articles set down than the work of the Worlds Creation A. 1. Because it cost more to Redeem the Soul than to make the World The work of Redemption is greater than the work of Creation and consisteth of more circumstances 2. To teach us that as we ought to respect other Doctrine so this in a more special manner as that we determin to know and rejoyce in nothing more than in Jesus Christ and him Crucified Q. Could not God have Redeemed Mankind by a word as easily as have made the World A. Yes For with God all things are and ever were possible God had other means in his power to save us than by the death of his Son but a better and more convenient way to demonstrate his Love and Mercy towards us and to manifest his Wisdom Power and Justice against Sin Death and Satan He had not for God chose the best When He first decreed this way to save Man it was in His Power to have appointed another way if it had pleased Him So that God was not tyed to determin this way upon any necessity as if the choice of other means failed Him But this in the Wisdom of God common to all the three Persons in the Holy Trinity was allowed as the most honorable and acceptable way to God and the most favourable and comfortable way to Man Q. Did Christ Redeem none but Mankind A. No. God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto Judgment 2 St. Pet. 2.4 St. Jude 6. Q. Did Christ Redeem all Mankind A. Yes The words of the Church-Catechism are express and plain who Redeemed me and all Mankind And so it is written that He dyed for all 1 Cor. 5.14 15. and that He is the Saviour of all men 1 Tim. 4.10 As by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation so by the Righteousness of one the free gift came came upon all men to justification of life Rom. 5.18 Q. Is the price of Christs Death sufficient for the Redeeming of all Mankind A. Yes doubtless For He gave himself a Ransom for all 1 Tim. 2.6 by which He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him Heb. 7.25 For He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world St. John 1.29 Q. But was it Christs intention and purpose that all Mankind should be Redeemed and Saved by His death A. Yes surely For He will have all men to be saved 1 Tim. 2.4 that is He is not willing that any should perish 2
eternal happiness of the eight Beatitudes Q. Which be the five Senses A. 1. Seeing 2. Hearing 3. Touching 4. Tasting 5. Smelling Q. Which are the four Cardinal Moraâ— Virtues A 1. Prudence 2. Justice 3. Fortitude 4. Temperance Q. Which be the three Theological Virtues A. 1 Faith 2. Hope 3. Charity Q. What be the seven guifts of the Holy Ghost A. 1. Wisdom 2. Understanding 3. Counsel 4. Fortitude 5. Knowledge 6. Godliness 7. The Fear of the Lord. Q. Which be the twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost A. 1. Love 2. Joy 3. Peace 4. Patience 5. Benignity 6. Goodness 7. Longanimity 8. Mildness 9. Faith 10. Modesty 11. Continence 12. Chastity Q. Which be the three kinds of Good Works A. 1. Alms. 2. Prayer 3. Fasting Q. What be the seven works of Corporal Mercy A. 1. To feed the hungry 2. To give drink to the thirsty 3. To cloath the naked 4. To visit and redeem the Captives 5. To harbour the harbourless 6. To visit the sick 7. To bury the dead Q. What be the seven works of Spirituaâ— Mercy A. 1. To correct the sinner 2. To instruct the ignorant 3. To counsel the doubtful 4. To comfort the sorrowful 5. To take wrongs patiently 6. To forgive wrongs willingly 7. To pray for all men Q. What be the Offices of Christian Justice A. 1. To decline all evil 2. To do all good Q. VVhich be the eight Beatitudes A. 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven St. Mat. 5. 2. Blessed are the meek For they shall possess the earth 3. Blessed are they that mourn For they shall be comforted 4. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness For they shall be filled 5. Blessed are the merciful For they shall find mercy 6. Blessed are the clean in heart For they shall see God 7. Blessed are the Peace-makers For they shall be called the Sons of God 8. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousness sake For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Q. VVho are the persons sanctified by the Holy Ghost A. In one word they are the Church Q. VVhat is the Church A. The Church is a visible company of Christs faithful people for whom He the Son of God taking upon Him the Nature of Man did and suffered all things necessary to their Salvation Q. VVhat do you observe in your Creed concerning the Church A. 1. Her Being that there is a Church 2. Her Proprieties 3. Her Priviledges Q. What are the Prproieties of the Church A. 1. One 2. Holy 3. Catholick 4. Apostolick 5. A Communion of Saints Q. VVhat are the Priviledges of the Church A. 1. Concerning the Soul Forgiveness of Sins 2. Concerning the body Resurrection of the Body 3. Concerning both Body and Soul Life Everlasting Q. What needs this be an Article of your Christian Faith that the Church hath a being For do not all Jews Turks and Infidels c. believe that there is a Church A. They believe that there is such a Sect of Christians in the world as we call the Church But they believe it not to have such means of Salvation such saving truth in the Word such efficacy in the Sacraments such power of binding and loosing such proprieties and priviledges as I believe to be in the Church Q. VVhat is the first propriety of the Church A. To be one Q. How do you say the Church is but One A. The whole multitude of Believers dispersed far and wide over the whole world is but One Collective Mystical Body of our Lord Jesus Christ Therefore I say I believe the Church Not Churches in the plural number but in the singular number One Church as it is intimated in the Apostles Creed and expressed in the Nicene Creed And so it is written There is One Body and One Spirit even as you are called in One hope of your calling One Lord One Faith One Baptism One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in us all Eph. 4.4 5 6. As it is but One Body so it hath but One Head One Supream invisible Rector or Governor even Christ Jesus our Lord whom the Father hath given to be Head of the Church which is His Body Eph. 1.22 23. Thus the Church is but One because She teacheth in all places and at all times one and the same Doctrine of Faith Administreth the same Sacraments is guided by the same Spirit and hath the same invisible Head And so the particular Members though they cannot be all together in one place ought to be of one mind and endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Q. What is the second Propriety of the Church A. She is Holy Q. How is the Church said to be Holy A. First As all things consecrated and set a part for Religious uses are said to be holy so all the Faithful are holy that have dedicated themselves and given up their names in Baptism unto Christ And so then again In Him the Church is holy as a Body that is joyned to an holy Head from Whom as from the Fountain of all holiness the Graces of the Holy Ghost and the Riches of the goodness of the Father are diffused and derived Lastly She is Holy because of the Holy Word that is Preached the Holy Sacraments that are Administred the Holy Service that is performed and the Holy Lives that are practised in the Church Q. VVhy is She called Catholick A. Catholick is as much as General and Universal and then therefore She is called Catholick because being dispersed throughout the whole world She doth in Her Motherly bosome receive embrace and safe-keep all persons of all times places and Nations so that they be of one mind and consent in the Faith and Doctrine of Christ Q VVhy is the Church called Apostolick A. This was added by the Fathers of Nice and Constantinople to prove the Church truly Catholick in that the Doctrine thereof which all men of former ages in all Nations had received and all for the present and hereafter are bound to stand to as received from the very Apostles themselves and from their writings Q. VVhy is the Church called the Communion of Saints A. 1. In respect of Christ the Head in whose benefits every Member hath a common interest in that He took upon Him the Nature of Man not of this or that particular but of all in general and so for all men that believe in Him He effectually suffered all things necessary for their Salvation 2. In regard of the society of all the Elect people of God all the faithful Members of the Church both Militant and Triumphant that have been are or shall be in all times and in all places who hold an inseparable Communion and Unity among themselves as Members of one and the self same body and do help and assist one another with mutual acts of mercy and all good works among whom there is
sins in the Church A. Yes If there be Faith and Repentance Q. VVhy then is the sin against the Holy Ghost not to be forgiven A. Because it is always accompanied with Despair Obstinacy and Impenitency Q. How is Original sin Remitted A. By the Sacrament of Baptism Q. How is Actual sin Remitted A. By Repentance and Faith in Gods merciful and gracious forgiveness for and through the Satisfaction of our Saviour Jesus Christ exhibited in the Sacraments Administred by the Priests So that in Remission or Forgiveness of sins we are to consider 1. The Causes of this Forgiveness without us 2. The Conditions required thereunto within us The Principal Cause is Gods mere Grace and Mercy promised in the Word The Meritorious Cause is the Satisfaction of Christ The Instrumental Cause is the Sacraments The Ministerial Cause applying the actual Absolution is the Priest The Conditions required in us are Faith and Repentance and new Obedience Q. VVhat is the next Priviledge of the Church A. The Resurrection of the Body Q. VVhy is it said the Resurrection of â—he Body only and not the whole Man A. Because the Soul is immortal â—nd the Body only dieth therefore the Body only shall be raised again Q. But shall not Body and Soul be reâ—nited and joyned together again at the Reâ—urrection A. Yes And shall never be parted â—gain but shall enjoy everlasting bliss â—r misery together Q. VVhat is the last Priviledge of the â—hurch A. Life everlasting Q. Do not the wicked rise to everlasting â—…ath A. Yes Q. VVhy is not that mentioned in the Aâ—â—stles Creed A. Because it speaketh expresly onâ—â— of the Priviledges of them that are â—embers of the Church who are presuâ—ed to be Heirs of Salvation And yet by a necessarry consequence it intimateth and implyeth the eternal Death of the wicked too For if the Members of the Church that perform the Conditions of Repentance and Faith and Obedience be saved then they that are not of the Church and do not perform those Conditions must be damned Q. Are all men bound to say Amen to this Creed and believe all the Articles thereof n necessary as Salvation A. Yes Whosoever will be saved he must hold this Catholick Faith which unless he keep whole and undefiled without doubt he shall perish everlastingly Q. How if some men do not explicitly understand and so cannot believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith A. All men are bound so far to believe them as to receive them in the sense of the Church and not to discent from them nor contradict them when they more fully and plainly understand them THE COMMANDMENTS The Preface Q. VVHat is the third thing that your Godfathers and Godmothers promised for you in Baptism A. That I should keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of my life Q. How many Commandments be there A. Ten. Q. Which be they A. The same which God spake in twentieth Chapter of Exodus saying I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt out of the house of Bondage Thou shalt have no other Gods but Me. Q. Which is the first Commandment A. Thou shalt have none other God but Me. Q. Are not the words going before these viz. I am the Lord thy God c. a Commandment A. No. They are a Proeme or Preface to all the Commandments Q To what purpose is this Preface set before the Commandments A. To shew and prove by Arguments and good Reasons that God is worthy to give these Commandments and impose this Charge upon His people and that they are bound to obey Him therein Q. How many Arguments or Reasons to this purpose can you gather out of that Preface A. Three 1. Taken from the Consideration of Gods absolute Being in Himself of infinite Majesty Power and Authority I am the Lord. 2. Taken from His Relation to the people in regard of the mutual Stipulaâ—ion Covenant and Agreement that was between them in that He was Their God 3. Taken from an act of special providence in a great deliverance that He wrought for them lately I brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt which was the house of Bondage Q. These are Arguments indeed to the people of Israel to whom God gave these Commandments Exod. 20. but what are they to us A. These Arguments are of as much force to us as to the Children of Israel For First The Lord Jehovah is His name in the Original which signifies His Eternal Being is the same yesterday and to day and for ever One Lord both to them and us and hath the same power over us that He had over them Secondly He is our God as well as theirs God to us by the same Stipulation in Baptism which they entered with Him in Circumcision their Sacrament and ours being the same in their Ends and Use and differing only in the Ceremony and signification of Time So He is a God as gracious and as good to us as He was to them and hath obliged us upon the like Conditions Thirdly As He was with them to bring them out of the Land of Aegypt which was the house of Bondage So He is with us in all our troubles to deliver us out of all And therefore we ought to keep these Commandments as well as they not only because they are in themselves holy and just and good but also because they are His Commandments who is the Lord our God And the substance of them is Commanded in the Gospel and made part of the second Covenant Q What is the Substance of the first Commandment A. To know the Substance Sence and Meaning of every Commandment it is best to consider what is commanded and what is forbidden in the same Q. What is taught in the first Commandment A. To acknowledge One only True Eternal Infinite Lord God to Pray and to give Thanks unto Him to believe and put our trust in Him with all our hearts and all our souls to observe honor and worship him Q What is forbidden in this Commandment A. Atheism Polytheism Idolatry Superstitious observation and use of Art-migicks and Divination Q. What is required in the second Commandment A. Bodily Worship and outward Ministry by vocal Prayer and Thanksgiving by Bowing Kneeling Standing and all actions and gestures of Zeal Order Reverence and Decency to be used in the external Service of God Q. Where do you find these in this Commandment A. In that they are forbidden to be done to Idols in bowing down and worshipping and serving them they are plainly intimated that they ought of duty to be done to God Q. What is prohibited in this Commandment A. Idolatry and Superstition and irreverence and disorder in Gods Service Q What is enjoyned in the third Commandment A. Reverence of Gods Name Word and Works swearing in Judgment Justice and Truth and keeping of our Oaths Q. What is forbidden in the third Commandment A. Blasphemy