give our lives for him as often as his Honour shall require it Q. In what doth the Faith and Law of Christ chiefly consist A. In two principall Mysteries namely the Vnity and Trinity of God the Incarnation and death of our Saviour Q. What meaneth the Vnity and Trinity of God A. It meaneth that in God there is but one onely divine Nature or Essence although there bee three Persons the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Q. How shew you that A. Out of the 1. of S. John ch 5. v. 7. there be three which give testimony in heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three be one Q. Why are there but three Persons only A. Because the Father hath no beginning nor proceedeth from any other Person the Son proceedeth from the Father the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne Q. Why are these three Persons but one God A. Because they have but one and the same Essence one and the same Power one and the same Wisdome one and the same Goodnesse Q. What meaneth the Incarnation and death of our Saviour A. It meaneth that the second Person of the Blessed Trinity was made man and died upon a Crosse to save us Q. In what are these two Mysteries contained A. In the signe of the Crosse as it is made by Catholikes Q. How declare you that A. Because when we put our right hand to our head saying In the Name we signifie Vnity and when we make the signe of the Crosse faying of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost we signifie Trinity Q. How doth the signe of the Crosse represent the Incarnation and death of our Saviour A. By putting us in mind that he was made man to die upon the Crosse for us CAP. II. Faith explicated Q. WHat is Faith A. It is the gift of God or a supernaturall quality infused by God into the Soule by which we firmely believe all those things which he hath revealed any way unto us Q. Why is Faith necessary to Salvation A. Because without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. ch 11. v. 6. Q. What other proofe have you A. Because he that believeth and shall be baptized he shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be condemned S. Mark c. 16. v. the last Q. Why must we believe matters of Faith so firmely A. Because God hath revealed them who neither can deceive nor be deceived Q. If a man should deny or obstinately doubt of some one Point of Faith would he thereby lose his whole Faith A. Yes he would because true Faith must alwayes be entire and he that faileth in one is made guilty of all by discrediting the Authority of God revealing it Q. Is it not enough to believe all that is written in the Bible A. No it is not for we must also believe all Apostolicall Traditions Q. How prove you that A. Out of 2 Thes c. 2. v. 15. Therefore Brethren stand ye fast saith S. Paul and hold ye the Traditions which ye have learned whether by word or by our Epistle Q. What other proof have you A. The Apostles Creed which all are bound to believe although it be not in the Scripture Q. Is Faith onely as excluding good works sufficient to salvation A. No it is not according to S. James his Epist c. 2. v. 24. you see then Brethren how that by workes a man is justified and not by faith onely Q. What other proof have you A. The 1 Cor. ch 13. where S. Paul saith If a man have all faith so as to remove Mountaines and have not charity he is nothing and if hee distribute his goods unto the poore and give his body so that it burne and have not charity it profiteth nothing Q. What faith will suffice to justifie A. A Faith working by Charity in Jesus Christ Gal. ch 5. v. 6. Q. What vice is opposite to Faith A. Heresie Q. What is Heresie A. It is an obstinate Errour in things that of Faith Q. Is it a grievous sin A. A very grievous one because it wholly divides a man from God and leads to infidelity Q. How prove you that A. Out of S. Matth. ch 18. v. 18. where Christ saith If he will not hear the Church let him be unto thee as a Heathen or a Publican CHAP. III. The Creed Expounded Q. WHat is the Creed A. It is the sum of our Beliefe Q. Who made it A. The twelve Apostles Q. At what time did they make iâ— A. Before they divided themselves into the severall Countryes of the world Q. For what end did they make it A. That so they might be able to teach one and the same Doctrine in all places Q. What doth the Creed containe A. All those chiefe things which we are bound to believe concerning God and his Church Q. What is the first Article of the Creed A. I believe in God the Father Almighty Creatour of Heaven and Earth Q. What signifieth I believe A. It signifieth as much as I most firmly and undoubtedly hold Q. What means I believe in God A. It meaneth not onely that there is a God and that all is truth which he teacheth but also that we move unto him by Faith Hope and Charity Q. What signifieth the word Father A. It signifieth the first Person of the most Blessed Trinity who is by nature the Father of but one onely Son who is by Adoption the Father of all Christians who is by Creation the Father of all Creatures Q. What meaneth the word Almighty A. It meaneth that God is able to doe all things as he pleaseth that he seeth all things knoweth all things and governeth all things Q. Why is he called Almighty in this place A. That we might doubt of nothing which followeth Q. What signifie those words Creatour of Heaven and Earth A. They signifie that God created Heaven and Earth and all the creatures in them out of nothing by his sole Word Gen. ch 1. Q. What moved him to make them A. His own meer goodnesse that so he might communicate himselfe to Angells and to men for whom he made all other creatures Q. When did God create the Angells A. When he created Heaven which was on the first day for hee made that full of Angells Q. For what end did he create them A. To be partakers of his glory and our Guardians Q. How prove you by Scripture that they be our Guardians A. Out of S. Matth. ch 18. v. 10. where Christ saith See yee that ye destise not any one of these little ones For their Angells which are in Heaven alwayes see the face of my Father which is in heaven Q. Doe the Angells know our necessities and heare our Prayers A. Doubtlesse they doe since God hath deputed them to be our Guardians Q. How else prove you it A. Out of Zachary ch 1. where an Angell prayeth for two whole Cities the words are Then the Angell of the
Hebr. ch 11. v. 6. Q. What other reason have you for it A. Because as in a naturall body that part which hath not a due connection to the heart or root presently dieth for want of continuity so in the Church the mysticall body of Christ that member which hath not a due subordination and connection unto the head and Common Counsells thereof that is the Pope and Generall Counsells from whence under Christ we have our spirituall life and motion as wee are Christians must needs be dead and not a living member of that body Q. Who I beseech you are those dead members which you speak of A. All such as are not in the unity of the Church by a most firme beliefe of her Doctrine and due obedience to her Pastors Q. What if a Protestant should tell you that the differences betwixt them and us are not differences in fundamentalls or in faith but in opinion only and therefore do not exclude them out of the unitie of the Catholique Church A. I would answer That he contradicted his owne Tenets for they accuse us of Sacriledge of robbing God of his honour and committing Idolatry because we believe Priestly absolution from sinnes adore the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist and pray to Saints which are no matters of indifferency but high Fundamentalls of the Catholike Faith Q. How doe you prove all obstinate Novellists to be Heretikes A. Because they appeale from Masters to Schollers and from the Pastors and Generall Counsells of the Church unto the Layetie for the decision of points controverted which is the proper nature of Schisme and Heresie Q. What other reason have you A. Because they wilfully stand out against the definitive sentence of the Church of God and will not submit to any Judgement or Tribunall which Christ hath left on earth for the deciding of such doubts as they themselves are pleased to move but will be tried onely by their own idle braine and the dead letter of the Scripture Q. Why may not the letter of the Scripture be a decisive Judge of Controversies A. Because it never hath as yet been able from the first writing of it to decide any one as the whole world doth experience all Heretikes pretending equally unto it for the defence of their Novelties and Heresies and no one of them ever yeelding to another Q. What other reason have you A. Because resting in the dead letter onely we can have no assurance or morall certainty of any one Text or Chapter of the whole Bible that it hath come to us uncorrupted or what the meaning of it is or that it is the very word of Christ so great are the corruptions which have crept into it and so innumerable are the Languages Translations and Copies through which the Bible hath passed since the first writing of it Q. How then are we assured of these things A. By the infallible authority definition and proposition of the Catholike Church Q. What other reason have you yet for this A. Because the Scripture was never ordained for that purpose all the Books thereof being either Poeticall as the Psalmes Historicall as the Gospels Epistolarie as the Epistles or Allegoricall as the Apocalyps and Prophets and therefore as appeareth by their very names are no way fitting for the deciding of Controversies Q. For what end then was the Scripture written A. The writing or committing of it to dead letters was onely for superabundant consolations and that by a sensible and common reading of it without any criticall or controversiall libration of words we might be able to know that God is and what he is as also that there is a heaven and a hell rewards for virtue and punishments for vice with examples of both all which we find in the Letter of the Scripture by a plain and ordinary reading of it Q. How declare you the Churches visibility at all times A. Because it consisteth essentially of a visible Hierarchy which can never faile Q. How prove you that A. Out of Ephes ch 4. v. 11 12. where we read that Christ gave some Apostles some Evangelists some Doctors some Pastors to the consummation of the Saints to the edifying of the body of Christ and to the worke of the Ministerie untill we all meet in the unity of faith Q. What other proof have you A. Out of S. Mat. ch 5. v. 14. 15. where Christ saith of his Church you are the light of the world a City seated on a Mountaine cannot bee hid Q. Why then would Protestants have the Church to be invisible A. Because we have convinced them that there were no Protestants to be seen or heard of in the world before Martin Luther Q. Why is it said the holy Church A. Because she hath a holy faith a holy Law holy Sacraments and is guided by the Holy Ghost to all truth and holinesse Q. How else prove you her Sanctity A. Because Christ gave himselfe for his Church that he might sanctifie it cleansing it by the laver of water in the Word that he might present it to himselfe a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle but that it might be holy and unspotted Ephes ch 5. v. 26. 27. Q. Why are we bound to believe the Church A. Because she is the Pillar and ground of truth 1 Tim. ch 3. v. 15. Q. What other proofe have you for her Infallibility A. Out of S. Matth. ch 16. v. 18. where Christ saith upon this Rocke will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevaile against her Q. What other yet A. Out of S. Joh. ch 14. v. 16. But the Paraclete saith he the Holy Ghost he shall teach you all things whatsoever I shall say unto you and ch 13. v. 16. But when the Spirit of Truth cometh he shall teach you all Truth Q. How declare you that the definitions of a Councell perfectly Oecumenicall that is a Generall Councell approved by the Pope be infallible in matters of Faith A. Because such a Councell is the Church Representative and hath the same Infallibility that the Church diffused or spread over the world hath Q. What other reason have you A. Because the Definitions of such a Councell are the Dictates of the Holy Ghost according to that of the Apostles defineing in Councell it hath seemed good unto the Holy Ghost and to us c. Act. ch 15. v. 28. Q. What thinke you then of such as accuse the Church of Errours in Faith and Idolatrie A. Truly I thinke them to be Hereticks or Infidells for our Lord saith He that will not hear the Church let him be unto thee as a Heathen or a Publican S. Mat. ch 18. v. 18. Q. What understand you by the word Catholique A. I understand that the Church is Universall both for time and place Q. How for time A. Because it hath been from Christ unto this time and shall be from hence unto the end of the world Q. How prove you that A.
and thy Father which is in secret will repay thee Q. How prove you abstinence from certain meats A. Because it was prescribed by an Angell to S. Iohn He shall be great saith he before the Lord Winâ— and Cicer he shall not drinke S Luke ch 1. v. 15. and in S. Matth. ch 3. v. 4. we read that His meat were Locusts and wild Honey Q. For what is Fasting availeable A. For the remission of sinnes and the appeasing of the wrath of God according to that Be ye converted unto me in your whole heart in fasting weeping and mourning Ioet ch 2. v. 12. Q. For what else A. To mortifie the lustfull desires of the flesh and it hath also speciall force against the Devill This kind of Devill saith our Lord can goe out by nothing but by Prayer and Fasting S. Marke ch 9. v. 24. Q. Why Vigills A. To prepare our selves for a devout keeping of the Feasts that follow Q. Why Ember Dayes A. Because on those dayes the Church giveth holy Orders and ordaineth Priests and for that cause hath dedicated them to publike Prayer and Fasting Q. What ground have you for that A. Out of Acts ch 13. v. 2 3. where we read And as they the Apostles were ministring unto our Lord and fasting the Holy Ghost said separate ye me Saul and Barnab as unto the work whereto I have taken them then fasting and praying and imposing hands upon them they dismissed them Q. Why Fridayes in England A. In memory that Christ suffered for us upon a Friday drinking gall and vinegar upon his Crosse for our gluttonous excesse but specially by custome which is as good as Law Q. Why abstinence on Saturdayes A. To prepare our selves for a devout keeping of the Sunday as also in honour of the blessed Virgin Mary who stood firme in faith on that day the Apostles themselves wavering The third Commandement of the Church Expounded Q. WHat is the third Commandement of the Church A. To confesse our sins at least once a year Q. Why was that commanded A. Because otherwise Libertines would not have done it once in many years The fourth Commandement of the Church expounded Q. WHat is the fourth A. To receive the blessed Sacrament at least once a yeare and that at Easter or thereabouts Q. Why at Easter A. Because Christ instituted the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist at his last Supper on the Thursday before Easter day Q. Why is it said or there abouts A. Because it will satisfie the Precept if it be done any time betwixt Palme Sunday and Low Sunday The fifth Precept of the Church expounded Q. VVHat is the fifth A. To pay Tythes to our Pastors Q. Why so A. Because they feed us spiritually and therefore it is fit that we should feed them corporally Q. How prove you that A. Out of Gal. ch 6. v. 6. Let him that is catechized in the word saith S. Paul communicate to him that catechizeth him in all his goods And in another place he that serveth the Altar let him live of the Altar The sixth Commandement of the Church expounded Q. WHat is the sixth A. Not to celebrate Marriages on times prohibited that is from the first Sunday of Advent untill Twelf-day be past nor from Ash-Wednesday till Low-Sunday be past Q. Why so A. Because those are times of speciall piety and penance therefore not to be spent in feastings and carnall pleasures Q. What sin is it to breake any of these Church-Commandements A. A mortall sinne of disobedience according to that he that will not heare the Church let him be unto thee as a Heathen or a Publican S. Matth. ch 18. v. 18. CHAP. X. The Councells of Christ and his Church Expounded Q. HOw many Councells bee there A. There be three principall ones Q. What is the first of them A. Voluntary Poverty which is a willing leaving all things to follow Christ Q. How prove you that to be a worke of Perfection A. Out of S. Matth. ch 19. v. 21. If thou wilt be perfect goe and sell the things which thou hast and give to the poore and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven and come and follow me Q. How prove you this to be meritorious A. Out of the same chap. v. 28 29. where when S. Peter had asked Christ saying Behold we have forsaken all things and followed thee what therefore shall be our rewards Our Lord answered him Every one that hath left his house or his Lands or his Brethren or his Sisters for my Name sake be shall receive a hundred fold commodity and possesse everlasting life The second Councell Q. WHat is the second Councell A. Perpetuall Chastity which is a voluntary abstaining from Marriage and all carnall pleasures for the love of God Q. Is this also a worke of Perfection A. It is for Christ himself was born of a Virgin and counselleth Virginity though he command it not Q. How prove you that A. Out of S. Mat. ch 19. v. 12. There be Eunuchs saith he which have gelded themselves for the Kingdome of heaven he that can take it let him take it Q. How prove you that Virginity is a more perfect state then Marriage or that it is lawfull to vow Virginity A. Out of 1 Cor. ch 7. v. 37 38. He that hath determined in his heart being setled not having any necessity but having power of his owne will to keep his Virgin doth well therefore he that joyneth his Virgin in Marriage doth well and he that joyneth her not doth better Q. Who was the first that taught Marriage to be better then Virginity and perswaded Priests and Nunns to marry A. Jovinian an old condemned Heretike according to S. Augustine in his booke of Heresies Heresie the 82. and in his second book of Retractations he calleth him a Monster for it and saith the Church stoutly resisted him Chap. 22. Q. What other proof have you A. Out of 1 Tim. ch 5. v. 5. But she that is a Widdow indeed that is a vowed Widdow and desolate let her hope in God and continue in prayer and obsecrations day and night And. v. 11 12. But the younger Widdowes avoid for they when they shall be want on in Christ they will marry having damnation because they have made void their first Faith that is their Vow of Chastity according to the fourth Councell of Carthage Canon 104. and all the Fathers on this place The third Councell Q. WHat is the third Councell A. Obedience which is a voluntary submission to anothers will in all that is not sin Q. What warrant have you for that A. The example of Christ himselfe who was obedient to our Lady and S. Ioseph And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them S. Luke ch 2. v. 51. Q. What other proof have you A. Out of Hebr. ch last v. 17. Obey your Prelates and be subject to them for they watch being to render an account for your soules