8 6. 1 Tim. 4.8 Heb. 4.8 9. The promises under the Gospel to those that shall be obedient to Gods commands are greater and more full or at least more clear then under the Law 4. Ier. 31.31 Heb. 8. Ioel 2.28 Act. 2. Ioh. 1.16 17. Iam. 4.6 More grace is communicated to us Christians under the Gospel for the observation of Gods commands then was given to the Jewes under the Law Quest How many Commandements are there Answ The words God himself delivered on Mount Sinai consist of ten Commandements Deut. 5.22 Mat. 22.40 Rom. 13.9 10. and the text saith he added no more Because all that is through the whole Word of God enjoyned besides may in some respects or other be reduced to one of these ten words of command Quest What general rules are to be observed to understand the full meaning of each Commandement Answ Two most especially 1. That where any duty is commanded the contrary thereunto is forbidden and where any sin is forbidden the contrary duty is commanded 2. That in all duties commanded and sins forbidden the means conducing thereunto are commanded and forbidden also Quest What is the first of these ten Commandements Answ Thou shalt have none other Gods before me Quest What is herein commanded and what forbidden you Answ 1. Prov. 3.6 1 Chr. 28.9 Deut. 6.13 14. 10.12 20. Mat. 4.10 Deut. 6.4 5. Joh. 14 15. Rom. 10.14 Psal 32.6 50.15 ult I am herein commanded to acknowledge the God of Israel for the only true God and accordingly to serve and worship him as God viz. To believe in him to put my whole trust in him to fear him and to love him above all and to express my inward faith hope and love towards him by the reverent performance of all external acts of divine worship commanded by him and most especially by my daily prayers unto him and praises of him 2. Exod. 24.14 Deut. 6.14 Isa 42.8 48.11 Mat. 6.24 Rom. 1.25 Rev. 22.9 I am forbidden to acknowledge any other god besides him or to pay any such divine worship to any other neither yet to prefer the love and service of any creature before the love and service of my Creator who is God blessed for ever Quest What is the second Commandement Answ Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor the likeness of any thing that is in the heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the water under the earth Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mery unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandements Quest What is herein commanded and what forbidden you Answ 1. Exod. 34.11 Deut. 4.2 12.32 Mat. 28 20. Ioh. 4.24 Psal 95.6 132.7 Rom. 12.1 1 Cor. 6.20 I am herein commanded to worship this only true God after an holy and true manner that is after such a manner as himself hath prescribed in his holy Word And that I do it not only internally in spirit and in truth but also externally with all lowly humble and reverent prostration of body before him 2. Lev. 19.4 26.1 1 Cor. 10.14 Ezek. 14.4 6. 2 Cor. 10.5 Rom 2.22 I am forbidden to worship the true God after a false manner not to worship him by an Idoll nor by an Image neither yet according to the fond imaginations of my own heart And that as I must avoid Idolatry and all false worship on the one hand so I must also take heed of sacriledge which is to rob God of the maintenance of his true worship on the other side And the reason of this Law is given Deut. 4.24 5.9 6.15 2 Cor. 11.2 Deut. 23.2 Rev. 2.6 because God is so jealous of his worship and glory lest we should give it to any other or to our selves that he will severely punish all such as deprave his worship Exod. 34.7 Deut. 5.10 Dan. 9.4 Ioh. 15.14 15. even to the third and fourth generation accounting of them as his enemies but he will mercifully reward them that obey and serve him according to his will as being his friends and promoters of his interest Quest What is the third Commandement Answ Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain Quest What is herein commanded and forbidden you Answ 1. 1 Cor. 10.31 Psal 93.5 Ezek. 22.8 Psal 105.15 Luk. 10.16 Ezek. 44.23 I am herein commanded to propose to my self the honour of Gods holy Name in all my actions both divine and moral And to have a separate and distinct respect for all such such things and persons as have the name of God called upon them and more immediately relate to his service 2. Lev. 18.21 19.12 21.6 22.2 15 32. Mat. 23.16 20 22. Hos 10.4 Lev. 24.14 Jam. 3.9 Prov. 30.9 2 Tim. 2.19 2 Sam. 12.14 Rom. 2.24 Psal 5.7 Heb. 12 28. Prov. 13.13 Isa 62.2 1 Cor. 11.22 c. I am herein forbidden all rash unadvised wilful profanations of Gods ever blessed Name by oathes perjuries execrations cursings of the creatures of my neighbors or of my self not to use the name of God slightly idly foolishly and vainly much less to cover any deceits falshoods or what is in any respect unlawful or sinful not unadvisedly or irreverently to entermeddle with Gods holy Word Sacraments or any parts of his holy worship neither yet to slight undervalue or despise either things or persons wherein and whereby God is honoured and whereupon his holy Name is called And the reason is given Zach. 5.3 4. Deu. 28.58 59 Heb. 12.28 29. because God will never excuse such irreligious profanations of his Majesty but will assuredly punish all offenders in this kinde 7. Quest What is the fourth Commandement Answ Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day fix daies shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do but the sebenth day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no manner of work thou and thy son and thy daughter thy man-serbant and thy maid-serbant thy cattell and the stranger that is within thy gates for in six daies the Lord made beaven and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the sebenth day wherefore the Lord blessed the sebenth day and hallowed it Quest What is herein commanded and what forbidden Answ 1. Col. 2.16 17. 1 Pet. 2.5 Heb. 4.10 Exod. 31.15 35.2 Luk. 23.56 Heb. 10.25 I am commanded in general to dedicate every day of my life a spiritual Sabbath unto God that is a rest from sin and vacancy to his service And in particular that I devote every seventh day or one day in seven to the publick
and solemn worship of God with the rest of his Church and people 2. I am forbidden on this day Exod. 31.14 34.21 Jer. 17 21 c. Deut. 5 14. Mat. 12.10 11 12 13. either my self to do or suffer any I have command over to do any servile work but what is of necessity or charity that so I may the better attend the service of God both publick and private And the reason is given Gen. 2.2 3. Exod. 31.17 Heb. 4.4 because the Lord after six daies labour in the work of the Creation rested on the seventh called therefore the Sabbath which signifies rest the commemoration whereof we Christians observe on the first day of the week which is Sunday Mat. 28.1 Ioh. 20.19 Rev. 1.10 because our blessed Lord arose on that day from death to life and perfected thereby the great work of our Redemption Quest What is the fifth Commandement Answ Honour thy father and thy mother that thy daies may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Quest What is herein commanded and what forbidden Answ 1. I am commanded in general to give honour to whom honour is due and to have respect to all my superiors Rom. 13.7 Lev. 19.32 whether in age quality or condition more particularly Eccles 10.20 Prov. 11.29 30.17 Ephes 6.1 Col. 3.20 Tit. 3.1 Prov. 24.21 Mat. 22.17 c 1 Pet. 2.13 14 15 16 17 18. Heb. 13.17 to reverence and obey my natural Parents in all their just and lawful domestick commands to obey Kings and all that are in authority paying them tribute custome and honour to obey also all civil Masters and all my spiritual Governour Pastors and Teachers according to their several respective interests and authority over me 2. I am herein forbidden all disrespectfulness to my superiors Eccles 10.20 Prov. 30.17 Rom. 13.2 3. 1 Pet. 2.18 Cos 3.20 c. all disobedience to the commands and contempt of the persons of my Parents and of all higher powers all murmurings and repinings against such as are in authority over me whether Civil or Ecclesiastical And this is the first Commandement with promise Ephes 6 2. 1 Tim. 2.2 For that all peace and security depends upon this that every one do his duty in all his relations unto others Quest What is the sixth Commandement Answ Thou shalt do no murther Quest What is commanded and forbidden herein Answ 1. Mat. 22.39 Ephes 5.29 Gen. 9.5 Rom. 12.18 Heb. 12.14 Rom. 13 9 10. 1 Pet. 1.22 1 Joh. 3.11 4.7 8. Mat. 5.43 44. Luk. 6.32 c. I am herein commanded to use all means for the preservation both of my own life and the lives of others also And to this end to live peaceably and charitably and to love all men even my very enemies 2. Gen. 9.6 Psal 55.23 Ephes 9.31 Col. 3.8 Lev. 19.17 Rom. 13.13 1 Thess 5.15 1 Pet. 3.9 Mat. 5.21 22. I am forbidden not only to avoid all manner of murder and bloudshed whether directly or indirectly but also all anger wrath hatred variance strife contention revenge and reviling of others though we be provok'd thereunto Quest What is the seventh Commandement Answ Thou shalt not commit adultery Quest What is commanded and what forbidden herein Answ 1. 1 Cor. 6.13 c 1 Thess 4.3 4 5. 5.6 8. 1 Pet. 1.13 4.7 I am herein commanded to be chaste sober and temperate that both my soul and body may be preserved the pure spotless and immaculate members of Christ and temples of the Holy Ghost 2. I am forbidden adultery Deut. 5.18 1 Cor. 2.10.8 Gal. 5.19 Ephes 5.3 Col. 3.5 2 Cor. 7.1 Mar. 5.27 28. Gal. 5.24 Rom. 13.13 Luk. 21.34 1 Cor. 5.9 11 1 Pet. 3.2 3. 4.3 Job 31. 1. Isa 3.16 c. 2 Pet. 2.14 Col. 3.8 Ephes 5.4 fornication and all kinde of corporal uncleanness which is not conjugal together with all kinde of unclean thoughts and desires words and behaviour and all provocations thereunto viz. all riot and excess surfetting gluttony and drunkenness all wanton and loose company light attire wandring eyes and filthy communication Quest What is the eighth Commandement Answ Thou shalt not steal Quest What is commanded and what forbidden you herein Answ 1. Isa 56.1 33.15 Psal 15.2 Prov. 3.3 vers 27 28. Psal 82.3 Ecclus 4.1 34.21 22. Mat. 5.42 Levit. 6.4 5. 24.21 Rom. 13.7 Luk. 19.8 Dan. 4.27 I am commanded to be just and upright in all my dealings that so no man may by me be depriv'd of what rightly belongs unto him and to my power I am commanded to be charitable also that the poor be not depriv'd of their proper livelihood and subsistence which is my superfluity And if in case of any wrong done by me I am hereby enjoyned to make restitution to the party wronged by me or if that cannot be done to give it to the poor 2. Lev. 25.14 17. Ezek. 22.12 Lev. 19.11 13. 1 Thess 4.6 Luk. 6.30 Rom 13.8 Tob. 4.7 8 9. I am forbidden all oppression and extortion stealth cousenage circumvention denial of an almes to the poor and in a word all waies and means whereby either publickly or privately by force or by fraud I may acquire or detain from any what either by the rule of righteousness or charity belongs unto them Quest What is the ninth Commandement Answ Thou shalt not bear salse witnese against thy neighbour Quest What is herein commanded and forbidden you Answ 1. Psal 15.2 Luk. 8.16 Ephes 4.25 Prov. 22.1 Eccles 7.1 Rom. 13.9 10. Jam. 3.9 10. Col. 4.6 I am commanded in general to give testimony to the truth upon all occasions and particularly to preserve and advance the good-name and esteem of my neighbour and to speak well of all men as far as in truth and modesty and without flattery I may 2. I am forbidden all false and evil speaking lying and slandering Lev. 19.11 16. Tit. 3.2 Jam. 4.11 Rev. 22.15 Prov. 10.18 Psal 110.5 1 Pet. 3.9 10. Mat. 7.1 c. Prov. 11.13 18.8 Ecclus. 19.6 7 c. 21.25 26. 20.25 Jam. 1.19 railing and reviling rash censuring and condemning others And to this end I am forbidden all tale-bearing and much medling and talking of other mens lives and manners wherein by some respective duty I am not concerned Quest What is the tenth Commandement Answ Thou shalt not cover thy neighbours house thou shalt not cobet thy neighboures wife nor his serbant nor his maid nor his oxe nor his asse nor any thing that is thy neighbours Quest What is commanded and what forbidden you herein Answ 1. Phil. 4.11 1 Tim. 6.6 8. Heb. 13.5 Ephes 4.28 2 Thes 3.8 c. Prov. 10.4 13.4 21.5 I am commanded to be content with my present state and condition what ever it be and in order hereunto to be diligent and industrious in the duties of my calling both for my own
me truly of all my sins which were the cause of my Saviours sufferings That I obey his Doctrine and follow his example as the way to heaven That I seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God and by perseverance in all good works wait for the coming of my Lord to Judgement Quest What does the third general part of your Creed concern Answ God the Holy Ghost Artic. 8. Rom. 15.16 2 Thess 2.13 1 Cor. 12.4 7 c. Gal. 5.22 c and his sanctification of me and of all Gods people by his Gifts and Graces to the sacred service of God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ Quest In whom is this work of sanctification wrought Answ In all the faithful and elect people of God Artic. 9. 1 Tim. 3.15 Heb. 2.12 Ephes 5.27 Psal 2.8 Mat. 28. ult cal'd the Holy Catholique Church Holy because sanctified by the Holy Ghost and Catholique that is universal diffused and spread over the face of the whole earth Quest How is this Sanctification wrought by the Holy Ghost upon the Church or people of Christ Answ It is begun in this life by the communion of Saints and remission of sins and it shall be perfected hereafter at the Resurrection of the Body in life everlasting Quest What do you mean by the communion of Saints Joh. 17.21 Ephes 4.13 6.18 Phil. 1.27 2.4 Rom. 16.16 17 1 Joh. 1.3 1 Pet. 1.22 Answ I do profess to believe that all true members of Christs holy Catholick Church by the secret impressions of the Holy Ghost have both union and communion with Christ who is our head by faith and also one with another the members of Christ by charity Quest What do you mean by Remission of sins Answ I do believe that there is both for me and for all other good Christians Artic. 10. Act. 2.38 13.38 Joh. 20.23 Mark 16.16 Joh. 3.16 2 Cor. 5.21 1 Joh. 1.7 c. pardon and forgiveness of all our sins to be obtained by the mercies of God through the merits of Christ our Saviour we sincerely performing the conditions of a lively faith and true Repentance thereunto required Quest What do you mean by the Resurrection of the body Answ I do believe that this body of mine Artic. 11. 1 Cor. 15.29 c. Joh. 5.29 6.39 11.24 25. Mat. 25.16 c and the bodies of all men though they be dissolved by death into dust and ashes yet shall be again raised out of the dust of death and rejoyned to our immortal souls that so we may receive according to our deeds done in the body whether they be good of whether they be evil Quest What do you mean by life everlasting Answ I do believe that when we shall be raised up at the last day Artic. 12. we shall never die any more 1 Thess 4.17 Rev. 21.4 Joh. 5.29 but live for ever either in endlesse joyes if we have done well or in endlesse torments if our deeds have been evill Quest What use are you to make of this part of your Creed Answ That I do not grieve Gods holy Spirit by my sins Ephes 4.3 1 Thess 5.19 Heb. 10.24 25 Gal. 5.6 1 Cor. 13.13 1 Joh. 3.23 1.7 2.1 2. Col. 3.3 4 c. nor hinder his work of Sanctification upon my soul by resisting his good motions and incitements to holinesse of life That I continue a faithfull and true Member of Christs Mystical Body the Church both by a true and lively faith in Christ and an universall unfeigned charity towards all Christians That I trust not in my own righteousness but relie on the merits of Christ only for the pardon of my sins truly repenting of all my misdoings and for ever abjuring and forsaking the same Denying ungodlinesse Tit. 2.11 c. and worldly lusts and living soberly righteously and godly in this present world Phil. 3.20 as looking for the Resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come Quest Why doe you conclude with Amen Answ I do hereby acknowledge and ratifie with my stedfast belief the undoubted Truth and certainty of this Creed in general and of every Article thereof in particular secretly wishing and humbly praying that through the stedfastnesse of this faith I may evermore be defended from all adversity and be preserved in the way of eternal salvation even from God the Father through God the Son and by God the Holy Ghost to whom be glory for ever Amen I Believe Lord help my unbelief and evermore preserve thy servant in the unity of the true faith Grant me with the heart to believe unto righteousness of life that I may in the end obtain the end of my faith which is the salvation of my soul through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen CHAP. II. Of the Commandements Quest WHat is the third part of your vow in Baptism Answ To keep Gods holy will and Commandements Luk. 1.75 Levit. 18.5 Ezek. 20.11 and to walk in the same all the daies of my life and it is but just and reasonable that I should do what God hath commanded me in this life Mat. 19.17 Luk. 10.25 26. Rev. 22.24 if I will obtain what he hath promised me in the life to come If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandements Quest What are these Commandements God hath enjoyned and you have promised to observe and keep Answ The same which God spake in the 20. chapter of Exodus saying I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage which is the Preface shewing Gods right to command Lev. 18.5 Ps 105. 95. Isa 42.8 Deut. 27.9 10. 30.20 Joh. 14.15 1 Joh. 2.4 5. and our obligation to obey Quest Are the Commandements of God under the Gospel the same they were under the Law Answ They are the same for substance Mat. 5.17 18 19 Mal. 3.6 Jam. 1.17 Luk. 16.17 Jam. 2.8 for God is the same God for ever and changeth not they differ only in ceremonies and the manner of dispensation Quest In what particular respects do they differ Answ Under the Law the commands of God were more clog'd with ceremonies Col. 2.16 17. Exod. 34.33 2 Cor. 3.13 14 15 16. more dark and obscure and not so fully understood as to the spirituall sense and meaning of them But as Christ under the Gospel hath delivered them 1. Mat. 11.19 23.4 Act. 15.10 Gal. 4.3 4 5. Heb. 9.10 They are freed from the burden of manifold ceremonial rites which were figurative and typical 2. They are more clear perspicuous and intelligible Mat. 5.21 22 27 28. Ioh. 6.63 and this not so much in the letter as in the spirit and life of the Law Rom. 7.6 Heb. 4.12 as it reacheth to the very heart and the thoughts and desires thereof 3. 2 Cor. 1.20 6.18 7.1 Heb. 11.40
The Apostles Creed and that 's the object of our faith and a little breviary or sum of the Gospel 2. All that we are bound to practise and obey is commanded in the 10. Commandements and that 's the Rule of our Life and the Epitome of the Law And these are the two parts of holy Religion Faith and Obedience Faith which the Gospel requires and Obedience which the Law exacts which Obedience is also called Charity or Love For Love is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 12.10 therefore S. Paul reduceth all Religion to Faith and Love Gal. 5.6 2 Tim. 1.13 But because we can neither believe nor do any thing as we ought Phil. 2.13 without the Divine Grace assisting us thereunto therefore God hath ordained and commanded unto us the use of Prayer and of the Sacraments as the means and conveyances of his Graces into our souls to enable us both to believe in him and also to love and obey him in a manner holy and acceptable unto him 3. Therefore the next general head of Catechism is the Lords Prayer as the sum pattern and perfection of all Prayer and Devotion 4. And the fourth and last head is the Doctrine and use of the Sacraments the ground and reason whereof is briefly this All those things which concern the good of our souls are according to the nature of the soul spiritual divine and invisible and so are not easily conceived by our frail understandings which apprehend not but by organs of sense therefore God hath been pleased mercifully to ordain certain outward visible elements to signifie and seal his inward invisible graces unto our souls and to be pledges to assure us thereof and these are Baptism and the Lords Supper And upon these four generall heads all the severall questions in the Catechism besides do depend either 1. By way of introduction to put us in minde of our obligation hereunto by solemn vow and promise when we were Baptized Or 2. for the connecting and joyning of these generals together by a fit method for memories sake Or 3. for the more clear and full understanding of each of them as will further appear in the several Questions and Answers ensuing Open mine eyes O Lord and enlighten my minde that I may both see and rightly understand the wondrous things of thy Law and carefully frame my heart and all the actions of my life thereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen THE PRINCIPLES OF Holy Christian Religion OR The Catechism of the Church of England paraphrased The Introduction 1. Question BEcause your Name is the badge and cognizance of that holy Christian Religion you profess therefore 't is first demanded of you What is your name Answer R. T. W. 2. Question And since together with your Name you received Christianity 't is therefore secondly askt Who gave you this name Answer * Such as scruple at the name and use of Godfathers may remember 1. That it is the universal practise of the Church against which no modest man will presume to argue since Church Customes are of sufficient authority with S. Paul 1 Cor. 11.6 That 2. it is not without example in holy Scripture Isa 8.2 3. Luk. 1. from vers 57. to 64. 3. That Infants cannot come themselves to Baptism nor therein answer for themselves 4. That their parents may die before they come to years or else may be seduc'd into Heresie or Schism 5. That hereby a spiritual kindred amongst Christian neighbours is contracted and Charity which is the life of Christianity is maintained and increased And for the name of Godfathers 't is more proper then that of Witnesses or Sureties if we consider either 1. Their office which is both to offer up unto God the party baptized and devote him to his service and also to profess Repentance Faith and Obedience unto God in their names Or 2. The benefit they receive by Baptism which is to be made the children of God in which respect chiefly their sureties are called Godfathers My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism wherein I was made a Christian and therefore it is called my Christian name 3. Question What happiness or benefit is it unto you to be baptiz'd and become Christian Answer I am thereby made 1. A member of Christ 2. A childe of God 3. An heir of the Kingdome of heaven or more fully thus Whereas I was born in sin Psal 51.5 Ephes 2.3 Rom. 5.12 Joh. 3.5 1 Cor. 12.3 Rom. 8.7 Gal. 4.7 Act. 22.16 and am by nature the childe of wrath and heir of Death and Hell by being born again of water and of the Holy Ghost in Baptism I am not only 1. ingraffed into Christ's Mystical body the Church but am also 2. reconciled unto God through Christ and made his childe by Adoption and Grace and not only a childe but also 3. an Heir even an Heir of God and joynt-heir with Christ of the Kingdome of heaven 4. Quest Are these great Blessings confer'd upon you through Baptism absolutely or upon condition only Answ Upon condition Mark 16.16 Act. 8.37 2.38 that I do observe and keep that promise and vow which was made in my name being baptized 5. Quest What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then promise and vow for you Answ They did promise and how three things in my name 1 That I should forsake the Devil and all his works Luk. 1.74 75. the pomps and banities of this wicked world and all the sinfull lusts of the flesh 2 That I should believe all the Articles of the Christian faith 3 That I should keep Gods holy will and commandements and walk in the same all the days of my life 6. Quest Doest not thou think that thou art bound both to believe and do what they have promised for thee Answ Yes verily I do beleeve it to be my bounden duty and by Gods help I will perform the same And I heartily thank our heavenly Father Act. 3.19 who through Baptism hath called me to this state of salvation through Iesus Christ our Saviour And I pray God to give me his grace that I may continue in the same to my lives end carefully observing this vow of my Baptism which is the general duty of every Christian 7. Quest What is the meaning of the first part of your Christian duty or vow in Baptism Answ By promising to forsake the Devil and all c. I do oblige my self to resist Eph. 6.10 c. 1 Tim. 1.18 19. 6.12 Joh. 8.34 and manfully to fight under the banner of Christ against all temptations whether arising from the Devil the world or the flesh and not suffer my self to be vanquished by them and be led captive to the service of sin And this is that which is also call'd Repentance from dead works Heb. 6.1 Act. 26.18 Eph. 4.22 c. 1 Pet. 2.1 c. Heb. 12.1 2. where 't is remembred as the first of the principles of the