A CATECHISME In briefe QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Containing such things as are to be known or had by all such as would partake the Sacrament of the LORDS SVPPER with comfort By JOHN GEREE sometime Minister of the Word in Tewxbury now Pastor of St. Faiths under Pauls London LONDON Printed by R.C. for F. Grove and are to bee sold by Christopher Meredith at the Crane in Pauls church-yard 1647. Those that want time or memory to learne the whole Catechisme may first learn the more necessary answers marked in the Margent thus ††and only read and marke the rest For their direction Question DOE you purpose to come to the Sacrament ††A. 1 Cor. 11.24 Yes lest I should disobey Christ and deprive my soule of benefit Q. Doe all receive benefit which come to the Sacrament ††A. 1 Cor. 1.27 17. No some are better some are worse Q. Who are better A. 2 Chron. 30.3,18,19 Such as come with due preparation Q. Who come preparedly ††A. 1 Cor. 11.28 Such only as by examination find in themselves some competent measure of knowledg appetite repentance faith love and resolution to keepe the covenant which in this Sacrament they renew with Christ Q. Why is knowledge necessary to worthy communicating A. 1 Cor. 1.28,29 Because examination is necessary which cannot be without knowledg nor without it can we discerne the Lords body and so shal prophane this Sacrament Q. What must a man know ††A. He should know the grounds of Christian religion in generall but especially himselfe God and the nature of this Sacrament Q. Why must a man know the grounds of Christian religion in generall A. 1 Pet. 3.18 Hos 4.6 Because no man should be ignorant of the mysteries of his calling much lesse a Christian nor can a man know any one principle as he should doe without some generall knowledge of all Q. What must he know concerning himselfe ††A. What perfection he had by creation what misery by corruption what benefit by renovation Q. What was our perfection by creation ††A. Gen. 1.26,27 We were created after Gods image which consists in knowledge and holines Q. What is our misery by corruption ††A. Ephe. 4.24 Col. 3.10 Rom. 5.12 Eph. 1.2,2,3 We are guilty of Adams sinne deprived of the image of God prone to all sin flaves of Satan children of wrath that is lyable to Gods Iudgements here death hell hereafter Q. What benefit have we by renovation ††A. 1 Cor. 6.11 Cor. 3 10. Rom. 8.15,16,17 The guilt of our sinnes is purged by the blood of Christ we have in part the Image of God renewed upon us in knowledge and holines and have our right to heaven restored Q. Why is this knowledg of himself necessary A. Mat. 11.28 Mar. 9.12 Because til he know his misery in himselfe and the helpe he may have by Christ he wil neither care for Christ nor this sacrament nor any other meanes that conveys Christ Q. What must he know concerning God ††A. Exod. 34.6.7 1 Ioh. 5.7 The excellency and glory of the Deity in his essence and attributes the mystery of the Persons three in one essence and one essence whole in three Persons Q. Why must a man have this knowledg of God A. Heb. 11.6 Ioh. 1.14 Unlesse he know him in his essence hee will not care for this or any part of his worship unlesse he know the Trinitie in Unitie he cannot know Christ who is the authour and matter of this Sacrament Q. What is a Sacrament ††A. Gen. 17.10.11 Exod. 12.13 An ordinance of God wherein by outward signes our faith is confirmed in the covenant of God and some speciall priviledges thereof which are there represented and exhibited Q. What is the covenant of God A. Gen. 17.1,2 Exod. 19.5,6,7,8 A compact between God and man wherein God requires some service and promiseth some reward man promiseth obedience and expecteth some reward Q. How many covenants hath God made with his Church A. Gen. 3.15 Two the first of workes given to Adam in Paradise the other of grace made with Adam after his fall and continued to us though diversly in respect of the externall manifestation Q. What is the covenant of grace A. 5.31 Ioh. 3.16 Act. 2.38 16.31 1 Pet. 1.14.15 A compact between God and the elect wherein God freely promiseth to them pardon of sinne and power against it and salvation in Christ and requires from them repentance faith new obedience Q. What is the difference between the covenant of grace and the other of workes A. Eze. 26.25,26,27 Act. 5.31 They differ two wayes the one requires perfect obedience as the condition the other onely repentance faith and sincere obedience the one requires the condition to be done by our owne strength but in the covenant of grace though God require a condition he workes it in us Q. How many Sacraments are there annexed to the Gospel ††A. Two baptisme and the Lords supper Q. How doth it appeare there bee but two Sacraments A. Mat. 26.26.28.19 Christ hath ordained no more given commission to his Ministers to administer no more wee need no more then to have entrance and growth in Christ signified Q. What is the Lords Supper ††A. 1 Cor. 11.23 24,25,26 It is a Sacrament of the renewed covenant ordained of Christ wherein by the use of bread and wine rightly administred and received Christ Iesus and all his benefits is signified sealed and exhibited unto us and his passion is gratefully commemorated by us Q. Who is the authour of this Sacrament ††A. Mat. 26.26 Christ Iesus who instituted it at his last supper Q. Who is Christ ††A. Phil. 2.6,7 In person God man in office our Saviour redeemer 1 Tim. 3.16 Col. 1.14 Q. Why did Christ ordaine this Sacrament ††A. Mat. 1.21 1 Cor. 11.24,26 Mat. 6 35. 1 Cor. 10.17 First to continue the memory of his death 2 To manifest and exhibite the fulnesse of refreshing that is in Christ 3 To comfort us after temptation by renewing our covenant 4 to strengthen our faith to signifie and increase mutuall love unity Q What is the matter of this Sacrament ††A. Mat. 26.26.27.27 Twofold inward which is Christ and his benefits outward to wit the signes Q. What be the signes ††A. Twofold elementall and rituall the one signifying Christ the other the application of him Q. What be the elementall signes ††A. Mat. 26.26,27,28 Bread and wine the one signifying the body the other the bloud of Christ Q What be the rituall signes ††A. 1 Cor. 11.24 Mat. 26.28 Rites or actions as the breaking of the bread signifying the sufferings of Christ the