to lye to the holy Ghost Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart thou hast not lyed unto men but unto God Acts 5.3 4 Q. 18 Are the Scriptures the word of God A. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3.16 Q. 19 Shall the bodies of men rise after they he dead A. I worship the God of my fathers beleeving all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets and have hope towards God which they themselves also alow that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust Acts 24.14 15. Q. 20 Is there a day of judgement after death A. I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their works and the Sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them and they were judged euery man according to their works Rev. 20.12 13. Deut. 13.6 8 9. If thy brother the sonne of thy mother or thy sonne or thy daughter or the wife of thy bosome or thy friend which is as thine owne soule entise thee secretly saying let us go and serve other gods neither shalt thou spare neither shalt thou conceale him but thou shalt surely kill him thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death and afterwards the hand of all the people 2 Chron. 15.12 13 15. They entred into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soule that whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death whether small or great whether man or woman And all Judah rejoyced at the Oath for they had sworne with all their heart and sought him with their whole desire and he was found of them and the Lord gave them rest round about Concerning Blasphemy and impugning the Word of God EXod 20.7 Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his Name in vaine Levit. 24.11.12 13 14. The Israelitish womans sonne blasphemed the Name of the Lord and cursed and they brought him unto Moses and they put him in Ward that the minde of the Lord might be shewed them And the Lord spake unto Moses saying bring forth him that hath cursed without the campe and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head and let all the Congregation stone him Dan. 3.29 Therefore I make a decree that every people Nation and Language which speak any thing amisse against the God of Shadrach Mishach and Abednego shall be cut in peeces and their houses shall be made a dunghill because there is no other God Job 2.9 Curse God and dye 1 Cor. 12.3 No man speaking by the spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed Acts 13.10 11. Thou enemy of all righteousnesse wilt thou not cease to pervert the right wayes of the Lord and now behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee and thou shalt be blind Heb. 10.28 29. He that despised Moses Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God c. Rev. 22.18 19. If any man shall adde unto these things God shal adde unto him the plagues that are written in this Book and if any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the Book of life The second ranke of Doctrines Q. 1 SHall all men be saved A. Then one said unto him Lord are there few that shall be saved and he said unto them strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shal not be able Luke 13.23 24. Q. 2 Hath a man by nature free will to turne to God A. The naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are folishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 Q. 3 May God be worship'd by Pictures or Images A. Take ye good heed unto your selves for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire least ye corrupt your selves and make you a graven Image the similitude of any figure Deut. 4.15 16. Q. 4 Doth the soule of any man after death go to purgatory A. I heard a voyce from heaven saying unto me write blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Rev. 14.13 Q. 5 Do the souls of good men dye or sleep when their bodies are dead A. Ye are come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the generall assembly and Church of the first borne which are written in Heaven and to God the judge of all and to the spirits of just men made parfect Heb 12.22 23. Q. 6 Do the soules of bad men dye or sleep when their bodies are dead A. Their worme dyeth not Mark 9.44 Q. 7 Are there revelations or workings of the spirit as a rule for a Christians life though divers from or contrary to the written word of God A. This voyce which came from Heaven wee heard and we were with him in the holy Mount We have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto yee do well that yee take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawne and the day-starre arise in your hearts Knowing this first that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private inrerpretation for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2. Pet. 1.18.19 20 21. Q. 8 Is a man bound to beleeve no more then by his reason he can comprehend A Bebold thou shalt be dumbe and not able to speak untill the day that these things shall bee performed because thou beleevest not my words which shall be fulfilled Luke 1.20 Q. 9 Is the morall Law contained in the ten Commandements a rule of a Christian life A. Owe no man any thing but to love one another for he that loveth an other hath fulfilled the law For this thou shalt not commit adultery thou shalt not kill thou shalt not steale thou shall not beare false witnesse thou shalt not covet and if there be any other Commandement it is breifly comprehended in this saying namely thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Rom. 13.8 9. Q. 10 Doth God see sinne in the justified A. Against thee
thee only have I sinned and done this evill in thy sight Psal 51.4 Q. 11 Need a beleever repent A. Rememember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent Revel 2.5 Q. 12 Is the Sacrament of baptisme an Ordinance commanded by the word of God A Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Matth. 28.19 Q. 13 Is the Sacrament of the Lords Supper an Ordinance commanded by the word of God A. I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Iesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he brake it and said take eate this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me After the same manner also he took the cup when he had supped saying this cup is the New Testament in my blood this do yee as oft as yee drink it in remembrance of me 1. Cor. 11.23 24 25. Q. 14 Is the baptizing of Infants lawfull A Be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sinnes and yee shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost For the promise is unto you and to your Children Act. 2.38 39. Q. 15 Is such baptizing void or effectuall A. Loe I am with you alway even unto the end of the world Matth. 28.20 Q. 16 Is it lawfull to baptize a person formerly baptized A. John verily baptized with the baptisme of Repentance saying unto the people that they should beleeve on him which should come after him that is on Christ Jesus When they heard this they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Acts 19.4 5. Q. 17 Is it lawfull to joyne in publike prayer A. Peter and John went up together into the Temple at the houre of prayer being the ninth houre Acts 3.1 Q. 18 Is it lawfull to teach Children to pray A. Traine up a Child in the way that hee should goe and when he is old he will not depart from it Prov. 22.6 Q. 19 Is the power of the civill Magistrate by law established in England lawfull A. Let every soule be subject to the higher powers for there is no power but of God The powers that be are ordained of God Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13.1.2 Q. 20 Is the use of armes for publike defence in a just cause lawfull A. Curse ye Meroz said the Angel of the Lord curse yee bitterly the Inhabitans thereof because they came not to the help of the Lord to the help of the Lord against the mighty Judg. 5.23 1. King 15.13 And also Maachah his Mother even her he removed from being Queen because she had made an Idoll in a grove 2. John 9.10 11. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God Hee that abideth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrin receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed for he that biddeth him God speed is pertaker of his evill deeds 2. Pet. 2.10.12 And despise government presumptuous are they self-willed they are not afraid to speak evill of dignities These as naturall bruit beasts made to be taken and destroyed speak evill of the things that they understand not and shall utterly perish in their own corruption Revel 17.16 The ten hornes which thou sawest upon the Beast these shal hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eate her flesh and shall burne her with fire Revel 2.14 I have a few things against thee because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the Children of Israel to eate things sacrificed unto Idolls and to commit fornication FINIS An Ordinance presented to the Honorable House of Commons by M. Bacon a Lawyer in Suffolk and M. Taet both of them Members of the same House and by their means was twice read and referred to a Committee For the preventing of the growing and spreading of Heresies The first ranke of Doctrine BE it ordained That all such as shall from and after the Date hereof willingly Preach Teach Print or Write publish and maintain any such opinion contrary to the Doctrines ensuing Viz. a Acts 17.27.28 That 1 God is present in all places b Psal 14.1 That 2 God Is c 1 Joh. 5.7 or that he is 3 One in three Persons d 1 John 3 20. Or doth 4 know or fore-know all things e Job 42.1 Or that he is 5 Almighty f Ex. 15.11 Or that he is 6 perfectly Holy g 1 Tim. 1.17 Or that he is 7 Eternall Or that shall in like manner publish h John 10.30 That Christ is not 8 God coequall with the Father i 1 Cor. 15 47. Or shall deny the 9 Manhood of Christ k Hab. 2.16 Or that the 10 Godhead and Manhood of Christ are severall Natures l Luke 1.35 Or that the 11 Manhood of Christ is pure unspotted of sinne Or that shall publish m Matth. 27.55 That 12 Christ did not die n Matth. 28.7 or 13 rose from the dead o Acts 7.56 nor 14 is ascended into Heaven bodily p Gal. 3.13 14. Or that his death is 15 meritorious in behalfe of Beleevers Or that shall publish or maintain as aforesaid q Matt. 3.17 that 16 Christ is not the Sonne of God r 1 Cor. 3.16 Or that the 17 Holy Ghost is not God Å¿ 2 Pet. 1.21 Or that the 18 Scriptures are not the Word of God t Job 19.26 Or that the 19 Bodies of Men shall not rise after they be dead u Acts 17.31 Or that there is no 20 day of judgement after death Such publishing with obstinacie shall be judged Felony Such persons shall by two witnesses be bound over by two Justices unto the Gayl-delivery and the Delinquent shall be indited for Felony and upon finding the same inditement and that the party be found guilty and shall not abjure his said Error w Zech. 13.3 Deut. 13.5 6 8 9. 2 Chron. 15.12 13 14. he shall suffer the pains of death without benefit of Clergy But upon abjuring of the said Error he shall upon two sufficient Sureties be bailed And be it further ordained that if after abjuring the said Errors he shall publish it again he shall be indited and put to death And be it further ordered that if any person shall wittingly and presumptuously or contrary to admonition blaspheme the Name of God or any of the holy Trinity or shall
impugne the Word of God such offences shall be adjudged Felony and the offender committed without Bayl or Main-prize and the party being found guilty shall be branded in the left Cheek with the letter B. and upon the like offence the second time x Levit. 24 16. Job 2.9 Dan. 3.29 Heb. 10.28 29. shall suffer death The second ranke of Doctrines ANd be it further ordained that all persons who shall publish any of these severall Errors hereafter ensuing viz. y Matth. 25.41 That 1 all men shall be saved z Joh. 3.5 that a man by nature 2 hath free will to turne to God a Acts 17.25 That God 3 may be worshipt by Pictures or Images b Luke 16 22 23. or that the 4 soule of any man after death goes neither to Heaven nor Hell but to Purgatory c Acts 1.25 or that the soule 5 6 of man dies or sleepes when the body is dead d Ps 19.7 or that the 7 revelations or workings of the Spirit are a rule for a Christians life though divers from or contrary to the written Word of God e 1 Cor. 2.14 or that a man is 8 bound to beleeve no more then by his reason he can comprehend f Eph. 6.2 or that the 9 Morall Law contained in the Ten Commandements is no rule of a Christian life g 2 Sam. 12 9. or that God sees no 10 sinne in the justified or h Rev. 3.19 that a 11 Beleever need not repent i Ps 51.9 not pray for the pardon of sinne or that the two Sacraments of k John 4.1.2 12 Baptisme and the l Luke 22.19 20. 13 Lords Supper are not Ordinances commanded by the Word of God or that 14 the m Math. 19.14 Baptizing of Infants is unlawfull n Rom. 3.3 4. or that such 15 Baptizing is void and of none effect o Mark 16 16. or that such persons are to bee 16 Baptized againe and in pursuance thereof shall baptize any person formerly baptized p Exod. 20.8 or that the observation of the Lords Day as it is injoyned by the Ordinances and Lawes of this Realme is not according or contrary to the Word of God q 1 Cor. 14 15 16. or that it is not lawfull to joyn in 17 publike r 1 Pet. 3.7 or Family Prayer Å¿ 2 Tim. 3.15 or to 18 teach children to pray t Rev. 1.20 Or that the Churches of England are not true Churches u Rom. 10 13 14 15. Or that the Ministers or Ordinances are not true Ministers or Ordinances w 1 Tim. 4.14 Or that the Church government by Presbytery is Antichristian or unlawfull x 1 Pet. 2.13 14. or that the Magistracy or 19 power of the Civill Magistrate by Law established in England is unlawfull y Nehem. 4.14 or that all the use of 20 Armes for Publike defence be the Cause never so just is unlawfull And in case the party so accused for any of the said Errors bee committed before two Justices the party so committed shall bee ordered to renounce his said Error in the publike Congregation of the Parish Church whence the complaint comes and in case hee refuses or neglects the same at or upon the day time and place appointed by the said Justices z Num. 15.34 Tit. 1.10 11. Rev. 2.14 2 Pet. 2.10 12. Gal. 5.12 that he shall bee committed to prison by the said Justices untill hee shall finde two Sureties of Subsidy men that hee shall not publish or maintain the said Error or Errors any more FINIS A Scripture CATECHISME Very usefull in these Times For Advancing Unity Suppressing Errour Stating present Controversies Vindicating the Covenanted Reformation 1 COR. 3 2 3. I have fed you with milke and not with meat for hitherto ye were not able to bear it neither yet now are ye able For ye are yet carnall for whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions are ye not carnall 2 COR. 11.3 I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ 2 TIM 1.13 Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love c. LONDON Printed by T. R. and E. M. for John Bellamie at the three golden Lions in Cornhill neer the Royall Exchange 1646. To the teachable Reader HVmble Reader who art willing to stoop to the contemned Ordinance of Catechisme God hath promised to teach you and to that purpose all are yours all his Ordinances all his servants their gifts experiences labours the ablest the meanest all are yours amongst which my poore mite is accountable to you Some few yeers since when divers of the new Opinions that now have seized upon many were first represented to me and I saw them entertained by some persons that were precious in my thoughts and managed by such arguments as at the first sight seemed to carry strength with them I must confesse I beganne to stagger thereat whereupon for my own satisfaction I was inquisitive after such Treatises on all hands as wrote either for or against them which I therefore mention that I may give you an account of what experience hath taught me namely that there is more satisfaction to be gained by a diligent weighing of some one Scripture then by reading over many other books for indeed the Scripture is the supreme judge of controversies and all that the ablest men can speak for the opening of Scripture must be resolved into Scripture before it can ground faith and satisfie conscience which is the drift of this Catechisme wherewith thou mayest expect a blessing if thou shalt pray read and study the answers wherein I have not been so carefull to give you the forme of an answer as to referre you to such Scriptures as afford matter for the Answer which course I finde warranted by the like practice of our Saviour and I judge it the profitablest way in a Tractate in this nature for thereby the Reader will be constrained to study the Scriptures to understand the force of them before he can satisfie himselfe with an answer from them as for example in the question concerning Baptisme the Reader must weigh the circumstances of the text and compare it with the History in Exodus and so he may be enabled to satisfie himselfe in forming an Answer thus All the Israelites presently after their coming forth from Egypt when many of them were little children were Baptized by the cloud which hung over their heads Thus much Reader I thought good to intimate to thee that thou mightest not take offence at my method A Scripture CATECHISME Very usefull in these Times First Question Q. 1 WHat speaks the Scripture of the doctrinall errors of these latter times A. The Spirit speaketh expressely that in the latter times some shal depart from the faith giving heed
ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates 2 Cor. 13.5 Q. 73 What evident mark can you instance in for a Christian to try himself by A. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren 1 John 3.14 Q. 74 Should we now have legall terrours prest A. Others save with fear pulling them out of the fire Jude 23. Q. 75 Are the threatnings usefull to the godly A. If I have lift up my hand against the fatherlesse when I saw my help in the gate then let my arme fall from my shoulder-blade and mine arme be broken from the bone for destruction from God was a terrour to me and by reason of his highnesse I could not endure Job 31.21 22 23. Q. 76 Is there any farther use of terrors to the godly besides for restraint from sin A. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 Q. 77 Doth fear of Gods threatnings arise from the weaknesse of the godly or from their faith A. By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear prepared an Ark to the saving of his house Heb. 11.7 Q 78 Some would have the Sabbath to be kept but as other dayes of the week What say you to them A. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy six dayes shalt thou labour and do all thy work but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work c. Exod. 20.8 9 10. Q. 79 They say this is Jewish and Ceremoniall show them a Sabbath instituted before there were either Jewes as any of their ceremonies A. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made and God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it c. Gen. 2.2 3. Q. 80 Should wicked men pray to God A. Pray God if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee for I perceive thou art in the gall of bitternesse and in the bond of iniquity Acts 8.22 23. Q. 81 Is the usuall discourse of hard controversies among weak Christians to be approved A. Him that is weak in the faith receive you but not to doubtfull disputations Rom. 14.1 Q. 82 If I have a true opinion which cannot be vented without offence may I vent it A. Hast thou faith have it to thy selfe before God happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth Rom. 14.22 Q. 83 Some presse very much for Uniformity is that according to the Scriptures A. Now I beseech you brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that yee all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgement 1 Cor. 1.10 Q. 84 By what arguments doth the Scripture urge this A. If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfill ye my joy that yee be like minded being of one accord of one mind Phil. 2.1 2. Q. 85 What directions must we follow that we may attain this Unity A. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory but in lowlinesse of mind let each esteem other better then themselves Phil. 2.3 Q. 86 What respect ought the strong Christian to bear towards the weak A. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not Rom. 14.3 Q. 87 What respect ought the weaker Christian to carry towards the stronger A. Let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth Rom. 14.3 Q. 88 Some question the lawfulnesse of keeping publike Fasts appointed by the Magistrate what have you in Scripture that might satisfie them A. Jehosaphat feared and set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a Fast throughout all Judah and Judah gathered themselves together to aske help of the Lord even out of all the Cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. 2 Chron. 20.3.4 Q. 89 Hath the Magistrate power also to appoint a day to be kept yeerly to celebrate some nationall mercy A. Ester the Queen and Mordecai the Jew wrote with all authority to confirm these dayes of Purim in their times appointed according as Mordecai the Jew and Ester the Queen had enjoyned them and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed the matters of the fastings and their cry Est. 9 29.31 Q. 90 I perceive you grant much to the civill powers what if they should take upon them to do that which belongs properly to Church officers should that also be yeelded to them A. They withstood Vzziah the King and said unto him It pertaineth not unto thee Vzziah to burn Incense unto the Lord but to the Priests the sonnes of Aaron that were consecrated to burn Incense go out of the Sanctuary for thou hast trespassed neither shall it be for thine honour from the Lord God 1 Chron. 26.18 Q. 91 In these dayes many private men that are brought up to worldly callings take upon them to preach is this practise to be justified or disapproved A. He shall say I am no prophet I am an husbandman for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth Zech. 13.5 Q. 92 Those Ministers that have spent their estates and times to fit themselves for that calling have their maintenance with-held by many and divers have petitioned to have it taken away how will God take this at their hands A. Will a man rob God yet ye have robbed me but ye say wherein have we robbed thee in Tythes and Offerings ye are cursed with a curse c. Mal. 3.8 9. Q. 93 You speak of Minister as separated from the ordinary ranke of Christians what is requisite for the making of a Minister besides gifts A. The holy Ghost said separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them and when they had fasted and prayed and layed their hands on them they sent them away Acts 13.2 3. Q 94 By whom ought the Ministers to be ordained A. Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery 1 Tim. 4.14 Q. 95 Is the power of Church discipline in the people or in the Officers of the Church A. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophecy let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith or ministry let us wait on our ministring or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation he that giveth let him do it with simplicity he that ruleth with diligence Rom. 12.6 7 8. Q. 96 Should the people attend upon the ministry of those whom God hath placed over them or may they go indifferently to any other profitable Minister A. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with greif for that is unprofitable to you Heb. 13.17 Q. 97 Have Synods or Elders of Churches assembled together power to determine differences and make decrees A. As they went thorough the Cities they delivered them the decrees for to keep that were ordained of the Apostles and Elders which were at Jerusalem Acts 16.4 A. Q. 98 I have heard a book written to prove that the soule of man remains not after death how will you confute that A. He went and preached to the spirits in prison which sometimes were disobedient when once the long-suffering of God waited in the dayes of Noah 1 Pet. 3.19 20. Q. 99 They say there is another book out to prove that a man may put away his wife if she be not a meet helper how may I answer all the arguments there alledged A. It hath been said whosoever shall put away his wife let him give her a writing of a divorcement but I say unto you that whosoever shall put away his wife saving for the cause of fornication causeth her to commit adultery and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery Mat. 5.31 32. Q. 100 There are many other new opinions that men teach and write for with specious arguments I would fain be satisfied about them how shall I discern the truth A. If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shal be given him James 1.5 If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God c. John 7.17 To the Law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8.20 The Priests lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts Mal. 2.7 If they be ashamed of all that they have done show them the form of the house and the fashion thereof c. Ezech. 43.11 Postscript to the judicious Reader IF thou hast read over this Catechisme thou mayest easily perceive that it was penned for Christians of the lowest form to whom the Authour intended with briefnesse clearnesse and Scripture-language to give generall notes for caution against all the dangerous Doctrines of the times and speciall hints for satisfaction concerning some of the most obvious mistakes and errors If the sight of this may occasion from thee a fuller and exacter Treatise of this nature none shall be more willing to study such a Catechisme then my self Thine and the truths I. K. FINIS