is the means and pledge of 1 John 3.2 Now are we the sons of God. Acts 2.38 39. Then Peter said Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost For the promise is unto you and to your Children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Q. Is Baptism alone sufficient to Salvation A. No not alone without the new birth thereby signified without we are dead unto sin and alive unto God through Jesus Christ Rom. 6.3 4 11. Q What is required of persons to be Baptized A. Repentance a whereby they forsake sin and Faith b whereby they stedfastly believe all that is revealed by Christ and particularly the Promises of God made to them in that Sacrament a Acts 2.38 41. Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins c. b Acts 8.37 If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest be Baptized Q. Why then are Infants Baptized when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them A. Because they promise them both Repentance and Faith by their Sureties which promise when they come to age themselves are bound to perform Q. Can Children be obliged where they do not actually consent A. Yes it was so under the Law a when Children were taken into Covenant and were circumcis'd at eight days old b and thenceforward were accounted God's Children c a Deut. 29.10 11 12. Ye stand this day all of you before the Lord your captains of your tribes your little ones That thou shouldst enter into covenant with the Lord. b Gen. 17.12 13 14. c Ezek. 16.20 21. Thou hast slain my children and deliver'd them to cause them to pass through the fire to Moloch Q. What warrant is there for the Baptism of Infants though born of Christian Parents A. The same that is for grown persons born of Christian Parents and that is because the Covenant belongs to them Acts 2.39 The promise is unto you and to your children 1 Cor. 7.14 Else were your children unclean but now as born of believing Parents are they holy Q. The Lord's Supper Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained A. For the continual remembrance of the Sacrifice of the death of Christ and of the benefits which we receive thereby Q. Why is this Sacrament called the Lord's Supper A. It 's called the Lord's Supper a as it was ordained by our Lord at Supper b immediately before his death a 1 Cor. 11.20 This is not to eat the Lord's Supper b Matt. 26.26 Q. For what end did our Lord ordain it A. 1. As a Sign and Representation of the Sacrifice of his Death and a means to keep up the remembrance of it a 2. As a means to conveigh and a pledge to assure us of the benefits we receive thereby b a 1 Cor. 11.24 Take eat this is my body c. this do in remembrance of me b Matt. 26.28 This Wine is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Q. Why is Christ's Death called a Sacrifice A. It 's call'd a Sacrifice a because he was a Sacrifice for sin b a Heb. 9.26 He put away sin by the sacrifice of himself b 2 Cor. 5.21 He hath made him to be sin a Sin-offering for us who knew no sin Q. How long is this Ordinance to continue A. It 's for the continual remembrance of his death till he come 1 Cor. 11.26 As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lord's death till he come Acts 1.11 Q. What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper A. Bread and Wine which the Lord hath commanded to be received Q. Are both the Elements Bread and Wine to be equally used A. Yes for the Lord commanded both to be received 1 Cor. 11.23 24. I received of the Lord That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread c. After the same manner also he took the Cup c. Q What is the inward part or thing signified A. The Body and Blood of Christ which are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper Q. Are the Bread and Wine changed after consecration A. Not otherwise than in their use for they remain the same in Nature and Substance as before So it 's thrice called Bread 1 Cor. 11.26 27 28. Q. What is the Body and blood of Christ which are said to be verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful A. 1. Negatively It 's not the natural Body and Blood of Christ 1. Because the Catechism saith the inward part or thing signified by the Bread and Wine in the Sacrament is the Body and Blood of Christ and so the Bread and Wine are the Signs of that Body and Blood and not the very natural Body and Blood. 2. Because it 's said the Body and Blood of Christ are verily and indeed taken and received therein by the faithful in opposition to Unbelievers who as our Article 29th saith Eat not the Body of Christ in the Lord's Supper 2. I answer positively That by the Body and Blood of Christ is meant Christ himself who suffer'd in his Body and shed his Blood for us John 6.53 54 55 56. Except ye eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you c. His Flesh and Blood That is himself as it immediately follows v. 57. He that eateth me even he shall live by me Q. How is the Body and Blood of Christ verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper A. The Faithful do receive Christ who thus suffered in his Body and shed his Blood by Faith. As the Flesh and Blood of Christ are Christ himself so Eating and Receiving are the same with Believing John 6.35 I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst Ver. 51. If any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever Vers 54. Who so eateth my flesh c. ver 56 57. Q. Are the Benefits we receive by Christ another thing than his Flesh and Blood A. Yes They differ as much as Christ himself doth from the Benefits he hath purchased for us Q. What are the Benefits whereof we are partakers thereby A. The strengthning and refreshing of our Souls by the Body and Blood of Christ as our Bodies are by the Bread and Wine Q. How are our Souls strengthned and refreshed by the Body and Blood of Christ A. Our Souls are strengthned and refreshed in the Lord's Supper by our belief in Christ that suffered in his Body and shed his Blood for us a which is more especially exhibited and set forth in this Ordinance b a John 6.35 Jesus said I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst Vers 51. I am the living bread which came down from heaven If any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever And the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world b 1 Cor. 10.16 The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion or participation of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ Q. What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper A. 1. To examine themselves a whether they repent them truly of their former sins b stedfastly purposing to lead a new life c a 1 Cor. 11.28 Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread c. b 1 Cor. 11.20 21. This is not to eat the Lord's Supper For in eating at their Love-Feasts before the Communion one is hungry and another is drunken Vers 31. If we would judge our selves we should not be judged c Isa 1.16 17 18. Wash ye make you clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evil learn to do well c. Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord c. 2. To have a lively Faith in Gods mercy through Christ Act. 26.18 That they may receive forgiveness of sins by faith that is in me Act. 4.12 Neither is there Salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved 1 Cor. 11.29 He that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lord's body 3. With a thankful remembrance of his Death 1 Cor. 11.26 For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye do shew forth the Lord's death till he come 1 Cor. 6.19 20. 4. And to be in Charity with all men 1 Cor. 10.17 We being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread Ephes 5.2 Walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God. Matt. 5.23 24. If thou bring thy gift to the altar and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee Leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way first be reconciled to thy brother whom thou hast wrong'd or offended and then come and offer thy gift FINIS The young Reader is to take notice that the Letters a b c d refer to the Scriptures that follow and which are to prove every point so marked
and in breaking of bread and in prayers b 1 Cor. 12.26 27. Whether one member suffer all the members suffer with it c. Q. What is the second privilege belonging to the Church A. Artic. 10. Forgiveness of sin Forgiveness of sins Rom. 4.7 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven Q. What is Sin A. It 's a transgression of the Law of God 1 Joh. 3.4 Q. What is the punishment due to sin A. Death temporal a and eternal b a Rom. 5.12 By one man Adam sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is death Mat. 25.46 Q. What is the forgiveness of sin A. It's God 's not imputing it in the punishment Rom. 4.7 8. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin Rom. 5.13 Q. Upon what terms is sin forgiven A. Upon our Faith and Repentance Act. 26.17 18. I send thee to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light c. that they may receive forgiveness of sins c. through faith that is in me Q. By what means is God thus reconciled to sinful man A. It 's through Christ Ephes 4.32 God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you Q. Artic. 11. The Resurrection of the Body What is the third privilege A. The Resurrection of the Body Q. What do you understand by the Resurrection of the Body A. That the Body shall be raised out of the dust a and being again united to the soul shall be gloâ—â—ous b and immortal c. a 1 Cor. 15.36 That which thou sowest is not quickened except it die c. b Phil. 3.21 Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body c 1 Cor. 15.53 This mortal must put on immortality Q. What is the fourth privilege Artic. 12. The Life everlasting A. Everlasting Life Q. What is implied in that A. A state of most perfect happiness which consists in the perfection of our natures a and the enjoyment of God b a Mat. 22.30 In the Resurrection they are as the Angels of God in Heaven b Psal 16.11 In thy presence is fulness of joyâ— and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore PART III. Of the Decalogue or Ten Commandments Q. The Decalogue WHat was the third thing promised at your Baptism A. That I should keep God's holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of my life Q. What are the Characters of true Obedience that you collect from hence A. 1. It 's universal a keeping Gods holy Will and Commandments Psal 119.6 Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect to all thy Commandments 2. It 's a course of Obedience a walking in the same 1 King. 6.12 If thou wilt keep all my Commandments to walk in them Rom. 6.4 3. A perseverance in that course it 's to be all the days of my life Luk. 1.74 75. That we might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life Q. You said that your God-Fathers and God-Mothers did promise for you that you should keep God's Commandments tell me how many there be A. Ten. Q. Which be they A. The same which God spake in the twentieth Chapter of Exodus saying I am the Lord thy God who brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage Q. What is there contained in this Preface A. It affords several Arguments to Obedience Q. What are they A. They are taken 1. From God's Authority God spake these words 2. From God's Soveraignty I am the Lord. 3. From God's propriety in them thy God Deut. 26.16 17. 4. From his goodness to them Who brought thee out of the land of Egypt Deut. 8.14 Q. â—â—â—â—hist Say the Commandments A. 1. Thou shalt have none other Gods but me c. Q. If the Commandments are Ten how are they said to be two by our Saviour Mat. 22.38 40 A. They are two as they are divided into Two Tables of love to God and our Neighbour Q. What dost thou chiefly learn by these Commandments contained in the Two Tables A. I learn two things my Duty towards God and my Duty towards my Neighbour Q. What is thy Duty towards God A. My Duty towards God is to believe in him to fear him and to love him c. Q. How many Commandments belong to the first Table A. The first four Q. What is the first Commandment A. Commandment 1. Thou shalt have no other Gods but me Q. What is forbidden in this Commandment A. I am forbidden hereby 1. to have or own any more than one God a 2. To give the honour due to God to any other object whatsoever b a 1 Cor. 8.4 6. There is none other God but one b Mat. 4.10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Q. What is required in this Commandment A. To believe in him a to fear him b and to love him with all my heart with all my mind with all my soul and with all my strength c to worship him d to give him thanks e to put my whole trust in him f to call upon him g a Heb. 11.6 He that cometh to God must believe that he is b Eccles 12.13 Fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole duty of man. c Mat. 22.37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart c. d Mat. 4.10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God. e Psal 92.1 2. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto thy name O thou most high f Prov. 3.5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding g Phil. 4.6 Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Q. Command 2. What is the second Commandment A. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor the likeness of any thing that is in 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 mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments Q. What is forbidden in this Commandment A. All Religious Worship given to an Image Q. What is an Image the worship of which is here forbidden A. An Image is any external Representation of God set up for the receiving Divine Worship Levit. 26.1 Ye shall make you no Idols nor graven Image neither rear you up a standing Image neither shall ye set up a Image of Stone in your Land to bow down
one while put defraud not Mark 10.19 another while Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Mat. 19.19 Q. What is required in this Commandment A. A contentedness in my present state and condition a and to learn and labour truly to get my own living b in that state of life whereunto it shall please God to call me c a Heb. 13.5 Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have c. Phil. 4.11 b 1 Thes 4.11 12. Study to be quiet and to do your own business and to work with your own hands that ye may have lack of nothing c 1 Cor. 7.20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called PART IV. Of the Lords Prayer Q. MY good Child know this that thou art not able to do these things of thy self nor to walk in the Commandments of God and to serve him without his special grace which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent prayer Let me hear therefore if thou canst say the Lords Prayer Q. What are the things contained in this Preface set before the Lord's Prayer in the Catechism A. Therein is contained 1. The reason of all prayer to God which is an insufficiency in our selves a and an allsufficiency in him b So it 's said a Know this that thou art not able to do these things of thy self without his special grace b 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God. 2. It shews us the use which prayer is of as a means for obtaining the special grace of God contained in these words which thou must learn to call for by prayer Luk. 11.9 10 11 12 13. Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you c. 3. It teaches me what are the qualifications of a prevalent and effectual prayer viz. 1. That it be at all times without intermission and discouragement a 2. That it be diligent what is accompanied with a stedfast faith and attention b a Luk. 18.1 Christ spake a parable unto them to this end that men ought always to pray and not to faint b Rom. 12.12 Continuing instant in prayer Eph. 6.18 Q. The Lords Prayer Why is that Form of Prayer which begins with Our Father call'd the Lord's Prayer A. Because it was composed by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Mat. 6.9 Luk. 11.2 Q. For what end did our Saviour compose this Prayer A. 1. As a pattern for our better help and direction what to pray for and of the order we are to pray in that we may not be at a loss what to pray for a nor use vain repetitions b a Luk. 11.1 2. His Disciples said unto him Lord teach us to pray And he said unto them When ye pray say c. b Mat. 6.7 8 9. When ye pray use not vain repetitions After this manner therefore pray ye c. 2. As a Form that 's fit to be used when we pray Mat. 6.9 After this manner or so pray ye Luk. 11.2 When ye pray say Our Father c. Q. Say the Lords Prayer A. Our Father c. Q. What desirest thou of God in this Prayer A. I desire my Lord God our Heavenly Father who is the giver of all goodness to send his grace unto me and to all people that we may worship him serve him and obey him as we ought to do And I pray unto God that he will send us all things that be needful both for our souls and bodies and that he will be merciful unto us and forgive us our sins and that it will please him to save and defend us in all dangers ghostly and bodily and that he will keep us from all sin and wickedness and from our Ghostly enemy and from everlasting death And this I trust he will do of his mercy and goodness through our Lord Iesus Christ And therefore I say Amen So be it Q. What are the general parts which this Prayer doth consist of A. They are three viz. the Preface the Petitions and the Doxology or Conclusion Q. What is the Preface or Compellation A. Our father which art in Heaven Q. What are the things contained in this Preface A. It contains several Arguments to encourage us in the performance of this Duty Q. What are those Arguments A. 1. As God is a Father the giver of all goodness and so cannot but chuse and give and do what is best for us Luk. 11.11 12 13. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a Father will he give him a stone c If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit good things Mat. 7.11 to them that ask him 2. As he is a Father in Heaven and so is able to understand and will and do what is best Psal 115.3 Our God is in the Heavens he hath done whatsoever he pleased 3. As he is a common Father and whom all may freely resort to 2 Thes 2.16 God even our Father who hath loved us Ephes 2.18 Through him we both Jews and Gentiles have an access by one spirit unto the Father Q. What do you learn from hence A. 1. That God alone is the proper object of our prayers Psal 123.1 Vnto thee lift I up mine eyes O thou that dwellest in the Heavens 2. That we ought to approach to him with fear and reverence Mal. 1.6 A son honoureth his father If then I be a father where is mine honour Eccles 5.2 Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God for God is in heaven and thou upon earth 3. That we ought to come with a true affection to all mankind and with an hearty desire that they may be as well and happy as our selves which is implied when we say Our Father and therefore I desire that he will send his grace unto me and to all people Q. What doth the matter respect which is contained in the six Petitions of the Lord's Prayer A. The first three respect Gods glory and the three last our good Q. What is the first Petition A. Hallowed be thy Name Petition 1. Q. What is here meant by the Name of God A. 1. Thereby is signified not only the Name of God but God himself Psal 44.20 If we have forgotten the Name of our God or stretched out our hands to a strange god Psal 20.1 2. The Attributes and Perfections of his Nature Exod. 34.5 6. The Lord proclaimed the Name of the Lord The Lord God merciful and gracious c. 3. The things set apart for his honour and service as his Word and Day c. Psal 138.2 I will worship towards thy holy Temple and praise thy Name for thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy