THE PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION In Twenty Questions and Answers Whereunto is Added A Compendious History of the most Memorable passages of HOLY SCRIPTURE by way of Questions and Answers for the use and benefit of the Inhabitants of the Parish of WOTTON in Oxford shire By JOHN HOFFMAN B. D. Minister of Gods word 1 TIM 4.8 Godlinesse is Profitable to all things OXFORD Printed by L. Lichfield 1653. TO My Beloved Neighbours and Parishioners the Inhabitants of the Towne and Parish of WOTTON In Oxford-shire Beloved in the Lord 1. IT hath been my greatest care and constant endeavour ever since by Gods providence I was called to be your Pastour how I might withstand and hinder the growth of sinnes Prov. 14.34 Ioh. 17.3 which are a reproach to any People and how to build you up in the saving knowledge of Iesus Christ which is eternall life To which purpose in the ordinary course of my Ministry as you know I have gone over the principles of Religion by way of Catechizing more then once that so I might with the Lords assistance and blessing upon my labours lay a sure and a sound foundation in the tender hearts of the yonger sort of people who are so sweetly exhorted by Solomon â—ccles 12. to know and to remember their Creator now in the daies of their youth 2. It hath of late much troubled my spirit what good course I might take in these evill and unsetled times to settle and establish you in the Truth of the Gospell â—evel 3.1 to hold fast that which you have received that no man may take your Crowne and how to Preach the Word unto you that all may profit and upon my seeking of God in private to direct mee and after much selfe-disputing I resolved at last to look beyond all discouragements and frivolous exceptions of persons disaffected to Truth and Holinesse and in the integrity and simplicity of my heart to adventure upon this plaine and easy way First to Compose and Print a short Catechise containing the fundamentalls of our Christian Religion which being known and understood will enable you to give an account to every man 1 Pet. 3.15 that shall aske you a reason of the hope that is in you with meeknes and feare Sermons without the knowledge and understanding of fundamentall Truths are as if you should set a Browne Loafe and a Cheese Heb. 5.13.14 before Infants that call for Milke Secondly for as much as it is a sad thing to consider how many heare Gods word it may be every Lords day yet understand little and remember lesse having never been acquainted with the Historicall part of the Scripture to any purpose I have therefore very briefely contracted and set downe the most memorable Historicall passages thereof the knowledge whereof will I am confident be very helpfull unto you to understand Gods mind delivered in those comfortable Doctrines which upon the explication of any Text are by worthy Ministers of Christ commended unto you Thirdly because without the Lords blessing nothing can doe us good I have therefore in the latter end of this little Manuall set downe a short direction for younger Christians to pray by There are Foure holy duties which I heartily commend unto you and intreat you to practice 1. To read Gods word much in private and to pray with your Families the blessing of God is upon such Families 2. To take heed of prophaning the Lords Day and instead of unnecessary worldly works or sinfull recreations to call your Children and Servants after Dinner together before the second Sermon to give you an account of some part of the Catechise and of the History of the Bible which will put yours and their hearts into a holy posture for the publique exercises of the Church 3. I would intreat you to examine all your Doctrines you heare by the Word of God it is a way very pleasing to God as we see in the Example of the Noble Bereans 4. I would desire you to search after and to be well setled in the Doctrine of justification and of the Sacraments Other duties there are I should speake of but I would willingly be as short as I could Now the Lord Jesus blesse you and yours and so appeare upon you and my labours amongst you that in the day of judgement we may not be ashamed but stand with comfort before the Tribunall seat of Christ and receive an Fuge well done good and faithfull servants enter into your Masters joy Which shall be the daily prayer of Your most affectionate Friend and Pastour to serve you in Christ. JOHN HOFFMAN From my study at Wotton Feb. 16. 1653. A Short Catechisme OR Twenty Questions and Answers Containing the first Elements or Principles of our CHRISTIAN RELIGION The 1. Question WHAT is every one by Nature The Answer Every one by Nature is a poore miserable sinner not able of himselfe to doe any thing pleasing to God Rom. 7.24 Q. 2. How came wee to be so wretched A. 1. By the guilt of the first sinne commited by Adam and Eve in Paradise 2. By originall sinne which is not only a want of Gods image consisting in holinesse and righteousnesse but also a pronenesse and inclination to all sinnes 3. By our daily Actuall transgressions in thought word and deed Psal 51.5 Rem 5.12 Q. 3. What is sinne A. Sinne is a breach of Gods Law making us guilty of Gods curse and heavy judgements temporally and eternally 1 Ioh 3.4 Gal 3.10 Q. 4. How may wee be freed from this miserable condition A. Only by Jesus Christ the alone Mediator 'twixt God and Man 1 Tim 2.5 Q. 5. What is God A. God is a spirit infinite in power justice and mercy distinguished into three Persons God the Father God the Sonne and God the Holy Ghost and these three are one 1 Ioh 5.7 Q. 6. What believest thou concerning God the Father A. I believe that he created me and all the World out of nothing and that by his Almighty providence he upholds and most wisely disposes of all things to his own glory and the good of his Church Heb 11.3 Math 10.29 Prov 16.33 Q 7. What believest thou concerning Iesus Christs A. I believe that he being God from everlasting took mans Nature upon him in the fulnesse of time being conceived by the Holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary That he fulfilled the Law of God for mee and suffered much misery the death of the Crosse and Hells Torments That he was buried and rose againe the third day That he ascended up into Heaven to the highest glory and that he shall ere long come in great glory to judge the quick and the dead Phil 2.7 8 9. Q. 8. How many Natures hath Christ and how many Offices did he undertake for us A. Christ hath two Natures the humane and the Divine Nature Ioh 1.14 1 Tim 3 16. And he undertook three Offices for us 1 To be our Prophet to teach
us 2 Our High Priest to dye and to pay for us 3 Our Heavenly King to rule us by his word and spirit Apoc. 1.5 Q 9. What believest thou concerning the Holy Ghost A. I believe that the Holy Ghost is God and that he is sent to mee and to all Gods Children to guide us to teach us to make us Holy and to comfort us in all our afflictions Ioh 14.26 Q 10. How may we get God to be our God and Father A. By Faith in Jesus Christ alone Ioh 3.16 Q 11. What is Faith A. A precious gift of God whereby I perswade and assure my selfe that God for Christs sake hath justified mee and will accept of mee imputing Christs righteousto mee and imputing my sinnes to him 2 Cor 5.21 Q 12. How may we get and increase Faith A. 1. By the hearing of Gods word of true and faithfull Preachers Rom 10.17 2. By Prayer asking of God in the name of Jesus Christ things lawfull and needfull for soule and body according to the Lords prayer 3. By the Sacraments Q 13. What is a Sacrament A. An outward signe and seale of the Covenant of Grace Rom 4.11 What the Covenant of Grace is see Heb â—0 16 17. Q 14. How many Sacraments have we Christians A. Two only Baptisme and the Lords Supper 1 Cor 10.2,3 To these Sacraments all those have right to whom the promises are made upon this ground wee Baptize the Infants of Christian Parents and when afterwards they come to the years of discretion and can examine themselves wee also admit them to the Lords Supper Act. â—… 39 1 Cor 11.28 Q 15. What is required of one that will receive the Communion A. He that will receive the Communion must not be utterly ignorant nor scandalous in his life but must carefully examine and try aforehand 1. His knowledge of Christ 2. Faith 3. Repentance which is a change from worse to better upon true sorrow for sinne 4. Love and Charity 5. His obedience and thankfulnesse Q 16. What is it to eate the flesh and drink the bloud of Christ in the Sacrament A. To believe and to assure my selfe that what the Lord Jesus hath done or suffered he hath done it also for my soule and that I am really spiritually united unto him Joh 6.54 63. Q 17. What is expected of us after we have received the Lords Supper A. 1. To try what spirituall strength and comfort we have gotten by it 2. To pay our vowes 3. To increase daily in Grace 4. To praise God that we have a place in Gods Church among his people Psal 116.12 13. Q 18. What dost thou meane by the Church A. The company of all Gods Elect that have been are or shall be called out of the World to be Saints Acts 2.47 Q 19. What are the true Christians constant exercises A. 1. To keep a good Conscience Act 24.16 2. To be much in Prayer and Fasting 3. To read and heare Gods word 4. To keep the Lords day 5. To doe good to all but specially to Godly Christians 6. To doe as I would be done by according to the Morall Law the Ten Commandements which are the Rule of mans life 7. To repent daily of our daily failings and in all these duties to believe that God will accept of me for Christs sake alone without whom our best performances are sinfull and abominable Rom. 14.23 Heb 11.6 Q 20. What are the Christians priviledges A. 1. T is a great priviledge to be a Member of the true Church 2 To have Union Communion with Christ and his Church 3 To have the forgivenesse of my sinnes sealed to me in the bloud of Christ 4 To dye in the Faith of Christ 5 To be raised up at the last day to eternall Glory 6 To stand at Christs Right hand and to judge the World and Angells 7 That when the wicked shall goe away with the Divells to Hell Fire for ever I shall with all Gods Elect follow Christ into Heavenly Glory to see God Face to Face singing Hallelujah to him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever more Math 25.46 Ioh 5.28 Glory be to the Lord. AMEN The History of the Bible in Questions and Answers GENESIS The 1. Question WHAT is contained in this first Book of Scripture The Answere A. In Genesis is contained the History of the three first Patriarks Of Adam before the floud Of Noah in the floud Of Abraham after the floud And the History also of the other Three great Patriarks Isaak Iacob and Ioseph Q 2. What was done before the Floud 1 A. God created Heaven and Earth Adam and Eve and all things in Six daies out of nothing and rested the seaventh day 2 God prepared Paradise for our first Parents and put them therein and for sin turned them out againe 3 Adam in the state of Innocency according to the Wisdome bestowed upon him gave fit names to all Creatures 4 Cain killed his brother Abel 5 Henoch walked with God and was taken up into Heaven 6 The rest of those lesser Patriarks invented diverse Arts cap 5. Q 3. What was done in the daies of Noah 1 A. The whole World was drowned by a floud 2 The cause was man's sinne and want of Repentance upon warning given by Noah 3 Noah and his Family with some Beasts of all kinds were preserved in the Ark. 4 The Raine-bow was given for a Token that God would never destroy the World by Water any more 5 The building of the Tower of Babel iâ— undertaken by some and punished Q. 4. What canst thou say of Abraham 1 A. Abraham was called by God out of his owne Country to sojourne in the Land of Canaan which God afterwards gave to him and to his posterity for an Inheritance 2 He entertained Angells unawares and prayd for Sodom and Gomorah and hath a Sonne by Sarah 3 He met with many afflictions in his Travells to and fro with his Wife Sarai his maid Hagar and his kinsman Lot 4 He fought a great Battell with the assistance of his own Servants against the heathen Kings wherein he obtained the victory and recovered his kinsman Lot that had been taken captive and at his returne Melchisedeck blesseth him to whom Abraham paid Tithes of the spoyles taken in that war 5 Abraham built many Altars to God is carefull to teach his Family the knowledge of God and is willing to sacrifice his sonne Isaak 6 He had many troubles about Ismaell Hagars sonne 7 He purchased a piece of land to be a burying place for his family and there Sarah was buried 8 He took great care to have his sonne Isaak married in a Godly way 9 After the death of Sarah he Married againe and had divers children 10 He dyed and was honourably buried Q. 5. What canst thou say of Isaak 1 A. Isaak feared God as Abraham his father had done 2 He loved Rebecca his Wife 3 He was a great man among the Philistims rich
in Cattell and Goods and had much contention with the Philistims about digging of Wells 4 In his old Age he blessed Iacob and Esau he dyed and was buried by his Sonnes Q. 6. What canst thou say of Iacob 1 A. He fled into a strange land for feare of his brother Esan 2 In his Travells being once benighted and lodging all night in the field he had a sweet dreame wherein he saw a ladder that reached from Earth to Heaven the Angells of God descending and ascending 3 He vowed a vow and is entertained by his Unkle Laban to have the care and oversight of his Cattell 4 He had many troubles with his Unckle whose two Daughters Leah and Rachell he married 5 He had twelve Sonnes and one Daughter and grew rich by Gods blessing upon him 6 He returned to his Fathers house with all he had gotten at his Unckles and by the way in his returne he met with shrode troubles 1 His Unckle pursued after him and charged him with theft 2 His brother Esau came with an Army against him 3 His Wife Rachel died in Childbed 4 His Daughter Dinah is ravished 5 His Sonnes Simeon and Levi committed Murther 6 His eldest Sonne committed Incest and his sonne Iudas whoredome After he came home and was setled his troubles about Ioseph began In his Old Age he removed with all his Family into Egypt and died there and his body was brought back into the land of Canaan end buried Q 7. What canst thou say of Ioseph Ioseph is a worthy patterne of Piety and Holinesse he feared God and took great care for his old Father Iacob and for all his family He was sold into Egypt by his own brethren and was there wrongfully imprisoned but by Gods wonderfull providence he is advanced to great honour and became the Father and preserver of the Land in time of Famine 3 He was married in Egypt and had two Sonnes he dyed and is embalmed EXODUS Q. 1. WHY is this Book called Exodus A. Because it containeth the History of Israels going out of the Land of Egypt by the mighty hand of God Q. 2. What became of Iacobs posterity after the death of Ioseph 1 A. They were miserably oppressed by the Egyptians 2 By command from the King all the male children were drowned as soon as they were borne the Midwives shewed much pitty towards them 3 Moses an Infant is miraculously preserved and bred up by King Pharao's own Daughter 4 Moses and Aaron are called and sent to the King to let Israel depart quietly out of the Land 5 Pharao hardned his heart and refused to let them goe for which he is punished with Nine plagues which are these 1 All the waters of the Land were turned into bloud God gave them bloud to drink for their cruelty towards the Israelitish Infants 2 God punished the land by Froggs 3 By Lice 4 By noysome Flyes 5 Murraine on Beasts and Boyles on Men. 6 By terrible haile thunder and lightning 7 By Locusts 8 By dreadfull darknesse 9 By killing the first Borne Q 3. What became of Israell 1 A. None of those Plagues touched them 2 They goe out of Egypt in hast 3 The Passeover is instituted 4 They come to the Red Sea Q. 4. What did God doe for them there and afterwords 1 He divided the Sea for them and they went on foot through it and the Egyptians following the waters returned and drowned them all 2 He led them by Moses into the Wildernesse and gave them the Law on Mount Sinai and there they having grievously finned by committing Idolatry at Moses his prayer for them are pardoned 3 He commanded them to set up the Tabernacle and gave them Lawes about Sacrifices Q. 5. How were they maintained in the Wildernesse 1 A. God gave them Manna from heaven and water out of a Rock 2 Their shooes add Garments did not weare out for Forty years Q. 6. How did Moses governe such a multitude in the Wildernesse 1 A. He appointed Magistrates and Officers under him by the counsell of his Father in Law 2 God usually appeared to Moses to direct him 3 He had the Oracle of Vrim and Thumim to ask counsell of God by 4 The Lord went along with his people and led them by a cloud by day and by a Pillar of Fire by night LEVITICUS The Question WHy is this booke called Leviticus A. Because it containeth the Lawes and dutyes of the Levites or Ministers of God under the Law before the comming of Christ in the flesh Read often the 26. chapter of this booke NUMBERS Q 1. WHy is this booke called Numbers A. 1. Because all the Males from 20. yeares and upward among the Israelites were numbred in the wildernesse by Moses at Gods command 2. Because Israels murmurings and punishments in the wildernesse are here set downe in order 3. Because their severall stations and removalls in the wildernesse are here numbred Q 2. Which were the great Rebellions of Israel in the wildernes A. Their Rebellions against God against Moses and Aron were many but three of them are most remarkable 1. That of Miriam for which she is punished with leprosy 2. That of all the people upon the returne of the spies out of the land of Canaan 3. That of Corah Dathan and Abiram whom the earth swallowed up and all their company Q 3. What became of Aaron the first high Priest under the Law A He dyed and was buried in the wildernesse and his Sonne Eleazar succeeded him Q 4. What warrs had Israel in the wildernesse A They had warres with the Amalekits and with the Midianites where we have the history of Balaam and of the zeale of Phineas and of a great plague among the Israelits for committing whoredome Q 5. What other memorable things have you in this booke A 1. The 72 Elders prophesyed 2. The brazen Serpent is set up 3. The Levits are numbered and divers cases in law determined as that of Zelophehads daughters 4. Moses is forewarned of his death and his successor is named to wit Ioshua 5. The two Tribes and a halfe obtaine the land on this side Jordan for an inheritance but with this condition to assist the other Tribes till they also could be setled in their inheritances DEUTERONOMY WHat canst thou say of this booke 1. This booke is called Deuteronomy that is to say a second law because it contains a repetition 1. Of lawes formerly given 2. Of mercyes formerly received 2. This booke is full of sweet admonitions and exhortations to Israel to be sincere and constant in Gods worship and service 3. This booke containeth Moses his swan-like song his blessing and prophecy his death and buriall and Iosbua's succession JOSHUAH The Question WHat readest thou in this booke A 1. The history of the warres of Canaan 2. The history of Israels going over Jordan as on dry land the waters giving way to them in a wonderfull manner 3. The Circumcision in Gilgall 4. Christ
The History of the two Disciples going to Emaus on Easter day S. JOHN Q. WHat can you say of S. John 1 A. He was one of the twelve Apostles whom Jesus loved he outlived all the Apostles and dyed a naturall death at Ephesus if we believe the Church History All the rest of the Apostles were killed 2 He begins his Gospell with many arguments to prove that Jesus Christ was God from everlasting coaequall to the Father and to the holy Ghost 3 Most of his Histories are omitted by the other Evangelists as 1 The calling of Nathaniel 2 Christs Miracle at a marriage in Cana. 3 Christs dispute with Nicodemus about regeneration 1 His discourse with the Woman of Sa. maria 5 His healing of a man at the poole of Bethesda that had been 38 years sick 6 His severall disputes with the Jewes about his divine nature and concerning his reall Spirituall sence in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper 7 His raising of Lazarus from the dead 8 His washing of the Disciples feet 9 Christs restoring of Peter to his former place by a threefold confession of him as he had before three times denyed him ACTS Q WHat say you of this Book A. The Penman of the Acts of the Apostles was Luke the chiefe Histories whereof are these 1 Christs ascention into Heaven 2 The election of Matthias to be an Apostle in the roome of Judas the traitour 3 The wonderfull comming of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles on the day of Penticost 4 The healing of a Criple by Peter and John 5 The sad end of Ananias and Sapphyra 6 The Martyrdome of Stephen 7 The miraculous conversion of Paul 8 The conversion of Cornelius by Peter and the conversion of many other Gentiles by Paul as of Lydia Sergius Paulus the Jaylour and others â— The Martyrdome of James the imprisonment and deliverance of Peter by an Angell 9 The woefull end of persecuting Herod who was eaten up alive by wormes for his rage against the Church of Christ 10 Paules travells and great sufferings in diverse places both by Jewes and Gentills 11 His Sermons before Felix Festus and King Agrippa 12 His dangerous Sea-voiage to Rome and his behaviour and conversation there The fourteen EPISTLES of S. Paul Q WHat say you of these Epistles of Paul A. The Apostle Pauls end in his Epistles is 1 To convince men of sin and so of a necessity of Christ the onely Saviour of the world 2 To set forth the unsearcheable riches of Gods free grace in Christ to the world 3 To exhort Christians to thankfulnesse and to the performance of their duties towards God and towards men whether our superiors inferiors or equalls The Epistle of S. JAMES Q. 1. VVHat say you of this Epistle 1 A. This Apostle perswades Christians to shew the truth of Faith by good workes 2 The Doctrine of S. James about justification is not contrary to that of S. Pauls in his Epistles as Luther thought at first For As S. Paul teacheth that it is faith that doth justify us before God so S. Iames shewes what Faith it must be namely not a dead but a living fruitfull faith The First and Second Epistle of PETER Q. WHAT say you of these two Epistles 1 A. These two Epistles are called generall Epistles because they were written not to any particular Nation or Citty or Person as those of Paul but to all Christians whether Jewes or Gentiles 2 In these Epistles the Apostle Peters aime is 1 To exhort Christians to make their calling and election sure 2 To exhort us to discharge our duties to God and Man 2 To forewarne us of damnable heresies and false teachers that would trouble Gods Church in the latter times of the world The three EPISTLES of Iohn Q WHat can you say of these A The Apostle Iohn's drift and aime in these three Epistles is 1 To commend unto us the deare love of God in Jesus Christ to his Chosen people 2 To perswade us to Love God againe 3 To assure us that true Love to God doth appeare by our true love to the Bretheren 4 He commends the Noble Lady of Asia for her Piety and Charity 5 He commends one Gajus a charitable harbourer and reliever of persecuted Christians in those dayes 6 He sharply censureth one Diotrephes for ambition and pride loving the preheminence seeking his own Glory more then the Glory of Christ and the honour of the Gospell The Epistle of JUDE WHat canst thou say of this Epistle 1 A The Apostle exhorts Christians to constancy in Faith once received 2 He describeth the evil manners and dangerous opinions of Apostates and Heretiques in the lattter time of the world The APOCALYPS or REVELATION of S. Iohn Q VVHat can you say of Iohns Revelation 1 A S. Iohn for Religion was banished by the Emperour Domitian into a solitary Iland there Jesus Christ appeared to him and by his Angell revealed to him what should befall the Church of God tothe end of the world 2 The three first Chapters are historicall relating the history of the seven Churches of Asia 3 The whole booke is very Mysterious containing visions and very obscure things Yet a specialll blessing is Promised to the carefull reading and meditation of it Chap. 1.3 4 In this booke is told of 1 The evils that should befall Gods Church under Antichrist 2 The rise and fall of Antichrist or Pope of Rome 3 A description of the day of judgement of the Resurrection and of the heavenly Jerusalem and of Gods peoples earnest expectation and longing for the comming of Jesus Christ in glory To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all Glory Praise and Thanks-giving for ever and ever AMEN A Prayer for Young People Mornings and Evenings 1. O Most Holy Lord God Creator of Heaven and Earth my mercifull Father in Jesus Christ Thou art light it selfe I am by nature darknesse it selfe dead in sinnes and trespasses Spiritually blind and poore naked and miserable not able of my selfe to have a good thought much lesse to doe one God-pleasing worke worse then the beasts that perish For I am guilty of the first sinne of our first parents in Paradise I was conceived and borne in sinne and have lived in finne to this day I have not kept one of thy holy lawes I have not prized the Gospell of Salvation neither have thy mercies or visitations kindly wrought upon mee I have omitted holy duties and I have committed many evills in thy fight O Lord God so have deserved a thousand waies to be cast out into utter darknesse to have my portion in Hell with the damned for ever Oh that I could bewaile my sins and mourne in secret bitterly for them as I should O Lord I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes miserable wretch that I am who shall deliver mee from the body of this death 2. O Lord God thou hast sent thy deare Sonne Jesus into the World to save