the experience of senses nor relyeth upon strength of reason but upon the power and authority of God who can neither deceive nor ever be deceived Q. Why is it called the Apostles Creed A. To distinguish it from the other two Creeds used in the Church Liturgie viz. St. Athanasius his Creed and the Nicene Creed as also from all other Confessions of Faith as that of Calcedon c. Q. Were the Apostles then the Composers of this Creed as St. Athanasius was of his and the Nicene Fathers were of theirs Or was it gathered out of their Writings only as agreeable to their Doctrine A. The Apostles themselves were the Composers of it Q. At what time did the Apostles compose their Creed A. When they were all together at Jerusalem filled with the Holy Ghost before they dispersed themselves abroad to preach the Gospel to several Nations then they agreed upon this as the common Subject and Rule of all their Preaching that there might be no difference in their Doctrines after their departures one from another Anno Domini Christi 44. Anno Imperatoris Claudij 2. July 15. Q. Was it composed by them all together and delivered as the common result of their joynt determination like the Decrees of a General Council or did every several Apostle deliver his own particular Dictate in it and so every one give in his Article A. It is an antient and received Tradition that every one of the Apostles composed his several Article and therefore they are twelve Articles according to the number of the twelve Apostles Q. Can you tell me which Article was made by each particular Apostle A. Yes according to the Tradition St. Peter gave in the first I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth St. Andrew the second And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. St. John the Evangelist the third Which was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary St. James the Son of Zebedee the fourth Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified Dead and Buried St. Thomas the fifth He descended into Hell the third day he rose again from the Dead St. James the Son of Alpheus the sixth He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty St. Philip the seventh From thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead St. Bartholomew the eighth I believe in the Holy Ghost St. Matthew the ninth The Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints St. Simon the tenth The Remission of Sins St. Judas Thaddeus the eleventh The Resurrection of the Body St. Matthias the twelfth The life everlasting Q. Is there any probability of truth in this Tradition A. There is first the like probability that is in other Ecclesiastical Traditions in that it hath been delivered to us by Godly men who of their piety were not willing and in policy could have no reason to deceive us with a false story Then again this is plainly intimated in that Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and from thence the Latin word Symbolum which signifieth a Shot a Collation or Contribution and implyeth that every particular Apostle conferred his several Article to the whole Sum and Reckoning of the Creed Q. But hath not the Word divers other significations A. Yes And very fitly answering to the Creed As when it is called an Agreement it signifieth that it was consented to by all Sometimes it is a watch word a signal or mark of distinction by which a man may know his fellow-souldier from his enemy And so it is the badge of our Profession by which you may know the difference between a Christian and an Infidel as a Souldier is known in the field as well by the Word as by his Coat and his Colors Yet the first sense as it is a Contribution or Share or Shot is as proper as any and seemeth most to be warranted by the Derivation and Etymologie of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à conjiciendo from casting together or adding one thing to another Q. Why is it called Creed A. Creed is of the first word in Latin Credo to believe So that to say our Creed is to say our Belief that is that which is to be believed Q. Is it sufficient for a Christian man to believe those things only that are contained in the Apostles Creed A. Those things especially are the first and immediate object of our Faith and are to be believed in express terms But also with those we must believe the Canonical Scriptures out of which they may be proved and the expositions and right consequences drawn by the Church from them both and also the other Orthodox and Catholick Confessions of Faith as the Creeds of St. Athanasius Nice and Chalcedon And also those Traditions which we have received by faithful hands from the Apostles As that these and none other are Canonical Scriptures That the Jews Sabbath which was on the last day of the week to wit on Saturday is changed into our Lords-day or Sunday That the power of Governing the Church and Imposition of hands belongs to the Bishops and such like that are agreeable to the Articles of our Creed Q. But is not this to make new Articles of Faith No. These are but explanations of and deductions from the Apostles Creed As the Nicene Athanasian and Chalcedon Creeds are not new ones or other Creeds but the expositions of the old one And concerning those aforenamed Traditions 1. When I know this Creed is agreable to and to be proved by the Canonical Scriptures then I must believe that to be the Scripture which the Church by Tradition commendeth unto us for the same 2. Again When I believe there is a God and that he is to be worshipped and so that some time is to be set a part for his service then I am easily induced to believe that This day that is the Lords-day is the fittest standing time which was first begun by our Saviours Resurrection and seconded by his appearing to his Disciples confirmed by the coming of the Holy Ghost and by the meetings of the Apostles and continued unto our time by the practice of the whole Church 3. Lastly When as I believe the Holy Catholick Church to be a Communion of Saints a company of faithful people then it easily followeth in my perswasion That our Saviour Christ who is the God of order left not this Society in confusion for every man to do and teach when and what he listeth as though all Christians upon their Baptism had presently power given them to Govern Teach and Ordain in the Church as they should see occasion But that our Saviour left this power to his Apostles and they left their Authority to set things in order that should be wanting in the Church upon emergent occasions and to Ordain Priests in every City not to all Christians nay nor to all Priests but to some particular men as to St. Timothy at
Baptism A. No. I being by nature born in sin and the child of wrath was thereby made the child of Grace Q. Are all they that are Baptised partakers of Grace and so in the state of Salvation A. Yes This is plain because they are thereby made the members of Christ the children of God and the inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven and so there is no condemnation to them are thus in Christ Jesus so long as they walk not after the flesh but after the spirit that is till they commit some actual sin Q. Did you undertake nothing when you â—ad this grace bestowed upon you in Baptism A. Yes For Baptism is the answer of a good conscience towards God 1 S. Pet. 3.21 It is a mutual Stipulation wherein there must be a promise made on both sides Q. What did you then promise to God A. I promised and vowed three things 1. That I should forsake the Devil and all his works the pomps and vanities of the wicked world and all the sinful 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 Commandments and walk in the same all the days of my life Q. Did you make this promise then A. Yes Q. How could that be possible when as you knew not any thing that was then done A. I promised and vowed this by my Godfathers and Godmothers Q. Was it your promise then that they made at your Baptism A. Yes Q. How cometh this to pass A. Because they promised and vowed for me in my name and therefore I must be supposed to have made that promise and vow my self though not with my own mouth yet with the mouth of my Proxies and Sureties who did not then so much engage themselves that I should hereafter do it as speak in my stead by way of substitution representing my voice and taking upon them an Obligation for me whom they then personated and acted Q Do you think then that you are bound to do and to believe as they have promised for you A. Yes verily or else I must solemnly disclaim and renounce and really and effectually forfeit all my part in the grace of God and the benefit of Baptism Q. Will you therefore take that charge upon your self A. Yes I will and I do freely acknowledge the engagement to be mine since which my Godfathers and Godmothers undertook for me at Baptism Q. Do you think that you received any great benefit at Gods hand then in Baptism A. Yes and hereupon I bow my knees unto God and heartily thank our Heavenly Father as for all outward and temporal things because in him I live and move and have my natural being so much more for that he hath called me to this state of Salvation and hath made me the member of Christ the child of God and an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven Q What moved God to be so good and gracious to you A. No worth nor merit nor desert in me but only his own love and mercy towards me in by and through Jesus Christ our Saviour Q. Do you think that you are able to perform this vow and promise that you have undertaken A. Not that I am sufficient of my self to think any thing of my self but my sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3.5 And it is he that worketh in me to will and to do Phil. 2.17 and so his grace is sufficient for me and by his help I can and will do all things through Christ that strengthneth me Phil 4.13 Q. How will you attain Gods help and find grace in time of need A. I will pray without ceasing unto God to give me his grace his preventing and his following or co-operating grace that I may not only begin but also grow in grace and continue in the same unto my lives end Q. What if a man do not perform these conditions A. Then his state will be worse than theirs that are not Baptised because he hath not only disobeyed Gods Commandments and done those things that in themselves are evil and unjust but also he hath broken his Oath Promise and Covenant with God therefore his condemnation shall be the greater Q. But is not sin to be forgiven that is committed after Baptism A. Yes If a man can repent God will forgive any sin at any time yet a man is not so renewed by penance afterwards as he was at Baptism For Baptism taketh away sin whether it be Original as in children or both Original and Actual as in men of age that are Baptised according to both the guilt and the punishment except only Concupiscence or natural corruption which is the punishment of Original sin But repentance after Baptism taketh away indeed the guilt of sin and so the final condemnation yet not always the temporal punishment which sometimes must be suffered as Gods correction sometimes may be prevented or mittigated by Praying Fasting Alms and Corporal afflictions Q. How shall a man do to perform the first part ef his Promise which is to forsake the the Devil and all his works the pomps and vanities of this wicked world and all the sinful lusts of the flesh A. That is done at first in the very act of abhorring abjuring renouncing and forsaking the Devil the World and the Flesh and resolving then against them in Baptism But the performance is afterward compleated and perfected by keeping the other two parts of a mans promise in the continued acts of Faith and Obedience And this I conceive to be the reason why the Church in her Catechism repeateth nothing of this part of our promise after the mention of it in Baptism but only tells us of the act of renouncing and presumeth that it is not or if men do their duty need not be reiterated but by the performance of the other two which being carefully observed sin cannot reign in our mortal bodies that we should obey it in the lusts thereof or follow it and be led by it OF THE CREED Q. VVHat do you mean by the Articles of the Christian Faith A. I mean the Apostles Creed Q. Why are they called Articles A. Articulus is the diminutive of Artus and it signifieth a little Joynt Lim or Member and therefore they are called Articles because they are the Joynts and Members of our Faith containing all the particulars thereof that are necessary to Salvation For as the Members of the Body are distinguished by Joynts so in the Confession of Faith whatsoever is to be believed distinctly and severally by it self in difference to another point is rightly and fitly called an Article Q. What is Faith A. Faith is a gift of God and a light whereby man being illuminated doth conceive firmly assent and cleave unto those things which the consent and authority of the holy Church proveth to be revealed and delivered to us by God in holy Scripture Faith respecteth not the order of Nature nor trusteth
was ever a necessary instruction and belief of certain points had by word of mouth and Tradition before men came to the Scriptures which could not treat of things so particularly in any one place as was requisite for the teaching of all necessary grounds And the points instanced in there are The foundation of Repentance from dead works this was the Doctrine of Penance before Baptism and of Faith towards God which was the twelve Articles contained in the Apostles Creed The Doctrine of Baptismes that is the manner and necessity of Baptism Imposition of hands after Baptism called Confirmation The Articles of the Resurrection Judgment and such like without which things first laid if one should be sent to pick his Faith out of the Scriptures he must Read much to do it and perhaps he would be at last very far to seek So then the Church Catechism is to be taken of us as the sum of Christian Religion gathered ready to our hands out of the Holy Scriptures by the Church that contains all things necessary for us to know and consists of Propositions in number but few yet in substance of such moment that they are sufficient to make a man wise unto Salvation in which howsoever Learned Men may go beyond common Christians and exceed one another by many degrees yet if we respect the Radical Truths that are the necessary and common instruction of all the Children of the Church there is not an Vnity only but such a kind of equality also brought in among all sorts of Christians as was heretofore among the Israelites in their collection of Manna where he that gathered much had nothing over and he that gathered little had no lack Exodus 16.51 18. 2 Cor. 18. Now the Catechism begins with our Matriculation our initiation or entrance into the Church when we give up our Name to Christ and take a new Name from Him So the first Question that is used is What is your Name Catechetical QUESTIONS CONFORMED To the DOCTRINE of the CHURCH of ENGLAND Of Names Q WHat is your Name A. N. or M. Q. What is the use of Names A. To distinguish or note the difference between one thing and another Q. By how many Names are you usually called A. By my Christian-name and my Sir-name Q. Why is it called your Christian-name A. Christian is of Christ because it sheweth my entrance into Christ which giveth me my Being in Grace Q. Why is the other called your Sir-name A. Sir-name is of Sire a Father because it signifieth my descent and succession from my Father which under God gave me my Being in Nature Q. Whenas Nature is before Grace and we have our Sir-names from our Fathers before we have our Christian-names from Christ why then is the Christian-name set before the Sir-name A. To shew the dignity and excellency of the state of Grace above the condition of Nature Q Why doth the Catechism begin with asking of your Name A. Because my Christian-name sheweth the difference between me and an Infidel and is the remembrance of my initiation or entrance into the Church and it is the badge of my Christian profession by which it is fit that I shew unto the Catechist who I am and that I am a member of the Church before he deal with me in the nstruction of Religion Q. Who gave you your Name A. My Godfathers and my Godmothers Q. Why are they called Godfathers and Godmothers A. Because they present me to God in Baptism which is the Sacrament of Regeneration whereby I was born again unto God Q. What is the special use of Godfathers and Godmothers in Baptism A. Godfathers and Godmothers in Baptism 1. Are Witnesses of that which is done 2. They are Sureties for performance of that which is to be done Q. Of what did they bear witness that is done A. They did bear witness first and especially that I was born within the Church of believing Parents that are Christs and Abrahams seed according to promise Gal. 2.29 and so partakers of the Covenant that God made with Abraham to be a God unto him and to his seed Gen. 17.7 Not to that only which is of the Law but to that also which is of the Faith of Abraham who is the Father of us all Rom. 4.15 And therefore that I had a right to be admitted to the Sacrament of Baptism Q. But is not the Parents affirming of the same and their profession of their Faith a better evidence of this than the witness of Godfathers and Godmothers A. I answer That Children are brought to Baptism not as the children of this or that particular man but as children of the Church that is as the children of Christian men or Believers And to prove this the testimony of three or four Christian men of known Faith and Credit when in the mouth of so many Witnesses every word is established is better evidence than the bare report or profession of the Parents being interessed in that report as parties especially there being many men that are not able to give an explicit account of their Faith though nevertheless they be true members of the Church and believe rightly those things that are necessary to Salvation Q. Of what else are your Godfathers and Godmothers Witnesses A. They are Witnesses also of the publick act of the Priest and of my being received into the Church Q. But may not the whole Congregation be witness of this also A. They may Yet they that are called on purpose and are paritcularly concerned in it would likely be surer and properer Witnesses if there should be any question of it Q. Of what are Godfathers and Godmothers Sureties A. They are Sureties but as my Proxies for I did engage by them as Sureties for my doing of those duties which I am bound to perform Q. But why are not the Parents rather to give in this Security than the Godfathers and Godmothers A. The Parents are not enjoyned by the Church at Baptism to look to their childrens education because they are bound to do the same otherwise namely by the Law of God and Nature Q. If the Parents are bound to do it what need the Godfathers and Godmothers be Sureties for it A. Yes there is need of them for the greater Security As in a Bond at the Common Law the Principal is bound in duty to pay the debt yet the Sureties are brought in to engage themselves for the same by contract and promise to secure the payment in case the Principal should be negligent of his duty or be hindred by some casualty or be prevented by death Q. When did your Godfathers and Godmothers give you your Name A. In Baptism Q. What is Baptism A. Baptism is the Sacrament of Regeneration wherein I was made the member of Christ the child of God and an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven Q. Were you not the child of God the member of Christ and an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven before
eternal happiness of the eight Beatitudes Q. Which be the five Senses A. 1. Seeing 2. Hearing 3. Touching 4. Tasting 5. Smelling Q. Which are the four Cardinal Moraâ— Virtues A 1. Prudence 2. Justice 3. Fortitude 4. Temperance Q. Which be the three Theological Virtues A. 1 Faith 2. Hope 3. Charity Q. What be the seven guifts of the Holy Ghost A. 1. Wisdom 2. Understanding 3. Counsel 4. Fortitude 5. Knowledge 6. Godliness 7. The Fear of the Lord. Q. Which be the twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost A. 1. Love 2. Joy 3. Peace 4. Patience 5. Benignity 6. Goodness 7. Longanimity 8. Mildness 9. Faith 10. Modesty 11. Continence 12. Chastity Q. Which be the three kinds of Good Works A. 1. Alms. 2. Prayer 3. Fasting Q. What be the seven works of Corporal Mercy A. 1. To feed the hungry 2. To give drink to the thirsty 3. To cloath the naked 4. To visit and redeem the Captives 5. To harbour the harbourless 6. To visit the sick 7. To bury the dead Q. What be the seven works of Spirituaâ— Mercy A. 1. To correct the sinner 2. To instruct the ignorant 3. To counsel the doubtful 4. To comfort the sorrowful 5. To take wrongs patiently 6. To forgive wrongs willingly 7. To pray for all men Q. What be the Offices of Christian Justice A. 1. To decline all evil 2. To do all good Q. VVhich be the eight Beatitudes A. 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven St. Mat. 5. 2. Blessed are the meek For they shall possess the earth 3. Blessed are they that mourn For they shall be comforted 4. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness For they shall be filled 5. Blessed are the merciful For they shall find mercy 6. Blessed are the clean in heart For they shall see God 7. Blessed are the Peace-makers For they shall be called the Sons of God 8. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousness sake For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Q. VVho are the persons sanctified by the Holy Ghost A. In one word they are the Church Q. VVhat is the Church A. The Church is a visible company of Christs faithful people for whom He the Son of God taking upon Him the Nature of Man did and suffered all things necessary to their Salvation Q. VVhat do you observe in your Creed concerning the Church A. 1. Her Being that there is a Church 2. Her Proprieties 3. Her Priviledges Q. What are the Prproieties of the Church A. 1. One 2. Holy 3. Catholick 4. Apostolick 5. A Communion of Saints Q. VVhat are the Priviledges of the Church A. 1. Concerning the Soul Forgiveness of Sins 2. Concerning the body Resurrection of the Body 3. Concerning both Body and Soul Life Everlasting Q. What needs this be an Article of your Christian Faith that the Church hath a being For do not all Jews Turks and Infidels c. believe that there is a Church A. They believe that there is such a Sect of Christians in the world as we call the Church But they believe it not to have such means of Salvation such saving truth in the Word such efficacy in the Sacraments such power of binding and loosing such proprieties and priviledges as I believe to be in the Church Q. VVhat is the first propriety of the Church A. To be one Q. How do you say the Church is but One A. The whole multitude of Believers dispersed far and wide over the whole world is but One Collective Mystical Body of our Lord Jesus Christ Therefore I say I believe the Church Not Churches in the plural number but in the singular number One Church as it is intimated in the Apostles Creed and expressed in the Nicene Creed And so it is written There is One Body and One Spirit even as you are called in One hope of your calling One Lord One Faith One Baptism One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in us all Eph. 4.4 5 6. As it is but One Body so it hath but One Head One Supream invisible Rector or Governor even Christ Jesus our Lord whom the Father hath given to be Head of the Church which is His Body Eph. 1.22 23. Thus the Church is but One because She teacheth in all places and at all times one and the same Doctrine of Faith Administreth the same Sacraments is guided by the same Spirit and hath the same invisible Head And so the particular Members though they cannot be all together in one place ought to be of one mind and endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Q. What is the second Propriety of the Church A. She is Holy Q. How is the Church said to be Holy A. First As all things consecrated and set a part for Religious uses are said to be holy so all the Faithful are holy that have dedicated themselves and given up their names in Baptism unto Christ And so then again In Him the Church is holy as a Body that is joyned to an holy Head from Whom as from the Fountain of all holiness the Graces of the Holy Ghost and the Riches of the goodness of the Father are diffused and derived Lastly She is Holy because of the Holy Word that is Preached the Holy Sacraments that are Administred the Holy Service that is performed and the Holy Lives that are practised in the Church Q. VVhy is She called Catholick A. Catholick is as much as General and Universal and then therefore She is called Catholick because being dispersed throughout the whole world She doth in Her Motherly bosome receive embrace and safe-keep all persons of all times places and Nations so that they be of one mind and consent in the Faith and Doctrine of Christ Q VVhy is the Church called Apostolick A. This was added by the Fathers of Nice and Constantinople to prove the Church truly Catholick in that the Doctrine thereof which all men of former ages in all Nations had received and all for the present and hereafter are bound to stand to as received from the very Apostles themselves and from their writings Q. VVhy is the Church called the Communion of Saints A. 1. In respect of Christ the Head in whose benefits every Member hath a common interest in that He took upon Him the Nature of Man not of this or that particular but of all in general and so for all men that believe in Him He effectually suffered all things necessary for their Salvation 2. In regard of the society of all the Elect people of God all the faithful Members of the Church both Militant and Triumphant that have been are or shall be in all times and in all places who hold an inseparable Communion and Unity among themselves as Members of one and the self same body and do help and assist one another with mutual acts of mercy and all good works among whom there is
a common Foundation a Communion in unity of Faith in consent of Doctrine in conformable use of Sacraments in Common-prayers Thanksgiving made mutually one for another in a true serious and faithful endeavour for the Peace and Unity of the Church amongst all the dissentions errors and divisions of Hereticks and Schismaticks and out of this Church and without this Communion there is no Salvation Q. But do you then exclude from Salvation all Vnbelievers and Misbelievers Infidels Hereticks Schismaticks Excommunicate Persons c. A. Yes Infidels Jews Turks c. that never were in the Church Hereticks that have forsaken or corrupted the Faith that was once delivered to the Saints Schismaticks that have divided themselves and Excommunicate Persons that are cut off from the Communion of the Church without Reconciliation cannot be saved For most certain is that Rule of St. Cyprian de simp prae and of St. Augustine de symb ad Cate. cap. 13. He shall not have God to be his Father that will not have the Church to be his Mother Q. VVhat do you think of Hypocrites and wicked persons that are within the Church A. I may say of them that to God they are not of the Church and if their folly shall once be made manifest they ought not to be in the Church Yet so long as their hypocrisie and wickedness lieth hid to us and they partake with us in the outward Profession of Faith and Communion of the Church we must in the judgment of Charity take all things in the best sense and esteem them as Members of the Church and if they stand or fall let it be to their own Master Q. What is the first priviledge of the Church A. Remission of Sins Q. How many kinds of Sins are there A. Sin is 1. Original 2. Actual Q. What is Original Sin A. Original Sin is the corruption and naughtiness of Nature derived from Adam to all his Children and so by propagation brought down to us by which we come to be born in Sin drawn from our Parents that were Sinners And this naughtiness of Nature first depriveth us of Original Righteousness then it maketh us to break forth into Actual Sin causing us as Naturally prone to transgress the Law of God to become by our own Act Sinners of our selves in our own persons Q. Who was the cause of Original Sin A. Adam and Eve our first Parents Q. What was their first sin A. The pride of their hearts in desiring to be as God and the disobedience of their actions in eating the forbidden fruit contrary to Gods commandment Q. Do you mean then that Adams Actual sin was the cause of our Original sin A. Yes For Adam being the whole species of Man and all Mankind in one person sinned not as a single Man only but as all Mankind and so by his one act made all his posterity guilty of that sin Q. What is Actual sin A Actual sin is the transgression of the Law Q. How many kinds are there of Actual sins A. Actual sin is distinguished by a two-fold difference 1. In respect of the guilt crime offence or fault some are lesser and some are greater sins 2. In respect of the Actors or persons that commit them some are our own and some are aliene and other mens sins Q. What do you mean by lesser sin A. Some call them Venial yet they bring a guilt upon us and danger of punishment too though that guilt be not much and the pardon of it may be easily obtained at Gods hand Q. But are there any sins that are Venial A. No. None are Venial in their own nature but the very least sin in strictness of Justice is worthy of death Onely I say there are some that are lesser sins for which God of His great patience and mercy is not always chiding us as Psal 103.9 but is willing to pass them over upon our general repentance and our performance of good works of Alms Prayer Fasting and other works of Corporal and Spiritual Mercy Such are the sins of ignorance inadvertency inconsideration sudden irreption c. Q. What do you call the greater sins A. The greater sins are such as separate us from God and are cause of eternal death Q. How many kinds are there of greater sins A. Of these there be three kinds 1. The seven Capital sins commonly called Deadly sins 2. The four Crying sins 3. The six sins against the Holy Ghost Q. Which are the seven Capital on Deadly sins A. 1. Pride 2. Coveteousness 3. Lechery or Lust 4. Envy 5. Gluttony 6. Anger 7. Sloath. And to these there are opposed seven contrary virtues 1. Humility 2. Liberality 3. Chastity 4. Meekness 5. Abstinence 6. Patience 7. Devotion or Godly Diligence Q VVhy are they called Capital sins A. Because they are every one of them the Heads and Fountains of other sins springing from them and contained in them Q. VVhat are the sins of Pride A. Presumption Pertinacy or Stubbornness Hypocrisie Boasting Ingratitude Scorn or contempt of others Disobedience Ambition Curiosity Q. VVhat are the sins of Coveteousness A. Treachery Fraud Deceit Unquietness Perjury Sacriledge Theft Usury Simonie Violence Inhumanity or Unmercifulness Hardness of heart Q. VVhat are the sins of Lechery or Lusts A. Fornication Adultery Rape Incest Sodomie Uncleanness Wantonness Filthy Communication c. Q. VVhat are the sins of envy A. Detraction Discord Hatred Whispering Back-biting Repining at another mans prosperity Rejoycing at another mans Adversity Malice Rancour c. Q. VVhat are the sins of Gluttony A. Surfetting Drunkenness Dulness Drousiness Rudeness Scurrility Prodigality Loquacity Q. VVhat are the sins of Anger A. Impatience Cursing Blasphemy Reproaching Swelling Quarrelling Brawling Clamouring Revenge Despair c. Q. VVhat are the sins of Sloath A. Slackness and sadness about Spiritual matters Weariness Dulness Idleness in doing Duties of Religion Negligence Omission or leaving undone those things which ought to be done Pusillanimity or Faintheartedness Lukewarmness Unsetledness Wandering of the mind Weakness Coldness Diffidence Desparation Q. VVhich be the four Crying sins A. 1. Wilful Murder 2. Oppression of the Widdows and Fatherless and Strangers 3. The sin of Sodom 4. Defrauding the Labourers of their Wages Q. VVhat are the six sins against the Holy Ghost A. 1. Presumption of Gods Mercy 2. Despair 3. Impugning known Truth more freely to sin 4. Envying another mans Spiritual good 5. Obstinacy in sin 6. To die without Repentance Q. VVhat do you mean by Aliene or other mens sins A. Those sins which one man commits and another Man is guilty of by being accessary some way or other to it Q. How can one man be guilty of another mans sins A. Nine ways As 1. By Counsel 2. By Commanding 3. By Consent 4. By Provocation 5. By Praising or Flattery 7. By By Silence 7. By Indulgence or winking at it 8. By partaking in the fault 9. By wicked defending and maintaining of the same Q. Is there Remission of these
sins in the Church A. Yes If there be Faith and Repentance Q. VVhy then is the sin against the Holy Ghost not to be forgiven A. Because it is always accompanied with Despair Obstinacy and Impenitency Q. How is Original sin Remitted A. By the Sacrament of Baptism Q. How is Actual sin Remitted A. By Repentance and Faith in Gods merciful and gracious forgiveness for and through the Satisfaction of our Saviour Jesus Christ exhibited in the Sacraments Administred by the Priests So that in Remission or Forgiveness of sins we are to consider 1. The Causes of this Forgiveness without us 2. The Conditions required thereunto within us The Principal Cause is Gods mere Grace and Mercy promised in the Word The Meritorious Cause is the Satisfaction of Christ The Instrumental Cause is the Sacraments The Ministerial Cause applying the actual Absolution is the Priest The Conditions required in us are Faith and Repentance and new Obedience Q. VVhat is the next Priviledge of the Church A. The Resurrection of the Body Q. VVhy is it said the Resurrection of â—he Body only and not the whole Man A. Because the Soul is immortal â—nd the Body only dieth therefore the Body only shall be raised again Q. But shall not Body and Soul be reâ—nited and joyned together again at the Reâ—urrection A. Yes And shall never be parted â—gain but shall enjoy everlasting bliss â—r misery together Q. VVhat is the last Priviledge of the â—hurch A. Life everlasting Q. Do not the wicked rise to everlasting â—…ath A. Yes Q. VVhy is not that mentioned in the Aâ—â—stles Creed A. Because it speaketh expresly onâ—â— of the Priviledges of them that are â—embers of the Church who are presuâ—ed to be Heirs of Salvation And yet by a necessarry consequence it intimateth and implyeth the eternal Death of the wicked too For if the Members of the Church that perform the Conditions of Repentance and Faith and Obedience be saved then they that are not of the Church and do not perform those Conditions must be damned Q. Are all men bound to say Amen to this Creed and believe all the Articles thereof n necessary as Salvation A. Yes Whosoever will be saved he must hold this Catholick Faith which unless he keep whole and undefiled without doubt he shall perish everlastingly Q. How if some men do not explicitly understand and so cannot believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith A. All men are bound so far to believe them as to receive them in the sense of the Church and not to discent from them nor contradict them when they more fully and plainly understand them THE COMMANDMENTS The Preface Q. VVHat is the third thing that your Godfathers and Godmothers promised for you in Baptism A. That I should keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of my life Q. How many Commandments be there A. Ten. Q. Which be they A. The same which God spake in twentieth Chapter of Exodus saying I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt out of the house of Bondage Thou shalt have no other Gods but Me. Q. Which is the first Commandment A. Thou shalt have none other God but Me. Q. Are not the words going before these viz. I am the Lord thy God c. a Commandment A. No. They are a Proeme or Preface to all the Commandments Q To what purpose is this Preface set before the Commandments A. To shew and prove by Arguments and good Reasons that God is worthy to give these Commandments and impose this Charge upon His people and that they are bound to obey Him therein Q. How many Arguments or Reasons to this purpose can you gather out of that Preface A. Three 1. Taken from the Consideration of Gods absolute Being in Himself of infinite Majesty Power and Authority I am the Lord. 2. Taken from His Relation to the people in regard of the mutual Stipulaâ—ion Covenant and Agreement that was between them in that He was Their God 3. Taken from an act of special providence in a great deliverance that He wrought for them lately I brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt which was the house of Bondage Q. These are Arguments indeed to the people of Israel to whom God gave these Commandments Exod. 20. but what are they to us A. These Arguments are of as much force to us as to the Children of Israel For First The Lord Jehovah is His name in the Original which signifies His Eternal Being is the same yesterday and to day and for ever One Lord both to them and us and hath the same power over us that He had over them Secondly He is our God as well as theirs God to us by the same Stipulation in Baptism which they entered with Him in Circumcision their Sacrament and ours being the same in their Ends and Use and differing only in the Ceremony and signification of Time So He is a God as gracious and as good to us as He was to them and hath obliged us upon the like Conditions Thirdly As He was with them to bring them out of the Land of Aegypt which was the house of Bondage So He is with us in all our troubles to deliver us out of all And therefore we ought to keep these Commandments as well as they not only because they are in themselves holy and just and good but also because they are His Commandments who is the Lord our God And the substance of them is Commanded in the Gospel and made part of the second Covenant Q What is the Substance of the first Commandment A. To know the Substance Sence and Meaning of every Commandment it is best to consider what is commanded and what is forbidden in the same Q. What is taught in the first Commandment A. To acknowledge One only True Eternal Infinite Lord God to Pray and to give Thanks unto Him to believe and put our trust in Him with all our hearts and all our souls to observe honor and worship him Q What is forbidden in this Commandment A. Atheism Polytheism Idolatry Superstitious observation and use of Art-migicks and Divination Q. What is required in the second Commandment A. Bodily Worship and outward Ministry by vocal Prayer and Thanksgiving by Bowing Kneeling Standing and all actions and gestures of Zeal Order Reverence and Decency to be used in the external Service of God Q. Where do you find these in this Commandment A. In that they are forbidden to be done to Idols in bowing down and worshipping and serving them they are plainly intimated that they ought of duty to be done to God Q. What is prohibited in this Commandment A. Idolatry and Superstition and irreverence and disorder in Gods Service Q What is enjoyned in the third Commandment A. Reverence of Gods Name Word and Works swearing in Judgment Justice and Truth and keeping of our Oaths Q. What is forbidden in the third Commandment A. Blasphemy
Are you able now to do all those things that are necessarily required and to walk in the Commandments of God and to observe them as you ought to do A. No. Not of my self in all points and at all times as in strictness I ought to do yet I may being assisted by Gods help perform and keep them so far as that God may graciously accept of it Q. Did ever any man keep all these Commandments in all points at any time or any of them perfectly at all times A. No. No man ever kept all of them at any time perfectly according to the parts nor any one of them at all times according to the degree of obedience that is required except our Saviour Christ who alone did all things well who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth 1. St. Pet. 2.22 Q. How do you mean then that it is any way possible to keep Gods Commandments A. In a word For the possibility of keeping Gods Commandments to us that are in Christ for without Him we can do nothing there must necessarily concurre with our true endeavours the grace of Gods assistance helping our infirmities and so we may be able to do something and the grace of Gods acceptation not weighing our merits but pardoning our offences and so we may be able to do what is sufficient Q. How may a man come by this grace of assistance and acceptation A. He must call to God for it by continual Prayer Q. What is the most absolute and best form of Prayer A. That which is taught us by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ called The Lords Prayer THE LORDS PRAYER Our Father c. Q. VVHat do you chiefly observe in the Lords Prayer A. 1. A Proeme or Preface 2. The Petitions 3. The Conclusion Q. What is contained in the Preface A. The Person to whom we Pray to wit God in whom we believe and whom we are to obey described 1. By His relation to us that He is a Father and in this we have Faith that He Will 2. By His Habitation that He is in Heaven and by this we have hope He is able to help us And 3. By the Common interest that we all have in Him in that He is Ours and by this we have Charity and pray with others and for others as well as for our selves Q. How is God said to be our Father here A. By Adoption in and through Christ and so He is Ours that is all ours who are Christians who all in the judgment and exercise of Charity are to be taken and used as the children of God Q. But is not God in all places A. Yes Q. Why then do you call upon Him as limited and circumscribed in Heaven A. God is said to be in Heaven not because He is there limited or confined by the bounds of that place but because Heaven is the Throne of His Majesty the place of His most glorious Residence in which He is by a more special and eminent presence than in any other Q. May we pray to none but God A. No. To none but God as the chief Author and Giver of what we pray for Q. But may we not pray to one another A. Yes We may pray to them with whom we live and converse for any thing thing wherein they can assist us as subordinate means and instruments in and under God Q. But may we not pray to the Saints departed A. No. Q. But are not they more able and ready to help us in their Prayers to God for us being of the Church Triumphant than any of the Church Militant A. Yes no doubt Q. Why then may we not pray to them to pray for us as we do for one another here on earth A. 1. Because we have no warrant in Gods Word for our so doing 2. Because we are not assured that they hear us as we do one another to whom we speak face to face Q. How many Petitions are there in the Lords Prayer A. Seven To some of which all Manners and Forms of Prayers ought to be referred Q. What do you desire in the first Petition Hollowed be thy Name A. That Gods Honor and Glory may be preferred and advanced above all things That the Confession and Practice of Faith Hope and Charity and holy Conversation of Christian Life may so shew forth their power and force in us that others beholding the same may take occasion to praise God in our behalfe when we make our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorifie our Father that is in Heaven Q. What do you ask of God in the second Petition Thy Kingdom come A. 1. That Gods Kingdom of Power and Grace may come that Christ may reign in the Church and that the Church may be propagated over the whole world 2. That also His Kingdom of Glory may come that in this the Church may reign with Christ for ever That it may please God of His gracious goodness shortly to accomplish the Number of His Elect and to hasten His Kingdom that we and all they who are departed in the true Faith of His Holy Name may have one perfect consummation and bliss both in body and soul in His Eternal and everlasting Glory Q. What is the substance of the third Petition Thy Will be done A. That we upon Earth though weak and but of small power may exhibit and yeild unto Almighty God exact and perfect Obedience according to all the parts and degrees that are required in our duties such as the Angels and Saints do in Heaven desiring nothing so much as that we may chearfully submit our selves to His good pleasure both in Prosperity and Adversity and renouncing our own wills which are prone to evil we may rest and settle our minds in the Will of God Q What is the meaning of the fourth Petition Give us this day our Daily Bread A. That God may send us all things which be needful both for the body and soul in giving us bread that is corporal the food of the body that we may have bread to eat and clothes to put on and all outward things that belong to this life and also Spiritual bread too that there be not the Famine of the Word and Sacraments which are to nourish our souls to life everlasting Q What do you pray for in the fifth Petition And forgive us c. A. Pardon and Forgiveness of our sins and offences against our Father which is in Heaven upon Condition that we forgive all them that offend against us And it is to be observed that this request to God is but upon this Condition which if we perform not on our part God is desired to do nothing for us neither will He on His. See St. Mat. 6.14 15. 18.35 Q. What do you pray for in the sixth Petition Lead us not into Temptation A. Because this life is a Warfare in which we wrestle with the World the