Spirit and breath of God blowing freely where it listeth and working spiritually for manner means and matter where it pleaseth John 3.8 Acts 2.2,3,4 Q. Why is the third person called holy A. Not only because of his essential holiness as God but because he is the author and worker of holiness in men 1 Cor. 6.11 IX Art Q. Why do you say I believe the Church not in the Church A. We do believe that there is a Church but we do not believe in the Church but in God the Church here below at the best is but a company of men called justified sanctified in part and therefore may erre Q. What is it then to believe the Church A. 1. That there is and always shall be a Church 2. That I am one of the Church 3. To believe the doctrine of the Church wherein it followeth Christ the Prophets and Apostles the onely sure pillars and ground of truth Q. How many sorts of Churches are there A. Two sorts Triumphant and Militant Q. What is the Church Triumphant A. The company of Gods children in Heaven Heb. 12.23 Q. VVhy is it so called A. Because they are all out of danger and so do triumph Rev. 21.4 Q. VVhat is the Church Militant A. The company of Gods Children here on Earth Q. Why are they thus called A. Because they fight the Lords battles against the world the flesh and the Devil 2 Tim. 2.3 Eph. 6.12 Q. What Church is here meant A. The Church Militant Q. What do you learn hence A. That God hath a Church and will have to the end of the world Q. Is there but one Church A. No there is but one true Church of Christ though there may be many particular visible Churches which are parts thereof yet there is but one Catholick and Vniversal Church of which not one shall be lost and out of which not one shall be saved Eph. 5.23 John 17.12 Q. Why is it called Catholick or Universal A. It is called Catholick or Vniversal 1. In respect of time because it hath been and shall be in all ages Acts 2.39 2. In respect of persons it consists of all sorts of men high and low rich and poor Acts 2.10,34 3. In respect of place it hath been gathered from all parts of the earth Rev. 5.9 Rev. 7.9 Q. Why is the Church called Holy A. Because it is made holy by justification in Christ and Sanctification of the Spirit Rom. 3.24 Cant. 4.7 Q. What is the Communion of Saints A. That holy and sweet fellowship which all the members of Christs Church have one with another as they make all but one body in Christ so communicating of all good things unto one another whether spiritual or temporal as their mutual necessities do require 1 John 1.3 2 Cor. 8.14 Q. Why are all believers called Saints A. Because they are partakers of Christs holiness daily growing and increasing in the same And to let us know that none shall be Saints in Heaven but such as are first Saints on Earth Heb. 12.10 3 Cor. 7.1 Q. What duty doth this communion of Saints require of us A. To renounce all fellowship with sin and sinners to edifie one another in Faith and Love to delight in the society of the Saints and to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace X. Art Q. What is meant by the forgiveness of sins A. Forgiveness of sins is that great blessing of God which Iesus Christ by his death and passion procured for all that believe in him whereby God esteems of their sins as no sins or as never committed by them Q. What duties are required of us that find our sins pardoned A. To sin no more lest a worse thing come unto us to forgive others as God hath forgiven us to renew our assurance by prayer repentance and new obedience XI Art Q. What professest thou to believe in the eleventh Article The resurrection of the body A. That the bodies of the wicked shall be raised by the power of Christ as he is Iudge and joyned to their souls so to continue together without separation for evermore in the torments of Hell but the bodies of the faithful and so mine among others shall be raised by virtue of Christs resurrection to enjoy in body and soul together life everlasting 1 Cor. 15.20 1 Thes 4.14,16 John 5.28,29 XII Art Q. What is life everlasting A. That glorious estate of absolute holiness and happiness in the Heavens which all the elect shall for ever enjoy with Christ in the presence of God and his Angels 1 Thes 4.17 Q. What assurance have we of this estate A. It is prepared by the Father purchased by the Son confirmed by the Holy Ghost entred upon here and inherited hereafter Mat. 25.34 Eph. 1.13,14 Col. 1.5 1. Pet. 1.3,4,5 Q. What profit dost thou get by believing all these things A. 1. By this means I am justified before God even by faith alone in Christ Acts 13.39 Phil. 3.9 2. By faith I shall overcome the enemies of my Salvation 1 John 5.4 3. Being justified and overcomming I shall inherit eternal life Rom. 8.38 Tit. 3.7 Q. What is justification A. It is Gods accepting and accounting of a sinner as guiltless not for any righteousness of his own but upon the frée remission of his sins and the imputation of Christs righteousness and obedience Phil. 3.9 Rom. 3.24 Q. How is faith wrought and confirmed in our hearts A. 1. Inwardly by the Spirit the fountain of all Spiritual Graces Acts 16.14 1 Cor. 14.1,2 2. Outwardly by the Word of God which containeth the promises the ground of Faith Rom. 10.17 3. By the Sacraments which are seals of those promises Rom. 4.11 4. By prayer which addeth strength to Faith Luke 17.5 The Third Part of the CATECHISME concerning the COMMANDEMENTS Qu. HOw many Commandements are there A. Ten. Q. Into how many Tables are the commandements divided A. Into two * and no more because all righteousness is reduced to two Heads namely towards God or towards man Mat. 22.39,40 Q. What doth the first Table concern A. Our duty to God contained in the four first Commandments Q. What doth the second Table concern A. Our duty to our Neighbor contained in the six last Commandments Q. In this order of the Tables that the Duty to God is set before the duty to our neighbour how many Lessons do you learn A. 1. I learn to serve him before all thing and not to regard worldly things no nor life it self in respect of his glory Mat. 6.33 2. If I render my duty truly to God I must do my duty also to my Neighbour for if I neglect it to my neighbour whom I see daily it is evident that I do so to God 1 John 3.17 Q. How many Lessons learn you out of the Preface or Introduction to the commandements God spake these words and said I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the house
of these earthly things and of our care for them and our dependance on Gods providence from day to day Quest But is it not lawful to provide for the time to come A. Yes so it be with due moderation without distracting or distrustful thoughts or fears having our man dependance still upon God and his blessing Mat. 6.25 Prov. 16.3 Q. What needs the rich man daily to pray for daily bread who hath enough in store for many years A. 1. He is to pray for the poor as for himself 2. His substance and dainties can do him no good without Gods blessing Q. How many benefits be there of Gods blessing A. Thrée 1. By the blessing of God it shall satisfie our natures Hag. 1.6 2. By the blessing of God it shall content our minds Prov. 13.25 3. Having eaten and béen refreshed by the blessing of God we shall use our health and strength to the service of God and not to the service of the world the flesh and the Devil Deut. 32.15 Ezek. 16.19 V. Pet. Q. Why are our sins called debts and trespasses A. 1. Trespasses because by them God is offended II. Debts 1. Because we deny hiâ— by sin the obedience we owâ— him 2. Because we are bounâ— over by sin to satisfaction oâ— punishment Q. What pray you for in this fifth Petition A. 1. That God would forgive us ouâ— trespasses 2. That we may be directed by him tâ— forgive one another Q. How many Lessons learn you ouâ— of it A. Four 1. That all men are sinners 2. Man must seek for forgiveness for he cannot satisfie Job 1.3 3. None can forgive sins but God Luke 5.21 4. To the envious man there is no forgiveness Mat. 6.15 IV. Peti Q. What kind of temptation is here meant A. Any provocation or inducement to sin whether it arise from Satan our selves op other men or from any ourward accident or thing whatsoever Q Is temptation to sin simply evil A. No not in the party tempted if he yield not thereto but resist it for Christ who was frée from all sin was tempted unto sin Mat. 4.9 Q. How is God said to lead men into temptation A. When he bringeth them into the lists with Satan but especially when he leaveth them to themselves to try it out by their own strength Q. What is comprised under this word Evil A. 1. Satan the principal Author of evil A. 2. All other kind of evil Q. How may one be delivered from evil A. Divers ways 1. By kéeping away that evil which is ready to fall upon him Exod. 14.13 2. By assisting him on whout the evil is fallen so as he is not overwhelmed and overcome therewith Psal 69.14.15 3. By altering the nature of the evil and turning it to a mans good Gen. 50.20 4. By taking away the force of the evil Dan. 3.27 Mat. 16.18 5 By removing the evil clean away 2 Sam. 24.25 6. By taking one away from the evil to come 1 Kings 14.13 2 Kings 22.20 Isa 57.1 Q. What doth the conclusion For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for ever Amen contain in it A. Arguments of assurance to the conscience of him that prayeth that he shall obtain that which is best for him for if the Kingdom be the Lords then he will protect us and do us good as subjects If the power be his then he can do it If the glory be his then for his great names sake he will never forsake us but will always do us good unto the end and in the end especially séeing his Kingdom power and glory are established and do continue for all eternity Even so be it yea and so it shall be Q. Doth he not sometimes delay us when yet he purposed to answer us A. Yea he doth 1. Because he loves to hear the voice of his own spirit in us Rom. 8.26,17 2. Because the suit may be good and yet the season not so meet for us Acts 1.7 Luke 18.1 3 He takes pleasure in our constancy being a fruit of faith and fervency Mat. 15.27,28 4. Because such blessings as are won by long and strong prayer are always estéemed very highly received in humility enjoyed in sobriety and employed faithfully for mans good and Gods glory 1 Sam. 2.20,22 1 Chron. 29.14,15 Q What things are requisite in Prayer A. Divers 1 That we pray to God through Christ John 16.23 2 With assurance through faith to be heard James 1.6 3. That our prayers do flow from the heart and be fervent 1 Cor. 14.15 James 5.16 4. That we be in charity when we pray 1 Tim. 2.8 5. That we leave sin and endeavour to live according to Gods will Psal 66.18 The Fifth Part of the CATECHISME touching the SACRAMENTS Qu. HOw many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Church A. Two only as generally necessary to salvation that is to say Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. Q. What difference is there between Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord A. Besides the difference in the signs and Sacramental rites there is this difference betwéen them Baptism is a Sacrament of our new birth of entrance into covenant with God of Incorporation and engrafting into Christ and of Admission into the Church of God and therefore we are once only baptized Tit. 3.5 Gen. 17.11 Rom. 6.3 But the Supper of the Lord is a Sacrament of confirmation of faith of renewing Gods covenant with us and of ours with God and of further nourishing of our Souls to eternal life and therefore we are often partakers of it 1 Cor. 10.2,3,4 1 Cor. 11,24,25,26 Q. What necessâ—… 〈◊〉 there of being partakers of the Sacrament of Baptisme A. Not an absolute but a respective necessity For the Infants of believing parents dying unbaptized are not deprived of Salvation through Gods promise and mercy yet it is required 1. As a requisite means and instrument the contempt whereof is fearful and damnable in such as refuse or neglect it where according to Gods ordinance it may lawfully be had 2. In regard of our weakness who have néed of all helps to strengthen our faith Q. Are Infants to be baptized A. Yes 1 Because Children in the Law were circumcised Gen. 17.12 2. They have interest to the thing signified the Kingdom of Heaven much more to the sign Mark 10.14 3. All nations are bidden to be baptized whereof Infants are a part Mat. 28.19 Q. What meanest thou by this word Sacrament A. I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual Grace given unto us ordained by Christ himself as a means whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof Q. Why is Christ the only Author of these Sacraments A. 1. Because he is God and the Author of salvation and therefore he only may appoint the means as the Word and Sacraments 2. Because Christ only can make the Sacraments effectual by his Spirit 3. Because his heavenly wisdom knew best how and whereof to