CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE Composed by the R. Father ROBERT BELLARMINE of the Society of Jesus and CARDINAL Translated into better English than formerly IHS The Last Edition Printed for A.L. Anno Dom. 1676. The A. B. C. ✚ A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V U W X Y Z. ✚ A a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r s s t v u w x y z. ✚ A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V V W X Y Z. ✚ a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r s s t v u w x y z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000. A BRIEF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE To be learned by heart Of the end of a Christian and of the signe of the Holy Cross Master A Are you a Christian Scholar I am by the grace of God M What mean you by a Christian S. Him that maketh Profession of the Faith and Law of Christ M In what doth the Faith of Christ chiefly consist S. In two principal mysteries which are included in the sign of the Holy Cross that is in the Vnity and Trinity of God and in the Incarnation and Death of our Saviour M What meaneth Unity and Trinity of God S. It meaneth that in God there is one only Divinity or as we say Essence and Divine Nature which nevertheless is in three Divine Persons that are called Father Sun and Holy-Ghost M Wherefore are these Divine Persons S. Because the Father hath no beginning nor proceeds from another Person The Son proceeds from the Father And the Holy-Ghost from the Father and the Son M Wherefore are these three Persons only one God S. Because they have one self Essence one self Power one self wisdom and one sef-Goodness M. What meaneth Incarnation and Death of our Saviour S. It meaneth that the Son of God who is the second Person of the blessed Trinity became Man dyed upon the Cross to save us M. How are these two Mysteries included in the sign of the Cross S. Because we make the sign of the Cross by putting our right-hand first to the head saying In the name of the Father then under the breasts saying of the Son finally to the left right sholders saying of the Holy-Ghost Amen M. How then is there shewed the first Mystery of the most Blessed Trinity S. Because this word In the name signifieth the Vnity the other words signify the Trinity M. Shew now the second S. The figure of the Cross doth represent the death of our Saviour who after he was made man and had taught the way of Salvation with Doctrine with Example and with miracles dyed upon the Holy Wood of the Cross A Declaration of the Creed M. WHich is the Rule of our Belief S. It is the Symbole of the Apostles which we commonly call the Creed M. Say the Creed S. 1. I believe in God the Father-Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth 2. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. 3. Who was conceived by the Holy-Ghost born of the Virgin Mary 4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead buried 5. Descended into Hell the third day he rose again from the dead 6. Ascended into Heaven sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty 7. from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead 8. I believe in the Holy-Ghost 9. The holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints 10. Remission of sins 11. Resurrection of the flesh 12. Life everlasting Amen M. Who made the Creed S. The twelve Apostles therefore there be twelve Articles M. What do these Articles contain in sum S. All that which principally expresly we must believe of God and of the Church his Spouse because the eight first Articles pertain to God the four last to the Church M. Declare the first Article S. I firmly believe in one only God who is the natural Father of his only begotten Son and is also Father by the grace of all good Christians who are therefore called the Adopted Sons of God finally he is Father by Creation of all other things And this God is Omnipotent because He can do all that he will and hath created of nothing Heaven and Earth with whatsoever is in them that is the whole universal world M. Declare the second Article S. I believe also in JESUS CHRIST who is the only begotten Son of God the Father because he was begotten of the same Father Eternal and is God Eternal Infinite Omnipotent Creator and Lord of us and of all things as he is the Father M. Declare the Third S. I believe that Jesus Christ is not only true God but also true Man because he hath taken man's flesh of the immaculate Virgin Mary by virtue of the Holy-Ghost so was born on earth of Mother without Father as in Heaven he was born of Father without Mother M. Declare the Forth S. I believe that Jesus Christ to redeem the world with his precious blood suffered under Pontius Pilate Governour of Jury being scourged crowned with Thorns put upon the Cross on which he dyed being taken down from the same was buryed in a new Sepulcher M. Declare the Fifth S. I believe that Jesus Christ as soon as he was dead went with his soul to Limbus or the place of holy Fathers and the third day which was the Sunday he rose glorious and triumphant M Declare the sixth S I believe that Jesus Christ after he had forty dayes remained with the holy Apostles to prove with many apparitions his true Resurrection mounted up to the highest Heaven and there sitteth above all the Quires of Angels at the right hand of the Father that is in glory equal to the Father as Lord Governour of all Creatures M Declare the seventh S I believe that the same our Lord in the end of the world shall come from Heaven with most great power glory and shall judge all men giving to every man the reward or punishment he hath deserved M Declare the eighth S. I believe in the Holy Ghost who is the third Person of the most blessed Trinity and proceedeth from the Father and the Son and is in all and every thing equal to the Father and to the Son that is he is God Eternal Infinite Omnipotent Creator and Lord of all things as the Father and the Son M Declare the ninth S. I believe also that there is a Church which is the Congregation of all the faithfull Christians that are Baptized and I do believe confess the Faith of Christ our Lord and acknowledge the high Bishop of Rome for Vicar of the same Church on Earth M Why is this Church called Holy and Catholick S. Holy Because it hath the Head which is Christ Holy and for that it
Saviour Jesus Christ Father Son and holy-Holy-Ghost to the great glory of thy most holy name to the honor of the most blessed Mother the Virgin Mary To the honor of my Angel-keeper and of S. Michael S. Gabriel S. Raphael and the S. S. N. and N. my holy Patrons and Patronesses and to all the holy Saints and Blessed Spirits in Heaven to the increase of their joy and glory Here I a most wretched and miserable sinner prostrate adore and worship thee offering up in all humility immortal praise thanksgivings for all thy Blessings especially for that unspeakable charity wherein thou didst send down thy only begotten Son into the Vale of Tears for the Work of our Redemption Eternal love of Heaven Earth I praise and magnify thy ever glorious Name for thy Sons most holy Incarnation Nativity for his poverty innocent conversation for heavenly Doctrine Miracles for his Death and Passion for his Resurrection and Ascension I yield thee all due and possible thanks for that Divine Mystery of his precious Body and Blood in the venerable Sacrament of the Eucharist wherewith we are nourished cleansed sanctified and our Souls made partakers of all Heavenly Graces and Spiritual Benedictions I give thee most humble hearty thanks that of a handful of dust and nothing thou hast vouchsafed first to wash me with the Laver of Baptism in remission of that Original corruption contracted in my first Parents that after in due and convenient time thou hast brought me to the exercises and acts of a right Faith not ceasing daily to increase the same in me by the Doctrin and Instruction of the Holy-Ghost I most humbly thank thee also that from my cradle thou hast nourished cloathed me supplying all things necessary for the relief and maintenance of this my feeble body I evermore extol and magnify thy holy Name that in thy great mercy thou hast hitherto spared me wantonly rioting in manifold excesses patiently expected me till by thy Grace I might be awaked from the sleep of sin and reclaimed from my vanities and wicked Courses For hadst thou dealt with me according to my demerits my Soul long ere this oppress'd with innumerable sins had been plunged in Perdition yea the yawning gulph of hell had swallowed me quick In respect of all which thy mercies and blessings I most humbly desire that my heart may be evermore enlarged to render thee a more ample tribute of Praise and Thanksgiving then heretofore it hath done O my Lord most indulgent Father never leave me to my self but let the bridle of thy holy fear be ever in my jaws to curb keep me within the compass of my obedience that I may dread nothing so much in this world as in the least sort to offend thee To which end let thy holy love so temper all trials and temptations which befall me that I may profit my self by them for thou knowest how frail I am of my self and how my strength is nothing Moreover most merciful Father even by the profound humility of thy Son Jesus Christ I beseech thee that thou wouldst preserve me thy Servant from all Pride of mind all self-love and vain-glory all obstinacy and disobedience all craft and dissimulation Cast down I beseech thee the Spirit of gluttony and uncleaness the Spirit of Sloth heaviness the Spirit of malice envy the spirit of hatred and disdain that I may never despise any of thy Creatures nor prefer my self before others but ever seem little in my own eys to think the best of others and judge the worst of my self Invest me most holy Father with the weding-garment of thy beloved Son the supernatural virtue of heavenly Charity that I may love thee my Lord GOd with al my heart with all my soul with all my strength that neither life nor death prosperity nor adversity nor any thing else may ever separate us from thy love Grant that all inordinate affections to the transitory things of this world may daily decay in me that thou alone mayest be acceptable to my soul O my most gracious God give thy servant an humble contrite and obedient heart and understanding always imployed in honest pious cogitations A will tractable and ever prone to do good affections always calm and moderate a watchful custody of my Senses that by those Windows no sin may enter into my soul a perfect government of my tongue that no corrupt or unseemly language may proceed from my lips that I may never slander or speak ill of any whomsoever that I may not busie my self in the faults and imperfections of others but wholy attend to the amendment of my own And finally most loving Lord so long as I am detained in this Prison of my body let this be my comfort that being free from all secular cares I may wholly devote my self to thy Service and only give entertainment to thy Heavenly Doctrin and to the good Motions and Inspirations of thy Holy Spirit In these sweet exercises let me pass the solitary hours of my tedious confinement with Patience expecting the shutting up of my days and a happy end of this my miserable life And grant O Redeemer of mankind my Lord and God that when this my Earthly Tabernacle shall be dissolved through contrition and the virtue of the Sacraments of the Holy Church I may be reckoned in the number of those blessed souls who through the Merits and Passion of thy dear Son are held worthy to reign with thee and to enjoy the glorious presence of the blessed Trinity Father Son and Holy-Ghost to whom by all Creatures in Heaven and Earth be rendred Praise and thanksgiving world without end Amen O Lord my God O Lord my God Possess my Soul Possess my Soul Possess my Soul A Table of SINS To help the Ignorant and ill of Memory wherein when they would be confessed they may presently find out with little labour the sundry and manifold ways of offending God Of the Ten Commandments The First Commandment NOT loved God above all things Born over much love to Creatures Doubted or staggered in matters of Faith Ignorant of the Ten Commandments Of the Commandments of the Church Of the Articles of Faith Murmured against God in adversity Lack of Confidence in God Presumption of his Goodness Desperation of his Mercy Believed Dreams or tellers of Fortunes Gone to witches or cunning men for counsel Read or keep Heretical Books Favoured Hereticks Conversed with them without necessity Hindred any ones Conversion from Heresie or Schism Not recommended my self daily to God and his Saints Not conformed my Will in all things to the Divine Will The Second Commandment TAken the Name of God in vain Blasphemed God Forsworn my self Sworn by the Body or Members of Christ Cursed my self Cursed the Creatures Given my self or others to the Devil Broken my Vows Angred others so far as to make them Swear or Blaspheme God The Third Commandment NOt
mea quare conturbas me C. Spera in Deo quoniam adhuc confitebor illi salutare vultus mei Deus meus P. Gloria Patri Filio Spiritui Sancto C. Sicut erat Principio nunc semper in saecula saeculorum Amen P. Introibo ad altare Dei C. Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam P. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini C. Qui fecit Coelum Terram P. Confiteor Deo c. C. Misereatur tui omnipotentes Deus dimissis Peccatis tuis perducat te ad vitam aeternam P. Amen C. Confiteor Deo omnipotenti B. Mariae semper Virgini beato Michaeli Archangelo beato Joanni Baptista S. Apostolis Petro Paulo omnibus Sanctis tibi Pater quia peccavi nimis cogitatione verbo opere knock your breast and say Mea culpa méa culpa mea maxima culpa Ideo precor B. Mariam semper Virginem B. Michaelem Archangelum B. Joannem Baptistam Sanctos Apostolos Petrum Paulum omnes Sanctos te Pater orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum P. Misereatur vestri c. C. Amen P. Indulgentiam absolutionè c. C. Amen P. Deus tu conversus vivificabis nos C. Et plebs tua laetabitur in te P. Ostende nobis Domine misericordiam tuam C. Et salutare tuum da nobis P. Domine exaudi orationem meam C. Et clamor meus ad te veniat P. Dominus vobiscum C. Et cum spiritu tuo P. Kyrie Eleison C. Kyrie Eleison P. Kyrie Eleison C. Christe Eleison P. Christe Eleison C. Christe Eleison P. Kyrie Eleison C. Kyrie Eleison P. Kyrie Eleison P. Dominus vobiscum or Flectamus genua C. Et cum Spiritu tuo or Levate P. Per omnia saecula saeculorum C. Amen At the end of the Epistle say Deo gratias then remove the Mas-Book and ever kneel or stand on the contrary side to it P. Sequentia Sancti Evangelii c. Here make the sign of the Cross and say C. Gloria tibi Domine Then make reverence at the beginning and ending of the Gospel and at the name of Jesus and at the end say C. Laus tibi Christe P. Dominus vobiscum C. Et cum Spiritu tuo Here the Clerk is to give Wine and Water decently prepare Water and Towel for the Priest and answer P. Orate Fratres C. Suscipiat Dominus hoc sacrificium de manibus tuis ad laudem gloriam nominis sui ad utilitatem quoque nostram totiusque Ecclesiae suae sanctae P. Per omnia saecula saeculorum C. Amen P. Dominus vobiscum C. Et cum Spiritu tuo P. Sursum corda C. Hebemus ad Dominum P. Gratias agamus Dom. Deo nostro C. Dignum justum est When the Priest spreads his hands over the Chalice light the Candle kneel and hold up the Priests Vestment till the Elevation be past that done kiss the Vestment and so often as you pass before the Blessed Sacrament adore on your knees P. Per omnia saecula saeculorum C. Amen P. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem C. Sed libera nos à malo P. Per omnia saecula saeculorum C. Amen P. Fax Domini sit semper vobiscum C. Et cum Spiritu tuo The Clerk must take the Pax and kneeling give it the Priest to kiss P. Pax tecum C. Et cum Spiritu tuo Pausing a little rise give the Pax to the audience according to every ones dignity then give Wine and Water to the Priest and if there be any Communicants provide Towel and Wine and say Confiteor After they have Received give them Wine remove the Book take away the Towel and put out the Candle P. Dominus vobiscum C. Et cum spiritu tuo P. Per omnia saecula saeculorum C. Amen P. Ite misfa est or Benedicamus Domino C. Deo gratias Note that in the Mass for the dead the Friest saith not Ite missa est but P. Requiescant in Pace C. Amen Remove the Book if he leave it open kneel and take the Priests blessing arise and say at the beginning of the Gospel Gloria tibi Domine At the end say Deo gratias Put out the Candles and lay up all handsomely And if you have leisure meditate a while and say the Prayers following A devout Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ to be said both Morning and Evening GLory Honor and Praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ may all the world adore thee blessed be thy holy Name who for us sinners vouchsafest to be born of an humble Virgin and blessed be thine infinite goodness who dyedst upon the Cross for our Redemption O Jesu Son of God and Saviour of mankind have mercy upon us and so dispose our lives here by thy Grace that we may hereafter rejoyce with thee for ever in thy heavenly Kingdom Amen The entertaining of good Thoughts Sunday O Repose O glory everlasting What is it to enjoy you and what to be without you Munday The hour of Death will come then all will be past What would I at that time wish to have done Let us now do it O my Soul let us now do it Tuesday Ah poor Soul thou must come to judgment all alone thy Works thy Words thy Thoughts shall be seen of the Saints and Angels of God and all shall there be laid open Oh have therefore a special care of thine own good Wednesday To burn in hell fire for all eternity and that with Devils O torment greater than all torments Thursday He that loseth his Soul loseth all he that offends God loseth his Soul O sin what a loss dost thou bring unto us I detest thee from the bottom of my heart most detestable sin Friday O sweet Jesus to thee I consecrate my life my desires my Soul For me wast thou nailed on the Cross For thee will I give my life dedicate my self wholly to thee Saturday O Blessed Virgin Mary how intirely did you love your Son Jesus O cause me to love and serve him and that nothing in this world may ever separate me from his Holy Grace The Application or practise of the foresaid good Thoughts EVery day Morning Evening for the space of one Ave-Mary or two in a most serious affectuous manner think upon that which is set down for every particular day before And renew the same good thought every hour which may easily be done at all times and upon every occasion either sitting standing walking working c. And all sorts of people though never so rude may be made capable hereof Viz. Children Laborers Servants yea even amidst their imployments and businesses be they never so great or serious The Blessing THe Blessing of God Almighty Father Son and holy-Holy-Ghost descend upon us and dwell in our hearts for ever An Oblation to ALMIGHTY GOD. To be made every Morning Evening O My most merciful Lord and