every part and faculty both of soul and body which deprivation and corruption received in and from them is called Original sin Gen. 2.17 Rom. 5.12 Psal 51.5 Rom. 7.18 Eph. 2.3 Q. Which are the temporal miseries A. Gods curse upon the creatures on mans body senses name friends whatsoeever he takes in hand and death it self Rom. 8.20 Deut. 28.15,16 c. Rom. 6.21 Qu. VVhat are the spiritual miseries A Blindness of mind the spirit of slumber and giddiness horror of Conscience hardness of heart a reprobate sense and strong delusions Isa 6.9 Rom. 11.8 Exod 7.2 Rom. 1.28 2 Thes 2.11 Qu. Was God so angry that he would curse man for eating an Apple or such like A. That was not the matter of Gods anger but his unthankfulness pride disobedience and crediting rather the Devil then God 2. Q. Who redeemed you that is delivered you from eternal death and reconciled you unto God A. Iesus Christ the Son of God Q. By what means did Christ redeem you A. By suffering death upon the Cross for my sins and the sins of the whole world 1 John 2.2 Q. How could he suffer death seeing he was the Son of God A. He took upon him the nature of man that is an humane body and soul and therein suffered death upon the Cross for our redemption Heb. 2.16 Heb. 10.5 1 Pet. 3.18 3. Q. Who sanctified you A. The Holy Hhost 1 Cor. 6.11 A. A work of the Holy Ghost by which such as are redeemed are made holy and become new creatures and enabled to do good and holy works 1 Thâ—s 4.3 John 15.3 Q. What be the parts of sanctification A. Two Mortification and Vivification Rom. 6.11 Q. What is Mortification A. The killing of our natural corruption and weakning of sin in us Rom. 6.6 Q. What is Vivification A. The quickning up of Grace and Holiness in our souls Rom. 6.4 Q. Wherefore did God create redeem and sanctifie you A. To glorifie and serve him Luke 1.74,75 Q. In what manner must we serve God A. As he hath prescribed in his Word and that must be done in spirit and truth * spiritually that is with our hearts and souls as well as our bodies and truly that is sincerely and heartily without hypocrisie John 4.24 Q. What is the word of God which doth prescribe the manner of Gods worship A. The word of God is contained in those Books which are called the Canonical Scriptures Q. Why are they called Canonical A. Because they are the Canons that is the rules of Gods worship according to the which men must frame their faith and manners Isa 8.20 Psal 119.9 Q. How do you know that every part of the Scripture was delivered by Divine Inspiration and so is indeed the Word of God A. By many firm arguments but especially six 1. By the express testimony of the Scripture 2 Pet. 1.19,20,21 2 By the inward testimony of the Holy Ghost in my heart 1 John 2.27 1 Cor. 2.15 3. By the wonderful majesty of the Scriptures delivered yet in great simplicity 1 Cor. 2.14 4. By the mighty power of it in converting souls Psal 19.7 2 Cor. 10.4 5 By the matter which altogether savoureth of headenly wisdom 6. By the continual consent of all the Scriptures being written by so many in time so different Q. To what purpose or use doth the Scripture or Word of God serve man A. To make him wise to salvation and perfect to all good works four manner of ways 1. By teaching the truth 2 By confuteing falshood 3. By correcting vice 4. By instructing in righteousness 2 Tim. 3.16 The Second Part of the CATECHISME expounding the CREED Qu. HOw many Articles are there of the Faith and which are they A. Twelve I believe in God the Father c. Qu. What is Faith A. Faith is a belief of the Gospel joyned with a resolute casting of ones self upon Christ alone for remission of sins and salvation 1 Cor. 15.11 Acts 16.31 Rom. 4.5 Q. What is the ground of Faith A. The frée promises of God made in Christ concerning the forgiveness of sins and eternal righteousness Rom. 4.18 Heb. 11.1 I. Arti. Q. why do you say I believe and not we believe A. Because another mans prayer may help me but it must be mine own and not another mans Faith that must save me Q. What is the meaning of this I believe in God A. I believe him to be my God and put my whole trust and confidence in him Rom. 10.11 Q. Why is God called the Father A. Because he is the Father of all by creation and of Christ by nature and eternal generation and in him my Father I being one of Christs members Q. What doth the Title Almighty import A. That he hath all sufficiency in himself and that he is able to do whatsoever he will Gen. 17.1 Psal 115.3 Q. How know you that God is Almighty A. 1. By creating all things 2. By upholding and governing all things created by his continual providence Q. Of how many sorts are the creatures that God made A. Of two sorts visible and invisible Q. Which are the invisible creatures A. Angels and Souls of men Q. Of how many sorts are the Angels A. Of two sorts as good and bad Q. What are the bad Angels called A. Devils Q. Did God make the Devils A. Yes he made the Devils but he did not make them Devils he made them Angels of light they made themselves Devils by sin Jude 6. Q. Whereof did God create the world A. Of nothing to shew his might and power by his Word Heb. 11.3 Q. In what time made he the world A. In six days that we might more particularly consider of the creatures Q. When made he man A. Last of all because he was made Lord of all and might find all things ready for him Gen. 1.26 II. Art Q. Why is Christ called Jesus A Because he saveth his people from their sins neither is there salvation in any other Mat. 1.21 Acts 4.1 Q. Why is the second person in the Trinity called Christ A. In regard of the offices whereunto he was ordained by God the Father and anointed by the Holy Ghost Acts 10.38 Q Which are the offices of Christ A. Thrée 1. His Prophetical office to teach us and instruct us in all things Mat. 17.5 2. His Priestly office to reconcile us * by offering up even himself a Sacrifice upon the Cross for our sins Heb 9.24,25,26 3. His Kingly office to reign over us by his Word and Spirit Luke 1.33 Q. VVhat benefits hast thou by the offices of Christ A. Both I and all the elect people of God are made spiritual Kings Priests and Prophets 1. Kings in bearing rule over our own hearts and mastering our rebellious thoughts wills and affections Rom. 6.12 2. Priests in offering up to God our spiritual Sacrifices of Prayer of Thanksgiving of Almes of a contrite heart of our own souls and bodies for the service of God Psal
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