Onely they that repent and are verie sorie that they haue angried God with their sinnes and yet trust that they are forgiueÌ„ them for Christes sake and that the rest of their weakenesse and vnperfectnes is couered with his deth passion who also desire to goe forwarde and growe more and more in holy life conuersation But hypocrites false feigners of holinesse and they that repente not and will not amende their liues eate and drinke their owne damnation Question Ought we also to allow them to this supper which shewe themselues to bee faithles and vngodly both in their own confession and naughtie life Answere No for so is the couenaunt of God vnhallowed and the wrathe of God is stirred against the whole Churche Wherefore the Church of God according to the appointment of Christe and his Apostles vsing the keyes of the kingdome of heauen ought to hold back such from the Lords supper vntill they repent and amend their manners Question What are the keyes of the kingdome of heauen Answere The preaching of the Gospell and correction or discipline of the Churche whereby the kingdome of heauen is opened to them that beléeue and is shut vp against them that beléeue not Question Howe is the kingdome of heauen opened and shut by the preaching of the Gospell Answere Where at the commaundemente of Christ we openly declare and shew that all and euerie mans sinnes are forgiuen them by God for the onely deseruing of Christe as often as they receyue with a true faith and beléeue the promise of the Gospell Of the contrarie parte it sheweth vnto all them that beléeue not and to all hipocrites feigners of holynesse that are wicked within that the wrath of God and euerlasting damnation hangeth ouer their heads according to which witnesse of the Gospell God will iudge as well in this life as in the life to come Question Howe is the kingdome of heauen shut to or opened by the correction or discipline of the Church Answere When as according vnto the commandemeÌ„t of Christ they the are Christen men in name but shewe themselues both in learninge and life farre from Christe after that they haue beene certaine times brotherly warned to forsake their errours and leaue their euill déeds and are presented or shewed to the Church or to them that are appointed of the Churche vnto that office and will not obey their warning they are shutte out by the same from the vse of the sacraments and from comming to the felowship of Christes Church from God himselfe and the kingdome of Christe But againe if they promise to amende their liues and doe so indéede they are receiued into the Church againe as meÌ„bers of Christ and of the Church The thirde part is of thankefulnesse Question WHen as we are deliuered from all our sinnes and wrechednes without any deseruing of vs by the onely mercie of God for Christes â—â—â—e why shoulde we then doe good workes Answere Because that after Christ hath bought vs againe with his bloude and maketh vs newe men by his holy spirit like vnto the image of himselfe that we hauing receyued so many good turnes shoulde shew our selues all our life time thankful to God and that hee may bee honoured After that we euerie man may be assured of his faith by his fruits Laste of all that we may win other vnto Christ by our honest and sober life or good example of liuing Question Can they then not be saued which d ee vnthanksfull and abide still carelesse in sinne and are not turned to God from their wickednesse Answere In no case for the scripture beareth witnes that no vnchast persons neither worshipper of straunge Gods neither horemaister or aduoulterers neither couetous men neither Théeues nor drunkardes neither scolding raylers neither robbers shal enter into the kingdoÌ„ of god Question In what part standeth the turninge of a man to God Answere In the killing or putting downe of the olde man and the quickening and raising vp of the new man. Question What is the killing of the old man Answere It is truely and with all thy hearte to be sorie that thou hast angred GOD with thy sinnes and euerie day more more to hate them to flye from theÌ„ Question What is the quickening or raysing vp of the â—ewe man Answere True gladnes or God through Christ and an earnest and readie desire of a man to order his life according to the will of God in doing of all manner of Good workes Question What are good workes Answere Onely they the are done in faith according to the lawe of GOD and are wrought for that ende that God may be honoured therby and not they that are deuised by vs and in our opinion without the worde of God séene to be good Question Which is the lawe of God Answere God hath spoken all these wordes The tenne Commandementes I. I am the Lorde thy God whiche hath brought thée out of Egypt out of the house of bondage Thou shalt haue no other Gods in my sight II. Thou shalt make to thée no grauen image nor the likenes of any thing that is in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath nor in the water vnder the earth Thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worshippe them for I the Lorde thy God am a ielouse God and visite the sinnes of the fathers vppon the children vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate mee and shewe mercie vnto thousandes in them that loue me and kéepe my coÌ„maundements The III. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vaine for the Lorde will not hold him giltles that taketh his name in vaine The IIII. Remember thou kéepe holye the Sabboth daye Sixe dayes shalte thou labour and doe all that thou haste to do but the seuenth day is the Saboth of the Lorde thy God in it thou shalt do no maner of worke thou and thy sonne and thy daughter thy man seruaunt and thy maide seruant thy cattell and the straunger that is within thy gate For in sixe dayes the Lord made heauen and earth the sea al that is in them and rested the seuenth day wherefore the Lorde blessed the seuenth day and hallowed it The V. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the lande whiche the Lorde thy God giueth thée The VI. Thou shalte doe no murther The VII Thou shalt not do aduoutrie The VIII Thou shalt not steale The IX Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour The X. Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house nor his wife not his seruaunt nor his maide nor his oxe nor his Asse nor ane thing that is his Question Howe are these commaundementes deuided Answere Into two tables of the which the former teacheth in it foure commaundements how that we shall behaue our selues towarde god The seconde
begotten sonne Question Then is saluation giuen by Christ to all men that perished in Adam Answere Not to all but onely to them that by a true faith are graffed into him receiue or be partakers of his benefits or good déeds Question What is faith Answere It is not onely a knowledge wherby I do surely assent to al things which God hath opened to vs in his word but also a sure trust kindled in my heart by the holy Ghoste through the gospel wherby I am at peace with god surely reckning with my self and iudging that for giuenesse of sinnes euerlasting life and righteousnesse was giueÌ„ not onely to others but also to me that fréely by the mercie of God for the deseruing of Christ alone Question What are those thinges that a Christian man must néeds beléeue Answere All thinges that are promised in the Gospel the sum wherof is conteined in the créede or articles of our faith wherein is shortely conteined as in a certaine short summe the chéefe points of the Catholike and vndoubted faith of all Christians Question What is the Créede ye speake off Answere I Beleue in God the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely begotten sonne our lord Which was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Mary Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified deade and buried went down into hell The thirde day he rose againe from the deade And went vp into heauen and sitteth there at the right hande of God the father Almighty FroÌ„ thence shall he come to iudge the quick and the dead I beléeue in the holy Ghost That there is a catholike church A communion of Saints Forgiuenesse of sinnes The rising againe of the flesh And the life euerlasting Amen Question Into how many parts is this Créede deuided Answere Into thrée partes the first is of the euerlasting father and of our creation The seconde is of the sonne and our redemption or deliuerance The thirde is of the holy Ghost and making of vs holy and fauing vs from sinne Question When as there is but one onely substance of God Why namest thou thrée the father the son the holy ghost Answere Because God hath so opened him selfe in his worde that these thrée sundrie persons are that one true and euerlasting God. Of the Father Question VVHat doest thou beléeue when thou saist I beléeue in god the father almightie maker of heaueÌ„ earth Answere I doe beléeue that the euerlasting father of our Lorde Jesus Christ whiche hath made of nothing heauen earth and all things that are therein and with his euerlasting counsell and prouision vpholdeth and gouerneth all the same for Christes sake is my god my father and therefore so trust and rest in him the I do not doubt but he will prouide for me all things néedeful both for my soule and body and that he wil also turne vnto my saluation all the euilles and troubles that he layeth vpon me in this troublesome life both because hee can doe it as an almightie God and will do it as a gentle Father Question What is the prouision or prouidence of God Answere The almightie power of God present in euerie place whereby it holdeth vp as it were with a hande and gouerneth heauen and earth and all creatures in so much that those thinges that growe vppon the earth as raine also faire weather and drinesse plenteousnesse in bearing and barreunesse meate and drinke health and sickenesse riches and pouertie to conclude all things fall and come vnto vs not without aduise or by chance but by his fatherly aduised counsell will and purpose Question What profite haue we by this knowledge of the creation and prouidence of God Answere That in aduersitie we may bee patient and in prosperitie thankeful and in time to come we may haue a very good hope in God our most faithfull Father knowing that there is nothing that can draw vs away from his loue for all creatures are so in his power that without his will they can not onely doe nothing but euen not so much as to stir or moue Of the Sonne Question WHy is the Son of God called Iesus that is the sauiour Answere Because hee saueth vs from all our sinnes and as no saluation ought to be craued of any other 〈◊〉 there none be found in other but in hâ—â—â—â—dne Question Then whether doe they beleeue in the onely sauiour Iesus which séeke happines and saluation of saintes or of them selues or of any other thing Answere No for although they boaste themselues and reidice in him as thâ— saviour in their wordes yet for all that in verie déede they denie the onely saviour Iesus for either must Iesus not be a perfect sauiour or else al they the receiue him with a true faith for a sauiour haue in their possession in him al thinges necessarie vnto saluation Question Why is he called Christus that is anointed Answere Because he was ordeyned of the Father was annointed of the holy ghost the highest prophet and doctour which opened vnto vs the secret counsell and all the will of his father concerning our redemption deliuerance And the high Priest who with one sacrifice or offering of his bodie and no moe hath bought vs againe and continually maketh intercession to his Father for vs And a King which gouerneth vs with his worde and his spirite and defendeth and kéepeth the saluation which we haue gotten by him Question But why art thou called a christian Answere Because through faith I am a member of Iesus Christ and am partaker of his annointing so that I confesse his name and giue my self vp vnto him to be a liuing offering of thankfulnesse in this life to fight against sinne and Sathan with a frée and good conscience the afterward I may holde and enioy the euerlasting kingdome with Christ ouer all creatures Question For what cause is Christ called the onely begotten sonne of God when we are also the sonnes of God Answere Because Christe is onely the euerlasting and naturall sonne of the Father euerlasting and wee are but sonnes choosen and taken vp of the Father onely of fauoure for Christes sake Question Why callest thou him our Lorde Answere Because he buying againe our bodies and soules from sinne not with gould nor siluer but with his pretious bloud and deliuering them from all power of the diuel hath claymed vs for his owne proper seruaunts belonging to none other Lorde or Maister Question What beléeuest thou when thou saiest he was conceiued by the holy Ghost and borne of the virgin Mary Answere That the sonne of God which is abideth true and euerlasting God hath takeÌ„ the very true nature of man of
The Cathechisme or manner how to instruct and teach children and others in the Christian faith ¶ Appointed to bee read in all the lands and dominions of the late right and mightie Prince Fredericke Counte Palatine by the Rhine one of the Electors of the holy Empire and Duke in 〈◊〉 Newly translated out of Latin and Dutch into Englishe AT LONDON Printed by Henrie Middleton 〈…〉 A note to the Reader The firste number of the notes in the margent signifieth the Chapter The seconde number betokeneth the verse as they are vsually marked in the Bibles A Cathechisme for Children Question WHich is the only comfort both in life and in death Answere That both concerning my soule and my bodie whether I liue or I die I am not mine owne but belong onely vnto my most faithful Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who with his precious bloud most fully making amendes for all my sinnes hath deliuered me from the power of the Diuell and kéepeth me so that without the will of my heauenly father there can not so much as an haire fall from my head Yea and further that all thinges must serue for my saluation wherefore hee hath made me sure of euerlasting life by his holy spirite and maketh me prompt and ready from hencefoorth to liue according to his will. Question Howe many thinges are néedfull for thée to knowe that thou maist come by and inioy this comforte that thou maist both liue and die blessedly Answere Thrée first howe great my sinne and wretchednes is The seconde by what meanes I may bee deliuered from my sinne The thirde is what thankes I owe vnto my Lorde God for my deliuerance The first part of mans wretchednesse or miserable state Question BY what meanes shalt thou come by the knowledge of thy wretchednesse Answere By the lawe of God. Question What doth the lawe of God require of vs Answere That doth Christ in a short summe teache vs Mathew xxij Luke x. Thou shalt loue the Lorde thy God with all thy heart with all thy soule with al thy thought with al thy strength This is the first and greatest cōmandement And the seconde is like vnto this Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thine owne selfe And the whole law and Prophets hang vppon these two commaundementes Question Canst thou kéepe all these thinges perfectly Answere No for I am readie disposed of nature to hate God my neighbor Question Did God then make man so vntoward crooked and so frowarde Answere No for he made him good and vnto the likenesse of his owne selfe that is endued with true righteousnes and holinesse that he shoulde rightly know God his maker and hartely loue him and liue for euer with him to that end that he might loue prayse him Question Then from whence sprange vp this crooked frowardnes of mans nature Answere Of the fall and disobedience of our first father and mother Adam Eue by whom our nature is made so crooked naughtie that we be all conceiued and borne in sinne Question Are we then all so wounded that we be vtterly vnsufficiēt to do any good thing and disposed and readie to all vice and wickednesse Answere Yes surely except that we be borne againe by the holie Ghost Question Doth not God then do wrong to man whiles he requireth of him by the lawe to doe those things which he is not able to doe performe and fulfill Answere Noe for God made Adam so that he might fulfil those thinges but he at the entisement of the diuel by his owne stubbornes both spoyled himselfe and his after commers of those godlye giftes Question Doeth God let go vnpunished such stubburnes and departing from him Answere Nay he is by horrible meanes angrie both with our sinns that are grafted in vs by nature also with them that we afterwards worke and doe and the same he punisheth by his moste righteous iudgement with present and euerlasting punishments as hee doth pronounce Cursed is euerie man that abideth not in all thinges that are written in the booke of the Lawe to doe them Question Then is not God also mercifull Answere He is in déed mercifull but so that he is also righteous wherfore his righteousnes requireth the that which is don against the most high maiestie of God shold be punished with the greatest punishmentes both of soule and bodie The seconde part of the deliuerance of man. A. iiij Question THen when as by the right iudgemēt of God we are in daunger both of euerlasting paynes and of such that lasteth here but for a time is there yet any way or meanes whereby we may be deliuered from these paynes and bee brought into fauour againe with God Answere God will that we shal make amends or satisfactiō vnto his righteousnes wherefore we must néeds either by our selues or by some other content him Question Can we by our selues make amends or satisfaction vnto him Answere By no meanes at all but rather frō day to day to encrease our debt Question Can any creature in heauen or in earth which is onely a creature make satisfaction recompence or amendes for vs and our sinnes Answere None at all For to beginne withall God will not punish that in any other creature which is due to be paid by mā and moreouer it can not because it is nothing but a creature abyde the wrath of god against sinne and deliuer other from the same Question What manner of man is to be sought out to be our mediatour and deliuerer Answere He which is in déede a verie right man and perfectly righteous and yet more mightie then al creatures that is he which also is euen verie true god Question Why is it néedefull that hee shoulde be a verie man perfectly righteous Answere Because the righteousnesse of God requireth that the same nature which hath sinned should pay and make amendes for sinne But he that is a sinner can not paye and make amendes for other sinners Question Why must he also be verie GOD withall Answere A.v. That by his godly power he may abide the burthen of gods wrath in his flesh may get againe and restore vnto vs the righteousnes and life which we haue lost Question Who is that mediatour which is both verie God and verie man and perfectly righteous withall Answere Our Lord Iesus Christ which is made vnto vs the wisedome of GOD righteousnes hallower deliuerer Question Howe knowest thou this Answere By the Gospel which God did open in Paradise and afterwarde hath farther set it abroade by the Patriarches and Prophets did darkely declare it as it were in a shadow by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law e and laste of all fulfilled it by his onely