A CATECHISME OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION TAVGHT in the Schooles and Churches of the Low-Countries and dominions of the Countie Palatine WITH THE ARGVMENTS AND vse of the seueral doctrins of the same Catechisme By IEREMIAS BASTINGIVS And now authorized by the Kinges Maiestie for the vse of Scotland Wherunto is adioyned certaine Praiers both publike and priuate for sundry purposes EDINBVRGH ⧠Printed by Robert VValde-graue printer to the Kings Majestie 1591. Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis The A. B. C. A a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r r s s t u v w x y z A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T 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 vv x y z. A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V VV 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 a e i o u a e i o u ab eb ib ob ub ag eg ig og ug ac ec ic oc uc ak ek ik ok uk ad ed id od ud al el il ol ul af ef if of uf an en in on un In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Sobeit The Lords prayer OVr Father which art in heauen halowed be thy name Thy kingdom come Thy wil be done in Earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our dayly bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespas against vs. And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the kingdome power the glory for euer and euer Amen The beliefe I Beleue in God the Father almightie maker of Heauen Earth And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord which was conceiued by the holy Ghost Born of 〈◊〉 virgin Mary Suffered vnder Ponâ—â—us Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell the third day hee rose againe from the dead Hee ascended into Heauen sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almightie From thence shal he come to iudge the quick the dead I beleue in the holy ghost The holy Catholik Church The coÌ„munion of Saints The forgiuenes of sinnes the resurrection of the body And the life euerlasting THE TEN COMMANDEments of Almightie God HArken and take heede Israel I am the Lorde thy God which haue brought thee out of the lande of Egypt from the house of bondage 1 Thou shalt haue non other Gods before me 2 Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any 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 bow downe to them nor worship them For I the lord thy God am a ielous God and visits the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third fourth generation of them that hate me and shewe mercie vnto thousands of them that loue me and keepe my commandements 3 Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the lord will not holde him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine 4 Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabboth day Six dayes shalt thou labour and doe all that thou hast to doe But the Seauenth day is the Sabboth of the Lorde thy God In it thou shalt do no maner of work thou and thy Sonne and thy daughter thy manseruant and thy maidseruant thy cattel and the stranger that is within thy gates For in six dayes the Lorde made Heauen and Earth the Sea all that in them is and rested the Seauenth day wherefore the Lord blessed the Seuenth day and hallowed it 5 Honor thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thee 6 Thou shalt do no murther 7 Thou shalt not commit adulterie 8 Thou shalt not steale 9 Thou shalt not beare false witnes against thy neighbour 10 Thou shal not couet thy neighbours house Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours wife nor his seruant nor his mayde nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is his A PRAIER TO BE VSED before Catechising VVEe most hartily thank thee O most mercifull Father for all thy blessings bestowed vppon vs from the beginning of the world vnto this time for our election creation redemption mercifull vocation iustification sanctification continuall preseruation and for that same assured and most comfortable hope that thou hast giuen vs of our glorification in the world to come And we beseech thee to direct vs that considering thy mercies we may acknowledg and confesse our sinnes which should prouoke thee rather to curse than to blesse vs to confounde vs rather than to preserue vs. Wee haue sinned against thee both in thoght worde deed grant that we seeing the horror of our sinnes and the fiercenes of thy wrath may without hypocrisie or dissimulation be earnestly sory hartely repentant for our former wickednes howbeit in such sort as that wee despair not but that in bitternes of our griefe we may haue comfort by faith in thy Sonne Christ that our offences are pardoned Grant O Lord that we being assured hereof in our consciences may through thy holy Spirite be renued in the inward man to hate detest and abhorre sinn and to study to liue according to thy blessed will during our whol life and as now throgh thy goodnes wee are here assembled together so we beseech thee to direct vs that at this present both in our wordes harts and all our behauiors may be in such sort ordered as that wee may trulie vtter and reuerently receiue the principles of thy holy heauenly word to the strengthening of our fayth to the comforte of our consciences to the amendement of our sinfull and lewd liues and to the glory of thy most holy name through Iesus Christ our Lord So be it OF THE ONELY COMFORT OF MAN IN LIFE AND IN DEATH THE ARGVMENT ⧠In the first section is handled the soueraigne good of man and namely his onely comfort in life and in death as also the necessarie meanes to attaine that soueraigne good and two questions are propounded for the handling of this preface or argument Question Lords day The first WHat is thy onely comfort in life in death Answere That in soule and body a 1. Cor. 6.19 1. Thes 5.10 whether I liue or die b Rom. 14.8 I am not mine owne but I belong c 1. Cor. 3.23 vnto my most faythfull Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christe who by his precious blood most fully satisfying d 1. Pet 1.18 1. Ioh. 1.7 2.2 for al my sinnes hath deliuered e 1. Ioh. 2.8 Heb. 2.14.15 me from the whole power of the deuill
our selues or by some other Question 13 Are wee able to satisfie by our selues Answere Not one whit Yea rather we do c Iob. â—9 23 15.15 Math. 6.22 increase our debt euerie day Question 14 Can any creature in Heauen or in Earth make satisfaction for vs Answere None at all For first God wil not d Heb. 2.14 punish any other creature for that sinne that man hath committed SecoÌ„dly that which is but an only creature is not able to indure the wrath of God against sinne and to e Psal 130.3 Iob. 4.18 25.5 deliuer others from it Question 15 Then what maner of mediatour and deliuerer must we seeke for Answere Such a one as is true man and perfectly iust and yet notwithstaÌ„ding more mightie than all creatures that is who is also true f 1. Cor. 15.21 25. Iere. 23.6 Esa 53.11 2. Cor. 5.14 Heb 7.16 Esa 7.14 Rom. 8.3 God OF THE MEDIATOVR THE ARGVMENT That Christ is that onlie mediatour true man and perfectlie iust and true God such a one as in the Gospell is promised and exhibited Question Lords day 6 16 Wherefore must he needs be true man and perfectlie just Answere Because the iustice of God requireth that the same nature of man which sinned should also pay the punishment of sinne but he g Rom 5.12 17. that were a sinner himselfe h 1. Pet. 3.18 could not pay for other men Question 17 Wherefore ought hee also to be true God Answere That by the power of his Godhead he might be able to i Esa 55.3 18. Act. 2.24 1. Pet 3.18 sustaine the burden of Gods wrath in his flesh to recouer k 1. Ioh. 1.2 4.9.10 Act. 20.28 Ioh. 3.16 and restore vnto vs the righteousnesse and life that we had lost Question 18 But who is that Mediatour who is both true God and true and perfect man Answere Our Lord Iesus Christ l Mat. 1.23 1. Tim. 3.16 Iohn 14.16 .. 1. Tim. â— 5. Luke â— 11 who is made vnto vs of God wisedom righteousnes sanctification and perfect m 1. Cor. 3.30 redemption Question 19 Whereby knowest thou that Answere By the Gospell which God first reueiled in n Gen. 3.15 Paradise and afterwarde did o Genes 22.18 46.10.11 Ro. 1.2 Heb. 1.1 Act 3.12 c. 10.43 publish by the Patriarks and Prophets p Ioh. 5.46 Heb. 10.7 shadowed out in sacrifices and ceremonies and last of al q Gal. 4.4 3.24 Heb 13.8 accomplished by his onely begotten sonne The vse THe vses of this doctrine of the Gospel are four for first hereby appeareth the antiquitie of the doctrine of Christ our only redeemer so that to doubt of the truth therof were to robbe God for that it hath witnes from God himselfe from the Fathers and the Prophets led by the holy Ghost whereunto also the sacrifices and ceremonies did lead men and whereof the Son of God himselfe comming in the flesh bare witnes Wherefore it behoueth vs carefullie to vphold in the Church and faithfully to expounde and retaine this doctrine both for the worthines of it as comming from God and for the antiquity and also for the necessitie and profit thereof Another vse is to know that after Christ is once com the shadows of the sacrifices haue an end and that now after the Sunne is risen there is no more place for the ceremonies of the Lawe and that concerning the vse of them they are fulfilled abollished in the death of Christ The third vse is to learne by despising the World the transitorie delightes thereof to desire with the whole affection of the heart that soueraigne good that is offered vnto vs in the Gospel and when it is offered to lay hold on it The fourth vse is in al affliction and euen in life and death to comfort our selues by these glad tydings of saluation purchased by Christ which far exceedeth all the ioyes of the wicked OF THE GOSPEL THE ARGVMENT That Christ is a Sauior onlie of those that beleeue and of true fayth and of the summe of those things that are to be beleeued Question Lords day 7 20 Is saluation then restored to all men by Christ that perished in Adam Answere Not to al but only to those who are ingraffed into him by true faith r Ioh. 1.12 â— 36 Esa 53.11 Psal 2.12 Rom. 11.20 Heb. 4. â— 10.39 and do lay hold vpon all his benefites Question 21 What is true fayth Answere It is not onely a knowledge by which I doe stedfastly assent to all things which God hath Å¿ He. 11.13 Iam 2.19 Gal. 2.20 reueiled vnto vs in his woord but also an assured t Rom. 4.16 5.1 10.10 c. Iam. 1.8 affiance kindled in my u Rom. 1 16. 10.17 1. Cor. 1.21 Mar. 16.16 Act. 16.14 hart by the holy x Mat. 16.17 Ioh. 3.5 Gal. 5.22 Phi. 1.19 Ghost through the Gospell by which I rest vpon God making sure account that forgiuenesse of sinnes euerlasting righteousnes and life is y Ha. 2.4 Mat. 9.2 Eph. 2.7.8.9 Rom. 5.1 bestowed not onely vpon others but also vpon me and that freely by the mercie of God for the z Rom. 3.24.25 Act. 10.43 merit and desert of Christ alone Question 22 What are those thinges which a Christian man must of necessitie beleeue Answere All those thinges that are a Iohn 20 30 Mat. 28 10 promised vnto vs in the Gospell the sum whereof is briefly comprised in the Apostles Creed or in the chiefe heades of the Catholike vndoubted faith of al Christians The vse VVHich being so we gather from hence two conclusions one that non of those things ought to bee reckoned vnder the name of the Gospel which men haue added to the written word of God that is to the doctrine conteined in the books of both testaments the other is that they are very Antichrists and instruments of Sathan who fearing to haue their iugling bewraied do cry out that onlie on certaine sort of men must reade the Scripture and therefore it is very vnlawful to translate the holy scriptures into the vulgare tongues which may be vnderstood even of siely Weomen Question 23 What is that Creede of the Apostles Answere 1 I beleeue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth 2 And in Iesus Christ his only son our Lord. 3 Which was conceiued of the holy Ghost born of the virgin Mary 4 Suffered vnder Pontius Pilat was crucified dead buried descended into hell 5 Rose againe the third day from the dead 6 And ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the father almightie 7 From thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead 8 I beleeue in the holie Ghost 9 I beleeue the catholike Church the communion of Saintes 10 I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes 11 The resurrection of the flesh 12 And the life
also purchase for vs the fauor of God righteousnes and euerlasting life The Vse BY this historie of the grieuous and bitter suffering of Christ we are put in mind how hainous a matter sinne is for the which God would receiue no ransom but the death of his only begotten Sonne Secondly howe exceeding the loue of Christ toward vs is who did not sticke to suffer so fearfull torments for vs that he might reconcile vs vnto God and might purchase vnto vs life and saluation which by sin we had lost Thirdly to consider what duty wee owe againe namely to prepare our selues according to the counsel of Peter both to suffer patiently because vve are thereunto called 1 pet 2 21 24 and Christ suffered for vs leaving vs an Example that vve should follovve his steps And also to resist sinne because he bare them in his bodie vpon the crosse that we being dead vnto sinne might liue vnto righteousnes Question 38 What reason was there why he suffered vnder Iudge Pilate Answere That he an Innocent being a Luc. 23.14 Ioh 19.4 condemned before a ciuill Iudge might b psal 69 4 Isai 53 4 5.2 Cor. 5 21 Gal. 3.13 set vs free from the straight iudgment of God which was to fall vppon vs. Question 29 Is it any more that he was fastened to the crosse than if he had bene put to any other kinde of death Answere Yea truelie it is more For by this I am sure that hee hath taken vppon him the curse which did hang ouer me for the death of the crosse was c Deut. 21.23 Gal. 3.13 cursed by God OF CHRISTS SVFFERING THE ARGVMENT That Christ died and was buried why and what fruit there is of it where of the death of the faithfull and afterward the meaning of the words He descended c. Question Lords day 16 40 Why was it necessarie that Christ should humble himselfe euen to the death Answere Because the iustice and trueth of God could by no d Genes 2.71 other meanes bee satisfied for our sins than by the death of the e He. 2.9.14.15 Phil. 2.8 Sonne of God Question 41 Wherefore was he also buried Answere That hee might thereby make it knowne that he was truelie f Acts. 13.29 Mat. 27.60 Luk. 23 53 Ioh. 19.38 dead The vse SO often as we heare the buriall of Christ spoken off we are thereby put in mind of the sanctifying of our graues that they are now no more pittes Esa 57.6 wherein the cast bodies of men dye and consume to nothing but chests and chambers wherein men are laid vp and safelie kept against the resurrection that shall surelie come Question 42 But seeing Christ died for vs why must we also die Answere Our death is not a satisfaction for our sinnes but an vtter destroying of sinne and a passage into g Ioh. 5 24 Phil. 1 23. Rom 7.24 euerlasting life The vse VVHerefore hauing bene taught that it is the common condition of all men to die wee are all and every one of vs put in mind so to order our life that whensoeuer God goeth about to call vs out of this valley of miseries hee may finde vs ready that is neither too much intangled with the cares of this life nor discouraged with the feare of death both because we knowe this to be the very way of the whole Earth Rom. 4.8 and also because whether we liue or whether we dy we are our Lord Iesus Christs who is vnto vs as the Apostle saith both in life and death aduantage Question 43 What profit receiue we further by the sacrifice and death of Christ Answere That by the power of his death our olde man is crucified together with him and is also dead and h Ro. 6.6 7. c. buried that the euill concupiscences and desires of the flesh may not hereafter i Rom. 6.12 raigne in vs but that we may k Rom. 12. â— offer our selues vnto him a Sacrifice of thanksgiuing Question 44 Why is this added He descended into hell Answere That in my greatest sorrowes and most grieuous temptations I may vphold my self with this comfort that my lord Iesus Christ by the vnspeakable anguish torments and terrours of his soule whereinto he was plunged both before and especially as hee was hanging vppon the Crosse hath l Isai 53.10 Mat. 27.46 deliuered me from the anguish and torments of hell The vse VVHerefore wee receiue no small fruit and comfort even of this part of Christs humbling whereby we may sustaine our selues in extreme sorrows and in most grieuous tentations for if our conscience do trouble vs with the multitude of our sinnes for the which we tremble at Gods iudgment who threatneth vnto sin everlasting condemnation this shield of fayth is ready at hand That Christ did most bitterlie indure in his soule the anguishe of conscience for our sinnes together with the sence and feeling of Gods iudgment and wrath when hee complained and said Mark 14.34 My soul is heauie even to the death If Satan also set vpon vs and set before our eies that gulfe then which non can be more fearful as if God had forsaken and cast vs away and would not vouchsafe to heare vs as if hee had conspired our destruction lette vs then call to minde that the Sonne of God was therefore heard and deliuered when he groned and cried out My God my God vvhy hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27 46. Heb. 5.7 that we might not for euer be forsaken Last of all seeing wee haue such a Mediatour who did wrestle with the power of the diuel with the horror of death and with the paines of Hell whoe woulde not here bee confirmed against any anguish and sorrowe Heb. 4.15 being perswaded of the good will of so mightie a Prince and highe Priest towards him who both in all things was tempted alike yet without sinne and in whome strait after his resurrection that triumphant song which the Prophet made of him was fulfilled O death Hosea 13.14 I vvill be thy death O graue I vvill be thy destruction whereunto the Apostle alludeth as being in vs likwise to be fulfilled in the blessed resurrection Death is svvallovved vpp in victory 1. Cor 15.54 54. O Death vvhere is thy victorie O graue vvhere is thy sting wherevpon sayth Hillarie The Crosse death and hell are our life OF CHRISTES RISING againe from the deade THE ARGVMENT Christs rising againe and the fruite thereof 2 His ascending into Heauen and how far he is present at this day in his Church also of the vnseperable coniunction of the two natures in Christ Last of all of the fruit of Christes ascention Question Lords day 17 45 What doth Christes rising again profite vs Answere First by his rising againe he hath ouercome death that he might m 1. Cor. 15.16 54 55. Rom. 4 25.1 pet 13. c. 21. make vs partakers of that
righteousnesse which hee purchased for vs by his death Secondly wee also now by the power thereof are n Rom. 6.4 Col. 3.1 c Ephes 2.5 raised vp vnto a new life Last of all the rising again of Christ our head is a o 1 Cor. 15.12 c. Rom. 8.11 pledge vnto vs of our glorious resurrection The vse THis pledg we ought to set against the wicked speeches of some who say Who ever came againe from the dead to certifie vs of that heauenly life as who say the resurrection of Christ were not a sufficient testimonie and seal of the same resurrection to be at the last accomplished in our bodies also and in our flesh Question 46 Howe doost thou vnderstande that He ascended into heauen Answere That in the sight of his Disciples Christ was p Act. 1.9 Mark 16 19 Luk. 24.51 taken vp froÌ„ earth to heauen and is q Heb. 4.14 7 25. 9.11 Rom 8.34 Ephes 4.10 Colos 3.1 yet there for vs shall be till he come againe to iudge the quick and the r Act. 1.11 Mat. 24.30 dead Question 47 What then is not Christ with vs as he promised vnto the end of the world Answere Christ is true God and true Å¿ Mat 28.20 Mat 26.11 Io. 16 18 17. Act. 3.21 man therefore according to his manhead he is not now vpon earth but according to his Godhead his grace and his spirite he t Ioh. 14 17. c. 16.13 is at no time from vs. Question 48 And are not the two natures in Christ by this means pulled a sunder if the manhead bee not wheresoeuer the Godhead is Answere Not a whit for seeing the Godhed cannot be contained in any compasse and is present u Act. 7 49. 17 27. c. Ierem. 23.24 in all places it followeth necessarilie that it is without the nature of man which it hath taken yet neuertheles is in it also and x Col. 2.9 Iohn 3.13 11.15 Mat. 28 6. remaineth personallie vnited vnto it Question 49 What fruit doth Christs ascending into heauen bring vs Answere First that he y 1. Ioh. 2.1.2 Rom. 8.34 maketh intercession in Heuen vnto his Father for vs. Secondly that we haue our flesh in heauen that by this as by a certain pledg we may be assured that he who is our head wil a Ioh. 14.2 20 17. Eph. 2.6 lift vp vnto him vs that are his meÌ„bers Thirdly that he b Ioh. 14 16. 16 7 2 Cor. 1 22 2 Cor. 5 5 sendeth vnto vs his spirit as a pledg betwene vs by the working whereof we seeke not things on earth but thinges that are aboue where hee c Cal. 3.1 Phil. 3 20. c. sitteth at the right hand of God The vse AS that maketh for our comforte that hee sendeth his spirit vnto vs so againe hauing receaued this pledg of the Spirit we are warned not to seeke for the thinges on Earth but the things that are aboue Iohn 16.11 for to that end did he asscend into heauen and from thence bestowe his spirit vpon vs that by the power thereof shed abroade in our hartes we might bee lifted from these earthlie present and carnall things to long after things heauenly things to come and thinges spirituall Hereupon sayth Paul Seeke those things that are aboue Col. 3.1 vvhere Christ sitteth at the right hand of God set your mind on things aboue and not on things on earth OF CHRISTES ASCENDING into Heauen THE ARGVMENT The sitting at the right hand and the fruit thereof which is the third degree of Christ exaltation Question Lords day 18 50 Why is it added he sitteth at the right hand of God Answere Because Christ did therefore assceÌ„d into heaueÌ„ that he might d Ep. 1 20. 5 23. Col. 1 18. therby declare himself the head of his church by which his Father e Mat. 28.18 Ioh. 5.22 gouerneth all things Question 51 What doth this glory of Christ our head availe vs Answere First that by the holie Ghost hee f Ephe 4.10 powreth vpon vs his members heauenly guifts And then that by his power he doth g Ps 29. 101 2. Ioh. 10 28 Eph 4.8 protect and defend vs against all enemies The vse VVHich being so and seeing so mighty a Lord reigneth for vs who is not onlie able but willing also to doe whatsoeuer is good for our saluation Mat. 8 31 to whome while he reigned in his humilitie euen the very Deuills became suiters to whome gouerning his kingdome in the dayes of his flesh the Sea the winds and the storms were obedient vnles we rest in his protection whoe now sitting at the right hand of God is Lord of heauen and earth and gouerneth all thinges at his pleasure we are most worthie whome Christ should much more vpbraid with our shamefull cowardlines then he did long agoe his disciples because in the stormes of aduersitie our fayth dooth not rise higher by the considerâ—tion of so great matters OF CHRISTS COMMING againe to judgement THE ARGVMENT Christes comming againe to iudgement 2 The fruit or comfort thereof Question Lords day 19 52 What comfort dooth Christes comming againe to judge the quicke and the dead bring to thee Answere That in all miseries and persecutions I lift vp my head and h Luk. 21.28 Rom. 8.23.24 Phil. 3.10 Tit. 2.13 waite for him who did before stand in my stead before Gods iudgmeÌ„t seat did i 2. Thes 1.6.7 1. Thes 4.10 falte away all curse from me to come from heauen as a Iudge to throwe all his and mine enemies into euerlasting paines and to k Mat. 25.41 receiue me with al the elect vnto himself into heauenly ioies and euerlasting glorie The vse VVHich being so it is likewise most meet that every one of vs should so prepare himselfe that he may so much the more comfortably look for and be ready to receiue such a Iudge that shal be soe gratious and so mercifull vnto him And wee shall duely prepare our selues to the iudgment of Christ if following his counsell Wee haue our loynes girded vppe and our lamps burning Luke 12.36 37 Mat. 22.11 that is if first wee haue fayth the true marriage garment which leaneth vpon a sure foundation to wit the merite of Christ alone who deliuereth vs from the wrath to come OF GOD THE holie Ghost THE ARGVMENT Of the holy Ghost true and euerlasting God with the Father and the Son and of his office or working and effects in vs. Question Lords day 20 53 What beleeuest thou of the holy Ghost Answere First that he is true God and coeternall with the euerlasting Father and the l Gen. 1.2 Isai 48 16 1 Cor. 3.16 1 Cor. 6.19 Acts. 5.3.4 sonne Then that hee is also m Mat. 28.19 2 Cor. 1.2 giuen to mee that through faith hee may n Ga. 3 14.1 pe 1.2 1. Cor 6.17