Love God aright if we Love him not for himself and this with a Superlative Love Luk. 14.26 No. Can Faith be true that works not by Love Gal. 5.6 or that Love real that shows not it Self in keeping his Commandments Joh. 15.10 14. No. And doth not Love to God make our obedience more willing chearful active and abiding 1 Joh. 5.3 Yes Seeing we cannot Love God without measure as He is good without measure ought we to Love him less then with all our Heart mind might and Strength Deut. 6.5 No. Question What is thy duty towards thy Neighbour Answer My duty towards my Neighbour is to love him as my Self and to do to all men as I mould they should do unto me To love honour and succour my Father and Mother To honour and obey the King and all that are put in Authority under Him To submit my Self to all my Governours Teachers Spirital Pasters and Masters To order my Self lowly and reverendly to all my Betters To hurt no body by Word or Deed. To be true and just in all my Dealing To bear no malice nor hatred in my Heart To keep my Hands from picking and stealing and my Tongue from evil speaking lying and standering To keep my Body in temperance soberness and charity not to covet nor desire other Mens Goods but to learn and labour truly to get mine own living and to do my duty in that State of Life unto which it shall please God to call me § DOTH not the Second Table contain the Six Last Commandments and is not Love to our Neighbour the Sum of them all Mat. 22.39 Yes Are not all those meant by our Neighbours with whom we have any Dealings or converse Luk. 10 29-36 Yes Must we not love our Neighbours with a pure hearty and unfeigned love as we love our selves 1 Joh. 3.18 Yes Yet must we love all equally with the same measure 〈◊〉 kind of love No. 〈◊〉 is not natural affection due to Relations 2 Tim. 3. â— â— love of Reverence to Superiours and of complacenâ—◠〈◊〉 delight to the Godly Psal 16.2 Yes * But must we deny a love of Compassion to all in misery and a love of Benevolence to our very Enemies Luk. 6.32 33. No. †And can we do our duty required in these Commâ—â—dments without this Grace of love and Charity 1 Cor. 13 1-7 No. § NOW you have heard these Commandments explained do you think that you are able perfectly to fulfil the Law of God Eccl. 7.20 Jam. 3.2 No. Must you not lament your sinfulness and weakness and depend on Christ for Righteousness and Strength Isa 45 2â— Yes And do you not stand to your promise that in desire and constant endeavour you will Practice sincere obedience to God's Commandments Psal 119.6 48. Yes Catechist My good Child know this that thou art not able to do these things of thy Self nor to walk in the Commandments of God and to serve him without his special Grace which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent Prayer § IS not Prayer a necessary part of Worship in order to the obtaining Grace Rom 10 13. and availing much when perform'd aright Jam. 5 16. Yes * Is there any other object of Râ—â—â—giâ—â—â— Prayer but God who alone searcheth the Hearâ— 2 Chron 6.30 No. * Is Prayer a bare speaking the words with our Mouths without the pâ—â—â—â—ng out the dâ—â—iâ—es of our Hearts Psal 25.1 and 42.4 No. * May we omit any 〈◊〉 the kinds of Prayer Publick in the Church Acts 2.42 private in the Family Jer. 10.25 and secret in the Closet Mat. 6.6 No. Must we not often lift up our Hearts in Holy Ejaculations Psal 119.164 and sometimes use extraordinary Prayer with Fasting 1 Cor. 7.5 Yes * Must we not know the matter of our Prayers by our wants but chiefly by the Precepts and Promises of God Heb. 4.16 1 Joh. 5.14 Yes * Have we any other Mediatour whose name we can come in save our Lord Jesus Christ Joh. 14.13 14. No. * Can we perform this duty aright without the Holy Spirit to help our infirmities Rom. 8.26 and to stir up Holy affections and Graces in the Soul Zech. 12.10 No. †Must we joyn with our desires the Graces of Faith Humility and Self-denyal and are you desirous so to Pray Yes Let me hear therefore if thou canst say the Lords Prayer Answer Our Father which art in Heaven Hallowed by thy name Thy kingdom come Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our dayly bread And forgive us our trespasses As we forgiven them that trespass against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen § IS not this call'd the Lords Prayer because the Lord himself Composed it and taught it his Disciples Yes * May we refuse to use these words as a Form so excellent for the Author matter and method and as being part of Christ's own word and Prescription Luk. 11.1 2. No. Yet seeing it is so general and Comprehensive Is it unlawful to use other words in Prayer No. * Is not this then a perfect Pattern of Prayer to direct us in the matter and manner of our Supplications Mat. 6.9 Yes Qu. What is the Preface of the Lords Prayer Answ Our Father which art in Heaven § CAN there be a greater encouragement to come to God in Prayer than this that He is the Father of Believers by adoption Luk. 11.13 Psal 103.13 No. Is it not a fearful thing to come before God without a Special Interest in him Heb. 12.29 Yes Can we have access to him any way but by Christ Eph. 3.14 or have an evidence of our Interest but by the Spirit of adoption Gal. 4.6 No. Doth not this Relation require dutiful affections such as filial fear love and confidence when we draw near Him Mala. 1.6 Yes § MUST not they who say Our Father live as the Children of one Father Mat. 23.8 and Pray for and with one another Jam. 5.16 Acts 20.36 Yes § IS not the God to whom we Pray though present every where Psal 139.7 8. most gloriously present in the highest Heavens Isa 63.15 and 66.1 Yes * Is there any thing which a God in Heaven cannot give if it be good for us Psal 115.3 No. * Should not poor crawling worms come with a great awe and reverence before the God of Heaven Eccl. 5.1 2. Yes * Is it fit to have Earthly Hearts when we Worship a Heavenly Father Psal 123.1 Lam. 3.41 No. * Is not the God of Heaven equally near to all his Petitioners in whatsoever parts of the Earth Acts 17.27 Yes Qu. Which is the First Petition Answ Hallowed be thy Name § IS not the Hallowing Gods Name to Honour and Glorify Him in all things by which He makes himself known Yes Can the Name of God be ever impure in it Self or otherwise than
THE Church-Catechism ENLARG'D and EXPLAIN'D IN AN Easie and Familiar METHOD WITH THE SCRIPTURE-PROOFS Annexed thereunto These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine Heart And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up Deut. 6.7 8. LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside near Mercers Chappel 1697. THE PREFACE THIS explication of the Catechism supposeth the Reader to be convinc'd of the necessity and excellency of the Duty of Catechizing and the great danger of the neglect thereof in Churches or Familys where there are any that need training up in the way that they should go I am not ignorant that there are many who have written excellently on the Catechism and no wonder when so much of every Ministers time is or ought to be taken up in the use of it But yet there are not many that have made use of this Method The first Designer of it being taken away as is said in his life before He had accomplish't what He intended was followed by Doctor Wallis upon another Catechism Doctor Comber and I think He alone followed him upon this yet He by designing so much brevity and altogether omitting the Scripture proofs hath left room for a further Essay The use of this Mothod is double 1. As to the meanest capacitys it hath a visible benefit in that the Question is so fram'd as to lead the person instructed to his Answer whereby his understanding is both try'd and inform'd and yet the memory not burden'd with words it being evident that many of the more careless sort are frighted from the Catechism by a long Answer impos'd upon the memory and others get words by vote which they understand not and presently singer I only here desire of the Teacher that when He propounds or as be any Question He would not express or recite the Text or Texts of Scripture annexed thereunto partly because these proofs do indeed belong to the Answer and not to the Question though they could not conveniently be places otherwise than they are and partly because such a recital of the Texts Chapter and Verse would make the Question so long as to hinder the attention of the Learner great care being to be taken that He Answers understandingly and not by ghess Yes or No and for that reason He may sometimes be required to repeat the matter of the Question in his Answer as Q. Are there more Gods than One A. No there are not more Gods than One. 2. The other use is for them that have more understanding who must be obliged to answer to the Question by the Scripture annexed in this manner Q. Are there more Gods than One A. No. Q. How prove you that A. From Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord thy God is one Lord and I think it cannot be deny'd that the best as well as easiest way of Learning Scripture-principles is in Scripture Phrase Those lively Oracles make a deeper and more abiding impression than any other words And the prudent Catechist may with his Pen mark in every Section such Texts for the Learner to recite at a time as He shall judge for plainness or number to be suited to his Capacity Nor will this hinder the Learning these Principles in distinct propositions as they are set down in other Catechisms but will make it far more easie to Learn the words when they are by this instructed beforehand in the matter therein contain'd In this Composure I have endeavoured to make the Questions very Comprehensive by crowding thereinto as much matter as would consist with the plainness that I studiously design'd so that there is enough in each Question especially when the proof is given in Answer for the Catechist to dilate and enlarge upon in his more Familiar Instructing of those committed to his Charge May the whole be for the Glory of God through Christ and for the Edification of his Flock particularly the Lambs therein R. M. A CATECHISM That is to say An Instruction to be learned of every Person before He be brought to be Confirmed by the Bishop Question WHat is your Name Answer N. or M. Question Who gave you this Name Answer By Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism wherein I was made a Member of Christ the Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven § WAS not your Name given you at your Baptism as they were wont to receive their Names at their Circumcision Luke 2.21 Yes Is it not in the power of Parents chiefly of Fathers to give Names to their Children Luke 1.60 62. Yes Is it then unlawful for others by the Parents Consent to do it as Godfathers and Godmothers amongst us Ruth 4.17 No. § ARE Infants incapable of receiving any Priviledges or Benefits by Baptism Mark 10.14 No. 1. Are there not certain outward Priviledges confer'd by Baptism as of old by Circumcision Rom. 3.1 2. Yes * Were you not by Baptism made a Member of Christ i. e. of his Body the Church 1 Cor. 6.15 12.13 Yes But have all such Members of Christ a saving interest in him or benefit by him John 15.2 No. * VVere you not thereby made the Child of God Acts 3.25 Rom. 9.4 Yes And are there not many visible Children of God that prove rebels against him Isa 1.2 Ezek. 16.20 Yes * VVere you not further admitted an Heir or inheritour of the Kingdom of Heaven Eph. 3.6 Yes And are there not many visible Heirs or Children of the Kingdom that shall be cast out Mat. 8.12 Yes †Is there then any Reason why they that live in Sin should boast of or rest in these outward Priviledges Mat. 3.9 No. 2. Are there not also inward and spiritual priviledges offered in Baptism and sealed on Gods part to Believers Gal. 3.26 27. Yes Are these bestowed on you without any Conditions required on your part Mark 16.16 No. Do the conditions and terms of the Gospel make the Grace therein not to be free Eph. 2.8 No. †Are you not then by Baptism under an engagement to perform the Gospel-conditions 1 Pet. 3.21 Yes Question What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you Answer They did promise and vow thrée things in my Name First That I should renounce the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanity of this wicked World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh Secondly That I should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith And Thirdly That I should keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of my Life § DID your Sureties say when you were Baptized that you did so repent and believe No. Did they promise in their own Name or bind their own Souls with a Vow that you should do so when you came to Age No. Did they
Holy and glorious Psal 8.1 9. No. Yet is not his Name dishonoured by sin Rom. 3.23 and reproach'd and blasphem'd by Sinners Psal 74.10 Yes * Must we not beg Grace to Hallow his Name in our Hearts by acknowledging and honouring it as Infinitely Holy Isa 5.16 Yes Can we thus Sanctify his Name unless he first Sanctify our Hearts and make them Holy 1 Thes 5.23 No. * Must we not desire Grace to Honour him with our mouths Josh 7 19. Psal 69.30 and in our lives by worshipping and obeying Him Jer. 13.16 Mat. 5.16 Yes * Can we honour his name aright without desiring that others also might Glorifie and hallow his name Psal 145.21 No. * Must we not beg that He would glorifie his own name in the World Psal 67.1 2 3. and pull down what is Contrary to his Glory therein Psal 83.16 c. Psal 57.5 Yes Qu. Which is the Second Petition Answ Thy Kingdom come § HATH not God a general Kingdom over all and must we not desire that His Soveraign Authority may be every where acknowledged Psal 103.19 Dan. 4.32 Yes Is it enough to be under his Providential Dominion as are all creatures unless we be made the Subjects of his Kingdom of Grace 1 Thes 2.12 Mark 1.15 No. * Do you not beg then to be delivered from the Kingdom of Satan under which you were by Nature that Christ may Reign in you by his Grace and Spirit Col. 1.13 Rom. 14.17 Yes And that He would make you fit for and give you an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven 2 Tim. 4.18 Yes * Are you to neglect others in your Prayers so as not to desire the spreading of the word of his Kingdom 2 Thes 3.1 No. * Is it not highly desirable that the Kingdoms of the world should be all the Kingdoms of Christ and Jews and Gentiles given him for his possession Rev. 11.15 Yes Can we pray for this without desiring the pulling down of Antichrist and all the implacable enemies of the Church Psal 68.1 No. * Must we not desire the hastning of his Kingdom of Glory in which all the Saints shall have with him their perfect Consummation and bliss Rev. 22.20 Yes Qu. Which is the Third Petition Answ Thy will be done in Earth c. § IS it fit for us curiously to enquire into the secret will of God Acts 1.7 or can we know it but by the event and course of his Providence Isa 40.28 No. * Must we not desire that we may submit to his Providential Will when discovered according to our Lords Pattern Mat. 26.42 without murmuring or repining Acts 21.13 14. Yes * But must we not desire to know his revealed will Acts 9.6 and renounce our own Wills so far as they stand in Competition with his Joh. 5.30 Yes * Is it sufficient to know his Will without desiring that He would enable us to perform it Psal 143.10 No. § CAN we do the Will of God here on Earth with that perfection that Saints and Angels do above Rev. 4.8 9. No. But must we not aim at perfection Phil. 3.13 14. and desire to do His Will as they do speedily Isa 6.2 faithfully Psal 103.20 21. and constantly Mat. 18.10 Yes Qu. Which is the Fourth Petition Answ Give us this day our dayly Bread § DO we deserve the least crumb of Bread Gen. 32.10 or can we procure it by our Industry and Labour without the gift of God Psal 127.1 2. No. If all be of free gift may we murmur that others have more than we or that God takes away any outward blessing from us Job 1.21 No. * Yet must we not pray for such a Competency of Health and Peace 3 Joh. v. 2. Sleep and Safety Psal 4.8 Food and Raiment as He sees fit Gen. 28.20 Yes Must we not desire that He would give fruitful Seasons and a Blessing on the Fruits of the Earth 1 Kings 8.35 36. Yes †Must we ask these things chiefly or in the first place before the Spiritual Bread for our Souls Mat. 6.33 No. * May we when we have daily bread long for Riches delicacies and abundance Luk. 12.15 Prov. 30.8 No. * Can we live by this bread alone without desiring his word of blessing upon it Deut. 8.3 No. * Is it our dayly Bread or can we pray for a blessing on it if it be the Bread of Idleness violence or Injustice 2 Thes 3.12 Psal 128.2 No. * Must we not come day by day like Beggers for what we need and depend on God for fresh supplies Psal 104 27-29 Yes * And when we ask for Bread this day may we be anxiously careful about to morrow Mat. 6.34 No. †And when He bestowes upon us our dayly Bread must we not receive it with Thanksgiving 1 Tim. 4.4 5. Yes Qu. Which is the Fifth Petition Answ Forgive us our Trespasses c. Gr. Debts § IF we have our daily Bread and never so much of the world can we be happy without the Pardon of sin Job 21 7-15 No. Are not our sins called Trespasses and Debts as making us obnoxious to the punishment threatned Mat. 18.32 35. Yes * Must we not pray that God for his mercy sake through Christ would not exact the penalty of us but deliver us from the guilt of all our sins Psal 130.2 3. Yes * Must we not therefore beg repentance unto Life and Faith in Jesus Christ who bore the penalty Acts 5.31 Yes * May they who have been pardon'd already neglect to pray for the continuances of that Grace and the Pardon of their dayly Infirmities Psal 25.11 and 51.1 No. * Must they not pray for the manifestation of forgiveness to their Souls Psa 51.8 and to be openly absolv'd at the great day Acts 3.19 Yes § MAY any think or hope that God hath forgiven him that doth not find in his Heart a readiness to forgive others Mat. 6.15 and 18.32 34. No. Though we may seek help peaceably of the Magistrate when we are injured Acts 23.11 yet may we bear a grudge for injuries done or privately revenge them Rom. 12.19 No. * Must we not profess our readiness to forgive others when we desire God to forgive us Mark 11.25 Yes And must we not do it heartily fully and freely Mat. 18.21 22 35. as God for Christ's sake forgives us Col. 3.13 Eph. 4.32 Yes * Is it not an encouragement to our Faith that God upon our repentance will forgive us when such as we are enabled by his Grace to forgive others Luk. 11.4 Yes Qu. Which is the Sixth Petition Answ And lead us not into Temptation c. § IS it enough to beg pardon for what is past if we are not careful to be kept from sin for the time to come Joh. 5.14 No. Is temptation an excuse for sin or doth God tempt any one by enticing them to iniquity Jam. 1.13 No. Are not men tempted by their own Lusts Jam. 1.14 and by the Devils stirring up the corruptions of their