Because as you have heard it is a conjunction made and sanctified by God himselfe and not to be dissolved by any power of man Q. What other proofe have you A. Out of Eph. ch 5. v. 31 32. They shall be two in one flesh this is a great Sacrament but I speak in Christ and in the Church Q. What is the matter of this Sacrament A. The mutuall consent of the parties and deliverie of their bodies to one another Q. What is the forme of it A. The words or signes which signifie the said present consent and delivery of their bodies Q. What are the effects of Matrimony A. It giveth speciall grace unto the married couple to love and beare with one another as also to bring up their Children in the feare of God Q. What is the principall End of Marriage A. To beget Children and bring them up in the service of God and the next to this is that man may have a remedy against concupisence and a helper in the way of Salvation Q. How great is the tie of Marriage A. So great that it can never be dissolved but by death as you have heard out of S. Mat. ch 19. Q. What are the Obligations of Man and Wife A. To love honour and comfort one another Q. What else A. To render mutually the Marriage debt according to that Let the Husband render his debt unto the Wife and Wife also in like manner to her Husband The woman now hath not power of her own Body but the husband and in like manner the man hath not power of his own Body but the woman 1 Cor. ch 7. v. 3. and 4. Q. Is it lawfull for Children to marry without the consent of their Parents A. It is not neither is it lawfull for Parents to force them to marry against their wills Q. Why are many so unhappy in their Marriages A. Because they never consulted with God about them nor sought to have his blessing in them Q. For what other reason A. Because they were lewd before Marriage or married for lust or wealth and not for the right end of Marriage Q. What meaneth the blessing of the Priest given in Marriage A. It is to beg all blessings of God for the new married couple Q. Why is the Ring put on the fourth finger B. Because that is called the heart finger and hath they say a veine in it which reacheth to the heart so to signifie the hearty and constant love which ought to be betwixt man and wife Q. What signifieth the Ring it self A. It is a Symboll of perfection and eternity being equall in all parts and Sphericall in figure without beginning or end to intimate the perfect and perpetuall love of man and wife Q. What are the best meanes to obteine good children A. Fasting Praier and Almes-deeds For so S. Ioachim and Anne obtained the B. Virgin Mary and so the B. Virgin became the mother of God Q. What obligation have Parents to their children A. To instruct them in the Faith of Christ to give them good example to feed and nourish to provide for them in Marriage and to correct their faults Q. What are the chiefe and most common Impediments of Marriage A. Collaterall Consanguinity and Affinity to the fourth degree inclusively And in the right line all degrees are prohibited by the Law of Nature and indispensable Q. Can the Church dispense in those said collaterall degrees A. Shee can excepting only the first collaterall degree of Consanguinity to wit betwixt Brother and Sister Q. How prove you that A. Out of Genes ch 29. v. 29. Where we read that Jacob having first married Lea tooke also Rachael her sister to wife without scruple or reproofe which was the first Collaterall degree of Affinity Q. What other proofe have you A. Out of Genes ch 11. where we read that Abraham took to wife Sara his Brother Lots Daughter which is the second collaterall degree of consanguinity CHAP. XII The Cardinall Vertues Expounded Q. HOw many Cardinall Vertues be there A. There be four Prudence Justice Fortitude and Temperance Q. Why are these called Cardinall Vertues A. Because they are the fountaines and as it were the hinges of all Morall Vertues Q. What is Prudence A. It is a vertue which makes us wary in all our actions that we may neither deceive others nor be deceived our selves or which according to the Rule of Honesty prescribes what is to be desired and what to be eschewed by a man Q. How prove you that A. Out of Eccles ch 3. v. 18. A wise heart that hath understanding will keep it selfe from sinne and in the works of justice it shall have successe Q. What is Iustice A. It is a Vertue which giveth everyman his own according to that Render to all men their due to whom Tribute Tribute to whom Custome Custome to whom Fear Fear to whom Honour Honour Rom. ch 13. v. 7. Q. VVhat is Temperance A. It is a Vertue which moderates the inordinate Appetites and pleasures of the flesh He that is abstinent saith the Wiseman shall encrease life Eccles ch 37. Q. What is Fortitude A. It is a Vertue by which the labours and dangers of death are constantly undertaken and patiently sustained The wicked man flyeth saith Solomon when no man pursueth him but the just man as a confident Lion shall be without feare Prov. ch 28. And in 1 S. Peter ch 3. v. 14. we read The feare of them feare ye not and be not troubled but sanctifie our Lord Christ in your hearts Q. Is it necessary for a Christian to be exercised in these Vertues A. It is for we must not onely decline from evill but do good Psal 36. v. 27. CHAP. XIII The Gifts of the Holy Ghost Expounded Q. HOw many be the Gifts of the Holy Ghost A. Seven Wisdome Vnderstanding Councell Fortitude Knowledge Piety and the feare of our Lord. Q. VVhat is Wisdome A. It is a gift of God which teacheth us to direct our whole lives and actions to his honour and the salvation of our soules Q. VVhat is Vnderstanding A. It is a gift of God by which we are enabled to penetrate the high mysteries of our Faith Q. VVhat is Councell A. It is a gift of God by which we discover the frauds and the deceits of the Devill and are not cheated with them Q What is Fortitude A. It is a gift of God whereby we are enabled to undergo and to despise all dangers for his sake Q. What is Knowledge A. It is a gift of God by which we know and understand the Will of God Q. What is Piety A. It is a gift of God which maketh us devout and zealous in his service Q. What is the fear of our Lord A. It is a gift of God which curbeth our rashnesse with-holdeth us from sinne and maketh us obedient to Gods Law CHAP. XIIII The twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost Expounded Q. HOw many be the Fruits of the Holy Ghost A.
Petition ill A. Such as are willing slaves to sinne and to the Devill The third Petition Q. WHat is the third Petition A. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Q. What doe we beg by this Petition A. That God would enable us by his holy Grace to keep his Commandements and be obedient to his will in all things Q. What meane you by the words in earth as it is in heaven A. We beg by those that we may be as ready and as willing to do the Will of God on earth as the blessed Saints and Angells are in heaven The fourth Petition Q. VVHat is the fourth Petition A. Give us this day our daily bread Q. What doe we beg by this Petition A. All food and sustenance for our soules and bodies Q. What is the food of the soule A. The Word of God the holy Sacraments especially the blessed Eucharist and Divine Grace Q. How prove you that by this Petition Christ intended the blessed bread of the Eucharist A. Because although we read in S. Luk. our daily bread ch 11. v. 3. in S. Matth. we read our supersubstantiall bread ch 6. v. 11. Q. Why is the Eucharist called our daily bread A. Because it is daily offered for our sinnes upon the Altar and we ought daily to receive it at least in spirit and desire Q. Who say this Petition ill A. Such as are cold and carelesse in coming to the Sacraments and in hearing divine Service or Exhortations Q. Who else A. Such as ascribe their temporall goods and blessings to their owne industry and providence and not to any speciall bounty or gift of God The fifth Petition Q. VVHat is the fifth Petition A. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors Q. What doe we beg by this Petition A. That God would pardon us the sinnes of our life past as also the punishments which are due unto them Q. Why are sinnes and the penalties of sin called debts A. Because they make us debters to the Justice of God whom by sin we rob of his due honour Q. Why is it added as we forgive our debters A. To signifie that God will not forgive us unlesse we also forgive our Brethren if you will not forgive men saith our Lord neither will your Father forgive you your offences S. Mat. ch 6. v. 15. Q. Who are they which say this Petition ill A. Such as beare malice against their neighbours and seek revenge The sixth Petition Q. VVHat is the sixth Petition A. And lead us not into temptation Q. What do we beg by this Petition A. That God would not permit us to be tempted above our strength Q. Doth God tempt any man to sinne A No he doth not for God is not the tempter of evills he tempteth no man S. Jam. ch 1. v. 13. Q. What other proof have you A. Out of the 5. Psal where we read Thou art not a God willing iniquitie and out of Rom. ch 9. v. 14. where we read Is there iniquity with God No God forbid Q. By whom then are wee tempted A. By the Devill and our owne concupiscence S. Iam. ch 1. v. 14. Q. Can a man live in this world and be free from all temptations A. Morally speaking he cannot for the whole life of man on earth is a temptation Iob ch 7. Q. Why then doe we pray to be delivered from temptations A. That we may not be overcome or vanquished by them Q. Is temptation of it selfe a sinne A. No not without consent on our part nay it is a great occasion of merit if we resist it as we ought Q. How prove you that A. Out of Apoc. ch 2. v. 10 11. Be thou faithfull untill death saith our Lord and I will give thee a Crowne of life he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death Q. What other proof have you A. Because Christ himselfe who never sinned would be tempted and the Tempter came unto him saying c. S. Mat. ch 4. v. 3. Q. Are we never overcome but by our own default A. Never according to that answer which was given to S. Paul desiring to be freed from a temptation my grace is sufficient for thee Q. What other proof have you A. Out of S. Iam. ch 4. v. 7. where we read Resist ye the Devill and he will flie from you Q. Who are they that say this Petition ill A. Such as seek after occasions of sinne and wilfully expose themselves unto temptations Q. What are the best remedies against temptations A. To have recourse by humble Prayer to God and to his Saints and to such especially as have been tempted in the same kind to resist them valiantly at the first entrance and to remember often our last things Death Judgement Hell and Heaven The seventh Petition Q. VVHat is the seventh Petition A. But deliver us from evill Q. What doe we beg by this Petition A. That God would free us and deliver us from all our evills both spirituall and temporall and especially from the evills of sin past present and to come Q. Who is the Author of all evill of sin A. The Devill for sin in God there is none 1 S. Ioh. ch 3. v. 5. Q. What other proof have you A. Out of Wisdome ch 14. v. 9. where we read hatefull to God is the impious man and his impiety Q. Who say this Petition ill A. They which commit their evills before God and multiply their sinnes without remorse CHAP. VI. The Haile Mary or Angelicall Salutation Expounded Q. WHat is the Haile Mary A. It is a most holy Prayer in honour of the blessed Virgin Mary Q. How do you prove it lawfull to honour and pray unto our Lady A. Out of S. Luk. ch 1. v. 48. where by inspiration from God she prophesied saying All Generations shall call me blessed Q. How many parts hath the Haile Mary A. It hath three parts Q. What is the first part A. Haile Mary full of gracè our Lord is with thee Q. Who made this part A. The Holy Ghost although it were delivered by the Angell Gabriel S. Luk. ch 1. v. 29. Q. What signifies the word Haile A. It signifies Rejoyce be glad O Mother of God Q. Why doe we invite her by this Prayer to rejoyce A. Because it reneweth the memory of her blessed Sonnes conception which is an infinite cause of joy to her and the whole Court of heaven Q. What signifies the word Mary A. It signifieth Star of the Sea Q. Why is she fitly called Star of the Sea A. Because she shineth unto us by her exemplar vertues in this Sea of miseries like a most glorious Star Q. What meane you by the words Full of Grace A. I meane that the blessed Virgin had a speciall fullnesse and prerogative of Grace caused in her by the conception of her Son Q. What meaneth Our Lord is with thee A. It meaneth that the whole Trinity was with her at that
translated from death to life because we love the Brethren Ep. 1. ch 3. v. 14. CHAP. VIII Concerning the Commandements in generall Q. WHat is the principall aime or end of the Commandements A. To teach us the will and pleasure of the eternall God or the love of God and of our neighbour he that hath loved hath fulfilled the Law Rom. ch 3. v. 9. Q. Why are the Commandements excepting the determination of the Sabbath day called the Commandements of the Law of nature A. Because God wrote them in the heart of man at his creation being the very Dictates of naturall reason Q. When did he renew them in the written Law A. When he gave them to Moses on Mount Sina in Thunder and Lightning written in two Tables of stone Exod. ch 20. Q. Why in Thunder and Lightning A. To move us to a carefull observance of them Q. Are all men bound to know the Commandements A. For the substance of them they are because they are the rule of our whole life and actions Q. How doe you prove them to be but only ten A. Out of Deut. ch 3. v. 13. where we read And he shewed you his Covenant which he commanded you to do and the ten words which he wrote in the two Tables of stone Q. By what kind of sins are the Commandements broken A. By Mortall sins onely for Veniall sins are not contrary to the end of the Commandements which is Charity and therefore not against properly speaking but beside the Commandements Q. How declare you that A. Because a Veniall sin for example an idle word an officious or jesting lie which hurteth no body and the theft of a pin or an apple is not of weight enough to break Charity betwixt man and man much lesse betwixt God and man Q. Is it possible for us to keep all the Commandements A. Not onely possible but necessary and easie by the assistance of Gods grace Q. How declare you that A. Because God is no Tyrant to command impossibilities under pain of eternall damnation as he doth the keeping of his Commandements Q. How prove you that A. Out of Exod. ch 20. 34. and out of Deut. c. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. where he often commandeth them to be kept threatning grievous punishments to such as break them Q. What other proof have you A. Out of S. Matth. ch 5. v. 20. where we read He therefore that shall breake one of these least Commandements and teach men so to doe he shall be called least in the Kingdome of heaven but he that shall doe and teach them he shall be called great in the Kingdome of heaven Q. What other yet A. Out of S. Matth. ch 11. v. 30. Take up my yoke upon you saith our Lord for my yoke is sweet and my burthen light Q. Hath God ever promised to inable men to keep them A. He hath and also actually to make them keep and do them Q. How prove you that A. Out of Ezek. ch 36. v. 27. where we read I will put my Spirit in the middle of you saith our Lord and I will make that ye walke in my Precepts and keep my judgements and doe them Q. What other place have you A. Out of Ezek. ch 37. v. 24. They shall be my people saith the Lord and I will be their God there shall be one Pastor of them all they shall walke in my Iudgements and keep my Commandements and do them Q. How doe you prove that any have ever kept them A. Out of S. Luke ch 1. v. 6. where we read That Zachary and Elizabeth were both just before God walking in all the Commandements and Iustifications of our Lord without reproofe Q. How prove you the keeping of them to be necessary to salvation A. Out of S. Mat. ch 19. v. 17. If thou wilt enter into life saith our Lord keep the Commandements Q. What other proofe have you A. Out of S. Luke ch 10. v. 25. 28. where when the Lawyer had asked what he should doe to possesse everlasting life and had repeated the sum of the Commandements Christ answered him saying Doe this and thou shalt live Q. What other yet A. Out of Rom. ch 2. v. 13. where we read not hearers of the Law but doers of the Law shall be justified Of the Commandements in particular The first Commandement Expounded Q. WHat is the first Commandement A. I am thy Lord thy God thou shalt not have any strange Gods before me thou shalt not make to thy selfe any graven thing to adore it Q. What are we commanded by this Precept A. To serve love adore and worship but one only true living and Eternall God and no more Q. What are we forbidden by this Precept A. To worship any Creature for a God or give it the Honour which is due to God Q. What is the Honour due to God A. Supreme and Soveraigne Honor that which is called by Divines LATRIA We must honour him as the great master of Life and Death as our Creator Redeemer Conserver and Last End Q. How doe men sin against this Commandement A. By worshipping Idolls and false gods By erring or doubting in Faith By Superstitions and Witchcraft Q. How else A. By going to Church with Infidels or Heretikes by beleeving Dreames c. Q. How doe you prove it a great sin to goe to Church with Heretikes A. Because by so doing we outwardly deny our Faith and professe their false Faith at least in our Country where going to Church is by the Lawes of the Land made a distinctive signe betwixt Catholikes and Novellists Q. What Scripture have you against it A. Out of S. Luke c. 17. v. 22. where Christ forbiddeth it saying And they will say to you Loe here Christ Loe there Christ goe yee not neither doe yee follow them Q. What other proof have you A. Out of Titus c. 3. v. 10. 11. A man that is an Heretike saith hee avoyd knowing that hee that is such an one is subverted and sinneth Q. How doe you prove it unlawfull to go to Witches and Fortune-tellers A. Out of Deut. ch 10. v. 10 11. where we read Let there not be found in thee any that demandeth of Southsayers and observeth dreames neither let there be a Witch or Enchanter or that consulteth with the Devill for all these things our Lord abhorreth Q. What understand you by those words Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven thing to adore it A. I understand that we must not make Idolls nor Images nor any graven thing whatsoever to adore it as a God or with Gods honour Q. Why are not these words expressed in many of our short Catechismes A. Because they are sufficiently included in the precedent words Thou shalt not have any strange or other Gods before me Q. How declare you that A. Because if we must have no other but one onely true living and uncreated God who created heaven and earth then it is cleare to the reason
it numbered in the Deealouge which are the Commandements of God and of the Law of Nature A. Because the substance or chief part of it namely That a day be set apart for the service of God is of divine Right and of the Law of Nature though the determinating of this particular Day Sunday rather then Saturday be a Church Ordinance and Precept Q. Did not Christ when he confirmed the rest confirme also this Commandement A. Inasmuch as it belonged to the Law of Nature he did but not as it belonged to the Ceremoniall Law of the Iewes and was affixed to Saturday therefore now we are not bound to keep the Saturday Q. Why so I pray you A. Because that particular Day was a Command of the Ceremoniall Law of the Jewes which was abrogated and ceased to oblige after the death of Christ. Q. To what are we obliged by this Precept A. To spend the Sunday in Prayer and Divine Service Q. What is the best meanes to sanctifie the Sunday A. By hearing of Masse confessing our sinnes communicating hearing Sermons and reading good Books Q. What is forbidden by this Precept A. All prophane imployments and servile labours excepting such as are of necessity as dressing meat serving cattell c. or such as appertaine to Piety and the Works of Mercy Q. Who are they that break this Commandement A. Such as without necessity spend any considerable part of the Sunday in servile labours Q. How els is the Sunday prophaned A. By spending all the morning in lazy lying in bed or vaine attiring our selves by missing Divine Service when we may heare it or spending the greatest part of the day in drinking gaming dancing or the like Q. Is there any thing now in this first Table of the Law impossible to be observed A. No certainly for nothing can be more easie and delightfull to the true lover of God then to doe all things that are here commanded The second Table of the Law The fourth Commandement Expounded Q. WHat is the fourth Commandement A. Honour thy Father and thy Mother Q. What are we commanded by this Precept A. To love reverence obey and relieve our Parents in their wants Q. Why to love them A. Because under God they are the chiefe causes of our very Life and being and doe not only bring us forth with much griefe and paine but also bring us up with much love labour and solicitude Q. How are we bound to reverence them A. Not only inwardly in our hearts but also outwardly in our carriage and comportment Q. Why to obey them A. Because they are Gods Vicegerents and have received power from him from whom is all Paternity in Heaven and Earth both to direct us instruct us and correct us Q. In what things are we bound to obey our Parents A. In all that is not sinne according to that Children obey your Parents in all things for that is well pleasing unto God Col. c. 3. v. 21. Q. What is prohibited by this Precept A. All sowernesse stubbornnesse and disobedience to Parents Q. What is the reward of dutifull children A. A long and happy life good children if they marry and a good death Q. What is the reward of undutifull ones A. A short and sinfull life accompanied with an untimely death witnesse the example of Absolon 2 King ch 18. v. 14. Q. What other proofe have you A. That of the Proverbs The eye which lowres on parents shall be pluckt out with Crowes and Eagles Q. What signifies the word Father A. It signifies not onely our corporall Parents but also our Ghostly Fathers and all lawfull Superiours Q. What do we owe to Ghostly Fathers A. Love reverence obedience and sustenance Q. Why love A. Because they are the Fathers and Feeders of our soules and under God and his Saints the instrumentall causes of all our spirituall goods According to the flesh saith S. Paul you have many fathers but in the Gospell I have begotten you Q. Why reverence A. Because they are Gods Anointed and represent the person of Christ Q. Why obedience A. Because God hath appointed them to be our spirituall Pastors Guides and Governours Q. In what are we bound to obey them A. In all things belonging to Faith and Doctrine and the government of our soules Q. Is any great honour due to Priests and Ghostly Fathers A. There is according to that of S. Paul The Priests that rule well let them be deemed worthy of double honour especially they that labour in the Word and Doctrine 1 Tim. ch 5. v. 17. Q. How may wee sin against Priests and Ghostly Fathers A. By disobeying or detracting them or believing slanderous reports against them upon meer hear-say or the testimony of insufficient witnesses or without witnesse Q. What testimony is sufficient against a Priest A. I will tell you out of S. Pauls mouth Against a Priest saith he to Timothy the Bishop of Ephesus receive not an accusation under two or three witnesses 1 Tim. ch 5. v. 19. And v. the 21. I testifie before God and Iesus Christ that thou keepe these things without prejudice and do nothing by declining to the one part Q. Is it convenient to ask a Blessing of Priests A. It is because they give it in the name and Person of Christ Q. What warrant have you for it A. Out of S. Mark ch 10. v. 17. where Christ laying his hands upon the Children blessed them Q. What other proof have you A. The example of Melchizedek blessing Abraham upon which S. Paul saith For without all contradiction that which is lesse is blessed of the better Heb. ch 7. v. 6. Q. What Scripture have you for obedience to Priests A. Heb. the last ch v. 17. where we read Obey the Prelates and be subject to them for they watch as being to render an account for the soules And in the old Law disobedience to the Priest was punished with death Deut. ch 17. v. 12. Q. In what are we bound under sin to obey Princes and temporall Magistrates A. In all things which are not sin belonging to the good and peace of the Kingdom or Common-wealth Q. How prove you that A. Out of Rom. ch 13. v. 12. where we read Let every soule be subject to the higher Powers for there is no Power but of God he therefore that resisteth Power resisteth the Ordinance of God Q. What other proof have you A. Out of 1 S. Pet. ch 2. v. 14 15. Be ye subject saith he to every creature for God whether to the King as excelling or to Magistrates as sent by him to the revenge of Malefactors Q. What if Kings or Magistrates command us to do sin or things against our consciences A. Then we must answer them with the Apostles we must obey God rather then men Act. ch 5. v. 25. Q. In what are Servants bound to obey their Masters A. In all things that are not sin belonging to their charge Q. How prove you that A. Out