of Religion Systemes of Divinitie Common places Theologicall theses Catechismes both of topicall Churches and particular men famed all over the Christian world and cried up to be Orthodox methodicall and receaved that at least observing the Oeconomie and fabricke of every one and how the same truths did concurre in a diverse method and order of handling there might out of all of them together compared and collated result and arise what the Author heereof doth now in these ensuing Schedules present Fifthly But then considering that there is the same danger in a spirituall flocke as was in Jacobs Gen. 33. 13. the ghostly guide may over-drive the Children that are tender and the heards that are with young whereas to lead on softly is safe and considering againe that there are three sorts or rather degrees in Religion First Beginners or probationers Secondly Proficients or growers and lastly growne and full statured Christians Ephesians 4. 11 who may challenge the brave title and clogy of Mnason Act 21 16 an old disciple yea that the Scripture it selfe alloweth and beareth up this distinction in two severall texts both 1 Ioh. Epist. chap. 2. verse 13. under the titles of 1 Children 2 Young men and 3 Fathers and also Marke 4. 28. under the tearmes of 1 the blade 2 the Eare 3 the ripe corne in the eare Hereupon the Author hath endeavoured to make sacred Divinitie hold proportion with the severall strengths and capabilities of Christians casting it into three severall moulds or formes The first of 12 Queries and Responses according to the number of the howers of the day or moneths of the Yeere intended to bee the Childs Divinitie the second of 31. after the number of daies in the moneth which is the young mans Divinitie The third into 52. as there are weekes in the yeere which you may call the old mans Divinitie as the severall Title-pages preceding each tractate will more fully declare Sixtly and Lastly whereas the worthy addressing of a mans selfe to the Lords table to receive the blessed Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ is and hath ever beene esteemed an high piece of Pietie and one of the most eminent performances which a militant Christian can goe about as being one of the neerest approaches wee can make to God therefore as a Coronis to the rest here is annexed an Alphabet or Abecedary tractate concerning the Lords supper and our profitable comming thereunto as the frontispice-lease thereof doth shew And this is all the Author hath to say anent this little worke and his intent in publishing of it There yet remaines something to be added touching the right use thereof in the behalfe of the usufructuary or whosoever hands these treatises may fall into in which regard the Authour proposeth these Counsels and Advertisements First Hee adviseth that by all meanes the chiefes and superintendents of families and schooles who are both Priests and Princes within their owne sept and verge see that those who are under their goverment bee initiated and instructed in the principles of Religion whilst they are yet of very tender yeares for it is scarce to be credited if experience did not ascertaine the truth thereof either how inept and indisposed unto divine knowledge such are as are stept into yeeres and having first filled their heads and bardened their hearts with worldly-mindednesse have thereby prevented aud praeoccupated the enterance of the things of God or on the other hand how naturally and sweetly Catechisme is sucked in with the Mothers milke rocked in with the Nurse sported in with play-fellowes hired in with nuts and apples awed in with the twig of a rod c. which howsoever at first in them it may be no more oft times than the bare letter or forme of knowledge yet by the Spirits worke ere long may bee improved unto Saving knowledge This those worthy auncient Christians knew well who taught their infants first to loose their tongues into the articulate and syllabicall pronunciation of the word Hallelujah And surely it 's as easie to teach Children to say Hosanna to Christ as bald-pate to Elisha Aristotle proveth the sweetnesse of knowledge by this that the mouths of Children are so full of questions and there is this reason further in Divinitie that those who are yet innocent as doves shall receive such irradiation of divine light from God as to bee wise as Serpents and those whose wills doe cleave unto good their understanding shall approach unto Truth 2. The second Advertisement is this that the Catechist that is hee or shee who takes upon them the office to instruct and Catechize others stand in some faire and neere relation to the Catechumenoi that is those who are taught and instructed by which meanes it comes to passe that their principles are more authentick authoritative and magisteriall and the doctrine which they instill proves both more strong by reason of the credit of a Superiour and more sweet by reason of the love of a familiar Oh then documents sticke when wee can say I know of whom I have learned them Then rudiments and grounds are indeed Nailes to fasten in the memory and goads to pricke on the Affections Eccles. 12. 11. Thus Samuel was instructed by Eli and young Jehoash by Jehojadah both Priests the great Eunuch by Philip a Deacon Paul by his tutour Gamaliel Timothy by his mother and Grandmother Lois and Eunice Origen by his father Leonides Gorgonia by her brother Nazianzene Saint Basil by his nurse Macrina and Saint Hierom commanded the Lady Paula to set her maids to learne the Scriptures Neither ought any one thinke they lesson themselves unto any low indecencies in playing the duty of a Catechist towards their Novices whilst they see whole Churches Counsels both nationall and oecumenicall particular men of signall note and fame such as Luther and Calvin calling off their pennes from learned Commentaries positive Divinitie polemicall disputes exquisite Sermons and the like even to write Catechismes by way of question and answer Yea how many fathers are there both of the Greeke and Latine Church which have their peculiar forme of doctrine or hypotyposis of wholsome words Clemens of Alexandira his Paedagogue Cyrill of Jerusalem his Catechisme Origen that famous Catechist his bookes of principles Theodoret his Epitome of divine precepts Lactantius his institutions Augustine his encheiridion c. Neither could it bee credited if the voucher were not histories of singular esteeme how eminent persons for learning vertue and honour have descended even unto the practiques herein one I cannot omit Saint Hierom for learning so great a Clerke as S. Augustine seriously wished to equallize him for sanctity so rare as it is farre more easy to counterfeit him then imitate him hee having exhorted Leta to send her daughter to her Grandmother Paula at Bethleem to be educated there addes certaine words wherby hee binds himselfe to become master and Catechist to the child saying hee will carry her upon his armes
comfort and the good of others Precept 8. 5. that wee beare up and maintaine our owne and others fame and credit accompting it as a precious ointment Precept 9. Lastly that we resist and suppresse in the first risings thereof all concupiscence and evill motions though they bee before consent of will Precept 10. Paul Tell me now what prayer or holy talking with God is which was proposed to be the second part of Godlinesse Gamal It is a moving of God the father in the name of his Sonne by the power of his holy Spirit for such things as are agreeable to his will the best president and platforme whereof is the Lords prayer Paul How is this prayer divided Gamal Into 4. parts 1. the preface or preparation to prayer Our Father which art in heauen 2. the petitions or things asked Hallowed be c. 3. the doxologie or thanksgiving for thine is c. 4. the seale or conclusion Amen Paul The petitions being the chiefe part how many are they in number and how are they to be divided Gamal They be six and are usually referred to two heads namely those that concerne God which are the three first and those which concerne our selves which are the three last Paul How doe you subdivide those 3 first which concerne God Gamal They either concerne his glory 1 Petition where we pray that his name which is himselfe may be magnified and hallowed or else they concerne the meanes of his glory Petition 2 and 3 where wee pray for the comming of his Kingdome both of power grace and glory and for the doing of his will both by us in active obedience and upon us in passive Paul How doe you subdivide the three last petitions which concerne our selves Gamal They are either such as concerne this life petit 4. as the asking of daily bread under which is comprehended all thinges necessary for our naturall life or else they concerne the life to come as the asking remission of sinnes in regard of what is past petit 5. and deliverance of temptation and the evill thereof in regard of what is to come petition 6. Paul Wee are now come to the third and last piece of Pietie the receiving the Sacraments tell mee therefore what a Sacrament is and how many there bee Gamal A Sacrament cannot better bee defined then out of Romans 4. and 11. a seale of the righteousnesse by Faith of which there are onely two properly so called Baptisme and the Lords Supper Paul What is Baptisme Gamal A Sacrament of entring us into Christianitie or of engrafting us into Christ consisting of the outward signe which is dipping in or sprinckling with water and of the inward grace which is washing away of our sinnes by our sanctification in the blood of Christ. Paul What is the Lords Supper Gamal A Sacrament of our continuance and growth in Christianitie consisting also of the outward visible signes of bread and wine proportionate to the inward and invisible Grace of Christs blessed body and blood eaten and digested by faith Paul At the first you compared Catechisme to Sampsons haire which was strong and faire as therfore you have given mee a sufficient tast of the strength of it in being the very pith and marrow of the Oracles of God so now I pray you shew mee the beauty and fairenesse of it in the order and method thereof Gamal First wee did begin with Faith by which wee live secondly we did come to the Law by which wee walke thirdly we proceeded on to Prayer least wee should faint in faith or waxe weary of good works Lastly finding faith but weake obedience imperfect and prayers cold and distracted wee have the obsignation of the Sacraments which are as Gods seales to secure our estate in him which also is observed to bee the very methode and oeconomie of th' authorized Catechisme of the Church of England FINIS A Theologicall Circle OR THE WHOLE BOdy of Divinity cast into the mould of the yeere that is into 52. Questions and Answers according to the number of Lords Daies Whereby the Catechumenoi learning one onely Question and Answer every Sunday shall in the revolution of one yeare be instructed after a manner more then vulgar and come to know all the grand and necessary truths of the Christian Religion The Speakers are 1. Mnason an old disciple Acts 21. 16. 2. Apollos one mighty in the Scriptures 1 Iohn 2. 13. I write unto you Fathers THE THIRD Forme of knowledge or the Fathers Catechisme Winter quarter MNason What is that which is the thirst of every mans soule and the chiefe scope of mans life Apollos That very same thing which in one word or tearme is called Felicitie happinesse or beatitude others call it the chiefe good Mnason Wherein doth mans chiefe good or happinesse consist Apollos Neither in 1 wisdome or knowledg nor in 2 glory and honour nor 3 in pleasure nor 4 in dignitie nor 5 in riches nor 6 in health and strength nor 7 in favour and esteeme nor 8 in morall vertue nor 9 in temporall life nor 10 in immortality it selfe Neither any of these nor all of these together nor any other created thing can quench the thirst of mans soule nor be said to bee the chiefe good of the reasonable creature Mnason Why so I pray you Apollos Because whatsoever may prove mans chiefe good must necessarily be invested with this double propertie 1. that it bee All-sufficient that is simply and absolutely able of it selfe to fill the heart and satisfie the soule 2. That it be indeficient and perpetuall so as the Soule cannot bee made sad either with the sence or feare of loosing it Now the very best of created and sublunary felicities if they incline any thing to sufficiencie or perfection they are commonly very short and momentany if they be more lasting they are usually very dilute and imperfect Mnason What then is if these bee not neither can be Apollos Onely the All-sufficient Lord himselfe who is All in all both in himselfe and unto us and who is onely able and willing to fill every corner of the heart with sátietie and content and to give us full measure pressed downe shaken together and running over Mnason Whereby then may wee be so knit and united unto God as to be partakers of his All-sufficiency and beatitude Apollos Religion is the thing which doth unite and cement man unto his God whence it hath its name from tying and knitting because our soules which by lapse and sinning were dissevered from God by religion and divine worship are conjoyned unto him againe Mnason Can any Religion or kinde of divine worship doe this Apollos Noe onely the true christian religion can doe it To which purpose the words of the 18 Article agreed on by the whole clergy of both
of tentation which is that hee will not suffer us to bee tempted above our strength but give a gracious issue together with the tentation Mnason What imports the word Amen Apollos It is the seale of this prayer and is both the voice of faith and the voice of desire as much as to say Lord I beleeve these thinges shall be so and I desire earnestly they may be so both for thy glory and the Churches good Mnason Which is the fourth and last part of Catechisticall divinitie Apollos Of the sacraments which in one word cannot better be defined then that they are the visible word wherein and whereby Christ crucified is preached and declared to our eyes Mnason Now whereas the most perfect and exquisite knowledge of any thing is to see it in its causes and that there are foure causes of a thing the efficient from which it is the matter of which it is the forme by which it is what it is and th' end for which it is first shew mee which be the efficient causes of a sacrament Apollos Christ himselfe the head of his Church is the onely Author or principall efficient cause of a Sacrament none but hee alone having power to institute or ordain one in the Church but a lawfull minister is the instrumentall or secondary efficient cause hath power to administer and officiate as Christ had to institute Mnason Which is the matter of which a sacrament consists Apollos It is threefold 1 the outward signe representing 2 the inward grace represented 3 the word sanctifying Mnason wherein consists the inward forme or essence of a Sacrament Apollos In the analogy and proportion betwixt the outward signe and the inward grace which may be called a sacramentall union or conjunction Mnason How manifold is the end of a Sacrament Apollos Twofold 1. to signifie 2. to exhibit the graces of God therein specified and sealed And the 12 articles thus beleeved the ten commandements thus kept the sixe petitions thus powred forth and the two Sacraments thus administred and receaved bring a man about in a blessed circular motion unto the first-point of all to wit true blessednesse or happinesse FINIS AN ALPHABET CONTEINING THE BRIEFE OF what is to bee either knowne or done by them who unfeignedly desire to make acceptable approches to the Lords Table The Communicants Alphabet A Sacrament is the visible word as the Scripture is the word audible By it Christ crucified is spoken and preached to our eyes as in the scripture to our eares BAptisme is the Sacrament of our matriculation and admission into the Church and the Lords supper is the Sacrament of our establishment there and confirmation after wee are admitted Christ is the principall Author or efficient cause of a Sacrament in the Church A lawfull minister is the secondary or instrumentall cause None but Christ alone who is the head of the Church can ordaine or institute one none but a lawfull minister that is who hath gifts from God and calling from men can officiate or administer one DIstinguish wisely betwixt the three parts which concurre to the constituting of a sacrament to wit first the outward signes representing secondly the inward and invisible graces represented lastly the word of benediction or consecration meeting with both EXcept the word accede and be added unto the Elements it is noe Sacrament but common water common bread common wine FOrme inward or the essence of a Sacrament stands in the proportion or analogie betweene the outward signe and inward grace which may bee called a Sacramentall union or conjunction of the signe and the thing signified as namely the proportion which outward washing holds with inward sanctification is the essentiall form of baptisme and the proportion which bread and wine hold with the body and bloud of Christ is the essence and forme of the Lords supper GIve diligent heed also all the while of celebration to the whole leiturgie or office of the Church that is to all the words and actions of the minister which are said and done according to the institution of Christ and according to the rule and prescript of the Church whereof thou art a member for so much is called the outward forme of a sacrament HAve a stedfast regard withall to the threefold end of a sacrament which are first to be signes to represent secondly seales to confirme thirdly instruments to conveigh Grace for Sacraments were but poore thinges to what they are if they had not an exhibitive vertue as well as a significative IN preparation to the Lords table due respect must bee had both to the worthinesse of the receiver and to the worthinesse of receiving that is called precedent worthinesse or the worthinesse of the Person and is to goe before this is called concurrent Worthinesse or the worthinesse of handling and is to goe along with the act of receiving KNow then that as only sinne doth avile and unworthy our persons so nothing but Righteousnesse doth dignifie them and re-estate them in their former worthinesse and excellency LEarne further that this righteousnesse must bee twofold the one of Christ which must bee imputed unto us and therefore called the Righteousnesse of faith the other our owne which must bee imparted to us and inherent in us and therefore called the Righteousnesse of workes MOreover the worthinesse of handling or of receiving consists chiefly in putting in practice that grand Apostolicall rule 1 Cor. 11. 28. Let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of that bread and drinke of that cup. NEither is it sufficient to prove unlesse ouâ— weaknesses and infirmities being mercifully abated us in Christ we be able to approve our selves both to our owne hearts and to God who is greater then our hearts OMit not then to examine diligently the present condition first of the Faith and then of thy manners and life the touchstone of the former is the Creed and of the latter the decalogue or ten commandements PLace first before thine eyes the 12 Articles of that most auncient and Apostolique creed and examine thy selfe as in the presence of God first whether thou be able to give stedfast credit and firme assent unto each of them one by one and secondly whether thou canst apply each article particularly unto thine owne selfe and interest thine own soule by affiance and trust in the benefits and comforts which result from each Article QUestion nextly thy life and manners and therin place before thee the ten precepts of the morall law carefully searching by most diligent scrutiny through each commandement wherin thou hast transgressed and broken either the affirmative part of the commandement by sinnes of omission or the negative by sinnes of commission REpent from the bottome of thine heart where thou findest ought amisse in either and give not thy spirit
and on his shoulders and that as old as hee was hee would teach her stammeringly to pronounce her words and that in this regard hee would not esteeme himselfe lesse glorious then Aristotle who had Alexander the sonne of Philip King of Macedon for his Scholler c. 3. The third Advertisement must be this that the disciple or scholler be throughly acquainted by his Catechist and instructer with the Scheme and method of his institution or Catechisme for as in reading of holy Scripture who so meanes to understand what hee reades must labour to get into his head the structure and fabricke that is the Oeconomie and order of that booke of holy writ that he is reading So whosoever would bee fully instructed in Christian Religion must first get unto himselfe a perfect and methodicall forme of sound doctrine and then before he goe to particulars must possesse his understanding of the generall lineaments and portraiture of that body of Divinitie which hee meanes to make his compasse for his knowledge to saile by To instance in these subsequent moulds and formes of Divinitie The oeconomie and disposition of the first stands in the unfolding of three points 1. Mans misery by the fall 2. His redresse from that misery 3. His thankefulnesse for that redresse which is also the manner and forme both of the Heidelberge Catechisme authorized through all the low Countries and the Palatinate and also of Alstedius his Catechisme which hee calls the little bible and the very same is the oeconomie of the Epistle to the Romans which is called the f Key of scripture The Oeconomie of the second is this it takes the first hint and rise from Saint Pauls dichotomie Titus 1. 1. which distinguisheth Religion into Truth and Godlinesse under the first head of truth is opened and explained the Apostles Creed and under Godlinesse the second head is handled the Commandements the Lords prayer and the doctrine of the Sacraments The third is of a circular forme like a snake holding the taile in the mouth of which forme also are divers of Davids Psalmes which are called circular Odes as Psalm 8. and 117. and the five last Psalmes Enterance is made into it by the very same quere that Calvin doth into his so famous Catechisme that it is translated into all the 3. learned Languages Latine Greeke and Hebrew and from thence like the river of Eden Gen. 2. 10. it spreads it selfe into 4 heads the first of Faith or thinges to bee beleeved the second of Love or thinges to bee done The third of Prayer or things to be asked and the fourth of the Sacraments or thinges to be sealed and this is the Oeconomie of Canisius and Bellarmines Caechismes c. And to adde a word touching the mode and forme of the last tractate concerning the holy Eucharist and the communicants worthy receiving of it it 's method is pure Scripturall for who so hath but saluted the holy origiuall tongue of the old Testament knowes that Ieremies Threnes and diverse of Davids Psalmes are Alphabeticall and that to this end and purpose to helpe memory both to attaine and retaine them with greater ease and lesse industry And beside the authority of Scripture to warrant this way of composing Ecclesiasticall History makes mention of an Abecedary Psalme which Saint Augustine so made up against the Donatists The 4. and last advertisement is this that to make a brave knowing and intellectuall Christian indeed the way is to referre the Scripture which he reads and the Sermons he heares unto those heads and points of Catechisme whereunto they specially and most properly belong And to doe this the better learners and beginners are not onely to make use of their owne dexterity and skill so farre as they are able but also till they be well versed in this way consult with their Superiours and teachers get them to looke over them while they practise intreat them freely to use their asteriskes of approbation where they hit and their spunges and obeliskes where they misse The benefit redounding hence will be this First an admirable establishment and confirmation of the truth to see sermons bookes Scriptures c. all to concurre and be concentrique together Secondly an excellent ingeny and quicknesse both in proving the principles and fundamentals of Religion by Scripture and in referring texts of Scripture and Sermons to principles of Catechisme which may bee called the Genesis and Analysis of Divinity And I doubt not but by practise a Lay Christian may doe as much as Cartwright who hath referred every Proverbe of Solomon to one of the ten Precepts of the morall Law The Author now thinkes hee hath prefaced sufficiently and will remove manum de tabula as speedily as if hee heard an Angell from Heaven say hold thy hand it is enough in all which if hee have iudged any thing truly or wisely hee voweth onely to worship him who is the first truth and chiefest wisdome Now the good will of him that dwelt in the bush be with all those who desire to know the first truth and enioy the chiefe good and to that end blesse this small labour in his Church if it be but to the dispelling of ignorance and darkenesse from off one Soule of which the Author is the more hopefull as being conscions that he hath no other ayme in the Edition hereof save those two intimated in the first Paragraph of the Preface to wit to bee a tribute of duty to some and a present of affection to others A MOST BRIEFE and contracted modell of knowledge and yet withall plaine for the understanding and methodicall for the Memory Wherein whatsoever is truely fundamentall in Christian religion and absolutely necessary to salvation is brought downe unto onely 12. Questions and Answers so as such Children as are very pregnant and of riper yeares may come to be well catechised in one day by proportioning one question and answere to every hower of the day and such as are more young for yeares or dull for capacitie in one yeare if their Parents or nurses as it were playing or doing another thing doe but principle them with one question and answer every Moneth The Collocutours are 1 Timothy learning the holy Scriptures from a child 2 Tim. 3. 15. 2 Lois the grand-mother and Eunice the mother being the Instructors 2 Tim. 1. 5. 1 Iohn 2. 13. I write unto you little Children THE FIRST Forme of Doctrine or the Childs Catechisme TImothy Unto what heads may Christian Religion be brought Lois and Eunice Unto 3. 1. the sence and acknowledgement of our miserable estate by nature 2. A sight of the meanes of our deliverance from such a miserable estate 3. Due gratitude and thankefulnesse for that deliverance Timothy How doth this miserable condition of ours appeare Lois and Eunice It easily appeares by considering 1. the estate from whence wee are fallen even from the Image of God consisting in soundnesse of judgement cleerenesse
of understanding sanctity of will integritie of Conscience beauty and strength of body majesty and empire over the creatures immortalitie and the like and secondly the condition to which we are fallen to wit sinnefullnesse and miserie or doing things unworthy and suffering things worthy of our doings Timothy They that are sicke need the Physitian saith our Saviour Math. 9. 12. who then is this blessed Physitian Lois and Eunice Even Jesus Christ who to this end is by nature both God and man in one person and by office is 1. our Prophet 2. Priest and 3. King Timothy Why is it necessary he should have both a divine and humane nature united in one person Lois and Eunice He must needs bee man because divine equitie requireth that the same nature that sinned should suffer Ezech. 18. 4. and he must needs bee God to give an infinite value to his satisfaction proportionable both to the infinite majesty offended and the infinite sinnes and sinners offending As also hee must be Man that he might die and God that he might overcome death Timothy Why is it necessary that hee should also have these three offices propheticall sacerdotall and regall Lois and Eunice It is necessary hee should bee 1. a Prophet to illuminate us and leade us into all truth 2. a Priest to make satisfaction for our sinnes and to intercede for us to the father 3. a King both to protect us against our enemies and to governe us by his spirit and word Timothy Is this then sufficient to repaire our miserable condition and to re-estate us in that primitive happinesse from whence wee are fallen Lois and Eunice It is indeed sufficient in it selfe but not effectuall to any one who for their part doth not performe those two grand commands of the Gospell to repent and believe Timothy Where is the summe of the gospell best comprised Lois and Eunice In that auncient and Apostolicall Creed which begins I believe in God the Father c. which Creed is the Key of faith and Epitome of all things to be beleeved unto salvation and which all Christians as the badge of their profession ought 1. to learne and get by heart 2. often to repeat and professe to their comfort and establishment 3. to give assent and credit to every Article one by one and lastly to apply each Article particularly to their owne soules for all these foure severall acts of Faith are implied in the word I believe Timothy I pray you if that be so auncient so perfect and so excellent an abridgement of the faith give it me not in the lumpe but breake unto mee that bread of life into the severall pieces thereof Lois and Eunice It consists of 12. short Articles the 1. concernes God the Father the 2. the name nature office and person of Christ the 3 4 and 5. the seven degrees of his Humiliation for our sinnes the 6 7 and 8 the foure degrees of his Exaliation for our righteousnesse the 9. concernes the holy Ghost the 10 11 and 12. concerne the Church of God both in the properties and priviledges of it Timothy Being thus restored what owe we to God for so great a benefit Lois and Eunice Thankefullnesse which consists especially in three things first in conforming our life according to the ten Commandements of God secondly in calling upon his name according to the substance of the Lords prayer lastly in receiving and participating the Sacraments after a prepared and devout manner Timothy I pray you also breake open unto mee those ten holy lawes that I may better know how to keepe them Lois and Eunice God himselfe hath divided them into two tables subdivided them into ten words contracted them into one monosyllable Love the first enjoynes mee whom to worship the second prescribes the inward manner of his worship the third the outward the fourth the solemne time the fifth enjoynes my duty towards my inferiours superiours and equalls the sixt to my neighboursperson the seventh to his chastity the eighth to his estate the ninth to his good name the tenth and last commands me to resist the first risings and thoughts of sin though even without consent of will Timothy But because I am not able to keepe these things of my selfe and that prayer is the best meanes to fetch grace and helpe from heaven and that the Lords prayer is a perfect patterne of prayer therefore I pray you briefely unfold that forme of prayer unto mee Lois and Eunice It consists of foure distinct parts the first is the Preface or preparation unto the praier Our father which art in Heaven the second is the sixe Petitions whereof the three first concerne Gods glory and the three latter our owne bodily and ghostly necessities the third is a thankesgiving or certaine forme of praising God for thine is the kingdome power and glory for ever and ever the fourth is the close and scale Amen Timothy But seeing wee faile in all the former so as our Faith is weake our Obedience is imperfect and our praiers cold what seales hath God given to confirme and strengthen us Lois and Eunice The two Sacraments of baptisme and the Lords supper which through outward and visible signes doc both 1. signifie and 2. conveigh unto us most excellent inward and spirituall graces FINIS A BRIEFE METHODICALL plaine and full forme of doctrine reduced unto xxxi Questions and Answeres so as by learning one onely Question and it's Answer every day the Christian Scholler shall within the space of one Moneth bee well principled in Religion The Collocutors are Paul the Questionist and Gamaliel the Resolutor Acts. 22. 3 1. Iohn 2. 13. I write unto you Young men THE SECOND Forme of Doctrine or the young mans Catechisme PAul What is Catechisme wherunto may it bee compared Gamaliel It cannot better bee defined then out of Heb. 6. 1. The principles of the doctrine of Christ and it may be fitly compared to Sampsons haire wherein was both strength and beauty for so ought catechisme be strong in precepts beautifull in order and method Paul What is Christian doctrine usually called and how may it be defined Gamaliel It is most usually called either Religion or Divinitie and may bee defined to be the Art or science of beleeving aright and of living well Paul How many parts are there then of Religion Gamal Two which Saint Paul Titus 1. verse 1. calls TRVTH and GODLINES and they are the two pillars or supporters of Gods house the shaking of either of which ruines the building Paul Where may bee found united and gathered together those principall and fundamentall Truths which a Christian is to believe to salvation Gamal They are abridged and contracted into the Apostles Creed and are first capable of this distinction that they either concerne God or the Church of God
Paul Which is the grand truth wee are to embrace concerning God Gamal That in regard of nature essence and being there is but one God yet in regard of divine relation and reall respects in that one Godhead there are three persons Paul Describe mee the nature and essence of God so farre as he may as it were through a glasse he seene and comprehended of our weake capacities Gamal God is that most absolute and first being whose proper Attributes are 1 Simplicitie 2 Eternitie 3 Immensitie 4 Perfection 5 Immutability 6 Immortality 7 Goodnesse 8 Justice 9 Truth 10 Holinesse 11 Omnipotency 12 liberty or freedome and lastly glory and majestie Paul What now is that you call a person of the God-head Gamal It is a relation or respect which taketh nothing from nor addeth any thing to the divine essence but onely distinguisheth the Father Son and holy Ghost among themselves and one from another every one of them having both his incommunicable propriety or nature and every one of them having his owne incommunicable worke or Counsell Paul Which is the incommunicable propriety or nature of the Father the first of the three persons Gamal To beget and not be begotten Paul What is the Fathers proper and incommunicable worke or counsell Gamal Creation for by his Almighty power in making heaven and earth hee cast out vacuitie and emptinesse that great enemy of nature and by his providence which is a continued creation hee keepeth it out still Paul Which is the peculiar property of the sonne who is the second person in order and manner of subsistence Gamal His relative propertie is to be begotten Paul Which is his peculiar worke Gamaliel Redemption which is a stisfaction made to the justice of God for the sinne of man in which regard he hath 4. stiles in the Creed 1. Iesus to note his office of mediatorship in generall 2. Christ to denote his three particular offices sacerdotall propheticall and royall 3. Sonne to note his order and manner of subsistence fourthly and lastly Lord to note his purchase Paul How is our Redemption wrought Gamal Partly by the Humiliation and partly by the Exaltation of the sonne of God the severall degrees of which twaine are accurately and punctually folded up in the very body of the said Creed c. Paul Which bee the severall degrees of his Humilation Gamal They bee sixe in number and are thus to bee enumerated in order 1. his Conception hee was conceived by the holy Ghost 2. his nativity borne of the Virgin Mary 3. his passion suffered under Pontius Pilate 4. his crucifixion which was the extremity of his passion was crucified 5. his death dead 6. his buriall and buried through all which severall degrees of sorrow he passed and was pressed with them as a cart with sheaves that he might beare our sinnes and heale our infirmities Paul Which be the severall degrees of his Exaltation Gamal They be five in number and are thus to bee reckoned 1. his triumph over Hell hee descended into hell 2. his Resurrection hee rose againe the third day 3. his Ascention hee ascended into heaven 4. his session at his Fathers right hand there he sits at the right hand of God 5. his office of judicature from thence hee shall come to judge both the quicke and the dead Paul What is the relative property of the Holy Ghost the third person in manner of subsisting Gamal To proceed Paul What is his proper worke Gamal Sanctification or application for Christ having prepared the remedie leaves it to bee applied by the sanctification of his spirit and as hee justifies us by his merit so hee sanctifies us by his Spirit Paul Having seene those fundamentall truths which concerne God and being now come to those which concerne the Church of God tell mee what a Christian is bound to beleeve concerning the Church Gamal That it is a company of beleevers united to Christ by faith here and by vision hereafter and that the said company is invested with a double property to wit first it is holy in regard of the holinesse both of the outward meanes and inward worke of the Spirit and secondly it is Catholique and universall in regard both of time persons and places Paul What are the benefits which arise to us from our being members of this holy Catholike Church Gamal Foure two whereof accrew in this life to wit first Communion of Saints that is that fellowship wee have both with Christ and all his members in grace and glory secondly Remission of sinnes both incovering and curing them and other two in the life to come first Resnrrection of the body when that which is sowne in corruption riseth againe in incorruption secondly Life everlasting when there shall be a necessary absence of all evill and a necessary presence of all good Paul Having learned the TRVTH of Religion I desire now to goe on to the second part the GODLINESSE of it tell mee first therefore I pray you how it may best be divided Gama Into three heads first our walking with God in holy obedience according to the ten precepts of the decalogue Secondly our Talking with him in devout prayer according to the seven petitions of the Lords prayer Thirdly our Receiving from him in the two Sacraments of the new Testament Paul How is our walking with God according to the Law distributed Gama Either into Holinesse which is our immediate worship of God required in the first table of the law or into Righteousnesse whereby God is mediately served through the love to our neighbour as is required in the latter table Paul On how many feet stands the first table of the Law which concernes our duty towards God Gamal On foure for it enjoyneth 1. that wee place and bestow divine worship on none but the onely true God choosing him to be our Jehovah and to set our heart upon Precept 1. 2. that we worship him with his owne prescribed worship and not after our owne Imaginations or devices Precept 2. 3. that wee shew him due externall reverence also in transacting his worship and service Precept 3. 4. in regard of the time that wee performe it especially and more solemnely on the Lords day Precept 4. Paul On how many feet doth the second table stand which concernes our duty to man Gamal On sixe for it enjoyneth 1. that wee be diligent in all offices and duties towards our superiours inferiours and equals Precept 5. 2. that wee preserve life and health both of our selves and our neighbour to Gods glory and the good both of Church and Common-weale Precept 6. 3. that wee preserve and keepe both inward chastity of heart and the outward of the body Precept 7. 4. that wee preserve the estate and livelyhood both of our selves and neighbour to our owne
provinces Anno 1562. are worthy observing They also are to bee accursed that presume to say that every man shall bee saved by the Law or sect which hee professeth so that hee be diligent to frame his life according to that law and the light of nature for holy Scripture doth set out unto us onely the name of Iesus Christ whereby wee must bee saved Mnason Who may truely be called a Christian Apollos Whosoever is admitted and matriculated by baptisme into the church and being there doth professe the wholsome doctrine of Iesus Christ and withall is of such a reformed life that his practise gives not his profession the lie such an one is entituled to that honourable name and stile of a Christian. Mnason How many chiefe and principall parts or heads are there of Christian doctrine Apollos Foure 1. of Faith or thinges to bee beleeved the rule whereof are the 12 Articles of the Creed 2. of Love or things to be done the rule whereof are the ten Commandements 3. of Prayer or things to be asked the rule whereof are the six petitions of the Lords prayer 4. of the Sacraments or thinges to be received Mnason What was the cause why this Creed was thus first composed Apollos To be the key of Faith and Epitome or abridgment of whole Scripture For the canon of holy Scripture being large and in many places hard to bee understood it was necessary to abridge those truths which were of absolute necessity to salvation to the end that all might learne them and take up the badge of their profession Mnason Are all thinges which belong to Faith contained herein Apollos All points necessary to be knowne or beleeved to salvation are either expresly and directly heerein set downe or else by way of reduction and reference may bee brought fitly to some one of these Articles Mnason Why is it called the Apostles Creed Apollos There are three Creeds famed all over the christian world 1. this of the Apostles made for instruction in the faith 2. the Nicene creed made for the explanation of the faith 3. Athanasius his creed made for the defence of the faith Now there are two reasons why it is called the Apostles creed th' one is at the most but probable because the Apostles themselves made it every one adding his article and as it were casting in his shot th' other is certaine because it containes the summe and abridgment of all the Apostles doctrine Mnason What is the true and full importance of the word I beleeeve Apollos It imports and implies three thinges 1. the knowledge of a divine truth 2. an assent unto it 3. an affiance and trust in it Mnason What is propounded to our faith to beleeve in the first Article I beleeve in God the father Almighty maker of heaven and earth Apollos Two grand doctrines to wit first the doctrine of the Creation of the world by Gods omnipotencie and then the doctrine of divine providence or preservation of the same ever since it was created Which two differ onely thus that Creation was a short providence and Providence a long Creation Spring quarter Mnason What is the summe of the second Article and in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord Apollos In it 5 things are propounded to our faith to beleeve 1. that he is Iesus that is a Saviour 2 that hee is Christ that is anointed and appointed by God to be our priest prophet and king 3 that he is the Sonne of God to wit naturall and begotten 4 that he is his onely sonne 5 that he is our Lord to governe us as well as our Iesus to save us Mnason What containes the third article conceaved by the holy Ghost borne of the virgine Mary Apollos It containes that great mystery of Godlinesse that a Spirit was generative and a virgin fruitfull that is the admirable way of the incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ of which Article this is the orthodoxe sence that the holy Ghost did by it's immediate vertue and divine power without any seminall commixtion prepare sanctifie and secundate the wombe of the virgine Mary so as at once and in an instant the whole humāe body of Christ was formed and then his reasonable soule was created and infused into his body Mnason How much is comprized in the fourth article hee suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried descended into hell Apollos The five degrees of his Humiliation each surpassing other Namely first his Passion hee suffered c. 2 his Crucifixion or manner of suffering which was the encrease of his passion was crucified 3 his death a degree beyond his crucifixion dead 4. his inhumation and enterment more then his death and buried 5 his descent into hell a degree beyond the grave hee went downe into hell unlesse you will make his descent into hell the first degree of his Exaltation rather then the last of his Humiliation Mnason What thinke you is the safest to hold in that vexed question of Christs descent into Hell Apollos I deeme it the safest way to hold the doctrin in generall and implicite termes that he went downe into hell the place of the damned as being the most ancient doctrine of the Catholique Church but not too boldly or peremptorily to define either touching the 1 subject or 2 manner or 3 end or 4 time of his descent Mnason What is expressed in the fifth Article hee rose againe the third day from the dead Apollos The first degree of his Exaltation to wit his resurrection from the dead together with the circumstance of time the third day upon which very point did depend all the credit both of his person doctrine and miracles and even of the christian religion it selfe which should bee dispersed to all the ends of the world Mnason What is tendered to our faith in the sixth Article hee ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God Apollos The second and third degrees of his Exaltation to wit first his Ascention that the fourth day after his resurrection upon mount Olive◠he did visibly locally and corporally according to his humane nature and by the vertue of his owne Godhead ascend into the third and highest heaven Secondly his session at his fathers right hand by which is ment that hee was exalted farre above all Angells and men in his very humane nature and with his father is coeternall and coequall Mnason How expound you the seventh article from thence shall hee come to judge both the quicke and the dead Apollos It containes the fourth and highest degree of his Exaltation and the meaning of it is that though the decree and authoritie of judgement doe belong equally alike to all the three persons yet the externall visible act or execution of judgment shall wholly bee put into the hands
affirmative part is this Thou shalt by all direct and lawfull means safeguard and defend the life and person both of thy selfe and of thy neighbour The negative is this Thou shalt neither with a violent hand nor a virulent tongue nor a hanging countenance no nor so much as an uncharitable thought hurt limme or life soule or body of thy selfe or thy neighbour Mnason Expound the 7. commandement Thou shalt not commit adulterie Apollos The affirmative part is thus much thou shalt preserve to thy selfe and to thy neighbour both the inward puritie of the soule and the outward chastlty of the body The negative thus much thou shalt shun all fleshly uncleanenesse both of the heart in motions and passions and of the eyes in lookes and speculations and of the eares in listening to filthy talke and of the tongue in wanton speaking and of the body in perpetrating any sort of uncleane action Mnason Explaine the eigth commandement Thou shalt not steale Apollos In it God makes an hedge about our estate and the affirmation of it is this thou shalt first by just getting and then by faithfull disposall and stewardship of thy goods beare up thine owne and thy neighbours estate that you may bee rather helpefull then needfull to others The negation is this thou shalt neither by idlenesse nor improvidence nor cousenage nor injustice nor riot or by any other meanes wast or impoverish the lively-hood and estate of thy selfe or thy neighbour whereby you â—ought to provide for your selves and your families and relieve the necessities of the Saints Mnason Give mee the sence of the ninth commandement Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour Apollos In it God setteth a watch before the doore of our lips and the affirmative of it is this thou shalt not onely thy selfe not hurt or give a willing eare to the detractors tongue but thou shalt uphold and propugne according to truth and justice the credit and good name of thy selfe and neighbour The negative is this thou shalt neither by publique slander nor by private backbiting nor by secret whispering nor by causlesse suspitions nor by wrested misconstructions nor by listening to others accusations and suggestions scandalize thine owne or thy neighbours fame Mnason Lastly Sir what meaneth the tenth and last of the commandements thou shalt not covet c. Apollos Oh this precept is able to humble and smite on the knees the most prevaricating sinner and proud Pharisie in the world for if there be any that be conceited on his owne righteousnesse and thinke hee hath kept the 9 former yet must he needs confesse his guilt in this last for the affirmative part of it enjoynes us holy thoughts holy desires sanctified imaginations pure and unpolluted fantasies and the negative forbids not onely formed concupiscences or those second motions which are accompanied with acts of reason and consent of will but even the first stirrings and ticklings of the minde to sin and even such imperfect concupiscences as whereunto wee yeeld no liking or consent Mnason Who then can be saved can any man keep the Law Apollos Yea as it is qualified by the Gospell for Evangelicall obedience abateth and taketh off the rigour of the Law and is satisfied with weake performances if so be they bee filled up with repentance and faith in the bloud of Christ. The poore who could not offer a lambe were to offer a dove that is they who cannot performe innocencie must offer penitencie Autumne quarter Mnason Proceed on to Prayer the third Catechumenall head and first tell mee why the preface of the Lords prayer is in these and none other words Our father which art in heaven Apollos To strengthen our faith before wee pray in the persuasion and acknowledgement first of his goodnesse in that he is Our father and therefore will helpe us and secondly of his power in that hee is in heaven and therefore can helpe us Mnason What doe we implore in the first petition hallowed be thy name Apollos That Gods name that is first himselfe secondly his word thirdly his works may bee magnified and hallowed and honoured and praised and glorified and sanctified both of himselfe of Angels of men of bruites of vegetables and of all creatures according to the power and language given them by God Mnason What doe you aske in the second petition thy kingdome come Apollos That whereas Gods kingdome is 3 fold of power of grace and of glory wee pray that the kingdome of his power may come upon us the kingdome of his grace may come into us and for the kingdome of his glory that we may come into it Mnason What is the meaning of the third petition thy will be done Apollos Wee pray first that Gods will may be done actively by us that nothing that wee doe may displease God and passively upon us that nothing that God doth may displease us And wee further pray that this both our active obedience in reference to Gods commanding will and passive obedience in reference to Gods disposall will may be as cheerfully speedily sincerely universally and constantly performed by us as it is by the Saints and Angells in heaven Mnason What is contained in the fourth petition give us this day our daily bread Apollos In it wee beg all necessary blessings and every word of the petition is to have the full weight for the word bread teacheth contentation the word our teacheth us justice and diligence the word us teacheth us charitie the word give Gratitude the words to day and daily moderation of minde in regard of too much and sollicitous caring for to morrow Mnason What beg wee of God in the fifth petition forgive us our trespasses c. Apollos As in the 3 petition God was mans patterne so here in this man is Gods patterne for wee beg that God would remit unto us all our sinnes whether actuall or originall whether of omission or commission whether of ignorance or knowledge whether open or secret whether great beames and camels or small moates and gnats whether raigning or onely molesting whether of our child hood youth manhood or old age whether lastly of thought word or deed and all this according to the rule and standerâ— of our owne charity as wee forgive them that trespasse against us so that wee burthen our selves and bind our selves with most grievous ferrers if we our selves perform not what we undertake and professe Mnason What beg wee in the sixt petition leade us not into temptation but deliver us from evill Apollos That whether tentations be ascending or injected whether they be tentations of probation or deception whether they be tentations to sinne or for sin whether we be tempted by God or by Sathan or by man or by our owne lusts and concupiscences yet wee pray that God would deliver us from the evill