not covet thy Neighbours Goods M. Who hath given these Commandments S. God himself in the old Law and afterwards Christ our Lord hath confirmed them in the New M. What do these Commandments coutain in brief S. All that which we must do oo love God and our Neighbour Because the first three Commandments teach us how we ought to behave our selves towards God with heart with mouth and with works The other seaven do learn us to do good to our neighbour not hurt him in person in his honour in his goods neither in deeds nor in words nor in thought And so the end of all the Commandments is the Commandment of Charity which doth command us to love God above all things and our Neighbours as our selves M. Declare the first Commandment S. In the beginning God doth admonish us that he is our true supream Lord therefore we are obliged to obey him with all diligence Next he commands us that we must not acknowledge any other for God wherein the Infidels do sin who do worship Creatures instead of the Creator also Witches and Inchanters who worship the Devil for their God M. Declare the second Commandment S. The second Commandment forbiddeth Blasphemies which are most grievous sins false or unnecessary Oaths breaking vows and all other dishonour that is done to God with words M. Declare the third S. The third commands the keeping of Sunday and other Feasts holy which consists in abstaining from servile works in considering the benefits of God visiting the Churches praying reading spiritual Books hearing Divine Service and Sermons and doing such other spiritual and holy works M. Declare the fourth S. The fourth ordaineth that we honour our Father Mother not only with reverence of words or uncovering our head to them But also with helping and succouring them in their necessities And that which we say of Father or Mother we ought also to observe towards other our neighbours although there be not so great obligation as to Father and Mother who have given us our Being and brought us up with great pains M. Declare the fifth S. In the Fifth is commanded that we kill no body unjustly nor do them harme in their Persons I say unjustly because Judges who condemn malefactors to death and Ministers of Justice who put them to death as also Solders in a just War do not sin whilst they wound and kill M. Declare the sixth S. The sixth commands that we commit not Adultery that is sin with the wife of another man and it is also understood that we commit not Fornication nor any other carnall sin M. Declare the seventh S. The seventh commandeth that no man take away the goods of others secretly which is called Robbery nor commit any deceit in selling buying and like contracts and finally do no harm to his neighbour in his Goods M. Declare the eighth S. In the eighth is forbidden false witness murmuring detracting flattering lying and all other hurt which is done to our Neighbour with the Tongue M. Declare the two last S. God commanded in the two last Precepts that none desire the wife or goods of others because he that seeth our hearts will have us holy and clean not only outwardly but also inwardly so that we may be intirely and truly just Of the Commandments of the Church and of Councils M. ADd to the Commandments Of God those few which the Church hath added S. The Commandments of the holy Church are six 1. To hear Mass upon the Sundays and Holy-days of commandment 2. To Fast Lent Vigils commanded Ember-days and not to eat Flesh on Fridays or Saturdays 3. To confess our sins at the least once a year 4. To receive the B. Sacrament at the least at Easter â— To pay Tithes 6 Not to celebrate Marriage in time forbidden that is from the first Sunday of Advent until Twelf-day and from the first day of Lent till Low-Sunday inclusive M Besides the Commandments which we are all bound to keep be there any Councels of perfection S There be three Counsels by our Saviour Christ given to those that desire to attain to perfection M Which be these Counsels S Voluntary Poverty perpetual Chastity and obedience in every thing that is not sin Of the Sacraments M WE have already treated of that which we must believe hope for and do it remaineth that we speak of the Holy Sacraments by means whereof we obtain the grace of God M. Say therefore how many Sacraments be there S. There be seven viz. 1. Baptism 2. Confirmation 3 Eucharist 4. Penance 5. Extream Unction 6. Order 7. Matrimony M. Who ordained them S. Christ Jesus our Lord. M. What effect doth Baptism work S. It maketh a man become the Child of God and Heir of Paradise it blotteth out all Sins and filleth the Soul with Grace and spiritual gifts M What effect doth Confirmation work S. It fortifyeth a man that he be not afraid to confess the Faith of Christ our Lord and so it ma leth us become the Soldiers of our Saviour M. What effect maketh the Eucharist S. It nourisheth Charity which is the life of the Soul doth daily increase it more And therefore it is given under the form of Bread though truly it be not Bread but the true body of our Lord as likewise that which is in the Chalice is not Wine albeit it seem Wine but is the true blood of the same Christ our Lord under the form of Wine M. What effect worketh Penance S. It forgiveth sins committed after Baptism and bringeth again to the frienship of God him who through sin was become his enemy M. What must we do to receive this Sacrament S. We must first have sorrow for our own sins with purpose never more to commit them Then we must confess them all to a Priest approved by Superiors and finally we must do the penance that is enjoyned by the Priest M What effect doth Extreame Unction work S It blotteth out the relicks of sin giveth joy and strength to the soul to fight against the Devil in the last hour and also helpeth to recover bodily health if it be so expedient for the salvation of the soul M. What effect worketh the Sacrament of Order S. It giveth Virtue and Grace to Priests and other Ministers of the Church to be able to do well their Duties M What effect hath the Sacrament of Matrimony S. It giveth Vertue Grace to those that be lawfully joyned together to live in Matrimony with peace charity to beget bring up their Children in the holy fear of God to the end they may have joy in this life and glory in the other Of the Theological and Cardinal Virtues M. WE have now ended the four Principal parts of the Christian Doctrine which be the Creed the Pater Noster the Commandments and the Sacraments I will now that we talk of Virtues and Vices and of some other things which do help us much to
Saviour Jesus Christ Father Son and Holy-Ghost to the great glory of thy most holy name to the honor of the most blessed Mother the Virgin Mary To the honor of my Angel-keeper and of S. Michael S. Gabriel S. Raphael and the S. S. N. and N. my holy Patrons and Patronesses and to all the holy Saints and Blessed Spirits in Heaven to the increase of their joy and glory Here I a most wretched and miserable sinner prostrate adore and worship thee offering up in all humility immortal praise thanksgivings for all thy Blessings especially for that unspeakable charity wherein thou didst send down thy only begotten Son into the Vale of Tears for the Work of our Redemption Eternal love of Heaven Earth I praise and magnify thy ever glorious Name for thy Sons most holy Incarnation Nativity for his poverty innocent conversation for heavenly Doctrine Miracles for his Death and Passion for his Resurrection and Ascension I yield thee all due and possible thanks for that Divine Mystery of his precious Body and Blood in the venerable Sacrament of the Eucharist wherewith we are nourished cleansed sanctified and our Souls made partakers of all Heavenly Graces and Spiritual Benedictions I give thee most humble hearty thanks that of a handful of dust and nothing thou hast vouchsafed first to wash me with the Laver of Baptism in remission of that Original corruption contracted in my first Parents that after in due and convenient time thou hast brought me to the exercises and acts of a right Faith not ceasing daily to increase the same in me by the Doctrin and Instruction of the Holy-Ghost I most humbly thank thee also that from my cradle thou hast nourished cloathed me supplying all things necessary for the relief and maintenance of this my feeble body I evermore extol and magnify thy holy Name that in thy great mercy thou hast hitherto spared me wantonly rioting in manifold excesses patiently expected me till by thy Grace I might be awaked from the sleep of sin and reclaimed from my vanities and wicked Courses For hadst thou dealt with me according to my demerits my Soul long ere this oppress'd with innumerable sins had been plunged in Perdition yea the yawning gulph of hell had swallowed me quick In respect of all which thy mercies and blessings I most humbly desire that my heart may be evermore enlarged to render thee a more ample tribute of Praise and Thanksgiving then heretofore it hath done O my Lord most indulgent Father never leave me to my self but let the bridle of thy holy fear be ever in my jaws to curb keep me within the compass of my obedience that I may dread nothing so much in this world as in the least sort to offend thee To which end let thy holy love so temper all trials and temptations which befall me that I may profit my self by them for thou knowest how frail I am of my self and how my strength is nothing Moreover most merciful Father even by the profound humility of thy Son Jesus Christ I beseech thee that thou wouldst preserve me thy Servant from all Pride of mind all self-love and vain-glory all obstinacy and disobedience all craft and dissimulation Cast down I beseech thee the Spirit of gluttony and uncleaness the Spirit of Sloth heaviness the Spirit of malice envy the spirit of hatred and disdain that I may never despise any of thy Creatures nor prefer my self before others but ever seem little in my own eys to think the best of others and judge the worst of my self Invest me most holy Father with the weding-garment of thy beloved Son the supernatural virtue of heavenly Charity that I may love thee my Lord GOd with al my heart with all my soul with all my strength that neither life nor death prosperity nor adversity nor any thing else may ever separate us from thy love Grant that all inordinate affections to the transitory things of this world may daily decay in me that thou alone mayest be acceptable to my soul O my most gracious God give thy servant an humble contrite and obedient heart and understanding always imployed in honest pious cogitations A will tractable and ever prone to do good affections always calm and moderate a watchful custody of my Senses that by those Windows no sin may enter into my soul a perfect government of my tongue that no corrupt or unseemly language may proceed from my lips that I may never slander or speak ill of any whomsoever that I may not busie my self in the faults and imperfections of others but wholy attend to the amendment of my own And finally most loving Lord so long as I am detained in this Prison of my body let this be my comfort that being free from all secular cares I may wholly devote my self to thy Service and only give entertainment to thy Heavenly Doctrin and to the good Motions and Inspirations of thy Holy Spirit In these sweet exercises let me pass the solitary hours of my tedious confinement with Patience expecting the shutting up of my days and a happy end of this my miserable life And grant O Redeemer of mankind my Lord and God that when this my Earthly Tabernacle shall be dissolved through contrition and the virtue of the Sacraments of the Holy Church I may be reckoned in the number of those blessed souls who through the Merits and Passion of thy dear Son are held worthy to reign with thee and to enjoy the glorious presence of the blessed Trinity Father Son and Holy-Ghost to whom by all Creatures in Heaven and Earth be rendred Praise and thanksgiving world without end Amen O Lord my God O Lord my God Possess my Soul Possess my Soul Possess my Soul A Table of SINS To help the Ignorant and ill of Memory wherein when they would be confessed they may presently find out with little labour the sundry and manifold ways of offending God Of the Ten Commandments The First Commandment NOT loved God above all things Born over much love to Creatures Doubted or staggered in matters of Faith Ignorant of the Ten Commandments Of the Commandments of the Church Of the Articles of Faith Murmured against God in adversity Lack of Confidence in God Presumption of his Goodness Desperation of his Mercy Believed Dreams or tellers of Fortunes Gone to witches or cunning men for counsel Read or keep Heretical Books Favoured Hereticks Conversed with them without necessity Hindred any ones Conversion from Heresie or Schism Not recommended my self daily to God and his Saints Not conformed my Will in all things to the Divine Will The Second Commandment TAken the Name of God in vain Blasphemed God Forsworn my self Sworn by the Body or Members of Christ Cursed my self Cursed the Creatures Given my self or others to the Devil Broken my Vows Angred others so far as to make them Swear or Blaspheme God The Third Commandment NOt
CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE Composed by the R. Father ROBERT BELLARMINE of the Society of Jesus and CARDINAL Translated into better English than formerly IHS The Last Edition Printed for A.L. Anno Dom. 1676. The A. B. C. ✚ A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V U W X Y Z. ✚ A a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r s s t v u w x y z. ✚ A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V V W X Y Z. ✚ a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r s s t v u w x y z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000. A BRIEF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE To be learned by heart Of the end of a Christian and of the signe of the Holy Cross Master A Are you a Christian Scholar I am by the grace of God M What mean you by a Christian S. Him that maketh Profession of the Faith and Law of Christ M In what doth the Faith of Christ chiefly consist S. In two principal mysteries which are included in the sign of the Holy Cross that is in the Vnity and Trinity of God and in the Incarnation and Death of our Saviour M What meaneth Unity and Trinity of God S. It meaneth that in God there is one only Divinity or as we say Essence and Divine Nature which nevertheless is in three Divine Persons that are called Father Sun and Holy-Ghost M Wherefore are these Divine Persons S. Because the Father hath no beginning nor proceeds from another Person The Son proceeds from the Father And the Holy-Ghost from the Father and the Son M Wherefore are these three Persons only one God S. Because they have one self Essence one self Power one self wisdom and one sef-Goodness M. What meaneth Incarnation and Death of our Saviour S. It meaneth that the Son of God who is the second Person of the blessed Trinity became Man dyed upon the Cross to save us M. How are these two Mysteries included in the sign of the Cross S. Because we make the sign of the Cross by putting our right-hand first to the head saying In the name of the Father then under the breasts saying of the Son finally to the left right sholders saying of the Holy-Ghost Amen M. How then is there shewed the first Mystery of the most Blessed Trinity S. Because this word In the name signifieth the Vnity the other words signify the Trinity M. Shew now the second S. The figure of the Cross doth represent the death of our Saviour who after he was made man and had taught the way of Salvation with Doctrine with Example and with miracles dyed upon the Holy Wood of the Cross A Declaration of the Creed M. WHich is the Rule of our Belief S. It is the Symbole of the Apostles which we commonly call the Creed M. Say the Creed S. 1. I believe in God the Father-Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth 2. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. 3. Who was conceived by the Holy-Ghost born of the Virgin Mary 4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead buried 5. Descended into Hell the third day he rose again from the dead 6. Ascended into Heaven sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty 7. from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead 8. I believe in the Holy-Ghost 9. The holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints 10. Remission of sins 11. Resurrection of the flesh 12. Life everlasting Amen M. Who made the Creed S. The twelve Apostles therefore there be twelve Articles M. What do these Articles contain in sum S. All that which principally expresly we must believe of God and of the Church his Spouse because the eight first Articles pertain to God the four last to the Church M. Declare the first Article S. I firmly believe in one only God who is the natural Father of his only begotten Son and is also Father by the grace of all good Christians who are therefore called the Adopted Sons of God finally he is Father by Creation of all other things And this God is Omnipotent because He can do all that he will and hath created of nothing Heaven and Earth with whatsoever is in them that is the whole universal world M. Declare the second Article S. I believe also in JESUS CHRIST who is the only begotten Son of God the Father because he was begotten of the same Father Eternal and is God Eternal Infinite Omnipotent Creator and Lord of us and of all things as he is the Father M. Declare the Third S. I believe that Jesus Christ is not only true God but also true Man because he hath taken man's flesh of the immaculate Virgin Mary by virtue of the Holy-Ghost so was born on earth of Mother without Father as in Heaven he was born of Father without Mother M. Declare the Forth S. I believe that Jesus Christ to redeem the world with his precious blood suffered under Pontius Pilate Governour of Jury being scourged crowned with Thorns put upon the Cross on which he dyed being taken down from the same was buryed in a new Sepulcher M. Declare the Fifth S. I believe that Jesus Christ as soon as he was dead went with his soul to Limbus or the place of holy Fathers and the third day which was the Sunday he rose glorious and triumphant M Declare the sixth S I believe that Jesus Christ after he had forty dayes remained with the holy Apostles to prove with many apparitions his true Resurrection mounted up to the highest Heaven and there sitteth above all the Quires of Angels at the right hand of the Father that is in glory equal to the Father as Lord Governour of all Creatures M Declare the seventh S I believe that the same our Lord in the end of the world shall come from Heaven with most great power glory and shall judge all men giving to every man the reward or punishment he hath deserved M Declare the eighth S. I believe in the Holy Ghost who is the third Person of the most blessed Trinity and proceedeth from the Father and the Son and is in all and every thing equal to the Father and to the Son that is he is God Eternal Infinite Omnipotent Creator and Lord of all things as the Father and the Son M Declare the ninth S. I believe also that there is a Church which is the Congregation of all the faithfull Christians that are Baptized and I do believe confess the Faith of Christ our Lord and acknowledge the high Bishop of Rome for Vicar of the same Church on Earth M Why is this Church called Holy and Catholick S. Holy Because it hath the Head which is Christ Holy and for that it
hath many holy members the Faith Law and Sacraments holy and it is called Catholick that is Univesal M. What signifieth the Communion of Saints S. It signifyeth the Participation of Prayers good works that are done in that Church even as in a mans body all the members are partakers of the good of one member M. Declare the Tenth S. I believe that in the holy Church there is true remission of sins by means of the holy Sacraments Whereby men of children of the Devill and condemned to death become the Children of God and Heirs of Paradise M. Declare the Eleventh S. I believe that in the end of the world all men shal rise taking again the same bodies which before they had and this by the power of God to whom nothing is impossible M Declare the last S. I believe that for good Christians there is life everlasting full of all felicity free from all kind of evil as contrariwise for Infidels and for evil Christians there is eternal death replenished with all misery and void of all good M What mean you by Amen S I mean so it is or So be it in truth and verity A Declaration of the Pater Noster and the Ave-Mary M. HAving spoken now of that which we must believe let us see if you know that which we must hope for and of whom we must have hope Know ye the Pater-Noster S. I know it right well for it was the first thing I learned and I say it every morning and evening together with the Ave Mary and with the Creed M Say then the Pater Noster S. Our Father which art in Heaven 1. Hollowed be thy Name 2. Thy Kingdom come 3. Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven 4. Give us this day our daily bread 5. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors 6. And lead us not into Temptation 7. But deliver us from evil Amen M. Who made this Prayer S. Christ our Saviour made it and therefore it is the most excellent of all others M What is briefly contained in this Prayer S. All that we can demand and hope for of God for there be seven Petitions In the first four we demand that he give us all good in the three following that he deliver us from all evil And concerning that which is good we first demand the glory of God Secondly our Greatest Good Thirdly Grace to obtaine it Fourthly the means to get and keep the said grace Touching that which is evil we demand that he deliver us from evil past Secondly from evils to come Thirdly from evils present and so from all evils M. Declare these words that go before the first Petition that is Our Father which art in Heaven S. This is a little Preface in which is given the reason why we should have courage to speak unto so our request We say then that God is our Father by Creation Adoption therefore as Children we have recoutse to Him and we add that he is in Heaven as Lord of the Univetsal world And for this we know that he can grant our petitions if it so please him as we do hope he will seeing he is our Father M. Declare the First Petition S. In the First Petition we demand that God be known by all the world and his holy name be honoured and glorifyed by all as is fitting M. Declare the second S. we demand in the second that the Kingdom which he hath promised us come speedily that is to say that the battles which we have with the Devil the World the Flesh being ended we may arrive to everlasting felicity where we shall reign with God without any impediment M. Delare the third S. We demand in the third the grace of God with which we may perfectly obey his holy Commandments as the Angels always obey him in heaven Because the ladder to mount us up into Heaven is obedience to his Commandments M. Declare the Fourth S. We demand in the fourth our daily bread as well spiritual that is the word of God the Sacraments as corporall that is Sustenance Apparel for the word of God delivered to us by Preachers and read by us in spiritual Books the holy Sacraments chiefly of confession Communion are most efficatious means on their part that is if we our selves be not in fault to obtain conserve the grace of God of which we have spoken in the former Petition Sustenance Apparel is necessary for us to maintain this life in the service of God M. Declare the fifth S. We demand in the fifth that God deliver us from evils past that is from sins already committed of the pains which for them we have incurred And we add As we forgive our debtors their debts that is as we pardon the offences of our enemies for that it is not a reasonable thing that God forgive us our sins which are most great offences if we will not pardon injuries done unto us which are offences of small importance M. Declare the sixth S. We demand in the sixth that God will deliver us from temptations which are evils to come by not permitting us to be tempted and giving us grace that we be not overcome M. Declare the seventh S. We demand in the seventh that God will deliver us from evils present that is from all affliction and misery and from all vain prosperity and temporal advancement if he see that it be hurtfull to our salvation M Say now the Ave Mary S. Hail Mary full of grace our Lord is with thee blessed art thou amongst Women blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and in the hour of our death Amen M. By whom were these words spoken S. Partly by the Archangel Gabriel partly by S. Elizabeth and partly by the holy Church M. To what end doe you say the Ave-Mary after the Pater-Noster S. To the end that by the intercession of the most B. Virgin I may more easily obtain that which I beg of God because she is the Advocate of sinners full of mercy and is seated in Heaven above all the Quires of Angels and most acceptable to God M. Have you no recourse also to other Saints S. Yea to all the Saints and in particular to the Saint of my name and my Angel-Guardian Of the Commandments of God M. LEt us come now to that which we must do To love God and our Neighbour Say you then the ten Commandments S. I am thy Lord thy God 1 Thou shalt have none other Gods before me 2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain 3. Remember that thou keep holy the Saboath day 4. Honour thy Father and Mother 5. Thou shalt not Murther 6. Thou shalt not commit adultery 7. Thou shalt not steal 8. Thou shalt not bear false witness 9. Thou shalt not desire thy Neighbour's Wife 10. Thon shalt