42. Q. What other yet A. Out of Acts ch 8. v. 29 38. where the Ethiopian Eunuch going on Pilgrimage to Hierusalem was in his return converted and baptized on the way by S. Philip so pleasing was his Pilgrimage to God Finally because it was foretold by the Prophets that those places which Christ sanctified by his Passion should be places of great Pilgrimage and adoration We will adore saith David in the place where his feet have stood Psal 131. And in Isa ch 11. v. 10. we read To him shall the Gentiles pray and his sepulcher shall be glorious Q. How do you prove it lawfull to goe on Pilgrimage to the Shrines of Saints A. Because as you have heard already their Reliques are holy and venerable things and God is pleased to work great Cures and Miracles by them for such as are devout honourers of them Q. Is there any power now in the Church to do Miracles A. There is according to that unlimited promise of Christ Them that believe in me these signes shall follow in my name they shall cast out Devills they shall speake with new tongues they shall lay hands upon the sicke and they shall be whole S. Mat. ch 19. v. 17 18. Q. Have these things beene done in latter Ages A. They have and are as you may see in the unquestionable Histories and Records of all Catholique Countries where many great Miracles wrought by the Servants of God and especially at the Pilgrimages and Shrines of Saints are yearly registred under the Depositions of eye-witnesses men above all exceptions which cannot be denied unlesse we may deny all Historie Q. Why then do the pretended Reformers say that Miracles are ceased A. Because they and their Sect-Masters have never yet beene able to do any in confirmation of their Errours Q. Why are so few done here in England A. By reason of the incredulity of Sectaries Q. What necessity is there of the Beliefe of Miracles A. Doubtlesse very great because the Beliefe of Miracles well grounded makes men extremely apprehensive of the presence of God and his immediate Government of humane affaires so that he who absolutely denieth miracles is to be suspected of not believing particular Providence which is the maine string on which all Christianity dependeth The second Commandement Expounded Q. WHat is the second Commandement A. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine Q. What is forbidden by this Precept A. All false rash and unnecessary Oaths Q. What kind of sinnes are false and rash Oaths A. Mortall sinnes if they be voluntary and deliberate because by such Oaths we call God to witnesse to a lie or at least to that which is uncertaine Q. What are the necessary conditions of a lawfull Oath A. Truth that we hurt not Gods Honour justice that we wrong not our neighbour and judgement that we sweare not vainly Q. What is a just cause of an Oath A. Gods Honour our owne or our neighbours lawfull good and defence Q. If a man Sweare to do that which is evill is he bound to keepe his Oath A. No He is bound not to keepe it for an Oath is no bond of iniquity Q. How prove you a vaine or jesting Oath to be a sinne A. Out of S. Matth. ch 5. v. 34. It was said of old saith our Lord Thou shalt not commit perjury But I say unto you not to sweare at all that is without just cause Q. What other proofe have you A. Out of S. Iames. ch 5. v. 12. But above all things saith he sweare ye not neither by Heaven nor earth nor any other Creature But let your talke be yea yea no no that yee fall not under judgement Q. What else is prohibited by this Precept A. All cursing and blaspheming Q. What is commanded by it A. To speake alwayes with reverence of God and of his Saints Q. How else doe men sinne against this Precept A. By breaking lawfull Vowes and by making or keeping unlawfull ones Q. What is a Vow A. It is a diliberate and voluntary promise made to God of some better good Q. How do you prove it lawfull to make Vowes A. Out of Esa ch 19. v. 21. They shall make Vowes unto our Lord saith he and shall pay them The third Commandement Expounded Q. WHat is the third Commandement A. Remember thou keepe holy the Sabbath day Q. When began the Sabbath to be kept A. From the very Creation of the world For then God blessed it and rested on it from all his works Gen. 2. 2. Q. When was this Commandement renewed A. In the old Law when God gave the Commandements to Moses on Mount Sinai written with his owne finger in two Tables of stone Exod. ch 20. Q. Why was the Iewish Sabbath changed into the Sunday A. Because Christ was borne upon a Sunday rose from the dead upon a Sunday and sent downe the Holy Ghost upon a Sunday workes not inferiour to the Creation of the world Q. By whom was it changed A. By the Church by the Apostles who also kept it for S. Iohn was in Spirit on a Sunday Apoc. ch 1. v. 10. Q. How prove you that the Church hath power to command Feasts and Holy Daies A. By this very act of changing the Sabbath into the Sunday which Protestants allow of and therefore fondly contradict themselves by keeping Sunday so strictly and breaking most other Feasts commanded by the same Church Q. How declare you that A. Because by keeping Sunday they acknowledge the Churches power to ordaine Feasts and to command them under sin and by not keeping the rest by her commanded they again deny in fact the same power Q. What other proof have you A. Out of S. Iohn ch 10. ver 22. where we read That Christ himselfe was present and kept the Dedication of the Temple in Hierusalem a Feast ordained by Iudas Machabaeus 1 Machab ch 4. Q. What other yet A. Out of Acts ch 2. v. 1. where the Apostles keeping the Feast of Pentecost were all filled with the Holy Ghost Neither do Protestants as yet dissent from this though some have lately prohibited and prophaned both it and the most holy Feast of the Resurrection Q. What command have you from God for obedience to the Church in things of this nature A. Out of Acts ch 15. v. 4. where we read that S. Paul went about confirming the Churches and commanding them to keep the precept of the Apostles and the Ancients And out of S. Luke c. 10. v. 16. He that heareth you beareth me and he that despiseth you the Church despiseth me Q. May Temporall Princes and the Laity make a Holy Day A. With consent and approbation of the Church they may otherwise not because that is an act of spirituall Jurisdiction Q. For what end doth the Church ordaine Holy Dayes A. For the increase of piety and in memory of speciall benefits received from God Q. If keeping the Sunday be a Church-precept why is
Precept A. Back-biting Flattery and Detraction Q. What is Back-biting A. It is to breake friendship betwixt others by speaking ill of one unto the other behind his back Q. What is Flattery A. To attribute to another some perfection which he hath not or to praise him for that which is not worthy praise Q. What is Detraction A. It is a secret staining and blotting of anothers good name Q. What is he bound to that hath hurt his neighbour in any of these kinds A. To make him satisfaction and restore him his good name Q. How for example A. If he have told a hurtfull lie of him he is bound to unsay it or if he have revealed his secret sinne he is bound to speak well of the same party and to mitigate the matter all he may Q. Is it a sinne to hearken to detraction A. To doe it willingly and with delight or so as to incourage the detractor it is for by so doing we cooperate with the detractor Q. How then must we behave our selves amongst detractors A. If they be Inferiours we must reprehend them if Equalls or Superiours we must shew our selves at least not pleased with that discourse Q. What is rash Judgement A. That which is grounded on meere hear-sayes jealousies and surmises without any morall certainty or great probability Q. When is a lie a mortall sin A. When it is any great dishonour to God or notable prejudice to our neighbour otherwise if it be meerly officious or jesting it is but veniall sinne The ninth and tenth Commandements Expounded Q. VVHat are the ninth and tenth Commandements A. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife thou shalt not covet thy neighbours-goods nor any thing that is his Q. What is prohibited by these Commandements A. The inordinate will or desire of unlawfull lust especially Adultery and of all Theft Q. What else A. Not onely all deliberate desire or consent but likewise all voluntary delight and complacence in covetous or impure thoughts Q. How prove you that unchast desires are mortall sinnes A. Out of S. Mat. ch 5. v. 28. 29. where we read It was said of old thou shalt not commit Adultery but I say unto you that whosoever shall see a woman to lust after her he hath already committed Adultery in his heart Q. How prove you covetous desires to be great sinnes A. Out of 1 Tim. ch 6. v. 9. where we read They that will be made rich fall into temptation and the snâ—â—e of the Devill and many desires unprofitable and hurtfull which drowne men into destruction and perdition Q. Is there any sinne in those motions of concupiscence which we feâ—â—e and suffer against our wills A. There is not for nothing is sinne which is not voluntary and deliberate Q. What think you now of this second Table of the Law is here any thing that savoureth of impossibility to be kept A. No certainly for here is nothing commanded us which the very Law of nature and right reason doth not dictate to us And therefore ought to bee observed and done although it were not commanded us Q. Is here any thing but what every man expecteth and desireth to have done unto himselfe by others A. There is not therefore we must doe the same to others according to that All things whatsoever you will that men doe unto you doe ye also to them for this is the Law and the Prophets S. Mat. ch 7. v. 12. Q. Why then do Novellists pretend and teach that the Commandements are impossible to be kept A. Because they are not willing to oblige themselves to the observance of them but had rather make God the Author of sin by commanding impossibilities a most high blasphemy and justifie their owne iniquities by saying they cannot help then humbly acknowledge and confesse their sinnes with purpose to amend by an acceptance of the Law of God CHAP. IX The Commandements of the Church Expounded Q. HOw many be the Commandements of the Church A. There be six principall ones Q. What is the first A. To heare Masse on all Sundayes and Holy Dayes if we have oportunity to doe it and there be no just cause unto the contrary Q. Why on all Sundayes A. In a Thanksgiving for the benefits of the week past as also to sanctifie the present day Q. For what other reason A. In memory that the same Christ which is offered upon the Altar in the blessed Sacrament for our sinnes was borne rose from the dead and sent down the Holy Ghost upon a Sunday Q. Why on all holy dayes A. Either in memory of some speciall benefit or else for a commemoration of some peculiar Saint so to move our selves to imitate his example Q. How prove you that the Church hath power to ordaine and command Feasts A. By the example of the Church in the Apostles time which ordained the Feast of Christ-Masse in honour of the Nativity of Christ the Feast of Easter in honour of his Resurrection Whitsontide in honour of the coming of the Holy Ghost in Tongues of Fire Q. What other proof have you A. Out of S. Clement the Disciple of S. Peter in his eighth Book of Apostolicall Constitutions where he witnesseth That the Apostles gave order for the celebrating of S. Stephens and some other of their fellow-Apostles dayes after their deaths Q. What other yet A. Out of Col. ch 3. v. 4. We have confidence of you in the Lord saith S. Paul that the things which we command you both do and will do And ver 14. If any obey not our word doe not ye companie with him that he may be confounded Q. What other yet A. Out of Thes ch 4. v. 8. where speaking of the Precepts which he had given unto his Brethren Paul saith He that despiseth these things despiseth not man but God who also hath given his holy Spirit in us See what was said above in the third Commandement of God The second Church-Commandement Expounded Q. WHat is the 2d. Commandement of the Church A. To fast Lent Vigills commanded Ember Dayes and Fridayes also by custome of England with abstinence from flesh on Saturdayes Q. Why Lent A. In imitation of Christ our Lord who fasted forty dayes and forty nights in the Desart for our sins without once eating or drinking Q. Can we fast in that manner A. We cannot but we must do at least what we are able Q. How prove you Fasting to be a pious Practice A. By the example of Christ and his Saints and out of S. Luke ch 2. v. 37. where we read That Anne the Prophetesse departed not from the Tempte serving day and night by Fasting and Prayers Q. How prove you Fasting to be meritorious A. Out of S. Matth. ch 6. 16 17 18. Where we read And when you fast be not yee sad like the hypocrites but when thou dost fast annoint thy head and wash thy face that thou appeare not to men to fast but to thy Father which is in secret
Out of Eccles ch 34. v. 27. He that sheddeth bloud and he that defraudeth the hired man are brethren And out of S. Iames ch 5. v. 4. Behold the hire of the workmen that have reaped your fields which is defrauded by you crieth and the cry hath entred into the eares of the Lord of Sabbath CHAP. XXI The foure last Things expounded Q. WHat are the Foure Last Things A. Death Iudgement Hell and Heaven Eccles ch 7. v. 28. Q. What understand you by Death A. That we are all mortall and shall once die how soone we are uncertain and therefore must be alwayes prepared for it Q. How prove you that A. Out of Heb. ch 9. v. 27. It is decreed for all men once to die And out of S. Matth. ch 25. v. 13. Watch ye therefore because ye know not the day nor the houre Q. What is the best preparative for death A. A godly life and to be often doing Penance for our sinnes and saying with S. Paul I doe desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ Phil. ch 1. v. 23. Q. What else A. To remember often that of S. Matth. ch 16. v. 26. He that will save his life shall lose it and he that shall lose his life for me shall find it Q. What understand you by judgement A. I understand that besides the generall judgement at the last day our soules as soone as we are dead shall receive their particular judgement at the tribunall of Christ according to that Blessed are the dead that die in our Lord from henceforth now saith the spirit that they rest from their labours for their works follow them Apoc. 14. ch v. 13. Q. What is the best preparitive for this judgement A. To remember often that of Heb. ch 10. v. 21. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God And that of 1 Cor. ch 11. v. 31. For if we did judge our selves we should not be judged Q. What understand you by hell A. That such as die in mortall sin and the disfavour of God shall be tormented there both day and night for ever and ever Apoc. ch 20. v. 10. There shall be weeping howling and gnashing of teeth the worme of conscience shall alwaies gnaw them and the fire that tormenteth them shall never be extinguished S. Matth. ch 8. and S. Mark ch 9. Q. What understand you by heaven A. That the elect and faithfull servants of God shall reigne with him for ever in his Kingdome where he hath prepared such delights and comforts for them as neither eye hath seen or eare hath heard neither hath it ascended into the heart of man 1 Cor. ch 2. v. 9. Q. How prove you that A. Out of S. Matth. ch 7. v. 21. He that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven he shall enter into the Kingdome of heaven Q. VVhat utility is there in the frequent memory of these last things A. Very great according to that In all thy works remember thy last things and thou shalt never sinne Eccles chap. 7. Which God of his great mercy give us grace to doe Amen CHAP. XXII The Ceremonies of the Masse Expounded Q. WHo ordained the Ceremonies of the masse A. The Church directed by the Holy Ghost Q. For what end did she ordaine them A. To stirre up devotion in the people and reverence to the sacred mysteries Q. For what other end A. To instruct the ignorant in spirituall and high things by sensible and materiall signes and by the glory of the Militant to make them apprehend something of the glory of the Triumphant Church Q. What warrant hath the Church to ordain Ceremonies A. The authority of God himselfe in the old Law commanding many and most stately Ceremonies in things belonging to his service See the whole book of Leviticus Q. What besides A. The example of Christ in the new Law using durt and spittle to cure the blind the deafe and dumb he prostrated at his prayer in the Garden three times he lifted up his eyes to heaven and groaned when he was raising Lazarus from the dead which were all Ceremonies Q. Did he use any Ceremonies at at his last Supper where he ordained the Sacrifice of the Masse A. He did for he washed the feet of his Disciples he commanded a roome to be prepared covered with hangings or adorned S. Mark ch 14. v. 15. He blessed the Bread and the Cup and exhorted the Communicants Q. What meaneth the Priests coming back three steps from the Altar and humbling himselfe before he beginneth A. It signifies the prostrating of Christ in the Garden when he began his Passion Q. Why doth the Priest bow himself again at the CONFITEOR A. To move the people to humiliation and to signifie that by the merits and Passion of Christ which they are there met to commemorate salvation may be had if it be sought with a contrite and humble heart Q. Why doth he beat his breast at MEA CULPA A. To teach the people to return unto the heart and signifie that all sinne is from the heart and ought to be ascribed to the heart with hearty sorry Q. Why doth the Priest ascending to the Altar kisse the Altar in the middle A. Because the Altar signifies the Church composed of divers people as of divers living stones which Christ kissed in the middle by giving a holy kisse of peace both to the Jewes and Gentiles Q. What signifies the INTROITE A. The desires and groanings of the antient Fathers after the coming of Christ Q. Why is the INTROITE repeated twice A. To signifie the frequent repetition of their desires and supplications Q. Why doe we adde unto the INTROITE GLORIA PATRI c. Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne and to the Holy Ghost Amen A. To render thankes to the most Blessed Trinity for our redemption accomplished by the Crosse Q. What meanes the KYRIE ELEISON A. It signifies Lord have mercy on us and is repeated thrice in honour of the Father thrice in honour of the Son and thrice in honour of the Holy Ghost Q. Why so often A. To signifie our great necessity and earnest desire to find mercy Q. What meanes the GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO A. It is the song which the Angells sung at the birth of Christ and used in this place to signifie that the mercy which wee beg was brought us by his birth and death Q. What meanes the Collect A. It is the Priests Prayer and is called a Collect because it collecteth and gathereth together the supplications of the multitude speaking them all with one voice and because it is a collection or summe of the Epistle and Gospell of the Masse for the most part of the yeare especially of all the Sundayes Q. Why doth the Clarke say AMEN A. He doth it in the name of the People to signifie that they all concurre with the Priest in his petition or Prayer Q. What meaneth the