of bondage A. Four 1. In that it is said God spake these words I learn that God is the Author of them 2. In that it is said I am the Lord I learn that he hath authority to command and power to punish the breakers of his Law Mat. 10.28 3. It that it is said Thy God I learn that we must obey in regard of the Covenant which we have made with him Ezek. 11.20 4. In that it is said Which brought thée out of Egypt learn that we must obey in regard of his mercy and goodness towards us Deut. 4.20 Luke 1.74 I. Command Q. What doth the first commandement require of us A. That we take the true God only for our God Q. How is this done A. Two ways 1. By knowing and acknowledging him in our Iudgments to be God alone 2. By entirely cleaving unto him in our affections Q. Which are those affections by which we are to cleave to God especially A. 1. Faith or affiance in him as our only stay out of which floweth prayer for what we want and thankfulness for what we have received Psal 62.1 Psal 51.14 2. Love unto him as our chiefest good Deut. 6.5 3. Fear of him as the greatest and most glorious object Isa 8.13 Q. What is for bidden in the first Commandement A. Either the not knowing or acknowledging any God at all which is Atheism or not knowing the true God aright which is gross ignorance or acknowledging any other to be God besides him that is not God by nature which is Idolatry Besides any failing to cleave unto the true God by Faith Love and Fear which are due unto him or leaning therein to any other II. Command Q. What doth the second Commandement concern A. The rule or manner according to which God will be worshiped Q. What is forbidden in this Second Commandement A. All carnal worshipping of God by Images either represented to the eye or conceived in the mind together with all inventions of men about the substance or manner of his worship Q. What is commanded in it A. A Spiritual worshiping of God and a careful following of his Word and Sucraments in the use of his worship John 4.24 1 Câ—r 11.23 c. III. Command Q. What is required of us in the third Commandement A. 1. We are forbidden to abuse the glorious Name of God any manner of way as in conjuring cursing perjury in idle and vain swearing Deut. 18.11 Rom. 12.14 Lev. 19.12 Mat. 5.34 2 We are commanded to use the Holy Name of God with reverence and honor as in giving honor and praise unto it and in religious swearing by it Deut. 28.58 Psal 118.28,29 Isa 45.23 Q. Tell me by whom we must swear A. By God for it is a part of his glory which he will give to none other Deu 6.13 Q. In what causes and where is it lawful to swear A. Where the glory of God is sought or the preservation of our brethren or before a Magistrate 2 Cor. 1.23 Jer. 4.2 Heb. 9.16 IV. Command Q. What is commanded in the fourth Commandement A. That the whole Sabbath or Lords Day be set apart from all common use as holy to the Lord both publickly and privately in the practice of the duties of Piety and works of Mercy and Necessity Q. What are the duties of Piety and Holiness A. Hearing the Word of God read and preached praying receiving of the Sacraments conferring and meditating of the Word and Works of God Acts 13.14,15 Acts 15.21 Acts 16.13 Acts 20.7 Psal 92.4,5 Q. What are the works of mercy which we are to perform on that day A. Visiting the sick comforting the afflicted collections for the poor and such like Mark 3.4 1 Cor. 16.2 Q. What be the works of necessity A. Such as end necessarily to the preservation of life health or goods which otherwise would perish or be in danger Mat. 12.1,7,11 Mat. 12.5 Or to the performance of Gods service which otherwise must be omitted Q. What is forbidden in this fourth Commandement A. All neglecting of the duties of the Sabbaâ—h prophaning of that day in whole or in part by needless works words or thoughts about our callings or recreations Mat. 26.6 Acts 20.9 Isa 58.13 Neh. 13.15,16,17 c. Exod. 34.21 Q. What reasons doth God use to disswade men from the works of the world on the Sabbath Day A. Four in number 1. Because he doth allow them six days in every wéek to do their own business in 2. Because the seventh day is the Lords day and not theirs 2. Because he himself rested the seventh day and did not work therein as he had done in the six days before 4. Because he hath sanctified the seventh day and appointed the same for a blessing unto men V. Command Q. What is meant by Honour A. It imports especially thrée things 1. to reverence their persons 2. To obey their lawful commands 3. When néed requireth to relieve them Q. What is meant by Father and Mother A. My Father and Mother who are my natural parents the Magistrates who are the Fathers of our Countrey the Ministers of Gods Word who are our Fathers in Christ our Masters and Governors the aged and all our betters Q. What is the Duty that Superiors are to return back again to their Infectors A. To carry themselves gravely méekly and in a séemly manner towards them Titus 2.2 Col. 3.21 Col. 4.1 Q. What is the duty of equals to each other A. To carry themselves modestly and lovingly towards one another with due respect to the worth and dignity of each other Eph. 5.21 Rom. 12.10 Q. Have all the children of God length of life A. They have two manner of ways 1. They have the blessing of long life in this world like as they have the blessing of health even in sickness and the blessing of wealth even in poverty so far forth as all estates and conditions work for their good Prov. 3.16 Eccles 8.12 Rom. 8.28 Psal 91.16 2. The sooner they dye here the sooner they enter upon life in the Kingdom of Heaven so that the shorter it is here the longer it is there Q. But have not the wicked long life sometimes A. Yes in this world but it is a cursed not a blessed life unto them which the Scripture accounteth death rather then life Isa 65.20 VI. Command Q. What is forbidden in the sixth Commandement Thou shalt not kill A. All neglect of our own or our neighbors preservation or desire of our own or their hurt conceived in heart or declared by word gesture or déed Q. What is commanded in it A. That by all means lawful we desire and study to preserve our own person and the person of our neighbor VII Command Q. What is forbidden in the Seventh Commandement Thou shalt not commit Adultery A. All uncleanness of heart spéech gesture or action together with all the causes occasions and signs thereof Q. What is commanded in it A. That we should kéep our selves
Spirit and breath of God blowing freely where it listeth and working spiritually for manner means and matter where it pleaseth John 3.8 Acts 2.2,3,4 Q. Why is the third person called holy A. Not only because of his essential holiness as God but because he is the author and worker of holiness in men 1 Cor. 6.11 IX Art Q. Why do you say I believe the Church not in the Church A. We do believe that there is a Church but we do not believe in the Church but in God the Church here below at the best is but a company of men called justified sanctified in part and therefore may erre Q. What is it then to believe the Church A. 1. That there is and always shall be a Church 2. That I am one of the Church 3. To believe the doctrine of the Church wherein it followeth Christ the Prophets and Apostles the onely sure pillars and ground of truth Q. How many sorts of Churches are there A. Two sorts Triumphant and Militant Q. What is the Church Triumphant A. The company of Gods children in Heaven Heb. 12.23 Q. VVhy is it so called A. Because they are all out of danger and so do triumph Rev. 21.4 Q. VVhat is the Church Militant A. The company of Gods Children here on Earth Q. Why are they thus called A. Because they fight the Lords battles against the world the flesh and the Devil 2 Tim. 2.3 Eph. 6.12 Q. What Church is here meant A. The Church Militant Q. What do you learn hence A. That God hath a Church and will have to the end of the world Q. Is there but one Church A. No there is but one true Church of Christ though there may be many particular visible Churches which are parts thereof yet there is but one Catholick and Vniversal Church of which not one shall be lost and out of which not one shall be saved Eph. 5.23 John 17.12 Q. Why is it called Catholick or Universal A. It is called Catholick or Vniversal 1. In respect of time because it hath been and shall be in all ages Acts 2.39 2. In respect of persons it consists of all sorts of men high and low rich and poor Acts 2.10,34 3. In respect of place it hath been gathered from all parts of the earth Rev. 5.9 Rev. 7.9 Q. Why is the Church called Holy A. Because it is made holy by justification in Christ and Sanctification of the Spirit Rom. 3.24 Cant. 4.7 Q. What is the Communion of Saints A. That holy and sweet fellowship which all the members of Christs Church have one with another as they make all but one body in Christ so communicating of all good things unto one another whether spiritual or temporal as their mutual necessities do require 1 John 1.3 2 Cor. 8.14 Q. Why are all believers called Saints A. Because they are partakers of Christs holiness daily growing and increasing in the same And to let us know that none shall be Saints in Heaven but such as are first Saints on Earth Heb. 12.10 3 Cor. 7.1 Q. What duty doth this communion of Saints require of us A. To renounce all fellowship with sin and sinners to edifie one another in Faith and Love to delight in the society of the Saints and to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace X. Art Q. What is meant by the forgiveness of sins A. Forgiveness of sins is that great blessing of God which Iesus Christ by his death and passion procured for all that believe in him whereby God esteems of their sins as no sins or as never committed by them Q. What duties are required of us that find our sins pardoned A. To sin no more lest a worse thing come unto us to forgive others as God hath forgiven us to renew our assurance by prayer repentance and new obedience XI Art Q. What professest thou to believe in the eleventh Article The resurrection of the body A. That the bodies of the wicked shall be raised by the power of Christ as he is Iudge and joyned to their souls so to continue together without separation for evermore in the torments of Hell but the bodies of the faithful and so mine among others shall be raised by virtue of Christs resurrection to enjoy in body and soul together life everlasting 1 Cor. 15.20 1 Thes 4.14,16 John 5.28,29 XII Art Q. What is life everlasting A. That glorious estate of absolute holiness and happiness in the Heavens which all the elect shall for ever enjoy with Christ in the presence of God and his Angels 1 Thes 4.17 Q. What assurance have we of this estate A. It is prepared by the Father purchased by the Son confirmed by the Holy Ghost entred upon here and inherited hereafter Mat. 25.34 Eph. 1.13,14 Col. 1.5 1. Pet. 1.3,4,5 Q. What profit dost thou get by believing all these things A. 1. By this means I am justified before God even by faith alone in Christ Acts 13.39 Phil. 3.9 2. By faith I shall overcome the enemies of my Salvation 1 John 5.4 3. Being justified and overcomming I shall inherit eternal life Rom. 8.38 Tit. 3.7 Q. What is justification A. It is Gods accepting and accounting of a sinner as guiltless not for any righteousness of his own but upon the frée remission of his sins and the imputation of Christs righteousness and obedience Phil. 3.9 Rom. 3.24 Q. How is faith wrought and confirmed in our hearts A. 1. Inwardly by the Spirit the fountain of all Spiritual Graces Acts 16.14 1 Cor. 14.1,2 2. Outwardly by the Word of God which containeth the promises the ground of Faith Rom. 10.17 3. By the Sacraments which are seals of those promises Rom. 4.11 4. By prayer which addeth strength to Faith Luke 17.5 The Third Part of the CATECHISME concerning the COMMANDEMENTS Qu. HOw many Commandements are there A. Ten. Q. Into how many Tables are the commandements divided A. Into two * and no more because all righteousness is reduced to two Heads namely towards God or towards man Mat. 22.39,40 Q. What doth the first Table concern A. Our duty to God contained in the four first Commandments Q. What doth the second Table concern A. Our duty to our Neighbor contained in the six last Commandments Q. In this order of the Tables that the Duty to God is set before the duty to our neighbour how many Lessons do you learn A. 1. I learn to serve him before all thing and not to regard worldly things no nor life it self in respect of his glory Mat. 6.33 2. If I render my duty truly to God I must do my duty also to my Neighbour for if I neglect it to my neighbour whom I see daily it is evident that I do so to God 1 John 3.17 Q. How many Lessons learn you out of the Preface or Introduction to the commandements God spake these words and said I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Egypt out of the house