grace Q. How prove you that A. Out of 1 Cor. ch 11 v. 28. Let a man prove himselfe and so let him eat of this bread and drink of this cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the body of our Lord. Q. What are the effects of the Eucharist A. It replenisheth the soule with grace and nourisheth in spirituall life He that eateth of this Bread shall live for ever S. Ioh. 6. Q. What other benefit have we by it A. It is a most moving and effectuall commemoration of the Incarnation Nativity Passion Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. Q. How do you prove it lawfull for the Laity to communicate under one kind onely A. Because there is no command in Scripture for the Laity to doe it under both although there be for Priests in those words Drinke ye all of this S. Math. ch 26. v. 27. which was spoken to the Apostles onely and by them fulfilled for it followeth in S. Mark ch 14. v. 24. And they all drank Q. What other proofe have you A. Out of S. Iohn ch 6. v. 58. He that eateth of this bread shall live for ever therefore one kind sufficeth Q. VVhat other yet A. Out of Acts ch 20. v. 7. where we read That the faithfull were assembled on the first of the Sabboth to break bread without any mention of the cup And the two Disciples in Emmaus knew Christ in the breaking of bread where the cup is not mentioned and S. Paul 1 Cor. ch 11. v. 27. saith Therefore whosoever shall eat this Bread or drink the Chalice of our Lord unworthily you see by the word or it might be received either in one or both kinds he shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of our Lord. Q. What is the Masse A. It is the unbloody Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Iesus Christ which himselfe instituted at his last Supper Q. For what is this Sacrifice availeable A. It is propitiatory for the Remission of our sinnes impetratory for the obtaining of all benefits a peaceable offering of Thanksgiving to our God and a sweet Holocaust of divine love Q. Why are Priests obliged to receive under both kinds A. Because they offer Sacrifice and represent the bloody Sacrifice made upon the Crosse where the Blood was actually divided from the Body Q. Is it divided so also in the Masse A. In the manner of doing or signifying it is but not by any reall separation or division of the one from the other Q. How explaine you that A. Because the species of Bread as also the words by which it is consecrated signifie and represent as if the Body of Christ only were contained under it whereas there is indeed whole Christ and the species of Wine as likewise the words by which it is consecrated signifie and represent as if there only were the Blood of Christ although there be both Body and Blood whole Christ Q. Did the Laity ever communicate under both kindes A. They did sometimes in the Primitive Church and may again if Holy Church shall so appoint it but it is now prohibited by the Church to prevent the great danger of shedding the Cup neither are the Laity in this defrauded of any thing For they receive whole Christ under one kind which is incomparably morethen the pretended Reformers have under both who receive onely a bit of Bakers bread with a poor sup of common Vintners Wine Penance Expounded Q. VVHat is the fourth Sacrament A. Penance Q. What warrant have you for doing acts of Penance A. Out of Apoc. ch 2. v. 4. Thou hast left thy first Charity therefore be mindfull from whence thou hast fallen and do Penance Q. What other proofe have you A. Out of S. Matth. ch 5. v. 13. And Iesus began to preach and say do yee penance For the Kingdome of God is at hand Q. When did Christ ordaine this Sacrament A. When hee breathed on his Disciples saying Receive yee the Holy Ghost whose sinnes ye shall forgive they are forgiven and whose sinnes ye shall retain they are retained S. Ioh. c. 20. v. 23. Q. What is the matter of this Sacrament A. The sinnes and confession of the penitent Q. What is the forme of it A. I absolve thee from thy sinnes in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Q. What are the effects of it A. It reconcileth us to God and either restoreth or encreaseth grace Q. How prove you that A. Out of S. Iohn ch 20. v. 23. above cited And out of 1. S. Iohn ch 1. v. 9. If we confesse our sins he is faithfull and just to forgive us our sinnes and cleanse us from all iniquity Q. How many parts hath the Sacrament of Penance A. It hath three parts namely contrition confession and satisfaction Q. What is contrition A. It is a hearty sorrow for our sinnes proceeding immediately from the Love of God and joyned with a firme purpose of amendment Q. What is attrition A. It is a true sorrow for our sinnes proceeding immediately from the feare of Hell and punishment from God Q. Will that suffice to the remission of finnes A. With Sacramentall Confession and Absolution it will otherwise not Q. What if a dying man be in mortall sinne and cannot have a Priest A. Then nothing but contrition will suffice Q. What is a firme purpose of amendment A. It is a resolution not only to shun sinne but also the occasion of sinne Q. How long hath confession been in use and practice A. Ever since the very Apostles time according to S. Iames ch 5. v. 16. Confesse therefore your sinnes to one another and pray for one another that you may be saved Q. What other proofe have you A. Out of Acts ch 19. v. 18. And many of them that believed came confessing and declaring their deeds Q. What is Confession A. It is a Sacramentall opening of our sins unto a Priest to obtaine absolution Q. Wherein consisteth the necessity of Confession A. Because as to a mind laden with secret griefs the best of comforts is to disclose her case unto some faithfull friend so to a soule laden with secret sinnes the best of remedies possible is to have chosen and selected Persons ordained for that end by Christ himselfe men of singular piety and learning and not questionable by any Law of what they are to heare in Confession to whom she may confesse her sinnes with an assurance both of comfort correction and direction for the amendment of her faults Q. What are the necessary conditions of a good Confession A. That it be short diligent humble confounding sincere and entire Q. How short A. By avoiding superfluous words and circumstances Q. How diligent A. By using a competent time and care in the examen of our conscience Q. How humble A. By making our Confession with humble hearts Q. How confounding A. By stirring up confusion for our sins Q.
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
these words Those that have been baptized must after Baptisme receive the most holy Chrisome and be made partakers of the heavenly Kingdome Q. What other proofe have you A. The Authority of S. Thomas who in the Sacrament of Confirmation affirmeth that it is a dangerous thing to die without it Adde unto this That without Confirmation according to all the Fathers we are not perfect Christians Q. What thinke you then of those who for particular and private ends sleight this Sacrament and reach the Laity not to receive it when they may have it A. Truly I think they sleight the mission of the Holy Ghost for this Sacrament is a continuance of that mission unto us and are great enemies of Christianity Q. What sin is it not to receive it when we may have it A. Mortall sinne if it be done out of contempt or any grosse neglect especially in a place of persecution as England is Q. How prove you that A. Because by so doing we expose our selves to great danger of denying our Faith against which danger it was peculiarly ordained by Christ our Lord. Q. At what age is Confirmation now commonly received A. At seven years old Q. Why no sooner A. That so we may be able to prepare our selves for it and remember that we have received it for it cannot be twice given Q. Why is a little blow given on the cheek to him that is confirmed A. To signifie that he is there made the Souldier of Christ and must be ready to suffer stripes and buflets for his sake Q. Must we have any Godfather in Confirmation A. One Godfather or one Godmother at the most Q. Must it be received fasting A. That is expedient for so the Apostles received it but not necessary The Eucharist Expounded Q. WHat is the third Sacrament A. The blessed Eucharist or the Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of Christ Q. By what was this Sacrament prefigured in the old Law A. By the Tree of Life the Burning Bush Melchisedeks Bread and Wine the Paschall Lamb the Heavenly Manna and the Arke of the League Q. How prove you that A. Because all things happened unto them in a Figure according to S. Paul Q. Doth the Blessed Eucharist excell all these in dignity A. It doth as farre as a substantiall body excells a shadow Q. What signifies the name Eucharist A. It signifieth good Grace or Thanksgiving because it containeth the Author and Fountaine of all Grace and the greatest Gift of God to man Q. When did Christ ordaine the Blessed Eucharist A. At his last Supper Q. Why so A. To leave it to his Church as the last and greatest pledge of his love Q. What is the Blessed Eucharist A. It is the body and blood of Jesus Christ true God and true Man whole Christ under the outward formes of Bread and Wine Q. In what manner is Christ present under those Forms A. By the true and reall presence of his divine and humane nature not figuratively only as some would have it Q. How prove you that A. Out of S. Matth. ch 26. v. 26 27 28. where we read that Christ at his last Supper tooke bread blessed it brake it and gave it to his Disciples saying Take ye and eat this is my Body and he also blessed the cup saying This is my blood of the New Testament which shall be shed for many to the remission of sins Q. What other proof have you A. Out of S. Mark ch 14 v. 22 23 24. were we read the selfe-san words Q. VVhat besides A. Out of S. Luke ch 22. v. 19. 20. where we read This is my body which is given for you this is the Chalice the New Testament in my blood which shall be shed for you Q. VVhat other A. S. Joh. c. 6. v. 52 53 55. The bread which I will give is my flesh for the life of the world my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drinke indeed unlesse ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drinke his bloud you shall have no life in you Q. VVhat other yet A. Out of 1 Cor. ch 11. v. 23. where S. Paul tells us that he received from our Lord viz. by speciall revelation that at his last Supper he blessed bread saying Take ye and eat this is my body which shall be delivered for you this Chalice is the New â—estament in my bloud Q. By what meanes is the whole substance of the Bread and Wine transubstantiated or changed into the whole substance of the body and blood of Christ A. By the most holy and powerfull words of Consecration instituted by Christ and spoken by the Priest Q. VVhat is the White which we see remaining after Consecration A. The outward species or accidents of Bread under which the body and bloud of Christ is Q. VVhat meane you by those species or accidents A. The colour savour and quantity of bread Q. Is the Body of Christ hurt or broken when we divide or break the Sacrament A. It is not for he is now immortall and impassible he cannot die nor suffer any more Rom. ch 6. v. 9. Q. What other reason have you A. Because Christ is whole in the whole Hoast and whole in every particle thereof if you divide or break it seeing that wheresoever there would have been bread before consecration there must needs be the whole Body and Blood of Christ after consecration Q. What example have you for that A. The soule of a man which is whole in the whole body and whole in every part of the body as learned Protestants do not nor cannot deny Q. How can the same thing be in many severall places at once A. By the omnipotent power of God by which he himselfe is in all and every one of his creatures at one and the same instant Q. What example have you for that A. A word which being one yet is in many hundred of eares at once Q. What other proofe have you A. Out of Acts ch 9. v. 4. and 5. Where we read that Christ who is alwaies sitting at the right hand of his Father in heaven as we willingly admit with Protestants appeared notwithstanding and discoursed with S. Paul on earth saying Saul Saul Why doest thou persecute me and when S. Paul replied who art thou Lord he answered I am Jesus whomthou doest persecute Therefore he was then in two places at once Q. What is the necessary matter of the Eucharist A. Wheaten and unleavened Bread and Wine of the Grape Q. What is the essentiall forme of it A. This is my Body this is my Blood Q. Why is a little water mingled with the Wine in the Chalice A. To signifie the blood and water flowing from the side of Christ as also the union of the faithfull with Christ by vertue of this Sacrament Q. What disposition is required in him that will receive the Blessed Eucharist A. That he hath first confessed his sinnes and be in state of