A SHORT CATECHISME Very necessary for the plaine vnderstanding of the principall points of Christian Religion Meet to be practised of all Christians before they bee admitted to the Lords Supper By RICHARD COX PSAL. 34. Come Children hearken vnto 〈◊〉 I will teach you the feare of the Lord. DEVT. 6. 6. 7. These wordes which I commaund thee this day shall be in thine heart and thou shalt rehearse them continually vnto thy children and shalt talke of them when thou tarryest in thine house as thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest downe and when thou risest vp LONDON Printed by Edw All-de for Iohn Tap and are to be solde at his shop neare St. Magnus corner 1620. A necessary Catechisme Containing a true Declaration of of the principall points of Christian Religion very meete to be vnderstood of all those which haue a desire of their Saluation Question OF what Religion are you Answer Of the Christian Religion Q. What is the Christian Religion A. The true worshipping of God Q. Where is it to be learned A. Out of the Worde of God contained in the olde and new Testament Q. Which are the chiefest partes of the worde of God A. The Law and the Gospell Q. What is the Law A. That which teacheth vs our duty towards God and our neighbour Q. What is the Gospell A. That which promiseth forgiuenesse to the offenders of the Law through faith in Christ that repent and purpose to amend Q. How many partes are there of true Religion A. Two Obedience and Faith Q. What is Obedience A. A doing of that which the Law commaundeth Q. What is Faith A. A beléeuing of that which the Gospell teacheth Q. Into how many Tables is the Law deuided A. Into two Tables Q. What doth the first Table concerne A. Our dutie to wards God which is contained in the foure first Commaundements Q. What doth the second table concerne A. Our duty towards our Neighbour which is contained in the fire last Commaundements Q. How many Commaundements are there A. Ten. Q. Which be they A. I am the Lord thy God c. Q. What is the first Commandement A. Thou shalt haue none other Gods but me Q. What is the summe thereof A. It teacheth to serue and worship God alone Q. In howe many pointes standeth this worship A. In foure First to loue God aboue all Secondly to feare God aboue all Thirdly to pray vnto God and to none but him Fourthly to trust alone in him Q. What is the second Commandement A. Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any granen Image c. Q. What doe you learne in this commandement A. First that wée may make no image of God in any case Secondly that wée make no image of any other thing either to worship the image or any other thing by it Thirdly that wée worship not God after our owne fantasies Q. What is the third Commandement A. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine c. Q. What is the end of this Law A. It teacheth me to vse the name of God in high reuerence both in tongue and thought Q. How many lessons learne you out of this A. First it is sinne and blasphemie to apply the name of God to enchantment sorcerie cursing or periury Secondly to sweare by Creatures is a setting of his name at naught Thirdly in our ordinarie communication we must not sweare Q. By whom must we sweare A. By God for it is a part of his glorie which he will giue to none other Q. In what cause or where is it lawfull to sweare A. Where the glorie of God is sought or the saluation of our brethren or before a Magistrate Q. What is the fourth Commandement A. Renember that thou kéepe holy the Saboth day c. Q. What is the end and driâ—â— of this A. The Lord appointeth herein that all his creatures should haue a time to rest and serue him Q. What must we doe on the Saboth A. Holy thinges as heare and learns the word of God Preached pray and receiue the Sacraments Q. What things must we not doe A. Those things that necessitie doth not compell nor holinesse commaund Q. Who must kéepe the Saboth day A. Thou thy Sonne thy Daughter thy man thy maide thy Cattell and thy stranger Q. What is the first Commaundement A. Honor thy Father and thy Mother c. Q. What is meant by honour A. Toloue feare obey and relieue Q. What is meant by Father and Mother A. Our naturall Parentes the fathers of our Country or of our houses the aged and fathers in Christ Q. How is the blessing of long life giuen when the disobedient liue long and the obedient and good for the most part die speedyly A. The wicked liue to further their dengeance and the good inioy it so far as it shall be good for them Q. What is the sixt commandement A. Thou shalt not kill Q. What learne you herein A. First I learne to tie my hand tongue and countenance to peace from fighting quarelling and mocking Secondly to anoyde all anger in heart Thirdly I am coÌ„manded to preserue life Fourthly to loue others euen mine enemies Q. What is the seauenth Commaundement A. Thou shalt not commit Adultery Q. How many lessons learne you out of this A. First that God forbiddeth all adulterie and vncleanesse in our bodies Secondly all impure thoughts Thirdly all vnchaste behauiour talke songs apparell and pastiâ—e that may intice vs to such vncleannes Fourthly we are commanded to kéepe our bodies chasse as the Temples of the holy Ghost Q. What is the eight cammandement A. Thou shalt not steale Q. What thinges are forbidden herein A. First all stealing and robbing Secondly all desire of any other mans goods wrongfully in my heart Thirdly all vnlawfull gaines Q. What thinges are commaunded herein A. First to bée content with the portion that God hath sent vs. Secondly to labour for our owne liuing Thirdly to be helpfull to them that néede Q. What is the ninth commandement A. Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour Q. What lessons learne you hereout A. First we are forbidden to speake falsly in witnes bearing Secondly to lye flatter or dissemble Thirdly that we neuer backvite any man Fourthly in priuate offences to say nothing of our brother if by priuat admonitions hée may be wonne Q. What is the tenth commandement A. Thou shalt not couer thy neighbours house c. Q. What learne we herein A. Hereby I learne that the motions of our hart seperate from the loue of God and our neighbour though wée neuer yéeld consent to it is sinne Q. Is any man able to kéepe these commandements A. No. Q. What is the breach of the law A. Sinne. Q. What is the reward of sinne A. Eternall death Q. Shall I escape death by the woorkes of the law A. No for the Law is the minister of death Q. Sith the Law then doth not iustifie but condemne
finde not these thinges in me what counsell giue you me than A. Not to presume to come to this Table of the Lord for hée that eateth and drinketh vnworthily that is without Faith and Repentance whilest he is a wicked liuer a prophane person a blasphemer and such like and hath not repented him of his sinnes with full purpose to renounce them and liue alwaies afterwards in the feare of God he eateth and drinketh his owne damnation not discerning the Body of Christ aright Q. Is it a thing left to our choyse and liberty whether we will come to the supper or not A. No the holy Ghost in forbidding men to come thither vnworthily commandeth all that haue discretion and iudgement to examine diligently and prepare themselues that they may come worthily vnto it So that if we absent our selues and neglect this preparation and making of our selues ready to come vnto it let vs feare least we become contemners of it and so depriue our selues of that great benefite which is offered vnto vs by it Q. Shew mée more plainely how I may discerne whether I haue Faith or no A. If Christ be in me Q. How shall I know Christ to bée in me A. By thrée benefites wherewith he commeth vnto vs Blood Water and the Spirit Q. What is meant by Blood A. Our iustification consisting in Christ his righteousnes and the forgiuenesse of sinnes by his blood shedding Q. What is meant by Water A. Our sanctification when the Grace of God teacheth vs to deny vngodlinesse vnrighteousnes and worldly lusts and to liue godly righteously and soberly in this present world Q. How shall wée know that we féele both this true mortifying or denying of sinne and true liuing to righteousnes A. When both from a true sorrow according to God for euery thing we know forbidden of God yea the least as all light Oathes idle wordes profitable lyes or vaine actions we féele a study to auoyde the first motions to them clearing of our selues from all suspition of them by auoyding all apparance of euill an indignation for all such thinges past a feare least such thinges by our corruption should fall out againe a great desire to preuent them a zeale against them a punishing of them by exercising all due authoritie which God hath giuen vs against sin as also a great study to spend all the rest of our time according to the will of God Q. What is meant by the Spirit A. That full assurance which the holy Ghost worketh in our hearts that we are Gods Children whereby we are sealed vnto the day of redemption that is fully assured that with all be kept by the power of God through Faith vnto saluation Q. By what ordinary meanes is that true Faith and that which followeth it wrought in vs A. By the preaching of the Gospell Q. What is the cause that so many heare the preaching of the Gospell yea doe receiue it with some taste ioy and vnderstanding and yet obtaine not this Faith and the fruit of it A. The cause is the vnchangeable purpose of GOD from before all beginnings wherein he hath being mooued onely by his holy will appointed freely to choose some in Christ vnto saluation through Faith for the praise of his rich grace and iustly to cast away others when they should by their owne default deserue the same Q. What meanes besides the seruice of God at home must we vse to exercise confirme and nourish this Faith and the fruites thereof A. We must diligently vse all the works of the publike ministery which are prescribed of God as Prayer Doctrine exhortation the Sacraments and communicating vnto the poore Q. Because our especiall purpose in this worke is to intreate of the Sacraments in conclusion shew vs and that plainely when we come to the Supper of the Lord how we must prepare our selues before behaue our selues in the present worke and reape fruite by it continually after A. Before we must try our Faith and repentance not onely whether they be true but also how wée grow in them what is the dulnesse and weaknesse of them that we may the more seruently seeke the quickening and strengthening of them in this Sacrament In the present worke wée must haue in euery outward action the inward féeling of that which was signified by it as in putting apart of the Bread and Wine wée must féele more assuredly that Christes Body and Blood was put apart by his Prayers to be the foode of our soules by the breaking of the bread and the powring foorth of the Wine that his Body was Crucified and his Blood shed for vs by the giuing and receiuing of them that his body and blood is presently more liuelie giuen vnto vs and receiued by faith By the eating and drinking for the nourishing of our bodies that our solues so ioyfully féede on Christ by faith as wée are more fully assured of the forgiuenes of all our sins especially particuler sins of greater grace to leaue them of eternall life in soule and bodie as we doe with heauenly consolation sing praises vnto GOD for the redemption of the world Afterwards by the meditation hereof we must be strengthened in all temptations which are against our iustification and sanctification Q. What is Prayer A. It is a petition ioyned with an earnest desire procéeding from the acknowledging of our necessity with humilitie repentance and confession of our vnworthines made in a true conuersion vnto God and trust of heauenly promises for Christ our mediatour his sake wherein we aske those things of God which he commaunded vs to aske of him in his word Q. God knoweth before we aske what we neede so that he néede not to be put in minde he is not sloathfull that he néede to be stirred vp he hath appointed in his prouidence what he will bestow how and when therefore why should wee pray A. First to stirre vp our selues to séeke him Secondly to exercise our selues in meditating vpon his promises Thirdly that wée may discharge and vnloade our cares into the bosome of GOD. Fourthly that we may testifie to our selues and others that we hope and aske for all good from God alone Q. How many thinges ought wée to be carefull of in prayer A. First that we pray to God through Christ Secondly that we be inwardly touched with the thing we pray for Thirdly that they be grounded vpon Gods promises Fourthly that we be not weary of prayer Fiftly that wée pray according to that rule which God himselfe giueth Q. Rehearse the Lords prayer A. Our Father which art in Heauen c. Q. How many principall parts are there of this Prayer A. First a perswasion to prayer in these wordes Our Father which art in heauen Secondly the summe of prayer contained in the sixe Petitions Thirdly an assurance of that wée pray for in these wordes For thine is the Kingdome c. Q. What perswasions haue you in these first wordes Our Father which art in
Heauen A. First hée is a Father and no Tyrant to be fled from Secondly he is our Father and therfore loueth vs. Thirdly Heauen is his throne and therefore able to helpe vs. Q. How many thinges doe the sixe petions principally concerne A. The first concerneth the glory of God contained in the thrée first Petitions The second concerneth the necessitie of man set down in the last thrée petitions Q. How deuide you this Prayer into six petitions A. First wée pray Hallowed bée thy Name Secondly Thy Kingdome come Thirdly Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Fourthly Giue vs this day our dayly Bread Fiftly Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Sixtly Lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill Q. What is the meaning and what pray you for in the first petition A. First this word Name signifieth his power which comprehendeth his Mercy Wisdome Iustice and prouidence by Hallowed a due reuerence to be yéelded to his name and we pray that the Maiesty of God may be reuerenced by me and all men Q. What pray you for in the second Petition A. First that hée may raigne in our heartes by the Scepter of his word Secondly that by his holy Spirit hée will gouerne vs Thirdly that Sathan and all our lustes may be ouerthrowne Fourthly that he will finish soone these dayes of sinne and take vs to his glory Q. What pray you for in the third Petition A. First that our willes which are corrupt may be pulled downe Secondly that Gods will which is most iust may be exalted Q. What pray you for in the fourth Petition A. First that God who gaue vs life would preserue it Secondly that he would direct vs to vse those meanes that be lawfull for preseruing it Thirdly that he would giue vs contented mindes with that estate he placed vs in Q. What is meant by this word Bread A. All thinges necessary for the maintenance of this life Q. What néedeth the rich man dayly to pray for dayly bread who hath enough for many yeares A. First hée is to pray for the poore as for himselfe Secondly his substance and dainties shall doe him no good without Gods blessing Q. What pray you for in the fifth Petition A. First that God would forgiue vs our trespasses Secondly that wée may be directed by him to forgiue one another Q. What learne you out of it A. First that all men are sinners Secondly man must seeke for forgiuenesse for he cannot satisfie Thirdly none can forgiue sinnes but God Fourthly to the enuious man there is no forgiuenesse Q. In the sixt Petition what pray you for A. Wée pray that wée be no further tempted than God giueth vs power to beare Q. What is meant by Lead vs not into temptation A. First that God would not suffer vs to be ouercome by the desires of the Flesh the World and the Deuill Q. What is meant by Deliuer vs from euill A. We pray that God would strengthen vs and giue vs victory in all our temptations Q. What learne you in this Petition A. First that all Christians are in warres and haue néede to watch Secondly wée are all weake and haue néede of helpe Thirdly that Sathan can doe nothing vnlesse God giue leaue Fourthly the Lord is our deliuerer from all temptation Q. What learne you of the conclusion Thine is the Kingdome c. A. First these wordes doe kindle our hearts to desire the glory of God Secondly to ground vpon none but God Thirdly that his Kingdome is mighty and euerlasting Q. What meaneth this word Amen A. It sheweth a feruent desire to haue that I aske and it is an assurance to my Conscience that I shall haue that I aske FINIS Giue God the Glory