his Father from euerlasting to redeeme his elect people was when the fulnesse of time was come borne of a Virgin and became man of his mother without a father by whom we are saued Psalm 2.7 Hebr. 1.5 Iohn 1.14 18. Col. 1.16 17. Reuela 13.8 1. Peter 1.19 20. Galath 4.4 5. Luke 1.26 27 30 31. Luke 2.6 7. Question What is the Holie Ghost Answere The Holie Ghost is the essentiall power and vertue both of the Father and the Sonne eternall and consubstantiall with them in whome he resteth and abideth and from whom he proceedeth By him are we grafted into the bodie of Christ and sanctified and sealed vp to saluation Iohn 15.26 Luk. 11.20 Gen. 1.2 1. cor 12.13 14. Tit. 3.5 Question In that thou saiest there is God the Father God the Sonne and God the Holie Ghost what doost thou els but make three Gods Answere No not so for God is one in essence and simple in nature although thrée Persons distinguished out of the same Beeing of Beeings Deuter. 6.4 1. Corinth 8.6 Ephesians 4.5 6. 1. Iohn 5.7 Question How proue you this distinction of the three Persons in the one Godhead Answere This maye bee prooued most plainelie and firmlie by these places of Scripture Matthew 3.16 17. and 28.19 1. Iohn 5.7 Romanes 8.9 Question Are they three seuerall substances in that they are three distinct persons Answere No for I haue alreadie said that they are but one imcomprehensible infinite inuisible and vndeuidable substance and yet three Persons Question How are they three Persons Answere In respect of their properties and not in diuiding their nature but in distinguishing their properties Question What are their properties Answere We attribute to God the father our Creation to God the sonne our redemption and to God the holie Ghost our sanctification to the father the thing done to the Sonne the wisedome whereby it is done to the Holie Ghost the effects of the thing done Genes 2.7 Titus 2.14 1. Peter 1.2 Actes 14.15 Prouerbes 8.22 to 32. Question What things are proper to the Father alone that agree neither to the Sonne nor to the holie Ghost Answere This the begetting of the Sonne for which cause he is called the Father and fountaine of the Trinitie Iohn 3.16 1. Cor. 8.6 Iohn 16.28 and 15.26 Question What is giuen to the Sonne that is not likewise giuen to the Father nor to the Holie Ghost Answere To be begotten for which cause he is called the Sonne and seconde person in the Godhead as also that he is the Fathers word Hebrewes 2.5 1. Iohn 4.9 Matthew 28.19 Iohn 1.1 Question What is proper to the Holie Ghost that is not likewise giuen to the Father nor to the Sonne Answere To be proceeding from the Father and the Sonne and to be the third person in Trinitie Rom. 8.9 Matth. 28.19 Question Then Iesus Christ was not created in that he was the Sonne of God Answere No verelie but begotten from euerlasting and without beginning Also in that he is God he is the Creator and not a creature for by him all things were made Reuelat. 1.8 Mich. 5.2 Iohn 17.5 Iohn 1.1 2 3 4 5. Coloss 1.16 17. Question Was Iesus Christ created in that hee is man Answere Yea hee was created of God without the helpe of man onely by the worke and operation of the holie Ghost in the wombe of the virgin Marie Matth. 1.20 Luke 1.35 Galath 4.4 Question In that thou giuest Iesus Christ two Natures what dooest thou else but make two Christs Answere No Although we say that in Christ there be two natures as diuine and humane yet we make not two Christes nor two persons but one person and one Christ consisting of two natures Matth. 1.21 23. Rom. 1.3 4. Luke 1.43 Rom. 9.5 Question Is Iesus Christ as he is man the Sonne of God Answere No verelie not in that hee is man but in that he is God and he is the Sonne of man and so called in that he is man Luke 1.35 Matth. 26.64 Question Yet there is but one Sonne of God as there is but one Christ Answere It is most true There is not one eternall and naturall and another created and adopted but that onelie eternal Sonne of God who sustaineth vpholdeth the nature vnited to himselfe Yet must we note that we call the person of Christ the Sonne of God manifested in the flesh 2. Tim. 3.16 Question Then is it thy meaning that the humane nature of Christ is a person Answere No for Christes humane Nature was neuer extant or had beeing but in the Godhead wherefore the humane nature in Christ is not a Person but the humanitie subsisteth and hath his being in the person of the Word and therefore Christ is not either in imagination or in déede a double Person but one Person consisting of two Natures Iohn 1.14 Question What is the personall vnion Answere It is the taking of mans nature which is susteined and vpholden of the diuine nature that is to say such a taking or vniting that there procéedeth or commeth out of that vniting but one subsistence one beeing onely in which subsistence that diuine nature that is to saye the person of the Word beareth swaie and ruleth 1. Ioh. 1.1 2 3. Rom. 1.3 4. Question Yea but he is also called the Sonne of God in that he is God and man Answere It is true but not naturallie in respect of his manhood but by reason of the Personall vnion with his diuine nature Question Proceede vnto the Holie Ghost and tell me is he created or begotten Answere Neither but proceeding from the Father and the Sonne of the same substance and beeing with them equall with the Father and the Sonne in glorie and maiestie and from all eternities as in the definition it was shewed Question Yea but it shoulde seeme that the Father should be greater than the Sonne the Sonne greater than the holie Ghost because the one is placed before the other Answere Not so For although the Father is put before the Sonne in order and the Father and the Sonne before the Holie Ghost yet it is not because the one is greater than the other or more excellent than the other but because the Sonne was begotten of the Father and the Holie Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne Otherwise we shall read first how the Sonne is put before the Father 2. Cor. 13. And also how the Spirit is put in the first place 1. Corinth 12. Whereby we may note that the order of names doth not make difference of dignities Secondlie they be one in essence and substance 1. Iohn 5.7 Thirdly that which is giuen to the one is giuen to the other in giftes and working Iohn 5.21.26.27 1. Cor. 12.4 to 12. Question Then there is but one nature of God Answere It is most true and that vncorrupt infinite vnbegotten neither diuided by place nor included in anie place nor secluded out of anie place nor defiled by person or
to bee the sole Sauior of mankinde Matt. 1.21 Fourthly in stéed of heauen euerlasting life they by their good intents and workes doo purchase hell and euerlasting death Ioh. 3.17 36. Question What vse ought we to make of this point Answere First to note how miserable we were of our selues after our fall as First in sinne Psal 51.5 Ier. 17.2 Secondly vnder the wrath of God eph 2.3 Thirdly captiues to the diuell eph 2.2 Fourthly inheritors of hell eternal death Rom. 6.23 Secondly the great and rich mercie of God First in giuing vs a Sauiour that might redeeme vs from sinne satan and hell Eph. 2.4 5. Tit. 3.4 5. Secondly in seeking to reconcile vs to him selfe and to make vs his children righteous 2. cor 5.18 19 20 21. Thirdly in giuing vs thereby euerlasting life and eternall happinesse Ioh. 5.24 Question Seeing we are now redeemed in Christ are we now therfore in a better and more happier estate vnder Christ our head than Adam was in his innocencie in Paradice Answere Yea surely the estate of Gods children is now more excellent Question Why so Answere First because wee haue an excellent head to wit Christ which Adam had not in the time of his innocēcie before his fal Eph. 1.22 col 1.18 Secondly God is more néerer ioyned vnto vs than he was vnto Adam at that time for he hath taken vpon himself since Adams fal our humane nature and ioyned the same to his diuine nature and is become one with vs sinne excepted Ephe. 5.30 Heb. 2.16 1. Pet. 2.23 1. Ioh. 3.5 Thirdly our saluation is more certain thā it was vnder Adam for then we had no power to stand in the perfection of our creation but now in Christ it is most certaine and firme because it is grounded First vpon the euerlasting vnchangable decrée and purpose of God Ephes 1. 11.2 Tim. 2.19 Secondly vppon the euerlasting mercies of God in Christ 2. Tim. 1.9 Thirdly vpon his faithfulnesse truth and righteousnes 1. cor 1.9 1. thes 5.24 Fourthly vpon his inuincible power omnipotencie Iohn 10.27 28 29. Fourthly God doth not onely giue vs heauen which Adam should haue had in his innocencie but also maketh vs heirs yea ioint heires with Christ in glorie the which Adam should neuer haue had if he had stoode in his innocencie so that wee maie see our estate farre better than Adams in Paradice Rom. 8.17 Question And is not man made more excellent than the Angels in heauen Answere Yes verely for First Christ tooke vpon him our nature and exalted it aboue all principalities powers and Dominions Eph. 1.20 21 22. Secondly man is made the Lord and ruler of the whole world that through grace in Christ which rule and lorldlie authoritie was neuer giuen vnto the Angels Psalm 8. the whole Thirdly the Angels by the free mercies of God are made the seruants of the faithfull to defend and comfort them for they are the ministring spirits sent foorth to minister for their sakes that shall be heires to saluation psal 34.7 Heb. 1.14 Question In that thou saist that man is restored to a better estate than Adam in his first innocencie in Paradice is become more excellent than Angels is thy meaning of all mankinde of all persons generally Answere No surelie but onely of the faithfull who are grafted into the bodie of Christ by the holy ghost as for infidels hipocrites heretikes libertines and atheists their estate is no better than the diuels in hell in shame and confusion for euer and euer Reuel 21.28 Eph. 5.5 Question Why died not Christ for all men as well as for a certaine number Answere No Christ died not for all for if Christ died for all then First there is no election 2. Tim. 3.19 Secondly God should be then vniust to condemne anie Rom. 3 4. psal 51.4 Thirdly al haue not faith 2. the .3.2 tit 1.1 Fourthly the spirit of Christ belongeth onely to the faithfull Rom. 8.9 10. Question Was there anie imperfection in the sacrifice of Christ in that it was not sufficient for all Answere There was no imperfection in the sacrifice of Christs bodie and soule for he was perfect and holy also it was sufficient for all people but effectual onely vnto those which lay hold on him through faith he 10.10 12 14. 9.25 26 28. Question The Scripture saith God would haue al men come to the knoledge of the truth be saued Answere The word all must be considered after this manner that First hee offereth grace vnto all but all receiue not the same Secondly that word must bee vnderstood some of all Nations Thirdly some of all callings as First Princes Secondly subiects Thirdly parents Fourthly children Fiftly masters Sixthly seruants Seuenthly men Eightly women Some of all which euen those that lay hold vpon Christ by a liuely true faith shall be saued and liue 1. Iohn 5.10 11 12 13. Fourthly we must consider that his reueled will is equally ruled by his secret wil and that they be not contrarie the one to the other although they seeme so to our foolish iudgements Fifthly that God is stable and vnchangeable in all his waies and workes Iam. 1 17. Question What moued God to saue some damne other some In that he saueth some is it for that they deserue the same or did he foresee that they would both beleeue and worke out their saluation Answere His owne mercie is the cause that he saueth some out of the sinfull lumpe of Adam for First all deserued damnation for the best worke after regeneration is defiled with sin and the reward of sinne is death how much more then deserue we death before God doth regenerate vs by his spirit 1. cor 13.9 Ro. 7.24 Secōdly faith is the only gift of god eph 2.8 Thirdly we cannot work wel before God regenerate vs vnto good works eph 2.9.10 Fourthly in that he dampneth other some it is of right and according to his righteous iudgements for that it is written if you do this you shall liue if you do not yee shall die Question How shall we bee perswaded of our saluation in Christ Answere Thorough faith Gal. 3.11 Gal. 2.16 Rom. 3.27 28. Question What is faith Answere A firme perswasion grounded vpon a sounde knowledge in sacred Scriptures that God is reconciled and become both our God and father thorough the merits obedience and bloudshedding of Iesus Christ in whome wee shall be saued and haue eternal life so assuredly as though wee possessed the same already which faith is wrought by the holy Ghost in the hearts of the elect thorough the ministerie and preaching of the word Rom. 5.1 2. Rom. 8.38 39. and 3.24 Ephe. 3.17 Ephe. 1.13 1. Ioh. 3.1 2 3. Question Then our faith must not bee wauering but firme in Christ and his promises Answere It must be firme and not wauering as Saint Iames teacheth for note this that not he which doubteth shall be saued but
Eph. 5.14 17. That we being filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding may walke worthie of the Lord and please him in all things beeing fruitful in all good works Col. 1.9 10. And that this knowledge faith and fruitfulnesse in all good workes may abound in vs as the elect deer childrē of God let vs diligētly read the book of god cōtinually meditate on the same for the Prophet saith Blessed is the man that doth not walke in the counsell of the wicked nor stand in the way of sinners nor sit in the seate of the scorneful but his delight is in the Lawe of the Lord and in his Lawe doth he meditate day night for he shall be like a tree planted by the riuers of waters that wil bring foorth her fruite in due season whose leafe shall not fade so whatsoeuer he shall do shall prosper Psal 1.1.2 3. Now for the common benefit and better instruction of Gods people and thy selfe christian reader J haue caused this little and short treatise of christian points of religion to be printed and published and although it bee but small in volume yet I doubt not but if it be well read and printed in minde it shall minister great good to further thy knowledge to confirm thy faith and to increase true holines in thee And this I dare promise thee that there are some things handled in this Catechisme both in matter and manner which other Catechismes dooth not as once meddle and intreate of and other things which are intreated of some in their bookes haue J drawne in a briefe method for the benifit of the reader And whereas many things are yet in doubt among the multitude and great controuersies doo rise by them I haue breefely yet soundly opened the trueth of them finally there is not that point which I haue intreated of but I haue first defined the same and haue set downe the definitions of all the hardest words which are commonly vsed by the preachers of the word and in the large and great volumes of the learned that the simple who is altogether ignorant of the true sense of them may vnderstand not onely the Preacher and bookes which they both heare and read but also the verie words as iustification sanctification grace redemption law and such like Therefore seeing my purpose is onely to doo good vnto Gods Church and my paine great herein yet godly I hope all faithfull people will accept the same and both praise God for this litle worke and pray vnto God for mee to increase his good gifts and graces in my soule vnto my liues end Amen Thus I take my leaue from my house at Kingswood the second of September Thine in the Lord Richard Saintbarb Preacher of Gods word Certaine points of Christian Religion Question INto what faith wert thou baptised Answere Into the faith of the holie Trinitie Matth. 28.19 Question What doost thou meane when thou saiest thou art baptised into the faith of the holie Trinitie Answere It is to enter and consecrate the baptised into the faith and religion of one God First that they might beleeue the Father the Sonne and the Holie ghost to bee one God to whom alone they must giue their faith and confidence Psal 37.5 Iere. 17.5 6 7 8. Iohn 14.1 Secondly that they beleeue that the sonne and the holie ghost are nothing els but the verie essence of God 1. Iohn 5.7 Thirdly that they confesse God the Father who hath adopted them God the sonne by whome they are redeemed and God the holie Ghost by whome they are sanctified confirmed Gala. 4.4 5 6. 1. Corinthians 6.10 11. Question Where shall wee finde the summe of this faith of the holie Trinitie Answere First generallie at large in the holie Scriptures which is called the Booke of God Secondly particularlie and briefely in the Articles of the Faith called the Apostles Creede Question Why is it so called Answere For two apt causes First Because it is a briefe collection of the Articles of the Faith which haue been alwaies in Christs Church Secondly because it was taken out of the pure doctrine of the Apostles Question Why must euerie christian say I beleeue not We beleeue as well as they generally do say Our Father which art c. Answere First because euerie Christian must be saued by his owne faith and not by an others Secondly wheras we say Our Father we must note that it is a prayer and the other the beleefe of euerie Christian and therefore a plaine and great difference Haba 2.4 Ga. 3.11 Heb. 10.38 39. Question Why must we beleeue that there is a Church not in the Church as in God the Father c Answere It were great idolatrie to put our trust in meere man for Faith onely belongeth to the holy Trinitie and although Iesus Christ who is saluation it selfe is no where to be found but in the Church yet Saluation is not of the Church and therefore Ieremie accurseth them that put anie confidence in the flesh of sinfull man Iohn 17.1 2 3. Matth. 28.19 Ierem. 17.5 6. Esay 30.1 2 3 4. and 31.1 2 3 4. Question Into how manie points shall we diuide this confession of our faith Answere Into 3. The first concerning God the Father in the first Article The second concerning God the Sonne in the sixe next Articles The third concerning God the holy Ghost in the fiue last Articles Question How manie things learn you in the first article I beleeue in God the father Almightie c. Answere First what God is Secondly how he created all things Thirdly how he preserueth all his workes Fourthlie how he ruleth and gouerneth all things Question What is God Answere God is a spirite infinite euerlasting vnchaungeable incorruptible immortall most simple in nature in power most mightie incomprehensible both in greatnesse and Maiestie by whom all things were made in the beginning of nothing also distinguished into thrée persons the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost Iohn 4.24 Esay 66.1 2. Esay 40.28 Mal. 3.6 Iam. 1.17 Rom. 1.23 2. Tim. 1.17 Gen. 17.1 Rom. 11.33 34 35 36. Ier. 10.10 11 12 13. Matth. 28.19 Reuel 15.3 4. Question What is God the Father Answere Hee is the beginning and Authour of euerie thing both in heauen and in earth Who when it séemed good vnto his diuine Nature created all things of nothing in heauen and in earth both spirituall and corporall and ordered them by his eternall Sonne the which are now gouerned and mainteined by the infinite and consubstantiall power of the Holie Ghost proceeding from them both from all eternitie Gen. 1.1 2 c. Gene. 2.1 Prouerb 8.14 to the end Psalme 114.30 Gene. 1.2 Iohn 15.26 Roman 8.9 Question What is the Sonne Answere The Sonne of God is Iesus Christ who was begotten of his Father before all worlds and of his Father without a mother by whom all things were created who being appointed of
Iudg. 9.23 24.25 psal 46.9 Then to mouing creatures of other kindes as First al manner of cattle as oxen horses sheepe c. Gen. 2.19 20. 7.1 to 11. Secondly lions 1. Reg. 13.24 Thirdly beares 2. Reg. 2.24 Fourthly frogges Exod. 6.12 Fiftly flies Exod. 8.22 Sixtly lice Exod. 8.17 Seuenthly wormes Ioel 1.4 Iona. 4.7 Eightly serpents Num. 21.6 Ninthly hornets Iosh 24.12 Tenthly rauens and sparrowes 1. Reg. 17.4 Now for al creatures that grow and are vnmoouable hauing their being on in the earth I will touch them but first beginning with the Earth it selfe for which this is my proofe Gen. 1.12 13. Secondly trees Matth. 19.19 20. Iona. 4.6 7. Thirdly hearbes flowers grasse corne Psal 104.14 Matth. 6.28 29 30. Question Proceede now vnto the third point and tell me how thou canst proue that all plagues and punishments come from God Answere The holy scripture sheweth how that there commeth no euil vnto a Citie vnlesse that God doo sende the same it is hee that killeth and giueth life and bringeth downe vnto the graue he maketh poore and bringeth lowe yea neither the pestilence consumption feauer burning ague feruent heat mildeaw sword blasting bocches emeroides scabbe itch madnes blindnes a mans wife defiled a mans house vineyeard taken away dearth famine captiuitie grashoppers worms to destroy the fruits of the earth hunger thirst nakednesse to eate the fruites of the wombe and such like nor anie else can happen except the Lord send them so that they neither come by chance or through ouersight or anie other way but by Gods prouidence and appointment Leuit. 26. Deut. 28. Exod. 8.9 10. chap. 1. Sam. 2.6 7 8. Amos 3.6 Question Proceede vnto the 4. point that God ruleth all the creatures in the sea Answere I will and therein proue that he ruleth First the sea it selfe Exod. 14 16. Iosh 3.14 15 16 17. Secondly the fishes in the sea Iona. 1.17 2.10 Matt. 17.27 Luk. 5 6 7 8. Thirdly the foules thereof Gen. 7. 8. Question Proceede vnto the 5. and last point tel me how ye proue that God ruleth the diuels of hel Answere I will effectually doo the same for First these places of Scripture doo affirm and proue his dominion and rule ouer them and of them Iob. 1. and 2. 1. Sam. 16.14 1. Re. 21.20 to 23. Ma. 8.31 32. Act. 16.18 Secondly if he were not tied by the power of God he would soone destroy and deuoure vs. 1. Pet. 5.8 Question Thou saist that God ruleth the planets and the firmament with all things therein Answere It is most true Question Yea but doo they not serue for times and seasons to rule dispose man in all his affairs as sicknesse health life and death in al good lucke and bad lucke besides Answere Farre be it from all good Christians once to thinke so but much more to beleeue affirme the thing for it is very sorcerie and soothsaying Question What els is it when Moses saith they are appointed for times seasons daies yeres Answere It is most true that he saith so but he meaneth nothing lesse than such a cursed astrologie his meaning is onely for things belonging to naturall and politicke order Question What meanest thou by this word naturall Answere Winter and summer sowing time reaping planting graffing gardening mowing and all tilling Question What meanest thou by this word politique Answere The reckoning of yeares daies months as some from the creation of the world some from Christes incarnation and some from one daie and some from another Question Yea but earthly things inferiour bodies haue a kinde of affinitie and kindred with the course of the starres and so come by their disposition and qualitie and so may be tolde because they are ruled by thē what shall become of them and what things shal happen vnto thē by the planets and starres Answere Although it be granted that there is such affinitie and kindred yet to conclude therefore that we may gather what shal befall vnto man either in good lucke or badde health or sicknesse life or death and what qualities and disposition he shall be of and what death he shall die it is most wicked for these things belong onely to God and are most vncertaine to men Question What reasons moueth thee thus to thinke 〈…〉 These first for the one of their chiefest grounds is vncertaine as the time of bearing to the time of conception as First it is a thing altogether impossible to haue a certaine knowledge of the verie time of begetting Secondly the time of birth is not onely oftentimes sooner than it should be thorough some occasion offred but also through weaknes of the woman shee oftentimes continueth a longer time or thorough long labour shee misseth often times not a minute but houres yea dayes so that in the meane time there is a very great inclination and moouing of the heauens and Starres Secondly seeing they that are borne at one minute and the selfe same instant of time are commonly altogether First vnlike in nature and manners Secondly doo die one before another some one death some another some are poore and some rich and some in authority and some of lowe degree Thirdly that the force of seed which is the matter whereof the childe is begotten and bred in the wombe is greter than the force of Starres concerning the framing of man to manners and nature as we may see children to imitate their parents in naturall things seeing this I say it cannot bee rightly attributed to the nature of the Planets and courses of Starres Question What euills doo they commit by these their southsayings in attributing the gouernement of man vnto the Planets and constellation of Starres Answere First if good lucke hang vpon the Starres then our holy obedience vnto God doth depend vpon them too for this is the proper cause of that and so we shall make the holy Ghost a lyer for he saieth that euery good and perfect gifte commeth of God Secondly if the kinde of death and euill luck as they cal it do hang vpon the starres then shall sinne depende vpon them too for of sinne commeth all punishments which is altogether foolish and wicked to bee so attributed for it commeth of the diuell and of our selues Math. 15.19 1. Ioh. 38. Thirdly they herein make the starres partakers of the diuine nature and power of God in that they say they gouerne and beare rule ouer mankinde to direct them in al their affaires and life and death Iob. 14.5 Fourthly in this they both rashly enter into the secrets of God and also as Gods they determine what shall come to passe Fiftly they are deceiuers and bewitchers of the people that so teach and therefore God will set himselfe against them and they are worthie to die the death Le. 20.6.27 Deut. 15.7 Esay 44.25 Mala. 3.5 Question Can the diuell and his inchanters raise vp windes stormes lightnings and raine when