only excepted like vnto other Children sonnes of men c Isay 9.6 Luk. 2. 11. Heb. 2.14 4. He suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was Crucified dead buried That is I do belieue that Iesus Christ to a Is 53.5 Ioh. 3. 14. Rom. 4.25 Gal. 3.13 deliver me body and soule from the curse of the law and euerlasting Damnation and to b Isay 53.5 Rom. 5.10.6.23 2. Cor. 5.18 Colos 1.20 procure vnto me peace with God and the gift of euerlasting life hath c Math. 2.13.4 1. c. 11.19 Luk. 9.58 Ioh. 7.44.8.48.9 22.10.31 11.53 suffered the wrath of God al his life time but especially neer his end not in body only but in d Ps 116.3 Mat. 26. 38.27.46 Luk. 22.42.43.44 Heb. 5.7 Isay 53.6 Gal. 3.13 soule he was humbled and suffered the vttermost extremitie of his Iustice and of those vnvtterable sorrows and torments due to the sinnes of the whole world vnder e Math. 26.27 Mark 14.15 Luk. 22.23 Ioh. 18.19 Pontius Pilate the gouernor of the country being adiudged by him to be nayled and fastened to the accursed Crosse whereon he died and was after taken downe and layed into a graue and buried 5. He descended into Hell the third day he rose againe from the deade That is I doe belieue that Iesus Christ went downe and plainly appeared and presented himselfe in hell a Psa 86.12.13 Ephes 4.9.10 Colos 1.18 and on the b Math. 12.40 Mark 8.31 Ioh. 19.42.20.1 c. Act. 10.40 third day after he had beene deade and buried his soule and body came together againe and he the very same person revived from death by his owne c Ioh. 2.19.10.18 power came forth a conqueour from Hell rose and came out of the Sepulcher or graue wherein he had beene layd Hereby shewing d 1. Cor. 15.17.54.55.56 Rom. 4.25.14.9 that he had fully satisfied ouercome the Devill Death Hell and the graue and all punishment due vnto my sinnes and hath from henceforth cleared a passage e Hosea 6.2 1. Cor. 15.20 c. Thes 4.14 Rom. 8.11 for me al beleeuers vnto life eternal 6. He ascended into Heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almightie That is I doe belieue that the a Ioh. 3.13 same Christ Iesus after he had staied b Act. 11.3 some dayes and conversed with his Disciples on Earth was truly c Luk. 24.51 Act. 1.9 and iustly translated and moued from thence vp into Heaven d Ioh. 14.2.3.17.24 there to prepare a place for me where he hath all power maiestie and glory all things being made subiect vnto him e Psa 110.1 Colos 3.1 Mark 14.62 Luk. 22.69 Ephes 1.20 c. 2. Pet. 3.22 7. From thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke the dead That is I doe belieue that Christ Iesus wil a Act. 1.11 come againe from Heauen b Math. 24.30 visibly and c Ioh. 5.22 Act. 10.42 2. Tim. 4.1 iudge and giue sentence vpon all men according to their d Math. 12.36.37.25.34 2. Cor. 5.10 Reuel 20.12 workes as well those that are then living as those which haue beene dead vnto that day 8. I beleeue in the holy Ghost That is I doe acknowledge the holy Ghost the third person in the Godhead to be a Math. 28.19 Acts. 5.3.4.28.25 Iob. 33.4 1. Cor. 12.11 God the b Math. 21.19 28.19 Luk. 12.10 Heb. 9.8 1. Ioh. 5.7 same and equall with God the Father and his sonne Iesus Christ in whome also I doe belieue and trust vpon as the especial worker of all grace and holynesse in me by c Mar. 13.11 Ioh. 14.26.16.13 Act. 2.33 Rom. 8.15.16 1. Cor 2.12 teaching d Math 1.20 Rom 1.4 1. Cor 3.16.17.6.11 1 Pet 1.2 sanctifying e Ioh 14 16.17 Acts 5 41.7.55 comforting f Ioh 14 23. Rom 8.11 1. Cor 12.13 2. Cor 1.22 Gal 4.6 Ephe 1 13 4. 1. Ioh 3.24 and knitting or vniting me and all belieuers into Christ Iesus 9. The holy Catholique Church the communion of Saintes That is I doe beleeue and acknowledge that God hath and will gather and call forth through his spirite and the preaching of his word a Church Catholique or vniversall that is a a Gen. 12.1.15.6.7 Mat. 16.18 Acts. 2.41.47 Rom. 1.7.10.12 c. 1. Cor. 10.2 Rev. 2. Company of men of b Esay 49. 5.6 Mar. 16.15 Act. 10.34.35 Ephe. 5.26 Gal. 26. c. Reuel 5.9 all sorts times and places through out the whole world agreeing in the faith of Iesus Christ and through him made c Esay 62.12 Acts. 9.13.26.10.18 1. Cor. 14.33.16.11 Ephe 5.27 1. Pet. 2.9 Reuel 19.8 holy sanctified and set a part for his owne service and honour and the attainment of everlasting life And I doe likewise beleeue that these men thus sanctified and made holy are vnited as members of one and the same body into Iesus Christ and are d Isay 65.25 Ioh. 10.16.17.21 1. Cor 12.13.14 Ro 8.32 Ephe. 2.19 c. 4.5.16 fellowes and partakers or intercommoners in al the promises of his Gospell and in all those guifts and graces which are requisite and needfull either for his owne glory or the common good and saluation of his whole Church 10. The forgiuenesse of sinnes That is I do beleeue that God for that all sufficient satisfaction made vnto his Iustice by Iesus Christ through his blood and death and his fullfilling c Math. 3.15 of all righteousnes will d Psal 32.2 2. Cor. 5.19 Rom. 4.6.7.8 pardon and forgiue all my sinnes accompting of them as if no sinne had bene committed and that he will e Ro. 5.18.19 1 Cor. 1.30 2. Cor. 5.21 impute vnto me his righteousnes that so I may not at any time come into f Rom. 5.1.8.1 condemnation a Exo. 34.7 Mar 2.7 Ioh 20.23 b 1. Ioh 1.7 2.2 Colos 1.14.19.20 Gal 3.13 11. The resurection of the body That is I doe beleeue that the a Ioh. 5.28 1. Cor. 15. Reuel 20.12.13 Iob. 19.26.27 bodies of al men shall be raised to life againe and being vnited to their soules they the same men in substance both b Math. 16.27 2. Cor. 5 10. 2. Thes 1.7 c. Revel 22.12 good and bad shall stand before Gods Iudgment seate and be sentenced according to their works done in there life time 12. And the Life euerlasting That is I doe beleeue that both to a Ioh. 3.16.5.24.10.28 Rom. 6.23 1. Cor. 2.9 1. Thes 4.16.17 2. Tim. 4.8 me all the elect Saints of God the guift of euerlasting life that is an euerlasting estate in perfect holines and vnvtterable happines shall be giuen by Christ Iesus my Saviour and together with him I shall liue in his kingdome and enioy the full measure of blessednes for euer and euer Amen That is So verily are these thinges and may they be as I haue confessed and acknowledged them Q. What
MILKE FOR BABES THE ENGLISH CATECHISME SET DOWNE IN THE Common-Prayer Booke breifly explaned for the private vse of the Younger and more vnlearned sort of his Parishioners of Apleton in the County of Berks. By W. D. 1. PET. 2.2 As new borne Babes desire the sincere Milke of the word that yee may grow thereby Ad Ecclesiae filios instruendos addendum est nostri sermonis obsequium Non enim timens nè spiritales eruditi nota fastidiant ad quorum fructum pertinet alijs insinuare quod ipsi cum magnâ sui vtilitate didicerunt Leo Papa AT OXFORD Printed by IOHN LICHFIELD Printer to the famous Vniversity Anno. Dom. 1628. Errata Page 3. line 27. read substance and life Page 5. line 16. read truly and visible Page 11. line 29. read properly His Page 12. line 10. read not to our knowledge TO HIS PARISHIONERS GRACE MERCY PEACE AND LOVE BE MVLTIPLIed through our Lord Iesus Christ THE Title and frontispice of this booke shewes for whom it is provided such as haue need of milke and not of strong meate Heb. 5. and are vnskilfull in the word of righteousnesse And to these I doe present and offer it as the fittest dish for their vse wherein the milke of the Catechisme is as it were chewed and softned in the mouth that their vnderstandings may the more easily receiue and digest it into nourishment and strength It was my error I confesse to make an open and publique offer of this meat vnto you not considering how some had rather ever want then seeme at any time to be in need and to perish rather then acknowledge their infirmity But I am at length reform'd and become the man you would perchance haue me to bee an house-Chaplaine or priuate Minister to Catechise instruct and teach you and your Children and your seruants at home in the rudiments and beginnings of your Christian profession Whosoeuer you be take heed how you sleight and contemne the learning of these small Childish things for they are the first principles of the Oracles of God as the Apostle calls them Heb. 5. and the foundation whereon the spirituall building of Grace and everlasting blessednes standeth Neither doe yee that are yet vnlearned and ignorant content your selues with a bare memorie and Mother-beleefe of words without some knowledge and vnderstanding of what you speake and professe and to beleiue or doe For of good evill the more knowen the easier the one is to be avoided and the other done And in matters of faith perswasion takes most hold and application is made with most comfort and assurance where vnderstanding leads the way The like is to be obserued in Prayer and other Religious workes vnderstanding and knowledge must goe along with them 1. Cor 14.15 For I will pray with the spirit saith the Apostle and I will pray with vnderstanding also And I will singe with the spirit and I will singe with the vnderstanding also Jn your seuerall trades and callings it is easie to obserue that you haue them not by roate only but are therein skilfull and vnderstanding and able to giue an accompt and a reason of your worke And my desire and purpose is to make you as learned in the word of Righteousnes skilfull to discerne both good evill Heb. 5. 1. Pet. 3. able to giue an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you And for this cause I haue taken this forme with which the Printer hath pleas'd to Cloth me and wherein I may without any trouble continuallie be present among you and vpon all occasions readie to doe you seruice in the worke of the Ministrie No time wil be vnseasonable for me to be your Teacher as long as you shall finde any need or will in your selues to be instructed Fix and fasten me to some convenient place in your Houses otherwise I shall be in some danger to be swept out of dores and let me be vnto you for a Fringe that you may looke vpon it and remember all the Commandements of the Lord and do them And that you seeke not after your owne heart your owne eyes after which you vse to goe a whoring Numb 15. That you may remember and doe all the Commandements and be holy vnto your God J shal be well pleased to stand a side while your dayly and necessarie imployments are in your hands for there is no good kindred agreement betwixt vs but at your times of rest and leysure or in the Euenings or while you are absent from the Church I could wish my selfe your Compainon to passe a way the time with all Here together with your Children and the rest of your Familie yee may continually exercise your selues by conferring admonishing examining edifying one another searching the Scriptures whether the things be so as you finde them reported to be By this meanes you may cause the word of Christ to dwell in you richly Colos 3. your Faith may be encreased and confirmed your vnderstanding and knowledge in the things of God bettered and enlarged your affections and will refined and rectified at length come vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the stature of the fullnes of Christ That henceforth yee be no more Children readie to be tossed to and fro and caried about with every winde of doctrine by the sleight of men Ephes 4. cunning craftines whereby they lie in waite to deceiue But being groūded setled in your owne professed Religion yee may with boldnes make resistance against the vnderminings of our Romish adversaries who closlie steale into our houses and surprise weake and vnsetled mindes and wrest them vnto a deniall and hate of the Church and profession wherevnto they were Baptised before they haue learn't either what our Church doth teach them to beleiue and know or they themselues ought to professe and practise for the salvation of their soules Therefore my people are gone into Captivitie saith the Lord Isai 5. because they haue noe knowledge Without this a man is like a Citie without a wall or a trench hauing not where with all to gainesay resist an assault made presently thinkes on a compositiō for some faire promises wil be content to exchange and deliuer himselfe for ever a slave vnto the Conquerour Luk. 11. But God be thanked hetherto our houses goodes are in peace as if we were all strong men armed the Enimie hath not broke in vpon vs spoiled our houses or carried any of vs away Captiues And in this estate and Libertie of trueth noe doubt we shall continew firms and setled if so be that wee be not at any time wanting vnto our selues and neglect the meanes of strength and knowledge whereby we may be enabled to resist in the day of temptation For whosoever hath to him shal be giuen he shall haue in more abundance Luk. 8. But
whosoever hath not from him shal be taken even that he seemeth to haue saith our Sauiour Christ I beseech you therefore beloued Parishioners and exhort you by the Lord Iesus Christ that yee labour to put of all Childishnes in vnderstanding and be strong in the word of God and in the knowledge of his truth and of your Christian dutie goe on from strength to strength from knowledge to knowledge from grace to grace and giue not over till you haue clothed your selues with the whole Armour of God Soe shall you approue your selues worthie of the vocation where with you are called in Iesus Christ and he will accept of your Godly endeauors and zeale and will add there-vnto of his spirit in more abundance and increase you with increase of God vntill he shall haue brought you to be perfect and compleat in himselfe who filleth all things to whome be honour and praise thankesgiuing now and for ever The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you all Amen MILKE FOR BABES Question WHAT is your Name Answere N. or M. Question Who gaue you this Name Answere My a Examples shew that Parents haue anciently vsed to giue names to their owne Children Gen. 21.3 1 Sam. 1.20 Luk. 1.63 Mat. 1.21 wherein at this day it is very reasonable that their desire and direction should not be altogether neglected by godfathers and godmothers Godfathers Godmothers in my Baptisme The Christian man wherin I was made a b Not by the bare sprinkling or dipping into the water without the Spirit of God Ioh. 3.5 Rom. 8.9 1 Cor. 12.12.13 by whome wee are properly quickned and made liuely members of Christ Iesus 2. Cor. 3.6 Gal. 4.6.7 Rom. 8. 11. Now faith and the works of a new life wil shew whether the Spirit of God did assist and ioyne with the worke of the Minister or not 1. Cor. 12.3 Gal. 5.16 1. Ioh. 4.2 member of Christ the Child of God and an inheritour of the kingdome of Heauen Q. What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you A. They did promise and vowe three things in my name Note that all the good and benefit in the former answere mentioned and which wee are to expect from Christ in our Baptisme sealed vnto vs is with condition namely if wee shall performe the promise made in our behalfs by our godfathers and godmothers Math. 16.27 Q. What doth your Godfathers promise A. First that I should forsake the Devill and all his workes the pompes and vanities of the wicked world His vowe and all the sinfull lusts of the flesh The reason hereof is because being by baptisme entered and enroled a seruant of God and receiued into his house and familie that is into his Church you are therefore to renounce all loue and obedience to these masters to which by nature you are subiect and to put your selfe in open defiance against his enimies which are the Deuill this world and your owne flesh Math. 6.24 Rom. 6.12 c. Eph. 6.11 c. Secondly that I should beleeue all the Articles of the Christian faith The reason hereof is because Christ hath inseperably tyed and annexed faith vnto Baptisme without which Baptisme profiteth nothing and saluation is not to be had Mar. 16.16 Act. 2.41.8.36.37.38 Thirdly that I should keepe Gods holy will and commaundements and walke in the same all the dayes of my life The reason hereof is because the faith of beliefe here required of such as are Baptized must be a working and a liuely faith openly shewing forth in the sight of God and men their obedience and loue in performing the will and commaundement of God and of our Lord Iesus Christ Math. 5.16 Luk. 1.74.75 Tit. 1.16 Iam. 2.17 2. Pet. 1.4.5 1. Ioh. 5.1.2 Q. Doest thou not thinke that thou art bound to beleeue and to doe as they haue promised for thee A. Yes verily and by Gods helpe so I will 1. Cor. 15.10 Iam. 4.15 and I doe hartily thanke our heauenly Father that he hath called me to this state of saluation through Iesus Christ our Saviour Ephe. 1.3 c. 2. Tim. 1.9 and I pray god to giue me his grace that I may continue in the same to my liues end Math. 24.13 Luk. 22.32 Q. Rehearse Rom. 10.8.9 Math. 10.32.33 1. His beleife Pet. 3.15 then the Articles or seuerall parts or pointes of thy beliefe or of those thinges which thou art to beleeue for the saluation of thy soule A. 1. I Beleeue in God the father Almightie maker of heauen and earth That is I a Act. 8.37 my selfe doe beleeue that God the first Person in the Godhead is the b Math. 3.17 Ioh. 1.14.18 father of our Lord Iesus Christ through him my c Math. 23.9 Ioh. 20.17 Ephe. 1.5 Iam. 1.18 Father also in whom I trust d Luk. 12.22 c. relie on his providence prouision of all things necessarie both for my bodie and soule in as much as he is e Gen. 17.1 Luk. 1 37. Rom. 9.19 able hath the might power to doe all things whatsoeuer he will that he f Ioh. 1.3 Coll. 1.16 Rev. 10. 6. created made the heavens earth all things therein g Eph. 1.11.12 2.10 me in particuler to his owne glory service to the obteining of that salvation which he hath promised to all that beleeue in his sonne Iesus Christ 2 And in Iesus Christ his only sonne our Lord. That is I my selfe doe beleeue that Iesus Christ the second Person in the Godhead is the a Math. 3. 17. Ioh. 1.14.3.16 Colos 1. 15.2.9 only naturall and proper sonne of God begotten from everlasting of the Father having and receaving from him the same nature substance and b Ioh. 5.26 as naturall Children begotten doe receaue from there naturall parents and that he is c Math. 11.27 Luk. 2.11 Rom. 6.23 Lord as well as his Father having power and dominion to rule and dispose of all things according to his owne will and pleasure not onely as he is our d Ioh. 1 1.2.3 Heb. 1.10 creator maker but more especially do I acknowledg him our Lord for as much as he hath e Luk. 1.74 75. Gal. 4.4.5 Rom. 6. 22. redeemed and sett vs free from the power of the Devill sinne and death made vs his servants to serue him in righteousnes and holynes all the dayes of our life 3 Which was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary That is I doe belieue that Iesus Christ the sonne of God was also a Iohn 1.14 Heb. 2.16 made man being b Gen. 3.15 Isa 7. 14 Luk. 1.35 conceiued of the seed of a woman the Virgin Mary by the holy Ghost after an vnspeakeable manner and in due time was borne of her a perfect man bone of her bone and flesh of her flesh in all things d Rom. 8.3 2. Cor. 5.21 Heb. 4.15 sinne