suffer a merciful and good Man to fall into Afflictions notwithstanding the fore-mentioned Promises A. Yes (a) Rom. 8.28 For we know all things work together for good unto them that love God (b) 2 Cor. 4.17 And these light Afflictions which are but for a moment work for them a far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory Q. You have well told me your Duty towards the Poor and Needy God grant that you practise it Tell me next your Duty towards your Brother that hath offended you A. We ought to forbear one another and forgive one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us Col. 3.12 Eph. 4.32 Q. How often shall thy Brother sin against thee and thou forgive him till seven times A. Yes Until seventy times seven Mat. 18.22 Q. What if you do not forgive your Brother his Trespasses A. Neither will my heavenly Father forgive me my Trespasses Mat. 6.15 Q. What is your Duty towards your Brother that hath offended God A. I must not hate my Brother in my Heart but in any wise rebuke my Neighbour and not suffer Sin upon him Lev. 19.17 Q. What Encouragement have you so to do A. If any Man err from the Truth and one convert him let him know that he which converteth a Sinner from the Error of his Way shall save a Soul from Death and shall hide a multitude of Sins Jam. 5.20 Q. How should we reprove our sinning Brother A. If any Man be overtaken in a Fault they that be Spiritual should restore such a one with a Spirit of Meekness considering themselves lest they also be tempted Gal. 6.1 Q. Is it not your Duty to be as savourable as may be in judging your Brother A. Our Lord hath said (a) Mat. 7.1 2. Judg not that ye be not judged For with what Judgment ye judg ye shall be judged And (b) Rom. 14.4 who art thou that judgest another Man's Servant to his own Master he standeth or falleth Q. How ought those that are strong and knowing to behave themselves towards the weak and ignorant A. They that are strong ought to bear the Infirmities of the Weak and not to please themselves Rom. 15.1 Q. What is your Duty towards your Enemies A. 'T is my Duty to love mine Enemies Mat. 5.44 Q. How should you shew your Love to your Enemies A. By (a) 1 Pet. 3.9 not rendring Evil for Evil or Railing for Railing but contrariwise blessing (b) Rom. 12.21 And by overcoming Evil with Good Q. What Arguments have we to love and do good to our Enemies A. (a) Rom. 5.8 God commendeth his Love towards us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us And (b) Mat. 5.45 so shall we be the Children of our Father which is in Heaven For he makes his Sun to rise on the Evil and on the Good and sendeth Rain on the Just and on the Unjust (c) Luke 6.35 And is kind to the Unthankful and to the Evil. Q. By the Answers you have given I perceive you are far from imagining that the Grace of the Gospel doth excuse us from good Works A. We are created in Christ Jesus unto good Works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Eph. 2.10 Q. Is it sufficient to do good Works with our outward Man A. No but if any Man be in Christ or a true Christian he is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Q. What is it to be a new Creature A. To be a new Creature is to be (a) Eph. 4.23 renewed in the Spirit of our Mind (b) Rom. 6.17 and to obey from the Heart Q. Why is it necessary to be renewed in the Spirit of our Mind A. It is necessary to be renewed in the Spirit of our Mind because (a) Mat. 7.18 a corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good Fruit nor a good Tree bring forth evil Fruit. (b) Chap. 12.34 And out of the abundance of the Heart the Mouth speaketh Q. For what other Reason is it necessary that we should be renewell in the Spirit of our Mind and pure in Heart A. It is also necessary because Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all INiquity and purify to himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works Tit. 2.14 Q. Is there any other Reason why it should be necessary to be renewed in the Spirit of our Mind and be pure in Heart A. It is also necessary because hereby (a) Col. 1.12 we are made meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light (b) Joh. 3.3 And except we be born again we cannot see the Kingdom of God Q. Why can we not A. Because God is Light and in him is no Darkness at all and therefore we cannot have Fellowship with him and walk in Darkness 1 Joh. 1. 5 6. Q. Are you able of your self to believe and repent and make you a lcean Heart and obey God's Laws A. (a) Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me (b) Joh. 15.5 but without him I can do nothing Q. Is Christ ready to enable you with his Grace and Spirit A. He hath promised that (a) Mat. 13.12 to him that hath shall be given that is that useth the Strength he hath already received and he shall have abundance (b) Luke 11.13 And that if we who are evil know how to give good Gifts unto your Children how much more shall our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit unto them that ask him Q. What were those Operations of the Holy Ghost which were proper and peculiar to the first Ages of the Church A. First the Holy Ghost whom the Father did send in Christ's Name did teach the Apostles all things and brought all things to their Remembrance whatsoever he had said unto them Joh. 14.26 Secondly (a) Acts 2.1 4. when the Day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance (b) Mat. 3.11 And they were baptized with the Holy Ghost and with Fire (c) Acts 2.3 when there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of Fire which sate upon all of them Thirdly When (a) Mark 13.11 they were led before Rulers (b) Luke 12.12 the Holy Ghost did teach them in the same hour what they ought to say Fourthly To one was given by the Spirit the Word of Wisdom to another the Word of Knowledg by the same Spirit to another the working of Miracles to another Prophecy to another discerning of Spirits to another divers kinds of Tongues to another the Interpretation of Tongues 1 Cor. 12.8 9 10. Q. For what End were these extraordinary Gifts and Operations of the Holy Ghost A. By these the Holy Ghost was a Witness that God hath exalted his Son Jesus with his Right-hand
A CATECHISM Containing The Substance of the Christian Religion IN THE WORDS and PHRASES OF SCRIPTURE IMPRIMATUR Guil. Sill R. P. D. Henr. Episc Lond. Ã Sacris Domesticis LONDON Printed by J. D. and are to be sold by Jonathan Robinson in St. Paul's Church-Yard and Samuel Crouch in Pope's Head-Alley next Cornhill 1693. A CATECHISM Q. HOw came the Heavens and the Earth to be A. In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth Gen. 1.1 Q. HOw came your self to be and the rest of Mankind A. God made of one Blood all Nations of Men for to dwell on all the face of the Earth Acts 17.26 Q. Why did God create all things A. For his Pleasure or the fulfilling of his Will they are and were created Rev. 4. last Q. Why did God make your self and all Men A. That we might seek the Lord that is do his Will and enjoy his Favour Acts 17.27 Q. Who preserveth you and bestoweth upon you the good things you enjoy A. (a) Psal 36.6 The Lord preserveth both Man and Beast (b) Acts 17.25 He giveth unto All Life and Breath and all Things Q. What good Things hath God bestowed upon you A. If I should declare and speak of them they are more than can be numbred Psal 40.5 Q. What doth God require of you for his wonderful Goodness and loving Kindness to you A. He hath shewed thee O Man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do Justly and to love Mercy and to walk Humbly with thy God Micah 6.8 Q. You have told me that God made and preserveth the World doth he not also govern it and all Things therein A. (a) Psal 67.4 God judgeth the People righteously and governs the Nations upon Earth (b) Psal 103.19 He hath prepared his Throne in the Heavens and his Kingdom ruleth over all Q. Is there any more than one God A. There is none other God but one 1 Cor. 8.4 Q. What is said of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost A. It is said That these Three are One 1 Joh. 5.7 Q. Can you perfectly understand what God is A. I cannot by searching find out God I cannot find out the Almighty to Perfection Job 11.7 Q. How hath God discovered himself to Mankind A. The invisible Things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the Things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead so that the Heathens themselves are without excuse And that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewn it unto them Rom. 1.20 19. Q. Hath God made himself known any otherwise than by his Works of Creation and Providence A. Yes He spake in times past to the Fathers by the Prophets and hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son Heb. 1.1 Q. What do the holy Scriptures inform us concerning God's Nature and Perfections A. The holy Scriptures inform us that (a) John 4.24 God is a Spirit who is (b) Ps 90.2 from everlasting to everlasting (c) Rev. 4.8 most holy (d) Mat. 19.17 Ps 103.8 most good merciful (e) Ps 11.7 most just (f) Deut. 7.9 most faithful (g) Ps 147.5 most wise and (h) Luke 18.27 Dan. 4.35 most powerful Q. What do you understand by God's being a Spirit A. I understand by God's being a Spirit that he (a) Luke 24.39 hath not Flesh and Bones (b) 1 Tim. 1.17 Chap. 6. 16. is invisible and no Man hath seen or can see him with the Eyes of his Body (c) Esay 40.18 and that there is no likeness that we can compare unto him Q. What learn you from God's being a Spirit A. I learn from God's being a Spirit that he must be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth Or with the Soul as well as the Body Joh. 4.24 Q. What learn you from his being invisible c. A. I learn from his being invisible that we should take good heed to our selves lest we make to our selves any Likeness to worship him or graven Images Deut. 4.15 16. Exod. 20.45 Q. What do you understand by God's being most Holy A. I understand by God's being most Holy (a) Prov. 15.9 that the Way of the Wicked is Abomination to the Lord and that (b) Jam. 1.13 he cannot be tempted with Evil neither tempteth he any Man Q. What understand you by God's being most Good A. I understand by God's being most Good that (a) Ps 145.9 he is good unto all (b) Vers 16. and satisfies the Desire of every living Thing (c) Jam. 1.5 and giveth to all Men liberally and upbraideth not Q. What understand you by God's being most Merciful A. I understand by God's being most Merciful (a) Ps 145.9 that his tender Mercies are over all his Works (b) Exod. 34.67 that he is full of Compassion and Long-suffering forgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin (c) 2 Pet. 3.9 That he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance (d) Lam. 3.33 And doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men. Q. What is meant by God's being most Just A. By God's being most Just is meant (a) Acts 10.34 that he is no Respecter of Persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him (b) Gen. 18.25 That God the Judg of all the Earth will do right and (c) Job 34.23 that he will not lay upon Man more than is right Q. What is meant by God's being most True and Faithful A. By God's being most True and Faithful is meant that (a) Titus 1.2 he cannot lie (b) Dan. 9.4 and that he keepeth Covenant and Mercy to them that love him and keep his Commandments Q. What is meant by God's being most Wise A. By God's being most Wise is meant that (a) Ps 139.2 3. he understan deth our Thoughts afar off and is acquainted with all our Ways (b) Rom. 11.33 And that his Judgments are unsearchable and his Ways past finding out Q. What understand you by God's being most Powerful A. By God's being most Powerful I understand (a) Luke 1.37 that with him nothing is impossible and (b) Ps 135.6 that he doth whatsoever he pleases in Heaven and in Earth Q. Now because that Knowledg which leads not to Practice is but little worth tell me what Duties you learn from these several Attributes or Perfections of the Divine Nature And first What learn you from the unspotted Purity and Holiness of God A. I learn from the Purity and Holiness of God that (a) 1 Pet. 1.15 as he who hath called me is holy so ought I to be holy in all manner of Conversation (b) 1 Joh. 3.3 and to purify my self as God is pure Q. What learn you from the infinite Goodness and Mercy of
to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give Repentance unto Israel and Forgiveness of Sins Acts 5.32 Q. What Operations and Gifts of the Holy Ghost have and shall continue in all Ages of the Church A. The fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance Gal. 5.22 23. Q. Will God accept nothing less than absolutely Perfect and Sinless Obedience A. If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous 1 Joh. 2.1 Q. What are the special Means in the use of which we may expect the conveyance of God's Grace A. They are the Word Sacraments and Prayer Q. What read you of the Word or Holy Scriptures A. I read that they are able to make us wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Q. Is it not sufficient to believe as the Church believes as the Papists say A. No but I must (a) Joh. 5.39 search the Scriptures (b) 1 Thess 5.21 And prove all things and hold fast that which is good Q. May the Scriptures be understood by simple People in all things necessary to Salvation A. Yes (a) Ps 19.7 Ps 119.130 God's Word giveth Light and Understanding to the Simple (b) 2 Cor. 4.3 And if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost Q. Are the Scriptures able to make wise to Salvation without the Addition of unwritten Traditions which the Papists do make necessary A. Yes certainly For all Scripture is given by Inspiration of god and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness That the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished to all good Works 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Q. How must we read and hear the Word A. (a) Jam. 1.21 We must lay apart all Filthiness and Superfluity of Naughtiness and receive with Meekness the ingrasted Word which is able to save our Souls (b) 1 Pet. 2.2 And as new-born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word that we may grow thereby Q. Then meer bearing or reading the Word is not sufficient A. We must be Doers of the Word and not Hearers only deceiving our own selves Jam. 1.22 Q. What must we do besides reading and hearing God's Word that we may yield Obedience to it A. We must (a) Ps 119.11 hide it in our Hearts (b) Ver. 15. and meditate therein Q. Must we not also pray to God for his Blessing to make his Word effectual A. Yes We must pray unto God to (a) Ps 119.33 teach us the way of his Statutes (b) Ver. 36. And to incline our Hearts unto his Testimonies Q. How many Sacraments are there A. Two Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. Q. What is Baptism A. Baptism is (a) Acts 10.47 washing with Water (b) Mat. 28.19 in the Name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Q. What is the inward spiritual Grace of Baptism A. It is the (a) Tit. 3.5 washing of Regeneration (b) Acts 22.6 or the washing away of Sins Q. What doth your Baptism oblige you to A. My Baptism obligeth me to put on Christ Gal. 3.27 Q. What is it to put on Christ A. To put on Christ is to name the Name of Christ or to profess Christianity and depart from all Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 Q. HOw doth your Baptism oblige you to depart from all Iniquity A. So many of us as are baptized into Christ were baptized into his Death therefore we are buried with him by Baptism into Death that like as Christ was raised up from the Dead by the Glory of the Father even so we also should walk in Newness of Life Rom. 6.3 4. Q. Doth not our Baptism oblige us to love one another and to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace A. Yes For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body 1 Cor. 12.13 Q. What is the Lord's-Supper A. The Lord's-Supper is (a) Mat. 26.26 c. Luke 22.19 Bread broken and caten and Wine poured forth and drunk in remembrance of Christ (b) Esay 53.5 who was wounded for our Transgressions and bruised for our Sins (c) Mat. 26.28 And whose Blood was shed for the Remission of our Sins Q. How long is the Death of Christ to be remembred in the Lord's-Supper A. As often as we eat this Bread and drink this Cup. we do shew the Lord's Death till he come or till he comes to Judgment 1 Cor. 11.26 Q. May the Cup be denied to any that receive the Bread as the Papists do to all the Laity A. No certainly For Christ took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it Mat. 26.27 Q. Is the Lord's-Supper a proper Sacrifice or is the Body of Christ again offered up therein for the Quick and Dead as the Papists say A. No by no means But (a) 1 Cor. 11.26 his Death is therein shewed forth (b) Heb. 9.26 For otherwise must he often have suffered but now once hath he appeared to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself Q. What is the Meaning of those words Take eat this is my Body A. Christ hath told us his Meaning in saying Do this in remembrance of me Luke 22.19 Q. Is Christ's Body confined always to Heaven A. The Heavens must receive or retain him until the times of restitution of all things or till the last Day Acts 3.21 Q. How may we worthily receive the Lord's-Supper A. Let a Man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. 1 Cor. 11.28 Q. What if you should receive the Lord's-Supper unworthily that is in the allowance of known Sins A. He that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself not discerning the Lord's Body or not making a difference between the Lord's Supper and his ordinary Meals 1 Cor. 11.29 Q. What is the Advantage that accrues to those who worthily receive it that is that receive it with firm Resolutions against all Sin and with a thankful Sense of the Love of Christ A. To such the Cup of Blessing which we bless it is the Communication of the Blood of Christ and the Bread which we break it is the Communication of the Body of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 Q. How doth the Receiving the Lord'-Supper farther engage unto Holiness A. the Receiving thereof doth farther engage us to Holiness as it is a shewing forth of Christ's Death whose Love in dying for us constraineth us to all holy Obedience because we thus judg that if one died for all then were all dead and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Q. Doth it not for the same reason in a special manner engage us to love each other A. Yes For we are commanded to walk in love as Christ
long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee VI. Thou shalt do no Murder VII Thou shalt not commit Adultery VIII Thou shalt not steal IX Thou shalt not bear false Witness against thy Neighbour X. Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbour's House thou shalt not covet thy Neighbour's Wife nor his Servant nor his Maid nor his Ox nor his Ass nor any thing that is his A Morning Prayer O Most Blessed and Glorious Lord God I thy pooâ— Creature do desire in all Humility to offer up untâ— thee my Morning Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving which I beseech thee most graciously to accept in aâ—â— through thine only begotten Son and my dear Saviour I praise thy holy Name that thou hast preserved me froâ— the Dangers of the Night past whereas I might have slâ—â—â— the Sleep of Death that thou hast refreshed my Body wiâ—â— comfortable Rest and hast raised me to see the Light of another Day to walk before thee in the Land of the Living In theâ— O Lord I live and move and have my Being and unâ—â— thee am I indebted for all the Comforts of my Life which are more than can be numbred O that the Riches of the Goodness and Forbearance and Long-suffering might leaâ— me to Repentance Lord humble me that I have not rendred unto thee according to the great Mercies I have received from thee that I have been so for getful of thee aâ—â— disobedient to thy holy Lawâ—â— that I have sinned againâ—â— Heaven and in thy sight and have made my self unworth to be called thy Child and to receive the least good thing at thy hands Good Lord give me such a sense of my Sins as may bâ— get in me an holy Hatred of them and that godly Sorroâ— for them which may cause me for ever to leave and forsake them And then according to thy tender Merciâ—â— in Christ Jesus be thou graciously pleased to blot out amine Iniquities and to give me the free and full pardoâ— of them Enable me by Faith to embrace the Promises and obâ—â— the Precepts of the Gospel Give me such a Faith as mâ—â— purisy my Heart and overcome all the Temptations 〈◊〉 the World the Flesh and the Devil O let thy Holy Spirit sanctify my throughout and give me more and more Grace and strength whereby I may be enabled to subdue all my corrupt and sinful Affections O let thy Grace which hath brought Salvation to me teach me that denying Ungodliness and worldly Lusts I may live soberly righteously and godly in this present World Looking for that blessed Hope and the glorious Appearance of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for me that he might redeem me from all Iniquity and make me zealous of good Works Wean my Heart from all the Vanities of this World and help me to set my Affections on things above where Christ sitteth at the Right-hand of God And I beseech thee to watch over me for good this Day grant that I fall into no Sin nor run into any kind of Danger but that all my Doings may be ordered by thy Laws to do always that which is righteous in thy sight Together with my self do good unto all Mankind Let the whole Earth be filled with the Knowledg of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea Bless thy Church in these Kingdoms Bless our King and Queen and all that are put in Authority under them Be good and gracious to all my Relations Friends and Acquaintance and to this whole Family O that we may have Grace to serve thee acceptably with Reverence and godly Fear and so live together here as that we may live together in thine Heavenly Kingdom Forgive I beseech thee all mine Enemies and give me Grace to love them and to do good unto them Relieve all that are under any Affliction And guide us all by thy Counsel till at last thou shalt receive us to Glory through the Mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ in whose boly Name and Words I continue to pray Our Father c. An Evening Prayer UNto thee O Lord I commend my self this Night returning thee all possible Praise for my Preservation and all the Comforts of this Day and my Life past but especially for that unspeakable Gift of thine Jesus Christ and all the blessed Helps and Advantages for the obtaining Eternal Happiness which thou hast vouchsafed me in and through him O let this Love of thine constrain me to all holy Obedience Let me be perswaded by thy Mercies to offer uâ— my self a living Sacrifice holy and acceptable unto theâ— which is my reasonable Service I humbly beseech thee remember not against me any of the Follies or Infirmities I have been guilty of anâ— keep me this Night under the Wings of thy Providence Let not any Fears disturb me nor evil Thoughts seize 〈◊〉 me Give me comfortable Rest and Sleep and raise mâ— up in the Morning with a quick sense of thee my God and with renewed Resolutions to spend the Remainder 〈◊〉 my Life in thy Fear and to thy Glory This I humbly beg in the Name of thy Son and my dear Saviour Jesus Christ and farther pray as he hath taught me Our Father c. FINIS