(r) Rom. 1.7 Iohn 17.3 Grace and peace be with you from God the Father The Sonne is God (Å¿) Isa 9.6 For vnto vs a child is borne and vnto vs a son is giuen and the gouernment is vpon his shoulder and he shall call his name wonderfull counseller the mighty God (t) Ioh. 1.1 1. Ioh. 5.20 In the beginning was the word the word was God The holy Ghost is God (u) Act. 5.3 then said Peter Ananias why hath Sathan filled thine heart that thou shouldest lie vnto the holy Ghost Thou hast not lyed vnto men but vnto God Qu. How are these three said to bee one An. They are one in beeing and Essence but three persons and substances Qu. Euery one of these being true Gods are there more Gods then one An. No there is but one God onely (x) 1. Cor. 8.5.6 Deut. 6.4 For though there be that are called Gods yet vnto vs there is but one God Qu. What is the reason that these three are but one God An. Because the godhead is communicable to all the persons but the persons are not communicable (y) Ioh. 14.10 Beleeuest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father is in me Qu. What are the personall properties An. In the Father to beget in the Sonne to bee begotten in the holy Ghost to proceed from the Father and the Son (z) Ioh. 1.18 No man hath seene God at any time the onely begotten sonne of the father he hath declared him (a) Ioh. 15.26 but when the comforter the holy Ghost shall come whom I will send vnto you fróthe Father euen the spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father Hitherto of the Trinity Qu. What doe you consider concerning the workes of God An. Two things 1. The decree of God Concerning the Decree of God in generall 2. The execution of the decree Qu. What is God decree An. It is the most perfect will of God whereby he appointeth all things (b) Ephe. 1.11 In whom also we wre chosen when we were predestinate according to the purpose of him which worketh all things after the counsell of his owne will Qu. What doe you consider of his decree An. Two things 1. That it is generall 2. That it is speciall Qu. What is his generall decree An. It is that which is vniuersall of all things from the beginning of the world vnto the end of the same (c) Act. 15.18 From the beginning of the world God knoweth all his workes Qu. What is his speciall decree An. It is that which is speciall and particular of some things as men and Angels called predestination (d) Rom. 8.30 Whom he predestinated Qu. What is Predestination An. Concerning Predestination in speciall It is the decree of God concerning the eternall estate of men and Angels Qu. What are the parts of Predestination An. Two 1. Election 2. Reprobation Qu. What is Election An. Concerning Election with the cause and end thereof Gods eternall chusing or appoynting of certaine men and Angels to eternall life (e) Ephe. 1.4 He hath chosen vs in him before the foundatió of the world (f) Rom. 9.23 And that hee might declare the riches of his glory vpon the vessels of mercy which he hath appoynted vnto glory Qu. Concerning reprobation and the end thereof What is Reprobation An. Gods eternall appoynting of some men and Angells to destruction (g) Rom. 9.22 What if God would to shew his wrath to make his power knowne suffer with long patience the vessels of wrath appoynted to destruction (h) 1. Pet. 2.8 And a stone to stumble and a rocke of offence euen to them which stumble at the word being disobedient vnto the which thing they were euer ordeined (i) Iude 4. For there are certaine men crept in which were of old ordained to this condemnation Qu. What is the cause of this decree An. The will of God onely (k) Rom. 9.18 Therfore he hath mercy on whom hee will and whom he will he hardeneth Qu. When did this decree beginne An. It was before the foundation of the world was layd therefore eternall (l) Ephe. 1.4 He hath chosen vs in time before the foundation of the world Qu. VVhat is the end of his Election An. The prayse of his glorious grace (m) Ephe. 1.5 6. Who hath predestinated vs in him to the praise of the glory of his grace Qu. VVhat is the end of his reprobation An. The prayse of his glorious Iustice (n) Pro. 16.4 God made all things for his owne glory euen the wicked for the day of wrath Qu. Can this decree be altered An. No but remaineth vnchangeable the same for euer (o) Iames 1.17 Euery good and perfect gift is from aboue and commeth downe from the Father of lights with whom is no variablenes neither shaddow of turning Hitherto of the Decree Qu. Concerning the execution of Gods Decree What is the execution of the decree An. The fulfilling of that which is decreed (p) Ephe. 1.11 Daniel 4.21 Who worketh all things after the counsell of his owne will Qu. What are the parts of execution An. Two 1. Creation 2. Prouidence Qu. Concerning the Creation â—ngenerall VVhat is Creation An. The giuing of the first being forme and quality to euery creature Qu. VVhat are the parts of Creation An. Two 1. The rude Masse of the world wherein all things were confounded one with another 2. The beautifull frame and fashion of the world Qu. VVhereof was this rude Masse made An. Of nothing (q) Heb. 11.3 Through faith we vnderstand that the world was ordained by the word of God so that the things which wee see are not made of things that did appeare Qu. How was it kept and preserued An. By the holy Ghost (r) Gen. 1.2 And the earth was without forme and voyd darkenesse was vpon the deepe and the Spirit of God moued vpon the waters Qu. VVhat doe you consider in the frame and fashion of the world An. Two things 1. The Elemens which are most simple substances 2. The bodies which are compounded of the Elements Qu. What are those Elements An. They are foure First Fire Secondly Ayre Thirdly Earth Fourthly Water Qu. VVhat vnderstand you by the bodies compounded An. The rest of the creatures made of the vneuen mixture of the Elements Qu. How many sorts of creatures be there created An. Two 1. Visible (Å¿) Col. 1.16 For by him were all things made which are in heauen and which are in earth things visible things inuisible 2. Inuisible (Å¿) Col. 1.16 For by him were all things made which are in heauen and which are in earth things visible things inuisible Qu. How many sorts of visible creatures be there An. Two 1. Sensible Sensible man Insensible al the rest of the creatures 2. Insensible Sensible man Insensible al the rest of the creatures Qu.
a Fast pag. 88. Concer a holy Feast ibid. Concer the exercises for the day pag. 89. Concer the Persons belonging to the Administration of the Kingdome of Christ pag. 90 Concerning the death of the Righteous and the wicked pag. 91. Concerning what is common to both and proper to each ibid. Concerning the last Resurrection pag. 92. Concerning the last Iudgement pag. 93. Concerning the signes going before pag. 95. Conce the end of Christs comming to Iudgement pag. 96. Concer the Glorification of the Saints ibid. Concer Christs deliuering vp his Kingdome to his Father ibid. Concer God being All in All. pag. 97. The Christians Profession Question WHereupon ought Faith and true Religion to bee grounded Answer Vpon the written Word of God contained in the holy Scriptures of the old new Testamen (a) Ephe. 2.20 Concerning the Scriptures and the Attributes of them And are built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner stone Qu. Who is the author of these â—oly Scriptures An. God himselfe (b) Heb. 1.1 Who at sundry times and in diuers manners spake in times past vnto the Fathers by the Prophets Qu. How came these Scriptures first to the Church from God An. By diuine inspiration (c) 2. Tim. 3.16 All Scriptures is giuen by inspiration of God (d) 2. Pet. 1.20 Knowing this first that no pro phecy of the Scripture is of any priuate interpretation for the Prophesie came not in the old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost Qu. To what end were they giuen An. Perfectly to teach vs what to beleeue to saluation how to liue well (e) 2. Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is profitable for Doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse Qu. Of what authority be these holy Scriptures A. Of the highest authority aboue al men or Angels therfore the authority of the Church Councels Fathers is far inferior therunto (f) Gal. 1.8 But though we or an Angell from heauen preach any other Gospell vnto you then that which we haue preached vnto you let him be accursed Qu. What is the reason of this An. First because they are of God Secondly because they only not the Church nor any humane authority do bind the conscience (g) Isa 33.22 For the Lord is our Iudge the Lord is our Lawgiuer the Lord is our King he will saue vs. Qu. Which be those bookes of the holy Scriptures An. the Old and New Testament Qu. Which be those of the Old Teastament An. The Law and the Prophets Q. Which be those of the Law A. The fiue booke of Moses called Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers Deuterono Q. Which be those of the Prophets An. Some are Historicall Some Doctrinall and some Propheticall greater and lesser Histo Ioshua Iudges Ruth 1.2 Samuel 1.2 Kings 1.2 Chron. Ezra Nehemia Hester Doct. Iob. Psalmes Prouerbs Ecclesiastes Canticles Lamentati Propheti greater Isaiah Ieremiah Ezekiel Daniel Lesser Hosea Ioel. Amos. Obadia Ionah Micha Nahum Habakkâ—k Zephania Haggai Zacharia Malachi Qu. What be the Bookes of the new Testament An. Some are Historicall some Doctrinall and some Propheticall Histo of Christ and the Apostles Mathew Marke Luke Iohn Acts. Doct. The Epistles of Paul to the Churches Romans 1.2 Cor. Galathi Ephesia 1.2 Thes The Author to the Hebrewes Doct. Pauls Epistles to particular Persons 1.2 Tim. Titus Philemon The small Epistles writen by seueralmen Iames. 1.2 Peter 1.2.3 Iohn Iude. The Reuelations which is Prophticall Qu. How is it proued that these Scriptures are the word of God An. First by the perfect concord and agreement betweene all the writings notwithstanding the diuersity of persons by whom place where times when and matters whereof they were written Secondly the admirable force and maiesty that is in them (h) Mebr. 4.12 For the word of God is liuely and mighty in operation and sharper then any two edged sword and entreth through euen vnto the diuiding asunder of the soule and the spirit and of the ioynts and the marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts the intens of the heart Thirdly by the Spirits accompanying the same in the minestery thereof Hitherto of the Scriptures Qu. What doe you consider of concerning God An. Foure things 1. His Nature 2. His Attributes 3. The Trinity of persons 4. His workes Qu. What is God Concerning God An. An eternall Essence that hath being of himselfe (i) Exâ— 3.14 And God answered Moses I AM that I AM. Qu. Of how many sorts be his Atributs An. Of two sorts 1. Incommunicable Concerning the Attributes of God 2. Communicable Qu. What be the Attributes of God incommunicable An. Two 1. Simplenes of Nature 2. Infinitenesse Qu. What is that you call simplenesse of Nature An. It is an essenticall property in God whereby euery thing in God is God himselfe (k) 1. Iohn 4.16 God is Loue. Qu. What doe you consider of his infinitnesse An. That is either in greatnesse or eternity Qu. What is his greatnesse An. It is an essentiall property in God whereby he containeth al things and is contained of nothing Qu. What is his infinitenesse in eternity An. It is an essentiall property in God whereby (l) Reue. 1.8 He is the first and the last Qu. What are the Attributes in God which are communicable An. Those which he doth communicate to others Exod. 34.6 as power wisedome mercy and such like Qu. Are these in men or Angels as they are in God An. No in God they bee essentiall in vs by participation in him absolutely perfect 1. Cor. 13.9 in vs imperfect in him without measure in all fulnesse in vs by measure (m) Ioh. 1.16 of his fulnesse we receiue Qu. What is further to be considered of concerning God An. Concerning the Trinity of personâ— Ioh. 14.16 The Trinitie of persons Qu. What is a person in Trinity An. A distinct substance hauing in it the whole Godhead (n) Colos 2.9 In him dwelleth all the fulnesse of the godhead bodily Qu. What is the Father An. The first person in the Trinity who hath of himselfe begotten his son (o) Psal 2.7 Thou art my sonne this day haue I begotten thee Qu. What is the Sonne An. The second person in Trinity eternally begotten of the substance of the Father (p) Iohn 1.18 no man hath seene God at any time the onely begotten sonne which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him Qu. What is the holy Ghost An. The third person in Trinity proceeding eternally from the Father and the Son (q) Ioh. 15.26 But when the comforter shal come whom I wil send vnto our fró the Father euen the spirit of truth which proceedeth of the Father Qu. Is euery one of the three persons the eternall God An. Yes the Father is God
regard of that publike Catechising inioyned by authority that by reading in priuate they may bee the better able to vnderstand the Minister in publike and so shall the Minister profit the people with lesse labour in teaching in regard of often repeating of the same grounds and indeed to speake truly it is the duty of euery Maister or Gouernour of a Family to teach and instruct their owne Family in the grounds of Religion in their owne priuate Houses and not leaue all for the Minister to doe in publike and because all are not able in regard of knowledge to instruct their Families of themselues it is necessary that they get such Catechismes as are printed in which the grounds of Religion are most plainely preoued and set forth And among many other Chatechismes as I conceiue you shall find this to bee one by which you may benefit both your selues and your family especially if you in reading marke and obserue what dependencie one thing hath vpon another But it may be some will obiect and say that this Chatechisine is too large concerning too many things for one thing is necessary to be knowne which is God in Christ and therefore what neede people trouble their heads to know so many things To which I answer That I freely confesse that according to the words of Christ Iohn 17.3 This is life eternall to know thee to bee the very God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ the which are the maine things contained in this Chatechisme for to know God aright is to know him in his nature in his Attributes in the Trinity of persons and in his workes And to know Christ aright is to know him in his Person in his Natures and in his Offices And whosoeuer doth not in some measure thus know God and Christ knowes neither God nor Christ but meerely a fantacy of their owne braines Neither could I well tell how to contract those grounds into a shorter volume for sure I am that the gleanings which are left behind are more then the whole Croppe heere gathered together Againe I did so neere as possibly I could make Christ the maine subiect of this Treatise and that those that reade with vnderstanding may plainely see by the drift and scope of the same for all those things which go before the couenant of grace concerning the fall of man his miserie by reason of sinne and the puninshment thereof serues to make man see how miser able he is without Christ. And all those things concerning the law are to serue vnto Christ as the ministery of Iohn Baptist going before to make way for Christ Mat. 3.3 and all the rest following are either concerning the person of Christ the two natures of Christ the offices of Christ or the Kingdome of Christ so that Christ and his Kingdome are the mayne things contained in this Cathechisme Wherefore I desire not to write much in commendation of the same but rather desire that the worke may prayse it selfe wishing that the reader may finde as much benefit in reading as I found in writing howsoeuer I desire that it may bee accepted as a testimony of my loue vnto the truth and the Church and people in which I liue for whose sakes I haue improued that small talent which the Lord hath lent me desiring that it may be to Gods glory and his Churches good which that it may so bee I commend and commit both you and it vnto the blessing of almighty God and rest yours in the Lord I G. ¶ A Table containing the chiefe heads and Principall matters in this Treatise COncerning the Scriptures and the Attributes of them pag. 1. Concerning God pag. 5. Concerning the Attributes of God ibid. Concerning the Trinity of Persons pag. 6. Concerning the Workes of God pag. 9. Concerning the Decree of God in generall ibid. Concerning Predestination in speciall pag 10. Concerning Election with the cause and end thereof ibid. Concerning Reprobation and the end thereof ibid. Concerning the Execution of Gods Decree pag 12. Concerning the Creation in generall ibid. Concerning the Creation of Man in speciall pag. 14 Concerning the parts of Man ibid. Concerning the Dignities of man in his Creation pag. 15. Concerning the Creation of the Angels in generall pag. 16. Concerning the Nature of the Angels pag. 17. Concerning their knowledge ibid. Concerning their Power and Office ibid. Concerning Gods Prouidence how farre it doth extend pag. 19. Concerning the Prouidence of God in the fall of Men and Angels pag. 21. Concerning the Fall of Man pag. 22. Concerning Originall Sinne. ibid. Concerning the guilt and punishment of Sin p. 23. Concerning the Extent thereof vnto vs the posteritie of Adam with the cause pag. 24. Concerning Mans vnability to helpe himselfe out of that Condition pag. 26. Concerning the Restoring of Man and the meanes thereof ibid. Concerning the outward meanes in which God doth reueale the three-fold estate of Man pag. 28. Concerning the Law and couenant of Workes ibid. Concerning the vse of the Law to the Reprobate pag. 30. Concerning the vse of the Law to the Elect. ibid. Concerning the vse of it before calling pag. 31. Concerning the vse thereof to them after calling pag. 34. Concerning the giuing of the Law to Adam in Innocencie with the cause pag. 36. Concerning the giuing of the Law to the Israelites in Mount Sinai ibid. Concerning the Establishing of the Law by Christ. pag. 39. Concerning the manner of the Preaching of the Law pag. 40. Also what Rules are to be obserued for the vnderstanding of the Law pag. 42. Concer the summe of the First and Second Table of the Law pag. 43. Concer the Gospell or Couenant of grace ibid. Concer Christ the substance of the same p. 46. Concer the Person of Christ. ibid. Concer the Office of Christ. pag. 48. Concer the Mediator ship of Christ and the parts thereof ibid. Concer the Priesthood of Christ and the parts thereof pag. 49. Concer our Redemption and the parts therof p. 51. Concer Iustification the first part of Redemption ibid. Concer the parts of Iustification pag. 52. Concer Sanctification the second part of Redemption pag. 54. Concer the parts of Sanctification pag. 55. Concerning the Intercession of Christ. pag. 57. Concerning the Kingdome of Christ ibid. Concer the greatnesse of Christs Kingdome with the Nature of it pag. 59. Concer Faith with the Definition of it ibid. Concer the Spirit with it's diuers workes p. 62. Concer the outward things in the Kingdome of Christ. pag. 63. Concerning the Ministerie of the Word ibid. Concerning the Sacraments in generall ibid. Concerning Baptisme pag. 65. Concer the Lords Supper pag. 67. Concer the censures of the Church pag. 69. Concerning Prayer pag. 73. Concer the Lords Prayer ibid. Concer Fasting with the kinds thereof pag. 84. Concerning the Author of a Fast pag. 85. Concer the causes of a Fast pag. 86. Concer the parts of a Fast ibid. Concer the ends of
sorts First inward Secondly outward Qu. What be the inward An. The spirit peace ioy righteousnesse faith (t) Rom. 14.17 For the Kingdome of God is not meate nor drinke but righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Concerning Faith with the definition of it Qu. What is Faith An. A receiuing or an applying of Christ and al his benefits vnto my selfe in particular that hee is mine and I am him (u) Iohn 1.12 But as many as receiued him to them he gaue power to bee the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue in his name (x) Ioh. 20.28 Then Thomas answered said vnto him Thou art my Lord and my God (y) Cant. 2.16 My beloued is mine I am his Qu. What consider you in Faith An. First it is not of our selues (z) Mat. 16.17 And Iesus answered and sayd to him Blessed art thou Simon the sonne of Ionas for flesh and blood hath not reuealed it vnto thee but my Father which is in heauen (a) Ephe. 2.8 For by grace are ye saued through faith and that not of your selues it is the gift of God Secondly that it is not in all but in the Elect (b) 2. Thes 3. For all men haue not faith (c) Act. 13.48 And as many as were ordeined vnto eternall life beleeued Thirdly that it is manifested to menward by the fruits thereof which are good workes (d) Iam. 2.18.20 And I will shew thee my faith by my workes But wilt thou vnderstand O thou vaine man that the faith which is without workes is dead Forthly that it is common to all the faithfull and yet in a different measure (e) 2. Pet. 1.1 Simon Peter a seruant and an Apostle of Iesus Christ to you which haue obtained the like precious faith with vs. (f) 1. Cor. 12.11 And all these things worketh euen the selfesame spirit distributing to euery man seuerally as he will Fiftly that it is not here perfect in any but increaseth and groweth dayly (g) Rom. 1.17 For by it the righteousnesse of God is reuealed from faith to faith Sixtly that the least measure of faith receiueth Christ for saluation (h) Mat. 17.20 For verily I say vnto you if yee haue faith as much as is a graine of mustard seede ye shall say vnto this mountaine Remoue hence to yonder place and it shall remoue and nothing shall be vnpossible vnto you Seuenthly that it can neuer bee vtterly lost in any where it is wrought in truth (i) Rom. 11.29 For the gifts and callings of God are withont repentance Qu. What doe you vnderstand by the spirit you sayd was in the Kingdome An. That power of God which worketh in the hearts of men those things which by nature they cannot attaine vnto Concerning the Spirit with its diuers workes Qu. What are the diuers workings of the Spirit in the Church or Kingdome of Christ An. It is first in things common to the Elect and reprobate Secondly in things proper to the Elect. Qu. What is common to both An. Illumination knowledge gifts of preaching praying hearing with ioy and doing of many things (k) Mat. 7.22 Many will say to mee in that day Lord Lord haue we not by the name prophecied and cast out Diuells and done many great workes (l) Mat. 13.20 And hee that receiued the seede in the stony ground is hee which heareth the word with ioy receiueth it Qu. What is the worke of the Spirit proper to the Elect An. To worke a particular Iustifying faith and sanctification of the spirit Qu. What bee those outward things which you sayd were in the Kingdome of Christ An. Concerning the outward things in the Kingdome of Christ First such ordinances as God hath giuen his Church Secondly such as the Church giueth vnto God for seruice according to his word Qu. What bee those ordinances which God hath giuen vnto his Church An. They are three 1. The Ministery of the word 2. The Sacraments 3. The Censures of the Church Qu. What is the Ministery of the word An. Concerning the ministeriâ— of the Word It is an ordinance of God in the Church which he hath appoynted for the opening and applying of the scriptures thereby to call men to a sight of their lost miserable estate by nature and to call them to the knowledge of saluation by Iesus Christ Qu. What is a Sacrament A. It is a work of the whole Church Concerning the Sacraments in generall wherin by outward things done according to Gods appoyntment inward things are offered to all and exhibited onely to the faithfull to strengthen their faith in the eternall couenant Q. What do you consider in a Sacrament A. First some things that are outward Secondly some things that are inward Qu. What are the outward things in a Sacrament An. First the persons that doe administer and receiue Secondly that which they doe minister and receiue Qu. What be the persons An. The Minister and the persons that doe receiue Qu. What belongs to the Minister An. Chiefely to consecrate and deliuer the outward Elements Qu. Wherein stands that consecration A. First in the declaring opening the ministration of the Sacrament Secondly in prayer thanksgiuing to God the Church ioyning with him Q. Is not the nature and substance of the Elements changed by this consecration An. There is no change of the substance of the Elements for then there were no Sacrament Qu. Is there no difference then betweene these Elements and others of that kind in common vse An. None at all in substance but onely in their vse during the time of the present action Qu. Why then are the outward Elements called by the name of the thing signified as the Bread the body of Christ the Wine the blood of Christ An. First (m) 1 Cor. 10.16 To shew the vnseparable coniunction of the thing signified with the outward signe to the worthy receiuer Secondly the more fully to assure the worthy receiuer that hee doth as verily receiue the thing signified as he doth the outward signes Qu. How many Sacraments be there An. Onely two Qu. Why were there no more ordained An. Because by these two the faith of the beleeuer is sufficiently strengthned in the assurances of the free grace and fauour of God heere and eternall glory for euer heereafter Qu. Which is the first Sacrament An. Baptisme Qu. What is Baptisme An. It is a Sacrament of the new Testament whereby all that are baptised are entred and made members of the outward visible Church and all the Elect ordinarily are entred into and made members of the inuisible Church the mysticall body Qu. What is the outward signe in the Sacrament of Baptisme An. Water Qu. What doth that signifie An. Washing Qu. What agreement is there betweene the signe and the thing signified An. As water washeth away all the filth of the body so doth the blood of Christ