A CATECHISME OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION TAVGHT in the Schooles and Churches of the Low-Countries and dominions of the Countie Palatine WITH THE ARGVMENTS AND vse of the seueral doctrins of the same Catechisme By IEREMIAS BASTINGIVS And now authorized by the Kinges Maiestie for the vse of Scotland Wherunto is adioyned certaine Praiers both publike and priuate for sundry purposes EDINBVRGH ⧠Printed by Robert VValde-graue printer to the Kings Majestie 1591. Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis The A. B. C. A a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r r s s t u v w x y z A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V W X Y Z. a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r s s t v u vv x y z. A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V VV X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 a e i o u a e i o u ab eb ib ob ub ag eg ig og ug ac ec ic oc uc ak ek ik ok uk ad ed id od ud al el il ol ul af ef if of uf an en in on un In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Sobeit The Lords prayer OVr Father which art in heauen halowed be thy name Thy kingdom come Thy wil be done in Earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our dayly bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespas against vs. And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the kingdome power the glory for euer and euer Amen The beliefe I Beleue in God the Father almightie maker of Heauen Earth And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord which was conceiued by the holy Ghost Born of 〈◊〉 virgin Mary Suffered vnder Ponâ—â—us Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell the third day hee rose againe from the dead Hee ascended into Heauen sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almightie From thence shal he come to iudge the quick the dead I beleue in the holy ghost The holy Catholik Church The coÌ„munion of Saints The forgiuenes of sinnes the resurrection of the body And the life euerlasting THE TEN COMMANDEments of Almightie God HArken and take heede Israel I am the Lorde thy God which haue brought thee out of the lande of Egypt from the house of bondage 1 Thou shalt haue non other Gods before me 2 Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image nor the likenes of any thing that is in Heauen aboue or in the Earth beneath nor in the water vnder the Earth Thou shalt not bow downe to them nor worship them For I the lord thy God am a ielous God and visits the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third fourth generation of them that hate me and shewe mercie vnto thousands of them that loue me and keepe my commandements 3 Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the lord will not holde him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine 4 Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabboth day Six dayes shalt thou labour and doe all that thou hast to doe But the Seauenth day is the Sabboth of the Lorde thy God In it thou shalt do no maner of work thou and thy Sonne and thy daughter thy manseruant and thy maidseruant thy cattel and the stranger that is within thy gates For in six dayes the Lorde made Heauen and Earth the Sea all that in them is and rested the Seauenth day wherefore the Lord blessed the Seuenth day and hallowed it 5 Honor thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thee 6 Thou shalt do no murther 7 Thou shalt not commit adulterie 8 Thou shalt not steale 9 Thou shalt not beare false witnes against thy neighbour 10 Thou shal not couet thy neighbours house Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours wife nor his seruant nor his mayde nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is his A PRAIER TO BE VSED before Catechising VVEe most hartily thank thee O most mercifull Father for all thy blessings bestowed vppon vs from the beginning of the world vnto this time for our election creation redemption mercifull vocation iustification sanctification continuall preseruation and for that same assured and most comfortable hope that thou hast giuen vs of our glorification in the world to come And we beseech thee to direct vs that considering thy mercies we may acknowledg and confesse our sinnes which should prouoke thee rather to curse than to blesse vs to confounde vs rather than to preserue vs. Wee haue sinned against thee both in thoght worde deed grant that we seeing the horror of our sinnes and the fiercenes of thy wrath may without hypocrisie or dissimulation be earnestly sory hartely repentant for our former wickednes howbeit in such sort as that wee despair not but that in bitternes of our griefe we may haue comfort by faith in thy Sonne Christ that our offences are pardoned Grant O Lord that we being assured hereof in our consciences may through thy holy Spirite be renued in the inward man to hate detest and abhorre sinn and to study to liue according to thy blessed will during our whol life and as now throgh thy goodnes wee are here assembled together so we beseech thee to direct vs that at this present both in our wordes harts and all our behauiors may be in such sort ordered as that wee may trulie vtter and reuerently receiue the principles of thy holy heauenly word to the strengthening of our fayth to the comforte of our consciences to the amendement of our sinfull and lewd liues and to the glory of thy most holy name through Iesus Christ our Lord So be it OF THE ONELY COMFORT OF MAN IN LIFE AND IN DEATH THE ARGVMENT ⧠In the first section is handled the soueraigne good of man and namely his onely comfort in life and in death as also the necessarie meanes to attaine that soueraigne good and two questions are propounded for the handling of this preface or argument Question Lords day The first WHat is thy onely comfort in life in death Answere That in soule and body a 1. Cor. 6.19 1. Thes 5.10 whether I liue or die b Rom. 14.8 I am not mine owne but I belong c 1. Cor. 3.23 vnto my most faythfull Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christe who by his precious blood most fully satisfying d 1. Pet 1.18 1. Ioh. 1.7 2.2 for al my sinnes hath deliuered e 1. Ioh. 2.8 Heb. 2.14.15 me from the whole power of the deuill
of darknes and translate vs into the kingdome of his beloued Son 2. Tim. 1 1â— whereto belongeth that of the Apostle that life and immortallitie vvere brought to light by the Gospell For Christ is the doore and gate of saluation Iohn 14.6 Act 10.45 and euen the onlie way which we must enter into to come vnto the kingdome of heauen Whereby it appeareth that they are deceiued whoe thinke that every one whether he be Turke or Iewe may be saued in his own superstition so he keep some outward shadow and shewe of Iustice for God hath ordained the preaching of the Gospell to be the key whereby he wil haue the kingdome of heauâ—n to be opened and the faithfull to be let into it and whome in Christ his Sonne hee hath chosen vnto saluation Question 84 How is the kingdome of heuen opened and shut by the preaching of the Gospell Answere When by the commaundement of Christ it is openly preached to al and euerie one that beleeueth that al their sinnes are forgiuen them by God so oft as they lay hold vpon the promise of the Gospel by a true faith Contrariwise vnto all vnbeleeuers and hypocrits it is denounced that the wrath of God euerlasting condemnation lieth vpon them so long as they k Ioan. 20.21 22.23 Mat 16.19 continue in their sinnes According to which testimonie of the Gospell God will iudge aswell in this present life as in the life to come Question 85 Howe is the kingdome of Heauen shut and opened by Ecclesiastical discipline Answere When by the commaundement of Christ they who are in name Christians but in doctrine or life shew themselues l Rom. 12 7.8.9 1 Cor. 12.20 strangers froÌ„ Christ after they haue bene once or twise admonished and wil not depart from their errors or sinfull liuing are presented to the Church or to those who are appointed to that office by the Church and if they obey not their admonition are by forbidding them the Sacramentes by them shut out from the assemblie of the Church and by God himselfe from the kingdom of Christ and againe and if they possesse amendement and doo indeed declare it are receiued as m Ma 18.15.16.17 1. Cor 5.3 4 5.2 The. 3.14 15 2. Iohn 10.11 2 Cor. 2.6.7.10 11. 1 Tim 5.17 members of Christ and of the Church THE THIRD PARTE OF MANS THANKFVLNES THE ARGVMENT Of the necessitie of good workes and the punishment of them who go on carelesly in their sinnes Question Lords day 32 86 Seeing we are deliuered from al sinnes and miseries without any desert of our own by the only mercie of God for Christes sake to what end should we doe good workes Answere Because after that Christ hath redeemed vs by his blood he dooth also renewe vs by his spirit according to his owne image to the end that hauing receiued so great benefites wee shoulde all our life long a Rom. 6.13 12.1.2 2. pet 2.5.9.10 1. Cor. 6.20 shewe our selues thankfull towards God and that he might be b Mat. 5.16 1. pet 2.10 glorified by vs. Secondly that wee also every one of vs may bee c 2. Pet. 1.10 Mat. 7 17 18. Gal. 5 6.22 assured of our faith by the fruits thereof Last of all that by the vprightnes of our life we may gaine d 1. pet 3.1.2 Mat. â— 16. Rom. 14 19. others vnto Christ The vse VVHich being so it followeth that the studie of good workes is necessarie 1. To honour God by our life 2. To worke out our owne saluation in feare and trembling 3. To edâ—fie our neighbour by good examples which is indeede to liue worthie of the Gospell Phil. 2.22 Question 87 Can not they then bee saued who being vnthankfull and continuing securely in their sinnes are not turned from their wickednes vnto God Answere By no meanes for as the scripture witnesseth neither vncleane persons nor Idolaters nor adulterers nor theeues nor couetous persons nor drunkards nor raylers nor oppressors shall e 1 Cor. 6 9 10. Ephe. 5.3.6 1. Ioh. 3.14.15 inherit the Kingdome of God OF REPENTANCE THE ARGVMENT Of repentance and the fruits thereof to wit good works Question Lords day 33 88 Of what partes consisteth true repentance or turning vnto God Answere Of the f Ro. 6 4.5 6. Eph. 4.22.23 42. Col 3 5 6 7.8 9.10 1. Cor. 5 7. 2. Cor. 7 mortifiing or killing of the ould man and quickening of the new man Question 89 What is the mortification of the old man Answere Truelie and from the hart to be sory that by thy sinnes thou hast offended God and more and more to hate and g Rom. â— 13. Ioel. 2.13 Ho 5.14 6.1 flie from them Question 90 What is the quickening of the newe man Answere True reioycing in God through h Rom. 5.1 14 17. Isa 57.15 Christ and a forward desire to frame our life according to Gods will and to exercise i Rom. 6.10.11 Gal. 2 20. all good workes Question 91 What workes are good Answere Onely those that are done af a true k Rom. 11.23 faith according to the l 1. Sam. 15.22 Ephe. 2.10 lawe of God m 1. Cor. 10.31 are referred only to his glory and not those which are deuised by our selues vppon a good intent or n Deut. 11.32 Eze. 20.18.19 Is 29 13. Mat. 1â— 9 commanded by mens traditions Question 92 What is the Law of God Answere The Lorde spake all these o Exod. 20 Deu. 5 wordes saying 1 I am Iehoua thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt from the house of seruaunts see thou haue no strange God before my face 2 Make not to thy selfe any grauen Image nor drawe any likenes of those things which are either in heauen aboue or in the Earth beneath or in the water vnder the Earth thou shalt not fall downe before them nor worship them For I am the Lord thy God strong and ielious auenging the sinnes of the Fathers vppon the children and that to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewing mercie vppon thousands in them that loue me and keepe my commandements 3 Take not the name of the Lorde thy God in vaine for the Lord will not let him goe vnpunished that taketh his name in vaine 4 RemeÌ„ber to keep holie the Sabbath day Six daies shalt thou labor and doe all thy worke But vpon the seauenth day shal be the Sabbath vnto the Lord thy God Thou shalt doe no worke neither thou nor thy Son nor thy daughter nor thy seruant nor thine handmaid nor thy cattel nor the straunger that is within thy gates For in Six dayes the Lorde made the Heauen the Earth the Sea and all things that are in them and rested the seauenth day therefore the Lord blessed the seuenth day and hallowed it 5 Honor thy Father and thy Mother that thou maiest liue long vpon the land which the
to that saying By him vvee haue entrance OF IVSTIFICATION BY FAITH THE ARGVMENT That woorkes are not righteousnesse or any part of righteousnesse in the sight of God therfâ—re that the righteousnes of workes is gathered amisse from the reward and yet that men are not by this doctrine made carelesse and prophane Question Lords day 24 62 Why cannot our good woorks be righteousnes or any part of righteousnesse in the sight of God Answere Because that righteousnesse which is able to abide the iudgment of God must be most perfect and in all points q Gal. 3 10. Deut. 27.26 agreeing with the law of God but our best works that we do in this life are imperfect and euen r Isa 6.64 defiled with sinnes The vse VVHich being so we are here put in minde to giue whollie to God the glorie of our saluation and to learne to humble our selues vnder his mightie hand of vvhome Peter sayth most trulie 1. Pet. 5.5 Psal 4.5 God resisteth the proud and giueth grace vnto the humble vvherevnto Augustine speaketh agreably the more weake thou art in thy selfe the more doth God care for thee c. For as our humilitie is exalted before him so the confession of our humilitie hath his mercy readie to succour vs. Question 63 How saiest thou that our good workes deserue nothing wheras God promiseth that hee will giue vs a reward for them both in this life and in the life to come Answere That reward is giuen not of desert but of Å¿ Luk. 17 10. grace Question 64 Doth not this doctrine make men secure and prophane Answere No For it cannot be but they who are ingraffed into Christ by faith shuld bring forth fruits of t Mat. 7 18 Iohn 15.5 thaÌ„kfulnes OF THE SACRAMENTS THE ARGVMENT By whom and by what means faith is begotten and confirmed in vs Of the Sacraments in generall what they are of the vse or end of the word and Sacraments and of the number of the Sacraments of the new Testament Question Lords day 25 65 Seeing then faith alone maketh vs partakers of Christ and all his benefites from whence proceedeth this faith Answere From the holie Ghost who by the preaching of the Gospel doth u Eph. 2 8 6.23 Ioh 3 5 phil 1.29 kindle the same in our heartes and doth x Mat. 28.19.20 1 pet 1 22 23 confirme it by the vse of the Sacramentes Question 66 What are Sacramentes Answere They are holie and visible signes and seales ordained of God to that end that hee might thereby the more fullie declare and seale vnto vs the promise of the Gospell to wit that he doth freely giue forgiuenesse of sinnes and y Gen. 17.11 Rom 4.11 Deut. 30.6 Leu. 6.25 Heb. â— 8.9 Eze 20 12. 1. Sam. 17.36 Isa 6.6.7 54.9 life euerlasting not onely to all in general but euen to euerie one that beleeueth and that for the onely sacrifice of Christ offered vpon the Crosse The vse THe principall end of the Sacramentes bee to seale vp the promise of God by which argument againe the opinion of the work wroght is overthrowne for that faith alone is sufficient to attaine the grace of Gods promise yet the same are also signes vnto vs of testifiing our duty that is of performing thankefulnes to God that wee in like maner may make knowne our religion towards him as wel before himselfe and the Angels as before men Secondly that by these as it were by markes of one and the same fayth and confession we may be discerned from al other sects 1 Cor. 10.20.11 Exod. 12.44 For as he saith Men can be gathred togither into no name of Religion either true or false vnlesse they be tyed togither by some communion of visible seales or Sacraments Thirdly that by the same and by the vse of them we may be bound and stirred vp to foster and maintaine mutual loue vnder one head which is Christ Question 67 What then doe both these as well the word as the Sacraments tend to that end to lead our faith vnto the sacrifice of Christ offered vppon the crosse as to the onely foundation of our saluation Answere Yea truelie For the holie Ghoste teacheth by the Gospell and confirmeth by the Sacraments that all our saluation standeth in the onely sacrifice of Christ x Rom 6.3 Gal. 3.27 offered for vs vpon the Crosse The vse THe holy Ghost must confirme in our soules that which the Sacraments doe shadowe and witnes least that be drawne to corruptible elements which God challengeth to himself alone as to moue and affect the hart to enlighten the mind to quiet the conscience which indeede is onlie proper to the holie Ghost and ought to be accounted his peculiar worke Question 68 Howe many Sacramentes hath Christ ordained in the new couenant Answere Two Baptisme and the holie Supper OF BAPTISME THE ARGVMENT The application of the former doctrine of Sacramentes vnto Baptisme 2 Of spirituall Baptisme 3 And of the confirmation thereof Question Lords day 26 69 How art thou put in minde and confirmed in Baptisme that thou art partaker of that onely Sacrifice of Christ Answere Because Christ hath y Mat. 28.19 Act. 2.38 commanded the outward washing with water adding this z Mat. 16.16 Mat. 3 11. Rom. 6.3 promise that I shal no lesse assuredly bee a Mat. 1.14 Luc. 3 3. washed by his blood and by his Spirit from the spottes of my soule that is from all my sinnes than I am outwardly washed with water wherewith the spots of my bodie vse to be washed away The vse THe vse of the sacrament of Baptisme is declared to wit that the water is not onlie a signe whereby the misterie of saluation is more plainly expressed vnto me which Christ hath purchased for me by the sheding of his blood but also a seale whereby is sealed vnto me that my soule is purified from al vncleannes as surely as the element of water hath power to wash mens bodies and to clense them from al their spottes Nowe how these things are imputed vnto vs is here declared but more fullie taught in the next question namely in respect of God that giueth them by his spirit alone who woorketh freelie in the elect yet so that the matter both of our clensing and of our regeneration must be required and sought in Christ alone by whose blood and spirit we must be cleansed and washed Question 70 What is it to bee washed by the blood and Spirite of Christ Answere It is to receiue at the handes of God forgiuenesses of sinnes freelie for the blood of Christ which he hath b Heb. 12 24. 1. pet 1 2. Reue. 1.5 22.14 Za. 13.1 Eze. 36.25 c. shed for vs in his sacrifice vppon the Crosse and next to bee renewed also by the spirite of Christ and being sanctified by him to become a member of Christ to the end wee may more and more die vnto sinne
threatned to evill doers Question 58 What comfort receiuest thou by the Article of everlasting life Answere That because a 2. Cor. 5.2 38 in this present life I feele the beginnings of everlasting ioy in my hart I b 1. Cor 2.9 Ioh. 17 3. shall after this life inioy full perfect blessednes wherein I shall praise God for euer which blessednes neither eie hath seene nor eare hath hard nor any man can conceiue The Vse IT is the duty of every faithfull man by a true fayth and ful and stedfast perswasion to apply vnto himselfe this comfort generally propounded out of the assurance of euerlasting life wher vnto this clause leadeth euery man I beleeue the life everlasting that is I am perswaded that both in soule and body I shal attaine that life everlasting and that the same life which is in Christ Iesus shal be reueiled in me and that vvhen Christ shal appeare Colos 3.4 then shal I also be vvith him in glorie For first Christ wil not breake his promise who as he hath promised euerlasting life to those that are his so will hee raise them vp at the last day that they may enioy it Secondly I am assured thereof by the very beginning of it and that hee vvhich hath begun that good vvorke in me phil 1.6 vvill also make it perfite even vntil the day of Iesus Christ Last of al wee must marke that this is the most principall end of everlasting life namelie that wee should praise God in that life for euermore For as the rest of the creatures were created for the vse of this present life although they do also after a sort glorifie God so men were created much more to glorifie God in that everlasting life psal 149.1.2 Esa 51.3 according to the testimonie of Esai Ioy and gladnes shal be found therein thanksgiuing and the voice of praise which being spoken of that deliuerance which was but a type of this shall then be really performed OF THE RIGHTEOVSnesse of Fayth THE ARGVMENT A repetition of the fruite of all the articles of our beleefe where both of Iustification by faith and of the woorde faith onely Question Lords day 23 59 Now when thou beleeuest all these thinges what profite commeth to thee thereby Answere That in Christ I am righteous before God and heir of life c Heb. 2.4 Rom. 1.17 Iohn 3 36. euerlasting Question 60 How art thou righteous before God Answere By d Rom. 3.21.22.24 25 28 5.1 Galat. 2.16 Eph 2 8 9 Phil. 3.9 faith alone in Iesus Christ so that although mine owne conscience do accuse me that I haue grieuously offended against the commaundements of God and haue not e Rom 3.9 c. kept any one of them moreouer also that I am f Rom. 7.23 prone to all euill yet notwithstanding so that I do g Rom. 3.42 Ioh. 3.18 imbrace these benefits with true affiance of minde without any h Tit. 3.5 Ephes 2 8 9 merit of mine owne of the mere i 1 Ioh. 2 2 mercie of God the k Rom 3 24. Deut 9.6 Ezec. 36.22 perfect satisfaction righteousnes and holines of Christ is l 1. Ioh. 2.1 c. imputed and m Rom. 4 4. 2. Cor. 5.19 giuen vnto me as if I had neither committed any sinne neither were there anie blot or corruption cleauing vnto me yea as if I had my self perfectly n 1. Cor 5.21 performed that obedience which Christ hath perfourmed for me The vse VVHich being so seeing by al these proofs it standeth out of doubt that we are righteous by fayth only in Christ of the meere mercy of God we receiue from hence this most assured comfort namely that wee are altogether out of doubt of our saluation and of everlasting life neither can be shaken and as it were throwne from our standing by any temptation of the Diuell which surely is a most notable fruit of the doctrine of iustification by fayth For first if my conscience that is that feeling of Gods iudgement which is as a witnes within vs not suffering vs to hide our sinnes but drawing vs as guiltie before the iudgment seat of God doe beare witnes against me that I haue greeuouslie sinned against all the commandements of God and haue kept none of them and therefore that I am vnwoorthie to be saued and worthie to be cast away especially because God is most righteous and a deadlie enemie and a reuenger of all sin forthwith commeth this answer in the way that Christ hath performed both who on my behalfe hath both offered himselfe to bee punished by the Father and most perfitlie obeyed the Lawe and therefore it cannot bee that mine iniquities should dismay my mind as being wholly raised and blotted out with the blood of Christ If Satan yet lay to my charge Although in Christ Iesus thou hast satisfied the punishment which thy sinnes deserued and hast put on his righteousnes by fayth yet thou canst not denie but that thy nature is corrupt so that thou art prone to al il and thou hast in thee the seede of al vices against this tentation this answere is sufficient that by the goodnes of God not onelie perfect righteousnes but even the holines of Christ also is imputed and giuen vnto me as if I had nether committed any sinne neither were there any blot or corruption cleauing vnto me whereto belongeth that of the Apostle 2. Cor. 8.19 Him that knevve no sinne he made sinne for vs that is guiltie of sinne in our sted that vve might be made the righteousnes of God in him Againe To him that vvorketh not Rom. 4.4 but beleeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly his faith is imputed for righteousnes And Rom. 4.6.7.8 Blessed are they vvhose iniquities are forgiuen and vvhose sinnes are couered blessed is the man to vvhom the Lord imputeth no sinne Question 61 Why doost thou say that thou art righteous by faith Answere Not because by the worthinesse of my faith I please God but because the satisfaction righteousnes and holinesse of Christ is my righteousnesse in the sight of o 1 Cor. 1.30 c. 1. Cor. 2 2. God and I can lay hold vpon and p 1. Iohn 5.10 applie the same vnto my selfe by no other meanes but by faith The vse VVEe must at noe hand let goe the difference of the word alone Rom. 5.1 1. That in the matter of saluation due honor may be giuen to the Sonne of God 2. That our consciences may haue stedfast and sounde comfort 3. That the difference betweene the lawe and the Gospel may be perceiued because these words freely by fayth vvith out the Lavve for the Mediatour do make a difference betweene the Law and the Gospel 4. That we may vse prayer rightlie which is hindred by the sight of our own infirmities and that we may come vnto God hauing affiance in the onelie Mediatour Ephes 3.12 according