and c Ioh. 1.33 3.5 1. Cor. 6 11 12.13 Rom. 6.4 Col. 2 12. liue holilie and without blame The vse A Double fruit redoundeth to vs by the Sacrament of baptisme For first we are not onlie by Baptisme assured that al our sinnes are forgiuen vs so that as often as wee sinne of infirmitie we neither may or ought to doubt of it vnlesse we wil call the truth of God in doubt and be enemies to our owne saluation but also we are by the same put in mind what wee owe vnto God that forasmuch as by the spirit of sanctification he hath made vs his members we doe more and more die vnto sinne Rom. 6.4 14. Col. 2.12 Tit 3 5 and do labour for vprightnes inocencie of life that so Baptisme may serue to order and rule our whole life which is the second end of Baptisme Question 71 Where doth Christ promise that he will as certainly wash vs with his blood and with his spirite as wee are washed with the water of Baptisme Answere In the institution of Baptisme the words whereof are these d Mat. 28.19 Goe and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost he that beleeueth and is baptised shall bee saued e Mar. 16.16 he that beleeueth not shall bee coÌ„demned This promise is repeated when the Scripture calleth Baptisme the f Tit. â— 5. washing of the new byrth and the washing g Act. 22 16. away of sinnes The vse BY these testimonies therefore it is made plain and prooued to be most true that by Baptisme I am no lesse assured that by the bloode of Christ and by his spirit I am washed from the spottes of my soul that is from al my sinnes then outwardly by water the steines of the bodie are vsuallie washed away OF BAPTISME THE ARGVMENT That Baptisme is the verie washing away of sinnes and yet that the holie Ghost doth not without cause so speake and of the Baptisme of children Question Lords day 27 72 Is then Baptisme the verie washing away of sinnes Answere It is not For onelie the h Mat. 3.11 1 Pet. 3 21. Ephe. 5.26 blood of Christ the holie Ghost doth cleanse vs from all i 1. Ioh. 1.7 1. Cor. 6.11 sinne Question 73 Why then doth the holy Ghost call Baptisme the washing of regeneration and the washing away of sins Answere God doth not without great cause so speake to wit not onely to teach vs that as the spottes of the bodie are cleansed with water so our sinnes are k Apo. 1.5 7.14.1 1 Cor. 6.11 purged by the blood and spirite of Christ but much more that by this heauenly token pledge he may assure vs that we are as truelie washed inwardlie froÌ„ our sins as we are l Mat 16.16 Gal. 3.17 washed with outward visible water Question 74 Ought Infants also to be baptized Answere Yea trulie For seeing they m Gen 17.7 belong to the couenant and Church of God as wel as those that be at years of discretion and seeing vnto them is promised by the blood of Christ n Mat. 19 14. forgiuenes of sins and the o Luk. 1 14.15 psal 22.11 Isai 24 1.2 3. Act. 2.39 holie Ghost the worker of faith no lesse than to the other they ought also by Baptisme to bee ingraffed into the Church of God and to be p Act. 10.47 discerned from the children of Infidels as they were in the olde Testament by q Cen. 17.14 circumcision in place wherof was ordained r Colos 2 11.12 Baptisme in the new Testament The vse OVt of this defence of baptizing of infants ariseth a double doctrine and comfort the one to the parentes when they see that the Lord wil be not onelie their God but the God of their seed which is confirmed vnto them as it were by a seale printed vnto them according vnto that saying Wee are all baptized in one bodie The other to the children that they knowe they are ingraffed into the bodie of the Church and therefore are somewhat the better commended to the rest of the members that is to the faythfull when they are growne to yeares of discretion may thereby be pricked forward not a litle to an earnest indeuour to serue God by whome they were receiued for sonnes by a solemne pledg of their adoption before by their age they were able to acknowledg him for their Father OF THE SVPPER OF THE LORDE THE ARGVMENT The application of the former doctrine of Sacraments to the Supper of the Lord 2. A description of the spirituall Supper 3. The confirmation thereof Question Lords day 28 75 How art thou put in minde and assured in the Supper of the Lord that thou art partaker of that holie sacrifice of Christ offered vpon the Crosse and of all his benefites Answere Because Christ hath commaunded me and all the faithfull to eate of this bread being broken and to drinke of this cup being deuided among vs in remembrance of him and hath also added this promis a Mat. 26 27.28 Mar. 14.12.23.24 Luk. 22.16.20 1. Cor. 10.16 17 11 23.24.25 12 â—â— 13. First that his bodie was no lesse assuredlie offered and broken for me vpon the crosse and his blood shead for me than with mine eies I see that the bread of the Lord is broken vnto me and the cup reached vnto me Secondly that my soule is no lesse assuredly fed vnto euerlasting life by him with his bodie that was crucified and his blood that was shed for vs than I doe with my bodily mouth receiue bread and wine the tokens of the bodie and blood of the Lord being deliuered vnto me by the hand of the minister The vse VVHich being so it appeareth by this proportion to be most true that the supper of the Lorde leadeth me to the onelie sacrifice of Iesus Christ once offered vpon the Altar of the crosse wherein by fayth I obtaine forgiuenes of sinnes righteousnes and life everlasting Question 76 What is it to eate the body of Christ crucified and to drinke his blood that was shead Answere It is not onely with certaine affiance of mind to lay hold of the whole passion and death of Christ and therby to b Ioh. 6 35 4â—.47.48.51.53 54. obtaine forgiuenesse of sinnes and life euerlasting but also by the spirite of Christ which dwelleth at one time both in Christ and vs in such sort more and more to be c Iohn 6.56 vnited vnto his holie bodie that although he be in d Act. 3.21 Act. 1.9 c. 1. Cor. 11 26. heauen and we vpon earth yet notwithstanding we are flesh of his flesh and bone of his e Eph. 5 29 30.32 1. Cor. 6.15.17.19 1. Io. 3.24 4.13 Ioh. 14.23 bone and as all the members of the bodie are quickened and f â—o 6 56.57.58 Io. 15.1.2.3.4 5.6 Eph. 4.15.16
gouerned by one soule so are we all by one and the same spirite Question 77 Where hath Christ promised that he will as certainlie giue vnto the beleeuers his bodie and his blood in this maner to be eaten and drunke as they doo eate this bread beeing broken and drinke this cup. Answere In the institution of the Supper the wordes whereof are these g 1. Cor. 11 1◠c Mat. 26.26 c Mark 24.22 c. Luk. 22.19 c. Our Lord Iesus Christ the same night that he was betraied tooke bread when he had giuen thankes he brake it and said Take eate this is my bodie which is broken for you this doo yee in remembrance of me Likewise after supper he took the cup saying h Ezod 24.8 Heb. 9.2 This cup is the new Testamēt in my blood i Exod. 13.9 This doe as oft as ye drinke it in remembrance of me For as often as ye eat this bread and drinke this cup ye shew the lords death til he come This promise is repeated by Paule when he saith b 1. Cor. 10.10.17 k The cup of thanksgiuing wherewith we giue thankes is it not the communion of the blood of christ The bread which we breake is it not the communion of the Lordes bodie Because wee beeing manie are one bread and one body for we are al partakers of one bread OF TRANSVBSTANTIATION THE ARGVMENT Transubstantiation of breade and wine in the vse of the supper disprooued and the true exposition and meaning of these words Bread is the body of Christ Question Lords day 29 78 What then are bread and wine made the very body blood of Christ Answere No truelie But as the water of baptisme is l Mat. 26.29 Mar 14.24 not turned into the blood of Christ neither is the verie washing away of sinnes but only a token and pledge of those things which are sealed vnto vs in Baptisme No more is the bread of the Lords Supper the verie bodie of m 1. Cor. 10.16 c. 11.26 c. Christ although after the nature of Sacraments and the n Gen. 17.10 c Ex. 26.27 43.48 13.9 Act. 7.8 Ex. 24.8 Leu. 16.10 17.12 Isa 6.6.7 Tit. 3.5 Act. 22.16 1. Pet. 3.21 1. Cor 10.1 maner of speach which the holy Ghost vseth in speaking of these thinges the bread is called the body of Christ Question 79 Why then doeth Christ call the bread his bodie the cup his blood or the newe Testament in his bloode and Paul calleth the bread and wine the communion of the body blood of Christ Answere Christ not without great cause so speaketh to wit not onely to teach vs that as bread and wine sustaineth the life of the bodie so also his bodie crucified and his blood shed is indeede the meat and drink of our soul where by it may be o Iohn 6.51.55.56 nourished to life everlasting but much more by this visible signe and pledg to assure vs that wee are noe lesse trulie made partakers of his bodie and blood by the woorking of the holie Ghost then we do a 1. Cor. 10.16.17 with the mouth of the bodie receiue these holy signes in remembrance of him Secondly that his passion and obedience is as certainlie ours as if we our selues had payed the punishment of our sinnes and made satisfaction vnto God OF THE MASSE THE ARGVMENT An opposition of the Masse and the Supper of the Lorde and whoe ought may come vnto the supper whome Christ woulde haue to bee kept from the Supper Question Lords day 30 80 What difference is there betwen the Supper of the Lord and the Popish Masse Answere The supper of the Lorde doth witnes vnto vs that we haue perfect forgiuenes of all our sinnes for that onely sacrifice of Christ which himselfe once offered b Heb. 7.27 9.12.26.28 10.10.12.14 Ioh. 19 30. Mat. 26.28 Luc. 22.19 20 vppon the Crosse and then that wee are by the holy Ghost ingraffed into c 1. Cor. 6.17 10 16. 12 13. Christ who nowe according to his humanitie is onely in Heauen at the right hand of his d Heb. 1 3. 8. ◠Father and will there be e Ioh. 4.21 22 23. 20 17. Luc. 24.52 Act. 7.55.56 Col. 3.1 Phil. 3.10 1. Thes 19.10 worshipped of vs. But in the Masse it is denyed that the quick and dead haue forgiuenes of sinnes for the onelie suffering of Christ vnlesse Christ be still euery day offered for them by the Priests and then it is taught that Christ is bodily vnder the appearance of bread and wine and therefore ought to be worshipped in them And so the very foundation of the Masse is nothing els but a denying of that onely sacrifice suffering of Iesus Christ and a most cursed Idolatrie Question 81 Whoe ought to come to the Supper of the Lord Answere Only they who are trulie sory that they haue offended God by their sins and do beleeue that they are forgiuen them for Christs sake and that whatsoeuer other infirmities they haue they are couered by his passion and death and who desire more and more to goe forward in fayth and vprightnes of life But hypocrits they that do not trulie repent doe eat g Cor. 10 21. 11.28 c. drink vnto themselues condemnation Question 82 May they also bee admitted to this Supper who declare them selues by their confession and life to be vnbeleeuers and vngodly men Answere No in no wise For by that meanes the couenant of God is prophaned the wrath of God is h 5. Cor 11.20 34 Isai 1.11 c. 66.3 Ier 7.20 c. psa 50.16 prouoked against the whole congregation wherfore the Church by the commandement of Christ and of his Apostles vsing the keies of the kingdom of heauen ought to keepe backe such from the Supper vntill they repent and amend their maners OF THE KEYES THE ARGVMENT Of the keyes and their nomber to wit of the vse and authoritie of the key of the Gospell and of discipline in opening and shutting the kingdome of God Question Lords day 31 83 What are the keyes of the kingdome of Heauen Answere The preaching of the Gospell and Ecclesiastical discipline whereby heauen is opened to them that beleeue and i Mat. 16.19 18 18. shut against vnbeleeuers The vse THe vse of the doctrine of the keyes is double for we are first put in mind by them of our misery before the Lord cal vs by his Gospel namely that we are banished from the kingdome of God and consequently excluded from righteousnes and saluation Last of all that we are fast bound as it were with the bonds and fetters of Sathan Secondly howe great good God dooth bestowe vpon vs and offer vnto vs when he bleseth vs with the preaching of the Gospell putting vs in hope that if we beleeue in Christ he wil deliuer vs from the power
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
c 1. Cor. 3.13 30. c. Gal. 5.4 Iesus For it must needs be that either Iesus is not a perfect Sauiour or els whosoeuer by true faith imbrace him as a Sauiour they also are possessed of all things in him which are d Heb. 12.2 Esa 9.6 Col. 19.20 2 10 Esai 43.11 25. Ioh 1.16 required vnto saluation OF GOD THE SONNE THE ARGVMENT Of the name Christ and of his three offices and why wee are called Christians Question Lords day 12 31 Wherefore is hee called Christ that is annointed Answere Because hee is ordained of the father anointed with the holy Ghost to be the e psal 45.8 Heb 1.9 Deut. 18 15 Act. 3.22 cheif Prophet and f Ioh. 1 18 15 15. teacher to reueil g Mat. 11.27 Psal 110.4 Heb. 7 21 10.12 vnto vs the secret counsel all the will of the Father concerning our redemption and to be our high only Priest to redeeme vs by the only sacrifice of his owne body h Rom. 8.34 59.10 daily to make intercession vnto the Father for vs and to be the euerlasting i Psal 2.6 Luc. 1.33 king to gouerne vs by his word and with his Spirite to preserue and k Mat. 28.18 Iohn 10.28 maintaine that saluation which he hath purchased for vs. Question 32 Why art thou called a Christian Answere Because by faith I am a meÌ„ber of Iesus l Act. 11 26. 1. Cor. 6.15 Christ partaker of his m 1. Iohn 2 26 Esa 59.21 Ioel. 2.28 annointing so that I both n Mat. 10.33 confesse his name and present my selfe vnto him a liuely o Ro. 12 1 Reu. 4 8 10. 1. pet 2 9 2. Tim. 2.12 Ro. 6 12 13. Reue. 1 6. offering of thankesgiuing in this life with a free good conscience fight against sin and Sathan and afterward do p 1. Tim. 1.18 19 possesse with Christ an euerlasting kingdome ouer all creatures OF THE ONLIE BEGOTten Sonne of God THE ARGVMENT Why Christ is called the onlie begotten Sonne of God and our Lord. Question Lords day 13 33 For what cause is Christ called the onely begotten Sonne of God whereas we also are the sons of God Answere Because Christ is the coeternall natural sonne of his eternal q Ioh. 1.14 Heb 1.2 Iohn 3.16 Father but we for his sake by grace are made the r Rom 8.5 Eph. 1.16 Iohn 1.12 1. Iohn 1 3 sonnes of the Father by adoption Question 34 Wherefore doost thou call him our Lord Answere Because he hauing redeemed our bodie and soule from sinne not with golde nor with siluer but with his owne precious blood and hauing deliuered vs from all the power of the Deuill doth Å¿ 1 pet 1 18 10 1 Coâ— 6 20 7.23 Ep. 1 7. 1 Tim. 2 6 chalenge vs properly to belong to himselfe The vse VVEe ought safelie and with true assurance of mind to commit and deliuer ouer our selues for euer to be kept of him as our Lord to whome we properly belong and are his owne peculiar both in life and in death the remembrance of this benefit may also put vs in mind that we do not hereafter thinke speak or deuise any thing but for his glorie For in that wee are the Lords it is meete that wee liue and dye vnto him and that his wisdome and will to wit his word and his spirit doe gouerne all our actions for he is appointed by the Father to be the head of Angels and of the faythfull OF THE CONCEPTION of the Sonne of God THE ARGVMENT The incarnation of the Sonne of God that is the conception of Christ by the holy Ghost his byrth of the virgin Marie whereof the personall vnion of both natures and of the fruit of both Question Lords day 14 35 What doost thou beleeue when thou saiest He was conceiued by the holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary Answere That the verie sonne of God who t Ioh. 1 1. 1.5 Rom. 1.4 Col. 1 15. c. psal 2.7 Mat. 3.17 16.16 is and abideth true and euerlasting u Rom. 9.5 Esa 7.14 9 6 1. Io. 5.20 Ioh. 20.28 God did through the woorking of the holy Ghost x Ioh. 1.14 Gal. 4.4 take the verie true nature of man of the flesh y Mat. 1.18.20 Luc. 1.35 and blood of the Virgin Marie so that he is also of z psal 132.11 Act. 2.30 c. Rom. 1.3 the true seede of Dauid a Phil. 2.7 like vnto his brethren in all things b Heb. 4.15 7 26. sinne excepted Question 36. What fruit reapest thou by the holie conception and byrth of Christ Answere That he is our c Heb. 2.16.17 Mediatour and by his innocencie and perfect holines doth couer my sinnes wherein I am conceiued and keepeth them from comming in the sight of d psal 32.1 1. Cor. 1.30 Ro. 8.3 4. Gal. 44.5 God The vse FIrst hereby our faith is greatly confirmed that he that was made man is also the Sonne of God for how shoulde al things not be very true whâ—tsoeuer he reporteth vnto vs of God seeing he hath reueiled nothing to vs of God but what himselfe sawe and knewe Againe our hope is also helped in that he was so made man that hee also made man God and vs the sonnes of God and euen his brethren wherewith we may comfort our selues vnder the crosse in afflictions Last of all our mutual loue one toward an other is hereby inflamed for there is no so evident token of loue as that the Creator of all things was made for vs a creature our lord our brother the Sonne of God became the Sonne of man who woulde not then to the vttermost of his power follow that our mediatour Iesus Christ that is his meeknes and kind disposition who when as there was nothing higher then he did for our sake cast him felfe so low that of his own accord he tooke on him the shape of a seruant that is our flesh and that subiect to al infirmities even to the death of the Crosse OF CHRISTES SVFFERING THE ARGVMENT Hitherto of the person Nowe of the office of Christ as touching our redemption the partes whereof are two his humiliation his glorification to his humiliation belong his suffering and vnder whome he suffered and his punishment that is the kind of his death Question Lords day 15 37 What beleuest thou when thou saiest he suffered Answere That in the whole time of his life which he continued here vpon earth but especiallie in the end thereof e 1 pet 2 24 3 18 Isa 53 12 hee susteined both in body and soule the wrath of God against the sinne of all mankind that by his suffering as by the onely f 1 Ioh. 2 2 4 10. Rom. 3 25 sacrifice of reconciliation he might both deliuer our souls from everlasting condemnation and might
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