of Abraham Isaac Iacob From hence this truth is strongly collected viz. that Abraham Isaac and Iacob shall liue and rise according to their bodies because God saith Christ is not the God of the dead but of the liuing Therefore now this consequence that Abraham and the Saints departed shall rise must bee credited no lesse then that expresse Scripture from whence Christ drew it And to the end that you may see that all necessary poynts of faith manners are plainely expressed in the Scriptures I haue heere in order set downe the summe substance of Christian Religion in certaine Texts of Scripture The order of it is this The true knowledge of God and of Iesus Christ which is life eternall that is the way and meanes to eternall life is to be found in the Scriptures Therfore first we begin with the Scriptures then wee come to the knowledge of God and of his workes as of his eternall decree of Predestination Creation and Prouidence concerning Angels and men in which Prouidence is to be considered the fall of Angels and man and the misery that followed therof namely sinne and death Secondly followeth Gods Couenant with man namely the couenant of works and the couenant of grace Concerning the couenant of workes there is shewed the impossibility of keeping it and to what end it serues In the couenant of grace is noted First the foundation of it which is Christ the Mediator Secondly the meanes of applying Christ vnto vs. In Christ wee are to consider his person and office His office is threefold The application of the couenant of grace where is shewed the vnion communion which the elect haue with Christ The meanes of the reuealing and applying of the couenant of grace are eyther inward as the Spirit of Christ and faith or outward namely the Word and Sacraments The māner of reuealing it is our calling vnto Christ The persons to whom it is reuealed namely to the Church As the benefit we receiue from the propheticall office of Christ is the reuealing of the couenant of grace whereby we are made wise to saluation so the benefit we receiue from the Priestly office of Christ is our instification before God The benefit we receiue from the kingly office of Christ is our glorification which is partly in this present life but fully and perfectly in the life to come Our glorification in this life consisteth in this that in our condition we are made blessed and made holy in our nature which is Sanctification The rule of Sanctification is the Word of God euen the Law and the Gospell The effect of Sanctification is Repentance The notes of Repentance are specially two A hatred of all sinnes and the practice of good workes Among good workes almes and prayer are specially commended to vs. The speciall helps to prayer and to the performing of other good workes are vowes and fasting Then lastly is to be considered Gods dealing with man after this life by bringing all men to Iudgement which is eyther particular or generall And to the end that you may in reading these Texts of Scripture perceiue how one thing depends vpon an other I haue set downe ouer the Texts of Scripture the things whereof the places following doe speake If therefore you will accordingly be diligent inreading the Texts of Scripture I doubt not but by Gods grace assisting you you shall in a short time much benefit your selues thereby and shall be able when need requires to proue any ground of Religion by some Text of Scripture And so I commit you to the mercifull protection of Almighty God beseeching him to endue you with all sauing grace and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding ioy through Iesus Christ Amen THE SVBSTANCE of Diuinitie Of the holy Scripture Iohn 5 39. Search the Scriptures for in them yee thinke to haue eternall life and they are they which testifie of mee 2 Tim. 3.16 17. All Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnes that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished vnto all good workes Marke 12.24 Doe yee not therefore erre because yee know not the Scriptures neither the power of God Of God Iohn 17.3 This is life eternall that they might know thee the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent Heb. 11.6 Hee that commeth to God must beleeue that God is c. Iohn 4.24 God is a Spirit c. Exodus 34.6 The Lord God mercifull and gracious long suffering and abundant in goodnes and truth c. 1 Cor. 8.4 We know that an idoll is nothing in the world and that there is none other God but one 1 Iohn 5.7 There are three which beare record in heauen the Father the Word and the holy Ghost and these three are one Of Gods decree of Predestination 1 Thes 5.9 God hath not appointed vs to wrath but to obtaine saluation by our Lord Iesus Christ Ephes 1.4 God hath chosen vs in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue Rom. 11.5 6. There is a remnant according to the election of grace and if by grace then is it no more of workes c. Iude 4. Who were before of old ordained to this condemnation 2. Tim. 2.20 In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of siluer but also of wood and of earth and some to honour and some to dishonour Of Creation Gen. 1.1 In the beginning God created the heauen and the earth Psal 33.6 By the word of the Lord were the heauens made all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth Heb. 11.3 Through faith we vnderstand that the worlds were fram'd by the word of God so that things which are seene were not made of things which do appear Gen. 1.31 And God saw all that he had made and lo it was verie good Gen. 2.7 The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a liuing soule Gen. 1.27 God created man in his owne Image c. Eph. 4.24 And put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnes and true holinesse Of Gods Prouidence Acts 17 25 28. Hee giueth to all life and breath and all things For in him we liue and moue and haue our being Mat. 10.29 30. Are not two Sparrowes sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father Yea and all the haires of your head are numbred Prou. 16.33 The lot is cast into the lappe but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Of the fall of Angels and Man 2. Pet. 2.4 God spared not the Angels that sinned c. Iude 6. The Angels which kept not their first estate c. 2. Cor. 11 3. The Serpent beguiled Eue through
see it Againe there may be some that for want of knowledge and the meanes thereof are intangled with some points of Popery but yet they hold the foundation which is CHRIST IESVS and looke to be saued by his merits and not by their owne or any others Such we account not Papists our the true Church and children of God But by Papists we meane such as cleaue fast to the Pope in religion are in all things obedient to him will not be reclaimed from their errours refuse to heare the Word of God to read the Scriptures or any other good books ' Of such wée may boldly say that if they thus continue to the end they cannot bee saued DIALOGVE 15. C. I do now plainely see that Papists are no good Catholikes because they are neither of sound faith nor good life but tell me I pray you who indeed are the true Church and true Catholikes M. All that doe truly and sincerely embrace professe and practise the aforesaid grounds of Religion in what Countrey soeuer they liue C. Is the Church of England the true Church M. Yes for it hath the speciall markes of the true Church namely the Word of God sincerely and soundly preached and the Sacraments rightly administred C. The Papists say that there are diuersities of opinions amongst vs that we cannot agree among our selues and that therefore wee are not the true Church M. In all substantiall points of Religion wée agree both amongst our selues and also with all other sound Protestants in Christendome In other things there haue bin are and will bee diuersities of opinions differences to the worlds end They should first pluck out the beame of their owne eyes for we can truly charge them with greater differences As namely with that sharpe and bloudy contention betweene the Franciscans and Dominicans and with the late bitter contention between the Iesuites the secular Priests wherein the Priests did write as bitterly against the Iesuites and namely against Parsons as euer did any Protestant nay there was neuer any Protestant Writer that did lay such foule and odious crimes to their charge as the Priests did And heerein they verified the old prouerb When théeues fall by the eares true men come to haue their goods For one dissention that is among vs they haue at least ten among themselues Doctor Willet in his fourth Piller of Papistry hath set downe at large First the contradictions and diuerse opinions of old Papists and new Secondly the contradictions of the Iesuites among themselues Thirdly that their stoutest Champion Bellarmine is at variance with himselfe shamefully forgetting himselfe saying and vnsaying now of one opinion by and by of another And no maruaile Oportet enim mendacem esse memorem A liar had néed to haue a good memory Fourthly hee sheweth the repugnances inconueniences and inconsequent opinions which Popish Religion hath in it selse And thus you see how they charge vs with that wherein themselues are most faulty DIALOGVE 16. C. Are there none among vs that maintaine any strange and new opinions contrary to the grounds of Religion M. If there be any such our Church doth not approue of them but rather censure and punish them C. There be some that professe the former grounds of Religion as wee doe and yet say that there is no true Church among vs and therefore will not ioyne with vs in prayer hearing the Word and in the vse of the Sacraments but separate themselues from vs what say you of such M. I say that they are possessed with the spirit of pride and singularity and that in so doing they doe euen deny these Articles of faith the Catholike Church and the Communion of Saints and are such as the Apostle speakes of Rom. 16.17 Heb. 10.25 39. Master Perkins in his first volume page 409. calles them a schismaticall and vndiscreet company and saith that they are full of pride thinking themselues to be full when they are empty to haue all knowledge when they are ignorant and haue need to be catechized Another saith thus of them The errour of those men is full of euill yea of blasphemie who doe in such manner make a departure from this Church as if Christ were quitbanished from hence and that there could bee no hope of saluation to those that abide heere And further he saith that if they cannot finde Christ heere they shall find him no where The errors of these men you may see in a little Treatise set forth by Master Bernard called The Separatists Schisme C. I pray shew me by some example that they ought not to separate themselues from vs and that they doe sinne in so doing M. In the Church of Corinth the incestuous man was not punished fornication was lightly regarded yea there were some that euen denied the Resurrection yet S. Paul doth account and call them the Church and Saints hee doth not perswade any to make a separation but doth plainely rebuke them and sheweth how they should punish the euill doer I speake not this to excuse any grosse sin that raigneth amongst vs for I wish that the same might be seuerely punished but to shew that where the Word is truly preached and the Sacraments rightly administred as in our Church they are none ought for any cause to separate themselues And that such as doe it do sinne grieuously I will shew you by a familiar example A mother conceiuesh and bringeth forth a sonne and that with great trauaile paine Shee traineth him vp to mans estate and that not without great care and labour This sonne at length espying some spot and blemish or some infirmity in his mother forsaketh her and will not acknowledge her to be his mother what would you now thinke of him C. Surely I should thinke such a one to bee a very wicked and vnnaturall sonne M. Euen such are they who for some seeming faults in our Church deny it to bee a true Church and doe separate themselues from it whereas this Church hath conceiued them brought them forth and nourished them For if euer they were truly begotten vnto Christ and borne anew it hath hin by our Church and our Ministerie by which likewise they haue bin trained vp and brought to that knowledge which they haue C. There are many amongst vs that make great profession of Religion but I can see no good workes come from them nay they are not onely barren in good workes but also liue in some one grosse sinne or other Are these the true Church and true Catholikes M. Though they liue in the Church yet they are not of the Church they are but Hypocrites and shall if they repent not haue the reward of Hypocrites yea it shall be easier in the day of iudgement for many Papists then for them because by their barren and fruitlesse yea wicked life they haue caused the name of God his Gospell and the true professours thereof to bee euill spoken of Let all therefore that will bee
Rhem. Iohn 3. Sect. 2. They haue also added many idle ceremonies to Baptisme as Creame Tapers Salt c. with an opinion of saluation and worship annexed vnto them yea in times past they baptized bells but now they beginne to bee ashamed of it and say that they were but onely hallowed and consecrated to holy vses Bellarm. lib. 4. de Pont. Rom. cap. 12. Synopsis Papismi Controuersie 12. Question 5. Concerning the Lords Supper they haue likewise most grosty abused it in many things First they take away the Cup from the Lasty whereas the Church of Rome for aboue a thousand yéeres after Christ vsed both signes in the Communion The Communion vnder one kinde was decréed defined and determined as a publike Law in the Councell of Constance about the yéere 1114. Perk. 2. vol. 554 2. b. Secondly they reserue the bread in boxes pixes and other vessels of the Church for daies wéekes and moneths They shew it to the people the Priest lifting it ouer his head and going with it in procession All this is contrary to the Sacrament for it is no Sacrament vnlesse there bee a giuing receiuing eating and drinking Master Attersoll on the Sacraments 386.387 The reseruation of the Sacrament was not allowed of but rather found fault withall by the Fathers Perk. 2. vol. 557. Thirdly they adore fall downe and honour the Sacrament with diuine worship calling it their Lord and God A thing neuer heard of among the heathen Idolaters namely to worship a piece of bread or rather a thinne wafer The adoration in the Sacrament belongeth vnto Christ sitting in heauen and is an inward worship of the heart or lifting vp of the minde being stirred vp with the outward signes Pope Honorius the Third in the yéere 1220 was the first that euer instituted the adoration of the Sacrament And after him Vrban the fourth ordained a feast in honour of the body of Christ Perk. 2 Vol. 564. Attersoll on the Sacraments 388.389 Fourthly they turne the Sacrament into a sacrifice for the quick and the dead abolishing the fruit and remembrance of the death of Christ disannulling his Priest-hood giuing him to his Father wheras the Father hath giuen him to vs c. ibid. page 390. Fiftly they maintaine Transubstantiation These are their very words If any man shall say that there remaineth the substance of Bread and Wine in the Sacrament after the words of consecration or shall denie that the whole substance of Bread Wine is changed conuerted into the body and bloud of Christ the formes shews only of Bread Wine remaining which singular and miraculous conuersion the Church calleth Transubstantiation let him be accursed Con. Trid. Sess 13. can 2. This their doctrine of Transubstantiation is a very fable to mock fooles withall and it ouerturneth both the nature and vse of the Sacrament Attersoll on the Sacraments page 45. 46. and page 365. to 369. If there were a miraculous conuersion as they say there is of the Bread and Wine it would appeare to the outward senses For all true miracles are wrought openly clearely and euidently to mens senses Iohn 6.26 But the Bread and Wine by the iudgement of all the senses remaineth and appeareth to bée the same in substance which it was before of the same quality quantity colour taste handling smelling vertue and nourishment there is not any one sense or all the senses together that can iudge otherwise of it then it did before If a man should bee called in when the Bread and Wine is set on the Table and bidden to consider well what hee there séeth smelleth and tasteth and then is willed to goe forth and to come in againe after the Consecration is ended by the Priest and to doe the like and then is asked what he thinketh of it he no doubt will answere vnlesse feare of persecution make him to conceale the truth I see feele smell and taste the same water-cake and wine that I did before I can perceiue no naturall and substantiall change therein And therefore it followeth that there is no miracle wrought and consequently no Transubstantiation at all The difference that is is in the end and vse onely Before consecration it was common bread wine ordained for the nourishing of our bodies After consecration it becommeth holy Bread Wine sanctified by the Lord not so much to féede the body as the soule C. Did not the ancient Fathers hold this doctrine of Transubstantiation M. They knew nothing héereof for at least 800. yéeres after Christ Afterwards begun the disputations of Transubstantiation but not approued as an Article of faith The Church for a whole thousand yéeres taught no other then spirituall receiuing of Christ In the yéere 1215. Transubstantiation was decreed and determined in the Councell of Lateran vnder Pope Innocent the Third and made a maine matter of faith Perk. 2. vol. 558.559 C. What say you then of their Transubstantiated or consecrated host as i◠is called or the bread in the boxe carried in procession and worshipped M. Surely it is nothing else but a wheaten or breaden god or rather an Idoll nothing inferiour to Aarons Calfe or Ieroboams Calues or the Nehustan and piece of brasse that Ezechias brake in pieces nay as vile and detestable as any Idoll among the Heathen And for a conclusion of their doctrine of Transubstantiation I will héere set downe a wittie conceit which one shewed me not long since I haue kept the matter but changed the méeter to make it sound somewhat the swéeter The Priests do make Christs body bloud Heereof none must once doubt They eat they drinke they box him vp They beare him all about DIALOGVE 7. C. I am satisfied touching the first poynt namely that the Papists are not of sound faith but how doe you proue that they are not of good life seeing they doe so many good workes M. I proue it thus Where the doctrine is corrupt the life cannot be good but their doctrine as you haue heard is most corrupt therefore their life cannot bee good A true faith is the ground of a good life and without which it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Yea whatsoeuer is not of faith is sinne Rom. 14.23 A true faith they haue not and therefore their workes cannot bee good and such as may please God That they haue not a true and sound faith hath bin shewed in many particulars and it further appeareth also in this that they doe euen wilfully reied she meanes wherby it is wrought namely the preaching hearing and reading the Word of God They haue not neither will they haue the Scriptures to be soundly preached read and heard in their owne tongue That they cannot abide to haue them in their owne language appeareth by this one example One Pauier a Towne-clarke of London in the time of King Henry the Eightth hearing that the Scriptures should bee put into English hee spake to this effect and confirmed it with an
of Catholikes and Catholike Church Although many sound and learned diuines haue of late yeeres fully laid open all points of Popery and throughly confuted the same yet the vulgar sort eyther for want of money to buy their bookes or leysure to reade them being for the most part verie large or else for want of knowledge to iudge of them being learnedly written know not so much as what Popery is but thinke yea and sometimes speake it that the Papists differ not much from vs and that wee might bee easily reconciled For the good therefore of the simple and vnlearned I haue briefly plainely and familiarly set downe such speciall points as they doe hold contrary to the very grounds of Religion that so such as yet stand may be confirmed the weake ones kept from embracing Popery and such as are of late falne from vs may if Gods will bee such bee reclaimed By Papists I vnderstand such as cleaue to the Pope in religion and are obedient vnto him And I thinke they will not be offended with the name no more then wee are with the name of Protestants And in setting downe their opinions I deale not with them as they deale with vs namely charging vs with such things as wee teach not but rather vtterly disclaime As for example There was not long since in a certaine Citie of this kingdome apprehended a Iesuite and among other things found about him hee had a certaine paper wherein were 44 positions set downe as doctrines maintained by Protestants and of these 44. almost 20 of them were grosse lies As for example First that wee hold and teach that children are saued onely by the faith of their parents without baptisme Secondly that one must not baptize but at a Sermon Thirdly that God doth not onely permit but doth cause sinne Fourthly that there is no Cup of consecration Fiftly that one may preach without being sent with such like things which are most notorious lies for Protestants teach no such things but rather the contrary If any haue broached such doctrine if they bee knowne they are punished by our Church And this hath bin their practice from time to time in charging vs with such points of doctrine as were neuer allow'd of but condemned by vs. In setting downe therefore of their opinions I alleadge eyther their very words or the summe therof and quote the places where the same are to bee found And I doe not set downe the words of some priuate man or of such as are of no account in the Church of Rome but of their Councell of Trent the Rhemists Bellarmine and such as whose words and writings are approued and allowed of by the Church of Rome And then at the end of euery particular point of Popery I quote also diuers of our owne late Writers where the points are handled more at large so that if any be disposed to see what they hold and how they are confuted hee may turne to the Authors and finde the same And because the Papists stand so much vpon antiquitie I haue also set downe the time when the most substantiall points of Popery came first into the Church See Doctor Abbot in defence of the reformed Catholike page 109. to 121. There is one thing which it may be some will not like of and that is the vsing of some homely comparisons and pleasant conceites but I would haue such to know that a Pill is a very bitter thing and therefore men many times before they come to swallow it will roll it in hony or some other sweet thing that it may goe down the more pleasantly and therefore I haue done the like with this my Pill that so it may be taken with the more delight And heerein I haue done but as Elias did with Baals Priests 1. Kings 18.27 and no more then Esay did with idolaters in his time Esay 44.16 My request then to you is that you will accept these foure small mites and employ them for your owne direction and the good of your families Teach your little ones the first and then as they growe in yeeres let them learne the rest And heerein you are to haue a respect to the nature and condition of your children If they be but of weake capacitie and haue but weake memories you are to require the lesse of them If that you would allow them some small time in euery weeke to learne the same and euery Lords day after the publike exercises in the Church you would spend but one hour or halfe in examining them you shall finde that in a few yeeres they would euen learn them all And further this you shal finde that by teaching your families you shall much profit your selues so that when you shall heare the Catechisme expounded in the Church as Ministers are now cōmanded to do it you shall by this meanes vnderstand the better what is taught and profit a great deale the more by it You shall doe well also to reade ouer oftentimes the Texts of Scriptures as they are set downe in order and so you shall see how euery point of doctrine deliuerd by the Minister in Catechizing is confirmed And concerning the Catechisme for Catholikes you shall doe well also sometimes to reade it or cause your children to doe it that so you may see what Poperie is and accordingly take heede of it These things if you be carefull to performe I doubt not but in a short time you shall finde great good to come heereof to your children much comfort to your selues and God hereby shall be glorified to whose most blessed and holy direction I commend you now and for euer Yours to his vttermost I. M. A CATECHISME for little Children Q. WHo made you A. God Q. What is God A. God is a Spirit Q. How many persons be there A. Three persons but one God Q. Whereof did God make man A. Of the dust of the ground Q. Whereunto did God make man like A. To himselfe Q. Wherein was that A. In righteousnes and holines principally Q. Wherefore did God make you A. To serue him Q. How will God be serued A. As he himselfe hath commanded in his Word Q. How is that A. In spirit and truth Q. Are we such now as God did make vs A. No we are all sinners Q. What is sinne A. The transgression of the Law Q. By whome came sinne into the world A. By man euen Adam Q. What is the reward of sinne A. Eternall death and damnation Q. How shall wee escape this death and damnation A. Onely by Iesus Christ Q. What is Iesus Christ A. The onely begotten Sonne of God Q. Is he God or man A. Both God and man Q. What did he to redeeme thee A. Hée suffered the torments of death for me Q. Christ was God how could he then die A. Christ was also man and so he suffered and died Q. Did Christ suffer in bodie or in soule A. Both in body and in soule Q. Did Christ
heerein A. That we couet that which is for our neighbours good Q. Can wee be saued by our good workes A. No because we cannot fulfill the Law Q. Whereby then are we iustified and saued A. By the grace of God through faith in Christ Ephes 2.8 Q. Wherefore then serueth the Law A. To a Rom 3 20 shew vs our sinnes and the punishment thereof b Gaâ—at 3.24 and so to bring vs to Christ Q. Wherefore doth it serue when we are come to Christ A. To teach vs how to walke Psal 119.1 105. and to place God Q. Wherefore are we to doe good workes if wee cannot bee saued by them A. First to testifie our c Ioh. 14.1 15. loue and d Mat. 5.16 thankfulnes to God thereby Q. And wherefore else A. Secondly to make our calling and election sure to our selues And thirdly 2. Pet. 1.10 1. Pet. 3.1 to win others to Christ thereby Q. Can we of our selues doe good workes A. No but onely by the grace of God 2 Cor 3.5 Phâ—â—ip 2.13 4.13 Q. How shall we obtaine the grace of God heereunto A. By harty and earnest prayer Luk. 11.9 13. Q. How must we pray I am 1.5 6. A. As Christ hath taught vs in the Gospell Mat 6.9 Q. How many parts be there of the Lords prayer A. Thrée a preface six petitions the conclusion Q. Which is the preface A. Our Father which art in heauen Q. What doth it teach vs A. To pray onely to God in the name of Iesus Christ Ioh. 16.23 Q. How may we doe this A. By the helpe of the holy Ghost Rom. 8.26 Q. What do we ask of God in the three first petitions A. Such things as doe onely concerne Gods glory Q. What doe we ask in the three last petitions A. Such things as concern our own necessities both of body and soule Q. Which is the first petition A. Hallowed be thy nme Q. What do we ask of God herein A. That in all things God may bée glorified by vs. Q. Which is the second petition A. Thy kingdome come Q. What doe we desire heerein A. That God may rule and raigne in vs by his holy Word and Spirit Q. Which is the third petition A. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Q. What doe we aske heerein A. That Gods will may be done by vs héere in earth as it is by the Angels in heauen Q. Which is the fourth petition A. Giue vs this day our daily bread Q. What doe we aske heerein A. That God wil giue vs all things necessarie and comfortable for this life Q. VVhich is the fift petition A. And forgiue vs our trespasses as wée forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Q. What do we aske heerein A. That God will forgiue vs all our sinnes as we forgiue such as do offend vs. Q. Which is the sixt petition A. And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill Q. What do we aske heerein A. That God by his grace will strengthen vs against all temptations to sinne and deliuer vs from the diuell and from sinne Q. Which is the Conclusion A. For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen Q. What doe these words contayne in them A. A reason why wée doe aske the former things of God namely because the kingdome power and glory are his FINIS MEATE FOR the Stronger OR A Catechisme for the Elder sort Q. WHerein consisteth our true wisdome and happiness A. In the true knowledge of God and of our selues Q. By what meanes are we soonest brought to the true knowledge of God and of our selues A. By Catechizing Q. VVhat is catechizing A. An instruction of the ignorant in the grounds of Religion Acts 18.25 26. Q. To whom doth the duty of Catechizing specially belong He. 6.1.2 3. A. To a Heb. 5.12 6.1.2 Ministers b Eph. 6.4 Parents c Gen. 18.10 Housholders and Schoolmasters Q. What be the ordinary parts of the Catechisme A. Foure The Créed the Sacraments the ten Commandements and the Lords prayer Q. VVhat is the Creed A. A confession of faith containing the summe of the Gospell Q. How many parts are there of the Creed A. Two of God and of the Church 8. Q. What doth the first part concerne A. Our faith in God the Father in God the Sonne and in God the holy Ghost Q. Are there any more Gods then one A. No a 1 Cor. 8.4 but there are thrée b 1 Ioh. 5.7 persons and these thrée are but one God Q. What is the Father A. The first Person in the Trinity the c 1 Cor. 8.6 maker and d Amos 3.6 gouernour of all things Q. Where is this set downe A. In the first Article of the Creed I beleeue in God the Father Almighty maker of heauen and earth Q. Why doe we say I belieue and not We beleeue A. Because euery one is to haue a particular a Hab. 2.4 faith of his owne and to make b 2 Pet. 3.15 confession of his owne faith Q. What is it to belieue in God A. It is to know and acknowledge him 1 Chro. 28.9 as he hath reuealed himselfe in his Word Q. VVhat else A. To beléeue that he is my God and to put my whole trust in him Iohn 20.28 Q. What is God A. God is a a Ioh. 4.24 Spirit most b Rom. 16.27 wise most c Esay 6.3 holy d Reuel 1.8 eter nall e Ier. 23.24 infinite c. Q. In what respects is God called Father A. In respect of f Ephes 1.4 Christ and in respect of g Esay 63.16 vs. Q. How is he the Father of Christ A. By nature eternal generation Heb. 1.3 5. Q. How is he our Father A. By grace of Adoption Q. VVhy is he called Almighty Gal. 4.5 6. A. Because he can doo whatsoeuer he a Psal 135.6 will yea more then he b Mat. 33.9.26.53 will doe Q. And wherefore else A. Because he is the Author of all that power which is in the creatures Esay 40.19 Iohn 19. â—â— Q. VVhy is he said to be maker of heauen and earth A. Because he created all things in heauen and earth Ex. 20.11 Q. How did God create all things A. Of a Heb. 11.4 nothing by his b Psal 33.6 Word and that c Gen. 1.31 very good Q. VVhereof was man made A. Of the dust of the ground Q. How was the woman made Gen. 2.7 A. Shée was taken and made out of man Gen. 2.21 Q. How came the soule into them A. It was created and put into them by God Gen. 2.7 Q. After what fashion did God make man and woman A. In his own image and likenes Gen. 1.26 27. Q. VVherein especially did this image of God consist A. In
to doe it Q. VVhat else doth the preface teach vs A. That wée are to come to God with c Heb. 4.16 boldnes because he is our Father and with d Eccles 5.1 2 reuerence because his Maiesty filleth the heauens Q. VVhich is the first petition A. Hallowed be thy name Q. VVhat is it to hallow Gods name A. It is to acknowledge and declare that God and his name is holy Luke 7.29 35 and is so to be vsed Q. VVhat doe wee ask of God herein A. That we may rightly know and acknowledge God and may reuerence praise and set forth his Almighty power Wisdome goodnes iustice mercy and truth shining in all his workes Ier. 9.23.24 Psal 145.8 9 10. Q. VVhat else doe we ask herein A. That both in minde and heart in life and conuersation we may glorifie God both in himselfe and in his works Q. VVhat is the second petition A. Thy kingdome come Q. VVhat is heere meant by the kingdome of God A. The kingdome of grace Mat. 6.33 Colos 1.13 14. Luke 23 42 and the kingdome of glory Q. What doe we desire heerein A. That God will more and more subdue and weaken the kingdome and power of sinne and Satan Q. What else A. That God by his holy Word and Spirit will rule raign in vs and that in the end he will bring vs to the kingdome of glory Q. VVhat is the third petition A. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Q. VVhat doe wee craue of God heerein A. That wée héere in earth may readily willingly chéerefully and faithfully doe the will of God as the Angels doe in heauen Q. Wherein consisteth the doing of Gods will A. In thrée things especially Q. VVhat is the first A. In denying our owne a Luke 22 42 will and b Iohn 6.40 1. Iohn 3 23 1 Thes 4.3 4 5 6 Acts 14.22 beléeuing in Christ Q. What is the second A. In dooing such good workes as God requireth Q. What is the third thing A. In the patient bearing of afflictions Q. VVhich is the fourth petition A. Giue vs this day our daily bread Q. What doe we ask heerein A. That God will giue vnto vs all things necessary and comfortable for this life Pro. 30.8 Q. What else A. That God will giue vs the grace to be contented with that he giueth vs. Phil. 4.12 13 Heb. 13.5 Q. VVhat needes the rich man to pray for daily bread A. Yes because without Gods blessing his abundance can do him no good Deut. 8.4 Psal 127.1 2 3. Q. Which is the fift petition A. And forgiue vs our trespasses c. Q. What doe wee desire of God heerein A. That God for Christs sake will forgiue vs all our sinnes Ier. 31.34 for euen wée forgiue such as offend vs. Q. Can wee forgiue others their sinnes A. We may and must a Luke 17 3 4. forgiue the wrongs don vnto vs by others but none can forgiue b Esay 43.25 Marke 2.7 sinnes but God onely Q. Is our forgiuing of others the cause why God doth forgiue vs A. No but it is a signe thereof Q. What if we forgiue not others A. Then God will not forgiue vs. Mat. 18.35 Q. Which is the sixt petition A. And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill Q. What doe we ask heerein A. That God will not leaue vs to our selues 2. Chro. 32 31 Esay 63.17 Mat. 26.41 and giue vs euer to Satan to be tempted and ouercome in temptations Q. What else doe we ask heerein A. That God will strengthen vs against all temptations vnto euill and deliuer vs from sinne and the dwell 3 Tim. 4.18 Q. Which is the Conclusion A. For thine is the kingdome power and glory for euer Amen Q. VVhat are these words A. A reason why we doe ask the former things of God namely because the kingdome power and glory are his and therefore he both can and will giue them vs. Q. What signifieth the word Kingdome A. Gods absolute Soueraignty and Right ouer all things 1. Cor. 29 11 Q. VVhat signifieth the word Power A. Gods omnipotencie whereby he is able to doe whatsoeuer he will Luke 1.37 Q. VVhat is meant by the word Glory A. Maiesty and excellencie honour and praise Q. VVhat doth this Conclusion teach vs A. How to giue thankes to God 1. Chro. â—9 10 〈…〉 for these thrée kingdome power and glory doe generally comprehend all matter of praise and thanksgiuing vnto God Q. What do you meane then when you say these words A. It is as if wée should say The Kingdome of heauen is thine all power in heauen and earth is thine and therefore the glory is thine and from our hearts we do ascribe the same vnto thée Q. What signifieth the word Amen A. So be it 1. Cor. 1.20 or so it shall be Q. What doth it teach vs A. Feruently to desire the things aforesaid Ephes 6.18 Iames 1.6 and to assure our selues therof Q. What shall become of such after this life as are carefull to know and practise these grounds of Religion A. They shall liue in glory for euer with Christ in heauen Mat. 25.46 Iohn 17.24 305. Q. What shall become of such as care not eyther to know or to practise these things A. They shall liue for euer in Hell in forments 2 Thes 1 8 9 Mat. 25.41 with the diuell and his Angels FINIS To the Christian Reader THere is one thing Christian Reader which I would haue thee especially to take notice of concerning the former Principles or Grounds of Religion namely that nothing is to be receiued for a Principle of Religion or true and sound doctrine which hath not foundation in the Word of God or is not contained therein for the Word of God or the Scripture as we call it is the rule of all truth and giues vs a perfect direction both for faith and manners and whatsoeuer Article and doctrine is necessary to saluation is deliuered plainly in the holy Scripture and therefore in reading this or any Catechism you are not by and by to beleeue whatsoeuer is therein contained but to see and consider how euery thing is confirmed by the Scriptures for your faith and conscience must be grounded not vpon the weake and vnperfect speeches of sinnefull men but vpon the pure and sure Word of God And therefore at the end of euery answere I haue quoted some plaine place of Scripture to confirm the same some few only excepted which though in plain words they are not to be found in the Scriptures yet by good consequence they are drawn from the Scriptures And whatsoeuer is truly and soundly collected from Scripture is to be beleeued of vs as though it were expresly written As for example when Christ would confute the Sadduces that denyed the resurrection he alleadgeth the words of God to Moses I am the God