How sincere A. By confessing our sins plainly without seeking to lessen or excuse them Q. How entire A. By confessing not onely in what things we have sinned mortally but also how often as neere as we are able to remember Q. VVhat if a man knowingly do leave out any one mortall sinne in his Confession for fear or shame A. He maketh his whole Confession to be void and committeth a great Sacriledge by lying to the Holy Ghost and abusing the Sacrament Q. How prove you that A. By the example of Ananias and his wife Saphira who were struck dead at the feet of S. Peter for daring to lie unto the Holy Ghost Act. ch 5. v. 5 10. Q. Is he that hath so done bound to confesse all again A. Yes all that was mortall together with that which he left out Q. VVhat is satisfaction A. It is the Penance which is enjoyned us by the Priest or which we voluntarily impose upon our selves by fasting prayer and the like Q. For what doe we satisfie by that Penance A. For such temporall punishments as remaine due sometimes unto our sinnes after the sinnes are forgiven us Q. How doe you prove that Priests have power to impose Penances A. Out of 1 Cor. ch 5. v. 3. where S. Paul excommunicated the incestuous Corinthian I saith he absent in body but present in spirit have already judged him that hath so done c. to deliver such an one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the soule may be saved Q. How prove you that temporall punishments may remain due to our sinnes after the sinnes themselves be forgiven us A. Because Adam after his sinne was forgiven him was notwithstanding cast out of Paradise for ever and his whole posterity made subject unto death and many miseries in punishment of that sinne Genes ch 3. v. 24. Q. What other proofe have you A. Because David after his sinne of Adultery was forgiven him was temporally punished for it with the death of his child Our Lord saith Nathan hath taken away his sinne neverthelesse thy sonne shall die Q. What other yet A. Because whom our Lord loveth he chastiseth Heb. ch 12. v. 6. Q. By what other meanes are those temporall punishments released A. By all workes of piety and above all by Indulgences A. Not a pardon for sinnes to come or leave to commit sinne as some doe falsely and slanderously teach but it is onely a releasing of such temporall punishments as remain due unto those sinnes which have already been forgiven us by Penance and Confession Q. How doth an Indulgence release those punishments A. By the superabundant merits of Christ and his Saints which it applyeth to our soules by the speciall grant of the Church Q. When did Christ give his â—â—urch power to grant Indulgences A. When he said to S. Peter To thee will I give the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth it shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth it shall be loosed in heaven S. Matth. ch 16. v. 19. Q. How prove you that the Apostles ever used this power A. Out of 2 Cor. ch 2. v. 10. where S. Paul remitted part of the Corinthians penance To him that is such an one saith he this rebuke sufficeth c. whom you have pardoned any thing I also Q. What is required for the gaining of an Indulgence A. That we performe the works enjoyned us and that the last part of them be done in state of grace Q. What are those Works A. Fasting Prayer and Almes-deeds Extreme Vnction expounded Q. WHat is the fifth Sacrament A. Extreme Vnction Q. Where did Christ institute that A. At his last Supper Q. What warrant have you for that A. An Apostolicall Tradition Q. By whom was this Sacrament promulgated A. By S. Iames in his Epist ch 5. v. 13 14 15. Is any man sick amongst you let him bring in the Priests of the Church and let them pray over him annoyling him with Oyle in the Name of our Lord and the prayer of Faith shall save the sick man and our Lord will lift him up and if he be in sinnes his sinnes shall be forgiven him Q. Who is capable of this Sacrament A. Every true and faithfull Christian which is in morall danger of death by sicknesse excepting Infants Fools and such as are alwaies mad Q. What is the matter of this Sacrament A. Oyle blessed by a Bishop Q. What is the forme of it A. By that annoyling and his owne most pious mercy let our Lord pardon thee whatsoever thou hast sinned by thy seeing c. and so of all the other senses repeating the same words Q. What are the effects of Extreme Vnction A. It comforteth the soule in her last Agony against despaire it remitteth Veniall sinnes and the Reliques of sinne and it restoreth corporall health if it be expedient Q. How prove you that A. Out of S. Mark ch 6. v. 13. where we read That the Apostles annoynted with Oyle many sicke and healed them Q. Why then doe so many die after receiving it A. One reason may be because out of cowardice they deferred it too long as very many doe Holy Order Expounded Q. WHat is the sixth Sacrament A. Holy Order Q. To whom doth this appertaine A. To the Rulers and Ministers of the Church as Bishops Priests Deacons and Subdeacons Q. What proofe have you for Bishops Priests and Deacons A. For Bishops and Deacons out of Philip. ch 1. v. 1. To all the Saints at Philippi saith S. Paul with the Bishops and Deacons And for Priests out of S. Iames above-cited Is any man sicke amongst you let him bring in the Priests of the Church c. Q. Where did Christ ordain this Sacrament A. At his last Supper when he made his Apostles Priests saying This is my Body which is given for you doe ye this for a commemoration of me S. Luk. ch 22. v. 19. Q. What did Christ give them power then to do A. To offer the unbloudy Sacrifice of his owne Body and Blood which he himselfe had there ordained and offered under the outward formes of Bread and Wine Q. Why did he say Doe ye this for a commemoration of me A. Because the unbloudy Sacrifice of the Masse is a commemoration or memoriall of the Bloudy Sacrifice made on the Crosse nay more it is a renovation of it in an unbloudy way Q. What are the effects of Holy Order A. It giveth a spirituall power to ordain Priests to consecrate the body and blood of Christ to administer the Sacraments to serve the Altar and to Preach Q. VVhat else A. It giveth also speciall grace for the well doing of the foresaid Offices Q. How prove you that A. Out of 1 Tim. ch 4. v. 14. Neglect not the grace which is in thee by Prophesie with the Imposition of the hands of Priesthood Q. What is the proper Office of a Bishop A. To give Holy
give our lives for him as often as his Honour shall require it Q. In what doth the Faith and Law of Christ chiefly consist A. In two principall Mysteries namely the Vnity and Trinity of God the Incarnation and death of our Saviour Q. What meaneth the Vnity and Trinity of God A. It meaneth that in God there is but one onely divine Nature or Essence although there bee three Persons the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Q. How shew you that A. Out of the 1. of S. John ch 5. v. 7. there be three which give testimony in heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three be one Q. Why are there but three Persons only A. Because the Father hath no beginning nor proceedeth from any other Person the Son proceedeth from the Father the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne Q. Why are these three Persons but one God A. Because they have but one and the same Essence one and the same Power one and the same Wisdome one and the same Goodnesse Q. What meaneth the Incarnation and death of our Saviour A. It meaneth that the second Person of the Blessed Trinity was made man and died upon a Crosse to save us Q. In what are these two Mysteries contained A. In the signe of the Crosse as it is made by Catholikes Q. How declare you that A. Because when we put our right hand to our head saying In the Name we signifie Vnity and when we make the signe of the Crosse faying of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost we signifie Trinity Q. How doth the signe of the Crosse represent the Incarnation and death of our Saviour A. By putting us in mind that he was made man to die upon the Crosse for us CAP. II. Faith explicated Q. WHat is Faith A. It is the gift of God or a supernaturall quality infused by God into the Soule by which we firmely believe all those things which he hath revealed any way unto us Q. Why is Faith necessary to Salvation A. Because without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. ch 11. v. 6. Q. What other proofe have you A. Because he that believeth and shall be baptized he shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be condemned S. Mark c. 16. v. the last Q. Why must we believe matters of Faith so firmely A. Because God hath revealed them who neither can deceive nor be deceived Q. If a man should deny or obstinately doubt of some one Point of Faith would he thereby lose his whole Faith A. Yes he would because true Faith must alwayes be entire and he that faileth in one is made guilty of all by discrediting the Authority of God revealing it Q. Is it not enough to believe all that is written in the Bible A. No it is not for we must also believe all Apostolicall Traditions Q. How prove you that A. Out of 2 Thes c. 2. v. 15. Therefore Brethren stand ye fast saith S. Paul and hold ye the Traditions which ye have learned whether by word or by our Epistle Q. What other proof have you A. The Apostles Creed which all are bound to believe although it be not in the Scripture Q. Is Faith onely as excluding good works sufficient to salvation A. No it is not according to S. James his Epist c. 2. v. 24. you see then Brethren how that by workes a man is justified and not by faith onely Q. What other proof have you A. The 1 Cor. ch 13. where S. Paul saith If a man have all faith so as to remove Mountaines and have not charity he is nothing and if hee distribute his goods unto the poore and give his body so that it burne and have not charity it profiteth nothing Q. What faith will suffice to justifie A. A Faith working by Charity in Jesus Christ Gal. ch 5. v. 6. Q. What vice is opposite to Faith A. Heresie Q. What is Heresie A. It is an obstinate Errour in things that of Faith Q. Is it a grievous sin A. A very grievous one because it wholly divides a man from God and leads to infidelity Q. How prove you that A. Out of S. Matth. ch 18. v. 18. where Christ saith If he will not hear the Church let him be unto thee as a Heathen or a Publican CHAP. III. The Creed Expounded Q. WHat is the Creed A. It is the sum of our Beliefe Q. Who made it A. The twelve Apostles Q. At what time did they make iâ— A. Before they divided themselves into the severall Countryes of the world Q. For what end did they make it A. That so they might be able to teach one and the same Doctrine in all places Q. What doth the Creed containe A. All those chiefe things which we are bound to believe concerning God and his Church Q. What is the first Article of the Creed A. I believe in God the Father Almighty Creatour of Heaven and Earth Q. What signifieth I believe A. It signifieth as much as I most firmly and undoubtedly hold Q. What means I believe in God A. It meaneth not onely that there is a God and that all is truth which he teacheth but also that we move unto him by Faith Hope and Charity Q. What signifieth the word Father A. It signifieth the first Person of the most Blessed Trinity who is by nature the Father of but one onely Son who is by Adoption the Father of all Christians who is by Creation the Father of all Creatures Q. What meaneth the word Almighty A. It meaneth that God is able to doe all things as he pleaseth that he seeth all things knoweth all things and governeth all things Q. Why is he called Almighty in this place A. That we might doubt of nothing which followeth Q. What signifie those words Creatour of Heaven and Earth A. They signifie that God created Heaven and Earth and all the creatures in them out of nothing by his sole Word Gen. ch 1. Q. What moved him to make them A. His own meer goodnesse that so he might communicate himselfe to Angells and to men for whom he made all other creatures Q. When did God create the Angells A. When he created Heaven which was on the first day for hee made that full of Angells Q. For what end did he create them A. To be partakers of his glory and our Guardians Q. How prove you by Scripture that they be our Guardians A. Out of S. Matth. ch 18. v. 10. where Christ saith See yee that ye destise not any one of these little ones For their Angells which are in Heaven alwayes see the face of my Father which is in heaven Q. Doe the Angells know our necessities and heare our Prayers A. Doubtlesse they doe since God hath deputed them to be our Guardians Q. How else prove you it A. Out of Zachary ch 1. where an Angell prayeth for two whole Cities the words are Then the Angell of the
and thy Father which is in secret will repay thee Q. How prove you abstinence from certain meats A. Because it was prescribed by an Angell to S. Iohn He shall be great saith he before the Lord Winâ— and Cicer he shall not drinke S Luke ch 1. v. 15. and in S. Matth. ch 3. v. 4. we read that His meat were Locusts and wild Honey Q. For what is Fasting availeable A. For the remission of sinnes and the appeasing of the wrath of God according to that Be ye converted unto me in your whole heart in fasting weeping and mourning Ioet ch 2. v. 12. Q. For what else A. To mortifie the lustfull desires of the flesh and it hath also speciall force against the Devill This kind of Devill saith our Lord can goe out by nothing but by Prayer and Fasting S. Marke ch 9. v. 24. Q. Why Vigills A. To prepare our selves for a devout keeping of the Feasts that follow Q. Why Ember Dayes A. Because on those dayes the Church giveth holy Orders and ordaineth Priests and for that cause hath dedicated them to publike Prayer and Fasting Q. What ground have you for that A. Out of Acts ch 13. v. 2 3. where we read And as they the Apostles were ministring unto our Lord and fasting the Holy Ghost said separate ye me Saul and Barnab as unto the work whereto I have taken them then fasting and praying and imposing hands upon them they dismissed them Q. Why Fridayes in England A. In memory that Christ suffered for us upon a Friday drinking gall and vinegar upon his Crosse for our gluttonous excesse but specially by custome which is as good as Law Q. Why abstinence on Saturdayes A. To prepare our selves for a devout keeping of the Sunday as also in honour of the blessed Virgin Mary who stood firme in faith on that day the Apostles themselves wavering The third Commandement of the Church Expounded Q. WHat is the third Commandement of the Church A. To confesse our sins at least once a year Q. Why was that commanded A. Because otherwise Libertines would not have done it once in many years The fourth Commandement of the Church expounded Q. WHat is the fourth A. To receive the blessed Sacrament at least once a yeare and that at Easter or thereabouts Q. Why at Easter A. Because Christ instituted the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist at his last Supper on the Thursday before Easter day Q. Why is it said or there abouts A. Because it will satisfie the Precept if it be done any time betwixt Palme Sunday and Low Sunday The fifth Precept of the Church expounded Q. VVHat is the fifth A. To pay Tythes to our Pastors Q. Why so A. Because they feed us spiritually and therefore it is fit that we should feed them corporally Q. How prove you that A. Out of Gal. ch 6. v. 6. Let him that is catechized in the word saith S. Paul communicate to him that catechizeth him in all his goods And in another place he that serveth the Altar let him live of the Altar The sixth Commandement of the Church expounded Q. WHat is the sixth A. Not to celebrate Marriages on times prohibited that is from the first Sunday of Advent untill Twelf-day be past nor from Ash-Wednesday till Low-Sunday be past Q. Why so A. Because those are times of speciall piety and penance therefore not to be spent in feastings and carnall pleasures Q. What sin is it to breake any of these Church-Commandements A. A mortall sinne of disobedience according to that he that will not heare the Church let him be unto thee as a Heathen or a Publican S. Matth. ch 18. v. 18. CHAP. X. The Councells of Christ and his Church Expounded Q. HOw many Councells bee there A. There be three principall ones Q. What is the first of them A. Voluntary Poverty which is a willing leaving all things to follow Christ Q. How prove you that to be a worke of Perfection A. Out of S. Matth. ch 19. v. 21. If thou wilt be perfect goe and sell the things which thou hast and give to the poore and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven and come and follow me Q. How prove you this to be meritorious A. Out of the same chap. v. 28 29. where when S. Peter had asked Christ saying Behold we have forsaken all things and followed thee what therefore shall be our rewards Our Lord answered him Every one that hath left his house or his Lands or his Brethren or his Sisters for my Name sake be shall receive a hundred fold commodity and possesse everlasting life The second Councell Q. WHat is the second Councell A. Perpetuall Chastity which is a voluntary abstaining from Marriage and all carnall pleasures for the love of God Q. Is this also a worke of Perfection A. It is for Christ himself was born of a Virgin and counselleth Virginity though he command it not Q. How prove you that A. Out of S. Mat. ch 19. v. 12. There be Eunuchs saith he which have gelded themselves for the Kingdome of heaven he that can take it let him take it Q. How prove you that Virginity is a more perfect state then Marriage or that it is lawfull to vow Virginity A. Out of 1 Cor. ch 7. v. 37 38. He that hath determined in his heart being setled not having any necessity but having power of his owne will to keep his Virgin doth well therefore he that joyneth his Virgin in Marriage doth well and he that joyneth her not doth better Q. Who was the first that taught Marriage to be better then Virginity and perswaded Priests and Nunns to marry A. Jovinian an old condemned Heretike according to S. Augustine in his booke of Heresies Heresie the 82. and in his second book of Retractations he calleth him a Monster for it and saith the Church stoutly resisted him Chap. 22. Q. What other proof have you A. Out of 1 Tim. ch 5. v. 5. But she that is a Widdow indeed that is a vowed Widdow and desolate let her hope in God and continue in prayer and obsecrations day and night And. v. 11 12. But the younger Widdowes avoid for they when they shall be want on in Christ they will marry having damnation because they have made void their first Faith that is their Vow of Chastity according to the fourth Councell of Carthage Canon 104. and all the Fathers on this place The third Councell Q. WHat is the third Councell A. Obedience which is a voluntary submission to anothers will in all that is not sin Q. What warrant have you for that A. The example of Christ himselfe who was obedient to our Lady and S. Ioseph And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them S. Luke ch 2. v. 51. Q. What other proof have you A. Out of Hebr. ch last v. 17. Obey your Prelates and be subject to them for they watch being to render an account for your soules