preached and beleeved and obeyed in all Nations whatsoever That his word may beare such sway in our hearts that the Kingdome of sinne and Satan being vanquished we may behave our selves as the sincere Subjects of such a King that so his Kingdome of glory may be replenished in due season Q. The third Petition A. Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven That with our Saviour each Christians prayer may be n S. Luc. 22.42 Not my will but thy will be done not only in Peace plenty and prosperity but in Warre in wants and persecution His revealed will is the rule whereby all our actions must be guided Our prayer is therefore that we his Servants may be diligent to performe this his will on earth as the Angells are diligent to doe it in heaven That we may listen to him and be obsequious to his will as they are That there may not be any dissension between our earthly and heavenly parts but that the flesh being subject to the spirit both may sincerely submit to his will and doe it to the utmost of their power This is the direct way to his Kingdome of glory Q. The fourth Petition A. Give us this day our dayly bread In this petition o Catech. in Common prayer Book we pray unto God that he will send us all things that be needfull both for our soules and bodies p Hieron in Mat. 6. This as the learned observe is intimated unto us by this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies not only dayly but supersubstantiall that q Spiritaliter potiùs intelligamus Christus enim panis noster est c. Tertul. de Orat. c. 6. so we might not only remember our bodily food but that we might have a speciall eye upon the food of our soules that bread of life the blessed Sacrament of Christs body bloud which was r Eucharistiam quotidiè ad cibum salutis accipimus Cypr. de Orat. domin n. 48. Aug. de Ser. Dom. in Monte. l. 2. dayly received in the primitive Church by the first Christians Q. The fifth Petition A. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us Herein we make confession that we have trespassed against God and his word we entreat him therefore against whom we sinne to forgive us our sinnes Q. Can God only forgive sinne A. God only powerfully but the Priest ministerially God hath power in himselfe and of himselfe to forgive sinnes but the Priest hath only a delegated power neither in nor of himselfe but from God who gave this Commission to his Apostles and in them to their successors ſ S. John 20.23 Receive saith he the Holy Ghost whosoever sinnes ye forgive they are forgiven c. Christ gave them the Holy Ghost that by his power they might remit and retaine sinnes Q. Doe Priests forgive sinnes absolutely A. No but conditionally as God doth if the person confessing t Absolution in the Common Prayer-Book truly repent and unfainedly beleeve the holy Gospell God you see forgives but upon condition we beg pardon but upon condition that God would deale with us as we deale with our Neighbours that he would forgive us as we forgive them that trespasse against us Q. Must we then expect no pardon but upon this condition A. We may not our Saviour saith so u S. Mat. 18.35 unlesse yee FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER FROM THE HEART your heavenly Father will not forgive you That is * Aug. Enchirid c. 73.74 unlesse ye be ready to forgive your trespassers when they crave pardon of you look for no pardon at my Fathers hands when ye beg forgivenesse of him x S. Luc. 6.38 For the same measure ye mere it shall be measured to you againe Q. The sixth Petition A. And iead us not into temptation Q. Can God rempt us A. He cannot the Scripture is plain y S. James 1.13.14 Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evill NEITHER TEMPTETH HE ANY MAN But every man is tempted when he is drawne away of his owne lust and entised Q. Cannot God be the author of sinne A. He cannot for z Ps 5.4 He hath no pleasure in wickednesse but a Ps 11.6 Deus mali aliquid non potest velle Aug. Ep. 180. the ungodly and him that delighteth in wickednesse doth his soule abhorre It is therefore b Illo sacrilegio quo statuitur Deum esse mali authorem mihi detestabilius nihil occurrit Aug. de Ord. l. 2. c. 7. accounted most detestable sacriledge to make God the author of sinne Q. What pray wee against in this Petition A. Against Gods heavy wrath and censure namely that he would not punish one sinne with another For the later sinne is oft times a punishment of the former as Judas his murthering himselfe was a punishment of his treason We beseech God therefore c Et ne nos patiaris induci c. Cypr. de Orat Domin n. 69. Ne nos inducas c. id est Ne patiaris nos induci Tertul de Orat. c. 8. Aug. de Ser. Dom. in Monre l. 2. as our Forefathers had wont to speake not to suffer us to be led into temptation much lesse to be overcome thereby Since the withdrawing of his grace is as it were a leading or letting us into temptation so prone we are to sinne if God withhold us not Q. Which is the last Petition A. But deliver us from evill In the two former Petitions we entreated for pardon for our former sinnes and to be preserved from future sinnes but here we beseech God to deliver us from the evill of punishment both in this life and in the life to come as also from that fierce executioner of Gods vengeance the Divell Q. Why doe we begge all this at Gods hands A. I. Because he is Our Father most fit therefore that we repaire to him for help and succour II. Because he is all-sufficient Almighty or as it is added in St Matthew d S. Mat. 6.13 for thine is the Kingdome power and glory for ever and ever His Kingdome is unlimited his power absolute God give us grace to seek his glory For he will be glorified either by us or upon us either by us in the performance of his Commandements or upon us in the demonstration of his justice Q. Why adde we Amen A. Because we desire all this may be done for so this word signifies e Sciendum est Amen Halleluja quae nec Latino nec Barbaro licet in suam linguā transserre Hebraeo cunctas gentes vocabulo decantare Aug. Ep. 178. It is an Hebrew word which we translate not into any language but preserve it as our Saviour gave it Wee end our Prayers and Creed with it to manifest the assent and consent of all Christians in matters of the highest moment Q. How ought we to
we enquire not after no more then we enquire after the manner how Christs humanity was knit to his Deitie Q. Is the bread transubstantiated into the Body of Christ A. It is not x 1. Cor. 11.23 Bread it is before consecration y Ib. v. 24. bread at the time of Consecration and z Ib. v. 26 27 28. bread after Consecration but it is a Ib. v. 24 25. 29. the body and blood of Christ only after Consecration Q. After what manner doe wee receive the Body of Christ in this Sacrament A. By faith as the food is Spirituall so is the manner spirituall Q. What are the benefits whereof we are partakers thereby A. b Intelligo substantiâ corporis pasci animas nostras ut verè unum efficiamur cum eo Calvin in 1. Cor. 11.24 The strengthning and refreshing of our Soules by the body and blood of Christ as our bodies are by the Bread Wine We are sensible of the one let us beleeve the other For as veryly as our faint and hungry Bodies are strengthened and refreshed and comforted with bread and wine so verily is every penitent and faithfull Soule strengthened and refreshed and comforted with the body and blood of Christ Q. What is required of them which come to the Lords Supper A. To examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former sinnes stedfastly purposing to lead a new life to have a lively faith in Gods mercy through Christ with a thankfull remembrance of his death and be in charity with all men Q. This for the inward preparation what for the outward reverence A. All outward and inward reverence is little enough when we come to receive the price of Heaven and Earth By some therefore it is called a dreadfull mystery because he that rightly considers of it will not approch to this Table without dread and trembling Q. Why so A. Because there we receive this holy Sacrament either to our salvation or damnation c 1. Cor. 11.29 If unworthily we eate and drinke damnation to our selves Whereas d Ib. v. 32. if we would judge our selves we could not but see our owne unworthinesse and then we would certainly endeavour to humble our selves as we ought both before and at our approch Thus if we doe we shall not be judged unworthy of the Lord but receive it to the comfort and salvation of our soules Q. Is not inward reverence sufficient A. He that hath commanded us at all times to e 1. Cor. 6.20 glorifie God in our bodies and in our spirits will have us more efpecially at this time to glorifie him in both Where both may be had he will have both The Church our Mother conceives kneeling not only decent but necessary at this time shee therefore hath made this Injunction that f Rubricke immediatly before the delivering The Minister shall deliver the Communion in both kinds to the PEOPLE KNEELING The people therefore are to kneele Q. Is this agreeable to the usage of the ancient Church A. It is so for S. Austine tells us that g Nemo illam carnem manducat nisi prius adoraverit Aug. in Ps 98. in his time no man received but first he kneeled And Chemnicius a learned Protestant speaking of due reverence to be used at this time professeth that h Chemnic Exam. Concii Trid. part 2. c. 5. we ought to kneele adding that externall irreverence in this action is the token of a prophane mind Q. Some abstain for feare of Idolatry A. I see not how there can be any such danger We worship not bread but the God of Heaven neither worship we God by the Bread but by or with that blessed Bread and Wine we receive the body and bloud of Christ i The vvords at the delivering which preserve us body and soul to eternall life And can any man be too good to receive such a blessing upon his knees Besides we acknowledge that Christ is present at this his supper after a more speciall and peculiar manner then at other times k Si haec verè ex animo credimus fieri nec potest nec debet quin fider Christum in illa actione praesentem veneretur adoret Chemnic Ib. If this we beleeve truly and sincerely it cannot it may not be but faith will reverence and adore our Saviour present in this action Q. Is there then no danger in kneeling A. Certainly none The danger is in not kneeling for I have learned of Chemnicius that there is no true faith in that Communicant l Non vera suisset fides si non secuta fuis set invocatio scu adoratio lb. where adoration is wanting And Saint Ambrose and Saint Austine are resolute that m Ambros Aug. in Psal 98. it is so farre from being a sinne to kneele at receiving this Sacrament that it is a sinne not to kneele Q. We have done with the ordinary course of Cathechising and yet there remaine two points of n Heb. 6.1 Hicrespexit ad usitatam Catechismi formulam Calvin in Heb. 6.1 Saint Pauls Care chisme namely 1. Repentance from dead workes and 2. Imposition or laying on of hands That we may orderly proceede in these tell me first what these dead workes are A. Dead workes are such as by the Catechists of those times were done before they beleeved in Christ Which being done without faith and the least relation to Gods glory tended to death Since o Heb. 11.6 without faith it is impossible to please God and without pleasing God no life * Aug. de Fide Oper. c. 20. These workes then are to be repented of by the Elder sort before they repaire to Baptisme Q. What is Repentance A. It is an hearty sorrow for our sinnes past accompanied with a change of mind from evill to good with a resolution by Gods grace to continue in good courses If thus we p S. Mat. 4 17. repent the Kingdome of heaven is at hand Q. What meane you by Imposition of hands A. It is a signe or Ceremony by which and Prayer God conveyes his holy Spirit upon those that heretofore were baptized Q. Have not Persons baptized the Holy Ghost before Confirmation A. Yes but not in that measure nor for the same end Q. In what measure and for what end is the Holy Ghost bestowed upon us in Baptisme A. To wash and cleanse us from sinne from all sinne that is in us that so we may be cleane and pure as Adam was when he came first out of Gods fingers and that we may be the members of Christ Q. Why is he given us in Confirmation A. That q Rubrick◠before the Catechism we may receive strength and defence against all temptations to sinne and against the assaults of the world and the Divell At Baptisme we promised not to follow any of these nor to be led by them and in Confirmation God strengthens us by
orders A. Because she findes no meere men allowed to do it in the New Testament but only the Apostles and Bishops their Successors And she keeps close to Scripture Q. Have Bishops this Power of Ordination conferr'd upon them in Scripture A. It is evident they have l At the end of the second Ep. to Timothy Timothy was the first Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians And upon him S. Paul layes this charge m 1. Tim. 5.22 Lay hands suddainly on no man n At the end of the Ep. to Titus Titus was the first Bishop of the Church of the Cretians And to him the same Apostle speakes thus o Tit. 1.5 For this cause left I thee in Creet that thou should est ordaine Presbyters or Elders in every City Q. Is not this power given to Presbyters A. Not any where in the New Testament Q. Why doe you say I beleive the Catholique Church and not J beleive in the Catholique Church A. Because it is a part of my Creed to beleive that there is one Catholik Church but it is no part of my Creed to beleive in or to put my confidence in the Church since the Church is a Congregation of reasonable Christian Creatures and p Hâc praepositionis syllabâ IN Creator a Creaturis socernitur divina seperantur abhumanis Rufin in Symb. n. 〈◊〉 this is a peculiar which belongs only to the Creator God blessed for ever And I will beleive the Church so long as she contradicts not God in his word But if she doe I shall forbeare to credit her in such things I will beleive God who is truth it selfe and believe in that God who is able to undeceive her and to lead her into the way of all truth I will only beleive in him who cannot deceive or be deceived who cannot be overtopped or crossed Q. Why say you one Catholique Church A. Because * Vniversa Ecclesia ex multis constat Ecclesiis sicut universa terra ex multis terris Aug. de civit Dei l. 13. c. 12. though there be many particular Churches yet there is but one Catholique or universall Church which is not bounded but with q Psal 2.8 the uttermost parts of the earth and all these are but one in faith and Government as our Saviours Body though consisting of many Members is but one knit together by sinewes and quickened with the same Soule Q. The tenth Article A. I beleeve the forgivenesse of sins Q. Why doth this Article follow immediatly after mention of the Church A. Because it is a blessing which God bestowes only in the Church and upon the Members of the Church Q. Is Salvation to be hoped for in the Church only A. It is so by the joynt consent both of the Ancient and Moderne writers Q. What 's the reason A. Because r Eph. 1.22 23. The Church is the Body of Christ As therefore no Member that is seperated from the body receives life by or with the body neither doth any Christian partake of the life of grace or forgivenesse of sinnes that is divided or cut off from the Church which is Christs Body Observe the body receives life from the head and distributes it to all the members that it hath ſ Ib. Col. 1.18 Christ is the head of the Church from him the Church receives life and comfort and conveies them to every particular member that so they may live and discharge their severall duties But divided from the body the members can receive no life or comfort from the head Q. Is this remission of sinnes to be found in all Churches A. Yes without question in all such Churches wherein t Art 19. the pure word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duly ministred according to Christs ordinance but in no other Q. To whom is this forgivenesse promised A. To all those u Absolution that truly repent and unfeignedly beleeve his holy Gospell * S. Mat. 11.28 He calls to all he is mercifull to all he hath given us a tast of his goodnesse in pardoning the greatest and fowlest sinnes Not that we might imitate or practice them but that we might understand that our gracious God is ready to pardon the greatest sinner if so he turne unto the Lord humbly with unfeigned sorrow and repentance and bring forth fruits worthy of amendment of life Q. May the sinne against the holy Ghost be pardoned A. This sinne is raised to the full height it is made up by finall impenitence Take away finall impenitence and the sinne is pardonable x S. Mat. 4.17 Repent saith the Scripture and the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand but y S. Luc. 13.3.5 unlesse you repent ye shall all perish Q. This is comfortable doctrine but what reason have you for it A. My faith rests upon Gods goodnesse and gracious promises z De remissione peccatorū sufficere deberet sota credulitas Quis enim cansas aut rationem re quirat ubi indulgentia principalis est Rufin in Symb. n. 171. When God hath spoke the word reason must submit Q. Which is the eleventh Article A. J beleeve the Resurrection of the body namely that this very body in which I live and move shall be raised out of the dust in the last day Q. What this very body A. Certainly this selfe same body For doth not Job say a Job 19.26 27. I shall see God in my flesh and not with other but with THESE EYES shall I behold him And S. Paul THIS CORRVPTIBLE shall put on incorruption and THIS MORTALL b 1. Cor. 15.53 shall put on immortality This and no other c Rufin in Symb. n. 182. In the Church of Aquileia therefore at the rehearsall of the Creed every man when he came to this Article signed his forhead with the signe of the Crosse and said I beleive the Resurrection of THIS FLESH this very flesh that he touched with his finger Q. Js not this a wonderfull thing A. It is so and so are the rest of the Articles if strictly scanned all above the eye of Reason d 1. Cor. 15.36 c. S. Paul gives us a simily of a grain of Wheat how it is buried and dies and rots and then riseth again far more fresh then it was cast into the earth Were this but rarely seen it would seem most wonderfull Q. What if the body be burned to ashes A. e Clem. ep 1. ad Cor. p. 34 35. S. Clement f Phil. 4.3 of whom S. Paul makes mention Phil. 4.3 in that Epistle which in the primitive times was usually read in all Churches to prevent this question gives us the example of the Phenix which every 500 yeares is burnt to Ashes and out of those Asnes ariseth the same Phenix againe young fresh and vigorous Q. Have we no such example in Scripture A. We have Ezek. 37.1 where the dead dry scatter'd bones come together bone