P. To sanctifie me daily by killing sin in me and by quickening me to newnes of life M. What is the Catholike Church P. All of all nations which haue doe shall thus beléeue in Iesus Christ for saluation M. What is the coÌ„munion of Saints P. That all these in what parte of the â—arth so euer they liue are gathered inâ—o the fellowship of Christe and are parâ—akers in commune of all his benefites where by they are made Saints M. What is the remission of sinnes P. That all their sinnes are so fully â—unished in Christe that they are freeâ—y forgiuen remitted to them for euer M. And what is the resurrection of the body and life euerlasting P. That all their bodyes shall be raised vp againe at the last day and be ioyned to their soules to liue with Iesus Christ for euer in true glory M. What doeth the beléefe of all these thinges profite you P. I beléeue that nowe being called from ignorance to this faith and assuraÌ„ce in Iesus Christ with them I do and shal enioy all these benefites also with them for euer M. Thus you haue gone briefly thorough the Law the doctrine of Faith what is next the true vnderstanding wherof belongeth to a true Christian P. The Sacraments M. What is a Sacrament P. An outwarde signe and sure seale to strengthen my faith in Christ and al his benefites by my outwarde senses and a badge of my profession before men M. Howe many are there in Christ his Church to this vse P. Two. M. Which are they P Baptisme and the Lordes supper M. What is the outwarde signe sure seale of Baptisme P. Water M. Howe doth it strengthen your faith in Christ and all his benefites by your senses P. That â–ª as I sée and knowe water wherewith I haue bene baptized doeth washe and make cleane thinges that are foule so as certainly Christe doeth giue himself to me that his blood may alwais wash and cleanse me from al my sinnes M. And what is the outwarde signe sure seale of the Lordes supper P. Bread and wine M. And howe do they strengthen your faith in Christ by your senses P. That as I know bread and wine to be a full perfecte nourishment of my â—â—die and as I sée the same giuen vnto â—e in the communion by the Minister â—nd I take and eate and drinke the same â—o as certainely Christ giueth to me his â—ody and bloud to be the full and perfect â—oode of my soule to eternall life M. From whence haue they this force â—o seale and confirme the trueth of these â—hinges in your heart P. From the institution of Christ who â—s trueth it selfe and can not deceiue M. By what meanes is this brought â—o passe seeing Christes body is now in â—eauen and there must continue till his â—omming againe P. By the secrete power of the holy Ghost which by faith maketh mee one with Christ and Christ with me M. Séeing Christe which you haue â—aide before cannot deceiue offereth himself and al his benefits thus certainâ—y by them Are al that come vnto them partakers of the same P. No for the vnfaithfull ignorante and vnrepentant by their vnworthynesse depriue themselues of them and receiue onely the outward signes to their owne condemnation M. What else remaineth to be vnderstoode and vsed of a true Christian P. Prayer M. What is the vse of prayer vnto you P. Séeing God is now become my father through Christ his sonne I â—â—e and haue recourse to him by the same for all thinges néedefull both for my body and soule M. Howe ought we to pray P. Euen as our Lorde Iesus Christe himselfe hath taught vs. M. Reherse the same as you haue learned it P. Our father which art in heauen c. M. May we pray with no other words then these P. Yes but this is the rule wherby al our prayers must be squared if we shall pray aright obtein any thing by them M. And doe you pray so ofte as you vse these wordes P. No for if I do not vnderstand what thinges I pray for and desire earnestlie in my hart whatsoeuer I aske with my tongue I babble rather then pray M. What things doth this rule of praier chiefly conteine P. First I learne by it how to bee prepared to prayer secondly what thinges to pray for M. In which wordes learne ye how to be prepared to prayer P. In these Our father which art in heauen M. What learn you by this word Our P. That I ought to be in loue to pray for others as well as for my selfe M. What in this word Father P. That I must pray with this faith and sure trust in his sonne Iesus Christ wrought in my heart by the holy Ghost whereby onely I and all the faithfull haue this â—olâ—nesse to call him father M. What in these Which art in heaueÌ„ P. That he is ready and able to performe whatsoeuer I aske And that my mind must be remoued from all earthly and wandring thoughtes and present it selfe before him in heauen M. What followeth next P. The petitions for the thinges conteyned in the same M. How many are they P. Sixe M. What thinges are they for P. Thrée for those things which chiefly concerne Gods glorie And thrée for all thinges néedfull for our selues M. Shew them bréefly which concern Gods glorie P. The first that his name may be reuerenced feared and by all meanes glorified amongst vs The second that hee may raigne daily more and more in our hearts by his word and spirit and in his good time finish and make perfect the same his kingdome by his last comming The third that we may yéeld our selues wholy to his will in all thinges and striue to go forward in the same til we méet in perfect obedieÌ„ce with his angels in heauen M. And what thinges are the other thrée for which concerne our selues P. The first Giue vs this day our daily bread for all thinges for our bodies in this life M. What are they P. Sufficient foode rayment health other prosperity according to his will and as he knoweth to be best for vs And that he would blesse all thinges that we vse take in hande for the maintenance of our life M. What thinges aske you in the other two P. All thinges néedefull for our soules â—or the life to come M. What are they P. First that our fayth may increase and grow more more in Iesus Christ â—hat we may alwayes féele in our conâ—iences the remission and frée forgiueâ—esse of our sinnes M. Why doth Christ adde As we forgiue them their trespasses P. Because we shoulde neuer presume â—o aske forgiuenes of God except we can â—réely forgiue others whiche haue anie â—ay offended vs. M. What is the
¶ AN EASIE ENTRANCE INTO the principall points of Christian Reâ—â—â—â—… verie short and plaine for the 〈◊〉 â—â—â—te and may soone be lea 〈…〉 if they haue any care 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—…ght to haue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—…uuation â–ª By I. G. Hebr. 5. 12. When as concerning the time ye ought to bee teachers yet haue ye neede againe that we teach you what are the first principles of the word of God â–ª and are become such as haue neede of milke and not of strong meate Iohn 3. 12. If when I tell you earthly thinges ye beleeue not how should ye beleeue if I shall tell you of heauenly thinges ¶ IMPRINTED AT London for William Norton 1579. To the Reader I HAVE endeuoured gentle Reader to set downe the principall pointes of Christian Religion in as plaine sorte as I coulde possible for their sakes especially whose capacities are small and memories vnable to coÌ„taine much If I haue attained that whiche I attempted that is to say their profite I haue my desire If otherwise â–ª then although my worke deserue noâ— prayse which if it did were due onely to God yet my will desireth pardon whiche I doe not doubt to obteine at thy handes seeing I seeke nothing but thy aduauntage The excuses that are dayly made for ignorance while one layeth the fault in his want of time an other in his simplicitie and want of capacitie and others in want of memorie c. did much moue me to trie what I coulde doe to doe them good although I am not ignorant that others also haue gone about the same But such is the dulnesse of our dayes and so hard is it to be both short and yet playne in so great matters that it is well if eyther their or my labour or all that we all can doe may bring men forwarde in the faith If wee misse this yet because wee meane it he that is not vncharitably suspicious will not thinke the labour superfluous If this come to the hands of such as are already past such A. B. Cees â–ª let it not offend them that children are ledde though they beeing men can goe alone And let them leaue this eyther to children in yeares or in knowledge whiche must of necessitie be trained vp in this or such short and plaine sorte if they will profit as I pray God they may and wee all euerie day increase in knowledge and growe in the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ who euer preserue you to whome be prayse in the Church through all generations for euer * ⎠* AMEN The Lawe Minister Parishioner WHat Religion doe you professe P The Religion of a true Christian M. Wherein consisteth chiefly the Religion of a true Christian P. In the true vnderstanding and profitable vse of the ten commaundements the Articles of faith the Sacramentes and prayer M. Rehearse first the ten coÌ„mandemeÌ„ts P. The same which God spake c. M. What doeth God chiefly require in these commaundements P. That I should loue him with all my heart with al my soule and with all my strength and that I shoulde loue my neighbour as my selfe M. Howe is God loued P. By obeying perfectly those commandementes which teach our dutie towards him M How many are they P. Foure in the first table M. What dutie teacheth the first â–ª P. That I should alwayes worshippe feare and loue this true and liuing God aboue all things trust in him only pray and giue thankes to him alone And neuer by these meanes to worship or serue any creature in his presence M. The second Exod. 20. 4. 5. 6. P. That I should not imagine him to be like any thing that I sée or knowe in the whole worlde nor worship him in or vnder anye image or likenesse of anye thing but in spirite and trueth as hée hath commaunded M. The thirde Exod. 20. 7. P. That I should not abuse his name any kinde of way much lesse by false or vaine othes but beeing lawfully called to an othe then to sweare truely by him onely and at no time by any creature and to vse his name alwayes to his honour and glory M. The fourth Exod. 20. 8. 9. 10. 11. P. That I and all mine cease from al bodilie labour and wéekely trauayle and come to Church to heare the worde of God and receiue the Sacramentes and pray together with the whole Congregation and that my familie and all my cattell may by the same reste bée refreshed M. And howe shall we loue our neighbour P. By kéeping perfectly those commaundementes which conteyne our duâ—ie to him M. Which are they P. The other sixe in the second table M. What meaneth the fift beeing the first of the same P. That I shoulde loue reuerence obey and helpe my natural parentes and all my superiours and gouernours of the Church and common wealth and at no time resiste or dispise their authoritie M. The sixt Thou shalt do no murther P That I shoulde not kill nor hate in my hearte nor reuyle any with my tongue but helpe saue and kéepe their liues as much as I am able M. The seuenth Thou shalt not commit adulterie P. That I should not commit the déede in bodie nor lust after it with any in my heart but vse all meanes to kéep and declare my selfe sober and chast M. The eight Thou shalt not steale P. That I should not take away the goods of any other by deceite or violence nor in my heart desire the same but restore to euery man his to giue to them which néede to be content with mine owne M. The ninth Thou shalt beare no false witnesse against thy neighbour Exodus 20. 15. P. That I should not hurt any with my tongue by false witnesse backbitings slaunders or flattering nor without cause suspect euill of any but vse my tongue to further and profite them in whatsoeuer I am able M. The tenth Thou shalt not couet Exodus 20. 16. P. That there should not be in me any motions or desires to any sinne but that I shoulde be without all sinne and holy in my whole soule and bodie M. Are you able then thus to kéepe these commaundementes P. No verelie M. Where is the faulte P. In my corrupt nature which is enimie to all righteousnes M. Who corrupted your nature P. Adam by his trangression foâ—â—od created it good M. Séeing then we cannot choose but breake them what is the punishment of our sinne and transgression P. The curse of God vpon bodie and soule to euerlasting death M. If we kéepe some will he not beare with vs for the rest P. No but accurseth vs if we continue not in all things in them to do them M. Is he not then mercifull P. Yes but this Lawe is the rule of his iustice and teacheth vs what we are bound to do and not what he will forgiue
M. What is the vse of this knowledge P. To teache me that in my selfe I am always the childe of wrath accursed and condempned to euerlasting death M. Howe then shall we be saued P. By faith Luke 7. 50. Roman 1. 16. and 3. 28. and 10. 9. Galat. 2. 16. Ephes 2. 8. Mar. 10. 16. M. What is faith P. A certeine knowledge and full assurance in the principall pointes of saluation â–ª I called the Gospell M. Which are these chéefe pointes of saluation P. The articles of faith which is the secoond thing in the true vnderstanding and vse whereof consisteth christian religion M. Rehearse them P. I beléeue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth c. M. Wherfore say you I beléeue not we beléeue séeing this doctrine of saluatioÌ„ belongeth to others aswel as to you P. Because my faith doeth apply it to my selfe and maketh it effectuall to saluation to my selfe onely M. Wherefore beléeue you in God P. Because my whole saluation commeth from him alone M. What is God P. A spirituall substance infinite and incomprehensible M. Is there but one God onely to beléeue in P. No but this one God is thrée persons M. Which are they P. The Father the Sonne the holie Ghoste which do together worke whatheuer belongeth to my saluation M. Wherefore beléeue you in God the Father P. Because he hath so loued me that he â—ath giuen his onely begotten sonne to â—aue me M. What profiteth it you that he is â—lmightie P. That being my father his power which nothing can resist shal alwayes watch ouer me M. What signifieth Maker of heauen and earth P. That he will alwayes prouide sufficient foode and rayment for my bodie and the nourishment of my life in this worlde M. From whence haue you this trust that he is your father and that he will do all this for you P. Through my belefe in Iesus Christ his Sonne whome he hath giuen to mée with him will giue mée all things else M. Why is he called Iesus P. Because God hath appointed him onely to saue mée from my sinnes M. And why is he called Christ P. To signifie that he is annoynted 〈◊〉 God to be my only teacher in the meanâ—… of my saluation my onely Priest to reconcile mée to his father my onely spirituall King to gouerne and rule me by his worde and holie Spirite M. What manner of person is Iesus Christ which doth all this for you P. Both God and man. M. Which wordes teach you that he is God P. These His onely sonne our Lord. M. Whose Sonne do you meane he is P. The sonne of God the Father M. Why call ye him his onely sonne séeing men and Angelles are called his sonnes also P. Because he is begotten of his verie substance and is true verie God with his Father M. When was he begotten of his Father P. He hath béene begotten euer euen as the Father hath béene euer without beginning or else he were not God. M. And which wordes teache that was made man P. These which was conceiued by the 〈…〉 lie Ghost borne of the vingin Marie M. Why was he conceiued by the ho 〈…〉 Ghost P. That he might be most holie iust without all sinne M. Why was he borne of the Virgine â—arie P. That he might be a true man like â—nto vs in all things sinne excepted M. Wherefore was he man P. To stande in our roume and to suffer in bodie and soule that curse which 〈…〉 due to our sinnes M. Which wordes teach this P. Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into hell M. What do these former words signifie P. That he was condemned of Pontius Pilat to the accursed death of the crosse which he suffered in bodie M. And what signifieth Descended into hell P. It is added to shewe that he humbled him selfe and went vnder the wrath of God euen in the same cursâ— death which he suffered in body Aâ— that he felt the anguishe and horrour â— the same wrath of God in his soule which caused him to sweat droppes of bloud and to cry my God my God why haâ— thou forsaken me M. This curse and wrath of God theâ— you meane is the hell that he was in before he died and that he was in it botâ— in body and soule P Yea verily for the scripture teachetâ— no other suffering in any other place foâ— our deliuerance from the same M. And howe doth this profit you P. Because I beléeue that this whichâ— he thus suffered in his bodie and soule was for my sinnes so that he hath redéemed me from the same for euer M. You said before that he is God also did this his Godhead suffer any thing P. No For God cannot suffer M. Wherefore then was he God P. That he might ouercome death and get the victorie which beeing man onely he coulde not haue done M. Which words contein this victory P. These following The third day he rose againe c. M. Did the same body rise againe P. Yea and is ascended into heauen â—nd is there God and man in the glorie â—f his father M. Did he ascende by and by after hée â—…ose againe P. No but walked fourtie days on the â—arth and shewed him selfe to his disciples to confirme them in the truth of his resurrection M. What doeth this profite you P. I beléeue that he now hath giuen to â—…ne his holinesse of nature the righteousnesse of his whole life to sanctifie and â—ustifie me alwayes before God. M. What meaneth his sitting at the râ—ight hand of God the father almightie P. That his father hath giuen him all power in heauen and earth to gouerne and defend his Church to confound all the enimies of the same M. What else doth he now in heauen for vs P. He maketh continual intercession to his father so that I beléeue whatsoeuer I ask in his name I shal surely receiue M. what remayneth to be done of him P. From thence shall he come to iudgâ— the quicke and the dead M. Who are they P. All that are departed this life beforâ— his comming and all which shall be herâ— aliue at his comming M. What is your coÌ„fidence in that day whereof we ought to haue chief regard P. That by this faith in him I shall stand blamelesse and that he wll giue me the inheritance of the kingdome of heauen which he hath purchased for me M. Why beléeue you in the holie Ghost P. Because he doth worke this faith assurance of this my saluation by Christ in my heart M. Howe shall it bee knowne that he hath wrought this faith in your heart P. By his inseparable worke of regeneration or newe birth in my nature M. What is that