The Key of Knowledge, Catechism 1 – Title page 2
THE FIRST Forme of Doctrine, or the Childs Catechisme.
TImothy.
Quest. 1Unto what heads may Christian Religion be brought.
Lois and Eunice.
Answer.Unto 3. 1. the sence and acknowledgement of our miserable estate by nature. 2. A sight of the meanes of our deliverance from such a miserable estate. 3. Due gratitude, and thankefulnesse for that deliverance.
Timothy.
Que. 2.How doth this miserable condition of ours appeare?
Lois and Eunice.
Answ.It easily appeares by considering 1. the estate from whence wee are fallen, even from the Image of God, consisting in soundnesse of judgement, cleerenesse of understanding, sanctity of will, integritie of Conscience, beauty and strength of body, majesty and empire over the creatures, immortalitie, and the like: and secondly, the condition to which we are fallen, to wit, sinnefullnesse and miserie, or doing things unworthy, and suffering things worthy of our doings
Timothy.
Quest. 3.They that are sicke need the Physitian, saith our Saviour, Math. 9. 12. who then is this blessed Physitian?
Lois and Eunice.
Ans.Even Jesus Christ, who to this end is by nature both God and man in one person, and by office, is 1. our Prophet, 2. Priest, and 3. King.
Timothy.
Que. 4.Why is it necessary he should have both a divine and humane nature united in one person?
Lois and Eunice.
Answ.He must needs bee man, because divine equitie requireth that the same nature that sinned should suffer, Ezech. 18. 4. and he must needs bee God, to give an infinite value to his satisfaction, proportionable both to the infinite majesty offended, and the infinite sinnes and sinners offending. As also hee must be Man that he might die, and God, that he might overcome death.
Timothy.
Que. 5.Why is it necessary that hee should also have these three offices, propheticall, sacerdotall, and regall?
Lois and Eunice.
Answ.It is necessary hee should bee 1. a Prophet, to illuminate us, and leade us into all truth; 2. a Priest to make satisfaction for our sinnes and to intercede for us to the father; 3. a King, both to protect us, against our enemies, and to governe us by his spirit and word.
Timothy.
Quest. 6Is this then sufficient to repaire our miserable condition, and to reestate us in that primitive happinesse, from whence wee are fallen?
Lois and Eunice.
Answ.It is indeed sufficient in it selfe, but not effectuall to any one, who for their part doth not performe those two grand commands of the Gospell, to repent and believe.
Timothy.
Que. 7.Where is the summe of the gospell best comprised?
Lois and Eunice.
Answ.In that auncient and Apostolicall Creed, which begins, I believe in God the Father, &c. which Creed is the Key of faith, and Epitome of all things to be beleeved unto salvation, and which all Christians, as the badge of their profession ought 1. to learne and get by heart, 2. often to repeat and professe to their comfort and establishment, 3. to give assent and credit to every Article one by one, and lastly to apply each Article particularly to their owne soules: for all these foure severall acts of Faith are implied in the word I believe.
Timothy.
Qu. 8.I pray you, if that be so auncient, so perfect, and so excellent an abridgement of the faith, give it me not in the lumpe, but breake unto mee that bread of life into the severall pieces thereof.
Lois and Eunice.
Answ.It consists of 12. short Articles: the 1. concernes God the Father; the 2. the name, nature, office, and person of Christ; the 3, 4, and 5. the seven degrees of his Humiliation for our sinnes; the 6, 7, and 8, the foure degrees of his Exaliation for our righteousnesse; the 9. concernes the holy Ghost; the 10, 11, and 12. concerne the Church of God, both in the properties and priviledges of it
Timothy.
Que. 9.Being thus restored, what owe we to God for so great a benefit?
Lois and Eunice.
Answ.Thankefullnesse, which consists especially in three things, first in conforming our life according to the ten Commandements of God; secondly, in calling upon his name, according to the substance of the Lords prayer; lastly in receiving and participating the Sacraments, after a prepared and devout manner.
Timothy.
Que. 10.I pray you also breake open unto mee those ten holy lawes, that I may better know how to keepe them.
Lois and Eunice.
Answ.God himselfe hath divided them into two tables, subdivided them into ten words, contracted them into one monosyllable, Love; the first enjoynes mee whom to worship; the second prescribes the inward manner of his worship; the third the outward; the fourth the solemne time; the fifth enjoynes my duty towards my inferiours, superiours, and equalls; the sixt to my neighboursperson; the seventh to his chastity; the eighth, to his estate; the ninth, to his good name; the tenth and last commands me to resist the first risings, and thoughts of sin, though even without consent of will.
Timothy.
Que. 11But because I am not able to keepe these things of my selfe, and that prayer is the best meanes to fetch grace and helpe from heaven, and that the Lords prayer is a perfect patterne of prayer, therefore I pray you briefely unfold that forme of prayer unto mee.
Lois and Eunice.
Answ.It consists of foure distinct parts: the first is the Preface, or preparation unto the praier [Our father, which art in Heaven] the second is the sixe Petitions, whereof the three first concerne Gods glory, and the three latter our owne bodily and ghostly necessities; the third is a thankesgiving, or certaine forme of praising God [for thine is the kingdome, power, and glory, for ever and ever] the fourth is the close and scale [Amen]
Timothy.
Que. 12But seeing wee faile in all the former, so as our Faith is weake, our Obedience is imperfect, and our praiers cold, what seales hath God given to confirme and strengthen us?
Lois and Eunice.
Answ.The two Sacraments, of baptisme and the Lords supper, which through outward and visible signes doc both 1. signifie, and 2. conveigh unto us most excellent inward, and spirituall graces.
FINIS.
A BRIEFE, METHODICALL, plaine, and full forme of doctrine, reduced unto xxxi Questions and Answeres: so as by learning one onelyonly Question and it's Answer every day, the Christian Scholler shall within the space of one MonethMonth bee well principled in Religion.
The Collocutors are
Paul, the Questionist, and Gamaliel, the Resolutor,
Acts. 22. 3,
1. Iohn 2. 13. I write unto you Young men.