The Common Catechism with Commentary, Catechism
The Common Catechiſme.
The firſt Queſtion.
Q. WHat is your name?
A. N. or M.
Q. How many names hauehave you?
A. Two, a Chriſtian and ſurname.
Q. What may they put you in minde of?
A. Of a twofold parentage, naturall and ſpirituall.
Q. Who are your naturall Parents?
A. My Father and my Mother.
Q. Who are your ſpirituall Parents?
A. God and his Church.
Q. Which of theſe two names are demanded of you?
A. My Chriſtian name.
Q. And why ſo?
A. That by this name I may be put in remembrance of my Baptiſme.
The ſecond Queſtion.
Q. WHo gaue you this name?
A. My God-fathers and God-mothers.
Q. When was that?
A. In my Baptiſme.
Q. What were you made in it?
A. A member of Chriſt.
Q. What hath a member relation vntounto?
A. To a body.
Q. How many bodies hath he?
A. Two: a naturall, as we hauehave, & a myſticall.Eph. 5. Col. 1.
Q. Of which are you a member?
A. Of his myſticall body.
Q. What body is that?
A. His Church.
Q. What is he to his Church?
A. He onelyonly is the head thereof.
Q. What doth he then vntounto it?
A. Hee giueth it ſpirituall life, motion and direction as a head doth to the body.
Q. What muſt you feele in you, to be ſure that you are a true member of Chriſt?
A. That I doe liue by him to God, am moued by his ſpirit, and directed by his word.
Q. Being thus a member of Chriſt, what doth this make you to be?
A. The Child of God.
Q How commeth this to paſſe?
A. By the grace of adoption,
Q. And being thus Gods Childe, what then are you?
A. I am made an Inheritour,
Q. Of what?
A. Of the Kingdome of heauen.
Q. To hauehave then the hope of heauen, what muſt you firſt be?
A. I … to be ſure of heauen be the member of Chriſt, and the true Childe of God elſe ſhall I not inherit that Kingdome.
The third Queſtion.
WHat did your God-fathers and God-mothers then for you?
A. They did promiſe.
Q. What kinde of promiſe was it?
A. A vow vntounto God.
Q. How many things did they promiſe and vow?
A. Three things.
Q. In whoſe name?
A. In my name.
Q. Which is the firſt of theſe three?
A. That I ſhould forſake all the Enemies of my ſaluation.
Q. Which be they?
A. Theſe thrée, the Deuill, the World, and the Fleſh,
Q. Why is the Deuill named firſt?
A. Becauſe hée was the firſt authour of all ſinne and euill.
Q. When doe you forſake him?
A. When I forſake all his workes.
Q. Why is the World put in the ſecond place betweene the Deuill and the Fleſh?
A. Becauſe the Deuill doth vſe it commonly as a meanes to intice the fleſh to ſinne.
Q. What meane you by the World?
A. The pomps and vanities thereof.
Q. What make theſe this World to be?
A. A wicked worid.
Q. When doe you know, when you forſake the World?
A. When I doe forſake all the pompes and vanities thereof, and not before.
Q. Why is the fleſh named in the laſt place?
A. Becauſe it is within vsus, and leaueth vsus not vtterly till the end.
Q What meane you by the fleſh?
A. The luſts thereof.
Q. What luſt?
A. All the ſinfull luſts of it.
Q. When doe you then know, that you forſake the fleſh?
A. When I doe forſake all the ſinfull luſts therof.
Q. Why did your ſureties promiſes for you, that you ſhould forſake them, when you weare but newly borne?
A. Becauſe from the wombe wée are Captiues to Satan, ſlaues to the world, and ſeruants to the fleſh.
Q. When can we then forſake them?
A. Neuer, except we be borne a new of water and the holy Ghoſt.
Q. What is the ſecond thing, which they promiſed and vowed for you?
A. That I ſhould beleeue.
Q. What?
A. All the Articles.
Q. What Articles meane you?
A. The Articles of my chriſtian faith.
Q. What is the third thing they promiſed and vowed for your?
A. That I ſhould keepe God holy will.
Q. When keepe you this his will?
A. When I keepe his commandements.1 King 34 &. …. &. 8. 58. Luke 1. Deut. 5
Q. And when keepe you them?
A. When I walke in the ſame.
Q. How long muſt you do ſo?
A. All the dayes of my life.
The forth Queſtion.
Q. DOe you thinke that you are bound to beleeue, and to doe, as they hauehave promiſed for you?
A. Yes verily.
Q. But by whoſe helpe?
A. By Gods helpe.
Q. You muſt then doe it.
A. And ſo I will.
Q. With what minde towards God?
A. As heartily thanking our heauenly Father.
Q. For what?
A. That he hath called me.
Q. To what?
A. To the ſtate of ſaluation.
Q. Through whom?
A. Through Ieſus Chriſt.
What is he to vsus herein?
A. Our Sauiour.
Q. Now being in this ſo happy eſtate, what is your daily exerciſe?
A. I pray vntounto God.
Q. For what?
A. To giuegive me his grace.
Q. What to doe?
A. That I may continue.
Q. In what?
A. In the ſame ſtate.
Q. How long?
A. Ʋnto my liues end.
Of the Creede.
Q. CAn you rehearſe the Articles of your Beliefe?
A. Yes, I beléeue in God the Father Almighty, maker of heauen and earth, &c.
Q. What make you confeſſion of in this Creede.
A. That I doe beleeue.
Q. In whom?
A. In God.
Q. What is he?
A. The Father.
Q. What is his attribute?
A. Almigihty.
Q. Why call you him ſo?
A. For that he is the maker of heauen & earth▪
Q. In whom elſe beleeue you?
A. And in Ieſus Chriſt.
Q. What is he to God the Father?
A. His only Sonne,
Q. And what to vsus?
A. Our Lord.
Q. How came he to be ſo?
A. He was conceiued.
Q. By whom?
A. By the holy Ghoſt.
Q. After conception what followed?
A. He was borne.
Q. Of whom?
A. Of the virgin Marie?
Q. What was his entertainement in the world?
A. He ſuffered.
Q. VnderUnder whom?
A. Ʋnder Poncious Pilate.
Q. What kinde of death was he put vntounto?
A. He was crucified.
Q. Being on the Croſſe, did hee deliuer himſelfe?
A. No: he dyed.
Q. What was then done with him?
A. He was buried.
Q. And what beleeue you concerning him, when his body was laid in the graue?
A. That he deſcended into Hell.
Q. Being in the graue did he lye there ſtill?
A. No: he roſe againe.
Q. When?
A. The third day.
Q. From whence?
A. From the dead.
Q. What become of him after his reſurrection?
A. He aſcended.
Q. Whither?
A. Into heauen.
Q. What doth he there?
A. There he ſitteth.
Q. Where?
A. At the right hand of God.
Q. who is that?
A. The Father Almighty.
Q. Shall he abide there for euer?
A. No: from thence he ſhall come.
Q. What to doe?
A. To iudge.
Q. Whom?
A. The quicke and the dead.
Q. In whom elſe doe you beleeue?
A. I beleeue in the holy Ghoſt.
Q And what moreouer beleeue you?
A. I beleeue that God hath a Church.
Q. What a Church is this?
A. Holy and Catholike.
Q. What call you the fellowſhipe therein?
A. Communion.
Q. Of what ſorts of perſons?
A. Of Saints.
Q. What are the ſpeciall prerogatiues to this Church, which no ſociety elſe partakes of, and which is the firſt of them?
A. The forgiueneſſe of ſinnes.
Q. Which is the ſecond?
A. The reſurrection of the body with ioy.
Q. Which is the third?
A. The life euerlaſting.
Q. How teſtifie you your aſſurance of theſe things?
A. I ſay Amen.
Q. What doe you chiefly learne in theſe Articles of your beleife?
A. I learne thrée things.
Q. Which is the firſt?
A. Firſt, I learne to beleeue in God the Father.
Q. What he hath done for you?
A. He hath made me.
Q. And whom elſe?
A. And all the world.
Q. Which is the ſecond thing?
A. Secondly, I beleeue in God the Sonne.
Q. And what hath he done for you?
A. Hee hath redeemed me.
Q. And whom too?
A. And all mankind.
Q. Which is the third thing?
A. Thirdly, in God the holy Ghoſt.
Q. What doth he for you?
A. He doth ſanctifie me.
Q. And whom beſides?
A. All the elect people of God.
Of the ten Commandements.
Q. YOu ſaid that your God-fathers and God-mothers did promiſe for you, that you ſhould keepe Gods Commandements, tell me how many there be?
A. Tenne.
Q. Which be they?
A. The ſame which God ſpake, &c.
Q. Are not theſe Commandements of man deuiſing?
A. No: they be the ſame which God ſpake.
Q. How proue you this?
A. In the twentieth chapter of Exodus.
Q. What ſaith God there?
A. I am the Lord thy God.
Q. Whom ſpake he vntounto
A. VntoUnto all Iſraell.
Q. What had hee done for them, that hee calleth himſelfe their God?
A. He brought them out of the Land of Aegypt.
Q. What was the Land vntounto them?
A. A houſe of bondage.
Q. Which is the firſt Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt hauehave no other Gods but me.
Q. What is heare then forbidden?
A. To hauehave any other Gods.
Q. What is on the contrary commanded?
A. To hauehave the God of Iſrael onelyonly for our God.
Q. Which is the ſecond Commandement?
A. Thou ſhall not make to thy ſelfe any grauen Image, nor the likeneſſe of any thing, &c.
Q. What doth this forbid?
A. To make to my ſelfe any grauen Image of God.
Q. Is nothing elſe forbiden?
A. Yes: the likeneſſe of any thing?
Q. May you no where fetch a ſimilitude to repreſent God?
A. No: not in heauen aboue, nor in the earth beneath, nor in the water vnderunder the earth.
Q. But what if any doe make ſuch grauen Image and likeneſſe?
A. We may not bow downe to them, nor worſhip them.
Q. What reaſon is alledged?
A. For I am the Lord thy God.
Q. What a one is he?
A. A iealous God.
Q. What will his iealouſie make him to doe?
A. To viſite.
Q. What will he viſite?
A. Sinnes.
Q. Whoſe ſinnes?
A. The ſinnes of the Fathers.
Q. VponUpon whom?
A. Ʋpon the children.
Q. How farre?
A. To the third and fourth generation.
Q. What reckoning doth God make of theſe will-worſhippers?
A. As of them that hate him.
Q. But what will hee doe to them that deteſt idolatrie and vaine worſhip?
A. He will ſhew them mercy.
Q. How farre will he extend it?
A. Two thouſands.
Q. How doth he account of theſe?
A. As of them that louelove him.
Q. And how is their louelove to be knowne?
A. They keepe his Commandements.
Q. What is one the contrary here commanded?Ioſ. 24. 1…. Ioh. 4. 23.
A. To worſhip God in ſpirit and truth, after his owne will.
Q. Which is the third Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine, &c.
Q What doth this forbid?
A. To take the name of our God in vaine.
Q. How is this?
A. By wicked ſwearing, and lewly liuing.
Q. What reaſon is their giuen to inforce this Commandement?
A. The Lords threatning, not to hold him guiltleſſe, that taken his name in vaine.
Q. What is heare on the contrary commanded?
A. To be carefull to doe and procure to God all due glory in thought, word, and deed.
Q. What is the fourth Commandement?
A. Remember thou keepe holy the Sabbath day.
Q. What is firſt here commanded you?
A. To remember.
Q. What?
A. The Sabbath day.
Q. Wherefore?
A. To keepe it holy.
Q. How many dayes doth God allow vsus before it come?
A. Sixe dayes,
Q. What are you to doe in theſe ſixe dayes?
A. I am to labour.
Q. In what?
A. In doing all that I hauehave to doe.
Q. Why are you to labour thus ſixe dayes?
A. For the ſeuenth day is the Sabbath.
Q. Whoſe Sabbath?
A. The Sabbath of the Lord our God.
Q. What is herein forbidden?
A. To doe in it any manner of worke
Q. Who particularly by name are here ſpoken vntounto?
A. Thou, thy ſonne, and thy daughter, thy manſeruant, and thy maide ſeruant,
Q. And what elſe is forbidden labour?
A. Thy Cattell.
Q. And who beſides?
A. And the ſtranger.
Q. What ſtranger meane you?
A. Which is within thy gates.
Q. What reaſon is giuen, for all this in the Commandement?
A. The Lords owne example.
Q. How many dayes wrought he?
A. Sixe dayes.
Q. What did he in thoſe ſixe dayes?
A. He made the heauen, earth, and Sea.
Q. And what elſe?
A. And all that in them is.
Q. What did hee when the ſeuenth day came?
A. He reſted the ſeuenth day.
Q. What did therefore the Lord vntounto the ſeuenth day.
A. Therefore the Lord bleſſed the ſeuenth day.
Q. What meane you by that?
A. He hallowed it.
Q. Which is the fift commandement▪
A. Honour thy Father and thy Mother, &c.
Q. What doth this command?
A. Honour.
Q. To whom?
A. Father and Mother.
Q. What reaſon is alleaged to mooue herevnto?
A. That thy dayes may be long.
Q. Where?
A. In the Land.
Q. In what Land?
A. Which the Lord thy God giueth thee.
Q. What is here generally commanded?
A. A preſeruation of dignitie.
Q. What is on the contrary forbidden?
A. All indignity.
Q. Which is the ſixt Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt doe no murther.
Q. What is here forbidden?
A. Murther, and all hurt to my owne and Neighbours life.
Q. What on the contrary is here commanded.
A. Innocency.
Q. Which is the ſeuenth Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt not commit adultery.
Q. What is here forbidden?
A. Adultery, and all vncleanneſſe whatſoeuer.
Q. What on the contrary is here commanded?
A. Charitie.
Q. Which is the eight Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt not ſteale.
Q. What is here forbidden?
A. Theſe, and all vniuſt dealing.
Q. What is on the contrary commanded?
A. Equitie.
Q. Which is the ninth Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt not beare falſe witneſſe againſt thy neighbour.
Q. What is here forbidden?
A. Falſe witneſſe bearing, and all vntruths.
Q. Againſt whom?
A. Againſt my neighbour.
Q. What on the contrary is commanded?
A. Veritie.
Q. What is the tenth Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt not couet, &c.
Q. What is here forbidden?
A. To couet.
Q. What are you not to couet?
A. My neighbours houſe.
Q. What elſe?
A. Nor his wife, nor his ſeruant, nor his maide, nor his oxe, nor his aſſe.
Q. What beſides all theſe?
A. Nor any thing that is his.
Q. What on the contrary is here commanded?
A. Integritie of heart, reſting thankefully contented euer with my preſent eſtate.
Q. What doe you chiefly learne by theſe Commandements?
A. I learne two things.
Q. Which is the firſt?
A. My duty towards God.
Q. Which is the ſecond?
A. My duty towards my neighbour.
Q. What is your duty towards God?
A. My duty towards God, is to beleeue in him, to feare him, and to louelove him, &c.
Q. What are theſe words?
A. The ſumme of the firſt Table.
Q. What is here required of you?
A. My dutie.
Q. Towards whom?
A. Towards God.
Q. How many inward graces are required of you to doe your dutie to him?
A. Three.
Q. Which be they?
A. To beleeue in him, to feare him, and to louelove him.
Q. How are youe to louelove God?
A. I muſt louelove him ſincerely, with all my heart, vnderſtandingly with all my minde, affectionately with all my ſoule, and effectually with all my ſtrength.
Q. What will this make you doe?
A. To worſhip him.
Q. In receiuing of his benefits, what requires he of you?
A. To giuegive him thankes.
Q. In all diſtreſſes, what is your dutie?
A. To put my whole truſt in him.
Q. What will this your truſt in diſtreſſe moue you vntounto?
A. To call vponupon him.
Q. What is required generally of you whatſoeuer your eſtate be?
A. To honour his holy name and his Word.
Q. To manifeſt this, what muſt you endeauour?
A. To ſerue him.
Q. In what manner?
A. Truly.
Q. How long?
A. All the dayes of my life.
Q. What is your dutie towards your neighbour?
A. My dutie towards my neighbour is to louelove him as my ſelfe.
Q. What are theſe words?
A. The ſumme of the ſecond Table.
Q. What is here required of you.
A. My dutie.
Q. To whom?
A. Towards my neighbour.
Q. What are you to doe to him?
A. To louelove him.
Q. In what manner?
A. As my owne ſelfe.
Q. What ought to be your generall carriage towards all.
A. To doe to all men, as I would they ſhould doe vntounto me.
Q. Of all mankinde, whom in nature are you firſt to reſpect?
A. My Father and my Mother.
Q. What owe you to them?
A. Three things.
Q. Which be they?
A. LoueLove, honour and ſuccour.
Q. Who are the next you are to hauehave regard of?
A. The King and his Miniſters.
Q. What are you to doe to theſe?
A. To honour and obey them.
Q. How are you to carrie your ſelfe to them that hauehave command ouer you?
A. I muſt ſubmit my ſelfe.
Q. To which of them?
A. To all of them.
Q How many ſorts are there of them?
A. Foure, Gouernours, Teachers, ſpirituall Paſtours, and Maſters.
Q. What muſt be your commendable behauiour in generall to your betters?
A. To order my ſelfe lowly and reuerently to all my betters.
Q. How are you to demeane your ſelfe, that you may liue harmeleſly to all ſorts?
A. To hurt nobody by word nor deed.
Q. What is required of you in your trading with men?
A. To be true and iuſt in all my dealings.
Q. What muſt your carriage be towards your enemies?
A. To beare them no malice nor hatred in my heart.
Q. What are you to keepe your hands from?
A. From picking and ſtealing.
Q. And what your tongue from?
A. From al euil ſpeaking, lying, and, ſlandering
Q. How are you to gouern your whole body?
A. To keep in temperance, ſoberneſſe, and chaſtitie.
Q. How may you attaine to liue contentedly?
A. Not to couet nor deſire other mens goods.
Q. To affect this, what muſt you doe?
A. I muſt learne and labour.
Q. After what manner?
A. Truely.
Q. To what end?
A. To get my liuing.
Q. And what too?
A. To doe my dutie.
Q. Wherein?
A. In ſome ſtate of life.
Q. What ſtate meane you?
A. Euen that, vntounto which it ſhall pleaſe God to call me.
Q. What is the Queſtion before the Lords Prayer?
A My good Child know this, that thou art not able to doe theſe things of thy ſelfe, &c.
Q. To whom doth the Catechiſt ſpeake?
A. To me a child.
Q. What a one accounteth he you to be, that thus can anſwere?
A. A good child.
Q. What would he hauehave you to know?
A. Mine owne inabilitie, that I am not able to doe theſe things of my ſelfe, nor to walke in the commandements of God, and to ſerue him.
Q. Though you cannot of your ſelfe, is there therefore no helpe to make you able?
A. Yes▪ the eſpeciall grace of God.
Q. What muſt you doe to obtaine this?
A. I muſt learne at all times to call for it.
Q. How?
A. By diligent Prayer.
Q. What forme of prayer hauehave you?
A. That which is called the Lords Prayer.
Of the Lords Prayer.
Q. LEt mee heare therefore, can you ſay the Lords Prayer.
A. Our Father which art in heauen, &c.
Q. How many parts are there in it?
A. Three, the Preface, the Petition, and the Concluſion.
Q. Which is the Preface?
A. Our Father which art in heauen.
Q. What doth this teach you?
A. To whom onelyonly I am to pray.
Q. Who is that?
A. God alone.
Q. What call you him?
A. Father.
Q. Whoſe Father is he?
A. Our Father.
Q. Whom conceiue you in this word Our?
A. All ſuch as hauehave the ſpirit of adoption, and are in the Communion of ſaints.
Q. Where is this our Father?
A. In heauen.
Q. How many petitions be there?
A. Sixe.
Q. Which is the firſt Petition?
A. Hallowed be thy name.
Q. What meane you by name?
A. Gods titles, his properties, his word, and workes, by which hée is knowne, andExod. 3. … remembred as by a name, and ſo are a memoriall of him.
Q. What vnderſtand you by hallowed?
A. The ſetting apart of this name from all abuſe, to holy vſes.
Q. What then begge you of God in this Petition?
A. That wee may remember ſo to doe, to thinke, & ſpeake of God of his attributes, word, and works, as hee may receiue honour, glory, and praiſe by vsus.
Q. Why is this petition in the firſt place?
A. Becauſe Gods glory is to be firſt in all our deſires and purpoſes,
Q. Which is the ſecond Petition?
A. Thy Kingdome come…
Q. What meane you by his kingdome?
A. The rule of God in our hearts.
Q How muſt this be?
A. By his word and ſpirit.
Q. What aske you hearein of God?
A. That God would here ſubdue the Deuill, the World, and the fleſh, and graciouſly ſubiect vsus to his will by his word and ſpirit, that we may come to heauen in the end.
Q. Why is this petition ſet after the former?
A. For that this is the meanes to hallow his name.
Q. Which is the third Petition?
A. Thy will bee done in earth as it is in heauen.
Q. What meane you by his will?
A. Gods will reuealed in his written word, the onelyonly rule of life.
Q. What deſire you of God herein?
A. That wée may hauehave grace to leaue our owne wils, and to doe his will.
Q. Where?
A. Here in earth.
Q. But after what manner?
A. Euen as it is in heauen.…. 119. …0. & …. … 3. 5, …. 5. …9.
Q. How is that?
A. Willingly, readily, ioyfully, faithfully, ſincerely and conſtantly.
Q. Why is this petition the next after the other?
A. Becauſe this ſheweth the true effect of the former, that indéed Gods kingdome of grace is come vponupon vsus.
Q. Which is the fourth Petition?
A. GiueGive vsus this day our daily bread.
Q. What meane you by bread?
A. All things neceſſary for vsus in this preſent life.
Q. What begge you of God herein?
A. That God would ſuſtaine our liues here with all temporall neceſſaries.
Q. How aske you for theſe?
A. As Gods owne gift.
Q. For whom aske you theſe?
A. For Ʋs, my ſelfe, and all Gods people.
Q. For what time?
A. For this day.
Q. Whoſe bread aske you?
A. Our owne, gotten by lawfull meanes, through Gods bleſſing in Chriſt.
Q. What manner of bread aske you for?
A. Daily bread, that which is agréeable to nature, and conuenient for our calling and charge.
Q. Why is this next the other Petition?
A. Becauſe ſupply of bodily neceſſaries, ſhould make vsus more chéerefull to doe Gods will.
Q. Which is the fift Petition?
A. And forgiue vsus our treſpaſſes, &c.
Q. What meane you by treſpaſſes?
A. Our ſinns.Luk. 11. 4.
Q And what by forgiueneſſe?
A. The not imputing ſinne vntounto vsus, and fully acquiting vsus through Chriſt, bothPſal. 32. 12 from the guilt and puniſhment.
Q. What then begge you of God in this Petition?
A. That God would in merciemercy pardon and forgiue.
Q. Whom?
A. Ʋs, I and all other his children.
Q. What?
A. Our treſpaſſes.
Q. Why is this Petition next after the other?
A. That wee may not forget in the midſt of temporall bleſſings to ſéeke reconciliation, and to be at peace with God.
Q. Which is the reaſon added to the Petition?
A. As we forgiue them that treſpaſſe againſt vsus
Q. What is your duty, when you aske forgiueneſſe of God?
A. To forgiue.
Q. Who are to forgiue?
A. Wee, I and all, that aske forgiueneſſe … God.
Q. Whom are you to forgiue?
A. Them that treſpaſſe.
Q. Againſt whom?
A. Againſt vsus.
Q. Is your forgiuing like vntounto Gods, and a cauſe thereof?
A. No.
Q. Why is this then added to the Petition?
A. As a ſigne, aſſuring vsus of our forgiueneſſeMat. 6. 14. 15. grounded vponupon Chriſts promiſe.
Q. Which is the ſixt Petition?
A. And leade vsus not into temptation, but delivs from euill.
Q. What meane you by temptation?
A. Iu…icement vntounto ſinne.
Q. What meane you by leading into temptation?
A. To be left of God in the time of triall to my ſelfe, and to the power of the temptation.
Q. What begge you of God in this Petition?
A. Not to be forſaken of him.
Q. When?
A. In the time of temptation and triall.
Q. What would you hauehave him then to doe for vsus?
A. To deliuer vsus.
Q. From what?
A. From the euill of the temptation.
Q. Why is this Petition added to the former?
A. For that wee, which craue the aſſurance of pardon for ſinnes paſt, are alſo to begge aſſiſtance of Gods grace to preuent ſinne to come.
Q. Which is the Concluſion?
A. For thine is the Kingdome, the power, and the glory, for euer.
Q. What containe theſe words?
A. A reaſon of aſſurance in our praying to God, for ſuch things as bee contained in the petitions.Ch. 29. 11. Ch. 20. 6. …b 41. 11. …b. 42. 2. …al. 115. 3. …r. 34. 17. …. …o 23. 13. …ke 1. 37. …r. 19. 26 …hr. 20. 6 …u. 19. 6. …m. 11. 36 …l. 5. 5. …l. 4. 20. …m. 1. 17 …et. 4. 11 …. 13. 15
Q. How many things are here aſcribed to God?
A. Thrée.
Q. Which is the firſt?
A. The Kingdome, his abſolut rule ouer all.
Q. Which is the ſecond?
A. The power, ſo infinite, as he is able to doe what hee pleaſeth, being the Lord God omnipotent.
Q. Which is third?
A. The glory, for to him, prayſe, honour, and thankes are due for all things.
Q. How long are theſe his?
A. For euer.
Q. How are theſe ſaid to be his?
A. Originally, Abſolutely, and Eternally.2 Tim. 4. 1 Reu. 1. 6. Pro. 8. 15 Rom. 13. … Iob. 33. 13 1 Tim. 1. 1… Ier. 11. 5. Num. 5. 2… Deut. 27. … Mat. 28. 2… 1. Cor. 1… 16.
Q. What is the laſt word after the Concluſion?
A. Amen.
Q. Why is this added in the end?
A. To teſtifie my deſire, to hauehave that I aske, ſaying, ſo be it: as alſo to ſhew my faith, that ſo it ſhall be, as I hauehave asked, if God thinke it good.
Q. What deſire you of God in this prayer?
A. I deſire my Lord God our heauenly Father who is the giuer of all goodneſſe, &c.
Q. What are theſe words?
A. A ſhort ſumme of things which I beg of God in prayer.
Q. Who is to pray?
A. My ſelfe as well as others.
Q. What affection are you to pray with?
A. With deſire to hauehave my requeſt.
Q. Whom are you to pray vntounto?
A. To my Lord God.
Q. Who is he?
A. Our heauenly Father.
Q. What moueth you to pray to him?
A. He is the giuer of all goodneſſe.
Q. What chiefly in the firſt place doe you begge of him?
A. To ſend his grace vntounto me.
Q. To whom elſe?
A. And to all people.
Q. Why deſire you this grace for you and them?
A. That we may worſhip him.
Q. When doe we worſhip him?
A. When we ſerue him.
Q. And when ſerue we him?
A. When we obey him.
Q. What elſe pray you for beſides?
A. That he will ſend vsus all things that be needfull.
Q. For what?
A. For our ſoules.
Q. For what next?
A. And for our bodies.
Q. When God ſends you his grace and all theſe neceſſaries, what more neede you to begge of him?
A. That he will be mercifull to vsus.
Q. What meane you ſpecially by this?
A. To forgiue vsus our ſinnes.
Q. And what elſe?
A. That it would pleaſe him to ſaue and defend vsus.
Q. In what?
A. In all dangers.
Q. In what kinde of danger?
A. Ghoſtly and bodyly.
Q. What moreouer pray you for?
A. That he will keepe vsus.
Q. From what?
A. From all ſinne and wickedneſſe.
Q. And from what elſe?
A. And from our Ghoſtly enemies.
Q. What is the laſt danger you deſire to bee kept from?
A. From death.
Q. What kinde of death?
A. Euerlaſting death.
Q. What perſwaſion hauehave you in thus making your requeſt vntounto God?
A. This I truſt he will doe.
Q. VponUpon what ground do you thus truſt?
A. Of his merciemercy and goodneſſe.
Q. By whoſe meanes?
A. Through our Lord.
Q. Who is he?
A. Ieſus Chriſt.
Q. What conclude you hereupon?
A. Therefore I ſay, Amen,
Q. What meane you by Amen?
A. So be it.
Of the Sacraments.
Q. HOw many Sacraments hath Chriſt ordained in his Church?
A. Two generally neceſſarie.
Q. Which be they?
A. Baptiſme and the Supper of the Lord.
Q. What meane you by this word Sacrament?
A. I meane a ſigne.
Q. What kind of ſigne?
A. Outward and viſible.
Q. Of what?
A. Inward and ſpirituall grace,
Q. To whom is it giuen?
A. Giuen vntounto vsus.
Q. By whom was it ordained?
A. Ordained by Chriſt himſelfe.
Q. For what end?
A. Firſt, as a meanes whereby wee receiue the ſame grace,
Q. And why elſe?
A. Secondly, to bee as a pleadge to aſſure vsus thereof.
Q. How many parts be their in a Sacrament?
A. Two.
Q. Which is the firſt?
A. The outwiad viſible ſigne.
Q. Which is the ſecond?
A. The inward ſpirituall grace.
Of Batiſme.
Q. VVHat is the outward viſible ſigne in Baptiſme?
A. Water.
Q. What is done with it?
A. With it the perſon Baptiſed is dipped or ſprinkled.
Q. How is it adminiſtred?
A. In the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghoſt.
Q. What is the inward and ſpirituall grace?
A. The purging of our ſoules by the blood of Chriſt, and ſanctification of the ſpirit.
Q. What is the firſt effect hereof?
A. A death vntounto ſinne.
Q. What is the ſecond?
A. A new birth vntounto righteouſneſſe.
Q. Why ſpeake you thus of a death vntounto ſinne, and a new birth vntounto righteouſneſſe?
A. For that by nature we are borne in ſinne.
Q. What are we in this naturall eſtate?
A. Children of wrath.
Q. And what are wee being thus renewed in Baptiſme?
A. We are hereby made the children of grace.
Q. What is required of perſons baptized?
A. Repentance.
Q. What is the power thereof?
A. That thereby we forſake ſinne.
Q. What is the ſecond?
A. Faith.
Q. What is the efficacy and force thereof?
A That whereby we beleeue.
Q. How muſt you beleeue?
A. Stedfaſtly.
Q. What muſt you beleeue?
A. The promiſes of God.
Q. Made to whom?
A. Made to vsus.
Q. Where?
A. In that Sacrament.
Q. Why then are infants baptiſed when by reaſon of their tender age they cannot performe them?
A. They doe performe them.
Q. By whom?
A. By their ſuerties.
Q. What hauehave they done for them?
A. They promiſed and vowed them both in their names.
Q. Is this enough for thoſe Infants if they liue?
A. No: but when they come to age, themſelues are bound to performe them.
Of the Lords Supper.
Q. WHy was the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ordained?
A. For a remembrance.
Q. What kinde of remembrance.
A. A continuall remembrance.
Q. Of what?
A. Of the ſacrifice of Chriſt.
Q. And of what elſe?
A. And of the benefits which wee receiue thereby.
Q. What is the outward part or ſigne of the Lords ſupper?
A. Bread and Wine.
Q. By what warrant are theſe both to bee receiued?
A. Becauſe the Lord hath commanded them to be receiued.
Q. What is the inward part or thing ſignified?
A. The body and blood of Chriſt.
Q. How are theſe receiued?
A. They are verily and in deede taken and receiued.
Q. Of whom?
A. Of the faithfull.
Q. Where?
A. In the Lords Supper.
Q. What are the benefits whereof wee are made partakers thereby?
A. Of ſtrengthening and refreſhing.
Q Of what?
A. Of our ſoules.
Q. By what?
A. By the body and blood of Chriſt
Q. How is the reſemblance expreſſed?
A. As our bodies are by the bread and wine.
Q. What is required of them which come to the Lords ſupper?
A. To examine themſelues.
Q. Of what?
A. Whether they repent them.
Q. How?
A. Truly.
Q. Of what?
A. Of their former ſinners.
Q. How may their truly repenting appeare?
A. By ſteadfaſtly purpoſing to lead a new life.
Q. What elſe muſt they hauehave with it?
A. They muſt hauehave faith.
Q. What kind of faith.
A. A liuely faith.
Q. In what?
A. In Gods mercy.
Q. Through whom?
A. Through Chriſt.
Q. What more muſt you come with?
A. With a remembrance.
Q. What kinde of remembrance?
A. With a thankefull remembrance,
Q. Of what?
A. Of his death.
Q. And how laſtly muſt you come?
A. In charity.
Q. With whom are you to bee in Charity?
A. With all men.
Q. What if you come vnprepared without theſe?
A. I come vnworthy, I eate and drinke my owne damnation. God may puniſh me, and the Deuill may enter into me, as he did in Iudas, and bring me to deſtruction both of body and ſoule: from which euils the Lord deliuer vsus, for his merciemercy ſake.
Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Bernard, The Common Catechism with Commentary (1630)