Milk for Babes and Meat for Men, Catechism 1
WHat is the end and scope of Catechizing?
To procure & increase knowledge.
What is the originall and fountain of knowledge?
The Scripture, that is: The Bookes of the Old and New Testament.
What is necessary to bee knowne concerning them?
Two things.Wee must beleeve Two things concerning the Word. The first is: That they are the very word of God, or they flow from God, by Divine inspiration, 2. Tim. 3. 16.
What is the second thing?
That they are perfect without defect or errour, every way sufficient of themselves alone, to guide us in all things needfull to salvation, without adding ought to them, or diminishing ought from them. Psal. 19. 7.
What is the subject of knowledge?
God: who must be considered first in his Nature, secondly in his workes.
What is necessary to be knowne in the Nature of God?Concerning the Nature of God. Foure things.
Foure things. First: That there is a God. Secondly: That hee is glorious in nature. Thirdly: That he is three in persons. Fourthly: That hee is one in essence.
How doe you prove there is a God?
Every line in Scripture proves it, and every Creature speakes it, and every conscience in horrour knowes it &c.
How prove you hee is glorious?
As many Scriptures prove it: so it may bee seene in these particulars. 1. he isaIoh. 4. 24 incorporeall. 2.bPsal. 90. 2 eternall. 3.c1. Kings 8. 27 incomprehensible. 4.dIam. 1. 17 immutable. 5.ePs. 115. 3. omnipotent. 6.fPs. 147. 5 omniscient. 7. mostgPsal. 5. 4. holy. 8.hGen. 17. 1 all sufficient. 9. mostiExod. 34. 6. 7 mercifull. 10.k1. Tim. 1. 17. immortall.
How doe you prove hee is three in persons, and one in essence?
Many Scriptures give testimony to the Trinity, as Matth. 28. 19. 1. Ioh. 5. 7. And that there is but one, is cleere, Isa. 44. 6. 8. Mark. 12. 29. 1. Cor. 8. 4.
What are the workes of God?
They bee either of Creation or providence.
What is necessary for you to beleeve concerning the Creation?
These five things. First: That the World had a beginning, and was not eternall. Genes. 1. 1. Secondly. That the World and all things were made by God. Act. 17. 24.
What are the rest?
Thirdly. That all was made of nothing. Rom. 4. 17. Fourthly. That God made all things by his Word only. Genes. 1.
Fiftly. That all things in their Creation were made good. Genes. 2. 1.
What must you know concerning his Providence?
Seven things.
First. Concerning Gods providence.That God still knowes and takes continuall notice of all things. Prov. 15. 3. Secondly.
That God upholds & governs and disposeth of the World,Seven things. so as all things continue through him. Psal. 119. 91.
What are the other?
Thirdly. That this Providence of God reacheth to all things, even the smallest things are governed and upheld by God. Rom. 11. 36.
Fourthly. That of all Creatures God hath most care and respect of Men. Prov. 8. 31.
What are the rest?
Fiftly. That the good or evill, which befalleth Man, is not without Gods Providence. Amos 3. 6.
Sixtly. That hee doth whatsoever pleaseth him in Heaven or in Earth. Psal. 115. 3
Lastly. That Gods dominion is everlasting. Psal. 146. 10.
What must you know, concerning his particular Providence, touching Man?
The things, concerning Man, have respect unto his fourefold Estate. The first. of Innocency, the second of corruption or misery, the third of grace, the fourth of glory.
Concerning mans first estate, what must you know?
Two things.Concerning Mans first Estate. First: God made man after his owne image. Gen. 1. 26. Secondly: This image of God chiefly cōsisted in knowledge,Two things. holines, and righteousnes. Eccl. 7. 29.
What must you know concerning mans second estate of misery?
It must bee considered two wayes. First: In the cause of it. Secondly: in the parts of it.
The cause of it was the fall of our first parents.
In their fall what must you know?
Three things.In the Fall.
What is the first?Three things.
That our parents Adam & Eve fell and lost speedily the happines in which they were created: as appears Gen. 3. 7. And there they did loose God, Paradice, and Gods Image.
What are the other two?
Secondly: This losse befell them only for their owne sinne. Rom. 5. 12. Thirdly: By their sin wee are defiled, and deprived of the glory of God. Rom. 3. 23.
What be the parts of mans misery?
They are two, namely sin, and punishment.
What must you know concerning sin?
These foure things. First: That all men have sinned. Psal. 14. 1. 2. 3. Secondly: That the nature of man is stained from his byrth. Iob 14. 4.
What are the other two?
Thirdly: That this infection hath over-spread the whole nature of man, and tainted it many waies.l1. Extream darknes 2. insensiblenes. 3. Impotency. 4. Enmity to good. 5. Impunity. 6. abundance of false principles. 7. pronenes to all evill. 8. Want of all righteousnes. 9. The members servants of sin. 10. A servile will. 11. a naturall aptnes to be scandalized. 12. a relishing of the things of Satan. 13. corruptiō of memory. 14. A naturall disunion one from another. Fourthly: Besides this, every man is guilty of horrible and vile actuall sins, and that very many.
What must you know concerning the punishment of sin?
That all Men in their naturall Estate are extreamly miserable in respect of the punishmēt to which they are lyable for their sins. Nahum. 1. 2. 3. 6. And the sorts ofm1. The losse of paradice. 2. the curse of the creatures. 3. an impure and painfull birth. 4. the displeasure of God. 5. a privation of the knowledge of God. 6. bondage to Satan. 7. spirituall death. 8. miserable bodyes. 9. judgments in our outward estates. 10. the retayning good things from us. 11. the cursing of blessings. 12. scourging of sin with sin. 13. hellish horrour. 14. scare of death. 15. A miserable departure, 16. A terrible generall judgement. 17. & lastly Hell. punishments are many and grievous, the last, whereof is eternall paine and damnation.
Is this all you are to beleeve concerning sin?
To this must bee added, that the least transgression of the Law, is sin.
Now, for the third estate of man, which is of grace. How must that bee considered?
Three wayes. First. in respect of the meanes of the foundation of it. Secondly. In respect of the subject of the possession of it, which is the Church. Thirdly. In respect of Application.
What is the meanes of Foundation?
Two fold. First. Election in God. Secondly. Redemption in Christ.
What are you to know concerning Election?
These five things.Concerning Election. five things. First. That there was a Choise and Election, made by God. Ephes. 1. 4. Secondly.
That this Choise was before the foundation of the World. Rom. 9. 11. Thirdly. That some Men are chosen, not all Men, for if all were taken, how could there bee Election? Màtth. 20. 16.
What is the fourth?
The cause of our election is the only free grace of God, and not our works. Ephes. 1. 5. And fiftly. Gods Election is unchangeable: all the Elect shall be saved. Rom. 8. 30.
What is the second foundamentall meanes of grace?
Redemptiō in Christ; in whom wee must consider his person, & his office, and in his person, his divine, and humane nature.
What ought you to know concerning his divine nature?
That Iesus Christ was very God, Isai. 9. 6. Ioh. 1. 1. and divers other wayes it may bee proved. And it was needfull hee should bee God. First. For the greatnes of our evill. Secondly. For the greatnes of our good.
What must you know, concerning his humane nature?
Foure things.Concerning Christs humane nature, foure things The first, about the matter, namely, that the Son of of God was incarnate, did assume the true nature of man, and was a very man among us. Ioh. 1. 1.
The other three concerne the manner.
What are they?
First, that he was not conceived as other Men, but by the Holy Ghost. Luke 1. 35.
Secondly. That he was borne of a virgin. Esai. 7. 14.
Thirdly. That his humane nature did subsist in the divine, and so both made but one person. Col. 2. 9.
Having done with his person, how consider you his office?
Either in the whole, or in the parts of it.Concerning the Mediator, five things. The whole office of Christ being this, namely: To bee a Mediator; wherin I must observe five things.
What are they?
First: There is but one Mediator betweene God and man even Iesus Christ. 1. Tim. 2. 5. Secondly: That the cause of our salvation in his mediation is not merit in man but grace in God & Christ*2. Tim, 1. 9.
What are the rest?
Third…y: That this mediation was from the beginning of the world, and shall bee to the end. Heb. 13. 8.
Fourthly. That without the mediation of Christ no flesh can be saved. Act. 4. 12.
Fiftly. By the mediator a new contract or covenant was made with God. Ierem. 31. 33.
How many sorts or parts of Christs offices are there?
Three. Sevē things about Christs Propheticall Office.His Propheticall, Priestly, & Kingly office. Concerning his Propheticall office, these things must bee knowne. First. That in Christ are all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge. Colos. 2. 3.
What else?
Secondly. That it is Christ only that revealed the truth out of the bosom of his Father. Matth. 11. 27.
Thirdly. That Christ himselfe taught doctrine amongst men. Heb. 1. 2. Fourthly. That hee hath revealed the whole counsell of God. Ioh. 15. 15.
What are the rest?
Fiftly. The ministery in the church is by authority frō Christ, Matth. 23. 34.
Sixtly. The whole efficacy of Doctrine, either recorded in Scripture, or taught by men from thence, depends upon Christ. 2. Pet. 1. 20. 21. Lastly. The prophecy of Christ, belongs generally to all Nations. Isai. 49. 6.
What is his Priestly office?
It is that part of his Function, wherby hee maketh Satisfaction unto God for Men.
What is required of Christ as the Priest of his Church?
First. Hee must obey the Law of God perfectly. Secondly. Hee must make expiation for our sins by sacrificing to God. Thirdly. Hee must make intercession for us.
For the first of these, namely his obedience: What must you beleeve?
First. I must beleeve that hee was without sin in his nature.In Christs obedience foure things Ioh. 8. 46. Secondly. Hee fulfilled the Law of God perfectly in all his Actions: hence is hee called the holy one, & the holy Child Iesus. Act. 2. 27.
What more?
Thirdly. That hee fulfild the Law not only for himselfe, but for us, and for our sakes. Rom. 8. 3. 4.
Fourthly. This righteousnes of his is an everlasting righteousnes, and such, as serves for the Elect of all ages, and a righteousnes, that cannot bee lost. Dan. 9. 24.
For his expiation of sin, what must you beleeve?
That it was made by the Passiō of Christ,For the expiation of sins, six things. wherin divers things must bee knowne: as first, that the passion of Christ was by the decree and everlasting fore-appointment of God. Act. 2. 23.
What more?
Secondly. The suffrings of Christ were for our sins & for our sakes, so as hee bare all our iniquities, 1. Pet. 2, 24. Thirdly. That by his passion hee did pacifye God, and make expiation for all our sins. Matth. 17. 5.
Proceede to the rest.
Fourthly. In his owne person hee fullfilled and finished all suffrings, needfull for our salvation hee did it once for all. 1. Pet. 3. 18.
What more?
Fiftly. That the Passion of Christ is a sufficient price for the sins of the whole World, Ioh. 1. 29. Sixtly. that Christ suffred extreme things for us, even the most grievous things could bee imagined, Isai. 63. 1. 2. 7. 8.
What must you know about his Intercession?
First. That Christ at the right hand of God maketh Intercession for us,About his Intercession, foure things. Rom. 8. 34. Secondly. That wee have no Intercessor in Heaven but Christ, 1. Tim. 2. 5. 6.
What more?
Thirdly. The Intercession of Christ is perpetuall, hee doth it once, that hee will never faile to doe it in all ages, Heb. 7. 25. 28.
Fourthly. That hee maketh Intercession only for the Elect, Ioh. 17. 9.
What are you bound to beleeve. concerning his Regall office?
Many things. And first: That hee overcame Sin,Concerning his Regall office, sevē things. Death, the Grave, and Hell, and rose again from the dead, and ascended into Heaven, & sitteth at the right hand of God in Majesty, Rom. 1. 4. Mar. 16. 19.
Proceede to the rest?
Secondly. That Christ, who purchased the Church by his blood, is appointed of God, to bee the King, and P of his Church, & Prince over the People of God, having all power in his owne hands, Psal. 2. 6. Thirdly. Hee is appointed Lawgiver to the Church, & the judge of the whole world, Iam. 4. 12.
What are the rest?
Fourthly. That his governemēt extēds to all nations*Psal. 2. 8. Fiftly. His kingdome is not of this world, but spiritual & celestial†John 18. 36.. Sixtly. He wil be with his to the end of the world‡Matth. 28. 22..
Lastly. His Kingdome is everlasting. Luke 1. 33.
So much of the meanes of Grace. What is the subject of Grace?
The Church, which is the whole multitude of Men and Women, elected to eternall life by God in Christ.
What must you know concerning the Church?
Many things.Concerning the Church seven things. And first, that it is a Company separate from the world, gathered by the voice of Christ: The Scripture still maketh difference betwixt the World and the Church: And the Word signifyes such, as are gathered by the voice of Gods Cryers, Ioh. 17. 9.
Secondly, Shee is one, Ephes. 4. 4.
What more?
Thirdly, Shee is Knit unto Christ, her P by an indissoluble union Col. 1. 18. Shee is one with Christ, not in nature, but in spirit. Ioh. 4. 13
Fourthly, Shee is holy, Ephes. 5. 27.
What are the rest?
Fiftly, Shee is Catholike, first, in respect of time. Secondly, in regard of place. And thirdly, Persons.
Sixtly, Shee is militant, that is, exposed to many evills in this life 2. Tim. 4. 7, 8. Seventhly, Shee is invincible, Matth. 16. 18.
So much for the subject of Grace. What is the Application?
For the calling of us to God in Christ for our justification, adoption, and sanctification.
Concerning Iustification, what must you beleeve?
Many things.In Iustification. Sixe things First, That by mans owne works no Flesh can bee justifyed, Rom. 3. 20. Secondly. The righteousnes, that maketh us just, is in Iesus Christ being made ours by Imputation, 2. Cor. 5. 21.
What more?
Thirdly, That this righteousnes is made ours only by faith, so wee are justified only by Faith, as it layes hold upon the righteousnes of Christ, Rom. 3. 28.
Fourthly. This Faith is the gift of God, Ioh. 6. 29.
Are these all?
No. Fiftly. All men have not Faith, Isai. 53. 1. Sixtly. There is but one Kind of Faith, by which all the Elect of God are justified, Ephes. 4. 5. Lastly. Being justified by Faith, wee have peace with God, and forgivenes of all our sins Rom. 3. 25.
What are you to beleeve about Adoption?
That so many as beleeve have this honor to be called the Sons and Heires of God, for the sealing, wherof, hee giveth the Spirit of Adoption, wherby they cry: Abba Father, 1. Iohn 3. 1.
What must you know and beleeve concerning Sanctification?
First. That whom God justifieth,Sanctification, five things. hee sanctifieth, Rom. 8. 30.
Secondly. To bee truly sanctified, is in unfained repentance to dye to sin and to rise againe to newnes of life and obedience. Rom. 6. 1. 2. 3.
Thirdly. Except wee be borne againe, wee cannot enter into the Kingdome of God, Iohn 3. 5.
What else must you know herein?
Fourthly. That Sanctification is Gods gift, and worke in Iesus Christ, wee can no more convert ourselves, then wee can beget ourselves at first, wee can no more create our-selves new men, then wee can create our-selves men. Acts 5. 31.
Lastly. Our Sanctification is imperfect in this life. 1. Iohn 1. 8.
What are the ordinances of God for procuring and furthering this grace?
Chiefly five. The Word preached. Secondly, The administratiō of Sacraments. Thirdly. Prayer. Fourthly, Discipline. Lastly, Christian Communion.
Now, for the fourth and last estate of man, what must you beleeve.
Wee must consider the three degrees of it, which are the Resurrection of the Body, the last judgment, and the glory of Heaven.
What concerning the Resurrection?
First, That the Bodyes of the dead shall rise out of the earth,Resurrection, three things. and their owne Soules shall enter into them againe, Iob. 19. 23, 26. The Sea, Fier, Beasts, Ayre, Foules, &c. shall give up their dead, Revel. 20. 12, 13.
What else?
Secondly, That the same Bodies, which men carry about with them in this World, shall rise againe, Iob 19. 26, 27. Thirdly, This Resurrection shall bee at the end of the World, even the last day of the World, Ioh. 6. 44.
For the last Iudgment, what must you know?
Many things.About the last judgment, sevē things. First, There shallbe a generall judgment. Iude 14. 15. Secōdly, that Christ shall bee judge, and that in the humane nature, Act. 10. 42. Thirdly, all men shall be then judged, just and unjust, quick and dead, small and great, Rom. 14. 9.
Goe on with the rest.
Fourthly, All the secret things of mens natures and workes shall bee brought to light, Luk. 8. 17. Fiftly, It shall bee at the last day, but the precise day & houre is not knowne to any Men or Angells, Matth. 24. 36.
Is this all?
No. Sixtly. The judgment shall bee most righteous & just, all shall confesse it, Rom. 14. 10. Lastly. The Iudgment shall bee according to mens works. 2. Cor. 5. 10.
Concerning the Glory of Heaven, what ought you to beleeve?
First▪ For the greatnes of it, The glory of heavē.it is unspeakeable, and in respect of us here on earth incomprehensible,Foure things. 1. Cor. 2. 9. The second concerns the continuance of it, & so it is eternal, & therefore is this life called eternall life, and immortality. Mat. 25. 46.
What more?
The third concernes the causes of it. Heaven is the gift of God, & proceeds only frō his free grace, & not frō any merit in us. Luke. 12. 32.
The fourth and last, concerns the persons, that shall injoy it: The Elect of God only obtaine this glory. 1. Cor. 15. 50.