Milk for Babes and Meat for Men, Catechism 2
The hart being Possest with the former Positive Truths, may thus bee established against Gainsayers.
NOw, let me know how you are furnished against the Adversaries: And which are they, that most trouble you?
They are either the Romish Catholikes, or their neere neighbors, the Revived Pelagians.
What Weapon have you to encounter them?
That which Christ used against Satan, their leader and maister, namely: The Scripture.
Can you confute the Papist by the word in all things wee lay to his charge?
Clearly, as shall appeare, if you will take tryall.
How is it manifest that the Pope is Antichrist?
By these Scriptures.
Revel. 13. 18.1. Point. Of Popery confuted.
Revel. 17. 3. 5.
1. Tim. 4. 1. 2. 3.
Matth. 24. 24.
1. Ioh. 2. 18.
2. Thes. 2. 3. 4.
Are the Scriptures sufficient to debate all countroversies and doubts?
Yea. Read and consider these Scriptures.
Psal. 119. 105.
Isai. 8. 19. 20. 21.
Luk. 16. 29. 30.
Act. 10. 43.
2. Tim. 3. 16.
Heb. 4. 12.
How prove you that all sorts ought to know and reade the Scriptures?
By these places.
Deut. 6. 6. 7. 8.
Psal. 1. 2.
Iohn 5. 39.
Acts 17. 11.
Col. 3. 16.
Revel. 1. 3.
Can you prove, the Scriptures easy to bee understood of the simple?
Yea. Read
Deut. 30. 11. 12.
Psal. 119. 130.
Prov. 14. 6.
Ierem. 31. 34.
Matth. 11. 25.
Matth 13. 11.
May wee not bee ignorant of the Scriptures without any danger?
No. As you may perceive by these Texts.
Psal. 95. 10. 11.
Prov. 1. 28. 29. &c.
Isai. 1. 3. 4.
Ier. 4. 22.
Matth. 15. 14.
1. Cor. 15. 34,
Doth the word of God then containe in it, all things necessary for our salvation?
Yea. As you may see
Isai. 8. 20.
Ioh. 20. 31.
Acts 20. 32.
Rom. 1. 16.
Heb. 4. 12.
Iames 1. 21.
May nothing bee added to, nor taken from the word of God?
No. See
Deut. 5. 22.
Ios. 1. 7.
Prov. 30. 5. 6.
Mat. 15. 3.
Gal. 1. 8.
Revel. 22. 18. 19.
So much for the Scriptures. How prove you, that Faith only doth justifie?
From these places.
Gen. 15. 6.
Mark. 5. 36.
Act. 10. 43.
Rom. 3. 25. &c.
Gal. 2. 16. &c.
Ephes. 2. 8.
Have wee then no merits nor righteousnes of our owne?
None. As you may see
Deut. 9. 4, 5.
Iob 9. 30. 31.
Isai. 64. 6.
Rom. 30. 10. 11. &c.
1. Cor. 4. 4. 7.
Ephes. 2. 8. 9.
What is the heynousnes of originall sin?
Great. As these Texts shew.
Genes. 5. 6. 7.
Iob. 14. 4.
Psal. 51. 5.
Prov. 20. 9.
Ioh. 3. 6.
Rom. 5. 12.
Is it not possible for us to fullfill the Law?
No. As you may perceive by
Deut. 27. 16.
Mat. 5. 21. 22.
Acts 15. 10.
Rom. 8. 3.
1. Cor, 2. 14.
Iames 2. 10.
Cannot the Pope or a Priest forgive sins?
No. Only God. See
Psal. 3. 8.
Isai. 43. 25.
Mat. 1. 21.
Acts 14. 14.
Iames 5. 21.
1. Tim. 1. 15.
What say you then to Auricular Confession?
It is utterly without warrant. See
Psal. 32. 5.
1. Kings 8. 47.
Ier. 14. 20.
Dan. 9. 15.
Mat. 15. 18.
1. Ioh. 1. 9.
May wee not pray for the dead?
No. As you may read.
2. Sam. 12. 22. 23.
Psal. 49. 7. 8.
Exod. 20. 7.
Mar. 8. 36. 37.
Luk. 16. 27. 28
1. Thes. 4. 13. 14
What say you of Purgatory, and the Popes pardons?
That they are unwarranted by the Word. See
Isai. 57. 1. 2. 3.
Psal. 51. 7.
Eccles. 9. 5. 6,
Matth. 7. 13. 14.
Ioh. 3. 18.
Revel. 14. 13.
Have wee no Mediator or Intercessor in Heaven but only Christ?
None else. As appeares
Mat. 11. 28.
Mark. 1. 11.
Acts 20. 28.
Rom. 5. 10.
1. Tim. 2. 5.
Heb. 7. 25.
May wee not pray to the Saints departed?
No. As is easy to gather from
Isai. 63. 16.
Ierem. 15. 1.
Ezech. 14. 14.
Matt. 11. 28.
Ioh. 14. 6.
Rom. 10. 14.
May wee not pray in a strange tongue, that wee understand not?
No. See
Act. 2. 1. 2. 3. &c.
1. Cor. 14. 14. 15. &c.
May not Saincts and Angells have Divine Worship?
No. As it is cleere in
Iudg. 13. 15. 16.
Psal. 29. 2.
Isai. 42. 8.
Mat. 4 10.
Act. 10. 25. 26.
1. Cor. 1. 13.
What say you to Transubstantiation? Is not the very Flesh and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament, even the same Body that was crucifyed?
There is no ground to thinke so. See
Mat. 26. 26. 27. &c.
Luk. 22. 15. 16. &c.
Ioh. 6. 33.
1. Cor. 10. 16. 17.
1. Cor. 11. 26.
Ioh. 16. 7.
How doe wee eate the Body and Blood of Christ then?
Only by Faith, as is cleere.
Ioh. 6. 47. 58.
Ioh. 11. 26.
Ioh. 15. 5.
1. Cor. 10. 1, 4. 5.
Ephes. 3. 17.
2. Cor. 5. 7.
Cannot Christs Body bee here by his Allmighty power?
It can bee but in one place at one time, as you may see by these Scriptures.
Mat. 24. 23.
Mark. 16. 19.
Act. 1. 9. 10. 11.
Phil. 3. 20.
Heb. 8. 1.
Heb. 10. 12.
What can you say against their choise of meats?
The Spirit of God saith thus.
Mat. 15. 11.
Act. 10. 13. 14. 15.
1. Cor. 8. 8.
Col. 2. 16. 17. 21.
Tit. 1. 15.
Heb. 13. 9.
What have you against their sett Fastings?
These Scriptures.
Isai. 58. 4. 5. 6.
Mat. 15. 11. 20.
Luk. 18. 11. 12. &c.
Mat. 6. 17, 18.
May wee not warrantably receive and practise the Ceremonies and Traditions of men?
You may bee pleased to consider these Scriptures.
Deut. 5. 32. 33.
Levit. 10. 2.
Isai. 1. 12 13. 14.
Hos. 9. 15.
Mat. 23. 4
Gal. 4. 10.
May Ministers or Bishops marry as lawfully as other men?
The contrary is the Doctrine of Devills. See
1. Cor. 7. 2. 9.
1. Cor. 9. 5.
1. Thes. 4. 3. 4.
1. Tim. 2, 4, 5.
Heb. 13. 4.
1. Tim. 4. 2. 3.
Is not Masse the Sacrifice of the New Testament?
Prayer is, but we have no ground for Masse.
Psal. 4. 5.
Psal. 51. 17. 18. 19.
Mat. 12. 7.
Phil. 4. 18.
Heb. 13. 15. 16.
1. Pet. 2. 5.
WHat Strength have you now against your other Adversaries, the Pelagians or Armi?
Such as the Holy Ghost affords out of the former Treasury.
Then tell mee. Are there some elected, and some reprobated of Gods free Decree?
Yea certainly: Which these Scriptures make manifest.
Exod. 33. 19.1. Point of Arm. confuted.
Psal. 33. 12.
Prov. 16. 4.
Ioh. 12. 39. 40.
Acts 13. 48.
Rom. 9. 11. 23.
Rom. 8. 28.
Ephes. 1. 4. 5. 11.
1. Pet. 1. 1. 2.
Revel. 13. 8.
Can any man bee certaine of his faith and salvation, and ought wee earnestly to looke therunto?
You may consider these Scriptures.
Ioh. 19. 25.
Ioh. 10. 9.
Rom. 8. 1. 17.
1. Pet. 1. 10.
Gal. 4. 5.
Heb. 10. 22. 23.
Iames 5. 8.
Hath not man free will after his fall in spirituall things, and can hee not of him selfe move God-ward?
No. Which may bee proved by these truths.
Genes. 6. 5.
Psal. 14. 3.
Prov. 20. 9.
Ierem. 10. 23.
Ezech. 36. 26. 27.
Mat. 10. 20.
Ioh. 1. 13.
Rom. 7. 14.
1. Cor. 3. 7.
Phil. 2. 13.
Iames 1. 17.
Ephes. 2. 1.
What thinke you of universall Grace, or whether did not Christ dye for all?
Hee did not. These Scriptures well weighed, may satisfye.
Mat. 25. 32.
Ioh. 7. 11. 15. 27. 28.
Ioh. 17. 24.
Ioh. 17. 9. 19. 20. 21.
Rom. 3. 22.
Rom. 8. 3. 4.
Ioh. 1. 12.
2. Cor. 5. 15.
Ephes. 5. 25.
Tit. 2. 14.
Heb. 1. 14.
Heb. 5. 9.
Heb. 10. 14.
When wee have gotten Grace, cannot wee loose it all againe, and fall away finally and totally?
No. These Scriptures are plaine.
Ierem. 31. 33. 34.
Isai. 54. 10.
Isai, 57. 15. &c.
Hos. 2. 18.
Psal. 125.
Rom. 14. 4.
Rom. 11, 7.
Rom. 8. 35. 37. 38
Ephes. 5. 23.
2. Tim. 1. 12.
Ioh. 6. 37.
Ioh. 14. 16.
Luk. 8. 15.
Ioh. 6. 35.
1. Pet. 1. 5.
Mat. 16, 18.
Ioh. 5. 25.
Other points and other proofs might be added, but this swells too big allready.
Passe by literall faults: And give God praise for this lime, & haire, amongst the other rich stuffe for Gods House.
Vive ut discas,
Disce ut vivas.
FINIS.
End of the text · Hugh Peters, Milk for Babes and Meat for Men (1630)