The Catechism, Examination
THE MANER TO EXAmine chyldren before they be admitted to the Supper of the lord.
¶ Fyrſt the Miniſter aſketh.
IN whome doeſt thow beleue?
¶ The childe anſwereth.
I beleue in god the father, and in Ieſus Chriſt his ſonne, and in the holy ghoſte: and loke to be ſaued by non other meanes.
¶ The miniſter.
The father, the ſonne, and the holy ghoſt, be they any more then one god?
¶ The childe,
No, although they be diſtinct in perſone.
¶ The miniſter.
What is the effect of thy fayth?
¶ The childe.
That god the father of our lord Ieſus Chriſt, (and ſo by hym of vsus all) is the beginnynge ād principall cauſe of all thīges: the which he gouerneth in ſuch ſorte, that nothinge can be done with owte his ordinance, and prouidence. Next, that Ieſus Chriſt his ſonne, came downe into this world, ād accompliſhed all thinges which were neceſſary for our ſaluation. And aſcē ded into heauen, where he ſitteth at the right hād of the father, that is, that he hath all power in heauen ād in earth. And ſhall come agayne frome thence to iudge the whole world. Forthermore that the holy ghoſte is very god, becawſe he is the vertue ād power of god, ād imprīteth ī our hartes the ꝓmeſſes made vntounto vsus in Ieſus Chriſt. And fynally that the churche is ſanctified, and delyuered from their ſynnes through the mercies of god, and ſhall after this life riſe againe to lyfe euerlaſtinge.
¶ The miniſter.
Muſt we ſerue God accordinge as he hath commaunded, or elles as mens traditions teache vsus?
¶ The childe.
We moſt ſerue hym as he hath taught vsus bi his word and cōmanndementes, and not accordinge to the commaundementes of men.
¶ The miniſter.
Canſt thow kepe gods commaundements of thy ſelfe?
¶ The childe
No verely.
¶ The miniſter
Who then doth kepe and fulfill theym in thee?
¶ The childe
The holy ghoſte.
¶ The miniſter.
When God then geuethe thee his holy ghoſte cāſt thou parfytely obſerue theym?
¶ The childe
No, not ſo.
¶ The miniſter.
Why? God doth curſe and reiect all ſuch as do not in eueryevery point fulfyll his commaundements.
¶ The childe.
It is true.
¶ The miniſter.
By what meanes then, ſhalt thow be ſaued, ād deliuered frome the curſe of God?
¶ The childe.
By the death and paſsion of our lord Ieſus Chriſt.
¶ The miniſter
How ſo?
¶ The childe.
Forbecawſe that by his death, he hath reſtored vsus to lyfe, and recōciled vsus to God his father.
¶ The miniſter
To whome doeſt thow make thy prayers?
¶ The childe
I pray to God in the name of our lord Ieſus Chriſt our aduocat and mediator, referring all my prayers to that ſcope, which Chriſt our ſauiour hath left vsus as a moſte ſufficient and abſolute rule.
¶ The miniſter.
How many Sacraments are there in Chriſts Church?
¶ The childe.
Two, Baptiſme, and the lords Supper.
¶ The miniſter.
What is ment by Baptiſme?
¶ The childe.
Firſt it ſignifieth that we hauehave forgiuenes our ſynnes by the blood of Chriſt. Secondly it ſetteth before our eyes our regeneration or newe ſpirituall birth.
¶ The miniſter.
What ſignifieth the Supper of the lord?
¶ The childe.
That by the ſpirituall eatinge and drinkinge, of the body and bloude, of our lord Ieſus Chriſt, our ſowles are noriſhed vntounto lyfe euerlaſtinge.
¶ The miniſter.
What do the bread and wyne repreſent, in the lordes Supper?
¶ The childe.
This, that as our bodies are noriſhed therwith: ſo our ſowles are ſuſteyned, and noriſhed with the vertue of Chriſts body ād bloode, not that they are incloſed in the breade and wyne, but we muſte ſeeke Chriſt in heauen in the glorie of God his father.
¶ The miniſter.
By what meanes may we attayne vntounto hym there?
¶ The childe.
By faith, which gods ſpirite worketh in our hartes, aſſuringe vsus of Gods promiſſes made to vsus in his holy ghoſpell.
Thend.
End of the text · John Calvin, The Catechism (1556)