A Short and Pithy Catechism Regarding the Lords Supper, Catechism
A breefe and ſhort Catechiſme, made for the vſe of housholdes, and to be learned of all thoſe that vvill be admitted to the Lords Supper. By B. A.
Miniſter.
TO what ende did God make you?
Aunſwere.
That I might ſerue him according to his worde,Lu, 1, 74 Eph, 4, 24 by dooing his wil, in righteouſnes and true holines all my life.
Miniſter.
VVhere shall you learne what is thys wyll of God?
Anſwere.
In his word and Lawe.
Miniſter.
Rehearſe that Law of God.
Aunſwere.
God ſpake and ſaid, Exo. 20,I am the Lord thy God. &c.
Aunſwere.
VVhat cheefely doth thys lawe require of you?
Anſwere.
Firſt, that I ſhoulde acknowledge(a)Deut, 6 4, one onelyonly God, & ſerue him in all purenes,(b)De. 6.5, et 10, 12 Luk, 10 27 Ma, 22, 37, with all my hart, ſoule, minde, ſtrength, will, and thoughts, in all thinges according to his worde. Secondlie, that I ſhoulde walke in(c)Mat 22, 39 Ro. 13 8, 7, 10 louelove, faithfulnes, and trueth with all men, dooing dueties of conſcience in my calling, and(d)Le. 19, 8, louing my neighbour as my ſelfe.
Miniſter.
Are you able of your ſelfe to doo hys wyll, and keepe this his Lawe?
Aunſwer.
Nothing leſſe.
Miniſter.
VVhy ſo.
Aunſwere.
Becauſe of my corrupt nature, which(a)Ro. 5, 18 with Adam is fallen from the ſtate of innocencie,(b)Ro, 8, 7 and ſo is not obedient to the law of GOD.
Miniſter.
VVhat are you by nature then?
Aunſwer.
The(a)Eph, 2, 3 childe of wrath and(b)Ro, 6, 20 a ſinner.
Miniſter.
VVhat is ſinne.
Anſwere.
Euerie(a)1, Ioh. 3, 4 breaking or(b)Neh, 9, 34 Heb, 2, 3, neglecting of anie commandement of God, and(c)Neh, 1, 7 Gal, 3.10 the not dooing of euerie duetie commanded is ſin.
Miniſter.
VVhat is the rewarde of ſinne.
Anſwere.
The(a)Gal. 3, 10 curſe of God,(b)Ro. 6, 23 & death with(c)Mar, 9 48 Mat, 25 46 2, Theſ. 1, 9, Eze, 18, 20 euerlaſting woe and perdition, of ſoule and bodie.
Miniſter.
Then by eueryevery breaking of the Lawe, you dayly deſerue death, and procure Gods curſe.
Anſwer.
It is verie true.
Miniſter.
How shall you be freed from this curſe
Aunſwere.
Ga, 3, 13By Ieſus Chriſt my Sauiour and redeemer.
Miniſter.
VVhat did he for you.
Aunſwer.
He was both(a)Ro, 9, 5 Col, 2 9 He, 1, 3, perfit God that he might be able(b)He, 2, 14, to ouercome death for me, and alſo he was perfect(c)Mat 1, 25, Ga, 4, 4 man, that he might(d)Heb 2, 11, Col, 1 22, ſuffer death and Gods wrath for my ſinnes, and ſo in bothe theſe natures together, he fully ſatiſfied the iuſtice of God for me, and purchaſed my ſaluation.
Miniſter
VVhat moued God thus to ſaue you.
Aunſwer.
His owne meere louelove, fauoure and merciemercy, without any reſpect of my worthines.
Miniſter.
How are you aſſured of this mercy of GOD.
Aunſwere.
By a true faith in Chriſt.
Miniſter
Rehearſe the ſumme of your fayth.
Aunſwer.
I beleeue in God the father almightie. &c.
Miniſter.
VVhat breefely doo you gather out of theſe articles.
Aunſwer.
My faith is aſſured heerein, that God the father(a)Ioh. 3.1 of his owne good will,(b)Rom, 8, 3 Eph. 5, 2 Tit, 2, 14, gaue his ſonne Ieſus Chriſt, very God and man to redeeme mee from ſinne by hys death and paſſion, &(c)Rom. 8, 9 2, Cor, 5, 5, 1, Ioh. 4, 13, ſending out his holie ſpirite into mee, to cauſe Chriſt his(d)Rom, 8, 10. death & life to be effectuall to renue me(e)et 6, 4. into a new life, he hath made me of his Church and companie of beleeuers, ſanctifyed to doo hys will here, & to glorifie him in euerlaſting life in the world to come.
Miniſter.
VVherefore dyd Christ thus ſuffer and dye.
Anſwere.
Ro. 4, 25For my ſinnes.
Miniſter.
vvhat profite hauehave you by his death.
Anſwere.
I hauehave(a)Epheſi, 1.7, forgiuenes of ſinnes,(b)Ro. 6, 6, the mortification of my fleſh, and the(c)Col 1, 20, appeaſing of Gods wrath.
Miniſter.
vvhat meane you by his deſcending into hell.
Aunſwer.
Not that Chriſt went into the place of torments with his ſoule or bodie, but that for a time he(a)Eſa. 53, 4, 5, felt his Fathers wrath, and the(b)Act 2, 24. dolers of eternall death in his(c)Mat 26, 38, 42 Luke 22, 43 Hebr, 5 7 ſoule and conſcience heere on earth for vsus, that hee might bee a redeemer as well of the ſoule as of the body.
Miniſter.
vvhat profit hauehave you by his reſurrection?
Aunſwer.
I hauehave(a)Ro. 4, 15 righteouſnes a gage(b)1, Cor, 15, 20. of my immortality, and(c)Rom, 6 4 newnes of life.
Miniſter.
vvhat vſe make you of the article concerning the holy Ghoſt.
Aunſwer.
I learne therein, yt it is God the holy(a)Ioh, 6, 63, et 14, 26 ghoſt only which maketh Chriſt his death and life profitable to me(b)Ioh, 3, 6 by renuing my hart to the obedience of Gods wil, and working faith in me to apply the merits of Chriſt to my ſelfe, and by the ſame ſpirite, God gathereth a Churche to himſelfe in all(c)Ioh, 10.16 the world by his worde.
Miniſter.
How doth Gods ſpirite worke fayth in you?
Aunſwer.
By the word of God preached.Ro, 10, 14
Miniſter.
vvhat are the meanes to increaſe, nourish, and vphold your fayth.
Anſwere.
Rom. 10 17The hearing of the word of God preached, the vſe of the Sacraments and of prayer.
Miniſter.
vvyll you then bee dilligent to heare the word, to vſe the Sacraments, and to frequent prayer, that your fayth may be increaſed.
Aunſwer.
Yea by Gods grace.
Miniſter.
vvhat is a Sacrament?
Anſwere.
A Sacrament is an outward(a)Gen 17.11, Rom, 4, 11. ſeale ioyned vntounto ye word, which viſibly repreſenteth vntounto vsus ſpirituall thinges, and aſſureth our faith of Gods promiſes declared in his word.
Miniſter.
Howe many Sacraments hath God ordeyned?
Anſwere.
Two, Baptiſme and the Supper of the Lord.
Miniſter.
How doth Baptiſme profit your fayth?
Anſwere.
Fyrſt, by aſſuring mee that I am(a)Rom, 6, 3, 5. 1, Cor, 12, 13, one with Chriſt, Secondlye, that I am(b)Iohn. 3, 3.5 begotten againe,(c)Col, 2, 11 from ſinne into a newe lyfe. Thirdlie, by being a pledge of (d) the forgiuenes of my ſinnes,(b)Mat, 3, 6, Act, 2, 38, for as the water clenſeth the body, ſo our ſoules by(e)Heb. 9, 12. 1. Pet. 3 22 1. Ioh. 1.7. Apo. 1.5 the bloode of Chriſt are purged from ſinne.
Miniſter.
vvhat profit hath your fayth by the Lordes Supper.
Anſwer.
Euen this: that as outwardly I receiue the breade and wine to nouriſh my bodie, ſo(a)1, Col. 10, 16, & 12, 13, inwardlie I receiue Chriſt by faith, euen as mine owne, whoſe bodye(b)Cor, 1, 14.22 and bloode clenſeth mee from ſin, and nouriſheth mee to eternall life.
Miniſter.
Doo you receiue the very body & blood of Chriſt really in the bread?
Anſwere.
Ioh, 6 63,Nothingleſſe, but onelie ſpirituallie by faith.
Miniſter.
Howe shall you come worthely to the Lords ſupper?
Anſwere.
When I come with faith and repentance.
Miniſter.
How shall you knowe when you come to the communion with fayth?
Anſwere.
Firſt, if I acknowledge mine owne pouertie and wants, confeſſe the mercies of God(a)Pſ. 103, 1, 2, 1, Cor, 11, 24 with thankſgiuing, Secondlie, when I aſſure my ſelfe of the(b)Mat, 26 28 forgiuenes of my ſins, by the death and ſacrifice of Chriſt onelyonly.
Miniſter.
How shall you know when you come with repentance.
Anſwere.
Firſt, if I(a)1. Cor 11, 28 examine and proue my heart, and am truely(b)2. Cor, 7, 10 greeued for my ſinnes,(c)Pro, 28. 13, Mat, 3, 6 confeſſing them before God, and forſaking them, Secondlie, if I vnfainedlie purpoſe to walke(d)Mat, 3, 8 in a newe life, that is, in holines to GOD, and true louelove to my neighbour,(e)Mat, 5, 23, 24. reconciling my ſelfe to them that I offende, and(f)Mat, 6, 14, 15, Col, 3, 13, forgiuing others that I may be forgiuen.
Miniſter.
vvhat doth the bread broken ſignifie.
Anſwere.
It ſignifieth the bodie of Chriſte broken for my ſinnes.
Miniſter.
vvhat doth the wine ſignifie.
Anſwere.
The blood of Chriſte ſhed for my ſinnes.
Miniſter.
vvhat differeth baptiſme from the Lords ſupper, ſith they both betoken the remyſsion of ſinnes.
Anſwere.
Baptiſme, grafteth vsus into Chriſt by regeneration in hope of remiſſion of ſinnes. The Supper nouriſheth vsus being grafted to feele the power of death,1, Cor 22, 13 and reſurrectiō of Chriſt, dailie ſtrengthening our Faith into a newe life.
Miniſter.
vvhy receiue you Baptiſme but once in all your life, and the ſupper of the Lord often times.
Aunſwer.
Becauſe that as we neede but once to be borne, ſo we neede but once to be baptiſed, but as wee neede often to be fedde to nouriſh our bodies in life,1, Cor, 11, 24 25, ſo muſt wee often receiue the Lordes ſupper, to confirme our faith, and to teſtify our thankfull remembraunce of Chriſtes death.
Miniſter.
It ſeemeth then that you muſt needes hauehave your hart touched for your ſinnes when you come to the communion & repenting your former life, and you muſt come with hope of forgiuenes.
Aunſwer.
It is very true, els can I hauehave no comfort or benefite by it, therfore I pray God to touch my hart aright for my ſinnes, and to pardon them, that I may come worthelie therevnto.
Miniſter.
Doo you take this Sacrament then as a pledge of Gods louelove in forgiuing your ſinnes, & doo you purpoſe and profeſſe vnfeynedly amendment of life, and to liue with your brethren in chriſtian louelove?
Aunſwere.
Yea indeede, and I make thys an vtter renouncing of my former life, that by Gods grace I maye heereafter lead a new life, which grace God grant me. Amen.
Miniſter.
So doing I (as the miniſter of God) receiue you to the comunity of the ſaints of God, and ſeale vntounto you the mercies of God by the authority of his worde, to your euerlasting comfort in Chriſte Ieſus.
Aunſwere
The Lord giuegive me grace to walk woorthy of his calling in his feare all my life, yt I may bee acceptable to him in Ieſus Chriſt. Amen.
Miniſter
vvyll you exerciſe your fayth in praying for theſe things daily.
Aunſwer.
Yea by Gods grace.
Miniſter.
vvhat is prayer.
Aunſwer.
It is to aſke all good thinges at the hand of God, and to giuegive him thanks for all things receiued.
Miniſter.
To whom wyll you make your prayers?
Aunſwere.
To God alone.
Miniſter.
vvho directeth your affections in prayer?
Aunſwer.
Rom, 8, 27The ſpirite of God, which maketh (a) requeſt according to the wyll of God in his Saints.
Miniſter.
Howe are your prayers acceptable.Heb, 15 15, 1, Pet, 2 5.
Aunſwer.
By Ieſus Chriſt.
Miniſter.
By what rule wyll you frame your prayers?
Aunſwere.
By that order of Chriſt,Mat. 6 9. ſet down to his Diſciples, which wee call the Lords prayer.
Miniſter
Repeate it.
Aunſwer.
Our Father which art in heauen. &c.
Miniſter.
vvhat is the ſumme of this prayer?
Aunſwere.
Firſte, wee pray heere for all thinges that may make to the glory of God, and aduauncing of hys name, for the enlarging of his kingdome, and the performance of his wyl in all thinges. Secondly, we pray for al thinges needefull for our ſelues, bothe for our bodies and ſoules, that ſo by the direction of his grace and ſpirite, we beeing freed from ſinne, may ſerue him freelie, in righteouſnes and holines all our lyfe, which grace, God graunt me and all hys people. Amen.
Finis quod B. Andrewes.