Brief Method of Catechizing, Catechism 1
A BRIEFE METHODE of Catechizing: wherein are handled these foure points.
1 How miserable al men are by nature.
2 What remedy God hath appointed for their deliuerance.
3 How they must liue that are deliuered.
4 What helps they must vse to that end.
¶ Certaine generall Questions.
Q. OF what religion are you?Religion. Acts 11.26.
A. Of the Christian religiō.
Q. What religion is that?
A. That which teacheth men to looke for true and euerlasting happinesse by Christ alone.Acts 4.12.
Q. Where is this religion taught?
A. In the holie Scriptures of the old and new testament,Scriptures. which are giuen vsus of God to bee a perfect rule of sound doctrine and good life.Iohn 5.39. 2. Tim. 3.16
Q. What learne you generally out of the Scriptures?
Iohn 17.3. Rom. 7.9.A. Two things: The knowledge of God, and of our selues, wherein standeth our chiefe happinesse.
Q. What is God?
God. Iohn 4.24. 1. Tim. 1.17A. God is a Spirit, and king euerlasting, immortall, inuisible, and onelyonly wise.
Q. Is there any more but one onelyonly true God?
A. No: but this one God hath made himselfe knowne to vsus in thrée seuerall persons,Mar. 12.29. 1. Iohn 5.7 the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost.
Q. What are the workes of God?
Decree. Rom. 11.36A. They are generallie thrée: wherof the first is the foreseeing and appointing of all things before all time to his owne glorie.
Q. What speciall things hath God foreseene and appointed?
Predestination. Eph. 1.4.5. Mat. 25.46A. Hee hath appointed some men (called therefore his elect or chosen) to eternall glory, & others to eternal fire.
Q. What is the second worke?
A. The making of all things in the beginning excéeding good in their seuerall kinds.Creation. Gen. 1.31. Col. 1.16.
Q. What is the third?
A. The ruling and gouerning of all things most wisely,Gouernmēt. Mat. 10.29. Iohn 8.20. mightilie and righteouslie.
Q. How did God make man?
A. He made man both male and female, in a most happie estate,Man. Col. 3.10. Ephes. 4.24 according to his owne Image, in perfect knowledge and righteousnes.
The first principall point.
Q. Did man thus made, continue in this blessed estate?
A. No: they fell from it,Mans fall. Gen. 3.12. Eccle. 7.31. and became most cursed and miserable creatures.
Q. How did they fall?
A. By the enticement of the diuell,2. Cor. 11.3. 1. Tim. 2.14 and their owne wilfull disobedience in breaking the commandement of God.
Q. What came to vsus their posteritie thereby?
Originall guiltines and corruption. Rom. 5.12. Ephes. 2.1.A. Three things: Guiltines of their sinne, corruption of nature, and continuall sinning against God in motion, thought, word and deede.
Q. What is sinne?
Sinne. Rom. 7.7. 1. Iohn 3.4.A. Sin is whatsoeuer is not fullie agreeable to the holines and perfection of the law of God.
Q. What is the punishment of sin?
Punishment. Rom. 6.23 Mat. 5.22.A. The losse of Gods fauour and former happinesse, with the due deseruing of all plagues in this world, and hell fire in the world to come.
Q. How came these things to vsus their posteritie by their fall?
Gen. 5.3. Heb. 7.9.10A. Because Adam and Eue were the common parents of vsus all, and the very stocke & roote from whence all mankind did spring.
Q. Are all men sinners then?
Rom. 3.10.11.12.A. Yea: all hauehave sinned and failed of the glorie of God, there is none that doth good, no not one.
Q. And are all subiect to this punishment?
Ephes. 2.3.12. Act. 10.38.A. Yea: all without exception are the children of wrath, and bondslaues of Satan.
Q. How may we be touched with the sense of feeling of our sinnes?
A. If we consider the greatnesse,Heb. 12.29. & 10.31. & 4.12.13. multitude, and filthinesse of them, being committed against the glorious Maiestie of God, and his most pure and vndefiled law.
Q. How may we be touched with feare and horror of the punishment?
A. If we consider how many and how grieuous Gods iudgements are in this life,Deut. 21.15 Mark. 9.43.44. and how intollerable and endlesse in the life to come.
Q. What ought this feeling and feare to worke in vsus?
A. An vtter loathing and dislike of our selues,Mat. 11.28. Luk. 5.17.18. with an earnest desire and carefull labouring after the remedie prescribed in the Gospell.
The second principall point.
Q. What remedieRemedie. is there against this miserie?
A. None at al, either in our selues,Acts 4.12. 1. Cor. 1.30. or in any creature, but only in Iesus Christ.
Christ. Gal. 4.4.5. Rom. 5.15.Q. What is Christ?
A. The eternall Sonne of God, who in time became man, to repare the image of God in the elect, and to restore them to a better estate then they lost in Adam.
Q. Why was it needfull he should be man?
Christ man. Heb. 2.16. & 4.5.A. Because he could not hauehave died and answered for mans sinne, except he had taken mans nature.
Q. Why was it needfull he should be God?
Christ God. Heb. 4.14. & 7.25.A. Because else he could not hauehave ouercome death, and performed that perfect satisfaction and righteousnesse which the diuine iustice required.
Q. What hath Christ done for man?
Redemption 2. Cor. 5.21. Gal. 3.13.A. He hath fully pacified Gods infinit anger against the sinnes of all the elect, fréeing them from sin, and death, and so is made our redemption.
Q. What else?
Righteousnesse. Rom. 10.4. 1. Cor. 1.31.A. Hee hath fulfilled for them the perfect righteousnesse required in the law, and so is made our righteousnes.
Q. What blessing and reward do men reape by the obedience and righteousnesse of Christ?
A. By him they hauehave adoption,Adoption. Ioh. 1.12. Ephes. 1.5. that is, they are made the children of God and heires of eternall glorie.
Q. What else hath Christ done for vsus?
A. He hath sanctified our nature in his owne person,Sanctification. Rom. 8.2 1. Cor. 1.30. and doth sanctifie vsus daily by his spirit, and so is made our sanctification.
Q. Do men perfectly inioy al these benefits in this life?
A. They are fully iustified in the sight of God,Sanctification imperfect. 1. Ioh. 3.2. Rom. 9.23.24. and adopted into the number of his children, but not whollie freed from sinne, till after death.
Q. How then can any thing that proceedeth from vsus, be pleasing to God?
A. Because Christ,Intercession. Rom. 8.34. 1. Iohn 2.1 sitting at his right hand a mediator, maketh our duties (though weake and imperfect) acceptable to his father.
Q. Who are partakers of these benefits by Christ?
A. OnelyOnly such as come vntounto him,Mat. 11.28 Iohn 6.35. that is, which beleeue in his name.
Q. What is it to beleeue in Christ?
Faith. Luk. 2.11..A. To he truly perswaded in heart that he is a Sauiour euen to vsus.
Q. What encouragement hauehave we to beleeue in Christ?
Iohn 6.29. & 3.16. Mark. 5.36A. Because we are commanded and exhorted so to do, and for that he is offered fréely vntounto vsus of God, with this only condition, to beleeue in him.
Q. Is it for the worthinesse of our faith that we are saued?
Mark. 9.24 1. Cor. 13.9A. No: (for we beleeue in part,) but only for the worthinesse of Iesus Christ, vponupon whom faith laieth hold.
Q. Is it in our power to beleeue?
Ephes. 2.8.48. Act. 13.4. Rom. 10.17.A. No: It is the gift of God to his children, wrought in their hearts by the holy Ghost, through the preaching of the word.
The third principall point.
Q. Seeing wee are saued onelyonly by Christ through faith, may wee now liue as we list?
Tit. 2.11.12. &c. 2. Tim. 2.19.A. No: for the Gospell teacheth vsus to deny all vngodlinesse and worldly lusts: and Christ died to purge vsus to himselfe a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Q. What works are to be accounted good workes?
A. Such as proceed from faith,Good works Heb. 11.6. 1. Cor. 10.31. Rom. 14.23 and be done to the glorie of God, & grounded vponupon the word of God.
Q. What cal you the first & continuall work of Gods spirit in the faithfull?
A. Repentance:Repentance that is, such a changing and renewing of the heart,Mat. 3.7.8. & 12.33.34.35. as bringeth forth a new life and conuersation.
Q. What be the parts of repentance?
A. Two: that is, dying to sinne,Rom. 6.11. Ephe. 4.22.23. and liuing to righteousnes: or the putting off the old man, and putting on the new.
Q. Whence do these two spring?
A. From the power and vertue of Christs death and resurrection,Rom. 6.3.4.5. Ioh. 15.1.2. into whom we are ingrafted by faith.
Q. Wherein doth repentance chiefely appeare?
A. In the changing of the thoughts, affections, meditations, and delights.Rom. 2.28.29. Ephe. 4.22.23.
Q. Why shuld we repent & do good works, seeing we are not saued by thē?
Motiues to repentance and good workes. Eph. 2.10. 1. Cor. 6.9.10. Mat. 5.16. 2. Pet. 1.9.A. Because God requireth them at our hands; and that no vnrighteous person, or vnrepentant sinner shal enter into the kingdome of God.
Q. Wherefore else?
A. To glorifie God our heauenlie father, and to shew our selues thankfull for all his benefits, especially for our redemption by Iesus Christ.
Q. Is there any other reason?
1. Pet. 3.1. 2. Pet. 1.10A. Yea: by this meanes wee may win others to God, and make sure our owne calling and election to our selues.
Q. How can we hauehave any assurance of our calling and election by works
Iam. 2.14. 1. Ioh. 1.6.7. Rom. 5.1. & 2.29. Iohn 21.17. Ioh. 1.3.1.4. 1. Ioh. 5.4.A. Because they shew whether our faith in Christ be true or counterfeit liuing or dead.
Q. What works do chiefly shew this?
A. Peace of conscience, vprightne… of hart, the true feare and louelove of Go… and our brethren, striuing against si… victory ouer the world, and such like
Q. What other witnesse hauehave the faithfull?
Rom. 8.16.A. They hauehave the spirit of God be… ring witnes to their spirits,1. Ioh. 5.6.7 8. that they be the children of God.
Q. Doe these witnesses neuer faile the faithfull?
A. Luk. 22.31.32.56.57. Psal. 51.9.10.11.They may be ouershadowed in them by the malice of Satan, & conscience of sinne: but neuer finally and wholly taken away.
Q. Why so?
A. Ephes. 1.4. Heb. 6.13. Ioh. 10.28.Because they are grounded vponupon the euerlasting purpose, and faithfull promise of almightie God.
Q. Do our works deserue nothing at Gods hand?
A. No: for they are his own works in vsus, and a debt most due to him: besides,Phil. 2.13. Luk. 17.10. Heb. 11.6. in vsus they are spotted and imperfect: and finally, we are freely iustified by faith before we doe them.
Q. These are strong perswasions to liue godly: but is there no reward for good works?
A. Yes: exceeding great,1. Tim. 4.8. Mat. 19.29 both in this life, and especially in the life to come.
Q. Commeth this of the worthines or merit of our works?
A. No:Phil. 3.8.9.10. but only of the free fauour and mercy of God,Hebr. 6.10. through the merit and obedience of Iesus Christ.
Q. What other spurre hauehave we to good workes?
Psal. 116.12. Heb. 13.6.A. The liuely remembrance of Gods benefits past, and his promise of assistance in time of need.
The fourth principall point.
Q. VVhat meanes hath God appointed to continue and increase his graces in vsus?
A. They are generally two: publike and priuate.
Q. VVhat shall wee say of them which want these meanes?
Ephes. 2 12 1. Cor. 5.12A. That their estate is very fearefull, and for ought we know, plaine damnable.
Q. And what of such as hauing the means, do either refuse or abuse them?
A. That they be far more inexcusable before the iudgemēt seat of God.Matth. 11.20.21.22. Luk. 7.301 Luk. 15.8. Luk. 18.1.
Q. How must these meanes be vsed?
A. With such sincerity, conscience, and feruency, that wée may feele fruit and comfort by the doing thereof.
Q. What are the publike?
A. They are foure: prayer,1. Tim. 2.1. Mat. 28.18 19.20. the word preached, Sacraments, & discipline.
Q. How may we profit by prayer?
H. Prayer. Col. 3.17. Iam. 1.6.7. & 4.3. & 5.16.If (asking things lawfully only at Gods hands in the name of Christ) we come with reuerence of his Maiestie, zeale of his glory, feeling of our wants, affiance to be heard, and louelove to our brethren.
Q. How may we profit by the word preached?
A. If, being perswaded,Preaching. 1. Cor. 1.21 Mat. 13 19. Luk. 8.15. Rom. 1.16. that it is Gods ordinance, wee marke it diligently, and after examine our selues what wee remember, and how wee practise that which was taught.
Q. What say you of the word read?
A. It is a part of Gods ordinance,Reading. Act. 13.15. 1. Cor. 14.24.25. Nehe. 8.8. 2. Tim. 2.15. & 4.2. yet much more effectuall when it is preached.
Q. What call you preaching?
A. When the word of God is truly expounded and profitably applied, with doctrine, exhortation, rebuke, and comfort.
Q. Thus much of prayer and of the word. VVhat is a Sacrament?
Sacraments. Rom. 4.11. 1. Cor. 10.16A. It is a holy signe and seale ordained of God, to assure vsus of his louelove to vsus in Christ, & to testifie & confirme our faith and obedience to him, & our louelove & fellowship one with another.
Q. How is it a signe, and how is it a seale?
1 Cor. 10.1 2.3.4. Mar. 16.15.16.A. It is a signe, because it setteth forth Christ & his benefits to the outward senses of all: and a seale, because it doth effectually apply to the faithful the truth and fruit thereof.
Q. How many Sacraments be there?
1. Cor. 10.2.3.4.A. Two: baptisme, and the Lords supper.
Q. VVhy be there two seales, seeing there is but one Couenant?
Ioh. 1.12. & 6.32.A. To assure vsus, that by communion with Christ we are borne againe: and shall be nourished to eternall life.
Q. VVhat is Baptisme?Baptisme.
Act. 22 16. 1. Ioh. 1.7.A. The Sacrament of our new and spirituall birth, assuring vsus by the due sprinkling of water, that our sinnes are forgiuen by Christs blood, and we iustified by his obedience.
Q. What else doth it teach and assure vsus of?
A. Dying to sin, and liuing to righteousnesse;Rom. 6.2.3.4.5.6. 1. Cor. 15.29. it is also a pledge of the resurrection of our bodies after death.
Q. Why are wee baptized in the name of the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost?
A. To teach and assure vsus of our communion with one God in three persons.Mat. 28.19. 1. Iohn 1.3.
Q. Why are infants baptized?
A. Because the couenant and promise of God is made to the faithfull,Gen. 17.7. 1. Cor. 7.14 and to their seede.
Q. What is the Lords supper?
A. The Sacrament of our spirituall nourishment,Lords Supper. 1. Cor. 10.16. Iohn 6.51. assuring vsus by bread and wine, duely giuen and receiued, that by Christ we shall be nourished to eternall life.
Q. May al that professe Christianity be admitted as fit and worthie receiuers?
A. No: but only such as can,1. Cor. 11.28.29. and also doe diligentlie proue, examine and try themselues.
Q. Wherein must Christians examine and proue themselues?
Rom. 14.23 2. Cor. 13.4 Matth. 3.6 and 5.23. 1. Cor. 5.7.8.A. Whether they know the grounds of religion, vnderstand the doctrine of the Sacraments, beleeue in Christ, hate their sinne, and louelove their brethren.
Q. What if men cannot find those things in themselues?
1. Cor. 11.27.29.A. Then they must forbeare till God hauehave wrought them, vsing carefully all other helps appointed for that purpose.
Q. What if they find them weake and feeble?
Mat. 11.28. and 12.20.A. Then they may and ought to receiue, to be further strengthned.
Q. What is discipline?
Discipline. Matth. 18.15.16. &c.A. That order and power which God hath left to his Church to auoide offences, and recouer such as doe fall.
Q. What is this power called in the Scripture?
Matt. 16.19 Luk. 11.52.A. It is called the keyes of the kingdome of heauen, and the power of binding and loosing.
Q. Why so?
A. Because the repentant are as it were loosed and let into heauen by the promise of forgiuenesse of sinnes,Ioh. 20.23. Luk. 7.50. Act. 8.20.37. and the obstinat bound and shut out.
Q. Is it lawfull for eueryevery man to preach and to administer the Sacraments and Discipline, and to pray publikely?
A. No:Rom. 10.15 Heb. 5.4. It is vtterly vnlawfull for any man, except hee bee lawfully called thereunto.
Q. May we not rest in this publike meanes?
A. No:1. Sam. 26.19. Ester. 4.16. Matth. 6.6 for we cannot alwaies hauehave them, and the word of God, and our necessitie requireth priuate also.
Q. What is the first priuate helpe?
A. Earnest thinking vponupon profitable things,Meditation. Psalm. 11 9 15.52.97. Rom. 15.4. as the words and workes of God, his iudgements and mercies towards others, but especially towards our selues.
Q. What is the fruite of meditation?
A. Not onelyonly to keepe the minde free from wicked and idle thoughts,Psalm. 12. Matt. 6.20. Col. 3.12. but also to fill it with some holy and comfortable matter.
Q. What is the second helpe?
Prayer. Col. 4.2. 1. Tim. 4.5.A. Prayer, which must be daily offered vp to God, that he may hauehave the glory of pardoning our daily sinnes, and of sanctifying our food, labours, and rest vntounto vsus.
Q. What is the third helpe?
Reading. 1. Tim. 4.13 Acts 17.11A. Reading of the holy Scriptures: which will both enable vsus to the duties of meditation and prayer, and make the publike Ministery more fruitfull vntounto vsus.
Q. What is the fourth helpe?
Conference. Heb. 3.13. & 10.14.A. Godly conference, instructing, rebuking, exhorting, comforting one another in wisdome and louelove.
Q. What is the fifth help?
Practise. Iohn 7.17. & 13.17.A. A carefull practise of that we know, without which we shal neuer truly taste the vertue of religion and power of godlinesse.
Q. Are the labours of our calling any hindrances to godlinesse?
Ephes. 6.5. &c. Act. 18.3.A. No: but great helps, if they be porformed in due time, with conscience, cheerfulnes and moderation, not quenching the louelove and care of better things.
Q. How shal we attaine this moderation?
A. If we be truly perswaded that our happinesse consisteth not in outward things,Luk. 12.15. Heb. 11.13.14.15.16. but is laid vp for vsus in the life to come.
Q. What helpe receiue Christians from Gouernours and Magistrates?
A. Very great:Gouernours 2. Tim. 2.2 Rom. 13.3.4. for by their authoritie they are bridled from sin, and encouraged in vertue, and vnderunder them they liue a godly and peaceable life.
Q. What wil the enioying and vse of all the meanes work in Gods children?
A. A most happie and comfortable change from that which they were before, euen in this life.1. Cor. 6.11 Ephes. 5.8.
Q. What becommeth of them after this life?
A. The soule goeth immediatly into the paradise of God,Luk. 16.22. & 23.43. Mat. 25.46 and the body shal be raised vp at the last day, and ioyned with the same in glorie for euer.