A Short Catechism, Catechism
A Short Catechiſm.
Queſtion. OF what Religion art thou?
Anſwer. Of the Chriſtian Religion, Act. 11.26. 1 Pet 4.16. Act. 26.28.
Queſt. What Religion is that?
Anſw. That which teacheth us to look for Salvation by Chriſt alone, Act. 4.10, 11, 12.
Queſt. Where is that Religion taught?
Anſw. In the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Teſtament, 2 Tim. 3.16. Rom. 15.4.
Queſt. What do the Scriptures principally teach us?
Anſw The knowledge of God and our ſelves, 2 Tim. 3.16. Joh. 17.3. Col. 2.12.
Queſt. What knowledge of God is requiſite?
Anſw. We muſt know that he is, and what he is, Heb. 11.6.
Queſt. How know you that there is a God?
Anſw. By his Word, and by his works, Pſal. 19.1. Exod. 34.6, 7.
Queſt. What is God?
Anſw. God is a Spirit, Infinite, and Eternal, Joh. 4.24. Job 11.7, 8, 9. Pſal. 90.2.
Queſt. How many Gods are there?
Anſw. There is only one God, diſtinguiſhed into three Perſons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, Deut. 6.4. 1 John 10.7. Mat. 28.19.
Queſt. What are the Works of God?
Anſw. Decree, Creation, and Providence, Act. 2.23. Epheſ. 1.11. Gen. ch. 1. Act. 17.28.
Queſt. What is Gods Decree?
Anſw. His fore-appointing and ordaining whatſoever comes to paſs, Epheſ. 1.4, 11. Rom. 9.22, 23.
Queſt. What is Creation?
Anſw. Gods making all things of nothing by the word of his power, Gen. ch. 1. Heb. 11.3.
Queſt. What is his Providence?
Anſw. His wiſe and powerful preſerving, and governing all his creatures, and all their actions, Mat. 10.29, 30, 31. Heb. 1.3.
Queſt. In what eſtate did God make man?
Anſw. In his own Image, holy and happy, Gen. 1.26. Col. 3.10. Epheſ. 4.24.
Queſt. For what end did he make him?
Anſw. For his own glory, and ſervice, Rev. 4.11. Pſal. 95.6.
Queſt. How muſt he be ſerved?
Anſw. As he hath appointed in his Word, Deut. 12.32.
Queſt. Do all men thus glorifie God, and ſerve him?
Anſw. No, neither are they able, Rom. 7.15, 19.
Queſt. Why ſo?
Anſw. Becauſe their whole nature is defiled, and the actions thence proceeding are polluted, Rom. 5.12, 19. Eph. 2.1, 2, 3. Mat. 15.19.
Queſt. Man being made holy, how came he to be thus defiled?
Anſw. By Adams firſt tranſgreſſion, Gen. 3.6. Eccleſ. 7.29.
Queſt. Did all men fall in Adams firſt tranſgreſſion?
Anſw. All mankind being in his loins, ſinned in him, and fell with him in his firſt tranſgreſſion, Rom. 5.12. … Cor. 15.21, 22.
Queſt. In what eſtate are all men then by Nature?
Anſw. In an eſtate of ſin and miſery, Rom. 5.12.
Queſt. What is ſin?
Anſw. Sin is any tranſgreſſion of the law of God, whether it be in thought, word, or deed, 1 Joh. 3.4. Gen. 6.5. Gal. 5.19.
Queſt. What is the Law of God?
Anſw. It is a perfect rule of righteouſneſs, commanding good, and forbidding evil, Pſal. 19.7, 8. Deut. 12.32.
Queſt. Where is this Law written?
Anſw. In the holy Scriptures; but the ſum of it is in the ten Commandments, Deut. 10.4.
Queſt. Rehearſe the ten Commandments.
Anſw. God ſpake theſe words, and ſaid, I am the Lord thy God, &c. Exod. 20.1, 2, &c.
Queſt. What do the Commandments teach us?
Anſw. Holineſs towards God, and righteouſneſs towards our Neighbours, Rom 7.12. Luke 1.74, 75.
Queſt. How are theſe Commandments divided?
Anſw. I…o two Tables, or parts, Exod. 31.18.
Queſt. What do … Commandments of the firſt Table teach us?
Anſw. Our duty towards God, Luke 10.27.
Queſt. What do the Commands of the ſecond Table teach us?
Anſw. Our duty towards man, Matth. 22.39. & 7.12.
Queſt. What is the ſum of all?
Anſw. To love God above all, and our Neighbour as our ſelves, Matth. 22.37, 38, 39.
Queſt. Why did God give us this Law?
Anſw. To be the rule of our obedience, Rom. 2.14, 15. & 10.5.
Queſt. Can any man perfectly keep all theſe Commandments?
Anſw. No, we all break them daily in thought, word, and deed, Eccleſ. 7.20. 1 John 1.8, 10. Gal. 5.17. Rom. 3.9, 10, &c.
Queſt. What puniſhment is due to the breakers of theſe Commands?
Anſw. All miſeries in this life, death it ſelf, and the pains of Hell for ever, Epheſ. 5.6. Gal. 3.10. Mat. 25.41, 46.
Queſt. Do all men periſh in this eſtate of ſin, and miſery?
Anſw. No, Some ſhall be ſaved by a Redeemer, Rom. 3.22. Gal. 3.27, 28. Acts 4.12.
Queſt. Who is the Redeemer of loſt man?
Anſw. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Tim. 2, 5, 6.
Queſt. What is Jeſus Chriſt?
Anſw. The Eternal Son of God, very God, and very Man, John 1.14. Gal 4.4.
Queſt. How did Chriſt the Son of God become Man?
Anſw. By taking to himſelf a true body, and a reaſonable ſoul, Luk. 1.31, 35. Gal. 4.4.
Queſt. Why muſt he be God and Man?
Anſw. Becauſe as God he could not die, and as Man he could not overcome death, both which were neceſſary to our Redemption, Heb. 2.14. 1 Cor. 15.3, 4.
Queſt. How did Chriſt redeem loſt man?
Anſw. By ſatisfying Gods juſtice in ſuffering what was due for mans ſin, and ſo reconciling him to God, Heb. 2.17. & 9.14, 28.
Queſt. How was this effected?
Anſw. By his Death and Paſſion, by his Reſurrection and Aſcenſion, and by his continual Interceſſion for them, Luk. 23.33. 1 Cor. 15.3, 4. Acts 2.27. Mar. 16.19. Heb. 7.24, 25.
Queſt. Are all men partakers of Chriſt, and the benefits purchaſed by Chriſt?
Anſw. No, only thoſe that lay hold upon him by a lively faith, Joh. 3.16. & 1.12. Acts 13.39. Epheſ. 1.13, 14.
Queſt. What is a lively Faith?
Anſw. It is a divine grace, whereby we do not only believe all things neceſſary to ſalvation, but are alſo enabled to take Chriſt upon his own terms, and to reſt upon him alone for ſalvation, Act. 16.31. Pſal. 2.12.
Queſt. Rehearſe the Articles of your Belief.
Anſw. I believe in God the Father Almighty, &c.
Queſt. How many Articles are herein contained?
Anſw. Twelve.
Queſt. Have all thoſe juſtifying faith that believe the truth of theſe Articles?
Anſw. No, this may be done by an Hiſtorical faith, which an hypocrite may have, Acts 8.13.
Queſt. How then may Juſtifying Faith be known?
Anſw. By the fruits and effects of it; for true faith purifies the heart, when all other faith lets the heart alone, Act. 15.9.
Queſt. What will become of thoſe that have not faith?
Anſw. They ſhall never ſee life, but the wrath of God abideth on them, Joh. 3.36.
Queſt. How is faith wrought?
Anſw. Ordinarily by the Word and Spirit, Rom. 10.14. Acts 16.14.
Queſt. What Word of God is requiſite to the working of faith?
Anſw. Both the Law and the Goſpel, Rom. 7.7. Gal. 3.22. & 4.4, 5.
Queſt. How is it encreaſed?
Anſw. By the ſame means whereby it is begotten, as alſo by the Sacraments, and prayer, 1 Pet 2.2. Luke 17.5. Gen. 17.9, &c. Rom. 4.11.
Queſt. What is a Sacrament?
Anſw. It is a Sign and Seal of the Covenant of Grace, Gen. 17.11. Rom. 4.11.
Queſt. How many Sacraments hath Chriſt ordained in his Church?
Anſw. Only two, Baptiſm and the Lords Supper, Mat. 28.19, 20. Luk. 22.19, 20.
Queſt. To what end did he ordain them?
Anſw. To ſtrengthen our Faith, and confirm our aſſurance, Gen. 17.11. Rom. 4.11.
Queſt. What is to be conſidered in a Sacrament?
Anſw. The Sign, and the thing ſignified, Mat. 28.19. Rom. 6.4. Gen. 17.7.
Queſt. What is the outward ſign in Baptiſm?
Anſw. Water, which is applyed to the body of the party baptized, Acts 10.47. Mat. 3.6.
Queſt. In whoſe Name are they to be baptized?
Anſw. In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt, Mat. 28.19, 20.
Queſt. What is ſignified by water?
Anſw. The blood of Chriſt which waſheth away the filth of the ſoul, as water doth the filth of the body, 1 Cor. 6.11. Act. 2.38. Tit. 3.5.
Queſt. Who ought to be baptized?
Anſw. Infidels converted to the Faith; and Infants of one, or both believing Parents, Acts 8.12, 36, 37. & 2.38, 39. Gen. 17.10. with Col. 2.11, 12. 1 Cor. 7.14.
Queſt. What is required of thoſe that are Baptized?
Anſw. To die unto ſin, and to live unto righteouſneſs, and to fight under Chriſts Banner, againſt Sin, the World, and the Devil, Mat. 3.11. Rom. 6.3, 4.
Queſt. What is the viſible ſign in the Lords Supper?
Anſw. Bread and Wine which are there broken and poured forth, Mat. 26.26, 27.
Queſt. What is thereby ſignified?
Anſw. The Body and Blood of Chriſt, which was broken, and poured out for the remiſſion of our ſins, 1 Cor. 11.24, 25.
Queſt. VVho ought to receive this Sacrament?
Anſw. Thoſe that upon examination find themſelves fit, and can diſcern the Lords body, 1 Cor. 11 28, 29.
Queſt. Wherein muſt they examine themſelves?
Anſw. Whether their knowledge, faith, repentance, love and obedience to God, be true and ſincere, Mat 22.11, 12. 1 Cor. 11.28, 29. 2 Cor. 13.5. 1 Cor. 11.31. 1 Cor. 10.16, 17. & 5.7, 8.
Queſt. Who ought to be excluded?
Anſw. The ignorant, and ſcandalous, 1 Cor. 11.29.
Queſt. What is the danger of unworthy receivers?
Anſw. They are guilty of the body and blood of Chriſt, and eat and drink their own damnation, 1 Cor. 11.27, 29.
Queſt. What is prayer, that other means to increaſe faith?
Anſw. It is a calling upon God, in the Name of Chriſt, through the aſſiſtance of his Spirit, Exod. 14.15. 1 Sam. 1.13. John 16.23. Rom. 8.26.
Queſt. For what muſt we pray?
Anſw. For all things for this life, or that to come, which we ſtand in need of, and God hath promiſed, 1 Joh. 5.14.
Queſt. What directions hath God given us for prayer?
Anſw. The general direction is his Word, but a ſpecial direction is the Lords Prayer, 1 John 5.14. Mat. 6.9, &c.
Queſt. Rehearſe the Lords Prayer.
Anſw. Our Father which art in Heaven, &c.
Queſt. How many parts are in the prayer?
Anſw. Three, the Preface, the Petitions, and the Concluſion.
Queſt. Which is the Preface?
Anſw. Our Father which art in Heaven, Mat. 6.9.
Queſt. How many Petitions are there?
Anſw. Six; the three firſt concern Gods glory, and the three laſt humane neceſſity.
Queſt. What is the Concluſion?
Anſw. For thine is the Kingdom, the power, and glory, for ever and ever, Amen. Mat. 6.13.
Queſt. What are the parts of Prayer?
Anſw. Confeſſion, Supplication, and Thankſgiving, Pſal. 32.5, 6. Dan. 9.4, 16. Phil. 4.6.
Queſt. What will become of all men at death?
Anſw. Their ſouls go immediately to Heaven or Hell, and their bodies remain in the grave till the Reſurrection, 1 Theſ. 4.15, Rev. 14.13. Mat. 5.8. 1 Cor. 13.12. Luk. 16.22, 23.
Queſt. What will become of them at the Reſurrection?
Anſw. Their ſouls and bodies ſhall be then raiſed, and brought before the Judgement Seat of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 15.42, 43, 51, 52.
Queſt. What ſhall become of them at Judgement?
Anſw. Every man ſhall then be judged according to his works; the godly ſhall be acquitted by their ſurety Chriſt; but the wicked ſhall be condemned to everlaſting deſtruction, John 5.28, 29. 2 Cor. 5.10. Mat. 25.23. & 10.32. Mat. 25.24.
Queſt. What ſhall become of them after judgement?
Anſw. The wicked ſhall be thruſt into Hell, to be tormented with the Devil and his Angels for ever; but the righteous ſhall enter into life eternal, Mat. 25.46. 1 John 3.2. John 17.24. Phil. 1.23. 2 Theſ. 1.7, 8, 9.
FINIS.
End of the text · Edward Bury, A Short Catechism (1660)