A Catechism in Brief Questions and Answers 2, Text
A CATECHISME In briefe QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, Containing ſuch things as are to be known or had by all ſuch as would partake the Sacrament of the LORDS SƲPPER with comfort.
By JOHN GEREE ſometime Miniſter of the Word in Tewxbury, now Paſtor of St. Faiths under Pauls, London.
LONDON, Printed by R.C. for F. Grove, and are to bee ſold by Chriſtopher Meredith at the Crane in Pauls church-yard, 1647.
Thoſe that want time or memory to learne the whole Catechiſme may firſt learn the more neceſſary anſwers marked in the Margent thus †† and only read and marke the reſt. For their direction.
Queſtion. DOE you purpoſe to come to the Sacrament?
††A. 1 Cor. 11.24.Yes, leſt I ſhould diſobey Chriſt, and deprive my ſoule of benefit.
Q. Doe all receive benefit which come to the Sacrament?
††A. 1 Cor. 1.27. & 17.No: ſome are better, ſome are worſe.
Q. Who are better?
A. 2 Chron. 30.3,18,19.Such as come with due preparation.
Q. Who come preparedly?
††A. 1 Cor. 11.28.Such only as by examination find in themſelves ſome competent meaſure of knowledg, appetite, repentance, faith, love and reſolution to keepe the covenant which in this Sacrament they renew with Chriſt.
Q. Why is knowledge neceſſary to worthy communicating?
A. 1 Cor. 1.28,29.Becauſe examination is neceſſary, which cannot be without knowledg, nor without it can we diſcerne the Lords body, and ſo ſhal prophane this Sacrament.
Q. What muſt a man know?
††A. He ſhould know the grounds of Chriſtianreligion in generall, but eſpecially himſelfe, God and the nature of this Sacrament.
Q. Why muſt a man know the grounds of Chriſtian religion in generall?
A. 1 Pet. 3.18. Hoſ. 4.6.Becauſe no man ſhould be ignorant of the myſteries of his calling, much leſſe a Chriſtian, nor can a man know any one principle as he ſhould doe without ſome generall knowledge of all.
Q. What muſt he know concerning himſelfe?
††A. What perfection he had by creation, what miſery by corruption, what benefit by renovation.
Q. What was our perfection by creation?
††A. Gen. 1.26,27.We were created after Gods image which conſiſts in knowledge and holines.
Q. What is our miſery by corruption?
††A. Ephe. 4.24. Col. 3.10. Rom. 5.12. Eph. 1.2,2,3.We are guilty of Adams ſinne, deprived of the image of God, prone to all ſin, flaves of Satan, children of wrath, that is, lyable to Gods Iudgements here, death & hell hereafter.
Q. What benefit have we by renovation?
††A. 1 Cor. 6.11. Cor. 3 10. Rom. 8.15,16,17.The guilt of our ſinnes is purged by the blood of Chriſt, we have in part the Image of God renewed upon us in knowledge and holines, and have our right to heaven reſtored.
Q. Why is this knowledg of himſelf neceſſary?
A. Mat. 11.28. Mar. 9.12.Becauſe til he know his miſery in himſelfe and the helpe he may have by Chriſt, he wil neither care for Chriſt nor this ſacrament nor any other meanes that conveys Chriſt.
Q. What muſt he know concerning God?
††A. Exod. 34.6.7. 1 Ioh. 5.7.The excellency and glory of the Deity in his eſſence and attributes, the myſtery of the Perſons, three in one eſſence, and one eſſence whole in three Perſons.
Q. Why muſt a man have this knowledg of God?
A. Heb. 11.6. Ioh. 1.14.Unleſſe he know him in his eſſence hee will not care for this or any part of his worſhip, unleſſe he know the Trinitie in Unitie he cannot know Chriſt who is the authour and matter of this Sacrament.
Q. What is a Sacrament?
††A. Gen. 17.10.11. Exod. 12.13.An ordinance of God wherein by outward ſignes our faith is confirmed in the covenant of God, and ſome ſpeciall priviledges thereof which are there repreſented and exhibited.
Q. What is the covenant of God?
A. Gen. 17.1,2. Exod. 19.5,6,7,8.A compact between God and man wherein God requires ſome ſervice and promiſeth ſome reward, man promiſeth obedience and expecteth ſome reward.
Q. How many covenants hath God made with his Church?
A. Gen. 3.15.Two: the firſt of workes given to Adam in Paradiſe, the other of grace made with Adam after his fall and continued to us though diverſly in reſpect of the externall manifeſtation.
Q. What is the covenant of grace?
A. 5.31. Ioh. 3.16. Act. 2.38. & 16.31. 1 Pet. 1.14.15.A compact between God and the elect, wherein God freely promiſeth to them pardon of ſinne and power againſt it and ſalvation in Chriſt, and requires from them repentance, faith & new obedience.
Q. What is the difference between the covenant of grace and the other of workes?
A. Eze. 26.25,26,27. Act. 5.31.They differ two wayes, the one requires perfect obedience as the condition, the other onelyonly repentance, faith and ſincere obedience: the one requires the condition to be done by our owne ſtrength, but in the covenant of grace though God require a condition he workes it in us.
Q. How many Sacraments are there annexed to the Goſpel?
††A. Two: baptiſme and the Lords ſupper.
Q. How doth it appeare there bee but two Sacraments?
A. Mat. 26.26.28.19.Chriſt hath ordained no more, given commiſſion to his Miniſters to adminiſter no more, wee need no more then to have entrance and growth in Chriſt ſignified.
Q. What is the Lords Supper?
††A. 1 Cor. 11.23 24,25,26.It is a Sacrament of the renewed covenant ordained of Chriſt, wherein by the uſe of bread and wine rightly adminiſtred and received, Chriſt Ieſus and all his benefits is ſignified, ſealed, and exhibited unto us, and his paſſion is gratefully commemorated by us.
Q. Who is the authour of this Sacrament?
††A. Mat. 26.26.Chriſt Ieſus, who inſtituted it at his laſt ſupper.
Q. Who is Chriſt?
††A. Phil. 2.6,7.In perſon God & man, in office our Saviour & redeemer. 1 Tim. 3.16. Col. 1.14.
Q. Why did Chriſt ordaine this Sacrament?
††A. Mat. 1.21. 1 Cor. 11.24,26. Mat. 6 35. 1 Cor. 10.17.Firſt, to continue the memory of his death. 2 To manifeſt and exhibite the fulneſſe of refreſhing that is in Chriſt. 3 To comfort us after temptation by renewing our covenant. 4 to ſtrengthen our faith, to ſignifie and increaſe mutuall love & unity.
Q What is the matter of this Sacrament?
††A. Mat. 26.26.27.27.Twofold: inward, which is Chriſt and his benefits; outward, to wit the ſignes.
Q. What be the ſignes?
††A. Twofold: elementall and rituall, the one ſignifying Chriſt, the other the application of him.
Q. What be the elementall ſignes?
††A. Mat. 26.26,27,28.Bread and wine, the one ſignifying the body, the other the bloud of Chriſt.
Q What be the rituall ſignes?
††A. 1 Cor. 11.24. Mat. 26.28.Rites or actions, as the breaking of the bread ſignifying the ſufferings of Chriſt, the powring out of the wine that his bloud was ſhed, the miniſter giving the elements ſignifies God the Father giving Chriſt, the peoples taking the elements, ſignifying their receiving Chriſt by faith.
Q. What union is there between the ſignes and the thing ſignified?
††A. Rom. 8.34. Acts 3.21.Not viſible or locall, but myſticall and ſpirituall, yet true and reall.
Q. How doe we partake of them?
††A. Mat. 26.26,27.The ſignes wee partake corporally, the thing ſignified ſpiritually according to their proper natures.
Q how can we partake of Chriſt & he in heaven
††A. By having a right and title given to us, as we receive land by evidences, not as we take medicine in a box.
Q. What difference is there between Sacramentall and common bread?
††A. 1 Cor. 11.26.None in nature, only in uſe, this being ſet apart for holy uſe.
Q. How have theſe elements this holy relation to ſeale and repreſent ſpirituall things?
A. 1 Cor. 11.23,24,25. 1 Cor. 10.16.By being conſecrated to this holy uſe:wch conſecratiō conſiſts partly in Chriſts firſt inſtitutiō of ſuch elements for ſuch uſe, partly in the miniſters declaring Chriſts inſtitution, bleſſing God for our redemtion & theſe ſeals of it, praying to him for to bleſs the elements for the preſent to that holy uſe, to which himſelf hath ordained them.
Q. What is the ſecond thing neceſſary in a worthy communicant?
††A. Spirituall Appetite. Eſa. 55.1.
Q. Why is ſuch an appetite neceſſary?
††A. Ioh. 7.37. Rev. 22.15.Becauſe this Sacrament is a ſpirituall feaſt; and our invitation and welcome depends upon it.
Q. Why muſt we deſire it?
A. Not for cuſtom or company but in obedience to God, & the benefit of our ſouls.
Q. How ſhall a man know he hath a deſire?
A. Deſire is the inclination of our hearts after a thing which is of it ſelfe diſcernable to us.
Q. how ſhal we know the ſincerity of our deſires?
A. By the grounds which in our conſciences we finde do move us to it and by our conſtancy of communicating at all opportunities, not at ſolemne feaſts only.
Q. How may deſire be ſtirred in us?
††A. Mat. 9.12. Pſal. 63.1,2,3.By due conſideration of our own neceſſity and the Sacraments vertue, and the meditationof Chriſts command.
Q. What is the third thing requiſite in a worthy communicant?
††A. Rom. 4.11.Iuſtifying faith: a man muſt bring his evidence that hath any good by the ſcale.
Q. What is faith?
A. Epheſ. 2.8. Phil. 3.9.Faith is a ſaving grace whereby we goe out of our ſelves, and reſt upon Chriſt alone for ſalvation.
Q. Why is faith neceſſary?
A. Heb. 11.6. Ioh. 4.10. Ioh. 1.12 Eph. 3.17.Faith is neceſſary to the acceptable performance of every part of Gods worſhip, its the ground of true deſire after the Sacrament, its the mouth & hand of the ſoule to receive Chriſt offerd in the Sacrament.
Q How ſhal a man know whether he hath faith?
A. Rom. 10.17. Pſal. 116.10. 2 Iam. 17. 1 Pet. 22.Firſt, by the nature of faith. 2 By the means whereby true faith is wrought, for faith is wrought by the word and ſpirit. 3 By the fruits, which are prayer, love to the word, obedience & dependance on God
Q. How will a man get faith?
A. Iſa. 28.16. Rom. 10.17. Mat. 9.24.By hearing the word and ſeeking it at Gods hand.
Q. What is the 4. thing in worthy receiving?
††A. Repentance.
Q. Why is repentance neceſſary?
A. Acts 5.31. Tit. 1.15. Hag. 2.15.14. Num. 6.67. &c. Ier. 4.1. Ioel. 1.12. Lam. 3.40. Iam. 4.9. Zach. 12.10. Ier. 31.18,19.Becauſe we come to have pardon of ſinne ſealed to us which preſuppoſeth repentance;and if the conſcience be defiled with any knowne ſinne, it defiles our ſervices: none might come to the Paſſeover which were not legally cleane.
Q. What is repentance?
A. Ezek. 20.43. Hoſ. 14.3.It is a work of grace whereby a man convict of ſin doth humble his ſoule with godly ſorrow and holy ſhame for it, and reſolve againſt it.
Q. What particulars are required therein?
A. 1 Cor. 11.31. Ezek. 36.32. Prov. 28.13. Pſal. 51.17. Ier. 7.5.Firſt examination to find out ſinne. 2 Affection to mourne for it and to judge our ſelves and to hate it & to be aſhamed of it. 3 Confeſſion. 4 An hearty deſire of pardon. 5 Reſolution againſt ſinne.
Q. How may we find out ſinne?
A. Rom. 7.7. & 3.20. Iam. 1.23.25.By comparing our ſelves to the law of God wch ſhould be the rule of our actions.
Q. how ſhal we know whether we have repented
††A. 2 Cor. 7.11. 1 Cor. 6.11.It works an univerſall change, it makes us of fooliſh wiſe, of carnall ſpirituall, of prophane holy in all our converſations.
Q. How ſhall we get repentance?
††A. Act. 5.31. & 2.3.7.2 Tim. 2.5.We muſt ſeek it of Chriſt, whoſe office it is to give it, and in the word, by which as an inſtrument it is wrought.
Q. What may further helpe to breake our hearts for ſinne?
A. Gen. 3.16,17,18,19. Pſal. 7.11. Epheſ. 5.6. Iſa. 5.3. to the end Iſa. 55.6,7. Ier. 3.12.The conſideration of Gods infinitewrath againſt ſinne, manifeſted in the puniſhment of Adam and his poſteritie, all the judgements of this life and hel hereafter, and the puniſhment he laid on Chriſt, as alſo thought of his mercy in pardoning ſinne if we repent.
Q. What is the 5. thing in worthy receiving?
A. 1 Cor. 11.18.Love and peace with our neighbours.
Q. Why is love neceſſary?
A. 1 Cor. 10.17 Mat. 5.23,24. 1 Tim. 2.8.God here ſeales his love to us, and ſeals our union one with another, it is a love-feaſt: beſides no ſervice is accepted which is not done in love.
Q. What it love?
††A. Gal. 5.22. 1 Cor. 13. Gal. 6.10.A gratious affection of the heart, wherby we wiſh and endevour good to all, eſpecially to the godly.
Q. How ſhall we know whether we have love?
††A. 1 Cor. 13.4,5,6,7. Rom. 12.15. 1 Peter. 4.8. Gal. 5.22.By the fruits, ſuch are ſympathy, covering infirmities, forgiving injuries.
Q. How ſhall we attaine this love?
A. By prayer, for it is a fruit of the ſpirit.
Q. What muſt we doe if there be any breach of love between us and others?
A. Mat. 5.23,24.Seek reconciliation, and not omit the Sacrament.
Q. What if reconciliation cannot be had?
A. 1 Cor. 11.28.If it be truly ſought for on our part we are ſafe, it is our owne not others malicewhich makes us unfit for the Sacrament.
Q. What if they have provoked us and made no ſatisfaction?
A. Col. 3.12,13.Yet we muſt forgive and not deſire revenge, Chriſt muſt be our rule who forgave us freely.
Q. What is the laſt thing neceſſary in preparation?
††A. A purpoſe to keep that covenant which we made in Baptiſme, and now renew in the Lords Supper.
Q. VVhy is this neceſſary?
A. Iam. 2 17.Becauſe without this a man mocks God, making ſhew of covenanting wth him but thinks of nothing leſſe, & this purpoſe of new obedience is a neceſſary fruit of faith.
Q. How may we know whether we have this purpoſe?
A. Our conſciences are the only witneſſes in this: when we make a covenant with a man we know whether we mean to keepe it; ſo may we in our covenant with God.
Q. VVhat helpes may we have in attaining this?
††A. 2 Cor. 8.12. Mat. 25.34.We muſt conſider if our purpoſes be ſincere Chriſt will helpe us to keepe them, accept ſincere though weake ſervice, and give us an ineſtimable reward, ſo it will be the beſt bargaine that can be made.
Q. VVhat if we find not this qualification?
A. If we have it not in ſome meaſure, we muſt ſeeke it before we preſume to come to the Lords Table, there be degrees in it, the more preparation the more fruit.
Q. What is the danger of unworthy receiving?
††A. 1 Cor. 11.28,29.Very great, for inſtead of having benefit by Chriſts bloud, we are guilty of it, and make our ſelves liable to temporall and eternall judgments.
Q. Is it not beſt then to omit this Sacrament?
††A. Mat. 22.3.7. Heb. 10.25.No, abſenting from the Sacrament is no better, nor ſafer then the profaning of it.
Q. What muſt we then doe if we find want of preparation?
A. Mat. 5.6. 2 Cor. 8.12. 2 Chron. 30.19.Lament our wants, & deſire & endevour after theſe graces, and we ſhal be accepted.
Q. If we have once been prepared, may we be afterwards ſecure?
A. No, we muſt prepare anew: for there are required not only the habits of theſe graces, but renewed acts of them.
Q. What ends are we to aime at in receiving the Sacrament?
A. Chiefly two.
Q. What is the firſt?
A. 1 Cor. 11.30.31. 1 Cor. 11.24,25,26. 2 Cor. 5.14.15.The honouring of Chriſt by a grateful commemoration of his death.
Q. When doe we commemorate the death of Chriſt gratefully?
A. When we ponder his love & goodneſſe ſhining in it, and have our hearts enlarged with love, joy, & thankfulnes for it, feeling an holy conſtraint from it, to live to him & to ſuffer, yea to die for him if need require.
Q. What is the ſecond end to be aimed at in receiving the Sacrament?
A. 2 Cor 10.16.To benefit our ſouls by being furthered in fuller application and participation of the merit and vertue of Chriſt which God doth in this ordinance offer and ſeal to us.
Q. What demeanour is required of us in receiving?
††A. Such reverence as becomes the Table of ſo great a God.
Q. What elſe?
††A. We muſt have our minds ſet on worke by the ſignes to meditate on the thing ſignified, and with joy remember the ſufferings of Chriſt and apply them.
Q. What muſt we doe after participation?
††A. We muſt give extraordinary thankes to God for vouchſafing us to be his gueſts at his Table, and there refreſhing our ſouls with the vertue and merit of his bleſſed Son.
Q. What is to be done elſe?
††A. We muſt remember our covenant with God and ſtrive to keep it.
Q. What elſe?
††A. We muſt examine and conſider whether we profit by the Sacrament or not.
Q. What if a man be worſe after it?
A. 1 Cor. 11.32.If he be ſo indeed, then he hath eaten unworthily and muſt be humbled.
Q. What if we finde benefit by the Sacrament?
††A. Ioh. 6.33,35.We muſt be very thankfull and greatly rejoyce, for Chriſt is the bread of life, hee that once eateth of Chriſt ſpiritually ſhal be ſure to be nouriſhed to eternall life; hee may be ſicke in his ſoule, but he ſhall never die.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Geree, A Catechism in Brief Questions and Answers 2 (1647)