A Scripture Catechism, Chapter 1 – Chapter 2
Chap. 1. Of this way or Method of proceeding by ſuch Queſtions and Anſwers, or, The Introduction.
Q. MAY we ſay yes to a Queſtion, that is asked us, when we anſwer it Affirmatively, or muſt we neceſſarily ſay yea?
Anſ: Math. 17.24.25. They that received the Tribute money came to Peter, and ſaid, Doth not your Mr pay tribute? He ſayth, yes.
Q. When we anſwer a Queſtion Negatively, muſt we alwayes ſay Nay? or may we ſay No?
A. Joh. 21.5. Then Jeſus ſayth unto them, children have you any meat? they anſwered him, No.
Q. Doth that place Jam. 5.12. forbid the ſaying Yes and No? when it ſayes, Let your Yea be Yea, and your Nay be Nay.
A. The Apoſtle dehorts from cuſtomary ſwearing, and adviſeth them to be true and faithfull in performing their word and promiſe: he would not have men be I Sr, no Sr, (as we ſay:) not yea and nay, but one and the ſame in word and deed, in our promiſes and performances: and if we would doe ſo, there would be no need of ſuch common oaths to gaine credit or beliefe.
And farther I ſay, that the Tranſlators, if they had pleaſed, might have rendred the Originall thus, Let your Yes be Yes, and your No No; as in the places above cited.
Q. Is it lawfull to ſet down, or aske queſtions about points or matters of Religion, and give anſwers thereunto, for the inſtruction of the ignorant, or teaching of thoſe, who are as yet babes in knowledge?
A. Yes, Luk. 7.19, 20, 22. And John calling unto him two of his Diſciples, ſent them to Jeſus ſaying, Art thou he that ſhould come, or look we for another? when the men were come unto him, they ſaid, John Baptiſt hath ſent us unto thee, ſaying, Art thou he that ſhould come, or look we for another? Then Jeſus anſwering ſaid unto them Goe your way, and tell John what things you have ſeen, and heard, how that the blind ſee, the lame walke, the lepers are cleanſed, the dead are raiſed, the deafe heare, to the poor the Goſpell is preached. So Mat. 11.2, 3, 4, 5. Hag. 2.11, 12, 13. Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, Aske now the Prieſts concerning the Law, ſaying, If one beare holy fleſh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt doe touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oyle, or any meat, ſhall it be holy? And the Prieſts anſwered and ſaid, No. Then ſaid Haggai, If one that is uncleane by a dead body touch any of theſe, ſhall it be unclean? And the Prieſts anſwered and ſaid, It ſhall be unclean. Mat. 13.51.
Q. May a man aske or propound a Queſtion about that which he knowes himſelfe, and make an objection, which he can anſwer himſelfe?
A. Yes, Mark. 12.35, 36, 37. And Jeſus anſwered and ſaid, while he taught in the Temple, How ſay the Scribes that Chriſt is the Son of David? for David himſelfe ſaid by the holy Ghoſt, The Lord ſaid to my Lord, ſit thou on my right hand, 'till I make thine enemies thy footſtool. David therefore himſelfe calleth him Lord, and whence is he then his Son? So Matth. 22.41. &c. Rom. 6.1. what ſhall we ſay then? ſhall we continue in ſinne that grace may abound? God forbid. And verſe 15. what then, ſhall we ſinne, becauſe we are not under the Law, but under Grace? God forbid. So chap. 7.7. what ſhall we ſay then, is the Law ſinne? God forbid. and chap. 9.14. what ſhall we ſay then, is there unrighteouſneſſe with God? God forbid.
Q. May we aske what are the opinions of men concerning Chriſt or Chriſtianity, and give anſwers to them?
A. Yes, Matth. 16.13, 14. when Jeſus came into the coaſts of Ceſarea Philippi, he asked his Diſciples ſaying, whom doe men ſay that I the Son of man am? And they ſaid, ſome ſay that thou art John the Baptiſt, ſome Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the Prophets. But whom ſay ye that I am? v. 15th, &c.
Q. Is it lawfull to propound objections for the clearing of the truth?
A. Yes, Luk. 20.41, 42, 43, 44. And he ſaid unto them, How ſay they that Chriſt is David's Son? And David himſelfe ſayth in the Book of Pſalmes, The Lord ſaid to my Lord, ſit thou on my right hand, 'till I make thine enemies thy footſtool. David therefore calleth him Lord; how is he then his Son? So Mat. 22.41, &c. Mar. 12.35, 36, 37.
Q. May a man repeat and anſwer the objection of adverſaries, made againſt the truth? or propound ſuch as he thinks the wiſdome of the fleſh will, or may poſſibly make againſt the truth?
A. Yes, Rom. 9.19, 20. Nay, but O man who art thou that replyeſt againſt God? ſhall the thing formed ſay to him that formed it, why haſt thou made me thus? in v. 19. thou wilt ſay then unto me, why doth he yet find fault? for who hath reſiſted his will?
Q. Is it in any caſe lawfull to ſet down the objection, or Argument of erroneous, or hereticall Perſons?
A. Yes, Luk. 20. from 27th, to 33. Then came to him certaine of the Sadduces, which deny that there is any Reſurrection; and they asked him, ſaying, Maſter, Moſes wrote unto us, if any man's Brother dye, having a wife, and he dye without children, that his Brother ſhould take his wife, and raiſe up ſeed unto his Brother: there were therefore ſeven brethren, and the firſt took a wife, and dyed without children, &c. therefore in the Reſurrection, whoſe wife of them is ſhe? for ſeven had her to wife. So Mat. 22.23, &c.
Cap. 2. Of Errour.
Q. ARE there any Errors and Hereſies deſtructive to the faith, and damnable?
A. Yes, 2 Pet. 2.1. But there were falſe Prophets alſo among the people, even as there ſhall be falſe Teachers among you, who privily ſhall bring in damnable hereſies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themſelves ſwift deſtruction. 2 Tim. 2.17, 18. of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus, who concerning the truth have erred, ſaying, that the Reſurrection is paſt already, and overthrow the Faith of ſome.
Q. Are there any blaſphemous opinions?
A. Yes, 2 Tim. 2.16.17, 18. But ſhun profane and vain bablings, for they will encreaſe unto more ungodlineſſe, and their word will eate as doth a canker, of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus, who concerning the truth have erred, &c. 1 Tim. 1.19, 20. Holding faith and a good conſcience, which ſome having put away, concerning faith have made ſhip-wrack; of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learne not to blaſpheme.
Q. May we receive erroneous teachers into our houſes, or muſt we avoid them?
A. 2 Joh. 10. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your houſe, neither bid him God ſpeed.
Q. What's the cauſe of Error?
A. Matth. 22.29. Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto them, ye doe erre, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.