Milk for Babes, Catechism
MILK FOR BABES.
DRAWN Out of the Breaſts of both TESTAMENTS.
Chiefly, for the ſpirituall nouriſhment of Boſton Babes in either England: But may be of like uſe for any Children.
By JOHN COTTON, B. D. and Teacher to the Church of Boſton in New-England.
LONDON, Printed by J. Coe, for Henry Overton, and are to be ſold at his Shop, in Popes-head Alley. 1646. Aprill 9th.
MILK FOR BABES.
Q. WHat hath GOD done for you?
A. God hath made me,aPſa. 119.73. Pſ. 128, 4.5, 6, 7, 8. Iſa. 63.1. He keepeth me, and He can ſave me.
Q. Who is God?
A. God is a Spirit ofbIob. 4.24 Exo. 3.14 himſelf and for himſelf.
Q. How many Gods be there?
A. There is but one God in three Perſons,c1 Cor. 8.6. 1 Ioh. 5.7. the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy Ghoſt.
Q. How did God make you?
A. In my firſt ParentsdGen. 1.26, 27. Eccleſ. 7.29. holy and righteous.
Qu. Are you then born holy and righteous?
A. No, my firſt fathereIſ. 43.2… Ro. 12.…9 ſinned, and I in him.
Q. Are you then born a ſinner?
A. I was conceived in ſinne, andfPſ. 51.5. born in iniquity.
Q. What is your birth-ſinne?
A. ADAMS ſinne imputed to me,gRom. 5.12, 13, 14. Eph, 4, 22 and a corrupt Nature dwelling in me.
Q. What is your corrupt Nature?
Anſw. My corrupt nature is empty ofhRom. 7.7.18. Gen. 6.5. Grace, bent unto ſinne, and onelyonly unto ſinne, and that continually.
Q. What is ſinne?
Anſw. Sinne is thei1 Ioh. 3.4 tranſgreſſion of the Law.
Qu. How many commandements of the Law be there?
Anſw. Deut. 4.13.(k) Ten.
Q. What is the firſt Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt have no other Gods butlEx. 20.3. me?
Qu. What is the meaning of this commandement?
A. That we ſhouldmMat. 4.10. worſhip the onelyonly true God, and no other beſide him.
Q. What is the 2d. Commandement?
nExo, 20.4, 5.A. Thou ſhalt not make to thy ſelf any graven image, &c.
Qu. Wat is the meaning of this Commandement?
Anſ. That we ſhould worſhip theoIoh. 4.24 De. 12.32 Mat. 15.9 true God with true worſhip: ſuch as God hath ordained, not ſuch as man hath invented.
Q. What is the third commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain, &c.
Qu. What is here meant by the Name of God?
A. GodpDeut. 28 58. Ex. 33.19 with 34.6. 1 Kin 9.3. Pſa. 138.2 Iob. 1.21. himſelf and the good things of God, whereby he is known, as a man by his name; as his Attributes, worſhip, word, and works.
Qu. What is it not to take his Name in vain?
A. To make uſe of God, and the good things of God, to his glory, and ourq2 Kings 1.3. Lev. 10.3. Iob. 36.24 1 Cor. 10 31. Iob. 5.27 Deut. 8.16 …er. 2.30. Lev. 26.2. Heb. 4.2. good: not vainly, not unreverently, not unprofitably.
Qu. What is the fourth Commandement?
A. Remember that thou keep holy therExod. 20 8, 9, 10.11 Sabbath day, &c.
Q. What is the meaning of this Commandement?
A. That we ſhould reſt from labor and much more from play onsIſa 58.13.14 Exo. 32.6. the Lords day, that we may draw nigh to God in holy duties.
Queſt. What is the fifth Commandement?
Anſw. Honour thy Father, and thy mother,8 Exod. 20 12. (t) that thy dayes may be long in the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Queſt. Who are here meant by Father and mother?
Anſw. All our ſuperiours, whether inuProv. 23 22. 2 King. 5.13. and 2.12. 1 Cor. 4.15. 2 Chr 29.1… … Tim. 5.1 1 Sa. 25.8. Gen 4.20 21. Family, School, Church, and Commonwealth.
Queſt. What is the honour due to them?
Anſw. Reverence,wMal. 1.6 Heb. 12.9. Eph. 6.1. 1 Tim. 5.4. obedience, and (when I am able) Recompence.
Queſt. What is the ſixth Commandement?
Anſw. Thou ſhalt do noxExo. 20.13. murther.
Qu. What is the meaning of this Commandement?
Anſw. That we ſhould not ſhorten theyMath. 5.22. 2 Cor. 7.10. 1 Sam. 26 24. Mar. 3.4. life, or health of our ſelves or others, but preſerve both.
Queſt. What is the ſeventh Commandement?
Anſw. Thou ſhalt not commitzExo. 20.14. Adultery.
Queſt. What is the ſinne here forbidden?
Anſw. To defile our ſelves or othersaGen. 38.9.10. Lev. 18.24. with unclean luſts.
Queſt. What is the duty here commanded?
Anſw. Chaſtity, to poſſeſſebTit. 2.5. 1 Pet. 3.2. 1 Theſ. 4.4.5. our veſels in holineſſe and honour.
Queſt. What is the eight Commandement?
Anſw. Thou ſhalt notcExod. 20.15. ſteale.
Queſt. What is the ſtealth here forbidden?
Anſw. To take awaydLuk. 19.8. 1 The. 4.6. Pro. 21.20. another mans goods, without his leave: or to ſpend our own without benefit to our ſelves or others.
Queſt. What is the duty here commanded?
Anſw. To get our goodsePro. 13.11. Ioh. 6.12. Luk. 19.16. & 15 13. honeſtly, to keepe them ſafely, and to ſpend them thriftily.
Queſt. What is the ninth Commandement?
A. ThoufExo. 20 16. ſhalt not bear falſe witneſſe againſt thy Neighbour.
Queſt. What is the ſinne here forbidden?
Anſw. TogEp. 4.25 Ier. 9, 4, 5 Ioſh. 9.22 Prov. 13.7 lye falſly, to think or ſpeak untruly of our ſelves, or others.
Queſt. What is the duty here required?
hEp. 4.25 Mat. 23.23A. Truth and faithfulneſſe.
Queſt. What is the tenth Commandement?
Ex. ….17A. Thou ſhalt not covet, &c.
Q. What is the coveting here forbidden?
Ro. 7.7 Heb. 13.5Anſw. Luſt after the things of other men: and want of contentment with our own.
Qu. Whether have you kept all theſe Commandements?
lRo. 7.14 and 3.23.Anſw. No, I and all men are ſinners.
Qu. What is the wayes of ſin?
mRo. 6.23 and 2.8, 9A. Death and damnation.
Queſt. How look you then to be ſaved?
nActs 4.12Anſw. OnelyOnly by Jeſus Chriſt.
Qu. Who is Jeſus Chriſt?
A. The eternall Son of God, who for our ſakeso1 Ioh. 5.20. Prov. 8.23 24, 25. Iohn 1.14 2 Cor. 8.9 Lu. 1.68, 69, and 2.11. became man, that he might redeem and ſave us.
Qu. How doth Chriſt redeem and ſave us?
A. By his righteous life, and bitter death, and glorious reſurrection, to lifepGal. 4.4, 5. Math. 20 28. Phi. 2.7, 8 Rom. 4.25 again.
Qu. How do we come to have part and fellowſhip with Chriſt, in his Death and Reſurrection?
A. By the power of hisqIoh. 17 20, 21. 2 Co. 5.20 1 Co. 6.17 Word and Spirit, which bring us to Chriſt, and keep us in him.
Qu. What is his Word?
A. Ther2 Tim. 3 15, 16. Holy Scriptures of the Prophets and Apoſtles, The Old and New Teſtament, Law and Goſpell.
Qu. How doth the Miniſtery of the Law bring you towards Christ?
A. sRo. 3.20 Gal. 3.10 24. Ro. 7.9, 10By bringing me to know my ſinne, and the wrath of God againſt me for it.
Qu. What are you thereby the nearer to Chriſt?
A. tGal. 3.10 24.So I come to feel my curſed eſtate, and need of a Saviour.
Queſt. How doth the Miniſtery of the Goſpell helpe you in this curſed Estate?
Anſw. By humbling meuLuk. 3.4, 5, 6. yet more, and then raiſing me up out of this Eſtate.
Queſt. How doth the miniſtery of the Goſpell humble you more?
Anſw. By revealing thew2 Tim. 1.10. 1 Tim. 1.15. Ioh. 16.7.9. & 6.44. Lu. 19.10. grace of the Lord Jeſus, in dying to ſave ſinners: and yet convincing me of my ſinne, in not believing on him, and of mine utter inſufficiency, to come to him; And ſo I feele my ſelfe utterly loſt.
Queſt. How then doth the Miniſtery of the Goſpel raiſe you up out of this loſt eſtate to come unto Chriſt?
Anſw. ByxIoh. 12.32. 2 Cor. 5.19.20. Can. 5.10 to 16. with 6.1. 2 Cor. 3.18. Lu. 19.10. Mat. 9.13. Gal. 3.5. Rom. 10.17. with 1.16. teaching me the value and the vertue of the death of Chriſt, and the riches of his grace to loſt ſinners: By revealing the promiſe of grace to ſuch, and by miniſtring the Spirit of grace, to apply Chriſt, and his promiſe of grace unto my ſelfe, and to keepe me in him.
Qu. How doth the ſpirit of Chriſt apply Chriſt, and his promiſe of grace unto you, and keepe you in him.
Anſw. By begetting in meyRom. 10.17. & 10.14. Zach. 12.10. Rom. 16.25.26. 2 Cor. 10.4.5. faith to receive him: Prayer to call upon him: Repentence to mourne after him: and new obedience to ſerve him.
Queſt. What is Faith?
Anſw. Faith is a grace of thezPhil 1.29. 2 Cor. 4.13. Phil. 3.8.9. ſpirit; whereby I deny my ſelfe: and believe on Chriſt for righteouſneſſe and ſalvation.
Queſt. What is Prayer?
Anſw. It is a calling uponaMat. 6.9. Ioh. 16.23. Rom. 8.26.27. 1 Ioh. 5.14. Acts. 5.31. Zach. 12.10. Eze. 6 9. Iob. 42.6. 2 Sam. 24.10. Levit. 26.40.4. Pro. 28.13. Zach. 12.10. 1 Sam. 7.2 Pſal. 51.1.2 10. God in the Name of Chriſt, by the helpe of the Holy Ghoſt, according to the will of God.
Queſt. What is Repentance?
Anſw. Repentance is a (b) grace of the ſpirit, whereby I loath my ſinnes, and my ſelfe for them, and confeſſe them before the Lord, and mourne after Chriſt for the pardon of them, and for grace to ſerve him in newneſſe of life.
Queſt. What is newneſſe of life or new obedience?
Anſw. Newneſſe of life is acRom. 7.6 1 Pet. 4.2, 3, 4. Pſal. 1…6.9. & 119 9.105.115 Pſal. 16.3 grace of the ſpirit, whereby I forſake my former luſts, and vaine company, and walk before the Lord in the light of his word, and in the Communion of his Saints.
Qu. What is the communion of Saints.
A. It isd1 Cor. 1.2. Phil. 1.5. Act. 2.47. Rom. 9.4. 1 Cor. 12.13. the fellowſhip of the Church in the bleſſings of the Covenant of grace, and the ſeales thereof.
Qu. What is the Church?
A. It is a Congregation ofePſal. 89.5. & 50.5.16. Ezek. 20.37. Act 2.42. 1 Cor. 14.23.26. Saints joyned together in the bond of the Covenant, to worſhip the Lord, and to edify one another, in all his Holy Ordinances.
Q. What is the bond of the Covenant, in which the Church is joyned together?
A. It isf2 Cor. 8.5. & 9.13. Gen. 17.7 the profeſſion of that Covenant, which God hath made with his faithfull people, to be a God unto them and to their ſeede.
Qu. What doth the Lord binde his people to in this Covenant?
A. TogIoſh. 24.15, 21, 24, 25. 2 Cor. 8.5 Eph. 5.21 Neh. 9.38 vvith 10.28.29 to 34. give up themſelves and their ſeede firſt to the Lord to be his people, and then to the Elders and Brethren of the Church, to ſet forward the worſhip of God and their mutall edifycation.
Q. How do they give up themſelves and their ſeed to the Lord?
A. By receiving throughhIoh. 1.12 Gen. 17.9.10. Iſa. 56.6.7. Gen. 18.19. faith, the Lord, & his Covenant, to themſelves; and to their ſeed, And accordingly walking themſelves, and trayning up their Children in the wayes of his Covenant.
Qu. How do they give up themſelves and their ſeed to the Elders and Brethren of the Church?
A. By confeſſion ofiMat. 3.6. Act 8.37. 2 Cor. 9.13. Act. 2.38.39. their ſinnes and profeſſion of their faith, and of their ſubjection to the Goſpell of Chriſt. And ſo they and their ſeede are received into the fellowſhip of the Church, and the ſeales thereof.
Qu. What are the ſeales of the Covenant now in the dayes of the Goſpel?
A. Baptiſme (k) and the Lords Supper.
Qu. What is done for you in Baptiſm?
A. In baptiſme,lRom. 4.11. vvith Col. 2.11.12. 1 Cor. 11.25. the waſhing with water is a ſigne and ſeale of my waſhing with the blood and ſpirit of Chriſt, and thereby of my ingrafting into Chriſt: of the pardon and clenſing of my ſinnes: of my riſing upl Heb 10.22. & 12.24. Ioh. 3.5. Rom. 6.2.3. Act. 22.16. Lu. 3.3. 1 Pet. 3.20.21. 1 Cor. 15 29. out of Affliction: and alſo of my reſurrection from the dead at the laſt day.
Queſt. What is done for you in the Lords Supper?
Anſw. In the Lords Supper the receiving of the bread broken, and and them1 Cor. 10.16. Mat. 26.26 28. 1 Cor. 12, 13. Pſ. 104.15 Ioh. 6.55. wine powred out, is a ſigne and ſeal of my receiving the Communion of the body of Chriſt broken for me, and of his bloud ſhed for me: And thereby of my growth in Chriſt, of the pardon and healing of my ſinnes: of the fellowſhip of his Spirit: of my ſtrengthening and quickning in Grace: and of my ſitting together with Chriſt on his throne of glory at the laſt judgement.
Queſt. What is the reſurrection from the dead, which was ſealed up to you in Baptiſme?
… Ioh. 5.28, 29. Act 24.15Anſ. WhennLu. 22.27.29, 30. Chriſt ſhall come to his laſt judgement, all that are in the graves ſhall ariſe again, both the juſt and unjuſt.
Queſt. What is the laſt judgement, which is ſealed up to you in the Lords Supper.
A. At the laſtp2 Cor. 5.10. Mat. 12.36 1 Cor. 4.5 Ecc. 12.14 day we ſhall all appear before the judgement ſeat of Chriſt, to give an accompt of our works, and to receive our reward according to them.
Qu. What is the reward that ſhall then be given?
Anſ. TheqMat. 25.34. Mat. 25.46. righteous ſhall go into life eternall, and the wicked ſhall be caſt into everlaſting fire with the Devill and his angels.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Cotton, Milk for Babes (1646)