Spiritual Milk for Boston Babes, Catechism
Spirituall MILK FOR BOSTON BABES in either England.
Drawn out of the Breaſts of both TESTAMENTS, for their ſoules nouriſhment: 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 for Henry Cripps, in Popes-head-Alley. 1657.
MILK FOR BABES.
Q. WHat hath GOD done for you?
A. God hath made me,aPſal. 119.73. Pſal. 120.4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Iſa 63.1. He keepeth me, and he can ſave me.
Q. Who is God?
A. God is a ſpirit ofbJo. 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 Joh. 5.7. the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoſt.
Q. How did God make you?
A. In my firſt parentsdGen. 1.26, 27. Eccleſ. 7.29. holy and righteous.
Q. Are you then born holy and righteous?
A. No, my firſt FathereIſa. 43.27. Ro. 11.10. 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-ſin?
Anſw. Adams ſinne imputed to megRom. 5.12, 13, 14. Ep. 14.12. and a corrupt nature dwelling in me.
Q What is your corrupt nature?
Anſw. My corrupt nature is empty ofhRom 7.18. Gen. 6.5. Grace, bent unto ſinne, and onelyonly unto ſinne, and that continually.
Qu. What is ſin?
A. Sin is thei1 Joh. 3.4. tranſgreſſion of the Law.
Q. How many Commandements of the Law be there?
A.kDeut. 4.13. Ten.
Q. What is the firſt Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt have no other Gods butlExo. 20.3. me.
Q. What is the meaning of this Commandement?
Anſw. That we ſhouldmMath. 4.10. worſhip the onelyonly true God, and no other beſide him.
Q. What is the ſecond Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt not make to thy ſelfe any graven image,Exo. 20.4, 5. &c.
Q. What is the meaning of this Commandement?
Anſw. That we ſhould worſhip the trueoJob 4.24 Deu… 12.32 Mat. 15 9 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.
Q. What is here meant by the Name of God?
A. GodpDeut. 28.58. Ex. 33.19. with 34.6. 1 Kin 9.3. Pſa. 1.8 …. Job 1 21. himſelfe and the good things of God, whereby he is known as a man by his Name, as his Attributes, worſhip, word, and works.
Q. What is it not to take his Name in vain?
Anſ. To make uſe of god, and the good things of God, to his glory, and ourq2 Kings ….3. Lev▪ 20.3. Job 36.24. 1 Cor. 10.31▪ Job 5.27. Deut. 8.16 Jer 2.30. Lev. 16 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 labour and much more from play onsIſa. 58.12, 13. Exod. 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,tExo. 20.12. 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 inuPro. 23.22. 1 Kings 5.13. and 2.12. 1 Cor. 4.15. 2 Chron. 29.18. 1 Tim. 5.1. 1 Sa. 25 8. Gen. 4. 20, 2…. Family, School, Church, and Common-wealth.
Queſt. What is the honour due to them?
Anſw. Reverence,wMal. 16. 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. …0.13. murther.
Q. What is the meaning of this Comment?
Anſw. That we ſhould not ſhorten theyMat. 5.22. 2 Cor. 7.10. 1 Sam. 26.24. Mark. 3 4. life, or health of our ſelves or others, but preſerve both.
Q. 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. 9. Lev. 10.24. 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 veſſells in holineſſe and honour.
Queſt. What is the eighth Commandement?
Anſw. Thou ſhalt notcExo. 20.15. ſteal.
Queſt. What is the ſtealth here forbidden?
Anſw. To take awaydLuke 19.8. 1 Theſ. 4.6. Prov. 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 goodseProv. 13.11. John 6.12. Luke 19.16. & 15.13. honeſtly, to keep them ſafely, and to ſpend them thriftily.
Queſt. What is the ninth Commandement?
A. ThoufExo. 20.16. ſhalt not beare falſe witneſſe againſt thy Neighbour.
Queſt. What is the ſinne here forbidden?
Anſw. TogEp. 4.25. Jer. 9.4, 5. Joſh 9.22. Prov. 13.7. lie falſly, to thinke or ſpeak untruly of our ſelves or others.
Queſt. What is the duty here required?
A. TruthhEph. 4 25 Mat. 23.23. Ex. 20.17. Rom 7.7. Heb. 13.5. and faithfulneſſe.
Queſt. What is the tenth Commandement?
A. Thou ſhalt not covet, &c.
Queſt. What is the coveting here forbidden?
Anſw. Luſt after the things of other men; and want of contentment with our own.
Qu. Whether have you kept all theſe Commandements?
Anſw. lRo▪ 7.14. & 3.23.No, I and all men are ſinners.
Queſt. What is the wages of ſin?
Anſw. mJo 6.23. & 2.8, 9.Death and damnation.
Queſt. How look you then to be ſaved?
Anſw. nActs 4.12.OnelyOnly by Jeſus Chriſt.
Queſt. Who is Jeſus Chriſt?
A. The eternall Son of God, who for our ſakeso1 Joh. 3.22. Pro. 8.23, 24, 25. Joh. 1.14. 2 Cor. 8.9. Luke 1.68, 69. and 2.11. became man, that he might redeem and ſave us.
Q. How doth Chriſt redeem and ſave us?
A. By his righteous life, and bitter death, and glorious reſurrection to lifepGal. 4.4, 5. Mat. 20.28. Phil. 2.7, 8. Rom. 4.25. again.
Q. How doe we come to have part and fellowſhip with Chriſt in his death and Reſurrection?
A. By the power of hisqJohn 17.20, 21. 2 Cor. 5.20. 1 Cor. 6.17 Word and Spirit, which brings us to Chriſt and keeps us in him.
Q. 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.
Q. How doth the Miniſtery of the Law bring you toward Chriſt?
A. By bringing me to know my ſin, and the wrath of God againſt me for it.Rom. 3 20. Gal. 3.10.24. Ro. 7, 9, 10.
Q. What are you thereby the neerer to Chriſt?
A. So I come to feele my curſed eſtate, and need of a Saviour.
Queſt. How doth the Miniſtery of the Goſpell help you in this curſed Eſtate?
Anſw. By humbling meuLuke 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. John 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 my utter inſufficiency to come to him; and ſo I feel my ſelf utterly loſt.
Queſt. How then doth the Ministerie of the Goſpell raiſe you up out of this lost eſtate to come unto Chriſt.
Anſw. ByxJohn 12.31. 2 Cor. 5.19, 20. Cant. 5.10. to 16. with 6.1. 2 Cor. 3.28. Lu. 19.10. Mat. 9.13. Gal. 3.5. Rom. 10.17. with ….61. teaching me the value and the vertue of the death of Chriſt, and the riches of the 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 ſelf, and to keep me in him.
Qu. How doth the Spirit of grace apply Chriſt, and his promiſe of grace unto you, and keep 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: Repentance to mourn after him, and new obedience to ſerve him.
Queſt. What is faith?
Anſw. Faith is a grace ofzPhil. 1.29. 2 Cor. 4.13. Phil. 3.8, 9. the Spirit; whereby I deny my ſelf, and believe on Chriſts righteouſneſſe and ſalvation.
Queſt. What is Prayer?
Anſw. It is calling uponaMat. 6.9. John 16.23. Rom. 8.26, 27. John 5 14. God in the name of Chriſt, by the help of the Holy Ghoſt, according to the will of God.
Queſt. What is Repentance?
Anſw. Repentance is abActs 5.…1. Zach. 12.10. Eze. 6.9. Job 42.6. 2 Sam. 24.10. Lev 26.40, 41. Prov. 28.13. Zac. 12.10. 1 Sam. 7.…. 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 acPſal. 51.1, 2.10. grace of the Spirit, whereby I forſake my former luſts and vaine company,Rom. 7.6. 1 Pet. 4.2, 3, 4. Pſal. 116.9. & 119.9.105.115. Pſal. 16.3. and walk before the Lord in the light of his word, and in the communion of his Saints.
Queſt. What is the Communion of Saints?
A. It isd1 Cor. 1.2. Phil. 1.5. Acts 2.47. Rom. 9.4. 1 Cor. 12.13. the fellowſhip of the Church in the Bleſſings of the Covenant of Grace, and the ſeals thereof.
Q. What is the Church?
A. It is a Congregation ofePſal. 89.5. & 50.5.16. Ezek. 20.37. Acts 2.42. 1 Cor. 14.23, 26. Saints joyned together in the bond of the Covenant, to worſhip the Lord and to edifie 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 ſeed.
Q. What doth the Lord bind his people to in this Covenant?
A. TogJoſh. 24.15.21, 24, 25. 2 Cor. 8 5. Eph. 5.21. Neh. 9.38. with 10.28, 29. to 34. give up themſelves and their ſeed, 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 the mutuall edification.
Q. How doe they give up themſelves and their ſeed to the Lord?
A. By receiving throughhJoh. 1.12. Gen. 17.9, 10. Iſa. 56.6, 7. Gen. 18.19. faith the Lord and his Covenant, to themſelves, and to their ſeed: And accordingly walking themſelves, and training up their children in the wayes of his Covenant.
Q. How doe they give up themſelves and their ſeed to the Elders and Brethren of the Church?
A. By confeſſion ofiMat. 3.6. 2 Cor. 9.13. Acts 2.38, 39. their ſinnes, and profeſſion of their faith, and of their ſubjection to the Goſpell of Chriſt. And ſo they and their ſeed are received into fellowſhip of the Church and the ſeals thereof.
Q. What are the ſeals of the Covenant now in the dayes of the Goſpell?
A. BaptiſmekRom. 4.11. with Col. 2.11, 12. 1 Cor. 11.25. Heb. 10.22. & 12.24. Joh. 3.5. Rom. 6.2, 3. Acts 22.16 Luke 3.3. 1 Pet. 3.20, 21. 1 Cor. 15.29. and the Lords Supper.
Q. What is done for you in Baptiſme?
Anſw. In Baptiſme the waſhing with water is a ſigne and ſeale of my waſhing with the bloud and ſpirit of Chriſt, and thereby of my ingrafting into Chriſt: of the pardon and cleanſing of my ſinnes: of my riſing up out of affliction: and alſo of my Reſurrection from the death 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 them1 Cor. 10.16. Matth. 26.26.28. 1 Cor. 12.13. Pſ. 104.15. Joh. 6 55. Luke 22.27, 29, 30. win… powered out, is a ſigne and ſeal of my receiving the Communion of the body of Chriſt broken for me, and of his blood ſhed for me, And thereby of my growth in Chriſt, of the pardon and healing of my ſins; 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 Baptiſm?
Anſw. When (n) Chriſt ſhall come to his laſt Judgement,aJohn 5.28, 29. Act. …4.15. 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 laſto2 Cor. 5.10. Mat. 12.36 1 Cor. 4.5. Eccl. 12.14 day we ſhall all appear before the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt, to give an account of our works, and to receive our reward according to them.
Queſt. What is the reward that ſhall then be given?
Anſw. ThepMat. 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 Angells.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Cotton, Spiritual Milk for Boston Babes (1657)