A New Catechism, Text 1 – Text 2
A NEW CATECHISME, Commanded to be ſet forth in this time of Reformation, being the Principall grounds of Chriſtian Religion, with directions for the Exammining of all Perſons, before they come to Receive the Holy Communion, or Lords Supper.
ALSO, With a breefe Direction, how to Read the Holy SCRIPTURES with profit.
Written by WILLIAM GOOD. Miniſter of Gods word, at Denton in Norfolke.
Publiſhed according to Order.
LONDON, Printed by Bernerd Alſop, 1645.
A GODLY DIRECTION, For the Receiving of the HOLIE COMMUNION.
Q. WHat is required of a man, that he may receive the Communion to his comfort?
A. Some thing is to bee done before, ſome thing in the receiving, ſome thing after.
Q. What is to be done before?
A. *To perepare our ſelves rightly for the receivng of it.
Q. Wherein conſiſts this preparation?
A. In getting ſound knowledge, true Faith, Repentance, Obedience, Love, and earneſt and humble deſire of it, and in exammination, and renewing of theſe graces.
Q. What knowledge muſt we have?
A. A ſanctified knowledge of God, of our ſelves, of Chriſt, of the grace of Chriſt, and the meanes of this grace, as hath been ſhewed before. Now the Sacraments are one meanes of grace, the doctrine whereof we muſt know particularly.
Q. What is a Sacrament.
A. An outward ſigne ordained of God. Gen. 17.11. Math. 26.26. whereby Chriſt and all his benifits are ſignified, Rom. 4.11. if we truly beleeve, are converted and ſealed unto it: 1 Pet. 3.21. 1 Cor. 10.16. Exod. 12.3.4.5.
Q. What meane you by Chriſt and and all his benifits.
A. Not a corporall eating of Chriſt, as the Papiſt vainly immagin, compare Acts 3.21. with Matt. 28.6. Iohn 16.10. but Chriſt is received by a ſpirituall union with him and being made liveing members of that body, whereof Chriſt is the head, Iohn 15, 2. Epheſ 5.30. Acts. 3.21.
Q. What meane you by the benifits of Chriſt.
A. Iuſtification, comfort in affliction, ſanctification, and all other bleſſings merited by him for us, Tit 3.5.
Q. How many Sacraments be there▪
A. Two, Baptiſme, and the Supper of the Lord.
Q What is Baptiſme?
A. A Sacrament of over ingrafting into Chriſt, and the ſociety of the faithfull, and of receiving of the ſeale of the covenant of grace, Tit. 3.5. Matth. 28.17.
Q. How many parts be there in a Sacrament.
A. The ſigne, and the thing ſignified.
Q What is the outward ſigne in baptiſme.
A Water, wherewith the child is Babtized, in the Name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the Holy Ghoſt.
Q. What is the inward Grace, or thing ſignified.
A. The blood of Chriſt, whereby we are purged from ſinne, juſtified, Heb. 9.14. and the ſpirit of Chriſt, whereby we are ſanctified, enabled to die to ſinne, and lead a new life▪ Theſe benifits are ſealed by Baptiſme to the true beleever. Rom. 6.3.4.5. 2. Cor. 3.17. Gal. 5.24.
Q. What is the Lords Supper.
A. A Sacrament that cauſeth our continuance and groweth in Chriſt, Matt. 26.27. 1. Cor. 10.16.
Q. What is the outward ſigne in the Lords ſupper?
A. Bread and Wine, with the actions pertaining to them, according to Chriſts conſtitution, as breaking by any lawfull meanes, Receiving, Eating, Drinking, Matt. 26.26.
Q. What ia the thing ſignified?
A. Chriſt and all his benifits, which I ſhall as certainly receive, if I beleeve, as I receive the Bread and Wine into my body 1 Cor. 11.24. 1 Cor. 1.30. Rom. 4.23.
Q. How doe the Bread and Wine in the Sacrament differ from common bread and wine?
A. Not at all in nature and ſubſtance, but in uſe only, being now made meanes to increaſe in us our Sanctification, and to aſſure us of Iuſtification, Rom. 411.
Q. Who ordained this Sacrament?
A. Chriſt himſelfe, 1. Cor. 11.23.24. Matt. 26.26.27.
Q. What are the reaſons, which are the ends for which we muſt receive the Sacrament?
A. Firſt, that we may obey Chriſt, that hath ſo commanded: Matth. 26.27. Secondly, that we may the better underſtand, and remember what Chriſt hath done for us, of whoſe death and blood ſhed, the breaking of the Bread, and the powring out of the Wine, is a lively reſemblance. 1 cor. 11.26. Heb. 9.26. Gal. 3.1. Thirdly, that I may be ſtirrred up to be more thankfull to him for his infinite Mercy, 1 Cor. 11.24. Fourthly, that all Graces needfull to ſalvation, may be increaſed in me. Rom. 8.29. Matt. 25.45. 2 Cor. 11.25. Fiftly, that the aſſurance of my ſalvation, may be hereby ſealed unto me, John 6.51. Rom. 4.11. Sixtly, to teach us what union and love ought to be amongſt Chriſtians, being all but one body, repreſented by one Bread, 1. Cor. 10.13.
Q. What elſe is required in our preparation?
A. Faith Repentance, Oobedience Love, as may be ſeen before.
Q. VVhat is the ſumme of them?
A. Firſt to take Chriſt as my only Lord and Saviour, beleeving the forgiveneſſe of all my ſinnes, and puniſhment due to them by Chriſt only, Epheſ. 1, 13. Acts 16, 3.
Secondly, that I grive for nothing ſo much, as that I have offended God by my ſinnes, Ezech. 10.12. Mourning and bewayling, from my very heart, all my ſinnes, even my uncleane thoughts, and evill motions, though I conſent not to them, Rom. 7.2.
Thirdly, that I hate and leave every ſinne. Pſal. 119.104. and walke in obedience to every Commandement; ſo that I alow my ſelfe no ſinne to raigne in me, but mortifie, and leſſen every ſinne, Pſal. 119.104. James 2.19. ſo that I am willing, and reſolved rather to ſuffer death, then to continue in any knowne ſinne, Luke 14.26.
Fourthly, that I love God above all, Matt. 22.37. grived to ſee him offended by any, Pſal. 119.136. uſeing all meanes, carefully, and conſtantly, whereby I may be enabled to keep all His Commandements, and deſire nothing ſo much, as grace and power to doe His will, Matth. 5.6.
Fiftly, if any offence be between my Brother and me, that I reconcile my ſelfe unto him, wiſhing the ſame good to his ſoule and body as to my owne; that I labour to bring others to true Repentance; that I love Gods people, and that for their holyneſſe, above all others, 1 John 3.14. that I love and doe good to my enemies.
Q. VVhat elſe is required in this Preparation?
A. That humbly and earneſtly, thirſt after this ſacrament, and the bleſſing of God upon it, that it may worke theſe effects in me, for which it is ordayned.
Q. VVhat meane you by humble thirſting?
A. That I acknowledge my ſelfe altogether unworthy to receive it, in reſpect of any thing in my ſelfe, and that I looke for acceptance of my worke through Chriſt.
Q. VVhat elſe is required?
A. That I would ſtrictly examine my ſelfe, whether I have theſe graces or no. 1 Cor. 11.28. 2 Cor. 13.5.
Q. VVhat elſe?
A. That I ſhould renew all theſe graces, 1 Cor. 11.31.
Q. VVhat is it to renew the graces of God in us?
A. To quicken and ſtirre them up, and to make them more active.
Q. How may this be done?
A. Firſt our knowledge may be renewed, by meditating, reading, and conferring on the the cheife principalls of Religion.
Secondly, our Repentance may be renewed by the conſideration of the number, and haniouſneſſe of our ſinnes, by that eternity of wrath, that is due unto them, and the infinite Goodneſſe, Holyneſſe, and Mercy of that God, that is offended by them.
Thirdly, our Faith may be renewed, by conſidering the Al-ſufficiencie of Chriſt, to ſatisfie Gods wrath for ſin, to purchaſe ſalvation for us, and the fullneſſe and freeneſſe of Gode grace offered unto us in the promiſes.
Fourthly, our obedience may be renewed by reſolutions and covenants, of better and more ſtrict walking, for the time to come.
Fiftly, our love to God may be renewed, by conſidering the infinite variety of the expreſſions of Gods love to us, in forbearing, giving, and forgiving; and eſpecially, in the unſpeakable ſufferings of Chriſt, Our love to man may be renewed, by conſidering how infinitely more is forgiven us by God in one day, then we can forgive to others in all our lives: How will God forgive us, if wee forgive not our Neighbours? And by conſidering how bountifull love is, where it is true; and by labouring for meek, and humble ſpirits and contented mindes.
Sixtly, our hungring, and thirſting, after Chriſt, in this Ordinance, may bee ſtirred up, by conſideration of our lamentable emptineſſe in our ſelves; our dayly and grivious failings; and how fearefull the abſence of Gods grace, or the comfort of his Holy Spirit, will be to our ſoules, eſpecially, if procured by any neglect of meanes by us, Matt. 7.7.
Q. VVhat is to be done in receiving the Holy Communion?
A. Firſt, I muſt meditate upon the Elements, and the Actions of the Miniſter; for theſe are ordained of Chriſt, to teach us the nature of theſe benifits we receive by Him, being adminiſtred according to His inſtitution.
Secondly, I muſt meditate, when I ſee the Miniſter ſet apart the Bread and Wine, and bleſſing them; that Chriſt was ſet apart for mans redemption, and furniſhed with all needfull abillities thereunto.
Thirdly, when I ſee the Bread broken, and the Wine powred out, I muſt conſider of the infinite hauiouſneſſe of my ſinnes, the infinite love of God, and the torments that Chriſt ſuffered for me; beleeving Chriſts blood to have been ſhed, and His body broken, as verily for my ſinnes, as this Wine is powred out, and this Bread broken, which is before my eies. 1 Cor. 11.25.
Fourthly, when the Miniſter commeth to me with Bread and Wine, I muſt put forth an act of Faith to beleeve, that my ſoule ſhall be as verily fed unto eternall life by Chriſt, as my body is nouriſhed by the Bread and Wine.
Fiftly, having received them, I muſt lift up my ſoule in thankfulneſſe to God, praying, that as this is the greateſt gift, that ever God gave or man received, and that it may be ſo to me, and that I may be able by his grace, to offer up my body and ſoule, even what I am, or have, as lively ſacrafices unto him to honour him all the dayes of my life, a Knigs 8.66.
Q. VVhat is to be done after the receiving?
A. Wee muſt labour co finde our graces ſtrengthned, and give God hearty thanks for his bleſſings, Prov. 4.…8. Ezech. 47.12. And if we finde little or no benifit, we muſt be humbled for our want of preparation, and depend upon God with patience, for increaſe of grace untill He ſhall pleaſe to give it. Wee muſt alſo ſtrictly indeavour, to keep the Covenants, and Promiſes, which we have made to God in this Sacrament, in Holyneſſe and Righteouſneſſe all the dayes of our lives, Judges 10.14. Exodus 13.9.
Q. How often muſt we receive this Sacrament of the Lords Supper?
A. So often as it is appointed, by the Miniſters, to be received in the Church where we live, Numb. 913.
FINIS.
DIRECTIONS HOW to Read the Holy SCRIPTVRES, with Profit.
FIRST, ever begin with Prayer, and Invocation upon Gods holy Name. Read with a Minde, Learne your Duty, with a purpoſe to Practiſe what you know.
Deny your owne reaſon, and wiſdome, in ſeeking to finde out the ſence of Scripture.
VVhen you read Gods word, ever note eſpecially thoſe places, which will give you moſt comfort againſt all afflictions, and croſſes in generall.
Then obſerve, more eſpecially, wherewith God hath, or doth, moſt perticularly try you withall; and gather the more eſpeciall places againſt them.
Obſerve thoſe places, eſpecially, where the generall duties of Chriſtianity are commanded to us, and referre them to ſome of the commandements.
Obſerve more particularly, thoſe places, where your owne perticular duty, of a Father a Mother, a Son, a Servant, &c. And the perticular duty of your generall calling, as a Magiſtrate, Miniſter, &c. VVhat ever your calling be. Obſerve eſpecially, thoſe places, wherin the principall grounds of our Religion are plainely layd down, that you may be able to render a reaſon of your Faith. Obſerve the heryſes, which trouble the Church, werein you live, and ever as you Reade obſerve places, which moſt of all make againſt thoſe Heryſies, that you may be able to ſtop the mouthes of all gaine-ſayers.
Obſerve thoſe ſinnes whereto you are moſt eſpecially tempted, and in danger to be drawn to; and gather places of Scripture, which moſt of all ſpeake againſt them.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Goode, A New Catechism (1645)