Brief Answer to the Chief Articles of Religion, Text
BRIEFE ANSWERS TO the chiefe Articles of RELIGION. The fourth Edition. By W. Gouge, D. D.
1 PET. 2. 2.
As new-born Babes deſire the ſincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.
ANCHORA SPEI
LONDON, Printed by G. M. for Edward Brewſter, and are to be ſold at his ſhop upon Fleet-bridge at the ſigne of the Bible, 1642.
O God of mercies, who haſt revealed thy Word to give underſtanding to the ſimple, Pardon I beſeech thee my ignorance, and all other my ſinnes, and give me knowledge of thee, of my ſelf, of thy will, and of my duty, for Chriſt Ieſus ſake.
Amen.
BRIEFE ANSVVERS TO the chief Articles of RELIGION.
Queſtion.
WHo is the maker and governour of all things?
A. God.
Q What is that eſtate wherin God made all things?
A. Good.
Q. What now is mans naturall eſtate?
A. Miſerable.
Q. What maketh man miſerable?
A. Sinne.
Q. Againſt whoſe Law is ſin committed?
A. Gods.
Q. Which are the words of Gods Law?
A. I am the Lord, &c.
Q. Are you able to keep this Law?
A. No.
Q. What doe they deſerve that ſin againſt this Law?
A. Damnation.
Q Can you free your ſelf from damnation?
A. No.
Q. Have you any hope to be freed by any other?
A. Yes.
Q. Who is that Saviour in whom you have hope?
A. Chriſt.
Q. What is Chriſt?
A. God and man.
Q. What hath Chriſt done for mans Redemption?
A. He died.
Q. Who ſhall be made partakers of the benefit of his death?
A. Beléevers.
Q. Rehearſe thoſe principall Articles that we ought to beleeve?
A. I beleeve in God, &c.
Q. How is true faith manifeſted?
A. By Repentance.
Q. What meanes hath God ordained to work faith?
A. His Word.
Q. What other means hath God appointed to ſtrengthen our faith?
A. Sacraments.
Q. What is to be conſidered in a Sacrament.
A. 1. The outward ſigne.
2. The inward grace.
Q. How many Sacraments are there?
A. Two.
Q. Which is the firſt?
A. Baptiſme.
Q. What is the outward ſigne in Baptiſme?
A. Water.
Q. What doth that ſet forth?
A. Chriſts bloud.
Q. What doth the ſprinkling of it upon the party baptized ſet out?
A. Cleanſing from ſinns.
Q. Into whoſe name are wee baptized?
A. Gods.
Q. What do theſe three Titles, Father, Sonne, Holy Ghost, in the forme of Baptiſme ſet out?
A. Thrée perſons.
Q. What is the inward grace ſealed up by Baptiſme?
A. New birth.
Q. Which is the other Sacrament?
A. The Lords Supper.
Q. What are the outward ſignes in the Lords Supper?
A. Bread and wine.
Q. What doth the Bread ſet forth?
A. Chriſts Body.
Q. What doth the Wine ſet forth?
A. Chriſts Bloud.
Q. What doth the breaking of the Bread and powring out of the wine ſet out?
A. Chriſts ſuffering.
Q. What doth the Miniſters giving of the Bread and wine to the people ſet out?
A. Gods giving of Chriſt.
Q. What doth the peoples taking of the Bread and wine, and eating and drinking the ſame ſet out?
A. Faith in Chriſt.
Q▪ What is the inward grace ſealed up by the Lords Supper?
A. Communion with Chriſt.
Q. What is the inward means wherby the Word and Sacraments are made effectuall?
A. The worke of Gods Spirit.
Q. What muſt we doe to obtain this and all other needfull bleſſings?
A. Pray.
Q. Rehearſe the Lords Prayer?
A. Our Father. &c.
Q. What is prepared for the faithfull after this life?
Eternall life.
Q. VVhat for the wicked?
A. Eternall death.
AS it pleaſeth thee, ô Father of light, to give me any knowledge of the myſteries of godlineſſe, ſo I beſeech thee to work in me alſo ſound faith, true repentance, new obedience, and to beſtow on mee all other bleſſings needfull for this life, and for the life to come, thorow Ieſus Chriſt our Lord.
Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Gouge, Brief Answer to the Chief Articles of Religion (1642)