A most brief manner of Instruction, to the principles of Christian Religion.  
By I. F.  
Psal. 34. Come ye children, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord.  
1. Peter. 3.11. Let every one be ready to render an account of his Faith.  
Imprinted at London by Hugh Singleton.   

To the christian Reader, grace and peace in Christ.  
THe short memories and dull wits, of many to conceive & remember, the most brief & short sum of Christian Religion, hath moved me to do this work; and that because I see & perceive by daily proof and experience, that all means and ways assayed, yet hardly we can prevail to settle, or beat into the heads and hearts of youth, so necessary a matter, as is the instruction to right understanding of the principles of Religion.  
I have here therefore according to my capacity and small skill, drawn out a few questions, with Answers annexed and adjoined, very fit for the simpler sort, both of youth and age, that are so long and hard to learn. That it grieveth my heart to think how careless and heedless, many, both young and old be in so needful a matter, as concerns their salvation.  
But the cause of so small effect taken of many, is this, partly by the negligence both of Parents and their youth, both children and servants, the Parent's slackness in sending them to the Ministers; and their carelessness when they do come, and heedless hearts in hearing and regarding; and their mindlessness when the Ministers endeavour is in the best and plainest manner bestowed among them.  
And therefore, I pray God stir up the Magistrates hearts to have more care of this so weighty a matter. And to see their articles concerning this point better executed and put in practice; as well for careless and heedless, and mindless youth, and ignorant aged persons; as for negligent Parents, and Ministers, for the instruction of the one, and discharge of the other.  
Thine in the Lord. I. F.   

A very brief manner of Instruction, to the principles of Religion.  Question. 
WHat meaneth this word, Catechism?  Answer. 
It is as much as to say, a Christian Instruction.  Q. 
What is the chief part of a Christian man's duty?  A. 
To know God.  Q. 
By what means may we best know God?  A. 
By his word, and by his works.  Q. 
By what means, is Gods will best made known unto us?  A. 
By these two parts of his word, namely, the Law and the Gospel.  Q. 
What learnest thou by the Law?  A. 
I learn three things.  Q. 
Which be they?  A 
First, I learn my miserable, wretched and woeful estate, and my corrupt and most damnable condition by nature.  
Secondly, I learn thereby, both what Gods will is I should do, and what I ought to do. And what Gods will is I should not do, and so, what I ought not to do.  
Thirdly, I am thereby taught, to fly to Christ for my salvation. Because I see nothing but condemnation in the Law, and the dexterity, and righteousness thereof. And this is the sum and effect of God's Law in general.  Q. 
Show me then the brief sum of God's Law in special?  A. 
You mean the commandments of almighty God, that he gave unto Moses in the mount.  Q. 
Yea the same, how many be there?  A. 
There be ten commandments.  Q. 
If you can, I pray you declare them?  A. 
Yes that I can, they be the same which God spoke in the xx. Chapter of Exodus, saying: Hear O Israel, I am the Lord thy God, that brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 

1. Thou shalt have none other Gods but me.  
2. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven Image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor in the waters under the earth, thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them, for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the Fathers upon the children, to the third and sowrth generation of them that hate me: & show mercy unto thousands, in them that love me and keep my commandments.  
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.  
4. Remember thou keep holy the Sabbaoth day: six days shalt thou labour & do all that thou hast to do, but the seventh day is the Sabaoth of the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt do no manner of work, thou and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man servant, and thy maid servant: thy thy cat-tail, & the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day, wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and hallowed it.  
5. Honour thy Father and thy Mother, that thy days may be long in the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee.  
6. Thou shalt do no murder.  
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.  
8. Thou shalt not steal.  
9 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.  
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his.    Q. 
How many Tables be there in these ten commandments?  A. 
There be two Tables.  Q. 
How many commandments are there in the first Table?  A. 
There be four.  Q. 
How many in the second Table?  A. 
There be six.  Q. 
How many of these are commanded to be done, and how many are forbidden not to be done?  A. 
There be two commandments to be done: and eight forbidden to be done.  Q. 
Which be they that be commanded to be done, and which not to be done?  A. 
The 4. and 5. commanded to be done, The 1 2. 3 of the first Table, And the 6.7. 8.9.10. of the second Table not to be done.  Q. 
Rehearse them?  A. 
1. The sowrth and last commandment of the first Table, is commanded to be done, namely: Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day, etc.  
2. So is the fift commandment, being the first of the second Table, namely: Honour thy father and thy Mother, etc.  
3. All the rest are forbidden, and are discerned by these notes or titles. As  
4. Thou shall 

1. Have none As in the  
2. Not As in the  
3. Do no As in the   

First Table, three forbidden.  
thou shall 1. Have none other Gods, etc.  
thou shall 2. Not make to thyself any graven Image, etc.  
thou shall 3. Not take the name of the Lord, etc.   

In the second Table, five forbidden.  
4. 6. Do no murder.  
5. 7. Commit no adultery.  
6. 8. Steal not.  
7. 9 Bear no false witness, etc.  
8. 10. Court not thy neighbour's house, nor his wife, etc.    Q. 
So thou seest how few God commands to do?  A. 
Yea, and yet we do them not. And how many forbidden, etc. and yet we do them.  Q 
But what learnest thou by this?  A. 
I learn and see hereby, two special things to be remembered. 

1. First God's fatherly care, love & goodness towards us, in both warning us, and teaching of us: Both what he would have done, and what he would not have done. What we should do, and what we should not do.  
2. Secondly again, I see first how frail and untoward we are, either to do that he commandeth, or to forbear that he forbiddeth: such is our corrupt and sinful state and naughty nature, and evil inclined disposition.    Q. 
Then thou hast profited something hereby.  A. 
Yea, I thank God I know and have learned, both how graciously and mercifully God hath dealt with us in this, and all other his holy Scriptures. And how far we are from doing his holy will, and how prone, ready, and forward we are to do the contrary: even our own will and heart lusts and delights. And yet by this means I hope hereafter by God's grace, to be put in mind & remembrance to have more care to do God's will, and less delight in mine own will, than ever I had before.  Q. 
God grant it to thee and us all, to have such grace for Christ's sake.  A. 
Amen.  Q. 
Seeing we be in such a dangerous state of damnation, what means have we to obtain God's mercy and pardon for our sins?  A. 
Only by faith in Christ jesus.  Q. 
And nothing else but faith?  A. 
No, no other thing but faith in Christ, joined with true repentance & Christian love & charity. And then follows a zealous mind to the truth, one a hearty and an unfeigned purpose to amend, whatsoever is amiss before God and man, etc.  Q. 
Rehearse the sum and effect of that faith, particularly and distinctly.  A. 
1. I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.  
2. And in jesus Christ his only son our Lord, which was conceived by the holy Ghost, borne of the Virgin Marie, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified dead and buried.  
3. He descended into hell.  
4. The third day he rose again from the dead.  
5. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.  
6. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.  
7. I believe in the holy Ghost.  
8. The holy Catholic Church.  
9 The Communion of saints.  
10. The forgiveness of sins.  
11. The resurrection of the body.  
12. And the life everlasting.  Q. 
How many Articles be there?  A. 
Twelve.  Q. 
How many parts is the Creed to be divided into?  A. 
Into three in general. 

1. As to God the Father and our creation, by him.  
2. To God the son, and our redemption in him.  
3. To God the holy Ghost, & our sanctification and regeneration & new birth in him.    Q. 
Is there any more divisions used?  A. 
Yea, by some two other.  Q. 
Which be they?  A. 
1. One of the Cotholique Church, and the Communion of saints.  
2. The other of these three Articles, specially to be noted, as the sum, comfort, and effect of all our faith, etc.  
And they be 

1 The forgiveness of sins,  
2 The resurrection of the body.  
3 And the life everlasting.    Q. 
Are these the chief parts of our Creed or Articles of our Faith, both general, special and particular?  A. 
Yea, this is the sum of our faith in the blessed Trinity, our creation, redemption, and sanctification, and regeneration, and new birth wrought by God's spirit, in the hearts of every faithful creature, of the true Church of Christ.  Q. 
How is this Faith obtained, increased, and established?  A. 
By three special means. 

1. By our humble and hearty Prayer to God.  
2. By hearing of the word, and receiving of the Sacraments.  
3. By the working of God's holy spirit in our hearts, in hearing of the same word, & receiving of the same Sacraments, etc.    Q. 
What is the chiefest prayer, to obtain all things at God's hand by?  A. 
The same which Christ hath taught us, saying: when you pray, pray on this manner, etc. Luk. II.  
O Our Father which art in Heaven.  
1. hallowed be thy name.  
2. Thy kingdom come.  
3. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.  
4. Give us this day our daily bread. etc.  
5. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive. etc.  
6. And lead us not into temptation.  
But deliver us from evil. etc.  Q. 
How many parts are contained in the prayer.  A. 
There be three parts in general. 

1. The preface.  
2. Six petition.  
3. The conclusion.    
But two parts special, etc. 

1. The preface is, Our Father which art in heaven.  
2. The six petitions, be divided into two parts in special.    
The first containeth three petitions.  
The second containeth other three petitions.  
The 1. containing the glory of God.  
The 2 containing the necessity of men.  
The first three Bee, 

1. Hallowed be thy name.  
2. Thy kingdom come.  
3. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.    
This consernes the glory of God.  
The other three, 

1. 4. Give us this day our daily bread.  
2. 5. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that, etc.  
3. 6. And lead us not into temptation, etc.    
These concerns the necessity of men.  Q. 
Then I perceive this beginning, Our Father which art in heaven: is but a preface or an entrance into the prayer, or a preparing God's ear and our hearts thereunto, And so the end but a conclusion, yielding all power and glory to God?  A. 
You say very truly.  Q. 
I see also, that you understand both, what thou speakest, and also what thou prayest for?  A. 
Yea, that I do I thank God, & I give you thanks also, for your friendly and Christian endeavour. And the Lord give me grace to use this prayer and all other, a right. And so heartily, reverently, faithfully, and unfeignedly, as may be to God's glory and my comfort.  Q. 
Amen. The Lord grant it to all men etc.  
FINIS.