¶ AN EASY ENTRANCE INTO the principal points of Christian Re●●●●… very short and plain for the 〈◊〉 ●●●te, and may soon be lee 〈…〉, if they have any care 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●●…ght to have) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●●…uuation▪ By I G. Hebr. 5. 12. When as concerning the time ye aught to be teachers, yet have ye need again that we teach you what are the first principles of the word of God▪ and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. john. 3. 12. If when I tell you earthly things, ye believe not, how should ye believe, if I shall tell you of heavenly things? ¶ IMPRINTED AT London for William Norton. 1579. To the Reader. I HAVE endeavoured (gentle Reader) to set down the principal points of Christian Religion, in as plain sort as I could possible: for their sakes especially, whose capacities are small, and memories unable to contain much. If I have attained that which I attempted (that is to say, their profit) I have my desire: If otherwise▪ then although my work deserve no● praise (which if it did, were due only to God) yet my will desireth pardon, which I do not doubt to obtain at thy hands, seeing I seek nothing but thy advantage. The excuses that are daily made for ignorance, while one layeth the fault in his want of time, an other in his simplicity, and want of capacity, and others in want of memory, etc. did much move me to try what I could do, to do them good: although I am not ignorant, that others also have gone about the same. But such is the dullness of our days, and so hard is it to be both short and yet plain, in so great matters, that it is well, if either their or my labour, or all that we all can do, may bring men forward in the faith. If we miss this, yet because we mean it, he that is not uncharitably suspicious, will not think the labour superfluous. If this come to the hands of such, as are already past such A. B. Cees▪ let it not offend them, that children are led, though they being men can go alone. And let them leave this, either to children in years or in knowledge: which must of necessity be trained up in this, or such short and plain sort, if they will profit, as I pray God they may, and we all every day increase in knowledge, and grow in the grace of our Lord jesus Christ, who ever preserve you, & to whom be praise in the Church through all generations for ever. * ⁎ * AMEN. The Law. Minister. Parishioner. WHat Religion do you profess? P The Religion of a true Rom. 10. 1●. Mat. 10. 32. Act 11. 20. Christian. M. Wherein consisteth chief the Religion of a true Christian? P. In the true understanding and profitable Act. 2. 41 42. use of the ten commandments: the Articles of faith: the Sacraments: and prayer. M. Rehearse first the ten commandments. Deut 4 13. Exod. 20. Deut. 5. P. The same which God spoke, etc. M. What doth God chief require in these commandments? P. That I should love him with all my Ma. 22. 37. 39 heart, with all my soul, and with all my strength: and that I should love my neighbour as myself. M. How is God loved? P. By obeying perfectly those commandements, 1. john. 2. 5. which teach our duty towards him. M How many are they. Exod. 34. 1. Deu. 10. 1. 2. Exo●. ●0. 3. Ma●▪ ●. 10. Deut. 10. 12. & ●0. &. 6. 13. P. Four in the first table. M. What duty teacheth the first▪ P. That I should always worship, fear and love this true and living God Psal. 50. 13. 14. and. 23. Deut. 6. 4. and 14. above all things, trust in him only, pray and give thanks to him alone. And never by these means to worship or serve any creature in his presence. M. The second. Exod. 20. 4. 5. 6. P. That I should not imagine him to Deut. 4. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19 Levi. 26. 1. Exo. 34. 14. Esa. 42. 8. Aba. 2. 19 20. Io. 4. 23. 24. be like any thing that I see or know in the whole world, nor worship him in, or under any image, or likeness of any thing, but in spirit and truth, as he hath commanded. M. The third. Exod. 20. 7. P. That I should not abuse his name Levit. 24. 16. and 19 12. Mat. 5. 34. Heb. 6 16. Exod. 22. 10. jac. 5. 12. Deut. 28. 58. any kind of way, much less by false or vain oaths, but being lawfully called to an oath, then to swear truly by him only, and at no time by any creature, and to use his name always to his honour and glory. M. The fourth. Exod. 20. 8. 9 10. 11. P. That I, and all mine, cease from all Levit. 26. 2. bodily labour, and weekly travail, and come to Church to hear the word Act. 20. 7. of God, and receive the Sacraments, and pray together with the whole Congregation: Deut. 5. 14. Ex. 23. 12. and that my family and all my cattle may by the same rest be refreshed. M. And how shall we love our neighbour? P. By keeping perfectly those commandments, Rom. 13. 8. 9 10. which contain our du●ie to him. M. Which are they? P. The other six in the second table. Exod. 32. 15. M. What meaneth the fift, being the Exod. 20. 12. first of the same? P. That I should love, reverence, obey, Mar. 7. 10. Ephe. 6. 1. 2. Gal. 6. 6. 1. Thes. 5. 12. Rom. 13. 1. Exod. 21. 17. and. 22. 28. and help my natural parents, and all my superiors, and governors of the Church and common wealth, and at no time resist or despise their authority. M. The sixth, Thou shalt do no murder? Exo. 20. 13. 1. john. 3. 15. mat. 5. 21. 22. 1. john. 3. 16. P That I should not kill, nor hate in my heart, nor revile any with my tongue, but help, save, and keep their lives as much as I am able. M. The seventh, Thou shalt not commit Exod. 20. 14. adultery? P. That I should not commit the deed Mat. 5. 27. 28. 1. Thes. 4. 3. 1. Cor. 7. 2. Ephe. 5. 3. 4. in body, nor lust after it with any in my heart, but use all means to keep and declare myself sober and chaste. Exod. 20. 15. M. The eight, Thou shalt not steal? P. That I should not take away the Levit. 19 13. 1. Thes. 4. 6. De. 25. 13. 14 Luke. 12. 15. Ephe. 4. 28. 1 john. 3. 17. 1. Tim. 6. 7. 8. goods of any other by deceit or violence, nor in my heart desire the same: but restore to every man his, to give to them which need, & to be content with mine own. M. The ninth, Thou shalt bear no false witness against thy neighbour? Exodus. 20. 15. P. That I should not hurt any with Exod. 23. 1. jac. 4. 11. Levit. 19▪ 16. 1. Cor. 13. 5. Levit. 19 17. Mat. 18. 15. Ephe. 4. 29. my tongue by false witness, backbitings, slanders or flattering, nor without cause suspect evil of any: but use my tongue to further and profit them in whatsoever I am able. M. The tenth. Thou shalt not covet? Exodus. 20. 16. P. That there should not be in me any Mar. 7. 21. 22 Rom. 7. 7. jac. 1. 14. Psal. 11. 7. motions or desires to any sin, but that I should be without all sin, and holy in my whole soul and body. M. Are you able then thus to keep these commandments? P. Not verily. Rom. 8. 3. M. Where is the fault? P. In my corrupt nature, which is enemy Rom. 8. 7. to all righteousness. M. Who corrupted your nature? P. Adam, by his transgression, forbade Rom. 5. 12. Gen. 1. 26. Eccle. 7. 31. created it good. M. Seeing then we cannot choose, but break them, what is the punishment of 1. Io. 3. 4. our sin and transgression. P. The curse of God upon body and Deut. 28. 15. soul, to everlasting death. M. If we keep some, will he not bear with us for the rest? P. Not: but accurseth us, if we continued Deut. 27. 26. not in all things in them to do them. M. Is he not then merciful? P. Yes: but this Law is the rule of Exod. 34. 6. Levit. 18. 5. Rom. 2. 13. his justice, and teacheth us what we are bound to do, and not what he will forgive. M. What is the use of this knowledge? P. To teach me that in myself I am Rom. 4, 15. Gal. 3. 10. 2. Cor. 3. 7. Rom. 6. 23. Mat. 6. 33. & 16. 26. always the child of wrath, accursed and condemned to everlasting death. M. How then shall we be saved? P. By faith: Luke 7. 50. Roman. 1. 16. and 3. 28. and 10. 9 Galat. 2. 16. Ephes. 2. 8. Mar. 10. 16. M. What is faith? P. A certain knowledge and full assurance Io. 17. 3. Heb. 11. 1. in the principal points of salvation▪ I called the Gospel. M. Which are these chief points of salvation? P. The articles of faith, which is the secoond thing, in the true understanding and use whereof consisteth christian religion. M. Rehearse them. ●. Pet. 3. 15. P. I believe in God the father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, etc. M. Wherefore say you, I believe, & not we believe, seeing this doctrine of salvation belongeth to others aswell as to you? P. Because my faith doth apply it to Gal. 2. 20. Abac. 2. Heb. 11. 6. myself, and maketh it effectual to salvation to myself only. M. Wherefore believe you in God? Esa. 43. 11 Ephe. 2. 4. 2. Tim. 1. 9 Tit. 1. 3 P. Because my whole salvation cometh from him alone. M. What is God? P. A spiritual substance, infinite, and Io. 4. 24. Esai. 66 1. Io. 17. 3. ●. Cor. 8. 5. 6. incomprehensible. M. Is there but one God only to believe in? P. Not: but this one God is three persons. M. Which are they? P. The Father, the Son, & the holy Mat. 28. 19 Ghost, which do together work whathever Luk. 3. 22. Tit. 3. 4. 5. 6. belongeth to my salvation. M. Wherefore believe you in God the Father? P. Because he hath so loved me, that he joh. 3. 16. ●ath given his only begotten son to ●aue me. M. What profiteth it you, that he is almighty? P. That being my father, his power Gen. 15. 1. and 17. 1. Mat, 10. 29. 30. 31. 2. Tim. 1. 12. which nothing can resist) shall always watch over me. M. What signifieth, Maker of heaven and earth? P. That he will always provide sufficient Luk. 12. 22. 23 and 30. Psal. 37. 25. Heb. 13. 5. 6. food and raiment for my body, and the nourishment of my life in this world. M. From whence have you this trust that he is your father, and that he will do all this for you? P. Through my belief in jesus Christ Io. 14. 6. Ephe. 2. 18. 1. Pe. 1. 20 21. Rom. 8. 32. his Son, whom he hath given to me, & with him will give me all things else. M. Why is he called jesus? P. Because God hath appointed him Mat. 1. 1. 21 Act. 4. 12. only to save me from my sins. M. And why is he called Christ? joh. 1. 41 Dan. 9 24. Psal. 45. 7. Act. 3. 22. 23. Heb. 10. 14. Heb. 1. 1. Mat. 21. 5. Luke. 1. 32. 33 Ihon. 18. 36. P. To signify that he is anointed 〈◊〉 God, to be my only teacher in the mean●… of my salvation: my only Priest, to reconcile me to his father: my only spiritual King, to govern and rule me by his word and holy Spirit. M. What manner of person is jesus Christ, which doth all this for you? P. Both God and man. Rom. 1. 3. 4. Phil. 2. 6. 7. M. Which words teach you that he is God? P. These, His only son our Lord Rom. 8. 3. john. 10. 36. M. Whose Son do you mean he is? P. The son of God the Father. Mat. 17. 5. Heb. 1. 5. M. Why call ye him his only son, seeing men and Angels are called his sons also? P. Because he is begotten of his very Psal. 82 6. Rom. 8. 14. job. 1. 6. john 1 14. Heb. 1. 3. substance, and is true & very God with his Father. M. When was he begotten of his Father? P. He hath been begotten ever, even Pro. 8. 22. john. 1. 1. 2 as the Father hath been ever, without beginning, or else he were not God. M. And which words teach that Gal. 4. 4. was made man? P. These: which was conceived by the Mat. 1. 18. Luk. 1. 27. 〈…〉 lie Ghost, borne of the vingin Marie. M. Why was he conceived by the ho 〈…〉 Ghost? P. That he might be most holy & just Luke. 1. 35. Acts. 22. 14. Heb. 7. 26. without all sin. M. Why was he borne of the Virgin ●arie? P. That he might be a true man like Heb. 2. 11. 16 ●nto us in all things, sin excepted. M. Wherefore was he man? P. To stand in our room, and to suffer Heb. 2. 14. 15 Gal. 4. 4. 5. 1. Tim. 2. 6. in body and soul, that curse which 〈…〉 due to our sins. M. Which words teach this? P. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Luke. 23. 1. john. 19 33 Mark 15. 40. was crucified, dead, and buried, he descended into hell. M. What do these former words signify? P. That he was condemned of Pontius Mat. 27. 24. & 25 26. Luke. 23. 33. Phi. 2. 8. Pilate, to the accursed death of the cross, which he suffered in body. M. And what signifieth, Descended into hell? P. It is added, to show that he humbled Phil. 2. 8. himself, and went under the wrath of God even in the same curs● Gal. 3. 13 Es. 53. 10. Mat. 26. 39 Lu. 22. 44. Mat. 27. 46. death which he suffered in body: A● that he felt the anguish and horror ● the same wrath of God in his soul which caused him to sweated drops of blood and to cry, my God, my God, why ha● thou forsaken me? M. This curse and wrath of God the● you mean is the hell that he was in before he died: and that he was in it bot● in body and soul. P Yea verily: for the scripture teachet● Io. 19 30. no other suffering in any other place fo● our deliverance from the same. M. And how doth this profit you? P. Because I believe that this which 1. Pet. 2. 24. Gal. 3. 13. he thus suffered in his body and soul, was for my sins, so that he hath redeemed me from the same for ever. M. You said before that he is God also, did this his Godhead suffer any thing? P. Not: For God cannot suffer. M. Wherefore then was he God? P. That he might overcome death, and 2. Cor. 13. 4. get the victory, which being man only, 1. Pet. 3. 18. he could not have done. M. Which words contain this victory? P. These following, The third day he Luc. 24 40. rose again, etc. Act. 2 32. M. Did the same body rise again? P. Yea, and is ascended into heaven, joh. 20. 27 Luk 24. 51. Mar. 16. ●9. ●nd is there God and man in the glory ●f his father. M. Did he ascend by and by after he ●…ose again? P. Not: but walked forty days on the Act. 1. 3 ●arth, and showed himself to his disciples, to confirm them in the truth of his resurrection. M. What doth this profit you? P. I believe that he now hath given to Rom. 4. 25. Ephe. 4. 7. 8 1. Cor. 1. 30 ●…ne his holiness of nature, & the righteousness of his whole life, to sanctify, and justify me always before God. M. What meaneth his sitting at the Heb. 1. 3. & 12. 2 1. Pet. 3. 22. Mat. 28. 18. Ephe. 1. 22. 1. Cor. 15. 25. r●ight hand of God the father almighty? P. That his father hath given him all power in heaven and earth, to govern and defend his Church, & to confounded all the enemies of the same. M. What else doth he now in heaven for us? P. He maketh continual intercession to Rom. 8. ●4. Heb. 7. 25. Io. 14. 13. 14 his father, so that I believe whatsoever I ask in his name, I shall surely receive. M. what remaineth to be done of him? P. From thence shall he come to iudg● Acts. 1. 11. 2. Tim. 4. 1. the quick and the dead. M. Who are they? P. All that are departed this life befor● 1. Cor. 15. 51. 1. Thes. 4. 15. his coming, and all which shall be her● alive at his coming. M. What is your confidence in that day Act. 3. 19 & 17. 30. 31. 1. Cor. 1. 8. jude. 24. Mat. 25. 34. whereof we aught to have chief regard? P. That by this faith in him, I shall stand blameless, and that he will give me the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, which he hath purchased for me. M. Why believe you in the holy Ghost? P. Because he doth work this faith & Ephe 1. 13. 14 2. Cor. 1. 22. Rom. 8. 16. assurance of this my salvation by Christ in my heart. M. How shall it be known that he hath wrought this faith in your heart? P. By his inseparable work of regeneration, Tit. 3. 5. Io. 3. 5. 6. or new birth in my nature. M. What is that? P. To sanctify me daily, by killing sin 2. Thes. 2. 13. 1. Thes. 4. 3. 1. Pet. 1, 2. in me, and by quickening me to newness of life. M. What is the Catholic Church? P. All, of all nations which have, do, & 1. Cor. 1 2. Act. 2. 47. and 13. 48. &. 15. 8 9 shall thus believe in jesus Christ for salvation. M. What is the communion of Saints? P. That all these in what part of the Ephe 4. 12. 13. 1. Cor. 1. 9 1. Ihon. 1. 3. joh. 17. 17. 19 ●arth so ever they live, are gathered in●o the fellowship of Christ, and are partakers in common of all his benefits where by they are made Saints. M. What is the remission of sins? P. That all their sins are so fully Ephe. 1. 7. Col. 1. 14. 1. Io. 2. 12. punished in Christ, that they are free●y forgiven & remitted to them for ever. M. And what is the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting? P. That all their bodies shall be raised Io. 6. 54. Rom. 8. 11. 1. Cor. 15. 41. 43. 44. Phil. 3. 22. up again at the last day, and be joined to their souls, to live with jesus Christ for ever in true glory. M. What doth the belief of all these things profit you? P. I believe that now being called 2. Cor. 15. 5. Act. 26. 18. Rom. 8. 30. from ignorance to this faith and assurance in jesus Christ with them, I do, and shall enjoy all these benefits also with them for ever. M. Thus you have gone briefly through the Law, & the doctrine of Faith, what is next, the true understanding whereof belongeth to a true Christian? P. The Sacraments. M. What is a Sacrament? Rom. 4. 11. Gal. 3. 27. 1. Cor. 11. 26. P. An outward sign and sure seal to strengthen my faith in Christ, and all his benefits by my outward senses: and a badge of my profession before men. M. How many are there in Christ his Church to this use? Ephe. 5. 26. Titus. 3. 5. 1. Pet. 3. 21. 1. Cor. 11. 20. & 23. 24. 25. P. Two. M. Which are they? P Baptism, and the lords supper. M. What is the outward sign & sure seal of Baptism? P. Water. john. 3. 23. Acts. 8. 36. 38 M. How doth it strengthen your faith in Christ, and all his benefits by your senses? P. That▪ as I see and know water wherewith I have been baptised, doth wash and make clean things that are foul: so as certainly Christ doth give himself to me, that his blood may always Acts. 2. 38. & 22. 16. wash and cleanse me from all my sins. M. And what is the outward sign & sure seal of the lords supper? P. Bread and wine. 1. Cor. 11, 13 24. 25. M. And how do they strengthen your faith in Christ by your senses? P. That as I know bread and wine to be a full & perfect nourishment of my 1. Cor. 10. 16 ●●die: and as I see the same given unto ●e in the communion by the Minister: Mat. 26. 26. 27. joh. 36. 54. 35 ●nd I take, and eat, and drink the same: ●o as certainly Christ giveth to me his ●ody and blood to be the full and perfect ●oode of my soul to eternal life. M. From whence have they this force, ●o seal and confirm the truth of these things in your heart? P. From the institution of Christ, who Luk. 22. 19 20 Matth. 28. 19 ●s truth itself, and can not deceive. M. By what means is this brought ●o pass, seeing Christ's body is now in ●eauen, and there must continued till his Act. 3. 21. coming again? P. By the secret power of the holy Io. 6. 63. 56. Ghost, which by faith maketh me one with Christ: and Christ with me. M. Seeing Christ (which you have Rom. 3. 4. 2. Tim. 2. 13. ●aide before) cannot deceive, offereth himself, and all his benefits thus certain●y, by them, Are all that come unto them, partakers of the same? P. Not: for the unfaithful, ignorant, 1. Cor. 10. 4. Heb. 11. 6. and unrepentant, by their unworthiness, deprive themselves of them, and receive only the outward signs, to their 1. Cor. 11. 28 &. 29. own condemnation. M. What else remaineth to be understood and used of a true Christian? P. Prayer. Rom. 12. 12. Col. 4. 2. 1. Peter. 4. 7. 1. Tim. 2. 8. Luke. 11. 9 & 13. jac. 1. 5. M. What is the use of prayer unto you? P. Seeing God is now become my father, through Christ his son, I ●●e and have recourse to him by the same, for all things needful, both for my body and soul. M. How aught we to pray? P. Even as our Lord jesus Christ Luke. 11. 1. 2. himself hath taught us. M. Rehearse the same as you have learned it. P. Our father which art in heaven, etc. Luke. 11. 7. Matth. 6. 9 M. May we pray with no other words then these? P. Yes: but this is the rule whereby all our prayers must be squared, if we shall jac. 4. 3. 1. Io. 5. 14. pray aright, & obtain any thing by them. M. And do you pray so oft as you use these words? P. Not: for if I do not understand what Math. 15. 7. 8. things I pray for, and desire earnestly 1. Cor. 14. 15 in my heart, whatsoever I ask with my tongue, I babble rather than pray. Matt. 6. 7. M. What things doth this rule of prayer chief contain? P. First I learn by it, how to be prepared to prayer: secondly, what things to pray for. M. In which words learn ye how to be prepared to prayer? P. In these: Our father which art in heaven. M. What learn you by this word Our? P. That I aught to be in love, & to pray jac. 5. 16. for others as well as for myself. M. What in this word Father? P. That I must pray with this faith jac. 1. 6. Rom. ●. 15. Gal. 4. 6. Ephe. 3. 11. and sure trust in his son jesus Christ, wrought in my heart by the holy Ghost, whereby only I, and all the faithful, have this ●ol●nesse to call him father. M. What in these: Which art in heaven? P. That he is ready and able to perform, Psal. 145. 18. Phil. 4. 5. 6. 1 Peter. 5. 7. john. 17. 1. Psal. 25. 1. whatsoever I ask: And that my mind must be removed from all earthly and wandering thoughts, and present itself before him in heaven. M. What followeth next? P. The petitions for the things contained 1. Iho●. 5. 15. in the same. M. How many are they? P. Six. M. What things are they for? P. Three for those things which chief Io. 7. 18. 17. 1 1. Cor. 10. 31. concern God's glory: And three for all things needful for ourselves. M. Show them briefly, which concern God's glory. P. The first, that his name may be reverenced, Psal. 72. 19 1. King. 8. 43. Act. 4. 29. 30 john 16. 8. Luke. 18. 7. 8, reve. 6. 10 & 22. 20. feared, and by all means glorified amongst us. The second, that he may reign daily more and more in our hearts, by his word and spirit: and in his good time finish and make perfect the same his kingdom, by his last coming. The third, that we may yield ourselves wholly Heb. 13. 20. Rom. 12. 1. 2. to his will in all things, and strive to go forward in the same, till we meet in perfect obedience with his angels in heaven. M. And what things are the other three for, which concern ourselves? P. The first Give us this day our daily bread, for all things for our bodies in this life. M. What are they? P. Sufficient food & raiment, health, 1. Tim. 6. 8. Psal. 107. Rom. 15. 30. & other prosperity, according to his will, and as he knoweth to be best for us. And that he would bless all things that we ●. Cor. 9 10. use & take in hand for the maintenance of our life. Luk. 11. 4. M. What things ask you in the other two? P. All things needful for our souls ●or the life to come. M. What are they? P. First that our faith may increase Luke 17. ●. 2. Pet. 3. 1●. Psal. 32. 5. and grow more & more in jesus Christ, ●hat we may always feel in our consciences, the remission and free forgiveness of our sins. M. Why doth Christ add, As we forgive them their trespasses? P. Because we should never presume Mar. 6. 14. 1●. ●o ask forgiveness of God, except we can freely forgive others which have any ●ay offended us. M. What is the last for: And lead us not? P. That GOD would not give us o●●er jude. 24. Rom. 8. 13. Gal. 5. 16. 17. ja. 4. 7. 1. Pe. 5. 8. 9 1. Thes. 5. 23. to our own lusts, and the temptations of Satan, but strengthen us with his holy spirit always to strive against them: & that he would preserve and keep us from all their evil. M. Where have you learned these principal points of Christian religion? Psal 19 7. ●. 119. ●. & 105 Esa. 8. 10. john. 5. ●●. P. Out of the word of God. M. By what means? P. By hearing i● preach●●, 〈…〉 Rom. 10. 14. 1. Cor. 1. ●●. Acts. 17. ●●. ●●se exercising myself in the same. M. Will this knowledge then 〈…〉 you P. Not: but I must increase 〈…〉 go Heb. ●●2. ●▪ ●e●. 2. 2. ●. Ti. 3. 14 15. Mat. 24. 13. forward by the same exercise of the 〈…〉 or of GOD, to my lives end, if I make at ●●mpt of my salvation. M. God grant you so to do. 1. Cor. 1. 8. 9 Phil. 1. 6. P. Amen. FINIS.