The catechism, or manner to teach Children and others the Christian faith: Used in all the lands and dominions that are under the mighty Prince Fredrick, the Palsgrave of the Rhine, Elector of the Empire. etc. Translated out of Latin into English, by William Turner Doctor of Physic, Easily to be understanded and read, aswell of the people of the North country, as others. ¶ Imprinted at London, by Richard johnes, dwelling in the upper end of Fléetlane. 1572. A catechism for Children. QUESTION. WHich is the only comfort, ●oth in life and in death? ANS. ¶ That both concerning my soul and my body, whether I live or I die, I am not mine own, but belong only unto my most faithful Lord and saver jesus Christ, who with his precious blood, most fully making amends for all my sins, hath delivered me from the power of the devil, and keepeth me so: that without the will of my heavenly Father, there can not so much as an hair fall from my head. Yea, and further that all things must serve for my salvation, wherefore he hath made me sure of everlasting life, by his holy spirit, & maketh me prompt and ready from henceforth to live according to his will. QVE. ¶ How many things are needful for thee to know, that thou mayst come by, and enjoy this comfort, that thou mayst both live and die blessedly? AN. ¶ Three: first, how great my sin and wretchedness is: The second, by what means I may be delivered from my sin: The third is, what thanks I own unto my Lord God for my deliverance. ¶ The first part of man's wretchedness or miserable state. QUESTION. BY what means shalt thou come by the knowledge of thy wretchedness? AN. ¶ BY the law of God. QU. * What doth the law of God require of us. AN. ¶ That doth Christ in a short sum teach us. Matthew xxij and Luke ten Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy thought and with all thy strength. This is the first, and greatest commandment. And the second is like unto this. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thine own self And the whole law & prophets hung upon these two commandments. QU. Canst thou keep all these things perfectly? AN. Not for I am ready & disposed of nature, to hate God and my neighbour. QU. ¶ Did God then make man so untoward, crooked, and so froward? AN. * Not, for he made him good, and unto the likeness of his own self that is: endued with true righteousness & holiness, that he should rightly know god his maker and heartily love him, & live for ever with him, to that end that he might love and praise him. QVE. * Then, from whence sprang up this crooked frowardness of man's nature? ANS. ¶ Of the fall & disobedience of our first Father and Mother, Adam & Eve, by whom our nature is so made crooked & naughty, that we all be concepued and borne in sin. QU. * Are we then all so wounded, that we be utterly unsufficient to do any good thing, and disposed and ready to all vice & wickedness? AN. Yea surely except that we be borne again by the Holy ghost. QU. * Doth not God then do wrong to man, whiles he requireth of him by the law to do those things which he is not able to do, perform, and fulfil? AN. ¶ Not, for God made Adam so, that he might fulfil those things, but he at the entisment of the devil, and by his own stubborness, both spoiled himself and his after comers, of those godly gifts. QVE. Doth God let go unpunished such stubbornness, and departing from him. ANS. * Nay, he is by horrible means angry, both with our sins that are grafted in us by nature, & also with them that we afterwards work and do, and the same he punisheth by his most rightuus judgement, with present and everlasting punishments as he doth pronounce. Cursed is every man that abideth not in all things that are written in the Book of the Law, that thou should keep them. QVE. ¶ Then is not God also merciful? AN. He is in deed merciful, but so that he is also rightuus, wherefore his righteousness requireth, that it the is done against the most high majesty of God, should be punished with the greatest punishments both of soul and body. ¶ The second part, of the deliverance of man. QUESTION. THen, when as by the right judgement of God, we are in danger both of everlasting pains, & of such that lasteth here but for a time: is there yet any way or means whereby we may be delivered from these pains, & may be brought in favour again with God? AN. ¶ God will that we shall make amendss or satisfaction unto his righteousness, wherefore we must needs either by ourselves, or by some other, content him. QVE. ¶ Can we by ourselves, make amends or satisfaction unto him? ANS. ¶ By no means at all, but rather from day to day, do increase our debt. QU. ¶ Can any creature in heaven or in earth, which is only a creature, make satisfaction, recompense, or amends for us and our sins? AN. None at all: For to begin withal, God will not punish that in any other creature which is due to be paid by man: and moreover it can not (because it is nothing but a creature) abide the wrath of God against sin, and deliver other from the same. ¶ QUESTION. ¶ What manner of man is to be soughtout, to be our mediator and deliverer? AN. He which is in deed, a very right man, and perfectly rightuus, and yet more mighty than all creatures, that is, he which also is even very true God. QU. Why is it needful that he should be a very man, and perfectly rightuus? ANS. Because the righteousness of God requireth, that the same nature which hath sinned: should pay & make amendss for sin. But he that is a sinner can not pay and make amends for other sinners. QVE. ¶ Why must he also be very God withal? AN. That by his godly power, he may abide the burden of God's wrath in his flesh, and may get again, and restore unto us, the righteousness and life which we have lost. QVE. ¶ Who is that mediator which is both very God and very man, and perfectly rightuus withal. AN. * Our Lord jesus Christ, which is made unto us, the wisdom of God, righteousness, hallower and deliverer. QVE. * How knowest thou this? AN. ¶ By the Gospel, which God did open in Paradise, and afterward hath farther set it abroad by the patriarchs and prophets & did darkly declare as it were in a shadow, by the Sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law, and last of all fulfilled, by his only begotten son. QU. Then, is salvation given by Christ to all men that perished in Adam? AN. ¶ Not to all: but only to them that by a true faith are graffted in him, and receive or be partakers of his benefits or good deeds. QU. * What is faith? AN. It is not only a knowledge, whereby I do surely assent to all things which God hath opened to us in his word: but also a sure trust kindled in my heart by the Holy ghost through the Gospel, whereby I am at peace with God, surely reckoning with myself and judging that forgiveness of sins, everlasting life & righteousness was given not only to other but also to me, that freely by the mercy of God, for the deserving of Christ alone. QU. * What are those things that a Christ●n man must needs believe. AN. * All things that are promised in the Gospel, the sum whereof is contained in the Creed, or articles of our faith, wherein is shortly contained as in a certain short sum, the chief points of the catholic and undoubted faith of all Christians. QUESTION. ¶ What is the creed ye speak of? ANSWER. I Believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven & earth. And in jesus Christ his only begotten son our Lord. Which was conceived by the holy ghost, borne of the virgin Mary. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified dead & buried, went down into Hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. And went up into heaven, & sitteth there at the right hand of god the Father almighty. From thence shall he come to judge the quick & the dead. I believe in the holy ghost. That there is a catholic church. A communion of Saints. forgiveness of sins. The rising again of the flesh. And the life everlasting. Amen. QVE. Into how many parts, is this creed divided? AN. ¶ Into three parts, the first is of the everlasting father, and of our creation. The second is of the son, & our redemption or deliverance. The third is of the Holy ghost and making of us holy, & saving us from sin. QU. ¶ When as there is but one only substance of God: why namest: thou three: the father, the son, and the Holy ghost? AN. ¶ Because God hath so opened himself in his word, that these three sundry persons are that one true & everlasting God. ¶ Of the Father. QUESTION. WHat dost thou believe, when thou sayest, I believe in God the father almighty, maker of heaven and earth? AN. ¶ I do believe that the everlasting Father of our Lord jesus Christ, which hath made of nothing heaven and earth, and allthings that are therein: & with his everlasting counsel & provision, upholdeth and governeth all the same for Christ's sake is my God and my father, and therefore so trust & rest in him, that I do not doubt but he will provide for me all things needful both for my soul and body, and that he will also turn unto my Salvation, all the evils and troubles that he layeth upon me in this troublesome life, both because he can do it, as an almighty God and will do it as a gentle Father. QU. ¶ What is the provision, or providence of God? AN. The almighty power of god present in every place, whereby it holdeth up, as it were with his hand, & governeth heaven and earth and all creatures, in so much that those things that grow upon the earth, & rain, also fair wether, and dryness, plentuusnes in bearing & barrenness, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches & poverti and to conclude: all things fall and come unto us, not without advice or by chance, but by his fatherly advised counsel, will and purpose QVE. ¶ What profit have we by this knowledge of the creation, & providence of god? ANS. ¶ That in adversity we may be patient and in prosperity thankful, and in time to come, we may have a very good hope in God our most faithful Father, knowing that there is nothing that can draw us away from his love, for all creatures are so in his Power, that without his will they can not only do nothing, but even not so much as to steer or move. Of the Son. QUESTION. WWhy is the Son of God called jesus, that is the Saver. AN. * Because he saveth us from all our sins, & as no salvation aught to be craved of any other, so can there none be found in other, but in him alone. QU. * Then whether do they believe in the only saver jesus, which seek happiness & salvation of saints, or of themselves, or of any other thing? AN. * Not, For although they boast themselves, and rejoice in him as their Saver in their words, yet for all that, in very ded● they deny the only Saver jesus, for either must jesus not be a perfect Saver, or else all they that receive him with a true faith for a Saver, have in their possession in him, all things necessary unto salvation. QU. * Why is he called Christus, that is anointed? AN. * Because he was ordained of the Father, and was anointed of the Holy ghost, the highest prophet and doctor, which hath opened unto us the secret counsel, and all the will of his father concerning our redemption & deliverance. And the high Priest, who with one sacrifice or offering of his body and no more, hath bought us again, and continually maketh intercession to his Father for us. And a King which governeth us with his word and his spirit, and defendeth and keepeth the Salvation which we have gotten by him. QU. ¶ But why art thou called a christian? AN. Because through faith I am a member of ●esus Christ, and am partaker of his anointing▪ so that I confess his name, & give myself up unto him, to be a living offering of thankfulness, in this life to fight against sin & Satan with a fire and good conscience and afterward may hold & enjoy the everlasting kingdom with Christ over all creatures. QU. ¶ For what cause is Christ called the only begotten son of god, when we are also the sons of God? AN. * Because Christ is only the everlasting and natural son of the father everlasting and we are but sons chosen and taken up of the Father of favour, for Christ's sake. QU. * Why callest thou him our Lord? ANS. ¶ Because he buying again our bodies and souls from sin, not with Gold nor Silver, but with his precious blood and delivering them from all power of the devil: hath claimed us for his own proper servants belonging unto none other Lord or master QU. ¶ What believest thou, when thou sayest: he was conceived by the holy ghost, and borne of the virgin Mary? AN. ¶ That the son of God, which, is, and abideth true and everlasting god, hath taken the very true nature of man, of the flesh and blood of the virgin mary, by the working of the Holy ghost, that he might be also with all the true seed of David, like unto his brethren in all things, saving only in sin. QU. ¶ What profit takest thou of the holy conception and birth of Christ? AN. That he is our mean or mediator, and with his innocentnes & perfit holiness covereth my sins in the which I am conceived, to come into the sight of God. QU. ¶ What believest thou, when thou sayest he suffered? AN. ¶ That he, all the time of his life while he was here upon earth, but special at his last time, did suffer the wrath of go● against the sin of all mankind, that with his passion as one Sacrifice once for all, should purchase mercy, and should deliver both our bodies and our souls from everlasting damnation, and get us the grace o● God, and righteousness, & everlasting life. QVE. ¶ For what cause did he suffer under judge Pilate? ANS, ¶ That he being innocent, & yet condemned before a civil judge, might deliver us from the strait judgement of God which we had deserved, & should have suffered if Christ had not suffered this sharp judgement for us. QU. ¶ Is there any other cause beside, way that he should rather suffer on the cross, then die any other death. AN. ¶ Yes, there is one in deed: for by this thing I am assured that he took upon himself the curse which was dew unto me. For the death of the Cross was cursed of God. QU. * Why must Christ humble himself even unto the death? AN. * Because that the justice & truth of God, could not be contented & suaged for our sins by any other means, but by the death of the son of God. QU. ¶ Why was he also berried? AN. ¶ That thereby he should have sure witness that he was truly dead, and not feignedly. QVE. But when as Christ died for us, why must we also die? ANS. ¶ Our death is not a making of amends for our sins: but dying from Sin, and a going into everlasting life. QU. What profit do we further receive by the sacrifice and death of Christ? AN. * That by the virtue of his death our old man is crucified, killed and berried with him, that the evil desires and lusts of the flesh should not afterward rain in us, but that we should offer ourselves unto him an offering of thanksgeveing. QU. * Why is it further said: he went down into Hell? AN. * That in my grievous temptations and assaults. I might stays and make sur● myself by this comfort, that my Lord● jesus Christ by unspeakable veracious & griefs, painful troubles & fears of mind, into the which both before and most of all when he hanged on the cross, he was cas● into: hath delivered me from the sorrowful grief and pains of Hell. QU. ¶ What profit have we by the rising again of Christ? AN. * first that by his rising again he overcame death, that he might make us partakers of his righteousness, which he had purchased unto us by his death. Moreover, we are also stirred up by his power unto a new life. And the third profit is, that the resurrection of our head Christ, is a Pledge and a perfit assurance unto us that we shall rise again in glory. QVE. How understaundest thou this: that he is gone up into heaven? AN. ‡ That Christ (the Apostles looking on) was taken up from the earth into heaven, & yet still is there for our sakes, and will be until he shall come again to judge the quick and the dead. QU. ¶ Shall Christ not then be with us until the end of the world as he hath promised? AN. * Christ is true God and true man and so according unto his man's nature, he is not now upon the Earth: but after his Godly nature, majesty, grace and Spirit, he is never away from us. QU. ¶ But whether by this means are the two natures of Christ pulled in sunder or not, if Christ's man head be not where soever his Godhead is? AN. ‡ Nay, for when as the Godhead of Christ cannot be enclosed nor holden within any certain compass, and is present in every place: it must needs be a good argument that his Godhead is without the nature of his manhood which he hath taken upon him, and reacheth farther and yet for all that it is fast in the same, and abideth personally joined thereunto. QU. ¶ What fruit have we by the going up of Christ into Heaven? AN. first, that he maketh intercession for us in heaven, unto the father. Then that we have our flesh in heaven, that thereby we may be surely assured, as by a sure pledge, that hereafter he will take us that are his members, unto him which is our head. Thirdly, that he sendeth unto us his spirit in the stead of a pledge between him and us, by whose strong working, we seek not earthly things that are above where he is sitting at the right hand of God. QU. ¶ Why is it further said, that he is sitting at the right hand of God? AN. * Because Christ therefore is gone up in to heaven, to show that he is the head of the church by whom the father governeth all things. QU. ¶ What profit is this glory of our head Christ unto us? AN. * first that through his holy spirit, he poureth into us (his members) heavenvly gifts, the next is, that he shildeth and defendeth us by his might, against all our enemies. QU. ¶ What comfort hast thou by the coming again of Christ, to judge the quick and the dead? AN. * That in all my persecutions and troubles I do look up to heaven holding my head cheerfully up for the self same judge, which purposedly before, did deliver himself to the judgement of God for me, and hath taken away all curse from me, which shall cast all his and my enemies into everlasting pain, & shall bring me with all other chosen persons, into the heavenvly joys and everlasting glory. ¶ Of the Holy ghost. QUESTION. WHat dost thou believe of the holy ghost? AN * first, that he is true and everlasting God, with the everlasting father and the son. Secondly that he is given unto me, that by true faith he maketh me partaker of Christ, and all his good deeds. And thirdly, comforteth me, and abideth with me for ever. QU. ¶ What is thy belief concerning the holy and catholic Church of Christ? AN. * I believe that the son of God doth gather (from the beginning of the world unto the end) out of hole mankind, a choose company by the spirit and the word, agreeing together in a true faith and▪ that h● defendeth and saveth the same, and that I am one lively member of that company, & shall so abide for ever. QU. ¶ What meanest thou by the communion, and fellowship of saints? AN. * first, that all and every one that believeth, are in common, partakers of Christ and of all his good deeds, as his members and parts of his body, & then that every one man aught willingly, readily, and cheerfully, to bestow the gifts which he hath received, to the common profit and health of all men. QU. ¶ What believest thou, of the forgiveness of sins? AN. * That God for the satisfaction or mends that Christ hath made, he hath put out the remembrance that my sins, and also of that my crooked wickedness wherewith I must fight all my life time, and that he will freely give unto me the righteousness of Christ so that I shall not come at any time to judgement, to be condemned. QU. ¶ What comfort hast thou by the ry●sing again of the flesh? AN. * That not only my soul (after that it shall depart from the body) shall strait way be taken up unto Christ her head, but also that this my flesh (raised up by this power of Christ) shall be joined again unto my soul, and shall be made like unto the glorius body of Christ. QU. ¶ What comfort takest thou, of the article of everlasting life? AN, That for as much as I feel all ready, the beginning of everlasting life in my heart: it shall afterward come to pass that after this life, I shall come to full and perfit blessedness, wherein I may praise god forever, which blessedness neither eye hath seen nor ear hath hard, neither the thought of man is able to reach unto. QU. ¶ But when thou believest all these things. what profit hast thou thereby? AN. ¶ That I am rightuus in Christ before God, & an heir of everlasting life. QU. How art thou rightuus before god? AN. * Only by faith or belief in jesus Christ, in so much that although my conscience did accuse me, that I have sinned grievously against all the commandments of God, and have kept perfectly never one of them, and am also ready and disposed yet still to all evil: yet for all that (so that I can receive all these good deeds of Christ by a true faith of my mind) the perfect satisfaction or amendss making, the rightuusnesse and holiness of Christ, is counted and given unto me by the only mercy of God, even as though I had never done any sin, neither any spot should cleave unto me: and furthermore, as though I had fulfilled in mine own person, the obedience which Christ hath fulfilled & performed for me. QU. ¶ Why dost thou hold that thou art made rightuus by faith alone? AN. * Not because I do please God with the worthiness of my faith, but because the amends making or satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ, are my righteousness before God, & I can not take hold thereof, and apply the same unto me by any other means, then by faith alone. QU. ¶ Why can not our good works be righteousness: or at the least some part of righteousness before God? AN. * Because that righteousness that must stand fast before the judgement of God, must be in all points perfit and agreeing with the word of God, & all our good works (even the most holy and perfectest works that we do in this life) are unperfit and defiled with sin. QU. ¶ How do our good works deserve nothing, when as God doth promise that be will give a reward for them, both in this life, and in the life to come? AN. * That reward is given not of deserving but of favour. QU. ¶ Doth not this learning make men to be careless, Godless, and of lose living? AN. * Not, for it is not possible but that they that are grafted into Christ through faith, shall bring forth good and thankful fruits. ¶ Of the Sacraments. QUESTION. THen, seeing that only faith maketh us partakers of Christ and of good deeds, from whence cometh this faith? AN. * From the Holy ghost, who kindleth it in our hearts through the preaching of the Gospel, and strengtheneth the same by the using of the Sacraments. QU. ¶ What are the Sacraments? AN. * They are holy signs and seals set before our eyes, ordained of god for that cause, that by them he might open unto us and settle or confirm more largely the promise of the Gospel, that is to wit: he giveth freely forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting, not only to the number of believers, but to every one that believeth for that only sacrifice of christ, which he made perfit upon the cross. QU. ¶ Then, whether do both the word and Sacraments look to that end, that they may lead our faith unto the sacrifice of christ fully ended on the cross, as unto the gr●und of our salvation? AN. * It is so indeed, for the holy Ghost teacheth by the Gospel (& assureth us by the Sacraments, that all our salvation standeth in the only sacrifice of christ, offered for us upon the cross. QU. ¶ How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in the new testament? AN. Two. Baptism, & the holy Supper. ¶ Of Baptism. QUESTION. HOw art thou warned and assured in Baptism that thou art partaker of that only Sacrifice? AN. * Because Christ commanded the outward washing putting to this promise: that I am assure'ly washed (by his blood & the holy ghost) from all my uncleanness of my soul, that is from all my sins, as I am outwardly washed with water whereby all the filthiness of the body is scoured away. QU. ¶ What is it, to be washed with the blood and spirit of Christ? AN. It is to receive of God, forgiveness of our sins freely for Christ's bloods sake, which he shed for us in his sacrifice upon the cross, and also to be made new men by the Holy ghost, & by his making of us holy: to be made members of Christ, that thereby we may die from sin more and more, & may live holily and unblamedly. QU. ¶ Where promised Christ that he would so surely wash us with his blood and spirit, as we are washed outwardly with the outward water of Baptism? ANS. ¶ In the xvi of Saint. Mark, where as he first ordained Baptism, whose words are these. Go and teach all nations, and baptize them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy Ghost. And he that will believe and be baptized, shall be saved, but he that will not believe shall be damned. And this promise is rehearsed again, where as the Scripture nameth Bapisme the bath of the new birth, and washing away of sins. QUESTION. Is not the outward baptizing with water, the washing away of our sins? AN. * It is not: for only the blood of Christ maketh us clean from all sin. QU. ¶ Then why doth the holy Ghost call baptism the bath of the new birth, and washing away of sin? AN. * God, not without a great cause speaketh so: to wit, not only to teach us, that as the filthiness of our bodies is scoured away with water, so likewise are our sins washed and scoured away with the blood & Spirit of Christ: but also much more, that he might sicker and assure us by this godly token and pledge, that we are as surely washed from our sins inwardly by the inward washing, as we are outwardly washed with the outward and seable water. QU. ¶ Aught all young speechless children to be baptised AN. * Yea in any case, for when as they belong as well unto the covenant or promise, and to the church of god, as they do that are fully grown and are perfect men & women: and when as forgiveness of sins and the Holy ghost that worker of faith, is as well promised to them through the blood of christ, as to them that are full grown men and women: they are to be grafted into the church by baptism, and are to be known from the children of unbelievers or infidels, as in the old testament, the children of them that believed were known from them that believed not, by circumcision. In whose place & stead (now being taken away) Baptism was appointed. ¶ Of the Supper of the Lord. QUESTION. HOw art thou in the Supper of the Lord warned, assured, and sickered, that thou art partaker of that only one sacrifice of Christ offered upon the cross, and of all his good deeds? AN. * Because Christ hath commanded me and all faithful men, to eat of this bred that is broken, and to drink of this cup that is reached unto me in the remembrance of him with promise put there to, that first his body was assure'ly broken on the Cross & offered for me, and his blood as surely shed for me: as I see the bread of the Lord broken unto me and the cup of the Lord wretched unto me. Moore over that my soul is aswell fed unto everlasting life with his body which was crucified for us, and with his blood which was shed for us, as I receive with the mouth of my body the bread and the wine (which are tokens of the body & blood of our Lord) at the hands of my shepherd or elder of the church. QU. What is it to eat the body that was crucified, & to drink the blood that was shed? AN, * It is not only to embrace and receive the hole Passion and death of christ with a sure trust of mind, and to get by it forgiveness of sins and life everlasting: but also to be so joined unto his holy body more & more through the Holy ghost which dwelleth in christ and in us, that although he be in heaven & we in earth, yet for all that, we are flesh of his flesh, and bones of his bones, and as all the members or limbs of a manes body are quickened or have life of one soul, so are we quickened & governed & have life with one spirit. QU. ¶ In what place promised Christ that he would as surely give his body and blood to be eaten & drunken to them that believe as they do eat the bread that is broken an● drink the wine out of the cup? AN. * In the place where he did first ordain his supper in these words. Our Lor● jesus Christ in that night that he was betrayed took the bread, & after he had given thanks he broke it, & said: take eat, th●● is my body which is broken for you, do th●● in the remembrance of me. And so likewise after supper he took the cup, saying: thi● cup is the new testament in my blood, do●● this as often as ye shall drink, in my remembrance. For as oft as ye shall eat this brea● and drink of this cup, ye shall show the deat● of the Lord till he come .j, Cor. xj. This promise is rehearsed again by S. Paul i Cor x. where he sayeth: The cup of thanksgiving wherewith we give thanks, is it not the partaking of Christ's blood? is not the bread that w● break, the partaking of the body of Christ? Because we being many are one bread & o●● body, for we are all partakers of one bread QU. ¶ Are then bread and wine made very body and blood of Christ? AN. * Not, but as the water of baptisms is not turned into the blood of Christ, neither is the washing away of sin: bu● only a token and pledge of those thinger that are sealed into us in Baptism, even so is not the Bread of the lords Supper the very body of Christ. Notwithstanding, after the manner of speaking of Sacraments, and the accusstumed fashion of speaking of the Holy ghost of these things: bread is called the body of Christ. QU. ¶ Why then doth christ call bread his and the cup his blood, or the new testament through his blood. And Paul calleth the bread and wine, the communion or partaking of his body and blood? ANSWER. Christ speaketh so, not without great consideration to wit, that he may not only teach us, that even as bread and wine hold up and keep in the life of the body so his crucified body and his blood that were shed, are the very true meat and drink of our soul, whereby it is nourished in to everlasting life: but also much more he speaketh so, to assure and sicker us with this see able token and pledge, that we are as truly partakers of his body and blood by the working of the Holy ghost, as we have received these holy Tokens in the remembrance of him, with the mouth of our body, and also that his passion or suffering, and his obedience or keeping of the whole law, are as surely owers, as though we had suffered our own selves for our sins, and had made amendss to god for them. QU. ¶ What difference is there between the supper of the Lord and the popish Mes● AN. * The supper of the Lord witnesseth that all our sins are forgiven us through that only one sacrifice that he once mad● on the cross, and that we are also through the holy ghost grafted into christ, who after his man's nature is only in heaven at th● right hand of the Father, and will be worshipped there of us. But in the Mess it i● denied that the quick and dead have forgiveness of sins through the passion o● Christ alone, except Christ be offered every day for them, by the sacrificing mess priest Moreover it is taught in the Mess, tha● Christ is bodily present under the likeness of bread and wine, & is therefore to be worshipped in them. And so the foundation o● the Mess is nothing else, but a denial of 〈◊〉 one only sacrifice & passion of jesus chris● and cursed jolatrie, maumetry, and worshipping of by gods beside the living God. QU. ¶ Who aught to come to the supper of the Lord? AN. * Only they that repent, and are very sorry that they have angered God with their sins, and yet trust that they are forgiven them for Christ's sake, & that the rest of their weakness & unperfitnes is covered whith his death and passion, who also desire to go forward, and grow more & more in honest life and conversation. But hypocrites, false feigners of holiness, & they that repent not, and will not amend their lives, eat and drink their own damnation. QU. ¶ Aught we also to allow them to this supper which show themselves to be faithless and ungodly, both in their own confession and naughty life? AN. * Not, for so is the covenant of god unhallowed, & the wrath of God is stirred against the hole church. Wherefore, the church of God (according to the appointment of Christ and his Apostles) using the keys of the kingdom of heaven, aught to hold back such from the Lords supper, until they repent & amend their manners. QU. ¶ What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven? AN. * The preaching of the Gospel, & correction or discipline of the church, whereby the kingdom of Heaven is opened to them that believe, and is shut up against them that believe not. QU. ¶ How is the kingdom of heaven opened & shut, by the preaching of the Gospel? ANS. * Where at the commandment of Christ we openly declare and show, all and every Man's Sins are forgiven them by God, for the only deserving of Christ, as often i● they receive with a true faith & belief, th● promise of the Gospel. Of the contrary part, it showeth unto all them that believe not, and to all hypocrites, feigners of holiness and are wicked within, that the wrath of God, and everlasting damnation hangeth over their heads, according to which witness of the Gospel, God will judge a● well in this life, as in the life to come. QU. ¶ How is the kingdom of heaven shut too, or opened, by the correction or discipline of the Church? AN. * When as according unto the co●mandement of Christ, they that are chris● men in name, but show themselves both i● in learning and life far from Christ, aft●● that they have been certain times brothe●ly warned to forsake their errors, and lea● their evil deeds, & are presented or showed t● the church, or to them that are appointed 〈◊〉 the church unto that office, and will not ●bey their warning: they are shut out by 〈◊〉 same, from the use of the Sacraments, & fro● coming to the fellowship of Christ's church from God himself, and the kingdom 〈◊〉 Christ. But again if they promise' to amend their lives and do so in deed, they a● received in to the Church again as members of Christ and of the church. ¶ The third part is of thankfulness. QUESTION. WHen as we are delivered from all our sins and wretchedness without any deserving of us, by the only mercy of God for Christ's sake: why should we then do good works? AN. * Because that after Christ hath bought us again with his blood, & maketh us new men by his holy spirit, like unto the image of himself, that we having received so many good turns, should show ourselves all our life time thankful to God, & that he may be honoured, & afterward we every man, may be assured of his faith by his fruits, last of all: that we may win unto Christ other, by our honest & sober life or good example of living. QU. ¶ Can they then not be saved being unthankful, & abide still careless in sin, and are not turned to god from their wickedness? AN. * In no case, for the scripture beareth witness that no unchaste person, neither worshipper of straying gods, neither hore master or adulterers, neither covetus men, neither thieves, nor Drunkards, neither scolding railers, neither robbers, shall enter into the kingdom of God. QVE. ¶ In what parts standeth the turning of a man to God? AN. * By the killing or putting down of the old man, and the quickening and raising up of the new man. QU. ¶ What is the killing of the old man AN. * It is truly and with all thy heart to be sorry that thou hast angered God with thy sins, and every day more and more to hate them, and to fly from them. QU. ¶ What is the quikninge and raising up of the new man. AN. True gladness in god through christ, and an earnest and ready desire of a man to order his life according to the will of god, of doing of all manner of good works. QU. Which are good works? AN. * Only they that are done in faith according to the law of God, & are wrought for that end that God may be honoured thereby, and not they that are devised by us, and in our opinion (without the word of God) seem to be good. QU. ¶ Which is the law of Good? AN. * God hath spoken all these words, ¶ The first commandment. I Am the Lord God which hath brought thee out of Egipte, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods in my sight ¶ The . II commandment. ¶ Thou shalt make unto thee no graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor in the water 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, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and show mercy unto thousands in them that love me, and keep my commandements. The . III commandment. ¶ 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. The . four Remember thou keep holy the Saboth d●y. Syxe days shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do, but the seventh day is the Saboth of the Lord thy God, in it shalt thou do no manner of work, thou and thy Son and thy daughter, thy man servant and thy maid servant, thy cattle, and the stranger that is within thy gate. For in six days the Lord made Heaven & earth the Sea & all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and hallowed it. ¶ The . V Honour thy Father & thy Mother, that thy days may be long in the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee. ¶ The . VI Thou shalt do no murder. ¶ The VII. Thou shalt not do adultery. ¶ The . VIII. Thou shalt not steal. ¶ The . IX. Thou shalt not bear falls witness against thy neighbour. ¶ The . X. * Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house, nor his wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor his ox nor his ass, nor any thing that is his. QU. ¶ How are these commandments denied? AN. * Into two tables, of the which the former teacheth in it, four commandments how that we shall behave ourselves toward God. The second table teacheth in six commandments, what duty, good deeds, and gentleness, we own unto our neighbour. QU. What requireth God of us, in the first table? AN. * That even so dearly as I love the salvation of my soul, so earnestly should I shun and fly idolatry, Maumetrye, or worshipping of false Gods, Witchcraft, sorcery, enchantments, superstition, or worshipping of God by other means than he hath taught in his word, calling for help of saints or any other creatures. But that I should rightly confess and acknowledge the only and true God, and only trust in him, and should with great lowliness submit myself unto him, and look for all good things of him alone, and that with all my heart and with all the desires of the same: love him, and with reverence worship and honour him so much, that I had leaver forsake all Creatures, then to do any thing contrary to his will. QUESTION. ¶ What is Idolatry? ANS. * It is, in the stead of one God, or beside him that is the true God, who hath opened and showed himself plainly and clearly in his word, to feign, ma●e or have any thing wherein thou believest or put test thy hope in. QVE. ¶ What requireth the second commandment? AN. * That we should not show, set out, or express God, by any Image or figure, neither should we worship him any other way than he hath commanded in his word himself to be worshipped. QU. ¶ Whether then aught any Images or lyknesses of things to be made? AN. * God neither aught, neither can by any means be counterfeited, showed or declared, by any caster, founder, carver or painter, and although they be suffered to express creatures, as herbs, trees, fishes, & birds, and such like: yet God forbiddeth their images to be made or had, that through them we should worship or honour God, or give to them any worship, or outward reverence. QU. ¶ Whether aught images to be suffered to stand in churches to be lay men's books or no? AN. * Not no. For it is not seemly that we should be wiser than God who willeth that his church should be taught with the lively preaching of his word, and not with dumb images. QU. ¶ What doth God ordain in the third commandment? AN. * That we should not only, not use his name spitefully and unreverently in banning, cursing, forsweareing, and rashly without a just cause in any manner of sweareing at all, neither should we be partakers of these horrible and wicked sins, either by holding of our peace, or in winking at them, but that we should use that holy name of God no otherwise but with devotion, reverence, and worship, that he may be worshipped and honoured in all our words & deeds with a true and steadfast confession, & invocation or calling upon his name. QU. Is it then so grievous a sin, to dishonour the name of God in swereing and in cursing, that God is also angry with them that will not (as much as lieth in them) hinder forbidden and let it? AN. * Surely it is the most grievous sin, neither is there any that angreth and displeaseth him more, than the spiteful misusing of his name. Wherefore it was his will that it should be punished with death. QU. May not a man sometime godly and lawfully, swear by the name of God? AN * He may. Either when the magistrate God's officer requireth or commandeth a man to swear, or other wise when need requireth, that by this mean a man may get credit, & the truth may be proved & established therewith that thereby God may be glorified and praised, & men may be holpen thereby. For such a lawful oath is approved as holy by the word of God, & therefore it was well used of the fathers both in the old and new Testament. QU. ¶ Is it lawful for a man to swear by saints or other creatures? AN. Not, For a lawful oath is the calling upon, or invocatio of God, that he (as only the knower of the secrets of the heart) may give witness unto the truth, & punish the swearer (if wittingli he swear falsely) but this honour is to be geuen unto no creature. QU. ¶ What hath God commanded i● the fourth commandment? AN. * First, that the serving in the offic● of preaching and ministering of the sacraments, and that the schools should be kept, maintained and provided for, that I on the hallyday and at other times when the church 〈◊〉 (for some necessary cause) gathered together should join myself unto that holy fellowship, to hear the word of God diligently and héedefully, and to use the sacraments, and join my prayers with the common prayers, and give somthyng according to my riche● unto the poor, and afterward for all m● life time, keep halliday and forbear from all ill deeds, giving place, and granting unto God that through his holy spirit, he may work his works in me: & so may begin the everlasting Sabbath or hallyday in this life. QU. ¶ What enjoineth God us to do it the fift commandment? AN. * That we should give due honour and show faithfulness to our Father's an● Mothers, and to all that are governors ou● us, and should submit ourselves with al● convenient obedience, unto their faithful commandments & chastenings & that we should suffer & bear with their vices & manners, ever thinking this in our mind, the god will govern and guide us by their hand. QU. ¶ What doth God require in the sixth commandment? ANS. * That I should do no injury wrong or reproach to my neighbour neither with my words, gesture or outward behawr, either by myself, or by any other man, hate him, hurt him, or kill him: but to leave & give over all the desire of revenging unto God, neither that I should hurt myself, nor cast myself wittingly into any jeopardy. Wherefore God hath armed the Magistrate his officer with the sword, that there should no murder be done. QU. ¶ Doth this commandment only forbid manslaughter? AN. * Almighty God by forbidding of murder, teacheth that he hateth the root & beginning of murder: anger, envy, hatred, and desire of wreaking or revenging, and that he taketh all these things for murder. QU. Is it enough for us, to kill no man, by those means that are before rehearsed? AN. * It is not enough. For when as God forbiddeth anger, envy, and hatred: he requireth that we should love our neighborres as ourselves, should use toward them gentleness, mildness, meekness, patience & mercy, and to turn away or stop (asmuch as lieth in us) such things as may be hurtful unto them. And finally that we should so be minded toward them, that we should go even unto our enemies. QU. What is the meaning of the seven commandment? AN. * That God defieth all filthiness, a●● therefore we aught also to hate it, & utter to defy it, & that we should live contrary unto all uncleanness, temperately, soberly chastened, both in holy wedlock and also ● single life. QU. ¶ Doth God forbid no more in th● commandment, but advoutri, fornication and such kinds of filthiness? AN. * When as our bodies & souls at the churches or Temples of the holy Go● the will of God is, that we should ke● them both clean, as hallowed unto him and therefore utterly forbiddeth all deeds signs, tokens, gestures and words, filth desires, and what so ever enticeth a ma● thereto. QU. ¶ What doth God forbid in t● eight commandment? AN. Not only such thefts and robber it as the common officers do punish: but 〈◊〉 understandeth under the name of theft, a crafty fetches, drifts, subtle means & ways whereby we hawk & lie in wait, to tak● other men's goods from than, or labour to convey them unto us, either by might or violent or by any false pretence of right, as though we had a just title to them, and yet have none at all, Such means are false weights false yards, else, and false measures, sergeant and unlawful ware, counterfeit and unlawful money, usury, & all unlawful means and ways that God hath forbidden to get a man's living withal. Here unto may be put and joined all covetousness and unthrifty and prodigal pouring out, and spending and wasting of God's gifts, and evil using of the same, QU. ¶ What are those things, which God commandeth here? AN. That as much as is possible, I should help and increase the goods and profit of my neighbour. And that I should do so unto him, as I would he should do unto me, and that I should do my work earnestly, truly and faithfully, that I mai thereby be able to relieve and help, them that have need. QU. ¶ What requireth the ninth commandment? AN. * That I shall not bear false witness against any man, neither falsely turn the meaning of any man's words, neither shall backbyghte any man, or spitefully rail against any man, neither shall rashly without the showing of a lawful cause, condemn any man. But with all the means that I can, I sha● sly and eschew all kind of lies & deceits as the proper works of the devil, except ● be disposed to steer up against me, the grievous wrath of God. In judgements & other matters I shall follow it that is true, an● steadfastly & freely, tell & confess the matte● as it is indeed, & moreover I shall (as muc● as I can) defend and increase, the go●● name, fame, and credit of my neighbours. QU. What forbiddeth the ten commandment? AN. That our hearts should not be moved or stirrid up, with so much as with th● lest thought or desire, against any of god commandements, but that we shall ha● and defy at all times, all kind of sin, an● shall delight ourselves in all righteousness. QU. ¶ Can they that are turned to Go● keep perfectly, & fully, these commandments AN. ¶ Not, For even the holiest among all men (as long as they live here) ha● but small beginnings of this obedience. B● yet go so far, that they earnestly (with ● feigned desire) begin to live, not only according unto some of these commandem●tes, but according to all the commandments of God. QU. ¶ Why will God then that hi● law should be so earnestly & sharply preached when there is no man in this life, that is ●ble to keep it? AN. * first, that all the time of our life we shall confess and acknowledge how greatly we are disposed of nature to sin, & ●o thereby that we more greedily, and with ● greater desire, call for the forgiveness of ●ur sins, & that we should always be occupied ●n this, that we always be thinking and recording with ourselves of godliness, and ●al upon the Father for the grace of the holy ●oste, that we may be renewed & fashioned ●o the likeness of god every day more and more, until at the length, after that we be departed out of this life, we may with joy and gladness get the full perfectness, that is purposed, set forth, and required of us. ❧ Of Prayer. QUESTION. WHy is prayer necessary for a Christian man? ANS. * Because it is the chief part of that thankfulness that God requireth of us, and also because God only giveth them his grace and holy spirit, who are things necessary of him, with true unfeigned groanings, and giving thanks for such benefits as they have received. QU. ¶ What things are required in th● prayer which shall please God, and be he● of him? AN. * That we should ask of the onel● true God which hath opened himself 〈◊〉 his word (all those things which he hat● commanded to be axed, with a true desi●● of the heart, and an inward feeling of o● beggarly need and wretchedness, & cast o● selves down humbly and lowly in the sig●● of God's majesty, lean to this sure foundation, that although we be unworthy, y● we shall surely be hard for Christ's sake ● he hath promised us in his word. QU. ¶ What are those things that 〈◊〉 commandeth to be axed axed of him? AN. * All things that are necessary b● for body and soul, which our Lord Ies●● Christ containeth in his prayer that 〈◊〉 hath taught us. QU. ¶ Which is that prayer? ANSWER. Our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy nam● Thy kingdom come. T● will be done in earth as it in heaven. give us this d● our daily bread. And forge●● us our debts, as we forgive our dette● And lead us not into temptation. B●● deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power & the glory, for ever and ●uer. Amen. QU. ¶ Why doth Christ command that we should call God our father? AN. That he might stir up in us even ●n the very beginning of our prayer, such reverence as is meet for the sons of God ●nd a bold trust toward God which is to ●e the ground of our prayer, to wit, that God through Christ is made our father, and will much less deny unto us those things ●hat we axe of him with a true faith: then ●ur earthly father will deny unto us, earthly things. QU. ¶ Why is it said further, which art in heaven? AN. * That we should not think to ●ylely, bacely, or earthly, of his heavenly majesty, and that we should look for, and wait of his almightiness, for all things whatsoever are necessary for our souls and bodies. QUESTION. ¶ Which is the first petition or asking? AN. * hallowed be thy name, that is to say: at the beginning, grant us that we may rightly know thee, and worship praise and honour thy almightiness, thy wisdom, thy righteousness and gentleness, thy mercy and thy truth and afterward, purpose and drive all our life, our thoughts words & deeds unto this end, thy most holy name be n● blasphemed, or evil spoken of for us, b● rather be highly honoured and praised. QU. ¶ Which is the second petition? AN. * Thy kingdom come. That is govern us so with thy word and spirit, th●● we may humble and submit ourselves more and more unto thee, keep and increst thy church, destroy the works of the devyn and all power that lifteth itself against thy Majesty, disappoint and make void an● of none effect, all he counsels that are t●ken against thy word, until thou may● (at the length) reign and rule full & perfect when as thou shalt be all in all. QU. ¶ Which is the third petition? AN. * Thy will be done in earth as it 〈◊〉 in heaven. That is grant that we and a● men (renounsing and forsaking our ow● wills) may be obedient, readily bend, and 〈◊〉 out any grudge unto the keeping of thy w● which is only holy, and that so every o● of us, may fulfil and do the office that 〈◊〉 appointed unto us, faithfully & cheerfully as the Angels do in Heaven. QU. ¶ Which is the fourth petition? AN give us this day our daily bread. That is, give unto us all things which needful & necessary for this life, the throut them we may knowledge & confess that the art only the well, out of the which all goodness doth spring, and that all our care and labour, & also thy own gifts, are unlucky and noisome unto us, except thou do bless them, & give them increase. Wherefore grant us to turn away our trust from all creatures, and to put it only in thee. QU. ¶ Which is the fift petition? AN. * forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. That is, for Christ's blood sake, lay not to our charge that are wretched sinners, all our sins: and that crooked frowardness which cleaveth in us still, even as we do feel this witness of thy grace in our hearts, that we intend & purpose steadfastly to forgive unfeignedly with our mind, all them that have hurt or grieved us, or have done us any wrong. QU. ¶ Which is the sixth petition? AN. * lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. That is, because we are so feeble & weak of nature, that we cannot, one minute of an hour without help, stand steadfastly and not be over thrown, and our most grievous enemies, the devil, the world, and our own flesh, unsessably do fight against us. Thou O our almighty father, hold up and stay us, and strengthen us by thy might of thy Holy ghost, that we fall not down and be overcomed in this spiritual fight, but so long we may stoutly withstand them, until that we may get at length, the whole victory. QVE. ¶ How maketh he an end of this prayer? AN. * For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. That is to say, we are all these things of thee, because thou art both our king, & art almighty, and both will, and can give all these things unto us, and these things do● we therefore crave of thee, that by them, all ●onor, glory, & worship, should come unto thy holy name and not to us. QVE. ¶ What meaneth this word, Amen. AN. * That the matter is sure and ou● of all doubt, and that my prayer is much more surely ha●d of God, than I do feel i● my heart that I desire it to be granted. ¶ FINIS. A Prayer of the repentant person taken out of the works of Erasmus. O Most high creator and 〈◊〉 of all things, when as I call to remembrance how greatly I have stirred unto anger thy majesty with my sins: I do defy mine own foolishness. When & weigh with myself how gentle & liberal a father I have forsaken, I loath and cry out against mine unkindness. When I mark, in how wretched a bondage I have cast myself, flying from such liberty and freedom of the spirit that I had, I do condemn my madness, and in alpoints mislike myself. Neither is there any other thing that appeareth before mine eyes, but Hell fire, & desperation, while thy unavoidable righteousness in punishing of sin doth so make my conscience afraid. But of the contrary part, when I consider thy unmeasurable and infinite mercy, which according to the witness of the Prophet) passeth all thy works and whereby thou (after a certain manner) art greater than thyself, & when as thou art greatest of all other, by and by, a certain pleasant breath of hope, doth refresh my mind again. For why should I despair to get forgiveness of sins of him which so often in the books of the Prophets doth freely of himself, call sinners to repentance: crying that he will not have the death of a sinner, but that he should live: and furthermore, because forgiveness is always in a readiness to be granted of thee, to them that are penitent & sorry for their sins, as thy only begotten son hath declared often times by divers likenesses: as by it of the lost piece of money, that was lost and found again. And of the Shep that was brought hom● again, on the man's shoulder. But more evidently, by the similitude of the prodigal son, whose image I do acknowledge perfectly to be in me For most wickedly I have left my most loving Father, and have wickedly wasted away his substance. And while I follow th● lusts of my flesh, and forget thy commandements: I have wrapped myself into the most filthy bondage of si●, & am brought unto extreme beggerlynes, neither can I tell to whom I should fly for succour, but unto him from whom I ran away. Let thy mercy receive him, making supplication unto thee: whom thou hast hither to gently suffered, going astray. I am unworthy to lift up mine eyes to thee being in heaven, or to call thee by the name of a father, but I beseech thee vouchsafe to turn thy eyes unto me, for thy countenance maketh a dead sinner to live again, and him that is lost to come home again too repentance, for I aught to thank thy loving countenance, even for that that I mislike myself. Thou hast vouchsafed to look upon me while I went a stray from thee. For thou hast given me eyes to see in what miserable state I was, & thou came forth and met me, and did breath into me, the memory & desire of innocency. I being a bondman, worthy all kind of punishment desire not to be embraced & kissed of thee. I desire not a long gown and a ring, the badges & tokens of my old dignity which I have cast away. I make not supplication that thou should receive me unto the honour of thy Sons, but it shall be enough for me, if that thou receive me among the number of the most vile runagate bondmen, having their backs all full of scars, by justly deserved often beating: but at the lest, I may cleave unto thee with some part of thy servants, as in thy house are many dwelling places. It shall not grieve me to be numbered in this life among the vilest, to be tormented by repentance, to be made foul with weeping: so that I be not departed from thee for ever. I beseech thee father, & desire thee through the death of thy only well-beloved son, let me have th● spirit which may cleanse my heart, an● strengthen me with his grace, that ● never fall back again by foolish unheeded fullness, thither from whence I am called back again by thy gentleness. So be it. ¶ A TABLE OF THE contents of this book. OF the only comfort, both in this life and at our departure. 2. Of the wretchedness of man. ibidem. That we have no free will or choice of ourselves. ibidem. Of the wrath of God for our sins 3. Of the mercy of God. ibidem. Of the righteousness, or straight punishment of God. ibidem. Of the deliverance of man. ibidem. Of satisfaction or making amendss for sin. ibidem. Who is our mean or mediator. 4. What faith is. ibidem. What things are necessary to believe. 5. Of the creed, or articles of our faith. ibidem. Of the providence of God. 6. Of the going down of christ to hell. 8. That only faith justifieth. 11. Of the Sacraments. 12. Of Baptism. ibidem. Of the Lord's supper. 13. That Christ is not really, bodily, or fleshly, in the supper. 15. Of the keys of the kingdom of heaven 16. Wherefore we must do good works. 17. Of mortification or killing or the old man and of our fleshly lusts & desires. ibid. The ten commandments. ibide● What is Idolatry. Of invocatian, or calling upon saints for help. ibide● Against the use of Images. That the commandments can not be kept fully or perfitly Of prayer, The exposition of the Lords prayer. or Pater noster. 2● A prayer taken out of the works of Erasmus Rot. ¶ FINIS. Imprinted at London, in the vp● end of Fléetlane: by Richard Iohne● and are to be sold at his Shop joining to the south-west Door of S. Paul's Church. R. I printer's device of Richard Johns