A SHORT Catechism. Containing the Princples of RELIGION. Very profitable for all sorts of PEOPLE.  
The thirteenth Impression.  
LONDON, Printed by W. Stansby and are to be sold by Ed. Brewster and Rob. Bird, in Paul's Churchyard and in Cheapside at the Sign of the Bible. 1630.   

A Short Catechism.  
Q. WHat ought to be the Chief and continual care of every man in this life?  
A. To glorify ᵃ God, and save his ᵇ soul. a 1. Cor. 10.31. b Act. 16.30.31. Matth. 16.26.  
Q. Whence must we take direction to attain hereunto?  
A. Out of the word of God ᶜ alone. c john 20.31.  
Q. What call you the word of God?  
A. The holy Scripture immediately ᵈ inspired, which is contained in the Books of the Old and New Testament. d 2. Tim. 3.16  
Q. What are the Books of the Old Testament?  
A. Moses, ᵉ and the Prophets. e Luke 24.27.  
Q. Which are the Books of the new Testament?  
A. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and the rest, as they follow in our Bibles.  
Q. How may it be proned that those Books are the word of God, immediately inspired by the Holy Ghost to the Prophets and Apostles?  
A. By the testimony of the ᶠ Church, constancy ᵍ of the Saints, miracles wrought to confirm the truth, and the Antiquity ⁱ thereof. f 2. Pet. 1.19. g Reu. 6.9. h 1. King. 17.24. john 3.2. i jer. 6.16. Heb. 13.8.  
Q. How else?  
A. By the ᵏ stile, ˡ efficacy, sweet ᵐ consent, admirable ⁿ doctrine, excellent ᵒ end, and the witness ᵖ of the Scripture ᵗ selfe k Gen. 17.1. Psal. 50.1. Esa. 44.24. Gen. 2.17. Exod. 20.1.2. joel. 1.1.2.1. Cor 11.23. joh. 3.36. ●. Cor. 1.23.24. ˡ Psa. 19 8. Rom. 15.4. Act. 5.38.39. Rom. 7.7. Zach. 13.2. Zeph. 2.11. Act. 9.5.20.21. Phil. 1.12, 13. Rom. 15.19. 2. Cor. 4.8, 9.10. m Gen. 3.15. and 49.10. Esa. 9.6. Dan. 2.24. Matth. 1.18. Act. 10.43. n Psa. 119 129.138.172. Deut. 4.5.6. oh joh. 20.31 p 2. Tim. 3.16. 2. Pet. 1.19.  
Q. These reasons may convince any, be he never so obstinate; but are they sufficient to persuade the heart thereof?  
A. No: the testimony of the Spirit is q necessary; and only ʳ all-sufficient for this purpose. q 1. Cor. 2.14. r. 1 joh. 2.20.27.  
Q. What are the properties of the Scripture?  
A. It is of Divine ˢ authority, the rule ᵗ of faith and Manners, ᵘ necessary, ʷ pure, ˣ perfect, and ʸ plain. s 2. Tim. 3.16. t Eccle. 12.10. Galat. 6.16. u Rom. 10.14. w Psal. 12.6. x Psal. 19.7. y. Pro. 8.9.  
Q. For what end was the Scripture written?  
A. To teach, instruct, convince, correct, and comfort. 2. Tim. 3.16.17. Rom. 15.4.  
Q Doth the knowledge of the Scripres belong unto all men?  
A. Yes, all men are not only ᵃ allowed, but exhorted, and commanded to ᵇ read, hear, and ᶜ understand the Scriptures. a joh. 5.3.39. b. Deut. 17.18.19. Reve. 1.3. c. Act. 8.30.  
Q. The Scriptures were written in Hebrew and Greek, how then shall all menread, and understand them?  
A. They ought to be ᵈ translated into known tongues, and ᵉ interperted. d 1. Cor. 14.18.19. e Neh. 8.8. Act. 8.35.  
Q. What doth the Scripture especially teach us?  
A. The saving ᶠ knowledge of God, and jesus Christ. f john 17.3. Col. 2.1.2.  
Q. How may it be proved that there is a God.  
A. By the ᵍ works, and ʰ wonders which are seen, the testimony of ⁱ conscience, the powers ᵏ of the soul, and the practices ˡ of Satan. g Psal. 19.1.2. Esa. 41.23. Rom. 120. Act. 14.17. job. 12.7.8.9. h Exod. 8.19. and 9.16. i Rom. 2.15. Esa. 33.14. Psal. 14.5. and 53.5. k Zach. 12.1. Psal. 94.8.9.10. l Reuel. 12.7.10.  
Q How else?  
A. By the consent of Nations, defence of the ᵐ Church, ⁿ support, and comfort of the godly, but principally by ᵒ the Scriptures, m Psal 9.16. and 58.10.11. n jere. 33.9. o Esa. 42.8.  
Q. What is God?  
A. He is a ᵖ Spirit, having his being of q himself. p joh. 4.24. q Exod. 3.14.  
Q. How many Gods be there?  
A. Only one ʳ God, and three ʳ persons, the Father, Son, and holy Ghost. r Deut. 6.4. 1. Cor. 8.4.6. s Matth. 28.19. 1. john 5.7.  
Q. What is the property of the Father?  
A. To be of himself, and to ᵗ beget his Son. t john 1.18. and 3.16.  
Q. What is the property of the Son?  
A. To be begotten ᵘ of the Father. u john 3.18.  
Q. What is the property of the Holy Ghost?  
A. To proceed from the w Father, and the ˣ Son. w john 15.26. x Rom. 8.9. Gal. 4.6.  
Q. The nature of God is infinite and incomprehensible, how then may we conceive of him?  
A. By his ʸ properties, and by his ᶻ works. y Exod. 34.6.7. z Psalm. 19.1. and 8.1.  
Q. What are his properties?  
A. He is most ᵃ wise, ᵇ strong, ᶜ good, ᵈ gracious, ᵉ just, ᶠ merciful, ᵍ perfect, ʰ blessed, and ⁱ glorius. a Rom. 16.27. b job. 12.13. c Matth. 19.17. d Exod. 33.19. Rom. 5.8. e Psal. 145.17. f Psal. 103.11. and 145.8.9. g Mat. 5.48. job. 35.7.8. h Mar. 14.61. Rom. 9.5. i 1. Cor. 2.8.  
Q. What are his works?  
A. They are three, Decree, Creation, and Providence.  
Q. What is the Decree?  
A. That whereby God hath from eternity set ᵏ down with himself whatsoever shall come to pass. k Ephes. 1.11.  
Q. What is Creation?  
A. That whereby God made all things of ˡ nothing, in six ᵐ days. l Heb. 11.3. m Exod. 20.11.  
Q. In what form or manner were all things created?  
A In an execellent order, ⁿ and exceeding ᵒ good. n. jere. 10.12. oh Gene. 1.31.  
Q. For what end did God make all things?  
A. For the praise of his power, ᵖ goodness, wisdom, perfection, and freedom. p Prou. 16.4. Reve. 4.11.  
Q. What is providence?  
A. That whereby God doth q preserve and gouerner all things with all their actions. q Psal. 36.6. 1. Tim. 4.10. r Prou. 15.3. Matth. 10.29.30.31.  
Q What are the special creatures made, preserved, and governed by the Lord?  
A. Angels, ˢ and men. s Heb. 2.7. Col. 1.16.  
Q. What was the state of aman by creation  
A. Marvelous, ᵗ holy, and happy t Eceles. 7.29. or 31.  
Q. Why say you that man was holy?  
A. Because he was ᵘ created after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. u Gen. 1.26. Col. 3.10. Epes. 4.23.24.  
Q. Wherein did man's happiness consist?  
A. In the enjoying ʷ of sweet peace and communion with God. w Gen. 1.29.  
Q. What further privileges did Man enjoy in this state of innocence?  
A. He was placed in ˣ Paradise, had liberty to eat of every tree ʸ of the garden, except the ᶻ tree of knowledge of good and evil, and was made ᵃ ruler of alearthly Creatures. x Gen. 2.15. y Gen. 2.16. z. Gen. 2.17. a Gen. 2.19 Psal. 8.6.  
Q. Were these things bestowed upon man that he might live as he list?  
A. No: but that he might serve ᵇ the Lord his maker who therefore gave man a ᶜ law, binding him always to perfect obedience, and a special commandment to try him. b Reuel. 4.11. Psal. 95.6. c Rom. 2.14.  
Q. What was that special commandment?  
A. Of the tree of knowledge of good and ᵈ evil, thou shalt not eat: for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt die the death. d Gene. 2.17.  
Q. Death we hear was threatened if he disobeyed, what promise was made to encolourage him to his duty?  
A. The ᵉ continuance both of himself, and his posterity in that good estate. e Gen. 2.9.  
Q. Did man continue in that good estate?  
A. No: but he fell from ᶠ God, through the enticement of Satan. f 1. Tim. 2.14.  
Q. How did he fall?  
A. By sinning wilfully ᵍ against God, ʰ transgressing his Law: g Eccles. 7.29. or 31. Rom. 5.12. h 1. joh. 3.4.  
Q. What was the sin he did commit?  
A. The eating of ⁱ the forbidden fruit. i Gen. 3.6.  
Q. Did all mankind sin in Adam?  
A. Yes ᵏ for we were all in his loins. k Rom. 5.12. 1 Cor. 15.22. Heb. 7.9.10.  
Q. What is the state of all men by reason Adam's fall?  
A. They are dead in ˡ sin, and bondslaves of Satan. l Eph. 2.1.2.  
Q. How doth that appear?  
A. In that they are altogether ᵐ unable to good, and ⁿ prone to evil continually. m 2. Cor. 3.5. n Gen. 8.21.  
Q. What fruits do proceed from this original corruption?  
A. Evil ᵒ thoughts, words, ᵖ & works. oh Gen. 6.5. p Gal. 5.19.  
Q. Are all the actions of natural men evil continually?  
A. Yes, for they q fail in many things, and therefore as they come from them, they are odious ʳ unto God. q Matth. 12.35. r Prou. 28.9.  
Q What punishments are due unto man, by reason of those sins?  
A. All woe, ˢ and misery, temporal, spiritual, and eternal, s Lam. 3.39. Rom. 6.23. Gal. 3.10.  
Q. What are the temporal miseries?  
A. God's curse upon the ᵗ creatures, on ᵘ man's body, senses, name, friends, whatsoever he takes in hand; and death ᵘ itself, t Rom. 8.20. u Deut. 28.15.16. etc. u Rom. 6.21.  
Q. Which are the spiritual miseries?  
A. Blindness of ˣ mind, the spirit of ʸ slumber, and giddiness, horror of ᶻ conscience, hardness of ᵃ heart, a reprobate, sense, and strong ᶜ delusions. x Esa. 6.9. y Rom. 11.8. z. Matt. 27.3.4.5. a Exod. 7.3. b Rom. 1.28. c 2 Thes. 2.11.  
Q. What is the eternal misery?  
A. Everlasting ᵈ damnation. d. Rom. 6.23  
Q. After a man doth know his misery, what is he to learn in the next place?  
A. The true means how he may escape the foresaid ᵉ misery, and be restored to ᶠ happiness. e Act 2.37. f Act. 16.30.  
Q By what means may we escape this misery, and recover happiness?  
A. Only by jesus ᵍ Christ. g. Act. 4.12.  
Q. What is jesus Christ?  
A. The eternal Son ʰ of God, who in time became man for his elect. h Gal. 4.4.5  
Q. How many things are we to consider in Christ?  
A. His ⁱ Person and his ᵏ Office i Col. 2.9. k Heb. 2.16.17.  
Q. What is his Person?  
A. It is God ˡ and man, united together into one ᵐ person l joh. 1.14. Rom. 9.5. Esa. 7.14. m 1. Cor 8.6.  
Q. Being God before all time how could he be made man?  
A. He was conceived by the ⁿ holy Ghost, borne of the Virgin Marie, according to the ᵒ Prophets n Luke 1.35. oh Gene. 3.15. Esa. 7.14. and 11.1.  
Q. Why was Christ Conceived by the holy Ghost?  
A. That he might be pure ᵖ without sin, wherewith all are stained, that are conceived after the ordinary q manner. p Luke 1.45. q joh. 3.6.  
Q. Why was he God?  
A. That he might bear the weight of God's wrath without sinking under it, overcome death, be the Head of the Church repair his Image in us, conquer the enemies of our salvation, and defend us against them.  
Why was he man?  
A. That he might suffer death ʳ for us, sanctify our ˢ nature, and we might have access with ᵗ bolduesse to the throne of grace r Heb. 2.14. s Heb. 2.11. t Heb. 4.15.16.  
What is his Office?  
A To be a Mediator, ᵘ to reconcile God and man u 1. Tim. 2.5.  
Q. How did he that?  
A. By his fulfilling w the law, and by his ˣ sufferings. Matth. 3.15. x Heb. 9.15. Rom. 5.10.12.13.  
Q. What understand you by his suffering?  
A. His voluntary ʸ humiliation both in ᶻ soul and body, his ᵃ crucifying death, ᵇ burial, and abiding ᶜ under the dominion of death, for a time. y Phil. 2.5.6.7.8. z Esa. 53.10. Matth. 26.38. Heb. 9.14. a Luke 23.33. b 1. Cor. 15.3.4. c. Acts. 2.27.  
Q. Did Christ always abide under the power and dominion of death?  
A. No: for the power of death being ᵈ subdued, the third ᵉ day he rose again ascended ᶠ into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father. d Acts 2.31. e 1. Cor. 15.3.4. f Mark 16.19.  
Q. What are the special parts of Christ Mediatorship?  
A. He is ᵍ Prophet, ʰ Priest, and ⁱ King. g Act. 3.22. h Heb. 2.17. i Ps. 110.1.  
Q. Why was Christ a Prophet?  
A. Toreveale unto us the way to ᵏ everlasting life. k Luk. 4.18.19.  
Q. Why was he a Priest?  
A. To purchase for us ˡ righteousness and life eternal. l Heb. 5.9.  
Q. What are the functions of his Priestly office?  
A. ᵐ Offering up himself a sacrifice once for all, and making request for us. m Heb. 5.1. and 9.26. and 7.25.  
Q. Why was Christ a King?  
A. To bridle, and ⁿ subdue all his enemies; but to ᵒ gather and ᵖ govern his elect and chosen. n Col. 2.14. Psal. 110.1, 2. 1. Corinth. 15.28. o john 19.16. Hag. 2.7. p Ezech. 34.23, 24.  
Q. What benefit do we receive by the death and resurrection of Christ?  
A. We are redeemed from the q guilt punishment, and power of ʳ sin, and shall be raised ˢ up at the last day, q Gal. 3.13. Colos. 1.14. r Luke 1.74. Titus 2.14. s 1. Cor. 15.13.  
Q. How are we redeemed from the guilt and punishment of sin?  
A. God the Father, accepting the death of Christ, as a full ransom ᵗ & satisfaction to his justice, doth freely discharge and acquit us from all our sins. ● Rom. 3.24.25. Col. 1.14.  
Q. How are we redeemed from the power and tyranny of sin.  
A. Christ by his death killeth ᵃ sin in us, and by his resurrection doth quicken us to newness of life. a Rom. 6.3.4.  
Q. What are the benefits of Christ's ascension, & sitting at the right hand of the Father  
A The leading ᵘ of captivity captive, the giving of gifts unto men, the pouring ˣ of his spirit upon his people, and the preparing ʸ a place for them, u Eph. 4.11. x Acts 2.16, 17. y john 14.3.  
Q. What are the benefits of his intercession?  
A. The persons of the faithful do always remain just, and their works ᶻ acceptable in the sight of God; hereby also they are defended against the accusations of all their enemies, z 1. Pet. 2.5. Gen. 4.4 Exod. 28.38.  
Q. How will the knowledge of these things work in the heart of him whom God will save?  
A. It brings him to a serious consideration ᵃ of his own estate, to grieve ᵇ for sin, and the fear of God's displeasure, whereby the ᶜ heart is broken and humbled, a jer. 8.6.7. Luk. 15.17. b Acts 2.37. c Acts 9.6.  
Q. What else will this knowledge work?  
A. I ᶜ will bring a man to confess ᵈ his sin, highly to ᵉ prize Christ, and hunger ᶠ after him, until he obtain his desire. d Luke 15.18. e Math. 13.44. f Esa. 55.1. john 7.37.  
Q. How are we made partakers of Christ with all his benefits?  
A By faith ᵍ alone g john 3.16. and 1.12. Acts 13.39.  
Q. What is faith?  
A. A resting upon Christ ʰ alone for salvation. h Psal. 2.12. Acts 16.31.  
Q. What is the ground of faith?  
A. The free promises ⁱ of God made in Christ, concerning the forgiveness of sins, and eternal righteousness. i Rom. 4.18. Heb. 11, 11.  
Q. How is faith wrought in us?  
A. Inwardly by the spirit, as the ᵏ author, & outwardly by the ˡ preaching of the word and ᵐ catechising, as the instrument thereof. k Act. 16.14. l Rom. 10.14 m Heb. 5.11.12. and 6.2.  
Q. How doth the Word work faith in us?  
A. By showing us our ⁿ misery, and the true means of our ᵒ recovery, encouraging ᵖ us being humbled, to receive the promises of the Gospel. n Rom. 7.7. Gal. 3 22. o Gal. 4.4, 5. p Matth. 11.28. Esay 61.1, 2.3. Reuel. 22.17.  
Q. How doth the spirit work by the Word?  
A. It doth teach us wisdom, to apply q things generally spoken, particularly to ourselves, secretly upholdeth ʳ against despair, stirreth up in us good ˢ desires, doth soften ᵗ the heart, ᵘ & draw us to rest upon Christ for salvation, before we have ʷ the feeling of comfort. q Ezek. 36.27.31. r Psal. 51.12. s Phil. 2.13. t Ezech. 11.19. and 36.26. u john 6.44. w Matth. 11.28.29.  
Q. By what means is faith increased?  
A. By hearing the same ˣ word preached and catechised, and likewise by earnest ʸ prayer. x 1. Pet. 2.2. y Luke 17.5  
Q. How must we hear that we may get profit?  
A. Wire ᶻ reverence, ᵃ meekness, ᵇ joy, a ᶜ longing desire to learn, and giving ᵈ credit to the truth. z Esa. 66.2.5. a I am. 1 21. b Mat. 13.44. c 1. Pet. 2.2. d Heb. 4.1, 2.  
Q. How else?  
A. We must meditate ᶜ of that we hear, apply it to ourselves, confer ᶠ of it with others, and with ᵍ diligence set about the practice of what is required. c Psal. 1.2. and 119.14.15. f joh. 4.53. g Esay 2.3. Luke 2.15.  
Q. What is Prayer?  
A. It is a calling upon God, in the name of Christ, with the ʰ heart, and sometimes with the voice, according to his will: for ourselves and ⁱ others. h Exod. 14.15. 1. Sam. 1.13. i 1. john 5.14.  
Q. To whom must we pray?  
A. To God alone, in the name ᵏ of Christ. k john 16.23.  
Q. Ought we not in prayer to make particular confession of our sins?  
A. Yes: so fare as we Card. come to the knowledge of them; and this we must do with ᵐ grief, hatred and shame, freely ⁿ accusing and condemning ourselves before God, with broken ᵒ and contrite hearts. l 1. Sam. 12.19. Psal. 19.12. m Neh. 8.9. n Neh. 9.33. o Zach. 12.10.  
Q. What are the parts of prayer?  
A. Petition and Thanksgiving.  
Q. What is Petition?  
A. It is a Prayer, wherein we desire the ᵖ preventing or q removing of things hurtful, & the obtaining of things needful either for this life, or for that which is to come. p Esa. 37.20. Mat. 6.13. q Psal. 6.1, 2, 3, 4.  
Q. How must we make our requests that we may be heard?  
A. With ʳ understanding feeling of ˢ our wants, ᵗ fervency, ᵘ reverence, hope ʷ to speed, & ˣ love, r 1. Cor. 14.15. s Mat. 11.28. t jam. 5.16.17. u Eccles. 5.2. w 1. Tim. 2.8. x Mat. 6.14. Mar. 11.25.  
Q What is thanksgiving?  
A. It is ʸ prayer, wherein we render thankes to God, for his ᶻ general goodness, and particular ᵃ favours. y 1. Sam. 2.1. z Psal. 136.1. etc. a Psal. 103.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.  
Q. What things are required in thankesgining?  
A. Love to ᵇ God, and joy in ᶜ his mercy, a desire to ᵈ draw others to obey and glorify God, and an endeavour ᵉ to proceed in godliness ourselves. b Psal. 18.1.2. c Psal. 126.1 2. d Psalm. 34.11. e Deut. 6.10, 11.12, 13.  
Q. What rule of direction is there according to which we ought to frame our prayers?  
A. The general direction is the word of God, the more special is the Lords Prayer.  
Q. How many things are to be considered in the Lord's Prayer?  
A. Three, the Preface, the Prayer it self, and the Conclusion.  
Q. Which is the Preface?  
A. Our Father which art in heaven.  
Q. What learn you out of this Preface?  
A. That God is our Father by grace and adoption, through jesus Christ, glorious in Majesty and infinite in power, that both can, and hath promised to help us.  
Q What are you to consider in the Prayer itself?  
A. Six petitions and a thanksgiving.  
Q. Which is the first petition?  
A. Hallowed be thy name.  
Q. What desire you of God in this petition?  
A. That God's infinite excellency may be magnified by us on earth, in heart, word, and deed.  
Q. Which is the second petition?  
A. Thy kingdom come.  
Q. What do you desire of God in this petition?  
A. That Christ would convert such as be under the power of Satan; rule in the hearts of his chosen by his Spirit here, and perfect their salvation in heaven hereafter.  
Q. Which is the third petition?  
A. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  
Q. What desire you of God in this petition?  
A. That whatsoever God willeth in his word might be obeyed cheerfully, speedily, faithfully, & constantly by men on earth, as the Angels do in heaven.  
Q. Which is the fourth petition?  
A. Give us this day our daily bread.  
Q. What desire you of God in this petition?  
A. That God would bestow on us all things necessary for this life; as food, maintenance, etc.  
Q. Which is the fift petition?  
A. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.  
Q. What desire you of God in this petition?  
A. That God of his free mercy in jesus Christ, would fully pardon all our sins, as we do pardon the wrongs and injuries we receive from others.  
Q. Which is the sixth petition?  
A. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  
Q. What desire you of God in this petition?  
A. To be freed from trials so fare as it may stand with the good pleasure of God, and always to be delivered from the evil thereof, that we faint not under them, or be foiled by them.  
Q. Which is the thanksgiving in the Lord's prayer.  
A. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.  
Q. Do not these words contain a reason also, why we beg the former blessings at the hand of God?  
A. Yes: for seeing the kingdom, power, and glory is the Lords, we should call upon him in all our necessities.  
Q. Which is the conclusion of the Lords prayer?  
A. Amen, which is a witnessing of our faith, and desire of the things prayed for.  
Q What doth Amen signify?  
A. So it is, or, So be it.  
Q. What must we do after we have prayed?  
A. Observe how we speed, and what answer we freceive. f Psal. 3.4. and 85.8.  
Q. What benefit shall we gain hereby?  
A. It will stir up the heart to ᵍ thankfulness, remove dulness ʰ & negligence in this duty, strengthen our ⁱ faith, and in flame our hearts with zeal, joy, & love g Psal. 31.21, 22. h Psal. 88.13. & 4.1, 2. i Psal. 4.3. k Psal. 116.1. Psal. 28.6, 7.  
Q. What must we do if God answer us not at the first or second time?  
A. Examine how ˡ we pray, and continue ᵐ fervent therein, waiting upon ⁿ the Lord until we speed. l jam. 4.3. m Luke 18.1. n Hab. 2.3. Psal. 5.3  
Q. Who ought to pray?  
A. Though God require it of all men upon earth, yet it more specially belongeth to the members ᵒ of the Church militant, o Matth. 7.7, 8.  
Q. Who can, and may pray with hope to speed?  
A. Only they that depart ᵖ from iniquity, p Psal. 66.18.  
Q. For whom must we pray?  
A. For all sorts of men now q living or that shall liuer hereafter, but not for ˢ the dead. q 1. Tim. 2.1.2. r joh. 17.20. s Luke 16.24, 25.  
Q. May men content themselves to pray in private only, or only in public?  
A. No: but they must use both ᵗ public and private ᵘ prayer, t Acts 2.42. u Luke 11.1.  
Q. What other means hath God appointed to increase faith?  
A. The due administration and ʷ receiving of the Sacraments. w Gen. 17.9, 10, 11. Rom. 4.11.  
Q. Who ought to administer the Sacraments?  
A. Only they that are ˣ lawfully called thereunto by the Church, x Heb. 5.4.  
Q. What is a Sacrament?  
A. A seal of the ˣ covenant of grace. x Rom. 4.11.  
Q. In what words is this covenant expressed in the Scripture?  
A. I will be thy ʸ God, and thou shalt be my people, y jer. 31.33.  
Q. What are the parts of a Sacrament?  
A. Two; An outward visible sign, sanctified, to represent & seal another thing to the mind, and heart; and an inward grace, which is the thing signified.  
Q. Who is author of the Sacrament?  
A. The Lord ᶻ only, who made the covenant, z Esa. 7.14 and 38.7.  
Q. How many Sacraments are there?  
A. Two; ᵃ Baptism, and the Lords ᵇ Supper. a joh 1.26. b Luke 22.19, 20.  
Q. What is Baptism?  
A. A Sacrament of our ᶜ engrafting into Christ, communion with him, and entrance into the Church. c Mat. 28.19. Act 8.38.  
Q. What is the outward sign?  
A. Water, ᵈ wherewith the party baptised is washed, ᵉ by dipping or sprinkling in the name ᶠ of the Father, Son, and holy Ghost. d Acts 10.47. e Mat. 3.6.11.13.16. Acts 16.15. f Mat. 28.19.  
Q. What is the inward grace, or thing signified?  
A. Forgiveness ᶠ of sins, and ᵍ sanctification. f Mat. 1.4. Act. 2.38. g Tit. 3.5  
Q. To what condition doth the party baptised bind himself?  
A. To believe in ʰ Christ, and forsake his sin. h Act. 8.37. i Mar. 3.12.  
Q. How oft ought a man to be baptised?  
A. It is enough ᵏ once to be baptised; for baptism is a pledge ˡ of our new birth k Acts 7.8. l Tit. 3.5.  
Q. Who ought to be baptised?  
A. Infidels ᵐ converted to the faith, and the infants ⁿ of one or both Christian parents. m Acts 8.12. n Acts 2.39. 1. Cor. 7.14.  
Q. What is the Lords Supper?  
A. A Sacrament of our ᵃ continuance and growth in Christ. a 1. Cor. 10.16.  
Q. Who is the author of this Sacrament?  
A. The ᵇ Lord jesus in the same night that he was betrayed. b 1. Cor. 11.23, 24  
Q. What is the outward sign?  
A. Bread ᶜ and Wine, with the actions pertaining to them, as breaking, giving, receiving, eating, and drinking. c Mat. 26 27, 28.  
Q. What is the inward grace?  
A. Christ ᵈ with all the benefits of his death and passion. d 1. Cor. 11.24.  
Q. What is the duty of the Minister in the administration of this Sacrament?  
A. To consecrate ᵉ it by declaring the institution thereof, and prayer joined with thanksgiving: As also to break the bread, and afterwards to deliver the bread and wine to the people. e 1. Cor. 11 23, 24. Matth. 26.26, 27, 28. Mark 14.22 Luke 22.19.  
Q. What is hereby signified?  
A. The Action of God the Father offering Christ to all, and bestowing him ᶠ effectually upon the worthy receiver. f 1. Cor. 10.16.  
Q. What is the duty of the receivers?  
A. To receive ᵍ the bread and wine delivered, and to eat and drink thereof. g Matth. 26.26, 27.1. Cor. 11.23, 24.  
Q. What is signified hereby?  
A. Our ʰ receiving, and feeding upon Christ by faith, h 1. Cor. 10.16.  
Q: Is it sufficient to receive this Sacrament once?  
A. No: ˡ but we must receive it often, l Acts. 2.42. and 20.7.  
Q. For what end and use ought we to receive this Sacrament?  
A. To ᵏ confirm our faith, communion with Christ, & all saving graces in us, to keep ˡ in remembrance the Lords death until he come again, and to testify ᵐ our love one to another, k 1. Cor. 10.16. l 1. Cor. 11.24.26. m 1. Cor. 12.13.  
Q. What is the danger of unworthy receiving?  
A. Unworthy ⁿ receivers are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, and do eat and drink judgement to themselves. n 1. Cor. 11.27.29.  
Q. Who are to receive this Sacrament?  
A. Such as know their ⁿ misery by sin, the remedy thereof in Christ, and ᵒ the doctrine of the Sacrament, with all earnestly ᵖ longing to be satisfied with the bread of life, n Matth. 11.28. o Exod. 12.26, 27. p Reu. 22.17.  
Q. What else is required in them that come to this Table?  
A. A renewed q hatred of all sin, an hearty endeavour to overcome natural passions, and an utter and wel-aduised forsaking of ʳ grosser sins, willingness ˢ to be strengthened in faith, and a ᵗ longing desire for the good of our brethren, q Luk 3.12.13. Matth. 18.3. r Luke 14.28.29. etc. s Matth. 5.6. t Mark. 11.25. Matth. 5.23.24.  
Q. What if a man find himself weak in faith, and full of doubting?  
A. He must bewail ᵘ his unbelief, pray for faith, seek to have his doubts resolved and so receive, to be further ʷ strengthened. u Mark 9.24. w judg. 6.36.37. Exod. 12.1, 2, 3, 4.  
Q. How ought a man's heart to be affected in receiving the Sacrament?  
A. Wire ᵍ reverence, joy and ʰ comfort, meditating ⁱ on the outward signs, & what they signify, the dainties prepared, and love of him that prepared them our communion with Christ his graces, & his faithful people, whereby the heart, is prepared to thanksgiving. g Exod. 3.5. Gen. 28.17. h Deut. 16.15. i 1. Cor. 11.25 1. King. 8.66.  
Q. What must we do after we have received?  
A. We must endeavour to find an increase of ᵏ faith, love, and all saving graces, abounding more and more in welldoing. k Pro. 4.18. Ezek. 47.12.  
Q. What order hath the Lord lief in his Church, to keep this ordinances from contempt?  
A. The unruly should be ˡ admonished, the obstinate ᵐ excommunicated, and the penitent after their fall restored & ⁿ comforted. l 1. Thes. 5.14. m 1. Cor. 5.5. n ● Cor. 2.6, 7.  
Q. Besides the forenamed means, are there not some other profitable for the increase of faith?  
A. Yes: ᵒ reading or hearing the Scriptures read, in ᵖ public, and in q private, ʳ meditation, and ˢ conference. o Reu. 1.3 p Act. 13.15. q Act. 8.30. r Luke 2.51. s Heb. 3.13. joh. 4.52.  
Q. Hitherto of the ordinary means whereby faith is increased: Be there not also some extraordinary means.  
A. Yes: and those be holy ᵃ fasting, holy ᵇ feasting, and religious ᶜ vows. a Luke 5.35. b Ester 9.17. c Psal. 50.14.  
Q. What is an holy Fast?  
A. A religious ᵈ abstinence from all the labours ᵉ of our calling, and ᶠ comforts of this life, so fare as comeliness and necessity will permit, that we might be more seriously ᵍ humbled before God, and more fervent in prayer. d Ester. 4.16. e levit. 23.28. f Exod. 35.5. g Dan. 9.9.11. Levi. 23.27  
Q. When ought we to fast?  
A. When we feel or ʰ fear some grievous calamity upon us, or hanging over our heads, want some special blessing, are pressed with some special sin, or go about some ⁱ weighty matter. h Ester 4.16. Ezra 8.21. i Acts 13.2.  
Q. What is an holy Feast?  
A. An extraordinary ᵏ thanksgiving for some notable deliverance out of some desperate danger, testified with feasting before God, with joy and gladness, sending presents to our friends, & ˡ portions to the needy. k 1. Chron. 16.8. & 29, 10, 11 l Neh. 8.10. Hest. 9.22.  
Q. What is a Religious vow?  
A. A solemn ᵐ promise unto God, made by a fit person, of some lawful thing which is in his choice, to testify his love ⁿ and thankfulness. m Deut. 23.21.22. n Psal. 116.12.  
Q. Can faith being wrought and confirmed in us, be fruitless and unprofitable?  
A. No: for it worketh ᵒ by love, o Gal. 5.6.  
Q. What is the principal work of faith?  
A. It purifieth the heart. Acts 15.9.  
Q. What followeth thereupon?  
A. A fight and combating against sin and corruption. Gal. 5.17.  
Q. What else?  
A. Renouncing ᵖ of all evil in affection, and of gross q sin in life and conversation. p Acts 38. q Acts 19.18, 19  
Q. What is a third thing that followeth hence?  
A. Love ʳ and delight in that which is good, joined with a sincere desire, purpose, & end evour ˢ daily to amend what soever is amiss, and to lead a life ᵗ according to the law of God. r Psal. 119.97. s Phil. 3.13, 14. Acts 11.23. t Psal. 119.6  
Q. Wherein is the sum of the law contained?  
A. In the ten Commandments, Deut. 10.4.  
Q. How are they divided?  
A. Into two Tables, Deut. 5.22. and 10.1, 2.  
Q Which are the Commandments of the first Table?  
A The four first, & they teach the duty which we own unto God immediately.  
Q. Which are the Commandments of the second Table?  
A. The six last, which instruct us in our duty towards our neighbour.  
Q Which is the first Commandment?  
A. I am the Lord thy God, etc. Thou shalt have, etc.  
Q Which is the general duty required in this Commandment?  
A. That in mind will, affections, and the effects of these, we take the true God, in Christ, to be our God.  
Q. What is the general sin here forbidden?  
A. All falling to give God that foresaid honour which is due unto him: or else in whole or in part giving it to any other.  
Q. What is the second Commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not make to thyself, etc.  
Q. What is the general duty which this Commandment requireth?  
A. That we do worship the true God purely, according to his will.  
Q. What is the general sin forbidden?  
A. All omission of God's true worship when it is required, and all false worship, either invented by others, or taken up of our own heads.  
Q. Which is the third Commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not take the name, etc.  
Q. What is the general duty required in this Commandment?  
A. That we should use the titles, properties, works & ordinance of the Lord, with knowledge, faith, reverence, joy, & sincerity, in thought, word, & conversation  
Q. What is the general sin forbidden?  
A. Omitting the duty here required, using the Lords name when we ought not, or otherwise then we should.  
Q. When is the name of God taken otherwise then it should?  
A. When it is used ignorantly, superstitiously without faith, rashly, not to a right end, hypocritically, falsely, against conscience, and when men name themselves Christians, but live scandalously.  
Q. Which is the fourth Commandment?  
A. Remember the Sabbath day, etc.  
Q. What is the general duty here required  
A. That the whole Sabbath or Lords day, be set apart from all common uses, as holy to the Lord, both publicly & privately in the practice of the duties of necessity, holiness, and mercy.  
Q. What is the general sin here forbidden?  
A. All neglecting of the duties of that time, or profaning of that day, by need less works, words, or thoughts, about our callings, or recreation.  
Q. Which day is to be set apart as holy to the Lord?  
A. It is moral, and perpetual to keep one day in seven, as holy: from the creation to the resurrection of Christ, the seventh day was instituted, after Christ his resurrection, the first day of the week was ordained, and is to be kept for ever.  
Q. What is the fift Commandment?  
A. Honour thy father and thy mother, etc.  
Q. Who are to be understood by father and mother?  
A. Not only natural parents, but also all superiors in office, age, and gifts.  
Q. What is it to honour?  
A. To acknowledge the excellency that is in men by virtue of their place, and to carry ourselves accordingly towards them.  
Q. Are only the duties of Inferiors here intended.  
A. No, but of Superiors, & equals also  
Q What then is the main duty of this Commandment?  
A. That we carefully observe that order which God hath appointed amongst men and do the duties which we own unto them in respect of their places & degrees.  
Q. What is the duty of Inferiors?  
A. They must be subject, reverend, and thankful to their superiors, bearing with their wants, and covering them in love.  
Q. What is the duty of Superiors?  
A. To carry themselves gravely, meekly, and after a seemly manner towards their inferiors.  
Q. What is the duty of equals?  
A. To regard the dignity and worth each of other, modestly to bear themselves one toward the other, and in giving honour to go one before another.  
Q. Which is the sixth Commandment?  
A. Thou shalt do no Murder.  
Q What is the general duty of this Commandment?  
A. That by all means lawful, we desire and study to preserve our own person, and the person of our neighbour.  
Q. What is the general sin herein forbidden?  
A. All neglect of our own, or our neighbours' preservation, or desire of our own or their hurt, conceived in heart, or declared in word, gesture or deed.  
Q. Which is the seventh commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not commit Adultery.  
Q. What is the general duty of this Commandment?  
A. That we should keep ourselves pure in soul and body, both towards ourselves and others.  
Q. Which is the general sin here forbidden?  
A. All uncleanness of heart, speech, gesture, or action, together with all the causes, occasions, and signs thereof.  
Q. Which is the eight commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not Steal.  
Q. What is the general duty of this commandment?  
A. That by all good means we further the outward estate of ourselves, and of our neighbours.  
Q What is the general sin forbidden?  
A. All neglect to further our own or our neighbour's wealth, all impeachment or hindrance thereof, and all increase thereof, by unjust and indirect dealing.  
Q. Which is the ninth Commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.  
Q. What is the general duty here required  
A. That by all means we seek to maintain our own and our neighbours good name, according to truth & a good conscience.  
Q. What is the general sin forbidden?  
A. All failing to procure, defend, and further our own, and our neighbour's credit, all unjust defence, wrongful suspicion; and accusation of ourselves, or others.  
Q. Which is the tenth Commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not covet, etc.  
Q. What is the general duty commanded?  
A. That we be truly contented with our own outward condition, and heartily desire the good of our neighbour, in all things belonging unto him great & small  
Q. What is the general sin forbidden?  
A. All thoughts of mind, wishes, and desires of heart, and delightful remembrances of evil, against contentedness.  
Q. Is any man able to keep this Law?  
A. Not perfectly; for the ᵃ godly often fall, the most holy ᵇ fail always in their best duties: But the child of God aught, ᶜ may & usually ᵈ doth walk according to the law, sincerely. a jam. 3.2. b Exod. 28.36, 37, 38. c 1. joh. 2.14. joh. 14.15.21. d 1. King. 15.5.  
Q. Should not a Christian omit doing of good altogether, seeing he cannot do it in that measure that God requireth?  
A. No: but with diligence, & ᵉ singleness of heart, strive against corruption, look for ᶠ the assistance of God's spirit, & labour to ᵍ grow in grace. e 2. Cor. 7.1. f 2. Chron. 16.9. Phil. 4.13. g 1. Pet. 2.2. and 2. Pet. 3.18.  
Q. What means should a man use to grow in grace?  
A. He must throughly ʰ examine his ways, judge ⁱ himself, watch ᵏ over his heart at all times, in all places, occasions, and conditions, redeeming the ˡ time, to store his hart with good, & preserve ᵐ his faith. h Hag. 1.5.7 i 1. Cor. 11.31. k 2. Tim 4.5. l Eph. 5.16. m Heb. 10.35, 36, 38.  
Q. What else?  
A. He must take unto ⁿ him the whole armour of God, and with care, uprightness and constancy, use the means of ᵒ grace before prescribed, in on estate, ᵖ as well as in another. n Eph. 6.14. oh Prou. 2.3, 4. Col. 4.2. p job. 27.10.  
Q. What privileges doth God afford in this life unto his children, who labour according to his will to increase in grace?  
A. They may be assured q of his favour & fatherly ʳ care over them, the ˢ direction of his spirit, their ᵗ groweth in grace, & ᵘ perseverance to the end, q 1. joh. 3.1 13. joh. 1.12. r 1. Tim. 4.10. Mat. 10.30. s Psal. 143.10. t Col. 1.9.10. u Phil. 1.6.  
Q What other priutledges doth God afford unto them?  
A. They are ᵘ kept from, comforted w in and delivered ˣ out of many troubles, taught to use ʸ all estates aright, ᶻ preserved from foul offences, enabled to ᶻ rise again if they fall, instructed to live ᵃ godly, & have possession ᵇ of the word, u Psal. 32.10. w Acts 16.25. x Prou. 11.8. y Lam. 3.27. Phil. 4.12. 2 Luk. 1.6. z Psal. 37.23, 24. a Eph. 2.10. b Luke 8.15.  
Q. Do all the godly, or any, at all times enjoy all these priutledges?  
A. No: some are ignorant of them, not believing, or at least very faintly, that there be any such: Others are careless, who prize, them not, and so take not pains for these things as they ought.  
Q. What other hindrances do deprive Christians of the enjoying of these privileges  
A. Inordinate ᶜ passions, as fear, anger, self-love, pride, love of pleasures, cares of the world, earthly encumbrances, and inconstancy in good duties: temptations also to distrust, do keep under many. c jam. 4.1, 2.  
Q. How should a man bridle and reform these unruly passions?  
A. Let him highly esteem a Christian life, pray earnestly, set himself most against the infirmities that be strongest in him, shun the occasions of sin, hide the m commandment in his hart, and ⁿ apply the death of Christ, for the kill of corruption. m Psal. 119.11. n 1. joh. 5.4.  
Q. How may a man overcome his temptations to distrust?  
A. He must not give credit ᵒ to Satan's suggestions against God's truth but consider of Gods ᵖ power, q goodness, ʳ unchangeableness, ormer ˢ mercies, & free ᵗ grace in giving us his Son: so that weakness, unworthiness, want of feeling come for't should not dismay him. oh Mat. 4.3, 4 p Mat. 8.2. Esa. 40.27, 28. q Psal. 51.1. r jere. 31.3 s Psal. 77.11.12. t Rom. 5.8, 9  
Q. What else must we do?  
A. He must consider what promises the Lord hath made to keep ⁿ & uphold him, what encouragement w he hath given him to believe, and how acceptable ˣ a thing it is that he should so do. u Mat. 16.18. Luk. 23.32. w 1. joh. 3.23. x Mat. 8.10. & 15.28. Rom. 4.20.  
Q. What other thing is to be learned for the overcoming of these temptations?  
A. We must judge of ourselves not by our own ᵃ present feeling, or by our own ᵇ discerning the fruits of Grace, but by that we have ᶜ felt, & the ᵈ fruits of grace which appear to others. a Psal. 116.11. Psal. 13.1. b Psal. 51.10. c Psal. 77.11. d 2. Cor. 2.10, 11.  
Q. What may be a further help?  
A. It is good to ᵉ examine our hearts, & use the advice of ᶠ others; but we must know withal, the groaning ᵍ after, and labouring to rest our wearied soul upon the promises of grace, being never satisfied until our doubtfulness be removed, will bring a good end. e Psa. 4.4. f 1. Thes. 5.14. g Mat. 11.28.  
Q. Do the fruits of the spirit always appear in the faithful.  
A. No: they are obscured in ʰ our first conversion, in the days of ⁱ security, when we ᵏ leave our first love, in the time of ˡ temptation, or of some relapse ᵐ into sin. h Luke 5.37, 38. i 1. Cor. 3. k Reve. 2.4. l Psal. 6.1, 2, 3. m Psal. 51.10.  
Q. How should a man recover out of a relapse  
A. By a speedy ⁿ consideration of what he hath done, renewing his repentance, with sorrow and shame, ᵒ bewailing his sin before God, reforming his life, and laying hold upon the promise of mercy. n Reve. 2.5. o jere. 31.18, 19  
Q What privileges do the godly enjoy as soon as this life is ended?  
A. Their glory then gins: for their bodies remain ᵖ in the grave as in a bed of spices, & their soul's q being perfectly freed from sin, are received into heaven, beholding ʳ God and Christ immediately. p 1. Thes. 4.15. q Reuel. 14.13. r Mat. 5.8.1. Cor. 13.12.  
Q. If this be the state of the godly, what shall become of the ?  
A. Their body's ˢ shall rot in the grave, & their souls ᵗ be judged to everlasting woe. s Gene. 3.19. t Luke 16.22, 23.  
Q. When shall the happiness of the elect be consummate?  
A. At the ᵘ dreadful day of judgement, & the general resurrection, u Psal. 17.15  
Q. Who shall be the judge at that day?  
A. Christ the w Lord and King of the Church, whoshal come in a most glorious & visible manner descending ˣ from heaven with a shout, and with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trumpet of God most royally attended with innumerable multitudes of mighty angels. w Acts 10.42. & 17.31. x 1. The 4.16. y 2. The. 1.7.  
Q. When shall he come?  
A. He will most surely come, but the time is ᶻ unknown, that we might ever ᵃ watch, and prepare for his coming. z Match. 24.36. a Matth. 24.42.  
Q. Whom shall he judge?  
A. His elect and ᵇ chosen, and all their enemies both evil ᶜ angels, and wicked men. b 2. Cor. 5.10. c 2. Pet. 3.4. jude v. 16  
Q. Seeing many of God's elect people, and wicked men are rotten in the earth, how can they be judged?  
A. The very same bodies in ᵈ substance that at any time died, shall by the power of God be raised up, and the souls be united unto them, inseparably to abide to gether for evermore. d 1. Cor. 15.42, 43.  
Q. What are we to beleeue concerning those who shall be found alive at the coming of Christ?  
A. They shall be changed in the ᵃ twinkling of an eye, and so presented before the judgement seat of Christ. e 1. Cor. 15.51, 52.  
Q. In what manner shall he judge?  
A. Most strictly, both in respect of the ᶠ persons judged, & the things for which; but yet he shall judge most righteous ᵍ judgement. f 2. Cor. 5.10. g Acts 17.31.  
Q. What shall be the issue of this judgement to the wicked?  
A. Everlasting ʰ perdition from the presence of the Lord, to all those who ignorantly or wilfully, did contemn the Gospel h 2. Thes. 1.7, 8, 9  
Q. What shall be the issue thereof to the godly?  
A. The clear vision of God & Christ, endless communion ᵏ with them, and everlasting ˡ peace & glory both in soul and body, in fuller measure than the heart of man can now comprehend, or any of the Saints enjoyed before. i 1. joh. 3.2. k joh. 17.24. Phi. 1.23. l Mat. 25.34  
FINIS.