A BRIEF SUM OF Christian Religion.  
Collected for a preparation to the Lords Supper.  
Published for the benefit of the simpler sort of people of the Parish of Saint Laurence.  
BY THOMAS SANDERSON Doctor in Divinity.  PROV. 22. 
Teach a Child in the trade of his way, and when he is old he shall not departed from it.  1 PET. 2.2. 
As new borne Babes desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.  
London, Printed by E. P. for F. Coules, at his shop in the Old-Bayly, near the Sessions-house. 1640.   

AN INTRODUCTION to the Lords Supper.  
Question. WHo made you? 
Gen. 1.1. etc. Esay. 66.2. Acts 17.24. john 4.24. john 1.18. 1 Tim. 6.16. Exod. 33.20. job 11.7. Esay 40.12.13. etc. Esay 57.15. Rom. 1.20. Gen. 17.1. job 37.23. Esay 54.5. Deut. 4.35. & 6.4. Mat. 3.16.17. and 28.19. 1 john 5.7. Pro. 16.4. Psal. 104. and 145.146. and 148.   
A. GOD that made Man and all things in the beginning.  
Q. What is God?  
A. A Spirit, Invisible, Incomprehensible, Infinite, Eternal, and Almighty, One in nature and substance, but distinguished into three persons, namely the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost.  
Q. Why did God make all things?  
A. For his own glory.  
Q. Why for his glory?  
A. Because he is most worthy to be glorified, that only was and is able to give glory to all things.  
Q How doth man glorify God?  
A. By beléeving in him, and keeping his Commandments. 
john 15.1.   
Q. What is to be beléeved of God?  
A. The Articles of the Christian Father comprehended in the Apostles cré, which is, I believe in God, etc.  
Q. Which are Gods Commandments, 
Exod. 20.1. Deut. 5.6.  and how many be they?  
A. Ten The same which GOD spoke unto Moses and Israel, in the twentieth Chapter of Exodus, saying, I. I am the Lord thy God, etc.  
Q. Can you keep these Commandments?  

Rom. 2.9. Gal. 3.22.  A. I cannot.  
Q. What is due unto them that do not keep God's Commandments?  

Deut. 25.26. Rom. 4.15. Deut. 23.22.  A. The Curse of the Law, the wrath of God, and therefore the vengeance of eternal fire.  
Q. How will you then escape these things? 
Gal. 3.13. 1 Thes. 1.10. Ephes. 1.7. Acts 4.1.2.   
A. By jesus Christ, mine only Redeemer and Saviour.  
Q. Why, what did Christ for you?  
A. He died for my sins, and risen again for my justification. 
Rom. 4.25.   
Q. What is Christ?  
A. The Son of God. 
Mat. 16.16. and 17.5. Luke 4.14. Heb. 1.5. 1 Pet. 3.18.   
Q. Why, how could the Son of God suffer death?  
A. He suffered in his Manhood: for he is both God and Man in one person.  
Q. How can that be? 
Rom. 1.3.4. Phil. 2.6, 7.   
A. Yes very well: for as the body and the soul do make but one Man: so God and man are but one Christ. 
A●hanas. Symb.   
Q. How do you know that Christ died and risen again for you?  
A. By Faith, because I verily believe it.  
Q. Whence cometh faith?  
A. It is the gift and work of God, 
Phil. 1.29. john 6.29.  wrought in my heart by the Holy Ghost, who sanctifieth me and all GOD'S chosen Children. 
john 12.13. Rom. 8.11. 1 Cor. 6.11. 2 Thes. 2.13.   
Q. By what means doth the Holy Ghost work faith in you?  
A. By the Word of GOD, called the Old Testament and the New.  
Q. How by the Word of God?  

josu. 2.8. job 5.19. Acts 17.11. Esay 1.2.  A. By reading and meditating, and conferring upon it: But most especially by hearing it preached and expounded unto me: as Saint Paul saith in the tenth Chapter to the Romans: Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. 
Rom. 10.17.   
Q. How is Faith strengthened and increased?  
A. By the same Word, and by the Sacraments. 
Acts 2.42.   
Q What is a Sacrament?  
A. It is an outward sign ordained by Christ, to signify an inward and invisible Grace.  
Q. How many Sacraments be there?  

2 Cor. 11.12. john 5.6. 1 Cor. 11.23. Mat. 28.16. Acts 8.38. & 10.47.  A. Two: Baptism, and the Lords Supper.  
Q. What is Baptism?  
A. It is both an eternal or outward washing of the body with water: and also an inward and spiritual washing of our souls and bodies from sin in the bloodshed and merits of our Lord JESUS Christ. 
1 Cor. 12.13. Ephes. 5.26. Titus 3.5.   
Q. So then the sign in Baptism is Water: and the invisible Grace, is Regeneration or New birth, which we have of jesus Christ. Is it not so?  
A. It is so. For by jesus Christ we have both remission of our sins, and Sanctification from them, 
Col. 1.14. 1 john 1.7. 1 Cor. 1.30.  and that is Regeneration or Newbirth.  
Q. What is the Lords Supper?  
A. It is the representation of his death and passion, under the visible signs of Bread and Wine. 
Luke 22.19. 1 Cor. 11.24.25.   
Q. Why is it called the Lords Supper?  
A. Because it was ordained by the Lord immediately after Supper, as a second banquet or spiritual Supper: 
Luke 22.29. 1 Cor. 11.25.  For as our bodies do feed upon natural food: So our souls and bodies both are spiritually nourished with the spiritual Manna that came down from heaven, which is our Lord jesus Christ. 
john 6.41. 1 Cor. 10.3.4.   
Q. What is then received by you in this Supper?  
A. Outwardly by the Mouth, Bread and Wine: But inwardly by faith in my heart, 
Mat. 26.2. 1 Cor. 10.21. Verse 16.  the Body and Blood of Christ: and therefore it is also called the Lords Table, and the holy Communion.  
Q. How can you do this?  

Mat. 26.27. & 27.26.29. john. 19.34. Heb. 9.28. & 1.10.  A. Thus: I do steadfastly believe, that jesus Christ the Son of God, is God and Man, and that his Body was broken, that is to say, whipped, scourged, and buffeted, and crucified, and pierced with a spear, and many ways afflicted: and that his Blood gushed out, and flowed from him, to make a sacrifice to God, and satisfaction for my sins: and so feeding upon my Lord and Saviour spiritually by faith, I eat and drink his body and blood.  
Q. Then do you not think that in this Bread and Wine there is present the very natural Body and Blood of Christ, as he was borne of the Virgin Mary?  
A. No. God forbidden. For his natural Body is now ascended up into Heaven, and is glorified, 
Acts 1.9.  and fits at the right hand of GOD the Father, 
Ephes. 7.55. Ephes. 1.10. Colos. 3. Acts 3.25.  and from thence he ●hall not come till the end of the world.  
Q. Is not Christ then present in the Sacrament?  
A. Yes: He is truly and indeed represented unto our saith. For the breaking of the Bread signifieth his tormented body, and the pouring out of the Wine, the shedding of his most precious Blood. 
1 Cor. 10.16.   
Q. Then me thinks there is a difference between our common bread and wine which we receive for our daily sustenance, and this Bread and Wine?  
A. No doubt there is.  
Q. What is that?  
A. The Bread and Wine which we commonly receive, do nothing differ from these in substance, but only in the use and end.  
Q. How so?  
A. For these we take and use, to the end that our bodies only may be nourished: But these we receive, to signify the great mystery of our Redemption purchased by jesus Christ. And therefore they are called holy mysteries, because they lively set forth and seal the same unto us.  
Q. Do all that receive the Bread and Wine, also partake the Body and Blood of Christ?  
A. No verily: For they that receive unworthily, eat and drink their own damnation, as Sain● Paul saith. 
Cor. 12.9.   
Q. How then shall we be worth● receivers, and come to this Table a● we ought to come?  
A. If we examine and prepare ou● selves. 
Ibid verse 28.   
Q. How shall we come prepared?  
A. Observing four things. First If we have true repentance for ou● sins past. Secondly, If we hav● a lively Faith in the death of ou● Lord jesus Christ. 
1 Repentance. 2 Faith.  Thirdly, I● we been in love and charity with all ●uen, Fourthly, 
3 Charity. 4 Thankfulness.  If we be thankful to our Almighty Saviour, for his great goodness declared in his holy Supper, as a sure pledge of his love: In respect of which duty of ours, it is called the Eucharist or Sacrament of thanksgiving.  
Q. What is required in true Repentance?  
A. Chief four things: Confession, Contrition, Faith, and purpose of amendment. First, That we acknowledge ourselves sinners. Secondly, 
Psal. 32.5. 1 john 1.9. joel 2.13. 2 Cor. 7.10.  that we be hearty and sincerely sorry for our sins. Thirdly, that we beleevee steadfastly for the merits jesus Christ, they shall be forgiven. Fourthly, 
Acts 10.13.  that we fully resolve, and purpose with ourselves, never to commit them nor the like again, but to lead the rest of our lives according to God's holy will and commandments. 
Mat. 3.8.11. and 4.17. Ephes. 4.28. 2 Pet. 1.20. Heb. 10.26.   
Q. What faith is here required of you?  
A. A special and peculiar faith, th●● applieth to my soul and conscience the Body and Blood of jesus Christ crucified and shed for me as truly 〈◊〉 my mouth receiveth the Bread that broken▪ 
john 6.47.48. etc.  and the Wine that is powr●● out.  
Q Why is charity so necessary?  
A. For these causes: first, because our Saviour Christ commandeth it secondly, 
Mat. 5.13.  because if we do not from our hearts forgive one another, n● more will our heavenly Father forgive us: thirdly, because the Supper doth signify unto us, 
Mat. 61.8.5. and 18.35.  first the unspeakable love of Christ towards us, that gave himself fo● us. 
Gal. 1.4.  Secondly, the uniting of u● all that are Gods Children, bot● with him our Head, and amon● ourselves: And for that reason it i● called by the Apostle Paul, 
john 1.3. 1 Cor. 10.16.17. Ibid.  the Communion.  
Q. Well, how shall we be thankful  
A. If we worship and serve God.  
Q How ought GOD to be worshipped?  
A. In spirit and truth. 
john 4.25.   
Q. How must we serve him?  
●. With all our heart, and all our ●●ule, and all our mind, and all our strength, and that not so much for ●are as for love. 
Deut. 6.5. Mat. 22.27. Luke 1.74. Rom. 8.15.   
Q. Are we able of ourselves to perform these things?  
●. No truly: But only by the ●rée Grace of GOD in jesus Christ our Lord, without whom ●ee can do nothing: for whose ●●ke, 
1 john 15.5.  whatsoever is done amiss 〈◊〉 pardoned, and whatsoever is ●eft undone, is supplied: 
2 Cor. 5.22.  For when we have done all that we can ●oe, we are but unprofitable servants. 
Luke 17.10.   
Q. How will you obtain the grace ●f God?  
A. By true and hearty prayer in the ●ame and mediation of his Son jesus Christ. 
Mat. 7.7. Luke 11.9. john 14.13. & 16.23. Mat. 21.22. Mark 11.24. james. 1.6. Luke 1.81. james 5.16.   
Q. How ought we to pray that we may obtain?  
A. First, faithfully, with an assured trust in GOD'S mercies. Secondly, fervently, with an earnest desire and zeal to obtains Thirdly, 
Rom. 12.12. Ephes. 5.18. 2 Thess. 5.17.  continually, with godly perseverance and importunity, neve● fainting till we be heard.  
Q. What is the best form of Prayer?  
A. The same which is called th● Lords Prayer, because the Lord himself devised and delivered it t● his Disciples in the Gospel, saying When ye pray, pray thus:  

Mat. 6.4. Luke▪ 11.2.  Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name, etc.   

A Prayer.  
ALmighty God, most gracious and loving Father, vouchsafe we beseech thee, to lighten our minds with the knowledge of thy Truth, to mollify our hearts with the dew of thy grace, to subdue our affections to the obedience of thy heavenly will: Forgiving our sins, and making us thankful for all thy benefits, that we may live and die in thy faith, fear, & love, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour, Amen.  
Laus Deo semper.  
FINIS.