A clear form of Catechising, before the giving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.  
To this are subjoined two compends of the Catechism, fit for little Children.  JOHN XVII. vers. 3. 
This is life eternal, to know thee the only true GOD, and jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.  
By M. Zacharie Boyd, Preacher of God's Word at Glasgow.  
Printed at Glasgow by George Anderson, 1639.   

AUGUST.  
Quòd Lex operum minando imperat, Lex Fidei credendo impetrat.   

TO THE READER,  
I Have studied to make all the answers short in these three Catechisms, for the help of thy memory: First to know, and then to do, is perfect Christianity.   

TO The most Religious, and Noble Lady, the Countess of Argyle, etc.  
MADAM,  
THis world is full of people, whose religion is compounded like the TURKISH, in part CHRISTIAN, in part JEW, in part WORLDLING, in part ATHEIST, in part as A grippa, almost Christians: Only these are happy, who according to the Apostle his wish, 
Act. 26 29.  are altogether Christians.  
A time of trial will come, which shall discern almost from altogether: Happy shall these professors be, to whom the Lord shall say, 
Luke 22 28.  Ye are these which have continued with me in my temptations; and I appoint unto you a kingdom, 
vers. 29.  as my Father hath appointed unto me, 
vers. 30.  that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; of all honours this shall be found the greatest.  
GOD, Madam, hath highly honoured your La. both with grace and place: As for grace, ye may without flattery, with S. john's Lady, be called the ELECT LADY: 
2 john 1  As for place, Ye both by birth and marriage are high, but highest in this, that your La. art humble.  
I will not here enter into a large discourse, concerning the Noble and Potent Earl your La. Husband, whose virtues have most Oriently shined in our general Assembly, which his Lordship did much honour with his presence, and help with his counsel.  
That which the Apostle did require for the house of Onesiphorus, that I most heartily wish to his Lordship, to your La. and to all your noble Line and Family, 
2 Tim. 1.18.  that the Lord grant that ye may find mercy of the Lord in that day.  
Let it please your La. graciously to accept of this little labour, and to honour it with your favour, it shall be but an EARNEST of more, if I live, and if God permit.  
From Glasgow the 14. of januar, 1639. Your Ladyships in all humble duty and observance M. ZACHARY BOYD   

The Sum of this Catechism.  

1. Of GOD.  
2. Of man's Creation.  
3. Of his Fall.  
4. Of his Redemption.  
5. Of the duties which man owe to God for his Redemption.  
6. Of the Sacraments which are the seals of the Covenant between God and man.    


I. OF GOD.  

1. SUNDAY.  
Question.  
WHat is God?  
Answer.  
An infinite Essence, that hath his being from himself, and is the fountain of all being.  
Q What things are to be considered in God?  
A. The essence and the persons.  
Q. What sayest thou of his Essence?  
A. It is spiritual, simple, incomprensible, unchangeable.  
Q. What difference is between the essence of God and the person?  
A. The essence is the Divine substance, which is commoun to the three persons; the person is a subsistence in the Divine nature.  
Q. How many Gods be there?  
A. Only one God.  
Q. How many persons are they in the Godhead?  
A. Three, the Father, Son, and holy Ghost.   

THE SECOND SUNDAY.  

Q.  ARE not these three persons divided one from another, so that it may be said, here is the Father, and there is the Son?  
A. No, not.  
Q. How then?  
A. The persons of the Trinity are divers one from another, but not separate.  
Q. How can that be?  
A. The Father in an unspeakable manner is in the Son, and the Son in the Father, and the holy Spirit in them both.  
Q. How are the persons distinguished one from another?  
A. By their inward properties, & order of their outward working.  
Q. How are they distinguished by their inward properties?  
A. By the works which they work within themselves.  
Q. What sorts of works are these which are wrought with in the Trinity?  
A. They are not commoun to all the three persons, but every person hath his own particular work proper to himself.   

The third Sunday.  
Q. WHat is that property of the Father, that is not common to the Son, and holy Ghost?  
A. In that he hath begotten the Son from all eternity, of the same substance with himself.  
Q. What is that special property of the Son?  
A. That in the unity of essence he hath from all eternity been begotten of the substance of the Father.  
Q. What is the property of the Holy Ghost?  
A. He inseparably proceeds from the Father and the Son.  
Q. Is this a real distinction which is between the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?  
A. It is, but we can not be capable of the same.  
Q. I have heard how the three persons are distinguished one from another in their inward properties; now tell me how they are distinguished by their outward working.  
A. In that the Father is the Creator of all things, the Son the Redeemer, the holy Ghost our Sanctifier.   

The fourth Sunday.  
Q. ARE not the outward works of all the persons common to every person of the Trinity?  
A. They are common indeed.  
Q. How are they distinguished?  
A. In respect of the order of their working.  
Q. Let me hear of the distinct order of their working.  
A. The Father hath created us, the Son hath redeemed us, the holy Ghost sanctifieth us.  
Q. Wherefore is the Father particularly called our Creator?  
A. Because our creation proceeds from the father first in order.  
Q. Wherefore is the Son called our Redeemer?  
A. Because our redemption was performed by the Son.  
Q. Wherefore is the holy Ghost called our Sanctifier?  
A. Because our sanctification is immediately wrought by the holy Ghost.  
Q. Thy meaning is that in every one of those outward workings, all the three persons concur together?  
A. I understand so.  
Q. Esteemest thou that the Father is greater than the Son, and holy Ghost?  
A. They are equal in dignity, power, and Majesty.  
Q. How then differ they?  
A. They differ in number, and in order.  
Q. What sayest thou of the Father?  
A. He is first, not in dignity, but in order.  
Q. What sayest thou of the Son?  
A. He is second, not in dignity, but in order.  
Q. What sayest thou of the holy Ghost?  
A. He is the third, not in dignity, but in order.  
Q. What sayest thou of the three persons of the Trinity?  
A. These three are the one eternal God, blessed for ever.    

2. Of Man's Creation.  

The fifth Sunday.  
Q. WHat is it to create a thing?  
A. To create properly is to make something of nothing.  
Q. How hath God made all things of nothing?  
A. By his infinite power.  
Q. How governeth He all things that he hath made?  
A. By his infinite wisdom.  
Q. Whereof was man made?  
A. Of the dust of the earth.  
Q. What learnest thou thereby?  
A. I learn to be humble.  
Q. Is there nothing in man but dust?  
A. There is a living soul.  
Q. How was man made at the first?  
A. According to God's image.  
Q. What is that image of God, according to which man was made?  
A. Perfect holiness and righteousness.  
Q. What other thing is to be considered in that image of God?  
A. The likeness and resemblance of man with God, was also in respect of that rule and authority given unto him by God over all the creatures.    

3. Of Man's Fall.  

The sixth Sunday.  
Q. DID man keep that image of God?  
A. No, not.  
Q. How lost he it?  
A. By sinning against God.  
Q. What was his sin against God?  
A. He did eat of the forbidden tree.  
Q. What other sin had he?  
A. Pride, and unbelief.  
Q. What was his pride?  
A. He would be equal unto God.  
Q. What was his unbelief?  
A. He believed Satan, and not God.  
Q. What said Satan unto him that he believed?  
A. He said he should be equal unto God himself.  
Q. What said God unto him?  
A. He said that he should die the death.  
Q. Who were the instruments of man's fall?  
A. The Devil, the Serpent, and the Woman.  
Q. How did these three deceive the man?  
A. The Devil entered a lying spirit into the Serpent, and by the Serpent seduced the woman, who enticed her husband to eat of the tree.  
Q. What deserved they for such eating?  
A. Death and eternal Condamnation.  
Q. But how could God in justice for so light a sin destroy all mankind?  
A. The sin was not light, because it was done against an infinite Majesty.  
Q. What hath followed upon this sin?  
A. All men since that fall are borne in sin, and conceived in iniquity.   

The seventh Sunday.  
Q. WHat is sin?  
A. The transgression of Gods Law.  
Q. How many sorts of sin be there?  
A. Two: original sin, and actual sin.  
Q. What callest thou original sin?  
A. That corruption wherein all mankind is conceived; and born, since the fall of Adam.  
Q. What hath this sin done to man?  
A. It hath defiled all the faculties of his soul.  
Q. What hath it done to his mind and understanding?  
A. It hath so blindfolded it, that the wisdom of God seemeth folly to man.  
Q. What hath it done to his will?  
A. It hath made it perverse and froward against the will of God.  
Q. What hath it done to his affections?  
A. It hath set them altogether upon corruption, and uncleanes.  
Q. This then is thy meaning, that original sin, like a leprosy, hath desiled the whole man?  
A. It is even so.   

The eight Sunday.  
Q. WHat callest thou actual sin?  
A. Every omission of our duty, and commission of that which is against the law of God.  
Q. In how many ways sin we?  
A. In three ways especially in thought, in word, and in work.  
Q. Can a lightword be sin?  
A. For every idle word we shall give account.  
Q. But is not our thought free?  
A. No, not.  
Q. How knowest thou that an evil thought is sin?  
A. Christ hath said, that to lust after another man's wife, is to commit adultery in the heart.  
Q. How differeth original sin from actual sin?  
A. As the tree from the fruit, or as the root from the branches.  
Q. Thy meaning, is that original sin, is the root from whence spring all our actual sins?  
A. I understand so.   

The ninth Sunday.  
Q. ARE all men sinners?  
A. Yea, verily.  
Q. Is it not said, that these that are borne of God sin not?  
A. Sin reigneth not in their mortal bodies.  
Q. When is sin said to reign in a man?  
A. When he so taketh delight in his sins, that he careth not in any wife for the offending of God.  
Q. Do the godly sin with such a delight?  
A. No, not; they do the evil they would not.  
Q. How is that done?  
A. The flesh coveteth against the Spirit.  
Q. What understandest thou by the coveting flesh?  
A. That remainder of natural corruption, which as yet is unmortified in the godly.  
Q. Wherefore callest thou these rests of corruption in the faithful, after the name of flesh?  
A. Because through the flesh, or through carnal generation, the filthiness of sin is conveyed unto the whole man.  
Q. What other reason may be given.?  
A. Because the flesh or body is the instrument to execute the lusts of our natural concupiscence.  
Q. What understandest thou by the Spirit against whom our corruptions covet?  
A. By the Spirit I understand the holy Spirit, and his working, whereby our natural corruptions are subdued.  
Q. What deserve our sins at God's hand?  
A. Death.  
Q. How many sorts of death be there?  
A. Two, the death of the body, and the death of the soul.    

Of Man's Redemption.  

The tenth Sunday.  
Q. WE have heard first of GOD, secondly of men's creation, thirdly of his fall into sin, which deserveth death, now it followeth that thou declare who is man's Saviour?  
A. Jesus Christ.  
Q. Who is jesus Christ?  
A. The Son of GOD conceived miraculously by the holy Ghost, in the womb of a Virgin.  
Q. Believest thou that he is that promised seed of the woman?  
A. I do so with my heart.  
Q. Whether was he man only, or both God and man?  
A. He was both GOD and man, in one person.  
Q What needed the Saviour of man, to be man?  
A. That he might die for our sins.  
Q. What other reason be there?  
A. Seeing it was man that had sinned, the justice of GOD required that a man should suffer for the sin of man.  
Q. Wherefore needed our Saviour to be GOD▪  
A. That he might bear that infinite wrath of GOD, and at last overcome death.  
Q. What other reason hast thou?  
A. That his death might be of one infinite merit.  
Q. Thou thinkest then that none but he who was also GOD, could overcome death, and by his death make a full satisfaction to GOD'S justice?  
A. I believe so.   

The eleventh Sunday.  
Q. WHerefore was He called Jesus?  
A. Because He came to save his people from their sins.  
Q. Wherefore callest thou Him CHRIST?  
A. Because he was anointed with the spiritual oil of grace, and that without measure.  
Q. Whereunto was he anointed?  
A. Unto three spiritual offices.  
Q. What were his offices?  
A. He was a King, a Prophet, and a Priest.  
Q. What needed our Saviour to be a King?  
A. For to rule and defend us against our enemies.  
Q. Who are our chiefest enemies?  
A. The Devil, the world, and the corruptions of our own flesh.  
Q. What needed him to be a Prophet?  
A. For to teach us by his word the way of salvation.  
Q. Wherefore was he a Priest?  
A. For to offer up sacrifice for us.  
Q. What sacrifice offered he up?  
A. He offered up himself once for all.  
Q. What sort of death died he for us?  
A. A cursed death▪ upon á tree.  
Q. Wherefore died He such a cursed death?  
A. That he might deliver us from the curse of God.  
Q. Is there such a power in Christ's death?  
A. Yea verily.  
Q. Wherefra cometh this power?  
A. From the dignity of his person.  
Q. Esteemest thou that the infinite merit of Christ's death is from the dignity of his person?  
A. I understand so.    

Of the duties which man owe to GOD for his Redemption.  

The twelfth Sunday.  
Q. WHat owe we to God for so great a Salvation?  
A. We owe to him service.  
Q. How many parts are they of God's service?  
A. Four, faith, obedience, prayer, and thanks.  
Q. What is faith?  
A. It is an assured knowledge of God's mercy in Christ, particularly apprehended by these whom God hath elected to salvation.  
Q. Is not Satan said to believe?  
A. He hath knowledge, but not that assurance which is the life of faith.  
Q. Thou understandest that Satan knoweth that God is infinite in mercy, but that he hath no assurance of any mercy for himself?  
A. I understand so.  
Q. Who worketh this true faith in our hearts?  
A. The holy spirit.  
Q. By what means worketh he the same?  
A. By the preaching of the Word.  
Q. Is our faith perfect?  
A. As long as we are here we must pray God to increase our faith.   

The thirteenth Sunday.  
Q. BY what means is our faith strengthened?  
A. By the continued hearing of the word, by earnest prayer, by receiving of the Sacraments, and by a good life.  
Q Wherefore are we said to be justified by faith?  
A. Because by faith we apprehend Christ, and all his merits, whereby we appear just in God's presence.  
Q. Is not man justified by his good works?  
A. Before men he may be, but not before God.  
Q. Wherefore not before God?  
A. Because God hath denounced a curse against him that fulfilleth not perfectly the whole law.  
Q. Can not a man perfectly fulfil the law of God?  
A. No, not.  
Q. How provest thou that?  
A. Because there is no man but he sinneth, and sin is the transgression of the law.  
Q. Thou believest that it is Christ only, who by his works and sufferings hath made full satisfaction for all the faithful?  
A. I believe so.   

The fourteenth Sunday.  
Q. MAY not a man be saved without Faith?  
A. There is no salvation without faith.  
Q. Give a reason wherefore not.  
A. Because without faith it is impossible to please God.  
Q. Where is the sum of our faith to be found?  
A. In the Creed.  
Q. Into how many parts may the Creed be divided?  
A. Into four parts.  
Q. What doth the first part contain?  
A. Concerning God the Father, and our Creation.  
Q. What doth the second part contain?  
A. Concerning God the Son, and our Redemption.  
Q. What is in the third part?  
A. Concerning the holy Ghost and our sanctification.  
Q What doth the fourth and last part of our Creed contain?  
A. Concerning God's Church, and his gifts bestowed upon her.   

The fifeteenth Sunday.  
Q. WHat have we in the Creed concerning God the Father?  
A. Three things, his name, his attribute, his work.  
Q. What is his name?  
A. He is called Father.  
Q. Whose Father is he?  
A. He is Christ's and ours.  
Q. How is he Christ's Father?  
A. By generation he hath begotten him from all eternity.  
Q. How is he our Father?  
A. By adoption especially.  
Q. What callest thou Adoption?  
A. That is, God of his free mercy and grace hath chosen us to be his heirs in Christ.  
Q. What is the Father's attribute?  
A. Almighty.  
Q. What understandest thou by the word Almighty?  
A. That he hath all power to do what he pleaseth in Heaven, and in earth.  
Q. What is his work?  
A. He hath created the Heavens and the earth, that is, by his infinite power hath made them all of nothing.  
Q. What doth he now to these things which he hath created?  
A. He still upholdeth and governeth them by his providence.   

The sixteenth Sunday.  
Q. WHat have we in the Creed concerning God the Son.  
A. Four chief things.  
Q. What be these?  
A. His titles, his incarnation, his passion, and his exaltation.  
Q. What are his titles?  
A. They are four, to wit, Jesus, Christ, his Son, our Lord.  
Q. What callest thou his incarnation?  
A. He was incarnate when the word was made flesh.  
Q. How many things hast thou to consider concerning his incarnation?  
A. Three chiefly, the personal union, the sanctification of that mass, whereof Christ's body was made, and the efficient cause that wrought that work.  
Q. Wherein did that personal union consist?  
A. In the joining of the divine and humane nature together in one person.   

The seventeenth Sunday.  
Q. HOw many natures are they in Christ jesus?  
A. Two: the Divine and the humane nature, Christ God and man.  
Q. Is not Christ God and man two persons?  
A. No, not; but the two natures are joined into one person.  
Q. How was this great work wrought?  
A. By the unspeakable power of the holy Ghost.  
Q. What sayest thou of Christ's birth?  
A. He was borne of the Virgin Mary.  
Q. Wherefore behoved it him to be borne of a Virgin?  
A. That he might be conceived without sin, and so might be a perfect Saviour.  
Q. Hast thou no other reason?  
A. It was so foretold, that the seed of the woman; and not of the man, should tread down the head of the Serpent.   

The eighteen Sunday.  
Q. I have heard of Christ's titles, and of his incarnation, now let me hear what befell unto him after his birth?  
A. He was first humbled, and thereafter exalted.  
Q. How many parts are they of his humiliation?  
A. Four.  
Q. What was the first?  
A. He suffered many sorrows.  
Q. What was the second?  
A. He died on the cursed tree of the cross.  
Q. What was the third?  
A. He was buried.  
Q. What was the fourth?  
A. He descend unto hell.  
Q. What sorrows suffered he?  
A. Hunger and thirst and weariness, revile, scorn, and fearful persecution.  
Q. Wherefore died he?  
A. For our sins.  
Q. Might not satisfaction be made without death?  
A. No, not,  
Q. What is the reason?  
A. Because the wages of sin is death.  
Q. What sort of death died he?  
A. The cursed death of the Crosse.  
Q. Wherefore was the death of the Cross more cursed then any other death?  
Q. Because GOD had said, cursed be that hangeth on a tree.  
A. Wherefore was that hanging called cursed?  
A. Not for the punishment itself, but for sin the cause of that punishment.  
Q. For what other reasons was that death called cursed?  
A. There be two other reasons.  
Q. What is the first reason?  
A. It was called cursed, because of the excessive pain and shame that was in that death.  
Q. What is the other reason?  
A. Because by that death God in manner of a Prophecy did design Christ, who by dying on a tree should redeem us from the curse of the law.  
Q. What needed Christ to be buried?  
A. For to assure the world of his death.  
Q. What is that to say, that he descended into hell?  
A. That is, he suffered in his soul unspeakable torments for our sins.  
Q. When chiefly suffered he these pains?  
A. When he cried, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?   

The nineteen Sunday.  
Q. FRom Christ's humiliation let us come to his exaltation: How many degrees are they of his exaltation?  
A. Three; first his resurrection, Secondly his ascension; Thirdly his sitting at the right hand of God the Father.  
Q. Wherefore did Christ rise again from the dead?  
A. For to show that he had overcome death.  
Q. What other reason is there of his resurrection?  
A. He being God and man in one person, could not be holden of death.  
Q. For what other cause arose He?  
A. As He died for our sins, so He arose for our righteousness.  
Q. Wherefore was Christ said to arise for our righteousness?  
A. Because by his resurrection he did evidently declare, that he had by his death purchased righteousness to our Souls.  
Q. What comfort hast thou of Christ's resurrection?  
A. That my dead body and all the dead bodies of the faithful shall likewise arise at the last day.  
Q. What ground hast thou of that comfort?  
A. Because Christ who is risen is the head, and we who are the members must follow the head.   

The twenty Sunday.  
Q. WE have heard of Christ's resurrection, the first degree of his exaltation; what is the second?  
A. His ascension into heaven.  
Q. By what power was that done?  
A. By the might and power of his Godhead.  
Q. Is not his body on earth any more?  
A. No, not.  
Q. But he hath said, that he will be with his Church unto the end of the world?  
A. That is to be understood of the presence of his Spirit.  
Q. But how can his manhood be separate from his Godhead?  
A. They are no more separate than the sun and his beams.  
Q. Make that more clear?  
A. The body of the sun is only in the heavens, but his beams do descend unto the Earth; So Christ man is only in the heavens, but his Godhead filleth both heaven and Earth.  
Q. What comfort hast thou of Christ's ascension?  
A. He is gone up for to prepare a room for his Saints.  
Q. How knowest thou that?  
A. He hath said, I go to prepare a place for you, and I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also, john 14.3.   

The twenty one Sunday.  
Q. WHAT is the third degree of his exaltation?  
A. He sitteth at the right hand of God the Father.  
Q. Hath God a right hand or a left?  
A. No, not; for GOD is a Spirit.  
Q. What then, is that to sit at God's right hand?  
A. It is a form of speech borrowed from Princes, whose custom is to place at their right hand these whom they honour above others.  
Q. What then is the meaning of these words, that Christ sitteth at the right hand of God?  
A. That he is in unspeakable dignity and authority, having absolute power over all the creatures.  
Q. What is the Lord now doing for us at the right hand of his Father?  
A. He is interceding for us, that is, making request and entreaty in our behalf.   

The twenty two Sunday.  
Q. WHat is the manner of CHRIST'S intercession, while he is now in the Heavens?  
A. He ascended up into heaven, to appear in the sight of God for us, Hebr. 9.24.  
Q. How is that done?  
A. By presenting his person and his passion before the face of God.  
Q. How then doth he request for us?  
A. By willing and desiring that his Father would accept his merits in our behalf.  
Q. Shall the Lord's body for ever remain in the heavens?  
A. No, not, at the last day he shall come down to judge the quick and the dead.  
Q. How shall the judge come down?  
A. He shall descend with a shout with the voice of the Archangel, and with the Trumpet of God in unspeakable glory.  
Q. What honour shall the godly have that day?  
A. They shall all sit down upon Thrones at Christ's right hand.  
Q. What shall they do upon these Thrones?  
A. They shall judge the world, 1 Cor. 6.2.  
Q. But shall not Christ himself that day be the only judge?  
A. He shall be so, but his Saints shall sit as assessors, for to approve his judgement.  
Q. Where shall the wicked then be?  
A. At Christ's left hand.  
Q. What understand ye by his left hand?  
A. As to be at his right hand is understood to be in dignity, so to be at his left, is understood to be in shame and ignominy.  
Q. What shall the judge say unto the godly at his right hand?  
A. Come ye blessed of my Father, and receive a kingdom.  
Q. What shall he say to the wicked at his left hand?  
A. Depart from me to hell fire, with the Devil and his angels.   

The twenty third Sunday.  
Q. WE have heard of the first two parts of the Creed to wit, of the Father and of the Son: what is contained in the third part?  
A. That which concerneth the holy Ghost, the third person of the Trinity.  
Q. Wherefore callest thou him holy?  
A. Both for his nature and his office.  
Q. Wherefore is he called holy for his nature?  
A. Because he is holy in himself, yea, holiness itself.  
Q. Wherefore is he called holy for his office?  
A. Because by his operation he maketh all the faithful holy.  
Q. What be the chief fruits of the holy Ghost?  
A. Faith, love, joy, gentleness, meekness, temperance, peace and patience etc.   

The twenty four Sunday.  
Q. WHat is contained in the fourth part of the Creed?  
A. That which concerneth the Church.  
Q. What is the Church?  
A. A company of these whom GOD by his Spirit hath sanctified.  
Q. What are the qualities of the Church?  
A. It is holy and catholic.  
Q. Wherefore callest thou it holy?  
A. Because God's children on earth are holy in part, and in heaven are perfectly holy.  
Q. Wherefore callest thou it Catholic?  
Q. Because it is universal, and reacheth unto all nations, to all times, sex and age.  
Q. How many parts hath the Catholic Church?  
A. Two, the Church triumphant in heaven, and the Church militant on earth.  
Q. Whom callest thou the Church triumphant?  
A. These who in the spiritual warfare have overcome the Devil, the World, and the flesh.  
Q. Whom callest thou the Church militant?  
A. These who are yet on earth fight against the enemies of their salvation.   

The twenty five Sunday.  
Q. WHat are the chief prerogatives of the kirk?  
A. These four, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.  
Q. What is that communion of Saints?  
A. It is that love and fellowship which the children of God have with Christ, and among themselves.  
Q. Who are these Saints?  
A. The Faithful on the earth and the Souls of the Faithful now in heaven.  
Q. Wherefore are they called Saints?  
A. Because they have been sanctified by the holy Spirit.  
Q. What is the second benefit belonging to the Church?  
A. The remission of sins.  
Q. What call ye the remission of sins?  
A. A free pardon, and forgiveness of all our faults.  
Q. Who hath procured this?  
A. Christ Jesus by his death upon the cross.   

The twenty sixth Sunday.  
Q. WHat is the third benefit belonging to the church?  
A. The resurrection of the body.  
Q. What is the cause of the resurrection of the faithful?  
A. The resurrection of Christ.  
Q. Is Christ's resurrection the proper cause which effecteth the resurrection of the faithful?  
A. It is the true cause indeed.  
Q. Give me the reason?  
A. Christ is the head, and the godly are his members, which must follow their head.  
Q. What then shall be the cause of the resurrection of the Wicked? Shall they not rise by the virtue of CHRIST'S resurrection?  
A. No, not.  
Q. By what power then shall they rise?  
A. By the power of Christ's justice, constraining them to come out of their graves.  
Q. What is the last benefit that GOD shall bestow upon His Church?  
A. Life everlasting.  
Q. What a life shall that be?  
A. A life perfectly happy in the heavens.  
Q. What things shall we enjoy in the heavens?  
A. Fullness of joy, and pleasures for evermore.   

The twenty seven Sunday.  
Q. WE have heard of the first part of God's service, which is to believe in God, Now let me hear what is the second part of God's service.  
A. It is to obey God.  
Q. Where learn we what obedience we owe to God?  
A. In God's law, whereof the sum is the ten commandments.  
Q. How are the ten commandments divided?  
A. Into two tables.  
Q. How many commandments are there in the first table?  
A. The first four.  
Q. How many in the second?  
A. The last six.  
Q. What is the sum of the first four?  
A. Our whole duty towards our GOD.  
Q. What is the sum of the last six?  
A. Our whole duty towards our neighbour.   

The twenty eight Sunday.  
Q. WHat is the first Commandment?  
A. Thou shalt have no other Gods before my face,  
Q. What is there forbidden?  
A. All atheism, and giving of God's honour to any thing beside God.  
Q. What is there commanded?  
A. The worship of the true God.  
Q. What is the second commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, etc.  
Q. What is there forbidden?  
A. That we represent not God by any outward shape or figure.  
Q Wherefore that?  
A. Because God is invisible, and can not by any image be represented truly.  
Q. What difference is between the first commandment and the second?  
A. In the first, the inward worship of GOD is commanded, in the second, the outward form which is fittest for the worshipping of GOD is enjoined.  
Q. What is the third commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy GOD in vain.  
Q. What is here forbidden?  
A. All blasphemies, all unreverent speakings, or thinking of God, or doing of his worship otherwise then he hath ordained.  
Q. What is here commanded?  
A. That we both think and speak with all reverence of his titles, words and works.   

The twenty ninth Sunday.  
Q. GO to the fourth commandment?  
A. Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day, etc.  
Q. What is here commanded?  
A. That we consecreate the seventh day unto his service.  
Q. What is forbidden?  
A. All worldly business, also all the words and thoughts which concern the affairs of the earth.  
Q. May we neither think nor speak of things concerning the earth on the Sabbath day?  
A. No, not. As in that day we are forbidden to speak our own words; So also to think our own thoughts.  
Q. What signifieth the word Sabbath?  
A. Sabbath day, that is a day of rest, or of ceasing, from work.  
Q. What callest thou to sanctify the Sabbath?  
A. It is to separate it from common works, such as pertain to this natural life, and consecreate it to God and to holy works, such as concern the spiritual life.  
Q. What are the works of the Sabbath day?  
A. To preach the word, to hear it, to meditate, to confer, to visit the sick, to give alms to the poor.  
Q. What time must be observed in the observation of the Sabbath?  
A. From evening to evening, said the Lord, you shalt celebrate your Sabbath. Levit. 23.32.   

The thirty Sunday.  
Q. WHat is the fifth commandment?  
A. Honour thy Father and thy mother, etc.  
Q. What is here commanded?  
A. That all inferiors reverence both in heart and outward gesture their Superiors, and that also Superiors, do their duty to their inferiors.  
Q. What is here forbidden?  
A. All contemning of superiors, and all disdaining of inferiors, in thought, word, or work.  
Q. What is the sixth commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not murder.  
Q. What is here forbidden?  
A. To hurt any way our neighbour's person.  
Q. What is here commanded?  
A. To do what we can for the preservation of the life of our neighbour.  
Q▪ What is the seventh commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not commit adultery.  
Q. What is here forbidden?  
A. All sorts of filthiness, either in thought, word, or work.  
Q. What is here commanded?  
A. That we keep our vessels clean in sanctification and honour.   

The thirty one Sunday.  
Q. WHat is the eight commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not steal.  
Q. What is forbidden there?  
A. To greedily cover, reave, seek, or take by fraud that which is not our own, or to spend our own lavishly.  
Q. What is there commanded?  
A. That we carefully keep our neighbour's goods, as though they were out own, and also to manage well that which GOD hath given us.  
Q. What is the ninth commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not bear false witness.  
Q. What is here commanded?  
A. To love the truth, and to maintain it.  
Q. What is the tenth commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not cover thy neighbour's house, nor his wife, etc.  
Q. What is the sum thereof?  
A. That we keep our hearts from the least inclination to sin.  
Q What is here forbidden, that was not forbidden in the other commandments?  
A. In the other commandments, the stronger evil desires which are fostered with consent, are forbidden; but in this commandment, the least evil thoughts is disallowed, though as soon as it in our heart, we abhor it.  
Q. Thou willest then that in the other commandments, these evil thoughts are forbidden which are entertained and made welcome, but that in the tenth commandment, the least motion of the heart to sin is forbidden, though it want a full consent or liking?  
A. I understand so.  
Q. What is the sum of the whole law?  
A. That we love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with our whole strength, and that we love our neighbour as ourselves.   

The thirty two Sunday.  
Q. WE have heard of faith and obedience the two first parts of God's service: now let us hear what is the third part of God's service?  
A. To pray to God.  
Q. What is prayer?  
A. A putting up of our requests to God, in the name of his Son.  
Q. For whose sake must we seek from God, the things we stand in need of?  
A. For Christ Jesus his sake.  
Q. May we not desire the Saints of heaven to pray for us?  
A. There is but one Mediator Jesus Christ.  
Q. Do we know how to pray as we should?  
A. Not, but the Spirit of God who helpeth our infirmities, putteth good motions into our mind, and good words into our mouth.  
Q. What is the best rule of prayer which we have?  
A. That pattern of Christ's, Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name, etc.  
Q. How many parts are they in the Lord's prayer?  
A. Three; the preface, the petitions, and the conclusion.   

The thirty three Sunday.  
Q. WHat are the words of the preface?  
A. Our Father which art in Heaven.  
Q. What good learn we of these words?  
A. To come with boldness to our GOD, because He is our Father, and also with great respect, because he is our heavenly Father.  
Q. How many petitions are in the Lord's prayer?  
A. Six.  
Q. How divide you these six petitions?  
A. The first three concern GOD'S own glory; the last three concern ourselves, and our neighbour.  
Q. What is the first petition?  
A. Hallowed be thy Name.  
Q. What is the meaning of these words?  
A. That GOD may be known to be a holy GOD, and so may be reverenced and worshipped by all his creatures.  
Q. What is the second petition?  
A. Thy kingdom come.  
Q. What is the meaning thereof?  
A. That Christ may both inwardly in our hearts, and outwardly among men rule and govern, until he put all his enemies under his feet.  
Q. What is the third petition?  
A. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.  
Q. What is the meaning thereof?  
A. That GOD be obeyed as perfectly by his Saints on Earth, as by the Saints and Angels of Heaven.   

The thirty fourth Sunday.  
Q. I have heard of the first three petitions which concern God, now tell me what is the first of the three petitions which concern ourselves and our neighbour?  
A. The first of those three, is, Give us this day our daily bread.  
Q. What is the meaning thereof?  
A. That GOD would give unto us the things of this world, as meat, drink, clothing, honour, children, or any other worldly thing, so far as he thinketh it expedient for his own glory, and for our well.  
Q▪ What is the second petition?  
A. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.  
Q. What is the meaning thereof?  
A. That GOD in his mercy would most freely pardon our sins.  
Q. Wherefore is this subjoined as we forgive these that trespass against us?  
A. To teach us to be merciful to these that offend us.  
Q. What is the last petition?  
A. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  
Q. What is the meaning thereof?  
A. That GOD deliver us from the snaires of the Devil, of the world, and of our own corruptions, and from all other dangers whatsoever.  
Q. What is the conclusion of that most perfect prayer?  
A. For thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, for ever.  
Q. How many things are to be considered in these words?  
A. Four; first that God is a King; Secondly, that he is powerful, Thirdly, that he is glorious; Fourthly, that he is eternal.   

The thirty five Sunday.  
Q. WHat is the fourth and last part of GOD'S service?  
A. To give God thanks for all his benefits.  
Q. What thanks requireth God of us?  
A. That we set forth his glory with heart, tongue, and hand.  
Q. How thank we GOD with our hearts?  
A. When we think honourably of him, and acknowledge his goodness.  
Q. How thank we him with our tongues?  
A. When our tongues are instruments of setting forth his glory in godly words.  
Q. How thank we God with our hands?  
A. When the actions of our life are so holy, that these who see them, are moved to praise our heavenly Father.  
Q. What is the sum of the whole Covenant between GOD and man?  
A. That GOD shall be a friend to man, and that man shall serve GOD, by believing in him, by obeying him, by praying unto him, and by giving him thanks.  
Q. Thou understandest here the Covenant between God and man, is a mutual promise between God and man, to wit, that God shall be a friend to man, and man shall be a faithful servant unto God?  
A. I understand so.   

The thirty six Sunday.  
Q. WHat callest thou a Covenant?  
A. A league or agreement between two or more parties.  
Q. What is the Covenant of God and man?  
A. A league or agreement which God hath made with men for salvation.  
Q. What other name hath this Covenant in Scriptures?  
A. It is called a Testament.  
Q. What is properly called a Testament?  
A. That which we commonly call a man's will and appointment, for the bestowing of his goods among his friends▪  
Q. Wherefore is God's Covenant called a Testament?  
A. Because it was confirmed and ratified by the death of Christ who made the Covenant, and also because it containeth his last will written down.  
Q. How many Covenants hath God made with man?  
A. Two, the Covenant of works, and the Covenant of grace.  
Q. What callest thou the Covenant of works?  
A. It was a league which God made with Adam and all his posterity, on condition of their perfect obedience.  
Q. Did man keep that Covenant?  
A. No, not.  
Q. Is he now able to keep it?  
A. No, not.  
Q. Wherefore is it then delivered unto men in the Scriptures?  
A. To convince them of sin, that they may seek mercy in Christ.  
Q. What callest thou the Covenant of grace?  
A. It is an agreement concerning men, to be freely saved through faith in Christ.  
Q. What is the substance of this Covenant?  
A. Salvation by faith in Christ.  
Q. When, and where was the Covenant of grace made?  
A. Incontinent after Adam's fall, GOD in Paradise promised, that Christ, the seed of the woman should tread down the head of the Devil, the old Serpent.  
Q. How many Covenants of grace hath GOD made with man?  
A. Only one.  
Q. In Scriptures I read of an old Testament or Covenant and of a new Testament or Covenant?  
A. The same Covenant of grace is either old or new, in divers respects and circumstances, being one for Substance.  
Q. Wherefore callest thou the Covenant of grace, the old Covenant?  
A. In regard of the first dispensation of it, by Moses towards the Jews in divers rites and ceremonies, which in time like old things vanish away.  
Q. Wherefore is it called a new Testament or Covenant?  
A. In regard of the dispensation of it by Christ, without such rites and figures, to endure always new and the same unto the end of the world.    

6. Of the Sacraments.  

The thirty seventh Sunday.  
Q. WE have heard of the first five parts of the Catechism, First, of God, Secondly, of man's Creation, Thirdly, of his Fall, Fourthly, of his Redemption; Fifthly, of man's duties to GOD for the same, which is the sum of the Covenant between GOD and man, now let me hear of the seals of that Covenant?  
A. The Sacraments are these seals.  
Q. Wherefore serve these seals?  
A. For the confirmation of our Faith.  
Q. What need have we of seals unto God's promises, seeing God cannot lie.  
A. Because our faith is weak, it hath need to be strengthened.  
Q. What is a Sacrament?  
A. It is an outward seal appointed by God, for to certify us of our Salvation in Christ.  
Q. How many Sacraments had the Jews under the law?  
A. Two; Circumcision and the Paschall Lamb.  
Q. What was the outward seal in Circumcision?  
A. The cutting away of the foreskine.  
Q. What did that represent and seal?  
A. The cutting away of the Superfluity of Sin.  
Q. What was the outward sign and seal of the Sacrament of the lamb?  
A. The lamb was first killed, after it was eaten.  
Q. What did all that represent and seal?  
A. That Christ was killed for to be food for our souls.   

The thirty eight Sunday.  
Q. HOW many Sacraments are they under the Gospel?  
A. Two, Baptism and the Lords Supper.  
Q. What is Baptism?  
A. A seal of our entrance into the Church.  
Q. What is the visible sign in Baptism?  
A. The element of water with the outward actions, as the sprinkling, washing, dipping into water, abiding under the water, and coming out of the water.  
Q. What doth the water represent unto us?  
A. The blood of Jesus Christ and his Spirit.  
Q. What are the special graces sealed up untous, while we are baptised?  
A. Our Justification and Sanctification.  
Q. What outward action represents our justification?  
A. As the water washeth away all uncleanness from the body, so the blood of Christ washeth away all sins from our souls, which is our justification.  
Q. What outward actions represent our Sanctification?  
A. They be chiefly three, first, the dipping of the body, Secondly, the staying under the water, Thirdly the coming out of the water.  
Q. What signifieth the dipping of the body?  
A. It signifieth the mortification of sin, or fellowship with Christ in his death.  
Q. What signifieth the staying under the water?  
A. It signifieth the burial of sin.  
Q. What signifieth the coming out of the water?  
A. The resurrection from sin to newness of life▪ Rom. 6.3.  
Q. What is the differences of these two graces justification and Sanctification, which are sealed by our Baptism?  
A. Justification is the absolution of a sinner from the guilt of sin; Sanctification is an alteration of qualities from evil to good.  
Q. Make the matter yet more clear?  
A. Justification consists in remission of sins, and imputation of justice for the obedience of Christ; Sanctification is a renovation from our corrupt nature.  
Q. What other difference is between these two.  
A. Justification is perfect in this life, but Sanctification is here imperfect.  
Q. To whom belongs the Sacraments of Baptism?  
A. To all the faithful, and to their children.  
Q. By what reason provest thou that little children should be baptixed?  
A. Because they are entered into the Church, and Baptism is a seal of their entrance into the same.   

The thirty ninth Sunday.  
Q. WHAT is the Lords Supper?  
A. A seal of our spiritual nourishment in the Church.  
Q. What are the visible signs?  
A. Bread and wine.  
Q. What other signs are in the Lord's Supper?  
A. The outward actions, to wit, the breaking of the bread, and pouring out of the wine, and the distributing of the same.  
Q. What doth the bread in the Sacrament represent?  
A. The blessed body of Christ.  
Q. What doth the breaking of the bread represent?  
A. The breaking of Christ's body and soul with unspeakable torments.  
Q. What doth the wine signify?  
A. The blood of Christ.  
Q. What doth the pouring out of the wine signify?  
A. The pouring out of Christ's blood.  
Q. What is the spiritual grace represented and offered unto us, by the elements and actions?  
A. The nourishment of our souls.  
Q. Make that more clear?  
A. As the bread eaten feeds the body, and as the wine drunk rejoiceth the heart, so the body and blood of Christ apprehended by a lively faith, like meat strengtheneth, and like wine rejoiceth the soul.   

The forty Sunday.  
Q. MAY not little children be partakers of the Sacrament of the Supper, as well as of Baptism?  
A. No, not.  
Q. What is the reason?  
A. Baptism is a Sacrament of our entrance into the Church, but the Sacrament of the Supper is only for these that have understanding.  
Q. How knowest thou that?  
A. Because it is enjoined to all these that partake of the Supper, to try & examine themselves, which infants cannot do.  
Q. What are the spiritual duties of these that would rightly communicate?  
A. That every man examine himself, and so eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.  
Q. Wherein consists that examination?  
A. That a man try himself if he hath these three things, faith, love, and repentance.   

The forty one Sunday.  
Q. WHAT should he try of his faith?  
A. If he knoweth God, and is in some measure assured that Christ died for him.  
Queen What if his faith be weak, may he come to the table of the Lord?  
A. This Sacrament is not for these that are perfect, but for to strengthen these that are weak.  
Q. What should the communicant try of his love?  
A. If he loveth his God better than all things.  
Q. What should he try concerning his love towards his neighbour?  
A. If he desireth by all means not only not to hurt, but also to his neighbour in his person, name, help and estate.  
Q. What shall he try of his repentance?  
A. If he from his heart be sorry for his bypast sins, and also be resolved to amend his life in all times to come.  
Q. By what singes will this repentance appear?  
A. By seven  
Q. What is the first?  
A. A care to leave the sin wherein he is fallen, 2 Cor. 7.11.  
Q. What is the second?  
A. An utter condemnation of himself for sin, with a craving pardon.  
Q. What is the third?  
A. A great anger against himself for his carelessness.  
Q. What is the fourth?  
A. A fear lest he should fall into the same sin again.  
Q. What is the fifth?  
A. A desire ever to please God.  
Q. What is the sixth?  
A. A zeal, or increase of affection in well doing.  
Q. What is the seventh?  
A. Revenge upon himself for his former offence. 2 Cor. 7.11.   

The forty two Sunday.  
Q. THinkest thou that a man must have faith, love, and repentance, in a good measure before he come to the table of the Lord?  
A. Yea, verily; for the wedding garment is made of these three graces.  
Q. What then should be our chief exercise, before we come to the Lords Supper?  
A. To try if we have faith love, and repentance.  
Q. What if we want any of them?  
A. Let us seek them from God by earnest prayer.  
Q. But may we not come to the Sacrament without them?  
A. No, not.  
Q. What danger is if we come without them?  
A. We eat and drink judgement to ourselves.  
Q. Wherefore that?  
A. Because we discern not the Lord's body.   

The forty three Sunday.  
Q. WHat callest thou to discern the Lords body?  
A. It is to put a difference between the Sacramental bread, the seal of his body, and other common bread.  
Q. What is the difference?  
A. The bread of the Sacrament is given for to be a seal of the food of the soul; Other bread is but for the belly.  
Q. Let me understand more clearly who is said to discern the Lords body?  
A. He is truly said, to discern the Lords body, who trembling in all reverence cometh to the table, and receieth the bread, not as common bread for the belly, but as consecrate, for to be a seal of the spiritual food of the soul.  
Q. What is the punishment of these that communicate unworthily?  
A. The punishment of the godly is sore sickness, great sorrows, and sometimes death of body.  
Q. What is the punishment of the wicked?  
A. Death both of soul and body.  
Q. Thinkest thou that the godly will whiles communicate unworthily?  
A. Yea verily, and for that the Lord will fearfully chastise them in this life.   

The forty four Sunday.  
Q. IS it not good for the godly, that they be so chastised for their negligence?  
A. It is most certain.  
Q. How knowest thou that?  
A. The Apostle sayeth, when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the World, 1 Cor. 11.32.  
Q. I see that there is great difference, between the unworthy communicating of the godly, and of the wicked?  
A. Yea verily; for God chasteneth the godly for their negligence, but he condemneth the wicked for their contempt.  
Q. But will not this make many of the godly the more careless in their preparation, seeing that though they communicate unworthily they shall not be condemned?  
A. The chastisement of their negligence is to great that it should make the best of us to tremble, diverse calamities as sickness, death, loss of goods, terrors of conscience are appointed for such.   

The forty five Sunday.  
Q. WHat should we think upon, when we are come to the Lords table?  
A. We should lift up our hearts to Christ in the heavens.  
Qu. When thou seest the bread of the Sacrament broken, what should thou remember?  
A. That even so the body of Christ was broken upon the cross with unspeakable dolours for my sins.  
Q. When thou seest the wine poured out, what shouldest thou remember?  
A. That even so the blood of Christ was poured out upon the cross for me.  
Q. When thou eatest that bread of the Sacrament, what sayeth thou in thyself?  
A. I say, Lord so feed my soul with Christ's body, the bread of life.  
Q. When thou drinkest the wine, what sayeth thou in thyself?  
A. I say, Lord quench the thirst of my soul, with the virtue of Christ's blood.   

The forty sixth Sunday.  
Q. DO we eat with our teeth the flesh of Christ's body at the Sacrament?  
A. No, not.  
Queen▪ How then eat we his body?  
A. In a spiritual manner.  
Q. How is that done?  
A. While we believe; that his body was broken for us, we are said to eat his body.  
Q. Wherefore is our believing called a eating, and a drinking.  
A. Because as our bodies live by eating and drinking, so our souls live by believing that Christ's body was broken, and his blood poured out for our sins.  
Q. What is the chiefest end of this Sacrament?  
A. That the Lords death may thankfully be remembered.  
Q. What is our duty after we have received the Sacrament?  
A. To give GOD most humble thanks.  
Q. How should we thank him?  
A. We must declare the Lords death until he come again.  
Q. What is that to declare the Lords death?  
A It is to publish, to solemnize, to have in honour and estimation, to spread abroad, and make famous all the sufferings of the Lord.   

The forty seven Sunday.  
Q. WHat more is required in our thanks, then to declare the Lords death by publishing the same by word?  
A. It is required, that by a holy and reformed life we glorify God, that others seeing our godly conversation may praise our heavenly Father.  
Q. What words of thanks hast thou for God after thou hast received the Sacrament?  
A. My soul praiseth God for his love, which moved him to send his Son to the world to die for me; I glorify the Son of God, for dying so willingly for the salvation of my lost soul.  
Q. How concludest thou thy thanksgiving?  
A. I say, now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be glory, for ever, and ever, Amen. 1 Tim. 1 vers. 17.  
Q. What is thy exercise the rest of that day?  
A. I with a thankful heart meditate the mercies of my God, who sent his Son to die for me, and by his death, to deliver me from hell fire.  
Q. What dost thou more?  
A. I call to memory all the pains and dolours, which Christ my Saviour suffered from his Cratch to the Cross, and praise him for the same: To whom with the Father, and the holy Spirit the Comforter, be glory, power, and praise, for evermore, Amen.     

TO THE NOBLE LADY, D. Anne campbel; Daughter to the Noble and Potent Earl, the Earl of Argyle, etc.  
MADAM,  
I here humbly dedicated unto your Ladyship, now of tender years these two compends of the Catechism.  
Saint john, the Cusin, and beloved Disciple of jesus Christ, who for his high doctrine was compared to an Eagle that mounteth very high, disdained not to write unto Children. In one chapter of a short Epistle he hath▪ I write unto you little children; 
1 Joh. 2 12▪ vers. 13  and again in the same words, I write unto you little children; of that his writing he giveth two reasons; the one is in these words, because your sins are forgiven you for his Names sake; the other reason is in these words, because ye have known the Father: For this end, Madam, have I written unto you these two compends, that ye may know the Father; whom I most humbly entreat to increase his graces begun in your Ladyship in a good measure▪  
From Glasgow the 19 of januar, 1639. Your Ladyship's most humble Servant, M. ZACHARY BOYD.   

A short compend of the Catechism, needful for little Children.  

I. OF GOD.  
Question.  
HOW many Gods be there?  
Answer.  
Only one God.  
Q. How many people be there in the Godhead?  
A. Three, the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost.  
Q. What hath God the Father, done for thee?  
A. He hath created me.  
Q. What hath God the Son done for thee?  
A. He hath redeemed me.  
Q. What hath the holy Ghost done for thee?  
A. He hath sanctified me.   

Of Man's Creation.  
Q. WHereof was this world made?  
A. Of nothing.  
Q. Whereof was man made?  
A. His body was made of the dust of the ground.  
Q. How was his soul made?  
A. The Lord breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.  
Q. How was man created at the first?  
A. According to Gods own image.  
Q. What is that image of God?  
A. Holiness, and happiness.   

Of Man's Fall.  
Q. DID man keep that image?  
A. No, not.  
Q. How lost he it?  
A. By sinning against God.  
Q. What was his sin?  
A. He did eat of the forbidden tree.  
Q. What other sins did go before that?  
A. Pride, unbelief, a miscontentment with his own estate.  
Q. What were the instruments of his fall?  
A. The devil, the serpent, and the woman.  
Q. How did they bring that evil to pass?  
A. The devil entered into the serpent, and by the serpent seduced the woman, who enticed her Husband to eat of that tree.  
Q. What deserved they for that eating?  
A. Death and eternal damnation.  
Q. What hath followed on that first sin?  
A. All men since that fall are borne in sin, and conceived in iniquity.  
Q. What is sin?  
A. The transgression of God's law.  
Q. How many sorts of sin be there?  
A. Two, original sin, and actual sin.  
Q. What callest thou original sin?  
A. That corruption wherein all mankind is conceived and borne, since the fall of Adam.  
Q. What is actual sin?  
A. Every omission of our duty and commission of that which is against the law of God.  
Q. In how many ways sin we against God?  
A. In three ways chiefly, in thought, word, and dead.  
Q. Are all men sinners?  
A. Yea, verily, Christ only excepted.   

Of Man's Redemption.  
Q. WHO is man's Saviour?  
A. Jesus Christ.  
Q. Who is this jesus Christ?  
A. The Son of God conceived miraculously by the holy Ghost, in the womb of a Virgin.  
Q. Whether was he man only, or both God and man?  
A. He was both God and man, in one person.  
Q. What needed him to be man?  
A. That he might die for us.  
Q. What needed him to be God?  
A. That he might overcome death.  
Q. Wherhfore was he called jesus?  
A. Because he came to save his people from their sins.  
Q. Wherhfore callest thou him Christ?  
A. Because he was anointed with the spiritual oil of graces, and that without measure.  
Q. Whereunto was he anointed?  
A. Unto three spiritual offices.  
Q. What were his offices?  
A. He was a King, a Priest, and a Prophet.  
Q. What needed him to be a King?  
A. For to rule and defend us, against our enemies.  
Q. Who are our chiefest enemies?  
A. The devil, the world, and the corruptions of our own flesh.  
Q. What needed him to be a Prophet?  
A. For to teach us the Word, and way of Salvation.  
Q. Wherefore was he a Priest?  
A. That he might offer up a sacrifice for us.  
Q. What sacrifice offered he up for us?  
A. He offered up himself to the death.  
Q. What sort of death died he for us?  
A. The cursed death of the Crosse.  
Q. Wherefore died he such a cursed death?  
A. That he might deliver us from the curse of God.   

Of the service which man owe to God for his redemption.  
Q. WHat owe we to God for so great a salvation?  
A. We owe him service.  
Q. How many parts are there of God's service▪  
A. Four: viz. to believe in GOD, to obey GOD, to pray to GOD, and to give him thanks.  

The first part of GOD'S Service.  
Q. WHat is the first part of God's Service?  
A. It is to believe in GOD.  
Q. What is that to believe in GOD?  
A. It is to have a true faith.  
Q. What is faith?  
A. An assured knowledge that GOD will be merciful to us for Christ's sake.  
Q. Who worketh this faith in our hearts?  
A. The holy Spirit.  
Q. By what means?  
A. By the preaching of the Word.  
Q. Why are we said to be justified by faith?  
A. Because by faith we apprehend Christ and all his merits; whereby we appear just in God's presence.  
Q. May not man be justified by his works?  
A. He may before men, but not before GOD.  
Q. What is the cause of that?  
A. Because there is no man that can perfectly fulfil the law of GOD.  
Q. Where is the sum of our faith?  
A. In the Creed.  
Q. How many parts are there of the Creed?  
A. Four.  
Q. What is in the first part thereof?  
A. That which concerneth GOD the Father, and our creation.  
Q. What is the second part?  
A. That which concerneth God the Son and our redemption.  
Q. What is in the third part?  
A. That which concerneth GOD the holy Ghost, and our sanctification.  
Q. What is in the fourth part?  
A. That which concerneth the Church, and Gods benefits bestowed upon the same.  
Q. What is the Church?  
A. A company of those, whom GOD by his Spirit hath sanctified.  
Q. How many parts hath the Church?  
A. Two; the Church triumphant in Heaven, and the Church militant on Earth.  
Q. Whom callest thou the Church triumphant?  
A. These who have overcome the devil, the world, and the flesh.  
Q. Whom callest thou the Church militant?  
A. These who are yet on earth fight against these enemies of man's salvation.   

The second part of God's Service?  
Q. WHat is the second part of God's service?  
A. To obey GOD▪  
Q. Where learnest thou what obedience thou owe to God?  
A. In GOD'S Law, whereof the sum are the ten commandments.  
Q. How are the ten commandments divided?  
A. Into two tables.  
Q. What commandments be contained in the first table?  
A. The first four.  
Q. What be contained in the second table?  
A. The last six.  
Q. What is the sum of the first four?  
A. Our whole duty towards our God.  
Q. What is the sum of the last six?  
A. Our whole duty towards our neighbour.   

The third part of God's Service.  
Q. WHat is the third part of God's service?  
A. To pray to GOD.  
Q. In whose name must we seek from God that which we need?  
A. In Christ his Son's name.  
Q. May we desire the Saints in heaven, to intercede for us?  
A. There is but one Mediator Jesus Christ.  
Q. Who teacheth us to pray?  
A. The holy Spirit.  
Q. What prayer is most perfect?  
A. The Lord's prayer.  
Q. How many petitions are there in the Lord's prayer?  
A. Six.  
Q. What is the first?  
A. Hallowed be thy name.  
Q. What is that to say?  
A. That God by all creatures, may be known to be a holy God, and worshipped by them.  
Q. What is the second petition?  
A. Thy kingdom come.  
Q. What is that to say?  
A. That God both outwardly▪ and inwardly rule, govern, and maintain us, as a King his Subjects.  
Q. What is the third petition?  
A. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.  
Q. What is that to say?  
A. It is a prayer, that God be as perfectly obeyed by his Saints on earth, as by these that are in heaven.  
Q. What is the fourth petition?  
A. Give us this day our daily bread.  
Q. What is that to say?  
A. That GOD would give unto us any worldly thing that is needful for us.  
Q. What is the fifth petition?  
A. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive these that sin against us.  
Q. What understandest thou by these words?  
A. That GOD in his mercy, would freely pardon us our sins, for Christ's sake.  
Q. What is the last petition?  
A. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.  
Q. What is the meaning thereof?  
A. That God would deliver us from the snares of the Devil, of the world, and our own corruptions, and from all other dangers whatsoever.   

The fourth part of God's Service.  
Q. WHat is the fourth part of God's service?  
A. To give God thanks for all his benefits.  
Q. What thanks requireth God of us?  
A. That we set forth his glory, with heart, tongue and hand.  
Q. How thank we God with our heart?  
A. When we think honourably of him, and acknowledge his goodness.  
Q. How thank we him with the tongue?  
A. When our tongue is an instrument of setting forth his glory.  
Q. How thank we him with the hand?  
A. When we do good works.    

Of the Sacraments.  
Q. WHAT is a Sacrament?  
A. It is an outward seal appointed by GOD, for to certify us of our Salvation in Christ Jesus.  
Q. How many Sacraments are there?  
A. Two, Baptism, and the Lords Supper.  

Of Baptism.  
Q. WHat is Baptism?  
A. A seal of our entrance into the Church.  
Q. What is the visible sign in Baptism?  
A. The element of water with the outward actions.  
Q. What doth the water represent unto us?  
A. The blood of Christ and the Spirit.  
Q. What are the outward actions?  
A. Sprinkling, washing, dipping into the water, abiding under the water, and coming out of the water.  
Q. What spiritual graces are sealed up unto us, while we are baptised?  
A. Our justification and sanctification.  
Q What outward action represents our justification?  
A. As the water washeth away all uncleanness from the body, so the blood of Christ washeth away all sins from our souls, which is our justification.  
Q. What outward actions represent our Sanctification?  
A. They be especially three, first, the dipping of the body, secondly, the staying under the water, thirdly, the coming out of the water.  
Q. What signifieth the dipping of the body.  
A. It signifieth the mortification of sin, or fellowship with Christ in his death.  
Qu. What signifieth the staying under the water?  
A. It signifieth the burial of sin.  
Q. What signifieth the coming out of the water?  
A. The resurrection from sin to newness of life. Rom. 6.3. 4.   

Of the Lord's Supper.  
Q. WHAT is the Lords Supper?  
A. A seal of our spiritual nourishment in the Church.  
Qu. What are the visible signs of that Sacrament?  
A. Bread and wine with the outward actions.  
Q. What doth the bread represent?  
A. The body of Christ.  
Q. What doth the breaking of the bread represent?  
A. The great sorrows wherewith his body and soul were broken.  
Q. What doth the wine signify?  
A. The blood of Christ.  
Q. What doth the powreing out of the wine signify?  
A. The powreing out of Christ's blood.  
Q. What is the spiritual grace signified and offered unto us, by the elements and actions?  
A. The spiritual nourishment of our souls.  
Q. What must we do before we come to the Sacrament?  
A. We must try and examine ourselves.  
Q. Wherein consists that examination?  
A. That a man try himself, if he hath these three things, faith, love and repentance.  
Q. What should he try of his faith?  
A. If he know God, and is in some measure assured that Christ died for him.  
Q. What should he try of his love?  
A. If he loveth his GOD above all things; and if he loveth the well of his neighbour's person, name, and estate.  
Q. What shall he try of his repentance?  
A. If from his heart he be sorry for his bypast sins, and resolved to amend his life for all times to come.  
Q. May we not communicate without any of these three?  
A. No, not.  
Q. What is the danger if we want any of them?  
A. We eat and drink judgement to ourselves.  
Q. Wherefore that?  
A. Because we discern not the Lord's body.  
Q. What callest thou to discern the Lords body?  
A. It is to put a difference between the bread of the Sacrament, the seal of his Body, and other common bread?  
Q. What is that difference?  
A. The bread of the Sacrament is given for to be a seal of the food of the soul, other bread is but for the belly.  
Q. Who then is said rightly to discern the Lords body?  
A. He who in all reverence, trembling, receiveth the bread, not as common bread, but as consecrate, to be a seal of the food of the soul.  
Q. What is the punishment of those that communicate unworthily?  
A. The punishment of the godly is fore sickness, great sorrows, shame and disgrace, and sometimes death of body.  
Q. What is the punishment of the wicked?  
A. Death both of soul and body; from which the Lord deliver us for Christ his Son sake.  
Amen.     

A short Compend of the Catechism for Children of a younger age.  

I. OF GOD.  
Question.  
HOW many Gods be there?  
Answer.  
Only one God.  
Q. How many people are there in the Godhead?  
A. Three, the Father, Son, and holy Ghost.  
Q. What hath the Father done for thee?  
A. He hath created me.  
Q. What hath the Son done for thee?  
A. He hath redeemed me.  
Q. What hath the holy Ghost done for thee?  
A. He hath sanctified me.   

Of Man's Creation.  
Q. WHO made man?  
A. GOD?  
Q. Whereof was man made?  
A. His body was made of the earth.  
Q. How was his soul made?  
A. The Lord breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.  
Q. How was man created at the first?  
A. According to Gods own image.  
Q. What is that image of God?  
A. Holiness and righteousness, and dominion over all the creatures.   

Of Man's Fall.  
Q. DID man keep that image?  
A. No, not.  
Q. How lost he it?  
A. By eating of the forbidden tree.  
Q. What were the instruments of his sin?  
A. The Devil, the Serpent, and the Woman.  
Q. How did they bring that evil to pass?  
A. The Devil entered into the Serpent, who deceived the Woman, and she enticed her Husband.  
Q. What deserved they for their sin?  
A. Death and damnation.  
Q. What is sin?  
A. The transgression of Gods Law.  
Q. How many sorts of sin be there?  
A. Two, original sin, and actual sin.  
Q. What is original sin?  
A. That natural corruption wherein we are borne.  
Q. What is actual sin?  
A. The evil which we do ourselves, in thought, word and dead.   

Of Man's Redemption.  
Q. WHO is man's Saviour?  
A. Christ Jesus.  
Q. Who is jesus Christ?  
A. Very GOD and man.  
Q. What needed him to be man?  
A. That he might die for us.  
Q. What needed him to be God?  
A. That he might overcome death.  
Q. What sort of death died he?  
A. The cursed death of the Crosse.  
Q. Wherefore died he such a cursed death?  
A. That he might deliver us from the curse of GOD.  
Q. How many offices had Christ?  
A. Three, he was a King, a Priest, and a Prophet.  
Q. Wherefore was he a King?  
A. For to rule us.  
Q. Wherefore was he a Priest?  
A. For to offer up himself in a Sacrifice for us.  
Q. Wherefore was he a Prophet?  
A. For to teach us.   

Of the Service we owe in GOD  
Q. HOW many parts are there of God's service?  
A. Four; to believe in God, to obey God, to pray to God, and to give God thanks.  
Q. What is faith?  
A. It is an assured knowledge, that God will be merciful to us, for Christ's sake.  
Q. Who worketh this faith in our hearts?  
A. The holy Spirit.  
Q. By what means?  
A. By the preaching of the Word.  
Q. How is our faith made stronger?  
A. By the hearing of the word, and receiving of the Sacraments.   

Of the Sacraments.  
Q. WHAT is a Sacrament?  
A. It is an outward seal appointed by God, for to certify us of our Salvation in Christ.  
Q. How many Sacraments are there?  
A. Two, Baptism, and the Lords Supper.  
Q. What is Baptism?  
A. A seal of our entrance into the Church.  
Q. What is signified by the washing made by water?  
A. The washing away of our sins by Christ's blood.  
Q. What is the Lords Supper?  
A. A seal of our spiritual nourishment in the Church.  
Q. What signifieth the breaking of the bread?  
A. The breaking of Christ's body with many sorrows.  
Q. What signifieth the powreing out of the wine?  
A. The powreing out of Christ's blood upon the Crosse.  
Q. Who are worthy communicants?  
A. God accounts these worthy, who have faith, love, and repentance.    

A prayer at the hour of Death.  
Because death is very uncertain; and Pastors can not be ever pray sent at the last hour of dying men, I have set down this Prayer for the come for't of such,  
MOST gracious GOD, most dear and loving Father, let the words of our mouth, and the meditations of our heart, 
Psal. 19.14  be acceptable in thy sight, for thou art our Lord, our strength and our Redeemer: We most unworthy to speak for ourselves, are hold here to call upon thee, and most humbly to entreat thee, to be gracious and merciful to this thy faithful servant, now going from the earth to his long home in the heavens. 
Eccles. 12.5   
Thou Lord Jesus, who can not lie, hast said unto us: 
john 14.13.  That whatsoever we shall ask the Father in thy name, thou wilt give it unto us; O Father of mercies, we seek from thee, in the name of thy Son Jesus, that all the sins of this thy now dying servant may be forgotten, and fully and freely forgiven him: though his sins have indeed been red like Scarlet and Crimson, 
Isa. 1.8  let it please thee so to wash him with the virtue of the blood of Jesus, that his soul once polluted and defiled with sin, may be made white like the wool▪ yea, whiter than the snow.  
Thou Lord understandest the groans of thine own Spirit; thou hast begun a good work in him; now as thou dost with the year, 
Psal. 65.11.  crown it with thy goodness: seal up in his heart that peace which thou hast purchased with the blood of Christ Jesus, the Prince of peace; Assure him now of the rest of these joys, whereof he in his life hath had by thy grace a merciful foretaste, in the very throes of death, & greatest throngs of temptations; uphold him with the hope of glory: Let his faith get a full victory over all the enemies of his salvation: Let the virtue of Christ's Cross crucify the world unto him, and him unto the world; let the death of Jesus be the death of his sins, and the life of his soul. Say unto his soul, Be of good comfort, all thy sins are forgiven thee.  
Seeing while he is here at home in the body, he is absent from the Lord, make thou him confident and willing rather to be absent from the body, that he may be present with thee his Lord in the heavens, among the Angels and and spirits of just men, who are always in thy presence, beholding thy face, wherein is fullness of joy.  
Now Lord, while his flesh and his heart fail him, be thou the strength of his heart, and his portion for ever; for whom hath he in heaven but thee, and there is none on earth whom he desires besides thee: make haste Lord, come Lord, Jesus come. Open now the doors of thy mercy, and suffer this wearied traveller to enter into thine everlasting rest.  
O Spirit of comforts, the Comforter of troubled souls, seal up in his heart the pardon of all sins, with the blood of Jesus, and now crown all thy gifts and graces in him with thy glory, Lord Jesus receive his spirit, Father into thine hands we commend his soul; To the Father, Son and holy Ghost, be everlasting glory, praise, power and dominion, for ever, and ever, Amen.  
FINIS.