¶ A brief Catechism so necessary and easy to be learned even of the simple sort, that whosoever can not, or will not attain to the same, is not to be counted a good Christian, much less to be admitted to the Supper of the Lord. It standeth of three parts. 1. The first showeth how miserable all men are of themselves. 2. The second, how happy they are that rightly believe in Christ. 3. The third, what duties they own unto God for his great mercy towards them in Christ jesus. ¶ Imprinted at London by Hugh Singleton, dwelling in Creed lane, at the sign of the gylden Tun, and are there to be sold. 1582. 1. Peter. 3.15.16. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you. And that with meekness and reverence, having a good conscience, that when they speak evil of you as of evil doers, they may be ashamed which blame your good conversation in Christ. The first part. Question. ARt not thou a servant unto the almighty God, and Lord of heaven and earth? Answer. I acknowledge myself for ever to be his servant. Exod. 20.2. Ios. 24.15.24. Rom. 11.36 Question. Hath God given forth any Laws, whereby servants, should be well ruled & governed? Answer. The holy Scriptures are Gods laws, wherein he declareth his will & pleasure, Hebru. 11.2 Luk. 19.26 31. Deut. 4.13 the general some and effect whereof is briefly set forth unto us in the ten Commandments. Question. Rehearse the ten Commandments. Answer. The first Table. i. God spoke all these words and said, I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt have none other Gods but me. Exod. 20.3. two Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth, thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them, for I the Lord am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, unto the third & fourth generation of them that hate me, and show mercy unto thousand in them that love me, and keep my commandments. iii. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, that taketh his name in vain. iiii. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day, six days shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do: but the seventh day is the Saboth of the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt do no manner of work, thou nor thy son, thy daughter, thy man servant, nor thy maid servant, thy cattle nor the stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day, wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hollowed it. The second Table. v. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. vi. Thou shalt do no murder. seven. Thou shalt not commit adultery. viii. Thou shalt not steal. ix. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. x. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife, nor his servant, nor his Ox, nor his Ass, nor any thing that is his. Question. Art thou able to keep all these laws. Answer. Every man is guilty of the breach hereof, not only in respect of their original or birth sin, Psa. 19.12. Eccle. 7.22 1. john. 1.8 but also otherwise in thought word and deed. Question. What is the danger of breaking any of these laws of almighty God. Answer. The just punishment of breaking any of God his laws, mat. 5.19.22 Rom. 6.23. Gala. 3.10. jam. 2.10. yea if it were but once in all my life, it is loss of God's favour, the purchasing of his heavy displeasure which bringeth everlasting death, both of soul and body. ¶ The second part. Question. How shall you escape this great danger, and fearful punishment of your sins. Will not your good deeds serve to make some amends & so deliver you from this punishment. Answer. My good deeds will not help to save me from this punishment, Ephess. 2.9. Acts. 4.12. Galat. 2.21. nor any thing else, but only jesus Christ hath delivered me. Question. How hath jesus Christ saved and delivered you from this great punishment of your sins? Answer. jesus Christ hath delivered me from the punishment of my sin, 1. Tim. 3.10 Galat. 3.13 isaiah. 53.5. Lol. 1.19.20 1. Pet. 2.24. Rom. 4.25. joh. 3.16.18 Galat. 2.20. because he being both God and man, hath suffered all the punishment which my sins deserved, & hath fulfilled the law of God perfectly for me, and thereby hath restored me for ever to the love and favour of God. Question. Are all then saved by this suffering and death of Christ? Answer. Only they are saved by Christ, joh. 20.28. who believe that he hath done all things touching salvation, not only for other but also even for themselves, the effect of which faith is contained in the Creed. c Rom. 8.12. Question. 2b. Mat. 1.21 Dan. 9.24.25. Rehearse the Creed. Answer. I Believe 1.a joh. 14.1. Heb. 11.3. Math. 5.45 in God the Father almighty c. Act. 4.27. Heh. 1.9. Act. 10.38. maker of heaven and earth. And in 2. b jesus c Christ his d Io. 1.14.18. only son our e Ma. 28.18. 1. Pe. 1.18.19. Lord. Which was conceived f mat. 1.8.20. by the holy ghost, borne of the Virgin Mary. Suffered g Luk. 23.24.33.46. under Ponce Pilate, h Mat. 27.46. Mat. 26.37 Lu. 22.44. was crucified, dead and buried, i Mat. 20.8 9 1. Cor. 15.4 12. he descended into hell the third day he rose again from the dead. He k Act. 1.9. ascended into heaven, and l Act. 7.55.56. Lol. 3.1. sitteth at the right hand of God the father Almighty. From thence m 2. Lor. 3.10. shall he come to judge both the quick and the dead. I believe in 3.n mat. 28.19 Act. 5.3, 4. 1. Pet. 1.2. the holy ghost. The 4.o 1. Tim. 3.15. 1. Lor. 14.33 Mat. 28.18 19 holy Catholic church. The communion p 1. Lor. 12.12. of Saints. The q Ro. 3.24.25. forgiveness of sins. The r 1. Lor. 15.53.45. job. 19.25.26. resurrection of the body. And the s life everlasting Amen. Question. By what means have we such a true faith? Answer. It is the gift of God. Question. How doth God work this faith in us? Answer. By the preaching of the word of God. Question. Is this faithfully framed and made strong in us at the first, or in one hour? s 2. Lor. 1.3. Luk. 16.23. Answer. Faith is increased by little and little, 1. Cor. 11.17 Gala. 4.19. Ephe. 4.11 12.13. 1. Thessa. 5.19.20. and made strong in us by the diligent hearing of the word of God, and by the use of his sacraments. Question. How many Sacraments be there? Answer. There be two Sacraments, Rom. 4.11. 1. Co. 10.2.3 Mat. 21.25 Mat. 28.19 Mat 26.2.6 Acts. 2.26. Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord. Question. What benefit have you by Baptism, and to what end serveth it? Answer. By Baptism the holy Ghost assureth me that as my body is sprinkled with water, Act. 22.16. so my soul, 2. Pet. 3.21 by the bloodshedding of Christ, Colo. 2.12. is sprinkled and washed from all the guilt and punishment of my sin, and also hereby I profess myself to die with Christ, Rom. 6.4. as concerning sin, & live in him as concerning righteousness. Question. To what end serveth the supper of the lord? Answer. In the supper of the Lord, Luk. 22.19.22.24. 1. Pet. 10.16 1. Cor. 11.23 I am by the spirit of God assured, that as the bread broken, and the wine powered out be delivered unto me, even so was the body of Christ broken, & his blood shed, as a full recompense to God for my sins. ¶ The third part. Question. For as much then as God of his infinite love, hath given his own son to ransom us from the power of sin, death & hell, to advance us to the honour of his children, & heirs of his kingdom: seeing it pleaseth him to give us faith, and daily to nourish & increase it in us more and more, by his word and sacraments: by the which faith we lay hold upon Christ, and make him with all his merits and treasures our own: so that now not only all our sins are removed from us, but also his righteousness, holiness, & perfection, is accounted ours before God: Do you not think that we are very deeply bound unto him? Answer. Yes verily, I am so much bound to god, Psalm. 8.5. Psal. 116.12 Rom. 12.1. that all my life ought to be a continual thankfulness to his Majesty, for his great mercy. Question. Is then this doctrine which showeth us that we are saved by jesus Christ only, and not by our own works, any occasion of wicked life, as the Papists slander it? Answer. This doctrine is no occasion of wicked life but the greatest reason to persuade men to be diligent and zealous in good works. Ios. 24.14.18. Psa. 130.4. Rom. 12.1. 1. john. 2.1 Rom. 6.1. Titus. 2.11.12. Question. Are there no other good deeds required of christians, but giving alms, visiting the sick, building of schools, & houses for the poor? An, a Mat. 6.2. 1. Cor. 13.3. As these are good deeds, & such as highly please God, being done in such manner as the word of God doth teach us that is, with a true faith in Christ & pure love toward our Brethren, b Ex. 20.3.4 Mat. 22.36. So are there many other much more excellent than these, as the pure worshipping of God both with soul and body: c job. 13.36 trusting & depending of his good providence both in prosperity & adversity: d Luke. 10.42. hearing of his holy word: e Thes. 5.11.14. Heb. 3.13. Clos. 3.16. jacob. 5.20. exhortations and admonitions one to another, especially to such as we have special charge over: f 1. Thes. 5.16. Psal. 50.14 15. praising God for all his mercies and continual benefits poured upon us: and last of all, g judg. 20 Ephess. 6 10 faithful prayers for all such things as we stand in need of. Question. To whom ought we to make our prayers? An. We must pray to our loving and almighty God alone, Psal. 50.15 Acts. 4.24. and to none but him. Qu. What things ought we to pray for? Answer. We must pray, not only for all things needful for ourselves and the Church of God, Acts. 4.29. Eph. 6.18.19 but especially for those things which appertain to the setting forth of the glory of God, even as we are taught in the Lord's prayer. Qu. Rehearse the Lords prayer. Answer. Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Math. 6.9. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Qu. How may we be assured that God will hear us, seeing we are sinners? Answer. Because we offer up our prayers, joh. 16.23 1. john. 2.1 1. Pet. 2.5. not in our own name, nor in the name of any creature, but of the son of God our Saviour, who is always in the presence of God, to entreat his Majesty for us, his poor servants. Certain necessary instructions meet to be taught the younger sort, before they come to be partakers of the holy Communion. Qu. What do you come to receive? An. I come to receive the Lords supper. Qu. What is the lords Supper? An. The Lord's supper is a sacrament ordained of the Lord jesus Christ, to show forth in most lively and evident manner, his painful suffering of death for us, by the outward signs of bread and wine. Qu. Wherefore comest thou to receive the Lords Supper? An. I come to receiu it for these 4. causes 1. First, to show my obedience to my Lord jesus Christ, who hath so commanded me. 2. Secondly, that my inward man might be nourished and strengthened by that heavenvly food of Christ's body & blood received by faith, as my body is nourished by corruptible bread and wine. 3. Thirdly, to make open profession of my faith in Christ, and love toward my neighbours. 4. Lastly, that by the reverend ministration and joyful showing forth of this holy mystery, my mind, & all the parts of my soul, might effectually be stirred up through the inward working of the holy spirit to a more earnest love of my God and unfeigned thankfulness to his Majesty, freely given me in his son jesus Christ. Qu. After what sort ought you to come to this holy mystery of the lords supper? An. Three things are chiefly required of those that come to this heavenly banquet of the Lords supper. The one is a sorrowful feeling and a hearty loathing of all my sin, that is to say of all that I have conceived in my heart uttered with my tongue, or committed by outward deeds contrary to the word of God. The second is a true faith in Christ, which bringeth with it a comfortable and joyful feeling of the infinite mercy and everlasting love of God toward me in Christ. The last is a careful earnest and constant endeavour to please God in all things according to the rule of his word, and so to behave myself before him all the days of my life as I may best profit others, and most set forth his glory in that calling wherein he hath placed me. FINIS. ¶ A form of prayer to be used in Christian famelies. WE thank thee (O Lord God and most merciful father) for all thy loving kindness and unspeakable goodness so declared toward us, in preserving us this day past & all our life hitherto, in turning away from us innu merable plagues which we most justly have deserved, in giving unto us all manner of blessings & comforts pertaining unto this life, & the life to come, and namely we praise & thank thy majesty for creating us according to thine one image, for saving us from our sins & thy wrath by the merits of thy son jesus Christ, for calling us unto the knowledge of this thy infinite love toward us, by the preaching of thy word and work of thy spirit, for aiding and comforting us so fatherly at all times, in all places, & against all our enemies which have sought by all means to turn us from the earnest love of thy Gospel and obedience of thy commandments. We confess (O Lord) from the bottom of our hearts, that we are utterly unworthy of the least of these thy mercies, that there is nothing to be found in us, to move thy majesty thus bountifully to deal with us, yea that our manifold sins and corruptions of our nature yet remaining in us, have deserved the contrary. To thee therefore (O father) we tender all thanks, all praise & glory, for these thy benefits bestowed upon us & the rest of our brethren. And wc most humbly beseech thee, to pardon all our coldness, unthankfulness with all the rest of our sins, and to strike our stony hearts yet more deeply with the force of thy spirit & edge of thy word faithfully preached that we may more earnestly repent for our former iniquities, loathing and abhorring all sin in ourselves and others, because it is so foul and odious in thine eyes. And we also most humbly crave at thy hands, more and more to root out of our hearts our own natural corruptions of infidelity, self love, pride, envy, vain glory, maliciousness & all hypocrisy, & to renew in us daily all thy graces and fruits of thy spirit, in that thou in thy wisdom seest to be needful for us, for the better setting forrh of thy glory, & more fruitful service to our brethren, in those callings wherein thou hast placed every one of us. Let thy fear (O dear father) be always so clearly before our eyes, & the most comfortable feeling of thy abundant love toward us in Christ, so strongly prevail in our hearts, that we never presume to offend thy majesty by wilful breaking of thy laws, but be found always cheerful, diligent & zealous in all good works which thou hast enjoined, & commended unto us in thy holy word, Let us not (O Lord) be like the rude & ignorant multitude, who because they have not known thy word, nor effectually tasted of thy love in heavenly things, are carried with the rage of their own carnal lusts & worldly desires, to all filthiness of Idolatry, uncleanness of life, covetous, deceitful, & unrighteous dealing for their own gain: But as thou in mercy hast called us from ourselves & out of this vain world to serve thy Majesty, to be called and to be indeed thy children, heirs of an immortal inheritance, temples of thy spirit & lively members, of thy son our saviour: so grant that our conversation, behaviour, & whole life may answer to this high calling and glory of our profession, a bounding in all spiritual knowledge, in fervency of true zeal in detestation of all sin, in carefulness to please thee in all things, joy of the spirit, in peace of conscience, in all Charitable just and kind dealing toward all men for thy sake. And because all our labours in our callings are in vain, without thy marvelous blessing, vouchsafe to be always present with us, not only showing us by the light of thy word what we should do, but also blessing and prospering us by the power of thy shield in all that we take in hand, in such sort as some worthy fruit may rise thereof to the comfort of our own conscience, the benefit of our brethren, and the praise of thy holy name through jesus Christ our Lord. Give us thy wisdom from above, whereby we may use the things of this world, as though we used them not, travailing faithfully in our calling, but yet depending of thy providence, looking for all good success at thy hands, referring all to thy glory, continually, waiting for the coming of our Lord and saviour Christ jesus in whose name we pray not only for ourselves. etc. printer's device of Hugh Singleton HIS GOD IS MY HELPER