A New CATECHISM▪ Commanded to be set fort● for the instructing of Youth in the Principles of RELIGION: 

Truly explaining  
1 The Articles of our Belief.  
2 The X. Commandments.  
3 The Lords Prayer.  
4 The two Sacraments.   With useful instructions for all Persons, before they receive the LORDS Supper.  Psal. 34. 11. Come hither ye little children, and I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 
Written by E. C. and published by Authority.  
LONDON, Printed for H. P. and are to be sold by Francis Coles, at the sign of the Halfe-Bowle in the Old-Baily. 1645.   

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C R  HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms   

The New CATECHISM: ACCORDING To the Form of the KIRK OF SCOTLAND.  
Question. WHo made the Hevins and the Earth, and all things contained in them?  
Answer. GOD.  
Q. Whereof was man created?  
A. Of the earth.  
Q. To what end was he made?  
A. To serve GOD.  
Q. How many principal parts are they of GOD'S service?  
A. Four: Faith, Obedience, Prayer, and Thanksgiving.  
Q. Which is the rule of our faith?  
A. The Word of GOD, the sum whereof is in the Articles of the Belief.  
Q. Which is the rule of our obedience?  
A. The ten Commandments.  
Q. Which is the rule of our Prayer?  
A. The LORDS Prayer.  
Q. Which is the common rule of our thanksgiving?  
A. The Confession at the end of the LORDS Prayer, For thine is kingdom, power and glory, etc.  
Q. In what estate was man created?  
A. In the image of GOD, perfect and holy in soul and body.  
Q. How fell he from that happy estate?  
A. By sin and disobedience.  
Q. What was the occasion thereof?  
A. Satan speaking out of the Serpent, tempted Eva in Paradise, and she persuadit Adam to eat of the forbidden tree.  
Q. What punishment deserved they therefore?  
A. The curse of GOD, and eternal condemnation.  
Q. Deserve we to be punished for that sin?  
A. Yea: for we sinned in Adam, being in his joins, and so we were a part of him.  
Q. Who then shall be saved?  
A. Only they who believe to be saved by CHRIST.  

The 12. Articles of the Belief.  
Q. Rehearse the twelve Articles of the Belief?  
A. I believe in GOD, the Father Almighty, 1. Maker of hevin and earth: 2. And in JESUS CHRIST his only Son our LORD: 3. Who was conceived by the HOLY GHOST, borne of the Virgin Mary: 4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried, he descendit into hell: 5. The third day he risen again from death: 6. He ascended into hevin, and sitteth at the right hand of GOD, the Father Almighty: 7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. 8. I believe in the HOLY GHOST: 9 The holy Catholic Kirk, the Communion of Saints: 10. The forgiveness of sins: 11. The resurrection of the body: 12. And life everlasting.  
Q. What is contained in the first Article?  
A. Our confidence in a loving and powerful GOD?  
Q. How many Gods are they?  
A. One.  
Q. How many persons are in the Godhead?  
A. Three: GOD the Father, the SON, and the HOLY GHOST.  
Q. What is it to believe in GOD?  
A. To put our whole confidence in him, trusting that he will provide for us all things needful for this life, and the life to come.  
Q. How is GOD our Father?  
A. First, by creation, because he made us: next, by adoption, and regeneration, through the blood, and Spirit of CHRIST.  
Q. Why is he called Almighty?  
A. Because he may do all things whatsoever he pleaseth, and he may do more than he will, by his absolute power: for, of stones he may raise up children unto Abraham.  
Q. By what works is he known to be almighty?  
A. By the making of hevin and earth, and of all things that are in them.  
Q. What containeth the second Article?  
A. The names and styles of GOD the Son.  
Q. Why is he called JESUS?  
A. Because he is our Saviour.  
Q. Why is he named CHRIST?  
A. Because he is anointed our King, Priest, and Prophet.  
Q. What doth he to us as a King?  
A. He governeth us, and defendeth us from our enemies?  
Q. What doth he to us as a Priest?  
A. He hath offered himself once in a sacrifice for our sins, and he intercedeth for us.  
Q. What doth he to us as a Prophet?  
A. He revealeth the will of GOD to us by the preaching of his Word, and by his Spirit.  
Q. Why is he called the only Son of GOD, seeing we are his sons by adoption and and regeneration?  
A. Because GOD hath no other sons by nature.  
Q. How is CHRIST our Lord more particularly then of other creatures?  
A. In that he is our Head and hath redeemed us by the price of his blood.  
Q. What kind of person is he?  
A. Very GOD and very Man in one person.  
Q. Why behoved he to be man?  
A. That he might die for us.  
Q. Why behoved he to be GOD in the same person?  
A. That he might overcome death and merit our salvation.  
Q. What containeth the third Article?  
A. His coming into this world.  
Q. By whom was he conceived?  
A. By the HOLY GHOST.  
Q. Who was his mother that bore him?  
A. The Virgin Mary.  
Q. What containeth the fourth Article?  
A. The sufferings of CHRIST.  
Q. Under what judge was he condemned?  
A. Under Pontius Pilate.  
Q. What punishment suffered he?  
A. He was crucified.  
Q. What is meant by his crucifying?  
A. His hands and feet were nailed to the Cross, a crown of thorns wounded his head, his back was beaten with scourges, a spear pierced his side, and all the sufferings that accompanied his Cross.  
Q. What was the event of his sufferings?  
A. He died.  
Q. What was done with his body?  
A. It was buried.  
Q. What meaneth the words, He descended into hell?  
A. The extremity of his sufferings, where in his soul was tormented with the sense of GOD'S wraith, which is the most horrible bitterness of hell.  
Q. What containeth the fift Article?  
A. His resurrection upon the third day after his death.  
Q. What benefit have we thereby?  
A. In that he arose from death, we are the more assured that he can raise us.  
Q. What containeth the sixth Article?  
A. His farther exaltation unto glory, and the fruition thereof.  
Q. Which are the words of his farther exaltation?  
A. He ascended unto hevin.  
Q. Which are the words of the fruition of that glory?  
A. He sitteth at the right hand of GOD.  
Q. What doth he in hevin for us?  
A. He prepareth a place for us, and intercedeth for us.  
Q. What is expressed in the seventh Article?  
A. The coming of CHRIST unto judgement,  
Q. To what end will he come to judgement?  
A. To judge the quick and the dead.  
Q. Who will summon them to appear before the great judge?  
A. The voice of the Archangel, with a terrible sound of a trumpet.  
Q. Where shall every man be placed?  
A. CHRIST'S sheep shall be placed on his right hand, and the goats on his left hand.  
Q. What shall be their reward?  
A. The godly shall inherit the Kingdom of glory. The wicked shall be punished with everlasting fire in hell, prepared for the Devil and his angels.  
Q. What containeth the eight Article?  
A. Our confidence in the HOLY GHOST.  
Q. Why is he only called holy, seeing the FATHER and the SON are also holy?  
A. Because he maketh us holy, by his immediate power.  
Q. What is contained in the ninth Article?  
A. That a chosen number of people are united to CHRIST, and also among themselves in a spiritual fellowship.  
Q. How call you this number?  
A. The holy universal Kirk.  
Q. What is GOD'S Kirk?  
A. A society of religious professors, called out from the profaine people of the world.  
Q. Why is the Kirk called holy and also called Saints?  
A. Because they are sanctified by the HOLY GHOST.  
Q. Why is the Kirk called universal?  
A. Because it is gathered out of all sorts of people in all ages.  
Q. Wherein standeth the Communion of Saints?  
A. In a common union with CHRIST their Head, and among themselves.  
Q. By what bonds are we united to CHRIST?  
A. By his Spirit, he bindeth us to himself, and by Faith we take hold on him.  
Q. By what bond are we united among ourselves?  
A. By Christian love.  
Q. What vantage have we of this Communion?  
A. CHRIST and all his benefits are made ours.  
Q. What is contained in the tenth Article?  
A. That all our sins are pardoned.  
Q. How get we this benefit?  
A. By Faith in CHRIST who died for us.  
Q. What is mentioned in the eleventh Article?  
A. The resurrection of our bodies at the last day.  
Q. Is no more meant in it but arising from death?  
A. We shall also rise from all points of misery, as shame, sorrow, pain, hunger, thirst, weakness and mortality.  
Q. Rehearse the twelfth Article?  
A. Life everlasting.  
Q. What is included in these words?  
A. The fruition of endless life, joy, glory, and of all points of happiness for ever.  
Q. What shall become of the earth and of the creatures in it at the last day?  
A. They shall be destroyed with fire, and the elements shall melt with heat.  
Q. What shall succeed in their place?  
A. We look for a new hevin and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.   

The ten Commandments.  
Q. Which is the second principal part of GOD'S service?  
A. Obedience.  
Q. What is obedience?  
A. A keeping of GOD'S Commandments?  
Q. How many Commandments are they?  
A. Ten.  
Q. Rehearse the ten Commandments.  
A. I am the LORD thy GOD, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  
I. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.  
II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in hevin above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy GOD am a jealous GOD, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: and showing mercy unto thousands of 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.  
iv Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day: Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy GOD: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maid-servant, thy cattles, nor the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the LORD made hevin and earth, the sea, and ●ll that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath Day, and hallowed it.  
V Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land, which the LORD thy GOD giveth thee.  
VI Thou shalt not kill.  
VII. 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 neighbour's house: thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife: nor his manservant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbours.  
Q. How many commands are in the first Table?  
A. Four.  
Q. What duty is contained in the first Table?  
A. My duty towards God, which is to love him with all my heart, with all my soul, and with my whole strength.  
Q. How many commands are in the second Table?  
A. Six.  
Q. What duty is contained in it?  
A. My duty towards my neighbour.  
Q. What duty is that?  
A. To love him as myself.  
Q. Unto whom gave GOD his Law?  
A. Unto his people Israel.  
Q. Where gave he it?  
A. Upon mount Sinai.  
Q. After what manner gave he it?  
A. With a fearful and horrible voice, and with the sound of a trumpet.  
Q. What should this print in our hearts?  
A. That the taking an account of the transgressors of the law shall be more terrible at the last day.  
Q. What is commanded in the first precept?  
A. To love, fear, and reverence GOD, to believe in him above all things that are most excellent, and to confess him before men accordingly.  
Q. What is forbidden in it?  
A. We are forbidden, to believe in any other, to love, fear, or reverence any other above the true GOD, or equally with him.  
Q. What is commanded in the second precept?  
A. To worship GOD as his own Word hath prescribed.  
Q. What is forbidden in it?  
A. Not to worship him by bowing to any image, or by any other humane device.  
Q. What is commanded in the third Precept?  
A. To praise and glorify GOD, to honour his Name, and to speak reverently of his attributes, his Word and his Works.  
Q. What is fordidden in it?  
A. All penury, blasphemy, cursing or banning, vain, and false oaths, all rash and unreverent using of GOD'S Name.  
Q. What is commanded in the fourth Command?  
A. To spend the Sabbath day solemnly in GOD'S worship and service.  
Q. In what service?  
A. In hearing and reading GOD'S Word, in praying unto God, and praising him, in holy conference, in hevinly meditations, and in works of piety and charity.  
Q. What is forbidden in it?  
A. Beside the committing of that which is sin in itself, also all civil labours, judicatories, pastimes and plays are forbidden.  
Q. Why are they forbidden?  
A. Because the doing of them is not a sanctifying of the Sabbbath.  
Q. What is commanded in the fift Command?  
A. To honour and obey our natural Parents, Rulers, Masters, Pastors, Teachers, and all our Superiors.  
Q. What is forbidden in it?  
A. All ungodly obedience and unreverent behaviour towards them.  
Q. What is commanded in the sixth Precept?  
A. To take care of the safety of our neighbour's health and life, and to take care that he be not hurt by others; and therefore to banish away invy, hatred, malice, contempt of our neighbour whereby his hurt is procured.  
Q. What is commanded in the seventh Precept?  
A. To live chastely and soberly in thought, word, deed, and behaviour.  
Q. What is forbidden in it?  
A. All uncleanness in our thoughts, words, deeds, and behaviour, and therefore we should eschew all filthy speeches, bawdy songs, drunkenness, gluttony, wantonness, and evil company, which breed unlawful lusts.  
Q. What is commanded in the eight Precept?  
A. To be content with the means of living, which GOD giveth us in a lawful way and to help others as we are able, in their necessity.  
Q. What is forbidden in it?  
A. All covetousness, whereby we take unlawfully our neighbour's goods & gear, as by oppression or robbery, or by colour of law, theft, deceit, by false measures or false weights.  
Q. What is commanded in the ninth Precept?  
A. To defend the fame and good name of others, and to repress reproachful speeches.  
Q. What is forbidden in it?  
A. All lying, slandering, backbiting, all speaking to the discredit or infamy of others; all giving ready ear to calumnies, lies, and reproaches.  
Q. What is commanded in the tenth Command?  
A. To rejoice at the prosperity of others, and when any good is done. And to be sorry at the hard condition of others, and when any evil is done.  
Q. What is forbidden in it?  
A. All concupiscence, whereby we covet things which lawfully belong not to us, and whereby we approve in our hearts the doing of evil, or the hurt of others.  
Q. How differeth the duty of this precept, from the the inward duty of other Precepts?  
A. We obey or disobey this precept in our desires, not intending to execute the thing desired, but in other precepts the intention concurreth with the desire, whether the purpose take effect, or not.  
Q. Are we able to obey these Commandments?  
A. No.  
Q. What punishment deserve we for breaking them?  
A. The curse of GOD, and endless torments in hell.  
Q. How then shall we be saved?  
A. By CHRIST who died for our sins, and risen for our righteousness.  
Q. For whom died he?  
A. Only for the faithful.  
Q. What is faith?  
A. An assurance of GOD'S endless favour, and mercy towards us, for CHRIST'S sake.  
Q. Who worketh lively faith in us?  
A. The HOLY GHOST, by the hearing of the Word.  
Q. By what means is our faith confirmed?  
A. By the hearing of the same Word, and by, the right using of the Sacraments.  
Q. How is lively faith known to be in us?  
A. By true repentance.  
Q. What is repentance?  
A. A sorrow for our bygone sins, and a studying to good works, and amendment of life.  
Q. What shall we do that we may obtain lively faith, and true repentance?  
A. We should pray continually, that GOD would bless the Word and Sacraments, to that effect.   

Of Prayer.  
Q. Which is the third principal part of GOD'S service?  
A. Prayer.  
Q. What is prayer?  
A. A seeking from GOD of things needful for setting forth his glory, and for supplying our wants.  
Q. After what manner should we pray?  
A. AS CHRIST taught us in the most perfect form of Prayer.  
Q. Rehearse the LORDS Prayer.  
A. Our Father which art in hevin. 1. Hallowed be thy Name. 2. Thy Kingdom come. 3. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in hevin. 4. Give us this day our daily bread. 5. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. 6. 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. So be it.  
Q. Rehearse the preface of the Prayer.  
A. Our Father which art in hevin.  
Q. Why call ye GOD Our Father?  
A. To stir up our confidence in his fatherly love, and to persuade ourselves that he will hear us.  
Q. Why say you, which art in hevin, seeing GOD is also in the earth, and in all other places?  
A. That as we speak boldly, in calling him Father, so we reverently honour him, in naming the most glorious place of his residence.  
Q. How many petitions hath this Prayer?  
A. Six.  
Q. What is contained in the first three Petitions?  
A. Things that concern the setting forth of GOD'S glory.  
Q. What is contained in the last three?  
A. Things that concern man's necessity.  
Q. What seek you in the first Petition?  
A. That we should glorify God in a holy remembrance of his Name.  
Q. What seek you in the second Petition?  
A. That his Kingdom may increase in the means of his providence, in the ministry and increase of grace, and in hastening the consummation thereof in glory.  
Q. What seek you in the third Petition?  
A. That in doing and suffering we should always obey his will sincerely and willingly, as the Angels obey his will in hevin.  
Q. What seek you in the fourth Petition?  
A. All things needful for upholding this present life.  
Q. Why call you them bread?  
A. Because they sustain our life as bread doth.  
Q. Why say you our bread?  
A. Because it should be ours by faithful labouring in our calling, and by other lawful means.  
Q. What seek you in the fift Petition?  
A. Remission of sins.  
Q. Upon what condition seek you the same?  
A. If we forgive them that sin against us.  
Q. Why say you our sins, and not my sins, and why include you others with your lelfe, so often in this Prayer?  
A. Because we should pray for othres, as we do for ourselves.  
Q. What seek you in the sixth Petition?  
A. That GOD would keep us from the tentation of sin, and deliver us from the evil of it.  
Q. Which is the greatest evil of tentation?  
A. It is such a fearful estate, as Satan by sin would draw us into, as despair, presumption, impenitency, and the wraith of GOD.  
Q. Rehearse the confession immediately following this Prayer?  
A. For thine is Kingdom, power and glory, for ever.  
Q. How is this confession a reason persuading us to pray?  
A. In that it showeth GOD'S all-sufficiency and goodness, and so stirreth up our confidence, in him.  
Q How is it a rule of our Thanksgiving?  
A. In that by using this confession, we praise GOD for his bountifulness.  
Q. What meaneth the words; for thine is Kingdom?  
A. That the whole world is GOD'S Kingdom of providence, by an absolute right.  
Q. What meaneth the word power?  
A. That he hath absolute authority and power, to do whatsoever he pleaseth.  
Q. What meaneth the word glory?  
A. That all good things are effected by his Almighty power in his Kingdom of providence, and so the praise and glory thereof is his.  
Q. What meaneth the word for ever?  
A. That his kingdom, power, and glory are not limited with time, but are eternal.  
Q. What signifieth the word AMEN?  
A. So be it: that is, o LORD let these my desires be granted.   

Of the Sacraments.  
Q. Which is the fourth principal part of GOD'S service?  
A. Thanksgiving.  
Q. What is thanksgiving?  
A. An acknowledgement of the goodness of GOD, and of his bountifulness towards us, and a praising of GOD therefore.  
Q. Which is the common rule of Thanksgiving?  
A. The foresaid confession in the LORDS Prayer.  
Q. Which are the rules of solemn thanksgiving in remembrance that CHRIST by his death hath purchased our salvation?  
A. The institution of the Sacraments.  
Q. What is a Sacrament?  
A. A representing of CHRIST'S sufferings, and of the benefits purchased thereby, by outward visible signs, as CHRIST hath ordained in his Word.  
Q. How many Sacraments ordained Christ in the New Testament?  
A. Two, Baptism and the LORDS Supper.  
Q. What is Baptism?  
A. The seal of the remission of our sins, and of our regeneration and entry into GOD'S Kirk.  
Q What signifieth the washing with water?  
A. That CHRIST by the merit of his blood, and by his SPIRIT, washeth away all our sins.  
Q. Declare the meaning of our spiritual washing?  
A. GOD hath forgiven us all our sins, and renewed us by his holy SPIRIT, because CHRIST hath shed his precious blood for us.  
Q. What duty did your Parents in your name promise at Baptism?  
A. That I should forsake the Devil, and all his works, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh, and believe all GOD'S Word, which is summarily contained in the Articles of the faith, and live in holiness all my life time.  
Q. What is the LORDS Supper?  
A. The seal of our daily, and spiritual nourishment in GOD'S Kirk.  
Q. What are the outward elements thereof?  
A. Bread and Wine.  
Q. What do they represent?  
A. The body and blood of CHRIST.  
Q. What signifieth the breaking of the bread?  
A. The breaking of his body, and all his sufferings.  
Q. What signifieth the powreing out of the wine?  
A. The shedding of his blood.  
Q. What signifieth the eating of the bread, and drinking of the wine?  
A. The spiritual eating of his body, and drinking of his blood by faith.  
Q. Declare the meaning thereof?  
A. That is, we should seriously meditate upon the love and the sufferings of CHRIST, and apply them to us, assuring ourselves, that the SON of GOD, eternal life, happiness and glory, and all his benefits, are made ours, through the breaking of his body, and shedding of his blood, that the sweetness of this assurance may comfort and strengthen our souls, as men after long fasting are refreshed by meat and drink.  
Q. What eat they and drink they, who come worthily to the Lords Table?  
A. They eat CHRIST'S body, and drink his blood, spiritually, and sacramentally, and thereby they eat and drink their own salvation.  
Q. What eat they and drink they, who come unworthily?  
A. They eat and drink their own damnation.  
Q. How shall we prepare ourselves, that we may come worthily?  
A. We should try and examine ourselves wherein we have sinned, and humbly with sorrowful hearts confess our sins, crying earnestly to GOD for mercy, both in secret places, and in the public assembly. And that we may be assured that GOD will hear us, and forgive us, we should forgive them that offend us: And seeking the graces of increase of faith and sanctification, we should resolve and promise by his grace to live a better life hereafter.   

A Thanksgiving before Meat.  
THe eyes of all things do look up and trust in thee, O LORD. Thou givest them their meat in due season: Thou openest thine hands and fillest with thy blessing every living creature. Good LORD bless us, and these thy gifts, which we daily receive of thy bountiful liberality, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. So be it.   

A Thanksgiving after meat.  
THe GOD of glory and peace, who hath created, redeemed, and sanctified us, and daily dost provide all things needful for us, and now presently hast fed and refreshed our mortal bodies, be blessed and glorified, and bless us and feed us spiritually unto life eternal, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. So be it.  
Or say,  
THe GOD of all glory and peace, who hath created, redeemed, and sanctified us, and now presently fed us, be blessed and bless us, now and evermore. So be it.   
FINIS.