A CATECHISM Shorter than the short Catechism compiled principally by Mr Ball, out of which this (for the most part) was taken. OR THE EPITOME and CONTRACTION of Mr Balls short Catechism. ALSO A Spiritual Song for the Lords Supper or Communion, put into an ordinary tune, that it may be sung by common people, for their spiritual quickening and edification in that Ordinance. Together with two other Hymns or Psalms, the first concerning Submission, the second the Lords Prayer. By S.L. M.A. and F. C. C.Camb. London, Printed by A.M. for Tho. Vnderhill at the Bible in Wood-street. 1649. A CATECHISM, Shorter than the short Catechism composed principally by Mr Ball, out of which this for the most part was taken. Intended chief for the use of weaker memories, or such as cannot read, being of the Congregation which meeteth ordinarily at Swettenham in Cheshire. By S.L. M.A. and F. C. C.Camb. THat which is endeavoured to be performed here, is 1. To reduce the unquestionable and principal truths of Christianity into a less compass, that weak memories may better retain them. 2. To cut off many questions which are more difficult and less necessary, and therefore not fitly to be ranked amongst principles of Religion. 3. To make every answer an entire proposition in itself, without dependence upon the question to make up the sense of it: the want of this in this Catechism of Mr Balls, experience teacheth, hath hindered young, weak and less considerate learners from understanding the answers they have repeated, as also from a certain fitting the right answer to a question propounded 4. To cull out the choicest and most evident texts of Scripture to confirm every part of each answer, which may easily be learned by any; multitude of proofs before confounding, and the strength of many of them not easily appearing to such capacities as such a Catechism is intended for. 5. Yet to retain, for the most part in the questions and answers, the very words of Mr Balls Catechism; be cause it hath been so much used (not without exceeding apparent profit) both in families and public Congregations, that other words might be a means to puzzle some in learning this, who have formerly taken pains in that. The God of knowledge and grace give a blessing to this poor yet sincere endeavour, for his glory and his people's good, of his most unworthy and meanest servant, S. Langley. A Short CATECHISM, Section 1. Q. WHat ought to be the chief and continual care of every one in this life? A. Every one's chief and continual care in this life, should be a 1 Corinth. 10.31. to glorify God and b Matth. 16.26. save his soul, Q. Whence must we take direction to attain hereunto? A. We must take direction for the glorifying God and saving our own souls out of the word of God, Joh. 20.31. Q. What doth the word of God (called the Scripture) especially teach us? A. The Scripture teacheth us the saving knowledge of God through Jesus Christ, Joh. 17.3. Section 2. Q. What is God? A. God is a Joh. 4.24. a Spirit, having his b Exod. 3.14. being of himself, Q. How many Gods be there? A. There is only one God revealed, as c 1 Corinth. 8.6. Father, d Matth. 28.19. Son, and e 1 Joh. 5.7. holy Ghost (called three persons) Q. How may we conceive of God? A. We may conceive of God f Exod. 34.6, 7. by his properties and g Psal. 19.1. by his works, Section 3. Q What are the manifest or visible works of God? A. The visible works of God are Creation and Providence. Q. What is Creation? A. Creation is that whereby God made all things in six days, Exod. 20.11. Q. What is Providence? A. Providence is that whereby God doth preserve and govern all things with all their actions, Psal. 36.6. Matth. 10.29. Q. What are the special creatures made, preserved and governed by the Lord? A. The special or principal creatures of God are Angels and Men, Col. 1.16. Section 4. Q. What was the estate of man by creation? A. The estate wherein man was first created, was holy and happy, Eccl 7.29. Gen. 1.27, 28, 29. Q. What special commandment was given to man upon his creation? A. The special commandment which God gave man upon his creation was this, Of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death, Gen. 2.17. Q. Did man continue in his good estate? A. Man did not continue in his good estate, but wilfully fell from God through the enticement of the serpent, Gen. 3.1, 4, 5. Q. What was the sin he did commit? A. Man sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, Gen. 3.6. Q. What is the state of all men by reason of Adam's fall? A. By this sin of Adam, all men (being in his loins) are a Ephes. 2.1, 2. dead in sin, b Rom. 6.23. bondslaves to Satan, and c Gal. 3.10. Rom. 5.12. liable to all misery, Section 5. Q. By what means may we escape this misery and recover happiness? A. We may escape this misery and recover happiness only by Jesus Christ, Act. 4.12. Q. What is Jesus Christ? A. Jesus Christ is the d Isa. 9.6. eternal Son of God, who in e Gal. 4.4, 5. time became man, to f 1 Tim. 2.5. reconcile God and man, Q. How did Christ reconcile God and man? A. Christ became a Mediator to reconcile God and man, by his g Matth. 3.15. fulfilling the law, and by his h Heb. 9.15. Rom. 5.10, 18, 19 sufferings (or by his obedience unto death) Section 6. Q. Did Christ always abide under the power and dominion of death? A. Christ did not abide under the power of death; but the a 1 Cor. 15.3, 4. third day he risen again, ascended into heaven, and b Mar. 16.19. now fitteth at the right hand of his Father, c Heb. 7.25. making intercession for his people, Q. What are the special parts of Christ's Mediatorship? A. The special parts of Christ's Mediatorship are these three, to be a d Act. 3.22. Prophet, e Heb. 2.17. Priest, and f Psal. 110.1. King, Q. What benefit do we receive by the death and resurrection of Christ? A. By the death and resurrection of Christ, we are g Gal. 3.13. Col. 1.14. Tit. 2.14. redeemed from the guilt, punishment and power of sin, and h 1 Cor. 15.13. shall be raised up at the last day, Section 7. Q. How are we made partakers of Christ with all his benefits? A. We are made partakers of Christ with all his benefits by faith alone, Joh. 3.16. Rom. 4.3, 4, 5. Rom. 5.1, 2. Q. What is faith? A. Faith is a resting upon Christ in his way for salvation, Joh. 1.12. Q. How is faith ordinarily wrought and increased in us? A. Faith is wrought and increased in the due use of the a Rom. 10.14, 17. word, b Luk 17.5. prayer and c Rom. 4.11. 1 Cor. 11.25. Sacraments, the d Joh. 14.16, 17. Spirit of God working it in us thereby, Q. How doth the word work faith in us? A. The word is a means of working faith, by e Rom. 7.7. showing us our misery, and f Gal. 4.4, 5. the true means of our recovery, g Matth. 11.28. Isa. 61.1, 2, 3. Revel. 22.17. encouraging us, being humbled, to receive the promises of the Gospel, Section 8. Q. To whom must we pray? A. We must pray to God alone, in the Name of Christ, Joh. 16.23. Q. What rule of direction is there according to which we ought to frame our prayers? A. The a 1 Joh. 5.14. general direction for prayer is the Word of God, the more b Matth 6.9. special is the Lords prayer, Q. Rehearse the Lords prayer? A. Our Father, etc. See Matth. 6.9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Q. Who can and may pray with hope to speed? A. They only can pray aright, with hope to speed, who depart from iniquity, Psal. 66.18. Section 9 Q. What is a Sacrament? A. A Sacrament (in the use of it) is a seal of the Covenant of grace, Rom. 4.11. Q. How many Sacraments have we? A. In the new Testament we have two Sacraments, Baptism and the Lords Supper, 1 Joh. 5.8. Q. What is Baptism? A. Baptism is a Sacrament of our a Gal. 3.37. engraffing into Christ, communion with him, b Matth. 28.19. and entrance into the Church, Q. To what condition is the party baptised bound? A. The party baptised, by baptism is obliged to c Act. 8.37. believe in Christ, and d Mat. 3.8. forsake his sin, Section 10. Q. What is the Lords Supper? A. The Lord's Supper is a Sacrament of our continuance and growth in Christ, 1 Cor. 10.16. Q. What do the bread and wine betoken in this Sacrament? A. In the Lord's Supper, the bread betokens the body of Christ broken for us, and the wine betokens his blood, 1 Cor. 10.16. 1 Cor. 11.24, 25. Q. For what end and use ought we to receive this Sacrament? A. We are to receive the Lords Supper for the a 1 Cor. 11.34, 25. remembrance of Christ's death, wherein we have b 1 Cor. 10.16. communion with Christ and c 1 Cor. 5.7, 8. 1 Cor. 10.16, 17. the Saints, Q. What is the danger of unworthy receiving? A. Unworthy receivers of the Lords Supper are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, and do eat and drink judgement to themselves, 1 Cor. 11.27, 29. Q. What graces are required for a worthy receiving? A. A worthy receiver must have, and exercise in receiving, these five graces, d Exod. 12.26, 27. Knowledge, e Matth. 11.28. Revel. 22.17. Desire, f 1 Cor. 10.21, 22. Matth. 3.8, 11. Repentance, g Heb. 4.2. 1 Cor. 11.24, 25. Faith and h 1 Cor. 11.18, 22. Mark 11.25. Love, Section 11. Q. Can faith being wrought in us be fruitless and unprofitable? A. Faith being wrought in us, cannot be fruitless, but will work a Gal. 5.6. by love, making us b Heb. 11. James 2.17. obedient to all God's Commandments, Q. Rehearse the ten Commandments. A. I am the Lord, etc. See Exod. 20, from verse 1. to 18. Section 12. Q. What shall be the end of all men after this life? A. After this life, in a Luke 23.43. part at death, and b 2 Thess. 1.7, 8, 9, 10. fully at the general resurrection and judgement, the Matthew 25.46. wicked shall go into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life, FINIS. A SPIRITVALL SONG OR AN AFFECTIONATE HYMN for the use of Christians in the Celebration of the COMMUNION OR Lords Supper. By S.L. M.A. and F. C.C. Camb. And when they had sung an hymn (viz. Christ with his Disciples at the Lords Supper, after the Passeover) they went out, Matth. 26.30. Mark. 14.26. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another, in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him, Colos. 3.16, 17. LONDON, Printed by A.M. for Tho. Vnderhill at the Bible in Woodstreet, 1649. THe design aimed at in the composing o● this Song, is to affect the soul with melting joys and thankful mournings according to the nature of the Lords Supper. It is made public to save the labour of often transcribing it for the benefit of these for whose use it was particularly at first intended. Besides ●t is hoped other sincere Christians who may see it, if they make use thereof, may have cause to glorify God in this weak, yet well-meant labour of the Compeser thereof, S. LANGLEY, AN HYMN OR Spiritual Song for the Communion of Saints in the Lord's Supper. GReat God who mad'st & saved'st the world, Our souls do bless thy Name: Thy goodness fills our hearts & mouths Therefore we praise the same. When we in Adam's fall were dead, Then did thy Mercy speak, ●hose words of Life, The Woman's seed The Serpent's Head shall break. The lightsome Beams of freest grace, To shine did now begin, ●n stubborn Man; who sought not thee, But pleaded for his sin. With blood of Bulls and other Beasts Thy people first did see ●rit in red Letters, darkly yet, How they redeemed should be. But when the fullness of that Time Which thou decreed'st was come; This Mystery more plain was made By sending of thy Son. Thine only Son, Eternal God, Veiled in our Nature came Into this world through Virgin's womb To take away our shame. Dear JESUS, thou wast circumcis'de; To circumcise our Hearts: Baptised too; that thou mightst wash And cleanse our inward parts. Those golden Rules, high Heavens Laws Great Master! thou didst teach; And secrets of the Gospel rare In word and deeds didst preach. With humble hearts we thee adore, And all thy Precepts take: Begging thy strength, that so we may None of thy statutes break. Our thoughtful souls, Lord! follow the Unto thy Garden-sweat: Thy scourge, piercings, mocks we do With joyful grief repeat. Thy prec'ous Body on the Cross, Nailed by our sins we see: We hear thee cry, My God My God Hast thou forsaken me? Thy Blood, sweet JESUS, thou hast shed For us who guilty were Of spilling it: At this thy Board These things to us appear. Our hearts are hard, yet do they break And mourn to see thee bleed: As Peter said) we'll die with thee, Our sins their blood shall sheed. Our souls are filled with thy rich grace, Together with our shame: ●s our sins show thy Love more great, So doth thy Love our blame. We look on CHRIST, and grieve that we, Our LOVE have crucifi'de: ●et weeping joy, thankful that he Would Death for us abide. This Testament which thou hast left Here sealed with thy Blood, ●ORD, we embrace, and like the Terms On which thou'lt make it good. We hate those cursed pins which pierced Thy Feet with both thy Hands: We sin abhor, seeing that it Of thy Death guilty stands. Our Brethren we will love in thee Who out of love didst die: Nor Grudges 'gainst our Neighbour shall Within our Bosoms lie. But still, Dear LORD, in all we say, We wholly do depend, Upon the fullness of that Grace, Thou hast and will't us send. Oh! praise the LORD, ye Angels all Who in heavens Quire sing All Creatures pay your homage thanks To Ransomed Zions' KING. Our tongues and lives shall gladly speak The praises of the LORD; All flesh to praise his holy Name For ever shall accord. To fill up the remaining vacant pages, these t●● following Hymns are added. Submission. What meanest thou wand'ring Heart to fly From Heaven's order pettishly? ●tay trembling soul, and pause a while, 〈◊〉 Father's frowns lies veiled a smile. ●ast thou not often said, thy God ●uch wiser is then thou? his rod ●he ensign of his careful grace? Wrangle not then in any case. 〈◊〉 that thy wish were granted still, ●nd thou hadst ever had thy will; ●peak in experience: Dost not know ●uine hath seized thee long ago? 〈◊〉 this crossway, then hope, believe; ●hy God is plotting to relieve ●nd help thee though thou seest not how; ●dore the more, and to him bow. 〈◊〉 thy distemper thou dost trust ●hy Doctor, that he's skilled and just, ●nd his prescribed loathsome draught ●inking sup'st off, though yet untaught ●nd ignorant what simples be ingredients of it, or how he ●is hidden learned plot doth lay ●o take thy sickness' cause a way. Oh! blush for shame then that thou hast Thy maker's Love and skill deba'st, Beneath a mole's. Silly soul Learn these Repine to control. Do not forget, thou hast resigned Thyself unto thy Maker's mind; And darest such sacraledge commit Thy deed surrendered now to quit? Think whither save to him canst run, And not for certain be undone? Is not the world all sea? What land Canst find where one may safely stand? To th' Ark again, fly with the Dove, Where only is thy Rest, thy love. Hope not the ship of thyself will Undrowned can save thee; if't fulfil The same, thou runnest another way Then God hath sent thee; he will lay Thy moving grave and living Tomb In Jonahs' Whales vast roomy womb. God may destroy thee: True; and so Cannot he, if thou from him go? Return, Return, poor soul, for he Abounds in kindest courtesy; Witness the wounds thy dearest dear In glory, glories still to bear; Where Didymus might feel his love, His passions and compassions prove. Sweet Lord, do thou me wholly hid In those holes of the Rock, thy side! Where lying close I shall not fear When all thy judgements do appear. And still, my soul, consider if Thy saviur was a man of grief; Then grudge not that thy passage is Chequred with sorrows like to his. The Lord's Prayer. OUr Father, who in Heaven dost sit, Which Heaven is, 'cause thou in it: Thy Name be hallowed! let each voice And raised heart in thee rejoice! Thy Kingdom come! Thy will be done! By us below As Angels do, Who winged wait above, that they Thy nod may watch, and so obey! Give us this day the bread we need! Thy blessing only can us feed. Forgive our Trespasses as we Forgive them who our Debtors be! Led us not on Temptation! But from all ill Lord save us still! For Kingdom, Power, Glory, all Be thine now and for ever shall. Amen. FINIS.