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206kLIBRARY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

 
  
    

 

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——,
PRESENTED BY

MARVIN WALKER, ESQ.cs “i my) A.

tall &

promotion

Phas antonHE EDITOR.

Catechism, by the same
nt in our Sunday-schools,
y those who have used it.
‘hism for beginners which
ave and likely to prove so
ch is a step in advance,
0 second classes. Many
labor herein bestowed for

re themselves adequately
own personal and private
expected that,sush,a rich
‘actleab application of les-
,the ‘‘Remarks for the
is the reditation. *
rred’ having’ these > “ Re-
but on the whole it has
1em as they stand, for the
t permit. these aids, how-
riginal instructions suited
»se who are taught.
ance is found in the fact
so often undervalue theNOTE BY THE EDITOR.

Tue first number of this Catechism, by the same
author, met an extensive want in our Sund: y-schools,
and is very highly valued by those who have used it.
We have met with no catechism for beginners which
we think so easy and attractive and likely to prove so
useful. This number, which is a step in advance,
seems equally well suited to second classes. Many
teachers will appreciate the labor herein bestowed for
their assistance.

Comparatively few prepare themselves vee
for their great work by their own personal and private
study ; and jit-is, not +o bs expected 11 Aut sushoa oi
variety of matter for the practizal ay pein les-
sons, as may be found .in the * Remarks for the
Teacher,” will , occur » durin the, redibation :

Some mivht? have preferred havine®> these > “ Re-
marks” in a separate book; but on the whole it has
been thought best to print them as they stand, for the
conscientious teacher will not permit these wide
ever valuable, to supersede original instructions suited

s, how-
to the particular cases of those who are taught.
One great practical hindrance is found in the fact

that teachers of the young so often undervalue the4 NOTE BY THE EDITOR.

magnituce of their office. No earthly occupation
surpasses it in dignity, in importance, or in promise.
Some of our most eminent jurists and statesmen have
been Sunday-school teachers, and regarded it as an
honor and a privilege to be so occupied. First impres-
sions are strongest and likely to endure forever. Geo-
logy tells us of a period when the present rocks were
soft, and these rocks now bear impressed upon their
bosoms the prints of the tiny feet of birds whose
whole species have long since been extinct. But im-
pressions made upon the tender bosom of childhood
will endure when these rocks shall have given up
their charge in the fires of the last conflagration. The
teacher’s smile—the teacher’s frown—a penny picture-
book—a story in monosyllables—a stroke of the en-
_graver’s art, may make mmpressions which matter can
not receive, or time or eternity efface. Who shall es-
timate the importance or the responsibility of giving
the first direction to an immortal soul? To sway the
earliest motions of intelligence and yi if
guiding! reius 6f* knawledgé and af: lowe’. al nd by gentle
retractions: to turn: the “souls into the paths of right-
eousnegs* and tha: way | to heaven—there | 3s no offica
ke hig, 2 °c? fT tesCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS,
IN O2CEY:

  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
    

TH oO

 

LESSON I.

God’s First Covenant with Man.

@. In whose image did God make man ?

A, In the image of God.—Gen. 1 : 26.

@. What does that mean ?

A, He made him like Himself, holy and hap.
py:

@. Where did God place the man whom He
had made?

A. In the garden of Eden—Gen. 2:15. |

@. Was he happy there ?

A. Yes; for he had God’s presence; and in
His presence is fullness of joy.—Ps. 16:11.

VY. What command did God give to Adam ?

A, Of the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that
thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die—Gen.
7 gel 7

. What promise did God make, if this com-
mand were kept ?
5CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

A. God promised that if Adam and Eve kept
the command, they should enjoy eternal life, and
Ifis love and favor.

(@. What if they disobeyed ?

A, They should surely die.

(. What is such a promise called ?

A. A covenant,

(Y%. What 1s a covenant ?

A. A covenant is an engagement between
two parties, in which each promises something
to the other ; and if either break their promise,
the engagement no longer stands.

Y. What was God’s’ part in this covenant
with Adam ?

A, To bestow everlasting life and happiness
on man.

@. What was man’s part ?

A, Love and obedience to God.

@. What was the first covenant called ?

A. The covenant of works.

@. Why so named ?

Al, Because man’s happiness depended on his
own works or actions.

@. Had not this covenant also the obligation

of a law which man was bound to obey ?
A. It had.

Scrrprure Proors.—Gen, 2:16, 17; Eph.
4:24; Eecl, 7: 29.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNER.

HY MN.

Let heaven arise, let earth appear $
Proclaimed the eternal Lord ;

The heaven arose, the earth appeared,
At His creating word.

Then chief o’er all His works below,
Man, honored man, was made;

His soul with God’s pure image stamped,
With innocence arrayed.

Remarks for Teacher,

God sade man in His own image. When a sculptor
wishes to represent the figure of a man in marble or clay,
he carves it into an exact copy of every limb and feature,
This, when he has finished, he calls an image or likeness of
the man. But God has no body; He isa Spirit, and ha
not flesh and bones as we have: how then could man be
made in His likeness? Why, the Bible means that God
made the soul or spirit of man like Himself, perfectly good,
He gave him knowledge and righteousness, and true holi
ness. Having these, he was entirely happy; and the will
of God was done on earth as in heaven. The Lord gave
Adam and Eve also every earthly blessing to increase their
happiness. He placed them in the beautiful garden of Eden,
a name which means delight, pleasure. It is not known
with certainty, where this abode was situated. Moses tells
us that it was eastward of Judea, and describes four rivers
that went out from it; from which some have supposed it
to have been in Armenia, near the sources of the great
rivers Huphrates, Tigris, Phasis, and Araxes. It must have
been an exceedingly lovely spot, for God Himself pronounced
it very good. And Adam had dominion over every created
thing, and rejoiced in all the delicious fruits, and beautiful
flowers, which the earth could yield. For all these tokens
of love, what return did the Creator ask of our first parents ?8 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Why, He only forbade their eating of one tree out of the man 5
He had given them richly to enjoy. I think I hear you say:
“That was a small request, and easy to be eranted. Had I
been Adam or Eve, I would never have disobeyed.” Ah!
do not boast; is not God daily showering down blessings
upon you, and are not you turning a deaf ear to his request,
‘My child, give Me thy heart”?

Tree of knowledge cf good and evil. Adam and Eve, by
eating this fruit, did not obtain any really useful knowledge;
for then God would not have forbidden it; but it was merely
an appointed trial of their gratitude and obedience. They
already. knew what good was, for God had bestowed ereat
good upon them; and after their sin, they knew too well
what evil was; for their thoughts and imaginations became
evil continually. You have told me that a covenant is an
engagement between tio parties. Suppose I promise my
class that if they study their lessons faithfully, and are cor-
rect in their behavior for a month, I will give them a valu-
able present; but if they refuse to do as I wish, they shall
be punished and dismissed from the class. This would be
a covenant with them. Their part would be diligence and
obedience; mine to bestow the promised reward. Such a
covenant God made with Adam; but Adam failed in hig
part, and so it became of no use not only to him, but to all
his offspring; for by one man’s disobedience, many were
made sinners.—Rom. 5: 19.

 

DSO. 0 Nab l

The Fall of Man.

e

@. Dip Adam and Eve keep their part of the
covenant of works ?

A. No; they eat of the fruit which God had
forbidden.—Gen. 3: 6.
Q@. What sin was this ?CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS,

A. The sin of disobedience.—Rom. 5:19.

Y. What.was the punishment ?

A, Death.

@. Did the words, “Thou shalt surely die,
mean only the death of the body?

A, No; it meant also the death of the soul._—
Eph. 4: 18.

Y. What is the death of the soul ?

A, The loss of God’s image and. favor, and
everlasting separation from Him.

@. What is meant by their losing the image
of God?

A. Their souls lost all holiness and righteous-
ness.—Gen. 6: 5.

Y. What did their natures become ?

A. Corrupt and sinful.—Gen. 6:11, 12.

@. Are our natures therefore sinful ?

A. Yes; we are all children of Adam, and
like him in body and soul, ‘There is none
that doeth good; no, not one.”—Ps. 14:3.

Y. Does the punishment also fall on us?

A. Yes; the Bible says: “ By one man sin
entered into the world, and death by sin; and
so death passed upon all men, for all have sin-
ned.”—Rom., 5: 12.

Q Who tempted our first parents to disobe-
dience ?

A, The devil, in the form of a serpent.

?. How did he tempt them ?10 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

A, He told them that if they eat of the fruit,
they would be as wise as God.—Gen. 3:5.

@. Who is the devil ?

A, The chief of those angels who sinned
against God, and were cast into hell—2 Pet.
2:4,

SCRIPTURE Proors.—Ps. 143: 2; Dan.9: 5,
7; Matt.15 :19, 20; Gal. 5 :19, 20, 21; Isa,
40/5 G07 31 dohn L289.

——_.

Hy MN.

Ah! how shall fallen man
Be just before his God ?

If He contend in righteousness,
We sink jeneath His rod.

Against Thee, Lord, alone,
And only in Thy sight,

Has he transgressed, and though condemned,
Must own Thy judgments right.

Have mercy, Lord on him,
As Thou wert ever kind;

Let him, oppressed with loads of guilt,
Thy wonted mercy find.

 

Remarks for Teacher.

God created Adam and Eve immortal; and had they not
sinned, they would probably have been taken to heaver
Ww ithout suffering the pains of death; but after ae fall, they
became mortal. They did not die immediately ; they livedCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS, li

several hundred years afterwards; yet they did not escape
ceuth; and their bodies, which before were healthy, be-
came subject to disease. his was not, however, the most
creadful part of their punishment. “ Thou shalt surely die,”
meant also two other kinds of death—spiritual death, which
ig the death of the soul, and eternal death, which is banish-
meut forever from the presence of God. Now, before Adam
and Eve's disobedience, their highest delight was to love
and serve their Maker. They walked with God, and con-
versed with Him, as children with a father. But after their
sin, ah! how changed. Then for the first time they felt
what fear was, for they fled from that Being who had showed
them such “loving kindness and tender mercy.” Then were
the first tears shed—tears of shame and grief; then, instead
of sorrowfully confessing their fault, they tried to excuse them-
selves, and throw the blame elsewhere, The slightest disobe-
dience of God’s laws, issin. ‘ He that offends in one point,
(offends) in all.” So that the eating the fruit was no small
matter. Suppose Eve had taken something which would
seem tous more valuable—gold, or precious stones—it would
have been the same thing in the eyes of God, for the whole
world, and all that is therein, is His, and one thing is of no
more value than another, No, it was the transgression of
His commands, and the evil wish that they might be like
Gods, that was so displeasing to Him.

If the root of a tree is decayed, the leaves and fruit wil!
become corrupt. All the children of Adam who have since
been born into the world, have received from him a corrupt
and sinful nature. Sinful parents have sinful children. Job
says: ‘‘Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ?”
Every child can tell me how often, when he would do good,
evil is present with him. Look around you, and see every
where the effects of sin. Why must we have prisons?
Because by one man’s disobedience, many were made sin-
ners. Why must we have physicians and hospitals? Be-
cause by one man’s disobedience, disease and sorrow entered
the world. Why must we have grave-yards? Because
‘‘by sin came death, and death passed upon a’l.”CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

LESSON III.

God’s Second Covenant with Man.

Q. In this miserable state, what did God show
to man?

A, His great goodness and tender mercy.

Q. How?

A, He made a new covenant with him.

Q. What was this covenant ?

A. That God would restore man to His favor,
and everlasting life, through the sv fferings and
death of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Q. Repeat the words of this prom se.

A, I will put enmity between thee and the
woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it
shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his
heel.—Gen. 3: 14, 15.

Q. To whom is God speaking, in this verse ¢

A. To the devil, in the form of a serpent.

Q. What is meant by enmity?

A, Hatred.

Q. Who is meant by thee?

A. The devil.

Q. Who is the woman?

tA, Eve.

Q. Who is meant by thy seed ?

A, All wicked people-—John 8: 44.
Q. Who is the seed of the woman ?CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 43

A. The Lord Jesus Christ, and all who believe
in Him.—Gal. 4: 4.

Q. What is meant by “it shall bruise thy
head”?

A, That Jesus should destroy the power of
Satan.—1 John 3: 8.

Q. What is meant by“ thou shalt bruise his
heel ??

A, That Christ should suffer as man, but
though Satan should be permitted to tempt and
trouble Him for a little while, yet at the last, he
would be overthrown.—1 Cor. 15: 24, 25.

Q. Through whom was this covenant made ?

A, Through our Lord Jesus Christ.

QY. Did God make this promise with any one
besides Adam ?

A. Yes; to Abraham God said: “In thee
shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”
(Gen.12:3.) To Isaac, he said : “ In thee shall
all the nations of the earth be blessed.” (Gen.
26:4.) And He never ceased to publish it by
His prophets.

Q. When was this promise fulfilled ?

A. Four thousand years after the promise to
Adam.—Gal. 4: 4.

Q. What is Jesus called in Scripture ?

A, The Mediator of the new covenant,—--
Hep. 12 224.

@. Why?14 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

1, Because He makes peace between God
and man.— Eph. 2:16 and Rom. 5:1.

Q. What is God’s part in the covenant of
grace ?

A. Forgiveness through Christ.—Rom. 5:10,

Q. What must man do to obtain its benefits ?

A. Repent of sin, a&d trust in Christ.

@. When do we take upon us the name and
profession of a Christian ?

A, When we are baptized.

ScripturRE Proors.—Isaiah 7:14; Psalms
105 : 8-10; Gal. 3:16,17; Heb. 8:6; 1 John
429,10,

HY MN:

Sing, my soul, His wondrous love,
Who from yon bright throne above,
Ever watchful o’er our race,

Still to man extends His grace.

Heaven and earth by Him were made,
All is by His sceptre swayed ;

What are we, that He should show

So mueh love to us below ?

God, the merciful and goog,
Bought us with a Saviour’s blood,
And to make our safety sure,
Guides us by His Spirit pure.~~

 
  
  
 
  
 
 
   
   
  
    
  
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  

CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS, 15

Notes for Teacher,

Can you imagine a more wretched state than that in which
Adam and lve were after their sin, and while under the
anger of God? You know how unhappy you feel when
you have displeased your kind parents; think how miser-
able they must have been then; for they had offended the
‘creat, the mighty, and terrible God.” (Deut. 10:17.) They
stood trembling before Him, waiting their sentence and
punishment. What was to be done? How could they be
pardoned? God is a being who “delights in mercy,” and
is very pitiful; but He is also a God of justice and truth.
The Bible says: ‘* His mercy is great unto the heavens, and
endureth forever ;” but it also says: ‘‘ His truth reacheth
unto the clouds;” ‘ He can not deny Himself.” Suppose
you take a pair of scales, and put an equal weight in each
scale, you see one can not weigh down the other; so it is
with the attributes of God; one can not weigh down the
other; mercy can not rise above justice; love can not over-
power truth. Now, how could the Almighty show Hig
mercy and love to His rebellious children, without taking
away from His truth and justice? Why, in this way He
showed his love: ‘ He sent His only-begotten Son into the
world, that man might live through Him.” In this way He
showed His justice; when the Son of God came on earth,
He ‘took not on Him the nature of angels, but owr nature,
and was made in all things like us, yet without sin, that
He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
‘He offered Himself without spot to God, and died not only
for Adam, but for all those who were made sinners by
Adam's disobedience.” ‘‘ He was wounded for owr trans-
oressions, He was bruised for owr iniquities.” He is called
in Seripture, the ‘‘ second Adam ;” because as by the sin of
the first Adam all die, so by Christ suffering death, the pun-
ishment of sin, shall all live. And what is asked in return
for this wonderful mercy? Only repentance, that sorrow
which makes us forsake sin, and ‘aith in the Saviour—that
real faith which makes us obey Him as the Brble teaches us.

This, then, is the new covenant, called also in Scripture,
the betler covenant; for it not only promises pardon and life,
but many other exceeding great and precious blessings and
privileges.RPOROROAS

   

CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

LESSON IV.

Baptism.

Wouar is a Christian ?

. A follower of Christ.

What is Christ?s Church ?

. All Christian people.

How do we enter the Church ?

. By Baptism.

Who appointed this way of entrance?

. Christ Himself; He said: “Go ye into all

nations, baptizing them in the name of the Fa-

ther, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.”—Matt,
28:19.

Q. What is Christian Baptism ?

A, A washing or sprinkling with water, in

the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost.

dv.

What is it to baptize in the name of. any

person ?

ic

 

A:
e,
d.
A
d.
A
d.

To set them apart solemnly to his serv-

By whom is Baptism performed ?

. By Christ’s ministers.

Does Baptism make us Christians in heart ?

. No; we must have the grace of God.

Does the water of Baptism cleanse us fromSATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS, ¥7

 

A, No; our souls must also be cleansed by
God’s Holy Spirit.

Q@. How may we know a true Christian ?

A. He is sorry for sin, and loves and obeys
Christ.

@. Why are little children baptized ?

A, Because Christ said: “Suffer little child-
ren to come unto Me, and forbid them not = fort
of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

ScRIPrURE Proors.—Isa, 1:16; Acts 16:14,
15, 33.9 2 Wet. 3, 21 ; Cts, 18° SF Heb..10 2.22.

——__—

Hi. YgMi Np.

See the kind Shepherd, Jesus, stands,
With all engaging charms;

Hark how He calls the tender lambs,
And folds them in His arms.

Permit them to approach, He cries,
Nor scorn their humble claim ;

For ’twas to bless such souls as these,
The Lord of angels came.

The feeblest lamb amidst the flock
Shall be the Shepherd’s care;

While folded in the Shepherd’s arms,
We're safe from every snare,

 

Wotes for Teacher,

The Jewish Church meant only the Jewish nation: but the
Church of Christ is the assembly of all those who love and
obey Him, no matter in what part of the world they are.18 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

 

no matter what nation, or of what language; ‘for Christ
was slain, and has redeemed us unto God by His blood, out
ef every kindred and tongue and people and nation.” (Rev.
5: 9.)

The rite by which the Jews were admitted into their
Church, was called circumcision; but when our Saviour
came, He appointed a different way by which His followers
were to enter His Church, and enjoy the blessings and pri-
vileges promised by God’s second covenant with man, ‘This
way was the ceremony of Baptism. To baptize, means, to
wash; and to enter the Church by Baptism, means that we
are washed, dipped, or sprinkled with water, in the name
of the Trinity. For as water cleanses the body, so, if we
repent and believe, does the Holy Spirit cleanse our souls.

The command, ‘‘ Go ye into all nations and baptize,” was
eiven to the disciples, and to the ministers of Christ’s Church
after them; for Jesus says: ‘Lo! I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world.”

Jewish children were circumcised on the eighth day; so
our Church welcomes the youngest child; for did not Jesus
say, ‘Of such is the kingdom of heaven”? And we read
that the Apostle baptized whole families; therefore, there
must have been children among them. (Acts 16: 15;
33: 34.)

Tn old times, when a soldier enlisted in the service of his
country, it was the custom for him to swear to follow and
obey his commander in all things; he wore his colors as a
badge or token of his service; so in Baptism, we are set
apart to the service of Christ, vowing to follow the Captain
of our salvation, fight manfully under His banner against
sin, the world, the devil, and continue His faithful soldier
and servant.

OG

boo UNV.

Baptism: The Christian Name.

QY. Wart is your name?
Y. What is this name called ?
A, My Christian name.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

@. By whom was it given?

A. By my sponsors in Baptism.

@. Why is it called your Christian name?

A, Because it shows that I was admitted into
Christ’s family, the Church.—Gal. 4: 7.

QY. Why is your other name called your sur-
name ? ;

A, Because it is the name of my sire or fa
ther.

@. What does your surname show ?

A. To what earthly family I belong.

QY. What is a sponsor ?

A. A person who answers and promises for
another.

Q. Who are your sponsors ?

A, Those persons who brought me to Bap-
tism, and made promises in my name.

@. Is there not another name for them?

A. Yes; godfathers and godmothers.

Q. Why are they so called ?

A. Because if my parents should die, they
are bound tg take their place in teaching me to
serve God.

@ Does the promise made by sponsors ex-
cuse parents from instructing their children ?

A, No; the Bible commands parents to Le
diligent in their duty.—Deut. 6: 4, 5, 6; Eph.
6 4320 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

(). When are you bound to take this promise
on yourself ?

A. As soon as I am old enough to under-
stand it.

SCRIPTURE Proors.—Gen. 17 : 5,15; Luke
1:59; Acts 11:26,

Cn ees

Ee MN:

The least, the feeblest of His sheep,
To Christ the Father gave ;

He loves the flock, His charge He’ll keep,
His arm is strong to gave.

Guide us, O Shepherd! by Thy love,
That we may keep Thy way,
Until we reach Thy fold above,
And go no more astray.

 

Wotes for Teacher.

The custom of giving names in Baptism, is a very old one,
and is probably continued from the custom of the Jews in
the rite of circumcision. We have three examples: Abra-
ram, (Gen. 17: 5,) John tle Baptist, (Luke 1: 60,) and
Christ, (Luke 2: 21.)

Your surname you have received from your earthly pa-
rents ; but your Christian name was given you by your
spiritual parents, your minister, and your godfathers. Now
when you hear your surname, it puts you in mind of your
father on earth, of his kindness and affection for you; you
feel that you belong to him, and should do nothing to dis-
please or dishonor him: so ought your Christian name to
remind you of your Father in heaven, whose child you
were made in Baptism, of the many blessings and tokens ofCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 21

His love which He has bestowed upon you; and oh! how
watchful should you be to avoid every thing whith woula
dishonor your Christian name! ‘The Bible says: “Let
every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from
iniquity.” (2 Tim.2:19.) Weare very proud of earthly
titles. The President of the United States, the General of
the army, the Judge of the court, eagerly strive not only to
obtain these titles, but to perform faithfully all the duties
which belong to them; yet these are honors which soon
pass away with the glories of earth; but the title and pri-
vileges which we receive in Baptism, will last forever; we
shall be Christians through eternity. The Bible does not
tell us any thing about sponsors, or godfathers and god-
mothers; indeed, we do not know whether there were any
such offices in the days of the Apostles; but in the early
times of the Church, it was thought necessary; we know
that it was the custom 1400 years ago, and it has been kept
up ever since. It is usual to have two godfathers and one
godmother for a boy, and two godmothers and one godiather
fora girl They bring you to the minister to be baptized,
and promise in your name that you shall renounce the world,
the flesh, and the devil, believe God’s word, and lead a godly
and a Christian life. They promise for you because you are
too young to do it yourself; but when you are old enough,
you must go before the Bishop, and take these vows upon
yourself, ‘The Bishop then lays his hands upon your head,
as a sign of God’s favor. ‘This is called confirmation, or lay-
ihg on of hands. Suppose you have a little brother or sister,
and you promise me that when it is old enough, you will
bring it to school, and that it shall be a good and diligent
scholar: you are then a sponsor or pronwser for that little
one.

———_e-@-o——_

Ld8:5 0 NV i.

Baptism. God’s Promises.

Q. Wuar is said to have been done for yeu
at, your baptism?22 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

A. That I was made a member of Christ, a
child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom
of heaven.

Q. What does the word member mean ?

A. A part of any thing.

Q. What is your hand or your foot a part of?

A, Of my body.

Q. What do you, then, call the different parts
of your body?

A. Members.

Q. What is Christ’s Church called, in Serip-
ture ?

A. The Bible likens Christ’s Church to a
body, of which Christ is the head—LHph. 1: 22,
Zag Os eo.

Q. ‘What, then, are all Christians?

A. Members or parts of His body.—Eph,
©: 30. |
Q. How were you made a member of Christ
by Baptism ?

A. By being made a member of Christ’s
Church.

Q. How should you behave, as a member of
Christ ?

A, T should believe in Him and obey Him.

. What if you behave in a different manner ?

A. I shall be an unworthy member.

@. How were you made a child of God in
Baptism ?CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 28

A. Because in my baptism, God adopted me
into His family.

@. What is meant by adoption ?

A. The taking a child to be one’s own that
was not born his own.

@. Can you continue a child of God merely
because you were adopted at your baptism ?

A, No; I must obey Him; for in this the
children of God are manifest, and the children
of the devil. Whosoever doeth not righteous-
ness, 1s not of God.—1 John 3 : 10.

@. What else were you made in Baptism ?

A. An Inheritor of the kingdom of Heaven.

@. What is an Inheritor ?

A, One who gains possessions by the death
of another.

@. How were you made an inheritor or heir
of the kingdom of heaven, at your baptism ?

A, It became mine by promise, upon condi-
tion of renouncing the deyil and all his works;
believing all the articles of the Christian faith,
and keeping God’s holy will and command-
ments.

Y. Do we obtain this inheritance by the merit
of our obedience?

A. No; but by Christ’s obedience unto death,
—-Heb. 9 215, 17.
@. What kind of an inheritance is it ?24 CaTrECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

A. Incorruptible and undefiled, and that fad.
eth not away, reserved in heaven for us.—1 Pet.
BY,

@. Are you sure of having this kmgdom?

A. No; I may lose it by an “evil heart of
unbelief.’—Heb. 3 : 19.

SorrerurRE Proors.—Eph. 1 : 22, 23; Eph.
598" Ron. 8 | ree Rom: Sy 19; Heb. 9:15,
Ls) Heb? 3's. 19.

ee YMG, aN

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Tn gracious power come down"
Save this child by nature lost,
And take him for Thine own.
Hear us, sinful worms of earth,
While on his behalf we pray;
Grant him that celestial birth
No water can convey.

Vain is every outward rite,
Unless Thy grace be given;
Nothing but Thy life and light
Can form a soul for heaven.
Jesus, Thou wast once a child;

Bid this infant come to Thee;
Thine alone may he be sealed
To all eternity.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 95

Remarks for Teacher.

The Church of Christ is a well-ordered, well-regulated
society, with Christ as its Head. It is like a vast army.
Now an army would be in a very confused and disordered
state without a commander. Christ is the great Command-
er, the “‘ Captain of our salvation,” who gives laws to His
soldiers; and the ministers of the Church, the ministers
of Christ, are His commissioned officers to proclaim these
laws, and see that they are obeyed. (Hph. 4: 12.)

The Church is also compared in the Bible, toa human
body, (1 Cor. 12: 26,) Christ the Head, and Christians the
limbs or members. ‘The head is the fountain of life, and
sends strength and health through all the body; so Christ,
“the living Head,” sends life and health into all the true
members of His body, the Church. (Col. 2: 19.)

The Saviour compares Himself also to ‘a vine,” and His
followers to the “branches.” The nourishing sap of the
plant is sent through every little stem and tendril, causing
them to bring forth fruit. So Christ, the ‘true Vine,” gives
His Holy Spirit to all His true members, making them show
forth the fruits of that Spirit, love, joy, peace, long-suffering,
gentleness, goodness, meekness.

Many, however, although they have received the outward
sign in Baptism, and call themselves Christians, do not obey
Christ’s commandments, and lead wicked lives. They are
unworthy members. Have you ever seen a hand or foot
struck with palsy? It can do nothing; itisdead. So isa
wicked member of the Church; there is no spiritual life in
him. (Rom. 8: 6.) He does not belong to Christ. (1 John
3:24.) He is also like a withered branch of a tree, though
joined to the trunk, it is dead; it produces no fruit; and a
time will come when these dead members, and withered
boughs, will be cut off and cast away forever.

Shall I tell you some of the blessings you obtain by being
a true member of Christ? You receive the help of the Holy
Spirit through the services and ordinances of the Church
you have the’ teachings of Christ’s ministers, who are al-
ways striving to reconcile you to God, (2 Cor. 5: 20;) and
you have the united prayers of all your fellow-Christians.

A Child of God. What love and mercy are meant by
these words! . Does a child go fearlessly and trustfully te26 CATEUHISM FOR RBEGINNERS.

 

his father to ask a favor? Socan you go to your Father in
heaven, in ‘prayer. Does a father more easily pardon the
offenses of his child, overlook his ‘faults, and grant him
kindnesses? So does God pardon and receive His sinful and
rebellious children, if they turn to Him through Christ
Even when He sends pain and sorrow, you need not feel
afraid, or forsaken, for are you not “achild of God”? (Heb.
1203)

An Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven. An heir is the
same as an inheritor. ‘If children, then heirs.” Why?
Because a child is naturally heir to his father’s property.
Those things which represent to us the greatest glory
and happiness in the world, are used in Scripture as em-.
blems of the greater happiness of heaven. A kingdom, a
crown, a throne, a marriage, a feast; it even goes beyond,
and tells us that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
hath it entered man’s heart to conceive the things which
God hath prepared “ for them that love Him.” This inherit-
ance was obtained for us at a great price—no less than the
blood of Christ; yet how often do we see those who in
baptism have received their title to it, turn away from its
glories to the empty, fading treasures of this world! Men
have even committed murder, to obtain an earthly inherit-
ance.

I once saw a picture representing an old man almost bent
double, with a rake in his hand, stooping over the ground,
and raking together sticks, stones, and dirt. An angel was
standing over him, holding over his head a beautiful crown
‘of gold and precious stones; but the miserable old man
was. so busy collecting those worthless things from the
earth, that he never so much as raised his eyes to the trea-
sure held out to him. This picture was an emblem of those
who love this world sc. much that they care nothing for the
glorious inheritance of the kingdom of heaven.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Pe S60 No Var,
Baptism. Promises for those who are baptized.

@. Waar did your sponsors then for you ?

A, They did promise and vow three things
in my name: first, that I should renounce the
devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities
of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of
the flesh. Secondly, that I should believe all
the articles of the Christian faith; and thirdly,
that I should keep God’s holy will and com-
mandments, and walk in the same all the days
of my life.

VY. What is a vow ?

A. Solemn promise made to God.

Y. Why did they promise in your name ?

A. Because I was an infant, and unable to do
it myself.

Y. How many things were promised by your
sponsors ?

A. Three things.

Q. Tell me, in three words, what they are?

A. Repentance, Faith, and Obedience.

@. How did they promise Aepentance ?

A. To repent is to forsake sin; and they pro.
mised that I should renounce the devil and all
his works.es CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Q. How did they promise Maith ?

A. To have faith, is to believe; and they
promised that I should believe all the Articles
of the Christian Faith.

Q. How did they promise @bedience ?

A, To obey God, is to keep His commands ;
and they promised that I should keep God’s holy
will and commandments all the days of my life.

Q What do you mean by renouncing the
devil’s works ?

A. To give them up entirely; to have no-
thing to do with them.

Q. Who is the devil ?

A. Satan, the chief of the fallen angels, whe
hates God, and tempts man to sin.—2 Pet. 2:4.

Q. What are his works ?

A. All sin; for the devil sinneth from the
beginning.—1 John 3: 8.

Q. Mention some of the devil’s works ?

A. Lying, (John 8:44.) Pride, (1 Tim. 3:6.)
Disobedience, (Eph. 2:2.) Envy and strife,
(James 8:14, 15;) and tempting others to sin.
(2 Cor. 11:3.)

QG. Who will give us power to renounce the
devil and his works ?

A. Christ; for He came to destroy them.--
1 John 3: 8.

Q. What will become of those who commit
them ?CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 29

A. They will be punished with everlasting
fire, prepared for the devil and his angels—
Matt. 25 : 41.

%. What else must you renounce ?

A. The pomps and vanities of this wicked
world.

@. What is pomp ?

A, Honor—worldly glory.

@. What are the vanities of this world ?

A. Its foolish customs and pleasures,

QY. What do you mean by renouncing them ?

A, J must give up all the pleasures, riches,
and honors of the world which will make me
forget God.

Q. Why do you eall the world wicked ?

A. Because the people in it are wicked. The
Bible says: ‘* The whole world lieth in wicked-
ness.”—1 John 5:19

(. Are all the pleasures, honors, and riches
of the world wicked ?

A, No; only those which lead us into evil;
we are commanded to avoid the appearance of
evil.—1 Thes. 5 : 22.

(2. What sinful lusts are you to renounte P

A. Those of the flesh.

Y. What are sinful lusts ?

A Wicked desires or wishes.

Q. What do you mean by the flesh ?

o*
oe380 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

A. My own nature.

Q. What kind of a nature have you?

A, An evil nature.

Q. Mention some ofthe evil desires of a cor
rupt nature ?

A, All unholy thoughts and deeds, all envy,
eovetousness, anger, greediness, drunkenness,
and such like—Gal. 5: 19, 20, 21.

Q. What does St. Peter beseech us to do?

A. To abstain from fleshly lusts which war
against the soul—l Pet. 2: 21.

Q. What is the second thing your sponsors

“ promised for you ? ,

A, That I should believe all the articles of
the Christian faith.

Q. What is it to believe ?

A. To feel sure that a thing is true.

Q. What are the articles of the Christian
faith ?

A, Those things which God has made known
to us through Christ.

Q. Where are they found ?

A, In the Holy Scriptures.—2 Tim. 3:11.

Q. Where are they collected together ?

A, In the Apostles’ Creed.

Q. Why are they collected m so small a
gpace ?

A, That we may keep them im our hzarts,CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. ol

and render to every man a reason for the hope
that is in us—1 Pet. 3:15.

@. What is the third thing your sponsors
promised in your name ?

A. That I should keep God’s holy will and
commandments, and walk in the same, all the
clays of my life.

What is God’s will ?

. Whatever He wishes us to do.

Where does He make it known to us?

. In the Bible.

. Where are His commandments found ?

. In the twentieth chapter of Exodus.
What do you mean by walking in God’s
will and commandments ?

A. Obeying them in thought, word, and
deed, all my life.

Q. What does Christ say of those who keeg
His commands ?

A. He that hath my commandments, and
keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.—John
14; 21.

DROAOASO

ScripruRE Proors.—Jude 6; 1 Pet. 5: 8;
1 John 3:87 Gal.5 : 19, 20,21; 1 John 2315,
16; 2 Tim. 3:15; Matt. 7:21; Luke 1: 74, 78,CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Tet OY Ns

Jesus gives us true repentance
By His Spirit sent from heaven 5
Jesus whispers this sweet sentence $
“Son, thy sins are all forgiven.”
Faith "He gives to us to believe Him,
Helps us do what He commands ;
Makes us follow His directions,
Gives us willing feet and hands,

Remarks for Teacher.

Your sponsors have made this solemn vow in your name,
but they can not make you keep it; God’s Holy Spirit alone
can do that; and therefore you must pray for grace to pro-
mise with your own lips, as soon as you are able to under-
stand your duty.

Renouncing the Devil, and all his Works. The Bible tells
us that there are bad angels as well as good; that they
were once happy in heaven, but they disobeyed God, and
were cast down to hell, and that there is one who is their
chief. ‘To this one, different names are given in Scripture.
He is called the Devil, because he accuses of sin. (Rev.
12: 9.) Satan, because he hinders us from doing good.
(1 Pet.5:8.) The Tempter, because he tempts to sin. (Matt.
4:3.) And the Serpent, because he tempted Eve in that
form. (Gen. 3:12, 13.) He it is who is always trying to
ruin our souls. He wanders up and down, ‘‘ seeking whom
he may devour.” He is a hard enemy to fight against, for
he knows just what temptations to try you with. If achild
is cowardly, he tries to make him lie; if he is covetous, he
tempts him to steal; if he is envious, or revengeful, he
makes him unhappy at the happiress of his playmates, or
fills his heart with anger and hatred towards them. This
is the enemy, and these are the works you are to renommce,CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. ae

If your father were to see you making a companion of 4
wicked child, who was leading you into sin, would he not
be right in commanding you to have nothing to do with
him? and ought you not, as a child of God, to hate and for-
sake Satan, who tries to make you as wicked and miserable
as himself? The only way to resist him, is to be sober,
~ watchful, and ‘‘ diligent in prayer.”

The Pomps and Vanity of this Wicked World. The world
ig not in itself wicked, for ‘‘God saw every thing that was
made, and behold! it was very good;” the earth is full of
His mercy and wisdom. He gave its riches, honors, and
pleasures to us for our use, and it is our corrupt nature
which makes these good things evil to us; we set our affec-
tions so much upon them that we love them better than
God. Riches are given to us that we may help the poor
and needy, and spread the Gospel through the world; but
when we hoard them up like the miser, or when we say,
like the rich man in the parable, “Soul, thou hast much
goods laid up for many years, take thine ease,” then they
become one of the pomps and vanities we are to renounce. It
isthe same with earthly honors. ItisGod who gives usa great
name in the world, and makes us to be esteemed and praised
of men; but when we are vain and puffed up, seek after
them too anxiously, or obtain them by wicked means, then
they are to be forsaken. Fine clothes, rich furniture, splen-
did houses, etc., are not wrong in themselves, but when we
think too much of them, or spend too much time and money
on them, then they are sin to us.

Sinful Lusts of the Flesh. By the flesh, we meanythat
evil nature we have received from our first parents. ‘God
made us upright,” but we have found many ways to crook
and bend that upright nature. The desire for food was
placed in us to preserve life and health; but when we eat
and drink too much, then it is sin. When a wish for any
earthly thing fills our hearts so that we will even disobey
God to possess it, it becomes a sinful lust. Eve desired the
forbidden fruit; and see what trouble was caused by it.

The Articles of the Christian Faith. If you only say that
you believe, without showing by your life that you do, it 19
not true faith. St. James says, it is just as if you should
gee a brother or sister cold, and naked, and say, be warm,ot CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

pe clothed, without giving them means to warm or clothe
themselves. No; you must show you believe the Christ:
ian faith, by obeying its commands; and this obedience must
not come and go, but must last all the days of your life: A
patient continuance in well-doing, not standing still, but
walking in Gud’s paths, taking Christ as our guide, because
He is ovr light. He alone can keep us from falling. (Johp °
8; 12.)

Leesow yl.

The Christian Resolution.

Q. You have now told me the three things
which your sponsors promised for you. Dost
thou not think that thou art bound to’ believe
and to do as they have promised ?

A. Yes, verily; and by God’s help, so I will;
and I heartily thank our heavenly Father that
He hath called me to this state of salvation,
through Jesus Christ our Saviour; and I pray
unto God to give me His grace, that I may con-
tinue in the same unto my life’s end.

Q. What is meant by being bound to do any
_thing?

A. Being obliged to do it.

Q. What are you obliged to believe.

A. The articles of the Christian faith,

Q. What are you obliged to do?CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 35

A. To renounce the devil, the world, and the
flesh, and to keep God’s holy will and command-
iInents.

(). Suppose your sponsors had made no pro-
mise in your name; are you still bound to these
things ?

A. Yes; because they are commanded in the
Scriptures.

(2. What does verily mean ?

A. Truly, indeed.

@. Why do you say by God’s help?

A. Because without God we can do nothing;
but His grace is sufficient for us.—John 15:5;
2Cor, 12°59.

Q@. How can we obtain this help?

A. If we ask for it, it will be given; our
heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to
them that ask Him.—Luke 11: 9, 13.

@. What do you here thank God for ?

A. I heartily thank Him that He hath called
me to this state of salvation.

@. What do you mean by a state of salva-
tion ?

A. Being brought to the knowledge and love
of the Gospel, which is able to make every one
that believes, wise unto salyationy—Rom. 1: 16;
2 Tims, 3215.

Q. Although you have been baptized, canCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

 

ag

you now be in this state of salvation unless you
have repented of-your sins and believe in Christ ¢

A, I can not.

Q. What do you mean by the grace of God?

A, The help of His Holy Spirit.

Q. How long do you pray to continue in this
state of salvation ?

A. Unto my life’s end.

Q. Why?

A. Because Christ says: ‘ He that endureth
to the end, shall be saved.”—Matt. 24:13.

ScrreturE Proors.—Titus 2:14; Eph. 1:4,
5; John 15:5; Luke 11:9,138; Acts 4:12;
Ratt. 24 te- hom. Ts 16: 2 Tim. 3 slo.

ees

HYMN;

Now I resolve, with all my heart,

With all my powers, to serve the Lord;
Nor from His ways will I depart,

Whose service is a rich reward.

Be this the purpose of my soul,

My solemn, my determined choice,
To yield to His supreme control,

And in His kind commands rejoice.

Qh! may I never faint nor tire,

Nor wandering, leave His sacred ways;
Great God! accept my soul’s desire,
And give me strength to live Thy praise.CATECHISM FOR BREGINNERS.

Remarks for Teacher.

A resolution, is a firm determination to do any thing.
You here solemnly determine to do all that your sponsors
have promised for you. When you are old enough, you
will make what is called a public profession; that is, you
will make these promises to God yourself, in the. presence
of His assembled people, and before His chief minister, the
Bishop, in the rite of Confirmation. Yet still while you are
young, you can resolve for yourself, for Satan tempts child-
ren as well as grown people; and, therefore, evefy time you
say, “ Yes, verily, by God’s help, so I will,” you declare with
your own lips, that you will fight manfully against the devil,
the world, and the flesh, until your life’s end. But if you
try to do all this in your own strength, you will certainly
fuil; you must pray earnestly for the gracegf God, and you
will find that you ‘‘can do all things in His strength.” “If
you seek Him early, you will find Him.”

A Staie of Salvation. Suppose a man shut up in a gloomy
dungeon, chained like a wild beast, and condemned to per-
ash there. All the means of life are taken from him; ao
light, no air, no food; so there seems to be no hope for him.
But a great and powerful friend, hearing of his sad state,
comes, takes him from prison, places him in a noble palace,
and gives bim abundantly every thing to sustain life. Would
you not say that man was brought from death to life? So
it is with your soul—by nature corrupt and helpless, a pri-
scner of Satan, bound in the chain of your sins, without
strength to free yourself, and condemned by the justice of
God to everlasting death. Christ, the Friend of sinners,
comes, mighty to save; He delivers from Satan, sin, and
death, brings you into His Church, feeds you with the bread
of life, gives you the light of His Holy Spirit, and thus calls
you from a state of misery and danger, to a state of galva-
tion,

4,CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Los 8 04N, 1S .

The Articles of the Christian Faith.

Q. Wunre are these Articles found ?
in the Bible.

Where are they collected together ?
. Inthe Apostles’ Creed.

What is a creed ?

A. A belief, or form of faith.

Q. Why is it called the Apostles’ Creed ?

A. Becatse it contains a short account of
what was preached by the Apostles, and what
‘all Christians ought to believe.

Q. Who were the Apostles, r Ee

A. Men chosen by the Saviour to pr each His
Gospel to the world, and govern His Chur ch ?

Q. Is there any other er -eed besides the Apos-
tles’ ?.

A. Yes, the Nicene.

Q. How does it differ from the Aposties’
-Creed ?

It is longer, and more particular.
Q. When is the Nicene Creed used ?
A. Instead of the Apostles’, on certain holy
days.
Q Why is it called the Nicene Cre ed ?CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 32

A. Because it was written at the city of
Nicea.
@. Why must we believe these creeds ?

a Because they can be Joleant from Serip-

LUTE,
QY. How were the Holy Scriptures given to
men ?

7

A. Holy men were taught by God to write
hem.

@. What is this teaching of God called }

cae thgmraiet

Q. What does St. Paul say about it?

Ay AG nae is given by inspiration.
2 Tims 2 216:

@. How much of the Scriptures must you
believe ?

A. All of them.

(). How ought you to study them ?

¢
>

A. With earnest prayer to God for His Holy
Spirit.
4) Repeat a prayer for the right. understand-
ing of the Scripture.
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of Thy law; make me to
understand the way of Thy prec pes: teach me,

O Lord! the way of Thy statu bg ia 19 18,
HH Qa
ad 9 VV.

Q. What is Faith ?

w40 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

A. Feeling sure that a thing is true.

Q. What kind of faith does God require of
us?

A. Not only to believe in our minds that He
exists, but to love and obey Him in our hearts
and lives.

Q. What kind of faith is this called ?

A. Living Faith.

Q. What is Dead Faith ?

A. To believe with our heads that there 1s a
God, but not to obey Him in our hearts; to
believe with our heads that Christ died, but not
to love Him in our hearts; to believe with our
heads that there is a Holy Spint, but not to
beseech Him to enter our hearts.

Q. What does St. Paul say about believing
with the heart ?

A, With the heart man believeth unto right-
eousness.—Rom. 10 : 10.

ScRIPTURE Proors.—Matt. 28:19, 20; 2 Tim
3 tos ben. ts 20.2 Eleb. 11.:.4,,2,.6.

i: Y MN.

The Bible! the Bible! more precious than gold;
The hopes and the glories its pages unfold;

It speaks of a Saviour, and tells of His love;

Tt shows us the way to the mansions above.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

The Bible! the Bible! blest volume of truth,
How sweetly it smiles on the season of youth;
It bids us seek early the pearl of great price,
lire the heart is enslaved in the bondage of vice.

The Bible! the Bible! we hail it with joy;

Its truths and its glories our tongues shall employ
We'll sing of its triumphs, we’ll tell of its worth,
And send its glad tidings afar o’er the earth.

Remarks for Teacher.

The whole Bible, both Old and New Testament, is what
every Christian must believe, because it is the word of Him
who can not le. All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for cgrrection,
for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may
be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. But
there are some truths in Scripture which are more important
to us than others, and which we can not lead a good Christ-
ian life without understanding and keeping in our hearis,
A. belief in one God, the Creator of heaven and earth, in
His Son Jesus Christ, and all that He has done for man, in the
Holy Ghost, and a future resurrection, judgment, and eter-
nity; these are some of those Articles of our Christian faith
whiclr the Apostles collected together in a small space, so
that they might be easily read, and committed to mcmory,
thus making “a form of sound words, which we are com-
manded to hold fast.” (2 Tim.1:13.) This creed is read
constantly in the publie services of the Church, so that nei-
ther minister nor people can be lead astray by any false
doctrine. The Nicene Creed contains the same truths as
the Apostles’, only they are more fully explained. Itisread
on certain holy days.

You have told me that true faith is not only to feel assured
that what the Bible tells us is true, but to believe it so heart-
ily that it makes us lead good lives. Now if a person, when
he is told that there isa God ‘‘ who is angry with the wicked
48AQ CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

every day,” and that there is a Saviour who has died to save
hirn from the punishment of sin, says, “ Yes, I believe it,”
yet neither repents of sin or goes to this Saviour to be
cleansed and forgiven, that man’s faith is dead. If you
wish to find favor with God, if you wish to be saved by
Christ, you must have a living faith, which will make you
do right as well as believe right. Abraham had a living
faith; God had promised him that his son Isaac should live
to be a comfort to his old age, and that in him all nations of
the earth should be blessed; and yet when the Almighty
told him to take that very son and offer him up as a sacri-
five, he obeyed the command, believing that God would
keep his promise, even though he raised up Isaac from the
dead. And God rewarded him by stopping his hand when
raised to slay hisson. Moses had living faith ; for although
he was held in high honor at the court of Pharaoh, and was
surrounded by pleasure and riches, he chose rather to give
them up, and wander in the deserts with the persecuted
Israelites, so strong was his belief that God would reward
him for his self-denial. And how many holy people does
St. Paul speak of, who, rather than give up their faith, en-
dured trials of cruel mockings, and scourgings, bonds and
imprisonments, were slain, were sawn asunder, were tempt-
ed, were slain with the sword, wandered about in sheep
skins and goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented.
(Eleb, 11: 35.)

—_—_—_® ¢-o—___—_

LESSON: X.

The Articles of the Christian Faith.

Q. Reprat the Articles of thy Belief,
A. I believe in God the Father Almighty,
M:ker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ His only Son our LordCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 43

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born
of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius
Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried; He
descended into Hell, Thethird day He rose froin
the dead; He ascended into Heaven, And sit-
teth on the right hand of God the Father Al-
mighty ; From thence He shall come to judge
the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catho-
lic Church, The Communion of Saints; The
Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the
body; And the Life everlasting. Amen.

@. Who is God?

A. A Spirit, eternal and immortal. (Deut.
33:27.) From everlasting to everlasting, Thou
art God.—Ps. 90: 2.

(). How do we know there is a God ?

A. By His works, and by His word.

QY. Where is God ?

A. Every where. Do I not fill heaven and
earth ? saith the Lord.—Jer. 23 : 24.

@. Of what is He thé Maker?

A, Of heaven and earth.—Gen. 1:1.

@. Why do we call Him Almighty ?

A, Because He has the power of doing all
things. With God all things are possible—
Matt. 19 : 26.44 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS,

Q. What does the word of God tell us of His
wisdom ?

A. God is mighty in wisdom.—Job 36: 5.

Q. What of His goodness ?

A. God is good and doeth good.—Ps. 119: 68.

¢. What of His knowledge ?

. God knoweth all things.—1 John 8 : 20,

What of His mercy ?

A, 7 Lord is plenteous in mercy.—Ps.
103%:

Q. a hat of His justice ?

A. The Lord is just, and loveth righteousness,
—Isa. 45:21; Ps.11: 7.

d. aaa of His trut oe
$a. 655216.

                            

Y. What of His holiness ?

A. The Lord our God is holy, and can not
look on iniquity.—Lev. 19 : 2.

Q. Hath any man ever seen God ?

A. No man hath seen or can see Him.—
Sn. 6,2 1

@. Can we understand His nature ?

A. No; we can not find Him out.—Job
a6: 26.

Q. Why do we say, God the Father ?

A. Because" He is the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Y. Is He not also our Father ?CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 46

A. Yes; He created us, and Christ says:
" “ When ye pray, say, Our Father.”

SCRIPTURE Proors.—Ps. 90:2; Jer. 23:24,
Gen. 1 ste. Matt. 19:26 *\.d 0b.36.; 55, 1 donn
3.: 207 Bs, b00: 5 5 103.285 dsa. 65 716.9 1 iim.
6 ai6 = sabis7.; 23.

EY MN

To God, who reigns above the sky,
Our Father and our Friend,

To Him let all our vows be paid,
And all our prayers ascend,

Tis He who claims our youthful hearts ;
He loves to hear us pray :

By night we'll think upon His love,
And praise Him every day.

With all the love a father feels,
He pities, and forgives ;

And though our earthly parents die,
Our heavenly Father lives.

Remarks for Teacher.

The belief in the existence of a God has prevailed all
over the world; but the beings whom the heathen worship,
are very different from the one great and glorious God made
known to us in the Bible. Zhey are many in number, and
are represented by their worshippers as sinful and corrupt
as themselves, Still there is no nation so ignorant and de-46 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.
based as not to believe in any God. The Persian adores
the sun; the Indian prays to a being whom he seems t@
know very little about, but whom he calls the Great Spirit.
He believes that he:gives him success in hunting, and when
he dies, will take him to happy hunting-grounds. It is only
the “fool who says in his heart, ‘No God.” We call such
aman an Atheist. He believes that this world was made
by chance; and yet he would call any man insane who
would say that this house, or my watch, was made by
chance.

An Atheist and a physician were talking together. The
Atheist said: “J will prove to you. that there is no God;
for four out of our five senses declare it. Did you ever see
a God?” ‘ No,” said the physician. ‘Did you ever hear
a God?” “No.” ‘Did you ever taste a God?”, ‘ No.”
“Did you ever smella God?” “No.” “ Did you ever feel
aGod?” “Yes,” said the doctor; ‘I feelin my heart there
isa God.” ‘ Well,” cried the other, “there are four senses
against one, to prove that there isnone.” “ Do you believe
jn the existence of pain?” asked his friend. ‘ Certainly,”
said the Atheist. , “Did you ever see a pain?” “No.”
pid you, ever hear a pain?” ° No.” “Did you ever
taste a pain?” “No.” “Did you ever smell a pain ?”
“Wo,” “Did you ever feel a pain?” ‘ Yes.” . ‘ There,”
exclaimed the doctor, ‘ are four senses against one, to prove
there is no pain; and yet you know and believe firmly that
there is pain, and plenty of it, in the world.”

What we call the attributes of God, are His qualities and
perfections, such as His goodness, wisdom, holiness, etc.

 

?.6- 6...

LES 8 ON Xd

The Articles of the Christian Faith. God the Son.
Q. Arrer saying that you believe in God the
Father, in whom next do you say you believe ?
A. In Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 47

Q. What does the name Jesus mean? |

A. Saviour. . ‘‘ Because He was to save Llis
people from their sins.”—Matt. 1 : 21.

@. Is there any other Saviour ?

A. No; there.is none other name under
heaven whereby we must be saved.—Acts 4: 12,

Q. What does the name Christ mean ?

A, It is a Greek word, and means anointed.

@. What does anointing mean ?

A. Pouring oil onthe head. The Jews used
to make persons prophets, priests, and kings,
by anointing them.

Y. Why do we call our Saviour Christ, or
Anointed ? Boa

A. Because He is a Prophet, Priest, and
King to His people.

Q. How was He anointed ?

Not with oil, but with the Holy Spirit of
God.—Acts 10: 38.

Y?. When?

A. At His baptism the Holy Spirit descended
upon Him like a dove ?—Luke 3 : 22.

Q. How is Christ our Prophet ?

A. A prophet tells what will happen, and
what is God’s will; and Jesus does so for us.-——
John 6:14.

Q. How is He our Priest ?
A. A priest offers prayers and sacrifices forCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

 

4S

others, and Christ offered Himself a sacrifice for
us, and daily prays for us to His Father.—Heb.
9.326.

Q. How is He our King ?

A, A king gives laws to his people, and de-
fends them from their enemies; and Jesus gives
us laws to obey, and defends us from the devil
and his angels.—Rev. 19: 16.

@. Whose Son is Jesus Christ ?

A, The only Son of God

Q. But are not all Christians called sons of
God ?

A, Yes; but they are sons by adoption.
(Rom. 8 : Lb ») ae is the only-begotten Son
by nature.—John 1:

Q. What does only- suaat ten mean ?

A. That He is of the same nature as the
Father.

Q. When a father is a human being, what
nature has his son ?

A. A buman nature.

Q. But God the Father is a Divine Being;
what nature has His Son?

A. A divine nature.

Q. How, then, should we honor Christ ?

A. Even as we honor the Father; for He is
one with the Father—John 10:30 and 5: 23.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 49

   
  
    
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 

Scripture Proors.—Matt. 1:21; Acts 4:12;
10: 38;, Luke 1:35; John 6:14; Heb. 9:26;
Rev. 19:16; Rom.8: 15; John 1:18,

a MN.

Hark! ten thousand harps and voices
Sound the note of praise above ;
Jesus reigns and heaven rejoices :
Jesus reigns the God of love.
See, He sits on yonder throne!
Jesus rules the world alone ;
Hallelujah, amen !

Jesus, hail! whose glory brightens
All above, and gives it worth;
Lord of Love, Thy smile enlightens,
Cheers, and charms Thy saints on earth;
When we think of love like Thine,
Lord, we own it love divine.

King of glory, reign forever,
Thine an everlasting crown; ;
Nothing from Thy love can sever, ?
Those whom Thou hast made Thine own,
Happy objects of Thy grace,
Chosen to behold Thy face.

Saviour, hasten Thine appearing,
Bring, oh! bring the glorious day,
When the awful summons hearing,
Heaven and earth shall pass away:
Then with golden harps we’ll sing,
Glory, glory, to our King.

oOCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Remarks for Teacher.

Among the Jews, three classes of persons-—propnhets,
priests, and kings—were solemnly set apart to their respect
ive offices by the ceremony of anointing with oil. Now
Ghrist was to have all these offices, and He was anointed to
them, but not with oil. He of His own will, and. by the
appointment of His Father, took these offices upon Himself.
He says in the Bible: “Lo! I come to do Thy will, O God e
When He was baptized by John, the Joly Ghost descended
upon Him like a dove, and the voice of God the Father was
heard from heaven, saying: ‘This is my beloved Son, in
whom I am well pleased.” So the Apostle says: ‘ God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with
power.”

“Tf two nations who are at war with each other are de-
sirous of ending their quarrel, in order to do so, they get
some one to go from one party to the other, and try to make
peace. Now if this ambassador, this go-between, or peace-
“maker, could only belong to both nations, don’t you think
that both sides would put entire trust in him, because each
would feel that he was their own, and that he loved one
side ag well asthe other? All mankind have sinned against
God, and become His enemies; and God wished to recon-
cile the world to Himself; and in order to do so, He must
choose some one who could go between Him and the world.
If an angel could have done the work, and God had sent
him, that would not have answered, because he would have
come only from one side—heaven. But He sent His only
Son, who took man’s nature upon Him; and so, because
He was God, all heaven trusted in Him; and because He
was man, the earth could trust and iove Him.” This Medi-
ator between God and man, became also a Prophet, or
Teacher; for the whole world was very ignorant and wick-
ed, and He taught them to do God’s will, and keep His
commandments. He is also our Priest. The Jewish priest
used often to offer up prayers and sacrifices for the sins of
the people; and Jesus, our great High Priest, has once
offered Himself up the one great sacrifice for sin, and is now
before the throne of God interceding and praying for usCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. . 5]

Christ is also our King. You all know that a king makeg
laws for his people, and governs them, rewarding the good,
and punishing the evil; so Christ, w hoi is the Head or King
of His Church, makes laws for them, and at the last day
will reward the obedient, and punish the guilty.

Lele SON? KUt<

The Articles of the Christian Faith. God the Son.

Y. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is God 3

A. Yes; I believe that He is over all, God
blessed forever.—Rom. 9: 5.

Q@. Does He not call Himself God ?

A, Yes; He says: I am Alpha and Omega,
the first and the last ; the Al mighty.—-Rey. 1: 8,
iE:

Q. Is He not equal with the Father ?

A. Yes; He says: “I and my Father are
one.”—John 10: 8

@. Are not the same names given to Him
that are given to the Father ?

A, Yes; the Prophet Isaiah calls Him Jeho-
vah, or Lou the mighty God, the everlasting
Iather. flies 6): T-1059'% 6, “ompare John
12:41.) Thomas said unto Him, My Lord and
my God.—John 20: 28.

@. Has he not perfections which none but a
God could have ?52 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

A. Yes; the Prophet Micah tells us that He
is Hternal. (Micah 5:2.) Our Saviour Him-
self says He is every where present. (Matt.
28:20.) St. Paul tells us that He is unchange-
able, and almighty, (Heb. 13 : 8,) and St. John,
that He is all-seeing.—John 16 : 80.

Q. Does He not do works that none but God
ean do?

A. Yes; St. John tells us that He made all
things, (John 1: 3,) that He performs miracles,
(John 7: 31;) and St. Luke says, that He for-
gives sin——Luke 5: 20, 21.

Q. Is not worship given to Him which ought
to be given to none but God?

A. Yes; He was worshipped by the woman
of Canaan, (Matt. 15:25;) by the disciples, at
ter His resurrection, (Matt. 28: 17;) by Stephen,
the first Christian martyr. (Acts 7:59.) The
holy angels are commanded to worship Him,
(Heb. 1: 6,) and He is worshipped by all who
are now in heaven.—Rev. 5: 13.

Q. What do we call Christ, in the Creed,
pesides God’s only Son?

A, Our Lord.

@. Why is He our Lord ?

A. Because He is God our Maker, Jesns pur
Saviour, and Christ our King. .CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 53

@. But is not Christ the Son of man, as well
aS the Son of God?
A. Yes; for He took our nature upon Him,
aud was made man.
Y. Did He then cease to be God ?
A, No; He has tw
Gor Gaia ee
@. How does the Bible speak of it ?
A, The word was made flesh.—1 Tim. 3: 16.
Y. Can we understand how this can be ?
A, No more than we can understand how
our bodies are joined to our souls.
Y. What does the Creed say about Christ’s
elng made man ?
A, He was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary.
@. What do you mean by being, conceive al
by the Holy Gh Lost? oe pune oe
A, I mean that He took uipiott ini a body
and soul like ours, 3, by the ak of the ‘Holy
Ghost. Ses Wie ine
QV. But atehdats He had man’s nature, in
what was He different from man ?
A. He had no sin.—1 Pet. 2 : 22.
Q. Why was it necessary that the Son of
God should become man ?
A, That He might be made like man in ail
5s

ature of54 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

things, suffer for him, and Ve him an example,
that he might follow in His steps.—Heb: 2: 17,

 

ScripturE Proors.—Isa. 6: 1-10; 9:63
Micah 5: 2s Mattos 20. Heb: 13: 8s Jolin
(6 SOs lye eat Oi, lukeya: 20, 21 3). Matt.
bo 295 es a17 Ss Acts 72595: Heb..1 16
y. ABs debeets 2422 eb. 2s 1 Ps

“wwe
&
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<
2

ys N

Let children bless the Saviour’s name,
And sing His wondrous grace,

Who from the realms of glory came,
To save our sinful race

on Though he was rich in heaven above,

Ra * From’ all eternity, cus
: © © Feieft Mis greatness; ‘ott of* love
Qe xs . Ker, sinners such as We,
Pe ees as ee ea?
a -A mafiger for a eradle bed,

Received Him at His birth ;
Fle had not where to lay His head,
Though Lord of heaven and earth,

Lord Jesus! while we sing Thy grace,
We love Thee, and adore ;

But when in heaven we see Thy face,

Our souls shall love Thee more.CATCHISM FOR BEGINNERS,

Remarks for Teacher.

Christ’s taking upon Himself the nature of man, is called
His Incarnation. Incarnate means, made flesh. ‘‘ He was
made flesh,” says the Apostle, “and dwelt among us.” He
who was in the form of God, and thought it not robbery to
be equal with God, made Himself of no reputation, and
took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of sinful flesh; and it was very necessary for Him
to take our form and nature upon Him, for if He had not
done so, He could not have died for us. So He became an
infant, a child, a man; he eat, drank, and slept, like other
men; He made friends—Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, and
His disciples, whom He loved, and who loved and followed
Him. He was like us in every thing, excepting that He
had no sin; He was perfectly pure and holy, and so could
be the Saviour of sinners. Having the nature and feelings
of man, He must have suffered pain-and pleasure, sorrow
and joy, just as we do. Think, then, what He must have
endured from the cruelty and wickedness of the Jews!
Think of the scourge, the crown of thorns, the sharp nails,
the cross. And the friends whom He loved so dearly—one
betrayed Him, one denied Him, and the rest forsook Him
and fled.

Christ not only took our body in His own person, but our
soul also; for without that, He would not have been perfect
man. We are told that “He increased in wisdom and
Stature :” to increase in wisdom, is to grow in mind, to
know more, to understand more, to remember more. Jesus
could not have increased in wisdom without a soul, any
more than He could have increased in statwre without a
body. So when He said, in the garden, ‘“ My soul is exceed-
ing sorrowful, even unto death,” He meant His human soul.
When He said, on the cross, ‘‘ Father, into Thy hands 1]
commend my spirit,” He died like any other man, and His
soul was separated from His body. Still, although He be-
came man, He did not cease to be God. He was God ana
man in one person. We can not understand how this can
be, yet we must be content to believe it without under-
standing it; because the Bible tells us it isso. The soul56 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

and the body are two distinct and separate things, yet they
are closely joined together, and make but one person. We
do not understand how it is, yet we know and believe it
iS 80.

The Son of God need not to have come down to this sin
ful world, unless He had chosen; but He loved us too much
to leave us to perish. He was God, and He might have
delivered Himself fron the hands of His enemies, and de-
stroyed them all ina mom®nt; but He was content to be
“wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our
iniquities.” We can go to this Saviour without fearing that
he can not or will not help us.

Suppose we had a friend in the greatest and most power-
ful king on this earth; however he might wish to help us in
our griefs and troubles, there are many things which are
beyond his power to do for us. But if we have Christ for
our friend, no matter how great our sins, or how strong our
temptations, He can help us. He is God, and there is 110-
thing too hard for Him to do. He is man, and can feel for
us, and pity us in all our sorrows.

Liss ON x MET.

The Articles of the Christian Faith. God the Son.

Q. Or what family was the Virgin Mary?

A. Of the family of Abraham and David.

Q. Why was this? :

A. Because God told Abraham that the pro-
mised Saviour should be born of one of his
family.—Gen. 22:18; Matt.1: 1.

Q. What is the Virgin Mary called, in Scrip-
ture ?CATECHISMN FOR BEGINNERS. 57

A, Blessed amonge*women.—Luke 1 : 28.

Q. But, although she was so highly favored,
was she not also a sinner ?

A. Yes; for she calls Christ her Saviour,
(Luke 1: 46, 47,) and none but a sinner could
want a Saviour.

Q. May we ask her to help or save us?

A, No; for there is but one Mediator be-
tween God and man—the man Christ Jesus,—
1 Vim. 22 S-

Q. Is it right to ask her to pray for us?

A. No; for Jesus says: “Iam the way, the
truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the
Father but by me.’—John 14: 6.

Q. At what time did Christ suffer ?

A. He suffered under Pontius Pilate.

Q. Why is He said to have suffered under
Pontius Pilate ?

A. He suffered at the time Pontius Puate
was Roman Governor of Judea.

Q. Who were the Romans?

A. A mighty nation whose chief city was
Rome, in Italy.

Q. What had they to do in Judea?

. They had conquered the country.

a

a

Q. How could the Son of God suffer ?
A. He suffered in His human nature, both

soul and body.—1 Pet. 4:1.22 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

@. What did He suffer¥in His soul ?

A, The weight of all our sins; He said : “ My
soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.
My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken
me ?”— Matt. 26 : 38 and 27; 46.

(. What did He suffer in His body ?

A. He was scourged, crowned with thorns,
spit upon, and mocked.

Y. Was not the manner of His death pain-
ful ?

A, Yes; He was nailed to a cross—both a
painful and a shameful death.

@. Where was Christ buried ?

A, In the tomb of the rich man, Joseph of
Arimathea.

@. What prophecy thus came to pass ?

A, He made His grave with the rich.—Isa.
53:9.

SCRIPTURE Proors.—Gen. 22:18; Matt.1:1,;
oke ds 46 Aus 1 Wm, 9.26274 ‘Pet, 42,1;

diy MN.

Hark! what mean those holy voices
Sweetly sounding through the skies ?

Lo! the angelic host rejoices,

Heavenly hallelujahs rise.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Hear them tell the wondrous story ;
Hear them chant in hymns of joy:
Glory in the highest, glory |
Glory be to God most high!

“Peace on earth, good-will from heaven,
Reaching far as man is found;
Souls redeemed, and sins forgiven !”
Loud our golden harps shall sound.

Christ is born—the Great Anointed—
Heaven and earth His praises sing!

Oh! receive whom God appointed,
For your Prophet, Priest, and King!

Haste, ye mortals, to adore Him ;

Learn His name and taste His joy ;
Till in heaven ye sing before Him:
‘Glory be to God on high |”

Remarks for Teacher,

A great many wonderful things took place at the birth of
eur Saviour, which plainly showed that He was not a mere
man. An angel from heaven was sent to tell the Virgin
Mary that she should have a Son, who was to be the Mes-
siah, and “His name should be called Jesus; and He
should be the Son of the Highest.” When He was born,
shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night;
and a glorious company of angels appeared unto them, sing-
ing and praising God, and saying: ‘‘Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, good-will to men.” And a
new star appeared in the heavens, exceeding bright and
beautiful, so that it attracted the notice of some wise men
in a distant country; and the star went before them; and60 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

they followed it until it led them to the place where tha
infant Saviour was. These men were not Jews, but be-
longed to an Eastern nation. The Jews called all those
who were not of their faith and nation, Gentiles; and~ we
keep in remembrance this event, by setting apart a particu-
lar day in honor of what took place, called the Epiphany,
or Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.

Although the Virgin Mary had this high honor bestowed
upon her, to be the mother of the Saviour of the world, yet
she remained always humble and lowly. She knew herself
to be a sinner, and calls Jesus her God and Saviour. In
no part of the Bible are we told to pray to her or worship
her in any way. The Roman Catholics are, therefore, in
ereat error, when they do so. They have gone so far that
they place her higher than Christ, and offer more prayers
to her than they do to God Himself. Now God will not
bear to see His honor given to another; and Christ, as if
to warn us against paying such reverence to the Virgin, and
show us that He did not consider her raised above other
women, reproved her, when she wished to persuade him ta
perform a miracle at the marriage in Cana of Galilee, say-
ing, “ Woman, what have I to do with thee?” meaning
that as He was God, He knew Himself when and how to
work a miracle.

“Suffered under Pontius Pilate.” The Jews had so often
rebelled against God, that He took away their kingdom,
and delivered them into the power of the Romans, a very
ereat mation, who had conquered many countries ; so that at
the time of our Saviow’s crucifixion, they were governed
by a man named Pontius Pilate, whom Tiberius Ceesar, Em-
peror of Rome, had appointed to manage affairs for lnm.
He was a hard, cruel man, and had so angered the Jews
by his treatment of them. that in order to soothe their
discontent, and gain their good-will, he condemned the in-
nocent Jesus to death. We mention Pilate’s name in the
Greed, because it makes us sure about the time of our
Lord’s death.

Was Crucified. Crucifixion was a Roman punishment,
and only used for criminals and slaves. It was so painful
that the condemned were often put to death before beingCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Gi

nailed to the eross—an upright post, to which a cross-bar
At the place of execution, it
was laid upon the ground, and the sufferer fastened to it
by driving nails or spikes through the bands and feet, caus-
ing great agony. ‘The cross was then raised by strong men,
and with great foree brought down into a hole made for it.
The unhappy prisoner was then left to hang there, in great

was fastened, near the top.

suffering, until he died.

We also say in the Creed, not only that we believe that
He was crucified, but that He was dead and buried’; be-
cause, in old times, there were those who said He did not

really die, but only seemed to do so.

His last words were,

“Tt is finished ;” meaning that all that the prophets had
prophesied about Him had come to pass, and the great work
which His Father had given Him to do, was finished. He
then cried with a loud voice, and gave up His ghost, or
soul; that is, He permitted it to leave His body, which
again shows that He was truly God, for a man can not give
up his own soul; God takes it from him.

Christ died on a Friday ; and the Church has appointed
a day when it shall be kept in special remembrance, called
Good Friday, because of the great blessings we obtain by

Jesus thus dying for us.

 

O78

LES 8.0 Ney,

The Articles of the Christian Faith. God the Son.

Q. Wuar became of Christ’s soul after death:
A. He descended into hell.
Q. What does the word hell, as used in the

Creed, mean ?

A. The place of, departed spirits.

not mean the place of punishment.

6

  

Tt doesG2 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Q. Why did Christ go into the place cf de.
parted spirits ?

A, That He might be like us in all things.

Q. On what day did Christ rise from the
dead ?

A, On the third day.

@. Why on the third day ?

A. Because it was promised that His soul
should not be left in hell, nor His body see cor-
ruption.—Ps. 16 : 10.

Y. What did His rising from the dead prove?

A, That He was the Son of God.

Y. On what day does the Church celebrate
His rising from the dead ? |
. On Easter-day.

. Where did He ascend ?

. He ascended into heaven.

Did His body ascend as well as His soul ?
. Yes,

Where is He now in heaven ?:

. He sitteth on the right hand of God.
God is a Spirit, and has neither hands nor
feet; what do you mean, then, by Christ’s sit-
ting at His right hand ?

A, That He has the place of the highest
honor in heaven.

@. Will He come from heaven ?
A. Yes; to judge the quick and the dead.

OQROKOAOLBEGINNERS.

 

CATECHISM FOR

 

Q. When will that be?

A, At the last day; when we will appear
before the judgment-seat.—2 Cor 5: 10.

Y. Who are the quick ?

A, Those who shall be alive at that time.

@. On what day does the Church celebrate
Christ’s ascension ?

A, On Ascension-day.

ScRIPTURE Proors.— Ps. 16 : 8-11; Luke
O45 5, 37, 400i Aete Po 9-1 31 Thess, 4:16,
17> Rom. 143240;

HY M Ne

Mary to her Saviour’s tomb,
Hasted at the early dawn;
Spice she brought, and sweet perfume,
a But the Lord she loved, had gone,

For a while she ling’ring stood,
Filled with sorrow and surprise ;

Trembling, while a crystal flood
Issued from her weeping eyes,

But her sorrows quickly fled,

When she heard His welcome voice ;
Christ had risen from the dead—
Now He bids her heart rejoice.CATECHISM FUR BEGINNERS.

What a change His word can make,
Turning darkness into day !

Ye who weep for Jesus's sake,
He will wipe your tears away

Remarks for Teacher.

Fie descended into Hell. Death separates the soul from
the body; and that is what we mean, in the Creed, when
we say that Christ was dead. Hell, or as it is called in
Greek, Hades, means a hidden place, where the spirits of
the dead remain until the day of judgment. The part
of the unseen world to which our Saviour went, was that
in which the souls of the righteous dwelt. We know no:
thing about this place, and it is not necessary for us to
know. We only believe that the souls of the good are
very happy after death. Our Saviour Himself tells us that,
in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, when He says
that Lazarus, as soon as he was dead, was carried into
Abraham's bosom—the name which the Jews gave to
Hades.

The third day He rose from the dead. Christ was cru-
cified on a Friday, and rose on Sunday, making, accord-
ing to our time, only one day and.two parts of aday. But
the Jews, when reckoning time, always counted in the day
on which any event began, and the day on which it ended,
so that Friday was called one day, Saturday two, and Sun-
day, on which He rose, the third day. His staying in the
grave so long, showed that He was really dead. Not only
the friends of Christ declared that He rose again, but His
enemies also bear witness to His resurrection; for the very
soldiers whom the Jewish rulers had set to watch His sep-
uichre, came and told them that they had seen Him arise.
The Jews tried hard to spread the report of His disciples’
having stolen the body while the soldiers slept; but it is a
very unlikely thing that a whole guard of men should fall
asleep; and that being asleep, they should see the’ bodyCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 65

sto.en away, 1s impossible. After our Lord’s resurrection,
He showed Himself alive to His disciples, on three occa.
sions, They could not have been mistaken about His per-
son, because they saw His pierced hands and feet, and the
wound in His side. Now that Christ, the Head of the:
Church, has risen from the dead, we, the members, may be
certain that we will rise also. Others had been raised be-
fore, but Christ was the first person who came forth trom
the grave never to return.

He ascended into Heaven. Our Lord remained on earth
forty days after His resurrection. While onearth He taught
His Apostles many things. He did not give up His earthly
body, for the Apostles saw it ascend into the heavens;
therefore a body, the same as ours, in which God has been
pleased to dwell, is now at the right hand of God. "If we
believe this, we ought to strive that our hearts and minds
should daily ascend to where our Saviour, Christ, has gone
before, and is now praying to His Father for our forgive-
ness.

From thence He shall come to judge the Quick and the Dead.
When that hour shall come, we do not know; and we have
no right to-seek to know; for God has hidden it from us;
we have only to watch and pray; for when it does come,
it will be like a thief in the night. ~ All men will then be
judged ; their secret thoughts, their idle words, their actions;
for ‘‘God will bring every work into judgment, whether
good or bad.”

. 9 3.

 

Jee iS? 8? Oe ev,

The Articles of the Christian Faith. God the Holy
Ghost.

Q. You say you believe in God the Father,
and God the Son; is there not a third person
you profess to believe in?

6*G6 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

A. I believe in God the Holy Ghost.

@. Why do you here say, I believe, again ?

A. To show that just as I believe in the Fa
ther, and the Son, so must I believe in the Holy
ee t.

@. What does Ghost mean ?

A, Spirit. Holy Ghost means Holy Spirit.

@. Whose Spirit is He called in Scripture ?

A. The Holy Spirit of God.—Acts 5 : 80.

@, Is not the Holy Ghost eternal ?

A, Yes; Heisthe eternal Spirit.—Heb. 9:14.

Q. Is He not all-wise ?

A, Yes; He searcheth all things, and know-
eth the thine of God.—1 Cor. 2:10, 11.

@. Did He not make all things?

A, Yes; the Spirit of God moved upon the
face of the waters; and God said, Let ws make
man.—Gen. 1: 2, 5, 26.

Y. Is not the Holy § Spirit every where? .

A. Yes; David said: Whither shall I go
from Thy Spirit ?—Ps. 139 : 7

@. If the Holy Ghost is eternal, all-wise, all-
seeing, almighty, every where, and made all
things, must He not be God ?

A, Yes; God equal with the Father and the
Son. |
@. Where is He called God, in the Bible?
A. Peter said: Ananias, why has Satan filledCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 67

thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? thou hast
not lied unto men, but unto God.

Q. In whose name are we baptized ?

A, Jn the name of the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost.

@. What does the Holy Spirit do for us ?

A, He makes us feel that we are sinners, and
hate our sins.

@. What does He put into our hearts.

A. Good desires; and helps us bring them out
in good acts.

(@. Can we do any thing good without Him?

A, No; without Him nothing is strong, no-
thing is holy.

Q. What name did our Saviour give the Holy
Spirit ?

A. The Comforter: “Behold! I will pray
the Father, and He will give you another Com-
forter, even the Spirit of Truth.’°—John 14 : 26.

SCRIPTURE Proors.—Acts 5:30; Heb.9: 14;
l Cor. 10s Wl Gent 2 Ob: es 130.7
ANCUS, ©: t 4a

Remarks for Teacher,

The Bible tells us that the Holy Ghost is a real, living
person, the same as-the Father and the Son. Some people
fancy that the Spirit of God is nothing more than God’s
wisdom, or power—something which can neither speak, think,b8 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

nor do any thing for itself; but our Saviour speaks of Him
as areal person, equal with the Father and the Son, saying:
‘‘Baptize ye in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost.” And St. Panl prays that the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the
Holy Ghost, might be with all.

This Divine Being does all the acts of a person; He is
said to come, to go, to speak, to command, to intercede.
(John 14: 26; Acts 10:19; John 16: 14.) Now only a
living person can do so. At our Saviour’s baptism, the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost were together. (Matt. 3:16,
17.) God the Father sends the Holy Spirit into our hearts
to make them clean, so that we may love Him, and hate
sin. He caused good men to write the Bible, telling them
what to write, and teaching us to understand what we there
read. Teachers and ministers explain as well as they can,
but they learn from the Holy Spirit.

He also leads us in the right paths. A little child who
has lost its way, can not find it again, unless some kind
friend takes him by the hand and leads him home. The
Holy Spirit does so for us. He finds us wandering in dark-
ness, far from the way to heaven, and leads us back to our
heavenly Father; ‘‘for as many as are led by the Spirit of
God, they are the sons of God.’”’—Rom. 8:14. Take care,
then, lest you grieve this Holy Spirit, and He leaves you
alone; then you will never find your way back. Pray to
Him to come and dwell in your heart, and make it the temple
of God.

 

diss ON: «XeV ob.

The Articles of the Christian Faith. The Holy
Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints.
@. Wuar do you mean by the Church?
A. The Church is taken in two senses: first,
as the whole body of those who profess the trueCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS, 69

faith of Christ ; second, as embracing those only
who are Chisiians in heart.

Y. What are these sometimes called ?

A, The first is sometimes called the Visible
Church, or that which men can see by the out-
ward profession. The second is sometimes
called the Invisible Church, or that which men
can not see, but God only, who knows the
heart.

Q. What is the Catholic Church ?

A, The whole Church throughout the world,
visible and invisible.

Y. Why is it called holy ?

A. Because its cee is to promote a
faith and holy living 5 just as the Sabbath is
called holy because ié is a day intended to be
kept holy.

Q. Are all the members of the Church holy?

A, No; there are bad as well as good.

Q. To what does Christ compare His Church?

A, To a wheat-field, in which the tares grow
among the wheat; and to a net cast into the
sea, and gathering in every kind of fish.—Matt.
13 325,47.

0d). ai Han will these true and false members
be separated ?

A, At the day of Judgment. “ He will ga.

1
i

holy70 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

ther the wheat in his garner, but the tares will
be bind in bundles to burn.”

Q. When was the first Christian Church es-
tablished ?

A, Immediately after our Lord’s death, by
His Apostles.

Q. What command did our Saviour give
them about His Church ?

A. Go ye into all the world and preach the
Gospel to every creature—Mark 16: 15.

Q. Has any particular church, such as the
Church of Rome, a right to call itself catholic ?

A. No; it is only a branch of the Holy
Catholic Church; it has no more right than the
hand or foot has to call itself the whole body.

@. Is the Church of Rome the same now as
it was in the days of St. Paul?

A. No; it was then a pure Church; now it
is full of error and idolatry.

@. To what branch of the Catholic Church
do you belong ?

A. To the Protestant Episcopal Church.

QO. Why do you belong to this Church ?

A. Because it teaches the same things thas
the Apostles taught, has the same kind of minis
try, sacraments, and worship.

Q. What ministers has it ?
A, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons,CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

QY. What sacraments?

A, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.

@. What communion does the Creed tuach
there is, in the Catholic Church ?

A, The communion of saints.

VY. What is meant by communion?

A, Having a share with another.

(. Who are meant by saints ?

A. All true members of Christ’s Church.

VY. What, then, do you mean by the ctm-
munion of saints ?

A, I mean that all good Christians join to-
gether i in heart and deed, and share God’s bless-
ines with each other. ;

@. What are the blessings in which they
share or commune ?

A, Prayer, thanksgiving, the Lord’s Supper,
hearing God’s word, and charity.

Q. Do not the saints in heaven hold commun-
ion with the saints on earth ?

A, Yes; they rejoice in the hope that they
will share the same happiness together.

Q. May we pray to saints or angels ?

A, No, certainly not; for we are not told to
pray to them; and we do not know that they
can hear our prayers.

@. Why, then, do we call churches by their
names, and keep saints’ days to their honor ?CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

 

A, Not to worship, or pray to them, but only
to honor their memories, that we may follow
their example.

Q. Where are we forbidden to pray to saints
or angels ? 3 |

A, In Reyv.19:10. When St. John fell down
to worship the angel, the angel said: “ See thou
do it not; for J am thy fellow-servant, and of
thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus ;
worship God.”

Scriprure Psoors.—Acts1:15; Eph.4:5;
flO 20 sad Pimms : bos vom. 12:53 1 Cor.
Yo: 36. Tieb. 12: 82.23.

—_————_—_

HY aMoN,

The Communion of Saints.

If ’tis sweet to mingle where
Christians meet for social prayer ;
If ’tis sweet with them to raise®
Sones of holy joy and praise—
Passing sweet that state must be
When they meet eternally.

Saviour, may these meetings prove
Preparations from above ;

‘ While we worship in this place,
May we go from grace to grace ;

Make us, eagh in his degree,

Meet, O Lord! to dwell with Thee?CATHCHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Remarks for Teacher.

ne Christian Church was first established at J erusalem,
on the day of Pentecost, immediately after our Lord’s ascen-
sion; and at first consisted of a hundred and twenty per-
sons, including the Apostles and the seventy disciples. On
the same day, however, three thousand were added by St,
Peter’s sermon, and were baptized, becoming members of
the Church; and afterwards, when churches were formed
at Antioch, Samaria, and other places, they were not looked
upon as different churches, but as branches of the one
Catholic Church, just as no one branch of a tree can call
itself the whole tree; but all the branches together help to
make up the whole tree.

The Apostles, taught by Christ, made the laws of the
Church, and appointed its governors and officers. They
arranged three kinds of ministers; first, Bishops, who were
to ordain persons to the ministry, and oversee the Church ;
second, Priests, who were to preach the Gospel, and give
the sacraments to the people; third, the Deacons, who were
to assist the Priests in divine service. In the time of the
Apostles, the Church was pure and sound in all its ways;
but after their death, as time went on, errors crept in. The
Church of Rome began to call itself the only true Church,
and to teach the people that they must pray to the Virgin
Mary, and to saints and angels. It also taught that man
could obtain forgiveness of sin, and go to heaven by hisown
good works; and the Bishop of Rome, now called the.
Pope, was to be honored as God, and had the power of
pardoning sin. These, and many other falsehoods, filled
the Church. It became very rich and powerful, and spread
all over the world, so that great kings bowed down to it, and
whole nations were ruled byit. At last it became so wicked
that the people could bear it no longer; and a great change,
called the Reformation, took place. In tlie sixteenth century
God raised up a man named Martin Luther, to fight against
theseerrors. He was a Rey. Catholic monk; but he stud-
ied his Bible, and found that what his Church taught, was
against the teaching of the word of God; so he began to write
and preach the truth. Hesoon had many followers. ‘They

ry
4o4 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.
alied themselves Protestants, because they protested against,
‘and would Have nothing to do with the corrupt Church of
Rome, but went back to the doctrines and worship of the one
‘Catholic Church as it was in the time of the Apostles. They
worshipped God, not the Virgin Mary; looked to Christ as
the “Great Head of the Church,” not to the Pope; they
‘believed on Jesus as their Saviour, and trusted not to their
own goodness to be saved. All were baptized with the
same baptism, all partook together of the Lord’s Supper,
and the same pure faith was preached to all, Many and
dreadfal were the struggles between error and the Church
of Rome on one side, aud Protestantism and truth on the
other; but truth prevailed, as it always will, and the Church
of Christ, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and
Prophets—Jesus Christ Himself being the Head—is rapidly
spreading all over the world. This is the Church in whici
you say, in the Creed, that you believe.

—__—_6 © o—_—_

Le Ses ON Le Yebd.

The Articles of the Christian Faith. The Forgive-
ness of Sins. The Resurrection of the Body. The

Life Everlasting.

Q. You say you believe in the forgiveness of
gins. What is sin?

A. Disobedience to God.

Q. What is the punishment of disobedience
to God?

A. Death. The wages of sin is death_—Rom.
0323.
Q. Have all mankind disobeyed God ?
A. Yes; allhave sinned. There is none goodCATECHISM FOR BEGINNE to

but one—that is God.—Rom. 5 : 12 ot Natit
97.

QY. What is forgiveness of sin ?

A. It is God’s taking back to His love and
favor those who have sinned, and not punish-
ing them.

@. Why does God forgive sin ?

A. Because Christ died for sinners, and God
for Christ’s sake hath forgiven us ph. A282,

Q@. What must we do to obtain this forgive-
ness through Christ ?

A. We must repent of our oS and believe
in the Saviour.—Ezek, 18 - LA CMete, P6573 kv

@. You believe in Hie eesnectuol of the
body. What does resurrection mean ?

A, Rising again.

?. What | 1s the resurrection of the body ?

A. The body will come forth from the grave,
aad the soul will be joined to it again.

@. When will that be?

A. At the last day.

@. Will both the righteous and the wicked
rise again ?

A. Yes; the hour is coming when aJ/ that
are In the graves shall come forth.—John 5:28,
g.

wo

What will the bodies of the righteous be
like ?76 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

(

A. Like the glorious body of the Son of God.
—Phil. 3: 21.

Q. What is the last Article of the Creed, in
which you believe ?

A. I believe in the life everlasting.

Q. What is everlasting ?

A. Never coming to. an end.

Q. What, then, is the life everlasting ?

A. To live forever with God.

Q. What is it to be with God ?

A. “In His presence is fullness of joy; at
His right hand are pleasures for evermore.”’-—
re V6 sik: 7

Q. What will be the lot of the wicked ?

A, Everlasting death.—1 Thess. 1 : 9.

Q. What is that?

A. Being sent away forever from the presence
of God.—Matt. 13 : 42.

 

ScriprurRE Proors.— Eph. 4 : 38235 Ezek.
18:27; Acts 16:31; John 5: 28, 29; 1 Cor,

15:52; John 3:36; 2 Pet. 1:11.

—————s

HAY MeN

Who are these whose little feet,
Pacing life’s dark journey through,
Now have reached that heavenly seat
They have ever kept in view ?CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

“I, from Greenland’s trozen laud;
I, from India’s sultry plain;
I, from Afric’s burning sand;
I, from islands of the main.

* All our earthly journeys past,

Kvery tear and pain gone by,

Here together met at last,
At the portal of the sky.”

Kach the welcome, ‘‘Come!” awaits,
Conquerors over death and sin:

Lift your heads, ye golden gates,
Let the little travellers in!

Remarks for Teacher,

Forgiveness of Sins. In God’s second covenant with
man, He promised forgiveness of sins through Christ. But
we must first come to Christ; for if a man falls in deep
water, and arope is thrown to him, he can not be saved
unless he takes hold of the rope. How, then, are we to
come to Christ? Why, first we must have repentance ; that
is, we must be sorry for our sins; for uriless you are sorry,
you do not feel that you need go to Christ for forgiveness.
A. man may be very sick; but if he does not feel so, he will
not go to a doctor to be cured. And not only must we be
sorry for our sins, but we must leave them off. That is veal
repentance. If you disobey your father, and say you are
sorry for it, and yet do the same thing again, nobody will
believe you are really sorry. To come to Christ we must
not only have repentance, but we must also have faith.
Without faith it is impossible to please Him. You might
make yourself very ill, and be sorry for it, and resolve not
to do so again; but would that make you well? You
might commit a crime, and be shut up in prison, and be
very sorry for what you had done; but that would not help
you to get out. No; some kind person must cure you of
763CAiECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

18

your sickness ; some powerful person must help you out of
prison. You have broken God’s law; and He is a holy and
just God, and can not pass it by without punishing it; but
Christ, who never deserved the anger of God, offered ta
bear our punishment for us. So we must not only repent
of our sins, but we must go to Christ and ask Him to take
them away, and believe that He will.

Resurrection of the Body. Christ rose from the dead. He
is the Head of His Church; and we believe, therefore, that
we, the members of His Church, will rise also; so when we
bury those we love, we know that we shall see them again.
The New Testament is full of assurances that the body will
rise again; and in the Old Testament Job says: “T know
that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand the latter:
day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms de-
stroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” We be-
lieve that the same body that is put in the grave, though
crumbled into dust, will, by the almighty power of God,
come forth again, or something so answering to it, that it
may with truth be called the same. But we also believe
that the bodies of those who have died in Christ will arise
more noble and glorified, free from sin, such as our Saviour’s
when He showed Himself to His disciples on the mountain,
transfigured or changed; His face did shine as the sun, and
Tlis raiment was white asthe light. St. Paul says, that the
body, when buried, is like a seed planted in the eround—
it seems to have no life in it, yet we know that it will rise
again out of the earth, the same seed, but in a different
form, far more beautiful. The change which takes place in
the butterfly is also an emblem of the resurrection.

Life Everlasting. Kye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nei-
ther hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which

tod has prepared for those that love Him, for they are be-
fore the throne and serve Him day and night in His temple;
and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
These shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; nel-
ther shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the
Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them,
and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

  
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
   
 
  
 

Gs 8: OR oe ea ie

The Trinity.

Y. Waar dost thou chiefly learn in these
A ticles of thy Belief ?

A. First. I learn to believe in God the Fa.
ther, who hath made me and all the world.

Secondly. In God the Son, who hath redeem:
ed me and all mankind.

* Thirdly. In God the Holy Ghost, who sane-
tifieth me and all the people of God.

Y. Are there more Gods than one ?

A. No; there is but one God, and none
other.—Mark 12 : 82.

@. What do you mean, then, when you s y
you believe in God the Father, God the Son, ,
and God the Holy Ghost? Are these three
Gods ?

A. No; three persons in one God.

Q. Recite a text in which our Saviour ig
ealled God.

A. St. John says, the Word, that is, Christ,
is God. (John 1:1,3.) St. Paul says, Christ
came, who is over all, God blessed forever.—-
Rom. 9: 5.

@. Recite a text in which the Holy Ghost is
called God.

A, Peter said: Ananias, why hath Satan filled80 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost ? thou hast
not lied unto men, but unto God.—Acts 5:3.

@. Can we understand how there can he
three persons in one Godhead ?

A. No. Can any man by searching find out
God? It is as high as heaven; what can we
do? deeper than hells what can we know ?
The measure thereof is longer than, the earth,
and broader than the sea.—Job 11 : 7-9.

Q. Why, then, must we believe Tt f

A. Because God tells us in His holy word.

Q. Are there not many things in this world
which we must believe without understanding ?

A. Yes; we can not understand even our
own nature; how, then, can we understand the
nature of God?,

Q. When will all be made clear to us ?

A. In heaven.—1 Cor, 13; 12.

Q. What did God the Father do for you ?

A, He made me, and all the world—Job
e872 Gen 1: 1. |

Q. What did God the Son do for you?

A, He redeemed me.

Q. What is it to redeem?

A. To set free by paying a price.

Q. From what did Christ set us free ?

A. From the power of Satan, and everlast.
ing death.CATCHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 8]

(@. What price did He pay?

A. The price of His own blood.—Rev. 5: 9.
@, Did He redeem any beside you?

A. Yes; He tasted death for all men.—Heb.
oe |

Y. But will all mankind be saved?

A. No; only those who believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ—Acts 16: 31.

Y. What does the Holy Ghost do for you ?

A, He sanctifies me.

?. What does that mean ?

A, Makes me holy.

Y. How does He sanctify you ?

A. He creates in me a clean heart, and re-
news a right spirit within me.—Ps. 51 : 10.

@. Does He sanctify any more than you ?

A. Yes; all the people of God.

Q. Who are the people of God ?

A, All who believe in Christ. “If any man
have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of
his.,-—hKom. 8 : 9.

Q. What name do we give to the three Per-
sons of the Godhead?

A, The Trinity.

Q. What day in the year is particularly ap-
pointed to call to mind the Trinity ?

A, Trinity Sunday.

boCATECHISM FO BEGINNERS.

 

SCRIPTURE Proors.—Deut. 6:4; Heb. 1° 8;
mcts 5 33,45 2 Cords < ia Matt..3:°16, 17

 

HOY MN.

We give immortal praise
To God the Father’s love,
For all our comforts here
And all our hopes above:
He sent His own
Kiternal Son,
To die for sins
That man had done,

To God the Son, belongs
Immortal glory too,
Who saved us by His blood,
From everlasting woe ;
And now He lives,
And now He reigns,
And sees the fruit
Of all His pains,

To God the Spirit, praise
And endless worship give,
Whose new-creating power
Makes the dead sinner live;
His work completes
The great design,
And fills the soul
With joy divine,CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS

Almighty God! to Thee
Be endless honors done ;
The sacred Persons Three,
The Godhead only One;
Where reason fails,
With all her powers,
There faith prevails,
And love adores,

Remarks for Teacher,

How there can be three persons, and only one God, is a
thing which we can not understand: but the Bible tells us
that Christ is God, equal with the Father, and that the Holy
Ghost is God, equal with the Father, and yet that these
three make but one God. But although we can not under-
stand it, yet we must believe it. Our minds are blinded
and weakened by sin; how can we hope to find out the
Almighty? Why, we can not understand how the little
plant grows out of the seed, nor how our han@ stretches
out to reach what we desire; and behold how many hours
we spend in trying to learn the many wonderful things
which surround us on every side! Why, even the smallest
inséct that flies is far above our wisdom.

The body, the mind, and the soul, are three distinct
things, and yet they are all joined together in one person.

In the fire there are three things—the light, the heat, and
the flame—and yet you believe there is but one fire. Then
if you can not explain the things which you see. how can
you hope to understand and explain the nature of Him who
“forms light, and creates darkness; who hath measured
the waters in the hollow of His hand, and meted out heaven
With a span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a
measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills
in a balance? All nations before Him are as nothing; and
they are counted to Him less than nothing, and vanity.”
Isa. 40 : 12-17,CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

 

LESS 0 Nets.

God’s Holy Will and Commandments.

Q. You said that your sponsors did promise
for you that you should keep God’s command-
ments. Tell me how many there are? |

A. Ven. ‘

Q. What are they ?

A. The same which God spake in the twep-
tieth chapter of Exodus, ‘lie : Tam the Lord
thy God, who brought thee out of the land of
Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Q. Did God write as well as speak these
commandments ?

A. Yes; He wrote them on two tables cf
stone.

Q. How many on the first table ?

A. Pour,

Q. What do they teach ?

A, Our duty to God.

Q. How many on the second table?

A. Six.

Q. What do they teach ?

A, Our duty to our neighbor.

Q. What is the First Cone andment ?

A. Thou shalt have none other gods ae me,
Q. Why was this commandment given?CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 85

A, Because men had forsaken Ged and wor:
shipped idols.

@. Who alone must be worshipped ?

A. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the
one true God.

Q. Are saints, angels, and the Virgin Mary
to be worshipped ?

A. No, Thou shalt worship the. Lord thy
God, and Him only shalt thou serve-—Matt.
43 10;

(. How else could we break this command ?

A, By loving any body or any thing more
than God.—Matt. 10 : 37.

@. What is the Second Commandment ?

A. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven
image nor the likeness of any thing in heaven
above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water un-
der the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them
nor worship them ; for I, the Lord thy God, am
a jealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers
upon the children unto the third and fourth
generation of them that hate me, and show
mercy unto thousands of them that love me and
keep my commandments,

(2. What does this commandment forbid us ?

A, To worship images or pictures.

@. What is a graven image ?

886 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

A, The likeness of any thing cut in wood or
stone.

Q. Of what must you not.make an image or
likeness ?

A, Of any thing in heaven above, or in the
earth beneath, or in the water under the earth.

Q. What is there in heaven above that you
can make a likeness of ?

A, God and the angels.

@. What is there in the earth beneath ?

A, Man, and the animals.

Q. What is there in the water under the
earth ?

A, Fishes.

Q. If we do not worship, may we bow down
to them, whether we worship them or not ?

A. No; for it is forbidden.

Q. What, then, does the First Commandment
teach us ?

A, To worship only the true God.

Q. What does the Second Commandment for.
bid?

A, Making any image of Him for worship ?

Q@. Why does God call Himself a jealous
God?

A, He is angry with those who worship any
other beingCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 87

@. How does He visit the sins of the father
upon the children ?

A, Only in this life. If the parents are idle,
or wasteful, or drunken, the children suffer for it,

SCRIPTURE Proors.—1 Chron. 17: 20; Matt.

10: 37; Isa. 40218; Rev. 19 - 105; Kom,
1; 21-23.

HY? MN,

O God! we praise Thee, and confess
That Thou, the only Lord

And everlasting Fath-r art,
By all the earth adored,

To Thee all angels cry a'oud,
To Thee the powers on high,

Both cherubim and seraphim,
Continually do ery:

O holy, holy, holy Lord!
Whom heavenly hosts obey,
The world is with the glory filled
Of Thy majestic SWay,

The apostles, glorious company,
And prophets crowned with light,

With ail the martyrs’ noble host,

Thy constant praise recite.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS,

The holy Church throughout the wor: 4,
O Lord! confesses Thee,

That Thou the eternal Father art
Of boundless majesty.

Remarks for Teacher. ,

You have told me what Christians are to renounce, and
what they are to believe. We will now learn what they
are to do. Your sponsors promised you should keep God’s
holy will and commandments; and we find in the book of
Exodus, that while the Israelites were passing through the
wilderness from Egypt to Canaan, God gave them these
commandments. Ile wrote them on two tables of stone,
and delivered them to His servant Moses, on the top of
Mt. Sinai. But they are given to us, just as much as to the
Jews. We are God’s people in bondage to sin and Satan;
Christ comes to set us free from this slavery, and lead us to
heaven, our promised land. The First Commandment for-
bids us to worship ahy other being than Jehovah, the true
and only God. Now you may say, this command is meant
for the heathen, not for Christians; for there is no danger
of Christians worshipping false gods. And yet, I assure
you, that we all must pray heartily, ‘“‘ Lord, have merey
upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law;” for
whenever you find any worldly object filling your whole
heart, so that it takes up all your love, and time, and thoughts,
whether it is money, or fine clothes, or a great name, or
praise of men, or the pleasures of the world, then you make
these things your idols, and break the commandment.
Parents may love their children too much; and often does
God take away the child lest it become an idol.

The Second Commandment shows in what way we must
worship God. Not by making a likeness of Him in wood
or stone, for He isa Spirit, and must be worshipped in spirit
and in truth. The Ruman Catholics sin entirely against
this command, for they make images of Christ and the Vir
gin Mary, and the saints, and prav to them.CATECHISM BOR BEGINNERS. 89

Sins of the Father visited on the Children. This does not
mean that children will be punished in the future world for
the sins which their fathers committed in this. God Says:
“Only the soul that sinneth shall die.” It means that it
in this world the parents have done evil, if they have wasted :
their money in riotous living, the children suffer poverty.
If they commit crimes, their children suffer from the dis-
grace. They are thus warned against following the bad
example of their parents, and parents are warned lest their

‘ wicked conduct make their children unhappy.

Peis G20 Noe.

God’s Holy Will and Commandments.

Q. Wuat is the Third Commandment ?

A, 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.

@. What is it to take God’s name in vain ?

A. To swear by it, or naming it carelessly in
common talk.

QY. In what other way do we take God’s
name in vain ?.

A, When we pray to God, or praise Him
with a careless heart and thoughtless tongue.

@. What is an oath ?

A, Calling upon God to witness the truth of
what we say.

Q. Is it ever right to do this?

g*90 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

ev

A. Yes, when it is done with reverence, to
honor God, and do good to man.
Q. Does not this commandment forbid talse
swearing ?
A, Yes; God says: Thou shalt not swear by
my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the
name of thy God.—Lev. 19: 12.

Scripture Proors.—Matt. 5 : 34-387; Deut.
6:18; Heb.6:16; 1 Kings 8: 31,82; Ps.
139 ; 20.

ee NN

Lord, teach us how to pray,
And give us hearts sincere ;
fake us to walk in wisdom’s way,
And seek Thy blessing here.

Lord, help us as we sing,
To mean the words we use,

And not to mock our heavenly King,
And all His love abuse.

Oh! let us never dare
To act the trifler’s part;

Or think that God will hear a prayer
That comes not from the heart!

 

Remarks for Teacher.

St. James says the tongue is a little member, but it can
kindle a great fire; no man can tame it; it is an unrulyCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 91

evil, full of deadly poison; and every one has need to pray
with David, “Set a watch, O Lord! before my mouth, and
keep the door of my lips.” (Ps. 141: 3.) Every child
should be very careful to avoid the company of those who
take God’s name in vain, for there is no wicked habit more
easily learnt than the habit of swearing; and by allowing
yourself to listen to wicked words, after a while you be-
come so accustomed to them that they do not scem so wick-
ed, and at last you end by using them yourself Our Save
jour says, that for every idle word you must give an ac-
count. When you are on your knees in prayer, or when
you are in church listening to God's word, you must watch
as well as pray; forif you let your heart be filled with fool-
ish and wandering thoughts, while the holy name of God
is on your lips, you break this commandment.

Taking an oath in a solemn manner before a magistrate,
in order to make a truth certain, is not forbidden by the
commandment. Christ Himself was adjured or sworn by
the High Priest, (Matt. 26: 63;) and St. Paul often in “
solemn manner calls God to witness the truth of what He
Bays, (2 Cor. 1: 23.)

If you should see a man commit a murder, and you were
brought before a magistrate to tell it, you would have
to be very careful about what you would say; for by your
words that man would be found guilty, or set free; and you
would therefore be required to take the Bible in your hands
and swear in a solemn manner in the presence of Almighty
God, that you spoke only the truth.

 

~9@ e e¢——

LE SoG NX xe:
God’s Holy Will and Commandments.

Q. Wuat is the Fourth Commandment ?
A, Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day;
six days shalt thou labor and do all that thou99 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

hast co do; but the seventh day is the Sabbath
of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt do no
‘manner of work, thou and thy son and thy
daughter, thy man servant and thy maid serv-
ant, thy cattle, and the stranger that is within
thy gates; for in six days the Lord made the
heaven and the earth, the sea, and all that in
them is, and rested on the seventh day ; where-
fore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hal.
lowed it. ?

Q. What does the word Sabbath mean ?

A. Rest. i

Q. When was the first Sabbath ?

A. The seventh day of the world. God cre-
ated the earth in six days, and rested on the
seventh. :

Q. What did God do on the seventh day,
when He rested ? ee

A. He blessed and hallowed it.

Q. What does hallowed mean ?

A, He set it apart for holy use.

Q. How many days has God given to man
for labor ?

A, Six days.

Q. What is he to do on the seventh ?

A. Rest from all labor, and worship God.

Q. May we permit those around us to neglect
the Sabbath ?CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 93

A, No; for the commandment says: Neither
thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy cat-
tle, nor the stranger within thy gates.

Y%. What day is the Jewish Sabbath ?

A, Saturday, or the seventh day of the week.

Y. What day is the Christian Sabbath ?

A. Sunday, or the first day of the week ?

@. By whom was the change made?

A, By the Apostles, who always met for wor.
ship on that day.

Q. Why?

A. Because on that day Christ rose from the
dead.

@. Was it not done with Christ’s permission ?

A. Yes; He appeared to His disciples on that
day, and blessed them.

@. What name is given to it in Scripture?

A. The Lord’s day.—Rev. 1: 10.

. Are good works forbidden on that day?

A, No; our Saviour says it is right to do
good works on the Sabbath.—Matt. 12 : 10-12.

Y. What are such works? :

A, Prayer and praise to God, healing the
sick, visiting the afflicted, and teaching the ig-
norant.

QY. May we not do necessary work ?

A. Yes; such as preparing our food, attend-
ing to our cattle.94 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Q. Are we forbidden to buy and sell on the
Sabbath ?

A, Yes; Nehemiah threatens the Jews with
the anger of God for doing so.—Neh. 13: 15-18,

Q. Do we not break this commandment when
we neglect to attend church ?

A. Yes; for God commands us not to forsake
the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is.—Heb. 10: 25.

Y. May we follow our own ways, or find our
own pleasure on the Sabbath ?

A. No; God says: If thou turn away thy
foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure
on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delicht,
the holy of the Lord honorable; and shalt
honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor find-
ing thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own
words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the
Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the
high places of the earth, and feed thee with the
heritage of Jacob, thy father; for the mouth
of the Lord hath spoken it.—Isa. 58 : 13, 14.

ScRIPTURE PrRoors.—Gen. 2 : 1-3; Lev.
O33 * Aete20 37s John 20° 19, 26.VATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS,

HOG NEN,

Maker of the Sabbath day,
Teach us how to praise and pray $
Thou this blessed day hast given
To prepare our souls for heaven.

Giver of eternal rest,
Be Thy glorious Gospel blest;
Thou alone canst change the heart,
Thou alone canst peace impart.

Friend of children, hear our prayer:
Let no trifling feelings dare

Steal the precious hours away
Of this sacred Sabbath day.

—— ew

Remarks for Teacher.

This ig she only one of the commandments which hegins
w.th the word remember. We are reminded that although
the Sabbath was instituted at the beginning of the world,
yet God meant that it should be remembered until the enc
of time. He has given us six days in which to do all om
necessary work, and only kept one day for Himself, and yet -
not only for Himself, but also for our good. Christ says,
“the Sabbath was made for man.” Suppose we had to la
bor every day of the week—no time of rest to look forwart.
to, no appointed season in which to call our thoughts away
from the toil and trouble of the world, and lift them to our
Maker—do not you think our hearts would soon TOW
weary, and we would sink, exhausted, like a tired travelle,
who has to journey a long distance without any place of
rest where he may stop and refresh himself? The Sabbatt
was kept very strictly by the Jews. The preceding day
was regarded by them as a day of preparation, and all ne96 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

cessary work was commanded to be done then, so that we
read in Numbers 15: 32, an account of a man who was
put to death for gathering sticks on the Sabbath. This
should teach us to prepare every thing as much as possible
on Saturday, so that we may not be detained ourselves, nor
keep any ene else from the house of God on Sunday.

Very sad is the state of those who have no love for the
Sabbath. Suppose a friend should send you seven kinds of
fruit, and say, “Keep six for yourself, but save one kind
for me ;” do you think that any thing would tempt you to
erudge him that one, and keep it for yourself? Would you
not be exceedingly selfish and ungrateful? Well, you act
just in this manner when you forget the Sabbath-day to
keep it holy.

There is a fishing viilage on the coast of Cornwall, where
the people are very poor, but pious and intelligent. Last
year they were sorely tried. The winds were contrary,
and for nearly a month they could not put to sea. At last,
one Sabbath morning, the wind changed, and some of the
men whose faith was weak, went out towards the beach,
the women and children looking on sadly, many saying,
with sighs, “I’m sorry it’s Sunday, but——"” “Jf we were
not so poor——”

“But if” said a sturdy fisherman, starting up and speak-
ing aloud, “surely, neighbors, you're not going, with your
buts and ifs, to break God's law ?”

The people gathered around him, and he added, © Mine’s
a religion for all weathers, fair wind and foul. - bis 18 the
love of God, that ye keep His law.’ ‘Remember the Sab-
bath day to keep it holy;’ that’s the law. True, we are
poor; what of that? Better poor, and have God's smile,
than rich and have his frown. Go, you that dare, but I
never knew any good come of a religion that changed with
the wind.”

These words in season staid the purpose of the rest.
They went home and made ready for the house of God, and
spent the day in praise and prayer. In the evening, Just
when they would have been returning home, had they put
to sea, a violent storm arose, which would have destroyed
all their boats. Then were. they glad and thankful that

they had remembered the Sabbath day.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS,

ble, Dy oN. X Wells,

God’s Holy -Will cand Commandments,

@. Waar is the Fifth Commandment ?

A. Honor thy father and mother, that thy
days may be long in the land which the Lord
thy God giveth thee. |

@. How may you honor your father and mo-
ther ?

A, By loving them and obeying their com-
mands.—1 Tim. 5: 4.

Q. Who set us an example of obedience ?

A. Our Saviour; for when a child He was
subject to His parents; and on the cross He
remembered his mother—Luke 2 : 51; John
19 : 26, 27.

@. If your parents should tell you to do
wrong, ought you to obey them ?

A. No. We ought to obey God rather than
mnian.—Acts 5 : 29.

Y. What does the Bible say about it ?

A, Children, obey your parents in the Lord;
that is, in things pleasing to the Lord.—Eph.
691,

@. Can you recite a text which shows God’s
displeasure against disobedient children ?

A. The eye that mocketh his father, and de-
9

@98 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

spiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the
valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles
shall eat it—Prov. 30: 17.

Q. What is the Sixth Commandment ?

A, Thou shait do no murder.

@. What is murder ?

A, To kill a person on purpose.

(. Where does murder begin ?

A, Out of the heart prdceedeth murder—
Matt. 15 : 19.

Q. How does it begin in the heart ?

A, First comes the angry thought; and St.
John says, He that hateth his brother is a mur-
derer.—1 John 3:15.

Q. And what follows the angry thought ?

A, The angry word. Christ says: Whoso-
ever is angry with his brother withoht cause,
shall be in danger of the judgment; and who-
soever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of
hell-fire.—Matt 5 : 21, 22.

Q. What follows the angry word?

A, The angry blow. The Gospel says: Do
violence to no man.—Luke 3 : 14.

Q. What, then, should we put away from us ?

A. All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and
evil-speaking, with all malice.

@. And how skould we behave to each other?

A We2should be kind to one another ten-

¢CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS,

   

der-hearted, forgiving one another even as God

for Christ’s sake hath forgiven us.

  

SCRIPTURE Proors.—1 Tim. 5: 4; Luke 2:
51; John 19: 28, 27; Eph.6:1; 1John 3:15;

Matt. 5:21, 22; Luke3: 14; Eph. 4: 31.

—_

EY) VEN.

Let children that would fear the Lord,
Hear what their teachers Say,

With reverence meet their parents’ word,
And with delight obey.

For those who worship God, and give
Their parents honor due;

Here on this earth they long shall live,
And live hereafter too.

 

Remarks for Teacher.

 
     
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 

The Fifth Commandment. The duty of children to their
parents is very plainly told us in God’s word, and the sin of
disobedience is placed among the greatest sins. (Rom. 1: 30.)

Besides obeying your parents, you should love and help
them. See what love our Saviour showed towards His mo-
ther, when amid all his agony on the cross, He thought of
her, and told His disciple John, to take her to His own

home and be a son to her.

  
  
  
   
    

If a child should be go unfortunate as to have wicked
parents, it is his duty to obey them all the same, except
when they ask him to do something displeasing to God ;
then he must remember that God must always be first ; and
no matter what he may suffer from thé anger of the parent,

the law of God must be obeyed ratl

   

  
   
  
  

1er than the command100 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

of man, Pray for such jarents, that God would changes
their |.earts; and try to make religion lovely to them by
your kind and respectful obedience in all things right. Pious
parents are God’s greatest blessings. Samuel and Timothy
had pious parents who brought them jp in the fear of God.
If children would only reflect what trouble and anxiety
their parents suffer for them, not only when they are young
put all through life, they would pray more earnestly to G od
to make them obedient.

The Sixth Commandment. The heart is the seat of all
sin; who can know it? it is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked. A murder is always begun in the
heart. Go to the cell of the unhappy criminal awaiting the
sentence of death, and ask him how he came to take away
the life of his fellow-being, and he will tell you it was be-
cause he allowed the revengeful or covetous thought to

“dwell in his heart. Ah! when those three evil spirits, an-
ger, malice, revenge, enter the heart, buckle on the whole
armor of God at once, and fight them till they fly, or they
will grow stronger and larger until they break forth into
bitter words and revengeful blows, and you thus destroy
yourself and others.

To kill a man by accident, is not murder. We know it
because God told the Israelites to make cities of refuge,
where those who killed a person through mistake, might
fly, and remain in safety. Nor is it murder when a man is
put to death by the laws of his country, for taking away
another's life; for God commanded that,“ Whoso sheddeth
man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed ;” and He has
appointed persons in authority to do Th. (ROMs 13 554.)
When a man kills another in self-defense, either in battle or
at any other time, it is not murder; but those who fight a
duel, disobey God’s commandment. When two persons, to
avenge themselves on each other for some affront, meet to-
gether to take each other's life after having thought of it,
and planned it beforehand, they are guilty of murder, and
have less excuse than those who commit the crime in the
heat of anger, or when tempted by the love of money.

When a man kills himself, he commits murder ; for God
has given us our life, and we must preserve it until He

pleases to take it away.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Boe 8: ONS eX XP ps

God’s Holy Wall and Commandmeiutts,

Q. Wuar is the Seventh Commandment ?
A. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
@. What does this commandment forbid ?
A, All impure and unholy thoughts, words,
and actions.
Q@. What must we fly from ?
A. All unholy places, all unholy books, and
all unholy company.
@. What does the Bible call our bodies ?
A, The temples of the Holy Ghost; they
must, therefore, be kept pure.—1 Cor. 6 : 19.
@. What must we, then, most earnestly pray
for ?
A, A clean heart.
Y. Why?
A. Becauseif the heart be clean, the thoughts,
words, and actions, will be clean also.
Y. Who are blessed ?
A, The pure in heart ; for they shall see God.
—Matt. 5:8.
Y. What is the Eighth Commandment ?
A. Thou shalt not steal.
Y. What is stealing ?
A. Taking what belongs to another without
his permission.
g*102 CATECHISM FOK BEGINNERS.

Q. What else does this commandment forbid ?

A, All cheating of our neighbor, both in
small as well as in great matters.

Q. What ways of breaking this command-
ment are pointed out in the Bible?

A. Injuring, or defrauding our neighbor,
(1 Thess. 4: 6;) using false weights and meas-
ures, (Prov. 11:1.) borrowing money without
meaning to pay it again, (Ps. 37: 213) and re-
ceiving stolen goods, (Ps. 50 : 18.)

ScoripturE Proors.—Matt. 15 : 19; 1 Cor.
6:19 51 Vhess,42:63 Prov. 1t:1); Ps. 37
50: 18.

AY: MN’.

My soul, be on thy guard,
Ten thousand foes arise ;

And hosts of sin are pressing hard,
To draw thee from the skies.

Oh} watch, and fight, and pray
The battle ne’er give o'er;

Renew it boldly every day,
And help divine implore.

Ne’er think the victory won,
Nor once at ease sit down ;

Thy arduous work will not be done

Till thou hast got thy crown.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Remarks for Teacher.

The Seventh Commandment. The heart is like a besicoed
city. Satan, with all his hosts, a mighty army, are crowd-
ing around it night and day, trying by every means of at-
tack to force an entrance, Wicked Thought is the strong-
est of Satan’s soldiers, and the most cunning foe the heart
has. He is always placed by his master in the front rank,
for if he can only make a breach in the wall, then all the
rest follow, and take possession. He got in the heart of
Hive, and she took the forbidden fruit. He got in the heart
of Cain, and he'’slew his brother Abel. He got in the heart
of King David, and David caused Uriah to be put’ to death
that he might take his wife for his own. He got into the
heart of Judas, and Judas betrayed his Master.

Let every Christian child, then, fight manfully against
this enemy. It is a hard struggle, and a warfare that will
last until we lie down in the grave. Why? Because the
gates of the heart are so weakened by sin that we would
be utterly unable to defend them if it were not for the help
of God. “But we can do all things through Christ who
strengthens us,’ and He graciously undertakes. to he our
Captain in this great battle; through Him we have the
promise of being more than conquerors, ‘ Watch, then,
and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” The moment
you stop watching and praying you are lost.

The Highth Commandment. There are some people who
would think it a crime to steal from their neighbor, yet say
there is no harm in trying to get the better of him in a bar-
gain. ‘They will try to sell an article for a great deal more
than its real value, er if it is damaged, hide the injured part
from the buyer; or they will not pay their just debts.
Now the Bible says, ‘‘ Divers weights and balances are an
abomination to the Lord,” (Prov. 20:10 ;) and it also tells us
to owe no man any thing. (Rom. 13: 8.) Often it is thought
no breach of this command to try to escape from paying
law ul taxes; but our Saviour says: ‘‘ Render unto all their
dues; tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom cus:
tom is due.” (Rom. 13:7.) If, children, you would re-
member the great rule of the Lord Jesus, ‘“‘ Whatsoever you
would that men should do unto you, do even so to them,”
you would be kept out of much sin, Whenever, therefore,104 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

 

 

you are tempted, even in the smallest way, to better your
sélves by injuring or deceiving another, stop and think,
Would I like to have this done to me?

eee Oe Noe AY

God’s Holy Will and Commandments.

Q. Wuar is the Ninth Commandment ?

A, Thou shalt not bear false witness against
thy neighbor.

Q. What is bearing false witness ?

A. To tell a falsehood about our neighbor.

Q. Who is your neighbor ?

A, All men are our neighbors.

Q. What does this commandment forbid ?

A. All sins of the tongue.

Q. In how many ways may we break this
commandment and injure our neighbor ?

A. By perjury, evil-speaking, lying, and slan-
dering.

Q. What is perjury ?

A, Swearing against another falsely, in a
court of justice—Exod. 23:1, 2.

Q. What is evil-speaking ?

A, Tale-bearing, or taking pleasure in telling
the faults of others.—Lev. 19:16; 1 Tim. 5:13.
Q. What is slander ?CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 135

7

A, Inventing a story to injure e our neivhbo

eg, 101: 5); James.4 : 14.

Y. Does ed forbid lying to man ag well as
to Hinself?

A, Yes, Ye shall not lie to one anotlér.—
Lev. 19 : 11.

@. What is the Tenth Commandment ?

A, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house,
thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor
his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his
ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neigh
bor’s

Y. What iscoveting ?

A. To wish for something that does not be-
long to you.

Y. What is the harm of coveting ?

A, It leads me to break all fag other com-
mandments. |

@. What does the Bible say about this sin of
coveting ?

A. Take heed and beware of covetousness.—
Luke 12:1

@. How does God look upon the covetou:
man ?

A, The Lord abhors the covetous.—Ps. 10 : 3.

.

ff

SCRIPTURE PRoors.—Hixod. 23 : 1,2; Lev.
To > 103 7 Pim. 572 13 es eor ors ames
A: 115 Ley.19: 11; Loke ta:CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS,

HY -M N=

My faith looks up to Theg.

Thou Lamb of Calvary |!
Saviour divine !

Now hear me while I pray,

Take all my guilt away,

Oh! let me, from this day,
Be wholly Thine.

May Thy rich grace impart .
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire ;
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh! may my love to Thee,
Pure, warm, and changeless be«=
A living fire.

While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be thou my guide :
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

When ends life’s transient dream,

When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll,

Blest Saviour! then, in love,

Fear and distrust remove ;

Oh! bear me safe above—

A ransomed soul,CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Remarks for Teacher.

Thou shalt not bear false witness. Two commandments
out of the ten are especially directed against the sins of the
tongue, which St. James calls a fire and a world of iniquity.
How careful, then, should we all be, to put a bridlegen our
tongue, and to set a watch at the door of our lips ; for once
past those gates, our words can not be recalled, and we do
not know what mischief they may do. You think it a
great sin to go into a court of justice and swear falsely
against your neighbor, but you think it no harm to tell
abroad his faults, or to listen to others telling them. Yet
we break the commandment in the sight of God ag much
by evil-speaking and slandering as by bearing false Witness,
because our neighbor is greatly injured ‘either way. If you
take a little snow-ball and set it rolling, every turn it takes
it will gather more snow, until at last it becomes a mighty
avalanche, and large enough to overwhelm whole villages,
So it is with slander; no matter how small the story which
you whisper against another, it will be told again and again,
and as it passes from one to another, a little is added to it,
and it grows larger, until there is no telling what trouble
and misery it may cause.

Unless for some particular good, you should be carefal
how you speak of the faults of your neighbors. Sometimes
we are obliged to warn persons against the sins of others,
for fear they should follow their example; but that isa
very different thing from taking pleasure in repeating then,
St. James says: “If any man seem to be religious and
bridleth not his tongue, that man’s religion is vain.” If you
can not say any thing good of a person, it is best to be si-
lent. When we think how weak and sinful we are our-
selves, it will make us forgiving and indulgent to others.

Thou shalt not covet. Covetousness is a sin which maxes
us yery unhappy, for it causes us to be dissatisfied with the
thizgs we have; now every person has his place in life Giv-
en him by God, and every thing he possesses is the gift of
God. It is his duty, then, to be contented with his condi-
tion; for if a man keeps wishing after pleasures and riches
which he has not, see how miserabie he will become for it108 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

will lead him to break all the other commandments. The
“hiof covets what is not his own, and he breaks the Sixth
Commandment, and steals. The Sabbath-breaker covets
some wicked pleasure, and he breaks the Fourth Command-
ment, and profanes God’s holy day. Sometimes wicked
children covet the possessions of their parents, and break
the Fifth Commandment, by wishing them dead. David
coveted Uriah’s wife, and broke the Sixth and Seventh
Commandments, for he caused Uriah to be put to death that
he might take his wife for his own. If Eve had not covet-
ed the fruit, sin would not Have entered the world; and
Judas coveted thirty pieces of silver, and betrayed his Mas-
ter. (Matt. 26:15.) Look at the great conquerors, and
mighty men of the world; look at Napoleon Bonaparte and
Alexander the Great, who, to gratify their covetous desire
for other kingdoms beside their own, caused millions of
their fellow-beings to die on the battle-field. God regards
this sin with great displeasure; read James [Poe LF;
Micah 2 23"Heb. 1375 6.

————_@® ® @——_—__

Tiauay Sal) Nach ys
Duty to God and Duty to Man.

Q. Wuar dost thou chiefly learn by these
commandments ?

A. I learn two things: My duty towards
God, and my duty towards my neighbor.

Q. Which of the commandments teach your
duty to God?

A. The first four.

Q. Which teach your duty to your neigh.
bor?CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

A, The last six.

Y. What is your duty to God?

A. My duty towards God is to believe in
Him, to fear Him, and to love Him with all my
heart, with all my mind, with all my soul, and
with all my strength ; to worship Him, to give
Him thanks, to put my whole trust in Him, to
call upon Him, to honor His holy name and His
word, and to serve Him os all the days of
my ries

Q. Why must we believe in God ?

A, Because it is He that hath made us, and
not we ourselves; we are His people, and the
sheep of his pasture.—Ps. 100 : 3

Y. Why must we fear Him ?

A. Because blessed is every one that feareth
the Lord, that walketh in His ways.—Ps. 128: 1.

@. Why must we love Him with all our heart,
with all our mind, with all’ our soul, and with
all our strength ?

A. Because He first loved us.—1 John 4:19.

QY. Why must we worship Him ?

A, Because it is written, Thou shalt worship
the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou
serve.—Matt. 4: 10.

Q. Why should we give Him thanks?

A. Because we should give thanks always

10e
110 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

for all things to God and the Father in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ.—LHph. 5 : 20.

Q. Why should we trust in Him.

A, Because if we trust in Him with all our
heart, He will direct ovr paths—Prov. 3:5, 6.

Q. Why should we call upon Him ?

A. Because the Lord is nigh to all them that
call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in
truth.—Ps. 145 : 18.

Q. Why must we honor His holy name and
His word ?

A. Because God will not hold him guiltless
that taketh his name in vain, and his word is
truth.—-Deut..5 2 di John d7.241.7.

Q. Why ought you to serve Him truly all
the days of your life?

A. Because ‘‘ He has made us free from sin;”
and He says, “‘ Be thou faithful unto death, and
I will give thee a crown of life.’—Rom. 6 : 18;

REV. 20 LO.

@. What do the last six commandments
teach you?

A. To love my neighbor as myself, and to
do unto all men as I would they should do unto
me.

Y. What does the Fifth Commandment teach
you?

A, To love, honor, and succor my father andCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. ta

mother, to honor and obey the civil authority,
to submit myself to all my governors, teachers,
spiritual pastors and masters, and to order my-
self lowly and reverently to all my betters.

@. What does the Bible say about honoring
and loving your father and mother ?

A, Children, obey your parents in all things,
for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord.—Eph.
Gre Tee:

Q. Why must we honor and obey the civil
authority ?

A. Because we ought to submit ourselves to
every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake —
b Pet. 2 43;

@. Why must we submit to our governors,
teachers, spiritual pastors, and masters ?

A, We should obey them that have the rule
over us, for they watch for our souls.—Heb,
13:8 V7 : ,

Q@. Why must we order ourselves lowly and
reverently to all our betters ?

A. So that nothing be done through strife or
vainglory ; but in lowliness of mind each should
esteem the other better than themselyes.——Phil.
or

@. What commandments teach you to hurt
nobody by word or deed ?

A. The last five.112 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Q. Why ought we to be careful to hurt no-
body by word or deed ?

A. So that we may be blameless and harm:
less, the sons of God without rebuke.—Phu.
22s

Q. What commandment teaches us to be
true and just in all our dealings, and to keep
our hands from picking and stealing ?

The Eighth Commandment.

Q. What must we be careful not to do?

A, Not to go beyond or defraud our brother
in any matter; because the Lord will avenge
—1l Thess. 4: 6.

Q. What commandment teaches us to bear
no malice or hatred in my heart ?

A, The Sixth.

Q. What are they called who bear malice
and hatred in their hearts ?

A. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murder
er; and ye know that no murderer hath eternal
~ {fife abiding in him.—1 John 3: 15.

Q. What commandment teaches us to keep
our tongues from evil-speaking, lying, and slan-
dering ?

A. The Ninth.

Q. How should we so guard our tongue ¢
A We should pray always, “Set a watch,CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 113

O Lord, before my mouth, and keep the door of
my lips.”—Ps. 141: 3.

Q@. What commandment teaches us to keep
our body in temperance, soberness, and chastity ?

A, The Seventh.

@. How, then, should we live ?

A, We should deny ungodliness and worldly
lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly
in the present world.—Titus 2 : 12,

@. What commandment teaches us not to
covet other men’s goods, but to learn and labor
truly to get our own living and do our duty in
that state of life unto which it shall please God
to call us ?

A, The Tenth.

Q@. Why must we beware of covetousness ?

A, Because the covetous man, who is an idol.
ater, hath no inheritance in the kingdom of

Christ and of God.—Eph. 5: 5.

SCRIPTURE Proors.—Ps, 100 : 3; 128: 1;
1 John 4:19; Matt. 4:10; Eph. 5: 20; Prov.
3:5,6; Ps.141:3; John 17:17; Rom.6:18;
Eph. 6:25 1, ew 2:13% Web. 43: 7: Phil.
2.: 3,15; Titus 22425 Eph, 5 : 5.
10*CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

heey MONS

Call Jehovah thy salvation,

Rest beneath th’ Almighty’s shade g
In His secret habitation

Dwell; nor ever be dismayed ;
There no tumult can alarm thee,

Thou shalt dread no hidden snare ;
Guile nor violence can harm thee,

In eternal safeguard there.

From the sword at noonday wasting,
From the noisome pestilence,
In the depth of midnight blasting,
God shall be thy sure defense ;
Fear not thou the deadly quivers,
When a thousand feel the blow ;
Mercy shall thy soul deliver,
Though ten thousand be laid low.

Since with pure and firm affection,
Thou on God hast set thy love,
With the wings of His protection,
He will shield thee from above.
Thou shalt call on Him in trouble,
He will hearken, He will save,
Here, for grief, reward thee double;
Crown with life beyond the grave

 

Remarks for Teacher.

The Lord Jesus Christ saith: ‘ Thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, and with all thysoul, and withali

thy mind. ‘This is the first avl great commandment. AndCATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS, ELS

the second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself On these two commandments hang all_the law
and the prophets.” That is, the whole Bible teaches these
two great lessons—lessons that both the wise man ana the
feeble child can learn and practise. The whole life of our
Saviour was an example of love to God and love to man.

To do His Heavenly Father's will
Was His employment and delight;
Humility and holy zeal
Shone in His life divinely bright.

He left His radiant throne on high,
Left the bright realms of bliss,
And came to earth to bleed and die:

Was ever love like this!

{f a man love God he will love his‘neighbor also; and
he can not love his neighbor unless he have first the love of
God. I have read a beautiful little Hastern story which
shows this. Abou Ben Hassan dreamed one night, that a
shining angel appeared unto him bearing a long roll, on
which was written the names of those who loved their
cod; and as Hassan read them, he found his name was not
among the rest. He felt much trouble, but humbly said:
‘If Iam not worthy to be placed among those who love
God, write me down as one who loves his fellow-men.”
The angel wrote and vanished; but the next night he ap-
peared, still more glorious and beautiful, holding in his hand
the same list of those who loved the Lord; and behold!
the first name on the roll was Hassan’s. Now if you read
the twelfth verse of the fourth chapter of the first Episile to
St, John, you will see what this story means.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

fee SU Nuke YL

The Lord’s Prayer.

Q. In order to keep the commardments,
what must we have ?

‘A, God’s special. grace.

Q. How must we obtain it ?

A. By diligent prayer.

Q. My good child, know this; that thou art
not able to do these things of thyself, nor to
walk in the commandments of God, and to
serve Him without His special grace; which
thou must learn at all times to call for by dil-
gent prayer. Let me hear, therefore, if thou
canst say the Lord’s Prayer ?

A. Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed
be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will
be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us
this day our daily bread. And forgive us our
trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass
against us. And lead us not into temptation ;
But deliver us from evil: For thine is the king-
dom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and
ever. Amen.

Q. Why is this called the Lord’s Prayer ?

A. Becausé our Lord Jesus Christ gave it te
His disciples.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. Wi

@. Why do we call God a Father ?

_A. Because He made us, and has adopted us
as His children through Christ.—Gal. 4 : 5, 6.

Q. Why do you say, “ Our Father,” instead
of “My Father ?”

A. To put me in mind that He is the Father
of others as well as myself.i—Mal. 2 : 10.

Q. Where is heaven ?

A. Where God’s throne is.—Ps. 103 : 19.

Q. Is God our Father only in heaven ?

A. No; He is every where.—Ps. 139: 7.

Q. How may we hallow God’s name ?

A, By doing every thing for His glory.—
1 Cor. 10: 381.

Q. What is meant by God’s kingdom ?

A. The Church of Christ on earth, and the
kingdom of glory in heaven.

Q. What do we mean when we pray that, it
may come on earth?

A, We pray that the knowledge of God may
fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.—Hab.
23 14.

Q. What do we mean when we pray that the
kingdom of glory may come?

A, We pray for the time when Christ shall
come in the glory of His Father with the holy
angels; when there shall be no more sorrow,
nor pain, nor death.— Matt. 16:27; Rev. 21:4,118 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Q. How do we pray that God’s will may be
done?

A, On earth as it is in heaven.

Q. How is it done in heaven ?

A. Perfectly and cheerfully —Rev. 7: 15.

Q. What do you mean by daily bread ?

A. Daily food for the body, and daily food
for the soul.

Q. What do we mean by bread for the body *

A. Every thing that we need for the support
of the body.

Q. And what do we mean by bread for the
soul ?

A, Faith and love in Christ, who says: “I
am the bread of life.’—John 6: 51.

Q. Why do we say, our daily bread ?

A. To teach us to trust in God for every
day’s supply, and not to be too anxious for the
future.—Matt. 6: 34.

Q. You pray that your trespasses may be for-
given. What are trespasses ?

A, Sins.

Q. What must we have before God will ior:
give us our sins ?

A, Repentance and Faith.

Q. What must we do before we ask God te
forgive us our sins ?CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 119

A, We must forgive those who have sinned
against us.—Matt. 6 : 14, 15.
@. What do you pray not to be led into 2
A. Temptation.
@. What is temptation ?
A. It has two meanings—trial, and entice.
ment to sin.
@. Does God ever send us trial ?
A. Yes; but only for our good.—Heb, 11:17.
@. Does God ever tempt us to sin ?
A. Certainly not; “ He tempteth no man,??—
James 1: 13.-
@. By what are persons tempted to sin ?
A. By Satan, and their own evil hearts. —
James 1: 14,
@. What do we mean, then, when we pray
not to be led into temptation ?
A, That God will open a way whereby we
may escape from temptation.—-2 Pet. 2: 9.
@. What do you pray to be delivered from?
A, Evil.
Y. What kind of evil ?
A. Both of body and soul.
Q. Who leads us into evil ?
A. Satan.
©. Who alone can preserve us from eyil ?
A. The Lord shall preserve thee from all
evil,-—Ps. 121: 7,120 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

ad

Q. Hew does the Lord’s Prayer euid ?

A. With asolemn form of praise and thaiks-
giving: For thine is the kingdom, the power,
and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Q. What does this show ?

A. It shows why I thus pray.

Q. What does Amen mean ?

A. Let it be so.

Q. What desirest thou of God in this prayer?

A. L desire my Lord God our heavenly Fa-

ther, who is the giver of all goodness, to send
Elis grace unto me and unto all people, that we
may worship Him, serve Him, and obey Him as
we ought to do; and I pray unto God that’ He
will send us all things that are needful both for
our souls and bodies ; and that He will be mer-
ciful unto us, and forgive us our sins ; and that
it will please Him to save and defend us in all
dangers both of soul and body ; and that He
will keep us from all sin and wickedness, from
our spiritual enemy, and from everlasting death.
And this, I trust, He will do of His mercy and
coodness, through our Lord Jesus Christ ; and
therefore I say, Amen: so be it.

SoprpturE Proors.— Gal. 4: 5, 65 Mal.
93: 40s) Pao 103 P0591 306-7 74 Cor. 10: 31;
Hab. 2:14; Matt. 16:27; Rev. 21°45 TTS;CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 121

John 6: 51; Matt.6 : 845/16 vals 15,47, Heb,
PL - 173 James 1:14; 2 Pet. BivOis Peed Qe: 7,

—_——.

HYMN.

hey who seek the throne of erace,
Find that throne in every place ;
If we live a life of prayer,
God is present every where.

In our sickness and our health,
In our want and in our wealth,
If we look to God in prayer,
God is present every where.

When our earthly comforts fail,

When the woes of life prevail, f
’Tis the time for earnest prayer ;

God is present every where.

Then, my soul, in every strait,
To thy Father come and wait ;
He will answer every prayer,
God is present every where.

 

Remarks for Teacher.

Prayer is asking of God what we need. Christ by His
death obtained for us great and precious blessings. We
became “children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Now when a child wants any thing, it goes to its Sather and
asks it of him; and so may we go to our heavenly Father,
fearing nothing, for our Saviour has said: W hatsoever ye
shall ask the Father in my name, it shall be granted, Sup.

LlEo CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

 

pose a poor man should go to a king with a request, and
the kitig’s son should not only write his petition for him,
but offer to present it himself to the king, would not that
poor man feel entirely encouraged and sure that his prayer
would be granted? Just so God deals with His children.
His beloved Son has drawn up a form of prayer for us, con-
taining a request for every thing we need, and not only
that, but presents it Himself, telling us that if so offered, it
will certainly be granted.

Prayer is the food of thesoul, Leta few days pass with-
out giving the body its accustomed food, and it will become
weak and sick, and unable to work; and if fasting be con-

tinued it will die. It is the same with the soul. Leave

off prayer, and the soul will become weak and sick, and
unable to resist Satan and his temptations, and finally will
yield to him entirely. We must pray often and in earnest ;
not as if we did not care whether our prayer was granted

‘or no, but we must ask with our whole heart; just as a

drowning man would cry for help; just as a starving man
would beg for food; just as a man condemned to die would
beg for his life, so ought we to pray. Read how earnestly the
Syropheenician woman prayed. (Matt. 15: 21-28.) Seehow
earnest the prodigal son was when he ran to his father say-
ing: “Father, I have sinned.” And we must pray in faith,
believing that we shall receive. ‘A father will never keep
any thing good from his chila. So our heavenly Father
will grant us all that is good for us.

But God will not hear sinners. You must forsake sin;
you can not pray not to be led into temptation, and yet do
the thines which you ought not to do. David says: “If I
regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear me.”

Sometimes God makes us wait long for an answer to
prayer, in order to teach us faith and patience. Sometimes
he does not grant the prayer at all; because the things we
ask for would do us harm -if we had them. Ged knows
what is best for us. The heathen tell a fable about a man
who wished that every thing he touched might be turned
into gold. His prayer was granted; and when he touched
hig meat it became gold; so he was starved. Whenever,
therefore, our prayers are not granted, we may know that
we have asked wrong.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

In meek submission to Thy will
Let every prayer arise,

And teach us, Lord, ’tis ooodness still,
That erants it or denies.

Bring, then, your ‘daily wants to God; you can not tire
Him. A parent loves to see his child coming to him for
advice or help. Carry all your troubles, your sorrows, and
your joys toGod. “Commit your way to Him, and He will
bring it to pass.” Jesus Christ stands alw ays ready to plead
for you to the Father; ask in faith, nothing do ubtine,

LE S80) Na ke Xo
The Sacrament of Baptism.

@. How many Sacraments has Christ. or
dained in His Church ?

A, Two only as generally necessary to salva-
tion; that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of
the Lord.

@. Why do you say, generally necessary ?

A, Because where they can not be had, God
will grant His grace without them.

@. What meanest thou by this word, Sacra,
ment ?

A, I mean an outward and visible sign of an
inward and spiritual grace given unto us, or-
dained by Christ Himself as a means whereby
we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us
thereof.{24 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Q. What do you mean by outward ?
A, Upon the body.
Q. What does visible mean ?
A, Any thing that can be seen.
Q. What do you mean by inward and spirit
ual ?
A. Upon the soul.
Y. What, then, do you mean by an outward
and visible sign ?
A. It is a sign outside of a person, which
we can see.
Q. And what do you mean by an inward and
spiritual grace ?
A, God’s grace within a person, that is, in
his soul, which we can not see.
Q. What is4race ?
A. Help, favor.
Q@. To whom is this inward and spiritual grace
given ?
A. Vous.
@. Who ordained these two sacraments ?
A, Christ.
Q@. You say these sacraments are a means
whereby we receive the same—the same what?
A, The same inward grace.
@. What is a pledge ?
A. A promise or token, not my words but by
something givenCATECHRISM FOR BEGINNERS. 125

Y. What do these sacraments pledge or
promise to us ?

A. God’s help and favor.

@. Of what use is a pledge?

A. It makes a thing sure.

@. Will we surely receive Gods grace and
favor in these sacraments ?

A. Yes, if we have repentance and faith.

Q@. How many parts are there in a sacrament?

A. Two; the outward and visible sion, and
the inward and spiritual grace.

(. And what is the outward sign a pledge or
promise of?

A, It assures us that we shall have the. in-
ward grace.

@. What is the outward visible sign in Bap-
tism ?

A, Water, wherein the person is baptized in
the name of the Father, and the Son, and the
Holy Ghost. |

@. And what is the inward and spiritual
grace ?

A, A death unto sin, and a new birth unto
righteousness ; for being by nature born in gin,
and the children of wrath, we are hereby made
the children of grace.

Q. Of what is the water of Baptism an em.
blem ?

11%126 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

A, Of the blood of Christ, by which we are
cleansed from sin.—Rey. 1 : 5.

Q. Why was water appointed ?

A. To show that as water cleanses our bodies
from spot or stain, so.does the blood of Christ
cleanse our souls from sin.

@. Who cleanses our souls from sin ?

A, The Holy Spirit of God.

Q. When did Christ ordain this sacrament ?

A, After His resurrection; He said: Go ye
mto all nations and baptize them in the name
of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost...

Q. What did you tell me was the inward and
spiritual grace in Baptism ?

A, A death unto sin, and a new birth unto
righteousness; for being by nature born in sin,
and the children of wrath, we are hereby made
the children of grace.

Q. What is a death unto sin?

A. To die to sin is to cease from it.

Q. What is a new birth unto righteousness ?

A, To be born again to righteousness is to
have a clean heart and a right spirit.

Q. What are we by nature ?

A, Sinful, and children of wrath.

Q@. What is meant by being children of
wrath ?CATCHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 127

A. Beitg under the displeasure of God.—
Job 15 ; 14, 15, 16.

@. How are we made children of grace ?

A, Bya death unto sin, and a new birth unto
righteousness.—Titus 3: 4, 5, 6.

@. What is required of persons to be bap-
tized ?

A. Repentance, whereby they forsake sin,
and faith, whereby they steadfasth y believe the 7
promises ce God made to them in that sacra-
ment.

QY. What is true repentance ?

A, Not only to be sorry for sin, but to for-
sake it ?—2 Cor. 7:10.

@. What is true Faith ?

A, To believe so as to obey.

@. Why, then, are infants baptized, when by
reason of their tender age they can not perform
this; that is, they can not have faith and re-
pentance ?

A. Because they promise them by their sure-
ties ; which promise, whea they come of age,
themselves are bound to perform.

(2. What is a surety ? ;

A. One who promises for another.

@. Who are your sureties ?
A My sponsors in Baptism,128 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Q. When are infants to perform what was
promised for them ?

A. When they come of age?

@. When will that be ?

A, As goon as they have sense enough to do

SO.

Scripture Proors.—Jobhn 3:5; Matt.28:19,

20; 1 Pet.4:2; Gal. 2: 19, 20; Babe e2.c18 5
1 Pet. 34.215 Acts 26 5165 26 23h; Cok 2-14,
12s Genoaye; 10,12.

ity MN.

Just as I am, without one plea,

Save that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee, ;
O Lamb of God! I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

'Fo Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God! I come,

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings within, and fears without,
O Lamb of God! I come.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Just as I am—poor, wretched, blind ;
Lizht, riches, healing for the mind—
Yes, all I need in Thee I find:

O Lamb of God! I come.

Just as Iam, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, forgive:
Because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God! I come.

Just as I am—Thy love unknown,

Has broken every barrier down;

Now to Thine arms—Thine arms alone,
O Lamb of God! I come.

‘Remarks for Teacher,

The oath by which the Roman soldiers bound themselveg
to be faithful to their generals, was called a sacrament,
Now although the word is not found in Scripture, yet we
eall Baptism and the Lord’s Supper sacraments, because as
the Roman soldier promised obedience to his earthly general,
and vowed to fight against all his enemies, so does the
Christian in Baptism promise love and obedience to the Cap-
tain of his salvation, and vow to fight manfully against his
enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Lhe outward visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.
Water is the outward sign in Baptism, but unless we re-
pent and believe, the inward grace and the pardon of sin
will not be granted. Baptism alone does not save us: we
must fight just as manfully against the world, the flesh, and
the devil, after Baptism as before; but then we know that
being made members of Christ and children of God, we are
not left in the battle to our own strength; our heavenly
Father gives us the inward grace, the help of His Holy
Spirit.180 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

By nature we are born children of wrath; by Baptism we
are made children of grace. Thatis, we are by nature child-
ren of Adam, and have his sinful nature, utterly unable to
turn ourselves to righteousness; but by baptism we are
taken into God’s family, and have all the privileges of a
child; every thing is new to us; we have new hopes, new
duties, new prospects; yet if we do not value these privi-
leges as we ought, if we are disobedient children, our bap:
tism will not avail us, and in the end we will be banished
from the kingdom of heaven. Suppose a child of poor and
wicked parents, who is brought up in sin and misery, is
adopted by a great and good man, taken into his family, and
allowed to share all the studies and pleasures of his own
children, with the promise of the same future portion—
would you not say the child was removed from a state of
misery to a state of happness? and is it not bound to show
its love and gratitude to its kind benefactor? So by Bap-
tism we are regenerated, that is, brought from a state of
sin and misery to a new state and new privileges; let us,
therefore, be careful, lest by neglect and unbelief we lose
our title to all these benefits. For you must not suppose
that children receive a new heart in Baptism, so that they
must not, like all, if they live, repent and believe in Christ
in order to be saved. Let us pray that we ‘may daily be
renewed in heart and life.” Do not think that you really
belong to Christ unless by your life and conversation you
show that you are His; “for if any man have not the

ont)

Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.

ES 0 ek AV TT.

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.

Q. Wuy was the sacrament of the Lord’s
Supper ordamed ?
A. For a continual remembrance of the sacri-CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 131

fice of the death of Christ, and the benefits
which we receive thereby,

Y. Why is it called the Lord’s Supper ?

A. Because it was ordained by the Lord Je.
sus Christ in remembrance of his death.—Luke
22 :.15-20.

@. Of what does the Lord’s Supper remind
us ?

A, Both of the sacrifice of the death of
Christ and the benefits which we receive thereby.

(. Is the Lord’s Supper a sacrifice ?

A, No; it only puts us in mind of the only
sacrifice for sin.

@. What is the only sacrifice for sin ?

A, The death and sufferings of our Lord Je.
sus Christ.—1 Pet. 2 : 24.

Q. Can this sacrifice again take place ?

A. No; it was offered once for all—Heb.
10:12.

@. What are some of the benefits we receive
from the Lord’s Supper ?

A, The pardon of our sins, the help of God’s
Spirit, and life everlasting.

@. Are our sins pardoned only because we
partake of the Lord’s Supper?

A. No; it is only a pledge to assure us of
pardon; we must have repentance and faith.--
Matt. 26 : 27, 28132 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

@. What is the outward -part or sign in the
Lord’s Supper ?

A, Bread and wine which the Lord hath
commanded to be received.

@. What is bread and wine the emblem of ?,

A, Christ’s body which was given for us, and
His blood which was shed for us.

Q. Must we receive both the bread and wine,
or can we receive either of them alone ?

A, We must take doth, for Christ gave the
bread, and also the cup, saying: Drink ye all
of it.— Matt. 26 : 27.

(. Are the bread and wine changed into the
real body and blood of Christ ?

A, No; they only represent His body and
blood, for Christ’s body is m heaven.—Acts
oO: os

Y. But did not Christ say, ‘‘ Thisis my body,
this is my blood ?”

A. Yes; but He also said, ‘“‘ I am the vine,”
‘Tam the door??.(John:d0°: 95315 +103). by
which He meant only to say: I represent the
vine ; I represent the door.

QY. What is the inward part or thing signified
in the Lord’s Supper ?

A, The body and blood of Christ, which are
spiritually taken and received bv the faithful in
the Lord’s Supper.CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS,

Q. Who are the faithful ?

A. The true followers of Christ.

(. How is the body and blood of Christ tak
en and received by them ?

A. The followers of Christ are strengthened
in their souis ; that is what is meant by feeding
on His body and_blood.

(. Can we understand how this can be ?

A. No; and it is not necessary to under-
stand it.

@. What are the benefits which we receive
from this sacrament ?

A. The strengthening and refreshing of our
souls by the body and blood of Christ, as our
bodies are*by the bread and wine.

(@. What is required of them who come to
the Lord’s Supper ?

A. 'l'o examine themselves whether they re-
pent them truly of their former sins, steadfastly
purposing to lead a new life, have a lively faith
in God’s mercy through Christ, with a thankful
remembrance of His death, and be in charity

with all men.
Y. How must we examine ourselves ?

A. We must search into our own hearts and
see if we are really sorry for our sins, and ate
striving to lead a life of holiness,

12134 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

Q. What prayer does David teach us about
this duty ?

A, “Search me, O God, and know my heart;
try me and know my thoughts, and see if there
be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the
way everlasting.”—Ps. 139 : 23, 24.

Q. What is meant by a lively faith ?

A, A faith which makes us do good works.—
Jamies Qi: V7;

QY. What kind of remembrance must we have
of His death ?

A. A thankfal’ remembrance.

Q. What is meant by being in alte with
all men ?

A, Having Christian love for all men.

QY. If we are not in charity with another be-
fore partaking of the Lord’s Supper, what must
we do?

A, We must first be reconciled to him.—
Matt. 5: 23, 24.

Q. What is required of those who come to
the Lord’s Supper ?

A, Repentance, Faith, and Charity.

ScRIPTURE Proors.—Luke: 22, 15-20; 1 Pet.
2 243>Matt, 26: 27,285.26: 27; Acts 3:21;
JéhnJlO:9 3 Losnly Acted aac Ps. 199 nes;
24; James 2:17, 18.Vhen the angel of the Lord was sent to sla
born of every Egyptian, God tol
the blood of a Lamb upon the @
the angel might pass them over, and
their children. This event was ever afterwards kept in re
membrance among the Jews by the F

  

CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS,

Hi Xi Mi Ne

According to Thy gracious word,
In meek humility,

This will I do, my dying Lord,
I will remember Thee.

Thy body, broken for my sake,
My bread from heaven shall be :
Thy sacramental cup I take,
Aud thus remember Thee.

When to the cross I turn mino eyes,
And rest on Calvary,

O Lamb of God! my sacrifice !
I must remember Thee.

Remember Thee and ‘all Thy pains,
And all Thy love to me,

Yes, while a pulse or breath remains,
Will I remember Thee,

And when these failing lips grow pale,
And thought and memory flee,

 
    
   
    
  
 
   
  
  

When Thou shalt in Thy kingdom come,

Jesus, remember me]

 

Remarks for Teacher,

 

  
 
 
  
     
   

y the first-
d the Israelites to sprinkle
oors of their houses go that
not destroy any of

east of the Passover,136 CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS.

The night before Christ was betrayed, He ordained the sacra-
ment of the Lord’s Supper, to be observed through all fu-
ture ages in the Church, in remembrance of the sacrifice o1
the cross; so that the Passover was an emblem or type of
the Lord’s Supper, and the lamb that was slain and eaten,
un emblem of Christ the Lamb of God who was slain for
our sins, to redeem us from the bondage of the world, the
flesh, and the devil.

This sacrament, like that of Baptism, has two parts—the
outward sign which we can see, which is the bread and
wine, and the thing meant, which we can not see—the body
and blocd of Christ, which are spiritually taken and re-
ceived by the faithful. The Roman Catholic Church teach-
es that when Christ said, ‘This is my body,” “ This is my
blood,” the bread was actually changed into His body, and
the wine into His blood; but this is a very great error.
Christ said also, “I am the door,” but that certainly does
not mean that He was changed into a door; and He calls
Himself a vine, but no one could suppose for a moment that
He became avine. When the Bible says of the feast of the
Passover, ‘‘Jé is the Lord's Passover.” 1t means that it re-
presents or calls to mind the act of the Lord’s passing over
the houses of the Israelites, when He put to death the first-
born of the Egyptians. In the same way we must under-
stand Christ’s words when He instituted the Lord’s Supper.
The bread and wine are signs to represent His body and
blood. Taking Christ’s body and blood strengthens and
refreshes our souls, and this is done by fazth. The wicked
can not receive any benefit by joining in it. They may take
the outward sign, but they can not have the inward grace.
There must be true penitence; there must be a hearty pur-
pose to lead a new life; there must be a lively faith in God’s
merey through Christ; there must be peace and love to-
wards our fellow-beings. It is a mistake for young people
to think that the holy Communion is only for those who are
old. When you have enlisted yourself as a follower of
Christ in Baptism and Confirmation, you should remember
that you are solemnly set apart as a follower of Christ, and
belong to Him. Yet the battle of lifeis hard; ‘‘ You wres-
tie not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,CATECHISM FOR BEGINNERS. 137

ayvainst powers, against the rulers of darkness, against spirit-
ual wickedness in high places;” therefore you need much
grace to strengthen you to fight asa good soldier. Your
soul will soon weaken and die without spiritual food; and
there is food provided, for Christ is the bread of life: He
says to all, young and old, Come; if any man eat of this
bread he shall live forever. Christ will dwell in our hearts
by faith. You can not understand how this is, but you are
not called upon to understand it, you are only in all humility
to believe it, and pour out your gratitude to your Redeemer,
saying: ‘‘ Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor,
and glory, and blessing.”Devotional and Practica! Publications,

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