An Orthodox Catechism

    The Summe of Christian Religion (1587)

    Zacharias Ursinus

    TO THE CHRISTIAN READERS HENRY PARRIE WISHETH GRACE AND PEACE THROVGH IESV CHRIST OVR LORD

    WHereas but a smal and short remnaunt of daies is alotted vnto euerie of vs to trie the hazard and aduenture of this world in Christes holy Merchandize, (yet forty yeares, and the yongest may, the oldest must depart) I beeing subiect to this common case, and most certaine vncertainty of our life; neither knowing, if perhaps at this present my staffe standeth next the doore: haue beene and am desirous and earnest in this behalfe, so to bestow all my possible endeuours and labours in this my Lord and Masters trafique, as that neither I may returne vnto him with a Talent in a napkin, and withall may leaue behind mee some poore token and testimony of my loue and duty towards him and his blessed Spouse, with future posterity.

    Which my desire and earnest deliberation strugling and striuing so long within me, vntil it had gotten the conquest of such shamefast and fearful motions, wherewith men are well acquainted, who are at al acquainted with their owne infirmities: I was thereby at length drawen to this bold and hardy resolution, as to commit something to the presse, and so to the eies of them, whose great and sharp censures, I haue euer with trembling thought of heretofore, and euen now would flie them with al willingnes.

    Wherefore also in respect hereof, & of the greennes of my age, so hath the flame and heat of my desire been slaked and cooled with the water as it were of fear, wherewith I shake in mine owne conceit: as I haue not presumed to draw anie shaft out of mine owne quiuer, or to present the world with an vntimely fruite of so yong a tree: but rather haue made choise of a shaft out of the Lordes armory, framed by the hand and skill of the Lords work-man, fit to make the man blessed who hath his quiuer full of them.

    If yet in this I haue been presumptuous, if bolde, if vndiscreete, if foolish: my brethren, for your sakes haue I bin so: for your sakes haue I bin presumpteous, bold, vndiscreete, & foolish, euen for you and for your children. The greater is my hope and trust, that these whatsoeuer my paines and labours shall find fauor and grace in your sights, and receiue good entertainment at your hands; bicause for you they haue bin vndertaken, and the gains and commodity, that shal arise therof (if by the blessed wil of God any shal arise) shal redound vnto you and yours for euer.

    It is a case lamentable, deseruing the bowels of al Christian pitty and compassion, and able to cause the teares of sorrow to gush out and streame downe the face of a man, who is not frosen too hard in security and in an vncharitable carelesnes: when he shall but lift vp his eies, and see the wast and desolation of so many distressed soules, who in so many places of this our land & country haue bin & are daily either pined away and consumed to the bone for lack of Gods susteinance, the bread of life, the word of God, the only preseruatiue of the soule; or, through the deceitful poison of that old Sorceres and Witches Children, infected and baned vnrecouerably. Alas poore soules, fain would they haue somewhat to keep life within them: and therefore as famished and starued creatures, which haue beene for a space pounded vp and pin-folded in a ground of barrennes, debarred of al succor & reliefe, when euer they may light of any thing that may go down the throat, be it as bitter as gall, and as deadly as poison, they swallowe bitternes as suger, and lick vp death as sweet honny. And yet, (I rue to speak it) such is the hard-hartednes and brutish vnnaturalnes of manie merciles men, if yet men, who haue so flinted their foreheads, seared and sealed vp their minds and consciences in al impietie: as that they haue entred as it were into a league & bond with themselues to forget Christ, neuer to knowe the man more, neuer to speake in the name of Iesus; neuer to feed the flock of Iesus, whose soules are euen as great and dear to him, as the price they cost him. For, had not these men swornlike1 sons of the earth to possesse the earth for euer, and to leaue heauen and the heirs of heauen, euen the chosen of God, to God himself to look to: it were vncredible, naie, vnpossible were it, that after so many threats & warnings from heauen, from earth, from God, from men, from their foes abroad, and their frinds at home, they should not yet once, not once descend into a dutifull consideration of this their heauy trespasse, and so with a speedy industrie and assiduitie reenter and recouer those their forsaken charges, which a long while haue languished and worne awaie for want of pasture, and ly now (the deer lambs of Christ Iesus) stretched on the ground for faintnes, fetching their groanes deepe, and their pantes thicke, as readie to giue ouer and to yeelde vp the Ghost. O Lord, are not thine eies vpon the truth?2 thou hast striken these men, but they haue not sorrowed; thou hast consumed them, but they haue refused to receiue correctiō: they haue made their faces harder thā a stone, & haue refused to return. Not the losses and vnsupportable calamities of Christs people, not the miserable apostasie & grieuous falling awaie (woe to vs therefore) of multitudes of the ignorant and vnlettered men from the Apostolicke faith and the Church of Christ, not the certaine daungers and hazards of their owne persons, Wiues, Children, and Kinsfolkes (with all which rods of his fatherly chastisement God hath latelie, in his iustice tempered with surpassing mercy, visited them) can awake or rouze them out of that dead and deadlie slumber, wherby they haue as much as in them lieth betraied to the powers and forces of Satan Gods sacred enheritance, and laid open the precious flock of Christ to the mouthes and teeth of Woolues.

    But would God the burden of this sin rested onelie on the neckes of these rechlesse persons, whose extreme barbaritie yet in letting, through their profane absence, their harmlesse sheepe to drop awaie by famine of the word, hath raised a louder cried and clamour against them in the eares of God, than any we are able to make by our most iust cōplaint in the eares of men. Another swarme of Caterpillers there are, the very trash and rifraffe of our nation: who deeming it a more easie life to say seruice in the church, than do seruice in the house, and to stand at the altar of God, than to followe the plough of their Master, haue, like men of idle & dissolute quality, only moued thereto in a lazie speculation, laide their wicked & sacrilegious hands on the Lords Arke, vnreuerently entred, with shooes and all, into his Temple, taken his vndefiled Testimonies in their defiled mouthes, disgraced, defaced, and diffamed the glorie & maiesty of diuine rites and mysteries, through their beggarly entring into, & base demeaning thēselues in so high an office. Gape not these men, trow you, for new miracles to rain out of heauen? As if Christ must needs for their sakes lay the foundation of his Church again, & cal again from the net, & the receit of custom, and other trades of this world such as hee would dispatch abroad for this holy Message, that so these artisans might be inuested with Apostleships, Doctorships, and the rooms of Prophets, as ready men after a nights sleepe, or an hours trance to turn the book of God, & menage the keies of Heauen. But my frind, be not deceiued: awake out of sleep, & dream no more.3 Thou art no Prophet; thou art an husbandman, & taught to be an heardman from thy youth vp. Get away therefore with speed from the Lords house, if thou be a cleauer, to thy wedge and ax if a hind, to thy Masters plough; but meddle not with Gods affaires, least he break out vpon thee and destroy thee.

    But in vain spend I words to brasse and Iron: who, though the Lord hath held in his hand for a long time the ful viol of his wrath, and is now wearie with holding it any longer, and about to poure it out vpon them for this their horrible transgression; yet staggar they not a whit at it, but run on like hūgry cōpanions with an eie only to the flesh pots, and so sel both themselues & their people for a morsel of bread, & a messe of pottage to the diuel. Shal I not visit for these things, saith the Lord?4 Or shal not my soule be auenged on such a nation as this? Yes doubtlesse, hee, who is able to muster the cloudes and winds, and to fight with heauenly powers against vs, shal and wil, if wee leaue not off to make such hauok of his children, be auenged on vs; he shal raise vp the standard, and make the trumpet blow, nether shal suffer the sight of the one to passe our eies, nor the soūd of the other to forsake our ears, vntil destruction come vpon destruction, death vpon death, plague vpon famine, and sword vpon both, to the vtter ouerthrow both of our selues & Country perpetually. Nay rather, O God, if there bee any place for mercy, (and why should wee doubt of mercy with thee the God of mercy?) looke not vpon this drosse and filth wherewith thy holy house hath bin polluted, but sweep them out; but looke, O Lorde, with thy tender eie of compassion vppon thy silly people (for what haue they done?) and stirre them vp daiely for Pastors and Prophetes wise and skilfull men, whose lips may keepe knowledge, and whose hands may break vnto them the bread of life.

    Now, that this may haue a more mature & happy successe, I am humbly to beseech and solicite (if so this my simple work come vnto their hands) the Reuerend Fathers of this Land, to whom I acknowledge al duty & submission in the Lord, & whom with al reuerence I solicit in this the Lords cause, that if their authority be not able to stretch so far as to the throwing out of these dum, deafe, and blind watch-men out of Gods tabernacle, into which they haue been shuffled (against manie of their Honors wils) by those accursed Simoniacal Patrons, who haue sodred & simoned the wals of their houses with the verie bloud of soules: yet it may please their wisedoms to constraine and compell these, wheresoeuer they shal find them in any of their Dioceses, to the reading and diligent studying of those books which their owne country-men, moued with mere pittie towardes them and their flocks, haue painfully deliuered vnto them in a tongue familiar and common to them all.

    And if it shal seeme so good and expedient to their Honours, to adioine these my labours vnto the paines and trauels of many the seruants of God who haue with great praise endeuored in the like matter on the like respects heretofore: I make no doubt, but that out of this short, yet ful Summe of Christian Religion, God adding his blessing thereunto, they may in short time receiue such furniture and instruction, as they shal saue both themselues and others, who both else are in case to perish euerlastingly. But if their feete wil walke on in the way of blindnes, and themselues refuse to come out of the darknes of ignorance into the bright light of Gods knowledge: yet wil I not faint in hope for Israel but wil looke when yet once againe God himselfe shal smite on rockes, and water shal flowe out of them, that his people in this time of drought maie drinke.

    Euen so, O God, for thy promise sake, and for thy troth of ould plighted in thy beloued Sonne vnto thy chosen, open the rock of stone againe, let againe the waters, the liuing waters of thy word flow out, and let the sauing riuers of thy Gospell runne, and stop not, through al drie places of our Land, that men and Angels may see the felicity of thy Chosen, and reioice in the gladnes of thy people, and giue thanks, and praise, and glory, and honour, with thine inheritance, vnto thy blessed name for euer.

    1 Of Valennus the Cardinals religion, who (graceles man) abiur his ecclesiasticall vocation, to bee lifted vp to temporall Dukedome Sabellic. Ennead. 10. lib

    2 Ierem. 5.3

    3 Zach. 13.5

    4 Ierem. 9.9

    TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, HENRIE EARLE OF PENBROOKE, LORD HARBERT OF CARDIFF, MARMION, AND S. QVINTINE, KNIGHT OF THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE Garter, and Lord President of WALES, Grace and peace, with encrease of Honor

    If in this time of trouble, and disorderlie age of the world, it may not seeme, right Honorable, ouer-great boldnes in mee to presse your Honour with these my labours, who are already ouer-pressed with your owne, which with continual and vncessant care & watchfulnes you vndertake for the quiet & repose of this our Church & Countrie: I shal humbly craue of your Honor to lend a fauourable eie vnto this litle work, & to reach your hand of approbation vnto it, that so beeing fenced with your honourable protection & countenance, it may the more securely & freely put it self in the view, & beare the face & countenance of others. The reasons & causes which haue induced mee to presume thus farre, are such as I make no doubt, but vpon declaration of them to obtaine and finde your Honour most ready and easie in yeelding your assent. For, were it that your auncient fauour and good will manifoldly extended to my father, who long since departed this mortality, had not at all stretched to met his sonne, but had with him alone both liued & died: Yet might not I, without some skar of impiety, commit that euer the memory of that should die in mee, the profit & pleasure whereof I knew in him so long to liue. But seeing it hath further also, as I lately was giuen to vnderstand, so pleased your Honour, that this happy course of your fauor should not begin & end in one, but should continue & lineally run on; & that the force & vertue thereof, should passe continuately from the root vnto the brāches: much more blameable verily would be my silent forgetfulnesse, & double would the fault be, where dutie doublie is required. In which considerations, if I should haue made any distrust of your good acceptatiō, or should any way haue with-drawen this small present, by misdoubting the welcome it should receiue at your Honours handes: I might haue beene most iustly arraigned & condemned of an vndutiful & vngrateful cogitation, being without al either colour of excuse, or shadowe of pretence to free & acquite mee from it. And that especially, seeing the Author, whom I interprete, & the matter which hee conteineth, are both of that qualitie, as, if I stoode to waite & expect a fit time & a worthy person for them, no time might seeme fitter than this for which I should reserue them, no person worthier than your selfe to whom I might present them.

    For this beeing the time, & these the euill daies, wherein Satan & the powers of darcknesse haue broken loose vpon the chosen of God, & the broode of Antichrist, hatched long agoe, but neuer flush vntill now, haue, by the cōmission of their Dam, taken their flight out of their nests, in which they roosted for a season, & are flowen in flocks abroade into all coasts & countries christian, to charm with sweet, but false notes of hereticall melodie the hearts of silly people, & the wits euen of the Gallants of this worlde: what greater opportunity & more fit occasion, in respect of these & the like occurrences, could haue offered it selfe vnto me, or I haue wished, for the bestowing of either my paines on this Booke, or this Booke on my deare Country? Which as it giueth place to no Realme nor Region of the earth in the constant loue & fast embracing of the booke of books the Volume of the highest, & the blessed trueth of God almighty: so is it not behind them in beeing assaulted & shaken euerie way, what by the casts & complots of forrainers, what by Diuelish practises, conspiracies, & proditions of Domesticals, that some-way at least it might be throwen down, clogged with a yoke of seruitude, & enthralled to the slauery of the man of sin.

    For the better effectuating of which their purposes, & more cunning & currant bringing them to passe, how of late yeares, yea & daies, many fugitiue persons of this our Country, ordained & sacred by their Superiours to this good end, haue made their returne in swarmes vnto vs with outlandish minds & Doctrine, to inspire the people with heresie & rebellion: none so farre in any course of life remooued & estrainged from publicke action, whose eares haue not beene mooued, & his verie heart wounded with these tidings. No time or season which they haue omitted, no place, no creeke, no corner in this land which they haue not sought out, no person from almost the highest potentate to the lowest woorme, whom they haue not felt, &, except hee hath beene too sound, sounded & wagged & lifted at too, that they might plant & supplant, set & vnset, roote in & roote vp,1 & all, as one of their old whining Prophets soothly & solemnly with teares full often telleth the Christian world, to bring vs home vnto the lap of our mother, holie Church, of which their Lorde the Pope is holy father. Well may hee be her father, but then such a father doubtlesse hath he beene vnto her, as is recounted by ancient Historie Aruntius a Romane to haue bin vnto his virgin daughter Medullina,2 with whom in the darke, rapt with a pang of drunkennes, he committed incest. But were the Church of that remorse of conscience & resolute courage in reuenging herselfe for this spiritual villanie, as was that virgin for suffering that corporall force & rauishment: Shee would burne within her inflamed with a fiery zeale of holie indignation, & drawing out this incestuous Romane, who hath defiled her in the darknes of Idolatrie, himselfe drunken with the cup of fornication, would bring him vnto the altar, euen that altar of the Lord, which hee hath made a witnesse of so many his hateful pollutions & incests, & there slay him before God, for the appeasing of his ire & wrath towards her, & for the washing away of this so grieuous a blot & high reproch of her Virginity.

    The which that the poore seduced people of our land, may bee the better enabled, & more throughlie animated to take in hande & put in execution, who nowe as shaken & shattered reedes are carried and blowen awaie with euery puffe & blast, euery breath & winde of Iesuiticall mouthes: I haue, in charitable regard & commiseration of their cases most miserable, taken into my handes this learned Abridgement comprising in no great roome the very full bodie & course of all Diuinity & Christianity, & opened the hidden treasures thereof vnto them in their mother-speech, that nowe no longer, (after they are once brought to the light & knowledge of their whole duty, what to God, what to their Soueraigne, what to euerie man & their natiue Country they must performe) they suffer themselues to be slocked away, by wily merchants, from Christ their Master; neither stand in a mammering, as men rent in sunder, a part here, & a part there, a part with Belial, & a part with Christ, a part with Spaine, & a part with England, a part with the Pope, & a part with Queen Elizabeth: but all may in an vnanimity of cōsent striue one way, folowe one Christ, liue loially in their own Country, vnder their owne blessed Liege & Lady, with all prosperity.

    Whose person then, in a woorke of so great moment and so good importance, might I haue preferred before, or matched in equall ballance with your Honor, to whose fauour & patronage I should commend it: of whose zeale, wisedome & industry most constantlie shewed in this cause of God, her Maiesty, the Church & publike weale of this kingdome, thousands of those, who are nowe liuing in those Prouinces, ouer which you are placed, cannot but yeelde their testimonie to that, the fruit & benefit whereof they liue & ioy in, and which deserueth not onelie a present remembrance, but a perpetuall registring & recommendation to all succeeding ages.

    In which most worthy and noble endeuours, as it hath pleased God to make and appoint you a chiefe and principall instrument for the continuance of his Gospel, and for the eternising of his name & glorie here amongest vs: So beseech I him, that it will please him so to make and appoint you still, & with an enlarged bountie & liberalitie so to encrease the riches of his graces & gifts in you, that you may with strength go forward, continue, and neuer giue ouer in this holie & honourable race of your life, & in the glorious quarell of Christ & his spouse; vntill when in the end without end you may reigne with him in glorie.

    Your Honors most humble at commaund, HENRY PARRIE.

    1 D. Allen, in his Apologie of their two Seminaries; and in other his treatises of like tragedie.

    2 Plutar. in Parallel.

    1. Question 1

      What is thy onely comfort in life and death? That both in soule, & body, whether I liue or die, I am not mine own, but belong wholy vnto my most faithful Lord & Sauiour Iesus Christ: who by his precious blood most…

    2. Question 2

      How many thinges are necessarie for thee to know, that thou enioying this comfort maist liue & die happilie? Three. The first, what is the greatnes of my sin, & misery. The second, how I am deliuered from all sinne and…

    3. There is a three-fold order, or there are three partes of the studie of diuinitie

      The first is a Catecheticall institution, or briefe summe of Christian doctrine, which is called a Catechisme, and is a briefe explication of the generall pointes of the same doctrine. This part is necessarie. For both…

    4. OF THE HOLY SCRIPTVRE

      We see all men, who at leastwise striue not to cast off all sense of humanitie, to imbrace and professe some opinion of God and his wil, as also some manner of worshipping him, partly drawen from nature her selfe, and…

    5. OF THE TRVE COMFORT of the Godlie

      The scope and ende of this doctrine is, that wee may haue sure comfort both in our life & at our death. And that wee may haue this, wee are especiallie to learne the doctrine of Christianitie. Now the summe of this…

    6. Question 3

      Whence knowest thou thy miserie? Ovt of the law of God.

    7. Question 4

      What doth the Law of God require of vs? That doth Christ summarily teach vs, Mat. 22. Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy hart, with all thy soule, with al thy minde, & with all thy strength. This is the first…

    8. Question 5

      Art thou able to keepe all these thinges perfectlie? No truely: For by nature I am prone to the hatred of God and of my neighbour.

    9. Question 6

      Did God then make man so wicked and peruerse? Not so: But rather hee made him good, and to his owne image, that is, endewed with true righteousnes and holines, that hee might rightly know God, his creator, and hartily…

    10. Question 7

      Whence then ariseth this wickednes of mans nature? From the fall and disobedience of our first parentes, Adam and Eue: Hence is our nature so corrupt, that wee are all conceaued and borne in sinne.

    11. Question 8

      Are wee so corrupt, that wee are not at all apt to doe well, and are prone to all vice? Indeede wee are: except we be regenerated by the holie Ghost.

    12. Question 9

      Doth not God then iniurie to man, who in the Law requireth that of him, which he is not able to perfourme? Noe. For God had made man such a one, as he might perfourme it: But man, by the impulsion of the diuel, and his…

    13. Question 10

      Doth God leaue this stubburnesse and falling-away of man vnpunished? Noe: But is angrie in most dreadfull maner, as well for the sinnes wherein we are borne, as also for those which our selues commit, and in most iust…

    14. Question 11

      Is not God therefore mercifull? Yea verilie, hee is mercifull: but so, that hee is also iust. Wherefore his iustice requireth, that the same which is committed against the diuine Maiesty of God, should also be…

    15. OF THE MISERIE OF MAN

      In THIS first part concerning the Miserie of man, there are three places handled. 1 Of sinne.\ 2 Of the creation of man, which maketh to the vnderstanding of the former place concerning sin.\ 3 Of free will. ^1We know…

    16. THE COMMON PLACE OF SINNE

      The questions here to bee obserued, are these. 1 Whether sin be, or whence it appeareth to bee in vs.\ 2 What sinne is.\ 3 How manie kindes of sinne there are.\ 4 What bee the causes of sin.\ 5 What hee the effectes of…

    17. OF THE CREATION OF MAN

      ^1 SEEING that God would especially open & manifest himselfe in the creatiō of angels & men, necessary for man is the knowledge of himselfe; both for that God wil be knowen by his own image, which he engraued in mans…

    18. THE QVESTIONS OF MANS CREATION ARE ESPECIALLIE TWO

      1 What, man was created of God.\ 2 To what end, or for what, man was created. 1 What, man was created of God This question is proposed euen for the same causes, for which the whole place it self is. 1. That it may…

    19. OF THE IMAGE OF GOD IN MAN

      The chiefe questions hereof are, 1. What the image of God in man is. 2. How farre forth it is lost, and how farre it remaineth. 3. How it is repaired in man. 4. How it is in Christ, and how in vs. 1 What the image of…

    20. OF THE FIRST SINNE

      Next vnto the place of the image of god, is adioyned the place of the first sinne. For seeing man was created to the imade of God, that is, perfectly wise, perfectly righteous, & perfectly blessed, the questiō hath…

    21. OF FREE-WILL

      Whereas God is a most free agent, and man was created to the image of God,^1 yea and was furnished with libertie of will, it seemeth to many not to agree that all the actions of mans will are gouerned by the…

    22. OF EVILS OF PVNISHMENT

      In this question also we are to speake of the effects of sinne, that is, of the other part of mans miserie, euen of the euill of paine and punishment. It is saide that God doth most grieuouslie, most iustlie, and most…

    23. OF AFFLICTIONS

      The chiefe questions are, 1 How manie kindes of afflictions there be. 2 What be the causes of them. 3 What comforts are to be opposed against them. 1 How manie kindes there be of afflictions Some afflictions are…

    24. Question 12

      Seeing then by the iust indgement of God, we are subiect both to temporall, and eternall punishments; is there yet any meanes or way remaining, whereby we may be deliuered from these punishments, & be reconciled to God?…

    25. Question 13

      Are we able to satisfie by our selues? Not a whit. Naie rather we doe euerie day increase our debt.

    26. Question 14

      Is there any creature able in heauen or in earth, which is only a creature, to satisfie for vs? None. For first, God will not punish that sin in any other creature, which man hath committed. And further, neither can…

    27. Question 15

      What manner of Mediatour then and deliuerer must wee seeke for? Such a one verily, as is verie man, & perfectly iust, and yet in power aboue al creatures, that is, who also is verie God.

    28. Question 16

      Wherefore is it necessarie that he be verie man, and that perfectly iust too? Because the iustice of God requireth that the same humane nature which hath sinned, doe it selfe likewise make recompence for sinne: But hee…

    29. Question 17

      Why must he also be verie God? That he might by the power of his Godhead sustaine in his flesh the burden of Gods wrath, and might recouer & restore vnto vs that righteousnesse and life which we lost.

    30. Question 18

      And who is that Mediatour, which is together both very God, and a very perfectly iust man. Euen our Lord Iesus Christ, who is made to vs of God wisedome, righteousnesse, sanctification, and redemption.

    31. Question 19

      Whence knowest thou this? Out of the gospell, which God first made knowen in Paradise, & afterwards did spread it abroad by the Patriarks & Prophets: shadowed it by sacrifices & other ceremonies of the law: & lastly…

    32. Question 20

      Is then saluation restored by Christ to all men, who perished in Adam? Not to al: but to those only who by a true faith are engraffed into him, & receiue his benefits.

    33. Question 21

      What is faith? It is not only a knowlege, whereby I surely assent to al things which God hath reuealed vnto vs in his word, but also an assured trust kindled in my heart by the holy ghost thorough the gospel, whereby I…

    34. Question 22

      What are those thinges which are necessarie for a Christian man to beleeue? All things which are promised vs in the gospel: the sum whereof is briefely comprised in the Creed of the Apostles, or in the Articles of the…

    35. Question 23

      Which is that Creede? I Beleue in God the father almighty, maker of heauē & earth. And in Iesus Christ his only Son, our Lord: which was cōceiued by the holy ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered vnder Pontius…

    36. Question 24

      Into how manie parts is this Creede diuided? Into three parts. The first is, of the eternall father & our creation. The second, of the Sonne & our redemption. The third, of the holie ghost & our sanctification.

    37. Question 25

      Seeing there is but one onlie substance of God, why namest thou these three? The Father, the Sonne, and the holie Ghost. Because God hath so manifested himselfe in his woorde: that these three distinct persons are that…

    38. OF THE FATHER

      What beleeuest thou, when thou saiest, I beleeue in God the Father almightie, maker of heauen and earth? I beleeue the euerlasting father of our Lord Iesus Christ who hath made of nothing heauen & earth, with all that…

    39. Question 27

      What is the prouidence of God? The Almighty power of God euery where present, whereby hee doth as it were with his hand vphold & gouerne heauen & earth, with all the creatures therin: So that those thinges which growe…

    40. Question 28

      What doth this knowledge of the Creation and prouidence of God profite vs? That in aduersitie wee may bee patient, and thankfull in prosperitie, & haue hereafter our chiefest hope reposed in God our most faithfull…

    41. OF THE SONNE

      Why is the Sonne of God called Jesus, that is, a Sauiour? Because he saueth vs from al our sinnes: Neither ought any safety to bee sought for from any other, nor can elsewhere be found.

    42. Question 30

      Doe they then beleeue in the only Sauiour Jesus, who seeke for happinesse and safety of the Saintes, or of themselues, or elsewhere? No. For although in worde they boast themselues of him as their sauiour, yet indeed…

    43. Question 31

      Why is he called Christ, that is, annointed? Because hee was ordained of the Father, and annointed of the holy Ghost the chiefe Prophet and Doctour: who hath e opened vnto vs the secret counsaill and all the will of his…

    44. Question 32

      But why art thou called a Christian? Because through faith I am a member of Iesus christ, and partaker of his annointing, that both I may confesse his name, & present my selfe vnto him a liuely sacrifice of thankfulnes,…

    45. Question 33

      For what cause is Christ called the only begotten sonne of God, when we also are the sonnes of God? Because christ alone is the coeternal & natural son of the eternall father, & we are but sonnes adopted of the father…

    46. Question 34

      Wherefore callest thou him our Lord? Because he redeeming & ransoming both our body and soul from sins, not with gold nor siluer, but with his precious blood, & deliuering vs frō al the power of the diuel, hath set vs…

    47. Question 35

      What beleeuest thou when thou saist, He was conceiued by the holy ghost & borne of the Virgine Mary? That the sonne of God, who is and continueth true and euerlasting God, tooke the verie nature of man, of the flesh and…

    48. Question 36

      What profit takest thou, by Christs holy conception and natiuity? That hee is our Mediatour, and dooth couer with his innocency and perfect holines my sins, in which I was conceiued, that they may not come in the sight…

    49. Question 37

      What beleeuest thou, when thou saist, He suffered? That hee all the time of his life, which hee lead in the earth, but especially at the end therof, susteined the wrath of God, both in body and soule, against the sin of…

    50. Question 38

      For what cause should hee suffer vnder Pilate as being his iudge? That he being innocent and condemned before a ciuil iudge might deliuer vs frō the seuere iudgement of God, which remained for al men.

    51. Question 39

      But is there any thing more in it, that hee was fastned to the crosse, than if hee had suffered any other kind of death? There is more: For by this I am assured that he took vpō himself the curse, which did lie on me.…

    52. Question 40

      Why was it necessary for Christ to humble himselfe vnto death? Because the iustice and truth of God could by no other meanes be satisfied for our sins, but by the very death of the Sonne of God.

    53. Question 41

      To what end was he buried also? That thereby he might make manifest, that he was dead indeede.

    54. Question 42

      But since that Christ died for vs, why must we also die? Our death is not a satisfaction for our sinnes, but the abolishing of sinne, and our passage into euerlasting life.

    55. Question 43

      What other commodity receiue wee by the sacrifice and death of Christ? That by the vertu of his death, our old man is crucified, slaine, and buried together with him, that hencefoorth euill lustes and desires may not…

    56. Question 44

      Why is there added: He descended into hel? That in my greatest paines and most grieuous tentations I may support my selfe with this comfort, that my Lorde Iesus Christ hath deliuered me, (by the vnspeakable distresses,…

    57. Question 45

      What doth the resurrection of Christ profit vs? First, by his resurrection he vanquished death, that hee might make vs partakers of that righteousnes, which hee had gotten vs by his death. Again, we are now also stirred…

    58. Question 46

      How vnderstād you that, He ascended into heauē? That Christ, his Disciples looking on, was taken vp from the earth into heauen, and yet still is there for our sakes, and wil be, vntill he come againe to iudge the…

    59. Question 47

      Is not Christ with vs then vntill the ende of the world, as he hath promised? Christ is true God, and true man: and so according to his manhood he is not now on earth: but according to his godhead, his maiesty, his…

    60. Question 48

      Are not by this means the two natures in Christ pulled asunder, if his humanity bee not wheresoeuer his diuinity is? No: for seeing his diuinity is incomprehēsible, & euery where present: it followeth necessarily that…

    61. Question 49

      What fruite doth the ascension of Christ into heauen bring vs? First, that he maketh intercession to his father in heauen for vs. Next, that wee haue our flesh in heauen, that wee may bee confirmed thereby, as by a sure…

    62. Question 50

      Why is it further saide, Hee sitteth at the right hand of God? Because Christ therefore is ascended into heauen, to shewe there that hee is the head of his church, by whō the father gouerneth al things.

    63. Question 51

      What profite is this glorie of our head christ vnto vs? First, that through his holy spirite he powreth vpon vs his members heauenly graces. Then, that hee shieldeth and defendeth vs by his power against all our enimies.

    64. Question 52

      What comfort hast thou by the comming againe of Christ to iudge the quicke and dead? That in all my miseries and persecutions I looke, with my head lifted vp, for the verie same, who before yeelded himselfe vnto the…

    65. OF THE HOLIE-GHOST

      What beleeuest thou concerning the holy-ghost? First, that he is true and coeternall God with the eternal father & the Son: Secondly, that he is also giuen vnto mee to make mee through a true faith partaker of Christ…

    66. Question 54

      What beleeuest thou concerning the holy & Catholicke Church of Christ? I beleeue that the Sonne of God doth from the beginning of the worlde to the end gather, defend and preserue vnto himselfe by his spirite and woorde…

    67. Question 55

      What meane these wordes, The communion of Saints? First, that al and euerie one who beleeueth, are in common partakers of Christ, & all his graces, as being his members. And then, that euerie one ought readily &…

    68. Question 56

      What beleeuest thou concerning remissiō of sins? That god, for the satisfaction made by Christ, hath put out all the remembrance of my sinnes, & also of that corruption within me, wherewith I must fight all my life…

    69. Question 57

      What comfort hast thou, by the Resurrection of the flesh? That not only my soule, after it shal depart out of my body, shal presently be taken vp to christ, but that this my flesh also, being raised vp by the power of…

    70. Question 58

      What comfort takest thou of the article of euerlasting life? That for asmuch as I feel already in my hart the beginning of euerlasting life, it shal at length come to passe, that after this life I shal enioy ful &…

    71. Question 59

      But when thou beleeuest all these thinges, what profit redoundeth thence vnto thee? That I am righteous in Christ before God, and an heir of eternal life.

    72. Question 60

      How art thou righteous before God? Only by faith in Christ Iesus: so that, although my conscience accuse me, that I haue grieuously trespassed against al the commandemēts of god, and haue not kept one of them: and…

    73. Question 61

      Why affirmest thou, that thou art made righteous by faith only? Not for that I please god through the worthines of meere faith: but because onely the satisfaction, righteousnes and holinesse of Christ is my…

    74. Question 62

      Why cannot our good works bee righteousnesse, or some part of righteousnes before God? Because that righteousnesse which must stand fast before the iudgement of God, must bee in al points perfect, & agreeable to the Law…

    75. Question 63

      How is it that our good works merit nothing, seeing God promiseth that he wil giue a reward for thē, both in this life, and in the life to come? That rewarde is not giuen of merite, but of grace.

    76. Question 64

      But doth not this doctrine make men carelesse and profane? No. For neither can it bee, but they, which are incorporated into Christ through faith, shoulde bring forth the fruits of thankefulnes.

    77. OF THE SACRAMENTES

      Seeing then that onely faith maketh vs partakers of Christ, and his benefites, whence doth it proceede? From the holy Ghost, who kindleth it in our harts by the preaching of the gospel, & confirmeth it by the vse of the…

    78. Question 66

      What are the Sacraments? They are sacred signes and seals set before our eies, and ordained of God for this cause, that hee may declare and seal by them the promise of his gospel vnto vs, to wit, that he giueth freely…

    79. Question 67

      Doe not then both the woorde and Sacramentes tend to that ende, as to leade our faith vnto the Sacrifice of Christ finished on the crosse, as to the onely ground of our saluation? It is euen so. For the holy Ghost…

    80. Question 68

      How many sacramentes hath Christ ordained in the new Testament? Two. Baptisme, and the holy Supper.

    81. OF BAPTISME

      Howe art thou admonished and assured in Baptisme, that thou art partaker of the only sacrifice of Christ? Because Christ commaunded the outwarde washing of water, adioining this promise thereunto, that I am no lesse…

    82. Question 70

      What is it to be washed with the blood and spirit of Christ? It is to receiue of God forgiuenesse of sinnes freelie for the bloode of CHRIST which hee shedde for vs in his Sacrifice on the Crosse. And also to bee…

    83. Question 71

      Where dooth Christ promise vs that hee will as certainlie wash vs with his bloode and spirite, as wee are washed with the water of baptisme? In the institution of Baptisme; the wordes whereof are these: Goe and teach…

    84. Question 72

      Is then the outwarde Baptisme of water the washing away of sinnes? It is not. For the bloud of Christ alone cleanseth vs from all sinne.

    85. Question 73

      Why then doth the holie Ghost call Baptisme the washing of the newe birth, and forgiuenes of sinnes? God speaketh so not without great cause: to wit, not onely to teache vs, that as the filth of our bodie is purged by…

    86. Question 74

      Are infantes to be baptised also? What else? for seeing they belong as well vnto the couenaunt & Church of God, as they who are of a full age; and seeing also vnto them is promised remission of sinnes by the bloude of…

    87. OF THE LORDS SVPPER

      How art thou in the Lords Supper admonished and warranted, that thou art partaker of that onely sacrifice of Christ offered on the Crosse, and of all his benefites? Because Christ hath commaunded me and all the…

    88. Question 76

      What is it to eate the bodie of Christ crucified, and to drinke his bloud that was shed? It is not onely to imbrace by an assured confidence of minde, the whole passion and death of Christ, and thereby to obtain…

    89. Question 77

      Where hath Christ promised, that he will as certainely giue his bodie and bloude so to bee eaten and dronken, as they eate this breade broken, and drinke this cup? In the institution of his supper; the wordes whereof…

    90. Question 78

      Are then the bread and wine, made the verie bodie and bloud of Christ? No verily. But as the water of baptisme is not turned into the bloud of Christ, but is only a sign and pledge of those thinges that are sealed to vs…

    91. Question 79

      Why then doth Christ call breade his bodie, and the cup his bloud, or the new Testament in his bloud; and Paul also calleth bread and wine, the Communion of the bodie and bloude of Christ? Christ not without great…

    92. Question 80

      What difference is there betweene the Supper of the Lord, and the Popish Masse? The Supper of the Lord testifieth to vs that we haue perfect forgiuenesse of all our sinnes for that only Sacrifice of Christ which himself…

    93. Question 81

      Who are to come vnto the Table of the Lord? They onely who are trulie sorrowfull, that they haue offended GOD by their sinnes; and yet trust that those sinnes are pardoned them for Christes sake: and what other…

    94. Question 82

      Are they also to be admitted to this supper, who in confession and life declare them-selues to bee Infidels and vngodlie? No. For by that meanes the couenaunt of GOD is profaned, and the wrath of GOD is stirred vp…

    95. Question 83

      What are the keies of the Kingdome of heauen? Preaching of the Gospell, and Ecclesiasticall Discipline: by which heauen is opened to the beleeuers, and is shutte against the vnbeleeuers.

    96. Question 84

      How is the kingdome of heauen opened and shut by the preaching of the Gospel? When by the commaundement of Christ it is publickely declared to all and euerie one of the faithfull, that all their sinnes are pardoned them…

    97. Question 85

      How is the kingdome of heauen opened and shut, by Ecclesiasticall Discipline? When according to the commaundement of Christ, they, who in name are Christians, but in their doctrine and life shewe themselues aliens from…

    98. OF MANS DELIVERIE

      After it hath beene shewed in the first part, that men are become obnoxious vnto euerlasting pains and punishmentes, by reason of obedience not yeelded vnto the lawe; a question by and by ariseth, Whether there is, or…

    99. OF THE DELIVERIE OF MAN

      The questions to bee considered hereof, are fiue. 1 What mans deliuerie is, or in what things it consisteth.\ 2 Whether anie deliuerie might be wrought after the fall.\ 3 Whether it bee necessarie, and certaine.\ 4 What…

    100. OF THE MEDIATOR

      The doctrine concerning the Mediator is to be held,^1 and diligently to be considered. 1 Because it is the foundation and short sum of Christian Doctrine. 2. In respect of the glorie of God, that we may know, God doth…

    101. OF THE COVENAVNT

      It was said,^1 that the mediatour is a person reconciling parties which are at variance. Nowe this reconciliation in the scriptures is termed the Couenaunt, and Testament, which is the correlatiue, that is, hath a…

    102. OF THE GOSPEL

      This 19. question of the Catechisme, which is, cōcerning the gospel, is like to the third. For as that, so this also sheweth, that our deliuerance by the Mediator is knowen & learned out of the gospel. Seeing then it…

    103. OF FAITH

      Having declared the Doctrine concerning the Mediatour, which is the gospell; it remaineth that we speake of the meane, whereby wee are made partakers of the Mediatour, that is, of faith, without which also the preaching…

    104. OF THE CREEDE, OR, SYMBOLE OF THE APOSTLES

      After we haue intreated of FAITH,^1 it directly followeth now that we speake of the sum of those things which are to bee beleeued, which we cal the Symbole of the Apostles, or the Apostolick Symbole. The especial…

    105. THE FIRST PART OF THE CREEDE, OF GOD THE FATHER, CREATOR

      I BELEEVE in God the father Almighty, Creatour of heauen and earth. To beleeue in God, is, to beleeue 1. That there is a God, and hee such a one, as hee hath manifested himselfe in his woord and woorkes. 2. That he is…

    106. OF GOD

      The principall questions are, 1 Whether there be a God. 2 What hee is, or what manner of God hee is whom wee woorship, and in what hee differeth from Idols. 3 Whence it may appeare that there is but one God. 4 What the…

    107. OF CREATION

      Next vnto the Doctrine concerning God, the Doctrine of the woorkes of GOD is most fitly placed: as we see to be done also in the Creede. The woorks of God are of two sortes. Generall and Speciall. The general are…

    108. OF ANGELS

      Amongst thinges created by GOD the chiefe and principal, are those natures which are indued with reasō, Angels & men. For in these hee imprinted the markes and image of his Diuinitie, and woulde haue all other thinges…

    109. OF GODS PROVIDENCE

      ^1 THE Doctrine which entreateth of gods prouidence, is ioyned with the place which entreateth of the creation: Because the prouidence, that is, the preseruation and gouernement of thinges, dooth not differ from…

    110. THE SECOND PART OF THE CREED, OF THE SONNE THE REDEEMER

      In the Second part of the Apostolique Creed, is intreated of the Mediatour. The doctrine concerning the Mediatour, consisteth of two partes: The first is, The person of the Mediatour: The second, Of his office. Of his…

    111. OF THE NAME IESVS

      Bvt, that it may the better bee vnderstoode, that by the name, Jesus, the office of the Sonne of GOD the Mediatour is designed, these foure questions are to be considered. 1 What is signified by the word Jesus.\ 2 From…

    112. I BELEEVE IN CHRIST

      The name of Jesus doth rather summarily than expressely note the office of the Mediator:^1 and is as it were a proper name designing rather a certaine person. But the woorde, Messias, or Christ, or Annointed, is…

    113. WHAT IS CHRISTES KINGDOME

      A King is a person ordained by God,^1 to gouerne in a people and beare rule alone according to honest Lawes, and to haue power to reward the good, and punish the bad, & to defend his subiectes against their enimies,…

    114. OF THE COMMVNION OF THE FAITHFVL, OR CHRISTIANS, WITH CHRIST

      In the 32. Question wee are instructed, concerning the inunction or annointing of the faithfull, namely, when they are called Christians or annointed: and, what is the dutie of Christians, and what their comfort;…

    115. I BELEEVE IN HIS ONELY SONNE

      To beleeue in the onelie, or onelie begotten sonne of God, is to beleeue, 1. That this Iesus is the naturall and onelie sonne of the eternall Father, begotten of his substaunce from euerlasting, and therefore God by…

    116. I BELEEVE IN CHRIST OVR LORD

      Three diuerse speeches are heere to bee obserued. 1. To beleeue that Christ is Lord. To beleeue this is not sufficient: for we beleeue also that the diuel is Lord, but not of al, nor ours, as wee doe beleeue Christ to…

    117. WHICH WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY GHOST, BORNE OF THE virgin Mary

      ^1First christ is said here to haue bin conceiued by the holy ghost. Whereby three thinges are signified. 1. That the masse of his humane nature was created or formed, in the wombe of the Virgin, miraculouslie, and…

    118. THE COMMON PLACE OF THE TWO NATVRES IN CHRIST

      The Questions here to be obserued. 1 Whether there be two natures in the Mediatour.\ 2 Whether they be one, or two persons.\ 3 If they be one person, what maner of vnion that is of them, and how made.\ 4 Why this…

    119. OF CHRISTES HVMILIATION

      The course of order requireth, that now consequentlie we expound and declare those Articles, which treat of the office of Christ: and first of al, of his humiliation or humbling, which is the former part of Christes…

    120. OF CHRISTES PASSION

      The Passion of Christ onelie doth followe next his conception and natiuitie. 1. Because in his Passion consisteth our saluation. 2. Because his whole life was a Passion, suffering, and calamitie. Yet notwithstanding…

    121. OF CHRISTS DEATH

      The chiefe Questions hereof are. 1 How Christ is said to haue bin dead.\ 2 Whether it was requisite and necessarie that Christ should die.\ 3 What are the fruits of Christs death. 1 HOW CHRIST IS SAID TO HAVE BEENE DEAD…

    122. THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAINE FROM THE DEAD

      I Beleeue that Christ shooke off death from himselfe, quickened his deade body, reunited his bodie vnto his soule, restored vnto himselfe a blessed, celestial, and glorious life, and that by his owne proper power. The…

    123. HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN

      Christs Ascension into heauen, is a locall, true and visible translation and remoouing of Christs bodie into that heauen, which is about all visible heauens, to that light which is not to be come vnto, to the right hand…

    124. HE SITTETH AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY

      This Article differeth from the former. 1. Because in this Article is declared the end of his ascension. For Christ did therefore ascend into heauen, that hee might sit at the right hand of the father. 2. Because christ…

    125. FROM THENCE SHAL HE COME TO IVDGE THE QVICKE AND THE DEAD

      In this Article three common places fal in one and meet together, which are diuerse in themselues, namely of Christes second comming, of the ende of the woorlde, and of the last iudgement. Of these places we wil speake…

    126. THE THIRD PART OF THE CREED, Of the holy Ghost the sanctifier

      In this last part of the Apostolike confession are cōteined six articles: whereof the first speaketh of the person of the holie Ghost; the next of the Church, which is gathered, confirmed, and preserued by the holy…

    127. OF THE CHVRCH

      The questions to be obserued. 1 What the Church is.\ 2 How many waies it is taken.\ 3 What are the markes thereof.\ 4 Wherefore it is called holy and Catholique.\ 5 What is the difference betweene the Church & the…

    128. OF PREDESTINATION

      This common place of Predestination, or election and reprobation, ariseth out of the former place Of the Church, & is ioyned with it. The special questions are. 1 Whether there be Predestination.\ 2 What it is.\ 3 What…

    129. OF REMISSION OF SINNES

      The chiefe Questions. 1 What remission of sinnes is.\ 2 Who giueth it.\ 3 For What.\ 4 Whether it agreeth with Gods iustice.\ 5 Whether it be freely giuen.\ 6 To whom it is giuen.\ 7 How it is giuen. 1 WHAT REMISSION OF…

    130. OF THE RESVRRECTION OF THE FLESH

      The chiefe questions. 1 What the Resurrection is.\ 2 The Errours concerning the Resurrection.\ 3 Whence it may appeare that the Resurrection shall certainelie be.\ 4 For what end the Resurrection shalbe.\ 5 By whom.\ 6…

    131. OF EVERLASTING LIFE

      This Article is placed in the end: 1. Because it is perfectlie fulfilled after the rest. 2. Because it is an effect of all the other articles; that is, we beleeue all the other articles for this, and all things that we…

    132. OF IVSTIFICATION

      This doctrine Of iustification, is one of the chiefe points of our faith, not onely because it treateth of the chiefe and principall matters, but also because this doctrine is most of all others called by heretiques…

    133. OF SACRAMENTS

      The Sacraments are a part of Ecclesiastical ministerie. And as touching Ecclesiastical ministerie the questions are, 1. What is the vse of the ministerie. 2. What are the partes thereof. 3. In what those partes agree…

    134. OF BAPTISME

      The principall questions are. 1 What Baptisme is.\ 2 What are the ends of Baptisme: or for what it was instituted.\ 3 What is the sense and meaning of the words of the institution thereof.\ 4 What are the formes and…

    135. OF CIRCVMCISION

      The latter two questions of Baptisme before expounded, are also common vnto the doctrine of circumcision: & those thinges, which may bee spoken of circumcision, are not vnfitly annexed vnto the doctrine of baptisme. It…

    136. OF THE LORDS SVPPER

      The chiefe questions. 1 What the Supper of the Lord is.\ 2 What are the ends thereof, or, wherefore it was instituted.\ 3 What it differeth from Baptisme.\ 4 What is the sense and meaning of the words of the…

    137. OF THE KEIES OF THE KINGDOME OF HEAVEN, AND OF EXCOMMVNICATION

      Seeing it hath beene shewed in the treatise next going before, who are to bee admitted by the church vnto the Lords Supper: very commodiously and fitly shall this doctrine follow, concerning the power of the keies,…

    138. Question 86

      Whenas wee are deliuered from all our sinnes and miseries, without any merit of ours, by the mercy of God onlie for Christes sake: for what cause are we to doe good-workes? Because, after that Christ hath redeemed vs…

    139. Question 87

      Cannot they then be saued which be vnthankefull, and remaine still careleslie in their sinnes, and are not conuerted from their wickednesse vnto God? By no meanes. For, as the Scripture beareth witnesse, neither vnchast…

    140. Question 88

      Of what parts consisteth the conuersion of man vnto God? It consisteth of the mortifieng of the oulde man, and the quickning of the new man.

    141. Question 89

      What is the mortifieng of the old man? To bee truely and hartily sorry, that thou hast offended god by thy sinnes, and daily more and more to hate and eschew them.

    142. Question 90

      What is the quickening of the new man? True ioy in God through Christ, and an earnest and ready desire to order thy life according to gods will, and to doe all good woorkes.

    143. Question 91

      What are good-workes? Those only which are done, by a true faith, according to gods law, & are referred only to his glorie: and not those which are imagined by vs, as seeming to vs to be right and good, or which are…

    144. Question 92

      Which is the Law of God? God spake all these wordes. 1 I am the Lorde thy God, which hath brought thee out of Aegypt, out of the house of bondage, Thou shalt haue no other Gods in my sight. 2 Thou shalt make to thee no…

    145. Question 93

      How are these commandements diuided? Into two tables, whereof the former deliuereth in foure commaundementes, how we ought to behaue our selues towards God: The latter deliuereth in sixe commaundements, what duties we…

    146. Question 94

      What dooth God require in the first commaundement? That, as dearlie as I tender the saluation of my own soul, so earnestlie should I shun & flie all Idolatry, sorcery, enchantmēts, superstitiō, praying to Saints, or…

    147. Question 95

      What is Idolatrie? It is, in place of that one God, or besides that one and true God, who hath manifested himself in his word, to make or imagin and account any other thing, wherein thou reposest thy hope and confidence.

    148. Question 96

      What doth the second cōmandement require? That wee shoulde not expresse or represent god by any image or shape & figure, or worship him anie otherwise than he hath commaunded in his word himselfe to be worshipped.

    149. Question 97

      Maie there then at all anie images or resemblances of things be made? God neither ought nor can be represented by anie means: and for the creatures, although it be lawful to expresse them, yet god forbiddeth…

    150. Question 98

      But maie not images be tolerated in Churches, which may serue for bookes vnto the common people? No. For it is not seemly that we should be wiser than god, who will haue his church to bee taught with the liuely…

    151. Question 99

      What doth God decree in the third Commaundement? That not only by cursing, or forswearing, but also by rash swearing wee shoulde not vse his name despitefully or vnreuerently: neither shuld by silence or conniuence bee…

    152. Question 100

      Is it then so grieuous a sinne by swearing or banning, to take the name of God in vaine: as that God is also angrie with them, who, as much as in them lieth, doe not forbid or hinder it? Surely most grieuous. For…

    153. Question 101

      May a man sweare also religiously and lawfully by the name of God? He may: when as either the magistrate exacteth it, or otherwise necessitie requireth by this meanes the faith and truth of any man or thing to be…

    154. Question 102

      Is it lawfull to sweare by Saints or other creatures? No: For a lawefull oth is an inuocation of God, whereby we desire, that he, as the onely searcher of hearts, beare witnesse vnto the trueth, and punish the swearer,…

    155. Question 103

      What doth God commaunde in the fourth commandement? First that the ministery of the gospel, and the schooles of learning should be maintained: and that I, both at other times, and especially on holy daies, should…

    156. Question 104

      What doth God inioyne vs in the fift commandement? That we yeelde due honor, loue, & faithfulnes to our Parentes, and so to all, who bear rule ouer vs, & submit our selues with such obedience, as is meete, to their…

    157. Question 105

      What dooth God exact in the sixt commaundement? That neither in thought, nor in gesture, muchlesse in deede, I reproch, or hate, or harme, or kil my neighbour, either by my selfe or by another: but cast away al desire…

    158. Question 106

      But this commaundement seemeth to forbid murther only. But in forbidding murther, god dooth further teach that he hateth the roote and cause of murther, to wit, anger, enuy, hatred, and desire of reuenge, and doth…

    159. Question 107

      Is it enough then, that we kil no man in such sort, as hath beene said? It is not enough: For when god condemneth anger, enuy, hatred, he requireth that wee loue our neighbour as our selues, and that he vse humanity,…

    160. Question 108

      What is the meaning of the seuenth commandement? That god hath in execration al turpitude and, filthines, & therefore we also must vtterly hate and detest it, and contrariwise liue temperately, modestly, and chastly,…

    161. Question 109

      Forbiddeth God nothing else in this commandement, but adulterie, and such kinds of vnclearnes? Seeing both our bodie and soule are the temples of the holy ghost, god wil haue vs to possesse both in puritie & holines.…

    162. Question 110

      What doth God forbid in the eight commaundement? Not onely those thefts, & robberies, which the magistrate punisheth: but by the name of theft he comprehendeth whatsoeuer euil craftes, fetches, and deuises, whereby we…

    163. Question 111

      What are those thinges, which God here commaundeth? That to my power I help and further the commodities and profit of my neighbour: and that I so deale with him, as I would desire to be dealt with my selfe: and that I…

    164. Question 112

      What doth the ninth commandement exact? That I beare no false witnesse against any man, neither falsifie any mans wordes, neither backbite or reproch any man, nor condemne any man rashly or vnheard: but auoid and shun…

    165. Question 113

      What doth the tenth commandement forbid? That our hearts be not at any time moued by the least desire, or cogitation, against any commaundement of God: but that continually and from our heart we detest all sinne, and…

    166. Question 114

      But can they, who are conuerted vnto God, perfectly obserue and keepe these commaundementes? No: But euen the holiest men as long as they liue, haue onely smale beginnings of this obedience: yet so, that they begin with…

    167. Question 115

      Why will God then haue his law to bee so exactly & seuerely preached, seeing there is no man in this life, who is able to keepe it? First, that al our life-time wee more and more acknowledge the great pronenes of our…

    168. OF PRAIER

      Wherefore is praier necessarie for Christians? Because it is the cheife part of that thankfulnesse, which God requireth of vs. And also because God giueth them onely his grace and holy spirit, who with vnfained…

    169. Question 117

      What is required vnto that praier, which shal please God & be hearde of him? That we aske of the onely true God, who hath manifested himselfe in his woorde, all thinges, which he hath commaunded to be asked of him with…

    170. Question 118

      What are those thinges, which hee commaundeth vs to aske of him? All things necessary both for soule and body: which our Lorde Iesus Christ hath comprised in that prayer, which himselfe hath taught vs.

    171. Question 119

      What praier is that? Ovr Father, which art in heauen, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdome come; thy will bee done; in earth as it is in heauen. Giue vs this day our daily bread; And forgiue vs our trespasses; as wee…

    172. Question 120

      Why doth Christ teach vs, to cal God, our father? That presently in the verie entraunce and beginning of the praier, he might stir vp in vs such a reuerence and confidence in god, as is meete for the sonnes of god;…

    173. Question 121

      Why is that added: which art in heauen? That we conceiue not basely or terrenely of gods heauenly maiestie: And also that we looke for and expect from his omnipotencie, whatsoeuer things are necessarie for our soule and…

    174. Question 122

      What is the first petition? Hallowed bee thy name: that is, graunt vs first to know thee aright, & to worship, praise, & magnifie thy almightines, goodnesse, iustice, mercie, and truth shining in al thy works. And…

    175. Question 123

      What is the second petition? Let thy kingdome come: that is, rule vs so by thy word, and spirit, that wee may humble and submit our selues more & more vnto thee: preserue and encrease thy church, destroy the workes of…

    176. Question 124

      What is the third petition? Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen: that is, Grant that we and al men, renouncing & forsaking our owne wil, maie readily & without any grudging obey thy wil, which is only holy: and…

    177. Question 125

      What is the fourth petition? Giue vs this daie our daily bread: that is, giue vnto vs al thinges, which are needeful for this life, that by them wee maie acknowledge & confesse thee to be the onely fountaine, from…

    178. Question 126

      What is the fift petition? Forgiue vs our trespasses, as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs: that is, Euen for the bloude of Christ doe not impute vnto vs most miserable & wretched sinners, al our offences,…

    179. Question 127

      What is the sixt petition? Lead vs not into temptation: but deliuer vs from euil: that is, because wee our selues are so feeble & weak by nature, that wee cannot stand so much as one moment or instant; and our most…

    180. Question 128

      How concludest thou this praier? For thine is the kingdome, the power, and the glorie, for euer: that is, we aske and craue al these things of thee, because, seeing both thou art our King, and art almightie, thou art…

    181. Question 129

      What meaneth this particle, Amen? That the thing is sure and out of doubt. For my praier is much more certainly heard of God, than I feele in my hart, that I vnfaignedly desire the same.

    182. THE THIRD PART OF MANS THANKFVLNES

      Ovt of the diuerse and manifolde doctrine of the two former partes we haue learned, that wee are not thorough anie merit of ours, but of Gods meere grace, by and for Christ, redeemed from sinne and death, and euen from…

    183. OF CONVERSION

      The chiefe Questions. 1 What Conuersion is.\ 2 In what the conuersion of the godly differeth from the repentance of the wicked.\ 3 What are the parts of conuersion.\ 4 What the causes thereof.\ 5 What are the effects of…

    184. OF GOOD-WORKES

      The chiefe Questions. 1 What good-workes are.\ 2 How they may be doone.\ 3 Whether the works of Saints be perfectly good.\ 4 How our woorkes, though not perfectlie good, please God.\ 5 Why we are to doe good-workes.\ 6…

    185. OF THE LAW OF GOD, OR, OF THE DECALOG AND TEN COMMANDEMENTES

      The chiefe Questions. 1 What the Law is in general.\ 2 What are the parts of the Law.\ 3 What is the vse of the Law.\ 4 Jn what the Lawe differeth from the gospell.\ 5 How far the Law is abrogated.\ 6 How the Decalog is…

    186. THE FIRST COMMANDEMENT

      I AM Jehoua, (the Lord) thy god, which haue brought thee out of the land of Aegypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt haue no other gods before me. This commandement hath two parts: a preface and a commandement.…

    187. THE SECOND COMMANDEMENT

      Thov shalt make to thee no grauen Jmage, nor the likenesse of anie thing that is in heauen aboue, or in the earth beneath, or in the water vnder the earth. Thou shalt not bowe downe to them, nor woorship them. For I the…

    188. OF TRADITIONS

      Moreouer that wee may make that difference of diuine worship, and of things indifferent, fully and wholy manifest: and answere to an obiection of theirs who defend worshippes inuented by men, with such places of…

    189. THE THIRD COMMAVNDEMENT

      Thov shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vaine, for the Lord will not holde him guiltles that taketh his name in vaine. In the first and second commaundement god framed our minds and hearts, now hee frameth…

    190. THE FOVRTH COMMANDEMENT

      Remember thou keepe holy the sabboth day: six daies shalt thou labour, and doe all that thou hast to do, but the seuenth daie is the sabboth of the Lorde thy God, in it shalt thou doe no manner of work, thou, and thy…

    191. OF THE SABBOTH. The chiefe Questions

      1 How manifold the sabboth is.\ 2 The causes for which the sabboth was instituted.\ 3 How the sabboth is sanctified, or kept holy.\ 4 How the sabboth is broken or prophaned.\ 5 How the sabboth belongeth vnto vs. 1 HOW…

    192. OF CEREMONIES

      The speciall Questions 1 What Ceremonies are.\ 2 Howe the Ceremoniall Lawes differ from the Morall Lawes.\ 3 How manie sortes of Ceremonies there are.\ 4 Whether the Church maie ordaine Ceremonies. 1 WHAT CEREMONIES ARE…

    193. OF THE MINISTERIE. The chiefe Questions

      1 What the Ministerie is.\ 2 What are the degrees of Ministers.\ 3 For what end and purpose the Ministerie was instituted.\ 4 Vnto whom the Ministerie is committed.\ 5 What are the duties and functions of Ministers. 1…

    194. THE FIFT COMMANDEMENT

      Honor thy Father, and thy Mother, that thy daies maie be long in the land, which the Lord thy God giueth thee. Now followeth the Lawes of the second table of the Decalogue, the obedience whereof doth as well verilie…

    195. THE SIXT COMMANDEMENT

      Thov shalt doe no murther. The scope or end of this commandement is, the preseruation of the life & safetie of mens bodies, & of the welfare both of our selues & others. Here are forbidden al those thinges which tend to…

    196. THE SEVENTH COMMANDEMENT

      Thov shal not commit adulterie. The end of this commaundement is, The preseruation of chastitie and wed-locke. Now when God nameth adulterie, hee doth not forbid that only, as being the most grosse vice of all those…

    197. THE EIGHT COMMAVNDEMENT

      Thov shalt not steale. By this commaundement is enacted and decreed a distinction of possessions. For the end of this commandement is, The preseruation of goods, or possessions, which God giueth to euery one for the…

    198. THE NINTH COMMANDEMENT

      Thov shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour. The drift or end of this commaundement is the ordinaunce and maintenunce of the truth among men. Neither is in this commandment only bearing of false witnes…

    199. THE TENTH COMMANDEMENT

      Thov shalt not couet thy neighbours house, nor his wife, nor his seruant, nor his maid, nor his Oxe, nor his Asse, not any thing that is his. The scope and ende of this commandement is a rightnesse and inward obedience…

    200. OF PRAIER

      The chiefe Questions hereof are. 1 What praier is, and howe many sortes there are of praier.\ 2 Why praier is necessary.\ 3 What is required to true praier.\ 4 What is the forme of praier by Christ prescribed. 1 WHAT…

    201. THE FIRST PETITION

      Hallowed be thy name. This petition is set in the first place, because it is the end and scope of all the other petitions, or rather, because the end of all thinges must be gods glorie. Now the end is the first thing…

    202. THE SECOND PETITION

      Thy kingdome come. Thy kingdome come, that is, let it by continual encreases be augmented, and alwaies by a new enlargement, and accession let thy kingdome bee extended and multiplied, which thou O god in thy Church…

    203. THE THIRD PETITION

      Thy will be doone in earth as it is in heauen. The wil of god, signifieth, 1 The commandement of god. Psal. 103.21. Yee his seruants that do his will. 2 It signifieth euents, or rather gods decree concerning future…

    204. THE FOVRTH PETITION

      Give vs this daie our daily bread. In this petition wee desire corporall blessinges, concerning which wee are to obserue these questions. 1 Why corporal blessings are to bee desired.\ 2 How they are to be desired.\ 3…

    205. THE FIFT PETITION

      And forgiue vs our debts, as we forgiue our debtors. This petition is a notable confession of the church, wherein she acknowledgeth and bewaileth her sins: & it is withal a consolation, that the Church shall receiue…

    206. THE SIXT PETITION

      And leade vs not into temptation: But deliuer vs from euill. Here some make one, some two petitions: but we are not to striue, so that nothing of the doctrine be taken away, but that this be made plaine. Now they are…

    207. THE CONCLVSION OR LAST CLAVSE OF THE LORDS PRAIER. For thine is the kingdome, the power and the glorie, for euer and euer, AMEN

      This last clause of the praier serueth to confirme our faith and beliefe, or confidence of beeing heard, & obtaining our desire, to wit, that God will and is able to giue vs those things which we desire. Thine is the…

    Source: The first edition of Parry’s translation, printed by Joseph Barnes, sold in Paul’s Churchyard at the sign of the Tiger’s Head, 1587 (Huntington Library) (PDF)