Question . WHo created you , and all creatures ?

Answere . GOD .

Quest. What is the duetie of you and all creatures vnto God ?

An. To set forth his glorie .

Quest. Howe is that done ?

An. By keeping his worde and commaundement , whereby we declare that he is our soueraigne Lorde , and haue authoritie euer vs to commaunde vs obedience .

Quest. Howe doo the dumme creatures keepe Gods commaundement ?

An. By continuing in that order and state , whereto the Lorde by his worde first assigned them .

Quest. Hathe man done so from the beginning ?

An. No. For our firste parents brake Gods commaundement in eating the forbidden fruite .

Quest. What befell of that ?

An. They became sinfull , and haue left vnto vs being braunches of the same roote , the inheritance of sinne , which wee call Originall sinne , or sinne which we haue by nature and kinde .

Quest. What euil come thereof ?

An. This Originall sinne is a verie plague infecting all our deedes , so that they be all transgressions of Gods Lawe .

Quest. What doth the Lawe of God require of vs ?

An. That we should loue the Lorde with all our harte , with all our soule , and strength : and our neighbour as our selfe .

Quest. Are wee not able to performe this ?

An. No , In no wise .

Quest. Why was it then commaunded of God ?

An. Because it is the rule of perfect righteousnes , agreeing vnto the nature of God , able in itselfe to be obserued and to giue life : but of vs vnable , because of our sinfull inabilitie .

Quest. What profite receeyue wee then by it ?

An. This , that we being conuict of our sinne more manifestlie by the Lawe , wherein as in a glasse , we beholde the same , we might be ashamed of our selues , and feare Gods wrath , and so be constreyned to seeke for remedie of our miserie other where , namelie in Christ .

Quest. You saye that in all our doynges wee transgresse Gods Lawe , what call you that transgression ?

An. Stane .

Quest. what is the desert of sinne ?

An. Gods curse and fierce wrath , to the vtter spoyling of soule and bodie by euerlasting death , whose iustice therevpon calleth for the execution of this punishment .

Quest. What foloweth thereon ?

An. Then they whose eyes God doo open to see their miserie , beholde them selues lost , and confounded : yea euen plunged with the waues of woo vnto death . Then they repent and loth their former sinne , which haue brought vpon them this condemnation , and humbly craue pardon , appealing from iustice to mercie . Then doo Christe Iesus take them by the hande , giue them ease of their burthen , & quicken them by his comforting spirite , restoringe them from death to life . So are they then made newe borne children .

Quest. By what meanes can Christ rescue vs from his fathers iustice ?

An. Because he offered a sacrifice of his owne bodie & bloud to his Father , to make the attonement for vs . And he being perfect man , suffered death : and being perfect God , susteyned him selfe to breake the bandes of death .

Quest. And howe doo wee attaine to euerlasting life , hauing escaped death ?

An. Christ also hath fulfilled perfect righteousnes , which he doeth impute to vs : and of the fulnes of the spirit whiche he haue receyued , he sanctifieth vs , and so present vs to his Father , crauing that we may be partakers of his glorie with him .

Quest. Howe dooe wee receyue and applye to vs Christ Iesus , and all this which he haue done for vs ?

An. By faith .

Quest. What is Faith ?

An. A spirituall gift giuen of GOD , euen the hand of our soule whiche wee reache out , to drawe vnto vs , all good things which are offered and promised .

Quest. Howe is this Faith wrought in vs ?

An. By the inwarde meanes of the spirit , and the outward meanes of the hearing the worde taught .

Quest. What outward meanes hath the Lord giuen , for the strengthning of our faith , that we may with more full assuraunce receyue ▪ his promises ?

An. The two Sacramentes , Of Baptisme , and the Lords Supper , which we call seales vnto the handwriting of the Lordes promise of our saluation .

Quest. What is a Sacrament ?

An. It is an outwarde visible signe , by the confirmation of the worde applied thereto representing spirituall graces vnto vs , for the testifying of Gods goodnes towardes vs , and confirming our Faith .

Quest. What is Baptisme ?

An. The seale of our receyuing into Gods house , being before the heyres of hell : and this is done by a great alteration in vs , namelie , dying to sinne , and liuing agayne vnto righteousnes , which is our newe birth . Which grace this Sacrament doo represent , both in that it signifie a spirituall washing from our sinne by Christ his bloud : And also a drowning and passing through death , that we might escape a more grieuous death , and liue for euer .

Quest. What doth the Lords Supper represent vnto vs ?

An. Our continuall nourishing , after we bee receyued into Gods familie , with the liuing breade , and the liuing water , the bodie and bloud of Christ , whereon wee feede by faith , and growe togither into one with him .

Quest. What seale and marke can we finde in our selues that we haue this faith and be in Christe ? For all can say , they beleeue .

An. The spirit which Christ Iesus doo giue , as a pleadge of our adoption , is a certayne seale . Whiche spirit it it dwell in vs , the fruite thereof , as the heate of a tornate , will breake foorth Loue to the Lorde and his worde will appeare , And charitie to our neighbour . Generallie a full alteration we must spie in our selues , that we are dead to sinne , wherein we liued in times past , and nowe wee haue pleasure to exercise our selues in meditating the Lawe of God , in Prayer , thankes giuing , and all the exercises of Christianitie , wholie leading a newe life , and holding the agreement of godlie fellowship with the rest of the members whereof Christ is the head . And alwayes hauing our conuersation in heauenlie thinges , that our light maye shine , and our lyfe maye expresse the prayse and glorie of him , and our thankefulnes towardes him , who haue redeemed vs vnto the hope of eternall life .