A breefe catechisme so necessarie and easie to be learned euen of the symple sort that whosoeuer can not or vvyll not attayne to the same, is not to be counted a good Christian, much lesse to be admitted to the Supper of the Lorde. It standeth of three partes. ...

A breefe Catechisme so necessarie and easie to be learned euen of the symple sort , that whosoeuer can not or wyll not attayne to the same , is not to be counted a good Christian , much lesse to be admitted to the Supper of the Lorde .

It standeth of three partes .

1. The first sheweth howe miserable all men are of them selues . 2. The seconde , howe happy they are that rightly beleeue in Christ . 3. The thirde , what duties they owe vnto God , for his greate merye to wardes them in Christ Iesus .

1576.

AT LONDON . Printed by Hugh Singleton .

1. PETER . 3.15.16 .

Sanctifye the Lorde God in your heartes , and be ready alwayes to geue an aunswere to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you .

And that with meekenesse and reacrence , hauing a good conscience , that when they speake euill of you as of euill dooers , they may be ashamed which blame your good conuersation in Christe .

THE FIRST PART .

Question . ARt thou not a subiect and a seruant vnto the Almyghtie God , and Lord of Heauen and Earth ?

Aunswere . I acknowledge and yeeld my selfe for euer to be his subiect and seruaunt . Exod. 20.2 . Ios. 24.15.24 . Rom. 12.16 .

Question . Hath God giuen foorth any lawes , whereby his subiectes shoulde be wel ruled and gouerned ?

Aunswere .

The holy scriptures are Gods statures and lawes , Hebru. 1.12 . Luk. 16.29.31 Dent. 4.13 . wherein he declareth his wyll and pleasure , the generall summe and effect whereof is breefely set foorth vnto vs in the tenne Commaundementes .

Question . Rehearse the tenne Commaundementes .

Aunswere .

i. GOD spake all these wordes and sayd , Exod. 20.3 . I am the Lorde thy GOD , thou shalt haue none other gods but me .

ii . Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen image , nor the likenesse of any thing that is in heauen aboue , or in the earth beneth , or in the waters vnder the earth , thou shalt not bowe downe to them , nor worship them , for I the Lorde am a ielious God , and will vifite the sinnes of the fathers vpon the chyldren , vnto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me , and shew mercie vnto thousandes in them that loue me , and keepe my commaundements .

iii. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy GOD in vayne , for the Lorde will not holde him giltles , that taketh his name in vayne .

iiii . Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabboth day , sixe dayes shalt thou laboure and doe all that thou hast to doe : but the seuenth day is the Sabboth of the Lorde the GOD , in it thou shalt doe no manner of worke , thou nor thy sonne , thy daughter , thy man seruant , nor thy maydseruant , thy cattell , nor the straunger that is within thy gates : for in sixe dayes the Lorde made Heauen and Earth , the Sea and all that in them is , wherefore the Lorde blessed the seuenth day , and hallowed it .

v. Honour thy Father and thy Mother , that thy dayes may be long in the lande , which the Lorde thy GOD geueth thee .

vi . Thou shalt doe no murder .

vii . Thou shalt not commit adulterie .

viii . Thou shalt not steale .

ix . Thou shalt not beare false witnesse agaynst thy neyghbour .

x. Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house , thou shalt not couet thy neyghbours wyfe , nor his seruaunt , nor his mayde , nor his Oxe , nor his Asse , nor any thing that is his .

Question . Are you able to keepe all these lawes ?

Aunswere

Euery man daily breaketh them in thought , Psalm. 19.12 . Ecclesi. 7.22 . 1. Iohn . 1.8 . word , and deede .

Question . What is the danger of breaking any of these lawes and commaundementes of Almyghty GOD .

Aunswere ,

The iust wages and punishment of breaking the least of Gods holy lawes , Math. 5.19.22 . yea if it were but once in all my life , Rom. 6 23. and in thought onely : Ga●at . 3.10 . is the losse of Gods fauour , the purchasing of his heauye displeasure : Iames. 2.10 . which bringeth euerlasting death both of soule and body .

THE SECOND PART .

Question . Howe shall you escape this great daunger , and feareful punishment of your sinnes . Wyll not your good deedes serue to make some amends to GOD for your il deedes , and so deliuer you from this punishment .

Aunswere . My good deedes will not helpe to saue me from this punishment , nor any thing els , Ephe. 2.9 . Actes . 4 . 1● . Gala. 2.21 . but onely the deedes of Iesus Christ hath deliuered me .

Question . How hath Jesus Christ saued and deliuered you from this great punishment of your sinnes .

Aunswere . Iesus Christe hath deliuered me from the punishment of my sinne , 1. Tim. 3 . 1● . Cala. 3.13 . Esai . 53.5 . because he being both GOD and Man , Col. 1.19.20 . hath suffered all the punishment which my sinnes deserued , 1. Pet. 2.24 . and hath fulfilled the lawe of God perfectly for me , Rom 4.25 . and thereby hath restored me for euer to the loue and fauour of God .

Question . Are all then saued by this suffering & death of Christ .

Aunswere . Only they are saued by Christ , Iohn . 3.16.3 . who beleeue that he hath doone all thinges touching saluation , not onely for other , Gal. 2.20 . Ioh. 1.20.22 . but also euen for them selues , the effect of which faith is conteyned in the Creede .

Question . Rehearse the Creede .

Aunswere . I beleeue in God the Father Almighty maker of Heauen and Earth . Iohn . 14 1. And in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lorde . Whiche was conceyued by the holy Ghost , horne of the Virgin Marie . Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate , was crucified , dead , and buryed , he descended into Hell. The third day he rose againe from the dead . He assended into Heauen , and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almightie . From thence shall he come to iudge the quicke and the dead . I beléeue in the holy Ghost . The holy Catholicke Church . The Communion of Saintes . The forgeuenesse of sinnes . The resurrection of the body . And the life euerlasting Amen .

Question . By what meanes haue we such a true fayth .

Aunswere . Math. 16.17 . Ephesi 6.23 . 2. Cor. 4.13 . Mark. 9.24 .

It is the gyft of GOD .

Question . How dooth God woorke this fayth in vs .

Aunswere By the preaching of the woord of God . Rom. 1.12.17 . Rom. 10.4.17 . Iames. 1.21 .

Question . Is this fayth fully framed , and made strong in vs at the fyrst , or in one houre .

Aunswere . Fayth is increased by little and little , 1. Cor. 11.17 . Galat. 4.19 . Ephesi. 4.11.12.13 . 1. Thessa. 5.19.20 . and made strong in vs by the diligent hearing of the worde of God , and by the vse of his Sacramentes .

Question . How many Sacraments are there .

Aunswere . There are two Sacraments , Baptisme , Rom. 4.11 . 1. Cor. 10.2.3 . Math. 21.25 . Matth. 28.19 . Matth. 26.2.6 Acts. 2.26 . and the Supper of the Lord.

Question . What benifite haue you by Baptisme , and to what end serueth it .

Aunswere . By Baptisme the holy Ghost assureth me , Acts 22.16 . that as my bodye is sprinkled with water , so my soule , 1. Pet. 3.21 . by the bloodshedding of Christ , is sprinckled and washed from all the guilte and punishment of my sinnes , Coloss. 2.12 . and also herby I professe my selfe to dye with Christe , as concerning sinne , Rom. 6.4 . and liue in him as concerning righteousnesse .

Question . To what ende serueth the Supper of the Lorde .

Aunswere . In the Supper of the Lorde , Luke . 22.19.20 . 1. Pet. 10.16 . I am by the spirite of GOD assured , that as the breade broken , and the wine poured out be deliuered vnto me , 1. Cor. 11.23.34 euen so was the body of Christ broken , and his bloude shed , as a full recompence to God for my sinnes .

THE THIRD PART .

Question . For asmuch then as God of his infinite loue , hath geuen his owne sonne , to raunsome vs from the power of sinne , death , and hell , to aduaunce vs to the honour of his Children , and heires of his kingdome : seing it pleaseth him to geue vs fayth , and daylye to nourish and encrease it in vs more and more : by his woorde and Sacramentes , by the which fayth we lay hold vpon Christe , and make him with al his merits and treasures our owne : so that nowe not only alour sinnes are remooued from vs , but also his righteousnes , holinesse , and perfection , is accounted ours before GOD : Do you not thinke that we are very depely bound vnto him .

Aunswers .

Yes veryly . I am so much bounde to God , Psalm. 8.5 . Psalm. 116.12 Rom. 12.1 . that al my life ought to be a continual thankfulnes to his Maiestie , for his great mercie .

Quuestion .

Is then this doctrine whiche sheweth vs that we are saued by Jesus Christ only , & not by our owne woorkes , any occasion of wicked lyfe , as the Papists slaunder it .

Aunswere . This doctrine is no occasion of wicked lyfe , Rom. 12.1 . 1. Iohn . 2.1 . Rom. 6.1 . Titus . 2.11.12 . but the greatest reason to perswade men to be diligent and zealous in good woorkes .

Question . Are there no other good deedes required of Christians , but giuing of almes , visiting the sycke , buylding of schooles , and houses for the poore .

Aunswere . a. a. Math. 6.2 . 1. Cor. 13.3 . As these are good deedes , and such as highly please God , being doone in such maner as the worde of God dooth teache vs : b. b. Exo. 20.3.4 . Math. 22.36 . So are there many other much more excellent then these : as the pure worshipping of God both with the soule and body : c. c. Iob. 13.15 . trusting and dependidg of his good prouidence both in prosperitie and aduersitie : d. d. Luk. 10.42 . hearing of his holy worde : e. e. Thes. 5.11.14 . Hebre. 3.13 . Colos. 3.16 . Iacob . 5.20 . exhortations and admonitions one to an other , especially to such as we haue speciall charge ouer : f. f. 1. Thes. 5.16 . Psalm. 50.14.15 . praysing God for all his mercies , and continuall benifites powred vpon vs : and last of all , g. g. Iudges . 20. Ephe. 6.18 . Psalm. 50.15 . Actes . 4.24 . faythfull prayers for all such thinges as we stand in neede of .

Question . To whom ought we to make our prayers .

Aunswere . We must pray to our louing and Almighty GOD alone , and to none but him .

Question . What thinges ought we to pray for .

Aunswere . We must praye , Actes . 4.29 . Ephe. 6.18.19 . not onely for all thinges needefull for our selues and the churche of GOD , but especially for those thinges whiche appertayne to the setting foorth of the glory of God , euen as we are taught in the Lordes prayer .

Question . Rehearse the Lordes prayer .

Aunsvere . Our father which art in Heauen , hallowed be thy name . Math. 6.9 . Thy kingdome come . Thy wyll be done in Earth , as it i● in Heauen . Geue vs this day our daly breade . And forgeue vs our trespasses , as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs . And leade vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euyll Amen .

Question . How may we be assured that God wyl heare vs , seeing we are sinners .

Aunswere . Because we offer vp our prayers , Iohn . 16.29 . 1. Iohn . 2.1 . 1. Pet. 2.5 . not in our own name , nor in the name of any creature but of the sonne of God our Sauiour , who is alwayes in the presence of God , to entreate his maiestie for vs , his poore Seruauntes .

FINIS .

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