A breefe catechisme so necessary and easie to be learned euen of the simple sort that whosoeuer can not or vvill not attaine 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 how miserable all men are of them selues. 2. The second, how happy they are that rightly beleeue in Christe. 3. The third, what duetyes they owe vnto God for his great mercy towards them in Christ Iesus.

¶ A breefe Catechisme so necessary and easie to be learned euen of the simple sort , that whosoeuer can not , or will not attaine 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 parts .

1. The first sheweth how miserable all men are of them selues . 2. The second , how happy they are that rightly beléeue in Christe . 3. The third , what duetyes they owe vnto God for his great mercy towards them in Christ Iesus .

¶ Imprinted at London by Hugh Singleton , dwelling in Creede lane , at the signe of the gylden Tunne , and are there to be sold . 1582.

1. Peter . 3.15.16 .

Sanctifye the Lord God in your harts , and be ready always to giue an answer to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you .

And that with méekenesse and reuerence , hauing a good conscience , that when they speake euill of you as of euil doers , they may be ashamed which blame your good conuersation in Christe .

The first parte .

Question . ARt not thou a seruaunt vnto the almighty God , and Lord of heauen and earth ?

Answer . I acknowledge myselfe for euer to be his seruaunt . Exod. 20.2 . Ios. 24.15.24 . Rom. 11.36

Question . Hath God giuen forth any Lawes , whereby seruaunts , should be wel ruled & gouerned ?

Aunswer . The holy Scriptures are Gods lawes , wherin he declareth his will & pleasure , Hebru. 11.2 Luk. 19.26 31. Deut. 4.13 the generall some and effect whereof is bréefely set foorthe vnto vs in the tenne Commaundements .

Question . Rehearse the tenne Commaundements .

Aunswer . The first Table . i. God spake all these words and said , I am the Lord thy God , thou shalt haue none other Gods but me . Exod. 20.3 . ii Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen image , nor the likenesse of anye thing that is in heauen aboue , or in the earth beneath , or in the waters vnder the earth , thou shalt not bow down to them nor woorship them , for I the Lord am a ielous God , and visite the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children , vnto the third & fourth generation of them that hate me , and shew mercy vnto thousand in them that loue me , and kéepe my commaundements . iii. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vayne , for the Lorde wyll not holde him guiltles , that taketh his name in vaine . iiii . Remember that thou kéepe holye the Sabboth daye , sixe dayes shalt thou labour and doe all that thou hast to doo : but the seuenth day is the Saboth of the Lord thy God , in it thou shalt do no maner of work , thou nor thy son , thy daughter , thy man seruaunt , nor thy maide seruant , thy catel 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 , and rested the seuenth day , wherefore the Lorde blessed the seuenth day , and hollowed it . The second Table . v. Honour thy father and thy mother , that thy dayes may be long in the lande which the Lord thy God giueth thée . vi . Thou shalt doo no murder . vii . Thou shalt not commit adulterie . viii . Thou shalt not steale . ix . Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour . x. Thou shalt not couet thy neighbors house , thou shalt not couet thy neighbors wife , nor his seruaunt , nor his Oxe , nor his Asse , nor any thing that is his .

Question . Art thou able to keepe all these lawes .

Answer . Euery man is guiltye of the breache héereof , not onely in respect of theyr originall or birthe sinne , Psa. 19.12 . Eccle. 7.22 1. Iohn . 1.8 but also otherwise in thought woord and déede .

Question . What is the daunger of breaking anye of these lawes of almightie God .

Answer . The iust punishment of breaking any of God his laws , mat. 5.19.22 Rom. 6.23 . Gala. 3.10 . Iam. 2.10 . yea if it were but once in all my life , it is losse of Gods fauour , the purchasing of his heauy displeasure which bringeth euerlasting death , bothe of soule and body .

¶ The second part .

Question . How shall you escape this great daunger , and feareful punishment of your sinnes . Wil not your good deedes serue to make some amends & so deliuer you from this punishment .

Aunswer . My good déeds wil not helpe to saue me from this punishment , Ephess . 2.9 . Actes . 4.12 . Galat. 2.21 . nor any thing els , but only Iesus Christ hath deliuerd me .

Question . How hath Iesus Christ saued and deliuered you from this great punishment of your sins ?

Aunswer . Iesus Christ hath deliuered me from the punishement of my sin , 1. Tim. 3.10 Galat. 3.13 Esai . 53.5 . Lol. 1.19.20 1. Pet. 2.24 . Rom. 4.25 . Ioh. 3.16.18 Galat. 2.20 . because he being both God and man , hath suffered all the punishment which my sins deserued , & hath fulfiled the lawe of God perfectly for me , and thereby hath restored me for euer to the loue and fauour of God .

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

Aunswer . Only they are saued by Christ , Ioh. 20.28 . who beleue that he hath done all thinges touching saluation , not only for other but also euen for them selues , the effect of which faith is contained in the Creede . c c Rom. 8.12 .

Question . 2b. 2b. Mat. 1.21 Dan. 9.24.25 . Reherse the Creede .

Aunswer . I Beleeue 1.a 1.a Ioh. 14.1 . Heb. 11.3 . Math. 5.45 in God the Father almighty c. c. Act. 4.27 . Heh. 1.9 . Act. 10.38 . maker of heauen and earth . And in 2 . b Iesus c Christ his d d Io. 1.14.18 . onely son our e e Ma. 28.18 . 1. Pe. 1.18.19 . Lord . Which was conceiued f f mat. 1.8.20 . by the holy ghost , borne of the Virgin Mary . Suffered g g Luk. 23.24.33.46 . vnder Ponce Pilate , h h Mat. 27.46 . Mat. 26.37 Lu. 22.44 . was crucified , dead and buried , i i Mat. 20.8 9. 1. Cor. 15.4 12. he discended into hell the third daye hee rose againe from the dead . He k k Act. 1.9 . ascended into heauen , and l l Act. 7.55.56 . Lol. 3.1 . sitteth at the righte hande of God the father Almighty . From thence m m 2. Lor. 3.10 . shall he come to iudge both the quick and the dead . I beleeue in 3.n 3.n mat. 28.19 Act. 5.3 , 4. 1. Pet. 1.2 . the holy ghost . The 4.o 4.o 1. Tim. 3.15 . 1. Lor. 14.33 Mat. 28.18 19. holy Catholicke church . The communion p p 1. Lor. 12.12 . of Saints . The q q Ro. 3.24.25 . forgiuenes of sinnes . The r r 1. Lor. 15.53.45 . Iob. 19.25.26 . resurrection of the body . And the s lyfe euerlastyng Amen .

Question . By what meanes haue wee such a true faith ?

Aunswer . It is the gift of God .

Question . How dooth God worke this faith in vs ?

Aunswer . By the preaching of the word of God .

Question . Is this faithfullie framed and made stronge in vs at the first , or in one houre ? s s 2. Lor. 1.3 . Luk. 16.23 .

Answer . Fayth is increased by little and little , 1. Cor. 11.17 Gala. 4.19 . Ephe. 4.11 12.13 . 1. Thessa . 5.19.20 . and made stronge in vs by the dilligent hearing of the woord of God , and by the vse of his sacraments .

Question . How many Sacraments be there ?

Aunswer . There be two Sacraments , Rom. 4.11 . 1. Co. 10.2.3 Mat. 21.25 Mat. 28.19 Mat 26.2.6 Acts. 2.26 . Baptisme , and the Supper of the Lord .

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

Answer . By Baptisme the holy Ghost assureth me that as my body is sprinckled with water , Act. 22.16 . so my soule , 2. Pet. 3.21 by the bloudshedding of Christ , Colo. 2.12 . is sprinckled and washed from all the guilt and punishment of my sin , and also héerby I professe my selfe to die with Christ , Rom. 6.4 . as concerning sinne , & liue in him as concerning righteousnes .

Question . To what end serueth the supper of the lord ?

Answer . In the supper of the Lorde , Luk. 22.19.22.24 . 1. Pet. 10.16 1. Cor. 11.23 I am by the spirit of God assured , that as the breade broken , and the wine powred out be deliuered vnto me , euen so was the bodye of Christe broken , & his bloud shed , as a full recompence to God for my sinnes .

¶ The third part .

Question . For asmuch then as God of his infinite loue , hath giuen his owne sonne to raunsome vs from the power of sinne , death & hel , to aduaunce vs to the honour of his children , & heyres of his kingdome : seeing it pleaseth him to giue vs faith , and daily to nourish & encrease it in vs more and more , by his word and sacraments : by the which faith we lay hold vpon Christ , and make him with al his merites and treasures our owne : so that now not onely all our sinnes are remooued from vs , but also his righteousnes , holines , & perfection , is accounted ours before God : Do you not thinke that we are very deepely bound vnto him ?

Answer . Yes verely , I am so much bound to god , Psalm. 8.5 . Psal. 116.12 Rom. 12.1 . that al my life ought to be a continual thankfulnes to his Maiesty , for his great mercy .

Question . Is then this doctrine which sheweth vs that we are saued by Iesus Christe onely , and not by our owne workes , any occasion of wicked life , as the Papistes slaunder it ?

Aunswer . This doctrin is no occasion of wicked life but the greatest reson to perswade men to be diligent and zealous in good workes . Ios. 24.14.18 . Psa. 130.4 . Rom. 12.1 . 1. Iohn . 2.1 Rom. 6.1 . Titus . 2.11.12 .

Question . Are there no other good deedes required of christians , but giuing almes , visiting the sick , building of scholes , & houses for the poore ? An , a a Mat. 6.2 . 1. Cor. 13.3 . As these are good déeds , & such as highly please God , being don in such maner as the word of God doth teach vs that is , with a true faith in Christ & pure loue toward our Brethren , b b Ex. 20.3.4 Mat. 22.36 . So are there many other much more excellent then these , as the pure worshipping of God both with soule and body : c c Iob. 13.36 trusting & depending of his good prouidence both in prosperity & aduersity : d d Luke . 10.42 . hering of his holy word : e e Thes. 5.11.14 . Heb. 3.13 . Clos . 3.16 . Iacob . 5.20 . exhortations and admonitions one to another , especially to such as we haue speciall charge ouer : f f 1. Thes. 5.16 . Psal. 50.14 15. praysing God for all his mercies and continuall benefits poured vpon vs : and laste of all , g g Iudg. 20 Ephess . 6 10 faithfull prayers for all such things as we stand in néede of .

Question . To whom ought we to make our praiers ?

An. We must pray to our louing and almighty God alone , Psal. 50.15 Acts. 4.24 . and to none but him .

Qu. What thinges ought we to praie for ?

Aunswer . We must pray , not onely for all things néedfull for our selues and the Churche of God , Acts. 4.29 . Eph. 6.18.19 but especially for those thinges which appertaine to the setting foorth of the glory of God , euen as we are taught in the Lords prayer .

Qu. Rehearse the Lords praier .

Aunswer . OVr Father which art in heauen , hallowed be thy name . Math. 6.9 . Thy kingdome come . Thy will be don in earth , as it is in Heauen . Giue vs this day our dayly bread . And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs . And lead vs not into temptation . But deliuer vs from euill . For thine is the kingdome the power and the glory , for euer and euer . Amen .

Qu. How may we be assured that God wil heare vs , seeing we are sinners ?

Aunswer . Because we offer vp our praiers , Ioh. 16.23 1. Iohn . 2.1 1. Pet. 2.5 . not in our owne 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 seruaunts .

Certaine necessarie instructions meete to be taught the younger sort , before they come to be partakers of the holy Communion .

Qu. What doo you come to receiue ?

An. I come to receiue the Lords supper .

Qu. What is the Lordes Supper ?

An. The Lords supper is a sacrament ordeined of the Lord Iesus Christ , to shew forth in most liuely and euident manner , his painfull suffering of death for vs , by the outward signes of bread and wine .

Qu. Wherefore comest thou to receiue the Lords Supper ?

An. I come to receiu it for these 4. causes 1. First , to shewe my obedience to my Lorde Iesus Christe , who hath so commaunded me . 2. Secondly , that my inward man might be nourished and strengthened by that heauenvly foode of Christs body & blood receiued by faith , as my body is nourished by corruptible bread and wine . 3. Thirdly , to make open profession of my faith in Christ , and loue toward my neighboures . 4. Lastly , that by the reuerend ministration and ioyfull shewing foorth of this holy misterie , my minde , & all the parts of my soule , might effectually be stirred vp through the inwarde woorking of the holy spirit to a more earnest loue of my God and vnfeined thankfulnesse to his Maiestie , freely giuen mee in his sonne Iesus Christ .

Qu. After what sort ought you to come to this holy mistery of the lords supper ?

An. Three things are cheefly required of those that come to this heauenlye banket of the Lords supper .

The one is a sorrowfull feeling and a harty lothing of all my sinne , that is to say of all that I haue conceiued in my hart vttered with my tongue , or committed by outward deedes contrarie to the woorde of God .

The second is a true faithe in Christ , which bringeth with it a comfortable and ioyful feeling of the infinite mercy and euerlasting looue of God towarde me in Christ .

The last is a carefull earnest and constant endeuor to please God in al things according to the rule of his woord , and so to behaue my selfe before him all the dayes of my life as I may best profite others , and most set foorth his glory in that calling wherein he hath placed me .

FINIS .

¶ A forme of prayer to be vsed in Christian famelies .

WE thank thee ( O Lord God and most mercifull father ) for all thy louing kindnes and vnspeakeable goodnes so declared toward vs , in preseruing vs this daye past & all our life hetherto , in turning away from vs innu merable plagues which wee most iustly haue deserued , in giuing vnto vs all maner of blessings & conforts pertaining vnto this life , & the life to come , and namely we praise & thanke thy maiestie for creating vs according to thine one image , for sauing vs from our sinnes & thy wrath by the merits of thy sonne Iesus Christ , for calling vs vnto the knowledge of this thy infinite loue toward vs , by the preaching of thy word and work of thy spirit , for ayding and comforting vs so fatherlye at all tymes , in all places , & against all our enemies which haue sought by all meanes to turne vs from the earnest loue of thy Gospell and obedience of thy commaundements . We confesse ( O Lord ) from the bottome of our hartes , that we are vtterly vnworthy of the least of these thy mercies , that there is nothing to be found in vs , to mooue thy maiesty thus bountifully to deale with vs , yea that our manifold sins and corruptions of our nature yet remaining in vs , haue deserud the contrary . To thee therfore ( O father ) we render al thanks , al praise & glory , for these thy benefits bestowed vpon vs & the rest of our brethren . And wc most humbly besech thee , to pardon al our coldnes , vnthankfulnes with al the rest of our sins , and to strike our stony harts yet more deepely with the force of thy spirit & edg of thy word faithfully preached that we may more earnestly repent for our former iniquities , loathing and abhoring all sin in our selues and others , because it is so foule and odious in thine eyes . And we also most humbly craue at thy hands , more and more to roote out of our harts our owne natural corruptions of infidelity , selfe loue , pride , enuie , vaine glory , maliciousnes & all hipocrisy , & to renew in vs daily all thy graces and fruites of thy spirit , in that thou in thy wisedome seest to be needful for vs , for the better setting forrh of thy glory , & more fruitefull seruice to our brethren , in those callings wherein thou haste placed euery one of vs . Let thy feare ( O deare father ) be alwaies so clearly before our eyes , & the most comfortable feeling of thy aboundant loue toward vs in Christ , so strongly preuaile in our harts , that we neuer presume to offend thy maiesty by wilfull breaking of thy lawes , but be found alwaies cherful , dilligent & zealous in all good woorks which thou hast enioined , & commended vnto vs in thy holy word , Let vs not ( O Lord ) be like the rude & ignoraunt multitude , who because they haue not knowne thy word , nor effectually tasted of thy loue in heauenly things , are caried with the rage of their owne carnall lusts & worldly desires , to al filthines of Idolatry , vncleanesse of life , couetous , deceiptfull , & vnrighteous dealing for their owne gaine : But as thou in mercy hast called vs from our selues & out of this vaine world to serue thy Maiesty , to be called and to be indeede thy chyldren , heires of an immortall inheritance , temples of thy spirit & liuely members , of thy sonne our sauiour : so graunt that our conuersation , behauiour , & whol life may answer to this high calling and glory of our profession , a bounding in all spiritual knowledge , in feruency of true zeale in detestation of all sinne , in carefulnes to please thee in all things , ioye of the spirit , in peace of conscience , in all Charitable iust and kinde dealing toward all men for thy sake . And because all our labors in our callings are in vain , without thy meruelous blessing , voutchsafe to be alwayes present with vs , not onely shewing vs by the light of thy woord what we should doo , but also blessing and prospering vs by the power of thy shielde in all that we take in hand , in such sort as soome woorthy fruite may rise therof to the comfort of our owne conscience , the benefite of our brethren , and the praise of thy holy name through Iesus Christe our Lord . Giue vs thy wisedome from aboue , whereby we may vse the things of this world , as though we vsed them not , trauailing faythfully in our calling , but yet depending of thy prouidence , looking for all good successe at thy handes , referring all to thy glory , continually , waiting for the comming of our Lord and sauiour Christ Iesus in whose name we pray not onely for our selues . &c.

printer's device of Hugh Singleton HS GOD IS MY HELPER