A paraphrase with annotations upon the harder passages of the English catechism

A short Paraphrase , with Annotations upon the harder places of the English Catechisme .

The First Partition . The Title with the Vow in Baptisme .

A Catechisme , that is , to say , An Instruction , to be learned of every Child [ Isa . 28 v. 9. 10. Whom shall he teach knowledge ? and whom shall he make to understand Doctrine ? them that are weaned from the milk , and drawn from the brests . For precept must be upon precept , precept upon precept ; line upon line , line upon line ; here a little , and there a little . ] before He be brought to be Confirmed by the Bishop [ that is , before that with his own mouth , and in his own person he enter into Covenant with his God . ( 2 Kings 23. 3. And the King stood by a pillar and made a Covenant before the Lord — and all the People stood to the Covenant . Isa . 44. 5. and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord . ) Or , before that in his own person , and with his own mouth , he take upon himself his Baptismal vow . ]

Question . What is your Name ?

Answer . N. or M.

Q. Who gave you this Name

A. My God-fathers and God-mothers in my Baptisme , wherein [ not whereby , but by vertue of the Institution , and Word and Gods promise in the New Covenant , as mighty as God Himself ] I was made a member of Christ [ not Natural , but Mystical , that is , of the Church of Christ , Act. 9. 4 Why persecuest thou me ? that is , my Church ? 1. Cor . 12. v. 12. So also is Christ , that is the Church of Christ . ] The Child of God [ by Adoption and Grace . ] and an Inheritour of the Kingdome of Heaven ▪ [ not Absolutely and Irrespectively , but only upon Condition of doing my endeavour to perform , keep , observe , and do my Baptismal vow , which follows presently after . ] upon those words of S. Paul , Rom. 8. 17. See , saith a good Commentator , with what lovely Titles the Apostle doth set forth the Dignity of the Baptized , that they are the Children of God , and Heirs of God , and Joint heirs with Christ , and therefore his Brethren . ]

Q. What did your God-fathers and God-mothers then for you ?

A. They did promise and vow three things in my Name . [ That is , standing in my steed . ] First , that I should forsake or renounce [ that is , vow and promise to forsake or renounce ] the Devil and all his works , the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked world , and all the sinfull lusts of the flesh . Secondly that I should believe [ that is , promise to believe ] all the Articles of the Christian faith . Thirdly that I should keep [ that is , vow to keep ] Gods holy will and Commandments , and walk in the same all the Daies of my life [ that is , promise to walk . The thing for the Solemne and Publick vow of the thing , by a Metonymie of the subject for the Adjunct . As 2 Tim . 1. 9. — grace which was given us in Christ Jesus , before the world began ; that is promised and decreed , to be given . Jerem . 1. 10. See , I have this day set thee over the Nations and over the Kingdoms , to root-out , and to pull-down that is , to tell them aforehand , that , unless they repent in time , rooted ▪ out and pulled-down for certain they sh●ll be . And no otherwise here ; Renouncing for the solemn and open vow to Renounce : To believe , for the solemn and open vow to Believe : To Keep and Walk , for the solemn and open vow to Keep and Walk . And that this is the true , and designed sense of the Church , it shall appear presently after , to wit , from the Answer to the fourth Question concerning Baptisme ( where also some things about the Office of God-fathers and God-mothers , deserving rather to be catcht-after , then declined . ) But now , that , in this sense , Infants when grown-up , shall Renounce , Believe , and Keep , safely enough their Sureties at the Font may undertake , who presently doth not percieve ? For these things in very deed , at least in some measure , they doe doe , when being become Catechumeni , they do answer to the next following Question , Dost thou not think — ? Yes verily : And by Gods help so I will : — But in a very special , signal , manner , do it , they do , when , before the Bishop and his Archdeacons or other Presbyters round about him ( so venerable a Presence ) Every one with a lowd voice Answers for himself , I do , to that grave Question , do ye here in the presence of God and of this Congregation renew ? — And And every one , saith the Book , shall Answer , I do .

A little Item .

Were it not for the Comprehensiveness of Tropes ; the Scripture and Church had never uttered , their High and Heavenly Notions , in so few words . No marvel therefore though their most divine Theologie hath seemed , and doth seem Vain , and Lying , and Nonsense , to all them , who by thinking , have not been able to reach the very things , and in their mind to comprehend them . ]

Q. Doest thou not think , that thou art bound to believe and to do , as they have promised for thee ?

A. Yes verily : [ See and Compare the Apologetical enarration of the Answer to the 4th Question about Baptisme , a little after ] And by Gods help , so I will : And I heartily thank our Heavenly Father , that he hath called me to this State of Salvation through Jesus Christ our Saviour . And I pray —

The Second Partition . The Creed with the short summary of it .

Catechist . Rehearse the Articles of thy beliefe .

A. I believe in God the Father —

Q. What doest thou chiefly learn in these Articles of thy Belief ?

A. First I learn to believe in God the Father , who hath made me , and all the World .

Secondly in God the Son , who hath redeemed me , and all mankind .

Thirdly , in God the Holy Ghost , who Sanctifieth me [ not , hath Sanctified . For his great work is not past , but is yet in doing . ] And all the Elect People of God [ that is , The Holy Catholique Church , Elected doubtless full and whole with that Election , which is mentioned , Psal . 65. 4. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest , and causest to approach unto thee , that He may dwell in thy Courts : We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy House , even of thy Holy Temple . ]

The Third Partition . The decalogue with duties towards God and our Neighbours .

Q. You said that your God-fathers and Godmothers did promise for you , that you should keep Gods Commandements . Tell me how many there be ?

A. Ten .

Q. Which be they ?

A. The same , which God spake in the 20th Chapter of Exodus , saying : I am the Lord thy God , who brought thee out of the Land of Egypt , out of the House of Bondage . [ That 's the Preface or Introduction .

I. [ That is , the First Commandement . ] Thou shalt have none other Gods but me . II . [ That is , the Second Commandement . ]

Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven , &c. —

Q. What doest thou chiefly learn by these Commandements ?

A. I learn two things : My duty towards God [ in the Four first Commandements , or , in the Commandements of the first Table ] and my duty towards my Neighbour , [ in the Six last , or , in the Commandements of the second Table . The Ten words , in two Tables of Stone . Deut . 4. 13. ]

Q What is thy duty towards God ?

A. My duty towards God is , to Believe in Him , to Fear Him , and to Love — and to Serve Him truly All the daies of my life . [ Which words seem to be the Mystical and highest sense of the Fourth Commandement , and may not altogether unfitly be called The Sanctification Sabbath : To the right keeping and sanctifying whereof , the two other Sabbaths seem to have been instituted ; to wit , The Creation-Sabbath , or , the Sabbath properly so called , or , Sater-day ; and The Redemption Sabbath , or , the Lord's-day , or , the First day of the week . ]

The Fourth Partition . The Lord's Prayer , with the short meaning of it .

Catechist . My good child know this , that thou —

Answ . Our Father , which art in Heaven —

Quest . What desirest thou of God in this Prayer ?

Answ . I desire my Lord God our Hevenly Father , who is the giver of all — And this I trust he will do of his mercy and goodness , through our Lord Jesus Christ . And therefore I say Amen , So be it . [ By these last words who does not presently conceive , ( that which doubtless is the very truth ) that the Church meant , that Amen ought alwaies to be here said by the Minister as well as People , and that it ought to be accounted a true part of the Lord's Prayer ? ]

The Fifth Partition . The Doctrine of the Sacraments .

Quest . How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Church ?

Answ . Two only as generally necessary to Salvation . [ That is , those things , in the devout , frequent , and constant use whereof , the generality of men obtain Salvation , and no otherwise , ] that is to say , Baptisme , and the Supper of the Lord .

Q. What meanest thou by this word , Sacrament ?

A. I mean an outward and visible Sign , of an In●ard and Spiritual Grace , given [ or promised ] unto us ; Ordained by Christ Himself , as a Means whereby we recieve the same , and a Pledg to assure us thereof . [ Here note we well , that to the truth and our Church , All the Ordinances of Jesus Christ , Sacraments , Prayers , Fastings , Alms , &c. are not only Duties and Pledges , but also , Means and Effectual Instruments for obtaining the Ends proposed and the Graces promised . ]

Q. How many parts are there in a Sacrament ?

A. Two : the outward Visible Sign and the inward Spiritual Grace .

Q. What is the outward visible signe , or form in Baptism ?

A. Water ; wherein the Person is Baptized , in the Name [ or into the Name ] of the Father , and of the Son , and of the Holy Ghost .

Q. What is the inward and Spiritual Grace ?

A. A death unto sin , and a New Birth unto Righteousness [ that is , a solemn and open Vow ( by inward Grace ) to dye unto Sin , and to live unto Righteousness . ] for being by nature born in sin , and the children of wrath , we are hereby [ that is , Not by the outward work of being Baptized , but by the death unto sin , and new birth unto righteousness , as but now these things have been explained ; that is , by the Vow in Baptism ; for the Stipulation or Answere of a good conscience towards God , 1 Pet . 3. 21. seems to be nothing else but the Vow in Baptism . ] made children of Grace .

Q. What is required of Persons to be Baptized ?

A. Repentance , [ that is , the solemn and open Vow of Repentance ] whereby they forsake [ that is , Vow to forsake ] sin : and Faith , [ that is , the open and solemn undertaking of faith ] whereby they stedfastly believe [ that is , Vow firmly to believe ] the promises of God made to them in that Sacrament . [ that is , in the office of this Sacrament expresly proposed , as long ago , in very deed made by God . ]

Q Why then are Infants baptized , when by reason of their tender age , they cannot perform them ? [ that is , cannot themselves solemnly and openly Vow and promise these things ? ]

A. Because [ the plain truth is ] They promise them both by their Sureties : which promise , when they come to age , themselves are bound to perform . [ So that this one place may sufficiently convince or demonstrate , that the Church here and in the Baptismal Vow , meant , by Renouncing , Believing , Repenting and Keeping the Commandements , not so much the Things themselves , as the Vowes , Purposes and Promises of the things , solemnly and openly undertaken . But now , that , in this sense , the Infants , when come to age , shall Renounce , Believe , Reform and Keep , who sees not but that their sureties may safely enough undertake ? Nor truly is this New , or Strange , or besides the use of Scripture , and of Common life , That Little-ones , and meer Infants , as yet knowing no such thing , nor indeed able to know it , Parents yet and other Friends should firmly , and according to law bind to those things , which are good and profitable for them . For the use of Scripture is clear , as elsewhere , so especially in , Deut. 29. 11. Where Littleones in their Mothers arms do enter , or pass into Covenant with the Lord their God . And for the use of Common life , What more common , then that Parents taking care for the good of their Chidren , do provide that they be written and taken into the Possession , or true right , at least , of profitable Livings and Farms ? Not absolutely , but upon condition of yielding and paying unto such or such a Lord , such or such yearely Pensions or Services ? And so in very deed if they do not , that they suffer the wretched loss of so good Provisions ? Just so ( every one may see ) is it in this matter ; Infants by their Parents and other friends are in Baptism dedicated to God and Religion ; are tyed to make good their Baptismal Vow ; and this unless they shall have done , must loose the Inheritance offered and promised by Christ ; of Grace , here ; as hereafter , of Glory , &c.

Moreover , whereas many do slinck and shife themselves from that great charity of undertaking for Children at the Font , upon this thought chiefly , that they fear they cannot safely enough undertake according to the Charge at the end of the Office ; This Errour sure they will no longer erre , if so be they will sincerely and simply consider , what the thing it self suggests unto us .

For who sees not , that all Believers of the Universal Church , are every whit as much bound to all things in that Exhortation , as are the Sureties at the Font ? Or , which comes all to one , Whatever be the Command or Threat after the Office , that all that , whatsoever it be , belongs to the whole Church , & not only to its representatives , the Godfathers and God-mothers then present ? And this

First , Because , whereas the Exhortation has nothing in it , but fraternal Correption and Admonition ; That these do alike concern all Christians , what Christian dares make any the least doubt ?

Secondly , Because , whereas within Fourty years after St. John , we find that God-fathers , and Godmothers were Instituted , we rightly conceive also , to this end they were not instituted , that for themselves , every one in his own person , should hear and answer , But that they should be the Representatives of the whole Church ; and that they should for that turn be Her Mouth and Eares ; And so that all Believers whatsoever , do both hear and speak and undertake , what they , standing in their steed do hear , and speak , and undertake . But all that we see to be nothing else but what , as occasion may be , every believer is to attempt and pursue . For what believer dares plead himself exempt from any little word of the Lord Jesus Christ ? and by name from that , But thou when thou art converted , strengthen thy Bretdren ? Luke 22.

Thirdly , Because the Office of a God-father , or God-mother has in it the sense and signification , not so much of Burden , as Honour ; and not so much of any new Care imposed ( for as but now was said , nothing new is imposed ) as of a new Occasion to do good gotten and obtained ; when namely , upon any occasion offered , the God-father many times makes his Surety-ship a fit occasion to monish the Infant , now come to age and understanding .

Add hereunto , that , as all other Appointments and Usages of the Primitive Church , so this also , may we observe , has this for its main end , the increase of Charity and Neighborhood , not of Costs and Burthens ; ( whilest namely , both the Intreated and Intreators become very obliging to one another ; these , that they ask nothing else but what without violation of Religion and Civility ought not to be denied them ; and those , that they readily lay hold upon the Occasson of increasing Christian love . ) And to what should Christians so earnestly bend themselves , as to the sovereign end of all Christianity ? that is , To Charity , out of a pure Heart , and good Conscience , and Faith unfeigned ? 1 Tim . 1.

But now , if through the changing of Habitations , or any other irresistible Providence , any one cannot admonish and instruct his little one , as he most desireth ; then let him well remember , that those Duties do lie upon all other Christians that are at hand , and not at all upon him : Because in that case the performance of them is to him morally impossible . ]

Q Why was the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ordained ?

A. For the continual remembrance of the Sacrifice of the Death of Christ , and of the Benefits which we receive therehy . [ Prolepsis . Not that remembring is the one only end of the Ordinance , ( for there are many other , and those expressed in the very Scriptures : and among others these three , 1. That we annuntiate and shew unto the Father the death of our Lord until he come , 1 Cor . 11. 26. that is , till the Lord Jesus come to judge the quick and the dead ; that is to say , so long as this world endures . That in every of our Communions we offer unto God that one and the same Offering , which to him our Lord himself once offered upon the Cross , Heb . 10. 14. And this ( as in that very Text ) the Apostle teacheth , to our Perfection , i.e. to our Justification , and Salvation , the only perfection and consummation of Believers . For in this Service we , though not in audible , yet visible words , do tell God to his face , that he must needs forgive and save all us penitent Believers . Because to this end , by his own Covenant , the Lord Jesus by his death hath made our peace and full attonement ; and this very death that we in that way which Christ hath taught us , do now offer and present unto him . But this , whether Sacrifice , or manner of offering , he at any rate ought not to dispise , &c. 2. That all the Merits of the Body and Bloud of Christ , may in the very act of receiving be applied and clapt close to the Souls of all worthy Receivers ; as taught we are , not only in the Answer to the third Question , verily and indeed received by the faithful in the Lords Supper , but also in 1 Cor . 10. 16. The Cup of blessing which we bless , is it not the Communion of the Bloud of Christ ? The Bread which we break , is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ ? as if he should have said , without all doubt it is . And 3ly , That the unity and communion of Believers may be kept whole and entire : 1 Cor . 10. 17. For we being many , are one Bread , and one Body — and elsewhere often : ) As then we began to say , in this Answer the Church seems thus to have spoken , not that it conceived remembring to be the whole and only end of the Ordinance , but because it saw that to be the end which in the very Institution was expresly mentioned ( for it is the business of a Catechism to propose not all things , but the easiest and most undoubted . )

Q. What is the outward part or sign of the Lords Supper ?

A. Bread and Wine , which the Lord hath commanded to be received .

Q. What is the inward part or thing signified ?

A. The Body and Bloud of Christ , [ that is , the Merits of Christs broken Body and shed Bloud ] which are verily and indeed [ these words note we well ] taken and received by the Faithful [ that is , by all those who are so faithful to Christ and Conscience , as not to allow themselves in any sin ] in the Lords Supper . [ That is , in the very act of communicating are applied to the Souls of all such , by no other power then that very sufficient one , namely , the power and virtue of the Institution , Word , and Promise of Jesus Christ himself . ]

Q. What are the Benefits whereof we are partakers thereby ?

A. The strengthening and refreshing of our Souls by the Body and Bloud of Christ , as our Bodies are by the Bread and Wine : [ that is ▪ Even as when we have fasted till the hour of receiving ( as was usual to all devout persons ; not as though they held such fasting to be absolutely necessary , but because they never knew the godly to have drawn near unto God in so solemn a manner , without some such self-denial , previous and preparatory ) as , I say , strictly abstaining from all meat and drink till the time of receiving , we find then , by the Bread and Wine received , that our Spirits are raised , and our Bodies refreshed ; and to speak generally , after every pretty long abstinence and wearying of the body , we find and feel , that upon wholesome food received , we do become more ready and able to go through with the duties and businesses of common life ; so also if ●orthily , and as is fit we have communicated ] Article 25. — by the which he doth work invisibly in us . by the Body and Bloud of Christ , that is , by certain secret and silent , yet strong and effectual influences from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ [ Phil . 3. 10 , 11. Heb . 9. 14. Acts 3. 26 , &c. ] slipt and put into our Souls , as at other times , & by other waies , so especially by and after the use of the Communion , we shall observe our selves become more erect and resolute to caring , doing , and executing all businesses of our spiritual life , then if at this time we had not communicated . So that in this point , the Church may be thought to hold-up ☞ unto us the certain Rule for discerning and judging of our selves , whether we have worthily received or not ; for if worthily we have used these Mysteries , for certain we shall observe our selves more resolute and earnest to caring , doing , and executing all businesses of our spiritual life , as to the ordinary and most constant tenour of it , then otherwise sure we had been . ]

Q. What is required of them who come to the Lords Supper ?

A. To examine themselves , whether they repent them truly of their former sins , stedfastly purposing to lead a new life ; [ for this unfeigned and setled purpose of heart , is the certain and infallible proof of true penitence ] have a lively faith in Gods mercy through Christ ; [ that is , and whether , secondly , they be fully perswaded in themselves , that all their sins whatsoever , shall be pardoned to them in Christ , that is , in the way of the Gospel , comprehending in it as Repentance , Faith , and Charity , so also the due and constant use of the Sacraments ] together with a thankful remembrance of his death [ for this thankful , tender , and melting remembrance of the love of Christ , is the most certain proof , and sign of true faith . ] And ( thirdly ) be in charity with all men [ even with profess'd Enemies also , so far forth , as unto them to pray & pull all the good things of this , as well as of the life to come ; for these three , Repentance , Faith , and Charity , being rightly understood , are the all of Christian Religion . But now of this summary , the shotter sum is that of David , Psal . 26. 6. I will wash my hands in Innocency , O Lord , and so will I go to thine Altar : that is , allowing my self in no Sin ; so , and such , I will , with greatest confidence and profit , partake of thy dreadful Mysteries . ]

The End.