So shorte a Cate­chisme, that whosoe­uer cannot, or wil not learne, are not in any wise to be ad­mitted to the Lords supper.

Edward Fenton.

Imprinted at London by Iohn Dawson. 1622.

So short a Catechisme that whosoeuer cannot or will not learne, are not in any wise to be ad­mitted to the Lords supper.

Question.

WHo made thee?

Answere. Isa. 44.2. Psal. 13.913 14.15. God.

Q. What is God?

A. He is Gen. 17.1 iere. 32.18 19. Almigh­tie, the Gen. 2.4.5 isa. 44.24. Iere. 16.23. prou 21.30.31. maker and Deut. 10.12. ioshua 22.5 gouernour of all things.

Q. Wherefore did he make thee?

A. To serue him.

Q. How oughtest thou to serue him?

A. Deut. 12.32. psal. 119.4 As he hath appointed in his lawes.

Q. Which be they?

A. Exod. 20 deut. 6.57. God spake all these wordes, and said, Thou shalt haue none other Gods before me, &c.

Q. Canst thou fulfill all these Com­maundementes without breaking anie one of them?

A. No, though I doe all that I can, yet I breake them euery daye, in Mat. 15 19 [Page] thought worde and deede.

[...]. 18.19 Q. What punishment is there appoin­ted for the breach of these commaunde­ments.

A. Deut. 27.26. mat. 25.41. The curse of God, which is eter­nall destruction both of bodie and soule.

Q. By what meanes then shalt thou escape this punishment?

A. Gal. 3.13. col. 2.14.15. Onely by Iesus Christ.

Q. What is Iesus Christ?

A. He is the Mat. 17.5 heb. 1.23. eternall sonne of God.

Q. What hath he done for thee?

A. Hee Phil. 2.8. heb. 5.7.8.9 suffered the tormentes of death for me.

Q. Christ Iesus was God, and how then could he die?

A. Christ Iesus was both Isa. 9.6. Rom. 9.5. God and 1. Tim. 2.5. 1. phil. 2.6.7. man, and in that hee was God, hee could not die: but being man, hee died Rom. 4.25. 1. Pet. 2.24. for my sinnes, and rose againe to make me righteous.

Q. Are all men then saued by his death

A. No, none are saued, Iohn. 3.18 36. acts. 13 48. but such as lay hold on him by a liuely faith.

Q. What is a liuely faith?

A. A liuely faith is a Ephe. 3.12 col. 2.5.7. Ephes. 3.17. full perswasi­on of my s heart, grounded vppon the [Page] promises of GOD: Acts 15.9. [...] Rom. 4.18 21▪ heb. 11.11 that whatsoeuer Christ hath done for the saluation of mā, he hath done it as well for mee as for a­ny others.

Q. How commest thou by this faith?

A. The holy Ghost doth worke it Act. 19.14. Iohn 6.45. in­wardly in my heart, by the outwarde Rom. 10▪14.17. acts 11.14. preaching of his worde.

Q. How is this faith increased & made strong in vs?

A. 2. Thes. 1.3 prou. 4.18 By hearing the same worde prea­ched, and vsing the Sacraments.

Q. What be Sacraments?

A. Sacraments be outward Gen. 17.11. exod. 12.3.4 signes ordeined of God, and are left as Rom. 4.11. 1. cor. 10.1 [...] ▪17. seales and pledges of those benefits of our sal­uation which wee receiue in Christ to strengthen our faith.

Q. How many Sacraments be there▪

A. Two, 1. Cor. 1▪1.2.3.4. Baptisme and the Lordes supper.

Q. What profite hast thou by Bap­tisme?

A. I beleeue that by Baptisme my Acts 22.16. & 2.38. sinnes are forgiuen me: for as the wa­ter doth wash the filthe of my body: so I beleeue that the Ephe. 1.7 1 Pet. 1. [...]. bloud of Christ being [Page] sprinckled vpon my soule by the Heb. 10.22 Acts 15.9. hande of faith, doeth washe mee from all my sinnes.

Q. What profit hast thou by the vse of the Lordes supper?

A. As I receiue the Mat. 26.29.27. 1 Cor. 11.23.24 25. bread and wine into my body to become wholy mine: so I beleeue that my soule receiueth with all Christ Iesus with 1. Cor. 1.30 2. cor. 5.21 his death and righteousnesse to the Rom. 4.1. ephe. 1.13. sealing vp of my euerlasting saluation.

Q. Seeing that they which receiue these mysteries vnworthily, eate and drinke their owne condemnation: how oughtest thou to prepare thy selfe to the right receiuing of them?

A. First I muste Cor. 11.8. 2. Cor. 5.13.21. Thes. 30 1. cor. 16.8. Mat 26.15 2. Cor 9.70 examine my selfe whether I k stande strongly in the true faith of Iesus Christ or no.

Secondly, whether I find my heart l inwardly greeued for my sinnes with an Psa. 511, Rom. 7.2.4. hatred and lothing of the same.

Thirdly, if any offence bee betwixt others and mee, that I Mat. 5.2. Heb. 12.14. reconcile my selfe vnto them, and Mat. 18.22 colos. 3.12.13. forgiue them e­uen as Christ hath forgiuen me.

Q. Is not praye a speciall meanes to [Page] increase our faith.

A. Yea it is Acts 4.29.31. Luke 7.51. a speciall helpe.

Q. How oughtest thou then to pray?

A. Onely to God in the name of Iesus Christ. Iohn 19 23. Iames. 15

Q. What forme of prayer vsest thou most?

A. That which the Mat. 6.9. Luke 11.2. Lorde Iesus taught his Apostles.

Q. What is that?

A. Our father which art in heauen, &c.

Q. Howe vnderstandest thou this prayer?

A. This prayer conteyneth sixe peti­tions: whereof the first three are ap­poynted onely to Gods glorie: the other three belong vnto vs, wherein wee aske things necessarie both for soule and bo­die.

Finis.

OPen our eyes (O Lorde) that we may see the wōderous things of thy lawe: that by them as by a glasse we may see our owne weaknesse, and by our weaknes our wickednesse, and by them both our accursednesse: then [Page] cause thy sweete comforts and con­solations conteined in thy Gospel, to shine into our soules, by a true and a liuely faith in Christ Iesus: beseeching thee that our drie and stonie hearts, may by the sweete dewes & showers of thy heauenly spirite, be so moiste­ned & softned, that as good ground they may euer bee yeelding foorth good fruite to the glorifying of thy name, to the suppressing of sinne, and increasing of vertue, through Christ our Sauiour. Amen.

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