GENESIS.

The 1. Question. WHAT is contained in this first Book of Scripture?

The Answere.

A. In Genesis is contained the History of the three first Patriarks;

Of Adam before the floud;

Of Noah in the floud;

Of Abraham after the floud.

And the History also of the other Three great Patriarks, Isaak, Iacob, and Ioseph.

Q: 2. What was done before the Floud?

• 1 A. God created Heaven and Earth, A­dam [Page 10]and Eve, and all things in Six daies out of nothing, and rested the seaventh day.
• 2 God prepared Paradise for our first Pa­rents, and put them therein, and for sin turned them out againe.
• 3 Adam in the state of Innocency accor­ding to the Wisdome bestowed upon him gave fit names to all Creatures.
• 4 Cain killed his brother Abel.
• 5 Henoch walked with God, and was taken up into Heaven.
• 6 The rest of those lesser Patriarks inven­ted diverse Arts cap: 5.

Q: 3. What was done in the daies of Noah?

• 1 A. The whole World was drowned by a floud.
• 2 The cause was man's sinne, and want of Repentance upon warning given by Noah.
• 3 Noah and his Family, with some Beasts of all kinds were preserved in the Ark.
• 4 The Raine-bow was given for a Token that God would never destroy the World by Water any more.
• 5 The building of the Tower of Babel i [...] undertaken by some, and punished.

Q. 4. What canst thou say of Abraham?

• [Page 11]1 A. Abraham was called by God out of his owne Country, to sojourne in the Land of Canaan, which God afterwards gave to him and to his posterity for an Inheritance.
• 2 He entertained Angells unawares, and prayd for Sodom and Gomorah, and hath a Sonne by Sarah.
• 3 He met with many afflictions in his Tra­vells to and fro with his Wife, Sarai, his maid Hagar, and his kinsman Lot.
• 4 He fought a great Battell with the assi­stance of his own Servants against the heathen Kings, wherein he obtained the victory, and recovered his kinsman Lot, that had been taken captive, and at his returne Melchisedeck blesseth him, to whom Abraham paid Tithes of the spoyles taken in that war.
• 5 Abraham built many Altars to God, is carefull to teach his Family the know­ledge of God, and is willing to sacrifice his sonne Isaak.
• 6 He had many troubles about Ismaell Ha­gars sonne.
• 7 He purchased a piece of land to be a bu­rying place for his family, and there Sa­rah was buried.
• 8 He took great care to have his sonne Isa­ak married in a Godly way.
• [Page 12]9 After the death of Sarah, he Married a­gaine, and had divers children.
• 10 He dyed and was honourably buried.

Q. 5. What canst thou say of Isaak?

• 1 A. Isaak feared God, as Abraham his fa­ther had done.
• 2 He loved Rebecca his Wife.
• 3 He was a great man among the Phili­stims, rich in Cattell and Goods, and had much contention with the Philistims about digging of Wells.
• 4 In his old Age he blessed Iacob and Esau: he dyed and was buried by his Sonnes.

Q. 6. What canst thou say of Iacob?

• 1 A. He fled into a strange land for feare of his brother Esan.
• 2 In his Travells being once benighted, and lodging all night in the field, he had a sweet dreame, wherein he saw a ladder that reached from Earth to Hea­ven, the Angells of God, descending and ascending.
• 3 He vowed a vow, and is entertained by his Unkle Laban, to have the care and oversight of his Cattell.
• 4 He had many troubles with his Unckle whose two Daughters Leah and Rachell he married.
• [Page 13]5 He had twelve Sonnes and one Daugh­ter, and grew rich by Gods blessing up­on him.
• 6 He returned to his Fathers house with all he had gotten at his Unckles, and by the way in his returne, he met with shrode troubles.
  • 1 His Unckle pursued after him, and charged him with theft.
  • 2 His brother Esau came with an Ar­my against him.
  • 3 His Wife Rachel died in Childbed.
  • 4 His Daughter Dinah is ravished.
  • 5 His Sonnes Simeon and Levi com­mitted Murther.
  • 6 His eldest Sonne committed Incest, and his sonne Iudas whoredome.

After he came home and was setled his troubles about Ioseph began.

In his Old Age he removed with all his Family into Egypt, and died there, and his body was brought back into the land of Canaan end buried.

Q: 7. What canst thou say of Ioseph?

Ioseph is a worthy patterne of Piety and Holinesse, he feared God, and took great care for his old Father Iacob, and for all his family.

He was sold into Egypt by his own bre­thren [Page 14]and was there wrongfully impri­soned, but by Gods wonderfull provi­dence, he is advanced to great honour, and became the Father and preserver of the Land in time of Famine.

• 3 He was married in Egypt, and had two Sonnes: he dyed and is embalmed.

EXODUS.

Q. 1. WHY is this Book called Exodus?

A. Because it containeth the History of Israels going out of the Land of Egypt by the mighty hand of God.

Q. 2. What became of Iacobs posterity after the death of Ioseph?

• 1 A. They were miserably oppressed by the Egyptians.
• 2 By command from the King, all the male children were drowned as soon as they were borne, the Midwives shewed much pitty towards them.
• 3 Moses an Infant is miraculously preser­ved, and bred up by King Pharao's own Daughter.
• 4 Moses and Aaron are called, and sent to [Page 15]the King to let Israel depart quietly out of the Land.
• 5 Pharao hardned his heart, and refused to let them goe, for which he is punished with Nine plagues, which are these:
  • 1 All the waters of the Land were turned into bloud, God gave them bloud to drink for their cruelty to­wards the Israelitish Infants.
  • 2 God punished the land by Froggs.
  • 3 By Lice.
  • 4 By noysome Flyes.
  • 5 Murraine on Beasts, and Boyles on Men.
  • 6 By terrible haile thunder and light­ning.
  • 7 By Locusts.
  • 8 By dreadfull darknesse.
  • 9 By killing the first Borne.

Q: 3. What became of Israell?

• 1 A. None of those Plagues touched them
• 2 They goe out of Egypt in hast.
• 3 The Passeover is instituted.
• 4 They come to the Red Sea.

Q. 4. What did God doe for them there and after­words?

• 1 He divided the Sea for them, and they went on foot through it, and the Egyp­tians [Page 16]following, the waters returned and drowned them all.
• 2 He led them by Moses into the Wilder­nesse, and gave them the Law on Mount Sinai: and there they having grievously finned by committing Idolatry, at Moses his prayer for them are pardoned.
• 3 He commanded them to set up the Ta­bernacle, and gave them Lawes about Sacrifices.

Q. 5. How were they maintained in the Wildernesse?

• 1 A. God gave them Manna from heaven, and water out of a Rock.
• 2 Their shooes add Garments did not weare out for Forty years.

Q. 6. How did Moses governe such a multitude in the Wildernesse?

• 1 A. He appointed Magistrates and Offi­cers under him by the counsell of his Father in Law.
• 2 God usually appeared to Moses to direct him.
• 3 He had the Oracle of Ʋrim and Thumim, to ask counsell of God by.
• 4 The Lord went along with his people, and led them by a cloud by day, and by a Pillar of Fire by night.

LEVITICUS.

The Question. WHy is this booke called Leviticus?

A. Because it containeth the Lawes and dutyes of the Levites or Mini­sters of God under the Law before the comming of Christ in the flesh. — Read of­ten the 26. chapter of this booke.

NUMBERS.

Q: 1. WHy is this booke called Numbers?

• A. 1. Because all the Males from 20. yeares and upward among the Israelites were numbred in the wilder­nesse by Moses at Gods command.
• 2. Because Israels murmurings and punish­ments in the wildernesse are here set downe in order.
• 3. Because their severall stations and remo­valls in the wildernesse are here num­bred.

Q: 2. Which were the great Rebellions of Israel in the wildernes?

A. Their Rebellions against God, against Moses, and Aron were many; but three of them are most remarka­ble.

• 1. That of Miriam, for which she is puni­shed with leprosy.
• 2. That of all the people, upon the returne of the spies out of the land of Canaan.
• 3. That of Corah, Dathan and Abiram, whom the earth swallowed up, and all their company.

Q: 3. What became of Aaron the first high Priest un­der the Law?

A: He dyed and was buried in the wil­dernesse, and his Sonne Eleazar succeeded him.

Q: 4. What warrs had Israel in the wildernesse?

A: They had warres with the Amale­kits, and with the Midianites, where we have the history of Balaam, and of the zeale of Phineas, and of a great plague among the Israelits, for committing whoredome.

Q: 5. What other memorable things have you in this booke?

• [Page 19] A: 1. The 72 Elders prophesyed.
• 2. The brazen Serpent is set up.
• 3. The Levits are numbered, and divers cases in law determined, as that of Ze­lophehads daughters.
• 4. Moses is forewarned of his death, and his successor is named, to wit Ioshua.
• 5. The two Tribes and a halfe obtaine the land on this side Jordan for an inheri­tance, but with this condition, to assist the other. Tribes till they also could be setled in their inheritances.

DEUTERONOMY.

WHat canst thou say of this booke?

• 1. This booke is called Deuteronomy that is to say a second law, because it contains a repetition
  • 1. Of lawes formerly gi­ven.
  • 2. Of mercyes formerly re­ceived.
• 2. This booke is full of sweet admonitions and exhortations to Israel, to be sincere and constant in Gods worship and ser­vice.
• [Page 20]3. This booke containeth Moses his swan­like song, his blessing and prophecy, his death and buriall, and Iosbua's successi­on.

JOSHUAH.

The Question. WHat readest thou in this booke?

• A: 1. The history of the warres of Ca­naan.
• 2. The history of Israels going over Jor­dan as on dry land, the waters giving way to them in a wonderfull manner.
• 3. The Circumcision in Gilgall.
• 4. Christ appeared to Joshuah as an armed man.
• 5. The storming and taking of the Citty Jericho, and the saving of Rahab the harlot.
• 6. The trouble about the Citty Ai, and Achan, who was the cause of it.
• 7. At Joshuas prayer the sunne stood still a whole day, that Israell might have time to destroy the Kings of the Amo­rites in number 31. God throwing downe hailestons out of Heaven to de­stroy them.
• [Page 21]8. The land of Canaan is divided by Jo­shuah among Gods people.
• 9. The two Tribes and halfe returne to their inheritance, and the mistake about an Altar.
• 10. Joshuahs farewell Oration or charge unto Israell to serve God according to his word and to beware of Idolatry.
• 11. Ioshuas death and buriall.

JUDGES.

Q: 1. WHy is this booke so called?

A: Because it containeth the va­liant Acts of the Judges of Israel, whom God raised up after the death of Ioshuah to fight the Lords battells against the enemies of the Church.

Q: 2. What are the names of those Iudges?

• A: 1 Othniel,
• 2 Ehud,
• 3 Shamgar,
• 4 Doborah & Barack,
• 5 Gideon,
• 6 Abimilech,
• 7 Tola,
• [Page 22]8 Iair,
• 9 Iephtha,
• 10 Ibsan,
• 11 Elon,
• 12 Abdon,
• 13 Sampson,
• 14 Eli,
• 15 Samuel.

Q: 3. Which are the chiefe histories of this booke?

• A: 1 The history of Abdonibezek.
• 2 Israels sad Apostasy from God to Idols.
• 3 The memorable battle fought by Debo­rah and Barak, against Sisera a heathen Generall, who was slaine by Iael inher tent.
• 4 The great deliverance given to Israel by Gideen.
• 5 The wickednesse of Abimelech a Bastard.
• 6 The history of Ieththa and his vow.
• 7 Of Sampsons valour, of his sinne, and of his death.
• 8 The sad history of the Benjamites about the Levites businesse.

RUTH.

WHAT is the summe and substance of this Booke?

• [Page 23]1 A. How Elimelech and his Wife Naomi with their two sonnes Malon and Chilion, in a time of Famine, left their own Country Canaan, and sojourned in the land of Moab.
• 2 Their two sonnes Married two Moabi­tish women Orpha and Ruth.
• 3 Elimelech and his two sonnes dye in that Country.
• 4 Naomi returnes to her own Country, and Ruth will needs goe with her, and did.
• 5 They come to Bethlehem, and Naomi so ordereth all things, that Ruth is married to Boaz, according to Moses Laws.
• 6 Boaz hath a sonne by Ruth named Obed, who was Grandfather to King David.

The First Book of SAMUEL.

The 1. Question. VVHY are these Books called the Books of Samuel?

A. Not because Samuel wrote them, but because it containeth the History of Samu­els Life and Death, who being an eminent Prophet, and the last judge of Israel, had done great service to Gods Church, he by Gods appointment, elected and Annointed the two first Kings of Israel. These Books [Page 24]were written by some holy man, who lived in those times.

Q. 2. What dost thou Read of Samuel?

• 1 A. I read of his Birth and Education, and of the care his good Mother Hannah took for him.
• 2 Of his coming to the High-Priest Eli to serve under him.
• 3 Of a sad Message Samuel brings to Eli from God, for winking at his sonnes wickednesses.
• 4 Of Samuels wisdome and care to judge Israel in his daies.
• 5 Of his power with God in Prayer.
• 6 Of his uncorrupt life, death, and buriall.

Q: 3. What canst thou say of Eli the High Priest?

• 1 A. How God punished him and his sonnes in one day.
• 2 How in his daies the Arke of God was taken by the Philistins.
• 3 The Philistins and others are terribly plagued for their curiosity in looking into the Ark.
• 4 God causes the very Enemies of the Church to restore the Arke with an Of­fering.

Q: 4. What canst thou say of Saul?

• [Page 25]1 A. He was the first King over all Israell.
• 2 He fought against the Ammonites, and the Amalekites, and had good successe, but because he did not obey Gods com­mand fully, he was rejected.
• 3 Israel in Sauls daies was much oppressed by the Philistins, against whom God gave Jonathan a great victory.
• 4 He takes David into his Court, and give­eth him his Daughter Michall to Wife, for killing Goliah.
• 5 Saul wearieth himselfe in persecuting David.
• 6 Saul being forsaken of God, seeketh to a Wirch, and presently upon that he and his sonnes are slaine in Battell by the Philistins upon Mount Gilboa.

The Second Book of SAMUEL.

Q. 1. WHat is chiefely set downe in this Book.

• 1 A. That David was the Second King o­ver Israel.
• 2 His valiant Acts and household troubles.
• 3 He endured much affliction, which made him compose many sweet Psalmes.
• 4 He lived among the Philistins in Ziglaik, [Page 26]till the death of Saul.
• 5 He is not pleased with the messengers o [...] Sauls death, and the sad death of Isbbo [...]shet, but makes a lamentation for Sa [...] and Ionathan.
• 6 He is first made King in Hebron over Iu­dah, and afterwards over all Israell, and carried himselfe wisely in the busiesse of Abner and Ioah.

Q. 2. What canst thou farther say of David?

• 1 A. How he took Jerusalem from the J [...] ­busites, and brought the Arke of God thether, intending to build a Temple for Gods worship.
• 2 He sinned grievosly against Ʋria, for which he suffered much afterward of his own children, Amon, Thamar, Absolom.
• 3 He had many troubles besides with She [...] ­ba, Shimei, and Ioab.
• 4 His kindnesse to the Gibeonites in a f [...]r [...] famine, as also to Mephiboshet, and Han [...] King of Ammon.
• 5 He is victorious every where, all his ene­mies are subdued round about.
• 6 He numbred the People, and all Israel is plagued for it.

EZRA.

Q. 1. WHat is the summe of this Book?

• 1 A. How the Jewes after 70 yeares cap­tivity returned, by command from the Emperour Cyrus, into Judea, and set up againe the Temple and Worship of God in lerusalem, and built the City.
• 2 Ezra the High Priest being also returned taught the People the Law of Moses, and caused all that had married outlandish woemen, to send their Wives and Chil­dren away from them, because, Jesus Christ being to come of the Tribe of luda, God would have a holy seed pre­lerved.
• [Page 46]3 Old people seeing the new Temple and City and remembring the Glory of the old, wept, because nor so glorious and sttately, as was that built by Solomon, but they are told by the Prophet that this latter Temple shall be far more glorious then the former, because the Promised Messiah of the World should teach there in prison.

NEHEMIA.

Q: WHAT is chiefly contained in this book?

• A: 1. Nehemiah a captive Jew, and a great favorite of the Emperour Artaxerxes hath leave and meanes granted him to returne to his own Country, and to set forward the building of the Citty and Temple in Jerusalem.
• 2. Being returned he is much opposed in the worke by Tobia and Sanballat, yet protected of God, the people being constrained to worke with one hand, and to hold a sword in the other.
• 3 He did much for Gods worship, and for his Countryes good.

HESTER.

Q: WHAT is the summe of this book?

• A: 1 How Hester a poore jewish captive maid is preferred to be Queen and Em­presse to the Emperour Ahashuexus after that the former Queene Vasthy was de­posed, for refusing to come to the King when he sent for her, to shew her beauty to the Nobles being then assembled at a great feast the emperour had made for them, which feast lasted 180 dayes, where none was compelled to drinke, but every man left to his freedome.
• 2 Haman a Noble man, and a great favo­rite at that Court, obtained a decree from the Emperour to kill all the people of God, the Jewes in one day because Mardochy the Jew would not bow the knee before him.
• 3 How Gods wonderfull providence wrought for their deliverance and pre­servation by the care and prayer and fasting of Mardochy and of Queen He­ster.
• 4 How Hamans intended mischeife is dis­covered [Page 48]to the King at a feast and pre­vented, and how Haman was hanged on the same Gallowes, he had set up for Mardochy, for which deliverance the lews kept a yearely feast, called Purim or Lor.

Q: 2, Why would not Mardochy how to Haman?

A. Because Haman was by Nation an A­malekite, which Nation was cursed of God, and the Israelites were commanded to ab­horre them. Exod. 17.16. where Moses saith, that God will have warre with Ama­lek from generation to generation.

JOB.

Q. 1. VVHat read we of Iob?

• 1 A. That he was a very rich man, and a very Godly man, having seaven Sonnes and three Daughters, and a very great houshold.
• 2 God was pleased to give way to Satan to deprive him of all his Estate, Chil­dren, Friends, and his health, to trie his patience.
• 3 Iobs behaviour under his wofull losse, pain & sorrow was exceeding comforta­ble, full of Faith and patience, blessing God for all.
• [Page 49]4 Some of his old friends came to visit, and to comfort him in his distresse, en­deavouring to convince him that God plagued him for some notorious sinne, as for hypocrisy or the like, whereupon followeth a sharpe and a witty dispute between them.

The Question was, whether Iob suffe­red for hypocrisy. His friends affirme it, and ordered all their discourses ac­cordingly.

Iob denies it, and maintaines his inte­grity. At last God himselfe is the Mo­derator between them, Iob is justified and his friends condemned, and Iob must pray God to forgive their mistakes.

Q. 2. What was the event and issue of Iobs tri­ells?

A. The issue was most comfortable, for,

• 1 He recovered his former health and strength.
• 2 God blessed him with a greater worldly estate, then he had at first.
• 3 God gave him as many Children as he had before.
• 4 He lived 140 yeares after his troubles & dyed.

The Book of PSALMES.

The 1. Question. WHat say you of the Book of Psalmes?

• 1 This Book of Psalmes is one of the most excellent Books of holy Scripture, won­derfully fitted for all mens occations, whether in adversity or in prosperity.
• 2 It is thought by the Learned, that Esdras collected these Psalmes, and put them into this order we now read them in.
• 3 Christians in former times were so in love with this Book, that one while they would read it over every weeke, ano­ther while every moneths
• 4 It is a Book full of prayers and thanks­givings: seaven Psalmes are called peni­tentiall Psalmes, because David compo­sed them or some of them, at a time when he repenced for his sinnes, fit to be often read by us, and they are these;
  • The 6
  • The 32
  • The 38
  • The 51
  • The 102
  • The 130
  • The 143
• 5 In times of sicknesse or other troubles read also
  • [Page 51]The 25 Psalme.
  • The 39
  • The 88
  • The 22
  • The 44 with others.
• 6 In times of prosperity, when thou woul­dest give God thankes for a blessing re­ceived, read or ling
  • The 19 Psalme
  • The 65
  • The 103
  • The 104
  • The 107 with others.
• 7 They are called the Psalmes of David, because the Kingly Prophet David made most of them, though not all, for many Psalmes were made by other holy men after Davids death: Christ and his Apo­stles doe often repeat things out of it.

This Book is very usefull for the wea­ker and more ignorant people.

EZEKIEL.

Q: WHat canst thou say of Ezechiel?

A: He preached to the Jewes at Baby­lon in their captivity, convinced them o [...] Gods just judgments upon them for their sinnes and assured them of future delive­rance, and of the rebuilding of Jerusalem and of the rebuilding of the Temple, for which purpose he hath many visions.

DANIEL.

Q: WHat is said of Daniel?

• A: 1 He for his singular wisdome and Faithfulnesse is prefered to very great honour under those three Emperours especially Nebucadnezar, Beltshassar, and Darius.
• [Page 55]2 Three of his fellow captives are throwne into a fiety Furnace; and Daniel himselfe is cast into a Lyons den, but are all pre­served they trusting in God.
• 3 God declared much of his minde to Daniel, concerning things to come, by visions Angells, he speakes of the Re­surrection and the day of Judgment in the last Chapter.

S. MATTHEW.

Q. WHat saist thou of S. Matthew?

• [Page 59]1 A. He was called by Christ from the re­ceipt of custome to be an Apostle, and he was willing to forsake all and to fol­low him.
• 2 His Gospell containes Christ's Nativity, his life, death and Resurrection.
• 3 S. Matthew writes some things, which o­ther Evangelists have not; as
  • 1 The genealogy of Christ from Abra­ham downeward to Joseph and Mary.
  • 2 The History of the Wise Men.
  • 3 Josephs purpose to forsake his espou­sed Wife upon a mistake.
  • 4 Christs fleeing into Egypt from the fury of King Herod.
  • 5 The bloudy murther of the Infants of Bethlehem.
  • 6 Some Parables, which the other E­vangelists have not.

S. MARK.

Q WHat canst thou say of S. Mark?

• 1 A. S. Mark was no Apostle, but an Evan­gelist, and a Disciple of S. Peter, with whose help he wrote the History of Christs Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension.
• [Page 60]2 This Evangelist is more large in the de­scription of Christs Miracles, then in o­ther passages of Christs Life and Death.

S. LUKE.

Q. WHat say you of his Gospell and of him?

• 1 A. S. Luke by profession a Physitian was one of the 70 Disciples, employed by S. Paul in the planting of the Go­spell.
• 2 He observeth many things, which other Evangelists have omitted, as
  • 1 The History of Zachary and Elizabeth, and the Nativity of John the Baptist.
  • 2 The Angell Gabriells salutation to the blessed Virgin Mary.
  • 3 The History of old Simeon, and of An­na the Prophetesse.
  • 4 Christs disputing with the Doctors, when he was but twelve years old.
• 5 The time of Christs Nativity, namely in the Reigne of Augustus the Emperour of Rome.
• 6 The manifestation of Christs Nativity by Angells to the Sheapheards.
• 7 Christs Circumcision the eight day.
• [Page 61]8 The Genealogy of Christ upward to A­dam.
• 9 The Parable of Dives and Lazarus, and of the Prodigall sonne, &c.
• 10 Christs praying whole nights in desert mountaines alone.
• 11 The History of the two Disciples going to Emaus on Easter day.

S. JOHN.

Q. WHat can you say of S. John?

• 1 A. He was one of the twelve Apostles whom Jesus loved, he outlived all the Apostles, and dyed a naturall death at Ephesus, if we believe the Church Histo­ry: All the rest of the Apostles were killed.
• 2 He begins his Gospell with many argu­ments, to prove that Jesus Christ was God from everlasting, coaequall to the Father, and to the holy Ghost.
• 3 Most of his Histories are omitted by the other Evangelists, as
  • 1 The calling of Nathaniel:
  • 2 Christs Miracle at a marriage in Cana.
  • 3 Christs dispute with Nicodemus about regeneration.
  • [Page 62]1 His discourse with the Woman of Sa. maria.
  • 5 His healing of a man at the poole of Bethesda, that had been 38 years sick.
  • 6 His severall disputes with the Jewes about his divine nature, and concer­ning his reall Spirituall sence in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.
  • 7 His raising of Lazarus from the dead.
  • 8 His washing of the Disciples feet.
  • 9 Christs restoring of Peter to his for­mer place by a threefold confession of him, as he had before three times de­nyed him.

ACTS.

Q: WHat say you of this Book?

A. The Penman of the Acts of the Apo­stles was Luke, the chiefe Histories whereof are these,

• 1 Christs ascention into Heaven.
• 2 The election of Matthias to be an Apo­stle in the roome of Judas the traitour.
• 3 The wonderfull comming of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles on the day of Penticost.
• [Page 63]4 The healing of a Criple by Peter and John.
• 5 The sad end of Ananias and Sapphyra.
• 6 The Martyrdome, of Stephen.
• 7 The miraculous conversion of Paul.
• 8 The conversion of Cornelius by Peter, and the conversion of many other Gentiles by Paul, as of Lydia, Sergius Paulus, the Jaylour, and others.
• [...] The Martyrdome of James, the impri­sonment and deliverance of Peter by an Angell.
• 9 The woefull end of persecuting Herod, who was eaten up alive by wormes for his rage against the Church of Christ.
• 10 Paules travells and great sufferings in diverse places both by Jewes and Gen­tills.
• 11 His Sermons before Felix, Festus, and King Agrippa.
• 12 His dangerous Sea-voiage to Rome, and his behaviour and conversation there.

The Epistle of S. JAMES.

Q. 1. VVHat say you of this Epistle?

• 1 A. This Apostle perswades Christians to shew the truth of Faith by good workes.
• 2 The Doctrine of S. James about justifica­tion is not contrary to that of S. Pauls in his Epistles, as Luther thought at first. For
  • As S. Paul teacheth, that it is faith that doth justify us before God; so S. Iames shewes what Faith it must be, namely not a dead, but a living fruit­full faith.

The Epistle of JUDE.

WHat canst thou say of this Epistle?

• [Page 67]1 A: The Apostle exhorts Christians to constancy in Faith once received.
• 2 He describeth the evil manners and dan­gerous opinions of Apostates and He­retiques in the lattter time of the world.

The APOCALYPS or REVELATION of S. Iohn.

Q: VVHat can you say of Iohns Revelation?

• 1 A: S. Iohn for Religion was banished by the Emperour Domitian into a solitary Iland, there Jesus Christ appeared to him, and by his Angell revealed to him, what should befall the Church of God tothe end of the world.
• 2 The three first Chapters are historicall, relating the history of the seven Churches of Asia.
• 3 The whole booke is very Mysterious containing visions and very obscure things. Yet a specialll blessing is Promi­sed to the carefull reading and medita­tion of it. Chap. 1.3.
• 4 In this booke is told of
  • 1 The evils that should befall Gods Church under Antichrist.
  • [Page 68]2 The rise and fall of Antichrist, or Pope of Rome.
  • 3 A description of the day of judge­ment, of the Resurrection, and of the heavenly Jerusalem, and of Gods peoples earnest expectation and long­ing for the comming of Jesus Christ in glory. To whom with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all Glory, Praise, and Thanks-giving for ever and ever. AMEN.