A Short Catechism
Qtiest. I. What is the Christian Religion? A71S. The Christian Religion is the baptismal-covenant made and kept: wherein God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, doth give Himself to be our reconciled God and Father, our Saviour and Sanctifier: and we believingly give up ourselves accordingly to Him, renouncing the flesh, the world and the devil.” Which covenant is to be oft renewed, specially in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.
Qiiesi. 2. Where is our covenant-part and duty fullier opened?
Ans. I. In the Creed, as the sum of our belief.
„ 2. In the Lord’s Prayer, as the sum of our desires.
„ 3. And in the Ten Commandments (as given us
by Christ, with the Gospel-explanations) as
the sum of our practice. Which are as followeth —
THE CREED.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried: he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the com-
;^6 Listimdioiis for a Holy Life.
munion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE lord’s prayer.
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
I. I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
III. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
IV. Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath-day, and hallowed it.
V. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
VI. Thou shalt not kill. VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
VIII. Thou shalt not steal. IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
Quest. 3. Where is the Christian Religion most fully opened and entirely contained?
A?is. In the Holy Scriptures, especially of the New Testament: where, by Christ and his Apostles and Evangelists, inspired by His Spirit, the history of Christ and His Apostles is sufficiently delivered, the promises and doctrines of faith are perfected, the covenant of grace more clearly opened and church-offices, worship and discipline established: on the understanding whereof the strongest Christians may increase while they live on earth..
77ie explained Profession of the Christian Religion.
I. I believe that there is One God, an infinite Spirit of life, understanding and will: perfectly powerful, wise and good: the Father, the Word and the Spirit, the Creator, Governor and End of all things: our absolute Owner, our most just Ruler and our most gracious Benefactor and most amiable Lord.
II. I believe that man being made in the image of God, an embodied spirit of life, understanding and will, with holy suavity, wisdom and love, to know and love and serve his Creator here and for ever, did by wilful sinning fall from his God, his holiness and innocency, under the wrath of God, the condemnation of his Law, and the
38 Listriiciio7is for a Holy Life.
slavery of the flesh, the world and the devil. And that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to be their Redeemer, who being God and one with the Father, took our nature and became man: being conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, called Jesus Christ, who was perfectly holy [and] sinless, fulfilling all righteousness, overcame the devil and the world and gave Himself a sacrifice for our sins, by suffering a cursed death on the cross, to ransom us and reconcile us unto God: and was buried and went among the dead: the third day He rose again, having conquered death. And He fully established the covenant of grace, that all that truly repent and believe shall have the love of the Father, the grace of the Son and the communion of the Holy Spirit; and if they love God and obey him sincerely to the death, they shall be glorified with him in heaven for ever; and the unbelievers, impenitent and ungodly shall go to everlasting punishment. And having commanded his Apostles to preach the Gospel to all the world and promised His Spirit, He ascended into heaven: where He is the glorified Head over all things to the Church and our prevailing Intercessor with the Father: who will there receive the departed souls of the justified: and at the end of this world will come again and rouse all the dead and will judge all according to their works and justly execute his Judgment.
III. I believe that God the Holy Spirit was given by the Father and the Son, to the prophets, apostles and evangelists, to be their infallible guide in preaching and recording the doctrine of salvation: and the witness of its certain truth, by his manifold Divine operations: and to question, illuminate and sanctify all the believers, that they may renounce the flesh, the world and the devil. And all that are thus sanctified are one holy and catholic Church of Christ and must live in holy communion and have the pardon of their sins and shall have everlasting life.
The Covenant or Covenants. — Believing in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I do perfectly, absolutely and resolutely give up myself to Him, my Creator and reconciled God and Father, my Saviour and Sanctifier: and repenting of my sins I renounce the devil, the world and the sinful desires of the flesh: and denying myself and taking up my cross, I consent to follow Christ the capta,in of my salvation, in hope of His promised grace and glory.