A briefe and necessarie catechisme, concerning the principall poynts of our Christian religion Written for the good of all such as seeke after consolation in Christ. By R.C.

Are there not some rules, which serue for the better vnderstanding of euery one of the Commaundements.

Yes: there are foure which haue espe∣ciall vses.

1. In euery commaundement where euill is forbidden, the contrarie good is commaunded: and where any good is commaunded, the contrarie euill is for∣bidden.

2. In euery commaundement, manie more euils are forbidden, & many more good things commaunded, then in worde are expressed.

3. God is a Spirit, and therefore his commaundements, require a spirituall obedience.

4. In euery Commaundement where euill is forbidden, there the occasions of euill are also forbidden, and where good is commaunded, there also the occasions of good are commaunded.

What is the first Commaundement?

Thou shalt haue no other Gods but me.* 1.1

What euill is heere generally forbidden?

Euen that which the words do import.

What good is commaunded.

To haue God my onely God, and to be alwaies in his presence.

What is it to haue God to be our only God.

To giue him all those things which be proper and peculiar to his maiestie.

Which be those, that properly concerne God, and therefore be the especiall things commaunded.

The summe of them are these: I am bound by this Commaundement to be∣l••••ue in God, to loue, feare, and obey him, to praise him, and pray vnto him.

After what sort must you performe these duties.

With my whole mind, and vnderstan∣ding, with my whole hart & strength.

Which be the peculiar things forbidden.

To faile, in giuing to God any of these or the like good things in any part or respect.

What else is particularly forbidden.

To giue any of these fore-named things, to any creature or any other thing what∣soeuer, whereby our hart may be in any sort withdrawen from God.

What be the occasions of breaking this Commaundement.

1. The vaine desire of pleasures, riches, and glory of this world.

2 A negligent and carelesse vse of the meanes to serue God.

Are not the contrarie good things to

these Commaunded.

1 Yes: As first a hart contented with any estate, and vsing the things of this world, as if it vsed them not.

2 A reuerent and diligent vse of the means to serue God his prouidence.

Rehearse the second Commandement.

Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen* 1.2 Image. &c.

What euill is expresly forbidden heere.

I am forbidden to make any Image ey∣ther to represent God or worship him by.

What euill is generally forbidden.

I must auoid all inuentions and deuises of man in the outward worship of God, which be contrarie or beside the word.

What be the especiall euils forbidden.

Chiefely all the corruptions, in the sub∣stance of doctrine, Prayer, Sacraments, and discipline of the Church.

What occasions of euils be forbidden.

There be some which we must necessari∣ly auoid, vnlesse we will fall into super∣stition and idolatrie: as:

• 1 To ioyne the false parts of worship, with the true worship of God.
• 2 To be present at idolatreas and su∣perstitious seruice.
• ...

• 3 The reseruation of some especiall monument of superstition and idolatry.

Which be the lesser occasions forbid∣den, and yet so that we haue the especiall grounds of Gods worship, which must and may tollerate, when we cannot helpe them.

1 All vaine, idle, and superstitious ceremonies.

2 All keeping companie with false worshippers.

Is not the euill in hart also forbidden.

Yes: so farre forth as I trust in my hart to haue any of them preuaile or be esta∣blished.

What good is commaunded.

1 Generally, all the outward means of God his worship, which be agreeable to his written word.

2 Specially, doctrine, prayer, sacra∣ments, and discipline of the Church, as agree with Gods word in the substance thereof.

What occasions of good be commanded.

1 To haue and vse good bookes, of the doctrine and histories of the Church, written according to Gods word.

2 Erecting & maintaining of schooles

of learning as nurseries of the ministery.

3 Sufficient prouision to be made for the ministers.

4 Building & maintayning Churches, with all things belonging thereto.

5 All good ceremonies and orders a∣greeable to Gods word.

6 All familiar company with the true worshippers of God.

What good in hart is heere commaun∣ded.

To vse the meanes of Gods worship not onely outwardly, but also in spirit and truth.

What meane these words, For I the Lord thy God, am a iealous God. &c.

That God will punish false worship in the false worshipper, and vnto the third and fourth generation in their po∣steritie.

What is meant by that, And will shewe mercie vnto thousands, &c.

That God will blesse his true worship in the true worshippers, and their poste∣ritie into the fourth discent.

What is the vse of these.

To make false worship more vile, and his true worship more pretious in our eyes.

Rehearse the third Commaundement.

Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy* 1.3 God in vaine. &c.

What is heere forbidden.

1 All periury or false swearing, ban∣ning or cursing, inchanting or coniu∣ring.

2 All swearing by false Gods, or na∣ming them with reuerence.

3 All customable speaking of God, or swearing without reuerence.

4 Causing Gods Name to be dishono∣red by false doctrine, or an vngodly life, in my selfe, or other.

What good is commaunded.

1 In matters concerning Gods glory, I must sweare by God onely in iustice, iudgement, and truth.

2 I must indeuour from my hart to grow vp in the true knowledge of God, and a godly life, that God may be glori∣fied therein.

VVhat meane those words, For the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that ta∣keth. &c.

That God will certainly punish the dishonouring of his name in any sort.

VVhat is the vse hereof.

To make vs more fearefull to disho∣nour God, and more carefull to honour him.

Rehearse the fourth Commandement.

Remember the saboth day to keepe it holy. &c.* 1.4

VVhat is heere commaunded.

Generally, to make it my whole delight to sanctifie the holy Saboth of the Lord, from morning to night.

1 Particularly, to vse all the publike meanes of Gods worship in the congre∣gation of Gods people.

2 To reioyce to vse all such priuate exercises as may make the publique meanes profitable to my selfe & to other.

VVhat be those priuate exercises.

1 The examining of my sinful wants, priuate prayer, reading the scripture, sin∣ging of Psalmes, conferring with other, and applying all things to my selfe, with a care to profit other.

2 Releeuing the néedie, visiting the sicke, and them that be in prison, comfor∣ting them that are in misery, reconciling them that be at variance, admonishing the vnruly, &c.

3 The considering the creatures of God, thereby to prouoke my selfe and other to

prayse him.

VVhat else is generally commaunded.

A diligent searching with my hart, with the like care to finde out, and to reape some profit of the forenamed meanes, so that I may be better for, and thorow them.

VVhat is forbidden.

Generally, the vsing of those eyther pri∣uate or publike means, in ceremonies, without some good fruit in my selfe, or care of fruit in other.

1 Particularly. All such labours and pleasures in thought, word or deede, as may hinder me or other fron vsing or profiting by the forenamed meanes.

2 The leauing vnused any of those publike or priuate exercises.

Rehearse the fift Commaundement?

Honour thy father and thy mother. &c.

VVhom doe you vnderstand by Fa∣ther and Mother.

Not onely my naturall parents, but also all those whom God hath set ouer me, for my good, as Magistrates, Mini∣sters, Maisters, &c.

What duties doe Children owe to their Parents?

Reuerently and obediently to receiue their instructions, commandements and corrections, to succour and pray for them.

vvhat are they forbidden to doe.

To refuse or murmure their instructions, commaundements, and corrections, or to neglect any duty belonging to them.

vvhat duties doe seruants owe to their maisters.

In feare and trembling to submit themselues to their instructions, com∣maundements, and corrections, and to pray for them.

vvhat are they forbidden.

To refuse or repine their instructions, corrections, and commaundements, and to doe no eye seruice to them.

vvhat if parents and maisters doe not their duties.

Yet they must obey for conscience to Gods ordinance.

vvhat if they command vniust things.

They must obey God rather then man, and submit themselues to their correc∣tions.

vvhy are those things added, That thy daies may be long in the land.

To allure vs more carefully to kéepe,

and willingly to obey his commaunde∣ments: whereas disobedience shall be punished with a short and miserable life.

Rehearse the sixt Commaundement.

Thou shalt do no murther.* 1.5

vvhat is heere forbidden.

1 Foure things especially. First, by weapen or poyson to kill our brother.

2 By wound, or blow, or any such means to shorten the life, or impaire the heath of any man.

3 By word, countenance, or gesture, to mocke, grieue, or contemne any man.

4 To be mooued with anger, hatred, or enuie, whereby we may be brought to reuenge our selues on our brother.

vvhat is commaunded.

1 To haue peace with all men, as much as possible is in vs.

2 In thought, word, or déed, to seeke the preseruation of all.

Rehearse the seuenth Commandement.

Thou shalt not commit adulterie.* 1.6

How many things are heere forbidden?

1 Thrée. 1 All those outward actes, wherby the bodie is defiled, as adulterie, fornication, and vncleannesse, and this

is committed two waies.

1 Eyther against our owne bodies, which is vnnatural, or against the bodies of other creatures, which is monstrous. 2 By marrying one either of a false re∣ligion, or no religion, or within the de∣grees forbidden, or by the intemperate vse of the marriage bed.

2 All those instruments and occasions are forbidden, whereby this sinne is stir∣red vp, or strengthened in vs, and they be all contained in this word, wantones. Which is, 1 When eyther the whole body is abused in idlenes, or vaine sports, or else when any part of the bodie, as the eye, the eare, the tongue, the nose, the head, or the foot, are abused to euil.

2 When we vse intemperately, meat, drinke, sleepe, or apparrell, or any in∣conuenient company, time or place.

3 All that inward setled lust is forbid∣den, whereunto the hart doth giue con∣sent.

VVhat good is commaunded.

1 To keepe my selfe pure and chast in minde and bodie.

2 To vse those means carefully which may keepe vs chast.

What meanes be those.

Continuall temperance in meat, drinke, sleepe, and apparrell, continuall paineful∣nesse in our calling, fasting and watch∣ing so long as need requireth.

What if by these meanes we cannot be kept chast.

Then may we marrie, and in marri∣age to vse those meanes carefully, wher∣by the marriage bed may be kept pure and vndefiled.

Rehearse the eight Commaundement.

Thou shalt not steale.* 1.7

How many euils are heere forbidden.

1 Three. 1. All those outwarde actes, whereby stealth is committed, and that is, by our selues, or by other. By other, when wee commaund or counsaile others to steale, eyther by keeping counsell, or any way consen∣ting to them. By others. 1. All secret filching and open robberie, of neuer so small a thing for neuer so great a neede. 2. All extortion, or violent wrong, all op∣pression and vnmercifull dealing. 3. All deceit in buying or selling, or exchaun∣ging and not restoring things borrowed, found, giuen to be kept, and such like.

2 All the outward occasions of stealth▪ 1 As false waights, measures, coyne, &c. 2 Liuing in an vnlawfull calling, idle∣nes, wastfull spending of our goods.

3 All inward stealth of the hart is for∣bidden: that is, the setled will or desire of our neighbours goods, although wee cannot get them, eyther for feare, shame or &c. we doe not take them.

What is heere commaunded?

1 To restore goods euill gotten, or wrongfully kept.

2 To labour faithfully in a lawfull calling, to be sparing of that we get, and to helpe others as need requireth.

Rehearse the ninth Commandement.

Thou shalt not beare false witnes, &c.* 1.8

What is heere forbidden.

Not onely to beare false witnes our selues, but also to be partakers with false witnes bearers.

How may waies is false witnes borne.

Two: Outwardly and inwardly.

Against whom doe men beare false wit∣nes outwardly?

Against others, or themselues, against others, two waies. 1 In iudgement, when they giue or receiue false infor∣mation,

pronounce or write false sentence.

2 Out of iudgement, and that is also two waies. 1 When any rayse vp, spread abroad, or listen after false reports. 2 When any report the falts of others, without care of their credit, or when with flattering hearts they commend any man.

How doe men beare false witnes against themselues.

Eyther when they denie that to be in them, which is indeed, or take that vpon them which is not, good or euill.

VVhat be the occasions of false witnes.

The fleshly hatred of our enemies, or car∣nal loue of our selues, or our friēds, to get the things we loue, & auoid that we hate.

How do mē beare false witnes inwardly.

Eyther in suspition without a iust cause, or in iudging falsly or hardly of any man.

How are we partakers with false witnes bearers?

If we eyther commaund or counsaile it to be done, or if we mislike it not, stay∣ing it if we can.

VVhat is heere commaunded.

1 In iudgement to further righteous causes, so far forth as my calling requires

2 To speake the truth from my heart to euery man, so much as is requisite for him to know.

3 To be as carefull of the credit of my neighbour, as the nature of his offences will permit.

Rehearse the tenth Commaundement.

Thou shalt not couet. &c.* 1.9

Are all motions and desires euill.

No: For the desire and appetite of meat, drinke, and sleepe, are naturall, and in their owne nature good, vnlesse through our corruption they become sinfull.

What motions then be euill.

Those which are eyther against God, or our neighbours.

Are all such forbidden in this Command.

No: For those which are against God are forbidden in the first commaunde∣ment, those therefore are forbidden heere which are against our neighbour.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Com. 1.
• * 1.2

  Com. 2.
• * 1.3

  Com. 3.
• * 1.4

  Com. 4.
• * 1.5

  Com. 6.
• * 1.6

  Com. 7.
• * 1.7

  Com. 8.
• * 1.8

  Com. 9.
• * 1.9

  Com. 10.