A modell of divinitie, catechistically composed. Wherein is delivered the matter and method of religion, according to the creed, ten Commandements, Lords Prayer, and the Sacraments. By Iohn Yates, Bachelour in Diuinitie, and minister of Gods word in St Andrewes in Norvvich.

CHAPTER I. Of Faith in God.

Question.

WHat inducements to Religion are prefixed be∣fore your Catechisme?

Answere.

Foure; first, the giuing vp of my name to God in Baptisme, and that in the dreadfull name of Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost. Secondly, that being not able to giue it vp my selfe, it was done by others, according to the auncient custome of the Church, ever conioyning Baptisme and con∣fession together, Math. 3.6. Aug. epist. 24. Papists would haue it to contract spirituall kindred, but surely it maketh honest loue amongst neighbours. Thirdly, they that gaue it vp for me, did promise in my name, that I should liue according to Religion. Fourthly, I beleeue in conscience, that I am bound to performe what they haue promised. Thus because I am Gods, and bound to him by sureties, vowes, promises, and Conscience it selfe, It is my dutie being now come to yeares of discretion, to learne to be∣leeue in him, and obey him.

Q. What then is Religion?

A. It is the acknowledgement of the truth, which is after godlinesse, Tit. 1.1.

Q. What are the parts?

A. Faith and workes; the summe of the one is contained in the Creed: of the other, in the ten Commandements, Lords Prayer, and the Sacraments. Tit. 3.8.

Q. What is Faith?

A. A confidence in God, grounded vpon knowledge, Ioh. 16.30. We know and by this beleeue.

Q. How is faith grounded vpon knowledge?

A. In regard of God and his Church: the maker of the Covenant, and the people with whom it is made, Ier. 31.33.

Q. How in respect of God?

A. As we beleeue in one God, and three persons for our happinesse, Ioh. 14.1.

Q. How in one God?

A. In respect of nature, essence, and being. Deut. 4.35.

Q. How in three persons?

A. Three in regard of divine relation, or reall respects in that one most pure essence, Math. 28.19.

Q. What is the essence?

A. That whereby God is of himselfe, the most abso∣lute and first being. Isa. 41.4.

Q. What is a person?

A. That one pure God, with the relation of a Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost, 1 Ioh. 5.7.

Q. Doth the relation adde any thing to the essence?

A. Nothing but respect or relation, as Abraham the Father of the faithful hath the same nature as he is a Father and as he is a man.

Q. What is the Relation?

A. It is either to send or be sent, and both these are done either by nature, or counsell. Ioh. 15.26. the spirit procee∣deth from the Father and Sonne by nature, and is sent to vs by counsell.

Q. Is there no other Relation?

A. Yes; either to beget, or be begotten, and the Father begets his onely Sonne by nature, and the rest of his chil∣dren

by Counsell. Heb. 1.3. Iam. 1.18. A man hauing the relation of a Father is said to beget Children by nature, or counsell, as adopted children are freely begotten, not of the bodie but the will. Iam. 1.18. Of his owne will beget he vs, not so his onely Sonne, who is as naturall to his Father, as burning to the fire, and as Isaac to Abraham.

Q. What then is the first person?

A. God the Father, who by nature begets his Sonne, and by his counsell creats the world. Heb. 1.2.5.

Q. What is the propertie of the Father?

A. To beget, and not to be begotten. Ioh. 3.16.

Q. What is his manner of subsisting?

A. To be the first person; for, the begetter is before the begotten, and yet being Relatiues they are together in nature, for no man is a Father before he haue a sonne, though in order the Father be first.

Q. What is the Fathers worke?

A. Creation; for, I beleeue in him as maker of heauen and earth: and the reason is, because he is the first person, to whom the first worke belongs.

Q. What is Creation?

A. A worke of the Father, who of himselfe by his sonne and spirit, makes the world of nothing, exceeding Good, Gen. 1.31. Heb. 1.3.

Q. What is giuen to the Father in respect of Creation?

A. Almightie power; for, the Father in himselfe is pure act, which act is power as it may be felt of his creatures, which are in power to be.

Q. What is omnipotencie?

A. It is that whereby the Father is able to doe all that he doth, and more then he doth, if it contradict not his owne nature, or the nature of things.

Q. How is Creation divided?

A. Into heauen and earth. Gen. 1.1.

Q. What meane you by heauen?

A. The third heauen, with the Angels, both which were made perfect in the very first beginning of time. Gen. 1.1.

Q. What meane you by earth?

A. All that matter which was closed and compassed a∣bout with the third heauen, and was made at the same instant with it to prohibite & keepe out vacuitie, or emp∣tinesse, and fill vp the whole compasse of it, otherwise the parts of themselues would haue fallen together to haue kept out that enemy of nature. Gen. 1.1.

Q. Are we to vnderstand no more by earth then that first matter?

A. Yes, wee are to vnderstand the forming of it into the foure elements, fire, ayre, water, and earth; as likewise the filling of it and them with inhabitants, both aboue and below: as also the providence of the Father in preseruing and governing of them all to their ends and vses: for the Father carries the worke according to his proper manner of working, vntill we come to Redemption, and there the Sonne takes it vpon him in a peculiar manner.

Q. What is the second person.

A. The Sonne, who is begotten of the Father by na∣ture, and by counsell redeemes mankind.

Q. What is the Relatiue propertie of the Sonne?

A. To be begotten. Heb. 1.5.

Q. What is his manner of subsisting?

A. To be the second person in order, not in nature, for the begotten in relation is naturally as soone as the beget∣ter.

Q. What is his worke?

A. Redemption. Ephes. 1.7.

Q. What is Redemption?

A. It is a satisfaction made to the Iustice of God the Fa∣ther for Man by a Redeemer.

Q. Who is the Redeemer?

A. Iesus Christ, his onely Sonne our Lord.

Q. Why call you him Iesus?

A. Because he is a Sauiour of his people from their sinnes. Math. 1.21.

Q. Why Christ?

A. In regard of his offices, as he is anointed our King, Priest, and Prophet. Psal. 45.7. Luk. 4.18. Act. 4.27. and 10.38.

Q. VVhy his onely Sonne?

A. Because the Father can haue no more sonnes by na∣ture but one.

Q. Why our Lord?

A. By the right of Redemption. Rom. 14.9.

Q. How is our Redemption wrought?

A. By the humiliation and exaltation of the Sonne of God. Luke 24.26.

Q. VVhat be the seuerall degrees of his humiliation?

A. Seuen; There be some others left out of the Creed; but these expressed are the principall.

Q. What are they?

A. 1. His conception; 2. his natiuitie; 3. his passion vnder Pilate; 4. his crucifying; 5. his dying; 6. his buriall; 7. his descent into hell.

Q. VVhat are meant by all these?

A. That Christ must not onely satisfie in generall, but that he must passe through the degrees of our sorrowes, and beare our afflictions. Isa. 53.4.5.

Q. VVhat be the seuerall degrees of his exaltation?

A. Foure; which are his Resurrection, Ascension, Sitting at Gods right hand, and returne to Iudgement. As in his humi∣liation he tooke our receits, and tasted the bitter potion for vs, so all Physicke being ended of that kinde, he giues vs his receits of Redemption, Ephes. 1.7. Iustification, Rom. 3.24. Reconciliation, Colos. 1.20. Sanctification, 1 Pet. 1.2. Entrance into glory, Heb. 10.19. These are Cordials for vs, and for him after all his penall receits.

Q. What is the third person?

A. The holy Spirit, who by nature proceedeth from the Father, and the Sonne, and by counsell applyeth Christ to the Church, and euery member thereof, the Father being the first person elects, the Sonne redeemes, and the Spirit

sanctifies. Ioh. 14.26. and 15.26. Rom. 8.16. 1 Cor. 2.12. Ioh. 3.5. 2 Cor. 1.21. Rom. 8.23.

Q. VVhat is his Relatiue propertie?

A. To proceede. Vnderstanding begets an Image of it selfe, and loues it, and so from the best vnderstanding to the best obiect of it, proceedes a mutuall loue. The beget∣ter loues the begotten, and the begotten loues the beget∣ter, and their loue is equall to themselues, and proceedes from them both, and to vs. The will of the Father, by the wisedome of his Sonne, and power of his good Spirit is sayd to doe all.

Q What is his manner of subsisting?

A. To be the third person in order, for proceeding from two, he must needs be the third, and yet in nature as soone as either of them; for the louers and the loued, are Rela∣latiues, and therefore together in nature.

Q. VVhat is his worke?

A. Application, or Sanctification, Ephes. 5.26.27. The Sonne hauing prepared the remedie, leaues it to be apply∣ed by the Spirit, Ioh. 16.7.