A catechisme or briefe instruction in the principles and grounds of the true Christian religion With a short treatise premised concerning the profity and necessitie of catechizing.

Of the Holy Catholique Church.

Q. What beleeuest thou concerning

the Holy Catholique Church?

A. I beléeue, that the Son of God, doth in all ages f 1.1 by his Word and Spi∣rit, gather, gouerne, and defend a com∣pany chosen to eternall life g 1.2, and that I am a very member of the same, and so shall remaine for euer.

Q. What meaneth the communion of Saints?

A. First, that all true beléeuers, are partakers in common of Christ, and all his benefits h 1.3.

Also, that euery one might cheereful∣ly bestow their gifts, to the mutuall good of each other i 1.4.

Q. What beleeuest thou concerning forgiuenesse of sinnes?

A. That God for the satisfaction of Christ, hath put out of his remem∣brance, all my sinnes, originall and actuall k 1.5.

Also, that hee counteth me fully iust in the righteousnesse of his Son impu∣ted to me l 1.6.

Q. What comfort hast thou by the resurrection of the body?

A. That not only my soule, present∣ly

on the departure out m 1.7 of my body, shall be taken vp into Paradise, but that this my body, shall by the power of Christ, be reunited to my soule, and made like the glorious body of Christ n 1.8.

Q. What comfort hast thou by the article of life euerlasting?

A. That whereas at this present I beginne the enioying of life eternall o 1.9, I shall at length haue the same perfect∣ed, with all fulnesse of felicitie p 1.10.

Q. What benefit hast thou by thy beliefe of the Gospell?

A. I am thereby righteous before God q 1.11, and heire of life eternall r 1.12.

Q. How art thou righteous before God?

A. Only by faith in Christ s 1.13, where∣by his perfect satisfaction, righteous∣nesse, and holinesse are made mine: as if I had performed the same in mine owne person t 1.14.

Q. How saist thou that thou art righ∣teous by faith onely?

A. Not, that I please God, through the worthinesse of my faith u 1.15, but be∣cause the only satisfaction, righteous∣nesse,

and holinesse of Christ, is my righteousnes before God x 1.16.

And for that I cannot take hold of it, and applie it to my selfe, any other way then by faith alone y 1.17.

Q Why cannot our good workes go for righteousnesse, or some part of it, before God?

A. Because that righteousnesse, which must stand before the iudgement of God, must be perfect and in all points agreeable with the law of God z 1.18: now our workes euen the best of them, are imperfect and defiled with sinne a 1.19.

Q. How doe our workes merit no∣thing, sithence God promiseth a re∣ward for them, both in this life, and that to come?

A. That reward is giuen, not out of merit, but of grace and frée fauour b 1.20.

Q. Doth not this doctrine make men secure, and prophane?

A. No: because those who are in∣corporate into Christ by faith, cannot but yéelde forth the fruits of thankeful∣nesse c 1.21.

Notes

• f 1.1

  1 King. 19. 18.
• g 1.2

  2 Tim: 2. 19.
• h 1.3

  Gal: 3. 27. 28.
• i 1.4

  Act: 4. 32.
• k 1.5

  Ephes: 4. 32.
• l 1.6

  Rom: 4. 5.
• m 1.7

  Luk: 23: 45.
• n 1.8

  2 Cor: 15. 42. 43.
• o 1.9

  Ioh: 6. 47.
• p 1.10

  1 Cor: 2 9.
• q 1.11

  Rom: 8: 1.
• r 1.12

  Heb: 11. 7.
• s 1.13

  Phil: 3: 9.
• t 1.14

  Rom: 8. 3: 4.
• u 1.15

  Mark: 9: 24.
• x 1.16

  Cant: 2: 16.
• y 1.17

  Rom: 4: 16.
• z 1.18

  Gal: 3. 15.
• a 1.19

  Es: 64: 6.
• b 1.20

  Coloss: 3: 24.
• c 1.21

  2 Cor: 5: 14.