THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT
The Catechist shall
say:
What is your Name?
Answer. The person shall give
his or her Christian Name or Names.
Question.
Who gave you this Name?
Answer. My Godfathers and
Godmothers in my Baptism; wherein I was made a member of Christ, the
child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.
Question.
What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you?
Answer. They did promise and vow
three things in my name. First, that I should renounce the devil and all
his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, and all the sinful
lusts of the flesh. Secondly, that I should believe and confess the
Christian Faith. And thirdly, that I should keep God's holy will and
commandments, and walk in the same all the days of my life.
Question. Do
you not think that you are bound to believe, and to do, as they have
promised for you?
Answer. Yes, I do; and by God's
help so I will. And I heartily thank our heavenly Father, that he
has called me to this state of salvation, through Jesus Christ our
Saviour. And I pray unto God to give me his grace, that I may
continue in the same unto my life's end. Amen.
THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
Catechist
Rehearse
the Articles of thy Belief.
Answer.
I BELIEVE
in God the Father Almighty, Maker of 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 at 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 Communion
of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And
the Life everlasting. Amen.
Question.
What do you chiefly learn in these Articles of your Belief?
Answer. First, I learn to believe
in God the Father, who has made me, and all the world.
Secondly, in God the Son, who hath redeemed me, and all mankind.
Thirdly, in God the Holy Ghost, who sanctifies me, and all the
people of God.
Question. What
do you mean by "the people of God"?
Answer. I mean Christ's holy
Catholic Church into which I have been baptized.
Then may all say:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Catechist.
You said, that your Godfathers
and Godmothers did promise for you, that you should keep God's
commandments. To whom were these Commandments given?
Answer. To his ancient people
Israel, by the hand of his servant Moses.
Question. What are these Commandments?
Answer.
The
same which God spake in the twentieth Chapter of Exodus, saying, I am
the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the
house of bondage.
I. Thou shalt have none other gods but me.
II. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the
likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath,
or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor
worship them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and visit the
sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth
generation of them that hate me, and shew mercy unto thousands in 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 that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day. Six days shalt
thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do; but the seventh day is the
Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt do no manner of work,
thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy
maid-servant, thy cattle, and the 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
seventh day, and hallowed it.
V. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in
the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
VI. Thou shalt do no murder.
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 servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his
ass, nor any thing that is his.
Note that the word Sabbath is a Hebrew word
meaning Rest.
In the case of the Second and Fourth
Commandments it shall be sufficient to memorize the first paragraph.
Catechist.
How does the Christian Church receive and teach these
Commandments?
Answer. According to their spirit
and purpose, as our Lord teaches us in the Gospel.
Catechist.
What do you chiefly learn by these Commandments?
Answer. I learn two things: my
duty towards God, and my duty towards my Neighbour.
Question.
What is your duty towards God?
Answer. My duty towards God, is,
To
believe in him, to fear him, and to love him with all my heart, with all
my mind, with all my soul, and with all my strength:
To
worship him, to give him thanks, to put my whole trust in him, to pray
to him:
To
honour his holy Name and his Word:
And
to serve him truly all the days of my life.
Question.
Why does the Church observe Sunday as the Lord's Day?
Answer. Because it was on the
first day of the week that our Lord rose from the dead.
Question.
What is your duty as a Christian on the Lord's Day?
Answer. To abstain from
unnecessary work, and to go to church for the worship of god with his
people.
Question.
What is your duty towards your Neighbour?
Answer. My duty towards my
Neighbour, is to love him as myself, and to do to all as I would they
should do unto me:
To love, honour, and help my father and mother; to honour and obey the
Queen, and all who are put in authority under her; to show respect to
teachers and pasters; and to be courteous to all:
To hurt nobody by word or deed; to be true and just in all my dealing:
to bear no malice nor hatred in my heart: to keep my hands from picking
and stealing, and my tongue from evil-speaking, lying, and slandering:
To keep my body in temperance, soberness, and chastity:
Not to covet nor desire other men's goods; but to learn and labour truly
to get mine own living, and to do my duty in the vocation to which it
shall please God to call me.
Question. What new
Commandment did our Lord give to his disciples?
Answer. A new Commandment I give
unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye
also love one another.
PRAYER
Catechist
My dear
children, know well that you art not able to do these things of
yourself, nor to walk in the Commandments of God, and to serve him,
without his grace and help; which you must learn at all times to call
for by diligent prayer. Let me hear therefore, if you can say the Lord's
Prayer.
Answer.
Our Father, which art in
heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in
earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive
us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead
us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Question. What do you desire of God in
this Prayer?
Answer. I desire my Lord God our
heavenly Father, who is the giver of all goodness,
To send his grace unto me, and to all people:
That we may worship him, serve him, and obey him, as we ought to do:
And I pray unto God, that he will send us all things that be needful
both for our souls and bodies:
That he will be merciful unto us, and forgive us our sins; and help us
to forgive others:
And that it will please him to save and defend us in all dangers both of
soul and body; and that he will keep us from all sin and wickedness, and
from everlasting death.
And this I trust he will do of his mercy and goodness, through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
And
therefore I say, Amen, So be it.
THE SACRAMENTS
Catechist.
How
many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Church?
Answer. Christ has ordained two
Sacraments as generally necessary to salvation; that is to say, Baptism,
and the Supper of the Lord, which is the Holy Communion.
Question. What do you mean by this
word Sacrament?
Answer. I mean an outward and
visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, given to us by Christ
himself, as a means whereby we receive this grace, and a pledge to
assure us thereof.
Question. How many parts are there
in a Sacrament?
Answer. Two: the outward visible
sign, and the inward spiritual grace.
Question. What is the outward
visible sign or form in Baptism?
Answer. Water: in which person is
baptized In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost.
Question. What is the inward and
spiritual grace in Baptism?
Answer. A death unto sin, and a
new birth unto righteousness; for being by nature born into man's sinful
state, we are hereby made the children of grace.
Question. What is required of
persons to be baptized?
Answer. Repentance; whereby they
forsake sin, which separates them from God: and faith; whereby they
stedfastly believe the promises of God made to them in that Sacrament.
Question. Why then are Infants
baptized?
Answer.
Infants are baptized so that, being received into Christ's Church, they
may grow in grace and be trained int he household of faith.
Question. How can infants promise repentance and faith?
Answer. Their
Godfathers and Godmothers make the promise for them.
Question. When do they take this
promise upon themselves?
Answer. When they are confirmed by
the Bishop and, through prayer and the laying on of hands, are
strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
Question. Why was the Sacrament of the
Lord's Supper ordained?
Answer. For the continual
remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ, and of the benefits
which we receive thereby.
Question. What is the outward part
or sign of the Lord's Supper?
Answer. Bread and Wine, which the
Lord hath commanded to be received.
Question. What is the inward part,
or thing signified?
Answer. The Body and Blood of
Christ, which are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful
in the Lord's Supper.
Question. What benefits do we
receive thereby?
Answer. The strengthening and
refreshing of our souls unto eternal life by the Body and Blood of
Christ.
Question.
What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper?
Answer. To examine themselves,
whether they repent them truly of their former sins, stedfastly
purposing to lead a new life; have a lively faith in God's mercy through
Christ, with a thankful remembrance of his death; and be in charity with
all men.
So soon as children are come
to a competent age, and can say, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the
Commandments; and have been further instructed in the Church Catechism
as it is given above; they shall be brought to the Bishop to be
confirmed.
And whensoever the Bishop shall give notice
for persons to be brought unto him for their Confirmation, the Pastor of
every Parish shall either bring, or send in writing, with his hand
subscribed thereunto, the names of all such persons within his Parish,
as he shall think fit to be presented to the Bishop to be confirmed.
And, if the Bishop approve of them, he shall confirm them.
A SUPPLEMENTARY
INSTRUCTION
Questions and Answers which may be studied with the
Church Catechism in the preparation of candidates for Confirmation or at
other times.
Question. What is
the Church?
Answer. The
family of God, the body of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Question. What do
we say about the Church in the Nicene Creed:
Answer. I believe
One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
Question. Why is
it called One:
Answer. Because
it has one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.
Question. Why is
it called Holy:
Answer. Because
the Holy Spirit dwells in it sanctifying all its members and endowing
them with gifts of grace.
Question. Why is
it called Catholic:
Answer. Because
it is universal. and holds for all time, in all countries, and for all
people, the whole truth as it is in Jesus Christ, who is the same
yesterday, today, and for ever.
Question. Why is
it called Apostolic:
Answer. Because
it received its divine mission from Christ through his Apostles and
continues in their doctrine and fellowship.
Question. What is
the work of the Church in the world:
Answer. The work
of the Church in the world is to offer to God on behalf of all men the
worship which is his due; to make known to all people the Gospel of
Jesus Christ; and to unite all people to God in one family.
Question. How did
our Lord provide for the life and work of the Church:
Answer. Our Lord
sent his Holy Spirit upon the Church and upon his Apostles.
Question. What
authority did Christ give to his Apostles in the Church:
Answer. He gave
them authority to preach the Word, to minister the Sacraments, to rule
and care for his household the Church until his coming again.
Question. What
Orders of Ministers have been in the Church from the Apostles' time?
Answer. Bishops,
Priests, and Deacons.
Question. What is
the work of a Bishop in the Church of God?
Answer. To be a
chief pastor of the flock, to preach the Gospel, to guard well the
Faith, to bless, to confirm, and to ordain, following the example of the
blessed Apostles.
Question. What is
the work of a Presbyter or Priest?
Answer. To
minister to the people committed to his care by the Bishop; to lead them
in the worship of God and to preach his Word; to baptize; to celebrate
the holy Communion; and to pronounce Absolution and Blessing in God's
name.
Question. What is
the work of a Deacon?
Answer. To assist
the Bishop or Priest in the Divine Service, and in other ministrations
to the people of God.
Question. What is
your work as a lay member of the Church of God?
Answer. To take
my part in its worship, labours, and councils, according to the gifts of
grace that God has given me, and to pray, work, and give for the spread
of his kingdom.
Question. Why
ought you to read God's holy Word, the Bible?
Answer. Because
it tells how God has made himself known to man; and how we may come to
know him, and find salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ in the
fellowship of his Church.
Question. What
does the Church teach about the Bible?
Answer. The Bible records the Word of God as
it was given to Israel, and to his Church, at sundry times and in divers
manners; and nothing may be taught in the Church as necessary to man's
salvation unless it be concluded or proved therefrom.
Question. Where
then is the Word of God to be found in all its fulness?
Answer. In Jesus
Christ, his only Son, who was made man for us and for our salvation.
Question. What is
the vocation of a Christian in this world?
Answer. To follow
Christ and bear witness to him; to fight the good fight of faith and lay
hold on eternal life.
A RULE OF LIFE
Every Christian man or woman should from time to time
frame for himself a RULE OF LIFE in accordance with the precepts of the
Gospel and the faith and order of the Church; wherein he may consider
the following:
The regularity of his attendance at public worship
and especially at the holy Communion.
The practice of private prayer, Bible-reading, and
self-discipline.
Bringing the teaching and example of Christ into his
everyday life.
The boldness of his spoken witness to his faith in
Christ.
His personal service to the Church and the community.
The offering of money according to his means for the
support of the work of the Church at home and overseas.
