An exposition of the church catechism

I BX 5139
.C3

Hn exposition

OF '

Church C&techtem

BY

HENRY J. OAMMANN, A.M.

A NEW EDITION
WITH AK INTRODUCTION BY

THE ET. REV, HENRY C. POTTER, D.D., LL.D,

BISHOP OF NEW YORK

COMPLETINQ THE NINTH THOUSAND

NEW TORK
JAMES POTT & CO., Publishers

CHURCH MISSIONS HOUSE

1899

Price 10c.

lbt;9.

FEB 21 W9B

i

Hn Bxposition

OF THE

Church Catechism

I BY

HENEY J. CAMMANTST, A.M.

A NEW EDITION
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY

THE RIGHT REV. HENRY C. POTTER, D.D., LL.D.

BISHOP OF NEW YORK

COMPLETING THE NINTH THOUSAND

NEW YORK
JAMES POTT & CO., Publishers

CHURCH MISSIONS HOUSE

1899

7829

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by

Henry J. Cammann.

fa> the Clerk's Otfice of the District Court for the Southern District of
Nev Vork.

New Edition. Copyrighted, 1899.

Two copies ft^C-rVED.

«3

This Exposition of the Church Catechism has stood
the test of time ; and there is no surer test, in the mat-
ter of a text-book for children. It has the merit of not
attempting too much; and the other merit of not reduc-
ing the office of the teacher to a merely mechanical
function. This edition of it appears because it is be-
lieved that there is still a place for it in our scheme of
Sunday-school teaching, which, while it has yet much
to learn as to methods that are modern and fresh, may
wisely utilize whatever experience has intelligently and
sufficiently tested. I shall be thankful if it helps to
make real to the Children of the Church the incompara-
ble value of her admirable Catechism.

HENRY C. POTTER.

New York, Advent, 1898.

PREFACE.

The following exposition of the Church Catechism has
been prepared with much care, as an aid to those who
are engaged in the religious training of the young,
whether as parents in the retirement of the family cir-
cle, or as teachers in the more laborious duties of the
Sunday School.

Having had several years' experience, not only as a
teacher, but also as the Superintendent of a large Sun-
day School, and having made Catechetical instruction the
subject of much thought, I am satisfied that as a general
thing too much is given to the Scholars to commit to
memory, and not enough provided for the Teacher to
explain and illustrate. For this reason, I have made use
of very few questions and answers in the following work,
but I have prepared full explanatory notes, accompanied
by frequent references to the Bible and the Prayer-Book,
for the guidance and assistance of the Teacher ; and my
aim throughout has been to make the book so simple that
it may be used by those who are just commencing to
learn their Catechism, and yet at the same time suffi-
ciently full to be a profitable study for those who are
being prepared for Confirmation.

I know of nothing to which I can more aptly compare
the Church Catechism in all its comprehensiveness and
simplicity than to a fine Mosaic of rare and precious

vi PREFACE.

Btones : and as we can only clearly define the beauty of
the latter by describing the several gems of which it is
composed, so must we seek by diligent study of the
Bible to understand the full meaning and import of each
division of the Catechism before attempting to teach it
to others. I would therefore urge upon all teachers the
absolute necessity of careful preparation, if they would
have their efforts crowned with success, and I urge this
duty the more earnestly upon every one in whose hands
this book may be placed, as I have so frequently known
of teachers who not only were very much discouraged, but
who have utterly failed in their endeavors to explain the
Catechism, for the simple reason that they were unpre-
pared for a proper discharge of the work they had under-
taken. We cannot spend too much time or labor in setting
forth in all its sublimity and power, this grand Mosaic of
divine justice, truth, and love, — the Church Catechism.

In the hope, then, that this work may prove a wel-
come and valuable aid to many earnest and faithful in-
structors of the young, I now send it forth as an humble
offering to Him who led me at an early age to take a
deep interest in the all-important work of that nursery
of His Church, — the Sunday School.

May God send His blessing with it.

HENRY J. CAMMANBT
November 7tk. 1862.

PREFACE TO NINTH EDITION.

After going through eight editions this book passed
out of print. A new edition is now sent forth with the
hope it may find its place and many new friends.

H. J. 0.

January, 1699.

21 (EaUcijiam:

THAT IS TO SAY,

AN INSTRUCTION, TO BE LEARNED BY EVERY PERSON
BEFORE HE BE BROUGHT TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE
BISHOP.

Question. What is your name ?
Answer. N. or M.

Q. Who gave you this name ?

A. My Sponsors in Baptism ; wherein 1 was made a
member of Christ, the child of God, and an inheritor
of the kingdom of Heaven.

Q* What did your Sponsors then for you ?

A. They did promise and vow three things in my
name. First, that I should renounce the Devil and all
his works, the pomps and vanity of this wicked world,
and all the sinful lusts of the flesh. Secondly, that I
should believe all the articles of 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.

Q. Dost thou not think that thou art bound to believe
and to do as they have promised for thee ?

A. Yes, verily, and by God's help so I will. And I
heartily thank our Heavenly Father that he hath 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.

Catechist. Rehearse the Articles of thy Belief*

8 THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

A. T 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 Al-
mighty ; 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.

Q. What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of
thy Belief?

A. First, I learn to believe in God the Father, who
hath 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 sanctifieth
me and all the people of God.

Q. You said that your Sponsors did promise for you
that you should keep God's commandments. Tell me
how many there are.

A. Ten.

Q. Which are they ?

ANSWER.

The same which God spake in the twentieth chap-
ter of Exodus, saying, I am the Lord thy God, who
brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house
of bondage.

J. Thou shalt have none other gods but me.

II. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image,
nor the likeness of anything 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

THE CHURCH CATECHISM. 9

sins of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and
fourth generation in them that hate me, and show mercy
unto thousands of them that love me and keep my com-
mandments.

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 labor 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. Honor 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
neighbor.

X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou
shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his servant, nor
his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is
his.

Q. "What dost thou chiefly learn by these command
ments ?

A. I learn two things: my duty toward God and my
duty toward my neighbor.

Q. What is thy duty toward God ?

A. My duty toward 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 call upon 4iim, to honor his holy name and

10 THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

his Word, and to serve him truly all the days of my
life.

Q. What is thy duty toward thy neighbor?

J. My duty toward ray neighbor is, to love him as
myself, and to do to all men as I would they should do
unto me : To love, honor, and succor my father and
mother: To honor and obey the civil authority: To
submit myself to all my governors, teachers, spiritual
pastors, and masters: To order myself lowly and rever-
ently to all my betters: To hurt nobody, by word or
deed : To be true and just in all my dealings : 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 or
desire other men's goods ; but to learn and labor truly
to get mine own living, and do my duty in that state of
life unto which it shall please God to call me.

Catechist. My good child, know this, that thou art not
able to do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the
commandments of God, and to serve him, without his
special grace, which thou must learn at all times to call
for by diligent prayer. Let me hear, therefore, if thou
canst say the Lord's Prayer.

ANSWER.

Our Father, who 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who
trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil. Amen.

Q. What desirest thou of God in this prayer ?

A. 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 are needful, both
for our souls and bodies; and that he will be merciful

THE CHURCH CATECHISM. 11

unto us, and forgive us our sins ; 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 wicked-
ness, and from our spiritual enemy, and from everlasting
death. And this I trust he will do of his mercy and
goodness, through our Lord Jesus Christ ; and there-
fore I say, Amen. So be it.

QUESTION.

How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his
Church?

A. Two only, as generally necessary to salvation ; that
is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord.

Q. What meanest thou by this word Sacrament**

A. I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward
and spiritual grace, given unto us ; ordained by Christ
himself, as a means whereby we receive the same, and a
pledge to assure us thereof.

Q. How many parts are there in a Sacrament?

A. Two : the outward visible sign and the inward
spiritual grace.

Q. What is the outward visible sign, or form of
Baptism ?

A. Water ; wherein the person is baptized, In the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost.

Q. What is the inward and spiritual grace ?

A. A death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteous-
ness ; for being by nature born in sin, and the children
of wrath, we are hereby made the children of grace.

Q. What is required of persons to be baptized ?

A. Repentance, whereby they forsake sin ; and Faith,
whereby they steadfastly believe the promises of God
made to them in that sacrament.

Q. Why, then, are infants baptized, when, by reason
of their tender age, they cannot perform them ?

A. Because they promise them both by their sureties •
which promise, when they come to age, themselves are
bound to perform.

Su'^'"' v

IS THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

Q. Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
ordained ?

A, For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of
the death of Christ, and of the benefits which we receive
thereby.

Q. What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's

pper?

A. Bread and wine, which the Lord hath commanded
to be received.

Q. What is the inward part or thing signified?

A. The body and blood of Christ, which are spiritu-
ally taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's
Supper.

Q. What are the benefits whereof we are partakers
ehereby ?

A. The strengthening and refreshing of our souls by
the body and blood of Christ, as our bodies are by the
bread and wine.

Q. What is required of those who come to the Lord's
Supper?

A. To examine themselves, whether they repent them
truly of their former sins, steadfastly 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.

PART FIRST.

THE CHRISTIAN COVENANT.

Question. What is your name ?

Answer. N. or M.

Q. Who gave you this name ?

A. My Sponsors in Baptism ; wherein I was made a
member of Christ, the child of God, and an inheritor
of the kingdom of heaven.

Q. What did your Sponsors then for you ?

A. They did promise and vow three things in my
name. First, that I should renounce the Devil and all
his works, the pomps and vanity of this wicked world,
and all the sinful lusts of the flesh. Secondly, that I
should believe all the Articles of 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.

Q. Dost thou not think that thou art bound to believe
and to do as they have promised for thee ?

A. Yes, verily, and by God's help so I will ; and I
heartily thank our Heavenly Father that he hath 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.

Question. What does the Church teach her children in the
Catechism ?

Answer. She teaches them what is necessary for them to know
before they take upon themselves the solemn promises made in
baptism.

14 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

Q Into how many parts may we divide the Catechism ?
.1. Five.

(2- Name thorn.

A, The Christian Covenant The Christian Belief. The Chris*
dan Caw, The Christian Prayer, The Christian Sacraments.

Q. What part does the Christian Covenant omhrace ?

.1. From the first question of the Catechism to the Creed.

Q. What do you mean by a Covenant?

.1. An agreement between two or more persons.

Q. Between whom was this Covenant made ?

A, God and man.

Q. What three tilings does God here promise to do for man ?

A. To make him a member of Christ, etc. etc.

Q. Will you then certainly be saved because baptized ?

A. No — not unless I faithfully perform my part of the Cov-
enant.

Q. What three promises do you make in this Covenant ?

A. To renounce Sin — to believe in God — to obey God.

Q. What does the first bind you to ?

A. To renounce the Devil and all his works, the pomps and
vanity of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh.

Q. The second ?

A. To believe all the articles of the Christian Faith.

Q. The third ?

A. To keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in
the same all the days of my life.

Q. What do you mean by renouncing sin ?

A. Giving up and fleeing from all wickedness.

Q. Where do you And the articles of the Christian Faith ?

A. In the Creed.

Q. How are you to perform your third promise 1

A. By trying at all times to do what the Bible tells me is right.

Q. Who promised these things in your name 1

A. My Godfathers and Godmothers.

Q. By what other names are they called ?

A. Sponsors or Sureties.

Q. Why called Sponsors ?

A. Because they answer the questions in my place.

Q. Why called Sureties?

A. Because they assure or make promises in my name.

Q. How many Sponsors should a child have %

A. A boy should have two Godfathers and one Godmother.
A girl should have one Godfather and two Godmothers.

Q. Are you bound to do all your Sponsors promised ?

A. Yes. just as if I had promised it with my own mouth.

Q. When do you take these promises publicly on yourself?

A. When I am confirmed by tne Bishop.

Q. Between what does Confirmation stand as a link ?

A. The Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

THE CHRISTIAN COVENANT. 15

Q. When does the Prayer-Book say you should be confirmed *

A. When I am sufficiently instructed in all that the Catechism
contains, and am prepared to ratify in my own name the vows
made for me by my Sponsors.

Q. What great privilege are you admitted to by this rite ?

A. The holy communion of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Q. Now what is contained in the first question and answer of
the Covenant ?

A. The Christian name — so called because I was then ad-
mitted into the family of Christ on earth.

Q. What in the second 1

A. The Christian blessings — the promises made to me by
God in that Covenant.

Q. What in the third ?

A. The Christian duties — that is, my part of the Covenant.

Q. What in the fourth 1

A . The Christian resolution — or my determination to do righ>
by God's help.

Q. In what manner are you to obtain strength from God to
do His will ?

A. At all times by earnest prayer, and also, after my confir-
mation, by a devout attendance on the Communion or Lord's
Supper.

THE COVENANT.

Questions 1-15. This division of the Catechism is a
very suitable introduction to all that follows, for in this
Covenant or Agreement made in baptism between God and
man we learn what the Almighty graciously promises to
those who love and obey Him, and the vow which sinful
man must make and perform to obtain those promises.

Thus God describes the relations between Himself and
His people. Gen. xvii. 1-8 ; Jer. xxxi. 31-35 ; Heb. viii.
8-13. (See Baptismal Service, " We yield Thee hearty
thanks," &c.) In this Covenant the Almighty promises
to make us : —

First. " Members of Christ," that is, of the Church,
which is His Body, of which He is the Head. Col. i.
18; 1st Cor. xii. 12-27. Of the mutual love between

16 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

Himself and His members Christ speaks under the para-
ble of the vine. St J oh n xv. 1-8.

Secondly. "The children of God ;" adopting us into
His own family. Romans viii. 14, 15 ; Si. John i. 12 ; xx.
17.

Thirdly, " Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven."
Col i. 12 ; 1st Pet. i. 3-5 ; Rom. viii. 14-17. We must
at all times be very careful lest we forfeit this inheri-
tance, ffeb. iii. 12-14; 1st Cor. x. 1-13.

Now, as tiie blessings promised are threefold, so may
our vow be summed up in three words: Repentance,
Faith, Obedience.

I. Repentance. Here we promise to renounce three
things : —

First. "The Devil and all his works." Eph. vi. 10-
18 ; James iv. 7. The word Devil means false accuser.
Gen. iiL 1-5 ; Rev. xii. 9, 10. He is also called Satan
or the enemy. 1st Pet. v. 8. He is compared in the
Bible to the lion, 1st Pet. v. 8 ; and to the serpent,
Gen. iii. 14. By his works we are to understand all
those wicked deeds which men coramit through his un-
holy instigation.

Secondly. " The pomps and vanity of this wicked
world." We have been chosen out of the world by being
baptized, and the cross of our Leader is on our brow.
We must therefore follow Him, and not allow the riches,
pleasures, or praise of the world to lead us astray. St.
John xv. 18, 19 ; xvii. 15, 16 ; Eph. iv. 17, 18.

Thirdly. " The sinful lusts of the flesh," — that is,
all the animal wishes, or desires of the body, which we
know from Scripture or feel in our conscience to be
wrong and contrary to the Spirit of God. We must put
our lusts to death by constant self-denial. We must nor
give way to idleness, which is a dangerous lust ; and we
must be careful to use moderately those things which
may encourage lust, — eating, drinking, sleeping, and the
like. Gal. v. 1G, 17, 24 ; 1 John ii. 15-17 ; 2 Tim. ii. 22.

II. Faith. The homage of the intellect and the obe-
dience of the will should be warmed by the affections

THE CHRISTIAN COVENANT. 17

Our faith must be not only of the understanding, but also
of the heart, for with the heart man believeth unto right-
eousness. Rom. x. 10. It must not be partial. We
must believe all the articles of the Christian faith, con-
tained in the Bible and summed up in the Apostles*
Creed; and we must believe in God if we would truly
love Him. Heb. xi. 6 ; x. 38 ; 1 John v. 4, 5 ; St. Matt.
xv. 22-28 ; St. Luke viii. 22-25. (See second question
in Service for Baptism.)

III. Obedience. We are " to keep God's holy will
and commandments, and walk in the same all the days
of our life." True faith will lead us to true obedience.
We may be obedient even in sickness or suffering, by
patiently waiting for God to restore us to health or
happiness. We must walk according to the law of God.
We must not stand still, but ever move onward toward
heaven. 1 Sam. xv. 22; Prov. xxx. 17; Jer. vii. 23;
Rom. vi. 16 ; Col. iii. 20. Our obedience must be active,
Heb. vi. 11, 12; steady, James i. 25; persevering, 2
Pet. ii. 21 ; constantly improving, 1 Thess. iv. 1, 2.

SPONSORS.

Questions 1 6-25. These vows or promises were all
made for us in Baptism by our Sponsors or Godparents,
because we were too young to make them ourselves.
Our Sponsors pledged themselves or stood for us as sure-
ties to the Church, that wTe should be rightly brought up
and taught our duty as soldiers of Christ, under whose
banner we are to fight " against sin, the world, and the
Devil." (See questions in Baptismal Service, " Wilt thou
then obediently keep," &c.) Yet we are responsible for
our own sins. We must ourselves, by God's help, keep
and perform the vows which our Sponsors have made
for us, and by our repentance and faith live as children
of God. Devi, xxiii. 21 ; Eccl. v. 4, 5 ; St. Matt. iv. 17 ;
St. Mark xvi. 16; Rom. xiv. 12. To the exercise of
this repentance and faith the Church calls us ; and she
bids us profess the same in the rite of confirmation.
2

18 EXPOSITION OK THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

CONFIRMATION.

Confirmation is not a Sacrament ; it is a solemn rite
of the Church, — a rite being a formal act of religion.
This rite was practised by the Apostles. Acts viii. 14-
17 ; xix. 5, 6. At confirmation we confirm or strengthen
our promises to God, and He confirms the assurance of
His grace and blessing to us. It is a means of grace, —
a link between the two Sacraments. Ani when we have
given this pledge to the Church that we are u religiously
and devoutly disposed/' then we are invited to come to
the Holy Communion, the Supper of our Lord. But
whether we are confirmed or not, we are yet as much
bound to perform all that our Sponsors promised for us,
for we cannot transfer to another the responsibility of
our sins. Ps. xlix. 7 ; Gal. vi. 4-8.

Questions 26-30. When a child is born into the
world, he receives his surname, — the name of his fam-
ily, — and when born into the Church in Baptism, in the
name of the Trinity, he receives his Christian name. In
the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, names gen-
erally refer to some circumstances in the life or history
of the person or his ancestors. Thus, Mve, " Life." Gen.
iii. 20. Samuel, " Asked of God." 1 Sum. i. 20. Isaac,
" He laughed!." Gen. xvii. 17 ; xxi. 3. Names were
sometimes changed by the command of God, as, Jacob to
Israel, " Warrior of God," Gen. xxxii. 28 ; Abram to
Abraham, " Father of a multitude," Gen. xvii. 5 ; and
Sarai to Sarah, " Princess," Gen. xviL 15.

Our Christian name should always remind us of the
benefits received in Baptism, and of the solemn duties to
which we are bound thereby. We are made "children
of God," and as we would not dishonor our earthly
parents, so should we take care that no act of ours shall
bring reproach upon the family of our Father in heaven.
We must at all times seek for grace and strength from
the Holy Spirit that we may be faithful to the end, and

THE CHRISTIAN COVENANT. 19

we know that they who seek the Lord aright shall never
seek in vain. Deut. xxxiii. 25 ; St. Luke xi. 9-13 ; St.
John xiv. 13, 14 ; Heb. iv. 15, 16.

Note. The "N or M/' used in answer to the first question
of the Catechism, stands for N*ment name, and Nomina, names ;
" M " being an abbreviation for RN.

PAET SECOND.

THE CHRISTIAN BELIEF.

Catechist. Rehearse the Articles of thy Belief.

A. 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 Al-
mighty ; 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 Ever-
lasting. Amen.

Q. What dost thou chiefly learn in these Articles of
thy Belief?

A. First, I learn to believe in God the Father, who
hath 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 sanctifieth me
and all the people of God.

Question. What is the second division of the Catechism?

Answer. The Christian Belief.

Q. Repeat the Creed.

A. I believe in God, etc., etc.

THE CHRISTIAN BELIEF. 21

Q. What great truths does the Creed contain ?

A. Those of the Gospel of Christ.

Q. Is there more than one form of the Creed in the Prayer
Book'?

A. There are two : the Apostles' and the Nicene.

Q. What is the difference between them 1

A. The Apostles' states the Catholic Faith : the Nicene ex>
plains it.

Q. How many articles are there in the Creed ?

A. Twelve.

Q. Is not every one personally bound by these articles 1

A. Yes, in every article it is /, and not ice believe.

Q. What three Persons are we taught to believe in 1

A. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Q. What do we call these three ?

A. The Holy Trinity — there being Three Persons, but Oni
God.

Q. Where do we find an account of the three Persons of the
Holy Trinity being seen and heard at the same time ?

A. At the baptism of our Lord, in the river Jordan.

Q. How was the First Person of the Trinity heard 1 How
were the Second and Third seen %

A. The Father spoke from heaven, saying, " This is my be-
loved Son/' The Son stood on the bank of the river. The
Holy Spirit descended like a dove upon the Son.

Q. In whom do we first profess to believe ?

A. In God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

Q. In what relation does He stand to man ?

A. As his Creator and his God.

Q. In whom do we next say we believe ?

A. In Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.

Q. Who was the mother of Jesus 1 Where was He born ?

A. The Virgin Mary. In Bethlehem.

Q. Under whom was He crucified ? Where did He die ?

A. Under Pontius Pilate. On Mount Calvary.

Q. How long was He in the tomb?

A. Three days.

Q. Where did He go after His resurrection ?

A. He ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hanf
of His Father.

Q. When shall He again come to this earth ? For what pur
pose 1

A. At the last day. To judge all men.

Q. In what relation does He stand to man ?

A. As our Redeemer and Best Friend.

Q. In whom do we next say we believe ?

A. In the Holy Ghost.

Q. Is He the same God as the Father and the Son ?

A. Yes there is but one God.

22 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

Q- What does our Saviour call the Holy Ghost?

A, The Comforter.

Q. In what relation does He stand to man?

.1. As our Sanctifier and Giver of life.

Q. What do you mean by the Holy Catholic Church?

A. The members of Christ's Spiritual Body throughout the
world. " The blessed company of all faithful people."

Q. What by the Communion of Saints ?

A. The same blessed company, whether belonging to the
Church on earth or the Church in paradise.

Q. What by the Forgiveness of sins?

A. The taking away of our sins by Jesus Christ.

Q. What by the Resurrection of the body ?

A. The rising from the grave.

Q. What by die Life Everlasting?

A. The life beyond the grave.

Q. What does Amen mean here?

A. That I truly believe all I have said.

Q. What do you chiefly learn in the Creed?

A. The doctrine of the Trinity — that there are Three Per-
sons, but One God.

Q. How many of the articles relate to this ? To what do the
rest refer?

A. The first eight. To the Christian privileges.

Q. What are these last?

A. The Holy Catholic Church, etc., etc.

THE CREED.

There are three forms of the Creed, — the Apostles',
the Nicene, and the Athanasian. The Apostles' states
the Catholic Faith, as taught in the Bible. The Nicene
was chiefly drawn up at the Council of Nice, in order
more fully to explain it ; the Athanasian for the same
reason was drawn up at a later period. Our American
Prayer-Book retains the Apostles' and the Nicene Creeds,
and the Catechism gives the first only. (See the 8th
Art. of Religion, in the Prayer-Book.)

Questions 1-11. The Apostles' Creed contains twelve
articles of belief: it is used at Morning and Evening

THE CHRISTIAN BELIEF. 23

Prayer, and in the Visitation of tbe Sick- In the Creed
we confess two very important truths, — belief in the
Holy Trinity, and in the Holy Catholic Church. We
confess first our belief in God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Holy Ghost. To each a special work is
attributed : to God the Father, the work of Creation ; to
God the Son, the work of Redemption ; to God the Holy
Ghost, the work of Sanctification. Thus we are taught
to believe in three distinct Persons, but one God. (See
1st Art. of Nicene Creed and 1st Art. of Religion.) St
Matt xxviii. 19 ; 2 Cor. xiii. 14.

When we repeat the Creed in church we should al-
ways stand, to show that we are not ashamed to confess
our faith before all men. We say, " / believe," because
each one is called upon to confess his belief for himself.
"/" is not used anywhere else in '* Common Prayer."
We say not only " I believe," but " I believe in God"
for we must believe, not only with the understanding, but
also with the heart, and if we believe in God, we shall
hope and trust in Him. Heb. xi. 6. The devils believe
there is a God, and tremble ; but they do not trust or
obey Him. James ii. 19.

Questions 12, 13. God is the Father of heaven and
of earth ; of all things visible and invisible ; of all men,
having made them in His own image, Gen. i. 26, 27 ;
Fph. iv. 6 ; and especially of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Son of God, 1 John iv. 9. He is the Father Almighty,
that is, He has created and can destroy all things. Gen.
xvii. 1 ; St. Matt x. 28. Belief in this article should lead
us to fear, love, and obey Him. (See 1st petition of the
Litany.)

JESUS CHPJST.

Questions 14-21. Jesus means " Saviour." St. Malt.
i. 21. Christ or Messiah, St. John i. 41, means, " The
Anointed." St. Luke iv. 18. He is our Prophet, St
Luke i. 76 ; Priest, Heb. iv. 14 ; and King, St. Luke xix.

24 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

38. "Our Lord." St. Luke ii. 11; St. John xiii. 1&
(See 2nd petition of the Litany.)

Six of the articles of the Creed refer to Christ. The
first of these is a description of the person and office of
the Redeemer ; the other five refer to what lie has done
and suffered for us.

BOWING THE HEAD.

It has long been the custom to bow the head when
repeating the second article of the Creed, to show our
reverence for the name of Jesus, Phil. ii. 10, and our
belief in His divinity. This custom originated in the
fourth century, when Arius attempted to introduce the
heresy that Jesus was not very God ; and Christians, to
show, as they repeated the words, that they believed our
Lord to be truly God, humbly bowed the head.

OBJECT OF CHRIST'S DEATH.

Jesus died to save us from the guilt, the power, and
the punishment of sin. We are all by nature guilty, and
can only be made free from the curse of the law by Him
who was obedient to the full law ; and God laid all our
sins on Him, that we, believing in Him, may come before
His Father, and our Father, not in our guilt, but in His
righteousness. Rom. v. 19. Christ has saved us from
the punishment of sin by His one sacrifice of Himself.
Heb. ix. 28 ; Rom. viii. 1 ; 1 Pet. iii. 18. He also saved
us from the power of sin, by sending the Holy Spirit to
dwell with us, and to aid all who will come to Jesus and
he saved. St. John xvi. 7-13.

THE CHRISTIAN BELIEF. 25

BIRTH OF CHRIST.

Of the birth of Christ we read in St. Matt. i. 18-25,
and St. Luke i. 26-38 ; ii. 1-21 ; and thus the prophecies
of the prophets, Isaiah vii. 14, and Jeremiah xxiii. 5, 6,
were fulfilled. It is very important to have faith in the
incarnation of Christ, — to believe that Christ was, at
one and the same time, both God and man, — that He
became truly and entirely of the substance of man, suf-
fering the wants, pains, and temptations of our nature,
but without sin, as the Apostle writes to the Corinthi-
ans, 2 Cor. v. 21, and to the Hebrews, Heb. iv. 15. See
also 1 Pet. ii. 22, and 1 John iv. 2, 3. (See 2nd and
15th Arts, of Eeligion.)

We have proof of His divinity, in St. John xiv. 1-11,
26 ; Heb. i. 2-5 ; and of His humanity, in St. Matt. iv.
2 ; St. Mark iv. 37, 38 ; St. John iv. 6 ; xi. 35.

THE VIRGIN MARY.

We should esteem and reverence the Virgin Mary,
the mother of our Lord, but the teachings of the Bible
forbid that we should worship her. We are to worship
God, and none else ; thus our Saviour taught us when
the Devil tempted Him. St. Matt. iv. 10.

The Church calls upon us to remember the sufferings
of our Saviour, especially during Holy Week. His suf-
ferings were both in mind and body. St. Matt. xxvi.
38; St. John xix. 16-34. Thus all our sufferings are
sanctified by the agony which our Lord endured, and we
know that if we suffer with Him, we shall also reign
with Him. Phil. i. 29; 2 Tim. ii. 12; 1 Pet. iv. 12,
13.

The body of Jesus, wrapped in fine linen with spices
and ointment, was buried by Joseph of Arimathea, one
of the Jewish Council, and a secret believer in Christ,

2(5 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

and by Nicodemus, in a new tomb, and thus was fulfilled
the prophecy of Isaiah liii. 9. This new tomb in which
Christ was buried is a beautiful type of the new aspect
that the tomb must bear since He has sanctified it.

" HE DESCENDED INTO HELL."

While the body of Jesus lay in the grave, His soul
descended into Hell or Hades. Hades means the unseen
place. The word Hell means literally u a covered place,"
being the place where the souls of the dead shall remain
until reunited to the body. It is divided into two parts ;
Gehenna, a place of torment, and Paradise, a place of
happiness. St. Luke xvi. 23, 24, 26 ; xxiii. 43. (See 3d
Art. of Religion.)

Christ was in the grave three days : compare St. Matt.
xii. 40 ; St. Mark viii. 31 ; St John ii. 19. He wTas
buried on Friday, and rose on Sunday. The parts of
days were counted as entire days*

As there were three degrees in the humiliation of
Christ, — His birth, death, and burial, — so there were
three in His exaltation, — His resurrection^ ascension,
and glorification.

RESURRECTION.

His resurrection was the work of the Holy Trinity, —
of the Father, Acts iii. 15; of Himself, St. John ii. 19 ;
of the Holy Ghost, 1 Pet. iii. 18. Christ rose again
from the dead ; that is, His soul from Hell, His body
from the grave, for His body did not decay. Acts ii. 31
The resurrection of Christ was prophesied, Ps. xvi. 10 ;
St. Matt. xvi. 21 ; typified by Isaac returning from Mount
Moriah, Gen. xxii. 9-19 ; Heb. xi. 18, 19 ; attested by
His apostles, Acts i. 3 ; by His enemies, St. Matt, xxviii.
\\-\b \ by the angels, St. Luke xxiv. 4-7. It was a

THE CHRISTIAN BELIEF. 27

pledge of our resurrection. 1 Cor. xv. 20-22. It was
for our justification. 1 Cor. xv. 17. (See 4th Art. of Re-
ligion.)

ASCENSION.

Our Lord's ascension into heaven was foretold, Ps>
lxviii. 18 ; accomplished, St. Mark xvi. 19. By His as-
cension, He proved that He came down from God, St.
John xvi. 28-30 ; and assured man's admission into
heaven, St John xiv. 1-3.

GLORIFICATION.

By the expression, " Christ sat down on the right hand
of God," we understand that He now occupies the most
honored place in heaven, where He ever interceded! for
us. St. Matt. xxvi. 64 ; 1 Peter iii. 22 ; Acts vii. 55 ;
Heb. vii. 25.

SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.

Christ shall come again from heaven to judge all men,
St. Matt. xxv. 31, 32. He will come suddenly, St. Matt.
xxiv. 42-44. He will come attended by His angels, St.
Matt. xvi. 27. He will judge the quick or living, 1 Cor.
xv. 51, 52 ; and the risen dead, Heb. ix. 27 ; 1 Thess. iv.
15-17; Rev. xx. 12, 13.

THE HOLY GHOST.

Questions 21-24. (See 5th Art. of Religion and 3d
petition of the Litany.) That the Holy Ghost is indeed
God, the third person of the Trinity, is made certain
from St. Matt, xxviii. 19 ; Acts v. 3, 4 ; 1 Cor. iii. 16,
17. That He is a person and not a mere attribute or
power, is evident from St. John xiv. 26; 2 Cor. xiii. 14.

28 EXPOSITION OP THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, 2 Tim. iii.
16 ; for k< Holy men of old spake as they were moved by
the Holy Ghost," 2 Pet. i. 21.

The Holy Ghost was first seat (o the Church on (he
day of Pentecost, now called " Whitsunday." His offices
are, "to give life," St. John iii. 5; "to enlighten," St. JoJin
xiv. 26 ; u to sanctify," 1 Cor. vi. 11 ; and "to strengthen,"
especially in prayer, Rom. viii. 26 ; St. Luke xi. 13. Wo
should ever pray for His renewing and sanctifying influ-
ences, that we may grow in grace and be filled with the
Spirit of Christ. We must not grieve the Holy Spirit,
Eph. iv. 30; and as one with the Father and the Son,
we must worship and glorify Him.

THE CHURCH.

Questions 25, 26. The Church is the body of Christ,
and the members thereof are all who believe in Him,
all who are called out of the world by the doctrine of the
gospel to worship the true God in Christ, according to
His word. 1 Cor. i. 2 ; Col. i. 18 ; 1 Pet. ii. 9 ; Eph. ii.
19-22. We should at all times pray earnestly for the
peace and prosperity of the Church, whereof we are
members and children, and do all in our power to pro-
mote charity and concord amongst those with whom we
call upon the name of the Lord; thus St. Paul directs us
in a few words, 2 Tim. ii. 22.

IT IS HOLY.

The Church is holy because Christ the Head is holy ;
because she is animated by the Holy Spirit, by whom all
the members are made holy ; because she takes for her
rule God's holy law, and because holiness is the end and
object of her Sacraments, her doctrines, and her worship.
Eph. v. 25, 27 ; Acts xx. 28.

THE CHRISTIAN BELIEE 29

IT IS UNIVERSAL

The Church is catholic or universal. Christ taught us
this when He sent out his disciples. St. Mark xvi. 15.
Every person of whatever nation, kindred, or people, who
is baptized in the name of the Trinity, becomes a mem-
ber of the Church of Christ, and should strive so to live
as a member of the Church on earth that Christ may not
be ashamed to own him hereafter as a member of the
Church triumphant, and present him before the throne of
God. Rev. xxi. 2-4.

We should reverence and obey the ministers of the
Church as those sent by God to preach His holy word.
Heb. xiii. 17.

COMMUNION OF SAINTS.

The " Communion of Saints " forms part of the ninth
Article of the Creed. The Holy Catholic Church is the
Communion of Saints. The name "saints" was origi-
nally applied to all Christians. They are those who are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, and whose lives as well as vo-
cation are holy. 1 Cor. i. 2 ; 1 Pet. i. 15, 16. They
have communion or fellowship with God the Father, and
God the Son, 1 John i. 3 ; 1 Cor. i. 9 ; and God the
Holy Ghost, 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The saints on earth have
communion one with another, by sharing the same bless-
ings, 1 John i. 7 ; by sympathizing with and assisting
each other, 1 Cor. xii. 26 ; and by union in prayer and
thanksgiving, in hearing God's holy word, in deeds of
charity, and especially in the Supper of our Lord, Acts ii.
42, 47 ; Gal. vi. 9, 10. The saints at rest form a part of
the one communion.

SIN.

Questions 27, 30. Sin is the transgression of the law,
1 John iii. 4 ; and is either original or actual. (See 9th

30 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

Art of Religion.) Original Sin is that which we have
by nature, for we are all born in sin, Ps. li. 5 ; but from
which we are cleansed at our baptism, through Christ,
Acts ii. 38; xxii. 16. There is no one who does not
commit actual sin, (see 16th Art.), either in thought,
St. Matt. xv. 19; in word, St. Matt xii. 34-37 ; or in
deed. Therefore we must ever pray for tlie aid of the
Holy Ghost to lead us to God, that from Him we may
obtain forgiveness of our sins, St. Matt. vi. 12 ; St. Luke
v. 18, 26; through Christ, Eph. i. 7.

FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

To gain this blessing, the forgiveness of our sins, we
must have faith, Acts x. 43 ; Rom. iii. 20-26 ; and re-
pentance, Acts iii. 19 ; accompanied by prayer, Acts viii.
22 ; and confession, 1 John i. 9 ; and proved by obedi-
ence, St. Matt. iii. 8. We must confess our sins to God
daily and endeavor day by day to grow in grace and in
the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Prov. xxviii. 13; 2 Pet. iii. 18. He has given authority
to his ministers to pronounce the absolution of the peni-
tent and believing. St. John xx. 23.

RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.

The resurrection of the dead is partially revealed in
the Old Testament, Job xix. 25-27 ; Dan. xii. 2 ; fully
in the New, St. John v. 25-29; 1 Cor. xv. ; 2 Cor. v. 10.
It is typified by the seasons of the year, by day and
night, by seed sown in the ground, and by awaking from
natural sleep, 1 Thess. iv. 13-18. We find instances of
persons raised from the dead in the Old Testament,
1 Kings xvii. 17-24; 2 Kings iv. 18-37; xiii. 21. In
the New Testament, St. Mark v. 22-43 ; St. Luke vii.
11-16 ; St. John xi. 38-45 ; Acts ix. 36-42; and above
all, the resurrection of the dead is assured to us by that

THE CHRISTIAN BELIEF. 31

of our Lord himself, St. John xx. 1-18. The bodies of
the righteous shall not only be raised, but glorified,
Phil iii. 21.

At death the soul and the body am separated, but they
will be reunited at the resurrection, through the power of
Christ, who hath conquered death and the grave. The
resurrection of the body should teach us to keep our
bodies pure and holy, for they are the temples of the
Holy Ghost, and we are told that God will destroy those
that defile the body. 1 Cor. iii. 16, 17 ; vi. 19.

LIFE EVERLASTING.

Life everlasting is not merited by man, but is the free
gift of God. Rom. vi. 23. Those who are saved, whose
everlasting life shall be spent in heaven, shall have no
more want, Rev. vii. 16, 17 ; no suffering, no darkness,
Rev. xxi. 4, 23. They shall enjoy rest and peace, Neb. iv.
9 ; glory, 1 Pet. v. 4 ; the happiness of the presence of
God, 1 John iii. 2; and more joy than any one can imagine
or even hope for, 1 Cor. ii. 9.

BELIEF IN THE HOLY TRINITY.

Questions 31-33. The first eight articles of the Creed
relate to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, belief in which
is necessary to salvation. Compare St. Mark xvi. 16, with
St. Matt, xxviii. 19. We are baptized into this faith, and
are reminded of it in all our public services by the Gloria
Patri, and we especially commemorate it on Trinity
Sunday. We should make to the blessed Trinity the
threefold offering of our body, soul, and spirit. 1 Thess.
v. 23. (See in the Oblation in the Communion Service,
" And here we offer and present unto Thee, O Lord,"
&c.)

The four remaining articles comprise the five Christian
privileges, and teach especially the doctrine of the Holy
Catholic Church.

PART THIRD.

THE CHRISTIAN LAW.

Q. You said that your Sponsors did promise for you
that you should keep God's commandments: tell me how
many there are.

A. Ten.

Q. Which are they ?

A. The same which God spake in the twentieth chap-
ter 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 anything 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 show
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 labor 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

THE CHRISTIAN LAW. 33

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. Honor 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
neighbor.

X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou
shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his servant, nor
his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is
his.

Q. What dost thou chiefly learn by these command-
ments ?

A. I learn two things: my duty toward'GoD and my
duty towai'd my neighbor.

Q. What is thy duty toward God ?

A. My duty toward 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 call upon him; to honor his holy name and
his Word ; and to serve him truly all the days of my
life.

Q. What is thy duty toward thy neighbor ?

A. My duty toward my neighbor is, to love him as
myself, and to do to all men as I would they should do
unto me : To love, honor, and succor my father and
mother: To honor and obey the civil authority: To
submit myself to all my governors, teachers, spiritual
pa>tors, and masters : To order myself lowly and rever-
ently to all my betters : To hurt nobody, by word or
deed : To be true and just in all my dealings : 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
3

34 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

temperance, soberness, and chastity : Not to covet or
desire other men's goods ; but to learn and labor truly
to get mine own living, and do my duty in that state
of life unto which it shall please God to call me.

Quest-ion. In what part of the Bible do you find the Com-
mandments ?

Answer. In the twentieth chapter of Exodus.

£2. By whom and on what were they written ?

A. By the Almighty on two tables of stone.

Q. To whom and by what person were they first given ?

A. To the children of Israel by Moses.

Q. How can you divide them ?

A. Into two parts, — our duty to God and our duty to man.

Q. How many relate to our duty to God? how many to
man ?

A. The first four to our duty to God — the last six to our duty
to man.

Q. What is the first Commandment ?

A. I am the Lord thy God, etc., etc.

Q. What are we first taught in this law ?

A. To worship the Lord God.

Q. What next ?

A. Not to have any other god instead of or in addition to
Him.

Q. What is the second Commandment ?

A. Thou shalt not make to thyself, etc., etc.

Q. What does this forbid 1 and what is an Idol ?

A. It forbids us to have any Idol. Any image of a god.

Q. Is the making of all images forbidden ? what then %

A. No — only such as represent the Almighty, and are wor-
shipped.

Q. What are the reasons given for keeping this law ?

A. Because God is a jealous God and will be offended with
us if we break it.

Q. What is meant by saying " God is jealous " ?

A. That He will not allow His honor to be given to any one
else.

Q. What is the third Commandment ?

A. Thou shalt not take the name, etc., etc.

Q. How can you take God's name in vain ?

A. By speaking of Him in any careles-s manner, and by
•wearing.

THE CHRISTIAN LAW. 35

Q. What is threatened to those who do so %

A, That He will hold them as very guilty.

Q. What is the fourth Commandment ?

A. Remember that thou keep holy, etc., etc.

Q. How can you keep holy the Sabbath day ?

A. By abstaining from worldly occupations, and attending to
religious duties.

Q. Can you do any work ?

A. Yes — I may do works of necessity, piety, and charity.

Q. What do we call Sunday, and why ?

A. The first day of the seven. It is the Lord's Day, because
Christ rose from the dead on that day.

Q. What is the fifth Commandment ?

A. Honor thy father and mother, etc., etc.

Q. How can you honor your parents ?

A. By respecting and obeying them and showing them affec-
tionate attention.

Q. What is the promise to those who do so ?

A. That their days may be long in the land the Lord their God
giveth them.

Q. What is the sixth Commandment ? The seventh ? The
eighth 1

A. Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not commit adult-
ery. Thou shalt not steal.

Q. The ninth ? What is it to bear false witness ?

A. Thou shalt not bear false witness, etc. To say what is not
true, to a man's hurt.

Q. The tenth 1 What is it to covet 1

A. Thou shalt not covet, etc. Wishing to get the things of
others for myself until it makes me unhappy.

Q. Why is it very important for you to obey this law ?

A. Because if I do not obey it, it may lead me to break all
the others.

Q. What are we reminded of in it ?

A. To check or stop sin in the very commencement.

Q. How did our Saviour sum up the first four Command-
ments ?

A. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
thy soul, and mind.

Q. How the last six ?

A. And thy neighbor as thyself.

Q. Where do we ask God in our praT £rs to write all His
laws 1

A. We beseech Him to write all these His laws in our
hearts.

Q. How do all but two of the Commandments commence 2

A. With the words " Thou shalt not."

Q, And what should this teach us ?

A, That our hearts are naturally very evil.

86 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

Q. What do you find directly after the Christian law in the
Catechism, showing you the great means by which you may be
enabled to do all this.

A. The Christian Prayer which we call the Lord's Prayer.

DUTY.

This third part of the Catechism relates to duty and is
intimately connected with faith. James ii. 26. The law
of duty is summed up in the ten Commandments or Deca-
logue, (tenfold discourse,) and is generally called the
Moral Law, to distinguish it from the Levitical or Cere-
monial Law, which regulated the temple service, etc.,
and which is chiefly contained in the book of Leviticus.
The Moral Law was first given to the Jews, but it is
equally binding upon us, as our Saviour taught us in
St. Matt. xix. 17. In the Sermon on the Mount He taught
us how to understand it. St. Matt. v. 17-48.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

The Commandments may be divided into two parts or
tables: the first comprising the first four Commandments,
which relate to our duty to God ; the second comprising
the last six, which relate to our duty to our neighbor.
The words of the ten Commandments are a little differ-
ent in the Catechism from the words of the Bible, be-
cause they are taken from an older translation of the
Bible than the present version.

God's dealings with the Israelites were a type of His
dealings with us. Egypt represents the world; Pharaoh
the Devil; and sin, the bondage in which as children of
Adam we were all born. But God has delivered us from
this bondage, and brought us by baptism into the Canaan
of the Church. Our Saviour in His answer to the lawyer

1

THE CHRISTIAN LAW. 37

who tempted Him by asking the question, "Which is the
greatest commandment in the law ?" summed up the tan
commandments. St. Matt. xxii. 35-40. (See end of
Commandments in Communion service.) We must re-
member that obedience, though necessary to salvation,
does not merit it. St. Luke xvii. 10. (See 11th Art. of
Religion.) The fault is all our own when we break the
law of God, and when we do obey Him we should give
Him the glory of our obedience. 1 Cor. xv. 10.

Questions 1-/). The ten commandments, written on
two tables of stone by the finger of God, Exodus xxxi.
18, were given by Him, Exodus xx. 1, to the children of
Israel on Mount Sinai, Exodus xix. 11-20, with great
solemnity, Deut. iv. 11-13. The first tables were broken
by Moses, Exodus xxxii. 19 ; but two others were substi-
tuted, Exodus xxxiv. 1, and placed in the Ark, Deut. x.
5, which was therefore called u the Ark of the Cov-
enant."

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT.

Questions 6-8. The First Commandment is directed
against having, 1st, No God, St. Mark xii. 32 ; St. John
xvii. 3 ; 1 Cor. viii. 4 ; Heb. xi. 6. 2d, False gods, in-
stead of, or in addition to the true God, St. Matt. iv. 10;
Gal. iv. 8, 9. The Israelites were guilty of this sin. 1
Kings xviii. 21. Christians may also be. St. Matt. vi.
24. 3d. The true God falsely viewed. Thus some per-
sons lose sight of His mercy in His justice, and there-
fore despair ; and others forget His justice in His mercy,
and therefore presume.

THE SECOND COMMANDMENT.

Questions 9-13. The Second Commandment forbids
idols ; the likeness of anything that is in heaven above,
such as the sun, moon, or stars, Deut. iv. 14-19 ; Acts

88 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

vii. 42, 43 ; or in the earth beneath, as men, beasts, or
birds, Rom. i. 22, 23 ; or in the water under the earth,
as fish, &c. The Israelites were commanded to burn
their idols. Dent. vii. 5. Moses made a serpent of brass
by the command of God, for the healing of the people,
Numb. xxi. 8 ; but in the reign of Hezekiah, long after-
wards, it was worshipped, and then the king broke it in
pieces, 2 Kings xviii. 4.

We are taught how to worship God in St. John iv.
24 ; 1 Cor. xiv. 40. We must keep this commandment,
because God is a jealous God, Is. xlviii. 11 ; and because
He will punish those who forget Him and bless those
who keep His laws, Deut. vii. 9, 10. The vices, dis-
eases, and shame of wicked parents are often inherited
by their children, while the descendants of Abraham
were blessed for his sake, Gen. xxii. 16-18 ; for the sake
of David all the kings of Judah were blessed, 1 Kings
xv. 4 ; 2 Kings viii. 19 ; for the sake of St. Paul all
who were with him in his shipwreck were saved, Acts
xxvii. 24.

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT.

Questions 14-16. This Third Commandment forbids
and threatens. It forbids, 1st, false swearing, St. Matt.
xxvi. 72-74 ; 2d, rash and sinful vows, St. Matt. xiv. 7 ;
3d, careless prayers, St. Matt. xv. 8 ; 4th, blasphemy,
speaking evil of God ; perjury, i. e., saying under oath
what is not true ; profane swearing, James v. 12. It
threatens severe punishment for this sin of swearing and
irreverence. Ps. lix. 12, 13; cix. 17-19. With the Is-
raelites one who cursed and blasphemed was put to death
by God's command. Lev. xxi v. 14-16. Our Saviour
taught us that our words should be simple. St Matt, v
37.

THE CHRISTIAN LA We 39

JEHOVAH.

With the Jews the name of Jehovah was spoken only
by the high priest on the day of atonement, when he
proclaimed forgiveness of sin in God's name ; but this
reverence for the name of God was more formal than
reaL

THE SABBATH.

Questions 17-20. Sabbath is a Hebrew word, and
means " rest."

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT.

From the beginning God had sanctified one day in
seven, and therefore He says, " Remember that thou keep
holy," etc. The Sabbath is mentioned before the giving
of the commandments to the children of Israel. Exodus
xvi. 22-26.

" No manner of work" forbids all work except of
necessity, of piety, and of charity. St. Matt. xii. 1-13;
St. Mark iii. 1-5. In order to keep holy the Sabbath
day, we must not only abstain from unholy employments,
but engage in those that are holy, such as public wor-
ship, reading God's word, and meditating on holy things.
It is a day for improvement in holiness ; thus Isaiah
described it. Isaiah lxiii. 13, 14. As the Jews were to call
to mind their deliverance from Egypt on this day, Deut.
v. 15, so should we call to remembrance how Christ has
delivered us from the bondage of sin, Heh. ii. 14, 15 ;
and the quietness of the Lord's day should lead our
thoughts also to that rest which remaineth for the peo-
ple of God, Heb. iv. 9-11.

The Jews kept holy the seventh day of the week, be-
cause on that day God rested from His work of creation,
Gen. ii. 2, 3 ; but we keep the first day of the week,
because on that day Christ rose from the dead, having

40 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

finished Ills work of Redemption, St. Luke xxiv. 1-1 G.
This change was made by the Apostles. St John xx.
1—19; 1 Cor. xvi. 2. Although we repeat this com-
mandment, the Church, like the Scriptures, never applies

the name " Sabbath " to the first day of the week, but
calls it Sunday, or the Lord's Day.

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT.

Questions 21-23. The Fifth Commandment, the
first with a promise, is the first of the second table, in
which we are taught our duty to ourselves and to one
another. The heathen taught respect only to a father,
none to a mother ; but God commands honor to both ;
that we should fear them, Lev. xix. 3 ; give them rever-
ence, Heb. xii. 9 ; obey them cheerfully and from a prin-
ciple of love, Mph. vi. 1-3 ; submit to their rebukes, in-
structions, and corrections, Prov. vi. 20 ; Col. iii. 20 ; en-
deavor in all things to be their comfort, and make their
old age easy to them, St. Matt. xv. 4-6.

PARENTS TO BE HONORED.

Our Saviour left us an example of honoring our par-
ents. St. Luke ii. 51 ; St. John xix. 26, 27. Among the
Jews, those who kept this commandment were promised
long life and prosperity in the land of Canaan, the land
which God gave them. To us the promise is that it shall
be well with us on earth as long as infinite wisdom sees
good for us,, and that what we may seem to be deprived of
on earth shall be abundantly made up to us in heaven, —
the Canaan which God will give us. By the law of
Moses unnatural and disobedient children were to be put
to death. jExodus xxi. 17 ; Deut. xxi. 18-21.

Besides our duty to parents, this commandment in-
cludes all those duties which we owe to all who are in
any way set over us. Such are the duties of servants

THE CHRISTIAN LAW. 41

to masters. Eph. vi. 5-7. People to pastors. 1 Thes. v.
12, 13 ; Heb. xiii. 17. Younger to elder. Lev. xix. 32.

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT.

Questions 24-28. As life is the greatest of all earthly
blessings, so to destroy life is the greatest evil which
man can do to man. Murder is wilfully taking the life
of another person. Suicide, when a person is in his
sound mind, is self-murder : our life belongs to God.
Examples of this, 1 Sam. xxxi. 4, 5 ; 2 Sam. xvii. 23.
When a magistrate puts to death a condemned criminal,
Gen. ix. 6 ; Rom. xiii. 4, it is not murder (see 37th Art.
of Religion, latter part) ; nor does the soldier commit
murder when, in obedience to the rulers of his country,
he kills his enemy in lawful battle. In the New Tes-
tament are examples of soldiers who loved God. St.
Matt. viii. 10 ; Acts x. 1-4. Killing a person by acci-
dent is not murder. Numb. xxxv. 11-28.

Murder begins in the heart, St. Matt. xv. 19 ; and to
hate our brother is in some sense to murder him, 1
John iii. 15. Our duty is to forbear, and forgive one
another, Col. iii. 13 ; Eph. iv. 32 ; and not to render
evil for evil, 1 Pet. iii. 8, 9.

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT.

The Seventh Commandment has been explained by
our Saviour, St. Matt. v. 27, 28. It especially forbids
all offences against the sanctity of marriage. Our chas-
tity should be as dear to us as our lives, and we should
fear that which defiles the body as that which destroys
it.

This commandment forbids all acts of uncleanness ;
ail lusts which are against the soul ; all practices which
cherish and excite those lusts. The great object of this
law is purity, in thought, word, and deed. St. Matt. v. 8 ;

42 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

1 Cor. iii. 16, 17; vi. 19, 20; 1 John iii. 1-3. We
should bring the body into subjection by abstinence.
watchfulness, and prayer. St. Matt. xxvi. 41 ; Gal. v.
24; Titus ii. 12-14.

THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT.

The Eighth Commandment requires that we be " true
and just in all our dealings,'' as well as " keep our hands
from picking and stealing." It refers, therefore, not only
to positive thieves, but also to some among sellers, Proi\
xi. 1 ; and buyers, Prov. xx. 14, as those who buy what
they cannot pay for ; borrowers who do not pay back
what they have borrowed, Ps. xxxvii. 21 ; givers, who
give less than they ought, and those who obtain charity
by falsehood ; masters who pay scanty wages, James v.
4 ; and servants who waste their masters' goods, St. Matt.
xxv. 14-30. Zaccheus is an example for those who
have broken this commandment. St. Luke xix. 8. The
duty implied in this law is set forth in Eph. iv. 28. It
requires us to learn and labor truly to get our own liv-
ing, and not to be idle, lest we should be led to break
this commandment.

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT.

The Ninth Commandment forbids the sins of the
tongue with reference to man ; speaking falsely on any
matter, and in any way designing to deceive our neigh-
bor ; speaking unjustly against him, laying to his charge
♦hings that are not true, and in any way endeavoring to
•aise our own reputation upon his ruin.

By this commandment we are taught to be kindly dis-
posed to our neighbor, that is, to every human being.
Proo. iii. 28, 29 ; xxiv. 28 ; xxv. 18 ; Rom. xiii. 9, 10 ;
Gal. v. 14; James ii. 1-9. The breaking of this law
was punished by the Jews, as we learn in Deut. xix. Id-

THE CHRISTIAN LAW. 43

19. We find examples of bearing false witness in 1
Kings xxi. 1-10 ; St. Matt. xxvi. 59-61 ; Acts xxv. 7.
Lying is immediately connected with false witnessing,
and both are mentioned as hateful to God. Prov. vi. 16—
19. Evil-speaking and slander are also included in this
commandment. Ps. xv. 1-3; 1 Pet. ii. 1. The Devil
constantly endeavors to lead men to break it, for he is
the father of lies. St. John viii. 44 ; and therefore we
should ever be watchful lest we yield to him. This we
are exhorted to do in Eph. iv. 25 ; Col. iii. 9. The fu-
ture punishment of liars we learn in Rev. xxi. 8 ; xxii.
15.

THE TENTH COMMANDMENT.

The Tenth Commandment requires us to rule our
hearts ; and brings under the curse of the law even those
whose sinful propensities are cherished in thought, though
they stop short of guilty acts. St. Paul perceived that
this law forbids all those irregular appetites and desires,
which are the first risings of all sins committed by us.
Rom. vii. 7. This commandment differs from all the
rest, in that it forbids desires or feelings, while the rest
command or forbid actions.

Covetousness is hateful to God. Ps. x. 3 ; warned
against by Christ, St, Luke xii. 15 ; identified with idol-
atry, Eph. v. 5 ; Col. iii. 5, 6 ; excludes from the Com-
munion of Saints here, 1 Cor. v. 11, and from heaven
hereafter, 1 Cor. vi. 10. The inordinate love of money
especially, leads us to break this commandment ; it is a
great evil. 1 Tim. vi. 9, 10. That we may be safe from
this sin, we should learn "in whatsoever state we are,
therewith to be content." Phil. iv. 11. Discontent is a
great sin, because it implies doubts and distrusts of God's
love, wisdom, and power. Heb. xiii. 5, 6 ; 1 Tim. vi.
6-8.

Questions 29-34. In the first four commandments
we learn to believe in God, which is necessary to salva-

4-4 EXPOSITION OV THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

tion, Rom. x. 13 ; to tear Him, Prov, xvi. G (last clause)
Si. Matt, x. 28 ; AVr. xv. 4 ; to love Him, St. John xiv
15-21 : xv. 9, 10 ; to worship Him, St. Matt. iv. 10 ; to
give Him thanks, Ps. xcii. 1 ; 1 Thes. v. 18; Eph. v. 20
to put our whole trust in Him, Jer. xvii. 5-9 ; Is. xxvi
3 : '2 Cor. i. 9 ; 1 Tim. vi. 17 ; to call upon Him, St
Matt. vi. G; 1 Thess. v. 17; £*. John xvi. 23, 24; to
honor His holy name by doing His will, 1 Sam. ii. 30 ;
James i. 22 ; and to serve Him truly all the days of our
life, 1 Chron. xxviii. 9 ; 2 Pet. ii. 21.

In the last six commandments we learn to love our
neighbor as ourselves, and to do unto all men as we would
they should do unto us. St. Matt. vii. 12 ; xxii. 39; Rom.
xiii. 7, 8 ; Heb. xiii. 17. The aim of the whole of this
second table is to teach us that we should do our duty in
that state of life unto which it shall please God to call
us.

PART FOURTH.

THE CHRISTIAN PRAYER.

Catechist, My good child, know this, that thou art not
able to do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the com-
mandments of God, and to serve him, without his special
grace, which thou must learn at all times to call for by
diligent prayer. Let me hear, therefore, if thou canst
say the Lord's Prayer.

A. Our Father, who 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who
trespass against us ; And lead us not into temptation ;
But deliver us from evil. Amen.

Q. What desirest thou of God in this prayer ?

A. 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 are needful, both
for our souls and bodies ; and that he will be merciful
unto us, and forgive us our sins; 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 wicked-
ness, and from our spiritual enemy, and from everlasting
death. And this I trust he will do of his mercy and
goodness, through, our Lord Jesus Christ and there-
fore I sav, Amen. So be it. — - " '•

46 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

Question. What is the fourth division of the Catechism ?

Answer, The Christian Prayer, that is, the Lord's Prayer.

Q, Why so called !

A. Because it was given by our Lord.

Q. To whom was it first given?

A, To the Disciples, in answer to their request, "Lord, teach
us to pray."

Q How often do we find it in the Bible, and where?

A. Twice — in the Gospel of St. Matthew, 6th chapter; and
St. Luke, 11th chapter.

Q. Into how many parts may we divide it, and what are they?

A. Three — The Invocation, the Six Petitions, and the Dox
ology.

Q. To what does this Prayer in all its parts relate ?

A. To the Ten Commandments.

Q. What part is the Invocation ?

A. " Our Father, who art in heaven."

Q. What is the first word, and what does it prove ?

A. The first word is " Our; " it proves that God is the Father
of all men.

Q. To what do the Petitions relate ?

A. The first three to God's Glory ; the last three to our
necessities.

Q. Name the first.

A. " Hallowed be Thy name."

Q. What do you mean by hallowed ?

A. That His name may be regarded as holy by all men.

Q. Name the second Petition ?

A. " Thy kingdom come."

Q. What is our duty in relation to this ?

A. To do all we can to enlarge God's kingdom on earth.

Q. What is the third Petition ?

A. " Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."

Q. How can we obey God's will ?

A. By obeying His laws, and humbly submitting to His
will.

Q. What do you learn by this Petition ?

A. To compare our service to God with that of the angels in
heaven.

Q. To what does the Lord's Prayer so far relate ?

A. To the glory and praise of God.

Q. What is the fourth Petition ?

A " Give us this day our daily bread."

Q. What is meant here by daily bread ?

A. All things that are needful for our souls and bodies.

Q. What should the use of the words us and our here teach
you?

A. That we pray for these things not for ourselves alone, but
for all men.

THE CHRISTIAN PRAYER. 47

Q. What is the fifth Petition ?

A. " Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespasa
against us."

Q. What do we do in the first part of this Petition ?

A . Pray that God will pardon all our sins.

Q. What in the second ?

A. We promise so to forgive those who wrong us.

Q. What is the sixth Petition 1

A. " Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil."

Q, What is here meant by leading us into temptation ?

A. Permitting us to fall into it.

Q. Does not God also try us ?

A. Yes, in order to strengthen and increase our love and faith
in Him.

Q. What ends the prayer 1

A. The Doxology or ascription of Glory unto God.

Q. What do we mean by Amen here 1

A. That all we have prayed for may be so.

Q. Now, what do you desire of God in all this prayer ?

A. That He will always be with us in our wants, and defend us
in all our troubles.

Q. What does prayer mean ?

A. It is a solemn address to God.

Q. When should we never fail to pray ?

A. Every night and morning.

Q. Should we not at all times pray, and how can we ?

A. We should, by holy desires and constant dependence upon
God.

Q. What should our prayers consist of?

A. In confessing our sins, in asking for pardon, and in
thanksgiving to God.

Q. In whose name should all our prayers be offered ?

A. In the name of Jesus Christ.

Q. Why?

A. Because He has promised to hear all our prayers made
in His most Holy Name.

PRAYER.

Prayer should have its stated times, Dan. vi. 10; Ps.
lv. 17 ; and its appropriate postures, as for praise, stand-
ing, Ps. cxxxv. 1,2; and kneeling, for confession and
petition, St. Luke xxii. 41. (See Rubric before Genera]
Confession in Morning and Evening Prayer and Exhor

48 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

tation in Communion Service.) Prayer should be per-
severing, St. Matt. xv. 22-28 ; St. Luke xi. 5-8 ; believing,
St. Matt. xxi. 22 ; with submission to the will of God,
St. Matt xxvi. 39.

Public prayer includes all acts of public worship. It
was instituted by the Almighty Himself, Exod. xxv. 8;
xxxiii. 7; 2 Chron. vii. 12-16; and sanctified by Christ,
St. Matt. xii. 9 ; xviii. 20 ; St. Luke iv. 1 6.

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

Questions 1-6. The Lord's prayer agrees with the
ten Commandments : " Our Father," with the first ;
"Who art in heaven," with the second ; " Hallowed be
thy name," with the third; "Thy will be done," with
the fourth ; " Give us this day our daily bread," with the
eighth ; " Forgive us our trespasses," etc., with the sixth
and ninth; "Lead us not into temptation," etc., with the
seventh and tenth.

INVOCATION.

Questions 7, 8. " Our Father." As we are men,
God is peculiarly our Father, Gen. i. 27 ; as we are
Christians, he is especially so, Rom. viii. 15-17 ; Gal.
iv. 4—6. This name indicates the kind of love which
God has for us. 1 John iii. 1. " Who art in heaven" —
thete words should remind us of the greatness and glory
of God, and teach us where our true home is, St. John
xiv. 2 ; 2 Cor. v. 1 ; where our inheritance is, 1 Pet. i.
4; and our hope, Col. i. 5.

Questions 10, 11. Hallowed be thy name. This first
petition should restrain us from saying our prayers with-
out reverence. Exodus xx. 7. We pray that the name
of God may be hallowed, that is, honored, reverenced,
sanctified ; we confess that it is not yet hallow-ed as it

THE CHRISTIAN PRAYER. 49

should be, and we also ask for grace to hallow it for the
future, " not only with our lips, but in our lives." We
pray also that God's attributes may be known and adored,
His authority obeyed, and His true religion everywhere
embraced ; for these the " name " of God denotes, Exod.
xxxiv. 5, G. We may cause others to hallow His name,
when by our good works they are led to glorify their
Father in heaven. St. Matt. v. 16.

Questions 12, 13. Thy kingdom come. We pray,
first, that God may be obeyed by all men, and that we
ourselves may be kept under the dominion, of Christ ;
that His kingdom may indeed be within us, St. Lithe
xvii. 21; Rom. xiv. 17; and extend over the whole
earth, Phil. ii. 10. This should lead us to contribute to
the increase of churches and ministers, at home and
abroad; to improve by precept and example all within
reach of our influence, for great will be the reward of
him who turns even one soul to Christ, James v. 20 ; and
also to make diligent use ourselves of all the appointed
means of grace.

We pray, secondly, for our final admission into heaven,
2 Pet. iii. 9-14, (see final prayer in Burial Service) ; and
we cannot sincerely offer this petition unless we en
deavor to prepare for death and the judgment.

Questions 14-17. Thy will he done on earth, as it is
in heaven. In this petition we pray that we may be as
obedient in serving God and as happy in praising Him
as the angels are. The will of God is fully revealed to
us in His word, but His purpose is sometimes hidden
from us when He would try our faith. His revealed will
we may do by obeying his commandments. His hidden
will, by submitting to His providence. Ps. xl. 8 ; cxliii.
10 ; St. Matt. vii. 21 ; Acts xxi. 13, 14. Our Saviour
left us a bright example in this respect. St. John iv. 34 ;
vi. 38 ; St. Matt. xxvi. 39.

The angels do the wdll of God with praise, St. Luke
ii. 13, 14; with joy, St. Luke xv. 10 ; and by minister-
4

50 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

ing to others, Heb. i. 14. We find examples of the last
in the ease of Elijah, who was fed in the desert, 1 Kings
xix. 5, 6 ; Daniel in the den of lions, Dan. vi. 22 ; St.
Peter released from prison, Acts xii. 6-11 ; and o :"
Lord in His temptation, St. Matt. iv. 11 ; and in His
agony, St. Luke xxii. 43. Thus we should do the will
of our Father in heaven, looking unto Jesus. Heb. xii.
1, 2.

In the la>t three petitions we ask God to u send His
grace unto us and to all people, that we may worship
Him, serve Him, and obey Him as we ought to do."

Questions 18-20. Give us this day our daily bread.
In this petition we ask God to send us all things needful
for our souls and bodies. This petition, being for daily
bread, shows our dependence upon God for all things,
Ps. cxlv. 15, 16; and we pray for food for the soul as
well as for the body, St. Matt. v. 6 ; St. Luke iv. 3, 4.
The word " us" used here, may caution us against self-
ishness, Romans xiv. 7; and "our" against covetous-
ness, St. Luke xii. 15 ; and dishonesty, 1 Thess. iv. 11,
12 ; and against being a burden to others, 2 Thess. iii. 8-
12. We should learn from this petition to do to others
as we pray God to do for us ; that is, to be charitable,
to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and minister to the
siek. St. Matt. xxv. 34-36.

Questions 21-23. And forgive us our trespasses as
we forgive those who trespass against us. If we would
use this petition sincerely, we must be careful to forgive
our enemies, or we simply ask God not to forgive us our
sins. St. Mark xi. 25, 26 ; Eph. iv. 32. The unforgiving
close the door of God's mercy against themselves. James
ii. 13. We may have but little to forgive others, but
God will forgive us all our sins, as we learn in the para-
ble, St. Matt, xviii. 23-35.

In this petition we confess not only that our nature is
sinful, but that we daily do wrong ; we acknowledge that
w^ can make no expiation for ourselves ; we do not ap-

THE CHRISTIAN PRAYER. 51

peal to the justice, but cast ourselves on the mercy of
God, and pledge ourselves to forgive all our fellow-men
who injure us. St. Luke vi. 37.

Questions 24, 25. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. We are told in the Bible that
God cannot tempt us, James i. 13 ; and when we utter
this petition we pray simply that God will not put our
obedience to too severe a test ; that He will not allow us
to be tempted above our power, but that He will deliver
us from all danger. 1 Cor. x. 13 ; 2 Pet. ii. 9. If we
would really be kept from sin, we must endeavor our-
selves to resist temptation in every form. Prov. i. 10 ;
St. Matt. xxvi. 41.

When we pray to be delivered from evil, we mean
from Satan, whose works are here renounced, (see Bap-
tismal Service,) 1 Pet. v. 8 ; and from the consequences
of sin, — which may be temporal, such as bodily misfor-
tunes, sufferings, etc., and eternal, for death is the penalty
of unforgiven sin, Pom. vi. 23. We say " deliver us"
because a greater strength than our own is requisite.
Gal. i. 4 ; Phil. iv. 13 ; 2 Thess. iii. 3.

I DOXOLOGY.

Questions 26-34. For thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, forever and ever. A Doxology is
an ascription of glory and praise. Such are found in 1
Chron. xxix. 11 ; 1 Tim. i. 17 ; Jude 25 ; Rev. iv. 11 ;
v. 13. The majesty, power, glory, and eternity of God
are so many encouragements for us to pray ; and the
more so as all these are not only for a time, but forever
and ever, throughout all eternity. Ps. xc. 2.

AMEN.

" Amen " is a Hebrew word signifying tridy. It was
the appointed response of the people in the Jewish

52 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

Church. Deut, xxvii. 15 ; 1 Chron. xvi. 36. Christ is
called the bk An in," in Rev. iii. 14. Amen should be
said by all the people modestly but distinctly, and we
should be particular in saying it at the end of every
prayer, because it declares that we unite in the prayer as
our own, and draws back any wandering thoughts.

The Doxology is sometimes omitted in the Prayer-
Book, because it is not found in the prayer as given by
St. Luke xi. 4.

DUTY OF PRAYER.

We should say our prayers at least every night and
morning, and often lift our hearts to God throughout the
day, for we need at all times all things from God ; and
we should be regular in our attendance upon the services
of the Church, that we may join with others in address-
ing the Almighty, and feel that Christ is in the midst of
us, as He has promised. St. Matt, xviii. 20. We should
be very particular to ask for everything from God in the
name of Jesus, for this we are commanded to do. St.
John xvi. 23, 24, 26, 27.

PART FIFTH.

THE CHRISTIAN SACRAMENTS.

Question. How many Sacraments hath Christ of-
dained in his Church ?

Answer. Two only, as generally necessary to salvation ;
that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord.

Q. What meanest thou by this word Sacrament ?

A. I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward
and spiritual grace, given unto us ; ordained by Christ
himself, as a means whereby we receive the same, and a
pledge to assure us thereof.

Q. How many parts are there in a Sacrament ?

A. Two : the outward visible sign and the inward
spiritual grace.

Q. What is the outward visible sign, or form of Bap-
tism ?

A. Water ; wherein the person is baptized, In the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost.

Q. What is the inward and spiritual grace ?

A. A death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteous-
ness ; for being by nature born in sin, and the children of
wrath, we are hereby made the children of grace.

Q. What is required of persons to be baptized ?

A. Repentance, whereby they forsake sin ; and Faith,
whereby they steadfastly believe the promises of God
made to them in that sacrament.

Q. Why, then, are infants baptized, when, by reason
of their tender age, they cannot perform them ?

A. Because they promise them both by their sureties ;

54 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

which promise, when they come to age, themselves are
bound to perform.

Q. Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
ordained ?

A, For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of
the death of Christ, and of the benefits which we re-
ceive thereby.

Q. What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's
Supper?

A. Bread and wine, which the Lord hath commanded
to be received.

Q. What is the inward part or thing signified?

A. The body and blood of Christ, which are spirit-
ually taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's
Supper.

Q. What are the benefits whereof we are partakers
thereby ?

A. The strengthening and refreshing of our souls by
the body and blood of Christ, as our bodies are by the
bread and wine.

Q. What is required of those who come to the Lord's
Supper ?

A. To examine themselves, whether they repent them
truly of their former sins, steadfastly 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.

Question. What is the last division of the Catechism 1

Answer. The Christian Sacraments.

Q. What do you mean by a Sacrament ?

A. An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual
grace, ordained by Christ Himself.

Q. How many has Christ ordained in His Church ?

A. Two — Baptism, and the Supper of our Lord.

Q. What three things are necessary to constitute a Sacra-
ment ?

A. I. The being ordained by Christ. 2. An outward sign.
3. An inward and spiritual grace.

THE CHRISTIAN SACRAMENTS. 55

Q. How must we view the Sacraments — as they relate to
whom ?

A. To God's part in thorn, and to man's.

Q. What is God's part in them ?

A. Making them the great means whereby we obtain His
blessings.

Q. What is mans part ?

A. An humble performance of the outward rites, with true
Faith in the inward grace.

Q. What is the outward form in Baptism ?

A. Water; wherein a person is baptized in the name of the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Q. What two things are required of persons who wish > be
baptized ?

A. Repentance and Faith.

Q. What does the first iuuply 1

A. To repent truly of any sin is to be sorry for the past, and
to renounce it for the future.

Q. What does the second ?

A. That we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and in all the
promises made to us by God.

Q. How do infants promise these 7

A. By their Sponsors.

Q. When do they assume these vows themselves ?

A. When they are old enough to understand them, and are
confirmed.

Q. Why is the name given you in baptism called your Chris-
tian name ?

A. Because we are then made Christians, or disciples of
Christ.

Q. What is the other Sacrament called ?

A. The Lord's Supper or Holy Communion.

Q. Who instituted this Supper, and when ?

A. It was instituted by our Lord the same night He was be-
trayed.

Q. What two things are we reminded of in this Sacrament %

A. The death of Christ, and the benefits we receive thereby.

Q. What is the outward sign of the Lord's Supper?

A. Bread and wine, which the Lord has commanded to be re-
ceived.

Q. What do they represent ?

A. The bread represents the body of Christ, and the wine
His blood.

Q. What should they teach us ?

A. That the body and blood of Christ refresh our souls, as
bread and wine do our bodies.

Q. What is the first thing required of those who come to the
Lord's Supper ?

A. Repentance of their sins.

56 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

Q. What the second !

A, Faith in the mercy of God through Christ.

Q, What the third !

ii. Gratitude to Christ for dying to save us.

Q. What the fourth?

.1. That we are in charity with all persons.

Q. And how are we to know that we have all these?

A. By examining ourselves closely and sincerely, with prayer.

Q. Are we not bound to come to the Lord's Supper 1

A. Yes ; for it is God's own appointed way of drawing near
to Him.

Q. Did not our Saviour tell us to do so ?

A. Yes ; He said, " This do in remembrance of Me."

Q. What is the great thing we need in this world ?

A. Strength to resist all evil, and to do the will of God.

Q. What will become of us if we follow our own will only ?

A. We shall not be counted worthy to enter the kingdom of
heaven.

Q. How, then, can we do His will ?

A. By seeking for strength from Jesus.

Q. And by what two means did Jesus Himself promise us
this strength ?

A. 1st. By prayer, which He himself taught us ; and 2d. By
being humble and faithful partakers of the Holy Supper, which
He himself instituted.

THE SACRAMENTS.

" The Sacraments are sometimes called ' Mysteries,'
because they are mystical acts, that is, acts which have a
deeper meaning, and this meaning is the grace they con-
vey." The original meaning of the word Sacrament
(Sacramentum) was anything sacred; a pledge, and most
commonly an oath, especially the oath which soldiers
took to be faithful to their country and to obey the orders
of their general ; and this the Sacraments express, for
they bind us to be faithful soldiers of Christ.

THE SACRAMENTS PREFIGURED.

The two Sacraments were prefigured by several types
before they were instituted. The water of baptism, First

THE CHRISTIAN SACRAMENTS. 57

as saving from destruction, was prefigured by the waters
of the Deluge which saved Noah and his family by bear-
ing up the Ark. 1 Pet. iii. 20, 21. Secondly, as ad-
mitting into the Church of Christ, by the water of the
Red Sea, through which the Israelites passed, in order to
enter Canaan. 1 Cor. x. 1, 2. (See first prayer in Bap-
tismal Service.) Thirdly, as cleansing from sin, by the
water of the river Jordan, by bathing in which Naaman
the Syrian was cleansed from his leprosy. 2 Kings v*
9-14. See also Acts xxii. 16. Water was sanctified to
the mystical washing away of sin by the baptism of our
Saviour by St. John. St. Matt. iii. 13-17.

The bread and wine of the Lord's Supper were pre-
figured, First, as setting forth the sacrifice of Christ, by
the lamb and unleaved bread of the Passover, which were
eaten in commemoration of the^deliverance from death in
Egypt. JExod. xii. 27. Secondly, as strengthening and re-
freshing our souls, by the manna which fell from heaven
and the water which issued from the rock to sustain the
Israelites in the wilderness. Exod. xvi. 11-15; Num.
xx. 7-11 ; St. John vi. 49, 50, 58 ; 1 Cor. x. 3, 4.

A representation of the two Sacraments, together, after
their institution, but before their general use, may be
seen in the twofold stream of water and blood which
issued from our Saviour's side as he hung upon the cross.
St. John xix. 34, 35 ; 1 John v. 6.

Questions 1-8. The Catechism reminds us that there
are but two Sacraments, because in the Romish Church
there are five other Sacraments so called. (See 25th
Art. of Religion.)

The Sacraments must be viewed with reference to
God and man. On the part of God are, 1st, the ap-
pointing them ; 2d, making them means of grace by
which He strengthens and confirms our Faith.

On man's part are, 1st, a state of meetness to receive
the grace of God, 1 Cor. xi. 27-29 ; 2d, the due per-
formance of the outward rites ; 3d, faith in the inward
grace, derived from the pledge of the outward rites, St.

58 EXPOSITION OF THE CHUKCII CATECHISM.

Mark xi. '2 1 ; and, 4th, the receiving these rites as badges
and tokens of the Christian profession.

By l< generally necessary to salvation," the Catechism
means that there may be exceptions to the necessity
of the Sacraments. (See third rubric after the Com-
munion of the Sick.) But it is the bounden duty of all
who have opportunity to receive them, that they may ob-
tain the blessing which our Saviour has promised in them.

In Num. xxi. 8, and 2 Kings v. 10, we find instances
in which the receiving of a benefit depended upon the
use of an outward action. In St. John ix. 7, we find an
instance in which Christ appointed an outward action as
a means of working a bodily cure.

THE WATER OF BAPTISM.

Question 9. Water, the outward sign of baptism, is
an instrument of bodily, and an emblem of spiritual
cleansing. It is a visible sign of the blood of Jesus
Christ, which cleanseth from all sin. 1 John i. 7. There
is no command given in the Bible respecting the mode in
which baptism should be administered, whether by dipping
or pouring, or the quantity of water which should be used.
Our Saviour himself surely taught us that to express
the washing away of sin, it is not necessary to wash the
whole body, for thus he answered Peter. St. John xiii.
6-10. The form of words used in baptizing was or-
dained by Christ, St. Matt, xxviii. 19; and every Chris-
tian is thus early pledged to a belief in the Trinity. The
person baptized is also signed with the sign of the Cross,
in token that he has become the disciple of Him who
died upon the Cross.

REPENTANCE AND FAITH.

Questions 10-15. Repentance and faith are re-
quired of those who are baptized. Repentance is made

THE CHRISTIAN SACRAMENTS. 59

a condition by John the Baptist. St. Matt. in. 1, 2, 5, 6 ,
St. Mark i. 4. It implies sorrow for sin past, as in the
case of St. Peter, St. Matt. xxvi. 75 ; and a resolution to
forsake sin for the future. Faith is exercised in belie v
ing in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and in all
the promises of God, St. Matt. xvi. 16; Acts viii. 36,
37; Heb. xi. 6; and is proved by our keeping the vows
made for us at our baptism, and walking thereafter in
newness of life, Rom. vi. 4. Infants promise both re-
pentance and faith by their Sponsors, and when they arc
old enough ought to assume them in Confirmation. We
baptize infants in accordance with the command of our
Lord to bring them unto Him. St. Mark x. 14. This
has always been the custom in the Christian Church.
Although not specially commanded in the Bible, infant
Baptism is nowhere forbidden ; on the contrary, its use
is in many places implicitly sanctioned and required, as
we learn from such passages as, St. Matt, xviii. 10-14;
St. Luke xviii. 15-17. Since infants are "children of
wrath" by birth, before they can commit actual sin, is it
not very reasonable to believe that they may be made by
baptism {k children of grace," before they can themselves
repent or have faith ? Therefore, guided by the Bible
and by reason, our Church brings her infants to baptism.
(See 27th Art. of Religion, latter clause.)

EUCHARIST.

Questions 16-18. The Lord's Supper is called also
the Holy Communion, 1 Cor. x. 16; and the Eucharist,
that is, Thanksgiving or Blessing service, because our
Lord gave thanks when He took the bread and wine,
St. Matt. xxvi. 26, 27. For the circumstances of the
institution, see the prayer of consecration in the Com-
munion Office, and compare with it, St. Luke xxii. 19,
20, and 1 Cor. xi. 23-26.

60 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

SACRIFICE OF CHRIST COMMEMORATED.

In the Lord's Supper we commemorate the sacrifice of
Christ. Sacrifices were instituted immediately after the
fall of man. Gen. iv. 3, 4; Heb. xi. 4. They were all
typical of Christ, and were continued until our Saviour
Himself was offered once for all, for His death was a per-
fect and all-sufficient sacrifice for sin. Heb. ix. 19-28; x.
1-18. Our Saviour instituted this supper the same night
in which He was betrayed, aS?. Mark xiv. 18-25 ; for a
continual remembrance of the sacrifice of his death, and
of the benefits which we receive thereby, 1 Cor. xi. 26 :
namely, reconciliation to God, 1 Pet. iii. 18; the gift of
the Holy Ghost, St. John xiv. 16, 17; and the hope of
eternal life, St. John xvii. 1-3. We should therefore
come frequently to the Lord's Supper, that we may thus
show our love for Him, and be continually strengthened
and refreshed by Him.

THE PASCHAL SUPPER.

Questions 19-21. At the Paschal Supper, that is,
the supper in commemoration of the Passover, two loaves
or cakes of unleavened bread were eaten, and at differ-
ent periods of the supper four cups of wine mingled with
water were drunk. It was one of these cakes that our
Saviour broke, and probably the third of the cups, called
" the cup of blessing," that He gave to drink. Thus He
preserved the intimate connection between the Old and
the New Testament. The one loaf composed of many
particles may signify to us the union of believers in one
body, 1 Cor. x. 17; and the wine may remind us that
Christ is "the vine." Compare St. Matt. xxvi. 29, with
St. John xv. 5. In the Romish Church the cup is denied
to the people, notwithstanding our Lord's words, St.
Matt. xxvi. 27. (See 28th, 29th, and 30th Arts, of
Religion.)

THE CHRISTIAN SACRAMENTS- 61

In the Lord's Supper, faithful communicants spiritu
ally eat the flesh of Christ, and drink His blood, and thus
they are spiritually strengthened and refreshed. St John
vi. 51-58.

PREPARATION FOR THE HOLY COMMUNION.

Questions 22-26. Our Church requires those who
come to the Holy Communion to examine themselves
diligently, before they presume to eat of that bread, and
drink of that cup, (see first exhortation in Communion
Service,) 1 Cor. xi. 28, — 1st, as to Repentance, which
includes sorrow for the past and resolutions to do better
for the future. Lam. iii. 40; Rev. ii. 16; iii. 3; 2d, as
to Faith, especially in God's mercy through Christ,
Heb. x. 21, 22; Rom. viii. 31, 32; whereof this Holy
Sacrament is a pledge. This faith should exercise a
constant influence on our feelings and practice. 3d, as to
gratitude, Got i. 12-14. (See in Communion Service,
" It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty," etc.)
4th, as to charity. St. Matt. v. 23, 24; St. John xiii. 14 ;
Eph. iv. 31, 32; Rom. xiii. 10. As one mode of exer-
cising this grace, alms-giving is instituted as part of the
Communion Service.

Questions 27-32. If we would have the blessing of
God at all times bestowed upon us, we must sincerely
repent of our sins, and be heartily sorry for them ; we
must have a lively and steadfast faith in Christ our Sav-
iour; we must pray for the sanctifying influence of the
Holy Spirit; we must come to God in His own appointed
ways, in constant prayer and in the celebration of the
Lord's Supper, with contrite, humble hearts, relying en-
tirely on the merits of our Saviour to make us worthy
partakers of that Holy Table; and above all things we
must give most humble and hearty thanks to our Heav-
enly Father, for all the benefits which He has bestowed
upon us in this world, and the glorious things which He
Das prepared for us in the world to come, and submitting

62 EXPOSITION OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM.

ourselves wholly to His holy will and pleasure, we must
study to serve Him in true holiness and righteousness all
the days of our lite.

0 God who hast prepared for those who love Thee such
good things as pass man's understanding, pour into our hearts
such lore towards Thee, that we, loving Thee above all things^
may obtain Thy promises, which exceed all that we can de
sire, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THB CNU.

COMMENDATION OF THE FIRST EDITION.
New York, October, 1862.

I have not been able to examine the whole of the Exposition
of the Church Catechism by Mr. Henry J. Cammann, but the
parts which I have read are so well and carefully done that I
have full confidence in the whole. It seems to me admirable
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tion already provided for us.

HORATIO POTTER,
Bishop of the Diocese of New York,

Middle town, November, 1862.

I have had the pleasure of examining, with considerable
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It would give me pleasure to see it in print. Its use would
almost certainly follow.

JOHN WILLIAMS,
Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut.

Chicago, March 4, 1864.

I hate read carefully, and with interest, the "Exposition of
the Church Catechism," by Mr. Henry J. Cammann, and am
pleased to find that a second edition is required, and hope thai
it may be the precursor of many successive ones. It appears
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HENRY J. WHITE HOUSE,

Bishop of Illinois.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS q|

0 029 819 541 0

It

easure to sav that I have used

Mr. Cammann's "Exposition of the Church Catechism/'
for an almost unbroken period of thirty-five years, and
found it uniformly practical, suggestive, and help-
ful. It presupposes, naturally and properly, some intelU-
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h generally good result

F. WINDSOR BRATHWAITE,

Rector.
January \ 1899.