A SHORT AND BRIEF SUM Of saving Knowledge; Consisting of the Creed, ten Commandments, Lords Prayer, and the Sacraments. And is made as a profitable Introduction to the larger Art of Divinity, composed by the methodical Tables of A. R. and published by I. Y.  1 PETER 2.2. 
As new borne babes desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.  
Not as babes ever sucking, never batling.  
LONDON, Printed by I. D. for Fulke Clifton, and are to be sold under St Margret's Church on Fish-street hill. 1621.   

¶ To the Religious Student of the Art of Well-living.  
THou mayest (Christian Reader) after thou hast studied, and well perused this short Sum of Religion, purchase to thyself (if thy purse and pains will suffer thee) the learned Theology and Divinity of that worthy man of God Mr Alexander Richardsonne. This may be for preparation, that will be for further perfection. Heb. 6.1. Leaving the beginning of Christ, let us go on to perfection. It is a shame ever to be under the spoon, and never to use the knife. Ever learning, and never to come to the knowledge of the Truth. 2. Tim. 3.7. Yet soft and sure is the best pace. Leap-Christians (like horse-coursers jades) gallop into profession, and then shamefully tire and give in. It lames a weak Child to use limbs too soon, and overmuch forwardness argues no perpetuity. Learn we than first to go easily, and afterwards to run with speed the ways of God's Commandments.   

The Catechism defined, and distributed.  

CHAPTER I. Of Faith in God.  
Question.  
WHat inducements to Religion are prefixed before your Catechism?  
Answer.  
Four, first, the giving up of my name to God in Baptism, and that in the dreadful name of Father, Son, and holy Ghost. Secondly, that being not able to give it up myself, it was done by others, according to the ancient custom of the Church, ever conjoining Baptism and Confession together, Math. 3.6. Aug. Epist. 24. Papists would have it to contract spiritual kindred, but surely it maketh honest love amongst neighbours. Thirdly, They that gave it up for me, did promise in my name that I should live according to Religion. Fourthly, I believe in conscience that I am bound to perform what they have promised. Thus because I am Gods, and bound to him by sureties, vows, promises, and Conscience itself, It is my duty being now come to years of discretion, to learn to believe in him, and obey him.  
Q. What then is Religion?  
A. It is the acknowledgement of the truth which is after godliness, Tit. 1.1.  
Q. What are the parts?  
A. Faith and Works; the sum of the one is contained in the Creed: of the other in the ten Commandments, Lords prayer, and the Sacraments.; Tit. 3.8.  
Q. What is Faith?  
A. A confidence in God, grounded upon knowledge, joh. 16.30. We know and by this believe.  
Q. How is Faith grounded upon knowledge?  
A. In regard of God and his Church: the maker of the Covenant, and the people with whom it is made. jer. 31.33.  
Q. How in respect of God?  
A. As we believe in one God, and three persons for our happiness, joh. 14.1.  
Q. How in one God?  
A. In respect of nature, essence, and being. Deut. 4.35.  
Q. How in three persons?  
A. Three in regard of divine revelation, or real respects in that one most pure essence Mat. 28.19.  
Q. What is the essence?  
A. That whereby God is of himself, the most absolute and first being, Isa. 41.4.  
Q. What is a person?  
A. That one pure pure God with the relation of a Father, Son, and holy Ghost, 1. joh. 5.7.  
Q. Doth the relation add any thing to the essence?  
A. Nothing but respect or relation, as Abraham the Father of the faithful hath the same nature as he is a Father and as he is a man.  
Q. What is the Relation?  
A. It is either to send or be sent, and both these are done either by nature, or counsel. joh. 15.26. the spirit proceedeth from the father and son by nature, and is sent to us by counsel.  
Q. Is there no other relation?  
A. Yes, either to beget or be begotten, and the father begets his only son by nature, and the rest of his children by counsel. Heb. 1.3. jam. 1.18. A man having the relation of a father is said to beget children by nature or counsel, as adopted children are freely begotten, not of the body but the will. jam. 1.18. Of his own will begat he us, not so his only son, who is as natural to his Father, as burning to the fire, and as Isaac to Abraham.  
Q. What then is the first person?  
A. God the father, who by nature begets his son, & by his counsel creates the world. Heb. 1.2.5.  
Q. What is the property of the Father?  
A. To beget, and not to be begotten. joh. 3.16.  
Q. What is his manner of subsisting?  
A. To be the first person; for the begetter is before the begotten, and yet being Relatives they are together in nature, for no man is a father before he have a son, though in order the father be first.;  
Q. What is the father's work?  
A. Creation; for, I believe in him as maker of heaven and earth: and the reason is because he is the first person, to whom the first work belongs.;  
Q. What is Creation?  
A. A work of the Father, who of himself by his son and spirit, makes the world of nothing exceeding Good. Gen. 1.31. Heb. 1.3.  
Q. What is given to the Father in respect of Creation?  
A. Almighty power; for the Father in himself is pure act, which act is power as it may be felt of his creatures, which are in power to be.;  
Q. What is omnipotency?  
A. It is that whereby the Father is able to do all that he doth, and more than he doth, if it contradict not his own nature or the nature of things.  
Q. How is Creation divided?  
A. Into heaven and earth. Gen. 1.1.  
Q. What mean you by heaven?  
A. The third heaven, with the Angels, both which were made perfect in the very first beginning of time. Gen. 1.1.  
Q. What mean you by earth?  
A. All that matter which was closed and compassed about with the third heaven, and was made at the same instant with it to prohibit and keep out vacuity, or emptiness, and fill up the whole compass of it, otherwise the parts of themselves would have fallen together to have kept out that enemy of nature. Gen. 1.1.  
Q. Are we to understand no more by earth then that first matter?  
A. Yes, we are to understand the forming of it into the four elements, fire, air, water, and earth; as likewise the filling of if and them with inhabitants, beth above and below: as also the providence of the Father in preserving & governing of them all to their ends and usee: for the Father carries the work according to his proper manner of working, until we come to Redemption, and there the son takes it upon him in a peculiar manner.;  
Q. What is the second person?  
A. The son, who is begotten of the Father by nature, and by counsel, redeems mankind.  
Q. What is the relative property of the son?  
A. To be begotten. Heb. 1.5.  
Q. What is his manner of subsisting?  
A. To be the second person in order, not in nature, for the begotten in relation is naturally as soon as the begetter.  
Q. What is his work?  
A. Redemption. Ephes 1.7.  
Q. What is Redemption?  
A. It is a satisfaction made to the justice of God the Father for Man by a Redeemer.  
Q. Who is the Redeemer?  
A. jesus Christ, his only son our Lord.  
Q. Why call you him jesus?  
A. Because he is a Saviour of his people from their sianes. Math. 1.21.  
Q. Why Christ?  
A. In regard of his offices, as he is anointed our King, Priest, and Prophet. Psal. 45.7. Luke 4.18. Act. 4.27. and 10.38.  
Q. Why his only Son?  
A. Because the Father can have no more sons by nature but one  
Q. Why our Lord?  
A. By the right of Redemption. Rom. 14, 9  
Q. How is our Redemption wrought?  
A. By the humiliation and exaltation of the Son of God. Luke 24.26.  
Q. What be the several degrees of his humiliation?  
A. Seven, there be some others left out of the creed; but these expressed are the principal.  
Q. What are they?  
A. 1. His conception, 2. his nativity, 3. his passion under Pilate, 4. his crucifying, 5. his dying, 6. his burial, 7. his descent into hell.  
Q. What are meant by all these?  
A. That Christ must not only satisfy in general, but that he must pass through the degrees of our sorrows, and bear our afflictions. Isa. 53.4.5.  
Q. What be the several degrees of his exaltation?  
A. Four, which are his Resurrection, Ascension, Sitting at God's right hand, and return to judgement. As in his humiliation he took our receipts, and tasted the bitter potion for us, so all physic being ended of that kind, he gives us his receipts of Redemption, Ephe. 1.7. justification. Rom. 3.24. Reconciliation. Colos. 1.20. Sanctification. 1. Pet. 1.2. Entrance into glory. Heb. 10.19. these are Cordials for us, and for him after all his penal receipts.  
Q. What is the third person?  
A. The holy Spirit. who by nature proceedeth from the Father, and the Son, and by counsel applieth Christ to the Church and every member thereof, the Father being the first person elects, the Son redeems, and the Spirit sanctifies. joh. 14.26. and 15.26. Rom. 8.16. 1. Cor. 2.12. john 3.5. 2. Cor. 1.21. Rom. 8.23.  
Q. What is his Relative property?  
A. To Proceed. Understanding begets an Image of itself, and love's it, and so from the best understanding to the best object of it, proceeds a mutual love. The begetter love's the begotten, and the begotten love's the begetter, and their love is equal to themselves, and proceeds from them both, and to us. The will of the Father, by the wisdom of his Son, and power of his good Spirit is said to do all.  
Q. What is his manner of subsisting?  
A. To be the third person in order, for proceeding from two, he must needs be the third, and yet in nature as soon as either of them; for the lovers and the loved, are Relatives, and therefore together in nature.  
Q. What is his work?  
A. Application, or Sanctification., Ephe. 5.26.27. The Son having prepared the remedy, leaves it to be applied by the Spirit, john 16.7.   

CHAP. II. Of the faith of the Church.  
Hitherto of Faith in God.  
Q. What is the faith of the Church?  
A. Whereby believing in God, we also believe, that we are of the Church, and made partakers of all good things promised unto it.  
Q. What is the Church?  
A. The number of all those that are applied to Christ by the spirit: New as this Union is made by Faith, it is called the militant Church, as by vision, the triumphant.  
Q. Why is it called holy?  
A. Because it is an holy Society of Saints in regard of the Spirits work. 1. Pet. 2.9. Reu. 11.2. and 21.29.  
Q. Why Catholic?  
A. Because it is universal in respect of all times, persons, and places, a family both in heaven and earth. Math. 26.13. Ephes. 3.15. 1. john 2.1. Reve. 7.9.  
Q. What are the benefits God bestoweth upon it?  
A. Two in this life, as the communion of Saints, and remission of sins: and two in the life to come, as the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting, Lam. 3.23. Psal. 68.19. Col. 1.5. and 3.3.4. 1. john 3.2.  
Q. What is the communion of Saints?  
A. It is our communicating with God, and the godly both in grace and glory, or that fellowship that we have with Christ our head, and all his members. Psal. 16.5. and 73.26. Isay 55.1. Act. 4.32. Gal. 6.10. Ephes. 4.3.4.5.6. Heb. 10.24. Phil. 2.1.2. 1. Cor. 10.16. Reve. 3.18. and 6.20.  
Q. What is remission of Sin?  
A. It is a work of mercy, whereby the Father being offended, and reconciled by his Son, doth witness to our consciences by his holy Spirit, that all our sins are discharged, and that we are graciously received again into his favour. job 33.27.28. 1. King 8.47. Hos. 14.2. Isa. 33.24. and 62.11. God in forgiving our sins doth both cover and cure them. 1. john 1.9.  
Q. What is the resurrection of the body?  
A. It is a standing up from the dead, by the power of Christ's resurrection, whereby our corruptible bodies are made incorruptible, and filled with all glory and erceliency job 19.25.26. john 5.28. Act. 3.19. 1. Cor. 15.42.43. 2. Cor. 5.1. Heb. 11.35.  
Q. What mean you by life Everlasting?  
A. That most blessed and happy estate in which all the Elect of God shall reign with Christ their head in the thirde heaven, after this life, and after the day of judgement, and that both in body and soul for ever and ever. Psal 16.11. Isa. 64.4. john 17.20.21. 1. Cor. 2.9. and 13.12 and 15.28. 2 Cor. 12.4. Phil. 3.21. Reve. 21.22. and 22.2.   

CHAP. III. Of good works.  
Q. Hitherto of faith, what are the works of Faith?  
A. That ready act of Faith to do as we are bidden. Rom. 6.16.1. Sam. 12.25. jam. 2.14 17. john 14.15.1. Thess. 1.3. Tit. 3.1.8.  
Q. How are these works divided?  
A. They are either our walking with God, or conferring with him, or receiving from him. 2. Cor. 7.1. Phil. 1.6. 2. Thess. 1.11. heb. 6.17.18. Faith bids the cleansed, go away and sin no more, but walk after the Spirit, it provokes to prayer, and gives us full confirmation of God's love.  
Q. What is our walking with God?  
A. It is our due observation of his laws in all our ways. Psal. 119.6.  
Q. What is the law of God?  
A. The rule that God hath prescribed us, for the holy performance of all our actions. Isa. 8.20. Rom. 2.15. and 7.7.  
Q. How is the law distributed?  
A. It is either concerning the worship of God, or love of our neighbour. Mark 12.29.30.31.  
Q. What is the first Commandment, concerning the worship of God?  
A. Thou shalt have no other Gods before my face. Gen. 39.9. job 31.23.24. Psal. I 12.1. Pro. 3.5. Isay 8.13. and 51.12. Haback. 1.16. Luke 12.45. Phil. 3.19. Colos. 3.5.  
Q. What is the sum of this precept?  
A. The having of the true God, and him alone, and 〈◊〉 with the whole man, in the best of all 〈…〉.  
Q. What is the second Commandment?  
A. 〈…〉 not make to thyself any graved Image, etc. Exod. 20.4.5.6. Psal, 44.21. and 10● 35.39. Deut. 4.12. Isay 42.2. Hos. 14.8. Hab. 2.18. Math, 15.9.1. john. 5.21.  
Q. What is the Sum hereof?  
A. That we worship God with his own worship, and not our own devices.  
Q. What is the third Commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, etc. Deut. 38.58. Psal. 5.16.17. Dan. 4.34. Math. 6.9. Rom. 11.33. 1. Tim. 6.1.  
Q. What is the sum thereof?  
A. Due reverence to be showed in the worship of God.  
Q. What is the fourth Commandment?  
A. Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day, etc. Neh. 13.15. to 22. Exod. 20.8.9.10.11. Isa. 58.13. jer. 17.27. Rev. 1.10.  
Q. What is the sum of this law?  
A. All diligence in public Prayer to God, and in learning the will of God, especially upon his own day.   

CHAPTER FOUR Of Charity.  
Hitherto of holiness in the first Table.  
Q. What is that justice that we own to our neighbour?  
A. That we do to him, as we would he should do to us. Mark. 12.31.  
Q. What is the first Commandment of this Table?  
A. Honour thy father and mother, etc. Exod. 20.12.  
Q. What is the sum thereof?  
A. Due respect to our superiors, inferours, and equals, to honour all according to their place and degree.  
Q. What is the second precept?  
A. Thou shalt not kill. Exod. 20.13.  
Q. What is the sum of it?  
A. Preservation of life, as fare as may stand with the good of the Church, and Common wealth.  
Q. What is the third Commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Exod. 20.14.  
Q. What is the sum of it?  
A. Chastity, both inward and outward, in affection and action.  
Q. What is the fourth Commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not steal. Exod. 20.15.  
Q. What is the sum of it?  
A. justice and equity, a virtue that readily gives every man his own.  
Q. What is the fift Commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not bear false witness, etc. Exod. 20.16.  
Q. What is the sum thereof?  
A. Truth, and our testimony thereunto as often as it shall lawfully be required.  
Q. What is the sixth Commandment?  
A. Thou shalt not covet, Exod. 20.17.  
Q. What is the sum thereof?  
A. Contentment, and resistance against all concupiscence.   

CHAPTER V Of Prayer.  
Hitherto of the Law.  
Q. What is Prayer.  
A. It is a moving of God the Father in the name of his Son, by the power of his spirit, with things agreeable to his will. Rom. 8.27. joh. 16.33.  
Q. Where is the sum of this contained?  
A. In the Lord's Prayer.  
Q. How is that divided?  
A. Into a preface, the petitions, and the conclusion.  
Q. What is the Preface?  
A. It is the preparation of the heart in coming to God; for as we are to come with boldness, so must we also come with reverence of his Majesty that filleth the heavens, Psal. 26.6. and 115.3. Eccl. 5.1. Isa. 66.1. Luk. 15.18.  
Q. What are the words?  
A. Our father which art in heaven.  
Q. How are the petitions divided?  
A. They either concern God, or our selves.  
Q. How many concern God?  
A. Three.  
Q. How are they divided?  
A. They either concern his Glory, or the means of it.  
Q. Which is the petition concerning his Glory?  
A. Hallowed be thy name, Where we desire, that God in his nature, attributes, word, and works, may be sanctified by us, Leu. 10.3. Ezek. 38.23. Act. 12.23.  
Q. What are the petitions concerning the means of his Glory?  
A. Two. The coming of his kingdom, and the doing of his will.  
Q. What is meant by thy Kingdom come?  
A. That the kingdom of our Lord jesus Christ, both by the inward working of his Spirit, and also by the outward means, may be enlarged daily, until it be perfected at the coming of Christ to judgement. Psal. 122.6. Isa. 62.7. Rom. 14.17. 2 Thes. 3.1. 2 Tim. 4.8. Rev. 22.20.  
Q. What is meant by the doing of Gods will upon earth, as it is done in heaven.  
A. That all obedience be given to God in the most holy and heavenly manner, Psal. 86 ●1. and 119.36. Mal. 1.6. Act. 24.16. Rom. 8.29. 1 Thes. 4.3. And for wants eract performance daily prayer for parden, with a complaining of our wants. Psal. 143.2. Rom. 7.18.   

CHAPTER VI Of requests for ourselves.  
Hitherto of blessings concerning our sanctification of God's name, coming of his kingdom, and performance of his will.  
Q. What blessings concern ourselves?  
A. Either such as concern this life, or 〈◊〉 better; the body, or the soul.;  
Q. What is the petition for this life?  
A. The giving of us our daily bread, that is, that God would provide for us all things convenient for this life, walking faithfully in our vocations, and in all things submitting to his heavenly will, and good pleasure. Psal. 37.5. Prov. 10.22. and 16.3. and 30.8. Hag. 1.6. 1. Tim. 6.8.  
Q. What are the petitions for a better life?  
A. In regard of the present, forgiveness of sin, and for future deliverance out of all temptations that may any ways draw us to sin.  
Q. What mean you by the first?  
A. That all our sins may be forgiven, and never laid to our charge, either to condenine us here, or to confound us hereafter, and that most freely in jesus Christ, and as we hearty forgive them that have offended us, wherewith goeth an humble confession of them to God, Psal. 40.12. Luke 11.4. 1 joh. 1.9. Confession and deprecation must go together.  
Q. What mean you by the second?  
A. The not leading or leaving of us in temptation, but his most gracious and merciful deliverance of us out of them all; and in this request, we either lament our estate to God, or complain of the wicked who molest us. Deut. 8.2. and 13.3. 2 Chron. 32.31. Psal. 13.2. and 55.2.3.  

Hitherto of Petition.  
Q. What is thanksgiving?  
A. A grateful acknowledgement of all the benefits of God, and ascribing unto him domivion, power, and glory, for ever and ever, Amen. And this is the sweet concluding of all our Prayers. 1 Chron. 29.11. Psal. 29.2.9. 2 Cor. 1.20. Phil. 4.6.    

CHAPTER VII. Of Sacraments.  
Q. Now we come to the celebrating of a Sacrament, what then is it?  
A. It is a Seal of righteousness by faith. Rom. 4.11.  
Q. What are the kinds?  
A. Two, Baptism, and the Lords Supper., Mat. 26.26. and 28.19. Gen. 17.11.12. Rom. 4.11. 1 Cor. 10.1.2 3.4  
Q. What is Baptism?  
A. A Sacrament of our entrance into Christianity, or of our ingrafling into Christ. Act. 8.12.38.  
Q. What is the outward sign?  
A. Water, with the sprinkling of it in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  
Q. What is signified by it?  
A. The washing away of our sins and presenting of us holy to God the Father.  
Q. What is the Lords Supper?  
A. A Sacrament of our continuance in Christianity, or our daily growing up with Christ, 1. Cor. 11.23.   

This memorable Banquet, proportioned in the outward Elements and inward Graces.  
Q. How do the outward Elements teach the outward man?  
A. Either in themselves or their uses.  
Q. How in themselves?  
A. Both for substance and qualitic,  
Q. How for substance?  
A. As the bread is the staff of life and as the wine glads the heart of man.  
Q. How in their qualities?  
A. As they are common and sensible, sensible, to the eyes and ear, feeling, smelling, tasting.  
Q. How in their use?  
A. Either as they are handled by the minister, or by the receivers.  
Q. How by the Minister?  
A. First, in setting them apart. Secondly, in blessing of them. Thirdly, in breaking of the bread, and pouring forth of the wine, Fourthly, in delivering them to the Contmunicants.  
Q. How by the receivers?  
A. First, by taking the bread and drinking the wine. Secondly, by digesting of them: first in the stomach, then in the liver; lastly, in every part, whereby they are made powerful to humane duties.  
Q. How doth all this teach the inward man in respect of grace?  
A. In proportioning them to Christ, both in himself and in his use.  
Q. How in himself.  
A. Both in his nature and quality.  
Q. How in his nature?  
A. As his body is the bread of life where of whosoever tasteth shall never hunger, and his blood is drink indeed, that for ever makes glad the heart and soul.  
Q. How in the quality?  
A. As his body and blood were common with ours in all things sinne only excepted, and that he is made sensible both to the ear bored by the Spirit, the eye anointed with eye-salue, and to the feeling of the sanctified affection, also to the smelling of joy, and tasting of the hungry soul.  
Q. How in the use?  
A. Either as he is appointed of the Father, or received of us.  
Q. How of God?  
A. First, as he is called to this work. Secondly, endued with grace. Thirdly, as his body is crucified for us, and his blood poured out for the washing of our wounds. Fourthly, as he is delivered and given to every believer.  
How received of us?  
A. First, he is taken by the hand of faith, and his body is fed on by meditation, and his blood spiritually drunken to wash our souls then is he digested, first in the understanding, and then in the will and affections, and lastly, distributed to every faculty both of body and soul, by which we are made able to every good word and work, which is the happy life of every Christian.   
FINIS.   

❧ The Conclusion.  
HItherto (Industrious and painful Reader) I have but brought thee to the top of Mount Nebo, and with this prospective glass, have given thee the general view of the land of Canaan. If thou wilt be pleased (with the Spies sent out by Moses) to enter further, and send forth the Scouts of thy Soul, to make larger discoveries, thou shalt find the depths of divinive more fully sounded concerning thy faith in one God three persons: and after thou art entered further into the Continents, and hast coasted the shores plied up the firths, thou shalt discover the inhabitants of heaven & earth, their qualities, tempers, regiment of life, their diet, employment etc. I mean, thou shalt find in some good measure, how richly, God hath furnished the world, in what excellent manner he governeth it, especial his great care for thee and thy happiness. In essence he is simply one, yet hath he made himself many attributes, so that what thou canst not conceive by one act of understanding, thou mayest the better perceive by many: Thou shalt see the persons delighting themselves above all things in thee and thy salvation, and accordingly put forth themselves in all their works of Creation and Providence, thou shalt find again thy duty & debt to God for all his favours: for if God shed abroad (Rom. 5.5) his love in thy heart, then must thou of necessity love him again: No man goes to his bed and warms it with his own heat, but he looks for heat again: So, God resting in the heart, looks for love out of it, 1 Tim. 1.5. In a word, I shall be glad, if by this, and the other, I shall make the Art so easy for thee, that thou mayest reap thy profit by it. And thus (as by a letter of advertisement from the coast of Canaan) I cease thy further trouble, never ceasing to pray for thee.  
Thine in Christ jesus, as his own, JOHN YATES.