Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

IX. What does the Creed of St. Athanasius teach you to believe respecting God the Son?

1. That He is perfect God and perfect Man-the

doctrine of the Incarnation. John i. 14. Emma-
nuel. Matt. i. 23. Col. ii. 9. Nicene Creed :-
"Very God-and was incarnate," &c.

2. That He is equal to the Father as touching his
Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching
his Manhood.

X. On what accounts more especially do you believe in God the Son?

1. Because He is JESUS, my Saviour and Redeemer ; was born, and suffered, and rose again, for our salvation. Matt. i. 21. John iii. 14 (the serpent in the wilderness). Col. i. 12-14. Gal. iii. 13.

Rev. v. 9. 2. Because He is CHRIST, our Priest;-Mediator and Intercessor, sitting on the right hand of God. Heb. vii. 25. Rom. viii. 34. 1 Tim. ii. 5. 1 John ii. 1. Mark xvi. 19.

3. Because He is CHRIST, our Prophet;-the WORD of the Father. Matt. v. 17. John i. 1. 17, 18.

[blocks in formation]

4. Because He is CHRIST, our King ;-" Whose kingdom shall have no end." Luke i. 33.

5. Because He is THE HEAD of the Church, His body, and we are all members, or limbs, of Him. Col. i. 18. 24.

6. Because the Father has committed all judgment unto Him; and He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead. John v. 22. Acts xvii. 31.

XI. What does the Nicene Creed teach you to believe respecting God the Holy Ghost?

XII. On what accounts more especially do you believe in God the Holy Ghost?

1. Because He is the author of Sanctification ;-
"Lord and Giver of Life." 2 Thess. ii. 13.
1 Pet. i. 2. Rom. xv. 16.

2. Because He is the Comforter. John xiv. 16. 26.
xv. 26.

3. Because my body is His temple, and He dwelleth 1 Cor. iii. 16. vi. 19.

in me.

4. Because He dictated the inspired word :-" Who spake by the prophets." 2 Pet. i. 21. And the blessed promises of aid and grace with which Holy Scripture abounds, are His gifts.

CHAPTER V.

OF BELIEVING-THE CHURCH.

I. WHAT do you chiefly learn in the second, or latter part of the Creed?

II. In what words does the Catechism allude to this? i. e. where does it teach you to believe the Church?

III. Why is the Church called the "elect people of God?" Ekkλnola. Called out," chosen out" (elect), "of the world." See John xv. 19.

IV. What more particularly do you understand when you say you believe the Church?

1. Esse that it exists, really and truly; having cer

tain marks, government, properties, privileges, &c.
2. Esse credendam-that it, and it only, speaks all
truth, according to God's word, and is therefore
to be believed.

V. What do you believe respecting its real and true existence?

1. A Body select (ккλŋoía), religious, or belonging
to the Lord, kupιaкn, Church. See 1 Cor. i. 2.
Corporate and visible. A congregation of believ-
ing men. See Article xix. "Thy household the
Church." Coll. for 22nd S. aft. Trin. (Hence
the place of assembling called by same name,
Church, kupιakỳ, i. e. oikía, God's house.)

2. A Body mystical. Spiritual and invisible. Belong-
ing to Christ, as that of which He is the head,
and we the members. "Christ's Church."

Prayer for Ch. Mil. "And that we are very
members incorporate in the mystical body of Thy
Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful
people." Prayer in Post Communion. "Wherein
I was made a member of Christ." Catech. See
Col. i. 18. 24. Eph. i. 22, 23. v. 23. 30. 1 Cor.
vi. 15. xi. 3.

Illustrations. Human body and its limbs or
members. Eph. i. 15, 16. iv. 13. Col. ii. 19.
1 Cor. xii. 12-27.-A building and its several
parts, or stones. Eph. ii. 20—22. iv. 12. Пérpos.
Matt. xvi. 18.-Vine and its branches. John xv.
1. 5.-Husband and wife. Eph. v. 31, 32.-
Bread and its particles. 1 Cor. x. 17.
3. A Body "holy,"-In design; "called to be
Saints," KλnToì ayol. 1 Cor. i. 2. Tit. ii. 24-
By indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. iii. 16.

[ocr errors]

4. A Body "Catholic," kaloλun; "Church Universal." Litany. As to all time, from Apostles ("Apostolical") to the end of the world;—as to every place;-as to all truth.

5. A Body predestinated. See Rom. viii. 29, 30. Eph. i. 5. 11. 2 Tim. i. 9.

6. A Body now part militant, part triumphant. See Prayer for Church Militant. 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8. Heb. xii. 23.

VI. What do you believe are the marks by which this body, as militant, is, or ought to be, distinguished?

1. Pure and sound doctrine.

2. The Sacraments administered according to Christ's holy institution.

3. Right use of ecclesiastical discipline.

See Homily for Whit Sunday, part ii. p. 413. King Edward VIth's Catechism, Enchir. Theol. vol. i. p. 45. ed. 12mo.

VII. What do you believe ought to be the government of this body as militant?

1. Bishops. 'ETTÍOKOTTOL.

2. Priests. Πρεσβύτεροι. Clergy. Κλῆρος.

3. Deacons. Alákovo.

See preface to Ordination Services; and comp. ch. VI. II. 4.

VIII. What do you believe are the properties and privileges of this body?

1. Communion of Members, i. e. Saints.

2. Forgiveness of sins.

3. Resurrection, bodily, to everlasting life.

IX. What do you understand respecting the communion proper to the members of this body?

1. Communion of members militant one with another.
See Eph. ii. 19. 1 John i. 7. In doctrine;-in
sacraments ;-in public worship;-in charity ;-
in sympathy.

2. Communion of members militant with members
triumphant. See Heb. xii. 22. Phil. iii. 20.
3. Communion of members militant (and triumphant)
with the holy angels. See Heb. i. 14. Matt.
xviii. 10.

4. Communion of members militant (and triumphant)
with the three persons of the Holy Trinity. See
John xiv. 20. 23. xvii. 20, 21. 1 John i. 3. ii.

24. iv. 13. Col. iii. 2. 2 Cor. xiii. 14.

See Collect for All Saints,-"O Almighty God, who hast knit together Thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical Body of Thy Son Christ our Lord," &c.

X. What do you understand respecting the forgiveness of sins, which is a privilege of this Body?

1. That it is granted to all who are duly admitted

into the Body by Baptism. See Acts ii. 38.-
"One baptism for the remission of sins." Nicene
Creed.

2. That it is continued to all who continue in the
Body, as true and lively members, by the means
of grace, and especially by the communion of the
body and blood of Christ, "which was shed for
the remission of sins." See Matt. xxvi. 28. See
also the first prayer in the Post Communion.
3. That it may be restored to all who have become
worthless and corrupt members, and forfeited

B

« AnteriorContinuar »