CATECHISM

IN SIX PARTS,

FOR THE SUNDAYS IN LENT:

BY THE

REV. PIERS C. CLAUGHTON, M.A.

RECTOR OF ELTON.

OXFORD:

JOHN HENRY PARKER.

LONDON RIVINGTONS, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD.

1847.

CATECHISM.

FIRST PART.

Baptism.

1. What name was given you at your baptism?

My christian name.

2. Why do we not call any christians, until baptized?

Because our Saviour declared, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John iij:5

3. Who gave you this your christian name?

"My godfathers and godmothers in my baptism, wherein I was made a member of Christ, a child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of Heaven."

4. Why do you say 66 a member of Christ"?

Because St. Paul calls those, who were "cleansed with the washing of water" "members of Christ's body." (Eph. v. 26-30.)

5. Why do you say "a child of God"?

St. Paul says to the baptized "Be ye followers of God as dear children." (Eph. v. 1.) And again "For ye are all

the children of God, by faith in Jesus Christ. For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ." (Gal. iii. 26, 27.)

6. What do you mean by "an inheritor of the kingdom of Heaven"?

That baptism is a sign of the promise of God to save me and bring me to His kingdom, if I do not forfeit it by wilful sin.

7. How can you show that these great promises are attached to baptism?

St. Peter says, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts ii. 38, 39.)

8. Why did the Apostles observe this rule of baptism? From our Saviour's command, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matt. xxviii. 19.)

9. You say all, do you therefore mean infants?

Yes, because here they are not left out, and our Saviour expressly declared them fit for his kingdom, "Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven." (St. Mark x. 14.)

10. Is anything besides baptism necessary for our salvation?

Yes, it is promised for all "that they should renounce

the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh.-Secondly, that they should believe all the articles of the christian faith. And thirdly, that they should keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of their life."

11. What reason is there for this?

Scripture calls baptism "not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God." (1 Peter iii. 21.)

12. What do you understand by this text?

That the outward sign of water must be followed by inward holiness and a godly life.

13. What do you mean by "renouncing the devil and all his works"?

Forsaking all sin and wickedness, for it is written, "He that committeth sin is of the devil." (1 John iii. 8.)

14. What do you mean by the "pomps and vanities of this wicked world"?

All things which, however innocent in themselves, are to me temptations to sin.

15. What do you mean "by the sinful lusts of the flesh"? All desires which I cannot gratify without sin.

16. Does Scripture require these to be renounced?

Yes. "For all that is in the world the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (1 John ii. 16.)

17. Why was it also promised for you that you should "believe all the articles of the christian faith and keep