Brief Answer to the Chief Articles of Religion
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A85482.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
BRIEFE ANSWERS TO the chief Articles of RELIGION. The fourth Edition. By W. Gouge, D. D.
1 PET. 2. 2.
LONDON, Printed by G. M. for Edward Brewster, and are to be sold at his shop upon Fleet-bridge at the sign of the Bible, 1642.
O God of mercies, who hast revealed thy Word to give understanding to the simple, Pardon I beseech thee my ignorance, and all other my sins, and give me knowledge of thee, of myself, of thy will, and of my duty, for Christ Jesus sake.
BRIEFE ANSWERS TO the chief Articles of RELIGION.
Question.
W Ho is the maker and governor of all things?
A. God.
Q What is that estate wherein God made all things?
A. Good.
Q. What now is man's natural estate?
A. Miserable.
Q. What maketh man miserable?
A. Sin.
Q. Against whose Law is sin committed?
A. God's.
Q. Which are the words of God's Law?
A. I am the Lord, &c.
Q. Are you able to keep this Law?
A. No.
Q. What do they deserve that sin against this Law?
A. Damnation.
Q Can you free yourself from damnation?
A. No.
Q. Have you any hope to be freed by any other?
A. Yes.
Q. Who is that Savior in whom you have hope?
A. Christ.
Q. What is Christ?
A. God and man.
Q. What hath Christ done for man's Redemption?
A. He died.
Q. Who shall be made partakers of the benefit of his death?
A. Believers.
Q. Rehearse those principal Articles that we ought to believe?
A. I believe in God, &c.
Q. How is true faith manifested?
A. By Repentance.
Q. What means hath God ordained to work faith?
A. His Word.
Q. What other means hath God appointed to strengthen our faith?
A. Sacraments.
Q. What is to be considered in a Sacrament.
A. 1. The outward sign.
2. The inward grace.
Q. How many Sacraments are there?
A. Two.
Q. Which is the first?
A. Baptism.
Q. What is the outward sign in Baptism?
A. Water.
Q. What doth that set forth?
A. Christ's blood.
Q. What doth the sprinkling of it upon the party baptized set out?
A. Cleansing from sins.
Q. Into whose name are we baptized?
A. God's.
Q. What do these three Titles, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, in the form of Baptism set out?
A. Three persons.
Q. What is the inward grace sealed up by Baptism?
A. New birth.
Q. Which is the other Sacrament?
A. The Lord's Supper.
Q. What are the outward signs in the Lord's Supper?
A. Bread and wine.
Q. What doth the Bread set forth?
A. Christ's Body.
Q. What doth the Wine set forth?
A. Christ's Blood.
Q. What doth the breaking of the Bread and pouring out of the wine set out?
A. Christ's suffering.
Q. What doth the Ministers giving of the Bread and wine to the people set out?
A. God's giving of Christ.
Q. What doth the people's taking of the Bread and wine, and eating and drinking the same set out?
A. Faith in Christ.
Q▪ What is the inward grace sealed up by the Lord's Supper?
A. Communion with Christ.
Q. What is the inward means whereby the Word and Sacraments are made effectual?
A. The work of God's Spirit.
Q. What must we do to obtain this and all other needful blessings?
A. Pray.
Q. Rehearse the Lord's Prayer?
A. Our Father. &c.
Q. What is prepared for the faithful after this life?
Eternal life.
Q. What for the wicked?
A. Eternal death.
AS it pleaseth thee, ô Father of light, to give me any knowledge of the mysteries of godliness, so I beseech thee to work in me also sound faith, true repentance, new obedience, and to bestow on me all other blessings needful for this life, and for the life to come, thorough Jesus Christ our Lord.