A. It signifies that Our Lady was a virgin not only before, but also in, and after childbirth.

The Fourth Article.

Q. WHAT is the fourth article?

A. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.

Q. What understand you by suffering under Pontius Pilate?

A. I understand that Christ, after a painful life of thirty-three years, suffered most bitter torments under the wicked president Pontius Pilate.

Q. Where did he begin those sufferings?

A. In the garden of Gethsemani; that as sin began in the garden by the first Adam, so might grace also, by

the second.

Q. What are those torments?

A. His bloody sweat, his whipping at the pillar, his purple garment, his crown of thorns, his Sceptre of a reed, his carrying the cross, and many others.

Q. What understand you by the words, was crucified? A. I understand, he was nailed to a disgraceful cross between two thieves, for our offences, and to save us. Q. Is it lawful to honour the cross?

A. Yes, with a relative honour it is, because it is a special memorial of our Saviour's passion, and is called the sign of the Son of man, St. Matt. xxiv. 30.

Q. What other reason have you?

A. Because the cross was the sacred altar, on which Christ offered his bloody sacrifice.

Q. What scripture have you for it?

A. Gal. vi. 14. 'God forbid, (saith St. Paul,) that I should glory, but in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Q. What other proof have you?

A. Out of Phil. iii. 18. Many walk (saith St. Paul) of whom I have often told you, and now again weeping, I tell you that they are enemies to the cross of Christ, &c. whose end is perdition. And out of Ezek. ix. 4, where we read, That such as were signed with the sign Tau, (which was a picture and figure of the cross,) were saved from the exterminating angel, and only such.

Q. What signifies the word dead?

A. It signifies that Christ suffered a true and real death. Q. Why was it requisite he should die?

A. To free us from the death of sin.

Q. Why died he, crying with a loud voice?

A. To show he had power of his own life; and he freely gave it up for us, being strong and vigorous. Q. Why died he bowing down his head?

A. To signify his obedience to his Father, in the acceptance of his disgraceful death.

Q. What means buried?

A. It means, that his body was laid in a new sepulchre, and buried with honour, as the prophet had foretold, Isa. xi. 10.

The Fifth Article.

Q. WHAT is the fifth article?

A. He descended into hell, the third day he arose again from the dead.

Q. What means, he descended into hell?

A. It means, that as soon as Christ was dead, he descended into Limbo, to free the holy fathers who were there.

Q. How prove you that?

A. Out of Acts ii. 24, 27. Christ being slain, God raised him up loosing the sorrows of hell, as it was foretold by the prophet,' Psalm xv. 10. Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, nor wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption.’

Q. What other proof have you?

A. Ephes. iv. 8, 9. 'He ascending on high, hath led captivity captive; he gave gifts to men; and that he ascended,' what is it but because he descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Q. Did he not descend to purgatory to free such as were there?

A. It is most probable he did according to 1 Pet. iii. 19, 20. Christ being dead, came in spirit; and preached to them also that were in prison, who had been incredulous in the days of Noah, when the ark was building.'

Q. What understand you by, on the third day he rose again from the dead?

A. I understand, when Christ had been dead part of three days, on the third day, which was Sunday, he raised up his blessed body from the dead.

Q. Why did he not raise it again sooner?

A. To testify that he was truly dead, and to fulfil the prophecies.

Q. Did he reassume all the parts of his body?

A. He did, even to the last drop of his vital blood, and the very scattered hairs of his head.

Q. Why did he retain the stigmas and marks of the sacred wounds?

A. To confound the incredulity of men, and to present them often to his Father, as a propitiation of our sins. Q. What benefit have we by the resurrection?

A. It confirms our faith and hope, that we shall rise again from death: For he who raised up Jesus will raise us also with Jesus.' 2 Cor. iv. 14.

The Sixth Article.

Q. WHAT is the sixth article?

A. He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

Q. What means, He ascended into heaven?

A. It means that when Christ had conversed forty days on earth with his disciples, after his resurrection, teaching them heavenly things, then he ascended triumphant into heaven, by his own power.

Q. From what place did he ascend?

A. From the top of Mount Olivet, where the print of his blessed feet are seen to this day.

Q. Why from thence?

A. That where he began to be humbled by his passion, there he might also begin to be exalted.

Q. Before whom did he ascend?

A. Before his mother, apostles and disciples, Acts i. 9, &c.

Q. In what manner did he ascend?

A. Lifting up his hands, and blessing them.
Q. Why is it added, Into Heaven?

A. To draw our hearts to heaven after him; If ye have risen with Christ, seek ye the things which are above.' Col. iii. 1.

Q. What understand you by, Sits at the right hand of God?

A. I do not understand, that God the Father hath any hands, for he is incorporeal, and a spirit: but that Christ is equal to his Father in power and majesty, as he is God; and that as man he is in the highest created glory.

The Seventh Article.

Q. WHAT is the seventh article?

A. From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Q. What understand you by this article?

A. I understand Christ will come at the last day from heaven, to judge all men according to their works.

Q. Does every man receive a particular judgment at his death?

A. He doth, but in the general judgment we shall be judged not only in our souls, as at our death, but also in our bodies.

Q. Why is that necessary?

A. That as Christ was openly rejected, so he may there be openly acknowledged to the great joy and glory of his friends, as also to the confusion of his enemies.

Q. How prove you that in the judgment all men shall receive according to their works?

A. Out of 2 Cor. v. 10. We must all be manifested (saith St. Paul) before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether good or evil.' And out of St. Matt. xvi. 27. The Son of man (saith our Lord) shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels, and then he will render to every one according to his works.'

Q. Is there any merit in our good works? A. There is, according to Apoc. xxii. 12. Behold I come quickly (saith our Lord) and my reward is with me; to render to every man according to his works.'

Q. In what place shall this judgment be made?

A. In the Valley of Jehosaphat, as many suppose, between Jerusalem and Mount Olivet.

Q. How prove you this?

A. By its conformity to that of the prophet. I will gather together all nations, I will send them into the Valley of Jehosaphat, and there will I plead with them upon my people, and my inheritance Israel,' Joel iii.

Q. What signs shall go before it?

A. The sun and moon shall lose their lights, there shall be wars, plagues, famines, and earthquakes, in many places.

Q. In what manner will Christ come unto it?

A. In great power and majesty, attended with legions of angels.

Q. Who are they that shall be judged ?

A. The whole race and progeny of man.

Q. What are the things that shall be judged?

A. Our thoughts, words, and works, even to the secrets of our souls.

Q. Who will accuse us?

A. The Devils, and our own guilty consciences: in which all our thoughts, words and deeds shall presently appear, and be laid open to the whole world.

Q. How shall the just and reprobate be placed?

A. The just shall be on the right; the reprobate on the left hand of the Judge.

Q. What shall be the sentence of the just?

6

A. Come, O ye blessed of my Father, and receive ye the kingdom which is prepared for you, for I was hungry and ye gave me to eat, I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink,' &c St. Matt. xxv. 35, 36.

Q. What shall be the sentence of the reprobate?

A. Go ye cursed into eternal fire, which hath been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and ye gave me not to eat,' &e. the same chap. v. 41, 42. You see of what weight good works will be at that day.

Q. Why is it added, the living and the dead?

A. To signify that Christ shall judge, not only such as are living at the time of his coming, but likewise all