APPROBATIO.

CUM Liber inscriptus, An Abridgment of the Christian Doctrine, &c. authore viro docto H. T. mihi probe noto, in tertia Editione, quam non indiligenter perlegi, nihil contineat contra sanam Doctrinam vel bonos Mores; multa vero partím scitu necessaria, partim valde utilia, dilucide & succincte, in Fide Catholica instituen dis proponat, dignum censeo qui ob publicam utilitatem Typis evulgetur.

Datum Duaci, Martii 11, 1649. Gulielmus Hydeus, S. T. D., ac professor, Colligii Anglorum Duacensis Præses & Librorum Censor.

APPROBATION.

WE feel pleasure in recommending to the faithful of our Diocess this edition of "Án Abridgment of the Christian Doctrine, with proofs of Scripture on points controverted," as we have found it essentially conformable to the Dublin edition of 1820, of the correctness of which we entertain no doubt.

Boston, April 24th, 1833.

BENEDICT, Bp. Bn.

AN

ABRIDGMENT

OF THE

CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE, &c.

CHAP. I.

What a Christian is: And of the Blessed Trinity. Quest. CHILD, what religion are you of?

Ans. Sir, by the benefit and grace of God, I am a Christian.

Q. Whom understand you by a Christian?

A. Him that inwardly believes and outwardly professes the law of Christ.

Q. When are we obliged to make an external profession of it?

A. As often as God's honour, our own, or neighbour's good requires it.

Q. How prove you that we are bound outwardly to profess our faith?

A. Out of St. Matt. x. 32, where Christ saith, Every one, therefore, that shall confess me before men, I will confess him before my Father who is in heaven. But he that shall deny me before men, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

Q. Are we bound also to venture the ruin of our estates, the loss of our friends, and to lay down our very lives for the profession and defence of our faith?

A. Doubtless we are: seeing the reward we expect in heaven, infinitely exceeds all the pleasures and punishments of this life. And because Christ the Son of the living God, has suffered far greater things for us, even to a disgraceful death on the cross? and therefore, it were base ingratitude in us, not to be ready to give our lives for him as often as his honour shall require it. Luke, xiv. 26, 33.

Q. In what doth the faith and law of Christ chiefly consist?

A. In two principal mysteries, namely, the unity and trinity of God, and the incarnation and death of our Saviour.

Q. What means the unity and trinity of God?

A. It means, that in God there is but one only divine nature or essence, and that in the same one divine nature there are three persons, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Q. How show you that?

A. Out of 1 John, v. 7. There are three that give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one.

Q. Why are there but three Persons only?

A. Because the Father had no beginning, nor proceeds from any other person; the Son proceeds from the Father, and the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son.

Q. Why are these three Persons but one God?

A. Because they have but one and the same essence or Godhead; one power, one wisdom, one and the same goodness.

Q. What means the incarnation and death of our Saviour?

A. It means that the second person of the blessed Trinity was made man, and died on the cross to save us. Q. In what are these two mysteries signified?

A. In the sign of the cross, as it is made by Catholics; for when we put our right hand to our head, saying, In the name, we signify Unity; and when we make the sign of the cross, saying, Of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we signify Trinity.

Q. How doth the sign of the cross represent the incarnation and death of our Saviour?

A. By putting us in mind that he was made man and died upon the cross for us.

CHAP. II.

Faith Explained.

Q. WHAT is faith?

A. It is a gift of God, or a supernatural quality, in

fused by God into the soul, by which we firmly believe all those things which he hath any way revealed to us. Q. Is faith necessary to salvation?

A. It is; St. Paul assuring that without faith it is impossible to please God. Heb. xi. 6. and St. Mark, xvi. 16, saying, He that believeth not shall be condemned.

Q. Why must we firmly believe matters of faith? A. Because God hath revealed them, who can neither deceive, nor be deceived.

A second reason is, because not only all points of faith, but also the rule, or necessary and infallible means whereby to know them, to wit, the church's oral and universal tradition, are absolutely certain, and cannot lead us into error in faith; else we can never sufficiently be assured what is faith, or what is not.

Q. If a man should deny, or obstinately doubt of some one point of faith, would he thereby lose his whole faith? A. Yes, he would; because true faith must always be entíre, and he that fails in one, is made guilty of all, by discrediting the authority of God revealing it.

Q. Is it not enough to believe all that is written in the Bible?

A. No, it is not: For we must also believe all apostolical tradition.

Q. How prove you that?

A. Out of 2 Thess. ii. 15. Therefore brethren (saith St. Paul) stand and hold ye the traditions which ye have learned, whether by word, or by our Epistle. Q. What other proof have you?

A. The apostle's Creed, which all are bound to believe, although it be not in Scripture.

Q. Is faith only, as excluding good works, sufficient to salvation?

A. No: it is not: St. James, ii. 24, saying, Do you see how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only? And St. Paul, saying, 1 Cor. xiii. 2. If I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and not have charity, I am nothing. And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Q. What faith will suffice to justify?

A. Faith working by charity in Jesus Christ.

Q. What vice is opposite to faith? A. Heresy.
Q. What is Heresy?

A. It is an obstinate error in things that are of faith.
Q. Is it a grievous sin?

A. A very grievous one, because it wholly divides a man from God, and leads to atheism, Christ saying, If he will not hear the church let him be to thee as an heathen and a publican, Matt. xviii. 17.

CHAP. III.

The Creed Expounded.

Q. WHAT is the creed?

A. It is the sum of belief.
Q. Who made it?

A. The twelve apostles.

Q. At what time did they make it?

A. Before they divided themselves into the several countries of the world to preach the Gospel.

Q. For what end did they make it?

A. That so they might be able to teach one and the same doctrine in all places.

Q. What doth the creed contain?

A. All those chief things which we are bound to believe, concerning God and his church.

Q. What is the first article of the creed?

A. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Q. What signifies I believe?

A. It signifies as much as I most firmly and undoubtedly hold.

Q. What means, I believe in God?

A. It means not only that I firmly believe there is a God, but also that I am piously affected to him, as to my chiefest good and last end, with confidence in him; or otherwise that I move unto him by faith, hope, and charity.

Q. What signifies the word Father?