Q. What if a man die for the faith, before he can be baptized? A. He is a true martyr, and baptized in his own blood. Q. Why have we a Godfather and a Godmother in Baptism? A. To answer for us, and that if our parents should neglect it, or be prevented by death, they may instruct us in the faith of Christ, which obligation lies on them. Q. How many Godfathers may we have? A. But one Godfather and one Godmother, since the council of Trent. Q. Why so few ? A. To prevent the too great extent of spiritual affinity, which is contracted between them and their Godchild, and his father and mother, which is an impediment, not only making marriage unlawful, but also invalid betwixt the parties. Q. How can infants be christened, which have no actual faith? A. In the faith of the church, and of their Godfathers and Godmothers. Q. Why do we use so many ceremonies in Baptism? A. To stir up reverence to the sacrament, and signify its inward effects. Q. What meaneth the priest's breathing on the child's face, according to the use of some rituals? A. It signifies, that by Baptism the evil spirit is cast out, and the spirit of God is given to them. Q. Why is the child signed on the breast and forehead with the sign of the cross? A. To signify that he is there made the servant of Christ crucified. Q. Why is salt put into the child's mouth? A. To signify, that by Baptism he receives grace and gifts to preserve his soul from corruption of sin; and to warn Christians, that their actions and words ought to be seasoned with prudence and discretion, signified by salt. Q. Why doth the priest lay spittle on his ears and nostrils? A. Because Chist by so doing healed one that was both deaf and dumb; as also to signify, that by Baptism his ears are opened to the word of faith, and his nostrils to the good odour of all christian virtues. Q. Why doth the priest ask the child, If he renounce the Devil and his pomps? A. To signify, that he who will be the child of God cannot be the child of the Devil. Q. What means the several anointings of the child? A. They signify the interior anointings, or unction of divine grace, given to the soul in Baptism. Q. What mean they in particular? A. He is anointed on the head to signify, that by Baptism he is made partaker of the kingly dignity of Christ; on the shoulders to signify, he must bear his cross courageously; on the breast to signify, that the heart is there strengthened with grace, to fight against the Devil. Q. What signifies the white garment given to the child? A. The purity and innocency which he there receives. Q. What signifies the hallowed light given to the child? A. The light of faith, and fire of charity with which his soul is endued by Baptism. Confirmation Expounded. Q. WHAT is the second Sacrament? A. Confirmation. Q. When did Christ ordain this Sacrament? A. The time is not certain; but divines most probably hold, it was instituted at Christ's last supper, or between his resurrection and ascension. Q. What is the matter of this Sacrament? A. Oil, mingled with balm, blessed by a bishop with the imposition of the bishop's hands. Q. What is the form of it? A. I sign thee with the sign of the cross, I confirm thee with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Q. What scripture have you for this Sacrament? A. First, 2 Cor. i. 22. And he that confirmeth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God, who also hath sealed us (with the spiritual character), and given the pledge of the spirit in our hearts. Secondly, Acts viii. 14, 15, 16. Where when Philip the deacon had converted the city of Samaria to the faith, the apostles who were at Jerusalem, sent two bishops, St. Peter and St. John, to confirm them; who when they were come (saith the text) prayed for them, that they might re the Holy Ghost: for he was not yet come upon any of them, but they were only baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus; then did they impose their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 66 Thirdly, Acts xix. 5, 6. Where we read that St. Paul baptized and confirmed about twelve of St. John's disciples; Hearing these things, they were baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus; and when St. Paul had imposed hands on them, the Holy Ghost came upon them." Q. Why is oil used in this Sacrament? A. To signify that the principal and proper effect of it is the interior unction of the Holy Ghost, which makes us perfect Christians, and able to profess our faith before persecuting tyrants. Q. Why is balm used in it? A. To signify the good odour of a Christian name, according to that, "We are a good odour of Christ to God. Cor. ii. 15. Q. In what appears the force of confirmation? A. In the undaunted confidence and sufferings of the apostles, martyrs, and saints of God, after they had received it. Q. Doth confirmation give a character? A. It doth, according to 2 Cor. i. 22. above cited, where we read, Who also has sealed us, (that is, with a character.) Q. Who is the minister of this Sacrament? A. A bishop only, as appears by Acts viii. above cited, where two bishops were sent into Samaria to give it. Q. Is there any necessity for this Sacrament? A. There is a moral necessity for it, according to the council of Laodicea, Cán. 48. Those that have been baptized must after baptism receive the most holy chrism, and be made partakers of the heavenly kingdom. Q. What authority of fathers and school divines have you for its necessity? A. First, the authority of St. Thomas, who on the Sacrament of Confirmation, 3 P. Q. 72. Art. 8. ad 4, affirms, that it is a dangerous thing to die without it. Secondly, That of St. Jerom, in his epistles against the Luciferians. "Dost thou not know also (saith he) that this is the custom of the churches, that hands should be imposed on such as have been baptized, and so the Holy Ghost be invosated? Post thou require to know where it is written? In the acts of the apostles, and though there were no authority of Scripture for it, yet the consent of the whole world in this behalf, would be equal to a precept; for many other things also which are observed in the churches by tradition, do usurp unto themselves the authority of a written law. You see he owns it to be commanded in the Scripture; and though it were not so, yet to be equal to a precept, and have the authority of a written law, because it is an apostolical tradition, that such as have been baptized, must also be confirmed. Add to this, that without confirmation (according to all the fathers) we are not perfect Christians. Q. What then would you think of those who should slight this Sacrament, and teach others not to receive it, when they might conveniently have it? 4. Truly, I think they would slight the mission of the Holy Ghost, for this sacrament is a continuance of that mission unto us) and would be great enemies of christianity. Q. What sin is it not to receive it, when we may conveniently have it? 4. Mortal sin, if it be done out of contempt or any gross neglect, especially in a place of persecution. Q. How prove you that? A. Because by so doing we expose ourselves to great danger of denying our faith, against which danger, it was peculiarly ordained by Christ our Lord. Q. At what age is confirmation now commonly received ' Q. Why not sooner? A. That so we may be able to prepare ourselves for it, and remember that we have received it; for it cannot be twice given. Q. Why is a little blow given on the cheek to him that is confirmed? A. To signify he is there made the soldier of Christ, and must be ready to suffer stripes and buffett for his sake. Q. Must we have any Godfathers in confirmation? Q. Must it be received fasting? A. That is expedient but not necessary. The Eucharist Expounded. Q. WHAT is the third Sacrament? A. The blessed Eucharist, or the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ. Q. By what was this Sacrament prefigured in the old law? A. By the tree of life, Melchisedech's bread and wine, the Paschal Lamb, and the heavenly manna. Q. Doth the Blessed Eucharist excel all these in dignity? A. It doth, as far as the substantial body excels a shadow. Q. What signifies the name Eucharist? A. It signifies good grace, or thanksgiving, because it contains the author and fountain of grace, and the greatest gift of God to man. Q. When did Christ ordain the blessed Eucharist? A. At his last supper. Q. Why so? A. To leave it to his church, as the last and greatest pledge of his love. Q. What is the blessed Eucharist? A. It is the body and blood of Jesus Christ, true-God, and true man, under the outward forms of bread and wine. Q. In what manner is Christ present under these forms? A. He is present truly, really, and substantially. Q. How prove you that? A. First, out of St. Matt. xxvi. 27, 28. Christ at his last supper took bread and blessed it, brake it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take ye and eat, this is my body. And he blessed the cup, saying, "This is my blood of the New Testament which shall be shed for many to the remission of sins." St. Mark xiv. 22, 24. Secondly, out of St. Luke xxii. 19, 20. This is my body which is given for you, this is the chalice of the New Testa ment in my blood, which shall be shed for you. Thirdly, out of St. John vi. 52, 53, 54. The bread which I give is my flesh, for the life of the world; my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed; unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. Fourthly, out of 1 Cor. xi. 23, where St. Paul tells us, He received from our Lord, (viz. by special revelation) that at his last supper he blessed bread, saying, “Take ye and eat, |