An Orthodox Catechism:Being the Sum of Christian Religion,Contained in the Law and Gospel

PublishedFor Preventing the Canker andPoison of Heresy and Error.by HERCULES COLLINS.Search the Scriptures. John 14.29.The Words that I have spoken, the sameshall judge you in the Last day. John 12.48.London,Printed in the Year, 1680.

Table of Contents

The Preface.

Lesson 1

Q. 1 What is your only comfort in life and in death?..............11Q. 2 What must you know to live and die in the joy of this comfort?.....11

Part I: Human Misery

Lesson 2

Q. 3 How do you come to know your misery?........................12Q. 4 What does God's law require of us?..............................12Q. 5 Can you live up to all this perfectly?.............................12

Lesson 3

Q. 6 Did God create people so wicked and perverse?...........13Q. 7 Then where does this corrupt human nature come from?13Q. 8 But are we so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any goodand inclined toward all evil?..................................................13

Lesson 4

Q. 9 But doesn't God do us an injustice by requiring in his law what weare unable to do?...................................................................14Q. 10 Will God permit such disobedience and rebellion to gounpunished?..........................................................................14Q. 11 But isn't God also merciful?..........................................14

Part II: Deliverance

Lesson 5

Q. 12 According to God's righteous judgment we deserve punishmentboth in this world and forever after: how then can we escape thispunishment and return to God's favor?.................................15Q. 13 Can we pay this debt ourselves?..................................15Q. 14 Can another creature--any at all--pay this debt for us?15Q. 15 What kind of mediator and deliverer should we look for then?....15

Lesson 6

Q. 16 Why must he be truly human and truly righteous?.......16Q. 17 Why must he also be true God?...................................16Q. 18 And who is this mediator--true God and at the same time trulyhuman and truly righteous?...................................................16Q. 19 How do you come to know this?...................................16

Lesson 7

Q. 20 Are all saved through Christ just as all were lost through Adam?.17Q. 21 What is true faith?........................................................17Q. 22 What then must a Christian believe?............................17Q. 23 What are these articles?...............................................17

Lesson 8

Q. 24 How are these articles divided?....................................18Q. 25 Since there is but one God,1 why do you speak of three: Father,Son, and Holy Spirit?.............................................................18

God the Father

Lesson 9

Q. 26 What do you believe when you say, "I believe in God, the Fatheralmighty, creator of heaven and earth"?...............................19

Lesson 10

Q. 27 What do you understand by the providence of God?....20Q. 28 How does the knowledge of God's creation and providence helpus?.........................................................................................20

God the Son

Lesson 11