The Orthodox Confession of The Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church
The Orthodox Confession of The Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church
The Orthodox Confession of The Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church
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THE
ORTHODOX CONFESSION
OF THE
EASTERN CHURCH
FROM THE VERSION OF
PETER MOGILA.
FAITHFULLY TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH.
J. J. OVERBECK, D.D.
AND WITH
INTRODUCTORY" NOTICE
BY
J. N. W. B. ROBERTSON.
London :
OETHODOX CONFESSION
" Take heed unto thyself, and unto thy Doctrine ; continue in them : For in so
Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the Ways, and see, and
ask for the old Paths, where is the good Way, and walk therein,
and ye shall find Rest for your Souls. — Jekem. vi. 16.
Nectarius,
By the Mercy of God, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jeru-
salem and of all Palestine,
TO
All orthodox Readers, my beloved Brethren, and Children in
the Lord, Grace, Peace, and Mercy, from God.
thereby, it is not only fitted for the learned, but the un-
learned Multitude also For the wise and prudent Reader
:
Parthenius,
Panagiota.
12 The Orthodox Confession of the
PART I.
Question 1.
Answer.
Answer.
Because without Faith none can please God, as saith St.
Paul {Heb. xi. 6), Without Faith it is impossible to please
him: For he that cometh to God, must believe that he is and
that he is a Rewarder of them who diligently seek him. That
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 13
Answer.
In these three Theological Virtues, Faith, Hope, and
Chaeitt into which three Parts it is our Intent to divide
;
Question 4.
What is Faith?
Answer.
Question 5.
Question 6.
Answer.
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven
and Earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
Question 7.
Answer.
Father is the Origin and Root of the Son and the Holy
Ghost. Secondly, that this Triune God created all things out
of nothing, both visible and invisible ; as testifies the holy
Prophet {Psal. xxxiii. 9), He spoke, and they were made;
he commanded, and they were created.
Question 8.
Answer.
iv. 6,) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and
glorious
a and perfect. cannot any created Beings,
Yet
whether visible or invisible, not even the Angels themselves,
thoroughly comprehend the nature of God, forasmuch as
there can be no Proportion or Comparison between the
Creator and the Creature, It is sufficient for us (as saith
St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catech. vi. p. 40, Morell), " If we
Answek.
It is not necessarily so ; God, in his Nature and
for altho'
Essence, is indeed but One ; yet in Person
is he Three :
from the Father from all Eternity, and co-essential with the
Father aud the Son, as the divine Damascene explaineth in
these Words (Book i. chap. 11), The Son and the Holy
Ghost are from the same Cause, namely, the Father; and
elsewhere (chap, x.) The Son is of the Father as
being be-
gotten. The Holy Ghost is also of the Father, not as being
begotten, but as proceeding. Furthermore, Gregory the
Divine {De Spiritu Sancto, p. 64, Aid. p. 604, Also
p. 431)
on these Words of the Apostle to the Romans (chap.
xi.
Catliolic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 17
36) : of him and through him, and to him are all things,
speaketh thus " The first, {i.e., of him) n>e apply to the
:
Father, the second to the Son, and the third (that is, to him)
to the Holy Ghost ; from whence it is manifest that, in the
Godhead, there is a Trinity. Wherefore, without any Dif-
ference or Distinction, we are baptizing in the Name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost For what ;
the Father is in his Nature, the same is the Son and the
Holy Ghost. Now the Father is, in his Nature, true and
eternal God, the Creator of all things both visible and
invisible. Such therefore is the Son, entirely without any
Difference, and the Holy Ghost and all these are con-
;
Question 10,
xlvi. 5), To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and
compare me, that we may he alike? For the Mind of Man,
or Angel, is unable to conceive, or to express this wondrous
Truth wherefore we should wisely say, with the Apostle
:
Question 11.
Answer.
As God himself is iiicompreliensible so also are his Attri-
;
Question 12.
Answer.
The Personal Attributes of the Godhead are those by
which the Persons in the most holy Trinity are distinguished
from each other. As, what appertaining to the One, cannot
appertain to the other Thus the Person of the Father is not
:
Question 13.
Answee.
Answer.
Because this Word, Almighty, most fully expresses the
peculiar Essence of the divine Nature, since no created Beino"
can be called Almighty ; and that for two Reasons, namely
doth not derive its Nature from itself but
first, for that it
from its Creator; and, secondly, because no created Being
can produce something out of nothing, which Almio-htiness
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 21
Question 15.
Answer.
Question 16.
Answer.
God in himself knoweth the most hidden and secret
Things, and the most concealed Thoughts of both Angels
and Men ; not only at the Time when they are thought,
but even before the Worlds were made, according to the
Scriptures {Eccles. xxiii. 19), The Eyes of the Lord are ten
thousand Times brighter than the Sun, beholding all the Ways
of Men, and considering the most secret Parts. And again
(xlii. 18), The Lord knoweth all that may be known, and he
Question 17.
Answer.
Question 18.
Answer.
Question 19.
Answer.
Answee.
cap. vi., vii.), they are distinguished into nine Choirs, which
are again distributed into three Orders. The first Order is
of those who are nearest to God, as the Thrones, Cherubim,
and Seraphim. In the second the Powers, Dominions, and
Virtues. In the third the Angels, Archangels, Principalities,
and those all disposed in such Order, that all the lower
Eanks are enlightened, and receive the divine Blessings
from the higher. These Angels always continue in the Love
of God, having received this Grace that they should be in-
capable of falling, because they listened not unto Lucifer,
when he tempted them to rebel against God, through whose
Grace only it is that they are thus established, and not
through their own Strength. And thus far we think it
Question 21.
Answer.
They are all created good by God ; for whatsoever God
made, it was good; but, through their own Will, they
became evil, as our Lord testifies of the Chief of the Devils
{John viii. 44), He was a Murderer from the Beginning, and
abode not in the Truth, because there is no Truth in him.
When he speaketh a Lie, he speaketh of his own ; for he is a
Liar, and the Father of it. These are the Authors and
Chiefs of all Impiety, and continual Blasphemers of the
Divine Majesty. These are the Deceivers of Mankind, both
they and their Instruments, according to the Scripture
(1 Pet. V. 8), Be sober, be vigilant, because your Adversary,
the Devil, as a roaring Lion walketh about, seeking whom
he may devour. Nevertheless, be it known that the Devil
cannot exercise any Power, or offer any Violence unto any
Man, or any Thing, unless they are so permitted of God, as
the Scripture witnesseth {Matth. viii. 31), The Devils besought
him, saying, Lf thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the
Herd of Swine ; and he said unto them. Go. And let every
one be assured, that it is least of all in their Power to compel
Man to sin ; they can only tempt, and persuade us, by their
Instigation and Deceit, to do evil and go astray For :
Question 22.
ANSWER.
Question 23.
Answek.
Question 24.
Answer.
As Mankind, during the state of Innocence, was in
all
Adam ; him all Men, falling from what he fell, re-
so in
mained in a State of Sin. Wherefore Mankind is become,
not only subject unto Sin, but also, on Account of Sin,
unto Punishment; wliich, according to the Sentence pro-
nounced of God, was (Gen. ii. 17), In the Day that thou
eatestof the Tree, thou shalt surely die. And to this the
Apostle alludes {Rom. v. 12), Wherefore as by one Man
Sin entered into the World, and Death by Sin, and so Death
passed upon all Men, for So that we
that all have sinned.
are conceived in our Mother's Womb, and
born in this
Sin, according to the holy Psalmist (Psal. li. 7), Behold,
I was shapen in Wickedness, and in Sin hath my Mother con-
ceived me. This is called parental, or original Sin, first,
Question 25.
Answer.
God fully foreknew both the Fall of Adam, and the Malice
of Lucifer, before he created either, and the most minute
Thoughts and Actions that either of them would think or act
nevertheless the divine Goodness would not suffer itself to be
overcome by the Wickedness of Man, or the Devil (see St.
Damascene, ii. 27, and in his Dialogue concerning the Mani-
:
chees, pp. 542, 556), but, that it might be the more manifest,
G-od created the Devil a good Angel, who, of his own free
Will and Choice, became Evil as afterwards Man did by his
:
Question 26.
Since, then, God knew all things before they were, did not
he predestinate them to be good or evil, in such wise that
they could not be otherwise than they are ?
Answer.
What is Free-will?
Answer.
Man's Free-will is an absolute, free, and voluntary Choice
to do Good or Evil, arising from Reason or the reasonable Soul.
For it is necessary that a Being endued with Eeason, should
have a Nature joined with a Power over his own Will, which,
as Reason prompted, he should exercise freely. Now Reason,
whilst Man remained in the state of Innocence (that is, before
his Fall) was perfect and uncorrupt; and by his Fall, became
corrupt ; but his Will (although with regard to the Desire of
Good and Evil, it remained unaltered), yet, in some things,
it became more inclined to the Evil, and in others to the
Good As saith St. Basil (on Isai. xiv.). Every Man may by
:
have begotten you through the Gospel. Also St. John (John
i. 12), As many as received him, to them gave he Power to become
the sons of God. Wherein the holy Doctor teacheth us, that
notwithstanding the Will of Man is miserably depraved by
original Sin yet it is the Choice of every one whether he
;
Question 28.
Answer.
The human Body descends from Adam, but the Soul comes
from God According to the Scripture {Zach. xii. 1 ), The
:
32 The Oi'thodox Confession of the
Lord which stretcheth forth the Heavens, and layeth the Foun-
dations of the Earth, and formeth the Spirit of Man within
him. And agaiu {Eccl. xii. 7), Then shall the Dust return to
the Earth as it was, and the Spirit shall return to God who
gave it. For if the Soul were of human Seed, doubtless it
would die with the Body, and, with that, return to Dust but ;
Answer.
He doth provide entirely for all Things : For from the
smallest to the greatest, he knoweth them all,and every
Individual which he hath made he particularly taketh Care
of. For so sayeth our blessed Saviour {Matth. x. 29), Are
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 33
not two Sparrows sold /or a Farthing ? and ono of them shall
not fall on the Ground without your FatJier. But the very
Hairs of your Head are all numbered. The same Provideuce
David celebrates in the Old Testament {Psal. cxlv. 15), The
eyes of all wait upon thee, Lord, and thou givest them their Meat
in due Season. Thou openest thy Hand, and fllest all Things
living with Plenteov^ness.
Question 30.
Answer.
Question 31.
Answek.
who are endued with Understanding and free Will, are bad
when they depart from God. Not that they were so created,
but for that they became so by acting contrary to their
Reason. Of irrational Beings, that as they are without free
Will, they are in their Nature Good.
Question 32.
Answek.
Question 33.
Answer.
Chiefly two things. First, That the Son of God, Jesus
Christ, is God eternal, of the same proper Nature with his
Father, and equal to him in Glory and Honour as he saith :
Question 34.
Answer.
Jesus signifies Saviour, as it is interpreted by the Arch-
angel, who said unto Joseph (Matth. i. 21), She shall bring
forth a Son, and thou shalt call his Name Jesus, for he shall
from their Sins. Wherefore this Name can-
save his People
not properly be given unto any one, save only unto our
Lord and Saviour, who hath set free all Mankind from the
Bondage of the B&vil. Christ signifies Anointed : for that,
in the old Law, those who were anointed were called
Christs : namely, Priests, Kings, and Prophets, into which
three Offices Christ was anointed not after the common
;
Question 35.
Answer.
That the Son of God is only-begotten is manifest from the
Scripture (John i. We
have seen his Glory, the Glory as
14),
of the only-begotten of the Father. And again (ver. 18), The
only-begotten Son which is in the Bosom of the Father. He is
called only-begotten, because he only is the Son of God by
Question 36.
Answee.
Question 37.
Answee.
Who for us, Men, and for our Salvation, came down from
Heaven, and was incarnate hy the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary,
and was made Man.
Question 38.
Answer.
We are hereby taught four Things : First, That the Son of
God came down from Heaven into the
of a most Womb
pure Virgin, to save Mankind, as he before had promised.
Wherefore he thus speaketh concerning himself (John iii.
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 39
Question 39.
Answkk.
Question 40.
Answer.
Question 41.
Answer.
out with a loud Voice, and said, Blessed art thou among Women,
and blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb. Also the Words which
the Church hath added are of the Holy Ghost.
And the Church, by the Authority with which she is
vested, doth command us, that when we pray, we should
frequently honour and praise the blessed Virgin with this
Salutation.
:
Question 42.
Answer.
Question 43.
Answer.
Question 45.
Answer.
Question 46.
Answer.
That Christ suffered on the Cross, according to his human
Nature, not according to his Divinity. For his divine Nature
suffered not that was not fastened to the Cross, that did
:
not give its Face to be spit upon, nor to the Smiters : that
died not. And that Christ was crucified only in the Flesh
the Apostle manifesteth, saying ( Coloss. i. 21, 22), JVow hath he
Body of his Flesh through Death, to present you
reconciled in the
holy, and unblameable, and unreprovahle before him. Never-
theless his divine Nature, having taken to it the Humanity,
was never again separated from it. Not in the Time of his
Passion and Death upon the Cross not even in Death
;
although his Soul was separated from his Body, yet did not
his Divinity ever depart from his Body or his Soul. So that
in Death itself Christ still continued one and the Same
Person.
Question 47.
What is the fourth Part contained in this Article ?
Answer.
That the Death of Christ was abundantly more excelled,
and of far greater Benefits, than could be the Death of all
other Men For these especial Reasons. First, Because of
:
us, and hath given himself for us, an Offering and a Sacrifice
to God, for a sweet- smelling Savour. Also in another Place
(Ron. V. 8), While we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us.
Thirdly, Because on the Cross he completed the Eeconcilia-
tion which he had undertaken between God and Man ; as
the Apostle just mentioned declareth (Coloss. i. 20 and ii. 14),
Question 48.
Answer.
Concerning the Burial of our Lord Jesus Christ, as he was
really and truly fastened to the Cross, and underwent the
most grievous Torments, so was he verily and indeed dead,
and buried in an honourable Place ; which came to pass for
this End, that from henceforth none should doubt of the
real Resurrection of Christ from the Dead. For had he
been buried in an obscure Bye-Place, and, as we say, in a
Corner, it would have given good Occasion to the Jews to
have opposed our Lord with their Slanders Wherefore, that :
City, told the chief Priests all that had happened. Being, as it
were, constrained to testify what the Angel had spoken to
the Women, saying (ver. 5), I know that ye seek Jesus that ivas
crucified. He is not here, for he is risen, as he said; come and
see the Place where the Lord lay, and go quickly, and tell his
Disciples that he is risen from the Dead.For this Cause, there-
fore, it was that the Sepulchre of our Lord should be in a
Place of Honour, that it might be clear to all that his
Disciples did not steal him away, and bury him in an
unknown obscure Place, as the perverse Jews gave out,
having corrupted the Keepers with large Money. But this
empty Suspicion was fully confuted by the Tomb itself,
wherein our Lord had been buried, and by the sealing of the
Stone, and by the Guard which the Jews had set. Beside
Joseph and Nicodemus were Men of great Honour and Account
in their Nation. Lastly, The precious Linen wherein the dead
Body of our Lord had been wrapped, and the Napkin which
was about his Head, remained folded up in the Sepulchre
after he was arisen all which sufficiently proved that
;
his Body had not been secretly conveyed away by the Dis-
ciples, but was indeed returned to Life. To this it
deserves to be added, that according to the holy Prophecies
it was of Necessity that our Lord's Sepulchre should be
honourable, as it is, and has been for so sayeth the Prophet
:
Isaiah (ch. xi. 10), And his Best shall he glorious. Now,
whosoever visiteth this Sepulchre, in Faith and Love of
Christ, he shall obtain Pardon of many Sins ; coming
through that, in his Mind, unto Christ himself.
Question 49.
Answer.
The Soul of Christ, although separated from his Body,
yet remained joined to his Divinitj^ and together with it
went down to Hell: although no mention is made thereof in
—
46 The Orthodox Confession of the
Question 50.
Answer.
This Article, by making mention of the Cross on which
Christ died and wrought the great Work of our Salvation,
prompts us to comment something concerning it : Of which
the Apostle St. Paul thus speaketh (Galat. God for-
vi. 14),
bid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ : whereby the World is crucified unto me, and I unto the
World. And again The preaching of the Cross
(1 Cor. i. 18),
is to them that perish foolishness
but unto us which are
;
eatest and when thou drinhest ; when thou standest and when
thou sittest ; when thou speaketh and when thou walkest. Begin
not any Business or Employment without first making this
reverend Sign; in thine House or on the Way, in the Day or
in the Night, and in all Places."
Question 51.
Answer.
After this Manner ; first, with thy Thumb and two
Fingers touch thy Forehead, saying, *' In the Name of the
Father ; " then in the same Manner touch thy Breast, saying,
''and of the Son;" then touch thy right Shoulder, saying,
" and of the Holy Ghost : " And, lastly, complete the Sign of the
Cross, by touching thy left Shoulder, saying " Amen." Thou
mayest, also, when thou Grossest thyself, say thus, "Lord
Jesus Christ, Son of God, have Mercy on one a Sinner. Amen!'
Question 52.
Answer.
Who arose the third Day from the Dead, according to the
Scriptures.
48 The Orthodox Confession of the
Question 53.
Answer.
Question 54.
Answee.
The holy Scriptures are twofold of the Old and of the
;
Question 55.
Answer.
Question 56.
Answer.
'
Four Doctrines. First, That Christ ascended into Heaven,
and sat down, with Glory and Honour, at the Right Hand
of God ; with that very same Body in which he had truly
and really suffered the Torments of the Cross, and with
which he had arisen from the Dead. Secondly, That he
ascended into Heaven only as Man, for as God he was
always there, and in all Places. Thirdly, That Christ never
D
;
after put off the human Nature which he had taken upon
him of the blessed Virgin, and that he will hereafter come
again to Judgment therewith as the Angels spake to the
;
holy Supper, the same Son of God, God and Man, is present
on Earth \ By a change of Substance, for the Substance of the
Bread is % changed into the ^Substance of his most holy Body,
and the Suhstance of the Wine into the Substance of his most
precious Blood. Wherefore we ought to glorify and rever-
ence the holy Eucharist as our Saviour Jesus himself.
Question 57.
Answer.
He shall come again with Glory to judge both the Quick and the
Dead, whose Kingdom shall have no End.
Question 58.
Answer.
Three Things. First, That Christ will come again, to judge
the Living and the Dead ; as he sayeth himself {Matth. xxv.
31), When the Son of Man shall come in his Glory, and all the
holy Angels with him. And this coming will be with swiftness
{Matth. xxiv. 27), As the Lightning cometh out of the East, and
shineth even unto the West, so shall also the coming of the Son
of
Man be ; (ver. 36), But of that Bay and hour knoweth no Man
no, not the Angels. But first it must be that these things
* + Kara neTovaiuKTw.
ixvaTTipiuS-ri. t /lerapdWeTat. § els Tr)v Oialav.
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 51
Question 59.
Answer.
That in this last Judgment all Men are to give an Account
of all their Thoughts, Words, and Works, as the Scripture
testifies {ilatth. xii. 36), I say unto you, that every idle Word
that Men shall speak, they shall give an Account thereof in the
Bay of Judgment. And so the Apostle (1 Cor. iv. 5), There-
forejudge nothing before the Time until the Lord come, who both
will bring to Light the hidden Things of Darkness, and will make
manifest the Counsels of the Hearts; and then shall every Man
have his Praise of God.
Question 60.
Answer.
That in that Day every one shall receive a full and
Everlasting Reward, according to his Merit ; some receiving
this Sentence {Matth. xxv. 34), Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Begin-
ning of the World. And to others shall be pronounced this
afflicting Sound from me, ye cursed, into
(ver. 41), Depart
Everlasting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels;
{Mark ix. 44), Where their Worm dieth not, and the Fire is
not quenched.
;
Question 61.
Answer.
solved, enjoying with the Powers of its Mind the Good which it
possesses {for that which before cloiided it with Darkness being
now purged away, or laid aside, or what no Words can express),
is and exults with a most singular and transporting
enraptured,
Joy, and flies rejoicing to its Lord (whilst it escapes from this
Life, as from a loathsome Prison, and spurns under its Feet the
Shackles which fettered before the Wings of its Mind) to taste, as
in Imagination, the Bliss in store for it.
Question 62.
Are not all the Souls of the Saints placed in the same
Degree of Happiness after Death ?
Answer.
Question 63.
Answer.
Question 64.
Answer.
so long aswe continue on Earth we can wipe out our Sins, hut
after we leave this Earth loe are no more able of ourselves to
cancel our Sins by our Confessions. The 'Boors then are
shut.^ " And again, on the Words of Matthew (chap. xxii.
13), Bind him Hand and Foot, by which the active Faculties
of the Soul are meant, he says. In this Life we may labour
and endeavour, but afterwards the active Faculties of the Soul
are bound, nor can we any more do oxoght atonement for our
Offences. And farther, on the 25th Cliapter of the same
Gospel, he says, " There is no more Time for Repentance and
good Works after this Life." From
which it is clear,
all
that after its separation the no more perform
Soul can
Penance, nor do any other work whereby it might be freed
from the Chains of Hades. Therefore, only the Sacrifices,
the Prayers and Alms, which are performed by the Living,
for their sakes, do comfort and greatly benefit the Souls, and
free them from the Bonds of Hades.
"
Question 65.
Answer.
5), Fear him who hath Power to cast into Hell, thus treats
of this Matter, " Observe, my Brethren, Christ saith not, fear him
who, after he hath killed, casteth into Hell, tut who hath Power
to cast into Hell. For he casteth not all who died in their Sins
into Hell, hut it is in the Hand of God to do so, and also to
pardon them. '
This, I say, concerning the pious Offerings and
Intercessions which are made for the Good of those that sleep.
For these things are of no small Benefits, even to those who depart
hence in the most grievous State of Sin. God doth not, then, cast
the Guilty into Hell when he hath killed them; hut he hath
Power to cast them into Hell. Wherefore let us not cease to
endeavour, again and again, hy our Alms and our Intercessions,
to implore his Favour, who, having the Power to cast into Hell,
doth not always exert it ; hut hath, also, Power to indulge with
Pardon:
We are therefore taught by the holy Scripture, and the
Exposition of this Father, that we ought, by all means, to
pray for the Departed, to offer the unbloody Sacrifice for
them, and to dispense our Alms with a liberal Hand ; seeing
they can no more perform these good Works for themselves.
Question 66.
Answer.
ishment that they were then suffering for a Time only. Our
Church doth not admit or approve of such Fables as some
Men have fancied concerning the State of Souls after Death ;
Question 67.
Answer.
Thief on the Cross {Luhe xxiii. 43), Verily I say unto thee,
This Day shalt tlwu he with me in Paradise. It is also called
Abraham's Bosom; as in Luke xvi. 22, And it came to pass
that the Beggar died, and was carried ly the Angels into Abra-
ham's Bosom. Sometimes it is named the Kingdom of Heaven,
as was by our Lord {Matth. xiii. 11), I say unto you, that
it
many shall come from the East and West, and shall sit down
;
Question 68.
Answer.
cend above the Heights of the Clouds; I will be like the Most
High, saith Satan. Yet thou shalt be brought down to Hell,
to the Sides of the Pit. Again, it is called Everlasting Fire
as the Scripture saith (Matth. xxv. 41), Depart from me, ye
cursed, into Everlasting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his
Angels. Likewise it is named Outer Darkness (ver. 30),
Cast ye the unprofitable Servant into Outer Darkness ; there shall
he wailingand gnashing of Teeth. It is called by many other
Names, all of which mean a Place of Condemnation and
the Wrath of God. To this Place go down the Souls of all
those who die at Enmity with God, and under his Wrath ;
and here are they damned. This, then, is to be believed by
the Faithful, That as the Souls of the Righteous, although
received into Heaven, do not receive the full and perfect
Crown of Glory before the last Judgment, so neither do the
Souls of the Damned and suffer the full Measure and
feel
Weight of the Punishments before that Time. But after
that final and decisive Judgment, the Souls of all, rejoined
to their Bodies, will be crowned with Glory or overwhelmed
with Torments.
58 The Orthodox Confession of the
Question 69.
Answer.
/ believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who
proceedeth from the Father, [who with theFather and the Son
together is worshipped and glorified, who spake hy the Prophets.
Question 70.
Answer.
And again (2 Cor. xiii. 14), The Grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy
Ghost, he ivith you all. Now, whereas, in these Texts, the
Holy Ghost is named, and sometimes the
sometimes first
are both of the same Essence and Glory ; and also because
the Son and the Holt Ghost both of them immediately
and equally have their Origin of the Father the Son as ;
Question 71.
Answer.
That the IToly Ghost proceedeth from the Father Only, as
from the Fountain and Original of his Divinity; as our
Saviour himself teacheth us (John xv. 26), JVhen the Com-
forter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father ; the
Spirit of Truth, which Proceedeth from the Father. The
same Doctrine St. Athanasius lays down in his Creed, " The
Holy Ghost is of the Father, not made, nor created, nor begotten,
but proceeding." And elsewhere in his works (Holy Questions,
vol. ii. 43, &c.), " God and Father, he only is the Cause of
the other two, and unbegotten. The Son, begotten, and sprung
'
from the Father only, the Cause of his Origin. The Holy Ghost
himself also springs and proceeds only from the Father, as his
Cause, and by the Son was sent into the World." And Gregory
the Divine sayeth (Homily V. of Divinity and of the Holy Ghost),
" The Holy Ghost, who proceedeth from the Father, is uncreated,
Question 72.
Answer.
What, and how many, are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit ?
Answer.
Question 74.
Answer.
xxix. 14 and xxxiii. 18), I will destroy the Wisdom of the wise,
and will bring to nothing the Understanding of the prudent.
Where is the wise ? Where is the Scribe ? Where is the JDis-
puter of this World ? Hath not God made foolish the Wisdom
of this World ?
Question 75.
Answer.
Answer.
thus the divine Psalmist {Psal. i. 1), Blessed is the Man who
hath not walked in the Counsel of the Ungodly. And again
(Psal. xxxiii. 10), The Lord bringeth the Counsel of the
Heathen to nought, and maketh the Devices of the People to
be of none Effect, and casteth out the Counsels of Princes.
Question 77.
Answee.
Strength. For, maintaining all Constancy and Fortitude
we ought bravely to
in the Faith, resist all Temptations :
Question 78.
Answbk.
Question 79.
Answer.
Question 80,
Answer.
The Fear of God, which ought to be like the Fear of
Children towards their Parents, and not like the Fear of
Servants towards their Masters. Of this proper, right Fear
the holy Psalmist singeth (Psal. xxxiv. 9), fear the lord,
ye that are his Saints, for they that fear him lack nothing.
But of the other sort of Fear the Apostle sayeth thus (1 John
iv. 18), There is no Fear in Love, hut perfect Love casteth oiit Fear
hecause Fear hath Torment ; he thatfeareth is not made perfect in
Love. And the Scripture teacheth us, that we should fear
God for Love (Psal. xxii. 23), praise the Lord, ye that fear
him. Magnify him, all yeof the Seed of Jacob ; and fear him,
all ye Seed of Israel. He that thus feareth the Lord will
keep his Commandments, as it is said (John xiv. 23), If a
Man love me, he will keep my Words.
Question 8L
"What, and how many, are the Fruits of the Holy Ghost ?
Answer.
Saint Paul reckons up nine Fruits of the Holy Ghost, or
Signs of divine Grace {Gal. v. 22), The Fruit of the Spirit
is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith,
Meekness, Temperance. But we are, moreover, to call and
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Ghvrch. 65
Question 82.
Answer.
In one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Question 83.
Answer.
Question 84.
Answer.
The second Thing taught in this Article is, that the Church
doth not take this Denomination of Catholic Church from
anyone Place or See predominant over all others; For those
are particular Churches which are in particular Places ; As
the Church of Ephesus, of Philadelphia, of Zaodicea, Antioch,
Jerusalem, Rome, Alexandria, and others. However, among
these particular Churches she may well be called the Mother
Answjee.
QtJESTION 86.
Answer.
It instructs us, that every Christian ought to submit
himself and be obedient to the Church. This Christ himself
teacheth {Matth. xviii. 17), If he neglect to hear the Church,
let him he unto thee as an Heathen Man and a Publican. And
the Church is so fully empowered, that she hath Authority,
in her general Councils, to examine and warrant the Scrip-
ture, to inquire into the Behaviour and judge of Patriarchs,
Popes, Bishops, and all others, And to inflict severe Canonical
Punishment upon them according to their Offences. For it
is the Pillar and the Grouud of Truth, as the Apostle says
(1 Tim. iii. 15), That thou mayest know hovi thou, oughtest to
behave thyself in the House of God, which is the CJiurch of the
Living God, the Pillar and Ground of Truth.
Question 87.
Answee.
The Chief and Principal Commands or Precepts of the
Church are nine in number. First, That every one Worship
God with an humble and contrite Heart, and carefully ob-
serve all the Sundays and Holy Days, and all other solemn
Times as the Church shall appoint. That is, by dilio-ently
attending on all the Service of Morning Prayer, the Holy
Communion, Evening Prayers, and Serm^ons, of which the Scri]i-
ture thus teacheth us (.Ltikc xviii. 1), Men ought always to
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 69
pray, ami not to faint. And again {Eph. vi. 18), Praying
always with Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit, and
all
watching thereunto with all Perseverance and Supplication for
all Saints. And in another place St. Paid goes on (1 Thess.
V. 17), Pj-ay without ceasing.
QuiiSTioN 88.
Answem.
the holy Apostles, being just upon going forth to preach the
Gospel, solemnised a Fast, as appears from the Acts (xiii. 3),
When they had fasted and prayed, tluy laid their Hands on them
and seni them away. The fourth is the Fast of the all-holy,
the God-hearing, and ever Virgin Mary, beginning the first
Day of August, and ending on the Feast of the Assumption,
which is the fifteenth Day of the same Month. Moreover, he
must Fast on all Wednesdays and Fridays, but not on Satur-
days and Sundays (this being forbidden by the LXVI. Canon
of the holy Apostles), except the great Sahhath, or Saturday,
which is the Faster Fve. The Church also appoints the
fourteenth of September, being the exaltation of the holy
Cross, to be observed as a Fast, because on that Day we
solemnise the Memory of our Lord suffering, by reciting
the Gospel wherein that is related. Also, the twenty-ninth
of August be held a Fast, it being the Decollation of
is to
Question 89.
Answer.
Question 90.
Answer.
Question 91.
Answer.
That plain and unlearned Men do not read the Books of
Heretics, nor listen to their Doctrines, nor entertain any
Conversation with them, lest they be corrupted, by becom-
ing familiar with them : As the Psalmist Prophet warns us
(Psal. i. 1), Blessed is the Man who hath not walked in the Counsel
Question 92.
Answer.
for Kings, and for all that are in Authority, that we may lead
a quiet and peaceable Life, in all Godliness and Honesty; for this
72 The Orthodox Confession of tJie
Question 93.
Answer.
Question 94.
Answer.
the Church, that with the holy Treasure they may provide
Vestments and other Necessaries ; so that those who minister
unto the Church, being clothed and fed, they may have
wherewith to relieve the Poor and the Stranger : According
to the Scripture (Acts xi. 29), TJie Disciples, every Man accord-
ing to his Ability, determined to send Belief unto the Brethren
that dwelt in Judea ; which also they did, and sent it to the
Elders by the Hands
of Barnabas and Saul. Besides, it is
unjust that either secular Men, or, indeed, that even the
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 73
Question 95.
Answek.
Question 96.
Answer.
Answer.
Question 98.
Answer.
Question 99.
Answer.
A Mystery is a certain holy Rite or Ceremony, which, under
a visible Shorn, causes and conveys into the Soul of the Faith-
;
Question 100.
Answer.
celebrating it.
Question 101,
Answer.
First, That they might be the Marks and Signs of the true
Children of God, and of the Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic
Church. For whosoever rightly partakes of the Mysteries,
the same is a real and true Member of the Church of God
Question 102.
Answer.
Question 103.
Answer.
Creed for it, and bind it unto God. And, thirdly, That care
be taken to use none other than pure Water, not mixed with
any other Thing and such as is natural, and not made by
;
Question 104.
Answer.
* Acts ii.
78 The Ortliodox Confession of the
QtJESTION 105.
Akswee.
Question 106.
Answer.
The holy Eucharist, or the Body and Blood of our Lord
Jesus Christ, under the visible Species of Bread and Wine
Wherein, really and properly, and according to the Thing
itself, Jesus Christ is present. This Mystery is in an eminent
Degree above all the other Mysteries, and conduceth unto our
Salvation in a more, especial Manner than they all do for ;
Question 107.
Answer.
Bread and the Substance of the Wine are changed into the
very Substance of the very Body and Blood of Jesus Christ,
by the operation or working of the Holy Ghost, whose Power
and Influence let the Priest invoke in these Words, in order
to the due Performance of this Mystery: Lord, send down
from Heaven thy Holy Spirit iipon us, mid upon these Gifts now
lying before thee ; and make this Bread the precious Body of
thy Christ, and that which is in this Cup the precious Blood
of thy Christ, changing them hy thy Holy Spirit. At these
Words there is wrought a Change in the Elements, and the
Bread becomes the very Body of Christ, and the Wine his very
Blood the Species only remaining, which are perceived by
;
the Sight In the first Place, that we might not behold the
;
Question 108.
Answbe.
Question 109.
Answer.
according to St. Luke {Acts viii. 17), Then laid they their
Hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And again
{Acts xiii. 2), As they ministered unto the Lord (that is, while
they offered the unbloody Sacrifice to God), and fasted, the
Holy Ghost said. Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the Work
whereunto L have called them ; and when they had fasted and
prayed, and laid their Hands on them, they sent them away.
Also St. Paul (1 Tim. Lay Hands suddenly on no Man.
v. 22),
Question 110.
Answer.
Question 111.
Are there not some Orders which are given before the
Order of Priesthood?
Answer.
Question' 112.
Answee.
Question 113.
Answbk.
one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
Again (in Mark i. 5), And there went out unto him all the Land
(p/Judea, and they 0/ Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him
in the River Jordan, confessing their Sins. Now, this Confession
ought to have these Properties, namely, that whenever it be
exercised, iihe humble, devout, true, sincere, accusing itself with
Grief and Mourning. The last Part of Penance is the peni-
tential Canon, and Punishment which the Confessor appointeth
and inflicts ; of which kind are Prayer, Alms, Fastings, PiU
grimages to holy Places, Prostrations, and the like ; as the
Ghostly Father judgeth proper. And let him who departeth
from Confession, having obtained Absolution, apply to him-
self what the Author of the Psalms saith {Psal. xxxiv. 14),
Eschew Evil, and do Good. And also that which our Saviour
saith (John v. 14), Behold thou art made whole : sin no more,
lest a worse Thing come unto thee. And again (in John
viii. 11), Go, and sin no more. But, forasmuch as it is
Question 114.
Answee.
Question 115.
Answer.
Honourable Marriage, which, in the first Place, is made by
Question 116.
Answer.
vii. 2), To avoid Fornication, let every Man have his own
Wife, and let every Woman have her own Husband. Secondly,
That is deservedly to be honoured, whereby the Procreation
of Children is honestly provided for. Thirdly, That in
Sickness, or any other Distress, the Husband might be to
the Wife, and the Wife unto the Husband, a faithful Com-
panion and Helpmate, because of that especial Affection
and strict Bond of Love wherewith they are united. As
testifieth the Scripture {Qen. ii. 24), For this Cause shall a
;;
Man leave his Father and Mother, and shall cleave unto his
own Wife, and they twain shall he one Flesh.
Question 117.
What is the seventh Mijstery of the Church ?
Answer,
The Holy Oil. was instituted by Christ himself,
This
for when he bj^ two and two {Mark
sent out his Disciples
vi. 13), They anointed with Oil many that were sick, and
over him, anointing him with Oil, in the name of the Lord
and the Prayer of Faith shall save the Sick, and the Lord
shall raise him up ; and if he hath committed Sins, they shall
be forgiven him.
Question 118.
Answer.
First, That this Mystery, and all belonging unto it,
Question 119,
What are the Fruits of this Mystery ?
Answer.
We are taught by St. James, in the Place last mentioned,
what are the Fruits and Benefits of this Mystery ; namely,
;
Answee.
I look for the Resurrection of the Dead.
Question 121.
Answer.
(1 Cor. XV. 51), We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed, in the twinkling of an Eye, at the last Trump ; fur
the Trumpet shall sound, and the Dead shall be raised in-
corruptible, and we shall be changed. For this Corruptible
must put on Incorruption, and this Mortal must put on Im-
—
90 The Orthodox Confession of the
Question 122.
Answer.
Question 123.
Answer.
Question 124.
Answer.
And the Life of the World to come.
;
Question 125.
What dotli the Church teach us in this Article of the
Faith ?
Answer.
That iu the World to come, the Grace aud Blessing of
God shall be given unto the Elect and Life eternal, filled
;
testifietli (1 Cor. ii. 9), Eye hath not seen, nor Ear heard,
neither have entered into the Heart of Man, the Things which
God hath prepared for them that love him. And again, to
thesame Effect (Eom. xiv. 17), The Kingdom of God is not
Meat and Drink, hut Righteousness and Peace, and Jog in the
Holy Ghost.
Question 126.
Shall the Soul only, or shall the Body also, together with
the Soul, enjoy eternal Happiness ?
Answee.
As the Soul and Body jointly did good Works for the
Hope of eternal Rewards, even so shall they jointly, and
not separately, receive and enjoy the same triumphant
Happiness and Felicity. For the Joy of the Soul and of
the Body are not distinct and different things, but the
same and, therefore, as the Body shall be glorified, so the
;
Question 1.
What is Hope ?
Answer.
Question 2.
Answer.
Question 3.
Answer.
In this second Part of the Orthodox Confession, it
seemeth best that we should take into Consideration the
Lord's Prayer and the Nine Beatitudes; for whatsoever
we would obtain of God, we must ask both with a true and
lively Faith, and also with Hope that God will assuredly
grant out Petitions According to the Apostle (1 Thess. v. 24),
:
Question 4.
What is Prayer ?
Answer.
.Question 5.
Answek.
dear Son.
The second Kind of Prayer is that whereby we beseech
God for Pardon of our Sins that is, that he would deliver
;
QOESTION 6.
Answer.
when we go to pray we should rightly
It is requisite that
l)repare ourselves namely, with Soberness, Temperance, and
;
ought against thee, leave there thy Gift before the Altar, and
go thy Way ; first be reconciled to thy Brother, and then come
and offer thy Gift. We must also, when we are praying, put
far away from us all other Thoughts but those of Devotion,
that our Prayer may he pure and acceptable to God ; lest
Grod pronounce of us as he did of the Hypocrites {Mark vii.
6), This People honoureth me with their hips, but their Heart
is far from me. And further, lest we be liable to that of the
Psalmist {Psal. cix. 7), Let his Prayer be turned into Sin.
Question 7.
Answer.
Our Father which art in Heaven; Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will ie done on Earth, as it is in
Heaven, &c.
Question 8.
Answer.
Answer.
Question 10.
Answer.
we ask. And the Scripture says {Matth. vi. 8), Tour Father
knoweth whereof ye have Need, hefore ye ask him. And in
another Place {Matth. vii. 11), If ye then, being evil, know how
to give good Gifts to your Children, how much more shall your
Father tohieh is in Heaven give good Things to them that
ask him
FcMrthly, This Introduction, or Invocation, teacheth us, that
as God is the Father of us all, in like Manner we, who are
of the Faithful, should be unto each other as Brothers ; and
not only pray to God for ourselves, but also for our Brethren,
nterceding for each other According to the Scripture {James
i :
Question 11.
Answee.
Seven.
Question 12.
Answek.
Question 13.
Answer.
your Light so shine before Men that they may see yoxir good
Question 14
Answer.
Thy Kingdom come.
Question 15. r
Answer.
Herein we pray to God, that by his Grace and Justice
and Mercy he would reign in us altogether, especially in our
Hearts, |and not suffer Sin to have any Dominion over us
;
Question 16.
Answer.
Thy Will he done on Earth, as it is in Heaven.
Question 17.
Answer.
Question 18.
Answer.
Give us this Bay our daily Bread.
Question 19.
Answer.
First, That divine and most excellent Food of our Souls,
the Word of God, is here meant concerning which the
;
Scripture thus teacheth us {Matth. iv. 4), Man shall not live
byBread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the
Mouth of God. We therefore ask of God that he would keep
us from Want and Famineof his holy Word ; that is, the
Doctrine of Christ, without which Doctrine our inward
Man would surely die, as if it were perished of Hunger.
Therefore we very properly, in this Petition, remember that
Beath of which befalleth those who refuse or neglect
the Said
to hear the Word
of Grod and divine Instruction, and
thereby set the bad Example of au ill Life.
Secondly, Herein is included that other Food of our Souls,
namely, the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ
for so the Lord hath spoken concerning it (John vi. 55),
My Flesh is Meat indeed, and my Blood is Drink indeed:
whosoever eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood, he droelleth
in me, and I in him. Wherefore, that we may worthily
partake of this Food, we do, in this Petition, beseech God
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 103
Answer.
And forgive us our Trespasses, as we forgive those that
Trespass against us.
Question 21.
Answer.
First, We do, in this Petition, ask of God that he would
Question 22.
Answer.
And lead us not into Temptation.
Question 23.
Answer.
First, We pray to God free from all
that we may be
Temptation ; but if not from
from those which
all, at least
exceed our Strength. Of these, some arise from the World,
some from the Devil, and some from our own Flesh, and
entice us to Sin. Again, others are inflicted by Tyrants who
solicit and harass the Church of God by erroneous Doctrines,
by deceitful Flatteries and Falsehood, by pretended Mir-
acles, by the Allurements of promised Riches and Honours ;
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 105
Answer.
But deliver us from Evil.
Question 25.
Answeb.
Eirst, We herein pray to God
from all Kinds
to deliver us
of Evil, especially from Sin, and from
Wickedness that all
provokes the Wrath of God. Secondly, That his Grace
might accompany us, and keep us from falling into his
Displeasure (Psal. vi. 1), That he ivould not rebuke us in his
Indignation, neither chasten us in his Displeasure, for our Sins ;
but] thatwe might {Psal. xcv. 2) come before his Presence with
Thanksgiving, and show ourselves glad in him with Psalms.
Ill this Petition we also pray that we may be delivered
from all sorts of Evil and Mischiefs whatsoever that are
hard and difficult to be borne by the Children of Men : Such
as Famine, Pestilence, War, Fire, and such like. All
which we hereby beseech God to turn away from us, and
106 The Orthodox Confession of the
Question 26.
Answbe.
This Conclusion, For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power,
and the Glory, for ever, Amen.
Question 27.
Answer.
This Conclusion is twofold, in the first Part correspond-
ing to the Fnvocation. For as that makes us hope that we
shall certainly obtain what we ask of Grod as we ought,
since he is our Father of whom we ask it ; so this Conclusion
teaches to expect that our proper Petition will be granted,
because the whole Universe belougeth unto this our Father.
He is the Kiug of the whole World. To him all created
Things are subject. His is the Power, and the Glory is
his which Power and Grlory nothing can resist, whether
;
Question 28.
Answer.
It is certain that Christ himself, concluding his Prayer,
which he taught us, ends with these Words as appears ;
from St. Matthew (chap. vi. 13). And the Sense of them
shows plainly that they are no ways inconsistent with the
Lord's Prayer rather that the Prayer is greatly strengthened
;
Question 29.
Answer.
The Beatitudes which our Lord Christ hath taught us in the
fifth Chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel are nine in number;
;1
Question 30.
Answer.
Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of
Heaven.
Question 31.
Answer.
and the good Things of this World
It relates to Riches
which, if it please God
to bestow them on us, we should use,
not as if they were our own, but as only being the Stewards
and Dispensers of them, and not give ourselves up to great
Anxiousness or to Covetousness As we are admonished by
:
the holy Psalmist (Psal. Ixii. 10), If Riches increase, set not
your Heart upon them. We ought to imitate the ancient
Christian Perfection, and have nothing distinct, but all
Things in common : After the Example of those Christians
who. lived in the Infancy of the Church, of whom the
Scripture testifies {Acts The Multitude of them that
iv. 32),
believed luere of one Heart and of one Sotd ; neither said any
of them that ought of the Things ivhich he possessed was his own,
hut they had all Things common. And after, at the 34th
Verse, Neither ivas there any among them that lacked; for as
many as were Possessors of Lands or Houses sold them, and
brought the Prices of the Things that were sold, and laid them
dovm at the Apostles' Feet; and Distribution was made unto
every Man according as he had Need. And again (Acts ii. 44),
All that believed were together, and had all Things common. 1
the Words of the Apostle (1 Cor. iv. 11), Even unto this
present Hour we loth hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are
buffeted, and have no certain Dwelling-place ; and labour, ivorhing
with our own Sands being reviled, we bless ; being persecuted, we
:
of the World, the Offscouring of all Things, even unto this Day.
For Sufferings like these Christ offers the Kingdom of Heaven
as a Reward, such as do possess Wealth,
Nevertheless,
gotten innocently and with Justice, will be also Partakers
of Salvation and eternal Life, provided they possess their
Riches in Righteousness ; namely, if they use them for the
Relief of the Necessities of the Church, in Almsgiving to
the Poor, the Stranger, the Sick, and whosoever is in Need.
In like Manner as Zacchceus did unto Christ himself when he
spoke unto him thus {Luke xix. 8), Behold, Lord, the Half of
my Goods L give unto the Poor, and if I have taken any Thing
from any Man by false Accusation, I restore him fourfold.
But Spendthrifts, who by Debauchery and Profuseness are
reduced to extreme Poverty, are in no Sort the Object of
this Beatitude, such Poverty being rather the proper Punish-
ment of and unjust Abuse of what they
their Prodigality
had. Nevertheless they are not to be rejected from the
Alms of good Men, and if they reform and practise the
Virtues of Poverty, they will also receive the Reward of this
Beatitude from Grod.
Question 32.
Answer.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
110 The Orthodox Confession of the
Question 33.
Answee.
Question 34.
Answer.
Blessed are the Meeh, for they shall inherit the Earth.
Question 35.
Answek.
Question 36.
Answer.
Question 37.
Answee.
having sustained
It teacheth us that they are blessed Avho,
an Injury, cannot obtain Eedress from Justice, either be-
cause of their Eeligion or their Poverty ; or for want of
Health, or because they are Strangers or for that their
;
less, plead for the Widow. Which Duties if they neglect, then
those who suffer Oppression are said to hunger and thirst
after Justice or Righteousness, and they are the Objects
of this Beatitude. And unto these unjust Judges God will
render severe Punishment According to the Scripture
:
{Psal. X. 19), Lord, thou hast heard the Desire of the Poor ; thou,
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 113
Question 38.
Answer.
Blessed are the Merciful, for they shall receive Mercy.
Question 39.
Answer.
That they are blessed who discharge the duties of Mercy.
Question 40.
Answer.
The Works of Mercy are twofold, some regarding the So'ul,
and others relating to the Body (Theophylact on the 26th
Chapter of Matthew).
Question 41.
Answer.
They are seven. First, To give Food unto the Hungry,
according to the Saying of Christ (Mcttth. xxv. 35), I was an
hungered, and ye gave me Meat. To those, namely, who are in
Necessity, und who could not supply their Needs by their
own Labour. And for the Discharge of this Duty we must
use what we have earned by our Labour, or otherwise gotten
with Honesty As the Scripture teaches us (Prov. iii. 9),
:
Honour Lord with thy Substance, and with the first Fruits
the
nor yet to those only who lie sick in the public Hospital, but
we must them to those who, through Modesty,
also extend
or any other Impediment, cannot ask our Alms. And we
must be cautious, to the utmost, that these our good Deeds
may be as secret as possible, lest we receive our Eeward in
Question 42.
Answer.
The second Act of Mercy is to give Drink to the Thirsty
namely, to those who, through Poverty or Disability of Body,
cannot produce wherewithal to quench their Thirst. And
hereby is meant and intended all Sorts of Drink, insomuch
that whoso giveth only a Cup of cold Water to him that hath
need of Water, the same shall be a Partaker of this Beati-
tude According to what our Saviour himself said in the
:
cannot by their own Labour and Care provide for the Neces-
sities of Hunger and Thirst.
Question 43.
Answer.
The third Work of Alercy is to clothe the Naked. Those
obtain this Beatitude who, with a benevolent Mind toward
their Fellow-Creatures, relieve them in their Distress and
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Chvrch. 115
Question 44.
Answer.
To visit those who are in Prison. lu the Discharge of
which Daty let him not be anxious whether the Person
deserved or not to be cast into Prison, or who he be For :
Question 45.
Answer.
Heart and Voice give Thanks unto God, who thus ex-
presseth his Favour and Kindness towards him, and firmly
repose his Trust on God's Mercy for being restored to
Health. Moreover, we should induce the sick Person to
confess his Sins with a broken and contrite Heart, and to
receive the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, and the Holy
Oil, as the Church directs. For these Mysteries uot only
many Ways promote the Salvation of the Soul, but also
contribute to the Healing of the Body. Furthermore, we
should offer up our Prayers to God for them, and also
recommend them to the public Prayers of the Church. And
if the sick Person be so poor that he cannot apply unto the
Answee.
To receive the Stranger into one's House, with Cheerful-
ness and Hospitality ; especially those who, being on their
;
Way to visit holy Places, that they may there pay their
Vows and Worship, turn in unto us. Such are all religious
Mendicants and Travellers, whose Necessities he must relieve
according to his Abilities that desires to be an Inheritor of
this Beatitude; and more especially those who are sick and
destitute in the public Streets, and are forced to beg by the
Wayside.
Question 47.
Answer.
What and how many are the Works of Mercy that respect
the Soul ?
Answer.
Question 49.
Answer.
which if he be not, let him then seek some other who is so,
lest, as the Scripture saith, the Blind leading the Blind, they
should hoth fall into the Ditch. We are, also, hereby directed
to inform the Unskilful how they should worship God in a
proper Manner, and in what Method they should pray unto
him, and also how they should the most easily know the
Commands of God, and the readiest Means of obeying them.
And this especially with Regard to Orphans and Children
destitute of Friends and Parents, whom we should take
care to have instructed in good and Religious Knowledge
whereby afterwards they may happily become useful to the
Church and the public Weal and God be thanked and
;
Question 50.
Answer.
That we should give good Counsel to him that standeth in
need thereof; as when, by our pious and Christian Exhorta-
tions and good Advice, we reclaim a wicked and sinful Liver
from his Evil Courses to a regular and holy Life. Like-
wise when any, by Misfortunes and other Afflictions, are so
distressed and entangled that they know not how to help
themselves and get out of their Troubles then should we ;
freely, and with a liberal Hand, give unto them this healing
Balsam of good Counsel, and advise them how they best may
secure their Lives and Credit. This Duty also requires that
we should disclose unto our Neighbour any ill Designs that
we know to be laid against his Life or good Name, whereof
he is ignorant But herein we must proceed warily and
:
Question 51.
Answer.
That we should pray unto God for each other. And
although this Duty more particularly obligeth the Priests of
the Church and spiritual Fathers, yet are Laymen also bound
by it. Concerning which we spake more at large when we
treated concerning the sixth Precept of the Church.
Question 52.
Answer.
Question 53.
Answer.
That we hear with Injuries patiently. And we discharge
this Duty when we cheerfully and meekly suffer for Christ's
Sake, remembering that he endured much more grievous
Things for our Sakes As it is written (1 Pet. ii. 21),
:
rendering Evil for Evil, but rather giving Thanks unto God
that we are thought worthy to suffer for his Sake, we should
pray unto him earnestly that he would forgive our Enemies,
Question 54.
Answer.
That we readily and heartily forgive those that ofend us.
And in order to discharge this Duty effectually we must
forgive unto ourEnemies whatsoever they have done against
us and
; only so, but we must, moreover, sincerely
not
endeavour to obtain the Peace and Forgiveness of God for
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 121
taught unto Peter, saying (Matth. xviii. 22), F say not unto thee,
until seven Times, hut until seventy Times seven.
Question 55.
Answer.
Blessed are the pttre in Heart, for they shall see God.
Question 56.
Answer.
In this Beatitude the Virtue of CJmstity is recommended.
For whosoever desireth to see God, he must be chaste and
continent, both in Body and Mind, and in all his Thoughts,
for impure Thoughts defile the Image of God, and drive
away the divine Presence out of the Soul.
Question 57.
Answeb.
Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall he called the
Children of God.
Question 58.
Answer.
Question 59.
Answer.
Blessed are they which are persemted for Bighteousness' Sake
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Question 60.
Answee.
They are the Objects of this Beatitude who speak the
Truth undauntedly, and reprove Men for their Sins and
Faults, notwithstanding for so doing they suffer Hatred,
and even Death As did John the Baptist from Herod (Matth.
:
Answer.
Blessed are ye when Men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of Evil against you, falsely, for my
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 123
Answer.
Question 63.
Answer.
Question 1.
Answer.
Question 2.
Answer.
Answer.
Crood Works, or the Christian Virtues, are the Fruits of Faith,
as of a good Tree [Matth. vii. 16), By their Fruits ye shall
know them. And elsewhere (John xiii. 35), By this shall all Men
know ye are my Disciples, if ye have Love one to another. And
again (1 John ii. 3), And hereby we do know that we know him,
if we keep his Commandments. But that it may be more fully
understood what we mean by Christian Virtue, we say that good
Works is the fulfilling the Commandments of God, which any one
doth freely ly the divine Assistance, the human Will and Under-
standing also concurring, and being moved thereunto by the Love
of God and of our Neighbour, and when a Man is free from all
real Impediments.
Question 4.
Answer.
Question 5.
What are those other Virtues that spring forth aud arise
out of these three g-eneral and fundamental Virtues ?
Answer.
What is Prayer ?
Answer.
Question 7.
What is Fasting i
Answee.
Question 8.
Answer.
There be many Sorts of Fasts, as, first, those that are
constantly observed at Times, as the four yearly
stated
Fasts, and those which are kept weekly on Wednesdays and
Fridays; and those accidental and occasional ones which
are appointed by the Governors of the Church, in particular
Provinces and Towns on particular Occasions. And these,
in due Obedience to the Church, mast be carefully observed.
There be also public and private Fasts; public, as those
which are solemnised by the whole Church in general ; and
private, or peculiar, such as are those observed and kept by
particular Provinces, or Countries, or Cities, or by private
Persons, by their own Appointment, for some religious
Advancement, or the Performance of a Vow, or by the In-
junction and Command of their Ghostly Father.
Question 9.
What is Almsgiving ?
Answer.
Almsgiving is a work of Mercy, performed hy doing a Benefit
Cornelius (Acts x. 4), Thy Prayer and thine Alms are come up
for a Memorial lefore God. This Virtue comprehends within
itself all other Virtues, as we have already shown in the
Second Part of this our Confession.
Question 10.
Answer.
Answer.
Question 12.
What is Justice ?
Answer.
Justice is that Virtue which renders to every one that which
belongeth unto him and is his Due; which ohservetU
to do
that which is his Duty, without respect to Persons
and this ;
Answer.
No ; no Power but of God ; as St. Paul
for there is
teacheth {Rom. 3), Rulers are not a Terror to good
xiii.
Works, but unto the Evil : Wilt thou then not be afraid of the
Power ? Do that which is Good, and thou shall have Praise
of the same. For he is the Minister of God to thee for good.
But if thou do that which is Evil, be afraid; for he beareth not
the Sword in vain ; for he is the Minister of God to execute
Wrath upon him that doeth Evil.
Question 14.
What is Temperance ?
Answer.
Temperance is the Moderation in Eating, Drinking, and
Clothing which any one observeth likewise it is that whereby
;
I
;;
Question 15.
What is Fortitude ?
Answer.
St. Paul describeth (Bom. viii. 35), Who shall separate us from
the Love of Christ ? Shall Tribulation, or Distress, or Perse-
cution, or Famine, or Nakedness, or Peril, or Sword? And
a little after, at the 38th Verse, For I am persuaded that
neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor
Powers, nor Things present, nor Things to come : Nor Height,
nor Depth, nor any other Creature, shall be able to separate
us from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But of this Class of Virtues we have already discoursed in
the former Part, when we treated of the Gifts of the Holy
Spirit and other Virtues.
Question 16.
What is Sin ?
Answer.
ing the Will of God, proceeding from the Understanding and the
proper and deliberate Will of the Sinner. From this Contra-
riety ariseth Death, and all the divine Wrath ; as saith the
Scripture {Jarnes i. 15), Then when Zust hath conceived, it
hringeth forth Sin ; and Sin, when it is finished, hringeth forth
Death.
Question 17,
Answer.
According to the Scripture, some Sins be unto Death, and
some not unto Death. There be, therefore, mortal Sins, and
those that are not so.
Question 18.
Answer.
Mortal Sin is, when the perverse Will of Man doeth a
thing manifestly forbidden by the divine Law or, on the
;
other hand, omitted to do, with the whole Heart and Desire,
that which is commanded of Grod, whereby Charity towards
God and our Neighbour is broken.
This Will of Man excludeth from the Grace of God, and
killeth him who Works.
fulfiUeth
it in his For whicli
Reason their Degree of Sin is said to be mortal ; according
to the Apostle {Rom. vi. 23), Th^ Wages of Sin is Death. A
base consenting, whereby any one determines or purposes to
commit a Sin, giveth indeed a grievous Wound unto the
Soul, but doth not entirely kill it.
Question 19.
Answer.
Question 20.
Answer.
{Gen. ii. 17), Of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
thou shall not eat ; for in the Day that thou eatest thereof
thou shall surely die. This original Sin spreadeth over all
human Nature ; forasmuch as we were all then contained in
Adam. Wherefore by one Adam Sin hath passed into us
all. And we are conceived and born with this Blemish,
as the Scripture teacheth us {Bom. v. 12), By one Man Sin
entered into the World, and Death hy Sin ; and so Death passed
upon all Men, for that all have sinned. This hereditary Sin
cannot be rooted out or abolished by any Repentance what-
ever, but only by the Grace of God, through the Work of
Redemption, wrought by our Lord Jesus Christ, in taking
upon him our Flesh and pouring out his precious Blood.
And this is done in the Mystery of holy Baptism; and
whosoever is not a Partaker thereof, such an one remains
unabsolved from his Sin, and continueth in his Guilt, and
is liable to the eternalPunishment of the divine Wrath
As it is said {John iii. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that
5),
except a Man be horn of Water, and of the Spirit, he cannot
Question 21.
Answer.
Voluntary mortal Sin is that which, after having received
Baptism, and being arrived in Years of Discretion, laying
aside the Love of God and of our Neighbour, and of our
own free Will we commit against the manifest Command of
God. By which Sin we are deprived of the divine Grace
;
the Apostle {Bom. vi. 16), Know ye not, that to whom ye yield
yourselves Servants to
obey., his Servants ye are to whom ye obey
Question 22.
Answer.
Into three Kinds. Of the First, whereof we reckon general
mortal Sins, or those from whence others do arise ; of the
Second are committed against the Holy
those which are
GrHOST; and the thi7'd Sort are they which do the most
frequently draw down the divine Vengeance on this World.
Question 23.
Answee.
Question 24.
What is Pride ?
Answer.
Question 25.
Answer.
Namely, these to wit, Man's thinking Evil of his Neigh-
;
Question 26.
What is Avarice ?
Answer.
QUKSTION 27.
Answer.
Question 28.
Answer.
Question 29.
Answer.
Blindness of Heart, Hatred of divine Things, Impiety, Envy,
Despair, Profuse Luxury, Laziness, Enmity to his Neighbour, and
such like. Whosoever would, therefore, flee from this Sin,
ithehoveth him to set continually before his Mind that the
holy God dwelleth not save in the chaste and pure Heart
For which Keason the sacred Prophet beseecheth God that
he would bestow on him a clean Heart (Psal. li. 12), Make me
a clean Heart, God, and renew a right Spirit within me.
Question 30.
What is Envy ?
Answek.
Envy a Grief and Discontent of Mind conceived at the Good
is
Question 31.
Answer.
Hatred, Backbiting, Contempt, Fraud, Circumventing, Blood-
shed, and such like. Now, whosoever would strive to avoid
this Sin, let him always Good hap-
consider that whatsoever
peneth unto any Man cometh altogether from the divine
Favour; as it is said (1 Cor. iv. 7), What hast thou that thou
didst not receive ? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 137
Question 32.
What is Gluttony 1
Answer.
Gluttony, or Bavening, is the devouring an immoderate Quan-
tityof Meat and Drink, more than usual and necessary. Of this
Vice the Scripture thus speaketh {Ltike xxi. 34), Take heed
to yourselves, lest atany Time your Hearts he overcharged with
Surfeiting and Drunkenness, and the Cares of this Life, and so
that Day come upon yoio unawares. And again (Bom. xiii. 13),
Let us walk honestly, as in the Day ; not in Bioting and Drunken-
ness, not in Chambering and Wantonness, not in Strife and
Envying.
Question 38.
Answer.
Stupidity and Sloth, Laziness in the Exercises of Beligion, Lasci-
vious Inclinations, Vain Jests and Unseemly Mirth, Insolent Self-
love and Contempt of Others, Foul Language, Brawling, Bude-
ness, Great Diseases, Profuse Liixury, and the like. To this
Vice are opposite Sobriety and cheerful Frugality ; as it is said
(1 Cor. xiii. 40), Let all Things be done decently and in order.
Question 34.
Answer.
The Desire ofBevenge is an inflamed Inclination wherewith an
angry Man burns, of taking Vengeance on any Person who hath
injured or offended him, or whom he thinks to have done so. Of
138 The Orthodox Confession of the
this Sin the Scripture speaketh thus {James i. 19), Let every Man
he svjift to hear, slow to speah, slow to Wrath ; for the Wrath of
Man worlceth not the Righteousness of God. And elsewhere {Eph.
iv. 31), Let all Bitterness, and Wrath, and Anger, and Clamour,
and Evil-speaking he p%d away from you, with all Malice.
Question 35.
Answer.
From this Desire of Revenge arises an Inclination to Strife,
Question 36.
Answer.
Slotha Coldness and Negligence in ohtaining the eternal Sal-
is
Question 37.
Answer.
Voluntary Dissoluteness, Pretences for Sinning, Scandal, a
Voluptuous Life, Haughtiness, and such like. The Virtue oppo-
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 139
What are the Sins tliat are committed against the Holy
Ghost ?
Answer.
when any one entirely distrusts the divine Mercy; for tliis
Question 39.
Answer.
one takes upon the Mercy of God, and thereon presumes to hope
that God will not withhold his Grace from him, nor punish him,
notwithstanding he continues still in his Sins ; and so thereby
makes the Justice of God of none Account. Let those who
have this most daugerous and grievous Error to conflict and
struggle with hear the Apostle teaching them, thus (Pom.
ii. 4), Or despisest thou the Riches of his Goodness, and For-
bearance, and Long-suffering ; not knowing that the Goodness of
God leadeth thee to Repentance: But, after thy Hardness and
impenitent Heart, treasurest up unto thyself Wrath against the
Day of Wrath and Revelation of the righteous Judgment of God ?
Of this Sort are those who, with unbridled Tongues, are
" If God pleases, I shall
uot ashamed to declare openly thus:
be saved; and if he doth not please, I shall not."
And thus,
castino- off all Care of amending their Lives, they rest in
140 The Orthodox Confession of the
Question 40.
Answer.
his Prophet {Joel ii. 12, 13), T^(.rn ye even 'unto me with all
your Heart, and with Fasting, and with Weeping, and with
Mourning ; and rend your Hearts, and not your Garments, and
turn unto the Lord your God ; for he is gracious and merci-
ful, slow to Anger, and of great Kindness, and repenteth him
of the Evil.
Question 41.
Answer.
Saviour when they beheld him cast out impure Spirits with
his Word and do many Miracles. Like unto these are they
who envy others the Grace bestowed on them by God, and
likewise those who forbear to teach the Articles of the
Christian Faith unto those who are ignorant of it merely
out of Maliceand Evil-mindedness. Which Deeadful Evil
DO Thou, Christ, our King, Entirely Root out of
every Catholic and Orthodox Christian's Heart A !
Question 42.
Answer.
These following ; namely, Wilful and designed Murder ; of
which the Scripture speaketh {Gen. iv. 10), The Voice of thy
Brothers Blood erieth unto me from the Ground. Also the Sin
of Sodomy ; as the Lord saith (^Gen, xviii. 20), Because the
Cry of Sodom and Gomorrha is great, and because their Sin
is very grievoits ; therefore I luill go down now, and see whether
tliey have done altogether according to the Cry of it which is come
unto me; and if not, I vMl
Likewise Oppression of
know.
the Orphan and the Widow, and the defrauding the Labourer
of his Hire. Concerning which thus the Prophet Malachi
speaketh {chap. iii. 5), I will come near
Judgment, and you to
Question 43.
Answer.
Sin not mortal, or, as it is called by some, venial Sin, is
that which no Man that is born, except Christ and the Virgin
Mary, can be without. However, this Degree of Sin doth
not deprive ns of the
Grace of God, nor devote us unto
eternal Death. Of this Kind of Sin the Scripture thus
teacheth us (John i. 8), If we say that we have no Sin we
:
deceive ourselves, and the Tnoth is not in us. Not any particular
Sin, indeed, can be described by this Name, but, in general,
whatever are not reckoned in the Number of mortal Sins
may be referred to this Class of venial Sins. Nevertheless
these Sins are not to be disregarded and suifered to pass
unamended but we ought daily, in our Beds, and in the
;
Question 44.
those who are committed unto their Care ; wherefore St. Paul
thus admonisheth his (1 Tim. v. 22), Lay Hands
own Timothy
suddenly on no Man, neither be Partaker of other Men's Sins ;
keep thyself pure.
Question 45.
Answer.
When any one giveth Occasion unto others of sinning,
whether it he inviting them to sin by Scandal, by consent-
ing, by indecent Language, by commending of Vice or
decrying of Virtue. Among these are deservedly reckoned
those who designedly excite others to Anger, those who
do not strive against Vice and Wickedness with all their
Might, and those who do not, according to their Station,
repreliend and admonish. All these become involved in the
other's Guilt.
Question 46.
Question 47.
But are not the Precepts of the old Law long since ful-
filled ?
Answer.
The Precepts of the Old Testament which were concerning
Ceremonies and Mysteries, and were to foreshow the Works
of Christ, these all are passed away as a Shadow at the
Approach of the Body; nor are they any longer binding or
to be observed by Christians. But those Commands which
enjoin the Observation of Charity and our Duty towards God
and our Neighbour are not only to be observed by Christians,
;
hath said {Matth. xxii. 37), Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy Heart, and with all thy Soul, and with all thy
Mind. This is the first and great Commandment ; the second is
like unto it Thou shalt love
: thy Neighbour as thyself. On
these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
Question 48.
Answer.
Question 49.
AiJSWER.
(Exod. XX. 2), / am the Lord thy God, who broicght thee out of
the Land of Egypt, and out of the House of Bondage: Thou
shall have none other God hut me.
Question 50.
Answer.
first Commandment God reveals himself unto Man
In this
that he may be known by him, for unto this End gave he
an understanding Heart unto Man, that he might discern
and acknowledge him for his Lord and his Creator, and
praise and glorify him. Accordingly he doth not introduce
his Laws by saying, I am God, the Creator of the World
but, I amthy God, who brought thee out of the Land of Egypt
it being more familiar and affecting to the Jews that he
should introduce his Commandments with a Eeason for their
obeying them that was taken from a signal and memorable
Transaction wherein they were most affectingly interested,
and which, as yet, continued before their Eyes, and whereby
they would the more manifestly and apparently see the great
Bounty and Goodness of God towards Men, and thereby be
excited to praise him with the greater Readiness, and acknow-
ledge him
to be the one only true God. He hath elsewhere
testified concerning himself {Isa. xlv. 12), I have made the
Earth, and created Man upon it ; I, even my Hands, have stretched
out the Heaven, and all their Hosts have I commanded. Also a
little before (ver. 5), / am the Lord, and there is none else ; there
is no God besides me. Now, we Christians are bound to a more
exact Observance of this Precept than the Jews were ; forasmuch
:
QUESTION 51.
Answer.
Question 52.
Answer.
Brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's Sake, and for the Love
of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your Prayers
to God for me. And elsewhere (2 Cor. i. 10), In whom we
trust that he will yet deliver us, you also helping together by
Prayer for us, that for the Gift bestowed upon us by the
Means of many Persons Thanks may be given by many on our
Behalf. In like manner he also prayed himself unto God for
others, as he testifieth {Philip, i. 4), Always in every Prayer
of mine for you all making Bequest with Joy. Now, from
these Testimonies of his we learn these two Things. First,
That the Saints, whilst they continue in this Life, entreat of
others to make Prayers and Supplications to God for them.
Secondly, That they themselves, on their Parts, do pray and
intercede for others, not only privately and for Particulars,
but openly and for all As the Scripture witnesseth {Acts
:
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 149
xii. 5), Peter therefore mas kept in Prison, but Prayer mas
made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him. Now,
the Saiots after their departure can much more recommend
us to Grod, forasmuch as they have Nothing to hinder them
in the Exercise of this Duty. Furthermore, if the Saints
do procure the Punishment of the Wicked, as the Scripture
beareth Witness {Rev. vi. 9), I saw under the Altar the Souls of
them that mere slain for the Word of God, andfor the Testimony
which they held ; and they cried with a loud Voice, saying,
How long, Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and
avenge our Blood on them that dwell on the Earth ? how
much more shall they intercede with G-od for their Brethren,
who Warfare especially for
are conflicting in the Christian ;
As the Scripture teacheth (Rev. xi. 16), And the four and
twenty Elders who sat before God on their Seats fell upon
their Faces and worshipped God, saying. We give thee Thajiks,
Lord God Almighty. And again (ver. 18), And the Time is
come that thou shouldest give Reward unto thy Servants the
Prophets, and to the Saints, and them that fear thy Name,
small and great. But some will say that the Saints do not
know or understand our Prayers ; to such we answer that
although, indeed, of themselves alone they may not hear nor
know our Prayers, yet nevertheless, by the divine Favour
and Eevelatioii wherewith God abundantly blesseth them,
they will both see and understand and as Elisha knew what
;
his Servant hath done on the Way (2 Kings ch. v.), in like
Manner, also, do the Saints know and hear the Necessities
of those who call upon them, even by the divine Communi-
cations. Furthermore, also, we do address ourselves unto the
Angels, that they would assist us with their Support and
Favour before God, inasmuch as it is they who present the
Prayers of Men, and our Deeds of Charity, and other good
Works imto the divine Majesty. Now, seeing that after
Death the Saints become as the Angels, they can therefore,
undoubtedly, in like Manner both know our Necessities and
hear our Prayers, and also help us by their Intercession.
From whence it follows that we are far from offending
ao-ainst this Commandment when we put up our Prayers
;
Question 53.
Answer.
T/iOu shalt not make to thyself any graven Image., nor the
Likeness of any Thing that in Heaven above, or in the Earth
is
beneath, or in the Waters under the Earth. Thou shalt not
fall down to them, nor worship them.
Question 54.
Answer.
This Commandment is distinct from the former, for that
treateth concerning the True God, and his being only One,
and taketh away and prohibiteth the vain Crowd of false
Gods whereas this Commandment relateth to certain out-
;
(Psal. cxxxv. 15), The Images of the Heathen are but Silver
and Gold, the Work of Men's Hands. They have Mouths,
and speak not; Eyes have they, and they see not. They have
Ears, and hear not; neither is there any Breath in their
Mouths. Those that make them are like unto them ; and so
are all they that put their Trust in them. They also break
this Commandment who give themselves up to Covetousness,
of whom the Scripture speaketh thus {Coloss. iii. 5), Mortify
therefore your Members which are upon the Earth ; Fornica-
tion, Uiicleanness, Effeminacy, inordinate Affections, evil Con-
cupiscence, and Covetousness, which is Idolatry. Gluttons,
likewise, and they who are given up to riotous Living, sin
152 The Orthodox Confession of the
Answer.
There is a very great Diiference between Images and
Idols. An Idolis a mere Fiction and Invention of Men, as
Question 56.
Answer.
Because the Jews began to fall away from the Worship of
the true Grod, worshipping the Serpent as true God, and
offering Incense unto it, as the Scripture showeth. There-
fore to cut off this Evil, and that it might not spread farther,
Hezekiah breaks in Pieces the Serpent, that it might give no
further Occasion of Idolatry to the Israelites. But had there
not been given unto it the Worship of latria, he would not
Question 57.
Answer.
Thou shall not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain, for
the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain.
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 155
Question 58.
Answer.
First, It teacheth us that we should hold the Name of the
Lord God in the highest and most awful Respect and Honour,
nor ever use it lightly or jestingly, nor on trifling Occasions
or for unjust Purposes. Secondly, Tliat by no means we call
the Name of God to gain Credit to a Falsehood, nor perjure
ourselves. we do not give Occasion or Advice
Thirdly, That
to others to Fourthly, that we do most de-
be Forsworn.
voutly observe and fulfil whatever Vows we make unto God,
according to that Scripture (Deut. xxiii. 21), When thou shalt
vow a Vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it ;
for the Lord thy God tvill surely require it of thee ; and it would
be Sin in thee. And in this Sort are all they guilty who,
having promised in their Baptism that they would persevere
in the right and true Faith of God to their Life's End, yet
afterwards sufi'er themselves to be drawn away for self-
QuES'iuON 59.
Answbb.
Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day ; six Bays shalt
thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do. But the seventh Day
is theSabbath of the Lord thy God ; in it thou shalt do no manner
of Work, thou, nor thy Son, nor thy Daughter, nor thy Man-servant,
nor thy Maid-servant, nor thy Cattle, nor thy Stranger that is
:
Wherefore the Lord Messed the seventh Day and hallowed it.
Question 60.
Answer.
Hereby we are to know that Grod hath set apart one Day
in seven, to the end that Mortals might be mindful of the
Benefits which he continually bestoweth upon Mankind, and
that for an especial Memorial of all his Blessings and Mer-
cies he hath hallowed this Day, in which Men, meditating
upon the gracious Goodness of God, might give thanks unto
him and glorify his Majesty. Therefore, when in six Days
God had created the whole Universe out of nothing, and had
rested the seventh Day, he sanctified it ; that Men, laying aside
all other Employments, might with extraordinary Devotion
Question 61.
Answer.
(Exod. XX. 12), Honour thy Father and thy Mother, that it
may be well with thee, and that thy Days may be long in that
Question 62.
Answer.
unto them for the highest of all Benefits, and which we can
ia no wise possibly make them a like Return of, inasmuch
158 The Orthodox Confession of the
ill these Words {Rom. xiii. 1), Let every Soul he subject to the
Question 63.
Answer.
Thou shall not kill.
Question 64.
Answer.
Question 65.
Answer.
Question 67.
Answer.
Our Lord Jesus Christ enjoined the most exact and perfect
observation of this Commandment when he said {Matth. v. 28),
Whosoever looketk on a Woman to lust after her hath com-
mitted Adultery with her already in his Heart. Now, this
Adultery is twofold, the one spiritual, the other bodily ; the
spiritual Adultery is, when any one, putting off the true
orthodox and catholic Faith, turneth aside into various
Heresies. Of such an one the Scripture speaketh thus {Psal.
Ixxiii. 26), They that forsake thee shall perish ; thou hast de-
stroyed all them that commit Fornication against thee. Bodily
Adultery is an unclean and immodest Action committed
with the Wife Man.
of another By this Commandment,
likewise, all other Lewdness and Wantonness is forbidden
as also procuring and alluring others to Unchastity, indecent
160 The Orthodox Confession of the
Question 67.
Answer.
Question 68.
Answer.
Question 69. ,
Answer.
(Exodus XX. 16), Thou shall not hear false Witness against thy
NdgKbour.
Catholic and Apostolic Eastern Church. 161
Question 70.
Answer.
Children of the Devil, and like unto those of whom our Lord
spake {John viii. 44), Te are of your Father the Devil, and the
Lusts of your Father ye will do. He was a Murderer from the
Beginning, and abode not in the Truth, because there is no Truth
in him. When he speaheth a Lie, he speaketh of his own : for he
is a Liar, and the Father of it.
Question 71.
Answer.
(Exodus XX. 17), Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbour's Wife,
thou shalt not covet thy Neighbour's House, nor his Land, nor his
Man-servant, nor his Maid-se7-vant, nor his Ox, nor his Ass, nor
any Thing that is his.
Question 72.
L
162 The Orthodox Confession of the Eastern Church.
The End.
And may Glory be to God.
PRINTED BY BALLANTVNE, HANSON AND 00.
EDINBUBOH AND LONDON.
Catalogue of i3ooks
PUBLISHED BY
THOMAS BAKER,
I, Soho Square, i,
LONDON.
NOTICE.
A LL the publications contained in this
Bookseller.
— :—— —
,
1896.
CONTENTS
Human Responsibility — Conscience—Law—Dispensations and Privileges
Justice and Right— Restitution.
" A
book from Father Humphrey's pen is sure to be not only well written but of
practical utility. Let the forward reformers and the lawgivers study these chapters oa
Human Respofisibilityy ConscMttce, Law, Dispensations and Privileges, Justice, Right,
and Restitution ; they will find no vague verbiage, no merely plausible argumentation
but only simple, direct logic, with every term well defined in advance, and eveir con-
clusion reached through legitimate forcing of common reason. To the theologian,
especially the priest who is to act as judge, whether in the confessional or in public
administration, we could recommend no better work." American Ecclesiastical Review.
*' We have here an Englishmanual that furnishes a succinct and clear knowledge of
the principles of human conduct, in six chapters^ entitled respectively Human Responsi-
:
bility, Conscience, Law, Dispensations and Privileges, Justice and Right, Restitution.
How many guides of souls have wished for just such a book that might be safely put into
the hands of persons anxious or troubled or charged with the care of others ? . . . ,
The two chapters on Conscience and Law are the backbone of the work, conscience—
being: treated as the internal and law as the external rule of human conduct. They givo
the title to the work, and are alone worth its price. What is conscience, how differing
from the natural law ? What is practical and speculative, doubt, opinion, suspicion ?
What is the rule of rightnesfi ? How are we to form our conscience, that is, to acquire a
practically certain conscience ? Then again, what is law and bow does it differ from
precept, statute, counsel, permission? How promulgated and interpreted? What is
custom, and how does it become binding as law ? what are penfd laws, local and
universal laws, and who are the subjects of laws ? What is domicile and guasidomicile ?
How do laws cease to exist, and who has the right to interpret them ? Here we have a
long series of questions that arise daily in human intercourse, and the correct answers to
which are neither more or less than the very basic principles of human conduct, private
and social. In similar manner the chapters on Dispensation and Privileges, Justice and
Right, and Restitution are expositions of practical everyday theology that need to be
conned and mastered by every Catholic." Catholic University Bulletin ( Washington),
"This is a book to be studied, not simply read. Within the small compass of 326
pages the learned author has compressed the pith and marrow of a whole volume of Moral
Theology. ... It will not only be found serviceable as a class-book in Colleges, but
may be read with great pr-ofit by all educated readers." Catholic Times,
—— — — —
Recollections of
Scottish Episcopalianism
BY
1896.
PRESS OPINIONS.
"A very instructive and charming book." Dublin Review.
"It simply and clearly written; and will be read with interest by
is
students of what may be called the psychology of religion." Scotsman.
"It is by no means strictly confined to Scottish Episcopalianism, and it
will be read with special interest in his native city of Aberdeen, and in
localities where — —
now a good many years ago ^he ministered as a clergyman
of the Scottish Episcopal Church." Aberdeen Free Press.
"Father Humphrey's 'Recollections' give in minute detail the reasons
which led him to adopt the Roman Catholic Religion. The record of the
spiritual changes through which a human being passes is always fascinating,
and in the present instance the evident sincerity of the narrator renders his
story doubly attractive His enthusiastic description of the
fishermen and fisherwomen of Cove {by Aberdeen), his brief outline of college
life at Glenalmond, and his short and not altogether enjoyable sojourn in
Dundee, contain many passages that wUl both amuse and edify." Dundee
Courier.
" This is a record of the experiences of another of the earlier actors in
the High Church revival, and although Father Humphrey's was a minor part,
a very interesting little chapter of personal history. The story is told,
it is
moreover, with considerable artistic skill Those who are
acquainted with the Bishop's (Forbes, of Brechin) Theological Works will
read these pages with interest." Bookselling.
"A most interesting account of the early clerical life of the author.
Father Humphrey was bred to the law, and his name appears
in the list of Advocates in Aberdeen in i860. He soon, however, forsook the
law for theology, and after a sojourn at Cumbrje College and Trinity College,
Glenalmond, he took orders in the Scottish Episcopsd Church, and from that
he, —
verted to Rome His 'Recollections' of the Rev. P.
Cheyue and Thomson of Banchory, the Rev. Fredk. Geo. Lee and Bishop
Forbes of Brechin, are extremely interesting, as also are his picturesque
anecdotes and sketches of Scottish Life."
— —— — —
JUST PUBLISHED.
ARCHBP. FENELON'S
DIALOGUES ON PULPIT ELOQUENCE
TRANSLATED AND ILLUSTRATED BY QUOTATIONS
FROM MODERN AUTHORS,
WITH AN INTRODUCTORY ESSAY
BY
SAMUEL J. EALES, D.C.L., etc.,
Editor of Dupanloup's " Ministry of Preaching," &'c.
CONTENTS.
Against the affectations of Wit and Brilliancy in Sermons Tliat the —
object of Eloquence is to instruct men and render them better Observations —
on the method of Learning Sermons and Delivering them by heart, also on
divisions and sub-divisions —
True Eloquence, in what it consists how- :
admirable is that of —
Scripture The means of Training oneself for
Holy
preaching —^What ought to be the chief matter of Instructions On the —
—
Eloquence of the Fathers and their style On Panegyrics, etc.
PRESS NOTICES.
" Young Preachers would do well to read these Dialogues. . . . The
Translator has done his work well, and the Introductory Essay strikes the note
of Fenilon's Discourse. . . . Young men, especially if they have been
educated at a Scots University, imagine that a good Sermon must wrestle
with great problems, not so Pension, ' The proper way to prove the truth of
religion is to state it clearly.' Read this book." Scottish Guardian.
" There is no royal road to eloquence, but there are roads, nevertheless,
and these pages contain many useful directions and precepts." ITie Christian,
" Those who aspire to become great preachers will profit by the study of
these Dialogues." Christian Globe.
" Everybody has heard of the great and lovely Archbishop FenMon, and
nearly all of hisPulpit Eloquence.' There is nothing more needed than to
'
" A most fascinating book, dealing artfully and skilfully —with the art and
skill of a practised writer —with many burning questions, both of history,
ecclesiasticism, and politics." Daily Post.
" There is the same picturesqueness of detail, the same vigorous denuncia-
tion, the same graphic power, which made the earlier book pleasant reading
even to many who disagree heartily with its tone and object. . . . Dr. I.ee's
strength lies in very graphic description." Notes and Queries.
— — — .
"A
fine translation of the best life of this Great Cardinal, the Coufessor
of Isabella, the Founder of Alcala, and Publisher of the Complutensian Bible.
A most fascin^ing biography."
" The book is remarkable for extent of research, clearness of method,
sagacity of observation, and elegance of style. We
have, indeed, seldom met
with a biographical work which conveys, in so agreeable a form, such various
as well as such soKd information." Dublin Review.
LIFE OF
Dom Bartholomew of the MartjTs
(O.P. and Archbishop of Braga in Portugal)
AGOSTINO DA MONTEFELTRO
(O.S.F.)
Contents :
chiefly of bold and forcible defence of the Christian Faith against Materialism,
eloquent and fervid appeals to the people for truthfulness and honesty in social
intercourse aud earnest exhortations to purity of family life."
" The simplicity of his premises, the clear logic of his arguments and the
soundness of his conclusions, united with a certain magnetism of manner and
intense sympathy with the people, are the evident causes of his great success,
and have placed him high amongst the great preachers of the Century. He
The "
has been already alluded to as ' Italian Lacordaire.'
MR. THOMAS BAKER'S PUBLICATIONS.
A HISTORY OF THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ENGLAND
FROM THE
"A comparatively little known, but at the same time one of the most
CONTENTS.
Chapter I.— The Blessed Virgin Mary. Chapter II.—The Angels. Chapter
III —The Preaching of the Gospel. Chapter IV.— Prayer. Chapter V
The Pope and Rome.
— —— —
ANCIENT ENGLISH
HOLY WEEK CEREMONIAL
BY
" As a picture of the piety, the taste and the deep religious feeling of
should be in the collection of all who love such recondite but attractive
" The book is written without a trace of theological bias, and will be of
"This is a volume abounding with facts collected from many sources with
painstaking industry, and which throw light on many points connected with
Heads of Contents :
" Tliis valuable work opened the eyes of the public to the misrepresentations
of the ancient English Church by certain Protestant writers, anci inaugurated
more truthful historical research." Gillow.
"Whoever reads 'Soames' or 'Sharon Turner' should also read Lingard."
A DIALOGUE OF COMFORT
AGAINST TRIBULATION,
By the BLESSED SIR THOMAS MORE, Knight,
Which he wrote
2s. net.
" There is in these books so witty, pithy, and substantial matter for the
easing, remedying, and patiently suffering of all manner of griefs and sorrows that
may possibly encumber any man .... and such golden consolations and
encouragements, and genuine philosophy, were inscribed 'with a coal,' his
enemies having enhanced the pains of incarceration by depriving him of all
ordinary writing materials."
— ;
2s 6d. net
......
Translated from the original Spanish by the
Crown 8vo
Rev. JOHN DALTON.
2s. 6d. net.
"The Holy Teresa is a prodigy of wisdom and sanctity; her works are
not sufliciently known." GangancUi.
—
Contents :
" Mr. Lewis' life of the saint is full, in fact, of matter which will amply
repay thoughtful and careful study, and can be warmly recommended to all
persons who are not already cognisant of its purport. . . . The book is
capitally printed in clear type on good paper." Tablet.
— —
THE LIFE OF
ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS
0/ the Order of Our Lady of ML Carmel,
other sources.
"Mr. Lewis's Life of St. Joha of the Cross is no mere sketch, but afinished
picture from the hand of one who Icnew the Catholic Aspects of Spain in the
sixteenth century better than any other English writer." Dublin Review.
" In this volume we have the gist of the best lives of St. John of the Cross,
from that of Fra Joseph of Jesus to that of Garnica, 1893. The deep human
interest of the life of the great mystic loses nothing in the hands of Mr. Lewis."
" A very admirable worlc, which we warmly commend to our readers, and
HEADS OF CHAPTERS.
—
Man's knowledge of God's existence Man's knowledge of what God is
—
The Essence and the Attributes of God The absolute properties of the Divine
—
Essence The negative properties of the Divine Essence God's knowledge —
— —
God's sincere will of man's salvation God the one Creator God, as the author
— —
of nature God, as the authoi: of the supernatural The Paradise of God's
—
Creation The inner Life of God.
the author's depth and width of grasp. The book will prove valuable to the
clergy and to the edlicated laity who are eager to get an insight into some of
the most profound truths and mysteries of our holy faith." Messenger of Sac.
Heart, New York.
MR. THOMAS BAKER'S PUBLICATIONS.
The correctness of the Latin text of this edition is vouched for by the fact
that it was seen through the press by the late Dr. Littledale.
NOTES ON MEDIAEVAL
SERVICES IN ENGLAND.
By CHR. WORDSWORTH, M.A.,
Rector of Tyneham and Prebendary of Lincoln.
HOW TO PRAY.
Translated from the French of PERE GROU.
Edited by RICHARD F. CLARKE, S.J.