Q. Is there any sin in those motions of concupiscence, which we feel and suffer against our will?

A. They are the effects of sin and St. Paul calls them by the name of sin; but if they be not caused or consented to, or approved of, they do not render us guilty. before God, nor are they properly sins, not being wilful and deliberate; nay, if resisted they become the occasion of merit to us; for, according to St. Paul, 2 Cor. xii. 9, power is made perfect in infirmity.

Q. What think you now of this second t. ble of the law, is there any thing that favours of impossibility?

A. No certainly, for there is nothing commanded us which the very law of nature and right reason do not dictate to us; and therefore ought to be observed and done, although it were not commanded us.

Q. Is there any thing but what every man expects and desires to have done to himself by others?

A. There is not, therefore we must do the same to others, according to that, "All things whatsoever you will that men do unto you, do ye also to them; for this is the law and the prophets." St. Matt. vii. 12.

Q. Why then do some sectaries pretend and say, that the commandments are impossible to be kept?

A. Because they are not willing to oblige themselves to the observance of them, but had rather make God the author of sin, by commanding impossibilities, (a most high blas. phemy,) and justify their own iniquities by saying, they can not help it, than humbly acknowledge and confess their sins, with purpose to amend, by an acceptance of the law of God.

CHAP. IX.

The Precepts of the Church Expounded.

Q. HOW many are the commandments of the church?
A. There be six principal ones.

Q. What is the first?

A. To hear mass on all Sundays, and Holy-days if we have an opportunity to do it, and there be no just cause to the contrary.

Q. Why on all Sundays?

A. In thanksgiving for the benefits of the week past, as also to sanctify the Lord's day.

Q. For what other reason?

A. In memory that the same Christ, who is offered upon the altar at mass for our sins, was born, rose from the dead, and sent down the Holy Ghost on a Sunday.

Q. Why on all holy-days?

A. Either in memory of some special benefit, or else for a commemoration of some particular saint, so to move ourselves to imitate his example.

Q. How prove you that the church hath power to ordain and command feasts?

A. First, by the example of the church in the apostles' time, which ordained the feast of Christmas in honour of the Nativity of Christ; Easter in honour of his Resurrection; Whitsuntide, in honour of the coming of the Holy Ghost, in tongues of fire.

Secondly, out of the most ancient constitutions called Apostolical, which witness, That the apostles gave order for the celebrating of St. Stephen's, and some other of their fellow apostles' days after their deaths.

Thirdly, out of 2 Thess. iii. 4. We have confidence of you, in our Lord (saith St. Paul), that the things which we command you both to do, and will do. And v. 14, If any obey not your word, do not ye keep company with him, that he may be confounded.

Fourthly, out of 1 Thess. iv 3, where St. Paul (speaking of the precepts he had given his brethren) saith, "He that despiseth these things, despiseth not man but God, who also hath given his Holy Spirit in us." See what was said before in the third commandment of God.

The Second Precept of the Church Expounded.

Q. WHAT is the second commandment of the church? A. To fast Lent, Vigils commanded, Ember-days, and with abstinence from flesh on Fridays and Saturdays.'

Q. Why Lent?

A. In imitation of Christ our Lord, who fasted forty days and forty nights in the desert for our sins, without once eating or drinking.

Q. Can we fast in this manner?

A. We cannot; but we must do at least what we are able. Q. How prove you fasting to be a pious practice?

A. By the example of Christ and his Saints, and out of St. Luke ii. 37, where we read, That Anna the prophetess

departed not from the temple serving day and night by fasting and prayer.

Q. How prove you fasting to be meritorious?

A. Out of St. Matt. vi. 16, 17, 18. And when you fast be not sad, like the hypocrites; but anoint thy head, and wash thy face, that thou appear not unto men to fast, but to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret will repay thee.

Q. How prove you abstinence from certain meats to be commendable?

A. Because it was prescribed by an angel to St. John, He shall be great before the Lord, wine and cyder he shall not drink, St. Luke i. 15. And in St. Matt. iii. 4, we read, That his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Q. For what is fasting available?

A. First, for the remission of sins and appeasing the wrath of God, according to that, "Be ye converted unto me in your whole heart, in fasting, weeping, and mourning." Joel fi. 12.

Secondly, to mortify all the lustful desires of the flesh; and that it hath special force against the Devil: This kind of devil (saith our Lord) can go out by nothing but by prayer' and fasting. St. Mark ix, 29.

Q. Why Vigils?

A. To prepare ourselves for a devout keeping the feasts that follow.

Q. Why Ember days?

A. Because on those days the church giveth Holy orders and ordaineth priests; and for that cause hath dedicated them to public prayers and fasting.

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Q. What grounds have you for that?

A. Out of Acts xiii. 2, 3. And as they (the apostles) were ministering to our Lord, and fasting, the Holy Ghost said, Separate ye unto me Saul and Barnabas to the work whereto I have taken them: Then with fasting and praying, and imposing hands on them, they dismissed them."

Q. Why abstinence on Fridays?

A. In memory that Christ suffered for us upon a Friday; drinking gall and vinegar on the cross; but especially by custom, which is as good as law.

Q. Why abstinence on Saturdays?

A. To prepare ourselves for a devout keeping of the Sunday, as also in honour of the blessed Virgin Mary, who stood firm in faith on that day, the apostles themselves wavering.

The Third Precept of the Church Expounded.

Q. WHAT is the third commandment of the church?
A. To confess our sins at least once a year.

Q. Why was that commanded?

A. Because otherwise, libertines would not have done it once in many years.

The Fourth Precept of the Church Expounded.

Q. WHAT is the fourth?

A. To receive the blessed Sacrament at least once a year, and that at Easter or thereabouts.

Q. Why at Easter?

A. Because Christ instituted the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist at his last supper, the Thursday before Easter day.

Q. Why is it said, or thereabouts?

A. Because it will satisfy the precept, if it be done at any time betwixt Palm Sunday and Low Sunday, or within such other time as is customary.

Q. What punishment has the church denounced against those who neglect to receive worthily the Holy communion at Easter?

A. Such punishment as is inflicted only on the most grievous public crimes; they are to be excluded from the church whilst living in that state, and if they die so, are to be deprived of christian burial like public malefactors. Council Lat. 21 can.

The Fifth Precept of the Church Expounded.

Q. WHAT is the fifth?

A. To contribute to the support of our pastors.
Q. Why so?

A. Because as they feed us spiritually, it is fit we should feed them corporally.

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Q. How prove you that?

A Out of Gal. vi. 6. Let him that is catechised in the word communicate to him that catechised him, in all his goods. And I Cor. ix. 13, 14. They that serve the altar participate with the altar, and so the Lord ordained that they who preach the gospel should live by the gospel.

The Sixth Precept of the Church Expounded.

Q. WHAT is the sixth?

A. Not to solemnize marriage on times prohibited; that is, from the first Sunday of Advent until Twelfth day be past, nor from Ash-Wednesday until Low-Sunday be past.

Q. Why so?

A. Because those are times of special piety and penance, therefore not to be spent in feasting, or carnal pleasures.

Q. What sin is it to break any of these church commandments?

A. A mortal sin of disobedience, according to that, He that will not hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen and publican, St. Matt. xviii. 17.

CHAP. X.

The Counsel of Christ and his Church Expounded.

Q. HOW many counsels are there?

A. There be three principal ones.

Q. What is the first of them?

A. Voluntary poverty, which is observed by leaving all things to follow Christ.

Q. How prove you that to be a work of perfection?

A. Out of St. Matt. xix. 21. If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell the things which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven, and come and follow me. Q. How prove you this to be meritorious?

A. Out of the same chap. v. xxvii. 28, 29, when St. Peter asked Christ, saying, Behold, we have forsaken all things, and followed thee, what therefore shall we have? Our Lord answered him, "Every one that hath left his house, or his lands, or his brethren, or his sisters, for my sake, shall receive a hundred fold, and possess everlasting life."

The Second Counsel.

Q. WHAT is the second counsel ?

A. Perpetual chastity; which is a voluntary abstaining from marriage, and all carnal pleasures, for the love of God. Q. Is this also a work of perfection?