Power, and the Glory, for ever and ever. When we thus assert that to God belongs the Kingdom, we mean that to Him belongs the Dominion over all creation', and that though there is a kingdom of Satan2, and divers kingdoms of men, yet the Kingdom belongeth to Him, that He is exalted as Head over all (1 Chr. xxix. 11), and is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords (1 Tim. vi. 15).

3. And the Power. The second reason why we trust that our Petitions will be heard, is because to God belongs not only the Right but the Power to do as seemeth Him fit. As we express it in the Creed, He is Omnipotent3; He can do all things, and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou? (Dan. iv. 35); He is all-sufficient, the Source of all strength and might. But not only does He by His never-failing Providence order all things both in heaven and earth, but He declares His Almighty power most chiefly in showing mercy and pity, He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph. iii. 20), and is always more ready to hear than we to pray, and wont to give more than either we desire or deserve. On Him, therefore, to whom the Power belongeth, and from whom all other powers are derived, we may well depend, to help us in the hour of need.

4. And the Glory. Moreover, as the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, and the Source of all power and might, to Him belong the Glory and the Majesty (1 Chr. xxix. 11), and to Him are due the Honour and the Praise from every order of created beings. Glory to God in the highest was

I See Ps. xxii. 28; xcv. 3; ciii. 19; Dan. iv. 25.
2 See above, p. 115, n. 3 See above, p. 21.
4 Collect for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity.
5 Collect for the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity.
6 Collect for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity.

part of the Angels' Song at the Incarnation of our blessed Lord (Lk. ii. 14). Father, glorify Thy Name, was one of His prayers on earth (Jn. xii. 28). Glory, honour, and thanks to the Lord God Almighty, is the perpetual ascription of ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of the hierarchy of heaven (Rev. iv. 3—11; V. 11—14). “When, therefore, we put God in mind of His glory, we have little cause to doubt of audience'," for we make mention of that which He loves, and which He will not give to another (Isai. xlii. 8), and we need not fear, if it be for His glory, but that our request shall be granted.

ever.

5. For ever and ever. Moreover, the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory belong to Him for ever and His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion endureth throughout all generations (Ps. cxlv. 13); before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made, He is God from everlasting, and world without end2 (Ps. xc. 2). As, therefore, He changeth not, and with Him is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (Jas. i. 17), as He is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever (Heb. xiii. 8); ever a King, and so ready to help His subjects; ever a Potentate, and so able to do that which seemeth Him right; we may trust that what we have heard with our ears, and our fathers have declared unto us, of the noble works that He did in their days, and in the old time before them3, our heavenly Father will do also for us, "if not always according to our wish, will, and desire4," yet as it shall promote our salvation and His glory (Rom. viii. 32, 38, 39).

1 Nicholson On the Catechism, p. 177; Nowell's Catechism, pp. 204, 205.

2 The Prayer-Book Version.

3 Ps. xliv. 1, and compare the clause in the Litany.
4 Nicholson On the Catechism, p. 179.

6. Amen. Therefore we say at the close of the Lord's Prayer, Amen1, which expresses not only So be it, but also So it is2. As So be it, it denotes our own hope and trust that God will of His mercy and goodness do for us according to our petitions. As So it is, it expresses our faith, our full assurance, and confidence that the attributes ascribed really belong to Him, that as He is the Amen, the faithful and true (Rev. iii. 14), He will also do according to that He hath promised (1 Thess. v. 24).

1 Amen literally = firm, true, and, as a substantive, that which is true, truth. It was the proper response of the person to whom an oath was administered (1 Chr. xvi. 36; Neh. v. 13; viii. 6); and the Deity, to whom appeal is made on such occasions, is called the God of Amen (Isai. lxv. 16), as being a witness to the sincerity of the implied compact." Compare its use in (i) Deut. xxvii. 15-26; (ii) 2 Cor. i. 20; (iii) Rev. iii. 14, and see Smith's Bibl. Dict. Art. Amen.

2Fratres mei, Amen vestrum subscriptio vestra est, consentio vestra est, adstipulatio vestra est." S. Augustin. Serm. Dom. LVII.

3 "And this the Lorde's Prayer we must ever ende with this worde Amen. Whiche is asmuche to say, as surely I trust it shall be so. And it is not ynough to say Amen with our tongue onely, but also Amen must be in our harte, and continew and tarry there, that is to saye, we ought to believe suerly and constantlye that our prayer is hearde, and that our heauvenly Father wyll grant vs our petitions." Cranmer's Catechism, p. 180.

PART V.

THE SACRAMENTS.

QUESTION. How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Church? ANSWER. Two only, as generally necessary to salvation, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord.

QUESTION. What meanest thou by this word Sacrament? -ANSWER. I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Christ him

self, as a means whereby we receive the same,

to assure us thereof.

and a pledge

QUESTION. How many parts are there in a Sacrament? -ANSWER. Two; the outward visible sign, and the inward spiritual grace.

QUESTION. What is the outward visible sign or form in Baptism?-ANSWER. Water; wherein the person is baptized IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST.

QUESTION. What is the inward and spiritual grace?ANSWER. A death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness: for being by nature born in sin, and the children of wrath, we are hereby made the children of grace.

QUESTION. What is required of persons to be baptized? -ANSWER. Repentance, whereby they forsake sin; and Faith, whereby they stedfastly believe the promises of God made to them in that Sacrament.

QUESTION. Why then are Infants baptized, when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them ?— ANSWER. Because they promise them both by their Sureties; which promise, when they come to age, themselves are bound to perform.

QUESTION. Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained?-ANSWER. For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ, and of the benefits which we receive thereby.

QUESTION. What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper?-ANSWER. Bread and Wine, which the Lord hath commanded to be received.

QUESTION. What is the inward part, or thing signified? -ANSWER. The Body and Blood of Christ, which are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper.

QUESTION. What are the benefits whereof we are partakers thereby?-ANSWER. The strengthening and refreshing of our souls by the Body and Blood of Christ, as our bodies are by the Bread and Wine.

QUESTION. What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper?-ANSWER. To examine themselves, whether they repent them truly of their former sins, stedfastly purposing to lead a new life; have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of his death; and be in charity with all men.

SECTION I.

The Number and Nature of the Sacraments.

1.

CHAPTER I.

NUMBER OF THE SACRAMENTS.

Connection. Having treated of the Creed, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer, the Catechism proceeds to speak of the Sacraments, whereby God doth "present, exhibit, and seal1" to us the blessed effects of the Redemption wrought for us men by His Only-begotten Son,

2. Number of the Sacraments. Its first question, therefore, relates to the number of the Sacraments ordained by Christ in His Church. And it teaches us to say that He ordained two only as generally necessary to salvation, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord.

3. Proved from the Gospels. That our blessed Lord ordained but two Sacraments is clear from the Gospel narrative. There we find that shortly before He ascended up to heaven He bade His Apostles Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the

1 Nicholson On the Catechism, pp. 182, 188.

2 See Article xxv. The Church of Rome holds that there are five other Ordinances, which may be called Sacraments, "that is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreme Unction." These, however, “have grown partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures; but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptism and the Lord's Supper, for that they have not any visible sign or ceremony ordained of God."