FAITH. the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped; who subvert ON whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. Tit. i. 10, 11. But if thy brother neglect to hear the Church, let him be to thee as an heathen man and a publican. Mat. xviii. 17. Q. What Ecclesiastical Institution is there through which the succession of the Apostolical ministry is preserved ? A. The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy. Q. Whence originates the Hierarchy of the Orthodox Christian Church? A. From Jesus Christ Himself, and from the descent of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles; from which time it is continued in unbroken succession, through the laying on of hands, in the sacrament of Orders. And He gave some, Apostles; and some, Prophets; and some, Evangelists; and some Pastors and Teachers; for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ. Eph. iv. 11, 12. Q. What hierarchical authority is there, which can extend its sphere of action over the whole Catholic Church? A. An Ecumenical Council. Q. Under what hierarchical authority are the chief divisions of the Catholic Church? A. Underthe Orthodox Patriarchs, and the Most Holy Synod. Q. Under what ecclesiastical authority are lesser orthodox provinces and cities? A. Under Metropolitans, Archbishops, and Bishops. Q. What rank in the hierarchy is held by the Most Holy Synod? A. The same rank with the Most Holy Orthodox Patriarchs. See the Letters of the M. H. Patriarchs on the institution of the M. H. Synod. Q. If any one desire to fulfil his duty of obedience to the Church, how may he learn what she requires of her children? A. This may be learned from holy Scripture, from the canons of the holy Apostles, the holy Ecumenical and Provincial Councils, and the holy Fathers, and from the Books of Ecclesiastical Rules and Rubrics. FIRST ON THE TENTH ARTICLE. Q. Why does the Creed mention Baptism? A. Because faith is sealed by Baptism, and the other Mysteries or Sacraments. Q. What is a Mystery or Sacrament? A. A Mystery or Sacrament is a holy act, through which grace, or, in other words, the saving power of God, works mysteriously upon man. Q. How many are the Sacraments? A. Seven": 1. Baptism; 2. Unction with Chrism; 3. Communion; 4. Penitence; 5. Orders; 6. Matrimony; 7. Unction with Oil. Q. What virtue is there in each of these Sacraments? A. 1. In Baptism man is mysteriously born to a spiritual life. 2. In Unction with Chrism he receives a grace of spiritual growth and strength. 3. In the Communion he is spiritually fed. 4. In Penitence he is healed of spiritual diseases, that is, of sin. 5. In Orders he receives grace spiritually to regenerate, feed, and nurture others, by doctrine and Sacraments. 6. In Matrimony he receives a grace sanctifying the married life, and the natural procreation and nurture of children. 7. In Unction with Oil he has medicine even for bodily diseases, in that he is healed of spiritual. Q. But why does not the Creed mention all these Sacraments, instead of mentioning Baptism only? A. Because Baptism was the subject of a question, whether some people, as heretics, ought not to be rebaptized; and this required a decision, which so came to be put into the Creed. ON BAPTISM. Q. What is Baptism? A. Baptism is a Sacrament, in which a man who believes, having his body thrice plunged in water in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, dies to the carnal A. First, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. Acts xix. 4. Afterwards, Jesus Christ by His own example sanctified Baptism, when He received it from John. Lastly, after His resurrection, He gave the Apostles this solemn commandment; Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Mat. xxviii. 19. Q. What is most essential in the administration of Baptism? A. Trine immersion in water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Q. What is required of him that seeks to be baptized? A. Repentance, and faith; for which cause also before Baptism they recite the Creed. Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts ii. 38. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved. Mark xvi. 16. Q. But why then are children baptized? A. For the faith of their parents and sponsors, who are also bound to teach them the faith, so soon as they are of an age to learn. Q. How can you shew from holy Scripture that we ought to baptize infants? A. In the time of the Old Testament infants were circumcised when eight days old; but Baptism in the New Testament takes the place of circumcision; consequently infants should also be baptized. Q. Whence does it appear that Baptism takes the place of circumcision? ON FAITH. FIRST ON THE TENTH ARTICLE. Q. Why does the Creed mention Baptism? A. Because faith is sealed by Baptism, and the other Mysteries or Sacraments. Q. What is a Mystery or Sacrament? A. A Mystery or Sacrament is a holy act, through which grace, or, in other words, the saving power of God, works mysteriously upon man. Q. How many are the Sacraments? A. Seven2: 1. Baptism; 2. Unction with Chrism; 3. Communion; 4. Penitence; 5. Orders; 6. Matrimony; 7. Unction with Oil. Q. What virtue is there in each of these Sacraments? A. 1. In Baptism man is mysteriously born to a spiritual life. 2. In Unction with Chrism he receives a grace of spiritual growth and strength. 3. In the Communion he is spiritually fed. 4. In Penitence he is healed of spiritual diseases, that is, of sin. 5. In Orders he receives grace spiritually to regenerate, feed, and nurture others, by doctrine and Sacraments. 6. In Matrimony he receives a grace sanctifying the married life, and the natural procreation and nurture of children. 7. In Unction with Oil he has medicine even for bodily diseases, in that he is healed of spiritual. Q. But why does not the Creed mention all these Sacraments, instead of mentioning Baptism only? A. Because Baptism was the subject of a question, whether some people, as heretics, ought not to be rebaptized; and this required a decision, which so came to be put into the Creed. ON BAPTISM. Q. What is Baptism? A. Baptism is a Sacrament, in which a man who believes, having his body thrice plunged in water in the name of God FAITH. the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, dies to the carnal ON life of sin, and is born again of the Holy Ghost to a life spiritual and holy". Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John iii. 5. Q. When and how began Baptism? A. First, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. Acts xix. 4. Afterwards, Jesus Christ by His own example sanctified Baptism, when He received it from John. Lastly, after His resurrection, He gave the Apostles this solemn commandment; Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Mat. xxviii. 19. Q. What is most essential in the administration of Baptism? A. Trine immersion in water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Q. What is required of him that seeks to be baptized? A. Repentance, and faith; for which cause also before Baptism they recite the Creed. Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts ii. 38. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved. Mark xvi. 16. Q. But why then are children baptized? A. For the faith of their parents and sponsors, who are also bound to teach them the faith, so soon as they are of an age to learn. Q. How can you shew from holy Scripture that we ought to baptize infants? A. In the time of the Old Testament infants were circumcised when eight days old; but Baptism in the New Testament takes the place of circumcision; consequently infants should also be baptized. Q. Whence does it appear that Baptism takes the place of circumcision? |