Outward seruice of God.
The Parts of Outward Service
The Master asks what the parts of outward service are, and the Scholar answers by listing the teaching and hearing of the gospel, the pure use of ceremonies and sacraments, and prayer through Christ that obtains the Holy Spirit.
Teacher. What are the parts of that outward service of God which you said just now consists in certain bodily exercises, which are also tokens of serving him inwardly. Scholar. First, to teach and hear the gospel taught; then, the pure and natural use of the ceremonies and Sacraments; and finally, prayer to God through Christ and in his name, which without fail obtains the Holy Spirit, the surest author of all true service of God and upright religion.1
Read the original English
Master. What be the parts of that outwarde seruynge God? whyche thou saydest euen now, dyd stand in certain bodily exercises: which are also tokēs of the inward seruinge hym.
Scholer. Fyrst, to teache, and heare the learnynge of the gospel: thē the pure and naturall vse of the ceremonies and sacramentes: last of all prayer made vnto God by Christe, and in the name of Christ, which without faile obteineth the holly ghoste, the moste assured author of all trew seruynge God, and vpryght religion.
Notes
- 1 ↩"Natural use" (source: naturall vse) here means the proper, instituted use of ceremonies and Sacraments, not a merely physical or instinctive practice; in Reformation catechesis it contrasts with corrupt or superstitious use.
John Ponet's Short Catechisme (1553) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit