A Double Catechism, Title page – Dedication
A Double Catechiſme, one more large, following the order of the common authorized Catechiſme, and an expoſition thereof: now this ſecond time publiſhed: the other ſhorter for the weaker ſort: both ſet forth for the benefit of Chriſtian friends and wel-willers.
By Richard Bernard, Maſter of Arts, and Preacher of Gods word at Worſop in Nottingham-ſhire.
1. TIM. 4. 1. 2.
I charge thee before God, and before the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, which ſhall iudge the quicke and dead, at his appearing, and in his kingdome, preach the word, be inſtant in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon.
r. Pet. 2. 2.
As new-borne babes deſire that ſincere milke of the word, that ye may grow thereby.
CAMBRIDGE, Printed by Iohn Legate. 1607.
To the right Worſhipfull the towardly young Gentleman, and of great good hopes, M. William Cavendiſh, ſonne and heire to the right Honorable William, Lord Cavendiſh, increaſe of all true honour and happines is moſt hartily wiſhed.
RIGHT Worſhipfull, it is written of one, a kings ſonne, that he aſked 3. things at Gods hands, outward proſperitie, inward comforts, and ſuch glorie as ſhold be neither falſe nor fained. What more to be happy? The firſt of theſe you hauehave by birth, and your parents wealth & honor: the ſecond, Salomon tels you, how you may hauehave, by the getting & keeping a good conſcience, which is a continual feaſt: and the third is purchaſed for you by Chriſt, if you by faith can take hold of him, by whom (which is the true and greateſt glorie) we are made the ſonnes of God, and coheires with him of the Paradiſe of God, and the vnſpeakable ioyes thereof. All theſe three muſt concurre to make a man bleſſed: no happineſſe in the firſt without the ſecond: no ſoundneſſe in the ſecond to abide without the third. Looſe Chriſt, a dew conſcience comforts: and outward goods and honour without inward health of grace, is an eſtate carnally of eſtimation, but indeed hopeleſſe of the Saints bleſſed condition. Great wealth, & noble birth, without the ſoules ſpirituall breath, is as a ſhippe vnderunder full ſaile in a tempeſtuous Sea without ſterne or Pylote: a caſe moſt daungerous: more like it is there ſhould be ſhipwracke, than that it ſhould come in ſafety to the hauen. Your ſhip is not yet at the ſea, you are but launching out, hitherto you hauehave lyen in harbour: ballance your ſoule with ſound knowledge, and holy affections before you aduenture: take with you your prouiſion, and be ſure you ſeaſon your fleſh with the ſalt of Gods word, leſt it corrupt at ſea, and you want neceſſaries, and be forced to go a ſhore before you come vntounto your determined place.
Salomon telleth vsus, that the young man which cheareth his heart vp in the dayes of his youth, to walke in the euill waies thereof, and in the ſight of his eyes, muſt know, that for theſe things God will bring him to iudgement: and therefore he aduiſeth him to remember his Creator in the dayes of his ſtrength, before the time come, when he ſhall confeſſe, that ſinne hath as much left him, as he it. Surely, Sir, if you betimes, as I hope you do, remember the Lord, and ſeeke him, as Dauid ſaid to the child Salomon, he will be found of you: which he of his mercy graunt: but if you forſake him, he will forſake you; which God of his goodneſſe forbid. The aduancement of Ioſeph amongſt Pharaoes Princes, and Daniels honour aboue the great Baſſaes of Babylon, may ſhew you the truth of the one: and that young mans miſerable end, beautifull Abſolon, and Dauids deare ſonne, may ratifie the certaintie of the other. Gods fauour is the fountaine of bliſſe, and in thoſe onelyonly he delighteth that feare him.
The good tokens of your good affectiō towards me, and towards the preachers of Gods word, the louelove you do ſhew to further the paſſage of the Goſpell, both in word and liberall deeds, hath mooued me to offer this my labour vntounto you: both to teſtifie my thankfulneſſe, and to manifeſt vntounto the world our good hopes of you, which I deſire that you may daily occaſion by holy fruites of obedience to be iuſtified of many, to Gods glory and your owne welfare.
The Lord Almightie protect you and that honorable houſe whereof you are, and enlarge the name thereof, as with earthly renowne, ſo euer much more with ſpirituall bleſſings, that it wiſhing well to the Iſrael of God, peace and merciemercy may be vponupon it: and the louing countenance of God now ſhine vponupon all therein, that hartily deſire the welfare of Sion, and the peace of Ieruſalem for euer.
Amen.
Worſop, the 28. of Nouember. Your Worſhips eueryevery way readie in all things in Chriſt Ieſus, Richard Bernard.