The Christians Alphabet, Title page – Table of contents
THE CHRISTIANS A. B. C.
Or, A Christian ALPHABET, contayning grounds of knowledge vntounto Saluation.
First propounded in Alphabeticall forme, each proposition being seconded with some solid reason.
Secondly repeated by way of Question and Answer, with the proofe of eueryevery particular point of doctrine.
Acquainting the Reader with the most select texts of Scripture, whereupon our Christian faith is grounded.
By I. P. B. of D.
Heb. 5.12.
When for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye hauehave need that one teach you againe, which be the first principles of the Oracles of God.
¶ London, Printed by THO. HARPER for Fulke Clifton, and are to be sold at his shop on Fishstreet-hill. 1629.
TO THE RIGHT Worshipfull, the Maior and the …urats his Brethren: and to the Communaltie of the Town and Port Limme of Feuersham in Kent. I.P. wisheth the foundation of sauing knowledge, in this life, and the perfection thereof in the life to come.
Right Worshipfull & Beloued:
IT is a knowne truth, that in all Acts, there are certaine principles or grounds, vponupon which they rest, as vponupon a sure foundation. And in that regard, all Students in any kind of literature, doe in the first place settle themselues vponupon that rest, conceiuing it (and that rightly) to be the most compendious way to attain knowledge, and the best art of memory to retaine it.
This being an vndeniable truth in the light of humane reason, is much more preualent in Diuine learning. See we not that the best Instructor doth intimate so much by his own briefe methode of teaching? for doth he not conclude all Morall duties in one short Decalogue, that is, as Moses speakes, in Tenne words? HaueHave wee not a perfect patterne of Religious deuotion, giuen vntounto vsus of our Lord, comprizing all the requisites of true prayer, in a briefe forme, consisting but of sixe or seauen petitions?
What else import all those titles in sacred Scripture, The forme of knowledge. Rom. 2.20.The pattern of wholesome words. 2 Tim. 1.13.The first principles of the Oracles or word of God. The principles of the doctrine of Christ, Heb. 5.12. Heb. 6.1.or the word of the beginning of Christ, t…rmed by the Apostle, The laying of the foundation▪ doth he not there reduce all to sixe heads, viz. Repentance, Faith, Baptisme, Imposition of hands, Resurrection of the dead, and eternall iudgement?
Is there not a common Rule of Christian Religion, which we call the Apostles Creed, according to which whosoeuer shape not their profession, we …ffoord them not so much as the name of Christianitie? And though they professe it in word, yet if they hold not the truth in the antique sense of it, doe wee not iustly taxe them of vnsoundnes?
Looke into the coure and practise of the Christian Church in all ages,… and w… shall finde that they did not giuegive to babes in Christ,Heb. 5.13.14. strong meat by and by: but did first feede them with the milke of Catechisticall instruction.
Hence it is, that we reade of the Catecumeni in the Primitiue Church, that they were held so long in the schoole of instruction, as it were in the threshold of Christianitie, lest they should enter the Sanctuary, and arriue at the summitie or top of Christian prosession vnseasoned; or being not well grounded, might easily fall away from the truth, in those dangerous times of triall.
It is greatly to be desired, that this course might be constantly continued, both in the teacher and in the hearers, that the one may the better lead the way, and as the Psalmist speakes, guide them with his owne eye of knowledge. Psal. 32.8.And that the other may the better follow their good guides with stayed iudgement, receiuing the truth, not as the word of man, but as it is in deed the word of God.
Let it be obserued what aduantage the common Aduersarie hath gotten by their pettie Pamphlet, in this kinde: who though they keepe their blindfold followers in so palpable darkenesse, that they neither suffer them to looke into the light of Gods word, nor so much as to vnderstand their Liturgies, Mass…s, Prayers, or other seruices in their publique assemblies, yet they politikely hold them in by this strong band, insinuating vntounto them, that resting vponupon the implicite faith of what their Church beleeues, it is sufficient for their saluation, that for faith, they can repeat their Credo: for deuotion, that they can turne their Beads, say the Pater-noster, the Aue Maria, &c. for morality, if they know …he seauen deadly sinnes, the eight beatitudes, the Comandements of the Church, the workes of mercy gh…stly and bodily, together with the Decal…gue, prouided alwayes that they bawke the second Commandement, lest thereby their abhominable Idolatry should be detected.
Againe, note we to our griefe (if wee hauehave any feeling of the state of our Church) what disparagement this vnskilful, or at least incautious building must needs be vntounto vsus, when our teachers doe not with S. Paul as a wise Master-builder,1 Cor. 3.…0 lay the foundation: which did they respectiuely obserue, both in their priuate course of study, and publique imployments, neither should they themselues so easily diuert from the infallible rule of Diuine truth in holy writ, and from the sound doctrine and tenet of their deare mother, The Church of England: nor prostitute the soules committed to their charge, to the daily seducement of Romish Impostors, and insinuations of subtile Schismaticks.
Great is the praise of our Christian Church of England herein, not only in that it doth propound Orthodox principles, whereunto it requires the vnanimous consent of all her Clergy; but doth withall enioyne, that there be a constant course of acquainting the people therewith, by way of Catechisme.
And well did his most excellent Maiestie King Iames of blessed memory, second this good worke, by his Royall charge giuen in speciall letters directed to the Ministery of England, for the respectiue handling of the grounds of Religion eueryevery Sunday in the after-noone.
Neither hath our Princely and pious King Charles beene herein wanting, as we may see by his Royall and religious care in causing the articles of Religion to be reprinted: besides other expressions both of his owne constancy in the truth, and desire that the discreet and painefull ministery, teaching piety towards God, and loyalty to their Soueraigne, should bend their force against the common enemy.
Amongst others, I hauehave for my part endeauoured in all sincerity of heart, according to the measure of grace giuen vntounto me, to set forward the building of Gods liuing Temple. And my labour herein (blessed be the name of him that giueth the successe) hath nor bin in vaine.
I hauehave b…ene a seruant and labourer in the Lords vineyard by the space of 30. yeares. Whereof I hauehave arriued at the 24th. yeare amongst you. In all which time my speciall care hath beene to ground you in the maine principles of Christian Religion. Among other methods, which I hauehave vsed, to allure you with variety, this Alphabeticall forme hath been one. I hauehave found it very aeceptable vntounto you, and much desired that it might come into the light. And my desire is, that you would accordingly accept it, as a second token of my louelove and due respect vntounto you all.
For the warrant of this method, wee hauehave the expresse word of God: There are all these Alphabeticall Psalmes. viz. Ps. 25.34.37.111.112.119.145. Besides the Lamentations of Ieremy, and the Catechisme or Instruction, which Solomons mother taught him, her Lemuel. My only sute vntounto you is, that you would not let this little booke be a Curranto, or as an Almanacke for a yeare, but in your families make daily and constant vse of it, to the building you vp to a perfect house and Temple of our Lord Iesus Christ, to whose gracious protection recommends you,
Your louing and ancient Pastor, Iohn Phillips.
A TABLE OF the matter contained vnderunder eueryevery Letter of this Alphabet.
A
OF the knowledge of God in generall.
B
Of faith in one God.
C
Of the Trinitie, or Three person's in one God.
D
Of the distinction of the persons in Trinitie.
E
Of the attributes or properties of God.
F
Of the creation of the world.
G
Of Gods prouidence in gouerning and preseruing all things.
H
Of one God onelyonly to bee worshipped.
I
Of man in his first creation.
K
Of the image of God wherein man was created.
L
Of the fall of man and losse of Gods image.
M
Of the miserable estate of all mankinde through Adams fall.
N
Of man his deliuerance by Christ onelyonly.
O
Of our receiuing Christ, to saluation, by faith only.
P
Of the preaching of the word, the meanes of faith.
Q
Of the inseparable properties of faith
R
Of the meanes of encreasing faith and all other graces.
S
Of Sacraments in generall.
T
Of the Sacrament of Baptisme.
V
Of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.
W
Of the state of all men dying, in respect of the soule, and of the resurrection of the body.
X
Of the day of iudgement.
Y
Of the execution of the sentence of damnation.
Z
Of the execution of the sentence of saluation.