The Sweet Milk of Christian Doctrine, Title page – Prayer
THE Sweet Milke Of CHRISTIAN Doctrine: In a plaine and naturall Method, by Queſtion and Anſwere, for their better vnderſtanding, for whom it is chiefly written.
1. PET. 2.2.
As new borne Babes deſire the ſincere milke of the Word, that you may grow thereby.
LONDON, Printed by George Purſlowe, for Iohn Hodges. 1617.
To my VVelbeloued friends and Neighbours, the inhabitants and people of Leigh, in Eſſex; grace, mercy and peace be multiplied, from God the Father, through our Lord IESVS CHRIST. (**)
AS there is not anie one thing, whereof he, that is in hand to build any great and magnificent building, ſhould bee more carefull, then that he do lay the foundatiō therof firm and ſure; otherwiſe, he ſhall not only loſe his coſt and trauell ſpent about it, but alſo endanger his life in it, by the vnexpected tumbling of it downe vponupon his head: ſo likewiſe, that Chriſtian, who would ſo build vp and reare the great and luſty frame of the work of his ſaluation, that hee may not in the end both loſe his labour and charges, and alſo himſelfe bee cruſhed vnderunder it, and vtterly periſh by the dreadful fall thereof; as it befell to him, who built his houſe vponupon the ſand:Math. 7.27 hath need to look to lay the foundation thereof certaine, ſure, and proportionable in the vndeceiuable and ſteady principles & grounds of Chriſtianitie; which doe virtually comprehend and ſuſtaine the huge and weighty burden of the whole building of religion, wherin he doth repoſe himſelfe.
Which grounds, though they ly low in the building, are not therefore the more to be neglected or diſpiſed of any, but rather the more to be regarded and carefully preſerued, for the neceſſary vſe and aboundant profit, which thence doth ariſe to a ſound Chriſtian: for this foundation beeing once well layd and continued, it is a ſtrong fortreſſe againſt errour and hereſie: for though a man be not ſo expert in the Scripture, as to know the true and naturall meaning of all the texts thereof, yet may he boidly reiect that doctrine,2. Ioh. 10 which doth not proportionably agree with the frame and analogie of faith,Rom. 12.6 ſummarily compriſed in the grounds of religion for the ſimple truth comming all from the ſame Spirit, cannot bee contradictorie to it ſelfe.
Againe, by the knowledge of the principles of religion, a good Chriſtian may be both an vnderſtanding and iudicious Reader and hearer of the word: for there is not any truth deliuered cōcerning our ſaluation, which he may not plainly ſee both to ariſe from, and agree with ſome of the grounds and principles of religion, whereunto he may referre it: for the truth is vniforme.
Finally, a man furniſhed with the ſound vnderſtanding of theſe grounds,1. Pet. 3.15. 2. Tim. 2.2 is able to render a good and ſufficient reaſon of his faith; and to informe and eſtabliſh others in the ſame things, not confuſedly only in ſome good notes here and there ſcatteringly gathered, but orderly and with iudgement in the whole frame of Chriſtian Religion, briefly compact in one intire bodie.
Further, that theſe Principles of Religion ſhould bee ſet downe by way of Queſtion and Anſwer, it is without queſtiō the moſt profitable way for the ſimpler ſort of people; the which courſe of catechiſing, is both largely cōmended by the learned, and ſtraightly vrged by authority, of which kind of teaching there be models and methods almoſt infinite: which in my iudgement is not to be blamed as a vice, but rather commended as a vertue; when they doe all agree in the ſame ſubſtance of truth, though differ in the manner of contriuing and handling thereof, according to the variety and multiplicity of the gifts of Gods Spirit:1. Cor. 12.4. for therby a more irrefragable teſtimony is publikely giuen to the truth, when all writings apert, and after ſeuerall maners, doe all agree in one and the ſame verity. And whereas the diſpoſition, manners, and opinions of ſeueral people, in ſeueral places and ages do differ; for the rectifying thereof, theſe ſeuerall and differing formes and methods of teaching are wel (by Gods prouidence) fitted.
Now, ſeeing that after that Catechifme ſet downe in the book of Common praier, whereby children are prepared for confirmation, wee are not by authority tied only to vſe al any one certaine form of Catechiſm, for the edification of them of riper yeeres: therefore taking the benefit of that common liberty, for the further building vp of that part of Gods Church committed to my charge, I doe by the long and earneſt importunity of many of you (my louing friends, to whō I am not onelyonly willing cheerefully to impart my trauels,1. Theſ. 2.8 but euen alſo mine owne ſelfe for your good) ſuffer this briefe and plaine draight to be wrung from me, to come abroad amongſt multitudes of the ſame nature: not hereby to finde fault with, or diſparage any of them, but that thereby with my greater eaſe I may the better benefit and helpe you, both by catechiſing and preaching: for when both catechiſing and preaching come framed out of the ſame mould, the one orderly agreeing with the other; the one doth both confirme and illuſtrate the other to the hearers: as when the foundation and walls of a houſe are both of one proportion, it is moſt ſtrong and ſightly: and alſo the Church being by this little publike taſte ſatisfied and contented touching the ſame doctrine,Gal. 2.9 which you are ordinarily taught in priuate, her approbation and allowance thereof, may bee a ſtrong motiue to cauſe you the more to regard it: for my part, I hauehave no greater ioy then that you walke in the truth.3. Ioh. 4
Take this as a fore-runner and pledge of a larger Treatiſe, which ſome of you hauehave much expected, to wit, the body of practicall and caſe diuinity, which longer time, by further experience and ſtudy, muſt firſt better perfect and poliſh. In this method, I hauehave ſought to be both ſhort and plaine, for to helpe the memorie and vnderſtanding of the meaneſt amongſt vsus; the proofes I hauehave quoted with the Anſweres, the words whereof I pray you to ſearch, for the benefit both of your ſelues and families: that your faith being built, not vponupon mans word but Gods,2. Tim. 1.12. it may remaine ſure, knowing whom you hauehave beleeued.
And ſo I pray you, my good friends, giuegive all diligence to make your calling and election ſure,2. Peter 1.10, 5 by adding vntounto your faith vertue, to vertue knowledge, to knowledge temperance, to temperance patience, to patience godlineſſe, to godlineſſe brotherly kindneſſe, to brotherly kindneſſe louelove: and ſo being careful that both you and yours bee fearers of the Lord,Pſal. 115.11, 12, 13, 14. you may be aſſuredly perſwaded that God will be your helpe and ſhield, he will bleſſe you both great and ſmall, the Lord wil increaſe you more & more, you and your children, as hee hath done your vertuous forefathers in this place, who hauehave proued it true, that Godlineſſe is great gaine.1. Tim. 6.6 Now the very God of peace ſanctifie you throughout; and I pray God your whole ſpirit, and ſoule,1. Theſ. 5.23. and bodie be preſerued blameleſſe vntounto the comming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. AMEN.
Your louing and carefull Miniſter and Paſtor, IOHN SYME.
A PRAYER.
WEe doe humbly thanke thee, (O Lord our God and heauenly Father) for thy manifold and gracious mercies continually beſtowed vponupon vsus, for the good both of our ſoules and bodies; whereof we doe humbly confeſſe our ſelues to bee moſt vnworthy, in regard of our vnthankfulnes, and manifold and grieuous ſinnes, whereby we doe alwaies offend thy ſacred Maieſty, and vexe thy holy Spirit: but thou (O Lord) who art the infinite fountaine of mercy, hauehave pitty and compaſſion vponupon vsus, poore ſinners, to illuminate the blind eyes of our minds, that wee may ſee our ſinnes and wretched eſtate; ſo ſoften our flinty & hard hearts, that wee may therefore relent and melt before thee, vnderunder the ſenſe and féeling of the grieuouſneſſe of the ſame: and ſo to frame our affections, that wée may euer loath and abhorre them. And gracious Father of heauen, forgiue and pardon vntounto vsus our ſinnes, ſaue and deliuer vsus from this our miſerable condition, through the onelyonly merit and mediation of thy Sonne, our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST: And grant vntounto vsus a true and ſauing faith to beleeue in him, that we may thereby be grafted into him, and may be by his bloud waſhed from all our ſinnes, and cloathed with his righteouſneſſe, that ſo wee may hauehave in our conſciences the ſwéete teſtimony and aſſurance of thy louelove and fauour in him: and giuegive vntounto vsus thy holy Spirit, wherby in the vertue of Chriſt Ieſus, wee may growe vp in newneſſe of life, that wee may thereby glorifie thée. For this purpoſe, Lord, bleſſe vntounto vsus al good means, that we may know thy wil, that we may remember it, that wee may louelove it, and delight in it, and giuegive vsus grace ſo to expreſſe the power of it in our liues, in all godly wiſdome and diſcretion, that wée may euer keepe the faith and a good conſcience to the end. Lord preſerue and keepe vsus from all dangers of ſoule and body; prouide and bleſſe for vsus al things needfull, and grant vsus comfortably to be contented therewith. Lord fit vsus for our callings, make vsus faithfull in them, and bleſſe our trauels and labors therin: GiueGive vsus grace euer to hauehave our conuerſation with thée in heauen, for the which Lord keep vsus and prepare vsus, and bring vsus thereunto in thy good time, that ſo we may raigne with thée for euer in happineſſe; through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord and onelyonly Sauiour: To whom with thee and thy holy Spirit be all honour, glory and prayſe, for euer and euer, AMEN.