Short Grounds of Catechism, Title page – To the reader
Short Grounds of CATECHISME: Delivered by way of Question and Answer, with plaine proofes for the Answer set downe at large.
By WILLIAM WARD Minister of the Word at Guysbrough in Cleave land within Yorkesh re.
IOB 5 last.
Lo, this we have searched, and so it is: heare it, and know it for thy good.
ACTS 17. 11.
These were more noble then they of Thessalonica, receiving the Word withall alacritie, daily searching the Scriptures whether those things were so.
CAMBRIDGE: Printed by the Printers to the Ʋniversitie. 1027.
TO THE READER.
ALthough there be Catechismes enough, whom I might have followed in teaching our Child… yet I though: fitter to choose that, which our Mother the Church hath commended to us for that purpose, and which in truth, containes the grounds as rightly deciphered and truely disposed as any other; so as for all manner of Explanation, Confirmation, and Enlargement, I could not have followed a better Guide: Having therefore conceived such Questions as I thought fittest to explaine the severall foundations of Catechisme, and sought out according to my weake ability some places of Scripture, (the onelyonly true foundation of our Faith) to confirme the conscience … very point, both of Faith and of Obedience, desiring that the Youth might learne and have in memory, as well the holy Scriptures confirming, as the Doctrines thereby confirmed, I perceived it was both a wearisome trouble to them to search and w… …ut so many places, (and our lazie daies are hardly drawne to laborious workes especially in matters of Religion) and also the places, though truely quoted, were often so unfuly and obscurely extracted through their weakenesse, as it required a second labour to unteach their mistakings: for this onelyonly purpose I resolved, (to which otherwise I should never have been drawne) to offer it to the Presse; h…ping that (seeing custome hath bred a willingnesse to commit Catechismes to memorie) it will be no small instruction to youth, to have in readines in their hearts plain places of holy Scripture, to confirme every maine point of our Profession. For my doing herein, I have for president Bucaeus, who hath in like sort done; this excepted, that I have neither with him brought in any testimonie without the Scriptures, nor (except verie seldome) from the Apochryphall, as beeing insufficient for foundation, howsoever of holy and profitable instruction. What is done for thy good take in good part, and the Lord blesse it to thy edification for his Christs sake.
Thine in the Lord, W. WARD.