Brief Method of Catechizing, Title page – Prayer
A BRIEFE METHODE OF CATECHIZING. Wherein are handled these foure points.
1 How miserable all men are by nature.
2 What remedie God hath appointed for their deliuerance.
3 How they must liue that are deliuered.
4 What helps they must vse to that end.
The same points are also contracted, and a forme of examining Communicants added. 1. PET. 3.15.16. Be ready alwaies to giuegive an answere to eueryevery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekenesse and feare. The sixteenth Edition, newly perused and amended by the Author.
AT LONDON, Imprinted by F. K. for Henrie Fetherstone, dwelling in Pauls Churchyard, at the signe of the Rose. 1610.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
ALthough at the first publishing of this little Catechisme, I called it a Method, only to distinguish it from other bookes of the same argument: yet since, it hath put me in mind to auoid some repetitions. But especially I hauehave respect to the benefit of the simple, for whose sakes I hauehave cut off many particular questions, and made the rest (where I conueniently could) shorter and plainer. For the same cause I hauehave set down fewer quotations, and those for the most part out of the new Testament, because the Reader might with more ease turne vntounto them. And although the most part doe let the quotations stand as ciphers in the margent,To reade and examine the places of Scripture set downe in the margent, a most profitable exercise. neuer searching the Scriptures, according to the example of those noble and worthie Christians, mentioned in the Acts, 17.11. yet I would aduise thee Christian Reader, to reforme the common fault, and with all care and diligence, to turne to the places which are noted, that thy faith and conscience may bee grounded, not vponupon the speeches of men, but vpō the words of the holie Ghost: to whose gratious and comfortable direction I commend and commit thee now and euer.
Thine in the Lord Iesus, ST. EGERTON.
PLACES OF SCRIPture, shewing the necessitie and antiquitie of Catechizing, aswell priuately, as publikely. Testimonies.
THese words which I command thee this day shall bee in thy heart,Deut. 16.6.7.8. and thou shalt rehearse them continuallie (setting an edge vponupon them) vntounto thy children: and thou shalt talke of them when thou tariest in thy house, &c.
For precept must be vponupon precept,Esai. 20.18. precept vponupon precept, line vntounto line, line vntounto line, there a little, and there a little.
Therefore leauing the doctrine of the beginning of Christ,Heb. 6.1.2. let vsus be led forward to perfection, not laying againe the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith to God, &c.
And the Lord said, shall I hide from Abraham Abraham.that thing which I doe?Gen. 18.17 for I know him that he will command his sons, and his household after him, &c.
Dauid. 1. Chro. 28.9.10.And thou Salomon my sonne, know thou the God of thy father, and serue him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind, &c.
Christ. Mat. 16.15.16.17.He said vntounto them, But who say yee that I am? Then Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art Christ, the Sonne of the liuing God. And Iesus answered and said vntounto him, Blessed art thou Simon the sonne of Ionas, &c.
And Philip Philip.ranne thither, and heard him reade the Prophet Esaias, Act. 8.30.31.35.36.37.and said: But vnderstandest thou that thou readest? And he said, How can I, except I hauehave a guide?
Bethsheba. Prou. 31.12 &c. 16.The words of King Lemuel: a collection of the precepts which his mother taught him. What my sonne?
A PRAYER BEFORE the Exercise.
MOst blessed Lord, and heauenly Father, we acknowledge and confesse before thy Maiestie, that wee are dull to conceiue, weake to remember, hard to beléeue, and slow to practise the wholesome instructions, fearefull threatnings, and gratious promises of thy heauenlie word. Wherfore we humbly beséech thée to be presēt with vsus at this time, to teach vsus and blesse vsus, and to make this exercise of thy holy word, powerfull and profitable vntounto vsus. O Lord enlighten our minds, that wee may vnderstand, open our hearts, that we may beleeue, and so strengthen our memories, that we may hide and lay vp thy promises, precepts and threatnings in our hearts, to keepe vsus from sinning against thee. And though by the corruption of our nature, wee thinke eueryevery good thing tedious and vnsauoury, yet we pray thee to sanctifie and sweeten the same vntounto vsus by thy holy Spirit, that we may find more comfort therein, then in any worldlie oz bodily exercise whatsoeuer. And grant O Lord our God, that this true ioy and found delight may make vsus watchfull to redeeme the time, and constant in performing this holy dutie, to the dayly increase of faith & a good conscience, to thy glorie and our owne saluation, through our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ: to whom with thee and the holy Ghost, be giuen all honor and glory for euer, Amen.