A Short Catechism, Title page – To the reader
A Short Catechiſm; CONTAINING Thoſe Fundamental Points OF RELIGION, The Knowledge of which is neceſſary to Salvation.
Compiled for the Examination of COMMUNICANTS, before they be Admitted to the SACRAMENT. According to the Rules in the Ordinance of Parliament, of Octob. 20. 1645. in that caſe made and provided.
By E. BƲRY.
Pſal. 119.130.
The entrance into thy Word giveth light, it giveth underſtanding to the ſimple.
London, Printed by R. W. for Nevil Simmons, Book ſeller in Kederminſter, 1660
To the Reader.
CHriſtian Reader,
when I conſidered the neceſſity of Knowledge, and the danger of Ignorance; I thought it was my duty to teach and inſtruct thoſe under my charge, eſpecially in the Fundamental points of Religion; and therefore I ſet upon the needful, though much neglected duty of Catechizing, as the likelieſt way to ground my people in the Truth, and to eſtabliſh them againſt Error. But after divers years experience, I found not the deſired effect of my labours; many (eſpecially of the elder ſort) complained, the Catechiſm that I taught (which was the Aſſemblies) was too hard, and long, that they had not time to learn it, nor memories to retain it. Now to leave theſe men without excuſe, I have drawn up the chief heads of Religion, in as ſhort a compaſs and plain a manner as I well could; not that I would hereby diſcourage any from learning the other (which queſtionleſs is well worth their labour, it being the exacteſt that is extant) but my deſire is to encourage thoſe to learn this, which otherwiſe would learn none at all: if thou reap any benefit by it, Bleſs God with me, who remain
Thine for thy ſouls good, E. B.