Catechistical Guide to Sinners and Babes in Christ, Part 1 – Part 2
A Catechiſtical Guide, &c.
The Firſt Part.
Setting forth the Chriſtian Religion in general.
Queſt. WHat is the best and chiefeſt thing we are to learn?
Anſw. The beſt and chiefeſt thing we are to learn, is, That Doctrine which teacheth us to know God, and Jeſus Chriſt.
Queſt. What do you mean by this name, God?
Anſw. By this name [God] I mean, Him, who is the moſt High, and chiefeſt Lord, Ruler, and Governour of all things.
Queſt. What mean you by theſe names, Jeſus Chriſt?
Anſw. By theſe names, Jeſus Chriſt, I mean, The only Son of God, who was conceived by the Holy Ghoſt, and born of a Virgin.
Queſt. Where may we find this Doctrine that teacheth us to know God, and Jeſus Christ?
Anſw. This Doctrine that teacheth us to know God, and Jeſus Chriſt, we may find in the Holy Scriptures of the Old Teſtament and the New; but eſpecially in the Holy Scriptures of the New Teſtament, or Covenant.
[Jeſus Chriſt ſaid to the Jews; Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal Life, and they are they which teſtify of me, John 5.39. Luke teſtifieth of thoſe of Berea thus; Theſe were more noble than thoſe of Theſſalonica; in that they received the Word with all readineſs of mind, and ſearched the Scriptures daily, whether theſe things were ſo, &c. Act. 17.11. The Apoſtle Paul ſaith thus to Timothy; Continue thou in the things which thou haſt learned, and haſt been aſſured of, knowing of whom thou haſt learned them: and that from a Child thou haſt known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wiſe unto Salvation, through Faith which is in Chriſt Jeſus. All Scripture is given by inſpiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Inſtruction in Righteouſneſs; that the Man of God may be perfect, thorowly furniſhed unto all good works, 2 Tim. 3.14, 15, 16, 17. Thus St. Luke begins his Hiſtory of Jeſus Chriſt: Foraſmuch as many have taken in hand to ſet forth in order a Declaration of thoſe things which are moſt ſurely believed among us, even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were Eye-witneſſes and Miniſters of the Word: It ſeemed good to me alſo, having had perfect underſtanding of all things from the very firſt, to write unto thee in order, moſt excellent Theophilus, that thou mighteſt know the certainty of thoſe things wherein thou haſt been inſtructed, Luke 1.1, &c. Thus the Apoſtle John ſaith of his Goſpel: Theſe things are written, that ye might believe that Jeſus is the Chriſt, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his Name, John 20.21. The ſame John in his firſt Epiſtle hath this ſaying: That which we have ſeen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye alſo may have fellowſhip with us; and truly our fellowſhip is with the Father, and with his Son Jeſus Chriſt. And theſe things write we unto you that your joy may be full, 1 Joh. 1.3, 4. ſee Chap. 5.13. Epheſ. 3.3, 4. 1 Tim. 3.14, 15. 1 Pet. 5.12. 2 Pet. 1.12, 13.]
* Queſt. But why do you ſay that this Doctrine is to be found, eſpecially in the Holy Scriptures of the New Teſtament?
* Anſw. It may be ſaid, That the Doctrine which teacheth us to know God, and Jeſus Chriſt, is to be found eſpecially in the Scriptures of the New Teſtament, for theſe cauſes.
1. Becauſe that of this Doctrine which was hidden in the Old Teſtament, and there contained in a Myſtery, is in the New Teſtament opened and revealed.
2. Becauſe the New Teſtament is an Hiſtory of many things, which we are to believe as already done; which in the Old Teſtament are only propheſied of, and promiſed.
3. Becauſe there are ſome things added in the New Teſtament, which are not to be found in the Old.
[Rom. 16. v. 25, 26, 27. Now to him that is of power to eſtabliſh you according to my Goſpel, and the preaching of Jeſus Chriſt (according to the revelation of the Myſtery, which was kept ſecret ſince the World began; but now is made manifeſt, and by the Scriptures of the Prophets, according to the Commandment of the everlaſting God, made known to all Nations for the obedience of Faith) to God only wiſe be glory through Jeſus Chriſt for ever. Amen. Luke 24 24, &c. And Jeſus ſaid unto them, Theſe are the words which I ſpake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things muſt be fulfilled which are written in the Law of Moſes, and in the Prophets, and in the Pſalms concerning me. Then opened he their underſtandings, that they might underſtand the Scriptures; And ſaid unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Chriſt to ſuffer, and to riſe from the Dead the third day, &c. See Acts 13.36, &c. 1 Pet. 1.10, &c. 1 Cor. 11.2, 3.]
Queſt. Can you ſhew me from the Scripture, that the Doctrine there declared, teacheth us to know God, and Jeſus Chriſt?
Anſw. Yes; for Jeſus Chriſt himſelf in his Prayer to the Father, ſaid; This is Life Eternal, [that is, This is that which the Doctrine, that hath the promiſe of Eternal Life, does teach and require for the obtaining of Eternal Life, to wit] that they may know thee the only truly God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom thou hast ſent, Joh. 17.3.
Queſt. Well: But what does Jeſus Christ here intend by Mens knowing him who is the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent?
Anſw. To know him who is the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent, is (according to Chriſt's intendment here) not only to underſtand or apprehend, that which muſt be known concerning him, who is the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent; but alſo, to love them as ſuch, or according to ſuch a knowledg of them to acknowledg them.
* Queſt. But how can you prove that Jeſus Christ here intendeth ſuch a knowledg as this?
* Anſw. That Jeſus Chriſt here intendeth ſuch a knowledg of things neceſſary to be known concerning the only true God, and him whom he hath ſent, which has a ſuitable love to them, or anſwerable acknowledgment of them joined therewith, I am able clearly to prove, and that abundantly.
* Queſt. The proof of this being very needful, I am willing to hear it, and therefore I now ask you, How it may be confirmed?
Anſw. Firſt, I ſhall offer this; That theſe Phraſes or Expreſſions, To know God, and To know Jeſus Christ, are oftentimes ſo uſed in the Holy Scriptures: Whence I gather, that it is not ſtrange ſo to accept and take them here; Hoſ. 53.4. Tit. 1.16. Jer. 9.3. Ch. 31.34. Heb. 8.11. Dan. 11.32. Hoſ. 2.20. Joh. 15.21. Ch. 17.25. 1 Theſſ. 4.5. Pſal. 36.10. Job 18.21. Iſa. 53.11. 1 John 2.3, 4. Ch. 4.6.
* Queſt. You do well to infer no more, ſeeing theſe Phraſes are frequently reſtrained to a meer knowledg or notion of God and Chriſt; or for knowledg as diſtinct from Love and Acknowledgment: Yea, ſometimes they are ſaid to know God, and to know Chriſt, who have only the means of knowing them, Rom. 1.21. Joh. 8.28. But what ground have you to conclude, that in this ſaying of Chriſt, Love and Acknowledgment is implied in knowledg?
* Anſw. It plainly appears that Jeſus Chriſt here intends ſuch a knowledg as implies in it Love and Acknowledgment, if we conſider only this, That Chriſt here declares this to be ſufficient for obtaining Eternal Life; namely, To know the Father the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent. Now it is in it ſelf abſurd to conceive, that it is enough only to underſtand and notion the Truth concerning God and Jeſus Chriſt.
* Queſt. It is ſo: But have you any thing more to ſay in confirming it?
* Anſw. I ſhall add this; That the Scriptures declare expreſly, that more than meerly to know, or only to underſtand God and Jeſus Chriſt, is neceſſary for obtaining Eternal Life. This is ſo well known, that the citing of places will be needleſs; notwithſtanding I will repeat the ſaying of the Apoſtle Paul, Knowledg puffeth up, but Charity [Love] edifieth, 1 Cor. 8.1. The Devils have knowledg of God and Chriſt, Jam. 2.19. Mar. 1.24. Act. 19.15. And ſo have ſome of the worſt of Men.
Queſt. Seeing it is ſo as you have ſaid, we may draw up, concerning the Doctrine we are chiefly to learn, theſe two Propoſitions:
1. That it teacheth us to know or apprehend him who is the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent.
2. That it teacheth to love or acknowledg him who is the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent.
Concerning theſe two, I deſire now to hear from you a general and brief Account what you have learned out of the Holy Scriptures. And firſt I will ask you ſome Queſtions touching the firſt Propoſition. And my firſt Query ſhall be this:
What are we to underſtand by the only true God?
Anſw. By the only true God we are to underſtand, the only Creator and moſt high Lord, or Governor of all things.
[2 Kings 19.19. Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beſeech thee, ſave us out of his hand, that all the Kingdoms of the Earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only. Jude 4. Certain Men crept in—denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. 2 King. 19.15. And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and ſaid, O Lord God of Iſrael which dwelleſt between the Cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the Kingdoms of the Earth; thou haſt made Heaven and Earth. Iſa. 44.24, &c. Thus ſaith the Lord thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the Womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things, that ſtretcheth forth the Heavens alone, that ſpreadeth abroad the Earth by my ſelf; that fruſtrateth the Tokens of the Lyars, &c. Nehem. 9.6, &c. Thou, even thou art Lord alone, thou haſt made Heaven, the Heaven of Heavens with all their Hoſt, the Earth and all things that are therein, the Seas and all that is therein; and thou preſerveſt them all, and the Hoſt of Heaven worſhippeth thee, &c. Dan. 5.18, &c. O thou King, the moſt high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy Father a Kingdom, &c. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardned in pride, he was depoſed from his Kingly Throne, &c. till he knew that the moſt high God ruled in the Kingdom of Men, and that he appointeth over it whomſoever he will. Rom. 1.25. They ſerved the Creature more than the Creator, who is bleſſed for ever. Amen. Matth. 11.25. At that time Jeſus anſwered and ſaid, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, &c. Pſal. 22.18. The Kingdom is the Lords, and he is the Governour among the Nations. Rom. 11.36. Of him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Queſt. What are we to underſtand by Him whom the Father hath ſent?
Anſw. By him whom the Father hath ſent, we are to underſtand him whom the Father hath ſent to be the Saviour of the World.
[1 John 4.14. And we have ſeen, and do teſtify, That the Father ſent the Son to be the Saviour of the World. John 6.39, 40. And this is the Father's Will, which hath ſent me, that of all which he hath given me, I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up again at the laſt day, &c.]
Queſt. Now concerning the ſecond Propoſition, I ſhall ask you ſeveral Queſtions; as firſt, How can you prove from the Scriptures, that we must not only know him who is the only true God, but alſo love him as ſuch?
Anſw. We are not only to know him who is the only true God, but alſo to love him as ſuch: For it is written, Hear, O Iſrael, The Lord our God is one Lord. And thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thine Heart, and with all thy Soul, and with all thy Might; Deut. 6.4, 5. Mat. 12.29, 30.
[Knowledg puffeth up, but Love edifieth: And if any Man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any Man love God, the ſame is known of him; 1 Cor. 8.1, 2, 3. ſee 1 John 4.7, 8.]
Queſt. How does our love to God manifest and diſcover it ſelf?
Anſw. Our Love to God diſcovers it ſelf, by our keeping the Commandments of God, which require us to truſt in him, and live to him, as the only true God.
[Deut. 10.12. And now Iſrael, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him; and to ſerve the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, and with all thy Soul. 1 John 5.3. This is the love of God, that we keep his Commandments. 1 John 4.20. If a Man ſay, I love God, and hateth his Brother, he is a liar.
Queſt. How do you prove from Scripture, that we must not only know him whom God hath ſent, but alſo love him as ſuch?
Anſw. I prove it from John 8.42. Jeſus ſaid unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me, for I proceeded forth, and came from God; neither came I of my ſelf, but he ſent me.
Queſt. How does our love to him whom God hath ſent, manifest and diſcover it ſelf?
Anſw. Our love to him whom God hath ſent, diſcovers it ſelf, in our keeping his Commandments, which require us to truſt in him, and live to him, as one whom God hath ſent to be the Saviour of the World.
[John 14.15. If ye love me, keep my Commandments. Verſ. 21. He that hath my Commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. Verſ. 23. If a Man love me, he will keep my Words. Verſ. 24. He that loveth me not, keepeth not my ſayings: the Word which ye hear is not mine, but my Fathers which ſent me. 1 John 2.3, &c. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments. He that ſaith, I know him, and keepeth not his Commandments, is a liar, and the Truth is not in him. But whoſo keepeth his Word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: Hereby know we that we are in him.]
Queſt. Tell me now what you intend by the Acknowledgment of God, and of Chriſt, which you have mentioned?
Anſw. By the Acknowledgment of God and Chriſt, I intend nothing elſe, but that Love now ſpoken of, as manifeſted by the keeping of God's Commandments.
Queſt. Why do you call this an Acknowledgment of God and of Chriſt?
Anſw. I ſo call it, becauſe they who thus keep the Commandments of God, do indeed acknowledg and confeſs, That he who ſent Jeſus Chriſt is the only true God, and that Jeſus Chriſt is he whom God hath ſent.
Queſt. Does the Holy Scripture expreſs it in the ſame way and manner?
Anſw. Yes; and in many places.
[Col. 1.10. Epheſ. 4.13. Col. 2.2. 1 Tim. 2.4. Ch. 4.3. 2 Tim. 2.25. Tit. 1.1. 2 Pet. 1.2, 3. Prov. 3.6. 2 Cor. 1.13. 1 Joh. 2.23. Rom. 10.9, 10. 1 King. 8.33. Mat. 10.32. 1 Tit. 1.16. Heb. 3.1. Ch. 4.14. Ch. 10.23.]
Queſt. You ſaid, as I remember, in your firſt Anſwer, That the best and chiefest thing we are to learn, is the Doctrine that teacheth us to know God, and Jeſus Christ: But why ſaid you ſo?
Anſw. I ſaid, that the Doctrine which teacheth us to know God, and Jeſus Chriſt, is the beſt and chiefeſt thing we are to learn, for this Reaſon; Becauſe this Doctrine which is Truth, revealeth to us the Promiſe of Eternal Life, and directeth us in the way and means of obtaining this Eternal Life.
Queſt. How prove you this?
Anſw. I prove it from the words of our Saviour, which we have now been diſcourſing of, namely, This is Eternal Life, that Men may know thee the only true God, and Jeſus Christ whom thou hast ſent.
Queſt. What do you gather from theſe words?
Anſw. Firſt, I gather from them, that the Doctrine of Chriſt is a Doctrine concerning Eternal Life *.
Secondly; That to know the Father, the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent, is that which is required of us, for obtaining Eternal Life |.
Theſe things are clearly and plentifully witneſſed in the Holy Scriptures.
[* 1 John 5.11. And this is the Record that God hath given to us Eternal Life, and this Life is in his Son. John 12.50. And I know that his Commandment is Life Everlaſting. John 6.68. Then Simon Peter anſwered him, Lord, to whom ſhall we go? Thou haſt the words of Eternal Life. 2 Tim. 1.10. Our Saviour, Jeſus Chriſt, hath aboliſhed Death, and hath brought Life and Immortality to light, through the Goſpel.
| 1 John 2.24, 25. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning: If that which ye have heard from the beginning ſhall remain in you, ye ſhall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the Promiſe that he hath promiſed us, even Eternal Life. James 1.12. Bleſſed is the Man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he ſhall receive the Crown of Life, which the Lord hath promiſed to them that love him. 1 Cor. 2.9, 10. Eye hath not ſeen, nor Ear heard, neither have entered into the Heart of Man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. 1 Pet. 1.8, 9. Whom (to wit, Jeſus Chriſt) having not ſeen, ye love; in whom though now ye ſee him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unſpeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your Faith, even the Salvation of your Souls. 1 Cor. 16.22. If any Man love not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, let him be Anathema Maranatha. 1 Theſſ. 1.8. The Lord Jeſus ſhall take vengeance of them that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. 2 Pet. 1.2. Grace and Peace be multiplied unto you, through the knowledg (or acknowledgment) of God, and of Jeſus our Lord.]
Queſt. What do you conclude of hence?
Anſw. I hence conclude, That there is nothing in the World we ſhould ſo eſteem of, and glory in, as the knowledg of God and of Chriſt.
[Jer. 9.23, 24. Thus ſaith the Lord, Let not the wiſe Man glory in his Wiſdom, neither let the mighty Man glory in his Might: let not the rich Man glory in his Riches; but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he underſtandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exerciſe Loving-kindneſs, Judgment and Righteouſneſs in the Earth; for in theſe things I delight, ſaith the Lord. Phil. 3.7, 8. What things were gain to me, thoſe I counted loſs for Chriſt; yea, doubtleſs I count all things but loſs, for the excellency of the knowledg of Chriſt Jeſus my Lord, for whom I have ſuffered the loſs of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Chriſt, &c.]