A Practical Catechism, Title page – Dedication
A Practical Catechiſme Of purpoſe framed for the help of ſuch as deſire to enjoy more ſweet and intimate Soul-communion with Jeſus Chriſt in that ſacred Ordinance of his own Supper.
Begun at Newport-Pagnel in Buckinghamſhire, revived at Luton in Bedfordſhire, and now perfected at Queen Hithe in London.
By Samuel Auſtin, an unworthy Miniſter of the Goſpell of Jeſus Chriſt.
1 Cor. 10.16, 17. The cup of bleſſing which we bleſs, is it not the Communion of the blood of Chriſt? the bread which we break, is it not the Communion of the body of Chriſt? For we being many, are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1 Cor. 12.13. For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Iews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been made to drink into one Spirit.
1 Ioh. 1.3, 4. 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 Ieſus Chriſt. And theſe things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
London, Printed for Tho. Ʋnderhill, at the ſign of the Bible in Woodſtreet. 1647.
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY, To my dearely beloved friends, the Church and faithfull People of God, which are at Newport-Pagnell in Buckinghamſhire, at Luton in Bedfordſhire, and at Michael Queen Hithe in London: *2 Pet. 1.2.Grace and Peace be multiplyed unto you, through the knowledge of God, and of Ieſus our Lord.
Dearely beloved:
IT is not unknown to ſome, if not to the moſt of you; that this ſacred Ordinance of the Lords ſupper, is ſuperſtitiouſly and prophanely abuſed by many, who are extreamly zealous to have their part in the outſide, & viſible elements of this Ordinance, *As Popiſh ſpirits who content themſelves with the opus operatum, or work done.but never care for the inviſible grace, or ſpirit of Chriſt in the Ordinance: Others there are that do … much ſlight and deſpiſe both the elements, and the grace of it, that they ſeldom, or never care for the participation of it, unleſs formally, and for faſhion ſake. Others, that not only neglect it themſelves, but hinder ſuch from it as much deſire the renovation of their Covenant, and ſweet Soul-communion with Chriſt, in the due participation of it. And ſome there are alſo ſprung up of late I hear, (which to me appear in a more ſtrange viſage then the reſt,) who deny this and other Ordinances of Chriſt in the New Teſtament, to be now had in uſe at all amongst Gods people; they holding this as a principle; That this and all other Ordinances are now loſt and dead with Chriſt and his Apoſtles: which ſad opinion, I muſt confeſs, I cannot look upon, as a notion of any new light, as ſome may pleaſe to eſteem of it; but rather to bewaile it as a ſtrange and dangerous fancie, without, and againſt the word of truth, *Mat. 28.19, 20. 1 Cor. 11.23. &c. 25, 26.or as an ignis fatuus, a fond light, that will lead thoſe that follow it (if God in mercy prevent not) into utter darkneſs. To adminiſter ſome means of cure to theſe ſad diſtempers (if God ſhall pleaſe to glorifie himſelf by ſo weak an inſtrument:) I have taken this opportunity, to ſend out theſe few Catacheticall thoughts of mine, upon this Ordinance of the Lords ſupper; wherein I have endeavoured to clear to you and others, (ſo far as a work of this nature would bear) theſe four particulars. 1. The divine authority of this Ordinance. 2. The nature of it. 3. The ends of it, (wherein the perpetuity of it is implyed.) 4. The requiſites, or things required for the prevention of the abuſe, and the better help of my ſelf and others, to the ſweet and comfortable participation of it. All which (dearely beloved in the Lord) I have thought good to preſent reſpectively unto your ſelves, as the fitteſt objects I could make choyce of to dedicate this work unto; and that for diverſe reaſons, as theſe in ſpecial.
1. Becauſe it was conceived, and brought forth amongst you, as being a part of my poor miniſteriall pains, while divine providence did call me to labour with you, and therefore you have the more right unto it. A poor childe by Law, muſt be kept where it was born; I leave it therefore to your tender care, hoping you will nouriſh it as your own.
2. It was at firſt intended for your ſpirituall good; and therefore I do now the more boldly bequeath it to you.
3. Theſe labours of mine in a way of Catechizing, have been ſometimes profitable to ſome yea, I may ſay with thankfulneſs to God (by the acknowledgment of others) to many of you; *As at Newport eſpecially, before our late troubles; where I beſtowed many years pains in this exerciſe.I deſire by this means, they may prove ſo unto you all.
4. Divine providence hath called me off from ſome of you; and I know not how ſoon I may be called from others where I now am, to a country and people, that have more need of the miniſtery, (at leaſt more ſence of their needs, then many now in London have.) Where I may be more ſerviceable to God, then in that ſlender Congregation which I now attend. And therefore I deſired to leave this amongst you, as a perpetuall pledge and memoriall of my moſt dear love unto your ſouls; and of my moſt earneſt deſires to help you on in your more ſweet and intimate Communion with Jeſus Chriſt, in this and other of his Ordinances of grace here, till hee ſhall call you home into full Communion with himſelf, in his everlaſting glory.
5. The time will come (how ſoon I know not) that you all (as well as my ſelf) muſt give up your accounts *Rom. 14.10.12. 2 Cor. 5.10.of your Stewardſhips to Jeſus Chriſt; and what holy uſe you have made of this and other Ordinances of grace; I thought it meet therefore to leave this with you, both to put you in remembrance *As 2 Pet. 1.12, 13, 14, 15.of your duty, and to help you in it; that ſo you may give up your accounts with joy, and not with grief.
6. There are ſome reaſons in reſpect of the times.
1. You know the times are full of looſnes & prophaneſs: by this, I deſire to preſs you to more holy ſtrictneſs, Eph. 4.17. & 20. & 5.15.16. Heb. 12.14.
2. The times are full of unchriſtian bitterneſs, diviſions, &c. By this I deſire, that you may endeavour the more to make up breaches, and to preſerve Chriſtian Ʋnity and Ʋnanimity amongst your ſelves, *Remember Phil. 2.1, 2. Which hath been ſometimes opened & applyed unto you.Phil. 2.1, 2. Eph. 4. v. 3.
3. The times are full of ſlighting and neglecting this and other divine Ordinances, the means and miniſtery of grace, (which are ſadly withdrawn from ſome of you, †As Newport and Luton.) I deſire you by this, to prize them the more, to pray for them more earneſtly where they are wanting, and to make more holy uſe of them, where and when you have them.
4. Theſe are times wherein men are much taken up in ſeeking after new notions, and ſtrange opinions. I deſire by this, you may ſeek the more earneſtly after the *Ier. 6.16 1 Ioh. 2.7.old truth of Jeſus Chriſt, and ſtick more cloſe unto them. While others are notionall, be you practicall, *1 Cor. 8.1.& Joh. 13.17. theſe are the reaſons of my dedication.
Give me leave to add ſome reaſons for my publication of this poor piece (if it ſhall be approved) and I have done.
It was not either from the apprehenſion of the want of other more learned helps in this kinde, of which there are many *Mr. Daniel Rogers two Treatiſes upon the Sacraments. Mr. Dike, Bradſhaw, Hilderſam, &c.very uſefull and profitable, for which I deſire to bleſs God; nor from any thoughts of the worth of this, as flowing from my ſelf, which I conceive to be very weak. But.
1. Out of deſire to add my poor mite, to the helping on of the great work of God now in agitation, ſcil. the adminiſtration of this Ordinance of the Lords ſupper (amongst others) in its purity.
2. To ſatisfie the earneſt deſires of ſome friends, not to be deſpiſed.
3. To prevent my tedious labour of writing copies for ſuch as did deſire it.
4. To have a help in more readineſs for preparation of the people I relate unto, for the Lords ſupper. This help I conceive being more familiar to them then others.
5. To give ſome taſt of my poor labours in this kind, (which have done good to ſome) though I have not time to ſend forth all.
6. And laſtly, to ſtir up others of my brethren, who are more able to ſend out thoſe helps of theirs, which may prove more profitable. And to beſtow the more diligent pains in this great duty of Catechizing; which if ever, would at this time prove very ſeaſonable. *Prov. 22.6. Hoſ. 4.6. Heb. 5.12. &c.Thus you have the reaſons both of my Dedication, and Publication. I have kept you to long in the Porch; I ſhall now leade you into the Houſe it ſelf. The Lord give you, and others abundance of joy and conſolation in Chriſt, in the uſe of it. So Prayes,
Your truly loving friend and ſervant for Jeſus ſake, Samuel Auſtin. London, Martii 5o. 1646.