Catechizing Gods Ordinance, Title page – Imprimatur
Catechizing Gods Ordinance: OR A SHORT TREATISE CONCERNING That
Ancient
Approved
Soul-edifying
Singularly neceſſary
Exerciſe of Catechizing.
DELIVERED In ſundry SERMONS at Botolphs Aldgate, London.
By Zach. Crofton Miniſter of the Word.
Jeſus Chriſt in his childhood ſubmitted himſelf to this Ordinance of God, though he were repleniſhed with all divine wiſdome. Downam of Catech. p. 334.
Knowledge of the Word is as neceſſary an art for Chriſtians, as the art of husbandry is neceſſary for husbandmen. Greenh. p. 383.
Inviſa poſſumus cupere, incognita nequaquam. Aug.
Train up a childe in the way he ſhould go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Prov. 22.6.
Whom ſay ye that I am? ſome ſay Elias, ſome John the Baptiſt, ſome Jeremiah or one of the Prophets. Whom ſay ye that I am? Thou art Chriſt the Son of the living God. Mat. 16.13, 14, 15, 16.
London, Printed by E. Cotes for Tho. Parkhurſt, at the Three Crowns over againſt the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheapſide, 1656.
To his much honoured and truly endeared in the Lord, the Chriſtian Inhabitants within the Pariſh of Botolphs without Aldgate, as well without as within the Liberty of the City of London.
Endeared in the Lord,
I Preſent to the view of you all, what hath been plainly preached to the ears of ſuch whoſe hearts God hath inclined to attend on my publick Miniſtry. It is the chief and plain heads of ſundry Sermons without all Pulpit-repetitions, which would have ſwelled the volume too much; and without all flouriſhes of Fathers ſentences and citation of Authors, which might have made it nauſeous to the mindes of ſuch who judge things goodneſſe by their pl…nneſſe: the main ſcope and drift of it is to vindicate the dignity of a deſpiſed, and due authority of a denied Ordinance of God; to revive in the Church an anciently exerciſed; and too too long exil'd priviledge; to excite and quicken to that too too long neglected duty of Catechizing in all Chriſtian ſocieties. This work I confeſſe hath been done by many more able and eminent Miniſters of the Church, as holy Mr. Greenham, reverend Mr. Downam, acute Mr. Forde, and the reverend Provincial Aſſembly of the Churches of God within the City and Province of London; many times I had it in my thoughts to have commended theſe to your reading, but fearing what in that caſe I ſhould deſire might paſſe in at one ear and out at another; and I being by ſome deſired, and by the Province enjoyned to preach on the nature of this duty; and having calculated the doctrine for your condition and capacity, thought it might moſt ſure with you to put my own digeſted conſiderations into your hands; the which cannot but be the more welcome to ſuch whoſe ears heard them, and whoſe hearts were touched in the publique delivery: the acceptance of them by ſuch is not to be doubted; and by all others it is deſired, that they may be ſo farre accepted as to be taken up, read without paſſion or prejudice; the Doctrine therein taught may be revolved in your deliberate thoughts; and prayer may be put up to the God of Wiſdome, to open your eyes unto the apprehenſion and acknowledgement of the truth: This acceptance is the rather deſired, for that
1. This little Tract is preſented to you as a taſte of that pity, and teſtimony of that true affection I bear to you in the Lord, as your Miniſter: againſt which though I ſtrongly reſolved, yet providence hath ſo diſpoſed, that after all the ſad changes, and Religion-ruining revolutions, to which the times have ſubjected you, you are committed to my care and charge, and I hope I can unfeignedly ſay, you are now my Dearly beloved and much longed for in the Lord.
2. This Tract travels in this publick way to ſeek out them, who by reaſon of the ſpirit of deluſion and prophaneneſſe, withdraw their ears from hearing it when preached; I thought it a duty to preach to the eyes of them whoſe ears are ſhut to ſuch abſolute Religion-preſerving ordinances, as this is of Catechizing. I hope you have more charity then to ſuffer a Pariſh Childe born amongſt you to paſs by your houſes without one nights, nay a few hours entertainment: and I deſire none may appear ſo cruel, as to ſpurn and kick it out of their houſes for the fathers ſake, and the rather for that the father is to be found ready to traverſe all inditements againſt himſelf or doctrine, if he may but enjoy a patient hearing; but in ſpecial take heed that none look aſquint at it, and carry doggedly towards it for propounding a duty, and pleading for a piece of piety, for therein they engage the God of wiſdome and holineſſe to plead his own cauſe. As for ſuch as ſhall be ready to flight it on a ſeeming ſcrupuloſity of conſcience concerning the novelty, or antiquity, or formality, &c. of the exerciſe for which it contends, I deſire they will with patience read it through, it may be the reſolve of their ſcruples may make them more eſteem it.
3. The duty herein preſſed, is that which concerns you all of what ever age or condition: Are you ignorant? Catechizing is the way to knowledge; and certainly, knowledge in rudiments of Religion, is an abſolute duty incumbent on every man, be he rich or poor, high or low, young or old. It is a very good obſervation the Provinciall Aſſembly have in their exhortation to the ſame duty, and I deſire you may well note it, it is this:
It is the rare priviledge of the Romiſh Synagogue to have ſuch a power over ignorance, as to command her to imploy her ſelf as a tender nurſe to their blind devotions; but the Church of Chriſt hath ever found her ſuch a froward piece, as that ſhe hath churliſhly handled all the genuine iſſues of truth & piety; and as fondly cockered all the mis-ſhapen monſters of error, though never ſo ſtrangely compoſed of an heterogeneous commixture of ſuperſtition and prophaneneſſe. And as they, I muſt needs ſay, we cannot nouriſh our ſelves with the leaſt hope as to ſee ignorance become ſerviceable to true piety: we know the affections cannot outgo the apprehenſion of truth, till ſhe be known, cannot be reverenced, cannot but be hated.
Are you knowing? yet Catechizing concerns you not only in that thereby you communicated knowledge to others (according to your duty) but alſo the Catechiſm is to you no leſſe uſefull then the compaſſe to the moſt skilfull Mariner, to ſteer your courſe with method and order in theſe boiſterous daies of confuſed notions, as a touchſtone to the moſt diſcerning Goldſmith to try metals, and detect the moſt glittering falſities that are ſpread before you with a Chriſt, Chriſt, as a rule to the moſt underſtanding Architect, by which you ſquare your actions in the ſpirituall edifice of your immortall ſouls.
Are you poor? Catechizing is a very cheap and eaſie way, in a few hours time, in two pence expence to make you rich in faith.
Are you rich? Religion will make you civill, literature will be your honour, and none ſo much as Catechiſm, which will be the very glory of a Princes Crown.
Nay not only doth the duty preſſed, but the very preſſing of it concern you all; and that in order to the quickning of your lukewarm ſpirits, convincing your very conſciences of a duty to Catechize and be Catechized: Hath not the long neglect of this exerciſe to ſome, loſt the divine ſtamp of it, and armed young men (when called to Catechizing) with impudence to call its authority into queſtion? how many ſtick not to call it an humane invention? how many others account it good, but not neceſſary; allow it where it is uſed, but live without the diſcharge of it themſelves, as if it concerned not them? if ever it had need to be preſſed now with moſt power and plainneſſe, pregnant and perſwaſive arguments; the youth of this age through want of Catechizing, are captivated with Hereſies and Schiſm; and if the neglect be continued, the youth of the next will be capable of turning Pagan or Papiſt; but in the paſt ages of the Churches by this very means, as you have heard and may read, young children were prepared for Martyrdome in the defence of their Religion.
If any enquire and wonder that I preach and preſent to your reading ſo low, plain, common, and ordinary Doctrines in this high flown, wiſe and knowing age: I deſire ſuch to know, I am not inſenſible that the age in which we live, is an age of comforts, and that the now great enquiry of our Saints is after joy, not duty; aſſurance, not aſſent of faith; but truly I ſtudy not what may pleaſe you, but what may profit you; the practiſes of holineſſe in Word, Sacraments, and Sabbaths, are more for your profit then the priviledges of a Chriſtian: and whileſt your heads are lifted ſo high, that you tread and trample under your feet the principles and poſitive duties (pearls of no ſmall value) it is high time to ſet the luſtre of them before your eyes, and to make wantons know ſweet meats were not intended to work a contempt of common and ordinary food: and again, you have been too long pleaſed and puffed up with high flown doctrines: nay and the ſpirituall riches under which you travell (I mean that heady diſorderly knowledge, uttered in free, but very confuſed diſcourſes) makes me very jealous they were not wholſome. Laſtly, I have cauſe to fear that generally you cannot yet bear higher Doctrine; if God will, I ſhall leave the firſt rudiments, and go on towards perfection, when I have firſt laid the foundation, you will do well to conſider ſome men (who deſire to make the bounds of Chriſt his Church narrower then the Lord hath ſet them) hath under the notions of gathering Churches, ſtirred you in many parts and private congregations, and unchurched (as much as in them lies) your whole bodies holding the place of a publick Miniſter, but neither owned nor diſcharged the duties thereof in your inſtruction, nor yet giving way for others to do it: nay, nor yet have they inſtructed the poor ſouls ſeduced into their ſocieties: great is the ignorance in foundation principles I finde, and greater I fear amongſt you; nor, when I conſider how it hath been with you, do I wonder; but only this I ſay, how ſhall they be capable of the comforts that flow from the enjoyment of Chriſt, that are yet to be convinced that Chriſt is preſent to every beleever in the Sacrament, not only by way of efficacy, but alſo of reall exiſtency, yet not corporall in a Popiſh ſenſe. But I will hold you no longer at the threſhold; the Doctrine I have preached to ſome, and printed for all, I tender it to you as a Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt; nay, as your Miniſter ſet over you by the Lord, and watching for your ſouls, and deſirous to give up my account of you with joy, and not with grief, as ſuch and I, this ſmall Tract ſo tendred, I beſeech you, nay I charge you in the Lord, receive both me and it. I am not ignorant that ſome amongſt you who are ready to deny the exiſtency of Goſpel Miniſtry, deſpiſe it as Antichriſtian; determine the cry of holineſſe ſufficient ordination, and the Miniſtry to lie ſo common, that any man may (though to them none muſt) be manifeſt; and are ſo farre from ſubjecting, that they ſet themſelves over others, boldly Catechizing the Catechizers, will be ready to diſclaim and deny any ſubjection or relation to me, and diſpute my authority as a Miniſter: But to ſuch I ſay the Fathers authority is better exerciſed then debated amongſt froward children. I have offered openly and do offer again to give to the ſober diſſatisfied ſoul (that will with patience and meekneſſe hear) full ſatisfaction, not only concerning this, but all other principles, of which this Scepticall age hath cauſed them to doubt: I may not now ſtand to anſwer further, but invite them home, and in the mean time expect the duty preſſed to be embraced, Catechizing to be reſtored to your Families and Schools, your children and ſervants to be duly preſented when called to this duty in the Church: and fervent prayers for a bleſſing upon it and upon me, that God would enable me to doe the work which concernes your everlaſting welfare; which is, and by Gods grace ſhall be ſincerely and fervently followed by
The meaneſt of the Lords Labourers for your Souls ſalvation,Zach. Crofton.
The Contents
IN this Treatiſe you have diſcuſſed this Doctrine:
Catechizing is Gods Ordinance, very uſefull to his Church, pag. 11
The word Catechize explained, and the thing deſcribed, p. 1, 2, 3
The reaſons that enforce the Doctrine, and they are drawn from its
1. Excellency in reſpect of its
Preſcriber, God, p. 15
Profeſſors, Saints, p. 17
Prime matter, p. 19
Proper end, p. 20
2. Antiquity, p. 21
3. Neceſſity, p. 28
4. Ʋtility, in that it
1. Preſerves Religion in purity, p. 31
2. Propagates to poſterity, p. 35
3. Prepares for increaſe of Knowledge in Chriſt, p. 36
4. Profits by the Word, p. 37
5. Prevents Apoſtaſie, p. 38
6. Preſents fit Communicants to the Lords Supper, p. 41
7. Powerfully diſpoſeth to duty, p. 45
5. Eaſineſſe and familiarity, p. 46
The proper matter about which Catechizing is converſant, p. 47
The formes to be uſed and manner how it is to be managed, p. 57
Under which is noted thoſe that muſt Catechize;
1. Miniſters in their Congregations, p. 60
2. Schoolmaſters in their Schools, p. 65
3. Maſters of Families in their Families, p. 70
All that are ignorant, and in ſpeciall youth, and why they muſt be Catechized, & how they muſt carry in ſubjecting to it, p 78
The Doctrine applyed.
1. To inform of the neceſſity and dignity of Catechizing, p. 86
2. Reproof of Superiors neglect, p. 93
Inferiors not ſubmiſſion, p. 110
To exhort to the duty, which exhortation is enforced with ſeverall motives, p. 125
ERRATA.
Pag. 7. for them read then, p. 27. lin. 21. r. Canons of the Councels at, p. 32. l. 22. r. Cookes.
Imprimatur,
Edm. Calamy.