A New and Useful Catechism, Title page – Poem
A NEW and USEFUL CATECHISM; Very neceſſary and teachable, both for Children and young Chriſtians.
Wherein is contained, by way of Queſtion and Anſwer, a brief Diſcovery of theſe Things;
1. What is God.
2. How he may be known.
3. What Man's State is, by reaſon of the Fall of Adam, and his own actual Sins.
4. What Chriſt is, and the glorious Remedy God hath provided for Sinners, in ſending his Son into the World.
5. That the Scriptures are the undoubted Mind and Will of God, for Men and Chriſtians to walk by; evident by ſix Reaſons.
6. What our Duty is to Chriſt, in Matter of Worſhip and holy Converſation.
7. Some few Queſtions and Anſwers, relating to the Duty of Children and Servants in particular.
The third Edition, Corected and Amended, with large Additions, by MANASSETH KING, Paſtor to the Church of Chriſt in Coventry.
Parents, bring up your Children in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord, Epheſ. 6.4.
London, Printed in the Year 1693.
TO THE READER.
FOr aſ much as I have obſerved, that among the many great and little Books, there have been ſcarce any that have minded this Work, of publiſhing any thing tending to the inſtructing of Youth in the Things of the Lord, in ſuch a way as may be by Parents or Maſters eaſily by way of Queſtion asked, and by way of Anſwer eaſily learned by Children or Servants: I have therefore, as one of thoſe that bear good-will to the Education of Youth, and the Edification of others; and ſo far as I know my own Heart, to the eternal Salvation of all whom Jeſus Chriſt hath died for, have ſingly in this intended the Glory of God, in whoſe Hand is all our Breaths, and do humbly offer this as tending thereto in this enſuing Dialogue; deſiring that if my Knowledg may not be ſo great as others, nor my Judgment ſo regulated according to the Scriptures of Truth as others, that it may not prejudice them againſt what Truth they may find, nor hinder, but rather further them to the bringing forth a more excellent Piece of this Nature; and then I am ſure God will have the Glory, Souls may have the Benefit, many Families that too much, yea, I judg ſinfully neglect the inſtructing of their Children or Servants under their Charge, receive more Benefit: not knowing, as the Apoſtle ſaith, but thou, O Man, mayſt ſave thy Wife. So what knoweſt thou, O Father, but thou by thy care in bringing up thy Child in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord, mayeſt ſave thy Child, thy Servant; thy Patterns or Examples being daily agreeable to thy Inſtruction: and thy neglect of this Duty may be ſad upon the Day of thy Account, when the Blood of any poor Soul living in thy Family may be required at thy Hand, becauſe thou didst not do thy utmoſt in the uſe of the Means God hath appointed to reclaim them from Evil, and the Snares of Death, and to bring them to the underſtanding of the Will and Work of God appointed for them to obſerve. Among the reſt of thoſe great Endeavours of many of the Lord's People in other things, I do here preſent thee with a few Queſtions and Anſwers grounded upon Scripture, which I ſhall beg thy Eſteem of no farther, than thou findeſt them agree with the Law and Teſtimony, Iſa. 8. and deſire from my Soul, that every Man and Woman, Child and Servant, may learn to know the Things that belong to their Peace, and may eſcape the Snares of Death; in which I deſire to remain one that am commanded to love my Neighbour as my ſelf.
Manaſſeth King.
The Child's Inſtructor: OR, Brother Benjamin Keach's Verſes.
O Child moſt dear, encline thine Ear,
And hearken to God's Voice:
His Counſel take, and that will make
God's Angels to rejoice.
Be not like thoſe, that Grace oppoſe,
And give their Minds to play:
But let thy Mind be well inclin'd,
In ſeeking Wiſdom's Way.
Learn in thy Youth, God's holy Truth,
Chriſt's bleſſed Croſs to bear:
And ſo ſhalt thou, though hated now,
In Heaven have a ſhare.
Don't lie nor ſwear, to ſteal don't dare,
Have a care of ſuch Evils:
For ſuch muſt die, and in Hell lie,
With damned Souls and Devils.
In a right way, thou muſt obey,
Thy Father and thy Mother:
As alſo right, in God's dear ſight,
To love Siſter and Brother.
Let not vain Pleaſure, nor earthly Treaſure
Thy Soul ſeek and deſire:
For theſe things know, God will o'rthrow
with his conſuming Fire.
Spend all thy Days in righteous Ways,
God's holy Name to hallow:
That at thy laſt, thy Days being paſt,
A bleſſed End may follow.
And though thou die, and in Grave lie,
Yet Chriſt will thee awake:
And Angels ſend thee to attend,
And into's Kingdom take.
Where thou ſhalt reſt, with Saints the beſt,
And pray that ſo may I,
And have the Crown of bleſs'd Renown,
God's Name to magnify.
That thou with Chriſt in Paradiſe,
For ever mayeſt dwell.
Thus do thou pray, both Night and Day,
And ſo dear Child farewel.