A Catechism, Title page – To the reader
A CATECHISME OR BRIEFE INſtruction in the Principles and Grounds of the true Chriſtian Religion.
VVith a ſhort Treatiſe premiſed concerning the profit and neceſſitie of Catechizing.
PSAL. 34. 11.
Come children, hearken vntounto mee, I will teach you the feare of the Lord.
LONDON, Printed by EDVVARD GRIFFIN for HENRY FETHERSTONE.
1617.
TO CHRISTIan Parents, Houſe-holders, Schoole-maſters, and ſuch as hauehave charge of youth: E. B. wiſheth the fruition and encreaſe of all-ſauing Grace, and true bleſſedneſſe.
IT is one ſpeciall dutie (my good brethren) which is required of Chriſtians, to be performed by them: that they admoniſh and ſtirre vp one another, to matters which concerne Piety and godlineſſe. Exhort one another (ſaith the Apoſtle, 1. Theſ. 5. 11.) and edifie one another, euen as yee doe: and Hebr. 10. Let vsus conſider one another, to prouoke vntounto louelove, and to good workes. Let vsus exhort one another, and that ſo much the more, becauſe the day draweth neere.
Through this am… bold to impart an admonition to you, and this concerning a duety of moſt great and high importance-to wit, of Catechizing.
And I ſuppoſe there cannot bee a more needfull thing ſpoken of; and concerning which admonition ſhould be rather giuen, then this: partly by reaſon of the great benefit and profit which commeth by it; and partly through the great contempt and neglect which is had of it; and partly for that a great number of theſe, by whom this duty is to be performed, put it off from them as a buſines impertinent, and with which they ſtand not chargeable. I meane this laſt of Houſe and Schoole-gouernours.
I ſhall therefore labour breefly to informe you of three things: the firſt is, teaching the profit of it: ſecondly I ſhall endeuour to remoue the contempt of it: thirdly, I ſhall prooue that you (my brethren aboue mentioned) doe in ſome ſort (though not ſo fully as certaine other) ſtand chargeable therein.
Touching the firſt, my reaſoning ſhall be onelyonly by allegation of the ſeuerall benefits which flow from it: now Catechizing is of exceeding aduantage, as in reſpect of the preaching: it is not vnknown how great the number is of theſe who enioy the preaching of the worde, and are nothing, or very ſlenderly bettered by it; this is moſt certainely one mayne cauſe thereof, the want of Catechizing; in that perſons come vnskilled thereto in the principles of religion: and therefore this is a ſpecial courſe to be taken of him that would be a good proficient by preaching, that he be ſeen in the grounds before mentioned.
Secondly, concerning the Sacrament of Baptiſme, wherein wee enter into ſolemne Couenant with Gods maieſtie, how commeth it to paſſe that ſo many thouſands who hauehave thus ſolemnely bound themſelues, yet are ſo farre from keeping it, that they ſcarcelie thinke of ſuch a matter? Proceedeth not this of neglect of Catechizing? And therefore as any one tendreth to receiue the comfort of his baptiſme, it ſtandeth him vponupon to ſubmit himſelfe to this kind of inſtruction.
Thirdly, concerning the Sacrament of the holy Supper, is not this generally to be held of all Chriſtians, that the ſame appertaineth not to all commers, but onelyonly to prepared gueſts? therefore the holy Ghoſt plainely affirmeth of the other ſort, that they eate and drinke their owne iudgement: now can it bee denied that this is one ſpecial good helpe of preparation, to bee well leſſoned in all the ground points of the chriſtian doctrine?
Fourthly, what a ſpeciall matter is it to bee frequent in the reading of the ſacred Scriptures, concerning which, the commandement of our heauenly maſter, is expreſſe for all, Iohn 5. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye thinke to hauehave eternall life; and they are they which witneſſe of me: hereby we are made wiſe vntounto ſaluation, 2 Tim. 3. now certaine it is, that without Catechizing, the Scriptures will be as a ſealed booke: and therefore as we hauehave in regard the reading of Gods booke, to receiue edification and comfort by it, it is needfull we be skilled in the principles before.
Fiftly, can there bee a more notable preſeruatiue, to keepe vsus ſafe from the multitude of ſeducers and impoſtors in the world, as Ieſuites and Seminaries? How many are peruerted by them? for they compaſſe ſea and land, to make of their profeſſion, that they may make them the children of hell like themſelues, I will not ſay two-fold worſe; for that I ſuppoſe cannot be: witneſſe their many treacheries and conſpiracies, and eſpecially that gunne-powder buſineſſe, which argue their attainment to perfection in this kind. If falſe Prophets may be knowne by their fruits, which is the rule of our maſter, Matth. 7. then it is no hard matter for theſe who will apply themſelues to diſcerning of ſpirits (the which we are counſelled, 1. Iohn 4. 1.) to finde out of what ſpirit they are: but concerning theſe that hauehave beene ſubuerted by them, hath there beene a more chiefe cauſe then neglect of inſtruction in the grounds of the true religion?
Sixtly, what a rich treaſure is the feare of God? the want whereof Abraham perceiuing in a country where hee was ſoiourning, doubted of villanies to bee done him and his wife: Surely (ſaid hee) the feare of God is not in this place, and they will ſlay me for my wiues ſake, Gen. 20. This is it which keepeth the ſubiect from diſloyaltie againſt his Prince and Soueraigne, 1. Sam. 26. 9. 10. 11. which is the ground of dutifulneſſe in children towards their parents, Epheſ. 6. 1. Children obey your parents in the Lord. This is the chaine that tieth ſeruants to due obedience to their maſters, Epheſ. 6. 5. 6. 7. 8. This is it that holdeth perſons from breaking forth into lewdneſſe of behauiour: How can I (ſaid Ioſeph being tempted by his ill miſtreſſe) doe this great wickedneſſe, and ſo ſin againſt God? Gen. 39. 9.
Now is it poſſible that this treaſure of Gods feare can be, except there be knowledge going before? and is there againe a more direct way for this, then inſtruction in the principles of Chriſtianitie?
Seuenthly, what is catechizing in the very nature of it, but as it were a taking of any one by the hand, to lift him vp out of the dungeon of darkneſſe, and to bring him into the light and ſight of Chriſt crucified, the which alone doth yeeld iuſtification, Eſa. 53. 11. and life eternall, Ioh. 17. 3. So that catechizing is a moſt ſpeciall pole to lift vp the brazen Serpent, the onelyonly beholding of which perfectly cureth that deadly wound which that fiery Serpent of hell gaue vsus, Iohn 3. If therefore the knowledge of Chriſt crucified be in price and account with vsus, (the which Paul eſteemed of ſuch excellencie, that all things of this world herewith compared, hee reckoned them to bee dung and filth, Phil. 3.) then ought this exerciſe to be in requeſt with vsus, as being without all controuerſie greatly requiſite to the getting and procuring of that worthy ſcience.
There may be added an eighth benefit: The doctrine of the Goſpell is a myſterie, Epheſ. 3. 9. yea a great myſterie, 1. Tim. 3. 16. and eueryevery one by his birth is a perſon naturall, and the naturall man perceiueth not the things that are of God, 1. Cor. 2. This being ſo, it may eaſily appeare how neceſſary catechizing is, as being a familiar and plaine inſtruction in the grounds of doctrine.
A ninth conſideration of the benefit of this is hereby euident: Chriſtians are all of two ſorts; either they are babes, through being lately new borne, or they hauehave attained to ſome good growth, and they hauehave their wits exerciſed to diſcerne both good and euill. This diſtinction the holy Ghoſt ſetteth downe, Heb. 5. 13. 14. Now how many are there of the former ranke? (yea and it were well if they were come to this) and as for theſe, they hauehave need of milke, and not ſtrong meat, as the Apoſtle there ſpeaketh, v. 12. And will you know what hee meaneth there by milke? he expreſſeth himſelfe a little before, calling it the firſt principles of the word of God: and could hee hauehave ſpoken more plainly?
The laſt benefit, which is the perfection of the whole: Catechizing is neceſſarie to the eſtabliſhing of perſons for a fixed and ſetled ſtanding in grace. If yee continue in my word (ſaith our heauenly Maſter) then are yee my Diſciples, Ioh. 8. 31. Now hereunto this kinde of exerciſe (by the confeſſion of all) is ſingularly expedient. It is a common title giuen to the principles of religion, that they are called grounds, which is a very fit appellation, as being to notifie, that all ſuch who are not skilled in theſe principles, are as a building which ſtands vponupon no firme ground. Therefore eueryevery one that mindeth in good earneſt the profeſſion of Chriſtianitie, had need to looke to his ground, that it be ſure enough. All that will liue godly (ſaith the Apoſtle, 2. Tim. 3.) muſt ſuffer perſecution: and therefore without firme ſetling not any one may looke to hold out againſt ſuch ſtormes and tempeſts.
Let this ſuffice to hauehave beene ſaid concerning the benefits by catechizing, the which as diuers coards twiſted together, may make as a great cable to draw and pull any vntounto it.
Now in the ſecond place, I am to labour about remoueall of the contempt, wherein this noble exerciſe is: and here, albeit the former conſideration, touching the profits ariſing by it, may bee applied to this, yet whereas profit is one thing, and dignitie or excellencie is another, I will here alleage what concerneth this.
Firſt, ſhould catechizing ſeeme a baſe and vile matter in our eyes, which God in the depth of his wiſdome hath inuented as an ordinance of his, to helpe his elect to the faith of Chriſt, or to confirme them therein? This is an argument which Paul vſed in his plea for preaching, which otherwiſe was accounted fooliſhneſſe, 1. Cor. 1. 21. Here then may I ſay this of catechizing: Bee it in the account of the greater number a fooliſh and weake thing, yet certainly it is Gods fooliſhneſſe, which is wiſer then men, and Gods weakneſſe, which is ſtronger then men, 1. Cor. 1. 25.
Secondly, ſhould that be contemptible with vsus, the carefull and diligent practiſe of which, hath made certaine, though otherwiſe much accepted, yet to be the more honourable with God? Abraham for example: It is true that his faith properly made his perſon pleaſing vntounto God, Heb. 11. 6. and 39. yet his diligentneſſe about the inſtructing of his familie in the way of the Lord, did make him the more acceptable; and therfore for this very act God maketh him of his priuie counſell: Shall I hide (ſaith the Lord) from Abraham the thing that I will doe? For I know him, that he will command his ſons & his houſhold after him, that they keepe the way of the Lord, Ge. 18. 17. 19.
Thirdly, if antiquitie and ancientie may procure reuerence, (as it ought to doe when it is not ſeuered from truth) certainly catechizing is not deſtitute of this.
In the Eccleſiaſticall ſtorie there is mention made of diuers Catechiſts, Pantenus, Clemens, Origen, and other which were in the Primitiue Church, or very ſhortly vponupon the ſame, that tooke great paines in this kinde. More then this, it is euident that in the Apoſtles times it was in practiſe, as is plaine both by the fift to the Hebrewes, verſ. 12. 13. and eſpecially the ſixt, verſ. 1. 2. young Timothie, as he was brought vp by his mother Eunice, and grandmother Loys, in the Scriptures from his childhood, 2. Tim. 3. 15. ſo doubtleſſe he was in this kinde alſo. Further then this, in the times of the old Teſtament there is mention made of Salomon, how he was taught and inſtructed by his mother, Prou. the laſt: The words of King Lemuel, the prophecie that his mother taught him.
Beyond all this, it is plaine that in the times of the Patriarkes catechizing was practiſed. That Iacob vſed it, it is plaine by Gen. 35. Then ſaid Iacob to his houſhold, and to all that were with him, put away the ſtrange gods that are among you, and cleanſe your ſelues. Now it may not otherwiſe be thought, but that this holy Patriarke, as he tooke ſtraight order for the remouing of the falſe gods, ſo his care was as great in the informing them in the knowledge of the true God, and in the right worſhip of him. And as for Abraham, that hee vſed it, it is euident by Gen. 18. the place formerly alleaged.
Yea it aſcendeth to the ſupremeſt height of antiquitie, which is to Adam himſelfe: for in that his two ſonnes did ſo applie themſelues to the worſhip and religious ſeruice of God, it is certaine (howſoeuer it be not literally expreſſed) that this came to paſſe by being catechized and inſtructed therein, by their Parents Adam and Eue.
Fourthly, this maketh not a little for the high reputation of catechizing, in that all the reformed Churches throughout Chriſtendome doe vrge and require the practiſe of it: wherein what doe they otherwiſe then giuegive an honourable teſtimonie vntounto it?
Laſtly (which onelyonly might ſuffice, if there were no more ſpoken for it) Catechizing is of ordinance Apoſtolicall; and ſo it is not of humane inuention, but it hath Iehoua himſelfe to be the founder of it. This is plaine by Heb. 6. the Apoſtle hauing before ſpoken of the needfulneſſe of it, whereas he ſaith, Ye hauehave need againe that wee teach you the firſt principles of the word of God, then doth hee afterward relate the Catechiſme it ſelfe in the maine 2. principall points of it, which he tearmeth repentance from dead workes, and faith towards God: he mentioneth alſo the two ſorts of perſons of whom it was required, to wit, the Conuerts before they were baptized, which he meaneth by the doctrine of Baptiſmes, and the children of Beleeuers ſo ſoone as they came to diſcretion, which hee meaneth by the laying on of hands, becauſe theſe little ones after ſuch exerciſes performed by them, had the hands, to wit, of the Paſtors, laid on them.
Thus wee hauehave ſeene of theſe two points, to wit, the great profits which come by catechizing, and alſo that there is no vileneſſe in it, ſo as any one may deſpiſe it; but contrariwiſe to bee had in great regard by any perſons whatſoeuer.
There remaineth now this third to be ſhowne, which is that you (my brethren) who are Parents, Maſters, and Schoole-gouernours, hauehave an intereſt in this buſineſſe, I meane that in ſome ſort you ſtand chargeable for the practiſe of this dutie of catechizing.
Farre be it from mee to lay any yoke on your neckes, or burden on your backes, other then that which is Chriſts, to which eueryevery one muſt ſubmit himſelfe, Matth. 11. 29. eſpecially ſithence his yoke is eaſie, and burden is light, Matth. 11. 30. He is that great, yea and only Law-giuer to the conſcience, and therefore theſe that deſire to bee in the number of his good ſubiects, muſt not denie him obedience, as in other, ſo in this dutie.
Now how ſhall this appeare? Euen eaſily if wee acknowledge that all the whole Scripture is only his word, according as is ſaid, Col. 3. Let the word of Chriſt dwell plenteouſly in you, meaning thereby the whole doctrine of the Scripture. But let vsus goe to the matter. And firſt I reaſon thus: EueryEvery Chriſtian is by his calling a Prophet, Act. 2. 12. and certaine it is, that if we partake with Chriſt in his two greater offices, to wit, Prieſthood and Kingdome, Ren 1. 6. we partake in the leſſer alſo, which is of Prophecie. Now then if eueryevery common Chriſtian ought to bee a Teacher, how much more you, whoſe callings, though not publike, yet are more ſpeciall then ordinary?
Secondly, thus I argue: The husband oweth this dutie to teach the wife, as is plaine by 1. Cor. 14. 35. If they will learne any thing, let them aske their husbands at home: now ſhe is a perſon of ſuperioritie in a familie; then much more is this dutie to be performed to thoſe that are ſimply the inferiours.
Thirdly, the expreſſe commands of God are many and diuers for this dutie: Deut. 6. Theſe words which I command thee this day, ſhall be in thine heart, and thou ſhalt rehearſe them continually vntounto thy children, and ſhalt talke of them when thou tarrieſt in thine houſe. Likewiſe verſ. 20. If thy ſonne ſhall aske thee in time to come, ſaying, What meane theſe teſtimonies and ordinances, &c. then thou ſhalt ſay vntounto thy ſonne, &c. And Pſal. 78. God eſtabliſhed a teſtimonie in Iacob, and ordained a Law in Iſrael, which he commanded our Fathers, that they ſhould teach their children, that the poſteritie might know it, and the children which ſhould be borne, ſhould ſtand vp and declare it to their children.
And in the new Teſtament, very pregnant is that which is Epheſ. 6. Ye Fathers prouoke not your children to wrath, but bring them vp in inſtruction and information of the Lord.
Fourthly, I thus argue: You that are Parents and Schoole-gouernours, owe louelove vntounto your children and Pupils, for this is a common debt which we owe vntounto all, Rom. 13. 8. much more vntounto them. Now this louelove muſt be in deed, 1. Ioh. 3. 18. and can there bee a more ſpeciall worke of louelove, then to helpe them to that ſcience, which yeeldeth for its benefit life eternall, Ioh. 17. 3.
Fiftly, thoſe that profeſſe the Chriſtian faith, are by their calling Abrahams children, Gal. 3. 7. Now they that will be Abrahams children, muſt neceſſarily (as Truth it ſelfe hath affirmed) doe the workes of Abraham, Ioh. 8. 39. Now this was one of his workes, as may bee ſeene Gen. 18. 19. of which alſo God did take eſpeciall notice.
Sixtly, it is your deſire, that at the appointed times, eſpecially at Eaſter, they ſhould come to the Sacrament, and partake thereof: now in comming vnprepared, what other doe they then eat and drinke vntounto themſelues iudgement? 1. Cor. 11. and ſhould not you take pitty on them in this reſpect, and apply your beſt endeuours, that they may not turne vntounto their bane, which by Gods ordinance is appointed the food to life eternall?
Seuenthly, you that are Parents and Maſters, deſire greatly to hauehave your children dutifull and obedient, alſo your ſeruants faithfull and diligent; and can there be a more notable means then catechizing, for the effecting of this, whereby their hearts may bee ſeaſoned with grace, and conſequently fit fruits will be following?
Laſtly, what is a Chriſtian familie but a little Church? ſo is it tearmed in diuers places, as Rom. 16. 5. and Philem. verſe 2. To the Church which is in thy houſe: therefore ſuch a ſpeciall holy exerciſe as is Catechizing, ſhould not be as a ſtranger therein.
I omit further allegations (beloued brethren) concerning this catechizing dutie to be performed by you: it is God only that hath the perſwaſiue power, Gen. 9. 27.
I will onelyonly ſatisfie a demand or two, and ſo I will end. One is, wherefore I am ſilent concerning the Miniſters, for the executing of this catechizing buſineſſe: I anſwer, for that generally it is held for a dutie whereto they are bounden, whereas concerning other it is not. And hence it is ſtrange to mee, that all thoſe who make conſcience of preaching, doe not alſo of catechizing, which is equally commanded, and rather more then leſſe profitable. Secondly, That if the Miniſters doe their duties, there may be no more required then their care to preſent them to the Miniſter: I anſwer, that except they doe ſomething in priuate, the profit by the publike may bee endangered: but if this be neglected in the publike, then it ſtandeth you the more vponupon, that your ſelues be labourers in the worke.
If here it be ſaid, the matter is too difficult to be done by you, I anſwer, if you only command your companies to learne theſe principles, and to vtter the ſame to you, this is a ſmall matter; and then there are ſo many helpes by thoſe who hauehave written vponupon the grounds of Religion, that at the leaſt ſome of thoſe being procured, there may bee ſomething with great facilitie performed.
I ſhall briefly ſpecifie ſomething concerning this Treatiſe which here is put forth, and ſo I will end. I hauehave for the method altogether followed the Palatine Catechiſme: for the matter, I hauehave vſed libertie therein, as other hauehave done before me in the ſelfe-ſame booke.
The points here ſet downe, I hope hauehave eueryevery one of them good warrant.
There are ſome perſons, for whom I hauehave done it, who I know will make vſe of it; and indeed for them I tooke this buſineſſe, ſuch as it is, in hand.
Yet I hauehave beene bold to hang out a garland, becauſe this kinde of mine, howſoeuer good, is in ſmall requeſt, I meane of catechizing in generall.
Now I deſire you (good brethren) to take my former admonitions and exhortations in good part, and to accept theſe my poore endeuours in the forwarding of this ſo needfull an exerciſe.
And ſo I commend you to Gods gratious inclining and directing you for all his good ordinances: and I heartily beſeech him to vouchſafe to all vsus his elect and called ones of his purpoſe, through a grace that was giuen vsus through Chriſt before the world was, that wee may bee made perfect in all good workes, to doe his will, working in vsus that which is pleaſant in his …ight▪ through Ieſus Chriſt, to whom be praiſe for euer and euer.
Amen.