Principles of Christian Religion Expressed in the Catechism, Title page – Errata
AN EXPLICATION OF THOSE PRINCIPLES of Chriſtian Religion, expreſt or implyed in the Catechiſme of our Church of England, ſet downe in the Booke of COMMON PRAYER:
Vſefull for houſholders, that deſire heaven in earneſt: and are willing to diſcharge their dutie in examination of their charge, before they ſend any of them to our Communion.
Begun and finiſht in Barſtaple, in the Countie of Devon. according to his Majeſties late pious Directions, for the renewing and continuing of the ordinance of Catechiſing, ſo generally ſleighted and neglected: now thus farre publiſhed reſpectively for the benefit of that Corporation.
1 TIM. 4.15.
Meditate of theſe things and give your ſelves wholly to them, that your profiting may appeare to all.
LONDON, Printed by I.L. for P.S. and C.M. and are to be ſold at their ſhop, at the Golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard. 1633.
TO THE RIGHT Worſhipfull Mr. Major, the Aldermen, Burgeſſes, inhabitants and houſholders: to all within the Liberties of Barſtaple, beloved of God, called to bee Saints, Grace to you, and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Ieſus Chriſt.
YOur Towne and Corporation is both ancient and eminent:Camdens Brit. for healthy Scituation, elegant building, frequencie of people, grave government, and ſtore of plentie in every kinde; ſo enricht by the Lords bounty with all neceſſaries for well-being, as that an underſtanding eye, cannot but ſtile your ſeat, and that without ſuſpition of flattery, one of the compleateſt corners in this garden of Europe; the lot is falne unto you in a good ground (the Lord grant,Pſal. 16.6. your perſons may exceed the place, in tranſcendent brightneſſe of holy zeale and humble innocencie; that ſuch ſuperficiall ſplendour and cloudy glitterings of terrene felicitie, doe not ſo oppreſſe your eyes, but that you pierce thorow to ſee and deſire a further and far-paſſing glory, To count all but loſſe, for the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt Ieſus, Phil. 3.8.you have received from God an ample portion: noted by many more, then acknowledged (eminency could not be ſo farre and eaſily knowne, were it not for enuy attending) yet acknowledged by more I thinke, then know and weigh the grounds thereof; next under the Divine providence crowning our deare and dread Soveraigne with a peacefull government. I am miſtaken, or they may be thus reduced.
1. A faithfull diſpenſation of divine myſteries, by able Paſtours, lawfully called, and conſcionably diſcharging their dutie: what treaſure you have had or at preſent do enjoy in this kinde, is not for me to diſcloſe, the Lord enrich their hearts with a double portion of his Spirit and make you abound more and more in practicall thankfulneſſe; it is your obedience that will commend our Miniſtry.
2. An impartiall adminiſtration of juſtice without reſpect of perſons or reward; when the ſcales are held in ſuch ſteady hands, as that no ſiniſter blaſt can ſhake them, then the common body is moſt ſound and ſafe, from the fury of wild Bores abroad, and ſubtletie of undermining Foxes at home: and here, if none uncharitably miſtake the end, thus much may be ſpoken inoffenſively, for the glory of God, comfort of the preſent Major with his aſſiſtants and the further exemplary encouragement of ſucceſſours in that place of government—The ſword this yeere, Mr. R.M. Major that yeer; 1631.with conſcionable vigilancie, hath turned indifferently every way. My hope is, no female breath, no unfriendly perſwaſion of neighbours or kinred; ſhall be ever able to croſſe or ſtay that motion; conſtancy will crowne you with a holy happineſſe.
3. A carefull education of youth in godly exerciſes according to the rules of wholeſome diſcipline; requiring paines in the Paſtour, diligence in the Schoole-maſter, and care in the Parents, to bring or ſee them brought up in the knowledge and feare of the Lord, daily ſolliciting the throne of grace for a bleſſing on all: the firſt hath not, nor ſhall, I truſt, be wanting in any duty publike or private; thus farre I am bold on my brothers behalfe, unknowne unto him: the ſecond, neither hath, nor is wanting; your owne Schoole having furniſht one age already with great Schollers, famous in their kinde; and now the preſent hopes,Renowned Iewell: and Harding. by reaſon of his honeſty and abilitie that undertakes the charge, doe in the eyes of judgement and charitie, exceed the former; if the coldneſſe of theſe times, or the unſeaſonable heate of indulgent parents doe not nippe or ſcorch the buds appearing: and that in the laſt, you your ſelves may not be wanting to your ſelves, this paines, and danger is adventured.
Education of children is one fundamentall prop, either to begin or uphold a ſocietie in well-being; a meanes to ſtay originall corruption from breaking forth, to make way for ſaving grace and to turne the hatred of our enemies into feare,Prov. 22.6. Pſal. 127.4, 5. Traine up a childe in the way hee ſhould goe, and when hee is old hee will not depart from it: Happy is the man, that hath his quiver full of ſuch poliſht ſhafts, that he may not be aſhamed when he ſpeaks with his enemies in the gate.
This were enough, without further reaſon or apologie, to warrant all ſuch endeavours as looke that way: I had other Motives, to doe that over againe, which too many (ſome ſay) have done already; they may, I confeſſe, ſee further; how principles explained can bee too common, I ſee not: one Sunne ſhines in divers Countries, but by many beames, ſo judge of truth proportionably; diverſitie of ſtile, in the unitie of faith and matter, glorifies the Authour with varietie, and confirmes receivers of truth with further teſtimony; eſpecially conſidering, how too many uſe Catechiſmes, as they doe Almanacks, for a yeere and then their date is out.
Next after the advancement of his glory and enlargement of his kingdom, whoſe I am, & whom I deſire and reſolve to ſerve in the uſe of that talent, lent me for the good of his Church.
Firſt, a conditionall neceſſitie, and that, firſt to manifeſt unto others, what obedience is due, and what reſpect hath beene given here, to thoſe Soveraigne commands of ſuch, who with Princely providence and fatherly care, doe or lately did ſway the Scepter of this ſtate: under King Henry 8.See the Acts and Monuments of the Church. it was ordained, that Curates in their Sermons ſhould deliberately and plainly goe over the Pater noſter, Creed and Commandements, one clauſe or Article one day, and another, another day; till the whole were taught and learned by little and little, and that they ſhould deliver the ſame in writing. And after—that fathers and mothers, maſters and governors of youth ſhould teach or cauſe to bee taught their children and ſervants, even from their infancy, the Pater-noſter, Creed and Commandements in their mother tongue: and the ſame ſo taught ſhould cauſe the ſaid youth oft to repeat and underſtand. VnderUnder Edward the ſixt, I finde it enjoyned—That the Creed, Lords Prayer, and ten Commaundements ſhould bee read in Engliſh every Holy-day: that the people ſhould bee exhorted not only to learne them themſelves, but alſo to teach them to their children and family; that once a yeere all their Pariſhioners ſhould be examined therein, and that none ſhould preſume to come unto the Lords Table (let all Miniſters take notice, to ſee this order, which by the Law of God ought, and by the lawes of our Land may be, obſerved in every Pariſh) without a true knowledge thereof: the ſame for ſubſtance during the Raigne of that renowned Queene Elizabeth, King Iames, and his Majeſtie that now is, renewed ſtill, continued and confirmed: notwithſtanding all this, lamentable it is to obſerve, how the neglect of this dutie increaſeth daily; eſpecially there, where nothing, or as nothing, is done the later part of the Lords day; ſecondly, to render you your owne, as God commands, ſome teſtimony of thankfulneſſe, for your ready and continuing love (more worth then wealth) ſince my firſt comming amongſt you: what the good Shunamite did for Eliſha: 2 Kings 4.10. you have doubled to me every way; and behold now, you have been thus carefull for mee, with all this care, what is to be done for you? leſſe I could not, and more you expect not, dwelling contentedly among your owne people, then meanes to further your ſalvation; the Lord grant his Word may be in that powerfull and plaine evidence of the Spirit delivered, as that many ſonnes and daughters may bee borne unto Chriſt amongſt you. Thirdly, to ſave the weariſome labour of tranſcription; called upon we have beene lately and begun, to goe over the ſame againe; this benefit the Preſſe affoards; not only to communicate with eaſe, but alſo to prevent ſome inconveniences might happen both to you and mee, by reaſon of many imperfect Copies abroad, which cannot be recalled, not otherwayes over-maſtered, now if any thing be amiſſe, it may be amended, if any point obſcure, it may be explained, or if in any part deficient, a ſupply may bee added. Fourthly, to minde men and women of that ſolemne vow and promiſe made at the Font, in their behalfe, for whom they become ſureties, to teach or ſee they be taught, the uſe and end of Baptiſme, the Creed, Lords Prayer, and ten commandements in the Engliſh tongue, with all other things, which Chriſtians ought to know and doe for their ſoules health, and that they be vertuouſly brought up, &c. which many, I feare, undertake raſhly as a matter of forme and complement, never thinking of it after. Fifthly, to point out a common calamity which I find rife in every place; many old people have no other religion, nor ground for ſalvation, but what conſiſts in a bare and (often) ſenſeleſſe repetition of this Cathechiſme, not finding, but making it a prayer, hoping only in the grace of regeneration by Baptiſme, never thinking of, nor endeauouring to performe the conditions, expreſt in the adminiſtration of this Sacrament. Sixthly, in deſire at leaſt to redeeme, many precious houres miſpent in wanton prodigalitie which (bleſſed be the Lord) I live to bewaile, and make ſome verball ſatisfaction, for reall wrongs, I remember, done to others, by enticement, ſilence, example, &c. which to perſons remote and diſperſt cannot elſe be effected: as alſo to repay ſomthing to the poore and ignorant, in lieu of what I received from the richly-learned: a number of good helps I found and would not leſſen them; learning as lands, concealed is forfeit, the talent hid is loſt; riches are counterfeit, if not currant, ſo as a portion may ſucceſſively fall to every mans ſhare; who knowes what good, weakeſt endeavours may doe to the Church unborne? whoſe papers ſhall longeſt eſcape the devouring teeth of time and tyrannie? or what diſmall cloud of Popiſh darkeneſſe (which the Lord prevent and keepe off) may in after times once againe overſpread this Britiſh Ile, to laſh our wantonneſſe and make our people, prize more the meanes of knowledge? when courſer fare will be more eſteemed, then dainties now.
Secondly, a purpoſe and deſire I had (If the Lord ſhould remoove mee from you; a crazie body, and the daily departure of others, my deare friends and neighbours, minde mee often of mortalitie) to leave remaining with you, who have beene either called or confirmed by my miniſtry, the ſumme of all, which I have at ſeverall times delivered; not without preſidents; Saint Matthew having preacht to the Iewes, and being called to the Gentiles (as Bellarmine interprets Euſebius) deemed it profitable to leave (and that in his owne countrey language) ſome memoriall of his doctrine with them, from whom hee was to depart in body: Bellar. lib. 4. de verbo Dei non ſcrip. cap. 4. out of Euſebius lib. 3. hiſt. Eccleſ. cap. 21. The ſame is confirmed by Epiphanius and Nicephorus, adding it was abſentiam ſcripto compenſare; I wiſh all Miniſters would ſo recompence their wilfull abſence. Such was the care and practice of Saint Peter, 2 Peter 1.14, 15 knowing that ſhortly I muſt put off this tabernacle, I will endeavour, that you may be able after my deceaſe, to have theſe things alwayes in remembrance: if good bookes abound, inſtead of Cards and Dice, it will proove both exemplary and beneficiall to you and yours; neceſſitie is laid on vsus in publike, and woe be unto you, if private duties be neglected; every governour hath a charge to teach as well as feed: your wives, children, ſervants muſt be inſtructed out of the word, elſe what doe you for them, more then to your irrationall labourers? ſo Ioſephus lib. 2. cont. Apion, according to a continuing practice of his countreymen, who point children at five yeeres, to the Bible. Hilarius in Pſal. 118. or 119. referring to that place, 2 Tim. 3.14, 15, 16. Chryſoſt. in Col. Hierom highly commends certaine godly Matrons of his time, by name, Paula, Algaſia, Marcella, Laeta, Fabiola, &c. as by his Epiſtles to them appeares, for ſuch ſpirituall employments in their families. Servulus is noted and laid downe for a patterne by Gregory, one Ioſephus by Epiphanius, Theodorus by Caſſianus, Cornelia by Cicero, &c. but Abraham and the Baereans by the Spirit of God, Timothy by Paul, foreign, &c. therefore let no prophane perſon ignorant of antiquitie, cenſure private duties, as Puritanicall novelties; nor any feare, ſuch labours can be in vaine in the Lord.
Thirdly, it was not the laſt nor leaſt part of my care, to leave theſe thus legible, for a helpe unto my partner (a meet helper and a true Iſraelite) in performance of her duty toward our family; as beeing if the Lord call mee from them, the greateſt legacie and love-token, I am like to leave them.
Maſter W. Crompton of the Grange in Bedford neere Leigh in Lancaſhiere.Laſtly, a hope, theſe notes would bee welcome, pleaſing and profitable to one, unto whom I owe, next unto God my Father in Chriſt, what I have or am: if by any meanes I might ſupply that want of ſervice, which diſtance of place and neceſſary abſence inevitably occaſioneth not without griefe.
Other and better helps, I know, are extant, many; the very ſame points handled farre more exactly, by divers, only this you may call your owne: wherein ſome things toucht by others; about the attributes and decrees of God, the nature and order of being and ſubſiſting in the B. Trinitie; about Angels, Originall ſinne, Eccleſiaſticall orders, Offices, Diſcipline and ſeperated ſoules, &c. are omitted: the reſt bee you pleaſed to accept, with the ſame hand they are offered, and I ſhall the leſſe feele or feare what others cenſure; all I ſeeke from you for all, is practice: if any poore ſoule be convinc'd, confirmed, comforted or inſtructed in any point of our Religion or religious dutie, I ſhall deeme it a rich recompence: all I would ſay unto you more, is by way of adviſe: content not your ſelves with meere civill honeſtie, let not formalitie delude you; ſearch to finde out all your ſinnes, French, Spaniſh, Engliſh, what you confeſſe, bewaile and reforme, the Lord will cover and pardon: build not your faith upon a morrall change, iudging your ſelves good enough, becauſe not ſo bad as formerly; give all diligence to make your calling and election ſure, rejoycing moſt, when you have got any aſſurance your names are written in heaven: let mee beſeech you by the tender mercies of God in Chriſt, that you ſtudy to adorne your profeſſion, with pious practice; let your light ſo ſhine with unblemiſht brightneſſe before men, that they may ſee your good works and bee aſhamed that falſely accuſe your good converſation in Chriſt; ſlanderouſly reporting that wee are all for faith and nothing for obedience. Bee thankefull for the meanes of grace; for your preſervation from deſerved judgements; ſuch I meane, as doe uſvally befall populous places; by fire and the plague of peſtilence; for your plentie and proſperitie, that your ſoules may proſper as your bodies doe; for the mercy of God ſhowed unto his Church beyond the Seas, by the hand of that renowned Prince the King of Sweden, praying for accompliſhment in his time.
3. In election of capitall Burgeſſes, whence principall officers are annually called to governe your ſocietie, let private, carnall ends be ſet aſide, that ſo you may joyntly ayme at the publike good; as you deſire the glory of Chriſt, the advancement of his truth, and to ſtand with comfort before his judgement ſeat at the laſt day, pitch on ſuch as are able to doe him beſt ſervice; ſay they be not ſo rich or great in kinred as others, yet they will bring more credit and profit to your companie, then any other; as being the props of nature, the nobleſt; of the world (ſo Schoolemen call them) and are ſo reſpected where Chriſt is honoured; who did himſelfe, and taught us, to preferre our ſpirituall, before our carnall kinred.
4. For your Worke-houſe, I ſhould reioyce to ſee it as full as your Schoole-houſe;One of the Iudges in his charge this laſt Aſſizes, propoſed Dorcheſter for a patterne to theſe parts. enough you may finde, may it pleaſe you, mercifully to ſtop your eares ſgainſt the deceitfull cries of fond parents, and to ſend your eyes abroad into the high wayes, to compell them to come in: a matter it is of great conſequence, as that which will proove an eaſe unto your ſelves, in regard of that (other wayes inevitable) burden, by poore people daily increaſing, an honour to your ſocietie, a benefit to the ſtate, and a good meanes to enlarge Chriſts kingdome: omit not ſuch an opportunitie, delay not duties, death is at hand.
5. Let the priuate exerciſe of recalling, reading, prayer and catechiſing bee more generally and conſtantly obſerued: the later part of Saturday (which ſome of our anceſtours made a vacation, for better preparation to the day following) and ſuch parts of the Lords day, as remaining before and after publike employment, may be profitably ſpent that way: to the furthering of which good end, I hope it will pleaſe the Lord to put it into the hearts of ſome of you, to honour him with part of his ſubſtance, by building another Church, or Chappell, for thoſe poore people (I feare many) who cannot when they wcd finde roome to ſtand within the fold: while you hauehave opportunity, doe good and defer not all till death.
6. If faſting might take a turne with feaſting, and ſometimes goe round, in priuate I meane, it would helpe much to further the worke of mortification: the Lord calls now loude for th'one, not excluding thother, ſo vnderſtand me; feaſts of louelove may increaſe, if built vponupon the decay of exceſſiue meetings. Symons poore boord that fed many with little, was preferd to Lucullus his rich Table, that fed a few with ſuperfluous varieties: ſtriue who ſhall be moſt eminent, not in building, feaſting or wearing of rich and ouer-coſtly appearell, but in promoting and proſecuting good cauſes (as ſome of you hauehave done and at preſent are ſo employed) let not good propoſitions want a concluſion, through carnall delay or factious oppoſition: Husband well your time, for on the expence of this moment, depends eternity of weale or woe.
7. Let none of your ſonnes or ſeruants bee vntimely ſent beyond Seas, (where there is manifeſt danger of infection, no ordinary hope of inſtruction) till they bee armed and ſeaſoned with the knowledge and louelove of ſound principles: moreouer in forraigne traffique, let the world ſee, you preferre the publike weale, to your owne priuate gaine:Non remittitur peccatum niſi reſtituatur ablatum. Auguſt. and to that end, euer content your ſelues with reaſonable increaſe, and make reſtitution of what ſoeeuer you can remember, to hauehave beene vnlawfully or doubtfully gotten; for what will it profit a man, &c. as Matth. 16. verſ. 26.
8. Let brotherly louelove continue and abound, that ſo you may often taſte of that bleſſing which the Lord offers you, in the neereneſſe of dwelling one by another; to encourage by councell and conference and ſtir vp one another in the way: for my part, I am perſwaded of you, brethren, that yee are full of goodneſſe, filled with all knowledge, able to admoniſh one another, your obedience is gone abroad and I am glad on your behalfe, but yet I would hauehave you wiſe vntounto that which is good and ſimple concerning euill; and therefore I hauehave written the more boldly vntounto you, in ſome ſort, as putting you in mind, becauſe of the Grace that is giuen to me of God; and becauſe I long to ſee a vnanimous growth in ſpirituall ſtrength, your hearts as your houſes compact together in the Lord, that ſo you may ioyne to ſerue him with one mind and ſoule cheerefully trauailling towards heauen, in Vnitie and Amitie: a ſpeciall meanes to witneſſe your ſinceritie in the profeſſion of Religion, and to ſhield you from all ſcandalous aſperſions of faction, pride, ſtrangeneſſe and diuiſion: you ſee how large a letter I hauehave written vntounto you with mine owne hand, too large for ſuch a diſcourſe, were that reſpected only, but not knowing whether I ſhould euer hauehave the like opportunity againe, my louelove vntounto you and care for you, lead me into this errour.
I conclude with our Apoſtle: my dearely beloued if there be any conſolation in Chriſt, if any comfort of louelove, if any fellowſhip of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill yee my ioy, that yee be like minded, hauing the ſame louelove, being of one accord, of one mind, blameleſſe and harmeleſſe, the Sonnes of God without rebuke, in the middeſt of a crooked and peruerſe generation, among whom yee ſhine as lights in the world: what ſoeuer things are honeſt, iuſt, pure, louely and of good report, thinke of and follow them: and the God of peace who brought againe from the dead our Lord Ieſus, that great Sheepheard of the ſheepe, through the bloud of the euerlaſting couenant, make you perfect in eueryevery good worke to doe his will: in this hope I leaue you, and will neuer ceaſe to pray for you while I remaine,
From my ſtudy in Barum this 9 of May 1633. Yours to doe you ſeruice in the Lord. W. CROMPTON.
Stand faſt in the liberty, wherewith Chriſt hath made you free, that you be not intangled againe with the yokes of bondage. To that end. Pray continually.
O Moſt gratious God and Almighty Lord, Creator and Commaunder of Heauen and Earth, with all therein contained in Ieſus Chriſt a moſt louing and mercifull father, of whoſe meere goodneſſe it commeth, that ſo much of the truth is reuealed vntounto vsus miſerable ſinners, lying in the ſhaddow of death and ſpirituall darkneſſe, preſerue vsus good Lord in the knowledge and louelove thereof; mae vsus walke in all thankefull obedience, worthy of this fauour; for Chriſt his ſake we entreate, accept of him for vsus, of vsus, in him; vnite vsus as members into his myſticall body, conuay ſpirituall light and life into vsus, that we may liue in him and get victory by him ouer all our ſpirituall enemies: pardon all our ſinnes, and giuegive vsus power ouer our many corruptions, remember not the follies of our youth, blot out all our tranſgreſſions as it is promiſed. O bury them in the Graue of Chriſt, they neuer riſe vp to appeare againſt vsus: bathe our wounded and ſtayned ſoules in his precious bloud: infuſe and ſtirre vp in vsus, a ſound and ſauing faith, to receiue and put on the ſpotles roab of his Righteouſneſſe, wherein appearing we ſhall be iuſtified.
Open the eyes of our vnderſtandings, that ſeeing wee may know the truth; rectifie our affections, that knowing wee may louelove it: conforme our wils that louing we may expreſſe obedience in practice, with perſeuerance in the day of tryall and trouble: and all to the glory of that great name, good example of our brethren, the preſent comfort and future ſafety of our poore ſoules, that ſo with the reſt of the Saints, we may be timely prepared for death and Heauen, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord and onelyonly Sauiour. Amen.
Errata.
Pag. 14. l. 18.20. for naturally read mutually, and for worldly read worthy, pag. 13. A. 1. l. 17. for euen read euer, pag. 41. A. 1. l 4. for remaines read remained, pag. 70. A. 2. l. 6. for and read or, pag. 53. A. 1. l 18. for the read though, pag. 74. A. l. 1. 3. for bound read borne, pag. 102. A. 1. l. 7. for Communication read Commination, p 103. l. 1. read to bring in and aduance: ſo for confirme, l: 12. read conforme, pag. 109. A. 1. l 5. for degrees read decrees, pag. 112. l. 26. for taking read lacking an ordinary oath in ſome countries, pag. 131 A. 2. l 9. for deuill read euill, p. 154. l. 14 for remiſſiues read remiſſeneſſe, p. 155. A. 2. l. 12. for wates read wakes a terme well knowne in Lancaſh. pag. 167. l. 7. for ſext read ſexe, p. 172. A. 1. l. 8. for immodeſty read modeſty, p. 217. A. 1. l. 5. for of read it, pag. 229 l. 1. place or betweene profeſſion and power, pag. 237. A. 1. l. 8. adde thirdly, and pag. 246. l. 6. for 3 ſet 4, pag. 258. l. 3. adde theſe words, and doth nor pardon, pag. 270. A. 1. l. 3. eſchew read reſchew or raiſe vp, pag. 313. A. 1. l. 16. for deſire it read deſire after it, pag. 367. l. 3. blot out of, pag. 371. l. 21. for intermiſſion read intermiſſiue, p. 378. A. 1. l. 2. for life our life read life of our life.
Multis, non mihi.