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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	church_n	contain_v	doctrine_n	2,906	5	6.1091	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26345	The main principles of Christian religion in a 107 short articles or aphorisms, generally receiv'd as being prov'd from scripture : now further cleared and confirm'd by the consonant doctrine recorded in the articles and homilies of the Church of England ... / by Tho. Adams ...	Adams, Thomas, fl. 1612-1653.	1675 (1675)	Wing A493; ESTC R32695	131,046	217

the Spirit of God doth highly commend the practice according to it as that wherein he much delighteth and therefore makes it necessary to us who should be solicitous to please him yea in the Families wherein we live as well as in the Congregation as a part of that solemn service he hath appointed in his word with Prayers and Praises Unless persons learn the Principles of Christian Doctrine they will not be able to hear Sermons with profit nor understand clearly and distinctly the nature of Faith Repentance Iustification c. nor to give a reason of the hope that is in them which they are required to do And the rather that they may withstand fundamental errors as well as resist evil practices which was memorably seen in the very Children of Merindol who made a solemn Confession of their Faith from Scripture amazing and confounding their persecuting adversaries That shining Star Luther in the dawning of the Reformation used to say his Catechism was parva Biblia the little Bible meaning a short sum of that heavenly Doctrine which the very Son of God did publish from the bosom of his eternal Father and which the Holy Spirit did reveal by the Prophets and Apostles for the salvation of our souls This might move him reforming the Church from the dregs of Idolatry and Superstition to carry his Catechism always along with him to read and peruse it almost every day as he did affirming seriously that he always learned something from it which he did not at least so practically know before Agreeable whereunto in our age said laborious holy and zealous Mr. Ioseph Alleine concerning Catechism If any think themselves above it 't is from their pride or ignorance for my part I account my self a learner And therefore a Sum of Christian Principles methodically digested and explain'd ought to be sought after and embrac'd by us as a precious treasure yea for the elder to have recourse to but more especially for the younger who almost from their very Cradles may learn something of it as the Apostle speaks that as new-born Babes they may receive the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby Upon this account I earnestly intreat you who can justly claim a superiority in your own houses that you would bethink your selves what an authority you are entrusted with from God who requires you to exercise it with an holy zeal and maintain it with all Christian prudence without Lordliness and rigour endeavour to be well skill'd in the Scripture consult the several tempers of those within your doors allot fit and stated seasons for the getting of these Principles by heart and watch over them daily with care both as to their set task and practice answerable to these Principles keeping them seriously to mind both the business of Religion in their general Calling and of their distinct worldly employments in their particular Callings Suffer not your selves and houses to go hurrying to Hell by opposing Gods most wise government of the world which he carries on orderly for the safety and comfort of his Servants by well-instructed Families such as Abrahams was who became instrumental to carry down the knowledg of God in all peaceableness to posterity so as to leave an expectation of Gods blessing upon them whose welfare Nature it self doth move us to promote The truth is My Friends if we did but remember our selves as we are Christians dedicated to God by Baptism expecting benefit by the purchase of Christ we should consider we are not our own but bought with a price under the greatest obligation to live to him that hath bought us and should take all possible care that we and ours might be His. Do then I beseech you all you can to save your selves and others Oh! pity their poor souls defiled by sin and expos'd to misery Oh! let them not perish through your carelesness lest any of them say in Hell as Cyprian brings in Children saying their Parents were their Murderers 'T is long of you that we lye in easeless torments Bewail the corrupted sad estate of your Children as descending and deriving pollution from you Let them timely know the only remedy bring them to reverence the holy God and read his word with greatest awe shewing them the danger of breaking his Commandments the benefit of ordering their lives according to his mind that they may truly glorifie and enjoy him Charge them to take heed they be not carryed away with an inordinate love to the profits pleasures and honours of this life but learn the great lessons of self-denial and cleaving to the Lord Jesus with full purpose of heart bearing patiently whatever he is pleas'd to try them with And be sure you neglect not seasonably and duly to admonish and correct them that their iniquities be not their ruine Do you who are Inferiours willingly submit Oh! take heed of refusing instruction or opposing the means which is used to bring you acquainted with God and your selves lest you be found guilty of shutting out the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God that it may not shine into your hearts II. Concerning the import and usefulness of this small Book I do here put into your hands and houses praying the spiritual matter of it may reach to and abide in your hearts You see here be under four chief Heads or Chapters an 107 short Articles which also are Answers to the Questions in the Margin now generally received These A.'s are as so many entire Sentences or distinct Propositions and Aphorisms the Commandments are Ten of them without depending for their sense upon any Question containing the fundamentals of Christian knowledg and practice so that the Learner may by committing them to memory lay up in his heart the Sum of Christianity and make a profession confession or repetition of it when call'd in a continued speech or else answer to any part of it particularly when the Questions in the Margin are used by another making enquiry into his knowledg These several Articles you find have plain proofs from Scripture at large to shew that these necessary matters of Faith and Obedience are surely founded upon the never-failing word of God whose supream authority should be of force to awe our consciences and engage our hearts to the practise of those things which do appear to be our indispensable duties Unto Divine warrant for further illustration and confirmation here are the Testimonies brought from the authentick Records of Reformed Religion amongst us I mean the Articles and Homilies of the Church of England as agreeing with and clearing or strengthening of the several Propositions yea and very consonant to the main body of the materials in the short Catechism which is in the Common Prayer Book to be learn'd by every Child before he be confirm'd or admitted to receive the Holy Communion For the four chief heads there are the Creed or things to be

believed the Ten Commandments shewing our duty to God and our Neighbours the Doctrine of the Sacraments the things contain'd in the Lords Prayer And there they who present Children at Baptism are charged to call upon them to hear Sermons and chiefly provide that they may learn the Creed the Lords Prayer and the Ten Commandments in the English tongue and all other things which a Christian man ought to know and believe to his Souls health All which are as in so short a room can be well expected methodically presented to you in this Book Wherein lastly you have our departed Friend's endeavours in a short and easie Explanation to make the Principles plain to be understood Now for the use and improvement of it and the advantage you may have by it supposing you will first read this Epistle of mine to you I would advise you who have the charge of Families especially and can read or have those in your house or neighbourhood who will do it for you unless your own prudence dictate somewhat better for any of you in your circumstances 1 Distinctly and treatably to read over the Articles or Answers without taking any notice then of the Questions and require those under your charge to attend diligently thereunto I suppose you may go over if not all one half of the A. s which are printed in a large letter at one solemn reading then the next time the rest beginning where you left But if any of you think the Task too large for once or twice divide it into four or three Readings If according to Chapters you may read each day that you set apart for this purpose one if into three according to Chapters or chief heads for distinction of matter you may the first one day the second another and the two last on the third If according to Articles for five days on the first day read Nineteen Articles on the second Nineteen more ending with the Thirty-Eighth Article on the third twenty A. s more ending with Article Sixty-two on the fourth Twenty-two A. s more ending with A. Eighty-five on the fifth Twenty-two A. s more to the end 2 Your next reading of these Principles or Articles over should be with the Texts of Scripture that prove them and the Testimonies of the Reformed Church of England attesting and in a sort opening or some way clearing each Proposition 3 The last reading if not dispatch'd at once with the second should be the Explanations of the Author enlarging more upon each Article and so making it more plain and clear even to the meanest understanding who will be attentive and considerate To which purpose those who govern in each Family should be always watchful to see there be an attendance to it without noise But you should at the beginning after the first Reading set in with those under your charge to get the Articles or Answers without book and if by Friends I understand the poorer sort will in good earnest learn them by heart likely I may procure the A. s printed in one sheet by themselves to give to them those who are more able will I suppose buy them Then you may hear them repeat what they have learned and proceed those days you Catechise them especially every Lords-day you who have not better helps to read some portion of the Explanation so much at least as was learn'd the week before engaging them by small rewards and punishments to hearken with all seriousness and to do that with all their might which is evidently prov'd to be their duty This conscientiously and constantly perform'd will I hope through Gods blessing turn to a good account for you and me 'T is only for the sakes of some I am thus minute Give me leave then particularly to mind those who have not yet exercised themselves to Prayer as they should have done how this Book may be helpful and improv'd to a solemn performance of that duty and an attainment of a gift therein by having variety of orderly and fit matter upon all occasions from a distinct knowledg of our sins and wants As for instance A. 98. you have the nature of Prayer described which you will do well to read pause upon and consider how it is prov'd by Scripture-Testimony and how attested by our Forefathers then read our Authors Explanation of it whereby you will come to understand the parts of Prayer and in whose name it is to be offered to God for which see also A. 21 25. Now for you who are a Learner to frame your self to pray orderly and pertinently you may look into and meditate upon A. 4. compar'd with A. 100 101. for a Preface Then pass on to confess your original sin by considering and if you will you may take your Pen and write out particulars prayer-wise A. 14 15 16. compared with A. 13. Then you may particularize your actual transgressions by considering what is forbidden in every Commandment of the Law and acknowledging those sins which by looking into that glass you find your hearts to upbraid you with A. 47 51 55 61 65 69 72 75 78 81. Then you may see their aggravations A. 83 84. with their Explanations Then the consequents or punishments due to transgressors A. 17 18 19. Hereupon consider the Gospel requires Faith and Repentance A. 86 87. Then come to the next part of Prayer viz. Petition Here you may have directions to pray for the Spirit working in Effectual Calling A. 29 30 31. Pleading Christs mediation A. 23 24 25 26 27 28. and seeking particularly that God would give what he requires in his holy Commandments A. 46 50 54 57 64 68 71 74 77 80. compar'd with A. 101 102 103 104 105 106 and A. 33 34 35 36. still collecting and compacting such materials out of these Articles and the Scriptures proving of them with what follows where it is needful in the Explanation more briefly or largely as every ones present condition and circumstances require Now for the remaining part of Prayer which is Thanksgiving you will better know what you are to give thanks for by seeing what sins or evils God hath kept you from and what good things he hath bestow'd upon you And this you will materially discern by considering well what you have confess'd and petition'd then it will be further helpful to meditate upon A. 9 10 12 20 21 22 31 32 85 88 89. For Conclusion read A. 107. with the Scriptures and Explanation Turn to these Articles as you see them noted here thus minutely for the sake of you who need such direction and yours some of whom possibly you may engage to write what you shew them in this order or when you read to them for the teaching of them to be more methodical in learning to pray and that longer or shorter as occasion requires for their own and others edification But still remember It is the Spirit likewise that helpeth our infirmities Rom. 8.26 So that our prayers through