17. verses and in the 2. Epist of Peter the 1. Chap. from the 16. verse and so forth to the end of the chapter Let vs peruse these places turning to them in our Bibles But that we may go forward How are the holy Scriptures to be vsed of vs that we may haue the knowledge and faith of them to the end that we may giue glorie to God and obtaine saluation by the direction and comfort of them We are most reuerently and religiously to acquaint our selues with the often reading of them and hearing them read and calling vpon God by earnest prayer that he would giue vs the right vnderstanding of them Yea this is to be done both publickely and priuately What are we principally to obserue in reading of them How the holy Scriptures are to be read and marked The orderly course of the holy Storie how one thing followeth another in order of time and therein chiefly how both the Lavv of Moses and also all the rest of the Prophets do giue one concordable and consonant witnesse vnto Iesus Christ concerning his nature his tribe his person his office by doctrine types figures and prophesies And againe how all things written taught prefigured foretold in the whole Scriptures haue had their full accomplishment and blessed effect from time to time in their proper seasons But haue we nothing else to obserue in the reading of the holy Scriptures Yes for beside the doctrine of faith and the vndoubted confirmation thereof we are vvith like diligence and reuerend regard to marke all holy instructions for good life with the promises of all kindes of blessings belonging thereunto and likewise all warnings against sinne and the threatnings thereof and therewithal also the good examples of the godly and their blessed ends for our incouragement to liue as they haue liued and the euill examples of the vvicked and their cursed ends that we may auoid their wayes These things indeede are verie good and necessarie to be obserued in the reading of the holy Scriptures but here a scruple or doubt ariseth If the holy Scriptures onely be able to make vs wise vnto saluation and to guide vs in the right way of glorifying God what is to be thought of other good books and godly writings whether we enquire of those which be called Apochripha vsually bound in our Bibles or anie other written by godly and learned men heretofore or now last of all in these our dayes They may be greatly profitable as helps for our weakenesse if good discretion be vsed in reading of them that is if too much time be not spent that way from the reading of the holy Scriptures themselues and if we trie all other vvritings by the holy Scriptures which alone in matters of saluation haue authoritie and credit of themselues and no other further then they do agree with them and so haue allowance from them For the ground perfection of the knovvledge of God and our ovvne saluation is onely to be found in them To this purpose that is worthie to be diligently noted How the holy Scriptures are to be preached and heard which King Solomon saith of the reading of all writings besides the holy Scriptures and those that are most agreable to them that it is an vnprofitable wearinesse to the flesh and a burthensom vexation to the fraile mind of man Eccles chap. 1.18 and ch 12.12 This obserued let vs go another step forward Is it sufficient for the vnderstanding of the Scriptures and for the obtaining of faith c. that we do onely reade them No but as the Lord at the first and so from time to time chose and sanctified some speciall men vvhome it pleased him to vse as his holy instruments to vvrite dovvne his Scriptures once for euer so it is and alvvayes hath bene his pleasure to call and furnish many other vvith vnderstanding and vvith the gift of teaching and exhorting aboue the rest to minister a more cleare full light of his heauenly knovvledge vnto his people and to stirre vp and avvake their consciences to a more effectuall embracing of the same then they could by their ovvne reading attaine vnto This is manifestly to be seene euerie where in the Scripture The Lord by his holy Prophets calleth for hearing as the most effectual meanes of knowledge faith and obedience So doth King Salomon throughout the booke of the holy Prouerbes So doth our Sauiour Christ in the Gospell Matth. 13.9.16.17.18 and in the Reuelation Chap. 2. chap. and 3. It followeth therefore that with like reuerence and that also of speciall necessitie that we acquaint our selues with diligent hearing of the Scriptures preached and taught in the ministerie thereof Further it is necessarie that they be carefully meditated vpon in euerie of our hearts apart by our selues and also conferred of one with another both publikely and priuately At whose mouth especially ought the knowledge and doctrine of the holy Scriptures to be heard and learned of vs a 1. Cor. 14.34 35. 1. Tim. 2.12 c. Priuately vviues of their Christian husbands Likevvise b Gen. 18.17.18.19 Exod. 12.26 ch 13.14.15 Deut. 4 9.10 chap. 6.6.7 ch 11.18 Ps 78.1.5.6.7 Pro. 4.3.4 c. and chap. 22.6 Ephes 6.4 children and seruants of their godly parents and maisters and c Deut. 33.10 Mal. 2.7 Luk. 12.41.42 1. Cor. 3.1.2 Heb. 5.12.13.14 ch 6.1 13.17.22 Iames 1.19 Gal. 6.6 parents Maisters seruants children and all both priuately and publikely of their faithfull Pastors and Teachers Seeing the principall meanes of knowledge and faith and of all grace with the blessed and prosperous growth and increases thereof is the hearing of the word publikely preached and taught it shall be good for vs before we proceede any further to stay a while vpon this matter What is required to the profitable hearing of it so preached and taught amongst vs To the profitable hearing of the vvord preached and taught three things are necessarie The first is a Eccles 4.17 Act. 10.33 preparation before vve come to heare The second is b Matth. 13 9. Act. 16.14.15 attention in hearing The third is c Iames 1.22.23.24.25 care to make good vse practise of that which vve haue heard To each of these points manie things are necessarie as you haue bene instructed shew therefore first of all what is requisite to due preparation That vve may come rightly prepared to heare the vvord of God as vve ought these fiue things are necessarie First a d Matth. 28.19.20 2. Cor. 4 6. Rom. 10.14 Act. 3.31 perswasion in our heartes that it is the holy ordinance and commandement of God that vve should heare and also that it is most necessarie and profitable for vs so to do Secondly e Psal 119.18 Ephes 6.18 that vve make our prayers to God that he vvould prepare vs as being of our selues altogether vnfit to heare Thirdly f Eph. 5.13.14 ch 6.12
iniustice reade Exod. 23.4 Deut. 22.1.2.3 Of this sort also are such as deale vnfaithfully with things committed to their custody and keeping Reade Exod. 22.7 c. and Leuit. 6.1.2.3.4 and Numb 5. verses 6.7.8 In this point of iniustice do they likewise greatly sin which faile in the performance of legacies bequeathed by will of the deceased and which interuert the goods of the poore giuen to hospitals c. But most of all such as keepe away that which should be for the maintenance of Gods pure worship and Religion But let vs go forward In the last place as touching other mens goods iniustice is committed in the alienating of possessions from the right heires thereof as was noted To the which purpose consider the Law of God Deut. 21.15 Reade also Prou. 24.15.16 And thus we haue seene which be the kinds of iniustice that cōcerne the getting detaining alienating of other mēs goods But there are some who do not these things themselues but onely are partakers with them that do them and giue their consent What is to be sayd of such All such by giuing their consent to the actions of vnrighteousnesse and by their partaking in the wicked gaine thereof they do make themselues partakers of the sinne and also of the punishment thereof by the Law both of God and man The common saying is If there were no receiuers there would be no theeues At the least we may say if there were no receiuers there would be the fewer theeues and those that would be so should be the sooner found out and suppressed by due correction and punishment Hereupon therefore the ciuill Magistrate doth iustly punish the accessaries together with the principall after they be found out and conuicted Hitherto of iniustice concerning other mens goods Now therefore we are come to those kinds of iniustice which men do commit touching their owne goods I would haue you shew how that may be Men may deale vniustly with their owne goods either by a niggardly and fast keeping of them or contrariwise by an ouerlauish and prodigall mispending of them Yea all vnthriftinesse is a sinne of this kind of iniustice Shew either of these extremities more particularly And first how may iniustice be committed in too niggardly or fast keeping or holding of a mans owne goods Euen so often as they are not wisely liberally emploied to good and mercifull vses according to euery mans power and ability and according as God himselfe doth at any time giue iust and fit occasion What these good vses are we haue seene before In which respect also reade Prou. 11.24 The niggard therefore is not the best husband for himselfe and much lesse for his posterity Reade also Prou. 3.9 and verses 27.28 Consider also the examples of Ananias and Saphira concerning their concealement Acts 5. Now on the other side how do men commit iniustice by ouer-slauish and prodigall mis-spending of their owne goods Whensoeuer any spend excessiuely or more then is meete either vpon themselues or any other whether it be in apparell or in building or in belly-cheare or in any other superfluous expences but most of all if the expence be made vpon harlots and lewd company Likewise whensoeuer any do consume or waste that portion which God hath giuen them by playing at the cardes and dice or by any other vnthrifty gaming Rash suretyship also is forbidden vnder this branch of iniustice Finally that sinne which we call Simonie and all giuing and bequeathing of money or goods to vngodly ends and purposes Reade 1. Tim. 2.10 where the holy Apostle opposeth good workes to costly aparell as though he should say that charge ought to be limitted euen in women to the end they might be more rich in those good workes which the Apostle mentioneth Now who can deny but that men ought to be more wise and graue this way then women The like must needs be confessed concerning buildings c. And touching dice-play c. see how contrary it is to the will of God Prou. 14.1 and chap. 21.20 and verse 17. As for rash suretiship reade Prou. 6.1 c. and chapter 17.18 and chapter 22.26 Of the sinne of Simonie so called from the name and intended practise of Simon thee sorcerer reade Acts 8.18.19 c. And for other kinds of wicked imploying of money reade Nehem. 6.12 Consider also the superstitious vanity of popish wils and testaments Now touching the last point of iniustice concerning mens owne goods by vnthriftinesse how is that When any thing that might be well saued is negligently lost yea when euery thing is not wisely and carefully employed to the best and most profitable vses that may be Against the first of these points of iniustice we haue the Commandement of our Sauiour Christ Iohn Chapter 6.12 And contrary to the second see what is commanded Prou. 27.23 c. But are there no other sinnes then these forbidden in this Commandement Yes all couetous desire and longing after other mens goods to enrich our selues All enuy at our neighbours prosperity All vnthankefulnesse murmuring and complaining of our owne vvants and on the contrary all vaine-glory and boasting of vvorldly riches and wealth vvith a mind taking scorne to be beholding to any by accepting of benefits or tokens of friendly goodwill Also all vvorldly and excessiue sorrovv for losses Moreouer all slouth and idlenesse is by this holy and righteous Law forbidden and condemned Finally all trust and confidence in our owne vvit and labour Against couetousnesse reade Luke chap. 12.15 Heb. 13.5 Reade also Pro. 15.27 and chap. 20.21 and chap. 21.5 Against enuy reade Prou. 14.30 and chap. 24.19.20 And in the holy Gospell Is thy eye euill because I am good sayth our Sauiour Christ Math. 20.15 Against murmuring reade Exod. 16.2.3 and in diuerse other places in the bookes of Moses Reade also Psalme 106.25 and 1. Cor. 10.10 Iude verse 16. Against boasting of riches Prou. 13.7 Ier. 9.23.24 and 1. Tim. 6.17 Against worldly sorrow we haue seene it to be also a breach of the sixt Commandement Against idlenesse Prou. 6.6 c. chap. 20.13 and many other sentences to the same purpose in that booke and 1. Thes 3.10.11 And note well that both couetousnesse and idlenesse and prodigality c. are as the high-wayes to theft and all iniustice and therefore must needs be here condemned Finally against confidence in our owne wit or forecast or labour Why all sinnes of iniustice are called theft reade Prou. 3. verses 5.6.7 and chap. 23.4.5 and Iames chap. 4.13.14.15.16 And thus we haue at the last attained to see how great and manifold iniustice is forbidden in this holy and righteous Commaundement of God whereby it is cleare and manifest that there be many kinds of theeues beside those that in course of mans law come to the gallouse who all shall be arraigned before God and condemned to hang in hell as the common speech is whosoeuer of them shall not repent in time
this life and the things that belong to the comfort thereof Of this kind of more open and professed theft there was a most grieuous practise of man-stealing among the Israelites selling them to the heathen What is the punishment which God in his ciuill iustice appointeth vnto it That thiefe shall dye saith the Lord so shalt thou put euill away from among you Deut. chap. 24. verse 7. This is a very great sinne to betray any mans libertie specially the libertie and freedome which any of Gods people haue with their brethren in the worship of God c. as Dauid complaineth in the 1. of Sam. 26.19 And therefore the punishment of this theft is increased by a more grieuous temporall punishment The greatnesse of this sinne may euidently appeare by the contrarie patronage which the Lord graunteth vnto him that shall flie from the heathen to his people for the loue of their religion as we reade Deut. 23.15.16 Thou shalt not saith the Lord to Israel deliuer the seruant to his maister which is escaped from his maister vnto thee He shall dwell with thee euen among you in what place he shall chose in any of thy cities where it liketh him best thou shalt not vexe him c. Of this kind of sinne as hath bene shewed before is the stealing away of any mans daughter or sonne out from his gouernement though it be not to sell them to straungers but to marrie them at their disposition they hauing no right to deale in that action And seeing it is of this kind of sinne it cannot be doubted but the like curse and punishment from the wrath of God belongeth vnto it And though any be spared in this life yet without repentance no thiefe shall escape the spirituall sentence and iudgement of God as 1. Cor. 6.10 No thieues shall inherite the kingdome of God What is the curse against the publike magistrate whosoeuer amongst them either inferiour or superiour do execute iniustice vnder pretence of iustice he sitting in the seate of iustice and specially when he doth it against the fatherlesse and widow In the 23. chapter of the Prouer. vers 10.11 thus we reade Remoue thou not the auncient bounds neither enter thou into the fields of the fatherlesse For he that redeemeth them is mightie he will defend their cause against thee And Deut. 27.17 Cursed be he saith the Lord which remoueth his neighbours mark and all the people shall say Amen Likewise verse 19. Cursed be he that hindreth the right of the straunger the fatherlesse and the widow and all the people shall say Amen Here againe call to mind the iudgement of God against king Ahab and Queene Iezabell for their cruell iniustice against Naboth Reade also Prou. chap. 22. vers 22.23 and Ierem. 22.13 c. 24.25.26 Amos 4.1 c. Micah 3.9.10.11.12 Zephan 3.1.2.3 What is the curse against such Land-lords as ioyne house to house and lay field to field that they themselues may dwell alone The Lord pronounceth a fearefull wo against all such Isa chapter 5. verses 8.9.10 Wo vnto them saith the Lord by his holy Prophet that ioyne house to house and lay field to field till there be no place that you may be placed by your selues in the midst of the earth In my hearing that is in the Prophets hearing saith the Lord of hostes Surely many houses shall be desolate euen great and faire without inhabitant For ten acres of the vineyardes shall yeeld but one Bath and the seede of an Homer shall yeeld but an Ephah What is the curse against the priuate person which practiseth theeuish deceite in some honest calling and vnder the profession of Gods true worship and religion The gathering of treasure by a deceitfull tongue saith king Salomon is vanitie tossed too and fro of them that seeke death Prouerbes chapter 21.6 Reade also Prouerbs 13.11 The riches of vanitie shall diminish And chap. 22.16 He that oppresseth the poore to increase himselfe and giueth to the rich shall surely come to pouertie Reade also chap. 20.17 Amos chapter 8.4.5 c. and Micah 6.10.11.12 c. the curse threatened against those that vse false weights and sell corrupt wares for good And no maruell for the false ballances are abomination to the Lord Prou. 11.1 Reade also Zacharie chapter 5.2.3.4 where note the grieuousnesse and greatnesse of the curse from the description of the greatnesse of the booke which was represented to the Prophet And note also that when vniust dealing is countenanced by lying and swearing that the theft is made the more hainous thereby And yet alas this practise is vsuall almost in euerie occupiers shop c. And therefore iustly may we feare that the grieuous curse of God is euen alreadie entring in at the doores c. A speciall iudgement of God as I haue heard it verie credibly reported fell vpon an Ostler in the citie of Norwich who fell in dispaire of Gods mercie because he had defrauded the poore trauelling horses in their allowance of hay and prouender Yea in the terrour of his conscience he thought his sin the more vnpardonable because he had iniured the pore beasts which could not complaine of the sinfull wrong done vnto them c. What is the curse against him that keepeth backe the hyred seruants wages The Lord will come neare to iudgement and be a swift witnesse against such Mal. 3.5 And Iames 5.1 many miseries shall come vpon them Reade also Deut. chap. 24.14.15 What is the curse against the seruant that practiseth deceit for his maisters aduantage In the day of the Lords sacrifice I will visit saith the Lord all those that daunce vpon the threshold so proudly vvhich fill their Maisters houses by crueltie and deceit Zephan chap. 1.9 What is the curse against him that is any way partener with a theefe though he be not the principall agent He that is partner with a theefe saith king Salomon hateth his owne soule Prou. chap. 29. verse 24. Reade also Psal 50. vers 18.19.22 Hitherto of the curse against all vniust increasing of men their owne selues with the impouerishing of others Now further as touching those that commit iniustice by their not vsing of their owne goods which they enioy as they ought to do First and formost what is the curse against the couetous and niggardly person He that maketh hast to be rich shall not be innocent Prou. 28.20 and verse 22. A man with a wicked eye hasteth to riches and knoweth not that pouertie shall come vpon him And againe chap. 21.5 But more then this No couetous person shall inherite the kingdome of God 1. Cor. 6.10 Reade also Prou. 1.19 Sed consule Tremel And Isaiah 57.17 Ezek. 22.12.13 Reade also a more generall curse Isa 24.1.2.3 This is the curse of the couetous person but you haue not yet shewed the curse of the niggard What is that He that spareth more then is right surely commeth to pouertie Prou. 11.24 See more of this in the curse
A TREASVRIE OF CATECHISME OR CHRISTIAN INSTRVCTION The first part which is concerning the morall Law or ten Commandements of Almightie God with certaine Questions and Aunswers preparatory to the same I haue seene an end of all perfection but thy commaundement is exceeding large PSALME 119.96 Euerie Scribe which is taught vnto the kingdome of heauen is like vnto an housholder which bringeth forth out of his treasure things both new and old MATTH 13.52 LONDON Printed by Richard Field for Thomas Man 1600. TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVL MY SINGVLAR GOOD PATRON Sir Nicholas Bacon Knight AND TO THE LADY ANNE BACON HIS VERIE WORTHIE and vertuous wife in all humble and heartie desire of continuall increase of euery heauenly and spirituall gift and grace from God the Father and from our Lord Iesus Christ RIGHT Worshipfull right dearely beloued and reuerenced in the Lord the regard of my bounden dutie first and then that perswasion which I haue of your fauourable good-will and liking toward me as also of the ioynt-willingnesse of ye both to yeeld the credite of your names both in and for the profession and furtherance of Gods holie Religion and worship by euerie good and Christian meanes in the sight of all men and finding herewithall that God of his rich mercie hath by meanes of your encouragement blessed my poore indeuors that you might as I trust enioy some fruite of them these considerations haue both incited and also emboldened and confirmed me though the vnworthiest of all the Ministers of Gods word whose wise faithfull and learned labours are honorable and precious in the Churches and assemblies of Christ Iesus among vs to make no doubt of dedicating this booke vnto you and of publishing it vnder the credite and as it were the protection of your names Desiring hereby to testifie my speciall thankfulnesse to ye both and to helpe both you and yours and as many others as I might in the right way of the kingdome of heauen Howe worthie a testimonie of such my speciall thankfulnesse to you my so right worshipfull and beneficiall good Patrons as I haue found ye to be vnto me and consequently how worthie your credit and protection and how profitable a helpe to further either your selues or any other in the way of Gods kingdome and chiefly how this booke may be to the glory of God which aboue all things ought to be most respected in euery enterprise we take in hand I leaue it to be determined by that gracious blessing which God himselfe of his infinite goodnesse and mercie according to his owne diuine counsell and wisedome shall vouchsafe to giue vnto it Neuerthelesse seeing I do present to you an interpretation of that part of the most excellent Lawe of the Lord our God which containeth the fundamentall rule and ground of all true wisedome righteousnesse and holinesse before him and therewith also a manifold collection of diuerse necessarie and profitable discourses incident to the same from the rest of the holy Scripturs of God such as are the equitie of the same most holy and righteous Law the curses threatened against the trangressions thereof the blessings promised to all perfect obedience not onely in generall but also concerning euery particular commandement of the Lawe with a declaration likewise of the onely perfect obedience of our Sauiour Christ to all and euery commandement and of our owne perfect disobedience as well in corruption of nature as in error and transgression of life vntil we be ingrafted into Christ and sanctified by the holy Ghost as also after we are so ingrafted sanctified and renued vnto God that our obedience at the best is onely as we may say inchoate and but begunne alwayes in this life remaining still vnperfect so that it is of grace only through our Lord Iesus Christ and not by worth and merite that either it or our selues are accepted with God Finally seeing the excellent vses of the Law of God in all these respects are here presented vnto you and that in such sort as all these points haue not bene so fully gathered together as it were many labours into one as by the grace of God ye shall find them here gathered and sorted to your hands all tending to instruct vs to true humiliation in our selues that we might most happily reioyce and glorie in the Lord and be partakers of his glorie in the end I haue now good hope vpon the premises that with your fauorable construction of al things and without iust offence to anie other I may in such modestie as may well beseeme an humble seruant of God desire ye to esteeme this booke as worthie for the Lords cause not onely that countenance and safegard which your worthie names and credite may procure it but also your verie diligent and carefull reading perusing and pondering of it as that treasure which God would haue in speciall manner weighed out tendered and appropriated to you I beseech ye therefore right Worshipfull in the Lord receiue ye this writing not so much from me vnworthie poore wretch as from the gracious good hand of God who hath as I trust prepared and furnished it from the treasurie of his riches for the spirituall inriching of your soules to his heauenly kingdome as a fruite and blessing vpon you for your speciall fauour to me and other his seruants for his sake how frayle and earthen soeuer the instrument is which it hath pleased him to vse in this ministerie seruice toward you And for the same cause also do I humbly beseech ye to make the best spirituall gaine of it to the vttermost of that wherunto it may possibly be improued by you To this end as I began so do I still and by Gods grace shall so long as I liue as humbly and instantly as I shall be able beseech God our heauenly father who onely hath the full treasurie of spirituall riches fully sufficient for all that be his that it may please him of his bounteous mercy more and more to replenish you and yours with all heauenly graces blessings and comforts vntill ye may together with the rest of his Saints attaine to his euerlasting kingdome of glorie euen for his most deare sonne our Lord Iesus Christ his sake of whose fulnesse onely we must all receiue euen grace after grace whatsoeuer we receiue To him therefore together with the Father and the holy Ghost one onely true God almightie and most wise most righteous and most mercifull â—â—â—nall infinite and incomprehensible be all bleâ—â—â—ng and thankes all praise honour and glorie both now and for euermore Amen Your worships in the Lord most bounden ROBERT ALLEN TO THE REVEREND AND LEARNED EXAMINERS and Readers humble and heartie salutation in Christ IT may well be Reuerend fathers and louing brethreÌ„ in the Lord that your graue and godly mindes being iustly setteled in preiudice against all vainglorious or vnaduised needlesse atteÌ„pts to write and publish bookes as against that wherein the vaine and curious
minde of man will alwayes be restlesse and so without restraint would put the Reader to much causlesse and frutelesse wearinesse ye will at the first viewe require a reason both of this booke and also of the title of it Of the booke why it should be published after so many excellent books alreadie set forth of the same argument wherby it may seeme to be a superfluous attempt Of the title how it may beseeme the modesty of him who offereth it to examination seeing albeit he cannot but confesse of him selfe that he is in truth a verie poore man yet may be suspected to make boast of great wealth and thereby to fall vnder the rebuke of that holy Prouerbe which saith There is that maketh himselfe rich and hath nothing VVhich surely were a foule fault specially in the Church of Christ and concerning the holy matters of God and the same also in a time of great learning in the cleare light of the Gospell wherein vaine boasting and beggery cannot possibly be concealed and hid To either of these demaunds or secret and sudden conceipts of the mind seeing by the Law of God concerning the ordinarie gift of prophesie and interpretation of the Scriptures The spirites of the Prophets are subiect to the Prophets I thinke it my dutie to bewray and vtter vnto you the secrets of my thoughts so farre as your wisedomes and the cause it selfe may seeme to require at my hands that so the honour of the iudgement may in a lawfull course of proceeding be committed vnto you Touching the first therefore what may better beseeme me for answere then that being my selfe intreated first by some such whose request could not but thus farre preuaile with me that I should humbly referre the present booke to the examination of you who beside the gift of spirituall discerning haue a speciall power and authority to determine whether it befit that it should be published or no. To you therefore I referre it not desiring the publishing of it vnlesse it may be found meete to haue entertainment and allowance among the bookes of the same argument as that which hauing receiued great helpe from the former may yeeld at the least some litle helpe to such as answerable to the greater measure of their gifts shall write yet more exactly of the same most excellent points at any time hereafter As touching my selfe it shall suffice me that I haue offered it to your godly considerations tendring herein the best dutie I could both to you and those that so desired and incouraged me in the behalfe of Gods glory and the benefite of his Church as they were in their owne heartes perswaded And now cōcerning the title although peraduenture it may seem to be prefixed with a mind to make some vaine boast of an imagined excellency to be in this booke aboue others I do likewise humbly desire that it may not so be misconstrued but first according to that common vse of titles whereby each booke is distinguished from others and specially from those of the same argument and then in respect of the doctrine it selfe rather then of the maner and forme of the deliuerie and contriuing or digesting of it according to that which the Spirit of God saith of the most excellent Law of God and doctrine thereof that it is more to be desired then gold yea then much fine gold and more earnestly to be sought and searched after then any other iewell or treasure whatsoeuer beside In hope therefore that it shall be so interpreted of you and nothing doubting of your ingenuous and incorrupt iudgement of the whole booke I do willingly offer it to be read tried and examined of you heartily praying God by you to giue that iudgement and successe which he himselfe in his most excellent wisedome shall best approue of To whose most gracious direction and blessing in all things I do both hartily and dutifully commend you Yours in the Lord vnfeinedly desirous to learne of all that so happily he might be fit to teach some ROBERT ALLEN a Minister of the word of God A TREASVRIE OF CATECHISME The first part WHat is Catechisme I meane as touching the Christian exercise and practise thereof The Christian exercise of Catechisme is a familiar plaine and orderly teaching of the grounds and principles of Christian religion by word of mouth from the holy Scriptures of God with requiring an account of that which hath bene taught by questioning and conferring with the hearers from point to point To Catechise is according to the signification of the Greek word Catechaeoo to teach by sound of voice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of the later part of the which Greeke word commeth the word eccho familiar in our English tong which signifieth a resoūding of the voice This word of Catechising is vsed generally for all kind of information by heare-say as we vse to speake Act. 21.21.24 It is vsed for preaching of the word whether by continued oration or by this breaking off or diuision of speech by question and answer Gal. 6.6 Let him saith the holy Apostle who is taught in the word make him that hath taught him partaker of all his goods The Greeke word there vsed is this of Catechising as though we should reade it thus Let him that is Catechised c. So likewise Act. 18.25 and Rom. 2.18 and 1. Cor. 14.19 I had rather speake fiue words that I might be vnderstood and instruct or as the Greeke word is catechise others then ten thousand words in a strange tongue Reade also Luke 1.4 For as much as many haue taken in hand c. It seemed good also to me most noble Theophilus c. to write vnto thee thereof from point to point What Catechisme is That thou mightest acknowledge the certaintie of those things whereof thou hast bene instructed The Greeke word is here also Catechised Answerable to this is the Hebrew word chanac 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which noteth the teaching of the principles of religion according to that we reade Pro. 26.6 Teach a child in the trade of his way c. And hereof did Henoch beare his name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chanoc as one taught from his youth or dedicated vnto God Gen. 5.18 Such an order and forme of doctrine by preaching and Catechising which wee speake of is pointed at by the Apostle Paul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a forme of doctrine Rom. 6.17 expressed by a word borowed from the making of an impression by a stampe or seale And chap. 2.20 by other words signifying an information or method and way of informing the minde with knowledge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an information of knowledge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a preparation of wholesome words or doctrine by representing as it were the forme and fashion of it in a cleare glasse And 2. Tim. 1.13 he compareth it to a patterne the worke of a skilfull and expert painter or drawer which setteth out that
perceiueth not the things of the spirite of God for they are foolishnesse vnto him 1. Cor. 21.14 neither can he know them because they are spirituallie discerned And againe 2. Cor. 3.5 We are not sufficient to thinke any thing pertaining to the kingdome of God as of our selues The Greeke word icanoi may well be Englished 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that also more significantly to the purpose of the Apostle Naturall knowledge insufficient VVe are not fit nor haue no aptnesse c. But can we not by the light of our naturall vnderstanding know God by looking as it were in a glasse vpon that wisedome and power of his which shineth in his creatures nor be sufficiently prouoked by his accustomed goodnesse powred forth vpon vs in them to know and beleeue in him to loue feare worship and serue him to his honour and glorie and to our owne saluation No neither but we are so much the rather left without excuse before God because we through the dimnesse of our naturall sight knowing him but weakely and vnperfectly by his creatures cannot neither are desirous to bend our hearts and minds worthily to glorifie him as God It is true for so the Apostle Paul teacheth Rom. 1.20.21 and 1. Cor. 1.21 I aske therefore where that knowledge and faith which is sufficient for saluation and to the perfect guiding of vs in the right way of glorifying God here in this life is to be found Deut. 4.2 Pro. 30.6 Psal 105. 2. Tim. 3.15 Onely in the holy Scriptures and written word of God wherof it is said Thy word is a Lanterne to my feet and a light to my steps And againe the holy Scriptures are able to make vs wise vnto saluation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus Which are those holy Scriptures you speake of The bookes of Moses the Prophets and the Psalmes in the old Testament and the writings of the Euangelistes and Apostles of our Lord Iesus Christ in the New So indeed doth our Sauiour Christ deuide the holy Scriptures of the old Testament Luke 24.44 How many are the bookes of Moses They are fiue Which are they The first is called Genesis The second Exodus The third Leuiticus The fourth Nombers The fift Deuteronomy Which are the bookes of the holy Prophets First there are foure more larger then the rest Isaiah The holy Scriptures the onely ground of Catechisme and which they be Ieremie Ezechiel Daniel And then there be other twelue which are called the lesser Hosea Ioel Amos Obadiah Iona Micah Nahum Habbakuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Malachie being the last of the Prophets endeth his Prophesie with foretelling the comming of Iohn Baptist wherewith the Euangelistes do begin the writings of the new Testament And thereby it appeareth that both the Old Testament and the New are one intire Scripture giuen by the same Spirit But we must needes vnderstand more vnder the name of the Prophets then these 16. which you haue alreadie rehearsed or else the diuision of our Sauiour Christ shold not comprehend all Shew therefore furthermore how manie be remaining of them and which they be There are also 16. bookes of them that is to say One of Ioshua One of Iudges One of Ruth Two of Samuel Two of the Kings Two of the Chronicles One called Esra Another Nehemia The booke of Esther The booke of Iob. The Prouerbes of King Salomon Ecclesiastes or the Preacher And the Song of Songs Of the Old Testament the booke of the Psalmes onely remaineth the which in the Hebrew is deuided into fiue partes How manie are of them in all The whole number of them is one hundreth and fiftie These are the holy Scriptures of the Old Testament shew likewise which be the bookes of the New Testament and first how manie are the writings of the Euangelistes VVhich be the holy Scriptures They are foure which be called after the names of those that wrote the most ioyfull Historie of the Gospell of our Sauiour Christ Who are they Mathew Marke Luke and Iohn Of these holy Euangelistes Luke wrote also the booke following next after them called the Actes of the holy Apostles and Iohn the last booke of the New Testament called the Apocalypse or Reuelation of Iohn the diuine But beside these writings of the New Testament there are one and twentie seuerall Epistles or letters contained in the same which partly the same Apostle Iohn and beside him some other of the Apostles and holy ministers of the Gospell wrote entitled either to whole Christian Churches or to certaine particular Christians of speciall calling and note in the Church of God Shew which those Epistles or holy letters are Of the Apostle Paul who wrote specially to the Churches of the Gentiles We haue one written to the Romanes Two to the Corinthians One to the Churches of Galatia One to the Ephesians One to the Philippians One to the Colossians Two to the Thessalonians Two to Timothie One to Titus One to Philemon Next vnto these is one written more specially to the Christians of the Iewes called the Epistle to the Hebrewes without any name of the writer of it And some other of the Apostles who wrote indeed for generall instruction both of Iewes Gentils in which respect their Epistles are called generall we haue One of Iames. Two of Peter Three of Iohn And one of Iude. Neuerthelesse Iames and Peter write with speciall directiō to the Christian Iewes This well agreeth to Peter who was the Apostle of the Circumcision that he should write to the Iewes as it doth vnto Paul to write specially to the Gentiles seeing that he was the Apostle of the vncircumcision And thus we see which are those holy Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament which aboue all other writings haue this chiefe and most honourable prerogatiue ascribed vnto them according to that which was answered that they onely are able to make vs wise vnto saluation and to guide vs perfectly in the right way of the holy worship and seruice of God to the glorifying of his name here in this present world What is the reason hereof Because these holy Scriptures onely are in most singular manner and more immediately then anie other writings giuen by God himselfe either by the ministerie of Angels from heauen in the hand of a Mediator which is Christ Iesus the eternall sonne of God or by the same Mediator himselfe manifested to the world in the nature of man or else by diuine inspiration in the ministerie of men like to our selues though specially chosen and sanctified of God to be his most holy Scribes and Secretaries to the same end What proofe haue you for these things In the 19. verse of the 3. chapter to the Galatians and in the 2. verse of the 2. chapter to the Hebrewes also in the beginning of the same Epistle in the 1. verse and in the 2. Epistle to Timothie the 3. chapter 16. and
we are to enquire anon Concerning the fourth point reade Psalme 50.7 c. and Psalme 4.4.5 and Isaiah 1.10.11 c. and againe Chapter 29. 13.14 Math. 15.7.8.9 Reuel 3.1 c. and verse 14. c. Concerning the fift point reade Exod. 23.32.33 chap. 34.12 c. Deut. 7.3.4 chap. 12.30 chap. 13.6 c. Psa 106.28 Numb 25.1.2.3 1. Cor. 5.9.10.11 and chap. 7.15 chap. 8. and chap. 10.21 c. and 2. Epistle 6.14 c. Reue. 17.4 c. Reade also Nehem. chap. 13.26 and 1. King 11.4 c. Concerning the last point reade Deut. 12.30 Ezek. 14 3.4.5 and chap. 20.16.32 c. 37. Now let vs go forward Why doth the Lord in the forbidding of idolatrie and false worship recken vp so full and perfect a distribution of the images likenesses of all kind of creatures saying Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen image nor the liknesse of things which are in heauen aboue or on the earth beneath or in the waters vnder the earth First because all idolatrous nations and namely the Egyptians from whom the Lord had so lately deliuered the Israelites and the Cananites with the rest of the seauen nations where he minded to giue them their dwelling place and to roote those people out had euery such way corrupted and defiled yea vtterly peruerted the worship of God Secondly because the Lord knoweth the nature of all men to be exceedingly inclinable and ready to all kind of superstition and idolatry in stead of yeelding true worship to the only true God Reade Isa 19.1 and Acts 17.22.23 c. 29. Rom. 1.21.22.23 reade also Deut. 6.14 And that all men are exceedingly proue to idolatry Israel it selfe who was most wisely taught and instructed and most earnestly warned against it may be one example in stead of all seeing they did notwithstanding by and by after their deliuerance out of Egypt yea and afterward from time to time fall most grosly into it Reade Exod. 32.1 c. 8.9 and Ps 106.19.20.21 and ver 28.29 Reade also Iudg. 2.11.12.13 chap. 3.5.6.7.12 and chap. 4.1 Reade 1. King 12.28 c. and Ier. chap. 2.5.6 c. and chap. 3.1 c. and verses 6.7.8.9 c. Israel would not take example from the iudgements of God vpon other nations and namely vpon those that were cast out before them Neither would the people of Iudah take warning by the wrath of God which fell vpon Israel Reade Ier. 11. ver 12.13 reade Ezek. chap. 16. chap. 23. Isa 2.8 chapter 57. Hence it is that the Lord hath in other places of the Law by expresse mention forbidden the religious making of all images in any kind of creature either of wood carued Isa 44. or of siluer gold molten and cast in a mold as Exod. 20.23 or of any other mettall Leuit. 19.4 or of stone whether artificially fashioned or otherwise Ier. 2.27 Isa 57.6 And not only the caruing grauing and melting of images for diuine worship but also all painting of them either in glasse or on walles the expressing of them by needle worke or any other way Thus therefore we may see plainly the idolatries of the heathen all all sorts of them with euery superstitious appurtenance thereof to be vniuersally condemned by the Lord in this second Commandement But doth the same condemnation belong to all the Popish and superstitious idolatries of those which do in words professe themselues to be the onely true Christian and Catholike worshippers of the true God albeit they boast that they know and worship God in Christ and not any strange God neither are so foolish as they say to thinke that the image is God or to worship the crosse but in respect of Christ who was crucified vpon it nor the bread in their Sacrament of the Altar but because as they say and would seeme to beleeue that it is then transubstantiate into the very body of Christ And albeit they do not yeeld their inferiour religious worship to false Saints but to true Saints and their reliques monuments or rather to the Saints themselues and most of all to God in and for them c. and albeit they haue their many cunning and subtile excuses and distinctions whereby they would maintaine and vphold their wicked practise c. Are they I say neuerthelesse for all that they can say condemned by this Law of God There is no doubt to be made but they are all at once and as it were by one breath of the most holy Spirit of God vtterly cōdemned yea so much the rather these then they because as these acknowledge they haue the knowledge of the true God frō the light of his word which the other had not For hereby their sinne is made the greater and they are left the more without excuse before the Lord. And as touching all the reasōs wherby the idols of the heathē their idoll worship is condēned in the holy Scriptures they are as mighty pressing to weigh downe ouerthrow all the images and image-worship of our Popish Catholikes It is very true For God retaineth the same nature and the same diuine properties still the which can no more be purtrayed out now then they might then He is a Spirit as infinite and incomprehensible as euer he was And as touching Popish images they are as vnable to do good or euill as the heathenish were And they are as lying teachers and the doctrine thereof as lying as the doctrine of the idoll hath at any time bene Howsoeuer they are called Laymens bookes yet surely they teach nothing but ignorance the mother of blind deuotion And for no other cause do the Popish teachers commend them to those from whom they haue of purpose taken away the holy Scriptures but that they might nourish in them an vtter neglect of reading the Scriptures in their knowne language least they should come to any true knowledge by thē Wherefore iustly are Christians forwarned not only to withdraw themselues frō all idols idolatries of the heathen in their more blind maner and according to their grosser ignorances but also from following of the example of the Israelites which were more worthy to be condemned because of their knowledge Reade 1. Cor. 10.7 Yea the Spirit of God giueth a more generall warning as 1. Iohn 5.21 Babes keepe your selues from idols Amen They be the last words of his Epistle he hauing in the beginning warned them against Antichristian doctrine such as our Papists thrust vpon the Churches of Christ All which their false doctrine and false worship and that Antichristian power whereby it is exacted is cōdemned vnder the title of the name image and marke of the Beast of Rome which all true Christians are to auoide Reue. chap. 13.11 Yea this kind of idolatrie is so much the rather to be taken heed against the more seuerely also to condemned by how much it is more daungerous to bewitch and
It followeth that we inquire into the blessing of God vpon superiours whosoeuer shall deale honourably according to the office of their seuerall places and callings toward their inferiours And first what is the blessing vpon naturall parents which bring vp and gouerne ther children as they ought to do The father of the righteous shall greatly reioyce and he that begetteth a wise sonne shall haue ioy of him Thy father and thy mother shall be glad and she that bare thee shall reioyce Prou. chap. 23. verse 24.25 This presupposeth good education as a meanes of this wisdome and righteousnesse of the child according to that which followeth in the same booke of the holy Prouerbs chapter 29.15.16 17. The rod and correction giue wisedome but a child set at liberty maketh the mother ashamed c. Correct thy sonne and he will giue thee rest yea he will giue pleasure to thy soule And otherwise we know according to that chap. 22.15 Foolishnesse is bound in the heart of a child c. wherefore chap. 13.24 it is sayd Chasten him betimes This is the blessing of God vpon good parents What is the blessing vpon good Princes and rulers who are foster fathers to the people of God in the Church and common-wealth Mercy and truth preserue the King for his throne shall be established vvith mercy Prou. chapter 20.28 And chap. 29.14 The throne of the king which iudgeth the poore in truth shall be established for euer Reade also 1. Kings 2.1.2.3.4 where king Dauid chargeth his sonne Salomon to do the office of a king couragiously c. with a most comfortable incouragement from the assurance of Gods blessing according to his gracious promises in the same behalfe and namely of this that his posterity should sit vpon the throne of Israel reade the the words of the text All the godly kings are mirrors of Gods blessing this way as the holy stories of them do declare And namely it is sayd of the good King Iosiah Ier. 22.15 Did he not eate and drinke and prosper when he executed iudgement and iustice when he iudged the cause of the afflicted and poore he prospered Was not this because he knew me sayth the Lord What is the blessing of God vpon Ministers of the word which do the part of fathers and nources in feeding and tendring the flocke of Christ Feede the flocke of God which dependeth vpon you sayth the Apostle Peter caring for it not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind Not as though ye were Lords ouer Gods heritage but that ye may be examples to the flocke And when the chiefe shepheard shall appeare yee shall receiue an incorruptible Crowne of glory 1. Epistle chapter 5. verse 2.3.4 What is the blessing of the husband which is louing and kind to his wife God maketh the vviues of such faithfull to them to the preseruation and establishment of loue betwixt them which is a blessing farre aboue the iewell of most excellent price according to that we reade Prou. 31.10.11.12 What is the blessing belonging to good maisters and gouernours of families which rule their seruants with a parent-like minde and deale equally iustly and beneficially with them as they are commaunded Colossians 4.1 and as hath beene alledged before out of the fifteenth Chapter of Deutronomie God blesseth the habitation of the righteous Prou. 3.33 And in that 5. chap. of Deut. verse 18. God will blesse beneficiall maisters in all things that they do Reade also Ephes 6.8.9 where the Apostle requiring like dealing from the maisters toward their seruants doth not doubt to giue them to vnderstand that there is the like blessing belonging also vnto them Now finally what is the blessing belonging to such as being elders in yeares giue good example to their youngers and be teachers of good things They shall be filled with dayes as the Lord sayth by his Prophet Isaiah and he that is an hundreth yeares old shall dye a young man chapter 65.20 Reade also verse 22. And Iob chap. 5.26 They shall go to their graue as corne which commeth in due season into the barne Thus large is the blessing of this Commandement which spreadeth it selfe farre and neare ouer high and low and therefore in all good proportion ought it accordingly to be very carefully regarded and obeyed of all or else we must needs acknowledge the curse so much the more iustly due vnto vs. And this we are hencefoorth to search out for the awaking of our drowsie consciences as we haue done the blessings that they might be as a treasury of comfort vnto vs while we indeuour to walke in the holy wayes of God in our seuerall callings c. First therefore what is the generall curse of God vpon all both superiours and inferiours whosoeuer shall refuse to giue honour to God in the obeying of this his ordinance both for honourable gouernement and also for dutifull subiection God doth for this cause in his iust displeasure sometimes dissolue the good order of pollicy and gouernement vvhich he had established for the common benefit of his people either by setting ouer them euill Rulers or leauing them to confused mutinies and rebellions from among themselues or else by giuing them ouer into the hands of tyrants and forrayne Lords and gouernours But let vs consider of the curse more particularly The Curses And first concerning vndutifull and disobedient inferiours What is the curse of God against vndutifull children specially such as shall stubburnely and contemptuously rebell against their naturall parents of whom it is sayd Prou. 30.11 There is a generation which curseth their father and which do not blesse their mother What I say is the curse of God against such God in his ciuill course of iustice among his people of Israel commanded that such should be stoned to death So indeed we reade Deut. 21.18 c. Rehearse the place of Scripture If any man haue a sonne that is stubburne and disobedient which will not hearken vnto the voyce of his father nor to the voice of his mother and they haue chastened him and he would not not obey them Then shall his father and his mother take him and bring him out to the Elders of his Citie and to the gate of the place vvhere he dwelleth And they shall say to the Elders of the Citie This our sonne is stubburne and disobedient and he will not obey our admonition he is a riotour and a drunkard Then all the men of his City shall stone him with stones vnto death so thou shalt take away euill from among you that all Israel may heare it and feare Reade also Exod. 21.15 and verse 17. Leuit. 20.9 Math. 15.4 Deut. 27.16 Prou. 20. verse 20. c. chap. 30.17 What is the curse vpon rebellious subiects and such as shall curse their Rulers A seditious person seeketh onely euill but a cruell messenger shall be sent against him Prou. 17.11 And chap. 30.31 There is no rising