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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	old_a	testament_n	word_n	5,024	5	4.1361	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26693	A most familiar explanation of the Assemblies shorter catechism wherein their larger answers are broken into lesser parcels, thereby to let in the light by degrees into the minds of the learners : to which is added in the close, a most brief help for the necessary but much neglected duty of self-examination to be daily perused : and to this is subjoined a letter of Christian counsel to a destitute flock / by Jos. Allaine.	Alleine, Joseph, 1634-1668.; Westminster Assembly (1643-1652). Shorter catechism.	1674 (1674)	Wing A974; ESTC R25230	60,470	184

A Most Familiar EXPLANATION OF THE ASSEMBLIES Shorter Catechism Wherein their Larger Answers are broken into Lesser Parcels thereby to let in the light by degrees into the minds of the Learners To which is added in the close a most brief help for the necessary but much neglected duty of self-examination to be daily perused And to this is subjoined a Letter of Christian Counsel to a destitute Flock The last Edition Corrected and much amended By JOS. ALLAINE late Preacher of the Gospel at Taunton in Somerset-shire a Lover of Truth and Peace London Printed for Edw. Brewster at the Crane in St. Pauls Church-yard 1674. AN ADMONITION TO THE READERS I Am not insensible that this little tract may seem to many as a thing born out of due time But they that have their spiritual senses exercised and have seen and tasted how jejune and lifeless and insipid the more publick exercises of religion somewhere are will be easily convinced that now they are called to double their diligence in family duties And sith it is the great charge of Housholders to teach their Children and their housholds after them and to catechize them in the way wherein they should go whereunto the present exigencies do more than ordinarily oblige them it may not seem altogether unseasonable to have added this plain and familiar help for their assistance If therefore the earnest Calls of your suffering Ministers the dreadful Charge of immortal souls the strict Commands of your Maker and Judg have engaged you in a resolution to set up this much neglected but necessary and most beneficial exercise let me advise you to take this plain method First let those under your charge learn the Answers in the Assemblies Catechism Then ask them these little Questions drawn from thence and if they are at a loss shew them out of which part of the greater Answer they should have made return to the lesser Question And this would be the more effectual if you did run over all a second time that they might observe the force of every clause and word in the Answer out of the Assembly before you pass to examine them further on Do not put them upon learning the Scriptures till they ean get through all the Chatechism and then examine them how they can prove such or such a clause in the answer leaving the order that the Scriptures ly in And as ever you desire to see the happy issue of this most useful exercise 1. Let it be done solemnly and appoint stated times for the weekly performing it and if through necessity or negligence you should omit the season watch for an opportunity speedily to do it at least let it be done once the oftner the next week 2. Set to every one his task according to their several capacities and be punctual in requiring it and shew your selves as zealous for the doing of Gods work as you are for your own But let not the explicatory Questions and Answers be learnt without book by any because this would be a needless burden and they are in effect learnt already by them that can give an account of the Catechism it self This I cannot omit that it is my fervent desire that not only the younger but also the elder sort would become students of the Catechism and if able commit it to memory Beloved would you know wherein you might rejoice the soul of your Minister would you do me a pleasure and refresh me in my tribulations for your sakes why herein you may do it This would be no little pleasure to me and I am sure no little profit to you O the miserable defect of knowledg even among Professors themselves for want of humility and diligence to commit to memory the principles of religion There is a twofold knowledg Confused and Distinct The confused knowledg is only to know the quod sit that there is such or such a thing and here too often many Professors rest The distinct knowledg is to understand the quid sit and to be able to give a description of any grace priviledg or the like and the difference of it from any other and also the cur sit or the ground or reason from the Scripture why they do believe such or such a truth and here men do generally unhappily fail Beloved my ambition is that you should grow in grace and the knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ that you should be clear and distinct in your knowledg that there should not not be one among you but should be able to give a good account of his faith from the Word of Truth Verily it is no small shame for men of years under the Gospel especially for Professors and this when we have yet such easie and excellent helps not to be able to prove the main point of our religion from the Scriptures and to give a solid description of faith repentance justification sanctification effectual calling and the like which will never be done to purpose except they will learn a Catechism If any think themselves above it I fear it is from their pride and ignorance for my part I profess my self a learner Well will you learn with me why should you not stir up each other and engage together that you will set to this work O that I might but hear that you would so far gratifie the request of a Messenger of Christ and his Embassador to you-ward Quest. 1. WHat is the chief end of man Ans. Mans chief end is to glorifie God and to enjoy him for ever Q. Is mans chief end to seek himself A. No. Q. Is it to enjoy the profits and pleasures of this world A. No. Q. Is it to glorifie God and enjoy him for ever A. Yes Q. What do you mean by mans chief end A. That which God did chiefly intend or aim at in making man and which man is chiefly to intend Q. What is mans chief duty A. To glorifie God Q. What is mans chief happiness A. To enjoy God Q. May a man have another subordinate or less principal end besides glorifying and enjoying God A. Yes Q. May a man make any thing else his ultimate or principal end besides glorifying and enjoying God A. No. Q. Is the glorifying and enjoying of God mans subordinate end or else his ultimate and chief end A. His chief end Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorifie and enjoy him A. The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament is the only rule to direct us how we may glorifie and enjoy him Q. Hath God given any rule to direct us A. Yes the Scriptures Q. Whose Word is the Scriptures A. The Word of God Q Where is the Word of God conteined A. In the Scriptures Q How are the Scriptures divided A. Into the Old and New Testament Q. Are not the Apocryphal Books Scripture nor any other but the Books of the Old and New Testament A.

No. Q. What is the Word to be with reference unto us A. A Rule Q. Is any other Rule sufficient for our direction A. No this is the only Rule Q. Can we receive sufficient directions from our own wisdom or the light of nature to come to glorifie and enjoy God A. No. Q. Can we receive sufficient direction from Gods works of Creation and Providence A. No. Q. Is the Scripture a sufficient Guide A. Yes Q. In what do the Scriptures direct us H. How we may glorifie God and enjoy him for ever Q. Can we never learn then how to glorify God here or to enjoy him hereafter without the guidance and directions of the Scriptures A. No. Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God and what God requires of man Q. Doth the Scripture teach us all matters of Faith or all that we are bound to believe A. Yes Q. And all matters of practice or what we are bound to do A. Yes Q. Is not a Christian bound to believe any thing as a point of Faith but what is taught in the Scriptures A. No. Q Nor bound to do any thing as necessary to Salvation but what is taught in the Stirptures A No. Q. 4. What is God A. God is a Spirit I finite Eternal and Unchangeable in his Being Wisdom Power Holiness Justice Goodness and Truth Q Is God a man like unto us A. No. Q. What kind of substance is he then A. A Spirit Q. Is he a corporal visible Substance A No. Q Is he a Spirit without body or bodily parts A. Yes Q. Is be an infinite or finite Spirit A. An Infinite Q. What do you mean by infinite A. Without bounds or limits Q. Is God an eternal Spirit A. Yes Q. What is to be eternal A. To be from everlasting to everlasting or without beginning or end Q Is God unchangeable A. Yes Q. Is it proper to God only to be Infinite Eternal and Unchangeable A. Yes Q. Are these then incommunicable attributes in God viz. his Infiniteness Eternity and unchangeableness and such as are not to be found in any Creature A. Yes Q. What is God Infinite Eternal and Unchangeable in A. In his Being Wisdom Power Holiness Justice Goodness and Truth Q May a Creature be wise holy just good and true A. Yes Q. Are Wisdom Power Holiness c. proper to God only A. No. Q. Are these communicable attributes then A. Yes Q. But are they in the same manner in the Creatures as in God A. No. Q. Is any Creature infinite eternal or unchangable in being wisdom power c. A. No. Q. Is God infinite in being A. Yes Q. Doth he fill all things and all places A. Yes Q. But is he not besides his general and essential presence which is equally every-where by a special and gracious presence amongst his people A. Yes Q. And by a special manifestation of his presence in Heaven A. Yes Q. Is God infinite in his Wisdom A. Yes Q. Is there any thing that God is ignorant of A. No. Q. Doth he know our very hearts and thoughts A. Yes Q. Is God infinite in power or Almighty A. Yes Q. Is nothing too hard for him A. No. Q. Is God infinite in holiness A. Yes Q. Does he love or allow of sin A. No. Q. Is God infinite in justice A. Yes Q. Is there any thing unjust that God doth A. No. Q. Is he just in all his Decrees Actions and Dispensations A. Yes Q. Is God Infinite Eternal and Unchangable in Goodness A. Yes Q. Is he good in himself and is all goodness from him A. Yes Q. Is God infinite in his truth A. Yes Q. Can he erre or be deceived A. No. Q. And is God eternal and unchangable as well as infinite in his being Wisdom Power c. A. Yes Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one A. There is but one only the living and true God Q. Is there a God A. Yes Q. Are there many false Gods A. Yes Q Were not the Heathen-idols Gods A. No. Q. Is there but only one true God A. No. Q. And is he the living God A. Yes Q. 6. How many persons are there in the God-head A. There are three persons in the Godhead the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and these three are one God the same in substance equal in power and glory Q Are there many persons in the Godhead A. Yes Q. How many A. Three Q. Do all these three persons subsist in the same essence or God-head A. Yes Q. Are there three God-heads A. No. Q. Which of these three persons was made man for us and became our Redeemer A. The Son Q. Is the Son God as well as the Father A. Yes Q. Is the Holy Ghost God A. Yes Q. Are there three Gods then A. No but one and the same Q. What are these the same in in personal properties A. No. Q. In what then A. In substance or essence Q. Is one of these persons greater than the other A. No. Q. Are they equal A. Yes Q. What are they equal in A. In power and glory Q. 8. What are the decrees of God A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose according to the counsel of his Will whereby for his own glory he hath fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass Q. What hath God fore-ordained in his Decrees A. Whatsoever comes to pass Q. Doth nothing come to pass but what and when and how God hath fore ordained in his Decrees A. No. Q. To what end hath God fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass A. For his own glory Q. Doth nothing come to pass but God intends his glory by it A. No. Q. Of what date is the purpose of Gods Decree A. It is eternal Q. What did God take up his Decrees for was he moved thereto by his creatures or by any thing in or with him A. No. Q. Did he Decree all things meerly according to the counsel of his Will A. Yes Q. How doth God execute his decrees A. God executeh his decrees in the works of Creation and Providence Q. How manifold are the works of God A. Twofold of Creation and Providence Q. Are the works of Creation and Providence the execution of his eternal Decrees A. Yes Q. Doth God do nothing in the works of Creation and Providence but what he from eternity decreed A. No. Q. 9. What is the work of Creation A. The work of Creation is Gods making all things of nothing by the Word of his Power in the space of six days and all very good Q. Whose work is the work of Creation A. Gods Q. What is it to create A. To make of nothing Q. Can none create or make a thing of nothing but God A. No. Q. What did God make in the Creation A. All things Q. Of what did he make them A. Of nothing Q. By what did he make them A. By the Word of his Power