truth iustice and mercie For it is written as a thing that faith not m Galat. 6.7 Whatsoeuer a man soweth that shall he reape Hoping therefore that such as bee wise in heart will earnestly follow my counsaile and carefully stirre vp others to the same I will hasten to the matter it selfe by which euery one may bee as I hope greatly guided in the performance of the same I beseech almightie God of his infinit mercie in Iesus Christ to prosper this our godly purpose to his glorie and comfort of his people His glorious name be praised for euer Amen Your faithfull seruant in Christ Iesus Iosias Nichols The Booke to the Householder COme buy me but passe not by me for by me thou shalt winne To light thy people by my light to trauell light from sinne The word with words of trueth and ioy doth shew his word by me A way which if thou way it waies thee to felicitie Two houres each weeke sixe monthes to stay with thee no more I begge To stay thy people on that stay which hell gates cannot wagge Then trie how trie my triall is if God doe helpe with grace Both man and child as wit doth grow shall see the heauenly place Yet know that knowledge and no more by thee to thine I giue The spirit of Christ pray thou therefore workes faith that thou maist liue And as by proofe thou proues me true to proue the thing I say So double time for double gaine and grant me longer stay An order of houshold instruction by which euery master of a familie may easilie and in short space make his whole houshold vnderstand the principall and chiefe poyntes of Christian religion without the knowledge whereof no man can be saued The first booke CAP. 1. The first order of instruction IN this order some things are for the young tender yeres and some for yeres of greater capacitie for confirmation and helpes till they may bee grounded in the principles with good vnderstanding to giue a reckoning of their faith by the holy Scriptures First from the time that children speake it is good to drop in this good licour of heauenly doctrine For as Salomon saith a Prou. 22.6 Teach a childe the trade of his waye and when hee is olde hee shall not depart from it The first order from the time that children can speake Therefore from that time it shall bee good to teach them as the manner of all christians is to say without book distinctly The Lords prayer the Creede and the ten Commaundements And as hee perceiueth their capacitie to growe to droppe into them by familiar wordes the name of God how hee made vs the name of Christ how hee shed his blood for vs the name of the holy Ghost who sanctifieth vs and that there is but one God and three persons c. Also the name of death that for sinne all men die and the name of the resurrection that through Christ we shall liue againe in heauen alwaies applying himselfe with tearmes to their capacitie and alluring the childe to the feeling and loue of God of Christ and of eternall life and to the hatred of sinne as by saying and causing the childe to say God loueth vs for he made vs and giueth vs all things as our meate drinke apparell c. God loueth vs for he gaue Christ to die for our soules God loueth vs for he giueth vs life after we he dead in heauen We must not doe sinne and Wickednes for it bringeth paine sicknes death c. Then the capacitie encreasing make them pronounce how many petitions in the Lords praier and which they be how many cōmandements which they be til they can tell you euery one being asked sodainely out of order as the tenth the fourth the seuenth c. After that they haue been thus trayned a while and can answer as children readily to these then let them learne that short Catechisme without booke which beginneth after this sorte Who made thee God What is God he is almightie c. Wherefore did he make thee to serue him c. Which may be bought for the valew of a pennie in the bookesellers shops After all this teach them some short stories and sentences of holy Scripture stories such as these Gen. 4. vers 2. the trade sacrifice and death of Abel Gen. 11.1 the building and ouerthrow of Babel Mark 10.13 Christ receiueth children and blesseth them Now some stories may bee taught them worde for worde as in the text such is that of Elisha 2. King 2. vers 23.24 onely adding the Prophets name which is verse 22. and in the end of this storie teach them the vse Children may not mocke Some stories must be gathered more short then the text as that of Dinah Gen. 34. Dinah the daughter of Iacob went out to see the maides of the countrie and one Shechem sonne of Hamor Lord of that countrie saw her and defiled her and for this cause Simeon and Leui slew Shechem and all the towne with the edge of the sworde The vse Maides must not wander or goe a gadding The sentences may be such as these are Prouerbs 29.15 The rod and correction giue wisdome but a childe set at libertie maketh his mother ashamed Mark 8.36 What shall it profit a man though hee should win the whole world if he loose his owne soule Luk. 9.10 The sonne of man is come to seeke and to saue that which is lost Then teach them an ensample of euerie commaundement to the sence of this following The first commaundement brake Ahab taking Baal for his God 1. King 18.21 or 1. King 16.31 The second Ieroboam that worshipped golden calues 1. King 12.28 The third an Israelitish womans sonne striuing with a man of Israel blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed Leuit. 24.10.11 The fourth one that gathered sticks on the Sabbath day Numb 15.32 The fift Absalom who rebelled against his father 2. Sam. 15. The sixt Cain who slew Abel Gen. 4.8 The seuenth a Leuites Concubine who played the whore Iudg. 19.1.2 The eyght the Shabeans tooke away Iobs oxen and asses Iob. 1.14.15 Ninth Potiphars wife falsely accused Ioseph Gen. 39.17 Tenth Ahab lusteth for Naboths vineyard 1. King 21.2 And in all these it will not bee amisse to cause the learner to repeate without booke the places where all the stories and sentences are written and herein the teacher may vse his discretion to teach them more or lesse of like sort and easines so that hee ouercharge them not at any one time but let them as it were creepe vpon them by often repeating and he shall finde that a little childe will beare very much more then a man that hath not tried would beleeue And if he cause them to learne without booke the 1.15.112.127 and 128. Psalmes or some of them they will no doubt worke very godly impressions in the tender minds And it is a good recreation to quicken them to
CAP. 3. The third order of teaching HEre followeth diuers Catechismes for confirmation of knowledge This order is for all that can conceiue well of the former how young or olde soeuer they be but in common and meaner capacities from 8. yeares and vpwards drawne out of the words of some place of holy Scripture Where I must admonish the Master or teacher in the familie to follow this order First to teach his people perfectly and distinctly to saye the place of Scripture without booke which being perfect to shew them the briefe meaning and then the seuerall poynts of doctrine and how they bee gathered out of the text For which cause he shall finde the addition of other textes and notes in the margin for his help and direction which he must keep to himselfe and giue them the meaning or substance onely Yet if he once get his family to conceiue deeper hee may acquainte them with all but he must take heede hee oppresse not their memories with ouer much at once but giue them more or lesse as hee perceiueth them able to conceiue and beare away and to remember at the next time for it is very needefull to repeate that which was first learned before he begin any more Therefore for a while after they can saye the place without booke and shew where it is written what chapter what verse and the meaning let them haue onely some two or three poyntes but after a while hee shall perceiue that by vse they will bee able to take a great deale more euen an whole Catechisme at once yea and by often practise to gather some poyntes of themselues yet must hee not cease going forward because that the k Philip. 3.1 oftener the safer it is and happier for them to bee grounded Now as ofte as they haue learned any one Catechisme thorough out cause them to repeat all that whole Catechisme together as the place of Scripture the meaning all the poyntes of doctrine and how they are gathered out of the text and after but not before begin the next Catechisme The first Catechisme for confirmation of knowledge is drawne out of this text or place of Scripture Gen. 3.15 I will put enmitie betweene thee and the woman and betweene thy seede and her seede he shall breake thine head and thou shalt * Heb. breake bruise his heele The interpretation or meaning THe Master must consider out of the text This is for the masters helpe that the diuell abused the bodie of the serpent to deceiue Euah therefore the punishment is pronounced vpon the serpent which partly and especially is in the words going before but although he speak to the serpent yet these l As these places expound Esay 27.1 Micah 7.17 Psalm 91.13 Luk. 10.18.19 Rom. 16.20 Reuel 12.7.8.9.10 wordes are properly to bee applyed against the diuell himselfe whose instrument the serpent was although they haue accomplishment euen against the beast it selfe in that hee is hated naturally of all mankinde therefore the Master hauing wayed the places in the margin may giue his familie this interpretation following By the serpent and his seede This is for the familie is meant Satan and his members wicked men by the seede of the woman is ment Christ and his members by breaking of head and heele is meant that either shall wound each other but the diuell shall bee vanquished The meaning is then that God will haue this to bee a punishment of the diuell that he should haue continuall warre with Christ and his Saints and finally be ouercome and all that take his part Out of which interpretation arise these poynts of Catechisme The poynts of doctrine 1. 1 This appeareth in the circumstāce of the text which inclusiuely cōdemneth Adā for his sinne to haue an enemie to him his seede for euer By the temptation of the serpent the diuell and Satanas man became a great sinner and subiect to great miserie 2. 2 This followeth of the former and is shewed cap. 1. and 2. Man was made good without sinne and miserie before this temptation 3. 3 Because the wordes are the indivial sentēce of God to that purpose and is to expounded Iohn 8.44.47 Acts. 13.10 2. Cor. 4.3.4 cap. 11.13.14 Eph 2 1. 1. Ioh. 3.10 God hath decreed what shall bee the estate of Satan and mankinde namely that some men shall be the seede of Satan and the children of perdition and some with Christ conquerers of them both 4. 4 So expounded Gal. 4.4 Here the person of Christ is declared that he is as all other men the seed of the woman that is the sonne of God made man 5. 5 Expressed in the meaning and is seene in Caine and all of like sort following There shall be alway enmitie of Sathan and his members against Christ and his members 6. 6 This is the breaking of the heele as appeareth Esay 53.2 Cor. 4.8 chap. 6.4.5 Ioh. 15.19 20. 2. Tim. 3.12 1. Pet. 5.8.9 Great sorrowes temptations and persecutions in bodie goods name and life come vnto Christ his members by Satan and his members 7. 7 This is the breaking of the serpents head is expounded Act. 26.18 Hebr. 2.14 Rom. 8.31.32 Mat. 5.10.11 19.28 Phil. 3.21 By the death of Christ and all the parts of his mediation hee for vs and wee thorow him doe ouercome the diuel to the restoring of the bodie in the resurrection of life and endowing with immortall riches both bodie and soule in the saluation of all beleeuers 8. 8 Plaine in the words and is expounded 2. Corint 6.14 Iam. 4.7 Eph. 6.10 5.6 7. Psal 15.4 The duetie of all Christian beleeuers is to resist the diuell and his members and to haue no fellowship with the workes of wickednes CAP. 4. The second Catechisme for confirmation The Text. Gen. 12.3 In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed The Interpretation For the master THese words containe Gods promise touching the blessed seede made vnto Abraham when he called him to be his childe and father of the faithfull which m Gen. 3.15 before was spoken in generall hard to bee knowne but here is shewed more plaine and easie to bee found by the particular namely that it must be in Abrahams stocke and linage This clause For the familie in thee is to be vnderstood of Abrahams n Gen. 22.17 and Gal. 3.16 seede which is Christ who after a sort was in him that is in his loynes By all families is meant o Act 3.25 Galat. 3.6 all nations as well Iewes as Gentiles And by blessed is meant the p Gal 3.13.14 Rom. 5.12.13 1. Tim. 1.1 deliuerance from the cursed and damnable estate wherein we were by Adams fall The summe is God doth promise that both Iewes and Gentiles shall haue saluation in none other but in Christ who as touching his manhood was Abrahams seede This teacheth especially
therefore is called by excelleÌ„cie the fulnes of times Gal. 4.4 and when all shall be gathered then the times shall be full Rom. 11.25.26 c There is but one Christ to saue all of all times and nations Secondly by a distribution of the things to bee gathered which are the elect some in d If out of heauen and earth then there is no Limbus patrum nor Purgatorie heauen some still founde on the earth till the whole summe be called and gathered Now e The Catholike Church is the companie of beleeuers in Christ in heanenand eaâ—th all these some at one time and some at another being gathered shall bee vnited vnto Christ and then being perfect they shall all be partakers of his glorie and he shall giue vp his kingdome to his father 2. Thess 2.14 1. Cor. 15.24 Now here the master may learne to set all these causes in their right order of place out of Rom. 8.30 Whom he predestinated them also he called and whom he called them also he iustified and whom he iustified them also he glorified Where vnder predestinated be contained his purpose the good pleasure of his will election before the foundation of the world All the rest is the performance of that predestination As first the calling by which is not meant the outward calling onely but also the inward calling which Christ sheweth in this posie * Matth. 22.14 Many are called but few are chosen For there is a generall calling by preaching to many and an effectuall calling accompanying preaching by the spirit in a few Vnder this calling are contained the sending of Christ the preaching of Christs Gospel the worke of the spirit making vs to beleeue in him sent and preached the new birth and renewing of the holy Ghost For none are truly called but they in whom all these meet The second worke of performance is in this word instified vnder which is contained our redemption forginenes of sinnes and imputation of righteousnes which is the accepting of vs in Christ the peace with God adoption the companion of iustification which is sanctification and his daughters ioy in the holie Ghost standing in grace c. Lastly is glorified by which is meant the finall gathering into one of all the elect vnto saluation with Christ when it shall be no small part of happines to bee holie and without blame before God hauing no neede of earthly garments to couer our shame and to praise God for the glory of his grace raigning with him in fulnes of ioy for euer euer 1. Thess 3 13 Reuel 22.1.2.3.4.7 and 22.1.2 c. and 20.6 Euen so Lord Iesus come quickly Amen The second booke containing the last order of instruction COncerning this last and largest Catechisme An obsernation to the housholder I am to admonish the master of the familie First that I set downe in seuerall places and chapters seuerall and particular places of Scripture for the teaching of the seuerall parts of doctrine The text is alway set before the doctrine not in the words as in the former Catechismes but onely the name of the booke chapter verse or verses where the words are written which he is to peruse and to compare with the parts of doctrine which I set downe and then to reade it to his familie and out of it being read to shew them so much as I set downe out of it Secondly hee shall finde in some poynts that they are not so direct or expressed in the text but are gathered by circumstaÌ„ce or consequence Such as Christ * Matth. 22.31 vsed to prooue the resurrection if God call himselfe the God of Abraham c. and that he bee God of the liuing and not of the dead then verily there is a resurrection appoynted for the dead Againe wee finde that God hath * Ephes 1.4.11 elected some vnto saluation before the foundation of the world and that he doth thorowly bring to passe whatsoeuer he hath purposed And againe we finde that * Luke 13.23 24 25. 26. some shall not bee saued then it followeth that God neuer purposed their saluation and by consequent he purposed the contrarie except wee will make God as a a Luke 14.28 foolish builder that doth not forecast what hee will doe with euery part of that hee buildeth or els imagine some b Eccles 7.15.16 other power to take order in his ouerslippes or els c Esay 40.12 13 14 15. giue him some counsellers or helpers which is as the foolish hath sayd in his heart Psal 14.1 Now because he should not stumble at a thing that seemes so bare I will adde in euery such place some one or two plaine places of holy scripture to proue the matter of such a collection agreeing to faith and these shall be alwayes in the end or behind euery such poynt Also some one poynt by reason of the order of his place may not bee contained in the text by any collection and some may be directly in the text but not so cleere and plaine Here I will also helpe the master with some other place direct and plaine and by some one word guide him to discerne when any thing is not in the text Lastly in teaching this Catechisme hee may sometimes giue them some one chapter sometimes two for their easines sometimes but a part of one for length or hardnes and in all things to vse good discretion Al which rules being obserued hee shall finde I hope good vse of this Catechisme The last Catechisme containing the summe of the doctrine of Christ by many places of Scripture CAP. 1. Of the doctrine of Christ What. Titus 1.1.2 The doctrine of Christ is the knowledge of the trueth according to godlines vnder the hope of eternall life teaching the nature and actions of God CAP. 2. Of the nature of God Ioh. 4.24 Exod. 3.14 Reuel 1.8 God is a spirit being of himselfe for euer Ioh. 15.26 There are three persons in the Godhead equall in substance The Father of whom are the rest in these words sent from the father The Sonne begotten of the Father from euerlasting Ioh. 1.18 and 17.5 The holy Ghost proceedeth from them both in these words I will send and proceedeth from the father 2. The Father worketh of himselfe by the Sonne and thorow the holy Ghost the Sonne worketh from the Father thorow the holy Ghost the holy Ghost worketh from the Father and the Sonne Tit. 3.4.5.6 CAP. 3. Of the actions of God Gods decree Eph. 1.11 Here the actions of God are declared which are of two sorts 1. The decree which is that he foreappoynted all things in these words purpose and counsell of his will after which he worketh all things 2. The execution of the decree which is that he performeth all things according to his purpose in these words worketh all things Here in regard of man this decree is called predestination which is the foreordaining of some men to
another So it may bee that I striuing to enter into the lowest place of the Church which is the familie and applying my selfe to the meaner sort may happily finde a place to doe good vnto some where books of greater excellencie peraduenture are not entertained and ioyning hands with my good brethren who haue sorted themselues to the same standing place may by ioynt working with them peraduenture further their ioy as they doe mine Secondly because I haue some experience in this order that it may prepare them which are hereby instructed to haue their eyes open to other mens labours And I am in great hope that a discreet teacher shall finde by triall that a childe of very tender yeres may be made able through Gods blessing with vnderstanding to giue a good reckoning of his faith by the Scriptures Moreouer my purpose was not curiously to set downe all points of doctrine but especially those which doe most neerely teach these two a Act. 20.21 Repentance towards God and faith in Iesus Christ And my desire was that these might be made to appeare easie and familiar by the Scriptures But aboue all other this moued mee most that I might haue occasion to speake some things to the gouernours of the families which doe very greatly affect my minde Which is not to proue it their duties to catechise their families or to describe the houshold gouernment diuers such things which I know to be very excellently penned downe by others but onely to lay before them the great necessitie of this dutie and the great and honorable seruice which a priuate man may doe to God and his people by this meanes In doing whereof I thought no better meane then the setting foorth of an easie way to doe the thing to which I desire earnestly to perswade them The necessitie will be seene Necessitie to teach housholdes if they obserue with me two things the time present and the time likely to ensue In the first they shall finde that although wee haue had the Gospell by the mercie and long suffering of God seuen and thirtie yeares vnder the happie raigne of our most deare and gracious Soueraigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth who I heartily pray our good God may yet raigne many yeares ouer vs there are to bee found so many that know not how they shall bee saued or how they are iustified why they are called Christians what is Christ in his person and such like which b Hebr. 6.1.2 Psalm 49.20 euery beginner and yongling in Christ ought to be skilfull in Lamentable ignorance among vs. and without the knowledge whereof a man is like a bruit beast that I doe tremble to thinke and am ashamed to vtter and dare not commit to writing my knowledge herein I haue had conference in some parishes with 400. some 1000. some lesse and haue made triall and do make triall euery day that I speake to any man whom I knowe not that I am astonished to thinke that so many Christians in name and baptized should bee so ignorant and brutish and so farre from being indeede that which they delight to bee called For I take it that c Galat. 3.26 faith maketh the being of a Christian and these d Rom. 10.14 who haue no knowledge cannot haue faith which will then appeare e 2. Thess 1.8 when Christ shall come in flaming fire to render vengeance to them that do not know God Therfore there is a great fault whether it be in vs Ministers or in you the masters of families or in both the Lord bee mercifull vnto vs our danger is very great for it is written a Rom. 1.23 As they regarded not to know God so God deliuered them vp vnto a reprobate minde c. Therefore it is a thing of necessitie that such as keepe houses should traine vp their people cōmitted to their charge Many Ministers teach not in the knowledge of the Gospel Againe we that are Ministers for the most part are very vntidie for these workes which might preuent this mischiefe b 7. Tim. 4.10 Some imbracing this present world and some being c Math. 15.14 blind leaders of the blinde Therefore the masters of families looking not vnto this matter the case is become lamentable The time likely to ensue may bee very much iudged by the present Coldnes in religion Notwithstanding that God hath warned vs to make more reuerent regard of his Gospell by windes and vnseasonable weather by diuers sicknesses by the plague and dearth feare of the sword not once nor twise within these fewe yeares yet the great carelesnes and coldnes that I say not contempt of religion may hereby appeare that Atheisme dronkennes and other very great sinnes are waxen bold and shameles and he that feareth an oth and taketh great paines to bee instructed in Christ Iesus suffereth no small molestation What may we then looke for but as these former corrections haue brought vs no one iot neerer to repentance or loue of Gods word so the Lord will yet stretch out his hand against vs. And what can we tell that if other temporall plagues moue vs not but that he will take away his word from an vnthankfull nation We may seare the losse of the gospell and giue it to another that will bring foorth better fruites If we that be Ministers ouerstip these things how can they be repaired but by the instruction of families And many times when we take great paines the backwardnes of the masters doth pull downe all that wee build Therefore it is of great necessitie that the gouernours of housholds should stirre vp themselues to this duetie Now the honorable seruice which a priuate man may do to God and his Church Teaching the familie honorable seruice to God appeareth in this that such as traine their families in these good grounds bring foorth an holy generation to the Church and a ciuill nation to the Common-wealth which doth not a little shewe it selfe to Gods glorie and the praise of the Gospell in our owne experience Whereof the example of Ioshua and his familie Cornelius and his souldiers Abraham and his three hundred and eighteene brought vp in his house are as sufficiēt testimonies How are the names of many priuate men and women for their seruice in the Church commended by Saint Paul and registred to immortall fame and example of all professors Priuate men and women may greatly further the Church Rom. 16. So that among many he acknowledgeth that all the Churches of the Gentiles were to bee thankefull to one Aquila and Priscilla his wife And God doth so farre honour the house of a Ierem. 35. Rechab that he poynteth it out and setteth it foorth to be an euerlasting paterne of the notable fruite of good gouernours of families And as b Exod. 35.25 women did worke diuers things for the tabernacle in the daies of Moses and as the c 1. King