to hang themselues some in the l Dan 5. middest of their iolitie haue the ioynts of their loynes loosed and their knees smitten one against another and some are m Psal 53.5 Prouerb 28.1 afeard where there is no feare and flye when no man pursueth them And n Esay 5.24 as the flame of fire deuoureth the stubble and as the chaffe is consumed of the flame so their roote shall bee rottennes and their bud shall rise vp as dust because they haue cast off the lawe of the Lord of hosts c. that it might stand as an vnchaungeable decree of the hie God the possessor of heauen and earth concerning the wicked the true seruants of God o 1 Sam. 2.30 The feare of God rewarded Them that honor me I will honor and they that despise me shall be despised So did the Lord aduance vertuous p Gen. 45. Ioseph before all his brethren he q Exod. 1.21 made houses to the widowes who feared God in Egypt and deliuered r Iere. 39.16 Ebedmelech in the day of euill Therefore for the comfort of all them that walke according to their gifts callings with God it is written ſ Psal 33.18 Behold the eye of the Lord is vpon thē that feare him and vpon them that trust in his mercie to deliuer their soules from death and to preserue them in famine For this cause right Honorable haue I presumed to dedicate this small booke to your Honour not onely because I am perswaded of your fauorable acceptation but also that by mee being one among many you might know what hope and expectation there is among her Maiesties most faithfull subiects concerning you that your yong yeres being sanctified and t 1. Ioh. 2.14 as S. Iohn saith being strong the word of God abiding in you and hauing ouercome the wicked you might amōgst other graue and wise counsellors bee a ioyfull labourer in all good causes and a prosperous furtherer of things concerning God to the great ioy peace and honor of her most excellent maiestie and that by the mouthes of many her louing subiects prayses may redound to the glorie of God and that you may glorie in his praise And here I humblie craue your Christian fauour to giue mee leaue to tell you what the Lorde speaketh vnto you For me thinketh I heare him speake vnto you as he did vnto Ioshuah and Abraham a Ioshu 1. Be thou strong and of a most valiant courage that thou mayst obserue and doe according to al the law which Moses my seruant hath commanded thee thou shalt not turne away from it to the right hād nor to the left that thou maist prosper whither soeuer thou goest I will be with thee J will not leaue thee nor forsake thee b Gen. 15.1 cap. 17.1 Feare not J am thy buckler and thine exceeding great reward J am God alsufficient walke before me and bee vpright Now this little booke of houshold instruction I tender vnto your Honors protection nothing comparable to the profound works set foorth by rare and singular men but as a little candle to bee placed in the midst of the house to giue light to all them that are therein And as in the worke of the materiall Temple vnder Salomon c 2. Chron. 2.2 hewers of stones had a necessary vse so this little book may bee some good helpe to prepare the seueral members of the familie for the skilfull builders that is the d 1 Pet. 2.5 faithful ministers to be ioined as liuely stons in the spirituall temple of God For as the Psalmist doth testifie e Psal 119.130 The entrance into Gods wordes sheweth light and giueth vnderstanding vnto the simple And our Sauiour teacheth that there is a secret working in his kingdom like the growing of the f Mat. 13 3◠small graine of mustard-seed and as a little leauē hid in three pecks of meale So g 1. Cor. 1.27 God hath chosen foolish thinges of the world to confound the wise God hath chosen weake thinges of the world to confound the mighty c. And to whom should I offer the booke of teaching the familie but euen to him whose houshold being well instructed ordered guided may diuers waies doe good vnto many of all estates and degrees yea euen to him who knoweth verie well how needfull a thing it is in regarde of the Common-wealth which in troublesome times doth find that a Christian Prince cannot be sure of such a peoples faithfulnes in dayes of triall whose bellies being fedde with the fatte of the earth haue mindes vnsetled and for lacke of the knowledge of Christ and the feare of God are apt to go after the sway of time and to bee led as beastes by the bellie where most ease gaine pleasure shall draw them Therefore nothing doubting but that your godly wisedom and good knowledge of Christ Iesus will graciously receiue any thing that may be helpful to Christian religion and godlines I present this little booke vnto your Honour with al humblenes and good will in the Lord leauing the successe vnto him in whose handes are the a Psalm 31.15 times of all things and b 1. Cor. 3.7 who onely giueth increase Most meekely praying his diuine goodnes to make you honorable in this world in all pietie and Christian vertues to the glory of his name the honour of your Prince and countrey and to the reioycing of all good christians in the world to come to bee partaker of his glory who shall be glorified in his Saintes and made marueilous in all that beleeue Amen At Eastwell in Kent this 26. of Februarie Anno 1596. Your Honours alwaies to command in Christ Iesus IOSIAS NICHOLS To all gouernours of Families grace and peace c. I Very well remember my welbeloued country mē ye that are gouernours of families that he was a wise Preacher that sayde a Eccles 12.12 There is no ende in making many bookes And that many very good and excellent Catechismes are published in our English tongue being not onely very profitable for Christians to exercise themselues in but also most notable tokens of the Christian care and loue of diuers learned and godly minded men toward their neighbors and countrie Yet haue I some good reasons as I thinke to put foorth this little booke of mine as a mite in comparison of the greatest gifts of other men who by their excellent workes haue greatly replenished the Lords treasurie First because that I finde that the Lord in the building of his Church vseth the diuers gifts of his seruants to expresse his manifold wisedom And as vnto men of diuers complexiōs and affections he hath giuen choise of meate and varietie of apparell so many bookes to one end are set foorth in diuers fashions and with a diuers gift order and facilitie that hee whome one booke sauoureth not might yet like the taste of
5. temple was not built but by men of all sorts in the time of Salomon and the d Nehem. 3. walles of Ierusalem vnder the guiding of Nehemiah So may priuate men very much further the building of the spirituall temple which is the congregation of Christ The Churches spring out of instructed families And as out of Abraham Isaac and Iacobs house sprang forth the Churches of the Iewes so the glorious congregations of the Gentiles began in the families For if seruants well nurtured e Tit. 2.10 may adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all thinges and f 1. Pet. 3.1 husbands obeying not the worde may without the word be wonne by the conuersation of the wiues how much more may the master of the familie doe vnto God and his Church honorable seruice not only by sanctifying his house by the word of faith but also by hauing alwaies in a readines very notable matter to further the building of Gods dwelling place Which thing is auouched to thee by g 2. Tim. 1.5 and 3.15 with Act. 16.1 young Timotheus who being brought vp in the holy Scriptures from a childe vnder his faithfull grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice when he was yet a very young man became a companion of the Apostle Saint Paul in that great and waightie worke of planting Churches And h Act. 18.24 Apollos cōfirmeth the same who being an eloquent man and mightie in the Scriptures was yet more perfectly instructed in the way of God by the house of a craftsman by whom not onely they which beleeued thorow grace were very much holpen but also the aduersaries of Christ were mightily confuted by the Scriptures Moreouer I pray you to marke diligently how that the disorder of one priuate familie One familie well or ill ordered may saue or destroy both Church Common-wealth namely of one a Iudg. 17. 18. Micah of Ephraim was an occasion that Idolatrie did spread thorowe the whole tribe of Dan and so continued many yeares And so contrarily b cap. 6. 7. 8. Gideon being stirred vp by the goodnes of God to the reformation of one meane familie in Manasseh was the cause of a very great deliuerance to the whole nation from most mightie and cruell enemies and most abominable Idolatrie for the space of 40. yeares Where were those c 1 King 14.14.18 7000. in the daies of Eliah that had not bowed the knee to Baal when he thought there were none left in Israel that feared God were they not in the well instructed families Whence came it that d Gen. 37. 38. 39. c. Ioseph in his youth being sold vnto strangers passed thorow so great temptations the comfortles prison the stocks iron to be so worthie a father of the Common-wealth of Egypt so good a nurse to the people of God Ica name no other outward meanes but his good education in the familie of the faithfull Hence is it written e Eccles 4.13 Better is a poore and wise child then an old and foolish king which will no more bee admonished for out of the prison hee commeth for to raigne when hee that is borne in his kingdome is made poore Therefore God commādeth his people f Deut. 11.18 to lay vp his words in their harts and in their soules c. and to teach them their children speaking of them when they sit in their house and when they walke by the way and when they lye downe and when they rise vp c. that their dayes may be multiplied and the dayes of their children c. Behold then what good may come out of a well instructed familie namely that it may bee the preseruing of the countrie and Church in the time of extreame daunger and darknes the seedplot against the time of reformation and a meanes by which God doth multiplie his people and peace in a countrie and that by the contrarie an whole countrie may fall into Idolatrie and destruction Whereby euery man may see what honorable seruice I wish him vnto when I exhort him to the instructing of his familie Therefore I heartily pray and earnestly entreate all gouernours of families A request to the masters of families that they would set such wise order in the disposing of all their worldly affayres that they may haue conuenient leisure and quiet time for the vse of this duetie taking heede of all vaine excuses Vaine excuses which the diuell and our corrupt nature will set before vs as blockes and hinderances that we should not once meddle with such a Luk. 10.42 necessary matters First The Lords day the Lords day being an ordinary rest time of libertie doth call vnto you from the king of heauen to doe this seruice After morning and euening prayer when you haue tried your people what they haue learned at the Church by their pastour and called to mind the chiefe heads of his teaching then is it good to make it a drinke offering vpon the pastours lessons to teach them a point or two of the principles of Religion Two howers once in the weeke And if it be possible I would begge for these poore soules in the name of Iesus Christ who shed his precious bloud for you and them that you would bestowe some two howers euery weeke in some one of the working daies as euery man shal be able to find best and fittest leasure to instruct your children and seruants according to the order of this booke or some such like and that you would continue therein with al care and constancie And I doe not doubt but you shall see great gaine by this little labour euen a blessing from the Lord our God b Hebr. 6.10 who will not forget any mans faithfull labour and loue which is in Christ Iesus There are foure sortes of people Foure sortes of people haue most fit oppotunity to teach the yonger 1. Noble men Gentlemen whome I would especially moue vnto this most vertuous and laudable worke for that they haue most fitte opportunitie to doe greatest seruice herein to God and their countrie First al noble men and Gentlemen and all Masters of great housholds Whose families as they are the most in number so most commonly they stand vnder the most reuerend and humble submission of their superiours Therefore in regard of the one they may profit most and in regard of the other with most easines and conueniencie Vaine pretēce For although the greatest part pretend it a very hard thing in these daies to bring their familie to Christian knowledge and sobernesse yet the not hauing them so consisteth not in the hardnes of the worke or vnrulines of the people but in the common neglect of many gouernours Who passing ouer this dutie Libertie the spoyle of the familie as a matter either not much to be regarded or not pertaining vnto thē haue so hardeened the
necks of children and seruants with the loose raines of libertie and licentiousnes that very few can abide this wholesome yoake of Christian nurture the gracious godly comforte of the knowledge of saluation Great masters rulers princes captaines and kings may instruct their priuate families For if one man could command to feare God to instruct 318. able men beside all other seruants women and children as is spoken of Abraham Gene. 14.14 and cap. 18.19 and that a chiefe ruler ouer 120000 people could so gouerne his priuat familie that he could say I and mine house will serue the Lorde as wee reade of Ioshuah cap. 24.15 And an other great Prince had his seruants so guided in the feare of God that hee and they were examples in lending money and corne to the poore of the land as did Nehemiah cap. 5.10 And if a Centurion could make both seruaunts and souldiers readie and obedient to euery good worke as appeareth Matth. 8.9 yea if a King could protest vnto God to banish deceitful and lying persons out of his house and to entertain the faithful him that walketh in a perfit way as you may see Psalm 101.5.6 I verily thinke that no man endowed with a good conscience fearing God and louing the Lord of life Iesus Christ can haue any iust excuse or reasonable pretence to keep about him a familie vntaught in the sweete words of the Gospell and the holesome paths of our blessed Sauiour Except they will say that it is more behoofull for their children and seruants to serue them and to reuerence them then to serue and reuerence the Lord of glorie Instructing of groat families furthereth both Church and common-wealth But why should I vse many words vnto men of such excellent wits great gifts in a matter so necessarily depending vpon them that the least mention should suffice euery wise and truly noble Gentleman to so glorious a worke For by the good order Christian instructiō of one such great familie many soules are brought to God there is great encouragemēt by ensample vnto others out of the familie and a marueilous power for the bringing foorth and confirmation of al good things both for the common-wealth and also for the Church of God For hence doe all other sortes of people take their light and the liues of noble worshipfull men are many times more of force then either the law of God or man For they are like the great pillars in a building that if they stand steadie in faith and good life with their families many are vpholden by them in the wayes of godlines but if they swarue and become carelesse and dissolute they draw many with them as by a mightie sway into the wofull downfall of infidelitie and destruction Therfore aboue al men it behooueth them to take heed to themselues and the good instruction and gouernment of their housholds The second sort are tutors in the Vniuersities to whom I ioyne also the third sort Second and third sort Tutors Schoolmasters Schoolmasters in towne countrie Which two haue a great resemblance in their opportunitie to do good when many mens children of all callings are committed to their conscience to the one They may doe vnspeakable good in the first and more tender yeares to the other in the yeares of most danger If these two sorts of men would be painfull to wring out the iuyce of this heauenly erudition as a necessary sawce to giue a pure verdure to their other literature or as a sauoury salt to season al other learning it is not to be spoken how much good they may doe For as young plants being straightned while they bee tender and trimmed with pruning and other parts of husbandrie will growe very goodly to behold in their greatnes which being neglected are many times very crooked and vnfit for diuers vses So doe young men for the most part proue as they are nurtured in their youth And the good instruction of Schoolemasters and Tutors in my knowledge hath very well straightned such young impes who otherwise were very rough and vnfruitfull that many receiue comfort by their worthie example Therefore I do most instantly beseech all Tutors and Schoolemasters to practise this booke or because you are learned some better forme of your owne Lastly Fourthly women as Ladies and Gentlewomen honorable by instructing their children I doe heartily and humbly entreate all sorts of women to watch carefully to doe this duetie and first all Ladies and Gentlewomen that they may be honoured by the spirit of Iesus Christ as was that a 2. Ioh. Ger. 1.4 elect Ladie whose children did walke in the trueth And all other women like b Rom. 16.12 Persis who laboured much in the Lord. And as c 1. Sam. 2.19 Hannah made coates for her sonne Samuel who serued in the house of God so these would aray their seruants and children with the d Prouerb 4.9 goodly ornaments of wisedome and knowledge which is from aboue A woman Women being at hand may instruct their children being the e Psal 128 3. fruitfull vine on the house sides in whose sight the f Prouerb 4.3 children are tender and deare can by no meanes shew their naturall loue better then being alway at hand with their children and maides to giue them euery day in milde and pleasant manner some of these g Prou. 25.12 golden apples wherewith the young babes will take such delight that by the nourishment and exercise thereof they will be made h Psal 8.2 strong to confound the enemies of God and their countrie when they haue learned to i 1. Ioh. 2.12.14 know the father and that their sinnes are forgiuen them for Christs names sake It is exceeding great the profit you may doe in the familie if as Salomon sayth of a vertuous woman you k Prou. 31.26.28 open your mouthes in wisedome and the lawe of grace be in your lips For your children shall rise vp and call you blessed your husbands shall praise you Whereas l chap. 29.15 children set at libertie make their mother ashamed And generally Instruction of youth bringeth ioy to the instructor as a man wil sowe his ground with the best seede and plant his orchard with the best fruit because he looketh for the greater and more gainefull encrease in the time of gathering so if men louing their children as well as they doe other commodities would also traine them vp in the best thinges which are found in the discipline knowledge and faith of Christ they should not onely escape many a secret griefe and bitter mischiefe but also blesse the Lord with great toyfulnes when they finde this fruite of their education in knowledge of these good things namely their children to bee a comfort refreshing and honour to their gray haires and their seruants necessary helpes before them in all good causes and matters of honestie
and cause thē to shew it him againe Christ teacheth Nichodemus after many other argumentes to vnderstand the doctrine of regeneration spoken of vers 3. by the cause namely by the first and principall cause which is a God God in whom there is rehearsed no b So loued outwarde cause to moue him but onely that of his owne goodnes his singular loue did this worke namely hee loued c The world the world which by no meanes had deserued it The greatnes of which loue is shewed by the d He gaue worke that he gaue his sonne not purchased by any prayers merits or rewarde of ours but of his free gift And e His sonne what gaue he the earth the heauen cattell infinit treasures heauenly spirits Nothing so yea rather that which excelleth al these things euen his sonne And what f Onely begotten sonne an adopted sonne or counterfeit sonne No but his only begotten sonne And g Not perish but haue eternall life why did hee giue him that we should bestow any thing vpon him or that wee can doe any thing for him Least of all but that he might deliuer vs from euerlasting perdition and giue vs eternall life Vpon what h Whosoeuer beleeueth in l.im. condition that we should do all his lawe and satisfie by contrition pilgrimage or workes of condignitie or supererrogation No such thing but whosoeuer beleeueth in him So that wee with Nichodemus may learne that God giuing his sonne of his singular loue doth work this new birth when by the preaching of the Gospell the spirit frameth in vs faith in Christ and when by faith he maketh vs partakers of euerlasting saluation then doe we enter into the kingdome of heauen And so it is expounded by the a Tit. 3.5.6.7 Apostle God of his mercie saueth vs by the new birth which is shed vpon vs thorow Christ that being iustified by his grace wee may bee made heires thorow hope of eternall life Now there are in these wordes certaine things to bee further explaned that seeing their meaning more cleerely wee may more fitly gather out the seuerall braunches of doctrine First in this word * Loued what loued I vnderstand the goodnes of God according to his eternall decree which is called b Eph. 1.5 The good pleasure of his will As the c Esay 53.10 Prophet also sayth The Lord would breake him c. Secondly I vnderstand this word * World what world for the vniuersall and whole mankinde according to the couenant of God made vnto d Gen. 12.3 which is expounded before Abraham namely that hee loued both Iewes and Gentiles as is plainly taught Rom. 3.29.30 Yet e Reade Deut. 10.14.15 Rom. 9.7.8 Acts. 10.34.35.43 euery particular and singuler person is not meant thereby as Christ expoundeth himselfe when he addeth this limitation that whosoeuer beleeueth c. Thirdly this word * Perish what perish signifieth the miserable condition of mankinde in himselfe by sinne yet when hee sayth should not perish he meaneth not that in this world wee should not dye for a time but that f Ioh. 11 25.26 although we be dead we should be quickened and rise againe vnto eternall life Neither doe I thinke that this bodily death is that death which was threatned to g Gen. 2.17 Adam which is properly the death h Eph. 2.1 in sinne and to bee banished from the presence of God as was Adam Gen. 3. Therefore this is our life to bee i 1. Pet. 3.18 brought by Christ vnto GOD to k Psal 16.11 enioy whose presence is euerlasting life it selfe The summe then is this The free good will of God hath giuen his onely begotten sonne vnto all mankinde that whomsoeuer hee by his spirit thorow hearing the Gospell dooth regenerate and make to beleeue should bee deliuered from eternall death in sinne and obtaine the euerlasting glorie of God As I haue been somewhat longer in opening this most worthie place Direction to the gouernour of the house so I finde here a most large field of Catechisme Where I will obserue this order for the direction of the gouernour of the house whom I perswade my selfe by that time he hath beaten the former Catechismes into his peoples heads shal perceiue them better able to receiue stronger meate I will shewe the manifest beautie of this sentence as a most goodly tree where the master shall guide his folke to gather very many kindes of fruites to the comfortable feeding and nourishing of the soule and how to discerne by the good fruite that which is euill First therefore the doctrines shall offer themselues out of this sentence with most sweete comforts annexed vnto them and in the second place mine hand shall poynt out vnto him how he may descrie vnto his familie the errors contrary vnto the same Vnto euery doctrine I will adde some one place of Scripture for the further enlightning of their vnderstanding The doctrines 1. 1 This is shewed out of the whole sway of the text especially in the words loued gaue and the end of giuing which shewe his liuely working towards his creatures preseruation c. and so would hee bee knowne Exod. 34.6 Malac. 1.2 1. Ioh. 4.16 Psalm 9.16 God is euerliuing the most holy creator and wise gouernour and Sauiour of the world 2. 2 This is expressed sauing of the holie Ghost which is shewed by the effect beleeue which is set for his cause vers 5.1 Ioh 5.7 In this one God are three distinct persons God the Father God the Sonne God the holy Ghost Here he must begin to shewe the distinction of the persons thus 3. 3 This is in a manner expressed sauing of the holy Ghost reade Ioh 15.16 The Father begetteth the Sonne begottē the holy Ghost proceedeth from thē both 4. 4 The beginning of the father to loue and send c. the dispensation it is done by the Son the perfection the holy Ghost worketh faith c. the like Gen. 1.1 Tit. 3.6.7 Heb. 1.2 1. Cor. 12.11 The beginning of euery action is giuen to the Father the dispensation to the Sonne the perfection or consummation to the holy Ghost 5. 5 Made man is in the word gaue for by incarnatiō he was giuen Ioh. 1.14 Mat. 1. all the rest is clecre enough The person and office of Christ person Christ is the onely begotten sonne of GOD made man his office he is our Sauiour 6. 6 1. Pet. 2.9.10 The estate of mankinde by Adams fall is here shewed for vnlesse God had giuen his onely begotten sonne we had perished 7. 7 Eph 1.5.6.7.8.9.10 and cap. 4.11.12 The causes of our saluation and their concurrence and proceeding first the good pleasure of Gods will who freely loueth vs the first cause secondly the matter or meanes he vseth Christ by his incarnation suffering c. thirdly the ioyning of these causes into his forme that is
* Gen. 28.12 ladder by which the elect doe walke vp into heauen and in the margin the particular poyntes of doctrine as the goodly * 1. King 10.18 Lions on both side of the steps of Salomons throne which with little marking thou maist perceiue to offer themselues The poynts of doctrine in the meaning of the words The interpretation or ladder Ver. 3. HEre is the top of Salomons throne for hee sheweth in this verse the state of all faithfull Christians in this life after their effectuall calling that they haue as it were liuery and sesin of that heauenly kingdome Where the blessing is that of Abraham Gen. 22. communicated vnto them by the a The trinitie spirite and it is described by the author a The trinitie God the b Christ in his person Gods sonne in office Lord Iesus Christ i annoynted Sauiour king priest and prophet Father of our a The trinitie Lorde Iesus Christ and by the nature of it which is heauenly which may be translated as chap. 2.6 heauenly places because the c The state of beleeuers to bee heires of heauen blessing is to make vs heyres of heauen by hope as is expounded verse 13.14 and Titus 3.7 and it is set forth by the meanes which is a Christ the meanes Christ namely that being in Christ we haue this blessing Gal. 3.14 and it is saide all spirituall blessings because b The Spirit the worker by the spirite all giftes necessarie to eternall life are giuen vs 1. Pet. 1.3 and he teacheth them to prayse c God the author God as the author saying Blessed be God c. Hauing shewed that the faithfull are set by Christ thorow the spirit in the state of saluation as it were translated from death to life now in the rest hee sheweth the proceeding of the causes as the steppes by which GOD bringeth vs vnto this and so in the accomplishment of all the elect vnto the perfection of ioye in the life to come Verse 4. He sheweth the first steppe d The first cause of saluation chosen before the world was God doth chuse them this is declared by the time that is before all time and by the e God in chosing looked not on worke or faith foreseene but on his sonne mouing cause in Christ by the f Godly life an effect not a cause of saluation end that we should be holy c. Verse 5. He sheweth here a second cause or degree which is g The second cause of saluation adoption thorow Christ Adoption that is God would take vs to bee his children which is set forth by the repetition of the first cause h They that are adopted were first predestinated predestination which is generall to election and reprobation namely that out of it came adoption that is God set downe by decree whom he would make his children thorow Christ which is called the sure foundation of God 2. Tim. 2.19 and this illustrated by another i The good pleasure of Gods will the mouing cause of predestination to adoption mouing cause which is the good pleasure of his will Verse 6. The former cause is here amplified by the last k The glory of God the finall cause final the glorie of Gods grace Which l The grace of God a third cause grace is made a third and speciall working cause bringing forth a fourth which is our m Iustification a fourth cause iustification for hee saith that with n If it bee of grace it is not now of works Rom. 11.6 grace he maketh them accepted and to bee accepted is alone with iustified and his grace being the cause thereof sheweth that wee are freely iustified by his grace Rom. 3.24 And lastly that we may know this iustifying to be o We are iustified by grace thorow faith in Christ by faith in Christ he addeth him as the materiall cause in all these causes terming him beloued by excellencie because for his sake God doth these things Verse 7. The a Redemption by Christs bloud a fift cause fift cause of our saluation is redemption by Christs blood this is declared by the b Forgiuenes of sinnes part of redemptiō His bloud sheweth Christ a naturall man effect forgiuenes of sinnes which sheweth how Christ is the meanes of our iustification namely in that hee payed the ransome for our sinnes and so wee being forgiuen are accounted iust for his sake as is opened 2. Cor. 5.17.20.21 which is amplified by repetition of the working cause his grace c Rich is the grace of God in forgiuenes of sinnes which for the exceeding greatnes is called rich Verse 8.9 Here he sheweth a d The preaching of the Gospell a sixt cause sixt cause euen the instrument by which he applieth all these causes vnto vs which is the preaching of the Gospell called here e The Gospell is the opening of the mistery of Gods will in all wisdome and vnderstanding The opening of the mystery of his will So expounded cap. 3.4 5 6. Coloss 1.25.26 Which thing is set forth first by the cause whereby that is his grace secondly by the order of it that it was aboundant in all wisdome and vnderstanding thirdly the f The preaching of the gospell commeth of Gods grace and good pleasure repetition of one mouing cause The good pleasure of his will and lastly by the first cause his g Preaching of the gospell ordained of Gods purpose purpose wherein he regarded nothing but Christ wherefore hee saith in him that is as God purposed in his good pleasure to elect and adopt these happie soules in Christ so did he in that purpose appoynt the meanes which is the preaching of the Gosspell Verse 10. The h Our effectuall calling the seuenth cause last cause which is the effectuall calling named the i All the faithfull gathered into one gathering into one The greeke word signifieth the gathering of dispersed things into one entire or summe namely that where we be in all ages as sheep going astray we are called by the gospell and gathered by fayth vnto Christ our shepheard into one felowship or bodie which then shall be k There is a certaine number of the elect which shall be made full vp in Christ perfected when the whole number of the elect being accomplished we shall all meete with Christ and hee made meruellous in all that beleeue Ephes 4.12 13. which calling is set forth by two argumentes First by the times wherein there is a a The faithfull called in all times ages dispensation of times and a b In the end of time all the elect shall be one with Christ fulnes of times which sheweth that God calleth and gathereth his elect in many times as before the law and vnder the law and in the time of the Gospell wherein the whole world shal be gathered And
ninth precept teacheth by a negatiue to tender our neighbours good name Gen. 39.17 Psal 15.3 10. The tenth precept teacheth that wee ought to doe al the former speciall and generall dueties with all our thoughts and desires 1. King 21.12 Iam. 4.1 1. Thess 5.23 A briefe and easie opening of the sense of the Lords prayer which pertaineth to the second Commandement and is to be learned after the tenne Commandements THe Lords Prayer containeth sixe petitioÌ„s teaching vs to aske three requests pertaining to Gods glorie and three for our owne necessities Concerning Gods glorie wee aske two things that God be honored the meanes 1. The first petitioÌ„ teacheth vs to â—â—ay that God may be honored in all things Psaâ— 19.1 1. Cor. 10.31 The meanes of Gods honour are in regard of his kingdome and will 2. The second petition teacheth vs to pray for the aduancement of Gods kingly regimeÌ„t in all things and specially in his Church Psal 93.1.2.3 and Psal 145. 3. The third petition teacheth vs to pray for the aduancement of Gods royall will in his decree in all thinges and his word in his Church Psal 147.15.19 Concerning our selues we aske things for the bodie and for the soule 4. The fourth petition vnder the name bread teacheth vs to aske whatsoeuer is necessary for this bodily life as health wealth libertie c. Esay 〈…〉 For the soule wee neede forgiuenes of â—innes and protection against Sathan 〈…〉 of aâ—â— 5. The fifth petition teâ—â—earne of them to 〈…〉 the letter â—innes then in eight dayes they haue all the â—â—â—ings but it must bee in this order 〈…〉 to know them wheresoeuer 〈…〉 be in the booke which therall our ghostly ein a quarter 〈◊〉 26.41 Eph. 6.18 The conclusion of the last order AFter you haue passed thorow all these Catershismes then is to be continued the daily reaâ—ing of holy â—cripture in order beginning at the first chapter of Genesis and of Matthew one chapter euery day of the olde Testament and another of the new In reading whereof marke two things First what words are for the confirmation of any poynt of doctrine before learned And secondly if any thing bee hard to vnderstand dispute not about it but aske your pastors helpe or els some other godly minister of graue iudgement and grounded knowledge so shall you increase with great ease and ioy and auoyde the * 2. Pet. 3.16 rocke of peruerting the Scriptures to your owne destruction And as leisure will serue direct them to reade some other Catechismes and godly bookes But aboue all things you must 〈…〉 familie to goe to the publike preaching for that hath the 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 * 〈…〉 promise and blessing And as oft as a 〈…〉 euery daye till three â—â—meth into 〈◊〉 familie if 〈…〉 thorow and last of al the is to 〈…〉 sixe or eyght lines at 〈…〉 gâ—ea keepe the 〈…〉 Now last of 〈…〉 quest to all gouernours of 〈…〉 holders of all sorts poore and rich that they would cause al their houshold meÌ„ women children to be able to reade the English tung For this is a worthie meanes to 〈◊〉 much good in this so waightie a cause Gâ—d hath giuen a marueilous blessing of printing to further his Gospell and wee are very foolish if wee let slip any blessing or comfort which is giuen vs of our louing and gracious father First therfore such as be able I would entreat that they would also helpe their seruants in this knowledge and rich men shall make it a laudable and holy vsurie An holy vsury to lay out some hundreth part of their superfluities towardes the helping of poore seruants and poore mens children to learne to reade and God will pay them againe a double and treble * Pro 28.27 An order for poore men seruants to learne to reade without losse of time paine or cost interest But to such as haue no other helpe or meanes I thought good to teach an order how they might learne with ease because I would not willingly leaue out any thing that might further this holy purpose If they can finde either 〈…〉 be in the booke which 〈◊〉 shall easily doe in a quarter of an houre I would not haue them 〈◊〉 any more Then after they know the letters â—â—t them bestow the like time in like order to learne three seuerall wordes to spell thâ—â— distinctly to reade them and to poynt to euery sillable and to know them in any other place being shewed by the teacher now one and then another and this to continue at the least three weekes or a moneth and herein not to couet any more but three seuerall and new words at one time and that in this manner if his first lesson be In the name and the next words be of the father he must count the word the to be learned in his first lesson therefore the second lessoÌ„ must be of father and where the next words are of the holy Ghost Amen he must account he hath learned the two first words of the in his former lessons therefore his third lesson must be holy Ghost Amen so keeping in minde what he hath learned and learning new hee should quickely learne to reade Now after three weekes or a moneth let him learne in 〈…〉 and to keepe the points 〈…〉 and by this time he 〈…〉 teacher onely let him 〈…〉 make himselfe perfect by 〈…〉 when he meeteth with a 〈…〉 out of himselfe by spelliâ—◠〈…〉 and aske some one thâ—◠〈…〉 cher And whosoeuer 〈…〉 ently follow and consâ—aâ—â—◠〈…〉 himselfe to this order 〈…〉 time attaine to readeâ—◠〈…〉 nes or any toyle to 〈…〉 or other 〈◊〉 any great cost Then hath he â—iewell which once in his life may bee move comfort to him then all hee hath or all hee trauaileth for beside And so I commend you to the Lorde our God whome I beseech to make this my labour profitable and acceptable to his church for Iesus Christs sake and that we may be fulfilled with knowledge of his will in all wisdome and spirituall vnderstanding that we may walke worthie of the Lord and please him in all things and increasing in the knowledge of God To whom bee all honor praise and glorie for euer and euer Amen FINIS