reverence and respect to Men of Wisdom Piety and Learning Yes May we envy those who are above us or do exceed us in any thing No. Should we out of envy go about to lessen any man's worth or excellency No. Should all men bear a respect and reverence to those that are of a higher rank and quality than themselves Yes May a man behave himself proudly or scornfully towards his Betters No. Dues to thosâ— in any sort of want Should a Christian supply the needs of all men according to his ability Yes If a man be ignorant and wants knowledge should he not instruct him if he can do it Yes Should not a Christian endeavour to comfort them that are in sâ—dness and affliction Yes If a man be under any slander are we bound to clear him if we know he be innocent Yes To the Poor If a man be in Poverty and Need may they refuse to relieve him who are in Plenty No. Should we not labour to imploy all our abilities to the glory of God and the good of our Neighbour Yes If we refuse so to imploy them will not God take them from us Yes Thankfulness to Benefactor May a Christian refuse to be thankful to his Benefactors or those who have done him any good No. Ought he not to pray for them Yes Admenition and Reproof May a Christian refuse to be thankful to them who reprove him or admonish him or advise him for his Soul 's good No. Should not a man admonish another when he sees him going on in a course of sin Yes But then should he not do it mildly and privately Yes Should we be angry with those who reprove or admonish us No. Should not he who is reproved reform and amend after Reproof Yes If a man owe any thing or have borrowed any thing or have promised any thing is he not bound to pay it Yes Should not Creditors deal charitably and Christianly with their Debtors if they are not able to pay Yes Sunday XIV Duties to Parents To the King Honour Triâ—ute Prayers SHould not a Christian honour all lawful Magistrates especially the King Yes Should we grudge or refuse to pay them Tribute No. Are we bound to pray for them Yes Must we obey all the lawful commands of our King Yes â—bedience Suppose he command us any thing plainly against the Word of God must we obey then No. Must we not in such a Case patiently suffer what he shall inflict on us Yes May we rebel or rise up against him for any cause whatever No. 〈◊〉 our Pastors Must we Love and Honour the Bishops who are the Governours of the Church Yes â—ove Esteem Are we bound to have a great love and respect and esteem for our Ministers Yes May we with-hold from them their just maintenance Maintenance without sin No. Are we bound to obey those Commands of God â—bedience which they preach to us Yes â—â—ayers for â—â—em Should we pray for them Yes May we forsake our own Minister to go to hear Factious Nonconformist Teacher No. Natural Parents Reverence Are we to honour and behave our selves with respect and humility to our Parents Yes If they have any Infirmities must we conceal and cover them Yes May a Child be stubborn and irreverent toward his Parents No. Should Children love and pray for their Parents Love Prayers and endeavour to bring them Comfort Yes Obedience c Must not a Child obey all the lawful commands of his Parents Yes If a Parent command a Child to Lye or Steal should the Child obey in that Case No. If the Child refuse to obey an unlawful Command should he not refuse it humbly modestly and respectfully Yes May a Child despise the Counsel of his Parents or mock at them No. Is it not a dreadful sin to curse our Parents Yes May a Child without a great sin desire his Parents Death for Love of their Estate or for any other thing No. Should not a Child help his Parents in their needs Yes Should the Child marry against the Consent of the Parent No. Is a child bound to perform these Duties to his Parents though they be unkind or wicked Yes Parents Duâ— to children Are Parents bound to sustain and nourish their Children Yes To nourish and bring them to Baptism May Mothers refuse to nurse them without a just Cause or Impediment No. May Parents delay to bring their children to Baptism No. To educate and instruct them Is it not the Parents Duty to instruct them early in the ways of God Yes Ought not the Parent to bring up the child in some honest Trade or Employment Yes Should not Parents try to make them in Love with their Duty by Invitation and Encouragement Yes May Parents discourage or provoke them by harsh and cruel Usage No. Should not Parents if need require correct them timely Cirrection moderately and gently Yes Should a Parent permit any vice to get the least root in a child No. Should a Parent watch over their souls when they are grown up Yes To provide for them Should Parents provide for their subsistence according to their Ability Yes May Parents provide for their children by any unjust dealings No. Is not that the way to leave a Curse with them instead of a Blessing Yes Good example Should not Parents give them a good example by that to win them to Vertue Yes To bless them by their Prayers and Piety Should they seek a Blessing on their Children both by their Prayers and their Christian Life Yes May Parents consume their Portion in their own Excess and Riot No. Or should Parents reserve all till their death and let them want or put them upon unlawful shifts in the mean time No. May Parents oppress them with harsh and unreasonable Commands No. May a Parent marry them utterly against their Will No. Sunday XV. Dues to Brethren SHould Christians bear a great Love and Kindness toward their natural Brethren Yes Should not natural Brethren and Sisters beware of Envyings and Heart-burnings toward each other Yes Natural Should we not have a great love and affection for our Spiritual Brethren Yes Spiritual Are not Spiritual Brethren our fellow-Christians Yes Should we not join with them in holy Duties in Prayers hearing the Word and receiving the Sacraments Yes May we despise or hate a Fellow-Christian because he differs from us in some Opinions No. If a Brother be overtaken in a fault should we not do our best to bring him to Repentance Yes Should we triumph over him in respect of our own Innocence No. Should we Christians have a fellow-feeling of one anothers sufferings and afflictions Yes May we rejoice at the Sins or afflictions of any Man No. Wives Duty-Obedience Is the Wife to obey the Husband in all lawful Commands Yes But what if the thing commanded be inconvenient
I determined not to know any thing among you save Iesus Christ and him Crucified 1 Cor 2.2 Iesus saith to Simon Peter Simon Son of Ionas lovest thou me He saith unto him yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee He saith unto him Feed my Lambs St. Iohn 21.15 I. Sturt sculp THE Art of Catechising OR THE COMPLEAT CATECHIST In Four Parts I. The Church-Catechism resolved into easie Questions to be Answered only by Yes or No. II. An Exposition of It in a continued full and plain Discourse III. The Church-Catechism resolved into Scripture-Proofs IV. The Whole Duty of Man reduced into Questions to be Answered by a single Yes or No. Fitted for the meanest Capacities the weakest Memories the plainest Teachers and the most un-instructed Learners IMPRIMATUR Z. Isham R.P.D. Henrico Episc Lond. Ã sacris Feb. 4. 1690 1. LONDON Printed by J. L. for Henry Bonwicke at the Red-Lion in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1691. THE PREFACE THE Neglect of Catechising is complained of by a great many and even by some of them who add something to the Cause of the Complaint The Mischiefs of which Neglect will soon appear as great now as ever For the numerous Enemies of the best establish'd Church in the World are all at work and with united Voices crying Down with it down with it to the Ground One of the best Remedies that I know of next to our Prayers and Tears for its Preservation is to take great Care that our Youth be well instructed in the Principles of that holy Religion which we profess whatever Self-denial or Pains or Difficulties or Humility or Condescension or letting down of our selves it cost us I have found by my own Experience that to do it well and conscionably has more of all these in it than Preaching it self and when all is done it shall please much less But when I consider that my Business is to please God and not Man and that my Hopes and Consolations will at last result from my having with Purity of Intention designed the Former more than the Latter When I consider that a poor Soul placed under my Charge and Conduct for whom the great Lover of Souls has provided no other Ordinary Means of Salvation but what is to be conveyed to him by me by my Assistances and Ministration if it should want these too it will have none and may for ever be undone for me When I consider that when he admitted me to cultivate a corner of his Vineyard as he did me a greater Honour than he did thousands of others so he expected more Glory more Love and more Obedience from me too that he might confer on me a peculiar Coronet of Glory When I consider that he never meant the Ministery to be a Station of Ease and Indiligence When I think how reasonable a thing 't is that I should shed some of the Sweat of my Brows for them for whom he was well contented to shed the Blood of his heart When I in a close and piercing thought reflect on these things I find I can be content with that Contempt and Scorn those Pains and Difficulties that Self-denial and humble Condescension which will most times accompany the conscionable Discharge of this very useful and very necessary Duty It were well if the Devout Pastor would sometimes when he is retired and with-drawn from the World with pious Emotions and devout Affections with panting sighing languishing Aspirations say as St. Peter thrice did John 21.15 16 17. Lord thou knowest that I love thee but in the same devout and affectionate thought to imagine he hears the holy Jesus giving him the same Answer Feed my Lambs And then that he would please to consider whether his Love of Jesus would permit him to be content well pleased and easie while he refuses to give him this his own way of demonstrating both That and his Obedience If any plain Man who is a Master or a Father an Housholder or Guardian and who has in part that great Trust committed to him of the Care of a Soul shall derive any Assistances or Intimations for its Conduct and Institution from this Book I do earnestly request the Good Man to put me into his Litanies and that his Prayer for the Author may be this That my Passage over the World being safe and holy I may come to sit at the Feet of them who with primitive Affections have loved and obeyed Jesus in the Mansions of Glory Amen THE Art of Catechising OR THE COMPLEAT CATECHIST PART 1. Question WHAT is your Name Answer N. or M. Question Who gave you this Name Answer My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism wherein c. Question What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you Answer They did promise and vow three things in my Name First c. Question Dost thou not think that thou art bound to believe c. Answer Yes verily and by God's help so I will And I heartily c. SECTION 1. Of our Baptism Of The Benefits of Baptism The Vow of Baptism and Our promising to perform it WAS not your Name given you when you were baptized Yes Were you not made a Disciple of Jesus Christ when you were baptized Yes Was it not a great Happiness and Favour to have been baptized Yes Should we ever forget this Mercy of God toward us No. Were you not made a Member of Christ and his Church when you were baptized Yes Were you not made a Child of God when you were baptized Yes Were you not made an Heir of Christ's Kingdom when you were baptized Yes Can we think upon this Favour without Love and Thankfulness to our God and Saviour No. When you were baptized did not they who brought you to Baptism make a Covenant between God and you Yes Is not God's part of the Covenant this That he will give you Pardon of Sin Grace and Glory Yes Is not your part of the Covenant this That you will believe in Christ repent of your Sins and obey his Laws Yes Should you neglect to perform your part if you expect God should perform his No. Should we not stand to this happy Covenant when we come to Age if we will be saved Yes Did not they who brought you to be baptized covenant in your Name that you should renounce the Temptations of the Devil and all his Works Yes Are not all Sins and specially tempting others to sin Works of the Devil Yes Should a Christian therefore do any of the Works of the Devil No. Did not they who brought you to Baptism promise for you that you should renounce the Temptations of the World Yes Did they not promise for you that you should renounce the Pomps that is all the vain and sinful Customs of the World Yes Should a Christian therefore do according to the vain and sinful Customs of the World No. Did they not promise for you that you should renounce all the evil and corrupt Desires of the Flesh and your own
Is it not very fit that a good Christian should do his Alms by his own hand and not by another Person Yes Motives to Bounty If we are not able to give should we not pity and pray for them that need Yes Is there any Duty which our God so often and earnestly recommends to Christians as Charity and Alms No. Are there such great promises to any one Duty as to this No. Is not this the Duty by which God shall chiefly pronounce the Sentence at the day of Judgment Yes Will it not procure a Blessing here and hereafter Yes Is not reckoned as done to Christ whatever we do to our poor Brother Yes Is not Charity and Mercy one great sign of our Predestination to Life eternal Yes Does it not crown all other works of Religion and Piety Yes Should we neglect to perform a Duty which has so many advantages and promises Charity in respect of the Credit Yes Are not Christians to exercise Charity to the Credit of their Neighbour Yes Is it not an Unchristian thing causelesly to destroy the good name of another Yes If an innocent man be slandered should we not in Charity clear him if we know his Innocence Yes Should we not in Charity conceal the faults of our brethren unless it be necessary to discover them or unless they are so notorious as that they will be sure to betray themselves Yes But suppose we hear ill of our brother and know not whether it be true or false should we not be apt to judge and hope the best Yes Should we not endeavour to preserve the Credit of our Neighbour as far as we may Yes The great Rule of Charity Should we not ever labour to do to all men as we would have them do to us Yes Well then if we were in need would we not willingly have our Necessities relieved Yes Can we therefore refuse to do the like to others that are in need No. Are we not all willing to have our good name defended Yes Can we therefore in Charity by slanders or reproaches or evil speakings or rash Judgings destroy the good-name of others No. Are we not unwilling to have our own Bodies maimed or beaten or wounded Yes Ought we not therefore to forbear the doing the like to others Yes Ought we not to be willing of our own Souls Health Yes And if we love our Neighbours as our selves should we not desire their Souls good an Salvation Yes Is not Peace-making a great act of Christian Charity Peace-making Yes Should we not therefore as much as in us lies reconcile Enemies and end their grudges and quarels Yes Can those be Charitable that cause Strife and Contentions among any No. Ought not he that would be a Peace-maker to be a peaceable Man himself Yes Of going to Law May not a peaceable Man go to Law in some cases Yes But is he a peaceable Man who goes to Law for Trifles or inconsiderable matters No. Is he a charitable or peaceable Man who goes to Law out of stoutness of humor or contentiousness No. Is he charitable or peaceable who goes to Law out of Revenge No. That is should a peaceable Man go to Law merely because another sued him No. Rules for doing it Christianly Does not he deal most Christiantly who is content to part with somewhat of his right for Peace-sake Yes May a Christian then go to Law where the Damage is great and considerable if he can have satisfaction no other way Yes But must we not still carry a friendly and Christian temper towards the Party we go to Law with Yes Should we suffer our Hearts to be estranged from him No. Now we have seen all the parts of Charity in our Actions must we not shew them to our bitterest Enemies Charity of the Actions too must reach to enemies Yes Did I not say before that we are to forgive Enemies Yes And is not this the way to try the sincerity of our forgiveness by being ready to do them good and to relieve their needs as we have opportunity Yes Should not a Christian turn out of his Heart self-love Yes Is not self-love an immoderate love of our own Interests that causes us to be unjust or uncharitable towards others Yes Can we perform these Self-denial and many other Christian Duties without the Practice of self-denial or taking up the Cross No. Must we not deny our own corrupt inclinations in obedience to the Commands of God Yes And must we not take up the Cross and endure affliction shame or reproaches when we cannot otherwise perform a Christian Duty Yes Prayer a means for all Graces Can we hope to perform these or any other Duties without Prayer and begging God's Assistance No. If we suffer any thing for Christianity-sake have we not reason to rejoice in it Yes Have we any reason to faint or grow weary of our Christian Duties when there is a Crown of Glory at the end of them No. Shall we be losers by any thing we can do or suffer here for Righteousness sake No. Should we not therefore instantly set about the performing all known Duty Yes And should we not instantly endeavour to reform all known Sin Yes Should we put off the serious consideration of these things from day to day No. Danger of delaying our turning to God Should we put it off to our Death-bed No. Can we delay to turn to God without infinite hazard of our immortal Souls No. FINIS Books Sold by Henry Bonwicke at the Red Lion in St. Paul's Church-Yard THE General History of the Reformation of the Church Written in Latin by John Sleiden faithfully English'd To which is added a Continuation to the end of the Council of Trent by E. Bohun Esq in folio Two useful Cases resolved I. Whether a Certainty of being in a State of Salvation be attainable II. What is the Rule by which this Certainty is to be attained in 4o. Pia Desideria Or Divine Addresses In Three Books Illustrated with Forty-seven Copper Plates Written in Latin by Herm. Hugo Englished by Edw. Arwaker M. A. in 8o. A Discourse proving from Scripture and Reason That the Life of Man is not limitted by any absolute Decree of God By the Author of The Duty of Man c. In 8o. Liturgia Ecclesiae Anglicanae Lat. 12o. The Best Guide to Devotion Being short Prayers Meditations and Thanksgivings taken only out of the Scriptures and fitted to all Occasions In 24o. THE END