A. Of the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil thou shalt not eat Gen. 2.17 Q. Did he notwithstanding eat of it A. He did eat Gen. 3.6 Q. Were many the worse for this fault of one A. By one mans disobedience many were made Sinners Rom. 5.19 Q. What evil came upon all men hereby A. By the offence of one judgment came upon all men to Condemmation Rom. 5. 18. Q. Shall all men then being thus condemn'd everlastingly perish A. There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 § 3. Of Christ Q. VVHo is this Jesus A. Jesus is the Son of God 1 Joh. 5.5 Q. And was he sent to be our Saviour A. The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 Joh. 4.14 Q. And did he accordingly come to save us A. Jesus Christ came into the world to save Sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Q. After what manner did he come into the world A. He took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men Phil. 2.7 Q. Is he not true God A. He is the true God 1 Joh. 5.20 Q. Being true God how was he made in the likeness of men A. Being made of a woman Gal. 4.4 Q. What was this woman A. A Virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph Luk. 1.27 Q. And what was the Virgin 's Name A. The Virgins Name was Mary Luk. 1.27 Q. Being a Virgin how came she to be with child A. By the Holy Ghost Mat. 1.18 Q. And where was he Born of her A. Jesus was born in Bethlehem Mat. 2.1 Q. What was this Bethlehem A. The City of David Luk. 2.11 Q. Being thus made man what did he for mans Salvation A. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross Phil. 2.8 Q. What was done to him after his death A. He was buried 1 Cor. 15.4 Q. But did he not rise again A. He rose again the third day 1 Cor. 15.4 Q. And whether did he then go A. He was received up into Heaven and sate on the right hand of God Mark 16.19 Q. What mean you by his sitting on the right hand of God A. God hath highly exalted him Phil. 2.9 Q. What power hath he given him A. All Power is given to him in Heaven and in Earth Mat. 28.18 Q. Is he then fully able to save lost Sinners A. He is able to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him Heb. 7.25 Q. And is there no Salvation in any other A. Neither is there Salvation in any other Acts 4.12 Q. Who shall be saved by him A. He that Believeth and is Baptized shall be sased but he that Believeth not shall be damned Mark 16.16 § 4. Of Duties Q. IF Believing be so necessary to Salvation tell me how we must come by this Faith A. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God Rom. 10.17 Q. What call you the word of God A. The Holy Scriptures which are able to make me wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Q. Is Baptism ordinarily necessary to Salvation A. Except a man be born of Water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Joh. 3.5 Q. What mean you by being born of water and the Spirit A. The washing of Regeneration and the renewing of the Holy ghost Tit. 2.5 Q. Does the promise of the Holy ghost which is the ground of Baptism belong to us that believe only or to our children also A. The promise is to you and to your children Acts 2.39 Q. In whose name is baptism to be administred A. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Mat. 28.19 Q. How should we walk who have been baptized A. We should walk in newness of life Rom 6.4 Q. How should we walk in newness of life A. Denying ungodliness and worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Tit. 2.12 Q. That we may so live here then as that we may enter into life eternal in the end what must we do A. Keep the Commandments Mat. 19.17 Q. VVhich is the first and great Commandment of the Law A. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy mind Mat. 22.37 Q. VVhich is the second that is like to it A. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Mat. 22.39 Q. But what need is there of our Obedience Did not Christ by his sufferings become the Saviour of all Sinners A. He became the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 Q. VVhat hath he in his Gospel said to us to engage our Obedience unto him A If ye love me keep my Commandments Joh. 14 15. Q. VVhat special Commandment hath he given us A. To love one another 1 Joh. 3.23 Q. And what charge hath he given us concerning our enemies A. Love your Enemies do good to them that hate you Luk. 6.27 Q. What must he do that will become Christs Disciple indeed A. Deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow Him Luk. 9.23 Q. And what hath he said to encourage us to his Service A. Where I am there shall also my Servant be and if any man serve me him will my Father honour Joh. 12.26 Q. Besides Baptism for our admission into the Church what are we enjoyn'd for our holding Communion with the Church A. To eat the Lord's Supper 1 Cor. 11.20 Q. VVhat charge hath Christ given us concerning this A. This do in remembrance of me 1 Cor. 11.24 Q. Do not we hereby shew forth the Death of Christ A. As oft as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lord's Death till he come Cor 1.11.26 Q. That a man may rightly receive this Holy Supper what must he do A. Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup 1 Cor. 11.28 § 5. Of Priviledges Q. VVHAT special Benefits have we by Christ upon Believing A. Being justify'd by Faith we have peace with God Rom. 5.1 Q. But when we have offended God what must we do that our sins may be forgiven us A. Repent and be converted Acts 3.19 Q. But what hath our Saviour said shall become of us if we repent not A. Except ye Repent ye shall all perish Luk. 13.3 Q. VVhat other Benefits besides Remission of Sins do we receive by Christ A. The Adoption of Sons Gal. 4 5. Q. And what do we receive hereupon A. The Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Rom. 8.15 Q. And does God hear our prayers A. If we ask any thing according to his Will he heareth us 1 Joh. 5.14 Q. That you may obtain all good things then at his hand what must you do A. Watch and pray Mat 26.4 Q. That having done all these things you may not fall short of eternal life what must you
The Key of Knowledg Opening The PRINCIPLES of RELIGION And The Path of Life Directing The PRACTICE of true PIETIE Design'd For the Conduct of Children and Servants in the right way to Heaven and Happiness By T. W. D. D. Prov. 22.6 Train up or Chatechize a Child in the way he should go and when he is Old he will not depart from it Psal 119.9 VVherewith shall a Young man cleanse his way By taking heed thereto according to thy VVord LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside near Mercers Chappel 1682. The Preface To all young Persons who desire a happy life here and in the end Eternal life in Heaven REmember thy Creatour in the Daies of thy youth * Eccles 12.1 is the wise Counsel of the wisest of men Solomon A multitude of young People neglecting this great Duty and never seriously thinking of that God that made them have run headlong into Hell fire And what a wofull thing is it for any to spend their time in vain Pleasures here and then to lie roaring in intolerable pains in Hell for ever and ever Take heed lest this be thy state who now readest these Lines Know tho' thou perceivest it not thou now standest upon the very edge and brink of Eternity The least touch of God's hand may send thee into another world Thou art a mortal Creature As sure as thou livest thou must at length die and then what shall become of thy Soul to Eternity When thy Body drops into the dust thy Soul which never dies will go to Heaven or Hell there to remain for ever and ever And how soon thou may'st die thou knowest not If thou vainly flatterest thy self with hopes of long life Luk. 12.20 God may say to thee Thou fool this night thy Soul shall be required of thee And then where art thou Do'st thou yet know thy State Thou wast born in Sin Joh 9.34 Eph. 2.3 being by Nature a Child of Wrath and Heir of Hell If thou art still in this state as thou certainly art unless thou art born again thou standest upon the Brink of Hell Joh. 3.3 and art every moment in danger of eternal Damnation Nothing but the Patience of God upon which thou do'st daily trespass by every Sin thou committest keeps thee out of the burning Lake Rev. 21.8 that place of torment which is prepared for Sinners And tho' thou canst eat drink and be merry and when the night is come lie down in thy Bed and sleep secure certain it is thou art all this while within an hand's-breadth of Hell-fire For what 's thy Life Psal 39.5 Behold saith David thou hast made my daies as an hand-breadth and mine age is as nothing before thee verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity And again saith he the wicked shall be turn'd into Hell Psal 9.17 So that while thou art in the guilt of Sin thou hangest by a brittle thread a frail Life over the burning Lake and by every Sin thou committest thou provokest God to cut this thread in two How canst thou live secure when there is nothing but this poor Paper-wall of a mortal body between thy Soul and Hell-fire Now if thou art not strangely stupid and one whom God hath already sealed up under hardness of heart to Damnation Rom. 2.5 Acts 28 27. thou may'st plainly perceive that thou art infinitely concern'd with all possible speed to take care that thy Soul may be saved that so whenever it shall please God to take thee hence by death thou may'st be for ever happy in heaven How happy would'st thou be all the rest of thy days if thou had'st but once secur'd the salvation of thy Soul and wast but well assur'd thou should'st be happy for ever But what shall I do to be saved Acts 16.30 What must I do that I may go to heaven when I die If I knew how to secure the salvation of my Soul it should be the first thing I would do Is this thy Enquiry and Resolve Art thou in good earnest Then know that this little Book is very happily come into thy hand For the very Design of it is to make plain the way to Heaven to thee and to tell thee what thou must know and do to be saved and give thee a plain direction for the doing of it so that if thou do'st not wilfully destroy thy self thou may'st certainly be everlastingly happy Know then that there are some things which God hath made necessary to be known and beleiv'd to Salvation and some things necessary to be done The knowledge of God and Christ and Obedience to the Gospel requiring Repentance Faith and Holy life are altogether necessary to Salvation For the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God who is the onely Saviour of lost men hath plainly declar'd that he will not save any but upon these terms And therefore tho' This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation 1 Tim. 1.15 that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners yet it is no less certain that He shall at length be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming Fire to take vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thess 1 7 8 9. who shall be punished with everlasting Destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Now these things which are so necessary to salvation are here briefly comprehended in a short Scripture-Catechism which therefore I advise thee to get perfectly by heart Know the Answers are the very words of Scripture which is the very Word of God on which thou may'st safely venture thy Soul And when thou canst readily repeat these words with the mention of the places of Scripture where they are to be found thou wilt be able to give any man that asks thee 1 Pet. 3.15 a Reason of thy Faith or Hope by a ready mention of that Scripture on which it is grounded But that thy Hope may not make thee asham'd Rom. 5.5 rest not in the bare repeating of these words and bearing them in thy memory but be sure thou knowest well the meaning of the things required of thee for thy Salvation by thy own sense and experience as of Repentance and Regeneration or being born of the Spirit faith in Christ and Obedience to the Gospel Do the things and so shalt thou best know the meaning of the words for thy Souls good To do God's will is the only way to have a saving knowledge of his word Joh. 7.17 If any man saith our Saviour will do his Will he shall know my Doctrine to be of God Act. 3.19 Repent therefore and be converted break off thy sins with a hearty sorrow that thou hast thereby offended a good God and lead a new life Act. 16.31 Believe in the Lord
Jesus Christ and trust in him alone for thy Salvation Mat. 12.21 Submit thy self to him and seriously endeavour to do all those things which he requires of thee in his word and Gospel and thou shalt be saved and inherit life Eternall What Duties God requires of thee whether as a Child or a Servant I have plainly shew'd thee from the word of God Read thy Duty oft and never sail to do it This is the way to bring down God's Blessing upon thee and to become happy in his favour When thou comest to be of a competent Age that of sixteen years is the ordinary time prepare thy self for the right receiving of the Blessed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Know that in thy Baptism a solemn Covenant was sealed whereby thou wast obliged to forsake the World the Flesh and the Devill and to believe in God Iack. 1.74 75. and serve him in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of thy life Now know if the Vanities and Pleasures of this world gratifying thy natural appetites and Inclinations have drawn off thy mind and heart from the Remembrance Love and Service of God thou hast broken thy Baptismal vow For in stead of forsaking the World for God thou hast forsaken God for the world and thereby gratified thine own Flesh and Satan to the certain hazard and hindrance of the salvation of thy Soul But in the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper God is pleased to invite thee to renew thy Covenant with Him for thy Re-instatement in thy forfeited Felicity and thy more firm establishment in a happy state of Grace and Salvation For herein upon thy hearty Repentance and stedfast Faith in Christ he will seal unto thee the free and full Pardon of all thy past Sins and a Right to all the Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace and Felicities of the Kingdom of Glory Oh think it a happy Opportunity wherein thou may'st begin the world anew with God and be in as fair a State of Favour with him and have as firm a Hope of Happiness in Heaven as if thou hadst never sinn'd against him For the Bloud of Christ is exhibited in its Virtue in that Sacrament Mat. 26.28 to cleanse thee from all Sin 1 Joh. 1.7 Isa 1.18 so that tho' thy Sins were as Scavlet or Crimson thy Soul shall become as white as wool or snow in Salmen in the sight of God And moreover hereby thou mayst expect a Communication of those graces and comforts of the Spirit of God which may enable thee to that chearfull obedience to his holy Commands which will fit thee for the fruition of all the Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace and prepare thee for all the Felicities of the Kingdome of Glory That thou may'st not fail of these inestimable Benefits do not neglect this Blessed Ordinance but when thou hast an opportunity to receive it seriously prepare thy self for it For this purpose get by heart the Catechism for Communicants And when the time of the Administration approaches withdraw thy self from all Company into thy private chamber or some convenient place and there setting thy self as in the sight and presence of Almighty God seriously set upon the necessary work of Self-Examination This I have made very plain and casie to thee in that Pattern or example of it which I have set before thee Read it only with a serious attention and Self-application and thy work is done For hereby thou may'st clearly discern thy Spiritual State which is the great end of Self-examination And when hereby thou discoverest thy Sins and Defects humbly and heartily bewail them before God and earnestly beg Mercy and Grace stedfastly resolving to lead a new Life and to honour God by a better obedience for the time to come This thou may'st doe in the use of that Confession and Prayer which is here fitted for that purpose Fall down on thy knees therefore and with all the seriousness humility and devotion thou canst make thy Confession and Prayer to God and so may'st thou with safety and comfort go to the Lords Table that the Pardon of thy sins and the Promises of the Covenant may be seal'd up to thy Soul in the Bloud of thy Saviour and that all thy Defects and VVants may be supply'd from his abundant Grace and so thou mayst be furnished with strength for his service and filled with comfort and Joy in the hopes of his Salvation Having thus seriously engag'd thy self in a holy course of life persevere in it to the end Know now Heaven is before thee Hell behind thee it 's wofull to draw back to Perdition and therefore persevere to the saving of thy Soul Heb. 10.39 To this end be instant in Prayer Rom. 12.12 and endeavour to make a constant Progress in Piety to grow in knowledge and Grace 2 Pet. 3.18 whereby thou wilt daily make a nearer approach to the Kingdome of Glory Let no day pass without Prayer Consider in the morning it was God that kept thee the last night and if he do not keep thee and sustain thee thou canst not live another day And why should he keep thee if thou wilt not praise him for thy preservation nor pray to him to preserve thee Go not out then without Prayer lest God be angry and either cut off thy life from the Earth or shut thee out of Heaven At night kneel down on thy knees to pray before thou liest down on thy bed to sleep lest presuming to sleep in the guilt of sin thou should'st awake in the flames of Hell Make thy peace with God therefore by a hearty sorrow for the sins of that day with an earnest Prayer for pardon So mayst thou lie down in peace Psal 4.8 and sleep in safety under God's protection But still think this night this day may be my last and so demean thy self as if at the end thereof thou wast to appear before God in judgment For thy help in this holy course I have here furnished thee with certain Forms of Prayer and praise do thou add Spirit and life to them by offering them up daily with a holy fervour of affection to God The tongue may repeat the words but 't is the heart must make the Prayer For that 's no Prayer to God which is not offer'd up with a holy motion a pious affection of the heart and Soul of man Pray then that thou mayst have grace to live well and then live as thou prayest and live for ever And that thou may'st so live here as that thou may'st for ever live with God in glory diligently observe those Rules of good life which I have given thee out of the word of God Read them often on the Lord's Daies and especially on those daies on which thoureceivest the Holy-Sacrament of the Lord's Supper and therein renewest thy resolution and obligation to honour God by a Holy life Live according to these Rules carefully shun every known sin and