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A52008
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The church-catechism enlarg'd and explain'd in an easie and familiar method, with the scripture-proofs annexed thereunto.
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R. M.
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1697
(1697)
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Wing M70A; ESTC R221785
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40,396
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65
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THE Church-Catechism ENLARG'D and EXPLAIN'D IN AN Easie and Familiar METHOD WITH THE SCRIPTURE-PROOFS Annexed thereunto These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine Heart And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up Deut. 6.7 8. LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside near Mercers Chappel 1697. THE PREFACE THIS explication of the Catechism supposeth the Reader to be convinc'd of the necessity and excellency of the Duty of Catechizing and the great danger of the neglect thereof in Churches or Familys where there are any that need training up in the way that they should go I am not ignorant that there are many who have written excellently on the Catechism and no wonder when so much of every Ministers time is or ought to be taken up in the use of it But yet there are not many that have made use of this Method The first Designer of it being taken away as is said in his life before He had accomplish't what He intended was followed by Doctor Wallis upon another Catechism Doctor Comber and I think He alone followed him upon this yet He by designing so much brevity and altogether omitting the Scripture proofs hath left room for a further Essay The use of this Mothod is double 1. As to the meanest capacitys it hath a visible benefit in that the Question is so fram'd as to lead the person instructed to his Answer whereby his understanding is both try'd and inform'd and yet the memory not burden'd with words it being evident that many of the more careless sort are frighted from the Catechism by a long Answer impos'd upon the memory and others get words by vote which they understand not and presently singer I only here desire of the Teacher that when He propounds or as be any Question He would not express or recite the Text or Texts of Scripture annexed thereunto partly because these proofs do indeed belong to the Answer and not to the Question though they could not conveniently be places otherwise than they are and partly because such a recital of the Texts Chapter and Verse would make the Question so long as to hinder the attention of the Learner great care being to be taken that He Answers understandingly and not by ghess Yes or No and for that reason He may sometimes be required to repeat the matter of the Question in his Answer as Q. Are there more Gods than One A. No there are not more Gods than One. 2. The other use is for them that have more understanding who must be obliged to answer to the Question by the Scripture annexed in this manner Q. Are there more Gods than One A. No. Q. How prove you that A. From Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord thy God is one Lord and I think it cannot be deny'd that the best as well as easiest way of Learning Scripture-principles is in Scripture Phrase Those lively Oracles make a deeper and more abiding impression than any other words And the prudent Catechist may with his Pen mark in every Section such Texts for the Learner to recite at a time as He shall judge for plainness or number to be suited to his Capacity Nor will this hinder the Learning these Principles in distinct propositions as they are set down in other Catechisms but will make it far more easie to Learn the words when they are by this instructed beforehand in the matter therein contain'd In this Composure I have endeavoured to make the Questions very Comprehensive by crowding thereinto as much matter as would consist with the plainness that I studiously design'd so that there is enough in each Question especially when the proof is given in Answer for the Catechist to dilate and enlarge upon in his more Familiar Instructing of those committed to his Charge May the whole be for the Glory of God through Christ and for the Edification of his Flock particularly the Lambs therein R. M. A CATECHISM That is to say An Instruction to be learned of every Person before He be brought to be Confirmed by the Bishop Question WHat is your Name Answer N. or M. Question Who gave you this Name Answer By Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism wherein I was made a Member of Christ the Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven § WAS not your Name given you at your Baptism as they were wont to receive their Names at their Circumcision Luke 2.21 Yes Is it not in the power of Parents chiefly of Fathers to give Names to their Children Luke 1.60 62. Yes Is it then unlawful for others by the Parents Consent to do it as Godfathers and Godmothers amongst us Ruth 4.17 No. § ARE Infants incapable of receiving any Priviledges or Benefits by Baptism Mark 10.14 No. 1. Are there not certain outward Priviledges confer'd by Baptism as of old by Circumcision Rom. 3.1 2. Yes * Were you not by Baptism made a Member of Christ i. e. of his Body the Church 1 Cor. 6.15 12.13 Yes But have all such Members of Christ a saving interest in him or benefit by him John 15.2 No. * VVere you not thereby made the Child of God Acts 3.25 Rom. 9.4 Yes And are there not many visible Children of God that prove rebels against him Isa 1.2 Ezek. 16.20 Yes * VVere you not further admitted an Heir or inheritour of the Kingdom of Heaven Eph. 3.6 Yes And are there not many visible Heirs or Children of the Kingdom that shall be cast out Mat. 8.12 Yes †Is there then any Reason why they that live in Sin should boast of or rest in these outward Priviledges Mat. 3.9 No. 2. Are there not also inward and spiritual priviledges offered in Baptism and sealed on Gods part to Believers Gal. 3.26 27. Yes Are these bestowed on you without any Conditions required on your part Mark 16.16 No. Do the conditions and terms of the Gospel make the Grace therein not to be free Eph. 2.8 No. †Are you not then by Baptism under an engagement to perform the Gospel-conditions 1 Pet. 3.21 Yes Question What did your Godfathers and Godmothers then for you Answer They did promise and vow thrée things in my Name First That I should renounce the Devil and all his Works the Pomps and Vanity of this wicked World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh Secondly That I should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith And Thirdly That I should keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of my Life § DID your Sureties say when you were Baptized that you did so repent and believe No. Did they promise in their own Name or bind their own Souls with a Vow that you should do so when you came to Age No. Did they
not then in your Name promise or declare the Vow that you should be bound to perform Luke 5 18-20 Yes If you had been Baptized at Age should you not in your own Name have made the Promise Yes †VVhoever then made the Profession in your Name do you not now acknowledge it was your Promise and your Vow Psalm 119.106 Yes § IS not the Baptismal Vow to Renounce and forsake all your Spiritual Enemies Yes 1. Must you not Renounce the Devil under whose Power you were by Nature Eph. 2.2 Yes Is it enough to Renounce the Worship of the Devil which is practised by Idolaters 1 Cor. 10.20 and by Wizards and Charmers Deut. 18.10 11 12. No. Must you not renounce and resist him as an Adversary and a tempter with all his works Jam. 4.7 Yes * Must you not renounce the Suggestions of Satan and his instruments which are the works that He practiseth for your ruin Eph. 2.2 Yes * Must you not renounce the works that Signally bear the Devils Image 1 Joh. 3.8 Such as Lying Joh. 8.44 pride 1 Tim. 3.6 Malice Eph. 4.26 27. Treachery Joh. 6.70 71. and the Seducing others Acts 13.10 Yes 2. Is not the world another Enemy that you are bound to renounce Gal. 1.4 1 Joh. 5.4 Yes Are you bound to leave the Society of men and to dwell alone in woods and rocks or to renounce your Callings and Estates and vow Poverty Acts 20.35 No. * Must we not renounce the examples flatterys and enticings of wicked men Rom. 12 2. Prov. 1.10 Yes May we then like the Company or have a voluntary Fellowship with notoriously ungodly men Eph. 5.11 No. * Must we not renounce the things of the world so far as they are contrary to Christ or would draw us from him Luke 14.26 Yes Did not the first Christians renounce by the name of Pomps and Vanities the Pompous shews in the Pagan Theatres and Processions Yes * May we then be allowed to frequent prophane Stage-plays or the revels in Wakes and drunken Festivals Gal. 5.21 No. * May we immoderately or unseasonably seek or affect the riches honours or pleasures of the world 1 Joh. 2.15 16. No. 3. Is not the flesh with the sinful lusts thereof the other enemy that we must renounce Gal. 5.24 Yes Is not original Sin and corruption the fountain of all actual Sins call'd the works of the flesh Jam. 1.14 Gal. 5 19-22 Yes Doth it no◠lust against the Spirit and draw even the Members of the body to Sin Gal. 5.17 Rom. 6.19 Yes * May we then follow the depraved dictates and reasonings of a fleshly mind Rom. 8.7 Col. 2.18 No. * Must we not especially abhor the gross sins and fleshly lusts that War against the Soul 1 Pet. 2.11 Yes § ARE we not to observe in our Baptismal Vow what we are to believe as well as what we are to renounce Yes 1. Are not the Holy Scriptures Acts 24.14 and particularly the Articles of the Creed the Doctrinal object of our Faith Joh. 20.31 Yes Can we believe these without understanding their meaning and some good esteem of their excellency Luk. 1.4 No. * Must we not assent to the truth of these Articles and live and dye in contending for the Faith Acts 8.37 Jud. 3. Yes Is it enough to profess these Doctrines with the mouth without believing with the Heart Rom. 10.9 10. No. Is it enough to believe them implicitly because the Church believes them without ever examining and trying them by the word 1 Joh. 4.1 No. * Must we not believe with application to our Hearts particularly in what relates to Christ Eph. 1.13 Yes 2. Is not Christ Himself then the immediate and Personal Object of our Faith as a Mediator appointed by God and dying for us Rom. 3.25 Yes * Is not Faith to receive Christ as offer'd in the Gospel Joh. 1.12 and to rely on his merits and righteousness Yes Is it enough then to assent to the Articles as true without a consent to the offers and terms of the Gospel Jam. 2.19 20. No. * Is not saving Faith wrought powerfully by the Spirit Eph. 1.19 and doth it not work by love and all good fruits Gal. 5.6 Jam. 2.18 Yes Is Faith then a strong conceit or perswasion that Christ dy'd for you though you live in sin and were never humbled for it Mat. 7.22 23. No. § ARE we not further engag'd by the Baptismal Vow to a continual obedience to the Holy will of God Yes Did you promise a sinless Obedience for the ends of the Covenant of Works 1 Joh. 1.8 9. No. But is not sincere Obedience to the will of God declared in his word indispensably required in the Covenant of Grace Gal. 6.16 Jam. 1.25 Yes * Is not this new Obedience from the efficacy of the Spirit and constraint of Divine Love 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Yes Yet are we forbidden to take Motives of our Obedience from fear of punishment or hope of reward Jer. 32.40 No. * Are not the ends of it that God may be glorify'd Mat. 5.16 Our Neighbour edify'd 1 Pet. 3.1 2. and our Selves made meet for Heaven Col. 1.12 Yes Will God then accept of that partial Obedience that comes from meer custom and Education and is done for self-applause or pretence of merit Gal. 2.16 No. * Must not our Obedience be free and willing without being griev'd at any of his Commands 1 Joh. 5.3 Yes * Must it not be universal with all the Heart and with a respect to all his Commandments and that in all our actions Psal 119.128 Prov. 7.2 Yes * Must it not be constant even all the days of our Lives Luk. 1.74 75. Yes Question Dost thou think that thou art bound to believe and to do as they have promis'd for thee Answer Yes verily and by God's help so I will and I heartily thank our Heavenly Father that He hath called me to this State of Salvation through Iesus Christ our Saviour and I pray unto God to give me his Grace that I may continue in the same to my lives end § HAVE you considered your Solemn Vow and Promise made in Baptism Luk. 14.28 31. Yes Do you now in the presence of God and this Congregation make a profession of your standing to your Baptismal Covenant Josh 24.22 27. Yes * You say you will now but will you make this profession in the most difficult and costly circumstances when the glory of God is concern'd Rev. 2.3 4. Yes * Do you make this profession only for hereafter without setting about the performance presently Psal 119.60 No. You say you will but can you do it in your own strength 2 Cor. 3.5 No. * Do you then profess this in and by the help strength and assistance of God Phil. 4.13 Yes And is God wanting to his Church as to sufficiency of means for your help therein Isa 5.4 No. § ARE all that live under the Gospel outwardly called to the State of Salvation and knowledge of the