unless they be abused with prejudice, and suck venom with their milk, they cannot leave our communion, till they have reason to reprove our doctrine. There is, therefore, in the following pages, a compendium of what we are to believe, what to do, and what to desire; it is, indeed, very little, but it is enough to begin with, and will serve all persons so long as they need milk, and not strong meat. And he that hath given the following assistances to thee, desires to be even a door-keeper in God's house, and to be a servant of the meanest of God's servants, and thinks it a worthy employment to teach the most ignorant, and make them to know Christ, though but in the first rudiments of a holy institution. This only he affirms, that there is more solid comfort and material support to a Christian spirit in one article of faith, in one period of the Lord's Prayer, in one holy lesson, than in all the disputes of impertinent people, who take more pains to prove there is a purgatory, than to persuade men to avoid hell: and that a plain catechism can more instruct a soul, than the whole day's prate which some daily spit forth, to bid men' get Christ, and persecute his servants.' Christian religion is admirable for its wisdom, and for its simplicity; and he that presents the following papers to thee, designs to teach thee as the church was taught in the early days of the apostles. To believe the Christian faith, and to understand it; to represent plain rules of good life; to describe easy forms of prayer; to bring into your assemblies hymns of glorification and thanksgiving, and psalms of prayer. By these easy paths they lead Christ's little ones into the fold of their great bishop; and if by this any service be done to God, -any ministry to the soul of a child or an ignorant woman, it is hoped that God will accept it: and it is reward enough, if by my ministry God will bring it to pass, that any soul shall be instructed, and brought into that state of good things, that it shall rejoice for ever. But do thou pray for him that desires this to thee, and endeavours it. CREDENDA; OR, WHAT IS TO BE BELIEVED. Ὁ μὲν δὴ λόγος ἡμῖν ὁμολογηθεὶς μενέτω, ὡς οἴγε ὀρθῶς πεπαιδευμένοι, σχεδὸν ἀγαθοὶ izvora.-Plato de Legibus. Let this truth be confessed, and remain for ever, That they who are well instructed, easily become good men. A short Catechism for the Institution of Young Persons in the Christian Religion. QUESTION. In what does true religion consist? ANSWER. In the knowledge of the one, true God, and, whom he hath sent, Jesus Christ; and in the worshipping and serving them". Quest. What dost thou believe concerning God? Ans. 1. That there is a God; 2. That he is one; 3. Eternal; 4. Almighty; 5. That he hath made all the world; 6. That he knows all things; 7. That he is a Spirit, not of any shape, or figure, or parts, or body; 8. That he is present in all places; 9. That his seat is in heaven, and he governs all the world, so that nothing happens without his order and leave; 10. That he is the fountain of justice; 11. Of mercy; 12. Of bounty, and goodness; 13. That he is unalterably happy, and infinitely perfect; 14. That no evil can come near him; 15. And he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him '. 1 Tim. i. 17. b Deut. vi. 4. Exod. xx. 2, 3. Revel. i. 4. Psal. xc. 2. Gen. i. 1. Exod. xx. 11. Heb. iii. 4. Isa. xl. 12. Job, xlii. 2, 3. Psal. Quest. What other mystery is revealed concerning God? Ans. That God being one in nature, is also three in person; expressed in Scripture by the names of "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." The first person is known to us by the name of "The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." The second person is called "The Son, and the Word of the Father." The third is "The Spirit and Promise of the Father." And these are three and one after a secret manner, which we must believe, but cannot understand". Quest. What is this God to us? Ans. He is our Creator and Father, and therefore he is our Lord; and we are his creatures, his sons, and his servants d. Quest. Wherefore did God create and make us? Ans. That we might do him honour and service, and receive from him infinite felicities". Quest. How did God make man? Ans. By the power of his Word, out of the slime of the earth; and he breathed into him the breath of life'. Quest. Was man good or bad, when God made him? Quest. How then did man become sinful and miserable? Ans. By listening to the whispers of a tempting spirit, and breaking an easy commandment, which God gave him as the first trial of his obedience". Quest. What evils and changes followed this sin? Ans. Adam, who was the first man, and the first sinner, did, both for himself and his posterity, fall into the state of death, of sickness, and misfortunes, and disorder both of exxxix. 1, &c. Psal. cxlvii. 5. Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. 1 Tim. vi. 15, 16. Acts, vii. 48, 49. Isa. xli. 4. and xliv. 6. Job, ix. 4, &c. Deut. xxxii. 4. Psal. ciii. 8. and xxv. 8. and lxxxvi. 5. Psal. l. 12. Jam. i. 17. c Matth. xxviii. 19. John, xiv. 16. 26. and xv. 26. 1 Cor. xii. 4, 5, 6. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. 1 John, i. 1. and v. 7, 5. and iii. 23. Luke, xxiv. 49. Acts, i. 4. and ii. 33. d Coloss. i. 16. Acts, xvii. 24. 1 Cor. viii. 6. and 1 Cor. vi. 19. Gal, i. 4. Phil. ii. 15. Dan. ii. 47. Zech. iv. 14. and xiv. 9. Matth. xi. 25. e Psal. cxlv. 10, 11. Acts, xiv. 15. Eccles. vii. 29. Ecclus. xv. 14. f Gen. ii. 7. |