Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

QUESTION:

As it was carried on in the Lord's Days Exercifes in DARTMOUTH,

In the First Year of Liberty, 1688.

By JOHN FLAVELL, Preacher of the Gospel in DARTMOUTH.

2 TIM. i. 13.

Hold fast the Form of found Words which thou haft beard of mes in Faith and Love which is in Chrift Jefus

SALISBURY:

Printed and Sold by EDW. EASTON, Bookfeller,

in the MARKET-PLACE.

M.DCC.LXVII.

138. i.454.

THE

PREFA CE.

HAT Catechizing is an Ordinance of

T God, few will doubt, when they confider

the Apoftles did first lay the Fundamentals of Religion; Heb. vi. 1. And fed Babes with Milk, teaching them the first Principles of the Oracles of God, Heb v. 1-2. and questionlefs taught them in that Manner, which was moft fuitable to the Capacity of the Learners, which may well be fup. pofed to be by plain and fhort Queftions, and fuitable Answers thereunto; and therefore this has been a constant Practice in the Church of God: and the Primitive Church had a Particular appropriate hereunto, whom they called Catechist.

And fo all well governed and wifely managed Churches, have ftill maintained and ufed it, as knowing the Neceffity and Usefulness thereof: for the younger Sort to inform them in the Principles of that Religion whereinto, they were Baptized; and for the Establishment of the Adult and more aged therein.

Hence have iffued all thofe little Compofures of all the fundamental Doctrines of Faith and Practice fo handled (which we call Catechifms) in the Churches; and particularly in ours, whereof there are many and divers, whofe Authors have A 2

well

well deferved for their Endeavours to inform and edify the People thereby.

But among them all, none excel this little Catechifm of the Affembly, for Orthodoxy, Fulnefs, and Method.

And because the Anfwers therein are fome of them pretty large, and Treat of the most profound Mysteries of our Religion; therefore feveral Perfons have beftowed their good and laudable Pains, fome in defcanting more largely, and proving by Scriptural Reasons the Particu lars: and one has fhewn the Harmony thereof with the Articles and Homilies of the Church of

England (defigned, I fuppofe, to remove the Prejudice which fome have taken against it). Others have parted the Queftions and Answers into feveral little ones, under each, to make them more intelligible to younger Ones, and more eafy to be remembred.

Among whom, Worthy, Orthodox, and Excellent Mr. John Flavel may be ranked, who among other of his many and moft profitable Labours, applied himself to the chewing of this Bread of Life, or crumbling it into fmal Pieces, for the Conveniency of Children and (indeed) of all; wherein (as in all his other Works) he hath fhewn himself a Workman that needs not to be ashamed.

There needs no other Recommendations to this Pofthumous Piece, but the worthy Author's Name; he was removed before he had compleat

ly

« PreviousContinue »