ly finished it; he had prepared his Questions and Answers upon the fecond Petition of the Lord's Prayer; but lived not to propose them in the publick Congregation. God then translated him into his Kingdom of Glory above, while he was fo industriously endeavouring to promote the Kingdom of Grace below.

The other five remaining Questions and Anfwers (to compleat the Work) were done by a ruder hand; as may eafily be difcerned by any obfervant Reader, who will find himself transfer'd from a plain, clear, and delightful Stile, Method, and Manner, into more rough, diforderly, and unpleasant ones; for who, indeed, could equal this Divine Labourer? Not the Compleater: who would account himfelf to have made very great Attainments in Divinity and Ufefulness, if he were left but a few Furlongs behind him.

Let the Reader ufe and perufe this Piece, and he will fee Caufe to bless God for the Author.

VALE.

ΤΟ

READ E R.

T

HE Divine Providence having unexpectedly caft my Lot for a few Days in Dartmouth, where that bleffed Man of God Mr. John Flaveldid for many Years bonour Chrift, and was honoured by bim; I have been favoured with a Sight of that most judicious Explication of the Affemblies Catechism, which is emitted herewith.

Being defired to testify my Refpect to the worthy Author, by Prefacing this Excellent Labour of his with a few Lines; I can truly fay (as fometimes Beza of Calvin) Now Mr. Flavel is dead, Life will be lefs fweet, and Death lefs bitter to me.. My heart bleeds to look on this defolate Place, and not to fee him, that whilst living, was the Glory of it.

But neither the Author, nor bis Writings ftand in Need of the Commendation of others, much less of mine.

His Works already published have made his Name precious in both Englands, and it will be fo as long as the Earth fhall endure.

There are fome Confiderations which may cause the Reader to expect (and he will not find himself disappointed therein) that which is extraordinary in this little Manuel: for the Author's Heart was very much engaged in doing this Service for Chrift, in

thus

thus feeding his Lambs. And he did himself defign the Publication of what is here committed to the Prefs; and was very defirous (with an boly Submiffion to the Will of God) to have perfected this Work before his Decease: but had strange Intimations that be fhould finish his Course, before that could be done.

When he did viva voce deliver his Meditations, there were many Enlargements, and lively Pallages which are not here inferted: bere inferted: nevertheless here is as much as be thought needful for publick View, not being willing that his Book Should be Volumi

nous.

In bis laft Catechetical Exercife concerning Hallowing the Name of God, he was exceedingly enlarged; but he must himself go into the Kingdom of Glory, when he intended to have difcourfed on that Petition, Thy Kingdom come.

He also began fome Meditations on Joys of Heaven: But before he had an Opportunity to express what had been in his Heart, the Lord Fejus faid unto him, Enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord. And thus doth it happen many Times to the eminent and holy Servants of God.

Another Confideration, recommending what comes herewith, is, that it was amongst Mr. Flavell's laft Works. The (ižòdia guata) Laft Sayings of wife and great Men have been efteemed Oraculous; and the Scripture puts an Emphasis on the last Words of David, the fweet Singer of Ifrael, 2

Sam.

Sam. xxiii. 1. Not that thofe were the last Words that ever David fpake, only they were written not long before bis Death, when he was come near Heaven.

So was what is now put into the Reader's Hand, written by Mr. Flavell not long before his Tranf lation to the World of Souls, where the Spirits of Just Men are made perfect.

There was a more than ordinary Prefence of God with him to his laft; and in bis laft Days, not the laft Sermon that he preached (which was June 21. 1691). He did more than once furprize bis Hearers with an Intimation that, that might be the last Time he should speak to them in the Name of the Lord. Aud was not then the Secret of the Lord with him?

Dartmouth will know, and Devonshire will know, that there has been a Prophet among them.

And now my Soul bleeds to look on the dear Flock of God, which are as Sheep without a Shepherd. The Lord Jefus, the great Shepherd of the Sheep, have Compaffion on them, and give them a Shepherd like to his bleffed Servant Flavell, who did for many Years feed them with Knowledge, and with UnderStanding.

Dartmouth, March the 21st 169.

Increase Mather.

AN

A N

EXPOSITION

OF THE

Affemblies Shorter Catechifm.

1 Question.

Of Man's Chief End.

HAT is the Chief End of Man?

WH

A. Man's Chief End is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.

Q. 1. Seeing a Chief fuppofeth an inferior End; What is that inferior End for which Man was made?

A. It was prudently, foberly, and mercifully, to govern, ufe, and difpofe of other Creatures in the Earth, Sea, and Air, over which God gave Man the Dominion; Gen. i. 26. And God faid, Let us make Man in our Image, after our Likeness: and let them have Dominion over the Fish of the Sea, and over the Fowl of the Air, and over the Cattle, and over all the Earth, and over every creeping Thing that creepeth upon the Earth. So Pfal. viii. 6. Thou madeft him to have Dominion over the Works of thy Hands, thou haft put all Things under his Feet.

Q. 2. What then is to be thought of thofe Men, who being wholly intent upon inferior Things, forget and neglect their principal End?

A. They are dead whilft they live, 1 Tim. v. 6. But he that liveth in Pleafure, is dead whilst the liveth. They have their Portion in this Life, Pfal. xvii. 14. From Men of the World, which have their Portion in this Life, and their End is Destruction; Phil. iii. 19. Whofe End is Destruction.

Q.3. How can Man glorify God, feeing he is perfectly glorious in himself?

B

A. Man