by John Flavel
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
THAT catechising is an ordinance of God, few will doubt, when they consider the apostles did first lay the fundamentals of religion; Heb. 6:1. And "fed babes with milk, teaching them the first principles of the oracles of God," Heb. 5:12 and questionless taught them in that manner, which was most suitable to the capacity of the learners, which may be well supposed to be by plain and short questions, and suitable answers thereunto; and therefore this hath been a constant practice in the church of God; and the primitive church had a particular person appropriated thereunto, whom they called Catechist.
And so all well-governed, and wisely-managed churches, have still maintained and used it, as knowing the necessity and usefulness thereof; for the younger sort to inform them in the principles of that religion where into they were baptized; and for the establishment of the adult and more aged therein.
Hence have issued those little composures of all the fundamental doctrines of faith and practice so handled (which we call Catechisms) in the churches; and particularly in ours, whereof there are many and divers, whose authors have well deserved for their endeavours to inform and edify the people thereby.
But among them all, none excel this little Catechism of the Assembly for orthodoxy, fulness, and method.
And because the answers therein are some of them pretty large, and treat of the most profound mysteries of our religion; therefore several persons have bestowed their good and laudable pains, some in descanting more largely, and proving by scriptural reasons the particulars: one has shown the harmony thereof with the articles and homilies of the church of England (designed, I suppose, to remove the prejudice which some have taken against it:) others have parted the questions and answers into several little ones, under each, to make them more intelligible to younger ones, and more easy to be remembered.
Among whom, worthy, orthodox, and excellent Mr. John Flavel may be ranked, who among other of his many most profitable labours, applied himself to the chewing of this bread of life, or crumbling it into smaller pieces, for the covenience of children, and, indeed, of all; wherein (as in all his other works) he hath shewn himself a workman, that needs not to be ashamed.
There needs no other recommendation to this posthumous piece, but the worthy author's name; he was removed before he had completely finished it; he had prepared his questions and answers upon the second petition of the Lord's Prayer; but lived not to propose them in the public congregation. God then translated him into his kingdom of glory above, while he was so industriously endeavouring to promote the kingdom of grace below.
The other five remaining questions and answers (to complete the work) were done by a ruder hand; as may be easily discerned by any observant reader, who will find himself transferred from a plain, clear, and delightful stile, method, and manner, into more rough, disorderly, and unpleasant ones; for, who indeed could equal this divine labourer? Not the completer; who would account himself to have made very great attainments in divinity and usefulness, if he were left but a few furlongs behind him.
Let the reader use and peruse this piece, and he wall see cause to bless God for the author.
VALE.
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Table of Contents
The Preface
To the Reader
Of Man's Chief End
Of the Scriptures as our Rule
Of Faith and Obedience
God is a Spirit
Of God's Infinity
Eternal
Of God's Unchangeableness
Of God's Wisdom
Of God's Power
Of God's Holiness
Of God's Justice
Of God's Goodness
Of God's Truth
Of One God
Of Three Persons in the Godhead
Of God's Decrees
Of the Creation
Of Man's Creation
Of Divine Providence
Of the Covenant of Works
Of the Fall of Man
Of Sin
Of the Tree of Knowledge
Of the Fall of Adam, and ours in him
Of Original Sin
Of Man's Misery
Of the Salvation of God's Elect, and of the Covenant of Grace
Of the Covenant of Grace
Of the only Redeemer
Of Christ's Incarnation
Of the Manner of Christ's Incarnation
Of Christ's Offices
Of Christ's Prophetical Office
Of Christ's Priesthood
Of Christ's Kingly Office
Of Christ's Humiliation
Of Christ's Exaltation
The second Part of the 28th Question of Christ's exaltation
Of the Application of Christ
Of our Union with Christ
Of Effectual Calling
Of the Concomitants of Vocation
Of Justification
Of Adoption
Of Sanctification
Of Assurance, the Fruit of Justification
Of Peace of Conscience
Of Joy in the Holy Ghost
Of the Increase of Grace
Of Perseverance
Of Perfection at Death
Of Immediate Glorification
Of Rest in the Grave
Of the Resurrection
Of Christ's Acknowledging Believers
Of Christ's Acquitting Believers
Of the Full Enjoyment of God
Of Man's Duty to God
Of the Moral Law
Of Love to God and Man
Of the Preface to the Ten Commandments
Of the First Commandment
Of the Second Commandment
Of the Third Commandment
Of the Sabbath
Of the Sabbath II
Of the Fifth Commandment
Of the Sixth Commandment
Of the Seventh Commandment
Of the Eighth Commandment
Of the Ninth Commandment
Of the Tenth Commandment
Of Keeping the Law
Of the Inequality of Sin
Of the Demerit of Sin
Of What God Requires of Us
Of Saving Faith
Of the Properties, Signs, and Means of Faith
Of Saving Repentance
Of Christ's Ordinances
Of the Word Read and Heard
Of the Manner of Hearing
Of Sacraments as Means of Salvation
Of the Nature of Sacraments
Of the Number of Sacraments
Of Baptism
Of the Subjects of Baptism
Of the Lord's Supper
Of the Elements, Action, and Subjects of it
Of the Duties of Communicants
Of Prayer
Of Direction in Prayer
Of the Preface to the Lord's Prayer
Of Sanctifying God's Name
Of God's Kingdom
Concerning the Doing of God's Will
Concerning our Daily Bread
Concerning Forgiveness of Sins
Of God's Leading us into Temptation
Of the Conclusion