then made, and of the Obligation which lies upon them to perform it: For other wise it can never be expected, that they fhould either do, or fo much as know it; whereas the inftructing them in this the firft Part of the Catechifm will prepare and dispose them for the undertanding all the rest.

Particularly the Apoftles Creed, which is next taught them, containing all those Articles of the Chriftian Faith, which they promised to believe, and nothing elfe; nothing but what is grounded upon plain Texts of Scripture, and hath been always believed by the whole Ca tholick Church, in all Ages and Places all the World over: Here are none of those private Opinions and controverted Points which have fo long disturbed the Church, and ferve only to perplex Mens Minds, and take them off from the more fubftantial and neceffary Duties of Religion, as we have found by woful Experience, which our Church hath taken all poffible care to prevent, by inferting no other Articles of Faith into the Chatechifm which her Members are to learn, than what are contained in this Creed, received and approved of by the whole Christian World; and then acquainting them what they chiefly learn in it, even

to belive in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghoft, in whofe Name they were Chriftened, and therefore muft continue in this Faith, or cease to be Chriftians.

The other thing which they who are baptized promife; is, That they will keep God's Commandments, which therefore are next taught in the Catechism, without any mixture of Humane Inventions or Conftitutions: Those Ten Commandments which the fupreme Law giver himself proclaimed upon Mount Sinai, and afterwards wrote with his own Finger upon two Tables of Stone. Thefe they all are bound to learn, because they are bound to keep them all, as they will answer it at the Laft-day, when all Mankind fhall be judged by them.

But no Man can keep thefe Commandments without God's fpecial Grace, which we have no ground to expect, without praying to him for it. And therefore Children are in the next place taught how to pray according to that Form which Chrift himself compofed, and commanded us to fay, whenfoever we pray, Luke 11. 2. And as he who be lieves all that is in the Apoftles Creed, believes all that he need believe; and he that keeps all the Ten Commandments,

doth

for

doth all that he need to do; fo he that prays this Prayer aright, prays all things which he can have need of: So that in this fhort Catechifm, which Children of five Years old may learn, they are taught all that is needful for them, either to believe or do, or pray for.

The laft Part of the Catechifm, is concerning the two Sacraments which Chrift hath ordained in his Church, as generally neceffary to Salvation; that is to fay, Baptifm and the Lord's Supper: Both which our Church hath there explain'd with fuch extraordinary Prudence and Caution, as to take in all that is neceffary to be known of either of them, without touching upon any of the Difputes that have been raised about them, to the great prejudice of the Chriftian Religion.

Seeing therefore this Catechifin is fo full, that it contains all that any Man needs to know, and yet fo fhort, that a Child may learn it: I do not fee how Parents can bring up their Children in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord, better than by inftructing them in it. I do not fay, by teaching them only to fay it by rote, but by inftructing them in it, fo that they may underftand,

as

as foon and as far as they are capable, the true Senfe and Meaning of all the Words and Phrafes in every Part of it; for which purpose it will be necessary to obferve thefe Rules.

First, You muft begin betime, before your Children have got any ill Habits, which may be eafily prevented, but are not fo eafily cured. When Children are baptized, being born again of Water and of the Spirit, as the Guilt of their Original Sin is washed away in the laver of Regeneration, fo that it will never be imputed to them, unless it break forth afterwards into actual Tranfgreffions; fo they receive alfo the Spirit of God to prevent all fuch Eruptions, by enabling them to refift the Temptations of the World, the Flesh and the Devil, to believe and ferve God according as they then promifed; fo far at leaft, that fin fhall not have dominion over them, that they should obey it in the lufts thereof, feeing now they are not under the Law, but under the Grace of Chrift, Rom. 6. 12, 14. But that the Seeds of Grace which were then fown in their Hearts, may not be loft, or ftifled, but grow up to perfection. Great care muft be taken that they may be taught, fo foon as they are capable to difcern be

C

tween

tween Good and Evil, to avoid the Evil and do the Good, and to believe and live as they promifed, when they were endued with Grace to do it. Haft thou Children? faith the Son of Sirach, InStruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth, Ecclef. 7. 23. Give thy Son no Liberty in his youth, and wink not at his Follies. Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat him on the fides while he is a child, left he wax ftubborn and be difobedient unto thee, and fo bring forrow to thine heart, cap. 30. 11, 12. Whereas be that gathereth Inftruction from his youth, fhall find Wisdom till his old age, c. 6. 18. According to that of the Wife Man: Train up a child in the way that he fhould go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it, Prov. 22. 6. As Timothy from a Child had known the holy Scriptures, 2 Tim. 3. 15. And that was the reason that he was fo expert in them when he became a Man: Which therefore that your Children may also be, the first thing they learn, muft be their Catechifm, where they are taught all the great Truths and Duties that are revealed in the Holy Scriptures, as ne ceffary to Salvation.

But how can fuch Parents do this, that cannot read, nor fay the Catechifm

them