THE EXPLANATION OFT HIE CATECHISM. H Aving exhibited the Analysis or general Scheme of this Catechifm, I come now to add thereto the Explanation of it. here I fhall proceed 1. More generally, and And 2. More particularly, in the following Manner. 1. I fhall briefly open the Senfe of the whole Catechifm in one continued Difcourfe, and fhew you the Tenour of it; that fo you may have at once an entire View thereof. For you will not know it rightly, if you know it but independently, and by broken Parts. 2. I fhall proceed, to a fuller Explication of the feveral Parts thereof, and fhall confider them more diftinctly. In order whereunto, I begin with a brief Defcription and Explication of the Whole, as followeth. A Short and general Explication of ACatechifm is an Inftruction in the Principles of Religion, by way of Question and Answer. This is the common common Nature of Catechetical Books in general. But several forts of Catechisms have their feveral proper Natures, wherein they differ from one another. And fo you should understand what is the proper Nature of this Catechism in particular. To defcribe it to you,by the Matter and Method of it, 'tis a Familiar Inftruction in the Baptifmal or Chriftian Covenant; efpecially in the Chriftian Faith, Obedience, and Prayer; and in the two Chriftian Sacraments,viz. Baptifm and the Lord's Supper. To review and evince to you this Defcription of our Catechism; firft, I fay, it is a Familiar Inftruction in the Baptifmal or Chriftian Covenant. This is the Scope and Subftance of the four Preliminary Queftions: Whereof this easily answer'd Question (What is your Name?) is propofed in the first place, for an Introduction to the reft. And it fitly ferves to mind you of the Faith that you profeffed, and of the Vow that you made at Baptifm,when this Name was given you: And then the three following Queftions, with their refpective Answers, are a Breviar, or fhort Account of the whole Baptifmal Covenant. For they fhew us the mutual Promifes betwixt God and Man, which in that Covenant they fign and feal to one another: That, whereas before Baptifm, and in our Natural Eftate, we were all Aliens from the CommonWealth of Ifrael, Children of Wrath, and Heirs of Perdition; God hath promifed in this Covenant, to be propitious and gracious to us; and that we, who are baptized, and believe in Jefus Chrift, fhall be living Members of him, in his Body, which is the Church; and fo be Children of God, through him, and Heirs of Heaven. And Man on his part promiseth, to give up himself to God, even the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, as his Father and Felicity, his Saviour and his Sanctifier; and that, renouncing the World, the Flesh,and the Devil, he will believe God's Word, and keep his Commandments. This we promifed in our Baptifm, by thofe that brought us to that Sacrament. And we are bound to believe and do what they then promifed for us. For the Matters of thofe Promifes are all holy, juft and good, and naturally neceffary to our Salvation and Happiness, os yd mor og t But thus to believe, and do, is above our Strength and Power. For of ourselves we can do nothing. And therefore we are directed to the Grace of God for Help, and to Prayer and other Means, whereby we may obtain it: That, as we have been called into a State of Salvation, by Jefus Chrift, we may contig nue in the fame unto our Lives End, para su ni Thus in thefe few Questions, and the Anfwers an nexed to them, we have a plain and hort Account of the whole Baptifmal Covenant, both Promifes and Conditions. But whereas this Covenant, doth ob h11ob jectively contain in its drish oda to woy 1. Credenda, or things Trae as fuch, to be believ'd and known by us of done by 2. Diligenda, or things Good as fuch, to be1 lbv'ď and chofen By using slow to to be done or practifed by us. Therefore, all there things are more particularly, and fully opened in the Procefs of this our Catechism. 9 915 19 3. Agenda, or things Practical gove The things of the First fort in the Apostles Creed, hexplicated.bos pen orauitars bus Hou The things of the Second fort in the Lord's PrayDerdexplained. you did to end azi And the things of the Third forth in the Moral svg of Law.expounded. M bra nov 15 And to these three Summaries are all an fo s are all an Abffract ree of Chriftianity. For they fhew us the whole Duty mant and Happiness of Man, which is the Scope and Sum of of it. For, whereas effential Man's Nature, there are three viz: the Intellect, Will, and the Executive or Active Power; 'tis the whole Concern of Man to exercife thefe aright, and 'tis the Ufe of the Chriftian Doctrine, to direct him to this Exercife. The whole Chriftian Doctrine is the general and perfect Rule, whereby they are all directed to their general End or Happiness. And our three faid Summaries are their contracted and fpecial Rules, whereby they are each directed to their feveral refpetive Ends; the Intellect, by the Creed, to Faith or Divine Knowledge; the Will, by the Lord's Prayer, to Divine Love or Holiness; and the Vital or Active Power, by the Commandments, to true Obedience; which are their feveral Perfections. And forafmuch as this our Catechifm does direct them to thefe Ends, by fhewing us what we must believe, will, and praEtife, and alfo in what Order; therefore it is an Inftruction, as in the whole Baptifmal Covenant, so efpecially in those things that we must know, love, and practife; or, which is all one materially, in the Chriftian Faith, Obedience, and Prayer. Lastly, it is an Inftruction in the two Chriftian Sacraments, viz. Baptifm and the Lord's Supper. Having taught yoù the Gospel-Covenant betwixt God and Man, it at laft inftructs you alfo in thofe Divine Rites or Ceremonies, by which this Covenant is visibly made and ratified. And they are 1. Baptifm, for our Admiffion into it, and 2. The Lord's Supper, for our Continuance therein. Both thefe in general, and each of these in fpecial, are here briefly declared to us in the Clofe of this Out Catechism, of which I have now given you a general and short Account. And to make it more clear, I fhall propofe it more familiarly, in a Catechetical Form or Manner-egn 1 B 3 The What a Catechifm is in General. What this is in Particu lar. Its general The Questions and Answers. Q. What is the common Nature of a Cate chifm in general? A. It is an Inftruction in the Principles of Religion, by way of Queftion and Anfwer. Q. What is the proper Nature of this Catechifm in Particular? A. It is an Inftruction in the Baptifmal or Chriftian Covenant, efpecially in the Chriftian Faith, c.. Q: Does the Catechifm inftruct you then 1. More generally in Its more fpe ject.. cial Sub- in 2. More especially to tials of it? These the Our Facul ies, A. Yes. For it fhews us both the Promises and Conditions of it; in the four first Queftions, and their refpective Answers. A. Yes. For it fhews us, I. In the Creed things True, as fuch. 2. In the Lord's Prayer, things Good, as fuch. 3. In the ten Commandments, things Practical, as fuch. Q: Are these three forts of Matters, thus Objects of propounded in thefe Summaries, the special and final Objects of Man's three Effential Faculties, viz. the Intellect, Will, and the Executive or Active Power? |
