THE PRINCIPLES OF THE Christian Religion EXPLAIN'D In a BRIEF COMMENTARY upon the Church-Catechifm. Catechifm derived? A. From a Greek Word Luke i. 4. which fignifies to Teach by Acts xviii. 25. Word of Mouth: and has Rom. ii. 18. been used particularly to fig-1 Cor. xiv. Gal, vi. 6, nify fuch a kind of Inftruction as is made by 19. way of Question and Answer. 2.2. What is that you call your Church-Catechifm? B A. It с Heb. v. 12. --vi. 1, 2. Heb. viii. 8. a Heb. viii. A. It is a fhort, but fufficient, Institution of the Principles of the Chriftian Religion, fet forth by Authority, and required to be learned of every Perfon, in order to his being Confirm'd by the Bishop; and prepared both for the profitable Reading, and Hearing of God's Word, and for the worthy receiving of the Lord's Supper. 3. 2. What do you look upon to be the proper Subject of fuch an Inftitution? A. It ought to comprehend all fuch things as are generally neceffary to be known of all Perfons, in order to their due ferving of God here, and to their being faved hereafter. 4.2. What are those things which may be accounted thus neceffary to be known by All Chriftians? A. They may, in general, be reduced to these -x. 16, 17. two Heads: viz. 1ft, The Knowledge of the Gen. iii. 15. Gofpel-Covenant; that is to fay, Of the Promifes made by God to Mankind through our Lord Jefus Chrift, and of the Conditions upon which We may become Partakers of them. And, 2dly, The Knowledge of the Means which God has appointed whereby to convey his Grace to Us; and thereby both to affift, and confirm Us, Cor. iii. 16. in the Discharge of our Duty to him. 12. b Luke xi. 13. Rom. viii. 1, &c. -vi. II, 19. 2 Cor. i. 22. &c. 5.2. What are the Promises which God has Gal. v. 16, made to Mankind, through Jefus Chrift? A. a Pardon of Sins: Grace to fulfil our Eph. v. 9. Duty in this Life: And, upon our fincere Per1 Joh.iii. 24. formance thereof, Everlasting Salvation in the Joh. iii. 16, Life which is to come. 1 Pet. i. 22. 17. 1Pet. i. 4,5. 6. 2. What are the Conditions required of 42 Cor. vii. Us by God, in order to our being made Partakers of these Promises? 10. A. A hearty Repentance of our Sins paft: • A fincere endeavour to live according to God's Commands for the time to come: And both thefe made perfect, by a Lively Faith in God's Mercies Mercies towards us, through Jefus Christ, Jo. iii. 16, 18. 17o. i. 7. ii. z. 7. 2. What are the Means ordained of God, whereby to convey his Grace to Us? NA. They are chiefly two: Conftant Prayer to God for it, Luke xi. 13. And a worthy Use of the Holy Sacraments, Mark xvi. 16. Acts ii. 38. 1 Cor. x. 16. xi. 23, &c. 1 Pet. iii. 21. 8. 2. Are there not, befides thefe, fome other Means ordain'd by God, and neceffary to be made ufe of by Us, in order to our Salvation? A. Yes there are; particularly the Hearing, Reading, and Meditating upon his Word: The Subftance of which, though it be fufficiently gather'd together, and reprefented to Us in our Ca techifm, yet fhould not that hinder us from diligently Reading of the Holy Scriptures, nor make Us neglect any other Means of Chriftian Inftruction; but rather we should use our Catechism as a Help whereby to render both the Reading, and Hearing of God's Word, more plain, and profitable to Us. Pfal. i. 2. Jo. v. 39. Rom. xv. 4. 2 Tim. iii. 16. 9.2. Does your Church Catechism fufficiently inftruct you in all these? A. It does: For therein both the Nature of the Chriftian Covenant is declared to Us, and the Conditions are fet forth on which we may *become Partakers of its Promifes. And we are particularly Inftructed, both how we ought to Pray to God; and what thofe Sacraments are, which are neceffary to be Adminiftred unto, and Received by All of Us. Of the Benefits of the Golpel-Cove sant. See below; 2. Q. Who gave you this Names, A. My Godfathers and Godmothers, &c. 3.2. What is that Name which is here de manded of you? A. It is my Chriftian Name; therefore fo called, because it was given to me by my Godfathers, and Godmothers, in my Baptifm. For as from my Natural Parents I derive the Name of my Family; fo from thofe who were my Spi ritual Parents, I take that Name which properly belongs to me as a Member of Chrift's Church. Gen. xvii. 5, 15. Gen. xxi. 3, 4. Luke i. 59,60. Luke ii, 21. 4.2. Whom do you mean by your Godfathers and Godmothers? A. I mean thofe Perfons who became Sureties for me at my Baptifm: And upon whofe Promise there made in my Name, I was baptized, and fo foederally admitted into the Communion of Chrift's Church. 5.2. Does the Church require every one who is to be Baptized to have fuch Sureties?h A. It does; and, as far as we can learn, has done fo from the very Times of the Apostles. 6.2. For what End has it required Them?? A. For feveral Ends: At firft to be Witnesses to the Church that the Perfon was Baptized, and thereby had a Right to be admitted to the Communion of it. Afterwards, when Children began to be chiefly Baptized, who could not anfwer for Themselves, to Promife and Covenant for Them: And take care that when they came to Years of Difcretion, they fhould not only be taught what they had done on their behalf; but fhould fhould be fo bred up as to be ready, by God's Grace, to make good themfelves, what their Godfathers and Godmother's had before promifed in their Names. 7. 2. Is it the Duty of every Godfather and Godmother to take fuch a Care of thofe whom they answer for? pas A. Yes certainly; and our Church does accordingly in a very folemn manner charge them with it. And the Sum of what the requires of them is this: ft, To put those for whom they have answered in mind, What a folemn Vow, Promife, and Profeffion they made by them at their Baptifm zdly, To take care that, as foon as they be able to learn, they be taught their Catechifm; and inftructed in the Nature, and Extent, as well as Importance of what they promised for them; and of their Obligation to fulfil it. And in order to both thefe, 3dly, To call upon them to go to Church to hear Sermons, and to serve God diligently both in publick, and in private: And if they find them negligent in any of thefe, to ad monifh and reprove them; and, in a word, to do what in them lies to engage them carefully to fulfit, what they charitably undertook on their behalf. 18. 9. But why may not all this be as well done by every one's own Parents, as by Godfa thers and Godmothers ? A. It is, no doubt, the Duty of all Chriftian Parents to do this. They are bound, as foon as conveniently they can, to bring their Children to Baptifm. As foon as they grow up, they are bound to inftruct them in their Duty, and to fee that they fulfil it. But yet ftill, as it is of great Advantage to every Child to have others concern'd to look after him befides his Natural Parents, especially in Matters of fuch high Concernment; fo the Analogy of this Sacrament feems rather to require B 3 |