A New Catechism
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A51050.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
A NEW CATECHISME: Very useful for persons of meanest capacity and shortest memory, and for them only composed:
And since fitted to the Directions concerning suspension from the Lord's Supper, in case of ignorance, and published.
Isa. 28 10.
Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, and there a little.
• rvo 19.2.
That the mind be without knowledge, it is not good.
2 Thes. 17, 8.
The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
By T. Mocket, Master of Arts.
London, Printed by A. M. for Christopher Meredith, at the Crane in Paul's Church-yard, 1647.
A NEW CATECHISME.
A. They are the very Word of God, and most infallibly true, 2 Tim. 3.16, 17.
Q. What is God?
A. He is Almighty, the maker and governor of all things, Gen. 11. & 17. 1. Psal. 103.19.
Q. How many God's be there?
A. Only one God and three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Eph • s. 4.6. Mat. 28.19.
Q. How did God make man?
A. Marvelous holy and happy, Eccles. 7.29 or 31.
Q. Why say you man was made holy?
A. Because he was made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, Gen. 1.26. Col. 3 10. Ephes. 4.23, 24.
Q. Did man continue in that good estate?
A. No, but he fell away by the enticement of Satan, Gen. 3.1, &c. 1 Tim. 2.14.
Q What was the sin he did commit?
A. Disobedience against God, in eating of the forbidden fruit, Gen. 3.6. Rom. 5.12, 14.
Q. What is the estate of all men by nature?
A. Exceeding sinful and miserable, Ephes. 2.1.2.
Q How came we to be so?
A. By Adams sin and fall, for we were all in his loins, Rom. 5.12. 1 Cor. 15.22.
Q. How else?
A. By our own transgressing the Commandments of God. And so do all that are of years of discretion.
Q. Which be they, and how many?
A. Ten, Exod. 20.1. Deut. 10.4.
1. Thou shalt have none other gods but me.
2. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of anything that is in Heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and show mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
3. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain.
4. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day. Six days shalt thou labor and do all that thou hast to do, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt do no manner of work, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, thy cattle, and the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; Wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it.
5. Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee,
6. Thou shalt do no murder.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor his Ox, nor his Ass, nor anything that is his.
Q. Can you keep these Commandments?
A. No, I break them daily, in thought, word and deed, I am, 3.2. Eccles. 7.20.
Q. What punishment is due unto you, and all men by reason of sin?
A. Everlasting damnation both in soul and body, beside all the miseries of this life, Rom. 6.23.
Q. How shall you escape this misery?
A. Only by Jesus Christ, Act. 4.12.
Q. What is Jesus Christ?
A. The Eternal Son of God, Matth. 17.5. John. 1.18.
Q. What did he do that you think to be saved by him?
A. He suffered death to satisfy God's justice for man's sins; also he did perfectly fulfill the Law of God for us, Rom. 4.25. Mat. 5.17.
Q. Being God, how could he die?
A. He was both God and man in one person, John. 1.14.
Q. How shall you be made partaker of Christ and all his benefits, and so be saved?
A. By faith alone, John. 3.16. Mark. 16.16.
Q. Being guilty of sin, and therefore subject to eternal damnation, how do you think to be justified, and so freed from sin and damnation?
A. By the righteousness of Christ alone, Rom. 3.20, 24, 28.
Q. How shall we be made partakers of Christ's righteousness?
A. By Faith in Christ, Rom. 3.28.
Q What is Faith?
A. It is a grace of God, whereby we believe and trust in God for remission of sins and everlasting life, according to the promise of the Gospel.
Q. What is the promise of the Gospel?
A. He that believeth shall be saved: and he that believeth not shall be damned, Mark 16.16. John. 3.16.
Q. What are you to believe? Rehearse the sum and articles of your faith?
A. I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, which was conceived by the holy Ghost, borne of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried, he descended into hell, the third day he rose again from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Q. What is meant by descended into hell?
A. Not that he went down into hell, but that he remained a while in the state of the dead, the body in the grave, and the soul in Paradise or Heaven. Or, that he suffered torments equivalent to the pains of hell, and such as no mere mortal man could suffer.
Q. How come men by faith? is it borne and bred in us?
A. No, the holy Ghost doth work faith in the heart by the preaching of the Word. Rom. 10.14, 17.
Q. What means hath God appointed to increase faith?
A. The preaching of the Word, the Sacraments, and earnest prayer.
Q What is a Sacrament?
A. A seal of the Covenant of grace, Rom. 4.11.
Q. What is the covenant of grace?
A. It is a covenant of saving man, by Faith in Jesus Christ, wherein God promises to be our God, and we do bind ourselves to be a faithful, obedient people unto him, Ier. 31.33.
Q. How many Sacraments are there?
A. Two only, Baptism. and the Lord's Supper, Mat. 28.19. & 26.26.
Q. What doth Baptism signify?
A. The washing away of sin from the soul by the blood of Jesus Christ, and so our justification and sanctification, Mark. 1.4. Act. 2.38. Tit. 3.5.
Q. What doth Baptism bind you to do?
A. To believe in Christ, to leave all sin, and live holily, according to the commandments of God, Act. 8.37. Mat. 3.8. Rom 6.4.
Q. What doth the bread and wine signify in the Lord's Supper?
A. The body and blood of Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death and suffering, Mat. 26.26. and 28.
Q. What doth the breaking of the bread, and pouring out of the wine in the Sacrament signifi • ?
A. That his body was broken, and his blood shed for our sins, Rom. 4 25. 1 Cor. 11.24, 25.
Q How must we receive Christ and all his benefi • s in the Sacrament?
A. Only by faith, as the hand and the mouth of the soul to receive and feed upon Christ spiritually, John. 1.12.
Q What is the danger of unworthy receiving?
A. Vnworthy receivers are guilty of the profanation of the body and blood of Christ, and so make themselves guilty of damnation, 1 Cor. 11.27. • 9, 30.
Q. What then is required to the right receiving of the Lord's Supper?
A. Five things, Knowledge, Faith, Repentance, Love to God and our neighbor, and a hungering after Christ in the Sacrament.
Q What must you do when you rae to come to the Lord's Table?
A. Examine my sins, also whether I have saving knowledge, faith, repentance, love, and an hungering after Christ in the Sacrament, 1. Cor. 11.28
Q. How may you know that you have aright knowledge of God, and of yourself?
A. When I see and feel myself to be a lost creature without Christ, desire Christ above all things in the world, and am careful to obey God in all things out of conscience to his command.
Q How shall you know whether you have true faith or no?
A. My faith is a saving faith. 1. If I prize Christ above all things. 2. If I love God sincerely for himself, and 3. be careful to live holily according to the will of God.
Q. How shall you know that you do truly repent of your sins?
A. 1. When I am heartily grieved for my sins, because sins, and displeasing to God, 2. When I hate and abhor them, 3. Do also leave them, 4. By my fear to sin against God, and 5. By my care to live holily in all my ways.
Q. How shall you know that you do truly love God?
A. By my care to keep his Commandments, and by my hearty love to the godly, 1 John. 5.1, and 3.
Q. How shall you know that you love the godly as you ought?
A. When I love them chiefly for their godliness and holiness.
Q. How shall you know that you truly love, and are in charity with your neighbors?
A. By this, 1. That I do from my heart forgive my neighbor that hath wronged me. And 2. Am ready to do any office of love for him.
Q. How shall you know whether you hunger after Christ in the Sacrament?
A. By this, that I see my want of Christ, and therefore do desire to receive the Sacrament, that I may be farther partaker of Christ and his grace, Mat. 5.6. Rev. 22.17.
Q. Why was the Sacrament ordained? and why do you desire to receive it?
A. 1. To confirm and increase faith and all saving grace in me. 2. To keep in remembrance what Christ hath done and suffered for me, and his great love to me, and 3. To testify my love to others, 1 Cor. 11.24, 26. & 12.13.
Q. What must you do after you have received?
A. I must endeavor to find in me an increase of faith, love and all saving graces, and to abound more and more in all well doing, Prov. 4.18.
Q. Whence have we all the grace we have?
A. From that fullness that is in Jesus Christ, by the right use of his ordinance.
Q. What shall become of those that do not believe in Jesus Christ, and also sorrow for their sins, turn from them to the Lord, & live holily?
A. They shall surely perish forever Mark 16.16. Luk. 13.3 5.
Q. What becomes of the soul after death?
A. The souls of all the faithful after death, do go immediately to heaven, and there live with Christ in blessedness, Luk. 16.2 • . & 23.43.
Q. What becomes of the souls of the wicked after death?
A. The souls of the wicked after death go immediately to hell fire, and must suffer there forever with the devils. Luk 16.22, 23. Mat. 25. ver. 41 & 46.
Q. What shall become of the bodies of all men?
A. The bodies of all men shall by the power of God, be raised up again at the last day.
Q. And what shall then become of them?
A. They shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to receive according to that they have done in the body, whether it be good or evil, 2 Cor. 5.10.
Q. What shall become of the bodies of the Godly?
A. They shall go into everlasting life and blessedness, Mat. 25.34 & 46.
Q. What shall become of the wicked?
A. They shall go into everlasting punishment, Matth. 25.41, and 46,
Q. What rule of direction is there according to which all ought to pray?
A. The general rule is the Word of God, the more special is the Lord's Prayer, Mat. 6.9.
Q. Rehearse that.
A. Our Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver usfrom evil, Amen.
Q. What doth this prayer contain?
A. Three parts, 1. a preface, the prayer itself, and the conclusion.
Q. Which words are the preface?
A. Our Father which art in heaven.
Q. Which are the prayer itself?
A. Hallowed be thy name, &c.
Q How many parts doth the prayer itself contain?
A. 1. Six petitions, whereof the three first concern God, and the three last ourselves, and 2, a thanksgiving.
Q. In which words is the conclusion?
A. In the word Amen: which signifies so be it, and so it is.
Q. Is it enough to serve God in public only?
A. No, but all must serve God in private also, by praying unto him, thanking him for his benefits, and reading of his Word: also meditation on his word and works, and singing of Psalms, are godly Christian private duties, Psal. 55.17. Dan. 6.10. Deut. 17. 19. Col. 3.16.
Q. And will you promiseto do your true endeavor, to grow in knowledge, to leave all sin, and walk according to the commandmnets of God as it becomes a true Christian?
A. I will, God enabling me.