A practical exposition of the Church-catechism, several discourses. Together with two discourses, one on confessing Christ before men. The other, the great sin of denying him

upon this Foundation; using their best Endeavours to plant in them the Principlės of Religion, and to sow the Seeds of Virtue betimes in their Heartsy that they' may the better grow up to the Service of God and their Country.

Moreover, all faithful Pastors are not only to regard their whole Flock, but more especially, to feed the Lambs, which Christ, the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, hath made the greatest Mark of their Love, both to him and them: and therefore the Apostle wills them, as to have strong Meats for wellegrown Christians; so to provide Milk foto Babes, even the sincere Milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby. But above all, it should be the Care and

Wif dom of Superiors, fo to settle and regulate inferior Schools, that Children may not be poison'd by bad Principles ; an Error in the first Education, as in the first Concoction; being very difficult to be curid or remov'd after.

In a word, nothing tends more to the Peace and Prosperity of a“ Kingdom, than the well-training up the Members of it ; and instilling good Princie ples' betimes into those, upon whóm the Welfare. and Happiness of it must dependi

This is the way'to put a stop to the Overflowings of Vngodliness, and to prevent that Deluge of Im. piety that else muft unvoidably break in upon'

us. In short, this may help to retrieve'the Antient Piety and Simplicity of our Forefathers ; and to mend that in the next Age, which is amiss in this: Which is the hearty-Desire and Prayer of a True Wellizisher to his Church and Country:

THE

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THE

CONTENTS

The FIRST PART.

Page 3

HE Introduction, Mhewing the Nature and Neceflity of

Catechizing in general; together with the Excellence

of the Church-Catechism in particular.

DISCO U R S E I.

of the Benefit and Usefulness of Catechizing, from Prov. 22.

6. Train up a Child in the way that he should go, and

when he is old he will not depart from it.

DI S C. II.

In the first question and Answer of the Catechism, two things

explain'd; First, the Occasion and Original of the Christian

Name, from Afts 11. 26. The Disciples were callid

Christians first at Antioch.

DISC. III.

of the Obligation of the Christian Name, from 2 Tim. 2. 19.

Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart

from Iniquity

DI S C. IV.

In the second Question and Answer of the Catechism, three

things explain'd; First the Parties that give the Christian

Nome: where, of the Reason and Use of God-fathers

and God-mothers, from Luke 1. 59. It came to pass on

the eighth day, they came to circumcise the Child, and

called him Zacharias, after the Name of his father. 28

DISC. V.

of the Duty of God-fathers and God-mothers, together with

the Qualifications of such as are to be made choice of for

that Office, from the same Words.

DISC. VI.

Secondly, of the Time of Giving the Christian Name, which

was at Circumcision under the Old Testament, and in our

Baptism under the New, from the fame Words.

DISC. VII.

Thirdly, the three great Benefits and Privileges bestow'd on

God's part in our Baptism; wherein, first, we are made

the

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the Members of Christ, from Eph. 5. 20. We are Members

of his Body.

DIS C. VIII.

Of the second great Privilege of Baptism, wherein we are

made the Children of God, from Rom. 8. 14. As many as

are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God.

And Verse the 16th, The Spirit witnesseth with our

Spirit, that we are the Children of God.

DIS C. IX.

of the third great Privilege of Baptism, wherein we are

made Heirs, or Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven,
from Rom. 8. 17. If Children, then Heirs; Heirs of God,

and Joint heirs with Chrift.

DI S C. X.

In the third Question and Answer of the Catechism are ex.

plain'd the three great Duties or Conditions requir'd and

promis'd on our part, to entitle us to the three foremen-

tion'd Privileges : The first whereof is, the renouncing the

three great Enemies of Christ and our own Salvation, the

Devil, the World, and the Flesh. Renouncing the Power

and Temptations of the Devil, explain’d from fam. 4. 7.

Refift the Devil, and he will flee from you.

DI S C. XI.

of renouncing the Works of the Devil, from 1 John 3. 8.

For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, to de-

stroy the Works of the Devil.

DI S C. XII.

of renouncing the second ghostly Enemy, the Pomps and Va-

nities of this wicked World, from 1 7ohn 2. 15. Love not

the World, nor the Things of the World ; if any Man love

the World, the Love of the Father is not in him.

DISC. XIII.

Of renouncing the third ghostly Enemy, viz. all the sinful

Lusts of the Flesh, from 1 Pet. 2. 11. Dearly beloved, I

beseech you, as Strangers and Pilgrims, abstain from

fleshly Luits, which war against the Soul.

DISC. XIV.

of the second great Duty and Condition requir'd and promis'd

in our Baptism, viz. to believe all the Articles of the

Christian Faith, from Mark 1. 15. Repent, and believe

the Gospel.

DIS C. XV.

of the third great Duty and Condition requird and engag'd

in our Baptism, viz. to keep God's Holy Will and Command-

ments,

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P. 108

ments, and walk in the same all the Day's of our Lives,

from Mat. 19. 17. If thou wilt enter into Lite, keep the

Commandments.

DISC. XVI.

In the fourth Question and Answer of the Catechism, three

things explaind: First, the soleñin Recognition or owning
the Baprifmallow, made by Cbildren in their riper Years;
together with their Promise and Resolution of performing
it, in these words, Yes verily, and by God's help so I will:
From Psal. 66. 13. I will pay thee my Vows.