THE

EXPLANATION

CATECHISM.

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Aving exhibited the Analysis or general Scheme of this Catechism, I come now to add thereto the Explanation of it. And

here I shall proceed

1. More generally, and

2. More particularly, in the following Manner.

1. I shall briefly open the Sense of the whole Catechism in one continued Discourse, and shew you the Tenour of it; that so 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 shall proceed, to a fuller Explication of the several Parts thereof, and shall consider them more distinctly. In order whereunto, I begin with a brief Description and Explication of the Whole, as followeth.

A Short and general Explication of
the Catechifm.

A Catechism is an Inftruction in the Principles of Religion, by way of Question and Answer. This is the

common Nature of Catechetical Books in general. But several forts of Catechisms have their several proper Natures, wherein they differ from one another. And so you should understand what is the proper Nature of this Catechism in particular. To describe it to you, by the Matter and Method of it, 'tis a Familiar Inftruction in the Baptifmal or Christian Covenant; especially in the Christian Faith, Obedience, and Prayer; and in the two Christian Sacraments,viz. Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

To review and evince to you this Description of our Catechism; first, I say, it is a Familiar Instruction in the Baptifmal or Christian Covenant. This is the Scope and Substance of the four Preliminary Questions: Whereof this easily answer'd Question (What is your Name?) is proposed in the first place, for an Introduction to the rest. And it fitly serves to mind you of the Faith that you professfed, and of the Vow that you made at Baptism, when this Name was given you: And then the three following Questions, with their respective Answers, are a Breviat, or short Account of the whole Baptismal Covenant. For they shew us the mutual Promises betwixt God and Man, which in that Covenant they sign and feal to one another: That, whereas before Baptifm, and in our Natural Estate, we were all Aliens from the CommonWealth of Ifrael, Children of Wrath, and Heirs of Perdition; God hath promised in this Covenant, to be propitious and gracious to us; and that we, who are baptized, and believe in Jefus Christ, shall 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 Ghost; 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

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keep his Commandments. This we promifed in our Baptifm, by those that brought us to that Sacrament. And we are bound to believe and do what they then promised for us. For the Matters of those Promises are all holy, just and good, and naturally neceffary to our Salvation and Happiness of derogi

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 Jesus Christ, we may continue in the fame unto our Lives Endo Isminga si

Thus in these few Questions, and the Answers annexed to them, we have a plain and Thort Account of the whole Baptifmal Covenant, both Promifes and Conditions. But whereas this Covenant doth objectively contain ini

1. Cred Credenda, or things True as

Mand

known by us.

2. Diligenda, or or things Good

a

nd chosen by by us.

Agenda,

or things Practica ical,

fuch

as fuck

Be believed

be lov'd

done

te or

as fuch to be

practised by us. us. Therefore, at these thing gs are

more particularly, and fully opene ed in the Pro

cess of this our Catechism.

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The things of the First sontain the Apostles Creed, hexplicated base of anciсата ви спост The things of the Second fort in the Lord's PrayDerdexplained, cybotimid to r ari And the things of the Third forthin the Moral svig of Lawiexpounded.zidMbTA OH

And to

these three Summaries are all an Abstract of Chriftianity. For they shew us the whole Duty and Happiness of Man, which is the Scope and Sum

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of it. For, whereas in Man's Nature, there are three essential Faculties, viz. the Intellect, Will, and the Executive or Active Power; 'tis the whole Concern of Man to exercise these aright, and 'tis the Use of the Chriftian Doctrine, to direct him to this Exercife. The whole Christian Doctrine is the general and perfect Rule, whereby they are all directed to their general End or Happiness. And our three said Summaries are their contracted and special Rules, whereby they are each directed to their several respeCtive 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 several Perfections. And forafinuch as this our Catechism does direct them to these Ends, by shewing us what we must believe, will, and praCtise, and also in what Order; therefore it is an Instruction, as in the whole Baptismal Covenant, so especially in those things that we must know, love, and practise; or, which is all one materially, in the Christian Faith, Obedience, and Prayer. Lastly, it is an Instruction in the two Christian Sacraments, viz. Baptifm and the Lord's Supper. Having taught you the Gospel-Covenant betwixt God and Man, it at last instructs you also in those Divine Rites or Ceremonies, by which this Covenant is visibly made and ratified.. And they are

1. Baptifm, for our Admission into it, and

2. The Lord's Supper, for our Continuance therein.

Both these in general, and each of these in special, are here briefly declared to us in the Close of this Our Catechism, of which I have now given you a general and short Account. And to make it more clear, I shall propose it more familiarly, in a Catechetical Form or Manner.gi

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What a Ca

The Questions and Answers.

Q. What is the common Nature of a Cate

techism is in chism in general?

General.

What this is in Particu lar.

Its general
Subject.

Its more fpecial Subject..

Toese the

Objects of our Facul

1

A. It is an Instruction in the Principles of Religion, by way of Question and Answer. Q. What is the proper Nature of this Cate

chism in Particular?

A. It is an Instruction in the Baptismal or Christian Covenant, especially in the Christian Faith,

Q. Does the Catechism instruct you then
A. Yes. For it shews
us both the Promises
and Conditions of it;
in the four first Que-
stions, and their re-
spective Answers.

1. More generally in
the whole Baptismal
Covenant ?

2. More especially in the great Effentials of it?

1

A. Yes. For it shews us, 1. In the Creed things True, as such.

2. In the Lord's Prayer, things Good, as such.

3. In the ten Commandments, things (Practical, as such.

Q. Are these three forts of Matters, thus propounded in these Summaries, the Special and final Objects of Man's three Effential Faculties, viz. the Intellect, Will, and the Executive or Active Power?

A. Yes. For,

1. Things True are the Objects of our Intellect.

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2.