A NEW CATECHISME COMMANDED To be set forth, for the instru­cting of all those, who still affect a rea­ding Ministry, and the Common-Prayer; but remaineth opposite to the true Directory of CHRIST.

Wherein is contained, Sixe remarkable Branches of the Church of England, viz. The great Vow in Baptisme, the Creed, the Lords Prayer, and the Ten Comman­dements, &c.

By a Reverend Divine.

⟨march 22th⟩ LONDON: Printed by B. Alsop, dwelling in Grub­street, neer Cripple-Gate, 1467.

A new Catechisme, &c.

Question. MVst people frequent the preaching of Gods World that they may be sa­ved?

Answ.

  • 1.PAUL said to the Romans, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you, for I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; for it is the power of God unto Salva­tion, to every one that beleeveth, Rom. 1.15, 16.
  • 2. It pleased God by the foolishnesse of prea­ching, to save them that believe, 1 Cor. 1.21.
  • 3. Preachers of the Word, are the Ministers of God, by whom ye believe, that ye may be saved by Faith, 1 Cor. 3.5.
  • 4. A Preacher by constant and painfull teaching of God Word, with a life agreeable to the same, shall both save himself, and those that hear him, 1 Tim. 4.16.
  • [Page 2] 5. The preaching of the Gospel, is the Ste­wardship, and Preachers are the Stewards of the grace of God, that bringeth Salvation to all men, Ephes. 3.2.
  • 6. The Divel himself did once acknowledge that the Preachers of God Word, were the servants of the living God, which shew unto us the way of salvation, Act. 16.17.
  • 7. The Word of God is the Mortal Seed; the Preachers of the Word are the spirituall Fathers in Christ, preaching of the word is the meanes appointed by God, whereby wee are born again, without which, we cannot be sa­ved, as our Saviour Christ saith, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God, 1 Pet. 1.23, 25.

Q. Shall those people be damned, that will not hear, and obey the Word God sends among them by Preachers?

A.

  • 1. Moses said to Israel; if thou wilt not hearken to the voyce of the Lord thy God, to do all his commandements, which I command thee this day, all these curses shall come upon thee: cursed shalt thou be in the City, in the field, in thy basket, in thy store; yea, in all thou settest thy hand unto for to doe, until thou be destroyed &c. Deut. 28.15. to the end.
  • 2. Christ said unto his Disciples, when hee [Page 3]sent them forth to preach the Gospell [Whoso­ever shal not receive you, nor hear your words when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet for a testimony against them, that shall be more tollerable for Sodom & Gomorrah in the day of Judgment, then for that Cit. Mat. 10.14, 15. Mark 6.11.
  • 3. A Prophet said unto King Amariah, I know that the Lord hath determined to de­stroy thee, because thou hast done this, & hath not hearkned to my councell, 2 Chron. 25.16. 1 Sam. 2.25.
  • 4. The Lord said to the Prophet Ezekiel, If thou warn the wicked, and hee turn not from his wickednesse, nor from his wicked way, he shall dye in his iniquity: to dye in sin, is to be damned, Ezec. 3.19.
  • 5. Paul said to certaine Jewes, ye put the Word of God from you, and judge your selves unworthy of eternall life, Act. 13 46.
  • 6. Esa said of some people, as the fire de­voureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaffe; so their root shall be rottennesse, & their blossome shal go up as dust; because they have cast away the law of the Lord, and de­spised the word of the holy one of Israel.

Q. May not we be saved by our good prayers at home, although we doe not heare Gods Word [Page 4]spoken by the Preachers amongst us?

A.

  • 1. He that turneth this eare away from hearing the Law, even his prayer shall been an abomination, Prov. 28.9.
  • 2. The word of the Lord came to Zacha­riah, but the people refused to hearken, & pul'd away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear, yea, they made their hearts, as an adamant stone, least they should hear the Law, and the words which the Lord sent in his spirit by the former Prophets; therefore came their a great wrath from the Lord, and therefore it is come to passe, that as he cryed, and they would not hear; so they cry­ed, and I would not heare, saith the Lord of Hosts, Zach. 7.8, 11, 12, 13.
  • 3. How can you expect God should heare your prayers twice a day, when as ye refuse to hear Gods word once a week.
  • 5. Our persons and our prayers are accepta­ble to God only in Christ; and therefore how can those people hope, that God will hear their prayers, when they will not hear Christ in the preachers of his word, but despise him & them, as Christ taught his Disciples when hee sent them forth to preach the Gospel, He that hea­reth you, heareth me, and he that despiseth you, de­spiseth me, &c. Heb. 13.15.

[Page 5] Q. Shall those people be damned that liveun­ler a wicked Minister, that doth teach them er­r [...]rs and false Doctrines?

A.

  • 1. The Lord himsef answers, the leaders of this people cause them to erre, and they that are led of them are destroyed, Esa 9.14, 15, 16.
  • 2. A wonderfull and horrible thing is done in the Land, the Prophets prophesie falfly, the Priests bear rule by their meanes, any people love to have it so, and what will they do in the and thereof, Ier. 5.30, 31.
  • 3. Christ also gives an answer, Wot be to you Scribes and Pharisees, for ye compasse Sea and land to make one Proselite, and when hee is made, ye make him two-fold more the child of hell, then your selves, Mat. 23.15.
  • 4. About 400. Prophets, did perswade Ahab the King of Israel, to go to battle against Ra­moth Gilead, promising him victory, but hee was there slain, 1 King. 22.
  • 5. Antichrist that man of sinne, and child of perdition, and those that are finally deceived with his false doctrines, and miracles, shall bee damned, and cast into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone day & night for ever. 2 Thes. 2.3. to 13.

Q. Are those people in danger to be damned, who live under an ignorant or wicked Minister, [Page 6]that cannot or will not teach the Word of God

A.

  • 1. Such people are in great danger to be damned; Christ doth answer, if the blind doth lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Mat. 15.14.
  • 2. The Lord faith to every Minister, as to the Prophet Ezechiel, I have made thee a Watch­man to the people, and therefore hear the word of my mouth, and give them warning from me, when I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely dy, & thou givest him not warning, nor speakest, to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life, The same wicked man shall dy in his iniquity; but his bloud will I require at thy hands: to dy in sinne, is to bee damned Ezek 3.17▪ 18.
  • 3. The Lord saith in Esa of such people: All ye Beasts of the field shal come to devour; yea all the Beasts in the Forrest: His watch men are blind, they are all ignorant, they are like dumb dogs, they cannot bark and their shep­heards cannot understand Esa 56.9, 13, 11.12.
  • 4. Where there is no vision; that is, no word of God preached or taught, the people perish, Prov. 29.18.
  • 5. For a long time Israel hath been without God without a teaching Priest, and without the Lawes, 2 Chron. 15 13.
  • [Page 7] 6. Behold the dayes come, saith the Lord, that I will send a famine in the Land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst of water, but of hearing the Word of the Lord, and they shall wander from Sea to Sea, and from the North, even to the East, they shall run to and fro, to seek the Word of the Lord, and shall not finde it, Amos 8.11, 12. Mal. 2.7,

Q. But some people will say, we have a Mini­ster that doth reade the holy Scriptares and Com­mon-prayer amongst us, may not we certainly hope to be saved as well as othurs, though we have no Preacher, and go not to Sermons, and though wee are not taught the Word of God as others are?

A. 1. God doth command and commend the reading & searching of the holy Scriptures, by all sorts of people at all times, and hath promised his blessing upon it, Deut. 17.19.

But God did never appoint, or approve in the Law or Gospel any men to be Priests or Mi­sters of his Word and Sacraments unlesse they were able and willing to teach the people the Word of God.

For, the Lord saith in time of the Law. First, the Priests lips shall keep knowledge, and the people should seek the law at his mouth, Mal. 2.7. this was their duty, Deut. 30.10. and pra­ctice, 2 Chron. 7.9. Nehem. 8.8. Secondly, I [Page 8]will give them Pastors, according to my own heart, which shall feed them with knowledge, and understanding, Ier. 3.14. Thirdly, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I wil also re­ject thee, that thou shalt be no Priest to me, Hosea 4.6. Fourthly, the Lord calleth ignorant Ministers blind Watch-men, dumb-dogs, foo­lish and idle Shepheards, Esa 56.10.

And in the time of the Gospel.

First, Christ himself was sent to preach the Gospel, Luke 4.18. this was his practise, Mat. 9.35. Mat. 26.55.

Secondly, as Christ himself was sent, so hee sent his Apostles to preach the Gospel to every creature to teach all Nations, Iohn 20.21.

Thirdly, as the Apostles themselves were sent to teach, and preach the Gospel; so they sent other Ministers to succeed them, and appoint­ed and gave commandement, that such should be made and honoured as the Ministers of Christ that were able to teach others, to preach the Gospel, to divide the Word of God aright, to feed the people with knowledge and under­standing of Gods will revealed in his Word, Acts 20.28.

Secondly, the Church of England doth or­dain, or appoint, no men to be Ministers of the Word of God and Sacraments, and to have [Page 9]the spiritual charge of any people, but such that upon tryal, are sound to be both able and wil­ling to teach the people the Word of God; for we reade

In the Book set forth for ordering and ma­king Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.

  • The Bishop first knowing, either by him­selfe, or by sufficient testimony, any person to be of vertuous conversation and after due ex­amination and tryal, finding him to be learned in the latine tongue, and suficiently instructed in the holy Scriptures, may admit a Deacon in the preface.
  • 2. It appertaineth to the Office of a Deacon to instruct the youth in the Catechisme, & to preach, if he be admitted by the Bishop.
  • 3. The Bishop delivers to every one that is made Deacon, the New Testament; saying, Take thou authority to read the Gospel in the Church of God, and to preach the same, if thou be thereto ordinarily commanded.

And concerning Priests.

  • First, Priests cannot by any other meanes compasse the doing of their worke, pertaining to the salvation of Man; but with doctrine & exhortation taken out of the holy Scriptures, and with a life agreeable to the same.
  • Secondly, he that is to be made Priest, saith, [Page 10]he is determined by Gods grace with the Scri­ptures, to instruct the people committed to his charge, and he doth promise by the Lords help to teach the people the Doctrine, Sacraments, and Discipline of Christ.
  • Th [...]rdly, the Bishop delivers to every one that is made Minister, a Bible; saying, Tak [...] thou authority to preach the Word of G [...]d and to mini­ster the holy Sacraments in the Congregation, where thou shalt be so appointed.

And concerning Bishops.

  • First, he that is to be made Bishop, saith that he is determined by Gods grace with the Scri­ptures, to instruct the people committed to his charge: He doth promise by the help of God, faithfully to exercise himself in the holy Scri­ptures, so as he may be able by them, to teach and exhort with wholesome Doctrine; and to withstand and convince the gain-sayers.
  • Secondly, the Archbishop delivers to him that is made a Bishop, a Bible, saying; G [...]ve heed unto reading, exhortation, and doctrine; think up­on those things contained in this booke, be diligent in them, that the increase, comming thereby, may be manifest to all men; take heed unto thy self, and unto teaching, and be diligent in doing them; for by doing this, thou shalt save thy selfe, and those that hear thee; be to the flock of Christ a Shep­heard, [Page 11]and not a Wolfe; feed them, and devour them not.

And in the Ecclesiasticall Canons.

  • First no Bishop shall admit any person into sacred Orders, to be Deacon or Priest, except he hath taken some degrees of School in either of the Universities of this Realm, or at the least, except he be able to yeeld an account of his Faith in Latine, according to the Articles of Religion, approved in the Synode of the Bi­shops and Clergy of this Realm, 15.62. and to confirme the same by sufficient testimony out of the Holy Scriptures, Canon. 34.
  • Secondly, no Bishop shall institute any to a Benefice, except he shal appear upon due exa­mination to be worthy of his Ministery, Can. 39.
  • Thirdly, no license or dispensation for the keeping of more Benefices then one, shall be granted to any, but alwayes provided, that he have under him in the Benefice where he doth not reside a Preacher lawfully allowed, that is able sufficiently to teach and instruct the peo­ple, Can. 41, 43, 47.
  • Fourthly, every beneficed man, having no lawfull impediment, shall preach one Sermon every Sunday in the year, wherein he shall so­berly and sincerely divide the Word of Truth, [Page 12]to the glory of God, and best edification of the people, Canon 45.
  • Fifthly, every Person, Vicar or Curate, upon every Sunday and Holiday before Evening Prayer, shal, for half an hour, or more examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his Parish, in the Ten Commandements, the Articles of Beliefe, and in the Lords Prayer, and shall diligently teach them the Catechism, and if any Minister shall wilfully neglect his duty herein, he is first to be reproved sharply by the Bishop next to be suspended, and the third time excommunicated, and so remaine untill he be reformed, Can. 59. So that a Mini­ster wilfully & obstiaately neglecting to teach and instruct his Parishioners, is not after due execution of those Ecclesiasticall censures up­on him, to doe any thing appertaining to the Office of a Minister, but to remain as a suspen­ded and excommunicated person, not fit for a­ny good Christians company.

And in the Book of Homilies.

  • First, the Church is the place where the lively Word of God (& not Mans invention) ought to be read and taught, and with all diligence the people are bound to resort thither.
  • Secondly, by these places, Act. 13.5, 14, 15. Act. 15.21. Act. 17.2. Ye may see the usage [Page 13]of reading the holy Scriptures among the Jews in their Synagogues every Sabbath Day, and Sermons usually made upon the same. How much more then is it convenient, that the Go­spel of our Saviour Christ should be expound­ed unto us that are Christians in our Chur­ches, especially our Saviour Christ and his A­postles, allowing this most godly and necessa­ry usage, and by their examples confirming the same in the Homily of the right use of the Church, Pag. 3, 4.

In the Book of Common-Prayer.

  • First, every Minister that administers the Sa­craments of the Lords Supper, and every Mi­ster that is appointed to visite the sick, ought to be a discreet and learned Minister of Gods Word, able to give ghostly councel, advise and comfort, that mens doubtfull and distressed consciences may be quieted and relieved. In the second exhortation before the Communi­on. In the visitation of the sick. In the Rubrics for the Communion of the Sick.
  • Secondly, it is the duty of Godfathers and Godmothers, to call upon the children that are baptized to hear Sermons, so soon as they shal­be able to learn, that they may the better know this Vow in Baptisme, the Creed, the Lords Prayer, the Ten Commandements, and all o­ther [Page 14]things which christian people ought t [...] know and believe, to their soules health, th [...] last exhortation after Baptisme.

You are not to thinke, that the hearing th [...] reading of Common prayer is sufficient, [...]o [...] your salvation, without the preaching, or tea­chin of the word of God; for, Christ himselfe saith, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord▪ Lord, shall enter into the Kingdome of God, but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Hea­ven, Matth. 7.21.

From God be the Blessing: To God be all the Glory, through Iesus Christ. Amen.

FINIS.

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