never able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth. Nay, hence it is, that even the holy Word of God, the great Fountain of Truth, is, by fuch uncatechized and unprincipled Men, fo often applied for the Confirmation of the greateft Errors and moft abfurd Opinions. On the other hand; where there is a fure Foundation laid, in a found Knowledge of the Principles of Christianity, the Mind, like a House built on a Rock, ftands firm against the Shock of every Temptation. And as eafy as Catechising may feem to fome ignorant People; yet if it be duly confidered, and seriously performed, it will be found to have more of Labour in it than Preaching itself; though, when all is done, I am well awate it fhall please much lefs. 1 རཱ་གr་༅།༈$ *

And now, I do most earnestly béseech all you that are Fathers and Mothers, Mafters and Miftreffese to take efpecial Care to inftil into the Minds of your Children and Servants the Knowledge and Fear of God, both by Instruction and good Examples; the which will be a great Help to me in promoting the Salvation of their Souls. Indeed, unless you do ufe your Authority, and afford me that necessary Assistance which God requires, and I may justly demand from you, I cannot hope for, that Succefs or Comfort in my Minifterial Labours, which (through the BlefAng of: Almighty God) I could hardly fail of, when confcientiously affifted by you. Where. fore, as it is my Duty to inftruct them by a di gent and faithful Difcharge of this most-Pri

mitive and Apoftolic Inftitution, fo it is no lefs your Duty to fee that all those who are under your Care do diligently and seriously attend to it; and accordingly I adjure you, as you will answer it to the great, Judge of Quick and Dead, and as you tender the everlafting Welfare of your Children and Servants, to interpofe your Authority in this Behalf. Sirs, It would be a very great Instance of Cruelty, and Want of natural Affection in you, to deny them their daily Bread for their mortal Bodies; and yet, that would be mean and inconfiderable, when compared with the more dreadful Effects of denying them the Means of faving Knowledge for their immortal Souls. But I hope better Things of you, and fuch as accompany Salvation,

I only add, that this Expofition is chiefly collected from thofe of the most judicious and learned Divines of our Church, which have been published. For I thought it vain to attempt to make any new Explariation, fince it is hardly poffible to fay any Thing that has not been faid already; and my Defign was chiefly to make one, that should be more useful to the younger Sort of my Parishioners, than those I have yet feen. Accordingly, I have endeavoured to make the Answers plain and short, that they may be fooner learned and more easily remembered; and have fo placed the Scripture Proofs, that the meaneft Capacities may know what it is they are brought to prove. I have likewife divided the Whole into Five Parts, that fo you may the het

ter fee the Defign of the Catechifm : And be caufe fome of thefe Parts are of a greater Length than can be conveniently gone through at one Time, I thought it beft to fubdivide them into Twelve Sections, that fo the Whole may be finished in Twelve Weeks.

May it please the God of all Grace and Mercy to give his Bleffing to our united Endeavours: That an abundant Entrance being made into the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, when the great Bishop of Souls fhall come to make his general Vifitation, we may be able to give up our refpective Accounts with Joy, and not with Grief: and fo receive the End of our Hopes, the Reward of our Labours, even the Salvation of all our Souls; which are the daily Prayers, and shall be the constant Endeavours of

Your truly affectionate Paftor,

And Servant in Chrift Jefus

Are Parents after his own Image Lmighty God having created our

and Likeneis, did condefcend to enter into A COVENANT, or Agreement with them; wherein He' promifed LIFE to them and their Pofterity, upon Condition of perfect and perpe tual Obedience; But they, through the Temptation of the Devil, wilfully tranfgreffed the Commandment of GOD, in eating of the Forbidden Fruit, whereby they brought not only themselves, but also their Pofterity, into a State of Sin and Mifery; for having followed the Apoftate Angels in their Rebellion against GoD, they did most justly deferve to partake with them in their eternal Fate and Damnation, had not the infinite Wisdom

and Goodness of GOD found out a Way to fave his loft Creatures by a new Covenant of GRACE and MERCY; wherein He freely offers Pardon and Salvation by his well-beloved Son, to all fuch as fhall truly repent, and be lieve in Him.

And feeing this SECOND COVENANT is folemnly entered into in our Infancy by BAPTISM, which is the firft Bene fit we are capable of receiving, it seems ed good to the Compilers of this excellent CATECHISM, to begin it where we begin our Chriftianity; fince the being well inftructed in the Nature of this GOSPEL COVENANT, lets us into the Knowledge of the Whole of our Religion.