HISTORICAL, THEORETICAL, AND PRACTICAL. BY H. ZIEGLER, D. D., THEOLOGICAL PROFESSOR, AND SUPERINTENDENT OF THE MISSIONARY INSTITUTE SELINSGROVE, PENN. PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR BY THE LUTHERAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION, 42 NORTH NINTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by the LUTHERAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Lancaster, Pa.: INQUIRER PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY, 82¢ 266 сл 1873 PREFACE. This little work is not designed to be a catechism for the Church, but mainly an aid to the Catechist. ITS ORIGIN was as follows: The author, especially in the earlier part of his ministry, felt the necessity of something of this kind. This has been the experience of many others. Its subject-matter was partly collected during our ministry in our efforts in imparting catechetical instruction. In this work we delighted, and we found it profitable to ourselves, and the means of great good to the youth intrusted to our care. On entering upon the duties of theological professor in the Missionary Institute at Selinsgrove, we determined to make Catechetics one of the branches of the course of studies. Our lectures were at first very brief, but matter accumulated, and our plan was gradually developed and enlarged, until it has attained its present form and proportions. THE OCCASION OF ITS PUBLICATION. Our theological class of 1872 and '73, made an earnest request to have the work published in book-form, so as to save them the labor of transcribing it. Many of our former pupils, especially the earlier ones, also frequently expressed the same desire. So also have a number of other brethren in the ministry. We finally concluded to yield to these frequent solicitations. We would have preferred delaying its publication a few years, |