2 TIM. ii. 19. Let every one that nameth the Name of Chrift depart from Iniquity. HE Church Catechifm is excellent: For THE 1. Its Shortness; fit for Children. 2. Its Plainnefs; no hard Words or Phrafes. 3. Its Fulnels; containing all Things ne ceffary to be known, believed, asked, or done. 4. The infallible Certainty of every Thing contained in it; the greateft Part of it being the very Words of God himself: The Ten Commandments, Lord's Prayer, Creed, and fo the other Things. 5. The univerfal Reception of all and every Thing contained in it, by all the Chriftians in the World. Nothing in it that can admit of a Difpute. Nothing that is controverted, Romh. xiv. 1. 6. Its Method: Containing, 1. Our Baptifmal Vow. 2. The Artioles of the Christian Religioni The Commandments. 3. The Way whereby to obtain Grace, to believe those Articles, and to perform thofe Commands: Even Prayer. 5. The Sacraments. THE Qu. What Queft. What is thy Name ? Queft. 1. How many Names have you? A Sirname, from Sire, a Father: Queft. 2. Which of these Names are understood bere? Anfw. The Chriftian given us in our Baptifm when we were born again, and made the Children of God. Queft. 3. Why is this the first Question of the Catechifm? 1. Because it is one of the firft Things that Children know, and fo the eäfieft Queftion that can be propounded to them, and therefore the fitteft to begin with. 2. Because this Catechifm is defigned only for the Inftruction of Chriftians, and therefore it is neceffary we fhould first know whether they be Christians or no, who come to be catechifed; which we cannot better do than by knowing their Chriftian Name, which fhews them to be Baptifed, and fo Chriftians. 3. Because it is the moft proper Introduction to the reft of the Catechifm, making Way for the following Queftions concerning our Bap tifmal Vow, and fo for all the other which de pend upon them. Quest. 4. What use are we to make of this Que ftion? It should put us in mind of our Christian Name; and by confequence of our Baptifm wherein it Vol. I. E Was was given, and fo that we are Chriftians, and therefore ought to depart from Iniquity. 1. From Iniquity as Iniquity. 2. From all Iniquity, Act. iii. 26. For, Art thou a Chriftian? Then, 1. Thou didst Promise and Vow in thy Baptifim to renounce the Devil and all his Works. 2. Thou can'ft not Sin at fo cheap a Rate as others. All fhall pay dear for their Sins, but Christians much more; because they Sin against greater Light and Mercies, Ifai. i. 2, 3, 4° Matt. xi. 22. 3. Thou doft not only difobey God, but dif honoureft Chrift by thy Sins, Heb. vi. 6. 4. Thou art none of thy own, but wholly Christ's, I Cor. vi. 19, 20. 5. Thou waft buried with Chrift in Baptifm, and therefore oughteft to rife with him to newnefs of Life, Rom. vi. 3, 4. 2 JOWN Except a Man be born again of Water and the Spirit. Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism. Three Things here to be treated on, Bap tifm, Godfathers in Baptifm, and the Effects of Baptifm. I. Baptifm. Queft. 1. What is Baptifm? A Sacrament of Regeneration, wherein we are born again and made Members of Chrift, Tit. iii. 5. Διὰ λοτρο παλιγγενεσίας. A Queft. 2. What need is there of Baptifm? Without it we cannot enter into the King dom, 1. Of God's Grace here: That is, his Church into which we are admitted only by Baptifm. 2. Of his Glory hereafter. For we must be born again of Water, before we can be born again of the Spirit, A&t. ii. 38. And be of the Church Militant, before we can be of the Church Triumphant, A&t. ii. 47. Queft. 3. What Ground have we for Infant- 1. Thefe Words of our Saviour, Edy un Joven Tos. Fob. iii. 5. ΕΣ 2. Chile 2. Children were admitted into the Church under the Law by Circumcifion, much more under the Gospel by Baptifin. 3. They have a Right to it, for the Promise is made to them, Act. ii. 39. And they are holy, 1 Cor. vii. 14. And reckoned among Believers, Matt. xviii. 2, 3, 4, 6. The univerfal Church's Practice is clear OBJECTION. There is no exprefs Command for it. ANS W. I. Whole Houfes were Baptized: 2. There is no Command nor Example for 3. There is for Infant-Baptifm by our Saviour. Πορευθέντες ἐν μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπο TILOUTES dulés, Matt. xxviii. 19. So Markx. 13, 14 II. Godfathers and Godmothers. Queft. 1. Why are they called Godfathers and God mothers? Because they prefent you to God in Baptifm, wherein you are made the Children of God. Hence called by the Latins, Compatres and Commatres. Queft. 2. Why do they give you your Name? Because you have your Chriftian Name only at your Baptifm, which they bring you to; and |