The Preface

That Catechizing is an Ordinance of God, few will doubt, when they consider the Apostles did first lay the Fundamentals of Religion; Heb. 6. 1. And fed Babes with Milk, teaching them the first Principles of the Oracles of God, Heb. 5. 12. and questionless taught them in that manner, which was most suitable to the Capacity of the Learners, which may well be supposed to be by plain and short questions, and suitable Answers thereunto; and therefore this has been a constant Practice in the Church of God: and the Primitive Church had a Particular appropriated hereunto, whom they called Catechist.

And so all well-governed and wisely managed Churches, have still maintained and used it, as knowing the necessity and usefulness thereof; for the younger Sort to inform them in the Principles of that Religion whereinto they were Baptized; and for the establishment of the Adult and more aged therein.

Hence have issued all those little Composures of all the fundamental Doctrines of Faith and Practice so handled (which we call Catechisms) in the Churches; and particularly in ours, whereof there are many and divers, whose Authors have well deserved for their Endeavours to inform and edify the people thereby.

But among them all, none excel This little Catechism of the Assembly, for Orthodoxy, Fulness, and Method.

And because the Answers therein are some of them pretty large, and Treat of the most profound Mysteries of our Religion; therefore several Persons have bestowed their good and laudable Pains, some in descanting more largely, and proving by Scriptural Reasons the Particulars: and one has shewn the harmony thereof with the Articles and Homilies of the Church of England (designed, I suppose, to remove the prejudice which some have taken against it). Others have parted the Questions and Answers into several little ones, under each, to make them more intelligible to younger ones, and more easy to be remembred.

Among whom, Worthy, Orthodox, and Excellent Mr. Iohn Flavell may be ranked, who among other of his many and most profitable Labours, applied himself to the chewing of this Bread of Life, or crumbling it into smaller pieces, for the Cenveniency of Children and (indeed) of all; wherein (as in all his other Works) he hath shewn himself a Workman that needs not to be ashamed.

There needs no other recommendations to this Posthumus Piece, but the worthy Author’s Name; he was removed before he had compleatly finished it; he had prepared his Questions and Answers upon the second Petition of the Lord’s Prayer; but lived not to propose them in the publick Congregation. God then translated him into his Kingdom of Glory above, while he was so industriously endeavouring to promote the Kingdom of Grace below.

The other five remaining Questions and Answers (to compleat the Work) were done by a ruder hand; as may easily be discerned by any observant Reader, who will find himself transfer’d from a plain, clear, and delightful Stile, method, and manner, into more rough, disorderly, and unpleasant ones; for who, indeed, could equal this Divine Labourer? Not the Compleater: who would account himself to have made very great Attainments in Divinity and Usefulness, if he were left but a few furlongs behind him.

Let the Reader use and peruse this Piece, and he will see cause to bless God for the Author.

VALE.