THE PREFACE. HE Design of the following Treatife being to inftruct those, who are yet to learn, in the Principles of their Chriftian Religion, I shall not think it necessary to make any Apology for my Publishing of it. It is so proper a Part of our Minifterial Office, not only to Teach thefe Things, but to Use our Utmost Endeavours, to Inculcate them upon the Minds of those who are committed to our Charge; that we never more truly pursue the Bufinefs of our Calling, than when We are doing of it. And no One ought to make an Excufe for doing that, the Neglect of which would Need an Excufe, or rather would not admit of Any. T Treatife being make It has pleafed God, to whofe Providence I defire in All Things to Submit my Self, to engage me in a Cure, in which 'tis next to Impoffible, in the Ordinary Method of Teaching, to inftruct All Those who belong to it. Neither will Our Churches Receive Them; nor can I hope, by any Private Application, effectually to fupply what I am fenfible must be Wanting in our Publick Miniftration. To up the Defects of Both, I knew no way fo Ready, as to compofe a Short Summary of what is moft Neceffary for Every Chriftian to know; and to Order it in fuch Wife, that every One who pleafes may partake of the Benefit of it. This I have done in the prefent Treatife: Which as it was defign'd by me particularly for thofe of my Own Parith, for whofe Inftruction I am principally concern'd; so, to Them I must beg Leave, in a more Efpecial Manner, to Recommend the Ufe of it. I am not aware that that there is any Thing in it Above the Capacity of the most Ordinary Christian to comprehend ; who will but duly Confider what he Reads, and is not utterly a Stranger to the Principles of his Religion. Tis true, I have inferted many Things into this, which are not wont to be handled in Other Catechisms: As defigning it not for Children, (for whom fuch Treatifes are commonly framed;) but for Men and Women; for fuch as either have, or I am fure Ought to have, already pafs'd the First Rudiments of the Gospel of Chrift. But I have endeavour'd to express my felf with so much Clearness, and Perfpicuity, that I hope All forts of Perfons may be able to profit by what I have done; and fee, in a fhort Compass, both what that Holy Doctrine which we profess is, and upon what Grounds we build our Belief of it. I have chosen to do this in the Form of a Catechism, not only because I look up. on that to be the Plainest, and most Natural Way of Inflruction; but because it is certainly the Shortest, and most Easy to the Memory. And would but Parents take Care to teach their Children, at a Compe tent Age, to Answer the Queftions here proposed; they might possibly, thereby, not only take a Good Method for the Inftruction of Them in the Knowledge of that Religion into which they were Baptized; but might, at the fame time, improve Themselves too,in the Understanding of it. It has been the Wisdom,as well as Piety, of the Church of England, to make a Suitable Provifion for the Instruction of all Sorts of Perfons in her Communion, in the Knowledge of their Chriftian Profeffion. In Order hereunto, fhe has appointed Catechetical Exercises for Younger Perfons, as well as Sermons for thofe of a Greater Age, and Understanding: And has Obliged Mafters, and Parents, no less to fend their Children, and Servants,to the One, than to come Themfelves to the Other. How Others may judge of this Her Pious Care, I cannot tell: But, for my Own Part, I must freely profefs, that I never think my Self employ'd to better Purpose, than when I am discharging this Part of my Ministry. And I am confi dent, |