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Preface Ken's catechism
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Genre
Preface Catechism
Date
1685
Full Title
"No title" In: Ken, Thomas. An exposition on the Church-Catechism, or the Practice of Divine Love.
Source
Wing K261
Sampling
Sample 1
The original format is octavo.
The original contains new paragraphas are introduced by indentation,contains footnotes,contains elements such as italics,contains comments and references,
To the Inhabitants within the Diocese
of Bath and Wells, THOMAS
their Unworthy Bishop, wisheth
the Knowledge, and the Love of
God.
Dearly Beloved in our Lord,
THE Church has provided this short
Catechism, or Instruction to be
learn'd of every person, before
he be brought to be Confirm'd
by the Bishop, wherein she teaches all
things that a Christian ought to know, and
believe for his Soul's health; and she has
enjoyn'd All Fathers and Mothers, Masters
and Dames, to cause their Children,
and Servants, and Prentices, to
come to the Church at the time appointed,
and obediently to hear, and be ordered
by the Curate, untill such time as
they have learn'd all that is here appointed
to be learn'd.
How seasonable and necessary this Injunction
is, in these days, our wofull experience
does sufficiently convince us, when we
reflect on the gross Ingnorance and Irreligion
of persons in those places, where Catechizing
is neglected, which all sober Christians do
sadly deplore.
Since then the Providence of God, who
is wont to glorifie his strength in the weakness
of the Instruments he uses, has caught
me up from among the meanest Herdmen,
into the Pastoral Throne, and has been
I ought to pay to the chief Shepherd, obliges
me to feed all his Lambs and his Sheep
that belong to my flock, and according to my
poor abilities, to teach them the Knowledge,
and the Love of God, and how they may
make them both their daily study and practice.
One thing onely I most earnestly beg of
you all, whether old or young, that ye would
help me to save your own Souls; that ye
would learn, and seriously consider, again
and again, the terms on which your Salvation
is to be had.
As for you who have Families, I beseech
you to instill into your Children and Servants
their Duty, both by your Teaching, and your
Example: In good earnest, it is less cruel
and unnatural to deny them Bread for their
mortal Bodies, than saving Knowledge for
their immortal Souls.
Ye that are Fathers, or Masters, I exhort
you to tread in the steps of Abraham,
the Father of the faithfull, and the friend
of God, and like him, to command
your Children and Housholds to keep
the way of the Lord.
Ye that are Mothers, or Mistresses, I exhort
you to imitate that unfeigned Faith,
which dwelt in young Timothy's Grand-mother
Lois, and his Mother Eunice,
who taught him from a Child to know
the Holy Scriptures, which were able to
make him wise to Salvation; and like
them, to bring up your Children and Servants
in the nurture and admonition of
the Lord.
of either Sex, never to cease your conscientious
zeal for their instruction, till you bring
them to Confirmation; To renew their Baptismal
vow; To make open profession of their
Christianity; To discharge their Godfathers
and Godmothers; To receive the solemn
Benediction of the Bishop; To share
in the publick Intercessions of the Church,
and to partake of all the Graces of God's Holy
Spirit, implor'd on their behalf; that God
who has begun a good work in them
may perfect it till the day of Christ; and
that I my self at that dreadfull day, may render
an account of you with joy.
How much the Catechism of our Church
may conduce to so desirable an end, you will
in some measure judge by the following Explication,
as imperfect as it is, and which,
by God's gratious assistence, I have so contriv'd,
that at one and the same time, it may
both inform your understanding, and raise
your affections; and that it might the better
sute with every ones leasure and infirmities,
it is Pen'd in short Forms of Devotion, to be
us'd in whole, or in part; in separate Collects
or Ejaculations, or occasionally, as your Spiritual
necessities shall require.
God of his infinite mercy bless the whole,
to his own Glory, and to your Edification,
through Jesus the Beloved. Amen, Amen.
of Bath and Wells, THOMAS
their Unworthy Bishop, wisheth
the Knowledge, and the Love of
God.
Dearly Beloved in our Lord,
THE Church has provided this short
Catechism, or Instruction to be
learn'd of every person, before
he be brought to be Confirm'd
by the Bishop, wherein she teaches all
things that a Christian ought to know, and
believe for his Soul's health; and she has
enjoyn'd All Fathers and Mothers, Masters
and Dames, to cause their Children,
and Servants, and Prentices, to
come to the Church at the time appointed,
and obediently to hear, and be ordered
by the Curate, untill such time as
they have learn'd all that is here appointed
to be learn'd.
How seasonable and necessary this Injunction
is, in these days, our wofull experience
does sufficiently convince us, when we
reflect on the gross Ingnorance and Irreligion
of persons in those places, where Catechizing
is neglected, which all sober Christians do
sadly deplore.
Since then the Providence of God, who
is wont to glorifie his strength in the weakness
of the Instruments he uses, has caught
me up from among the meanest Herdmen,
into the Pastoral Throne, and has been
A 2
1
pleased to commit you to my care; The LoveI ought to pay to the chief Shepherd, obliges
me to feed all his Lambs and his Sheep
that belong to my flock, and according to my
poor abilities, to teach them the Knowledge,
and the Love of God, and how they may
make them both their daily study and practice.
One thing onely I most earnestly beg of
you all, whether old or young, that ye would
help me to save your own Souls; that ye
would learn, and seriously consider, again
and again, the terms on which your Salvation
is to be had.
As for you who have Families, I beseech
you to instill into your Children and Servants
their Duty, both by your Teaching, and your
Example: In good earnest, it is less cruel
and unnatural to deny them Bread for their
mortal Bodies, than saving Knowledge for
their immortal Souls.
Ye that are Fathers, or Masters, I exhort
you to tread in the steps of Abraham,
the Father of the faithfull, and the friend
of God, and like him, to command
your Children and Housholds to keep
the way of the Lord.
Ye that are Mothers, or Mistresses, I exhort
you to imitate that unfeigned Faith,
which dwelt in young Timothy's Grand-mother
Lois, and his Mother Eunice,
who taught him from a Child to know
the Holy Scriptures, which were able to
make him wise to Salvation; and like
them, to bring up your Children and Servants
in the nurture and admonition of
the Lord.
2
I passionately exhort and beseech you all,of either Sex, never to cease your conscientious
zeal for their instruction, till you bring
them to Confirmation; To renew their Baptismal
vow; To make open profession of their
Christianity; To discharge their Godfathers
and Godmothers; To receive the solemn
Benediction of the Bishop; To share
in the publick Intercessions of the Church,
and to partake of all the Graces of God's Holy
Spirit, implor'd on their behalf; that God
who has begun a good work in them
may perfect it till the day of Christ; and
that I my self at that dreadfull day, may render
an account of you with joy.
How much the Catechism of our Church
may conduce to so desirable an end, you will
in some measure judge by the following Explication,
as imperfect as it is, and which,
by God's gratious assistence, I have so contriv'd,
that at one and the same time, it may
both inform your understanding, and raise
your affections; and that it might the better
sute with every ones leasure and infirmities,
it is Pen'd in short Forms of Devotion, to be
us'd in whole, or in part; in separate Collects
or Ejaculations, or occasionally, as your Spiritual
necessities shall require.
God of his infinite mercy bless the whole,
to his own Glory, and to your Edification,
through Jesus the Beloved. Amen, Amen.