To all faithfull Pastors, my
fellow-labourers in the worke
of the LORD.
IT may perhaps seeme strange
vnto you beloued brethren,
that I should put forth these
first principles of a Christian,
after so many and so
excellent Catechismes in
their vse so profitable already put forth: But
let this serue for answer, that none as yet
haue expounded the ordinarie Catechisme
that euer I did see.
And againe, that I doe finde this most
profitable for the people of mine owne
charge; and if it may be beneficiall vnto
others also, I haue my desire. Now mine
exhortation vnto you all, is, that you would
be most diligent and faithfull, as in generall
to take heed vnto the whole flocke ouer

A 2

which the holy Ghost hath made you
ouerseers so more specially to Catechise
the younger sort, let them haue the syncere
milke of the worde, that they may
grow thereby; they are messis in herba, the
hope of our haruest hereafter: Remember
that our Sauiour doth charge vs all, not onely
to feede NoValue his Sheepe, the elder
sort, but hee doth also inione vs in the first
place, and vpon our loue to feede NoValue his
Lambs: the one must haue strong meate,
that they faint not; the other must haue the
syncere milke of the word, that they may become
strong men in Christ. Remember that if you
teach a yong man the trade of his way, when he
is old he shall not depart from it: If you season
his minde with grace in childhood, his
heart shall be established with grace in manhood:
adeo a teneris assuescere magnum est:
On the other side, the neglect of this Catechising
our youth, and seasoning their tender
hearts with the true knowledge of God,
is nostri fundi calamitas. We see by miserable
experience the want thereof: how many of
our young men, to the great disgrace of the
Gospell, are riotous swaggerers, horrible
blasphemers, filthie drunkards, and a great
deale more? the bloud of whose perishing
soules, doe cry vnto God against negligent
and Idle Pastors, which onely feede themselues.
It is true, that our encouragements
vpon earth are small; yet here is our comfort,
that if we be faithfull and diligent, and
doe the worke of the Lorde with all our
strength, wee shall then make our account
with ioy: and when the chiefe Shepheard
of the flocke shall appeare wee shall receiue
an incorruptible crowne of glory: yea, when
other righteous men shal only shine like the
firmament, wee shall shine like the starres in
the firmament for euermore: which God
the righteous iudge, graunt for his sonnes
sake, Amen.
Your Brother and fellow labourer,
W. H.

To all Christian Parents and Fathers
of Families; chiefely to
those of mine owne
Charge.
I Haue this third time, imprinted this short
Summe, of the principles of Christian religion,
for the good of your selues, and your families.
Mine exhortation therefore vnto you is,
first, to learne these things your selues, then to
teach your children at home; thirdly, to see them
present in publicke assemblies of the Church,
there to be taught also. So shall you discharge a
great dutie which you doe owe vnto your God,
and also vnto your families. For doth not the
Lord say these words, which I command thee
this day, shall be in thine heart, & thou shalt
reherse them continually, vnto thy childre~,
your God requireth it, you must performe it. O
that you would learne the resolution of Ioshua:
let others do as they will, but I and mine houshold
will serue the Lord: and let all Matrons say,
with Ester, I & my maydes will do the like:

A 4

and indeede it cannot be, if your selues bee truely
conuerted vnto God, but that both out of your
zeale vnto his glory, and loue vnto your children,
you must needes labour to make them proselites
vnto heaven. For as our Sauiour saith of
Zacheus conuersion, This day is saluation
come vnto this house, yet there was none conuerted
but Zacheus onely: But Christ spake of
that which must needes follow that all the rest
of that family hauing so effectuall meanes of
grace, must needes be conuerted, and therefore
I say vnto you as our Sauiour did vnto Peter,
When thou art conuerted, strengthen thy
brethren: and so you being made true proselites
vnto Christ, endeauour by all meanes to make all
your children and family, to be euen as you are:
The Lord make you all herein faithfull, so shall
you haue a blessing, of all earthly blessings the
greatest, euen a blessing in your posteritie, which
the Lord grant for his Christs sake, Amen.

Yours in the Lord Iesus Christ,
W. H.

TO
All Christian Children, especially to
them of mine owne charge.
THese first Principles of Christianitie
deare children doe I yet once againe
offer vnto you for the good of your soules;
and what is my desire herein, but that you
should consecrate the first fruites of your
age, and strength, in seruice vnto Christ?
why should Sathan seaze vpon your soules
in childehood? why should the worlde alure
your tender hearts vnto vanitie? remember
that yee were baptized in infancie,
to signifie that euen then you were dedicated
vnto Christ. Endeauour therefore
to learne to knowe the principles of that
Religion into the which you are baptized,
and so grow euery day in grace, and in the
knowledge of the mysterie of godlinesse,
that so you may bee as Timothie was, who
knew the Scriptures from his childehood,
who after so grew vp, that hee was ioyned
as an assistant with S. Paul that great Apostle,
in his labours: so shall you in old age,
when death approacheth, say, with holy
Policarpus, This fourescore and sixe yeeres
haue I serued Christ, that was from his infancie:
so shall you all your life long enioy
much peace in your soules, euen that peace
which is a continuall feast, and passeth all
vnderstanding. The Lord season your tender
hearts with his grace euery day
more and more, for his Sonnes
sake Christ Iesus,
Amen.
Yours in the Lord Iesus Christ,
W. H.