To my louing and well
beloued Parishioners, the Inhabitants
of Dicheat in SOMERSETSHIRE,
Grace and
Peace in Christ Iesus.
INstruction of youth
is the best seasoner of
after ages not onely
for riper knowledge,
but also for honest
manners. Wherby, as they brought
children to Christ when he was
here conuersant on earth, that he
should touch them, so may wee
bring them to him still, to blesse
them in turning them from their
iniquities, and correcting the viciousnesse
of their first birth, by a
new forming himselfe in them.
For this purpose the Church hath
had at all times Catechismes, or
summes of doctrine concerning

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the chiefe poynts of Religion,
whereunto they might refer their
reading and learning, and
as the
Rabbines say
as it were pale in
the generall doctrines that they
might not wander in an endlesse
maze. Answerably here vnto our
Church inioyneth a forme of
doctrine containing the summe of
the Couenant of grace, which for
memories sake being inclosed in a
very short Epitome; I haue a little
enlarged in a few more Questions
and Answers raised out of the
same, that you might the better
take vp the Method, and vnderstand
the Contents thereof. This
therefore I propose vnto you, as a
loafe of wholesome bread broken
into more peeces: as a channell of
liuing water cut into more streams
& passible brooks, as a first draught
of a picture portraied out with
more particular coulours and lineaments,
and as a patterne of sound
doctrine in the seuerall parts therof.
Herein you shall see what the
high calling of God is whereunto
he hath called vs: with what immunities
he hath enfranchised vs,
what our hopes are of an immortall
inheritance, and how we ought
to walke worthy the same. What
then Paul testifieth concerning Timothie
his sonne, that he had been
nourished vp in the words of faith
and good doctrine; the same doe
I desire concerning yours, that together
with outward education,
you may nourish them vp in the
words of faith and good doctrine:
yea, that your selues first learning
the Principles of the doctrine of
Christ, would goe on vnto perfection,
obeying from the heart,
the forme of doctrine which hath
been deliuered you: then I doubt
not, your sonnes shall grow vp vnder
you as the plants, your daughters
shall be as the polished corners

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of the Temple; and one and
other as good Scribes taught to
the Kingdome of God. Now the
God of all grace make you to encrease
in knowledge and iudgement
to approue the best things,
and establish your harts vnblameable
in holines before him till the
day of Christ. Amen.
Yours in the Lord Iesus,
in my best endeauours for
your edifying in his sauing
truth.
R.A.