To all Parents, Schoolmasters,
or others, that
are to train up young weaned
children, and need direction;
The Leader
into all truth direct
you.
KNowing what account
is to be
given by all that
profess themselves
Christians,
Abrahams Seed, if

A 3

they endeavour not to a
instruct such as they have
charge of, to know and fear
the Lord, and keep his ways,
a Gen. 18 9.2 Tim. 1.5 ch.
3.14. Deut. 6 9.6. Pro. 22.6.
ch. 31. 1,2. And rejoycing
much, that good use hath
been made of the Catechismes
by Mr. Perkins, Mr. Elton,
Mr. Egerton, Mr. Ball,
Mr. Dan. Rogers, and others,
for help to youths and elder
people.
Yet it clearly appearing,
that in very many if not in
the most of the Answers,
are some things like Latine,
or Greek to the younger, not
being suited to their understandings,
as it were to be
wished; I much desired to
see one so plain and easie in
the expressions, as that the
very Babes, that can speak
but stammeringly, and are of
very weak capacities, might
understand what they say:
and might have some help in
Prayer and Thanksgiving to
be with their understandings;
and not as in a strange
tongue, 1 Cor. 14.9, 15, 19.
And not finding any such,
I being desired to it, made
an Assay above twelve years
ago; and the Lord giving
aid, and good success therein;
and more Copies of it
being desired than my time
would permit to write over

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and over again, having added
and enlarged some passages,
I have yielded to the
desires of some that it might
be printed for a more generall
good to many, that
are very easily convinced of
the great want of such, and
of the great benefit to such
little ones generally by such
a plain, easie, familiar Catechisme;
stammeringas it
were to their capacities, as
the Lord is pleas'd oftimes
to doe to ours. And I have
added herein, in a less letter, at
this mark untill this
what may be forborn at
first by the youngest Children,
and may be learned by them afterwards.
If it be asked why the Answers
are not put in this
Black Letter, called English
Letter? I answer; At first
I had so intended: But
for the Childs far greater
profit, and more ease, and
for preventing the more toil
in reading the Testament,
Bible, and any usuall book,
it's put in our most usuall
letter; that English Letter
being very seldome now in
use, may be learned with
more ease afterwards.