THE NECESSITY AND antiquity OF CATECHIZING.  
BY I. F.  PRO, Cap. 22. Ver. 6. 
Train up a Child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not departed from it.  
LONDON, Imprinted for R. M. 1617.   


DEI VERITAS FILIA  
VERBUM DEI    

OF THE NECESSITY AND Antiquity of catechizing.  

Question I.  
WHat is a Catechism.  
Answer.  
It is an instruction in the Principles of true religien, which the superior teacheth the inferior.   

Questeon 2.  
Whether is catechizing necessary.  
Answer.  
Yea, for these two reasons. First, because otherwise no man could either know or worship GOD aright: Secondly, because it is God's ordinance,  
as hereafter it shall appear.   

Question 3.  
Of what antiquity is the doctrine and practice of catechizing?  
Answer.  
It is of great antiquity, as it may appear by a briete and orderly narration thereof in these three distinct times.  
First, from the creation of the world unto the days of Moses.  
Secondly, from Moses to Christ.  
Thirdly, from Christ to this present.   

The first time.  

Question 4.  
WAs it practised from the Creation to Moses?  
Answer.  
Yea.  
First, God instructed Adam.  
Secondly, Adam and the religious Patriatres in the Church instructed their potterity from age to age.   

Question 5.  
Did God instruct Adam?  
Answer.  
Yea, both before, and after his fall.   

Question 6.  
Show that God instructed Adam before his fall.  
Answer.  
This may be the men two days.  
First, by reason.  
Secondly, by the particular instructions which he gave to Adam.   

Question 7.  
By what reason can you show that God instructed Adam before his fall.  
Answer.  
By these two.  
First, as no man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him: even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the spirit of God, 1. Cor. 2.11. and therefore if God had not instructed Adam he could not have known nor done the will of God.  
Secondly, where no Law is, there is no transgrassion, Rom. 4.15.  
Therefore if God had not instructed Adam, and given him laws, he could not have sinned; for sin is nothing el●● but the transgression of the Law, 1. john. 2.4.   

Question 8.  
What then be the particular instructions which God gave to Adam before his fall?  
Answer.  
They are divers, and namely, these five.  
First, that mankind should be multiplied in the holy estate of marriage, 
Matth. 9.5.  Gen. 2.24. therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh, and all other multiplication of mankind out of the holy estate of marriage, is ordinarily accompanied with some judgement of God.  
Secondly, that he should have authority and dominion over the fishes of the Sea, and over the souls of the heaven, and over every beat that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1.28.  
Thirdly, that his meat should be the herbs of the earth, and the fruit of the trees, Gen. 1.29. for man lineth not by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, Matth. 4.4.  
Fourthly, that he should not live idly, but dress and keep the garden of Eden. Gen. 2.15.  
Fiftly, that he should not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of god and evil, upon pain of death. Gen. 2.17. for in the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.   

Question 9  
Show me now also what instructions God gave to Adam after his fall.  
Answer.  
God gave Adam these five instructions after his fall.  
First, he instructed Adam in the mystery of redemption, Gen. 3.15. when God speaking to that old Serpent (called the Devil and Satan. Apoc. 12.9.) sayeth thus. I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed, it shall break thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel: when he sayeth, it shall break thy head, his meaneth the seed of the woman, that is, Christ, the seed of the Virgin Mary, who at his first coming conqueted Satan, and delivered the faithful out of his thraldom. Hebrews 2.14. For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself like wise took part of the same, that through dearly he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the Devil, and deliver them, who through sear of death, wereall their life time subject to bondage.  
Secondly, he instructed Adam to offer sacrifices, which were types and shadows of the sartifice of Christ's body to be offced to make satisfaction to God for the sins of all the faith full.  
Thirdly, he taught Adam that in offering of sacrifices, he must by faith apprehend Christ, who was shadowed and prefigured in those sacufices, or else he could not be acceptable to God: whereupon it is written, Heb. 11.4. that by faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.  
Fourthly, he taught Adam, that those were acceptable to God which beleevedin the promised seed of the woman, that is, in Christ, who was to come, and that those were not acceptable to God which believed not in Christ to come, and so it was known ever since the fall of Adam that some believed in Christ, and mere saved, and some did not believe in Christ, and there sore were rejected of God.  
Fiftly, when men began to be multiplied upon the earth, the Lord forbade the faithful to make marriages with the unbelavers, as it appeareth by the teproofe of such marriages Gen. 6.2. and this is confirmed in the new Testament, which disagraeth not from the old. 2. Cor. 6.14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.   

Question 10.  
Seeing these instructions given to Adam presently after his fall, are fundamental points of true religion, and the fourth instruction is the effect of the three former, declare the same more evidently, that it being better known, may make a deeper impression in our minds.  
Answer.  
This may be plainly declared four ways.  
First, by the examples of Cain and Abel, because Abel by faith was accepted, Heb. 11.4. and Cain for his infidelity was rejected, 1. john. 3.12. for it was faith that made Abel's work, that is his sacrifice acceptable, Heb. 11.4. and it was want of faith, that made Kaines work, that is, his sacrifice unacceptable to God, because without faith it is impossible to please God, Heb. 11.6.  
Secondly, the faithful though declining, are called the sons of God, and the posterity of unbelécuers, are called the daughters of men. Genes. 6.2.  
Thirdly, this difference of believers and unbelievers, was typically shadowed out in the distinction of clean and unclean beasts, Gen. 7.2. where Noah is commanded to take into the Ark of every clean beast seven, and of unclean two. And a plain interpretation hereof we have, Act. 10.15. where the Lord forbiddeth Peter to count those Gentiles unclean, whose hearts God had purified by faith, Acts. 15.9.  
Fourthly, since the fall of Adam, there was no salvation to any but by faith in Christ; for all the promises of God are yea and Amen in Christ: 2. Cor. 1.20. and therefore the faithful patriarchs that lived before and after the flond, are commended, Heb. 11.5. and the unbelievers of those times are omitted.   

Question 11.  
You have showed that God instructed Adam both before and after his fall. show me now that the faithful have instructed their posterity from age to age.  
Answer.  
This may be showed by an orderly rehearsal of some special faithful persons from generation to generation.  
First, Adam instructed his childris in the mestery of redemption, other wise they could not have offered sacrifice as they did, Gen. 4.3.  
Secondly those patriarchs mentioned, Gen. 5. were Instructors of others, as the commendation of their faith. Heb. 11.5. may persuade us. And it is particularly written of Enoch in the Epistle of Jude, ver. 14. and of Noah, 2. Pet. 2.5. that they mere teachers of others.  
Thirdly, Abraham instructed his family: for when Lorrique was taken and tarried away captive, he took out of his own family 318. persons, which he had instructed in religion, and followed after the four kings unto Dan put them to flight, and brought again Lot, Gen. 14.14. Also the Lord minding to destroy Sodom revealed his purpose to Abraham, and said thus: Gen. 18.19. For I know him that he will command his children and his how should after him, that they kape the way of the Lord.  
Fourthly, the commendation of Lot, 2. Pet 2.7. Witnesseth his raligious care in this point.  
Fiftly, Isaak was careful for his sons, that they should be religious, and was grieved for the profaneness of Esau. Gen. 26.35.  
Sixthly, jacob was religious himself, and therefore careful for the instruction of his children.  
Seventhly, job living in the days of jaakob, or near that time, was careful that his children should fear God, as it appeareth, in that he offered satrifice for them whiles they were feasting. job. 1.5.  
Eightly, and lastly, when the Israelites were trady to departed out of Egypt, the Lord commanded them, that when their children should ask them why they keep the Passeover yearly, they should teach them the reason thereof. Exod. 12.26.    

The second time.  

Question 1.  
You have showed that instruction in religion was used from the creation to Moses, show me now the continuance thereof from Moses to Christ.  
Answer.  
This may be showed two ways: First, by the commandment of God. Secondly, by the continual practice.   

Question 2.  
What commandment hath God given for instruction of youth?  
Answer.  
If may suffice to mention two.  
The first is written, Deut. 6 6. All these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart, and thou shalt rehearse them continually unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou tarriest in thine house, & as thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  
The second is written, Psal. 78. v. 5 Heestablished a testimony in jaacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which be commaunden out Fathers, that they should make them known to their children.  
Verse 6. That the generation to come might know them, sucn the children which should be horn, who should arise and declare them to their children. Verse 7. That they might set their hope in God, art net forget the works of God, but keep his commandemen's.   

Question 3.  
Show me also the continual practice.  
Answer.  
This may be showed by these examples following.  
First, joshua the Captain and governor of Israel saith thus, I and mine house wilserue the Lord, joshua 24.15. professing both for himself & also for his Family, that they will serve the Lord, though others decline and fall a way.  
Secondly, King David instructed Solomon his son, as Solomon confesseth, Prou. 4.3. for I was my Father's Son, tender and dear in the sight of my mother, when he taught me and said unto me: Let thine heart hold fast my words, koope my commandments, and thou shalt live, etc.  
Also David provided that his children were instructed by others besides himself, for it is thus written, 1 Chr. 37.32. jehiel the son of Hachmony mass with the King's sons.  
Thirdly, Queen Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, admonished her son of three things, as Solomon himself confesseth, Prou. 32.2.  
First, that he should not give his strength to women, ver. 3.  
Secondly, that he should not giu● himself to drink wine, ver. 4.  
Thirdly, that he should defend the afflicted, and the poor, ver. 8.  
Fourthly, Solomon instructed his children, as it appeareth, Prou, 4. vers. 1: Hear ye children the instruction of a Father, and attend to know understanding, ver. 2. for I give you good doctrine, forsake you not my Law.  
Ver. 10. Hear D my Son, and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be many.  
Ver. 11. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom, I have led thee in right paths, etc.  
Fiftly, Obadiah the Governor of Ababs' house, saith thus to Eliah: 1. King. 18.12. But I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth, whereby it is evident, that he was instructed in his younger years.  
Sixtly, josephus in his fourth ●ooke, and eight Chapter of antiquity and his second book against Appion, ●hat the children of the jews could unswere as readily to every point of ●he Law, as to their own names.    

The third time.  

Question 1.  
YOu have showed the continual practice of catechizing or instructing of the younger sort from the creation to Moses, and from Moses to Christ, show me now the continuance thereof under the Gospel from Christ to this present day.  
Answer.  
This may be showed three ways  
First, by reasons grounded upper Scripture.  
Secondly, by the commandment of God.  
Thirdly, by some examples.   

Question 2.  
What be the reasons which prove the continuance thereof under the Gospel.  
Answer.  
They are fine.  
First, the three reasons renderen Psal, 78. Why youth should be instructed under the Law, hold also under the Gospel.  
First, that the generations to come might know the commandments of God, Psal. 78.6.  
Secondly, that the generations to come might declare the same to their children, Psal. 78.6.  
Thirdly, that all generations to come might set their hope on God. Ps. 78, 7.  
Secondly, the instruction of youth is part of the moral law, even of the fift commandment, and therefore continueth under the Gospel.  
Thirdly, the covenant betweena God and his Church (which is perpetual, Esai 54.10. jerem. 32.32, & 33.20.) cannot continue, except youth be instructed.  
Fourthly, the doctrine of Baptism is continued under the Gospel, and therefore the instruction of youth is continued.  
Fiftly, there is under the Gospel as well milk, that is, the first principles of religion, given to young Christians as stronger meat to the elder sor●● according to the Apostles speech an● practise, 
Heb. 5.15. 2. Pet. 2.2.  1. Cor. 3.2. I have fed yo● with milk, and not with strong meat, for you were not hitherto a●● to be are it.   

Question 3.  
What commandment then ha● God given in the new Testament?  
Answer.  
Two commandments specially.  
The frist is Eph●s. 6.4. And ye fathers prenoke not your children 〈◊〉 wrath, but bring them up in the instruction, and information of the Lord.  
The second is, Galat. 6.6. Let him that is taught in the word, communicate to him that teacheth in all goo● things.   

Question 4.  
What examples can you allege  
Answer.  
These.  
First, john the Baptist preache● repentance, Matth. 3.2. and fait● in Christ, Acts. 29.4. and als● baptised young Christians, Matth. 3.6.  
Secondly, Christ preached the same doctrine, saying Mark. 1.15. Repent and believe the Gospel. Also he baptised. john 3.22. By his Disciples, john 4.2.  
Thirdly the twelve Apostles were commanded to preach the same Doctrine, Matth. 10.7.  
Fourthly, the seventy Disciples were also commanded to preach the same Doctrine Luk: 10.9.  
Fiftly, Peter preached the same doctrine and baptised, Act. 2.3.8.  
Sixtly, Philip preached to the Samaritans, and baptised them. Act. 8. vers. 5.12. Also her instructed and baptised the Eunuch, Act. 8.26.  
Seventhly, Paul at Philippi converted and baptised both Lydia, Act. 26.14. And also the Keeper of the prison, Act. 16.30. And at Corinthus, he baptised Crispus and cain's: 2. Cor. 1.14. and the household of Stephanus, 1. Cor. 1.16.  
Eightly, Timotheus was caterhized by his mother Eunice, & by Lois his Grandmother, 1. Tim. 2.5.  
Ninthly, the principal heads of the Christian Catechizing, set down Heb. 6.2. Witness the practice of catechizing in all churches, and may serve in stead of all examples.  
FINIS.