THE Entry to Christianity, or, An admonition to Householders, very necessary for instruction of their Families, as also others, whereby, with some small labour, they may attain to the understanding of the Christian faith: (if holy, and Christian exercises, as prayers, and such sanctified means) be devoutly used.  
Drawn out of the sacred Scriptures, as also proved by the judgement of famous learned writers.  
Very fit for this diseased and sickly age, wherein popish ignorance and devilish Atheism doth so abound.  
By Thomas Wats, Minister of the word of God.  
Printed at London by T. O. for Thomas Woodcock, dwelling at the Sign of the black Bear. 1589.   

THE ENTRY to Christianity. That it behoveth Parents to bring up their Children in the knowledge of God's Word.  
Authority of the Scriptures. Gen. 18, 19 Exod. 12.26, 27, 13, 8, 14. Deut 4, 9, 10.6, 6, 7, 20. to the end, 11, 18.19, 32, 46. Josh. 4, 21, 22, 23, 24. 1. King. 2, 1, 3. Psalm. 78, 3, 4, 5.6. Esd. 38, 29. Eph. 6, 4. 2. Tim. 1, 5. 2. joh. 4. judgement of the Learned.  
Question. DO you not count those fathers to have discharged their whole duty, which do teach their children to say the ten Commandments, the Lords Prayer; and the Articles of the faith: and say they have done what they can?  
Answer. It is most sure they have to render account unto God for a far greater matter than the teaching them to speak these things, for they are to see that they understand them, they are to instruct them in all points of true Religion; they are to show them the steps of godliness: they are to exhort them with all diligence, yea and to charge them to fear God, and to walk in his ways.  
Question. All men are not able to do this you speak of.  
Answer. The more shame for them, that they will be fathers, before they can do that which is the duty of fathers, and the more heavy judgement tarrieth for them, for casting away, and spilling the souls of their children. Master Gyff. Catechism.  
We all be careful and very circumspect in providing for the cattle that are bred at our house, and we are much busied and take great pains about them, and the like diligence we use also in looking unto young trees, and plants; but our children are much more of value then all cattle, and they are the tender plants of the Paradise of God: it cannot therefore with words be spoken, how greatly the wicked and cruel negligence of those parents is to be detested, which so much neglect, and so little set by these most worthy creatures on the earth, and these goodly plants of the Church and heavenly Paradise, that they are moved with no care of their good education. Let Parents therefore meditate this saying, Math. 18, 10. See that ye despise not one of these little ones: for I say unto you, that in heaven their Angels always behold the face of my father which is in heaven. But a great sort think themselves well excused, if they can pretend either their own ignorance, or other businesses. But such excuse is rather to be lamented then admitted. If Parents be so ignorant, that they can neither teach their children the sincere doctrine of the Catechism, nor yet be able to discern between virtues and vices, things that be honest and unhonest, seemly and unseemly: surely such excuse is a most grievous accusation of themselves. And touching businesses, the thing that is pretended is not only foolish, sottish, and odious: but also ungodly, wicked, and blasphemous. For, as in all the substance of the house, no treasure is more worthy than be the children, so among all businesses, this aught to be the chiefest, that the children be rightly cared for: and well looked unto. Paul. Eitz. Ethic. Doctr. lib. 3. cap. 4.  
Now, a word or two of the bringing up of children, and preparing them to confirmation. Wherein I would God the old order were duly observed, that they were instructed perfectly to know Religion, and their duty to God, and might be brought before the congregation, and make an open profession of their faith, with promise, that neither tribulation, nor anguish, nor persecution, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor fire, nor sword, nor life, nor death: shall ever make them deny their faith. Hereof might much be spoken, but I will be short. The whole standeth in knowledge and in the fear of God, that they may know God, and walk before him in reverence and in fear: and serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life. The jews are a miserable people, they live in error, they die in their own blood; yet have they so much understanding, that they bring up their children in the knowledge of God: and that knowledge they teach out of the word of God. They remember what charge God gave them: Thou shalt teach them thy sons, and thy sons sons, etc. Let us look upon our children, as upon the great blessings of God. They are the Lords vessels ordained to honour, let us keep them clean: they are Christ's lambs, and sheep of his flock, let us lead them forth into wholesome Pasture. They are the seed-plot of heaven, let us water them that God may give the increase; their Angels behold the face of God, let us not offend them, they are the temples and tabernacles of the holy Ghost: Let us not suffer the foul spirit to possess them, and dwell in them. God saith, Your children are my children. They are the sons of God. They are borne a new, and are well shapen in beautiful proportion: make them not monsters. He is a monster whosoever knoweth not God. By you they are borne into the world, be careful also that by your means, they may be begotten unto God, you are careful to train them in mixture & comely behaviour of the body, seek also to fashion their minds unto Godliness; you have brought them to the fountain of Baptism to receive the mark of Christ, bring them up in knowledge, and watch over them that they be not lost. That man of God Bishop jewel in a treatise of the Sacraments.  
Every householder is here appointed a Bishop of his house. And a little after, Householders therefore must be careful, that they have the knowledge of matters divine: otherwise how shall they instruct them that are of their household? Paul suffereth not women to teach in the Church, but commandeth them to learn of their husbands at home: what husband shall teach his wife, himself being unlearned and ignorant? in the sixth of deuteronomy it is well set down Therefore first, And these words which I command thee, shall be in thine heart. And then immediately after it is added: And thou shalt teach them to thy sons. And this thing is engraft almost in all men, and specially in the ignorant, to hold fast and highly esteem the things that they have learned of their Parents. And therefore it mattereth much what is taught by Parents to their posterity. Nowadays we hear this thing common: I will believe that which my forefathers believed. Thou believest well, if so be that they believed well: and if they have delivered to the posterities such things as be good. Otherwise the jews and Turks under this pretence defend their errors, which they have received of their fathers. Let every householder therefore beware and take good heed what he teach his household. A man may find householders which be so ignorant and unskilful in things divine, that they can by no means perform that thing which is here commanded. Let such not be ashamed to hear and learn, yea, if it were of little boys, the things which hitherto they have not known. A man may find also some householders which will not perform their duty in teaching Religion, although they be able to do it. Again, a man may find others, which by wicked force do even let their households from learning the things which concern the Religion and service of God. But herein it belongeth to the Magistrate to use his office, to erect and set forward public schools. Wolf. Musc. in Psal. 78. vers. 5.  
Speak men of discipline never so much, complain they of the want of Church-government never so loud, preach they, teach they never so much abroad, unless they will begin discipline in reforming their houses, and give Religion some room at home, they shall travail much, and profit little. Let there be never so good laws in Cities, never so pure orders in Churches; if there be no practice at home: if fathers of families use not doctrine, and discipline in their houses, and join their hands to Magistrate and Ministers: they may indeed, but unjustly, as many have done, complain that their Children are corrupted abroad, when they were before, and are still corrupted at home. Exhortation for household Discipline.  
Both married men, and Monks, and wives, commonly have this contention among themselves, who may learn most scriptures. Hierom. in Psal. 33. Fathers, bring up your children in the learning, and nurture of the Lord, and teach them the holy Scriptures. Ignatius Epist. 6. If ye be willing that the holy Scriptures may become sweet unto you, and that God's Commandments may profit you as they ought, withdraw yourselves from worldly businesses at certain hours, on which even in your houses read over the word of God, and dedicate yourselves wholly to his mercy, that they may be happily fulfilled in you, which is written concerning the happy man. For, in the law of the Lord will he meditate day & night: And that, Blessed are they that search his testimonies, and seek him with their whole heart: And that, Thy words have I hid within my whole heart, that I might not sin against thee. For as you have heard, as he which hideth Gods words in his heart sinneth not: so also he which hideth them not ceaseth not to sin. For, if it sufficeth not buyers and sellers, to make their gains of one sort of ware only, but they get many wares by which they may increase their substance: and if Husbandmen do their endeavour to sow divers kinds of seeds, whereby they may sufficiently provide meat for them and theirs; how much rather in spiritual gains ought it not to suffice you, that you hear the divine lessons in the Church, but in your houses, and at your meals: and when the days be short, some hours in the nights also ye ought to labour earnestly in divine reading, to the end, that ye may get you spiritual wheat into the Barn of your heart, and in the treasuries of your souls lay up the Pearls of the Scriptures, that when at the day of judgement ye shall come before the judgement seat of the eternal judge, ye may be found, as the Apostle saith, Clothed, and not naked. August. ad frat. in Erem. Serm. 56. If through ignorance, or otherwise by sinning ye have done any thing against God, be not slack through your well doings to amend it, carefully calling this to your remembrance, that the married man live in his house quietly and peaceably as it becometh a good Christian, that he honour his father and mother, that he love his wife, that with very great discipline he teach his Children the Catholic faith and law of God, to the end, that they may know how to love, fear, and honour God. For this thing is acceptable before God. August. ad frat. in Erem. Serm. 64. Hearken, all ye of the world, that have Wives and Children, how S. Paul the Apostle of Christ, commandeth you to read the Scriptures, and that not slightly, or as by the way, but with great diligence. Chrysost. in Epist. ad Coll. Hom. 9 Hearken not hereto only here in the Church, but also at home; let the husband with the wife, let the father with the child, talk together of these matters, and both to and fro, let them both inquire, and give their judgements: and would God they would begin this good custom. Idem in joh. Hom. 2.   

Touching the duty of Householders, for the daily exercising of their families in Christ his Religion.  
Authority of the Scriptures. Gen. 18, 19 Exod. 20, 10. Josh. 24, 15. 1. King. 10, 5, 8. Hest. 4, 16. Psalm. 101. john. 4, 53. Acts. 10, 2, 16, 15, 31, 32, 33, 34, 18, 8. Rom. 16, 5. 1. Cor. 1, 11, 16, 15. Coll. 4, 15. 1. Tim. 3, 4, 12, 5, 8. 2. Tim. 4, 19 Philem. 2. judgement of the Learned.  
AFter the good man of the house is risen out of his bed, let him go about none other thing, then that, that he may be doing and talking of such matters: as by which his whole household may profit more and more in Religion. And as for the good wife of the house, let her be very vigilant, and look well about her house: but let her much more care that her whole family diligently study and do the things that pertain unto heaven. For if in our worldly affairs, before we dispose the things that concern our own houses, we first of all care for the services which we own to the Commonwealth, lest for such duties, we be drawn into the Law, punished, and with shame discredited; how much more in Spiritual matters ought we first to take order for the things that belong to God the creator, and King of all things: lest we be perforce haled to the place where is gnashing of teeth, Chrisost. in Matth. Hom. 78. When he speaketh of the Church in nympha's house, we ought to remember, that in one household, there is prescribed, what manner once it becometh all Christian households to be: to wit: that they be so many little Churches. Wherefore, let every one know, that this burden is laid upon him, that he instruct his house in the fear of the Lord, that he keep it in holy discipline, & to be short, that he there make a representation of the Church. Calvin in Col. c. 4, 15. They were well instructed which obeyed to be Circumcised without resistance: which thing declareth, that masters in their houses ought to be as Preachers to their families, that from the highest to the lowest, they may obey the will of God: Geneva note upon Gen. 17. verse 23. Hast thou bought thee a Servant? teach him, and command him to do the things that pertain to the knowledge, service, and Religion of God, that he may be gentle and quiet toward his other fellow-servants, and all other ways virtuous. Every man's house is a certain City, and every man is a Prince over his house. In rich men's houses this thing is plainly to be seen, whereas there be both Manors with demeans, and Stewards, Bailiffs, overseers, and officers one above another. But I say also that the house even of poor men is a City; for even in this there be also principalities, for so much as that the Husband beareth rule over the Wife, and the Wife over the men-servants, and the men-servants are above the women: and again, Husbands and Wives rule their Children. Dost thou not think then the good man of the house to be as it were a certain King, having so many Prince's subject to him, and that it is good reason, that of all others he should be most skilful to govern, and most civil: Chrysost. in Ephes. Serm. 22. Verily I am of that mind, that then there was no family to be found, in which there was not either the Master or Mistress, either the Son, or the Daughter, or at leastwise, some one or other of the household, that could not at appointed times read certain Chapters of the holy Bible, and indifferently well expound all the profitablest places in them. The holy books were at the time counted for most precious household-stuff: and every house was after a sort (I say) not only a School, but even a Church also adorned and beawtified with the daily exercises of reading the Scriptures, interpretations, and prayers. Hyp. lib. 1. De quotid. sac. Script. lect. speaking of the days in S. Hieroms time, when he wrote to Sunia and Fretela. There is no house that can rightly be called a Christian house, except the word of Christ dwell in it, and something be daily uttered and heard, as touching holy matters, or points of Divinity. Every well ordered, and true Christian family, aught to represent the form and similitude, as well of the commonweal as also in special of the Church, and that most chiefly by the continual handling and interpreting of the word of God, Ibid.  
Question. Dost thou then think that those households are disordered, and not rightly ruled, where there is no daily meditation of Religion kept?  
Answer. Such families may rather be counted a sink of sin, where the people are careful of worldly profits, and vain delight, and careless of the word of God, and true Religion. And therefore they are in this case oftentimes nearer to destruction: Master Shut in the testimony of a true faith.  
Question. What dost thou think of those Masters, which do not teach their Servants the true knowledge of God?  
Answer. How-so-ever they take themselves, it is manifest, that they have not so much as the show of Christianity, nor of any godly mind: for can those be good, which suffer their family (which should be a little Church) to be so full of wickedness, as roisting, swearing, railing, lying, quarreling, and all other filthiness (that is even a little Hell) and never go about to examine and instruct them in any goodness: So that they have their work done well in the week day, they care not where they become upon the Saboth day, they never examine them how they profit by the word, Master Gyff. in his Catechism. The third commandment is broken, by omitting and neglecting the occasions and opportunity that is given to instruct other, and to bring them to the acknowledging of the truth, especially children and others that are committed to our trust and charge, Vrsinus in his Catechism. The householder transgresseth the fourth Commandment, who especially on the Saboths' and festival days, so also sometime on the work days hath not propounded, or caused to be propounded and taught to his Children and family, the chief heads of Christian Religion, namely, such as be taught and contained in the Catechism. Hyp. in the trial of a man's own self.  
Masters and Dames are required in the sixth Commandment, to instruct their servants in Religion, to see that they bestow not the Saboth day, nor any such other time lawfully exempted in worldly affairs, but in divine service, and such other works, as becometh such opportunities. And the said Masters and Dames do break the sixth Commandment, when they do not diligently train up their servants in Religion and virtue, when they set their servants about their own bellies, or other worldly affairs upon the Saboth day, especially then, or at any time else, when of right they should be at Service or Sermons: Ma. Bunny in a short sum of Christian Religion, under the consideration of the ten Commandments.  
The first Counsel of Nice decreed, that no Christian man should be without the Bible in his house, Corn. Agrip. de vanit. scient. c. 100 Take the Bible into your hands in your houses at home. At home in our houses let us apply the reading of the holy Scriptures, Chrisost. in Gen. Hom. 28. Think it not sufficient, that ye hear the Scriptures in the Church only: but also in your houses at home, either read yourselves, or, get some other to read unto you, and hear them willingly, August. de temp. Ser. 55. Let the reading of God's word begin to take up and use the time, that furious Table-playing is wont to take from us. In stead of idle Tables, biting jests, and venomous detractions, let holy conferences, and communications of the Scriptures come in place, August. de temp. Serm. 56. Augustine to Volusian, and in certain of his Sermons, craveth of the people, whose Pastor he was, that in stead of Dice, Cards, and other pastimes, they would get them, and read the holy Scriptures, Bulling. Comp. Christ. Relig. lib. 1. c. 7. Let one of you take in hand the holy Book, and let him call his neighbours about him, and by the heavenly words, let him water, and refresh both their minds, and also his own, Chrysost. in Gen. Hom. 6. Hear the holy Scriptures both in the Church as ye have been accustomed, and also in your houses, read them over again. If any be so busied, that before meat he cannot study the holy Scripture, let it not grieve him even at his small repast, to peruse somewhat of the holy Scriptures, that as his flesh is fed with meat, so his Soul may be refreshed with God's word: that the whole man, that is to say, both the outward and the inward may rise filled with an holy and wholesome banquet. For if the flesh only be refreshed, and the Soul not fed with God's word, the maid is filled, and the mistress grieved with hunger. And how unjust a thing this is, your holiness cannot be ignorant. And therefore as I have already said, ye ought to read and hear the divine Scriptures with such desire, as that both in your houses, and else wheresoever ye shall be, ye may be able both to frame your speech of them, and also to teach others the same, that in mind as in a clean Soul always calling to remembrance the word of God, ye may be able both to receive for yourselves the profitable juice, that is, the spiritual sense, and also by the help of God, ye may be able to bring and show the same to others; that, that may be fulfilled in you which is written, and thy cup that runneth over, is very excellent, August. De temp. Serm. 56.   

The Conclusion to each well disposed Christian, containing the use of this Table.  
Marvel not I pray thee good Christian, that I have not expressed the authorities of the sacred Scriptures word for word, but only noted them by book, Chapter, and verse: I hope that either thou haste a Bible of thine own, or else by extreme poverty wanting it, yet according to thy christian bounden duty thou either art, or henceforth wilt be a diligent frequenter of the place, where thou mayst have the use of it. The persons by whom, the times at which, and the places wherein the private exercise of Religion should be begun and continued, this monition plainly showeth. For matter what should in this exercise be handled, and manner how the same with profit may be done, together with the answering of such objections as may be made against it, the worthy works heedfully gone over, whose Titles here thou hast already, will sufficiently instruct thee. In fine, upon the reading, or hearing of this monition, for the glory of God's Gospel, the safety of thine own soul, and the good ensample of others, in the tender bowels of christian love, I beseech thee accept this council willingly; so many of these passing good Authors, or their like, as thou shalt be able, provide speedily: study them thoroughly, commit them to memory carefully, thy knowledge herein impart to others gladly; frame thy doings accordingly: cry to God, to God even the Father, by our Lord jesus Christ, cry in daily prayer for these and other graces necessary to salvation, in most plentiful sort to be powered upon his Church universal, our most gracious godly Sovereign, the whole Nobility, the whole ministery, all places of learning, and the whole Commonalty of this land: & for the continual remembrance of these things, I pray thee let this book be in some convenient place, where it may be most in sight, not only for thine own, but also for the use of all such as do be long, or resort unto thee.  
Farewell in the Lord from Priston, in Somerset. Thine, from the very heart-roote in jesus Christ, Thomas Wats, Preacher of God's Word.   

Certain Titles of zealous men's learned works, published for the gathering together, and edification of God's Saints, extant in our English tongue, and here set down by order of their easiness, beginning with the briefest and plainest, and so proceeding to the larger, and most profound.  

The little Catechism with additions.  
Master Somes Catechism.  
The Sum of Christian Religion.  
Master Dering Catechism.  
Master nowel's little Catechism.  
Master Giffards' Catechism.  
Master Woods form of Catechizing.  
Master nowel's middle Catechism.  
Zacharias Vrsinus Catechism.  
Master Beacon's Catechism.  
Master Bullingers' Decades.  
Wolfgangus Musculus common places.  
M. Calvins' Institutions.  
D. Peter martyrs common places.  
B. jewels Reply, and  
Defence of the Apology.   
FJNJS.