A NEW CATECHISM COMMANDED To be set forth, for the instructing of all those, who still affect a reading Ministry, and the Common-Prayer; but remaineth opposite to the true Directory of CHRIST.  
Wherein is contained, Six remarkable Branches of the Church of England, viz. The great Vow in Baptism, the Creed, the Lords Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, etc.  
By a Reverend Divine.  
march 22th LONDON: Printed by B. Alsop, dwelling in Grubstreet, near Cripplegate, 1467.   

A new Catechism, etc.  
Question. MVst people frequent the preaching of God's World that they may be saved?  
Answ. 

1. PAUL said to the Romans, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you, for I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; for it is the power of God unto Salvation, to every one that believeth, Rom. 1.15, 16.  
2. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe, 1 Cor. 1.21.  
3. Preachers of the Word, are the Ministers of God, by whom ye believe, that ye may be saved by Faith, 1 Cor. 3.5.  
4. A Preacher by constant and painful teaching of God Word, with a life agreeable to the same, shall both save himself, and those that hear him, 1 Tim. 4.16.  
5. The preaching of the Gospel, is the Stewardship, and Preachers are the Stewards of the grace of God, that bringeth Salvation to all men, Ephes. 3.2.  
6. The Devil himself did once acknowledge that the Preachers of God Word, were the servants of the living God, which show unto us the way of salvation, Act. 16.17.  
7. The Word of God is the Mortal Seed; the Preachers of the Word are the spiritual Fathers in Christ, preaching of the word is the means appointed by God, whereby we are born again, without which, we cannot be saved, as our Saviour Christ saith, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God, 1 Pet. 1.23, 25.    
Q. Shall those people be damned, that will not hear, and obey the Word God sends among them by Preachers?  
A. 

1. Moses said to Israel; if thou wilt not hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to do all his commandments, which I command thee this day, all these curses shall come upon thee: cursed shalt thou be in the City, in the field, in thy basket, in thy store; yea, in all thou settest thy hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed etc. Deut. 28.15. to the end.  
2. Christ said unto his Disciples, when he sent them forth to preach the Gospel [Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet for a testimony against them, that shall be more tolerable for Sodom & Gomorrah in the day of Judgement, then for that Cit Mat. 10.14, 15. Mark 6.11.  
3. A Prophet said unto King Amariah, I know that the Lord hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, & hath not harkened to my council, 2 Chron. 25.16. 1 Sam. 2.25.  
4. The Lord said to the Prophet Ezekiel, If thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity: to die in sin, is to be damned, Ezec. 3.19.  
5. Paul said to certain Jews, ye put the Word of God from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, Act. 13 46.  
6. Esa said of some people, as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff; so their root shall be rottenness, & their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have cast away the law of the Lord, and despised the word of the holy one of Israel.    
Q. May not we be saved by our good prayers at home, although we do not hear God's Word spoken by the Preachers amongst us?  
A. 

1. He that turneth this ear away from hearing the Law, even his prayer shall been an abomination, Prov. 28.9.  
2. The word of the Lord came to Zachariah, but the people refused to hearken, & pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear, yea, they made their hearts, as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the Law, and the words which the Lord sent in his spirit by the former Prophets; therefore came their a great wrath from the Lord, and therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of Hosts, Zach. 7.8, 11, 12, 13.  
3. How can you expect God should hear your prayers twice a day, when as ye refuse to hear God's word once a week.  
5. Our persons and our prayers are acceptable to God only in Christ; and therefore how can those people hope, that God will hear their prayers, when they will not hear Christ in the preachers of his word, but despise him & them, as Christ taught his Disciples when he sent them forth to preach the Gospel, He that heareth you, heareth me, and he that despiseth you, despiseth me, etc. Heb. 13.15.    
Q. Shall those people be damned that liveunler a wicked Minister, that doth teach them errors and false Doctrines?  
A. 

1. The Lord himsef answers, the leaders of this people cause them to err, and they that are led of them are destroyed, Esa 9.14, 15, 16.  
2. A wonderful and horrible thing is done in the Land, the Prophets prophesy falsely, the Priests bear rule by their means, any people love to have it so, and what will they do in the and thereof, jer. 5.30, 31.  
3. Christ also gives an answer, Wots be to you Scribes and Pharisees, for ye compass Sea and land to make one Proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell, than yourselves, Mat. 23.15.  
4. About 400. Prophets, did persuade Ahab the King of Israel, to go to battle against Ramoth Gilead, promising him victory, but he was there slain, 1 King. 22.  
5. Antichrist that man of sin, and child of perdition, and those that are finally deceived with his false doctrines, and miracles, shall be damned, and cast into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone day & night for ever. 2 Thes. 2.3. to 13.    
Q. Are those people in danger to be damned, who live under an ignorant or wicked Minister, that cannot or will not teach the Word of God  
A. 

1. Such people are in great danger to be damned; Christ doth answer, if the blind doth lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Mat. 15.14.  
2. The Lord faith to every Minister, as to the Prophet Ezechiel, I have made thee a Watchman to the people, and therefore hear the word of my mouth, and give them warning from me, when I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die, & thou givest him not warning, nor speakest, to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life, The same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hands: to die in sin, is to be damned Ezek 3.17▪ 18.  
3. The Lord saith in Esa of such people: All ye Beasts of the field shall come to devour; yea all the Beasts in the Forest: His watch men are blind, they are all ignorant, they are like dumb dogs, they cannot bark and their shepherds cannot understand Esa 56.9, 13, 11.12.  
4. Where there is no vision; that is, no word of God preached or taught, the people perish, Prov. 29.18.  
5. For a long time Israel hath been without God without a teaching Priest, and without the Laws, 2 Chron. 15 13.  
6. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will send a famine in the Land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst of water, but of hearing the Word of the Lord, and they shall wander from Sea to Sea, and from the North, even to the East, they shall run to and fro, to seek the Word of the Lord, and shall not find it, Amos 8.11, 12. Mal. 2.7,    
Q. But some people will say, we have a Minister that doth read the holy Scriptares and Common-prayer amongst us, may not we certainly hope to be saved as well as othurs, though we have no Preacher, and go not to Sermons, and though we are not taught the Word of God as others are?  
A. 1. God doth command and commend the reading & searching of the holy Scriptures, by all sorts of people at all times, and hath promised his blessing upon it, Deut. 17.19.  
But God did never appoint, or approve in the Law or Gospel any men to be Priests or Mysteries of his Word and Sacraments unless they were able and willing to teach the people the Word of God.  
For, the Lord saith in time of the Law. First, the Priests lips shall keep knowledge, and the people should seek the law at his mouth, Mal. 2.7. this was their duty, Deut. 30.10. and practice, 2 Chron. 7.9. Nehem. 8.8. Secondly, I will give them Pastors, according to my own heart, which shall feed them with knowledge, and understanding, jer. 3.14. Thirdly, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no Priest to me, Hosea 4.6. Fourthly, the Lord calleth ignorant Ministers blind Watchmen, dumb-dogs, foolish and idle Shepherds, Esa 56.10.  

And in the time of the Gospel.  
First, Christ himself was sent to preach the Gospel, Luke 4.18. this was his practice, Mat. 9.35. Mat. 26.55.  
Secondly, as Christ himself was sent, so he sent his Apostles to preach the Gospel to every creature to teach all Nations, john 20.21.  
Thirdly, as the Apostles themselves were sent to teach, and preach the Gospel; so they sent other Ministers to succeed them, and appointed and gave commandment, that such should be made and honoured as the Ministers of Christ that were able to teach others, to preach the Gospel, to divide the Word of God aright, to feed the people with knowledge and understanding of Gods will revealed in his Word, Acts 20.28.  
Secondly, the Church of England doth ordain, or appoint, no men to be Ministers of the Word of God and Sacraments, and to have the spiritual charge of any people, but such that upon trial, are sound to be both able and willing to teach the people the Word of God; for we read   

In the Book set forth for ordering and making Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.  

The Bishop first knowing, either by himself, or by sufficient testimony, any person to be of virtuous conversation and after due examination and trial, finding him to be learned in the latin tongue, and sufficiently instructed in the holy Scriptures, may admit a Deacon in the preface.  
2. It appertaineth to the Office of a Deacon to instruct the youth in the Catechism, & to preach, if he be admitted by the Bishop.  
3. The Bishop delivers to every one that is made Deacon, the New Testament; saying, Take thou authority to read the Gospel in the Church of God, and to preach the same, if thou be thereto ordinarily commanded.    

And concerning Priests.  

First, Priests cannot by any other means compass the doing of their work, pertaining to the salvation of Man; but with doctrine & exhortation taken out of the holy Scriptures, and with a life agreeable to the same.  
Secondly, he that is to be made Priest, saith, he is determined by God's grace with the Scriptures, to instruct the people committed to his charge, and he doth promise by the Lords help to teach the people the Doctrine, Sacraments, and Discipline of Christ.  
Th●rdly, the Bishop delivers to every one that is made Minister, a Bible; saying, Tak● thou authority to preach the Word of G●d and to minister the holy Sacraments in the Congregation, where thou shalt be so appointed.    

And concerning Bishops.  


First, he that is to be made Bishop, saith that he is determined by God's grace with the Scriptures, to instruct the people committed to his charge: He doth promise by the help of God, faithfully to exercise himself in the holy Scriptures, so as he may be able by them, to teach and exhort with wholesome Doctrine; and to withstand and convince the gainsayers.  
Secondly, the Archbishop delivers to him that is made a Bishop, a Bible, saying; G●ve heed unto reading, exhortation, and doctrine; think upon those things contained in this book, be diligent in them, that the increase, coming thereby, may be manifest to all men; take heed unto thyself, and unto teaching, and be diligent in doing them; for by doing this, thou shalt save thyself, and those that hear thee; be to the flock of Christ a Shepherd, and not a Wolf; feed them, and devour them not.     

And in the Ecclesiastical Canons.  


First no Bishop shall admit any person into sacred Orders, to be Deacon or Priest, except he hath taken some degrees of School in either of the Universities of this Realm, or at the least, except he be able to yield an account of his Faith in Latin, according to the Articles of Religion, approved in the Synod of the Bishops and Clergy of this Realm, 15.62. and to confirm the same by sufficient testimony out of the Holy Scriptures, Canon. 34.  
Secondly, no Bishop shall institute any to a Benefice, except he shall appear upon due examination to be worthy of his Ministry, Can. 39  
Thirdly, no licence or dispensation for the keeping of more Benefices than one, shall be granted to any, but always provided, that he have under him in the Benefice where he doth not reside a Preacher lawfully allowed, that is able sufficiently to teach and instruct the people, Can. 41, 43, 47.  
Fourthly, every beneficed man, having no lawful impediment, shall preach one Sermon every Sunday in the year, wherein he shall soberly and sincerely divide the Word of Truth, to the glory of God, and best edification of the people, Canon 45.  
Fifthly, every Person, Vicar or Curate, upon every Sunday and Holiday before Evening Prayer, shall, for half an hour, or more examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his Parish, in the Ten Commandments, the Articles of Belief, and in the Lord's Prayer, and shall diligently teach them the Catechism, and if any Minister shall wilfully neglect his duty herein, he is first to be reproved sharply by the Bishop next to be suspended, and the third time excommunicated, and so remain until he be reform, Can. 59 So that a Minister wilfully & obstiaately neglecting to teach and instruct his Parishioners, is not after due execution of those Ecclesiastical censures upon him, to do any thing appertaining to the Office of a Minister, but to remain as a suspended and excommunicated person, not fit for any good Christians company.     

And in the Book of Homilies.  


First, the Church is the place where the lively Word of God (& not Man's invention) ought to be read and taught, and with all diligence the people are bound to resort thither.  
Secondly, by these places, Act. 13.5, 14, 15. Act. 15.21. Act. 17.2. Ye may see the usage of reading the holy Scriptures among the Jews in their Synagogues every Sabbath Day, and Sermons usually made upon the same. How much more than is it convenient, that the Gospel of our Saviour Christ should be expounded unto us that are Christians in our Churches, especially our Saviour Christ and his Apostles, allowing this most godly and necessary usage, and by their examples confirming the same in the Homily of the right use of the Church, Pag. 3, 4.     

In the Book of Common-Prayer.  


First, every Minister that administers the Sacraments of the Lords Supper, and every Mister that is appointed to visit the sick, aught to be a discreet and learned Minister of God's Word, able to give ghostly council, advise and comfort, that men's doubtful and distressed consciences may be quieted and relieved. In the second exhortation before the Communion. In the visitation of the sick. In the Rubrics for the Communion of the Sick.  
Secondly, it is the duty of Godfathers and Godmothers, to call upon the children that are baptised to hear Sermons, so soon as they shallbe able to learn, that they may the better know this Vow in Baptism, the Creed, the Lords Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and all other things which christian people ought t● know and believe, to their soul's health, th●… last exhortation after Baptism.    
You are not to think, that the hearing th● reading of Common prayer is sufficient, ●o● your salvation, without the preaching, or teachin of the word of God; for, Christ himself saith, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord▪ Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of God, but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven, Matth. 7.21.   
From God be the Blessing: To God be all the Glory, through jesus Christ. Amen.  
FINIS.