The historie of Adam, or the foure-fold state of man, vvell formed in his creation, deformed in his corruption, reformed in Grace, and perfected in glory. By Mr. Henry Holland, late preacher at Saint Brides Church in London.

Of the necessitie and vse of Cathechizing.

Question. 1.

ARe all men in the visible Church, true and liuing members of the mi∣sticall body of Christ, and in com∣munion with him?

Answere.

No: Some are naturall, some are spirituall men, some in Christ, some without Christ: for all that be with vs are not of vs. 1. Ioh. 2.19. Ep. 2.12.

Question. 2.

What call you a naturall man?

Ans. The naturall man is hee, which is lead by the in∣stinct of nature in all his actions, and wants the holy spirit of ^a Christ in any measure, and therefore hath no facultie to perceiue, nor iudgement to discerne ^b the holy things of God. ^a Iude. ver. 19. ^b 1. Cor. 2.14. Phil. 1.9.10.

Quest. 3. What call you a spirituall man?

Ans. A spirituall man is hee, which by the light of the Gospell, and ^a preaching thereof, and through Gods speciall grace and free mercy in Christ, hath receiued the holy spirit ^b of Christ in some measure to ^c discerne the will of God reuealed in his word.^a Gal. 3.1. ^b 1. Cor. 2 15. ^c Ephe. 1.13. Rom. 8.2. and to grow vp a perfect man in Christ. Eph. 4.13.

Quest. 4. Haue all spirituall men, or the faithfull, or that bee in Christ, the same measure of the spirit?

Ans. No: some are

• 1 stronge men.
• 2 babes.

in Christ. Heb. 5.12.

Quest. 5. What is a strong man in Christ: (of whatsoe∣uer estate or condicion?)

Ans. That man whose minde and hart the spirit of Christ hath so exercised in the word of grace that he can discerne good and euill. Heb. 5.14.

Quest. 6. And what is a babe in Christ?

Ans. Babes in Christ are such, as haue receiued but in weake measure the graces of Gods spirit: and as yet bee dull of hearing, weake in vnderstanding, and vnexpert in the word of righteousnes. Heb. 5.12.14.

Quest. 7. Most men that seeme to come to Christ and to fauour his Gospell, are but weake: how grow they vp to be strong men in Christ?

Ans. By attending his holy ordinance in the ministry of his word and sacraments. Ephe. 4.12.

Quest. 8. How must these babes be fed?

Ans. Not with strong meate, but with milke, that is, they must be instructed in the first principles of the word: which we call our Catechisme. Heb. 5.12. & 6.1. & 4.5. 1. Pet. 2.1. Psal. 119.9.10.

Quest. 9. What is Catechizing?

Ans. Catechizing, is a forme of instruction, wherein the same matter is often * repeated that the weake may the bet∣ter conceiue it, and remember it.* Deut. 6.5.6. Es. 28.9.10.

Quest. 10. Is this Catechizing so needefull, and of what antiquitie is it?

Ans. First, It is commanded of God. Deut. 6.6. Second∣ly, it was practised publikely in the Church of the Iewes. Thirdly, Abraham was cōmended for it. Gen. 18.19. for ha∣uing 300. in his house they were (as it is written, Gen. 14.14.) instructed or Catechized in holy religion. Fourthly, so in al the ages following euen till Christ. 2. Tim. 1.5. 2. Tim. 3.15.

2. Ioh. 4. Fiftly, this forme of teaching the Apostles continued & commended in their practise: 1. Cor. 3.1.2.3 so Paul the Corinths: so in like manner the Hebrewes. Heb. 5.11.12. it is very plaine they had beene well catechised, and albeit they had suffered much for Christ, Heb. 10.32.33. yet now they were become very dull & haue need to bee well Cate∣chised againe. Sixtly, so was Theophilus first instructed Luke 1.4. as appeareth in the originall. Seauenthly, the Church which followed immediately the Apostles, continued the same methood and forme of doctrine: for they had speciall men appointed to Catechize all Nouices and all Conuerts: as that learned Origen was appointed in Alexandria by De∣metrius Bishop there. Againe it seemes they kept a true Re∣gister of their Catechized in their Churches: For Eusebius lib. 6. cap. 7. & 3. names three of them in one Chapter: for, speaking of their martyrdome, hee saith, that Heraclides was but once Catechized, or entred in his Catechisme, when he was martyred. And Heron being well Catechised, he was but newly baptized when he was martyred. And Rhais was but in her Catechisme, when shee was baptized in the fire.

And thus wee see how in elder ages the babes in Christ were carefully taught the first grounds of Religion: and so being well grounded they were admitted by confirmation and laying on of hands to the Lords Supper: and to com∣municate with the Church in other exercises of Religion. Rom. 14.1. The breach of this order Turtulian cryes out a∣gainst it: saying, that with the Heriticks there was no care of this distinction: They are men growne, or perfect men: with you (saith he) before they be any thing groūded in the Catechisme. I would this were no iust complaint against vs and our time. The ages following kept the same course, see August. Tom. 4. de catechiz. rudibus. To. 6. serm. ad catech. Cyrils Catechisme.

Quest. 11. But our people cannot abide to bee Cate∣chised publikely: nor know not how to Catechize their fa∣milies priuately.

Ans. The most part are enemies to their owne saluation:

they haue these and the like carnall obiections, and excuses. 1. Obiect. They are ashamed so to be taught. Answ. They ought more to be ashamed of their ignorance. 2. Ob. They haue no time to Catechise their families. Ans. God will not so be mocked: first, he hath commaunded his Sabboth for it, and more also the euening, morning, and the noone time of the day. Deut. 6.6. 3. Ob. This strict order would scare away all seruants. Ans. Such seruants are better lost then found. 4. Ob. They are too young as yet, they will to mor∣row. Ans. If thou wilt not heare this day, it may be thou shalt not the next day, Heb. 3.15.16. Pro. 1.5. Ob. They are too old. Ans. The blinde doting sinner is still accursed albeit an hundred yeares old. 6. Ob. Our Fathers prospered without all this Preaching and Catechizing. Ans. The Pagans and vnbeleeuers best prosper in the world. Psal. 73.1.3.4. Iob. 21.8. And this was the old Idolaters complaint. 7. Ob. Such as haue learned the Catechisme are as lewd as they were be∣fore. Ans. The Seruant which knoweth his Masters will & doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes. 8. Ob. Wee meane as well as the best. Ans. Such as haue killed the Prophets thought they did God good seruice. Iohn 16.2. wee must not goe by our owne good meaning.

Notes

• 1. Sunday.
• Gal. 6.1.
• Three points in the strong. 1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, he is exercised in holy exerci∣ses.

  2. After this comes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, sound iudgement to discerne the things which differ.

  3 he hath 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, an habit of knowledge, & sound iudge∣ment, &c. Col 2.2 which is his 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Rom. 4.
• 1. Eunice ••. Lois.
• 3. Lady. Paul first ca∣techised the Corinths.
• 1. Heraclides.
• 2. Heron.
• 3. Rhais
• Heb. 6.3.4.5.
• Tertul. de prae∣scriptione He∣reti, ante sunt perfecti cathe∣chumenoi quā edocti.
• Esa. 65.20.
• Such as haue eyes can see better then the blinde. Seruants are not accepted for their good meaning.