The Agreement of divers ministers of Christ in the county of Worcester, and some adjacent parts, for catechizing or personal instructing all in their parishes, that will consent thereunto. Containing I. The articles of our agreement. II. An exhortation to the people to submit to this necessary work. III. The profession of faith, and catechism, which we desire them first to learn.

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Title: The Agreement of divers ministers of Christ in the county of Worcester, and some adjacent parts, for catechizing or personal instructing all in their parishes, that will consent thereunto. Containing I. The articles of our agreement. II. An exhortation to the people to submit to this necessary work. III. The profession of faith, and catechism, which we desire them first to learn.
Publication: London, :: Printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons bookseller at Kidderminster, and are to be sold there by him, and at London by William Roybould, at the Vnicorn in Pauls Church-yard,; 1656.
Rights/Permissions: This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this text, in whole or in part. Please contact project staff at eebotcp-info@umich.edu for further information or permissions.
Subject terms: Pastoral theology -- Early works to 1800.; Catechisms, English -- Early works to 1800.
Cite this Item: "The Agreement of divers ministers of Christ in the county of Worcester, and some adjacent parts, for catechizing or personal instructing all in their parishes, that will consent thereunto. Containing I. The articles of our agreement. II. An exhortation to the people to submit to this necessary work. III. The profession of faith, and catechism, which we desire them first to learn." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A75970.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 5, 2024.

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The CATECHISM.

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Qu. 1. What do you believe concern∣ing God?

1. There is one only God in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: Who is infinite in Being, Power, Wisdom, and Good∣ness: the maker, preserver, & di••poser of all things: and the most Iust and Merciful Lord of all.

Qu. 2. How did God make man, and what Law did he give him?

2. God made man for himself, in his own image, and gave him a righteous Law, requiring perfect obedience upon pain of Death.

Qu. 3. Did man keep or break this Law?

3. Man being temp∣ted by Satan, did w••••ful¦ly sin; and so fall from God and Happiness, un∣der the wrath of God, the Curse of the Law, and the Power of the Devil: so that a e are b•• nature dead in sin, and prone to do more evil continually, & to grow worse, & ••o depart yet further from God.

Qu. 4. How was man Redeemed?

4 God so loved the world, that he gave his onl•• son to be their Re∣deemer: who, being God, and one with the Father, did take to him our na∣ture, and became man, being conceived by the Ho∣ly Ghost in the V••r•• in Mary, and born of her, and called Iesus Ch••ist, and having lived on earth without sin, and wrought many Miracles for a witness of his truth, he gave up himself a sacrifice for our si••s, and a ransom for us, in suffering death on the Cross, an•• being buryed, he rose again the third day and afterward ascended in••o ••eaven, where he i•• Lord of all ••n glory with the Father.

Qu. 5. How and on what ••e ••••s is ••al••ation offered in the Gospel?

5 Our Lord Iesus Christ hath ordained in his Testament that all they that receive him by a tine effectual faith, and that by true Repentance do forsake the De∣vil, the world, and the Flesh, and heartily turn from them unto God, shall freely receive the Pardon of their sins, and become the sons of God, and Heirs of everlasting life, and that if they sin∣cerely love and obey him to the death, they shall be glorifyed: and that they that will not do all this, shall be damned. And

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this he hath commanded his Ministers to preach to all the world.

Qu. 6. How did Christ reveal and prove his doctrine?

6. The Holy Ghost was sent by the Father and the son to inspire and guide the Prophets, Apostles and Evange∣lists, that they might truly and fully reveal the Do∣ctrine of Christ, and deliver it in Scripture to the Church as the Rule of our Faith and Lise: And by multitudes of evident uncontroled miracles, to be the great witness of Christ, and of the truth of his holy word.

Qu. 7. How are men brought to partake of Christ and life?

7. The same Holy Spirit doth by the word enlighten mens un∣derstandings, and soften and open their hearts, and turn them from the power of Satan unto God, by faith in Christ: that b••ing joyned to Christ the Head, and into one Church which is his body, and freely justified, and made the sons o•• God, they may be a sanctified peculiar people unto him, and may overcome the flesh, the world, and the devil; and being zealous of good works, may serve God in Holyness and Righteousness, and may live in the special love and Communion of the Saints, and in hope of Christs coming, and Everlasting Life.

Qu. 8. What shall be the end of the Righte∣ous and of the wicked?

8. The Lord Iesus Christ will come again at the end of this world, and will raise the bodies of all men from the dead, and iudge all men according to their works: And the Righteous shall go into Everlasting Life, and the rest into everlasting punishment.

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Qu. 9. What a••e the Publike means which Christ hath appointed to salvation?

9. Christ hath appoint∣ed that fit men shall be ordained his ministers to disciple the uncalled, and baptize all that are Disci∣ples in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and to Congregate his Disciples, and to Ouersee and Guide the seve∣ral Congregations, and each member thereof. Particularly to Teach them the wo••d of God, to Pray and Praise God wi••h them and for them; to administer the Lords supper in remembrance of him; and to Bless them in the name of the Lord: Especially on the Lords day, which he hath ap∣pointed for holy Communion in such works: Also to reb••ke with Authority the scandalous and unruly, and to reiect those that are obstinately im∣penitent and unreformed.

It is therefore the Peoples duty to ioyn with such Churches in the foresaid worsh••p of God; and to know, hear, submi•• to, and obey these their Guides that are over them in the Lord, and to avoid discord and division, and to live in Vnity, Love and Peace.

Qu. 10. What are the secret holy Duties which every one must use?

10. The secret Duties of Holyness, are frequent and serious meditation of God and his works and word, especially of our own sin and danger, of our Redemption, of our d••∣ty, of Death, Iudgement, and the endless Ioy and Torment after it: The diligent examination of our own hearts, and watching over our Thoughts, Affections, Words and Actions: The mortifying of our sin••, especially V••belief, Error, hardness of heart, Pride, worldliness, flesh-pleasing and Hy∣p••crisie: The exercise of all graces: watching against Temptations, and resolute resisting them: And secret prayer to God.

Qu. 11. What Private Duties of Holiness must be performed with others?

11. The Priuate Du∣ties of Holyness to be per∣formed with others, are these; parents and Mast∣ers must teach their chil∣dren and servants the word, and fear of God, & pray with them, and for them, and hinder them from sin: children and servants must willingly Learn and Obey: we must seek advice in the matters of our

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salvation: Especially of one Teachers: we must daily admonish and exhort one another: using gra∣cious and Edyfying Conference, and a winning conversation; Confessing our faults one to ano∣ther, and praying with and for one another: Es∣pecially on the Lords Day, and on extraordinary occasions of Humiliation or Thanksgiving.

Qu. 12. What are the necessary Duties of Righ∣teousness and mercy to∣ward•• men?

12. The necessary Du∣ties of Righteousness and Mercy to men, are these; Superiors must Rule for God, and the Common-good, with Iustice and mercy: Inferiours must willingly O∣bey them in the Lord. We must loue our neigh∣bours as our selves; and do as we would be done by; behaving our selves to all men in lowliness and meekness, harmlesness, sobriety and truth: not wronging any in their Bodies, Chastity, Estates or Names, no not in Desire, but forbearing and forgiving one another, loving our very Ene∣mies; and doing good to all, according to our Power.

FINIS.

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Notes

1 Cor. 8.4, 6. Mat. 2••.13. 1 Joh. 5.7. 1 Tim. 1.17. Psal. 1.••9.7, 8, 9. Isa. 40.17. Rev. 4.8. Psal. 147.5. Neh. 9.6. Psal. 135 6. Rev. 15.3. Exo. 34 6.

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Pro. 16.4. Gen. 1.26, 27. & 2.16, 17. Rom. 6.23.

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Gen. 3. Rom 5.1••.28. & 3.23. & 6.23. Eph. 2.12. Hos. 14.1. Eph. 2.••.3, 5. Gal. 3.10.••••. Act. 26.18 Gen. 6.5. 2 Tim 3 15. Hos. 11.7. & 13.2. Psal. ••8.17.

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Joh. 3.16, ••7. 1 Joh. 2.2. Ioh. 4.22. Rom 9.5. & 10.12 Joh. 10.30. & 17.11. Heb. ••.14, 16. 1 Tim. ••.5. Lu••. 1.2••, ••1, 35. Mat. 1.22, 25.20. Heb. 4.15. & 7 26. Heb. 2, 3.4. Act 2.22. & 7.36. Tit 2.14. Heb. 9.26. 1 Tim 2.6. Mat. 27.31, 35. ••0 1 Cor. 15 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12. Act. 1.9. Eph. 4 8, 9, 10, 11. Act. 10.56, & 2.36. R••m 14.9. Mat. 28.18. Eph. 1.20, 21, 22

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1 Cor. 9.14 Heb 9.15. Col. 2 6. Joh. 1.12. Mar. 16.15, 16. Gal. 5.4 Jam. 2 24. Act. 26.18. ••n. 24 47. Act. 5.31. & 11.18. & 20.21. & 3.19. & 2.38 & 8.2••. & 26.10. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 13.3. Mar. 4.12. Isa. 55.7. & 2.16 Eze••. ••8.21.••0.••2. & 33 11. to 20. Mat. 19.2••, 29. & ••0 3••. L••k ••4.26, 27 3••. T••t 3 ••.7. Heb. 3 14. C••l. ••.23. Joh. 15 ••. to 12. & 8 31. Ro••. 1.22 Heb 10.26 38. Rev. 2.1••.••••. Mar. 16.15, 16. Mat. 28.19, 20, 21.

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The conditionality of the promise deny••th not the certainty of faith and perseverance.

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Joh. 14.26. & 15.26. 1 Pet. 1.10, 11, 12. & 2 Pet. 1.21. 2 Tim. 3.16. Joh. 16.13. Ep. 3.3, 5. & 2.20. & 4.11, 12, 13. Mat. 28.20 •• Tim. 6.14 Isa. 8 20. Rev. ••2.18, 19. Heb. 3.2,••. & 2.3.4. Acts 2.22. & 19.11.10 19. Gal. 3.1.2 3, 5. Joh. 14.12. & 3.2 & 10. 25, 37, 28, 1 Cor. 14.

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Act. 26.18. Joh. 6.44. Rom. 8.••, 10, 11 Act. 16.14. Eze••. 36.16. Act. 15.9. 1 Cor. 6.11, 19. Col. 1.18. & 2.19. Eph. 5.30. 31.32. & 3.17. 1 Cor. 12. 13.27. Rom. 3.24. Gal. 4 6. Joh. 1.12. Gal. 6.26. Tit. ••.14. 1 Pet. 2.9. 1 Cor. 6.11. Rom. 8.1.10 14. Gal. 5.17, 24. 1 Joh. 2.15. Gal. 6.14. 1 Joh. 3.8. Luk. 1.74, 75. 1 Pet. 1.22. Joh. 12.34, 35. Eph. 2.••9. Heb. 10 25. •• Cor. ••.9. •• Pet. 3 11, 12. Tit. 1.2. & 3.7.

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Acts 1.11. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes. 4.16, 17, 18. Joh. 5.22, 27.2 Cor. 5.10. Rom. 2.6, 7. Mat. 25.2 Thes. 1.8, 9, 10. & 2.12. 2 Tim. 4.8, 18. Luk. 10.11. Joh. 17.24. & 19.27. Mat. 13.40.

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Mat. 28.19, 20. Mat. 16 15. Rom. 10.7, 8.14.15. 2 Tim. 2.••. Act. 14.1••. Act. 2.42. & 20.7, 28. Eph. 4. 11, 12, 14. Ezek. 3.17, 18, 21. Mal. 2.7. 1 Cor. 12.17, 28, 29. Col. 1.28. Act. 18.26. Jam. 5.14. N••h. 11 17. & 9.5. & 8.4, 5, 6, 8. 1 Cor. 10.16. & 9.13. & 11.24. Nam. 6.23, 24. Deut. 10.8.1. Chr. 23.13. Heb 7.7. 1 Cor. 4 1. 1 Tim. 4.13, 14, 15. Jo••. 1.10. Acts 20.7. 1 Cor. 16.2. Mar. 16.2 9. Joh. 20.1, 1••. Tit. 2.15. & 1.9, 11. 1 Tim. 5.1, 19, 20. & 3.5 Tit 3.10. 1 Cor. 5.4, 5, 11, 13. Acts 2.42. Heb. 13.7, 17, 24. 1 Thes. 5.••2, 1••. 1 Tim 5.17. 1 Cor. 16.16. Luk. 12.42. & 10.16. 1 Cor. 1.10. & 3.3. R••m. 16, 17. Eph. 4.2, 15, 16. Col. 2.2. 2 Cor 13.11.

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Psal. 104.34. & 119.97, 99. & 1 2. & 63.6. & 77.••2. & 143.5. & 119.59. Hag. 1.5. Deut. 32.29. Psal. 50.22. 2 Cor. 1••.5. Psal. 4.4 Pro. 4.13. Ma••. 5.••••. & 12.34. & 15.18, 19. Psal. 119.113. & 39.1. Mar. 13.33. Luk. 21.8, 34. 1 Cor. 10.12. Col. 3.5 Heb. 3.12, 13, 14. Mat. 2••.4. Luk. 1••.15. Rom. 13 13, 14. 1 Cor 3.18. Jer. 17.9. 1 Pet. 2.1. 2 Tim. 1 6. & 4.7. Acts 24.16. Mat. 26. 4••. 1 Cor. 16.13. Eph. 6.11. to 19. 1 Thes. 5.17. Act. 10.9. Luk. 6.12.

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Eph 6.4, 9. Deut. 6.11, 12 Jos. 24.15. Psal. 101.2, 3. Act•• 10 ••0. Gen. 18.19. Pro. 22.6, 15. & 25.13. 1 Sam. 2.23.29. Col. 3.20.12. Eph. 6.1, 5, 6, 7, 8. Deut. 21.18, 20. Mal. 2.7. Jer. 6.16. & 50.5. 1 Cor. 14 35. Acts 2.37. & 16.30. Rom. 15.14. Col. •• 16 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••.1••. Eph. 4.29. 1 Pet. 3.1, 2. Jam 3.23. Jam. ••.16. Act. 12. 5 12. Col. 1.3 & 4 3. 1 Thes. ••.10. Joh. 20.19. Act. 20.9. Act. 12 12. & 10.30. Phil. 4.6. •• Cor. 9.12. Psal. 50.••4. 1 Cor. 7.5. Rom. 1••.15.

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Deut. 1 17. 2 Chron. 19.6, 7. Deut. 17.18. Jos. 1 8. sa. 56.1. Zach. 7.9. Rom. 13.1, 2, 3. 1 pet 2.13. Eph. 6. 1, 5. Col. 3.20, 22, 23, 24. Mat 19 19. & ••2.••9. & 7.12. Eph. 4.2. Phil. ••.3, ••5. Mat 10.16. Eph. 4.25. Tit. 2.12. Col. 3.25. 1 Cor. 6.7, 8. Mat. 5.21, 22, 27, 28, 39, 44, 45. Eph. 4.28. Exo. ••3.1. & 2••.16. Psal. 15.3. Ex. ••0.17. Col 3.13. Eph. 4.2. Mat. 5.44. Gal. 6.10. Heb. 13.••6. Mat. 25. Phil. 2.4.20, 21. 2 Cor. 8.11.12.

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About this Item

Pages

The CATECHISM.

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Notes

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